[Goanet] GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESS NOTE
GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESS NOTE GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT strongly condemns TCP Minister Francis D’Souza’s shocking statement that “Zones marked as Investment Promotion zones by the Investment Promotion Board will have to be respected”. GFSD pointed out that the very constitution of this unwarranted, deviously conceived and draconian IPB is akin to a declaration of all out war on the ecology and the people of Goa by its own government. How can the TCP Minister justify and accept the concept of the IPB, which equips its other departments with powers to over ride and destroy the very essence and concept of the Regional Plan? GFSD said that that the TCP Minister must surely be aware that all activities and projects must conform and comply with the scientific planning and guidelines imposed by a well studied Regional Plan based on sound data collection and analysis. Therefore, it defies all logic, reasoning, comprehension and norms of legality when the Regional Plan is compelled to fit into the IPB instead of the other way around, solely to fulfil the interests of corporates and favoured industrialists, regardless of the fragility of the zone and the potential destructive impact on Goa’s people, traditional communities, ecology and long term food and water security. How is this very unacceptably ad hoc process different from the one followed at the time of the contentious and outrightly rejected Regional Plan presided over by Babush Monseratte as TCP Minister? Why is the Government not accepting the factual reality that the State is made up of agricultural, fishing, tribal, tenant and various other traditional communities who are also sons and daughters of Goa and therefore legitimate stakeholders in the Regional Plan. Their interests also must be safeguarded and protected instead of being sacrificed at the altar of greed and vested interests. Why is this government focusing so strongly upon giving legality and sanction of law to crass and unjustifiable illegalities in all spheres of its governance? By now, it is absolutely clear that the IPB is a total sell out of Goan land by the State Government with a purpose to provide backdoor entry to vested interests and legitimise their transgressions at the cost of the people of Goa and their community resources. Ever since it was constituted in October 2014, the IPB has granted in principle approval to 72 projects and is functioning like a Special Purpose Vehicle especially created with the aim of clearing projects, many of which fall in eco sensitive zones. While Hideaway Hospitality, proposed by a close relative of the Defence Minister received rapid clearance to set up on an eco sensitive notified zone in Sanguem, the controversial red category Vani Agro alcohol project, again with alleged connections to a ruling party MLA, received clearance in just one week on land that is clearly not meant for industrial use in either of the Regional Plans. In addition, the IPB has ploughed ahead with clearing two marina projects and a host of other projects without even the slightest pretence at any study on the effect of these projects on the ecology and occupations of traditional communities. In fact, the Governments hostile attitude towards traditional communities can be well assessed from its treatment of Ravindra Velip from the mining belt and the traditional Ramponkars, who had gathered to highlight their issues in Panjim recently. A State Government has a fundamental duty to protect the interests of its land and its people. The government’s cavalier and callous attitude towards the land resources of Goa can be seen yet again in its easy accession to the demand for 5 acres of land at the proposed contentious Mopa Airport project by the Navy.Since 1961, this arm of the Defence forces has abrogated unto itself and maintained total control over Dabolim Airport, carving out over the years a very pleasant playground for itself with football and golf courses etc. at the cost of Goan people and their community resources. Why does the Navy need more land at Mopa, especially when the present Defence Minister himself is on record to say that the “Defence is not interested in acquiring land in Goa even if given free” as recently as four months ago! GFSD said that the Government should understand that it has been elected as caretaker of Goa and not as Dalal. Goa is not up for grabs. As such the people of Goa have a legitimate right to demand policies that reflect concern for the interests of all sections of Goans as well as the ecology and environment that is so essential to sustain the quality of life for this generation and the ones to come instead of being compelled to witness the rampant and unabashed sell out of our precious, limited land and other essential natural resources. Ramkrishna Jalmi Rony Dias Eremito Rebelo
[Goanet] GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Press Note
