Article published in oHeraldo on 7th December 2015
Brawn overtakes brain in Goa
By | 07 Dec, 2015, 03:52AM IST
The serene and picturesque view by road from Baradi to Agonda along South Goa’s coastline, probably the last coastal stretch which has so far not witnessed the full blow of the government’s vandalisation, may soon be consigned to photo memoirs. In 2013, the present Defence Minister who was then Chief Minister of Goa is reported to have said: “It is easier to get the army to vacate from Lahore, but not from even an inch of land in Panaji.” And just two years later, the same politician is shamelessly lobbying for more of Goa’s scarce land for the military. Politicians are known to believe that public memory is short and public opinion can be purchased with sops. But they forget that in this age of digital technology ‘ul’loo banaoing’ could attract embarrassment and political disaster.
Several Gram Sabhas have already opposed the allocation of some 150 acres of land acquired for industrial purposes on Naqueri-Betul plateau which is now being handed over to the defence to organize the Defexpo and Aero India show. More Gram Sabhas are expected to follow suit. When confronted at Gram Sabha meetings the Panchayat leaders are left to figure out on their own as to what exactly are the pros and cons of such a project because the concerned local bodies and other stake holders were not taken into confidence when deciding about the site for such a huge project. In such a scenario when people are kept in the dark and have no other option but to explore technical information from any available sources and seek legal redressal for their grievances through courts when faced by an unresponsive government, Civil Society Groups are then accused of being anti-national and anti-development. We see how some MLAs with a rather shady reputation in mining themselves are attempting to tarnish the image of an NGO for using the democratic path to obtain justice for the people of Goa against gross mining violations in Goa.
It was recently narrated at a public meeting about how some elected panchayat representatives met the South Goa MP to seek clarifications about the proposed defence project to be set up at Naqueri-Betul. As usual, the MP attempted to act smart by playing around with figures. But no sooner the delegation refused to buy that and wanted a written assurance that there would be no adverse social and environmental impact from such a project, the nervous MP backed off claiming that he had no technical expertise. He then got in touch over the phone with ‘bhai’ sitting as Defence Minister in Delhi. As usual, bhai was ever ready to despatch some technical experts by the end of November to dispel any apprehensions and counter the claims made by opponents against the defence project. But almost a month later that moment is yet to arrive.
When brawn overtakes brain every bit of vacant land begins to appear barren and unproductive. It gets seen as a prospective location for real estate speculation. For politicians in Government blinded by corporate and selfish interests, infrastructure development seems to have become an endless obsession and compulsion. It is now all about ‘Acche Din’ for bouncers (a dignified title for thugs) and the security forces to bully defenceless citizens attempting to protect their constitutional rights. The justifications and rationalisations offered in defence of development projects are at times so weird that it leaves one wondering whether there is any place left for rational thinking and humanism in Goa. A minister and his agents will attempt to play expert over the public as long as they can. And then when a massive deluge strikes like in Chennai or Uttarakhand, the government and media is quick to label it as an outcome of nature’s fury.
With the common Goan left to forego his livelihood and battle it out against the government and real estate to secure his existence, the added scourge of a military onslaught on Goa’s tiny land resource is horrifying. With already 2442.3396 acres occupied by Indian Navy and another and 930.643 acres by the Indian Army, and additional land measuring 227.77 acres sought from Government of Goa by the Indian Navy at Bimvel Beach (26.77 acres), Grandi Island (133.00 acres) and Pikene Island (68.00 acres), Goa is as good as a military occupied State. Such development can only be expected to spell horror for ordinary Goans as the global terror panic and enmity with hostile neighbouring countries escalates. In such a scenario every citizen is a potential terrorist for the Government and an excuse to spread a huge security net and restrict civilian rights for securing its military bases and installations.
After all this plunder and destruction of the peaceful Goan ethos, is it fair on the part of the Government to claim that people are opposing development in Goa? The Defexpo or Aero India Show are definitely not some consumer mela or exhibition in which the general public can participate. Goans need land for housing and livelihood and not for military games.
(The author is a social
activist)
http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Brawn-overtakes-brain-in-Goa/96516.html
No comments:
Post a Comment