BIHAR UPDATE- NOT A SEXY STORY TO TELL

Revati Laul
Special Correspondent, NDTV
Thursday, September, 25 2008 (New Delhi)

We live in such voyeuristic times that it's often difficult to feel anything
anymore. Blasts. Floods. Torture. Terror. Every news piece is a story of
victims of some sort or the other and after a point it's all deafeningly
similar. An endless stream of tears, loss, and above all of that, viewer and
reporter fatigue.

So when I went into Bihar to report on the floods, I was carrying the
enormous weight of that weariness with me. `Oh, you're going in three weeks
later...huh. ..,' said a colleague or two. `Well, there are stories to do
yaar, but it's no longer a headline. Not a sexy story.'

















So it took a while for these layers to peel away and for the true horror of
what I was in; actually dawn on me. Realisation came nearly two weeks into
reporting in flood hit Bihar. Relief camp after camp. Tens of thousands of
people queuing in long lines to get food. But it seemed like the Nitish
Kumar government was doing the impossible. Moving a state machinery that had
become defunct through decades of misuse and getting large relief camps into
pretty decent shape.

Then, we drove down a stretch of national highway in Supaul. It was a sight
that suddenly changed everything. One never ending road...stretching far
beyond the horizon....miles and miles of people huddled into plastic
sheets...in what looked like the longest camp in the world. It wasn't even a
camp. It was a vast plastic slum. We measured it the next day. It was 6
kilometres of road...dotted by plastic tent after tent...at least 4 lakh
people on one stretch of road alone, all from just this one district. Lined
up like an army of ants. This was no flood.



It was I now realised, the largest displacement of people in India since the
partition. Perhaps the largest displacement of people anywhere in the world
in the last decade or more. We're talking about a river getting up and
moving 120 kilometres east. We're talking about 35 lakh people displaced.
Homeless overnight. 3.5 million people. That's nearly half the population of
Bihar. Out in plastic shanties. Homeless, penniless and struggling to
survive. Or nearly the whole population of Orissa, the neighbouring state
that's also flooded.

Imagine feeding 35 lakh marooned shelter less people everyday. Even if you
give them only two instead of three meals, and imagine that you can get one
meal for 10 rupees...that adds up to 7 crore rupees or 7 million in just one
day. Now know, that their villages are either completely submerged or at
best, floating in at least 3 feet of water. That's not receding yet. The
water may take another six months to find alternate routes and leave behind
vast tracts of ruined, bare land.

Imagine what it's going to be like to feed that many people out on the
streets for 6 months or more. Ok, let's pretend, we're going to be
optimistic and hope this will all somehow sort itself out in three months
and the villages, now unidentifiable tracts of land will be ready for these
people (if they survive until then) to move back to in three months.

It will still cost a minimum of 630 crores just to feed them for three
months. That's not factoring in the cost of transporting the food there. Or
the cost of cooking pans (that nobody has thought of transporting there so
far). Or fuel. Or tents. Or medicines. Or clothes.

And the Prime Minister's relief Fund is 1000 crores. Given the scale of this
disaster, that's nothing.

Now look at the picture already in front of us. A disaster on a scale India
hasn't seen since it's independence. But one that's somehow being reported
as `The Bihar Flood.'

And therefore a localised problem. Like a bad annual rash you may get on
your arm in the monsoon that some ointment will set right. Oh the annual
floods again! Something that should ideally make the central government push
panic buttons for on a war scale. That the national media should report on
as if we're in the grip of a war. And only then will these people have a
fighting chance at even receiving 10 rupees a day worth of rations.

But now, a month has gone by. The Delhi blasts have happened. India's
nuclear deal is on the verge of being pushed through parliament. The
financial world as we know it has crumbled and America is getting ready for
it's Presidential debate. Where's the space in all of that for The Bihar
Flood? Oh yes, wait a minute! There IS space. It's now clubbed together with
other flooding - Orissa, Nasik. It happens every year. It's the same story.
Poor people. They're used to it.

Try telling that to Rajender Sardar, living in a 8 x 6 feet plastic tent in
what I'm going to refer to here as the longest camp in the world. He's ill,
so is his wife. The top of the plastic sheet is so hot when the sun's
overhead that if your skin accidentally touches it, it will get singed (as
mine did).

Yes, he is poor. Yes he earned money before the flood as a daily wage
labourer. But go look at how daily wage labourers live in their villages.
Not in plastic. Mud walled huts covered by thatch and bamboo. One hut, with
mosquito nets in it is meant for sleeping. The hut next to it is meant for
cooking and a third serves as a cattle shelter. All of this near a hand pump
connected to a tube well that pumps sweet, clean groundwater. And located in
the midst of vast open fields.

Here, it is possible even for these subsistence level miserably poor workers
to get a good night's sleep. To stretch out under the mosquito net at night
and not be bitten by mosquitoes. To know that tomorrow, they may not get
much more than dry rotis to eat. But maybe the day after they may be able to
have two or three meals.

Contrast that with life under a plastic sheet. Six people lie here huddled.
No space to even lie down. And the heat is so unbearable, that in 5 minutes
you're drenched in sweat, your body demands water, more food, salts and
sugar that's drained out of you. You get no sleep and certainly not enough
to eat. You cook in a chullah made in front of your tent. That's on the
road.

You've lived in the same pair of clothes for a month. There's not always
water at hand to wash it, and what by the way will you wear if you wash the
only set of clothes you've got? If you're a woman, this means living through
your menstrual cycle in this state. Blood on your clothes.

An NGO told me horror stories of women who in these times, were used to
using many pieces of cloth, and changing their clothes, now have to live in
that one set of soiled clothes. Some, in desperation, use polythene bags to
stop the blood. Yes, this is a gory story but needs to be told. This NGO
provides sanitary napkins to women and they get used in a second. Oh, what
are you talking about, said some people I told this to. These women have
never used napkins in their lives before. True. They've also never had to
live in one pair of soiled clothes before.

In less than a month, from being extremely hot, it's going to be extremely
cold. Thirty-five lakh people are going to need blankets and shawls. But
Bihar is no longer a sexy story. Soon, it's going to disappear off the news
altogether. The relief trickling in now, will become a slow staccato drip.
Like the last drop from a stubborn tap you're trying to shut.

The thirty five lakh people also includes many who aren't in camps or
plastic slums I've described so far. They're wading through three feet of
water everyday in their villages. Staying on there for fear of losing their
only means of livelihood - their cattle. What do we call these people?

Stupid for staying on? Oh, how stupid you want to save your house and your
money. Get out, go live...erm, where......go live on the street like the
millions of others...Sleep piled up one on top of the other, wait your turn
for the handful of food. And for a fresh set of clothes; chucked from a
truck or tractor to many desperate, flailing anonymous hands. So that when
you return in a few months when the water clears, you see a neat little
piece of land. One small problem that might arise.

Where exactly on that vast stretch of mud is your village? And in it, your
piece of land. With all the recognizable markers washed away, how do you
tell one village or field from the next? So many say, no thank you. We'll
take our chances, live in semi submerged villages amid disease and carcasses
of cattle. But at least this is ours. Only, the Bihar story is no longer in
the news. Orissa is now flooded. The last few boats connecting these
floating villages to supplies of food grain are now going to retreat. The
army and central industrial reserve force boats are after all, meant for
rescue missions. Not suppliers of daily rations or ferry rides for pregnant
women cut off from hospitals.

If the boats stop, well...let's not imagine what will happen if they stop.

Let's look at the bright side. These people are after all mainly daily wage
labourers. Extreme poverty is all they've ever known. They're used to
starving. They'll survive.

Sounds good, sitting here in Delhi, where we haven't a clue what subsistence
level existence is or what starvation really means. We think India's poor
starving millions somehow have a different biological clock from the rest of
us. Somehow, they'll be able to take weeks and months of only one meal a day
(as opposed to intermittent days when they may miss the odd meal). They can
live under plastic. They can survive endless mosquito bites and acute
diarrhoea. Somehow the data on malaria deaths, on kala azar deaths and
people dying of starvation amongst these poor don't tell us anything about
this imagined resilience.

