When experts from various fields associated with conservation of nature have given a verdict that the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) of the three Mollem Infra Projects is inadequately sloppy and devoid of scientific backing, it’s time Goa Government does a rethink on the same.
The most important aspect of the re-think should be that the people of Goa don’t want these projects. Why’s a democratically elected government so obstinate to go against the wishes of its citizens? Goa has been witnessing widespread protests to the three Infra Projects with the younger generation spearheading the cause for a better environment for themselves and future generations. Instead of dialogue and consensus which are the hallmarks of democracy, we see the Dr Pramod Sawant Government trying to crush the protests with mis-information and brute force.
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Several forums have exposed the destructive impacts of the three projects passing through the Mollem Biodiversity. The conservation of the Western Ghats is directly related to the very continuation of life in South Western India. Cutting down more than a lakh trees thus destroying the protective Green Cover that took centuries to create, is absolute foolishness. The Environmental damages will be permanent and irreversible. Tall claims of replanting trees will remain only on paper and even if feeble efforts are made, it will simply not restore the destruction caused.
Throughout the world, nations are trying to preserve whatever is left of nature as it’s essential for our very existence. Rare species of plant and animal life some of which are endemic to the Western Ghats will be wiped out forever. Extinction of keystone species has always turned the earth barren and inhabitable. When wild animals are shorn of their habitat, they will enter human habitats wrecking havoc. Displacement of many species will alter the food chain and lead to uncontrolled growth of rodents, locusts, snakes, bacteria, viruses, etc.
Depletion of Green Cover will increase instances of unseasonal precipitation levels that will bring in climate change. We’re already experiencing more and more unseasonal rains, low pressure buildups, thunderstorms followed by excessively hot summers. These changes are affecting our traditional agricultural patterns and will slowly lead to food shortages.
Goa is one of the world’s prime tourist destinations because of its equable climate and drastic climate change will reduce the influx of tourists which will affect tourism industry. Countries are making all out efforts to preserve and promote nature tourism and we who’re dependent on tourism are destroying our natural beauty and bounty.
Destruction of forest cover will alter bird migration, flow of westerly winds, monsoons, river flow and eliminate the air, land and water life species that inhabit our surroundings.
While development does call for some sacrifices, it’s not prudent to push for development when the destructive impacts far outweigh the minuscule benefits, especially when the entire local population and environment is being targeted for the benefit of a few powerful people.
The Goan people especially the Youth are well aware of the disastrous environmental impacts of these infra projects and thus the total protests. The blatant police action against peaceful protests for Mollem has already touched the public nerve and the same policy is adopted against Melauli Villagers thus testing the people’s patience which will ultimately cause civil unrest in our peaceful State. The absolute insensitivity exhibited in dealing with such critical issues shows that this Government has failed to feel the pulse of the Goan people and continual neglect of the people’s voice will bring the population on to the streets and such a confrontation scenario will not bode good for anyone.
The Melauli Villagers aren’t basically against the prestigious IIT but the cost of the IIT is their ancestral homes, fertile cashew farms nurtured for generations and a dense forest biosphere that’s part of Western Ghats. But Goa Govt is again using brutal police force against the democratic protests of simple villagers. Government policy shouldn’t be forced upon people by demanding sacrifice of homes, livelihood and destruction of forest cover that will impact environment. A simple change of site by utilising barren and unpopulated Govt lands would be a consensual solution that will bring relief to Melauli and Goa will also have the prestigious IIT.
Dr Pramod Sawant’s Government should appreciate that Mollem and Melauli agitations are a direct reflection of nature loving Goans demanding their Right to a Habitable Environment through preservation of nature. Whether the Goa Government goes into autocratic suppression or takes a consensus call to save Mollem and Goa for future generations is to be decided by CM Pramod Sawant.
