LOOKING GLASS - 2

 Dateline Sept 18, 2005:  

From: Margaret Mascarenhas and Wendell Rodricks

Dear Friends of Goa,

The lack of waste management infrastructure for both hazardous and ordinary waste in Goa is shocking, shameful and, quite simply, inexcusable. Successive Goa governments have yet to take the problem seriously, and it is now reaching crisis proportions even as the tourism department continues to lure unsuspecting tourists for the upcoming season, and the government proceeds with plans to host IFFI, which will only compound the problem. Goa can no longer sustain this assault.

Ever since the wall at a dump in the village of Curca collapsed last month, spewing filth into the village, villagers all over Goa have twigged onto the fact that the municipal garbage being indiscriminately dumped on plateaus, near water sources, and near residential areas is bad for them, and refuse to allow the cities of Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco to continue with this irresponsible practice. Meanwhile, garbage continues to accumulate all over the state, secretly dumped into ravines and along highways in the dead of night. Much of it is hazardous.

There is no logical reason for the situation in which we find ourselves, particularly given the low density population of Goa. It is a situation is extremely dangerous to the health of the entire population as well as to visitors. If it continues, Goa will find itself in the position of Surat some years ago. Surat, if you recall, was so dirty that in 1994 it was struck with a Plague epidemic—a disease from the Dark Ages. The vector is usually rat fleas, and as we all know, where there is garbage, there are rats.

Other diseases that occur under such conditions, particularly when water sources are contaminated, none of them pleasant: E. coli, Hepatitis A, cryptosporidium, Giardia infections . These diseases do not discriminate between rich and poor. Ministers and their families can contract them. And perhaps that is what is required for the government to wake up. But since Goa cannot afford to wait for that to happen, it is imperative that we hold elected officials accountable right now. Goa does, after all have a medical doctor as Deputy CM, who also holds the Environment portfolio. He and the rest of the Goa Government need to get to work pronto, and make this a priority.

We encourage all Goans and Goa-lovers to get together and take action to force the Goa government to take this issue seriously. Contact MLAs and ministers; write to the editors of newspapers; get on the internet and warn tourism operators who promote Goa of the garbage crisis, contact TV stations like the BBC, bombard the Goa Government website, meet the Governor. Get out there and speak up on behalf of Goa. We need your help.

Margaret Mascarenhas and Wendell Rodricks
September 18, 2005
 

TGF comment:  For the past 5 years, we at TGF have been sounding warning bells about the amount of filth that has come to invade our homeland.  On repeated occasions we have been directed to the filth present in first world cities like New York.  Then, last year, the Hepatitis epidemic struck Goa.  It took a crisis to wake up the people of Goa.  And, true to form, after the epidemic passed, so did the concern for the continued filthification of Goa. 

Finally, two great Goan stalwarts have decided to take the bull by the horns. Margaret Mascarenhas and Wendell Rodricks have TGF's unflinching support. Please join them and help make our beloved Goa clean again.

TGF
September 18, 2005

click here to review the Goa Travel Advisory updated Sept 24, 2005

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