Or one very crucial fact. When you're at subsistence level, you are at
bottom rung. One rung lower means below subsistence. Death. But who's
listening. Right now, I'm back from Bihar with all these stories to tell.
But it's not on the news yet. Bihar floods every year yaar. Terror. The nuke
deal. Freddie and Fannie collapsing. Will our markets survive? Never mind
thirty five lakh people. Bihar is always flooded at this time of the year.

Gandhi remembered in US 2008

October 2, 2008 Gandhi Service Day Dear Friends, It's a pleasure for me to join today in commemorating Mahatma Gandhi's day of birth, celebrated across America and around the world by service to our neighbors and other good works. Gandhi's commitment to creating positive change by bringing people together peacefully to demand it resonate as strongly today as they did during his lifetime. Through the power of his example and his own unshakeable spirit, he inspired a people to resist oppression, sparking a revolution that freed a nation from colonial rule. In formulating his strategy to achieve freedom, Gandhi had a choice, and he chose courage over fear. America faces many choices as we work to address the challenges of our time. We must act from a place of strength and conviction to reclaim the high road and position of moral leadership that has defined the United States at its best. Gandhi's significance is universal. Countless people around the world have been touched by his spirit and example – his victory in turn inspired a generation of young Americans to peacefully wipe out a system of overt oppression that had endured for a century, and more recently led to velvet revolutions in Eastern Europe and extinguished apartheid in South Africa. Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke of their great debt to Gandhi. His portrait hangs in my office to remind me that real change will not come from Washington - it will come when the people, united, bring it to Washington. This is a pivotal election. This is our time for change. For far too long, we've watched as ordinary Americans work harder and harder for less and less. We've watched our standing in the world erode as we continue to lose American lives in a war that should've never been authorized and never been waged. I need you to stand up and work for change. Let us all rededicate ourselves, every day from now until November 4th, and beyond, to living Gandhi's call to be the change we wish to see in the world. Sincerely, Barack Obama

GOANET - TIME TO STAND UNITED !

GOANET: Is mailer group subscribed by Goans across the world, this forum has lately seen a lot of personal attack on each other.

Editor of Navhind Times attempting to tear down the GBA in his article The Great Goan Illusion. which rhymes with the article published in Herald

THE GREAT GOAN UPRISING

Very painful to see, that the only united opposition to real estate and illegal mining is speculated for a breaking down in eyes of citizens.

Guess it’s a master stroke by real estate n mining lobby, involve the GBA in RP draft, spread the rumour of sell outs, attack the credibility of the main leaders, result, the sharpest arrow is now withdrawn. (Reminds me Chanakya's Arthashastra)

It’s painful to see that such forums are being used to hit at each other, personal allegations, citizens who are in goa & want to voice out their hurt egos choose to do in open forums instead of just speaking on face to face and settling down.

I guess such forums will soon get polarized as well. I realize we all have differences, there is seems to be no discussion on the middle path, we all agree on disagreements, but we also need to agree on what all of us agree too. Our methods of fight may be different, affiliations to political ideology might be different but our goals must be same.

Both Jesus and Ram always stood as for Apology, restitution and love. Somewhere there is Gandhism missing in each one of us.

I hope this forum unites in spite of all individualistic ideologies; there is a bigger cause we need to focus on,

There are 3 big battles awaits us, The Real Estate Lobby, SEZs that don’t meet local consensus, Illegal Mining.

Each one of them becomes more powerful every time we disintegrate and tear down credibility of each other. We know that Goa is 0.1% of India Geographic area, for them its highest premium property, lowest cost of minerals, and they only thing that can stop this chaos is us, the citizens of Goa.

Our generation, lies on threshold to see whether Citizens of Goa remain as united as these Lobbies, who stand united in every battle.

“Wrong will always remain wrong, even if everyone does it. Right will always remain right, even if no one does it.”

Jai Hind,

Navendu Shirali

Mining of Goa- Satelitte Images

These are some shocking images from the satellite of a Goa unknown, the scale and proximity to natural reserves is shocking.
Its a matter of time, to see how the people of Goa perform.
They have won the quarter finals against Regional Plan, Semi Final against SEZs and now in the Grand Finale against rampant Mining.

Barge....
























Near Bicholim

HONDA !!















Mine next to Mayem Lake,

Grey areas of 123 Nuclear Agreement

I rushed home, to see what Indian elected representatives thought of the 123 Nuclear Agreements. The debate both by the party in favour and against was a complete political small talk. No one spoke section by section where the grey areas are or where there is a strong disagreement or where there are strong strengths for India.

It was even more surprising that respected leaders such as the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, educated stalwarts within the Lok Sabha were focusing on political issues from price rise, disunity within Parties, horse trading etc. Those in favour and against never could explain which sections in the 123 Agreement they referred to.

Either they assume the common public is not interested in knowing the sections of the 123 Agreement but the political implications, or they have not read the agreement. It was an opportunity for every elected representative, to come to national stage with a clear argument in favour or against based on sections of the agreement. But all failed. With half a century on, our democracy still remains in periodic infancy.

For some one who has been intellectual, an independent a voice never heard, this was an opportunity to speak on large canvas, to inform the leaders and nation, what are the implications on society of this agreement. I am in search of these elected representatives. It was even more painful, for me, as I tried in my way to contribute towards a better discussion. I visited Delhi, submitted by questions on the grey areas in this agreement to Shri Shripad Naik, who hails from my constituency. Perhaps he did not get his chance to address the nation, or may be my critique on the policy was lost in tables of paper. What a wonderful opportunity to bring a perspective, for any representative, was drained. There were no discussions on basic issues such as Nuclear Waste Management and Rehabilitation measures, Environment Protection, Sharing of Critical Information, complete physical access to IAEA, Compensation for Accidents, Monopolizing nuclear energy market, etc.


Following are some of the Grey areas in the Articles of the 123 Nuclear Agreement:

• Article 3-
• Will the information under this article between 2 countries be accessible to private Nuclear Companies?
• The article refers to control of information by both countries which it considers as Restricted Data. What kind of data will be considered as Restricted Data? Can this Restricted Data be very relative in both countries?
• Article refers to sharing of Research Information- But what about possible IP discovered in India or US, isn't that information to be kept confidential?

• Article 4-Nuclear Trade-
• Nuclear Trade as such is more viable and profitable to American Companies than Indian. The clause of addressing applications of nuclear companies within 2 month period ensures faster access to Indian energy market. Will the same period of 2 months be given to other nations such as France and Russia?

• Article 5-Transfer-
• Are we ready for exchange of low enrichment uranium & technology for energy needs in return to easier access to market and critical security information?
• If disruption of fuel occurs due to unavoidable circumstances, then both countries will jointly convene a group of friendly supplies from Russia, France and UK. Why jointly and no independence for India to establish supply channels from these nations.

• Article 7-Storage & Retransfer- Sharing of list of facilities-
• If Information pertaining to Nuclear Program, locations and research activities are not available to Indian Citizens under Right to Information Act 2005, then how justifiable is it, to make it available to certain departments of another country, whose citizens are not under the jurisdiction or control Indian Administration?
• Which offices private and public in both countries will hold this information?
• Agreement does not refer to trial or compensation relief for any leakage of confidential information.

• Article 11-Environmental Protection
• There is No mention of compensation to society in case of any damage to environment or citizens. Our learning from Bhopal Gas Tragedy has to be understood by Policy makers. Where senior management of Union Carbide / Dow Chemicals are still liable for punishment, will senior management of companies and governments be held responsible for any possible further such cases.
• If there is 2 month period for addressing grievances of companies doing business, why no time period fixed for compensation or punishment?

