This past week, college students from across Goa have been writing open letters welcoming the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, which is visiting the State on January 20, and to voice concerns about three environmentally destructive projects being undertaken in the protected Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.
The CEC is coming to inspect and deliberate on these three projects, which were granted clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in April 2020.
The CEC, constituted in July to judge the projects, decided to visit Goa after cases were filed against all three projects ” the NH748 four-laning, the South Western Railway double tracking and the 400 KV transmission line ” in the Supreme Court earlier this year for alleged violations of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The issue has received widespread support from locals, people across the country and around the world through the MyMollem (Amche Mollem or Save Mollem) movement.
While the MyMollem movement includes a diverse group of locals, including those who stand to lose their lands and homes to the projects, the MyMollem movement has become largely youth driven, perhaps in part due to its large social media presence.
Consequently, students across the State are increasingly aware of and concerned about environmental destruction these projects would cause, and the effect they would have on wildlife, nature, and the health of the populace.
Seeing the ease with which the state and central governments dismissed local frustrations by granting clearance to the project in hearings that were not made publicly known, and ignoring science while getting the EIAs conducted, they have turned with hope to the CEC.
“We, as patriotic young citizens of India find it surprising and distressing that large-scale deforestation is proposed in the name of development of infrastructure through our pristine Western Ghats,” wrote Valerie Afonso, a student at Goa University, in the official Youth of Goa forum letter signed by over 40 student representatives.
In December, the Youth of Goa urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to halt the projects, to no avail.
Sabira Shaikh, a student of St Joseph Vaz College, echoed Afonso’s concerns.
In her letter, she said a “quantum of irreversible destruction” was happening due to the Mollem projects.
However, both Afonso and Shaikh are hopeful that the CEC will decide in favour of the Goan people and reject the projects.
Shaikh said the Goan youth “expect the CEC to understand” what is at stake, and “recommend a favourable verdict in favour of natural resources of Goa.”
While less optimistic, other students’ letters show that they clearly appreciate the CEC taking the matter seriously, especially after seeing no progress with the state and central governments.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant remains adamant on the three projects despite widespread protests, for reasons better known to his own government,” wrote Melroy Simoes from Assagao. “So the CEC's visit to check the sites of the project is a welcome sign and does give some hope.”
Added Ana Smriti Paes: “We hope the CEC will study the matter thoroughly and take a decision which will save our Goa for our future.”
The Youth of Goa letter penned by Afonso and other student members also expressed a desire to meet with the CEC to talk with them about local concerns.
“We the youth would definitely like to meet the team as well and put forth our views, our worries, and our objections,” said Simoes.
In the official Youth of Goa letter, Afonso sought an appointment with the CEC so that the youth could keep the CEC abreast of the people’s sentiments and apprehensions that are fuelling the struggle to preserve the well-being, welfare and future of the state and its youth.
The youth of Goa are hopeful that the CEC will hear them out, and make a decision in line with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, as well as safeguarding Goa’s natural resources and their futures.
(The writer is part of the Youth of Goa and is a research and writing intern at MyMollem, and an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College, US)