May 15th, 2016 GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESS NOTE GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT salutes Goa’s Ramponkar community, who in fighting for their traditional livelihoods are also making a heroic stand to safeguard our vulnerable coastline and our precious marine biodiversity, at great costs to themselves. The values guiding the traditional fishing communities are the principles of ‘Sustainable Development’ our government claims to be searching for, while it continues to ruthlessly destroy natural resources and sustainable economies in blind slavery to short-term profit and corruption. Since Goa is a coastal state, the contribution of the Ramponkars to preserving and protecting the coastal zone is invaluable. Through the decades, it has been the Ramponkars who have taken a firm and uncompromising stand on the side of Mother Nature. It was the Ramponkars who insisted that the breeding season monsoon ban be adhered to and who have been consistently fighting against destructive and rapacious fishing practices like bull trawling and now LED light fishing, as well as pollution of our rivers and coastal areas, among other issues. GFSD therefore, calls upon all traditional communities, sensitive citizens, and lovers of Goa, including all farmers, tribals, oppressed classes, tenants, toddy tappers, etc to wholeheartedly rally behind our Ramponkar brothers, because this is not only the fight of the Ramponkars, but the fight of all traditional communities and sensible citizens against anti-Goa, unsustainable and suicidal policies. This predatory onslaught of vested interests is actively aided and abetted by the present State government, which is only interested in helping casinos, marinas, polluting industries, unregulated tourism and land sharks, while destroying Goa and displacing the same Goans who elected it to power. In recent years, it has been an increasingly lonely fight for Ramponkars and other traditional communities in their quest to safeguard their interests and their livelihoods, which are deeply entwined with and dependent on the ecology and the environment. All Goans who value their motherland, therefore, should rally behind their causes, because the destruction of our traditional communities would remove the last bastion against the wholesale and unobstructed, irreversible destruction of Goa’s ecology, environment and thus her economy and way of life. The Regional Plan, RP 2021, has been specially designed with a view to destroy the Ramponkars and other traditional communities. We have seen how the traditional jetties used by Ramponkars, their habitations and fishing areas, coastal areas, sand dunes, etc have all been earmarked for 5-star Hotels, marinas, etc, thus paving the way for the replacement of the Ramponkar and other traditional communities with short term commercial interests of robber barons that will spell doom for Goa, sending us down the path of Spain, Casablanca and other bankrupt economies. GFSD stands firm behind our Ramponkar heroes and once again appeals to all Goans to come out and rally behind them in this important and crucial issue for Goa and Goans. For GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Rony DiasEremito Rebelo
[Goanet] Goans for sustainable development
GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT A private initiative supported and funded by contributions of the participants. A large gathering of different shades of people at Lohia maidan was apacked beyond capacity with crowds spreading into streets, breaking religious barriers and from different parts of Goa, self motivated, lent their support to the organizers,. The gathering was entertained , sensitized, created interest by Tiatrists , Francis de Tuem, Marcus, Lawry Travaso,Xavier Gomes and comedians Neto and Richard. Then groups from different parts of Goa dwelled on the disastrous effects of RP 21 in their own back yard .Almost all the groups were of the opinion that the RP 21 in its present form has converted very large tracts of mountains ,plateaus, fields are converted into settlement zone, back door entry to eco tourism and favouring big chain of hotels permitted construction within 200 to 500 meters of CRZ , The present habitation are deliberately left out. Mr Prasssana highlighted about Cavelossim, destruction of sand dunes, CRZ favouring Hotel promotion and ignoring carrying capacity of beaches. Fatima Fernandes was emotionally vocal and emotionally charged in her deposition about Siolim and Chapora river into echo tourism. Mr Baretto spoke about Canacona, promoting more industrial estates at Loliem , Sadolxem, when one is not functioning. Hotels are in the offing The flooding of last time was blamed on unplanned filing of natural distribution of water routes, loss of greenery, The expansion of NH 17 from 8 mts to 25 mts will have adverse effects on existing settlements. Agnelo Rodrigues spoke about plight of Goenkarancho Ramponkarancho Ekvot stressed about the force of 80 lakhs members and ignoring their basic existence and living. Sidarth Karapukar about NH17 planned to be widened by 80 mts and 4 mts height, that would be seen from space apart from Great wall of China. No bidders for Mopa airport unless rapid transport system is in place , Western express highway is unexplainable at 80 meters wide needing 3.50 L trucks for filling this stretch alone, Municipalities are kept outside OPD of RP21, as there is no protest like in Panchayats .The broadening of roads from 10mts, 15, mts, 25 mts will hit the dwellers on roadsides and favour builders lobby. The Goans for sustainable development made detail presentation with slides which was very effective visual. The