OPEN QUESTIONS

• What percentage of energy demand in next 25 years is going to be met with Nuclear Energy? What is number of Nuclear Reactors planned by Indian Government to be established in next 25 years. A control over number of reactors is needed to maintain the balance of dependency on nuclear energy due to its high environment problems. Free market attitude will create over production pushing our natural resources to its limits.
• Present Policy doesn't cover measures to tackle Kickbacks. As India has been very susceptible and many times compromised on several areas such as licenses, health and safety etc. Policy must ensure transparency in dealings and faster trial processes with both countries such as extradition treaty, freezing bank accounts of suspects, etc.
• Since the pool of Nuclear Scientists in India is limited, same pool of scientists might be playing dual role or later be involved in nuclear defense related work. Information regarding such profiles is usually considered confidential for security purposes. Present Agreement enables disclosure of such profiles in form of meetings, exchange visits etc. to private and public offices. Where there is possibility of leakage of information again.
• Agreement fails to address details of Nuclear Waste Management and Rehabilitation measures. If there join commissions to establish implementation of this agreement a necessary body has to be developed whose officers will be held accountable for nuclear waste disposal, management and rehabilitation.
• Competitive Scenario- Is the domestic Indian Nuclear companies ready for competition with US or will they be compelled to collaborate rather than compete. What is the FDI Policy for this sector from commissioning of Nuclear Plants to importers / exporters of machinery, technology and raw materials?

Indian Sovereignty in deciding its foreign policy is debatable:

As per Hyde Act,

1. SEC. 103. STATEMENTS OF POLICY.

(b) WITH RESPECT TO SOUTH ASIA.—The following shall be the policies of the United States with respect to South Asia:

4) Secure India’s full and active participation in United States efforts to dissuade, isolate, and, if necessary, sanction and contain Iran for its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear weapons capability and the capability to enrich uranium or reprocess nuclear fuel, and the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction.

2. SEC. 104. WAIVER AUTHORITY AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—

(2) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED.—

(G) A description and assessment of the specific measures that India has taken to fully and actively participate in United States and international efforts to dissuade, isolate, and, if necessary, sanction and contain Iran for its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear weapons capability and the capability to enrich uranium or reprocess nuclear fuel

3. SEC. 104. WAIVER AUTHORITY AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

(E)(i) REPORTING TO CONGRESS.—

(2) IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE REPORT.—

(E)(i) an assessment of whether India is fully and actively participating in United States and international

efforts to dissuade, isolate, and, if necessary, sanction and contain Iran for its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear weapons capability (including the capability to enrich uranium or reprocess nuclear fuel), and the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction, including a description of the specific measures that India has taken in this regard; and (ii) if India is not assessed to be fully and actively participating in such efforts, a description of—

(I) the measures the United States Government has taken to secure India’s full and active participation

in such efforts;

(II) the responses of the Government of India to such measures; and

(III) the measures the United States Government plans to take in the coming year to secure India’s full and active participation;

B) Based on the above, following are the questions I have:

1. If US is arm twisting our foreign policy to disarm Iran. Why cannot we, as the second largest energy market, ask US to take similar steps to disarm Pakistan as for terrorists to acquire Nuclear weapons Pakistan is more vulnerable than Iran.

2. What happens to cultural ties with Iran, and days of Non Alignment Movement? Has the Indian Government taken into confidence the large Indian Muslim population who sympathize with Iran?

3. Section 103, b.1 “(1) Achieve, at the earliest possible date, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear explosive purposes by India, Pakistan, and the People’s Republic of China.” I would like to know what the Indian Government’s opinion on this.

4. Just by claiming Hyde Act is domestic law in US and not applicable to India is not the way. We must ensure that we categorically have a MoU signed by India and US, that Section of Hyde Act are not applicable to India.

Battle for Bardez

The battle for BardezLand conversions are going ahead merrily, says LIONEL MESSIAS. He gives a breakdown on the conversion scenario in the villages of Bardez talukaA land use con- version sanad,which once gave a landlord or the simple land buyer of old a sense of accomplishment, today has dangerous conn-otations.

At worst, it could mean doom for many villages, with the villagers battling to keep virtual gated communities out of their once charming village. But worse than that is the potential that some of these sanads have for both village and villager, because the outcome often is yet another huge hotel complex, as the names of many of the owners of the sanads mentioned in this article suggest.

In other words, more migrant labourers, more traffic on the existing narrow village roads that were never intended for the current onslaught, and more pressure on the existing unstable power supply. As for the stress that is being put on the meagre potable water supply, there is really nothing more that can be said to put the water shortage problem in perspective. All this put together can suck the life out of your village. Says Tulio de Souza, attorney of the Comunidade of Guirim and an architect, “I am of the opinion that for any application for conversion above one acre (4,000 sq m) for commercial pur-poses, the Collector needs to examine whether the necessary infrastructure is available in the area to support the kind of development that would follow the issuance of these sanads.”

In your backyardAlto PorvorimA beneficiary to take note of in Alto Porvorim is Devashri Estate Developers. It got 300 sq m of land converted in an amazingly short time. The firm applied for the sanad on 24 January 2006, and was issued the sanad on 8 April 2006. A total of 4,667 sq m was converted from agricultural to non-agricultural land. ArporaIn Arpora, a huge 1,22,115 sq m of land was converted. The most conspicuous beneficiaries are Dr Fernando Jose Mascarhenas (81,726 sq m), Prabhat Developers (1,969) and Riverside Home Developers (8,557 + 5,400). Two non-Goan parties got sanads. Shabbir AR Jhan converted 3,850 sq m, while Kalpesh Natwarlal Gahil and Ravi Ramesh Chandra Gahil jointly converted 3,300 sq m. CalanguteIn Calangute, where there is little land left to build on, sanads were issued covering a total of 90,900.85 sq m. It can safely be assumed that nearly all must be prime land and accessible to roads. As usual, builders and hoteliers were behind 14 of the 23 conversions. GKP Real Estate Developers, whose buildings in Calangute are ubiquitous, converted a total of 1,994 sq m, under two sanads. Others are DGN Resorts (1,775), Ronil Hotels & Resorts (1,950), Prudential Group (1,725), Hindustan Hotel Ltd, Panjim (2,375), Reira Construction (2,800), Nirvana Nest Buildcon (2,000), New Builders & Developers (575+2,991+700), Calangute Resorts (1,275), Saldanha Developers (900) and Whispering Resorts (3,000).

These land conversions represent 24,060 sq m of the land converted in Calangute.CandolimA total of 58,371.34 sq m of land was converted in this congested village with narrow roads. Builders showed the most interest. One builder, Shelly Gonsalves, got 1,775 and 4,675 sq m converted and another 2,940.34 sq m on behalf of Regal Builders. Other real estate developers with equally big plans are Navelkar Landmarks (1,403), Phoenix Township (1,310), Highland Constructions and Highland Holiday Homes (4,150), Dena Karen Holiday Homes (1,224), Devan Real Estate & Construction (12,733), Zephyr Holdings (2,225) Tangerina Hotels (2,775) and one Omprakash N Pariani (2,207 + 2,350). NerulCandolim-based builder Shelly Gonsalves has also converted 6,655 and 8,912.50 sq m in this village, next in line to be bludgeoned by builders after Calangute, Baga and Candolim.Reis MagosFericem Engineering converted 8,207 sq m
Salvador do MundoFredric Developers converted 630 sq m, CV Constructions 2,500 sq m and Navelkar Landmarks 8,910 sq m. Sangolda Apseksha Homes 2,425 sq m, Tropical Estates 4,546 sq m. SocorroAlcon Construction 15,398 sq m, RR Enterprises 1,000 sq m, Acron Developers 5,066 sq m and Tropical Estates (see Sangolda) 850 sq m.

