Goa’s Goenkarponn Government 

Firstly to give Due Credit, I appreciate Minister Vijai Sardessai plans to celebrate Opinion Poll Day (16th Jan) & setting up Statues Of Dr. Jack Sequeira, who we all know was key in keeping Goa separate from the merger designs of our big neighbors. If not for him most of our “big” Ministers would be nothing today if Goa was merged into a bigger state. This is something’s none of the previous Governments have done and I Believe that remembering his legacy is a key base to implement Goenkarponn. Saying which in my view, the costs of setting the statues up should be minimum cost possible without compromising on quality, and possibly using it as part of a plan to have a beautiful/ clean & well maintained surrounding area which could possibly be a tourist attraction. 

Now after giving this credit, I must state that this does not meet the Governments commitment as surely the below points  which are  currently being pursued or allowed by the Government goes against Goenkarponn:

1. Unnecessary destruction of Goa’s Forests/Greenery/Wildlife as we are seeing for example by the Government creating unnecessary bid roads in Loutolim, to satisfy corporates with vested interests. Loutolim is an idyllic village which today one of the few last villages of true Goenkarponn . 
2. Coal pollution and then lying/misleading to Goans, even after being caught out - as we see regularly from the Government. 
3. Nationalization of our rivers 
4. Goa getting filthy & unlivable by the day
5. Konkani usage decreasing in Goa  and no planned strategy to make it the No 1. Language in Goa. What is Goenkarponn without Konkani ?
6. Unnecessary destruction of fields, water bodies, hills etc . This is Goa’s Key  On Goenkarponn and the Government is allowing and also facilitating its destruction by the real estate lobby. For example we are seeing many instances of unwanted and unplanned widening of Roads in small Goa. 
7. Goans still migrating in alarming numbers particularly on Portuguese passports.  What is the Governments action to reassure Goans that there plans for them for a good future in Goa.  
8. Alarming sale of Goan land to people from those from outside the state. Will Goenkarponn not be affected if Majority of Goan Land is not with Goans?
9. Why is it so difficult for Goa Government to even do things within its control e.g. banning sale of agricultural land to people from outside Goa? Will this not be on alignment with the Government declaration that Agriculture is the focus.           
10. Has the Government declared a proper time based plan for implementation of Goenkarponn or will it be another false commitment as was done with the earlier promise of Special Status to preserve Goa and its identity?

Surely the Goa Government will appreciate that above are some of logical/required points to implement Goenkarponn else just having celebrating Opinion Poll day and statues will not be enough. 

Subject: Governments Coal Deceit

Now it is very clear that MPT outrageously  allowed huge excess of Coal Handling over the last 6 years so:

1) Was the Government really not aware that these violations were going on for 6 years ?

2) Who paid whom for these excesses? Were they accounted or not?

3) If there are clear violations of what I see is a criminal intent to harm people’s health, why is no one being penalized and the license to operate revoked ? Instead why is the Government allowing these violators further rewards via significantly increasing their operations; whilst sacrificing Goa’s Environment, Forests and wildlife ?

4) Clearly the Government was aware of these violations for last 6 years so when the activists started highlighting these recently why was  the Government and specific MLA still in Denial ? 

5) The Government criticizes Activists that they always goes to courts, will they have to If, like in This case the Goa Government is doing its job?

6) Who is Goa Government mainly accountable to ? People or it’s high command in Delhi or  is corporates sponsors for whom greed is the primary culture ?

7) Now it is clear that the Goa Government is lying and misleading Goans ! Why are we tolerating this particularity on the fact that this political class was actually rejected at the 2017 elections!

Subject: Tourist Cooking Areas 

It was interesting to hear the Goa Governments solution, to the major issue of tourist visitors to the state cooking in public places particularly on roads. 

I wonder if there is any proper thinking/planning to what the Goa Government says or does in Goa. For instance on this particular point:

1) Has the Govt does any cost benefit analysis to see the returns of his new proposed plan?

2) Yes, there are such things in other countries but they have already planning in their revenue benefits coming from Visas, Flight Tickets, Confirmed Hotel rooms etc. What is the revenue the Goa Government planning to get from yet another freebee other, than these type of tourists just buying alcohol at very low prices and the littering all over the places and treating Goa like an open toilet.  

3) Will this new plan mean more of our green areas/fields will be acquired for concretization? 

4) Will the Govt provide free water which will also  be also wasted ?

5) As clearly this plan will not deliver profit revenue, will these places be taken good care of ? We already see how badly the Government takes care of Goa which is a good revenue earner with respect to its size; as compared to many other places in India    

6) Will this free charity tourism not clog our roads and give another excuse to destroy fields/forests and make bigger wider roads in small Goa ?

7) Is this type of unwanted tourism not affecting the quality tourism by decent tourists who would actually give good revenue to the state and keep our state clean.  

8) Can we not see that this is Damaging Goa’s reputation and even causing Goans to leave the state/migrate in the light of Goa getting filthy by the day?

9) Is all this filth not destroying our beaches and polluting our waters, air and sea food. Has this been taken into account ?  What is the Goa State Pollution Control Board doing? 

10) Can the Goa Government really not come up with a proper plan to discourage such time of unwanted tourism?

Goa has generally a high literacy rate. How is this useful if we allow the Government to make and even get away with such plans?

Subject : Goans oppose everything ?

Goans opposing everything is a general representation of a view that I increasingly hear in Goa.  The interesting part is that this distorted view is mostly promoted by politicians and those having vested interests against Goa and Goans. 

