Getting on to proposed Mopa Airport: A journey in the valley

The great media engineering is currently on in Goa to break stubborn rustic villagers that has proved to be thorn in the way of glitter hungry vested interests that includes all the leading political political parties. I had a occasion today to visit the portion of this virgin green site ironically chosen for greenfield airport. I found the field is mountainous green already and airport can do nothing more than turn it grey. After talking to the villagers I also realized that the airport is more meant to benefit the landlords of Pernem such as Deshprabhus and to crush the village economy. There are also other powerful vested interests operating behind the scene here too.

The story of this controversy ridden proposal begins in 2003 when the Goa government issued first land acquisition notification and sanctioned Rs. 500 crores. The villages that would end their existence includes Warkhand, Ambarem, Ugem, Mopa, Cahndel and Casarvane which is free from Desprabhus as landlords in hinterland eastern Pernem. At the time people filed their objections in large numbers but due to their ignorance and authorities determination to fool people the acknowledgement copy were not officially stamped. Amidst controversy the notification lapsed in 2006 with no major headway in land acquisition process for the airport.

This led the the protests by Pernem landlord Jitendra Deshprabhu and State Panchayat and Sports minister Babu Azgaonkar to launched the agitation in 2006 to demand Mopa airport. Mandrem BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar played an active role in blocking Siolim-Chopdem bridge and was arrested in this process. Jitendra Deshprabhu slept on Konkan Railway track for few hours in to further the cause of airport. It is little surprising therefore that Mopa and surrounding areas are deprived of water supply from Tillari water dam in spite of it being in command area of the project despite various demands from the villagers.

Land acquisition notice - 22/21/2008 - was again issued in 2008 with emergency clause by the Revenue department. Along with this another land acquisition notice -22/22/2008 - was issued for the airport road. In 2009 this land acquisition was declared under collector within 15 days. This forced the locals to knock the Goa bench of Bombay High Court. Villagers filed two writ petitions - 510/2009 and 568/2009. Villagers wanted to know as to what is the emergency in acquiring the land and when central government is required land why State government is acquiring the land.

The area is also lush green with forest cover and bauxite mining. This motivated a mining company to file another case in High Court hoping that mining will get priority over airport. Anther villager went to the court in writ number 135/2010 where in the government replied that current Dabolim airport will be shut down once Mopa airport is commissioned.

Mopa is an elevated plateau of 7 square kilometers area that is rich in wild fauna in the night. They come on the plateau from nearby dense forest. And no EIA is conducted for this in order to get the clearance from MoEF (Minister Jairam Ramesh has confirmed this in a letter to Gurudas Das Gupta on June 22, 2010) and land acquisition proceedings got started off. Why this mighty hurry? You only need to check out the land sale details at Pernem Mamlatdar office.

Mopa airport land sought to be acquired even before the regional plan for Goa is passed and that too in ecologically extremely sensitive area - Eco Zone I. Warkhand stands to loose 22 lakh square meters of land, Mopa 23 lakh square meters, Ugem 6 lakh square meters, Chandel 8 lakh square meters, Ambarem 4 lakh square meters.

Feasibility report for this airport was prepared by Bhagat Infrastructure, Delhi between 1996-2000 and Airport to function on the BOOT (Build Operate Own Transfer) basis. Wit the stick of magician the found it feasible to locate another airport with the distance of 30 kms off Dabolim Airport for whose up-gradation Rs.500 crores has just been sanctioned. So two airports will function. And central civil aviation ministry even changed its rule to grant this!

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in its interim order on 5th May 2010 has directed the state government not to take possession of the land of the respondents. Yet the Goa government has gone ahead with the fresh land acquisition notice number SLAO/Mopa Airport/14/2010/386 dated 04/08/2010 under section 6 of the British colonial land acquisition Act 1894 and Public Hearing have began from today in different villages.

