The elections are at our doorstep, and our vote will decide our future. This time around, do I see a light at the end of the tunnel?
Let us admit that “our” generation of people has failed Goa. We have failed our youth and our children. The last 30 years or so where we could have made a positive difference has been disastrous. No one can deny that our beloved Goa and its environs have certainly deteriorated and continue to deteriorate. Our value systems have degenerated, and that too out of our own doing. There is a general feeling of despair, frustration and a lack of trust in those who govern us. We have had governments “OF” the people and “BY” the people. But governments “FOR” the people begin only a month or so before the elections and that’s clearly visible through sudden clean up of the streets, hot mixing of roads (including “internal private” courtyards) the promises through flashy manifestos, the very humble “namastes” where candidates are seen literally prostrating before you. It’s simply disgusting and sick!
The last 30 years has brought in a dictionary of new words. Words like “horse-trading”, “money laundering”, “money bags”, “political godfathers”, “political bigwigs”, “match-fixing” and the latest addition ”friendly fights” have become part of our vocabulary.
The time has come to stem the rot that crept in somewhere in the mid 1980’s which continues till date. It was around this time that corruption started spreading its tentacles into government departments and institutions. Local self governing bodies were taken over by some legislators known as “political godfathers” and turned into informal “panel systems”. This is when the system of local self governance slowly began to crumble.
In order to bypass the local municipalities and panchayats (which is the actual link between the people and the government), new bodies came to be formed by the government like the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) controlled by legislators and their cronies to bull doze their way into the functioning of local bodies as well as Public Works Department. Our municipalities and panchayats have become toothless, helpless, and mere bystanders, who claim that projects in their own “house” and under their “nose” are being carried out without their knowledge and without their approval. An example at hand is the Azad Maidan development where ironically the “toilet block” seems to be as large as the monument it supports, or the high budget badly constructed bumpy new by-pass road from Miramar to Dona Paula, which most locals try to “bypass” as it takes a toll on their vehicles.
Our generation of politicians has become a bunch of shrewd manipulators. They know exactly how to find a way around Constitutional roadblocks and use the back door when required. If a project cannot be developed through the Goa Regional Plan or the ODP, simply create a new law called the “Investment Promotion Act/Ordinance” (after all they are the law makers) and bring in controversial tourism projects through the “Investment Promotion Board” (IPB) window, environmental and local concerns be damned. No questions asked. So Cheers! Goans will now have a new “beer distillery” the reason for which the poor coconut tree had its name changed, and a ropeway to take you on a joy ride from Miramar to Reis Magos, irrespective of whether the city can take in more traffic or the wind currents allow for a safe ropeway, or whether the project finds any mention in the city’s latest Master Plan prepared with great fanfare and at a huge cost to the exchequer. The IPB could be a very dangerous tool in the hands of the present irresponsible and corrupt politicians, and if not repealed, would sound the death knell for this beautiful State of ours.
There is a sign of “political arrogance” when a government dares to defy its own laws. Here I am referring to the Municipal Solid Waste Management Regulations. This is a Central enactment under the guidance of the Supreme Court. Under this legislation, segregation of waste at source is a “MUST”. Nobody can go against a law. However, “political arrogance” has proved that it can. The Goa government, in its wisdom, boasts of installing the first of its kind mixed waste garbage treatment plant in Saligao. The government may not openly admit it but the new plant is definitely having a lot of difficulty in treating mixed waste, which if segregated could be utilised to its full potential. Mere slogans like “Swachh Bharat” will not work on the ground unless there is strong political will.
And the recent amendments made to the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) are shocking and the land use changes that have been made will drastically change the face of the capital city and specially Miramar. The Panjim ODP has been finalised without it being approved by the local body, as mandated by law. The reason for rectifying the ODP is laughable. It states that since people are moving out of the city there is a need for more housing, so that more people could move into the city. Is our existing infrastructure capable of accepting this change? Our municipality cannot effectively deal with the mess we are in at the moment, be it traffic, garbage, parking etc. How much more brazen can our government get? Who do our planners and politicians think they are fooling? Are the changes being made in the interest of “planning” or some other ulterior motive which our political class knows best?
As regards “casinos” the recent statement of our Chief Minister that “they have helped us in the past” says it all.
I feel sad that I belong to this generation that has contributed to the sad state of affairs in Goa. I feel the need to apologise to the youth of today and the children of tomorrow.
On the flip side, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have seen a lot of youth taking a step forward and getting involved in the recent elections. I had the opportunity to speak to a number of them at the municipal garden recently. They seemed fired up and felt the time has come to make a change. It appears this change has begun to take place. It’s time we moved out the old to get in the new. It should start at this election itself and then perhaps move on towards moulding the youth into contesting the local body elections. Then maybe we will witness the change we wish to see.
