The writing is on the wall. Many, many years of badly planned so-called development has landed Goa in a quagmire. One major case in question is the fate of Mopa which is still facing opposition. The Mopa Vimantal Pidit Xetkari Samiti is still trying tooth and nail to resist the forces which seem to be bulldozing the construction of the airport in violation of the National Green Tribunal order not to cut trees. Goa's so called development can be analyzed by taking the example of Mopa itself which is an irony. Tourists come to Goa because of its greenery and its diverse flora and fauna. Now consider the irony - Mopa, which is a microcosm of what Goa has to offer to the discerning tourist, is being converted into an airport which is supposed to bring in more tourists. The measly compensation of Rs. 25 to Rs. 80 which is being paid by the government to the displaced people will be devoured by the big money flowing from huge corporate companies who making use of the formation of PDA in Mopa, will considerably consume the land around Mopa with huge five star hotels which will turn to naught the measly sums that they are being paid. Also it is pertinent to note that the six-lane highway that is being built connecting the South to North will in a major way divest the people of the South, including the multi-star hotels from earning as new big projects will sprout around Mopa. The people of the South should fight tooth and nail at least to prevent the construction of the six-lane highway otherwise the South will lose considerable business and their livelihoods. Over-development of Goa seems like bringing Goa to the brink of a situation in which even the tourists are beginning to look for other destinations. It is observed that foreign tourist arrivals have declined in Goa. If tourism collapses in the state, and with the mining industry facing a bleak future, Goa is very soon going to find itself in a major dilemma.
Elvidio Miranda, via email