Loca MLA and State Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar plays very interesting role of a broker. He can afford to play this role because he has nothing to loose and all the mighty cash to gain. He is the President of Mopa Nirdhar Samiti set up to demand Mopa Airport as well as President of Annay Nirvaran Samiti set up end injustice in society. Perhaps he is taking care to end injustice done to Pernem landlords and land sharks by villagers protests over giving their land for the airport. Local people here have stayed for 200 years and more and with the stoke of a pen they are to be converted beggars in 'public interest'. "We will have no option other than to commit suicide like the farmers in Andhara Pradesh are doing" told me one of the villagers today in Warkahnd.

Dhangars community is at the political receiving end. Every time they protest their supply is cut by the state authorities. There are 24 houses of Dhangars in Casarvanem and 2 houses in Varkhand. Government has brought pipeline from Tillari dam to their locality but have not released the water. "Now we know that pipeline was for the airport" as one enlighten villager puts it . And Dhangars are now told to pack off from their houses. No one knows tells them where they should be going. Iron of the mater is that in Cansarvanem village special hall was constructed at the cost of Rs. 11 lakh in survey number 255/0 and now government is ready to demolish it. Perhaps this is a mother of ironies.

As a mark of protest villagers boycotted last Zilla Parishad elections by writing letters to election commsiioon offices in Panjim and Delhi. Villagers faced enormous pressure from the henchmen of MLA Babu Azgaonkar duiring this time in the areas of Nanache Pani, Shemeche Advon, Tulaskar wadi and Dhangar wadi. Local panch even threatened to beat up the protesting villagers with sleepers if votes are not casted. What a forceful democracy!

Villagers here work in cashew plantations for three months in a year and demand that Tillari water be supplied to them to boost their agriculture so that they can cultivate for 12 months in a year. "We will bring about revolution in agriculture, some called it green revolution" experienced farmer exclaimed. "Our grazing lands must be protected, they are important for cattle as well as for wild animals. Airport is unsuitable here" determined young man declared. Airport will negatively affect local perennial water bodies and locals wants them to be protected.

Agriculture needs major boost here. Local people have purchased power tillers on loan and only further boost to this sector will be in the interest of the village. They also want the college in their vicinity. Mapusa is too far. Local college operated by private parties has closed down for some years. Government has to start one here.

Villagers are also demanding implementation of National Farming Policy and not to divert the prime agricultural land for industrial and urbanization purpose. In fact the Goa Under secretary, Revenue - I in a letter dated 05/11/2009 erects state 'to make efforts to dis-allow diversion of productive agricultural land for industrial or urbanization purpose in order to protect the discriminate diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses.

Villagers are also unhappy over the evasive responses to their RTI queries. There looks to be deliberate attempt to push the Mopa and surrounding villagers to the wall by mobilizing public opinion against them. This needs to be checkmated. This can be done by visiting the green valley by you personally and get to know the reality first hand. You can do it simply by calling up the villagers at the cell number +919923486841.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Eviction in Orissa, unlike in Nandigram

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100516/jsp/frontpage/story_12454838.jsp

May 15: Orissa police today cleared the entry point to Posco’s proposed factory site for the first time in five years, evoking images of the Nandigram land war but so far without the body count that changed the course of Bengal politics three years ago.

A 1,500-strong police team fired rubber bullets to disperse “bomb-throwing” land protesters gathered under the banner of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.

The clash at Balitutha near Paradip, 110km east of Bhubaneswar, injured at least 15 of the 1,000-odd anti-land acquisition agitators — mostly women and children — who had been on a dharna at the site since January 26. Officers claimed the mob had hurled crude bombs, injuring five policemen.

South Korean steel major Posco had signed a pact with the Orissa government in June 2005 for a $12-billion plant — one of the largest foreign direct investments in India — near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur.

But the project failed to take off because the residents of Dhinkia, Gadakujanga and Nuagaon — the gram panchayats covered by the proposed plant site — blocked the entry of Posco officials.

Today’s police action — perhaps prompted by Posco’s decision to explore opportunities in neighbouring Jharkhand — has given the Jagatsinghpur district administration access to the proposed plant site for the first time since 2005. Sources said the administration now planned to enter Dhinkia and Nuagaon to free up the entire site.

“We will not allow land acquisition at any cost. We are prepared to lay down our lives,” said Sangram Samiti chief Abhay Sahu.

