I live in the tiniest State of the Indian Union with the tiniest name – its takes just three letters to define the boundaries of my State and four to define me. Yes, I am a Goan! However, to define the essence of being a Goan or “Goykarponn” is a rather difficult task.
The world knows us for our generous hospitality, our peaceful fun loving nature and our much hyped often misunderstood ‘Sussegad’ ways. ‘Goykarphon’ is perhaps about feelings and emotions that keep us bound to the soul of Goa, no matter how far we wonder. Its about finer nuances and subtle traits, habits, tastes, dreams and fears… But certainly the most defining characteristic of a true Goykar is the pain and anger that he feels when he sees his land and environment being violated and destroyed.
Ironically, most of the onslaughts that Goa has sustained have come from within: from sons and daughters intoxicated on power and overcome by lust and greed. If outsiders have laid their hand on Goa, it is always with the active connivance of the local hand. And despite the many onslaughts and scars, Goa still retains her beauty and charm, thanks largely to our gallant warriors doing the thankless job of protecting her.
The latest scourge that is slowly tightening its lethal grip on our tiny land is the devilish ill conceived agenda of turning Goa into a hub for coal imports.
The Chief Minister, instead of assuaging our feeling and fears has been telling everyone opposing coal to stop using power. Perhaps it’s his way of telling us that we need to compromise and learn to live with coal. Nobody needs to be told that besides other things coal is used to produce power. But are we getting our power supply from those importing coal through Goa to warrant such a direct inference? As facts stand, Goa is only getting its due share from the national Power grid! Even from a purely commercial point of view, the sinister idea of turning Goa into a coal hub is totally Don Quixotic and self defeating. Goa is a major International tourist destination (thanks to the hippies of the 1970s) and tourism is our main industry. Can tourism and coal handing coexist? Our CM is talking about permissible levels of air pollution, but we all know what permissible levels mean and how the systems can be manipulated to achieve these levels. Which fool will come to Goa to breath air that in within the so called “permissible limits? People want to holiday in places where they can breathe in pure fresh air, rejuvenate and recharge. Besides sacrificing our health and general well being, we will be killing the Tourism Goose which has been devotedly laying the golden eggs for us!
Air pollution is a slow poison that is not always seen. Besides coal dust polluting our air and water sources, indirect pollution due to coal transportation is a monster that even the most developed world has not been able to tame. Air pollution is no longer a distant nightmare – today the rich people of Delhi are fleeing to safe destinations to escape the deadly smog choking the city. Where will Goans without Portuguese passports run?