Know your neighbourBuilders and hoteliers only In Socorro, Alcon has converted land under Survey No: 21/2. Sangolda: Tropical Estates - 2/11. Salvador do Mundo: Navelkar Landmarks - 66/1. Reis Magos: Fericem Engineering - 78/1-C. Nerul: Shelly Gonsalves 6,665 sq m - 11/1 and 8,912.50 - 5/1. Candolim: Regal Builders - 149/4, Navelkar Landmarks - 22/1-B, Phoenix Township - 226/10 &14 part 8C part & 8D part, Highland Constructions - 227/1, 227/2, Shelly Gonsalves 4,675 sq m - 224/2, 1,775 sq m - 10/1, Devan Real Estate - 224/1 & 223/8, Zephyr Holdings 2,225 sq - 179/6 & 3150 sq m - 208/3, Tangerina Hotels - 138/13-D, 135/2 & 3.

Note: Herald cannot find out if buildings have already been built on these lands, as the Right to Information (RTI) data provides only the applicant’s name, area, survey no, location, description of the forest/trees and the sanad application and issue date.

Source:http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=7062&cid=26

Tourism Policy made in Delhi heading for Conflict with Goan interests

I almost thought it was high time that Goverment and Policy makers would start working on bottom up planning for growth. But some how there has been no learning.
As the state of Goa is erupting in fight against illegal CRZ construction and Anti-Casino Proliferation yet another policy is heading straight for a conflict just like the Regional Plan 2021 made by a fly by night so called consulting firm CES based in Delhi.

New Delhi moots CRZ relaxation

HERALD CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JUNE 14 — As part of a grand initiative to ‘promote tourism’ in India, the Union Tourism Ministry is preparing a policy that will allow construction of hotels in beach areas by relaxation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) requirements.
The proposal also envisages setting up of ‘tourism clusters’ around metros and major cities, as well as setting up of casinos.
The ministry says it wants to make Indian destinations attractive for in-bound traffic, as it still constitutes only a small fraction of global tourist flows, and also to cater to young domestic tourists with high disposable incomes. The point is to “break the traditional image of the country and offer tourists a wholesome experience”, a Tourism Ministry official explained.
These moves are based on the recommendations made by a high-level group on the services sector headed by Planning Commission member Anwarul Hoda.
The Ministry of Tourism says it is converting the group’s suggestions into a policy initiative. It believes the new strategy will not only boost the competitiveness of India’s tourist destinations, but also generate significant revenues for the respective State governments.
One of the main proposals is to develop India as an attractive beach destination. For this, the ministry suggests that the CRZ should be relaxed, as under the existing rules a hotel cannot be built within 200 metres of the sea. “Such a restriction does not exist in any successful beach destination in the world,” said the Tourism Ministry official.
‘Tourism clusters’ will be set up within 150 km of a city, over an area of 4 lakh to 20 lakh sq metres. They will have hotels, restaurants, spas, theme parks, skating rinks, lakes for boating and sailing, golf courses, tennis courts and indoor games.
The proposal recommends that the government should grant infrastructure status to these clusters, so that they can access finance at cheaper rates and import equipment duty-free. Casinos are also on the agenda for cities with large tourist inflows. But the official was careful to add that this would be pursued only after there is political consensus on the issue.

Fallout of Investigation on Goa Real Estate Show in Delhi

Read the awareness story of Goa Real Estate Show and about the Great Goan Uprising.

Delhi builder in dock for forgery

HERALD REPORTER
Colva Communidade Attorney files case

MARGAO, JUNE 14 — Anti-mega housing activists from Colva tasted yet another success when the Colva police on Saturday registered a case of forgery against a Delhi-based builder for forging of the seal of the local Communidade to obtain NOC for a road passing through Communidade property in Gandaulim.
Colva police station incharge, PI Edwin Colaco said the police has registered a case against the builder, Darshan Khang.
The police acted on a complaint lodged by the Attorney of the Colva and Gandaulim Communi-dade, Vilton D’Costa, who filed the complaint after a preliminary inquiry conducted by the then South Goa Administrator of Communidades, Laura Britto.
PI Colaco said the police will send the seal to the handwriting experts for verification.
Incidentally, the police acted belatedly, even though the residents of Gandaulim had lodged a complaint in April against the Delhi-based firm.
The residents have been demanding action over a NOC produced by the builder purportedly issued by the Colva Communidade for a road access to the mega project.
The residents were emboldened in their battle when the Escrivao of Colva Communidade in his report to the Administrator of Communidades, South categorically stated that there was neither any record in the Communidade office in respect of any application seeking for an NOC nor was there any resolution adopted by the body to issue NOC to pave way for a 8-meter road through its property.
“The Escrivao stated that he had thoroughly verified all the resolutions taken from 2001 to 2003, but could not find any resolution in respect of the NOC from the Communidade produced by the builder before the panchayat.
He further stated that he had not given authority to any member of the managing committee to use the seal of the Communidade of Colva, and quite clearly said the seal used by the Attorney is not genuine.
Incidentally, the Delhi-based builder has already withdrawn his construction file from the Village Panchayat of Colva.
A local activist, Elvis Gomes said the Colva police should now take the case to its logical conclusion and also book the local person, who was involved in helping the builder forge the seal and obtain the NOC on a fake stamp paper.

Who will be India's Obama?

Rajdeep Sardesai:

In the week when 46-year-old Barack Obama was being anointed the Democratic party's presidential candidate in the United States, Tamil Nadu's chief minister M Karunanidhi was being felicitated on his 85th birthday. While Obama made a stirring speech in front of hundreds of cheering young Americans, the DMK patriarch mumbled a few words on stage in the company of his two sons, MK Stalin and Azhagiri, both jostling to be heir-apparents to their ageing father's legacy. The contrast could not have been more stark: in America, Obama represents "change" and "equal opportunity", a charismatic Afro-American Harvard-educated lawyer who has risen up the political ladder through merit and hard work.

In India, Karunanidhi and sons are symbols of a static order, where a political party is a family business and where the top posts are closed for talented outsiders. Obama is the man from nowhere, throwing open the doors of the Washington establishment, renewing stale old political processes, with a completely new energy.

Can the Indian political system throw up a Barack Obama-like figure who exemplifies in his own person, the "change we can believe in" tagline? Unlikely. Leave aside the two cadre-based parties -- the left and the BJP - and every political formation in this country is an extension of a presiding family with strict rules of entry and upward mobility. In tightly-knit regional parties, this phenomenon gets accentuated.

Parties like Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, for example, don't even have elections for office-bearers, the decision on who to appoint are the sole prerogative of an individual. A Sharad Pawar's NCP may claim to be encouraging "young" talent, but can the Baramati boss say with any conviction that his successor will be someone other than his nephew or daughter? The National Conference in Kashmir, the Akalis in Punjab, the Biju Janata Dal in Orissa, the TDP in Andhra Pradesh, the Samajwadi party, the Shiv Sena: a majority of political parties in this country are dynastic in structure, run like feudal oligarchies.

Could the Congress party throw up a leader outside the Nehru-Gandhi family? Very doubtful given the manner in which the party organization is now completely subservient to the notion of the First Family. That a section of the Congress chooses to push for Priyanka Gandhi, even though she has made it amply clear that she doesn't want to join politics, is proof of how the party is unable to look beyond a family for leadership.Even the BJP, which can legitimately claim to have stayed away from actively encouraging dynastical politics, is hardly a meritocratic organization.

The recent elections in Karnataka provided a glaring example of how party tickets in several constituencies were distributed on the basis of money power alone, and not on ideological commitment or organizational ability. That in over four decades, the BJP has thrown up just two "national" leaders - Vajpayee and Advani, both now octogenarians - is evidence of a rigidly controlled party structure that is unwilling to open itself up to change. It is a bit like the Hindu joint family syndrome: the fear of allowing a "younger", more dynamic leadership is seen to be against a tradition that places a premium on age and experience.