The Orissa dispersal raises the question whether the Bengal government could have averted the Nandigram flare-up by either waiting out the protesters or launching action only after putting in place crowd-control measures.

Bengal police had claimed they did use rubber bullets on March 14, 2007, but the day ended with 14 bodies on the field. Modern crowd-management equipment were absent, not to mention lack of planning.

In Orissa today, 1,500 policemen cleared 1,000 protesters. In Nandigram, less than half — 700 — were deployed to tackle a crowd of 5,000. “We had given a long rope to the people,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Narayan Chandra Jena.

Unforeseen events can still take place in Orissa. But the key factor that differentiates Bengal and Orissa appears to be politics.

A year before Nandigram, 14 people were killed in Kalinga Nagar while resisting the construction of a boundary wall for a Tata project. The number of casualties in the Nandigram March 14 firing and that in Kalinga Nagar was the same but the fallout different.

Nandigram became a national issue, Kalinga Nagar remained a local problem — so much so that a section of the state BJP that wanted to withdraw support to the Patnaik government was cold-shouldered by the party’s national leadership.

“There was no Mamata Banerjee in Orissa. The Congress, the main Opposition party in the state, did not pursue the issue,” said a leader of the ruling Biju Janata Dal.

The CPI has taken up the cause of the villagers protesting against the Posco project but the party has so far not whipped up the rebellious mood that marked the Nandigram agitation.

The party, whose MP was arrested today to prevent him from heading to the trouble spot, has now threatened to launch a statewide agitation.

The Left parties, including the CPM, condemned the police action.

Political Parties in Goa assembly: consensus to destroy Forest

It is now no longer in a simmering state. Its out in open. It is secret exploded. Goa's forest must be destroyed! And this is not official but consensus amongst all the elected political parties in the Goa Legislative Assembly. It may be officially declared forest or lush green forest that has not officially classified as forest. The four examples shows this trend crystal clear.

The first one. The Thivim Cricket stadium in Bardez. Here it is legally recognized forest. Irrespective of court intervention giving some respite to the forest and thousands of forest trees, it remains one of the colossal political blunders wherein the elected parties has lost all of their wickets on cricket stadium. There is no difference between between ruling and opposition in Goa. No even the gap is cosmetic. In fact each parties irrespective whether they are in ruling or the opposition are in disgusting nexus either covertly or overtly with anti-forest, anti-ecology forces. Cricket in its commercial mode currently in place is merely money spinner. It is not worth that Goa sacrifices its forest for the sake of cricket. Our politicians cannot see beyond their nose for them not to consider the interest of forest. Sometimes I wonder if they have a nose at all. Surely they have eyes and they are hawkish in nature. They detect notes on their radar.

The second example. The Panchwadi exclusive 45 meters road through forest for mining industry. This is perhaps aggression on forest in its most refined manner. Land acquisition law has been invoked. The same law that British formulated in 1890s to further their colonial practice to tame India to succumb to its rule. The road is through dense forest. It is distance of nearly 14 kilometers. I have tracked through this forest along with few other and saw where the boundary stones are placed. Nearby is Maisal dam that supplies water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Sanvordem- Curchorem is already a dust and traffic problem that some people - in including Goa's leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar as well as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat - claim will be solved with wide road through lush green forest. This claim can be described as most stupid that can come only from the agents of the mining companies. So here again there is consensus that the Western Ghats forest must be destroyed. Goa's political parties in the assembly has launched mission suicide. My complete support to people of Panchwadi who are opposing the exclusive roads for mining.

