OF RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES AND SHANTIES by Praxy Fernandes, Sanquelim

God never curses or forces calamities on mankind, rather it is the human being who invites wrath unto himself. The way government officials have shown enthusiasm in collecting/publishing the list of religious structures is not insulting to God and to us Goans but shows their arrogance which certainly one day will invite wrath and punishment to them. In normal circumstances this could have been seen as part of their work but why is the same enthusiasm not shown in collecting information on all the slums, shanties and dirt strewn all over Goa by the non-Goans. All along the roads, highways and even in interior villages illegal structures/shanties are mushrooming; even communidade properties are not spared. The markets/beaches stink with all the lamanis and beggars with small children hanging in their arms tormenting the tourist and everyone who passes by. In places like Margao, Mapusa and Vasco the market place and footpaths are so congested with robbers and thieves openly sell their loot with ofcourse the blessing of the politicians and the police. Everyday one sees non-Goan labourers suffocating all the bus stands by accumulating in large numbers and by sleeping on the footpaths. Our pristine beaches and our narrow but clean roads have been rendered dirty and murky by the invasion of migrants. Hill cutting and even trees and agricultural areas are not spread by the non-Goans who in connivance with our rogue local politicians and bureaucrats from Delhi have started concreting our beautiful state through illegal constructions and dubious licences, not to talk of mining. Housing boards are created to accommodate all outsiders who try to impose themselves on Goans through communal tensions.

The Goa Police department and law enforcement authorities is totally useless, so I wonder if someday we original Goans(excluding the present greedy rogue politicians) could unite and start a revolution to get rid of all these ghantis and the mess they have created for us here in Goa.