A geriatric leadership has been the burden of the left as well. At 64, a Prakash Karat may be a representative of the next generation of left leadership, but his ascent is also the culmination of more than 40 years within the party apparatus and he cannot be seen as someone who has carved a dramatically different path for the left or has infused it with original, distinctive ideas.

Indeed, in structural terms, Indian politics it seems has lesser and lesser space for fresh, independent minds: individuals who will question the prevailing orthodoxy, who will challenge entrenched mindsets, and who will build new constituencies. Instead, the focus remains on those who are either part of the "family" system or are rewarded for flattery and for practising status quoist politics.

India's generation next politicians may dress and talk smart, but how many of them can claim to be truly empowered? Satisfied with the crumbs of an insignificant ministry or political post, a majority seem to have little option but to wait their turn. After all, they are in politics because they are dutiful sons; not because they have the passion to change their fathers' values.

Contrast the passion and excitement that Obama has ignited within the younger Americans with the cynicism and apathy that our netas seem to generate. A Rahul Gandhi, for example, may have chosen a 20-20 cricket tournament to encourage youth in Amethi, but can that ever be a substitute for a concrete programme of action for the young to enter public life? When is the last time any Indian politician for that matter made a serious effort at reaching out to young India, or redefining the rules of political power?

In the end, the Obama phenomenon is not just about him being the first African-American to have won a major party nomination for the US presidency. Race may have been a contributing factor in highlighting the change agenda, but there was surely more to his success than just contrasting his roots with the political pedigree of his rival. Obama won because he was able to symbolize a generational change, an America fatigued by the Washington consensus and itching to break away from the Clinton-Bush duopoly over power.

Ironically, the one Indian politician who comes closest to embracing the Obama principle is Mayawati. There are many aspects of Maya raj that are wholly undesirable, but at least she offers her supporters the hope of a new political order, however flawed. She may have alienated middle class India with her corrupt, autocratic ways, but for the next generation Bahujan Samaj, Mayawati is the only representative of real change. If Mayawati had been fortunate enough to go to Harvard, perhaps she too could have created an entire new menu for indian political and social life, a new discourse, a new counter culture that is truly Indian (unlike the Left) and truly revolutionary (unlike the Congress).

For the moment, India awaits her Barack Obama.

Documentary on Great Goan Uprising !

Special thanks to editorial team of CNN IBN, Barkha and Divya Iyer for taking this initiative and bringing these stories on national level.
As most of the newspapers in Goa, fail to cover these stories due to stakeholder interest. this is a video which brings the grim reality straight on the face.
VIDEO
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/66846/.html

THE GREAT GOAN UPRISING ARTICLE PUBLISHED VERSION

The article on The Great Goan Uprising published by HERALD.

Apologies for bad resolution, will try getting a better copy scanned.















Original Article: Click Here

Govt to frame new rules for constructions

In my repeated visits to Goa, asking the Shri Morad Ahmed, as to what can his office do make Goa the model state, aligning development with needs of locals seems to not have gone to deaf ears, specially with peoples movement coming shape across Goa.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MAY 19 — The Goa Government is in the process of giving final touches to a set of new regulations for laying down unified procedures for land development and constructions across the State.
The Government will invite objections and suggestions from the public on the draft regulations within a month, Chief Town Planner, Morad Ahmad told Herald. As per the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008, public view is to be obtained for a period of 30 days by issuing a notification.
This is going to be a unified regulation for any kind of construction in the State of Goa and apprehensions are already being raised by the panchayats and municipalities over the issue.
The Bill was passed in the last Assembly session mainly to introduce centralized regulations which as of now are being executed separately by local bodies – panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporation besides PDAs. The three institutions are currently having their rules for land development and building constructions.
Sources said the regulations would provide for zoning of the land, general requirement of land development, group housing, sub-division of land including amalgamation of plots,preservation and conservation and importantly, procedure for seeking development permission from panchayats, municipal councils/corporation and Planning & Development Authorities (PDAs).
According to the provision of the Act, any application for land development or construction of building received by the Panchayat/municipal council/municipal corporation would be forwarded by them to the respective district level/taluka level office of Town & Country Planning Department for obtaining No Objection Certification (NOC) from planning point of view.
The Act also envisages an interim provision to facilitate the authorities to follow the regulations, bye-laws and rules which are being followed until the new rules and regulations come into force.
The Government will set up a Steering Committee headed by the Chief Minister as its chairman which in turn will appoint a Sub-Committee consisting of Director of Municipal Administration, Director of Panchayats, chairman of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, chairman of Goa Chamber of Housing Industry, a representative each of registered local chapter/association of town planners, engineers and architects to consider objections and suggestions received from the public. It will have to submit a report to the Steering Committee within two months.
The Steering Committee, after considering the report of the sub-committee, will submit its report with recommendations, to the Government within 30 days of receipt of the sub-committee’s report.

Mining activities kick dust in Bicholim

The peoples movement in Bicholim, resulting in the first ever large movement in Bicholim Taluka.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Patnekar, 70 others arrested
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MAYEM, MAY 19 — Tension gripped Advalpal-Bicholim on Monday, as hundreds of irate villagers staged a protest rally and forcibly stopped mining activities in the village.
Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar and 70 agitators were later arrested in the connection, even as villagers have threatened to intensify their agitation if mining companies do not stop operations in the village within eight days.
Residents have been opposing mining activities in the village, ever since mining companies resumed operations two years ago, after a gap of about 40 years.
Villagers were aggrieved that despite several complaints to authorities, mining operations continued unabated.
Left with no option, villagers then convened a meeting two weeks ago to chalk out their future course of action. When authorities failed to break the deadlock between the agitating residents and mining companies, residents of Advalpal decided to stop mining activities on Monday.
Incidentally, villagers first sought blessings of the local goddess Shantadurga at the local temple, before stopping all trucks and vehicles linked to mining activities. The protestors then went to three mining sites and forcibly stopped operations, including loading of ore.
Bicholim Deputy Collector Arvind Bugde, DySP Bosco Silva, Bicholim PI Braz Menezes, Mamlatdar Upendra Bhat, PSI Tukaram Walke and a police team rushed to the spot. But they could do little to persuade villagers to disperse from the site.
Efforts to persuade Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, who was also at the site, met with little success. “I will always be with the villagers as they are facing acute hardship. It is my responsibility to support them for their safety,” said Patnekar.
Mining companies then lodged a complaint against the villagers, but the police was initially reluctant to arrest any of the protestors. But when talks between the villagers and mining officials broke down in the afternoon, mining operations resumed in the evening. The agitators then rushed to a mining site and tried to stop the operations. Police then arrested Patnekar and 70 agitators under Section 151 IPC.
Angered by the arrest of MLA Patnekar and 70 others, a number of women rushed to the Bicholim police station and squatted on the floor in protest for about two hours. Patnekar and 70 others were later released on bail by the Deputy Collector.
The agitators, however, vowed to continue their protests till mining activities are stopped in the village.
“We are determined to fight unto death and nobody will stop us from doing so” warned Shyamsundar Naik, leader of the agitating residents.
“Mine owners and Government officials are working in collusion to finish Advalpal village, which was once full with lush green hills and natural heritage. Water bodies like springs and wells have been destroyed, while there is sound and air pollution in the entire village,” he said.

Kalem locals want action against ‘polluting’ plant

The awakening of Goan masses and its ripple effects....more...

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 19 - Agitated residents of Kalem on Monday asked district Collector, G P Naik to initiate action against a sponge iron plant for alleged pollution.
The residents warned to take the law in their own hands if the government fails to intervene and redress the grievances of the people of Kalem.
Black-colour dust, which the residents claim is polluting the houses of the people of Kalem was kept before the Collector for his attention and action.
Saying that they have lost faith in the Goa Pollution Control Board, the residents underlined the need for quick action before the situation takes an ugly turn.
The Collector gave a patient hearing to the residents and assured that the issue needs to be examined on legal grounds. He said the matter would be referred to the law department for examination as the company recently got a relief from the supreme court.
Meanwhile, the Collector today issued strict instructions to the police and RTO to explore the possibility of building road bypasses at Curchorem and Quepem.
This follows a petition made by the residents against loaded mining trucks entering the Curchorem market and causing traffic congestion.
The residents maintained that a by-pass could solve the problem of acute traffic congestion in the Curchorem market.
The authorities, including the Traffic police and the RTO were given directions to prepare the feasibility report within four days and submit the report to the Collector .