The third example. The Mopa airport. These are set of four villages whose economies are agrarian. The surroundings are green and forest is visible though it is not classified. Goa already has one airport and for small State like Goa it is fine and centrally located. What is the logic to destroy ecology, displace people and impose airport in Pernem. Problems of Pernem is feudalism that is so typically represented by its landlord Jitendra Prabhu. It cannot be solve with airport. Airport will only create more problems. But why all the political parties in the assembly sing in one chorus in support of airport. They are addicted, they yearn to suffer or perhaps already suffer gluttony of riches. Political parties in Goa are no longer rooted in soil. They are uprooted bunch of brats who can only imagine selling of the soil via mining or tarring of soil via airport. They suffer short circuit in their faculty of imagination. It has fused off. Political parties has lost something precious - equanimity. Few months ago during Zilla Parishad elections in Goa the airport affected people in Pernem boycotted the elections. They voted for none of the candidates as each of the candidates was from political parties and they found no merit in either of them. it is indeed very remarkable that they found the established political leaders in Goa irrelevant. Surely people of Mopa have some treasured wisdom. Our leaders are indeed irrelevant. They can became relevant only if they care for themselves to root back into the soil and get away from their current rooting in money bags and shady land deals. My complete support to People of Mopa, Pernem.

The fourth example. Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. Till couple of years back there was no major trouble to the local people there. They suddenly forest department dug so called boundaries and made it impossible for the cattle to enter forest for grazing purpose. Human mobility into the forest is greeted with metal gate in Auli village. But most dangerous thing the forest department in engaged in doing in Canacona, Sanguem and all other forest in their jurisdiction is aggressive plantations of eucalyptus trees. These are alien species of trees that drastically change the natural composition of forest trees. In some places natural forest is felled by forest officials and these eucalyptus trees are planted. Now this is very stupid. No animal eat the leaves of these trees nor any grass would grown on ground where the trees are spread. These leaves takes very long to decompose. Who benefits from this? Perhaps some timber or paper industry. And now Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is aggressively pursuing the policy of evicting people living the legally classified forest areas away from it. Why? because forest department cannot pursue its goals in full swing. it considers these people in forest as its enemies. The pressure is already being felt in Goa. In fact digging of boundaries and fencing forest ways with metal gates in Cotigao did not evoke strong response from any of the elected politicians in the Goa Assembly. Why? because they care for the people only at the time of voting. And that is once in 5 years. The rest of the time their masters are someone else. They may be anybody except the people who vote for them. Perhaps this is inherent flow of the representative democracy that we have in place. Perhaps it is time to think bold and do away with this kind of democracy and proceed towards more direct democracy. More direct in a sense that people will govern their lives without anyone representing them but will deal with bureaucracy directly or in in groups. They will directly express to the authorities not only their voice but also the voice of forest, plants, tress, insects, worms, birds, animals, fishes, wells, rivers, reptiles, amphibians, and every life form. It is time to venture out boldly, in diversity.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Note to Goa's Members of Parliament in Delhi

Bharatiya Janata Party funding from Goa Mining Companies during 2007-2008

V M Salgaonkar & Bros Pvt Ltd: Rs 72 Lakhs

VS Dempo and Co. Pvt Ltd, Goa: Rs 62.5 Lakhs

Chowgule Charitable Trust, Goa: Rs 60 Lakhs

Congress Party funding from Goa Mining Companies during 2007-2008

VM Salgaonkar & Bros Pvt Ltd: Rs 72.5 Lakhs

Chowgule Charitable Trust: Rs 72.5 Lakhs

Sesa Goa Ltd, Goa: Rs 27.5 Lakhs

VS Dempo and Co. Pvt Ltd, Goa: Rs 12.5 Lakhs

Dempo Mining Corporation: Rs 10 Lakhs

Above data is sourced from
http://www.travelindia-guide.com/elections-indian-lok-sabha/political-funding.php

So, one who pays the bagpiper calls the tune. It is now explainable as to why Goa's all the three Members of Parliaments are sitting quietly even while Goa continues to be ravaged by nefarious mining industry. They are busy sucking their left hand thumb and deriving intense pleasure out their sojourn. Well done Fransisco Sardinha! Well done Shripad Naik! Well done Shantaram Naik! Enjoy your thumb sucking till the end of your tenure in the Parliament. After all Goa's mining companies has been your Parties financial lifeline - Amongst top ten funders. Never mind about everything. Your slumber in the midst of eco-cide of Goa's villages and Forest cover is truly legendary. Keep it up boys! Keep believing yourselves that you'll are still in 8th standard and need to be monitored all the while! kudos to you'll. It is so surprising that even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admits that Environmental Clearances in Ministry of Environment and Forest has become major hotbed of corruption and three of you'll continue to suck your thumbs!

