Newly inducted minister Aleixo Sequeira was allocated portfolios on expected lines ” Environment, Law, Legislative Affairs and Captain of Ports. It came as no surprise that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held back the heavy PWD portfolio giving a faint indication that there could be yet another cabinet reshuffle happening.
While the dust seems to have settled over the weekend's political developments involving Nilesh Cabral and his sudden shift from the ministry, the appointment of Sequeira as the environment minister gives a new perspective to one of the most contentious subjects that Goa has been grappling with in recent times.
Firstly, double tracking may have moved ahead, and the opposition to it narrowed down, but coal handling is an issue that is still alive. The Union ministry has granted environmental clearance for the enhancement of terminal capacity at two of the berths at Mormugao Port Authority that handles coal and coal products, coal pollution continues to ravage residents of the port town and fears of transportation using waterways are felt as close as Sequeira’s backyard where people are protesting against the Rassaim jetty.
Secondly, Goa is racing against time over the Coastal Zone Management Plan 2019 after a roller-coaster journey of 2011 where Nilesh Cabral faced flak for ignoring the suggestions of citizens. The 2019 plan is once again delayed, and in all probability, it would be yet another uphill chase to meet new deadlines.
Thirdly, Goa enters into yet another festive season where tourists break loose and sound breaks all barriers. Despite the High Court’s interventions, there has been no respite for the common man. The recent move to install real-time sound monitoring systems by the Goa State Pollution Control Board appears to be a good move, but intentions in restoring peace are still being questioned. Then, there is an issue of sewage disposal of shacks along the coast by setting up of mini treatment plants, a mechanism that is work-in-progress.
Fourthly, industrial pollution has been a matter of grave concern and the pollution created by hazardous and polluting industries has remained unresolved. The audit undertaken by the Pollution Board has not helped the cause, and the continued pleas of Cuncolkars and others residing closer to Industrial Estates over the units causing pollution is testimony to what is in store.
Sequeira is a seasoned and veteran leader having handled key portfolios of power and environment in the past. His enormous experience may help, but there is a sea of difference between then and now. Sequeira, a five-time MLA has handled the environment portfolio during his tenure from 2007-12, but the scene was completely different then. Now, environment has become a very sensitive and challenging subject with people’s involvement growing exponentially.
The electoral decline of Cabral, once considered a strongman of the BJP, is attributed to his tough posturing on environmental issues and the arrogance that reflected in his public discourse. People have shown zero tolerance towards anti-environment subjects, and this is where Sequeira’s challenge lies.
As the Nuvem MLA dons this new role, all eyes will be fixated on him and his posturing on the issues that are already on the table. It is to be seen how Sequeira negotiates his tough terrain and whether he will succeed in building the broken bridges of trust between sections of people and the government. Time will tell.