Nuvem infrastructure fails to keep pace with time

The awakening of Goan masses and its ripple effects....

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 19 - If Nuvem villagers are up in arms over the construction of 40 bungalows, the message is loud and clear for the powers that be - don’t issue indiscriminate licences for mega housing projects without taking into account basic infrastructure requirements.
It’s prime location on the NH-17 - right on the northern entrance to Margao — and the booming real estate is an indication that Nuvem is the destination for many a settler in Goa.
Sadly, many a local feels the infrastructure has not kept pace with the booming housing constructions mushrooming in Nuvem countryside.
Take for instance, the fish market. While one find bungalows perched on a hillock as one enters Nuvem from Margao, fisher folks continue to sell fish from a makeshift market right adjoining the highway - bringing to the fore the absence of basic infrastructure.
That the local MLA and Power Minister, Aleixo Sequeira has now taken up work on the proposed market is not in dispute, but the fact remains that infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the changing times in Nuvem, which is fast acquiring urban features.
Leave alone market facilities, the village is grappling with the garbage menace. No garbage disposal facility has been identified by the local body and locals wonder where the garbage generated in the new housing complexes would find their way in the absence of any dumpyard.
That agitated villagers are opposed to the mega project - relating to 40 bungalows with swimming pool facility — is an indication that the locals would no longer take things lying down now.
When contacted, Local MLA Alexio Sequeira said issuing construction licences is the domain of the local village Panchayat body. “It’ for the Panchayat to assess the infrastructural requirements before granting permissions for new constructions”, he added.
Nuvem Sarpanch, Antonio Barretto, who came under fire at the Sunday’s gram Sabha meeting, however, said that technical agencies such as the PWD and the Town and Country Planning department should guide the Panchayat body on technical and basic infrastructure such as roads, water, power et al.
“Why is the Panchayat blamed when these technical agencies approve the construction plans”, he asked and disclosed plans to approach the government to define the meaning of mega housing projects.
However, Town and Country Planning officials maintained that it’s purely for the local Panchayat body to evaluate the existing infrastructure and then only to forward the file for technical approval. “If the Panchayat feels so, the file can be returned back to the builder at the Panchayat level itself.”, a TCP official said.

Liberation Movement of Advalpal People

Source:http://www.mandgoa.blogspot.com/

“It’s like Liberation Movement of Advalpal from colonial mindset of miners”. This is how Ramesh Gauns sums up the Advalpal people’s revolt in Bicholim taluka against open cast iron ore and magnesium mining.

Around 600 villagers marched on the mines leased out to Litho Ferro, Sesa Goa, and Salgaoncar mining companies this morning. At around 4 pm two villagers were arrested while on a delegation to deputy collector’s office in Bicholim. Shamsunder Naik and Kashinath Gad were whisked away by police officials attached to Bicholim police station.

As a quick reaction to the above arrests, around 500 people descended at the Bicholim Police station in two vans offering their arrests too. Police were in the process of completing formalities of arrests when the report last came in at 6.45pm.

Section 151 of CrPC was applied to register cases against over 100 Advalpal protestors today.

Large number of women is also a part of the 500 strong group that has gone to court arrest at Bicholim police station, in fact one van is full of women and the other of men.

Reports received at 8 pm discloses that Fomento mining company had filed police cases against following 12 Advalpal villagers Shyamsunder Naik, Sharmila Naik, Kishore Naik, Kashinath Gad, Vijay Pundloskar, Ganesh Naik, Babi Gaonkar, Suresh Gad, Shrikant Gaonkar, Manguesh Gad, Amar Shetye and Pradip Gaonkar. The cases were registered under following sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): 143, 144, 147, 148, 323, 427, 341, 506 and 149.

Out of these 4 people were arrested namely, Shyamsunder Naik, Sharmila Naik, Kishore Naik and Kashinath Gad. The process of releasing them on bail was on when the last reports came in.

Fometos are operating Litho Ferro mining lease in Advalpal and has one of the worst records in applying State police force and entire machinery to silence people's protests. The best examples of these are Colamb in Sanguem and Pissurlem in Sattari talukas.

While all these protests are raging throughout the state of Goa, Government continues continues to be active collaborator of Goa's mining plunder and loot.


Sebastian Rodrigues with input from Shyamsunder Naik in Police custody at Bicholim Police Station, Bicholim, Goa.

Benaulim panchayat seeks revocation of licences of mega housing projects

MARGAO — The Benaulim gram sabha on Sunday passed a resolution seeking revocation of licences to all the mega housing projects in Benaulim village with retrospective effect from January 26, 2007.

Changing their earlier stand, all the panchas, including the sarpanch, Ms Maria Fernandes, bowed to public pressure and assured the villagers that they would not allow any mega housing projects in their respective wards and the village at large.

“We do not want projects in our village, which will cause harm to the villager and the children of the village. Since the people of Benaulim don’t want such projects, I too am with you and oppose such mega projects,†the sarpanch said after the villagers sought assurance from all the 11 panchas on the issue.

The sarpanch informed that all the housing projects have been issued inspection notice and that the inspection would be completed within the next fortnight. She also said those violating the laws would be given show-cause notice and action would be initiated. Ms Fernandes promised the gram sabha that report would be presented at the next meeting, which will be held on June 1

The people, who had gathered in large numbers, appreciated the stand taken by the panchas in opposing the mega housing projects. Over 600 people had gathered for the gram sabha, which was re-convened after it got adjourned on May 11.

The Benaulim gram sabha was once again adjourned for the second time till June 1 after the sarpanch failed to give satisfactory replies to many of the queries put forth by the people. The marathon gram sabha which lasted over five hours could take up only six issues for discussion as the villagers alleged that the panchayat is taking the people for granted and wasting their time.

Earlier, the villagers took serious exception to the absence of the Benaulim panchayat secretary, Mr Menino Carvalho. The villagers alleged that Mr Carvalho is avoiding the gram sabhas. However, it was informed that Mr Carvalho is on medical leave and that he had informed the BDO about the same.

The villagers alleged that the panchayat is bypassing procedures and that it has failed to curb irregularities because of their vested interests. They also asked the panchayat to discuss all mega projects with the villagers before issuing licences to them.

Heated arguments continued throughout the day as the panchas and the sarpanch traded allegations and counter-allegations against each other after irregularities in the procedures in issuing licences for the housing projects came to light.

As the people scrutinised the mass irregularities in the housing projects the sarpanch was in a fix as she failed to give proper replies to the queries posed by the villagers. The sarpanch and the stand-in secretary also had to face the ire of the villagers as they failed to take a resolution over a housing project in the village.

The villagers also demanded revocation of licences of all the housing projects which have come up after January 26, 2007. However, pancha, Ms Carmelina Fernandes informed that it would not be possible to revoke the licences of all projects, however, those who have violated the laws would be taken to task.

Ramesh Gauns

Ramesh Gauns, a citizen in Goa is fighting all odds to stop mining in the state. For 13 years, he has been trying to mobilise people into raising a voice against the devastation and asking the government to stop clearing mining licenses in Goa.

