The year 2020 was anything but ordinary. COVID-19 has unleashed an unprecedented dictum on society; and humanity finds itself clueless on several counts as to how to deal with the new reality. Lockdown was one of many plausible possibilities applied to control the virus with known and unknown consequences. Initially, one good outcome of lockdown was the revival of the natural world. Suddenly, the natural world experienced a respite from destructive and malicious unreasonable brute force of men. The whole natural world came alive with a beautiful rhythm and freshness: a delight to the heart and dazzling colours for the eyes to behold. One would think, the renewal seen in the natural world would have taught humans a valuable lesson, but to the contrary. It seems like mankind is determined to expedite the demise of their own species along with other living creatures. Will humans ever learn the valuable lesson that they are just visitors on the earth, and they are duty-bound not to destroy the vineyard of God? The natural world is our temporal home to nourish and cherish while we grace the land; and with responsibility keep it intact for new visitors who would come after us to share it.
The hypocrisy of the present dispensation is glaring. Since India had signed the historic Paris Climate agreement along with more than 170 nations, during lockdown, all hell broke loose, as MoEFCC panels cleared or discussed 30 projects in biodiverse forests. When Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the agreement in the UN General Assembly hall, Ben Kimoon UN Secretary-General said, “This is a moment in history. Today you are signing a new covenant with the future. We are in a race against time.”
How to make sense of this dualism? The insidious and deceptive moves of the present dispensation during the lockdown are anything but direct violation of the Paris Climate agreement. Is the government serious about the Paris Climate agreement? Or, is it just an eyewash? The present dispensation loves to lie and they lie about everything and anything to advance their crafty and treacherous design – a design to help crony capitalists. The scary part of this design is that it is baptised in the name of gods who shower on them plenty of votes – willfully or unwilfully.
An unprecedented acrimonious sentence for no fault of its own has befallen on Goa. Goa, blessed with natural beauty and diversity, visitors from all over the world came to behold, “A Heaven on Earth”. However, humans have allergy to dwell in heaven. In fact, it is the story of humankind. It began with Adam and Eve and it continues and it will continue till the end of times.
In an aggressive manner, the destruction of Goa began in late eighties and we are almost there … in the process we have driven away the quality tourists, who would love to visit this place for peace and tranquility and to boost our economy. Surprisingly, all this came about not from a foreign power, but by its own people. The unqualified politicians and gullible voters have contributed immensely to the sorry plight of Goa, which most now like to coin – Goa, going, going, gone.
However, there is much to save, and handful of people, who love Goa and nature have dedicated their time and resources to salvage the pride of this ancient land. At present, Goa is facing an axe on a different front, namely, coal hub (Vasco), double tracking, laying a 400kv transmission line and transportation of coal via rivers, roads and railways. These projects are not to benefit Goa, but some business tycoons and the MLAs who sold Goa for forty silver pieces.
Could coal strike a final goal on Goa? Football runs in the veins of Goans. And, Goans are well aware that having one skipper is better than two or more. Yet, too many captains are trying to stop the coal while saving the goal. It is disgraceful that we are losing on our own turf and in our own game. The Punjab farmers led the way for farmer agitation, and rest of the farmers organisations joined in to raise a voice in unison for a common cause. Can Goans come together to fight the common enemy or will the vested interest of some allow the dirty politicians and the business tycoons to strike the final goal?
Time is not on our side, neither the present dispensation. And if we enter the field with a divided mind and will, we have lost the game, even before the first whistle is blown. Although a foreign power, Portuguese had one skipper and formidable defence to keep Goa on a good stride they preserved nature and enhanced the culture, while placing Goa on an international map. Since liberation, Goa and Goans have witnessed faulty planning and destructive vision, which has put Goa on an edge and on the wrong side of history.
Who are the enemies of the people? Only politicians! No. All have to take responsibility, especially, the NGOs, religious leaders and gullible voters. Consequently, we have to leave behind our painful past, and look forward to fight for a noble cause with one voice, “No coal; no double tracking, no laying a 400kv transmission line.” Let us not allow coal to strike the final goal on Goa.
