Dear Mr Digambar Kamat,
Warm Greetings for the Diwali Season and the Festival of Lights from all Goans. We sincerely hope that Good will prevail over Evil for Goa, but alas to our dismay at this time it doesn't seem to be! As concerned Goans voicing our opinion about the destruction of Goa even our children will be busy during their Diwali Holidays writing to you to beg you to heed the voices of Goans who are alarmed at the wanton destruction of Goa and the Government of Goa's total disregard to the pleas of the Goans that the RP-2021 per the wishes of the people be ratified!
What a way to be celebrating Diwali which should be a joyous time for our children and for the young and old in Goa! Likewise village after village have had to put aside the time for celebration in order to now prevail on our MLAs that we mean business and ensure that the strong message we send will reach the Government of Goa and to you.
Nowadays we seem to be dodged with Section 144 every step of the way to keep the people away from the Government. Four long years have passed and we've seen that there is a planned conspiracy on the part of the Government of Goa not to heed the voices of the people. Many a Diwali, Id and Christmas have come and gone but it's shocking to see that the wishes and mandate of the Goan people is being consistently ignored by the Government of Goa. All we see is more destruction of Goa being wrought by the Real Estate, Mining, Hotel, Casinos, pollutant industries, Navy, Roadways, Railways whereas the Goan people and Goa being subject to all sorts of vile and devious projects which do not serve the interests of the people.
The time has come to tell you our Chief Minister and our MLAs that there is only so much to the patience of the Goan people and we need the Government of Goa to heed the wishes of the people and notify the Regional Plan and freeze development in eco-sensitive zonesOur Goan villages continue to be up in arms against the Government’s destruction of Goa this Diwali Season.
After Benaulim, Chandor, Chicalim, Tivim tomorrow it’s Cansaulim November 9th at 6:00pm where people will gather to have their voices heard and send a strong message to you and the Government of Goa. As is evident from the village meetings, the heat is on the MLAs and the Government of Goa to work for the people and not against them. Village after village has clearly given an ultimatum to their MLAs and in turn the Government of Goa be it Tivim, Benaulim, Chicalim, Chandor.It’s high time that the Government of Goa realises that it cannot go against the wishes of the people of Goa. They should read the writing on the wall and not take us for granted.
The anguish and pain of the Goan people are echoed through the sentiments expressed below by many Goans. To quote some of the views which have been reported by the media: "The state is becoming a terrorist, imposing outdated ideas of development on the people," Bicholim-based activist Ramesh Gawas said. Projects, be they SEZs, mega projects, mining, tourism ventures, are being imposed for the benefit of a few. These keep people busy at various levels, but all should unite to fight government's anti-people policies, he added.
Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) convener Sabina Martins said the government had no interest in finalizing RP 2021, which had people's suggestions for protection of agricultural land, water bodies and eco-sensitive zones. "Eco-sensitive zones such as hill slopes, ponds, forests have to be mapped in the plan," she said, adding that this is what people had marked in revised plans sent to the town and country planning department.
Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott member Bismarque Dias said, "The earth is crying and the cry of the earth is that of the poor," Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Samiti (Mopa International Airport Affected Farmers Committee) representative Sandip Kambli said all politicians had become brokers in the sale of land, depriving villagers and it was time to take the land back. Jaganath Dhulapkar of Dhulapi said villagers who had tilled or taken care of their ancestral land for centuries were dispossessed because of the politicians' policy of keeping people aside.
GBA's Miguel Braganza said development should be what people want and not what is promised by promoters of projects, which is never fulfilled. Village Groups of Goa representative John Philip Pereira said wherever there are illegalities, the people should keep fighting. Seby Rodrigues of GOAMAP said that genuine tenants are often termed as encroachers for no reason.
A villager from Chandor, Luel Fernandes stressed on the need to retain the village identity and character, saying that Goans would be reduced to a minority if the villagers are converted into urban area.
We Goans strongly urge you while you celebrate during this Diwali, and you recently celebrated three years of being Chief Minister and now prepare for the grand celebrations for Goa's 50 years, that you spare a thought for Goa and Goans. For us Goans you've taken the joy of celebrating and instead heap pain, injury and sorrow on Goa and Goans. We Goans hope that you and your MLAs and the Government of Goa take the time to spare some thought to what we Goans want for Goa and Goans this Diwali Season. To the Government of Goa please heed the wishes of the people and do not take Goa and Goans for granted. May this festive Season of Lights dispel the darkness and bring in Light for Goa and Goans!In deep sorrow during this Diwali Season,
Anguished Goans
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