The day's of false prophets are here? While those in favour of the amendment to the Land Acquisition Ordinance and those against, battle it out through the media and other forums, what does this controversy mean to an ordinary citizen? According to the anti-ordinance factions, the change in the law will open a flood gate of regularisations of illegal constructions in the coastal belt. But the question is whether only this ordinance will result in the death of Goa? What is surprising is that during the same period an Amendment to the Panchayat Act which fortunately got refered to a House Select Committee, was floated by the government. It again is glaringly evident that this Bill is meant to give a back-door entry for unscrupulous builders into goa's villages. But what is confusing is that none of the activist champions against the ordinance have uttered even a single word to condemn the Panchayat amendment. The question that gets thrown up is, who decides the agenda for controversies and agitations in Goa? If stopping the destruction of goa by the rich and powerful is the aim of the anti-ordinance coterie then the Panchayat Amendment Bill is equally serious and definitely called for stiff opposition from the same forces who cry for Goa. But it is not so. There is a hypocritical silence because it is well known that just like the mining lobby has hired PR managers and social activists, the builder and real estate lobby also have a fair share of their hired for social activists in goa who will not allow any space to those controversies that do not benefit the construction industry. While the Cidade ordinance will get first page coverage the cries against the panchayat amendment will get second or third page coverage. Who decides the seriousness of the issue for goans to chew is therefore quite obvious. If Goa is to be saved it is a must that goans begin to decipher what is a genuine and more pressing issue to focus upon from those issues bliown out of proportion to systematically deflect public attention.
-Soter D'Souza
