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| Third bridge over Mandovi river |
The Governments both at the Centre and
this State are pursuing vigorously their agenda of all round development, promised
by the BJP before the last elections. It is their avowed objective to showcase,
before seeking a fresh mandate, as many projects as possible, whether necessary
or not, properly executed or not. However, nothing can be farther from truth
than the usual tirades of Goa Government of activists being anti-development.
The proof against this canard is that the NGT has found reason with their
appeals and stalled several projects because proper procedures have not been
followed or ECs have been found faulty or not obtained. And this is what the
activists and NGOs have been insisting upon. Instead of being remorseful of
such serious lapses, people like Manohar Parrikar question the source of funds
of NGOs for defraying massive Court expenses. This only confirms that this
Government indulges in despotic and unscrupulous decisions in the hope that
people will not resort to legal action due to heavy expenses involved, energies
expended and tenacity needed. This attitude is shameful and highly
reprehensible on the part of a responsible Government which ought to follow the
rule of law and lead by example. Except during Emergency, the country did not
have a more autocratic rule than the present one, where fascist tendencies are
becoming more and more evident. In league with rich industrialists, the
Government is trampling upon the rights of the people, particularly the poor
and marginalized. Development is surely needed and the efforts in this
direction of the party in power can be appreciated. However, stipulated
procedures need to be followed, the affected people need to be taken into confidence
and environmental and ecological concerns cannot be overlooked. These are generally
given a go by, mostly because the motives are hidden and dishonest and the
protests, if any, expected to fizzle out in no time. Faced with so many
challenges in the Courts, be it on mining, Mandovi bridge, Mopa airport,
Tiracol project, etc, where this Government has taken a beating, it ought to
have sat up and introspected into its misadventures, but the brute majority it
enjoys in the Legislatures, makes it bulldoze its way, unmindful of the
consequences.
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| Areal view of land at Mopa where the airport is planned |
One of this Government’s pet projects
is the Mopa airport. Despite being unnecessary, financially unviable and likely
to bring economic and environmental disaster to the State, the Government is
pushing through the project in mighty hurry. I will not repeat what I have
already pointed out earlier about the havoc being created at the site with
destruction of human and animal habitat, water springs, etc. What is
distressing is that despite three cases, one in the Apex Court regarding land
acquisition and two in the National Green Tribunal, the Government is still
going ahead with the project, perhaps banking on Court adjournments and
eventual plea or claim of being a fait accompli. The NGT Pune, hearing petitions
on Environment Clearance for Mopa, has adjourned the hearing till January, but
has directed the Government not to disturb, till the next hearing, the Dhangar
community, which has been residing on the plateau for centuries. The
Government, eager to hurry with this unscrupulous project, was surely planning
to rehabilitate the community elsewhere but now this attempt stands temporarily
stalled. The possibility of the EC being rejected cannot also be excluded.
Though people notorious for their U
turns, are assuring us that Dabolim will be retained, we are all aware that it
is exactly these very people who will be instrumental in turning Dabolim
airport into an exclusive Naval enclave. Let us not be naïve and let our past
experiences serve us as warnings, particularly to the main stakeholders, like
the owners of hotels, eating houses, shacks, taxis, etc. The recent spat
between the Government and AAI over the so-called change of use of land sought
for aviation allied activities, which included parking and construction of
barracks for CISF is another attempt at throttling Dabolim, while giving the
public the impression that it is otherwise. The plot is slopy, uneven and more
than half a km from the airport, making it unsuitable for parking.
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| Jose Maria Miranda |
Expressway was a pre-requisite for
Mopa airport. Yet this Government never thought it fit to consult the people on
such massive need of land. It was called a bypass but eventually, at break-neck
speed, the 60mts. wide expressway is being bulldozed. It cuts across many
villages with massive filling of fields, with resultant danger of flooding. Why
such width is needed when Goans face shortage of land for housing is a relevant
question to be asked particularly to the altar boys, who in their quest for
tickets just nod their heads in approval of their masters’ diktats.
While GMR has won the bid to construct
the airport, GVK refused to bid when they could not find satisfactory answers
from the authorities to their queries. These were incidentally prompted by the
caution letter sent to proposed bidders by Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO). A
financial newspaper comments thus on GMR: “GMR Group has been struggling under
the weight of heavy debt. With business interest in airports, energy and
infrastructure, the Group has a consolidated debt of 39154 crores”. However, Goa Government, which is itself
heavily in debt, is helping GMR by building the approach road at an approximate
cost of Rs. 600 crores. This construction which was originally to be done by
the bidder is now being undertaken by the Govt. by loading this cost in
passengers’ fares. Further 232 acres of land are being allotted to GMR for
commercial activities. Such is the clout enjoyed by GMR which will eventually
use it to close down Dabolim with active support of Navy.
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