WHO DESTROYED GOA MORE: BABUSH OR DIGAMBAR? By Rajendra Kakodkar

After the Mines Minister was exposed by Cavrem gaonkars, people said Digamber’s destruction of Goa is many times more than what Babush did as TCP Minister.  His media advisors are trying hard to salvage his image. Minin Piris, who a distrubutes govt advertisement to media acts like Sensor Board to filter Digamber’s excesses from being published in the media.

Opposition exposed the destruction of Goan forests. Forest Minister had no clues what he did. Also forest dept replied to questions as if they worked in mines dept: “Large deforestation was allowed to increase GDP and earn foreign exchage.” Clearly the Forest dept was getting instructions from someone responsible for promoting mines. The Speaker Pratapsing Rane at this stage summed the destruction of forest for mining as the “Rape of Goa”.

Mines dept is a sparsely employed and empowered dept with the 13-year-glued Minister calling out: parade stand up….parade sit down. Forest cutting is only one of the many excesses promoted by the Mines Minister.

The Rape of Goa referred to as by the speaker only relates to forest component of Mining excesses of the Mines Minister. He has presided over many such Rapes.

The most serious one is the destruction of Goa’s water resources. The minerals washing into reservoirs like Selaulim make it high in heavy metal content. Having not objected to Digamber’s excesses, this generation deserves to be penalized if the heavy metals take toll of their health. But the effects of heavy metals are also passed on genetically. What is the fault of the posterity? Did they have a say on Digamber’s exploits?

Apart from this, the destruction of aquifers (which allow rain water to percolate into the ground), destruction of top soil (rich in humous, which takes 100s of years to develop), obstructions to the natural flow by mountains of rejects, destruction of springs and streams, the resultant lower yield of agriculture and horticulture are the other losses inflicted on to Goa by the lust of this politician and his miner friends.

Most publicized excesses in Goa were carried out by piranhas (39 MLAs and their agents in business), who took many small bites of Goa by way of illegal constructions, land deals, hill cutting, drugs, casinos, rave parties, human rape, SEZ, hot mix scams, IIFFI etc. But the excesses of the only shark in politics were suppressed by the media during the past six years. This shark (with the help of Sharks and Whales in mining business) has swallowed the entire Eastern Goa destroying its Land, Forest, water, people, peace and social fabric.

This clutch of Sharks must have minted monies enough for many generations. They could run away once Goa starts crumbling. But by that time the Goan masses would be beggars. They will have no option but to kneel before the Mafia waiting for alms to be thrown at them.