GREENWASH: POLITICIANS ALL THE SAME FOR GOA'S ENVIRONMENT ********************************************************************** Hardhitting stories, news-that-matters, perceptive analysis: http://www.freenewsgoa.net ... a journalists' cooperative for news **********************************************************************
Be it the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party or any other party in the State, the environment and ecology in Goa has been reduced to dust and rubble, reports Julian D'Costa in the Herald. The will to implement a gamut of environment related legislation passed by the Goa Legislative Assembly in the last few months and years has been merely superficial and cosmetic. No doubt, environmental movement has gained moment during recent times, however much is left to be desired. Plastics, garbage, mining rejects, bio-medical waste, are some of Goa's worst environmental problems and demands attention in the form of structured ecological controls from every government. The BJP government headed by Manohar Parrikar showed a responsive attitude towards some environmental issues like garbage disposal. Initially, the government also took into confidence some NGOs to discuss burning issues. But issues were not carried to the logical conclusion. Being a technocrat-chief minister, the environment-conscious citizens had high hopes from Parrikar but he didn't rise to their expectations. CRZ regulations continue to be blatantly violated mainly along the North Goa coast and despite complaints, the government apparently is hand-tied. On the other hand in South Goa particularly in Cutbona and some other areas in Salcete, illegal constructions were demolished credit for which also goes to upright officers like sub-divisional magistrate, Sanjit Rodrigues. Conversion of thousands of hectares of land was sanctioned by the town and country planning department. Garbage: No government has made any headway in evolving a proper garbage management system, except for providing a legislation, the implementation of which is yet to see the light of day. For instance in 1999 the Sardinha government launched with great fanfare the anti-plastic drive and introduced a ban on use of plastic bags upto 20 microns. However this failed to make an impact. A second attempt commencing with a ban on use of plastics upto 40 microns is scheduled to commence on June 1 this year. "And if things don't work out we will be forced to extend the ban upto 100 microns," Dr Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation said. The government has claimed that "a major drive" was undertaken to collect and dispose off plastic garbage which subsequently remained only on paper. If not for non-governmental organisations, Goa would be laced with garbage litter, plastic waste and untreated sewerage. The People's Movement For Civic Action (PMCA) based in Panjim and led by Patricia Pinto has done yeoman service through garbage management committees in the capital city and surrounding areas. So also have groups in other cities taken the initiative of setting up such committees. But what still remains to be taken care of are the garbage dumping sites, in Curca and Sonsodo, which are fast deteriorating. Environmentalists point out that garbage has now become a very serious problem in Goa having far reaching consequences on the environment. After the BJP government took over, the Mapusa municipality stopped dumping garbage on the Assagao hillock as it was affecting residents of Ganeshpuri. Trucks used to go all the way to Sonsodo for some time until they were given permission by the PMC to dump garbage at Curca. Realising the need to have a comprehensive garbage disposal site and a treatment plant, the government has been trying to locate one at Pilerne for North Goa while the Mapusa municipal council has identified land at Assagao. While pointing out to the two garbage sites in Goa, Sonsodo and Curca, which would soon cease to exist, Dr Alvares has expressed fears that the new garbage dumping site at Assagao will not offer any relief. "The haste in which the Mapusa Municipal Council has been trying to take over the land and commence dumping of garbage would create further problems," he revealed. According to Dr Claude the new site does not fulfill the requirements under the garbage management rules and in such case will violate the Environment Protection Act. "And if there is no proper management of garbage and its disposal at the new site which is supposed to last for 25 years, we will oppose the setting up of the garbage site at Assagao," he said. "At the higher level, the government is willing to co-operate but not at the lower level," says Dr Claude adding further, "at the lower level, the local self governing bodies don't want the involvement of citizens and they don't want to do proper work either." Coastal Regulation Zone violations: What also seems baffling is that CRZ violations continue to acquire the patronage of every government. Nearly 500 such violations both in North and South Goa are awaiting demolition. But during the last seven months the CRZ Authority has failed to even meet and decide on the course of action to be taken. Noise pollution: Noise pollution continues to deafen the state of Goa. After a hue and cry over rave parties and the amplified music that has been disturbing the coastal belts, the efforts to ban use of amplified sound systems has been limited only to a small section of the society organising minor festivities, while the major chunk continues to blast away till the early hours of the morning with the blessings of politicians and the police. Forest cover: The only area which Dr Alvares feels that has remained undisturbed is Goa's forest cover. Except for instances where trees have been felled in urban areas and NGOs attempts to stop tree felling in Campal, Dr Alvares accepts that the stringent laws have been responsible for the protection of the forest area. Mining: As far as mining is concerned, the damage to the environment by this activity in Goa has been caused largely by rejects dumped into the river, pumping out of muddy water from the working pits etc. Damage to agricultural fields has been maximum in the vicinity of Bicholim, Pissurlem mines, Pale, Codli, Borga. Over 253 hectares of agricultural land located close to reject dumps have already been adversely affected. The total forest area affected by mining till date is estimated to be over 3000 hectares and it is estimated that about 100 hectares of forest land would be released for mining activities in the future. The attempts at denotifying Madei and Netravali as wildlife sanctuaries last year and the transferring of officers opposed to it, has proven the present government's --like those in of the past -- soft corner for the mining lobby. Soon after the dissolution of the House, the chief minister paid visits to Curchorem and other areas affected by dust pollution. Mining activities have also taken a toll on the health of the people of Goa due to pollution of water due to discharge of mine pit water, effluents, erosion of waste dumps etc. The most affected rivers are Bicholim, Madei and Khandepar. "And yet no government whether the BJP, MGP or Congress are ready to take any action for the damage caused," says Dr Claude Alvares. However the only ray of hope has been the Panjim Bench of the Bombay High Court who has issued directions during the last 3-4 years providing some respite for people living in the mining areas. Dr Claude admits that NGOs have an important role to play. "About 15 years ago governments were hostile to NGOs. But now they accept the existence of non-governmental organisations. This is visible in the close rapport established between the government and NGOs on issues pertaining to garbage, the anti plastic drive," he says. Ms Patricia Pinto says "Governments past and present do not consider environmental impact seriously before taking up any project. They are only concerned with political benefits accrued from development projects." "If they would only study a project before forging ahead and involving NGOs in decisions pertaining to environment, there would be no cause to complain," environmentalists say. Ms Pinto is however optimistic that the growing concern for the environment will have an effect on governments and make them cautious in the future especially after the hue and cry over the proposed felling of trees, privatisation of beach management etc. There is also adequate proof that environmentalists have evolved into a powerful pressure group, however the unchecked devastation that has already been brought combined with political compulsions, clearly indicates that the struggle to save Goa from an ecological nightmare still has a long way to go. >From the government side, an environment study was carried out of flooding and siltation of river Sal while environmental upgradation proposal for the St. Inez nullah approved in principle. Environment education was extended to schools on an experimental basis during which about one hundred schools were covered. Alternate source of energy -- wind and solar power -- was tapped to provide power to Chief Minister's official residence in Panjim, Dona Paula jetty and Dayanand Bandodkar Marg. (ENDS) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