Please get up and speak up! Please ask publicly Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to cancel all the mining Environmental Clearances in Goa. Please remember, your parties may be funded by mining companies from Goa but remember survival Goa, its rich sources of fresh water and pristine nature is a priority over petty issue closer to your hearts - Funding by mining companies to your respective Political Parties. And if you'll fail to speak up now then please resign from your post and stop being burden on public exchequer. If you'll don't commit intelligently to stop this monstrous industry from reigning free hand then every thing else you'll do is null and void.

Please learn some lessons from Goa's Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who in spite of everything including his son-in-law in mining business did took delegation to Delhi few days back and raised the issue. Please over took that his team was full of ignorant chaps and performed badly by asking Central government to curb illegal mining when State government is legally authorised to do it itself! Digambar Kamat's delegation made complete fool of themselves. But still they deserve encouragement for making that effort and taking initiative at least!

Please also take take lessons from all the MLAs - including Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar in Goa Legislative Assembly - spoke up questioning mining industry. Though there was no cutting edge into their arguments yet it deserves appreciation. Mine operator and Sanvordem MLA Anil Salgaonkar was at least pushed on the back foot forced to lie on the floor of the Assembly that none of the mining rejects are flowing into any of the rivers and their tributaries in Goa! What all of them missed to question is nefarious role of Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao in mining belt. Manohar Parrikar appears to have studied pact with Alemaos as a Political Strategy that is bound to back fire on his if he continues to move along this line. All of them also missed to demand that all the mines in Goa that are not in operation for more than two years; leases be cancelled. They made lots of noise to gains publicity - that is also very good by the way! But the ground situation continues to worsen with every passing day and Goa MLAs are at least began to assert ownership of their tongues. I wish them all success and power! Please do not stop there. You'll have to go further. Please probe mining industry further and further assert ownership over your tongues. It will help you'll to regain you respect and dignity. You'll as a politicians are living with public money and if you'll don't perform to your best and in the best interest of the people of Goa then history will record you'll as betrayers and Universe will treat you'll accordingly. Remember every time you'll cheat public you'll first cheat yourselves. You'll have taken immense responsibility to do public good and please stay on your track in spite of destruction from lure of the mining industry. And you MLA Victoria Fernandes, please get your family out of mining business. It is undoing all the good that you have done all your life. It is my humble request as well as a prayer. Overall Goa MLAs are waking up and it is good sign. We wish them all the courage to be honest and bold.

Goa's Members of Parliament please wake up! Goa is watching your every move. Please realize your power and realize your politics. Please acknowledge your funders, please understand plight of People of Goa. Mining is a catastrophe that has already struck and you'll need to play your most responsible role possible. Remember we will never be tired of reminding you again and again if all three of you'll still believe you'll are thumb sucking babies. Please mature, please grow up, please rise up to the occasion!

Be Political! Be Decisive! Be Transparent!

Sebastian Rodrigues

They Want to Silence the Voice!

PETER FERNANDES calls upon us to ensure that our voice is not silenced in the face of injustice and wrongdoing

Herald, Panjim, 17th August 2009

It has been said that a right is not what someone gives you; it is what no one can take from you. Freedom of speech is our fundamental right. The use of this right is our duty; and with it comes responsibility. Every democracy must uphold this freedom for the welfare of its citizens and the prosperity of the land. The voice of the people is a cry for growth and well-being of all; and it weeps in condemnation when government makes wrong and immoral decisions. This fundamental right is the indicator by which the health of the state is checked, to prevent it from being corrupted and corroded. The minute government tries to snap the voice of the people, it shows that something dreadful is occurring.