Watch the Video of about this ONE MAN ARMY- CNN IBN

State told to probe into Collem mine

State told to probe into Collem mine

HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 15 — The Central Empowerment Committee of the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the State Government to probe into the Prafulla Hede mines at Collem, which is allegedly operating on forest land.
The CEC today ordered a probe and in a letter to the Chief Secretary asked the State Government to respond in the matter. It has asked the Government to find whether the mine was operating in violation of forest conservation rules.
A second letter has been made to the Chief Conservator of Forests to know how Prafulla Hede mine had encroached upon 1,000 sq m of forestland.
Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation had filed an urgent petition in the apex court against the mine.
On May 8, a team of CNN-IBN, led by its environmental editor Bahar Dutt and Alvares, had to face the wrath of the mine’s manager and his staff when they had gone to shoot the illegal mining operation.
A crowd that gathered around the team that day tried to snatch the camera, but luckily it managed to come of the place under police protection and save the tape, which had the footage of the illegal mining.
The footage was shown on CNN-IBN today and a repeat telecast of the same is scheduled on Friday morning.

VIDEO SHOWING COMPLETE VIOLATION CAUGHT BY CNN IBN

De Souza Trust Goa Scholarship 2008

UK Scholarship for dynamic young Goan Indians
De Souza Trust Goa Scholarship 2008

The British Council invites young Indian men and women who are born of Goan parents or those who have been living and working in Goa for the past ten years to apply for the De Souza Trust Goa Scholarship for the forthcoming academic year. The Scholarship covers part or full tuition fees. The British Council arranges for a gratis UK visa for the duration of the course. All other costs are to be borne by the student.

The applicant should:

•be an Indian citizen
•be resident in Goa or born of Goan parents
•be not more than 35 years old
•have track record for excellence in academic or extra curricular achievement
•have confirmed admission for any technical/ vocational/ academic course of study in the UK for up to one year

Application forms can be downloaded from the website www.britishcouncil.org.in/scholarships

Completed forms must reach the British Council office in Mumbai (address below) by 30 June 2008.

De Souza Trust Goa Scholarships
British Council Division
British Deputy High Commission
Mittal Tower, C Wing, 2nd Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021

For further information about the scholarship call Mrinal on 022-22790149 or email desouza.scholarships@in.britishcouncil.org

Goa People Movement Update

Kalay locals upset over carbon project

SANGUEM, MAY 12 – Residents of Kalay-Sanguem are outraged over the proposed mega carbon project, which is likely to come in the village.
Speaking to Herald, a villager, Vinay Gaonkar, said a signature campaign is underway and the representations would be forwarded to the authorities.
The villagers are expected to gather in large numbers for the gram sabha, which is scheduled for May 25.
Villagers have claimed that the company, despite having large-scale mining operations in the village, has not paid any heed to grievances of the villagers.
“If the company sets up the project, the village would be destroyed on all fronts,” said one local.
“The site is near the Kalay River, which supplies water to Opa Water Treatment Plant. The water supply to Opa plant may be severely affected if the proposed plant is allowed,” added the local.
The villagers claimed that the site is also in close vicinity to the lone government-run agricultural farm in the village, which forms the basic source of fodder and fruit-bearing plants. To make matters worse, the veterinary hospital is also not far away from the proposed site.
The villagers have alleged that the company has started its process to approach the panchayat for NOC.
Claiming that Kalay village is already polluted due to activities of mining companies, besides an iron, sponge and steel manufacturing plants, villagers said they have hardly benefited from the operation of the mining companies.

Collem, Mollem locals threaten agitation

PANAJI, MAY 12 – Residents of Collem and Mollem (Sanguem) and Torsem (Pernem) have threatened to protest over different issues in their villages.
Collem correspondent adds: Residents of Collem and Mollem have threatened with protests of road blockade, if the authorities fail to start the hot mixing and widening of the remaining three-km stretch of the road between Godakawada-Bimbal and Mollem by May 31.
It may be recalled that the six-km stretch road from Mollem to Collem had been unattended by the authorities for more than six years. The road widening and hot mixing work, started in the last week of March and was completed upto Godakawada.

The contractor stopped the remaining work. The road has been largely used by buses, tipper trucks and others to ply along the Sanvordem, Margao, Ponda and Valpoi routes.
Pernem correspondent adds: Residents of Naik waddo and Katche temb of Torsem have threatened a morcha outside the Torsem panchayat on May 14.
The villagers are agitated over the panchayat’s failure to clear the illegal occupying and encroachment by some locals on the public road along the main road to Naika waddo-Torsem.
Locals have complained of traffic congestion due to illegal encroachments on the road. “We are demanding action for the last several months. We have now asked the sarpanch to act fast,” a local told Herald.

ENAULIM ROARS AGAIN

Dando meet vows to stop mega housing projects in State

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 12 –
The Dando grounds at Benaulim resounded with cries against mega housing projects along Salcete’s coastal belt, with the people vowing to fight till the end to stop housing projects which are not in the interest of Goa and Goans.
Speakers also questioned the government’s silence in not taking cognizance of the ongoing movement against mega housing projects and warned that the people would rise up and show the ruling dispensation its due place.
“We shall not rest till the government stops all mega housing projects in the State. The battle is not just to stop the sale of Goa, but to protect the land of our ancestors for posterity,” thundered Fr Maverick Fernandes at the huge and impressive public meeting held at the Dando grounds on Monday evening.
The meeting held under the banner of Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch resolved that all mega housing projects be kept on hold till the Regional Plan is finalised on the basis of the Village Development Plans.
The meeting set the agenda for housing projects and requirements, demanding that all proposals of gated communities and mega projects must be scrutinised and studied by the Gram Sabha and that panchaayts and government agencies must facilitate the process of creating need based Village Development Plans with the active involvement of villagers.

The meeting further resolved that all new buildings should have the mandatory provisions for rain water harvesting, garbage management sewage treatment plants, planting of trees etc.
“We will strive to connect to all village movements and work together to secure our right as enshrined in the 73rd Amendment to the Constituency,” stated another resolution, adding that the basic needs of water, electricity and other needs of affordable housing be addressed on an urgent and priority basis.
In his spirited address, Fr Maverick Feranndes said Goa should remain for Goans and called upon the people to protect the State at all cost. The huge crowd said a firm No when Fr Fernandes asked whether they can afford to buy flats and bungalows costing lakhs of rupees. “For whom are these projects meant for. Are they in the interest of Goa and Goans,” he demanded to know.
Saying that people are forced to come on the streets to seek justice, Fr Fernandes said people of Goa have the strength to take on the might of the lobbies working against the interest of Goa and Goans.
He underlined the need to formulate Village Development Plans to protect the scarce land for the villagers and to determine the development in the villages.
Activist Ramesh Gauns asked the government to stop all mega housing projects in villages till a policy regulating housing is put in place.
“The government has no policy to regulate housing. The government has to come out with a policy,” he demanded.
Gauns called upon people to participate in the Gram Sabhas to make sure that no decision on mega projects be taken without public approval. “Neither the Panchayat nor an MLA or Minister can bring any project against the wishes of the people,” he added.
Women activist, Sabina Martins expressed her happiness that the people from Salcete’s coastal belt have come out to determine the nature of development in their area.
”Only local people should determine the development they want in their neighbourhood. Builders and others cannot dictate terms to local people,” she said.
She wondered whether Goa required mega housing projects at al when the population growth is negligible. “These mega projects do not add to Goa’s development,” she added.
Martins called upon the people to insist on preparation of a village development plan to determine their future.
Goa Hitrakhan Manch President Serafino Cota said the mega housing projects would bring in hordes of outsiders to the State. “These projects are being built without any requirements,” he said, adding that Goan builders should build affordable and economical housing that meet the requirements of Goan families.

Minguel Braganza enlightened the huge gathering about the planning needs of the villages. He said mega housing projects are not in the interests of the people.
He reminded that it were the people of Salcete who gave statehood to Goa when attempts were made to merge the State with Maharashtra.
GBA member Pravin Sabnis, Ida Coutinho, Elvis Gomes, Casiano Fernandes and others also spoke on the occasion.
PEOPLE’S PROTEST: In wake of the protests from various villages against the mega housing projects, the South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha today stated that the government needs to decide on the matter at the earliest.
Sardinha said that the government has to hold a meeting with the various NGOs, sarpanches and other representatives and chalk out a future course of action.
“It is high time we decide what we want either development or not,” he said.

