TAR BALLS ON GOAN SHORES by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai

With all the clamor about the tar balls in the Goan media I thought our Authorities would be forced into action, if only I was right ! Today some assumptions have been made by the Navhind Times with regard to the source of these tar balls and if they are right, it exposes the pathetic attitude of our Authorities towards our environment, our marine life and the welfare of coastal Goans at large.

It is a well known fact that countries like Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia are very protective of their environment and their coast and hence have put forth stringent measures that they enforce to with uniformity and dedication, so, knowing the consequences, the sea vessels do not take any chances with any environmentally hazardous discharge in their waters, but unfortunately knowing the apathy of our Authorities they seem to dump all their hazardous waste into our waters and our Authorities instead of showing objectivity, mutely submit and succumb to the inevitable and we have to bear the consequences for their ennui. Their attitude is certainly poignant and despairing.

If most of the far eastern countries think their coast and their marine environment is so very precious to them, why do our Authorities fail to see the light of day ? Isn’t our environment and our coast equally susceptible if not more ?

It certainly looks like our Authorities are only interested in furthering their own agendas rather than protect our environment and take care of the welfare of Goans and like Doris Day our Authorities too say “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be, The future's not ours, to see, Que Sera, Sera, What will be, will be.