Huge billboards have been erected at various locations in Goa by the Tourism Department celebrating Goan Heritage and Culture for three days. A few weeks back another event was celebrated with great pomp -- the Cashew Fest. These events are supposed to showcase the rich heritage of the state and the traditional occupation of the locals. What an irony that the Town and Country Planning Dept, the Forest Dept, Goa Forest Development Corporation and Tourism Dept are the departments that are ruining and destroying Goa’s natural beauty along the shoreline, on the majestic hills, forests and the low lying fields by allowing land conversions and constructions. Today everyone sees the Goan village landscape -- the hills are purchased by big real estate sharks who are mercilessly cutting down the cashew trees and other tree species for building projects, low lying fields are filled for building projects along the sea front or riverfront.The Director of Education is asking headmasters to take care of the trees planted during the just concluded elections to the Lok Sabha, while the Forest dept has no count of how many chopped trees have been afforested by the real estate companies.
