In the Bollywood cult classic Deewar, the heated discussion between brothers Vijay and Ravi - played by Amitabh Bachan and Shashi Kapoor respectively - is relevant to Goa and India. Vijay, the angry young man, says to Ravi ‘Aaj mere paas buildingein hain, property hai, bank balance hai, bangla hai, gaadi hai. Tumhare paas kya hai?’ [Today, I have buildings, property, a bank balance, a bungalow, and a car. What do you have?"]. Ravi answers ‘Mere paas maa hai." [I have mother].
The Mother staying with Ravi is an acknowledgement of his being morally upright, courageous and respected.
Most Indian politicians, including those in Goa, can proudly claim ‘‘Aaj mere paas buildingein hain, property hai, bank balance hai, bangla hai, gaadi hai. Tumhare paas kya hai?’. Though the electorate recognise the politician’s alleged moral bankruptcy many would love to trade places with them. However, only 33% of Indians consider politicians to be trustworthy per Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index.
There is a reason for such distrust. Most politician’s wealth magically increases manifold, they have criminal cases against them but roam free, they are unaccountable and unashamedly switch political parties, finally they convert their political career into a family run business empire.
Voter apathy is an enabler
for politicians.
There is another reason for a politician’s success. Does anyone remember how in 2016 the Goa government amended the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 to derecognise the Coconut palm as a tree? The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government demoted the Coconut plant from a tree to a grass to allegedly help their BJP colleague’s business. They change rules at the drop of a hat.
It is believed politicians benefit from large development projects. I am not speaking electorally. There is more to ‘it will help the community’ or ‘good for Goa’s economy’.
Large development projects - public or private - allegedly provide myriad ways to make money. A new approach road jacks up land prices, the myriad permissions needed for large constructions purportedly provides many watering-holes to sip from.
Given these alleged benefits it is no surprise the government has no qualms in announcing public projects and permitting private construction. Is it any wonder the Goa Forest Department records the decline of Mangrove vegetation from 20,000 hectares in 1987 to 2,200 hectares in 2015. It is reported mangrove cover increased by 1 Km in 2021.
The government’s plan to covert lakhs of square kilometres of forest-type, orchard and agricultural land for settlement purpose makes no sense. Goa’s greenery be it from agricultural
fields, old trees, orchards, Mangroves and forests makes the state a tourist attraction. Is it the stupidity of greed that sees sense in killing the Goose that lays the golden egg?
Unsurprisingly, the BJP government floated a tender for the development of the area around Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade for eco-tourism. The Chief Minister also announced the construction of a bridge between the islands of Divar and Vanxim.
Let us discuss the latter issue first. Vaxim’s population is 550, while Divar’s is a few thousand. The people of Divar are happy without a bridge. Both islands are known for their verdant greenery and stillness, and not for them being hubs of economic activity. No guesses as to who will benefit from the construction of the bridge. Worse still, this bridge will serve as a gateway to build a bridge between Divar and the mainland.
There is a certain self-assured lunacy to come up with the idea of constructing an ‘eco-village’ in an area that is verdantly green to reduce the impact of its operation. There would be nothing ‘eco’ about it - from its construction onwards. Land would be cleared and levelled. Temporary tenements for construction workers – which adds another layer of socio-environmental problems – would need to be raised. Approach roads would need to be laid for construction traffic and then the increase in tourist traffic, and existing roads would have to be broadened. This is just the beginning, when this so-called eco-village begins operation there will be the issue of traffic, tourist population surges, solid and waste water generation, air pollution, the list goes on.
Unfortunately, Indians know the rule of thumb - bigger the project bigger the opportunity for bigger kickbacks. Is this the reason for politicians in Goa to effortlessly come up with these schemes?
Places like Calangute and Candolim are examples of the consequences of rampant construction and unplanned tourism. Crowded roads, lack of parking, noise, restaurants serving the same cuisine give the area the feel of just another busy area in some corner of India. The differentiators are the number of alcohol shops and the tourist dress code.
It’s time for a rethink. Instead of big projects the government can be imaginative and think small. Instead of greenwashing greed with terms like ‘eco-tourism’, the government can promote home-stays, dining with families, day-trips and so on.
Maintaining old homes is an expensive proposition, homestays would not only provide sustainable employment but would give homeowners income to maintain their property and highlight various aspects of Goan culture. One is hard pressed not to notice the lack of restaurants offering Goan cuisine. Take for example the Candolim-Calangute stretch, one has Biryani; ‘100% Pure Veg’ restaurants offering North Indian, South Indian, Rajasthani, Jain, Chinese; not one claims to serve Goan cuisine. Concocted versions of Xacuti, Goan fish curry and so on are hidden somewhere in the corner of their menu. Isn’t tourism supposed to promote the culture of the place? If food is not part of culture, then what is? Home stays, dining with families can not only promote Goan food and culture but also preserve it and be a source of income.
Further, cycling and walking tours are the best ways to make tourism experiential and socio-environmentally friendly while ensuring earnings don’t suffer.
The government has done enough of thinking big when it comes to tourism. One deals with its repercussions on a daily basis. It’s time to think small. Is anyone interested?
(Samir Nazareth is an
author and writes on
socio-economic and
environmental issues)