About a year ago, the then BJP-ruled government in Maharashtra proposed a car shed for a Metrorail project in Aeray, which is thickly covered with variety of trees and said to be a natural forest. This forest is also a home to different types of birds and animals. The work for the project began.
During the night, the bulldozers were seen cutting the trees. Soon the citizens of Mumbai came to know about the new project. Then there was a huge protest against the Maharashtra Government’s proposal. Some protesters were arrested and even cases filed against them. Some politicians made scathing remarks against the Government then.
Soon the Assembly elections were held and the political scenario changed in Maharashtra and the BJP was ousted from power. After seeing the protests, by the citizens of Mumbai, today, the Maharashtra Government declared Aeray forest as the reserved forest and it will be protected and the controversial Metro-rail car shed will be shifted elsewhere.
Recently there have been so many controversial projects proposed by the Government of Goa in the garb of development. The citizens of Goa along with different NGOs have been protesting against the projects which will affect human beings and animal habitat, such as destruction of Mollem forest, double-tracking of railway line, coal issue, and destruction of field and Khazan land due to construction of unplanned highways, marina project and so on.
The ruling dispensation in Goa, must take a cue from the present ruling dispensation in Maharashtra in protecting human lives and the reserved forests as well. Certainly if the Government has a will, there will be a way out to safeguard forests, endangered species of animals, village Eco-system and human lives as well.
RUI PEREIRA, Navelim
