It is a wake-up call to the Government to take the people's movement seriously with regards to the three fast-tracked projects
-- double tracking, high transmission lines and expansion of highway from Panaji to Karnataka. Kudos to the Goencho Ekvott an umbrella organisation of like-minded parties for giving a clarion call to the locals to display solidarity against the fast-tracking of these disastrous projects which would cause untold damage to the environment, flora and fauna and the fragile ecosystems on which Goa tourism depends as the mainstay of its economy.
Ironically the panchayats' role as a grassroots functionary has been whittled down by the interference of the MLAs. The central government is selling Goa like a commodity to Adani giving a damn to the public protests. Even the Portuguese did not make inroads into the forests and hills by indiscriminately felling trees for unplanned development.
Before the setting up of the coal hub in Mormugao, the controversial corporate colossus Adani tried to set its footprints in Australia to build a giant coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin but the environmentalists there raised a hue and cry resulting in the proposal being shelved.
A great beginning has been made and the relentless fight has to continue until wiser sense prevails on the powers that be for scrapping the projects in toto.
