Monday, 11 April 2005. To, The Governor of Goa, Panaji. Goa.
Your Excellency, Sadly for us in Saligao, you already know what the "famous first words" of this daily update are: THE CONSTRUCTION AT THE SALMONA SPRING IS STILL ON! Today the first floor slab has been cast and set and at this moment is safely curing into concrete, reinforced with steel that stabs the very womb of this fragile eco-system and heritage zone. Listen to what Harvey D'Souza one of Goa's most recognised naturalists and ornithologists has to say about the Salmona Spring in an interview with Frederick Noronha a local, freelance journalist (excerpts): FN: How does the Saligao spring (locally called the 'fountain') rate among your favourite bird-watching spots? Why? Harvey: The Saligao spring is one of the best birding spots in Bardez for various reasons: the forest is moist-deciduous, the spring runs right through the year, a fact which has not escaped the avian species. Also, some birds spotted here are hard to find elsewhere. Indeed birders flock to Saligao to spot the Brown Wood Owl, which roosts in the trees by the spring for more than six years now. (We have located another roosting site for Brown Wood Owl -- but we are not telling!) You can also reliably locate small numbers of Grey-Headed Bulbul (now classified as threatened), or even the all-white male Paradise Flycatcher here. Other examples also exist, which distinguish Saligao as a unique birding spot as compared to other verdant patches. FN: What are the kinds of birds you've actually seen there? Harvey: Many, we have a complete checklist, but let's look at the rare and notable sightings. One sighting of a Malabar Pied Hornbill sighted on November 4, 2000. Also sighted by Gordon Frost on different dates. (Then there was the) Malabar whistling thrush, crimson-backed sunbird (endemic to Western ghats) Red-winged crested cuckoo (sighted by WildGoa Club on Dec 1, 2002). We know of no other sighting in Goa. Pair of Brown Wood Owls, Jungle Owlets, Western Crowned Leaf Warbler, raptors like Booted Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Short-Toed Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Eagle, Black-Shouldered Kite, the Plain Flowerpecker, Thickbilled Flowerpecker, Rufous Woodpecker. FN: How uncommon are these? None of the birds stated above are found only at Saligao. However some birds, such as the Grey Headed Bulbul, are listed as threatened. The Brown Wood Owl site certainly needs protection. In Scotland, they had a round the clock team just to protect the nesting site of a pair of osprey! What makes it unique is the wide variety of species seen here. Adjacent forests like even the Calangute spring or Nerul or Betim hill cannot boast of such a wide variety of birds. How many? Ours is in no way a comprehensive list -- but i would say a number of 120 species would be a workable and realistic number. Worth protecting! FN: What are the change you've been noticing at the Saligao spring in recent years? The litter at the spring does tarnish the pristine beauty. From time to time, we have observed trees cut down. The last incident -- a whole patch being cleared (sometime in late 2002) -- was something we could not let go... One change we would rather NOT see is development. Let no tourism department convert Saligao zor ('spring' in Konkani) into another Pomburpa bathroom! FN: Does the place need protection or preservation? If so, why? Harvey: One reason would be the rich birdlife, but even as a village heritage spot it certainly preservation. Imagine being able to walk a hundred meters to the best picnic spot in Bardez! FN: What are the steps that are needed? Legal steps. This must be classified as a private forest immediately, along with other verdant patches in Arpora, Baga, Assagao, Betim, Pilerne... (Excerpts end) This is this kind of rare, precious and natural jewel that is being stolen from under our noses. Murder...nature-slaughter is being coldly and clinically executed before our very eyes and your bureaucracy is dragging its feet to bring out the hand cuffs and arrest the carnage. We were told that the owner Arjun Harmalkar and the Saligao Panchayat would be called today and asked why they have not obeyed government directives to stop the work. Instead, we see Arjun casting his first floor slab! As the building rises, so does the people's patience wear thin. The people are waiting your Excellency. You promised an investigation and a revocation of licence. Others promised an injunction and take over of the site. The Tourism Dept. has promised acquisition invoking the Urgency Clause (17/4) of the Land Acquisition Act. Everyday we hear that on the morrow the injunction, revocation, acquisition and notification will come. And nothing does... But you have promises to keep, Your Excellency. Promises made 3 times over to 3 delegations of Saligaokars. And you have the powers to keep those promises. If the government cannot find the will to act in time, the people will - again. We sincerely hope the government wins the race this time. Hoping for some intervention on Tuesday, 12 April. Expectantly. Muriel & Mario. -- .................................................... muriel & mario, 4/4 tabravaddo, opp. st. anne's chapel, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-278276 / 2409999 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''