MARGAO
Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Ferdino Rebello, said on Friday that the Enough is Enough movement is contemplating approaching the judiciary with a plea to halt the construction of multi-dwelling units in Goa until the government is able to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water to residents.
Speaking to the youth of Goa at a meeting held at Grace Church Hall in Margao on Friday, as part of an effort to mobilise youth to join the campaign to “save Goa from destruction”, Justice Rebello said residents in several areas across the State, including Dona Paula, do not receive water even for four hours a day, while the government continues to grant land development permissions.
“We are thinking of going to the court to halt further construction of multi-dwelling units in the State until water supply to residents improves. Let the government grant permission for single-dwelling ground-plus-one units; we have no objection. But there ought to be a halt on multi-dwelling units,” he said.
Justice Rebello said the Enough is Enough movement would oppose candidates who have been found to have been involved in corruption in the past. He added that the movement would support candidates who back its 10-point charter of demands, including the passage of a Bill to protect agriculture in the first session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Appealing to the youth to protect the Preamble to the Constitution against those who seek to exclude certain sections of people from the country, Justice Rebello said young people have the power to “stop the rot” in the country.
“If the youth of the country are not there to stop the rot, who else will? If the youth are not there to preserve the integrity of the nation, which was built through the sacrifices of our ancestors, who will fight?” he asked. He added that Goan ancestors had fought to make Goa part of India, while a subsequent generation fought to protect the State’s identity. “I was fortunate enough to be part of the Konkani Porjecho Awaz, which fought to make Konkani the official language and to secure statehood for Goa,” he said.
Sharing the concerns expressed by the youth over the state of politics, Justice Rebello said, “I understand that you are concerned about what is happening in Goa, where politicians elected on one party’s ticket jump over to another party.” Reminding the gathering that the success of any movement depends on the participation of the youth, Justice Rebello expressed confidence that the youth group would grow further. “Going to court is one part of the Enough is Enough movement, and making people aware of their rights is the second part. We are also planning a movement to ensure that the Bill to protect Goa’s agriculture is passed by the new Assembly. We will have to bring in a new Assembly of people who believe in the Enough is Enough movement,” he said.
