Goas environmental activists, a group of several environmental campaign groups, have created a green manifesto calling on political parties to adopt a sustainable vision of Goa’s future.
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A number of groups including the Goa Heritage Action Group and Goyant Kollso Naka (“No coal in Goa”), the Responsible Tourism Collective, Morjim Sea Turtle Trust and others released a manifesto requesting that candidates and parties endorse a vision that we citizens want to see in Goa. This vision is based on local cultural, scientific and legally valid values
The manifesto calls for scrapping three infrastructure projects — the flyover, railway expansion, and power line that cut through Western Ghats. Also, Goa must protect its ecosystems, including the Western Ghats forests and coastal and wetland ecosystems. Additionally, Goa’s thinly planted lateritic plateaus which are largely grasslands must be stopped being treated like wasteland.
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People of Goa are acutely aware of the environmental degradation that is affecting their livelihood and health. They must see that the government representatives will address these issues. Our tweet storm is a step in that direction, Malaika Mathewchawla, an ecologist and a member the team that drafted this manifesto, said.
They demand that bottom trawling, LED fish fishing, and other extractive fishing practices from Goan waters, which are harmful for marine ecology, be phased out. This will allow for large bycatch of noncommercial species, including turtles.
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CZMP Update to include missing or inadequately mapped ecosystems. sand dunes; fishing ponds; sea grass beds; bird foraging areas; seaweed forests and coral Reefs. To ensure that tourist activity is controlled and some beaches are allowed to keep natural vegetation and ecosystems,
Freshwater wetlands are rapidly disappearing. They must be protected, restored and protected. Under the 2017 wetland management rules, many more freshwater bodies in the state should be declared as official wetlands. These include the Batim Lake and Salvador do Mundo wetlands. Conservation of estuarine ecosystems, including khazan lands or mangrove forests, is important as they are highly productive and highly vulnerable to climate change. These systems are crucial for food production, climate regulation, and other related livelihoods. Goa’s major cities, as well as many nature-based tourism activities, and associated livelihoods, are located on or near them. Better planning and management is required.
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The groups demanded that the Wasteland Atlas of India be removed from Goa’s rocky outcrop habitats and pasturelands. This was in protest at the Goa government’s plans to build infrastructure on rocky plateaus.
There are many ecosystems that have been neglected and are considered wastelands. These ecosystems are designated by the Wasteland Atlas of India, as unproductive land that can be converted for agricultural and industrial use. These ecosystems, like the laterite plateaus or sand dunes in Goa, are unique areas with rich fauna and often vital carbon sinks, according to the manifesto.
Although they are considered wastelands by the Goa government, several projects have been planned by the Goa government. These include industrial estates and the new International Airport at Goa.
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The Green Manifesto Goa was not the only environmental group to launch the Goenchi Mati manifesto (Soil of Goa) calling for iron ore mining to be reintroduced in Goa. This manifesto is aimed at ensuring that the people of Goa benefit more than the mining companies.
The state’s Iron Ore Mining practices over the past several decades has caused a great deal of harm to the people of Goa. This is due to the system in which the government grants mining leases at its discretion without using auctions or competitive bidding processes, Rahul Basu of Goa Foundation, who is supporting the Goenchi Mati movement, stated.
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The Goenchi Mati Movement, (GMM), has advocated a different approach in mining. This would include mining either directly by government or by parties granted leases through fair and transparent auctions. The proceeds of such mining or auctions are invested in a professionally managed fund for perpetuity. The real earnings of the fund are distributed annually to the people of Goa, also in perpetuity.
The manifesto has been supported in the past both by the Aam Aadmi Party as well as the Trinamool Congress.
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A third manifesto, the Citizens Manifesto, required that the people be consulted prior to any significant government decisions. This halted rapid urbanization in Goa, slowed construction clearances, and shifted coastal development to renewable energy.
We are disappointed that no political party has been capable of understanding the needs, vision, and legitimate rights of the land, people, and people of Goa. This is something for which we will struggle, Abhijitprabhudesai, who was one of those who drafted this manifesto said.
