MOLLEM - THE GREEN, GREEN LUNGS OF GOA
*What do you get when you add three infrastructure projects to “ susegad goankars” global biodiversity hotspot?
-Jagrut Goankars.
The three MASSIVE linear projects everyone is talking about..
Expansion of National Highway 4-A,
Construction of a new transmission line and
Doubling of the existing railway line.
What’s the problem?
All pass through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park at Mollem.
So...?
Activists alleged it will collectively require the destruction (tree & hill cutting, some of which has already happened) of 170 hectares of forest in different areas of this protected wildlife habitat.
These projects have benefits…
Oh yes, they do. The expansion of road and rail will improve connectivity between Goa and southern states, for people and goods. There would be growth in tourism and industry in Goa. The power transmission line will greatly improve electricity supply.
But at what cost..?
Activists say the sanctuary will be butchered into three distinct pieces, pristine, natural forests will be destroyed, sources of drinking water will be lost, highly indigenous and endangered species like Black Panther, Leopard, Gaur and a host of other fauna, which will be completely disturbed…
Vocal for local-
When residents of Goa get vocal for Mollem, Current CM says, “The opposition is coming from Africa, England and Russia. Those who have not seen Goa and Mollem are now commenting about it from foreign countries….” Then says “Mollemkars and Goemkars are quite capable of saving Mollem and Goa.”
Why the song and dance…?
That was the Flash Mob performed to ‘Jerusalema’ by CYFC (Chicalim Youth Farmers Club) at ground zero, Sangod, Mollem. The exposed soil with trees and hills cut, stands out in stark contrast to the picturesque…like flesh ripped open..
Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd (GTTPL)’s response..
ONLY 1,000 trees will be felled in the wildlife sanctuary.
‘Speak no ill about the dead’..
It's been rumoured that the former Chief Minister (Bhai) was in favour of these projects…
but in 2013, whilst ‘rejecting’ the railway expansion proposal, he said, “We may not agree as the government of Goa has so far not agreed to the proposal. In fact no such proposal has been received. We may, therefore, not agree for the proposal before the forest department.”
Activists allege that the railway track doubling is being undertaken solely to expand the coal carrying capacity of the railway line from Goa’s Mormugao Port to north Karnataka.
“Goa will not be a coal hub at all. There is an apprehension created in the minds of the people…..that more coal will be brought to Goa. Government will look to make sure that the (quantum) will not increase,” said Goa’s present environment minister.
What about the 440KV power transmission project…
‘Bhai’ did direct the Tamnar Power firm’s officials to look for an alternative alignment to ensure “minimum damage” to the forest thus the route was realigned from the initial 13km through the sanctuary reduced to just 2.5 km.
With regards to the national highway expansion project,
‘Bhai’, insisted mitigation measures be incorporated in the project proposal—animal underpasses, overbridges, restrictions on vehicle movement through the highway at night…
The protestors say the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for the highway and railway projects are shoddy, and were rushed through during the period of the Covid-19 lockdown. There is no EIA for the transmission line.
A standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife, Chaired by Union Minister for Environment, cleared the three projects in April 2020, in a meeting via video conference….
Advantage Lockdown..?
Definitely not! Government of Goa says, then forest minister, Arlekar and then CM Parsekar had already approved the projects in 2016.
Considering the high rainfall Goa receives—The present proposal of the existing track to be doubled along the same alignment brings with it risks of destabilising the steep and fragile slopes of the Western Ghats leading to landslides.
Creative protests by the people– candlelight vigil on railway tracks, more than 5,000 locals gathering at Chandol village in the Western Ghats to dance and sing in solidarity with the forest, some also performed the Kunbi (a local folk dance) near the railway line, silent placard holding peaceful protests and the government responds by- arrests, FIRs.
Since the government hasn’t yet backed down on the projects, where does the opposition to the same go from here?
Meanings: “ susegad goankars”- Easy going Goans.
"Jagrut Goankars"- Awakened Goans.
References:
Gurnani, Twinkle. " What's #SaveMollem protest and why are Goans protesting?", Deccan Chronicle, Nov 8, 2020, https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/081120/primer-whats-savemollem-protest-and-why-are-goans-protesting.html. Accessed Feb 17, 2021.
de Souza, Gerard. "Stir to save Mollem rages on in Goa", Hindustan Times , Nov 9, 2020, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/stir-to-save-mollem-rages-on-in-goa/story-fHkXkuAKy32O3kFwgR1UhP.html. Accessed Feb 17, 2021
Kamat Maad, Govind . "How Manohar Parrikar put his foot down and saved Mollem", Times of India, Jan 29, 2021, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/how-parrikar-put-his-foot-down-and-saved-mollem/articleshow/80522989.cms. Accessed Feb 18, 2021
Tombat, Ashwin. "The Youth of Mollem have Spoken", Goa News, Sept 14, 2020, www.goanews.com/blogs_disp.php?bpid=1419. Accessed Feb 16, 2021
"FLASH MOB by CYFC at SANGOD, MOLLEM, GOA | JERUSALEMA CHALLENGE". Youtube, uploaded by SFX CHICALIM, 19 NOV 2020, https://youtu.be/o5eeKnAcp90.
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