Power corrupts! This is an age-old saying, rich in wisdom. It continues, “And, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Needless to say, power is not given up without a struggle. The power-grabbers are terrified by the voice of the common man, the voice which probes their faulty conscience and exposes their insincerity. Most dictators have been successful in holding on to their power because they controlled and manipulated the media, and silenced the voice of the people. Our history bespeaks loudly and clearly of tyrants, and the dark eras in which humanity suffered untold humiliations and anguish, for the exact reason that the voice of the people was silenced. Be bold, and never yield your freedom of speech! Never forget, history repeats itself if lessons are not learnt in time. Despite the horrifying past, our present is no different, even in the face of education and advancement of civilization. Humanity continues to suffer under wicked leaders in this day and age.

Indira Gandhi played foul during the 1971 elections, for which she was indicted by the Allahabad High Court. The court set aside her election to Parliament in 1971. This meant she would lose power as prime minister. To silence the voice of justice, she declared an emergency, in order to hold on to power and cover her misdeeds. During the nineteen months of suspension of democracy, she silenced the voice of freedom and truthfulness, by imprisoning thousands of leading citizens without warrant or trials. Democracy in India was on the brink of death, because cowardly demagogues smothered the voice of the people.

“Silence the voice!” This frightening scenario, utterly disturbing and disheartening, permeates our State of Goa. Many noble souls in the past have raised their voices to challenge the status quo of corruption that has vitiated the atmosphere for the worse. A few did succeed in keeping their heads high, several intimidations by our elected leaders and their goons. Nevertheless, several others, swayed by the might of money and muscle power of our leaders, quashed their voices. Nowadays, they employ similar tactics to wipe out the wrong they have done, by silencing the voice of conscience. These elected politicos do not really represent the voice of the people and their right to be heard – on the contrary, in fact, for they sink their heads in the swamp of corruption, where decency and truth do not reside, and they are threatened by any voice that summons their conscience.

I flipped through a few pages of our history books. These pages recalled the vivid and painful history of Goa. It was during the language agitation, when the whole of Goa rose with a single voice to make Konkani the official language of Goa. The then Chief Minister, who is the present Speaker, along with pro-Marathi colleagues, tried to silence the voice of the people of Goa. However, many of our brothers and sisters fearlessly gave their blood, and did not allow their voice to be silenced. How do we recall and remember these martyrs, and the entire language movement? Has anyone apologized? What about retribution for the people of Goa for the loss of life and property? Should not these leaders be put on trial for their crimes against humanity?

People of Goa recognize the importance of their voice. This voice can be heard now in every nook and corner of Goa. For too long a time, being unmindful of the evil plots of their leaders, this voice remained still and silently tolerant. The elected leaders, without giving it a second thought, unleashed their corruption, which has saturated every fibre of the fabric of our society. Suddenly, with each passing day, politicians are conscious of the voice of truth echoing everywhere, which agitates and disturbs them. This scenario explains the recent outburst, which provided for all concerned citizens a hearty laugh at the expense of our leaders.

Today, every Gram Sabha turns into pandemonium. This is a syndrome of a much more serious malady which has engulfed our society. Those of the administration and government are in their positions because we hired them to work for us. Why then do the elected representatives not give heed to the voice of the citizen? Why do they desire to suppress and trample this liberty? The infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes, as the crime rate escalates beyond imagination, and our leaders are gleefully washing their hands in a dirty bowl of their own crimes. Yet, they have the audacity to silence the media. How long will you delay, and how many gruesome crimes must be committed, before this touches your core? We sit on a time bomb. Are you waiting for it to explode and extinguish our society forever? Goans are now well aware of these evil plans which will lay to waste our beloved state. This explains why people are opposed to mega housing projects, SEZs, Mopa airport, Sports City, unbridled mining, and casinos.

It is critical for our citizens to vigorously exercise their freedom of speech and voice their dissatisfaction and vexation, and to hold their leaders responsible. At the same time, it is equally crucial for the elected representatives to hear and listen to the populace, and address their anxieties and ire with mutual respect for reviving Goa, and rebuilding a healthy society. We have a mammoth role to play in the liberty our democracy assures us. Those who are afraid of the voice of the people, who will not let their voice be strong, have something to hide and, in their arrogance and disregard for all, have betrayed their own conscience. They have placed their selfish interests above the long-term benefits of our state.