I do accept that there are some genuine cases being wrongly opposed by Goans but these cases are largely in-significant vs. the overwhelming large non-genuine cases which clearly are against Goa’s interests with reference to its Environment, Ecology, People and their way of life.  And cunning politicians will bring up the very few cases that opposition was wrong, so as to justify the overwhelming large amount of Anti-Goa projects. Also needless to mention, given the Goa Government Pathetic/Destructive Track record, people are justified to be skeptical of any of the Goa Government’s plans !

We know of other cities in India which from

Originally being beautiful/livable cities are now turned into filthy, polluted & un-livable by the governance which is clearly corrupt, destructive and short sighted in their development plans. Goa is also on the same path but thanks to the efforts of some selfless/sincere activists, the Rampage of Goa’s destruction was slightly slowed down. (not sure how long these Activists can hold on against some really corrupt & destructive lobbies unless Goans Support them). I am always grateful  to these sincere activists; some of whom I know have sacrificed a lot for Goa/Goans and many times it’s a thankless Job. 

Are these politicians/ vested interests saying that Goans should blindly allow the “Clean/Sincere/Non-Corrupt/Environment Friendly/Effective” Goa Government to not share proper clear communicated plans but do what it wants with Goa and in doing so convert Goa to the likes of the other polluted/un-livable places in India ?

Subject: Goa Roads Expansion

It appears as common sense that in general we need bigger roads. But also we can’t copy paste general assumptions and but need to take into account local considerations particularly in view of Goa’s small size and particular considerations:

1) Are the Current Roads and the way they are maintained/organize/regulated and laws/rules  implemented not a big cause for accidents or we just ignore all that and just say big roads are the answer? 

For instance why do Roads also have potholes - is this not basic that should be addressed first ?

2) Goa is small compared to the other much bigger states- has the Government taken into consideration to develop roads to align with Goa’s unique characteristics or are they as we suspect,  Just copy pasting models from larger states? If they have Planned to Goa’s Requirements, why are they not sharing the same with Goans and instead keeping the road widening plans as top secret !

3) We are aware of the huge greed for political party’s / persons to make the project as huge an in-necessary as possible to ensure that their share of loot is the maximium!

4) We are aware as also being done in other states roads are also done to maximizing the real estate value of properties taken at a very low Value. If not how is that most of Goan politicians are corepathies and that to in the shortest time period!

5) In this particular case the BJP opposed the road widening / expansion when in opposition vs. the Congress but now they are following the same policies in a much worse manner. 

6) Surely If the Government gave a comprehensive Regional Plan with planned roads/widening but first addressing how Goa’s Character, Environment, Pollution  etc will be addressed, will there be lot of opposition -  Surely this is not being done by the Government. The issue is that we are aware of the Governments pathetic legacy so far where the interests of the Goa/Goans are not at all considered ; but more so how it’s a priority for The greedy politicians to Maximise their wealth and fullfill their commitments to some Devious business lobbies who want huge return in their investments in backing these politicians/parties! 

-That’s why Manohar Parrikar has openly declared for instance that funds given to parties should not be transparent to the Public. 

7) Is there really no way how we can manage a good road network whilst at the same time keeping Goa’s unique character/selling point. Do we have confidence that the Goa Government is really thinking out of their corrupt box? 

8) Goa is well appreciated vs. other Indian cities for

It’s Peaceful environment, tranquility etc. why do want to copy paste haphazard models from

These other cities which we know are messed up by incompetent politicians ?

9) Will these new road developments not encourage more un-necessary settlements, Mega projects, water shortages, pollution and concretisation Of Green Goa to the benefit of the Real Estate Lobbies, Land sharks and politicians.  What are we turning Goa into !

Considering the above points and more, I fully support stopping the reckless Goa Government and am open to work with like minded people to oppose this road extension / widening plan on a reasonable basis and only support a constructive plan which takes Goa’s interests into account. 

Subject : Goa Liberation ? 

The Liberation of Goa was supposed to be the most happiest moment in history for Goa. But are we really liberated?

1) Goa was once the most beautiful and cleanest places in India, now it's going filthy by the day. Just look at the pictures in 1961 and going into today

2) Black Money rich Indians are buying out Goan land left right and centre with the assistance of the Corrupt Goa Governments, looks like Goa is being liberated from the Goans!

3)The Centre, Goa Government and mining companies are looting and taking award most of our rich Mineral Wealth. Had we had this for Goa, we would have been one of the richest states in the world

4) At Liberation time most of the Public Administration was by Goan, now that is gradually going to be a Goan minority! Again being liberated from the Goans

5) Environment is gradually being destroyed, water/air polluted. We are gradually importing the stinking corruption from rest of India!

6) Promises made by the then Indian Government in 1961 for Goans to decide the destiny of Goa to preserve the identity of Goa and now totally ignored !!

So what are we really celebrating !!

Arwin Mesquita, Colva.  

Subject: Goa liveable again 

No one can deny the fact that India has the horrible experience to convert beautiful, livable places into absolutely the opposite via its shortsighted and destructive development policies.  Just look at Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore etc which is choked by excessive  traffic, heavy pollution, water issues  etc. I  know so many people from other cities/towns in India, who are now complaining on the same. 

By what we see happening to Goa currently, the Goa Government polices are on course to do the same. Just look at Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda and see them as signs  of things to come, which are because of the pathetic and corrupt policies of various  Central/Goa Governments.  

So the question is what we are going to do About it? I am sure if at least we be aware about it, do our little bit to speak out and take some minimum action, the overall effort will be huge to prevent the destruction/pollution of Goa and instead move forward in a more sustainable, clean and environmentally friendly manner. 

Bottom line we can’t be complacent. We have to act now for Goa or repent in leisure. 

Getting a Portuguese Passport/Leaving Goa permanently can’t be the only responses !

Arwin Mesquita, Colva.