The people’s opposition is mainly due to the existing infrastructure like water, electricity and roads and it has to be sorted out, he said.

Jai Hind

Navendu Shirali

Citizens garner support to save villages in Goa

MARGAO, MAY 7 – These certainly are not political meetings as one would assume to be repeatedly taking place in Salcete’s coastal belt.

But, meetings of small groups of anxious and worried citizens garnering support to launch a sustained movement to preserve and protect their villages from being destroyed and degraded by builders with mega housing projects.
In a way, Salcete’s coastline – from Carmona to Varca, Benaulim and Colva – is playing host to meetings of local residents to take the ongoing disorganised battle against mega housing projects to its logical conclusion.
Herald understands that residents are being mobilised from village to village to bring them under one banner to save the villages from destruction.
Towards this end, the organisers are meeting in the villages with different groups working in the same direction and to organise a mammoth meeting at Dando ground Benaulim by next week.
Sources in the know say, the meeting will set out an agenda for the government and the local self-governing bodies on housing and the needs of local residents.
These meetings assumes significance given that state-level group titled Ganv Bachao Abhiyan is proposed to be launched shortly to save the villages for posterity.
“It is high time people opposing mega housing projects are being organized under one banner and fight the battle jointly”, remarked a prominent social activist, who has been actively involved in brining the various groups under one banner.
He observed that outside builders are slowly trying to set up projects along the state’s countryside, especially the coastal belt, taking advantage of the real estate boom.
“But, we local citizens are more worried about the existing infrastructure, which is pathetic and inadequate to meet the present requirements”, the activist said.
Meanwhile, the Vasvado ward of Benaulim saw residents of Tamdimati, Vasvado holding a meeting at Zarbo Khuris to object to a potential mega housing project in the area.
The meeting was addressed by Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) activists, besides local citizens. A local residents, Michael Rodrigues set the ball rolling against the Panchayat body for keeping the concerned citizens in the dark about the construction projects.
BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes and Rudolf Baretto questioned the logic of the three Panchayat members for seeking explanation from a local Parish Priest.
The meeting also hold a meeting at Vaddie, Vaswaddo, Benaulim later this week. A meeting at Colva village was held this evening.

Chodan-Madel locals to revoke housing project licence

PANJIM, MAY 6 – The Gram Sabha of Chodan-Madel panchayat on Sunday resolved to revoke the licence granted to a plush housing project in the village.At a heated debate in the Community hall, residents demanded that Sarpanch Prasad Chodankar revoke the licence granted for a ‘gated project’ involving five villas along with five swimming pools, stated a press note issued by former sarpanch Shrikrishna Haldankar.Members raised queries as to how the Delhi-based promoter was given permission to convert a cultivated paddy field at Madel for the project, despite opposition from the local panch.Members have demanded that henceforth no major project should be passed without the approval of the Gram Sabha.The resolution, moved by former sarpanch Rama Kubal and seconded by Mr Haldankar, was unanimously passed at the meeting.Cutting of hills and illegal filling of marshy areas was vehemently objected, with villagers calling upon Mr Chodankar to initiate prompt action on the perpetrators.Poor ferry service along the Ribandar-Madel route also came to the fore, with the formation of a 10-member committee to take up the issue to the River and Navigation Minister, the press note added.Irregular water supply and water scarcity was brought to the notice of Mr Chodankar, who promised to look into the matter. Queries were also raised as to how the PWD disconnected the public taps, without providing free water supply to the poor families.The Panchayat-level Development Committee could not be constituted at the meeting and is likely to be constituted at a specially convened Gram Sabha on May 25.

Invitation to Participate in Youth Conference 1st June to 8 June

Hi,

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to participate in 'Lets Make A Difference' , the annual Youth Conference organized by IofC ('Initiatives of Change') at Asia Plateau, Panchgani, Maharashtra for the age group of 17 to 27 years. This is a 7 day residential conference which starts on the 1st of June 2008 and concludes on the 8th of June 2008. . Participants have to arrive before 3.00 p.m. on 1st June, those who are traveling long distance and convenient transport connections are not available, can arrive at Asia Plateau on 31st May, and can depart any time after lunch on 8th June.

During my graduation I was sent to this Conference by my Principal in 2002, ever since that I have been participating as it has helped me tremendously in my personal life, my family, my career and in my little contribution towards the society.

This conference aims to inspire and motivate youth to realize their inner strengths, to strengthen their value system and lead in their objectives contributing towards a cleaner, calmer and fairer world. To achieve this, we take the participants on an inward journey wherein they introspect and understand themselves better, thus helping them to initiate changes in their lives to make a difference. This would be done through various interactive and fun filled activities that would be conducted throughout the 7 days of the conference.

This Youth Conference is being conducted for over 10 years, attended by cross section of Indian Youth from various backgrounds and states. IofCis a non-profit organization which works for a better world by bringing out the best in people. It encourages every individual to find his or her unique contribution to the transformation needed in the world - starting with oneself.

I met young Indians, discussing and making road maps on how they can make a difference for making India a better Country. I saw young Journalism students choosing Rural Journalism from the comfortable metro stories; seen Harsh quitting his lucrative job for preparing for IAS. A young Goan, Dyson Misquita quitting his inherited restaurant business & placement job in National Aids Control Organization for working in Uttaranchal mountains for Health Programs. Deepa, an architect from Ankleshwar shared with audience that for many years she has never used a single plastic bag and she was instrumental in conducting moral value based Workshop for 75 school children. Zulfikar Khan a theatre artist, quit his mainstream work in Chandigarh and started night theatre schools for boys in slums, who would shoe shine or collect garbage. Next Generation of many businessmen committing to ethical standards in their business.

Each one asking themselves "How can I make the difference".

Dashmesh, from Nagpur who inherited his father's business empire had bought acres of land near wildlife sanctuary. It is in his introspection that he saw a power to transform the lives of youngsters in the nearby village who were glued to gambling, spurious liquor. He is now working towards rebuilding the schools, sponsoring the village youth to participate in Youth Conference.

Krishna Lohar, an young teacher from Jharkhand, decided to pursue his dream of building a school in an Adivasi area. In spite of all odds, he managed to make a school without paying a single bribe. A teacher from Panchgani spent a year teaching in Nagaland, as his contribution to bridge the gap between Nagas and Indians.

A young couple from IIM-A, gave up all their time for composing and singing songs that promote communal harmony. Power of inner voice is something special, my friend for example quit his corporate job in IBM Daksh to join Department of Agriculture in Karnataka. In last 6 months, he has been instrumental in building 85 greenhouses for farmers across North Karnataka.

It might sound as place for social realization. But that's incorrect, I have seen many siblings speaking and hugging to each other after many years. Relationships which were broken being bridged. Nuclear families coming together. I have seen a Hindu fundamentalist once arrested under TADA first time in his life hugging Muslim.

To quote my friend Bhanu " At a societal level, such individuals create an atmosphere of hope, honesty & healing which is essential for any development. Because they have taken steps of change in their own lives, they have faith that even others can change like their personal lives and their surroundings can become different. This empowerment is experiential and not just cerebral. They no longer feel cynical or apathetic, they become initiators of Change"

I urge you to participate in this year's 'Lets Make A Difference' Youth Conference, it truly will be amazing experience.

Let's Make A Difference - Brochure[http://www.dotsolhost.com/LMAD2008.doc]

Let's Make a Difference - Application Form [http://www.dotsolhost.com/LMADForm.pdf

For any queries please feel free to contact me, also inform your friends and relatives about this so they can join you.

Please read

Website : http://www.in.iofc.org/abt/faqs/

http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/Spiritual-travel/Life-MRA.asp

Jai Hind

On behalf of the Youth Team,

Navendu Shirali

Mobile-9342593393