We have seen the people of the villages come out on the streets, for the government to hear their united voice against mega housing projects, SEZs, Mopa airport, Sports City, unbridled mining, and casinos. Most admirable! Without hesitation, do not allow anyone to quash your voice now. It would be the greatest menace to our freedoms to give the go-ahead to politicians to rise up and put shackles on gullible citizens! Free speech is the deadliest enemy of a tyrant. Equally potent support is needed to punish the guilty, those who have committed detestable crimes against humanity. Neither rely on our government, nor be deluded by false promises, for they are hand-in-glove with the guilty. How we exercise our liberty will ultimately determine if our freedoms survive. Our individual voices may be feeble, but when united with the entire community, we can bring down the Walls of Jericho!

On how Sesa Goa funds Goa Political Parties

Take hold of Vedanta owned Sesa Goa mining company's 2007-2008 annual report published in May 2008, then turn to page 132 to know how Sesa Goa has funded Goa's Political Parties.

Here it is how: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was funded with Rs. 28 lakh each. The three parties namely Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and Save Goa Front received Rs. 5 lakh each. While Shiv Sena was given Rs. 1 lakh.

This is how the Political Parties in Goa function as extended arm of the mining companies. Did you hear any of these parties even whispering about Goa's mining tragedy that is turning Goa into desert with drying up of its water bodies? Sesa Goa is one of the major stakeholders of Goa's mining extraction. It owns around dozen mines and is acquiring the mines of other companies operating in Goa.

Sebastian Rodrigues and Roger Moody

On how Sesa Goa funds Goa Political Parties

Take hold of Vedanta owned Sesa Goa mining company's 2007-2008 annual report published in May 2008, then turn to page 132 to know how Sesa Goa has funded Goa's Political Parties. Here it is how:

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was funded with Rs. 28 lakh each. The three parties namely Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), and Save Goa Front received Rs. 5 lakh each. While Shiv Sena was given Rs. 1 lakh.

This is how the Political Parties in Goa function as extended arm of the mining companies. Did you hear any of these parties even whispering about Goa's mining tragedy that is turning Goa into desert with drying up of its water bodies? Sesa Goa is one of the major stakeholders of Goa's mining extraction. It owns around dozen mines and is acquiring the mines of other companies operating in Goa.

Sebastian Rodrigues and Roger Moody

Mining and Political Parties in Goa

SEBASTIAN RODRIGUES laments the fact that the political class has failed to act against mining, thus betraying the people of Goa

One cannot but express utter disgust at the stance of all political parties in Goa – national as well as regional – contesting the Lok Sabha elections on the crucial life-threatening problem confronting Goa: open-cast iron ore, manganese and bauxite mines. Even though the problem is common knowledge in Goa, learnt through the experience of more than half a century of open-cast mining, the political class – irrespective of whether they are right, centre or left –continues to betray the people of Goa in the most shameful manner.

It is well established by now that mining is Goa’s number one enemy, because besides destroying human and animal habitat and health, it is taking away the elixir of life everyday by drying up every possible water body – our springs, our wells, our ponds, our lakes, our rivulets – and every other source of water. Japan and China have undoubtedly benefited by sucking Goa dry. A few mining companies who have been into this dig-and-sell business have made thousands of crores of rupees in the process. And political parties are fighting shy of attacking the industry, since it provides them funding.The mining industry has succeeded in making Goa poorer and more dependent by kicking its belly (agriculture) and choking its throat (water). Mining companies all over Goa are having a field day due to the well-organised nexus between the political parties and the state machinery. A few days ago, the press in Goa highlighted the fact that mining companies in Goa are amongst the topmost contributors to the two big National Parties – the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This explains why these political parties are allowing Goa to be bled dry in spite of being fully aware of the ground realities. The political compulsions that have evolved, due to funding from mining companies, ensure that they do not work to stop this, thus betraying the people of Goa. This explains why the BJP as well as the INC have never raised the issue of the mining industry as a major threat to Goa and its survival for the next generation.