study is complete with 120 villages out of 283villages and compared against Google images The RP21 largely favours builders, industries plateaus, mountains, fields shown in settlement areas and hinterland inclusion pushing indirectly echo tourism Fr Eremito called the present rulers as anti Goan and are the worst enemies not comparable with Portuguese and British.RP21 should be scrapped in toto with moratorium and permit single dwelling houses ill then He said the MOPA being under special PDA is unheard of an measure for acting brazenly and roughshod against all normal regulations All Goans leaving aside their differences of religion etc must unite to preserve Goan identity and not to make the same mistake of putting the present rulers in the saddle again This may the last elections for Goans to stress their identity Diana too made visual representation of preservation of pure water and how destruction of mountains, plateaus leads to scarcity of drinking water, She highlighted convincingly about mining activity polluting drinking water sources and also effecting life in oceans The participants displayed strong bonding with the movement Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
[Goanet] GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESS NOTE
April 16th, 2016 GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRESS NOTE GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT said that it is quite clear that Goa has crossed its carrying capacity long ago, primarily due to the blind policies of the Government. And now, with RP 2021, the Government seeks to increase the pace of Goa’s destruction even further. GFSD along with thousands of individuals and organizations, had raised numerous relevant and pertinent questions and doubts regarding the ongoing RP 2021 process with this undemocratic State Government, which continues to remain adamantly unresponsive to the people’s legitimate concerns. It is now abundantly clear that RP 2021 has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of vested interests and speculators, at the cost of ordinary Goans, traditional communities and occupations and environmental safeguards that our ancestors had so carefully put in place and that have served us so well over the years. Despite overwhelming evidence being submitted time and again that the unjustifiable RP 2021 will surely lead to the destruction of Goa for private profits of a few builders and speculators, the Government refuses to consider the people’s demand for a Regional Plan that would cater to the sustainable development of the many rather than the short-term gain of the few. GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT once again reiterates and warns the people that RP 2021 is the biggest threat to Goa and Goans, as it releases crores of square meters to builders and speculators in our unsuspecting villages. This will only lead to a total environmental, economic and social collapse, even the extinction of the people, their identity and their culture. Already the signs are alarming. Villagers in many parts of Goa are living in daunting water shortage conditions. While South Goa has had to make do with manganese laden water from the Selaulim dam, the people of North Goa have been kept dependent on Maharashtra for their water supply needs. The drought like conditions in this state, and indeed in most parts of India, puts Goa in an unnecessarily precarious position, even as the Government obstinately goes about its plan of destroying and defiling existing water bodies and water recharge zones. Closure of mining, collapse of tourism, real estate market saturation, and gross failure of industrial estates are proof of total failure of the present policies. But it is what we have lost that is inexcusable and lamentable. Goa’s primary resources – her forests, agricultural lands, plateaus, ground and surface water bodies, minerals, hills, flood and storm infrastructure, khazans, sand dunes and seas have been defiled, polluted, and even permanently and irreversibly destroyed in some instances. We cannot be blind to the real threats of water and food scarcity, rising sea levels, frequent storms and failing monsoons in the future due to climate change. Goa must plan for local residents and for future generations rather than take the easy and short term path of destruction of our natural resources for immediate gains and private profit. When Government’s give substance to people’s doubts by remaining stonily unresponsive to their cries and queries and continues to lead them down a suicidal path, then it is time for the people to raise their voices, stand up and be counted. GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT calls on all right thinking Goans concerned for the well being and future of their motherland and their children, to attend the public meeting to be held on April 22nd at Lohia Maidan at 3.30 p.m. to protest against total selling of Goa through the shoddy, ruinous and one sided RP 2021 that has apparently been driven by vested interests and to demand the formulation of an equitable, environment friendly, Regional Plan based on authentic data, that safeguards the ecology and environment and takes into consideration the rights and needs of all sections of Goan society. For GOANS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Ramkrishna Jalmi Rony Dias
