Many locals fear key infrastructure projects cleared this year could turn Goa into a “coal hub”. Mithila Prabhudesai, a medical student, appeals to the PM to protect the state's ecology and safeguard public health.
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00:00Dear Prime Minister, My name is Mithila Prabhudesai and I am a 21-year-old medical student born
00:06and brought up in Goa.
00:07I represent the Amche Molle campaign by being a part of the social media handling team of
00:13Molle Memory Project, which is an Instagram page that amplifies youth voice.
00:19You might be wondering why is Goa in news recently?
00:22What is up?
00:23Well, to me and a lot of fellow Goinkars, Goa will always be synonymous to its greenery.
00:29But today, we are set out to lose that.
00:32At the start of the lockdown, three projects were approved to pass through Goa's largest
00:37protected forest areas, Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary without
00:42proper scrutiny and evaluation.
00:45The projects being expansion of the national highway, setting up of a transmission line
00:50and double tracking of the railway tracks.
00:54These projects were approved to increase coal transportation across the state, turning
00:59a beautiful green Goa into a dangerous black coal hub.
01:05Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary form a larger part of the Western
01:10Ghat.
01:11They are known to be resilient to climate change and also feature in UNESCO's 36 biodiversity
01:18hotspots.
01:20There are so many species here, so many flora and fauna, some which are endemic, which means
01:26that they are only found in Goa and nowhere else in the world.
01:29Some which are endangered, some which are vulnerable.
01:33Since there will be deforestation of nearly 70,000 trees, we are set out to lose on so
01:38many of these species which we might have not even discovered as yet.
01:42Since hydrological studies have not been done, we don't know what effect it would have on
01:47the rivers here.
01:49These rivers flow down to supply water to many villages in the state.
01:55Also it will have an impact on the water cycle and carbon cycle.
01:59Since there is hill cutting, there will also be a danger of landslides.
02:04Apart from the major ecological disturbances that these projects will cause, it will also
02:09have an impact on human life.
02:12Goans depend on tourism for their economy.
02:16The current community-based hinterland tourism will be hampered.
02:20Also Goa's future vision of revamping its economy by focusing on nature-based tourism
02:26will be impacted.
02:28Furthermore, Doodh Sagar, which is India's one of the tallest waterfalls, is Goa's main
02:36tourism spot.
02:37Because of such large-scale deforestation, it will be majorly impacted.
02:42Its essence will be lost.
02:43There are so many old archaeological sites here.
02:47Like the Tamdisurla.
02:49The Tamdisurla temple is a Mahadev temple that was built during the Kadamba times.
02:53As a small child, I remember visiting this place with my family.
02:58And recently I was going through all the pictures that were from that time and I had tears in
03:04my eyes because I realized that that essence will go when so many trees around that temple
03:12will be felled.
03:14And it was very disheartening, it was very devastating to realize that.
03:20Because I have so many memories attached to that place.
03:23So many memories attached to the trips I used to take as a child to Malé.
03:27And you know, thinking about all the species that would be lost, it's very devastating.
03:32Furthermore, the health of the state will be at risk.
03:37Deforestation is linked to an increase in zoonotic diseases.
03:40Zoonotic diseases are the diseases that we get from animals.
03:44So deforestation would mean that animals come into human civilization and humans go into
03:50theirs, increasing our interaction and creating a passage for transmission of diseases.
03:56The current pandemic that we are in, COVID-19 is said to have a zoonotic origin.
04:01Diseases like malaria, HIV AIDS also have a zoonotic origin.
04:05Furthermore, coal will have an impact on the respiratory system.
04:11They cause diseases like pneumoconiosis, COPD, asthma.
04:16And it is very, you know, being an asthma patient myself, I know how difficult it is
04:22to lead a life with such disorders.
04:26For non-Goans, you might have had the Goa plan, you know, coming here, having a vacation,
04:31having a peaceful time.
04:33Well, if these projects are implemented, you will not get to see the Goa that you envisioned.
04:39And that would be a real tragedy.
04:41Also remember, climate change will affect one and all of us.
04:45That brings an onus on us to stand up to the cause, to start a conversation, to spread
04:50the word.
04:51As a citizen of the state, I don't want my Goa to be ruined.
04:55I don't want my Goa to be a coal hub.
04:58I request the Prime Minister to please redirect the state to change their stand on this issue.
05:06To please dissolve the plan.
05:08We don't want to destroy Goa.