Both the parties are in the midst of a blissful honeymoon with the mining companies. Otherwise why did the BJP’s Shripad Naik never open his mouth in Parliament regarding the mining threat in Goa and demand that the MoEF stop giving environmental clearances for open-cast iron ore mining in Goa? The same question needs to be answered by the INC’s Fransisco Sardinha. Mining in Goa does not even figure in his list of priorities, which is topped by legalising bullfights on account of the lucrative betting involved. He and his predecessor Churchill Alemao are both responsible for maintaining silence on the mining issue in Goa. To add insult to injury, Churchill Alemao’s minister brother, Joaquim Alemao, is in the mining business. No wonder then that Churchill could not raise his voice (even in Konkani) in Parliament against the mining trade in Goa, as the trade fetches crores of rupees to his family.

The INC has gifted Pernem feudal lord and party treasurer Jitendra Deshprapbhu to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as its candidate. Deshprabhu has a personal interest in the bauxite mining trade through operations in Korgao, Pernem. Can the public expect anything from this man, whose family owns land in 23 of the 27 villages in Pernem taluka? I don’t expect anything in defence of Goa against mining from him. As treasurer of the INC for so many years, he certainly knows how much the political parties are dependent upon mining companies.

This has led to the grant of liberal environmental clearances by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). The clearances granted for mining leases have so far crossed three hundred, and many more are in the pipeline. This is a huge exploitation of Goa, at the cost of future generations. Only a few people in the present generation are benefiting from mining in the short term, by operating as truck owners/drivers and workers. It is indeed a tragedy that political parties in Goa, especially the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Shiv Sena, refuse to understand and act firmly against mining. The Shiv Sena candidate for North Goa Upendra Gaonkar, for example, still believes that mining is the backbone of the Goan economy, even though annual contributions from mining to the State government in Goa barely cross Rs 20 crore, while the annual income by the mining industry is reportedly more than Goa’s state debt for the past 5 years!

The CPI in Goa is actually in a unique position to bring about the desired change for Goa in its present and future. The uniqueness of its position is due to a well-established network of the working class that is rife with huge possibilities. But the fear of antagonising a part of the working class has led the party to treat mining as a holy cow. The CPI too has thus betrayed the future generations of Goa.

The Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), though an interesting regional party, chooses to maintain silence when it comes to mining. This party, which is part of the ruling coalition at the state level, is also contesting the Lok Sabha elections. It tasted power in Goa for over decade and a half when post-Liberation Goa began its journey with independent India in the 1960s. The first chief minister, Dayanand Bandodkar of the MGP, himself owned mines; and so does the second chief minister, Bandodkar’s daughter Shashikala Kakodkar. No wonder the MGP continues to be shaky in its stand on the mining industry in Goa, and cannot even be expected to change its policies because power relations within the party are largely dominated by mining interests. Even though Goa bleeds due to the mining industry, the MGP shows no concern, nor can any be expected. One only hopes for a miracle to happen for a turnaround to take place in its position towards mining. But as of now its candidate for North Goa Pandurang Raut maintains a silence on the issue.

I have not checked what are the funding sources of United Goans’ Democratic Party (UGDP) from the mining industry, but it is yet to explain to the public the nexus between the UGDP and Goa’s Dempo mining company that is involved in takeover of tribal land for mining purposes in Jharkand, where it has an MLA in Manoharpur. The UGDP’s candidate for South Goa Mathany Saldanha is vocal about a number of issues, particularly those related to coastal people like the fishermen, but he has performed poorly when it comes to mining. The press reported that he is not in favour of renewal of mining leases by the central government. While this is a welcome position, it seems to be only an election trick without any basis whatsoever. A number of mines have already got their mining leases renewed, and they have even declared so in the newspapers.

The message to all the candidates contesting the elections is that the bulk of open-cast mining in Goa is no doubt ‘legal’, but is yet destructive, exploitative and life-threatening. Hence, ‘legal’ as well as ‘illegal’ mining in Goa are unwanted intruders that must be forced out of the door before they complete their mission of swallowing the entire state of Goa. Reluctance by political parties contesting Lok Sabha elections to heed this message means that the contesting political parties have become irrelevant to life in Goa.

Herald 15 April 2009, Panaji.