Members of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday condoled the families who lost their dear and near ones in the Wayanad tragedy where nearly 200 people lost their lives in landslides while 200 were missing and feared trapped under the debris. Wayanad district of Kerala received more than 140 mm of rain within 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, around five times more than expected. Some areas in the district reported over 300 mm of rain during the same period. Experts believe that the rampant cutting down of trees to make way for plantations such as tea and coffee has rendered the slopes prone to landslides.
Cut into Goa, and legislators while expressing grief over the Wayanad incident, called for conservation measures and the need to protect hilly terrains which have been mercilessly cut down to make way for construction activity. Several members lamented the unbridled hill-cutting witnessed in the past few years. It may be noted that hill-cutting and land-filling are twin issues that have been at the centre of this debate on the changing Goa landscape. Hills in areas like Mandrem, Anjuna, Taleigao, Arpora, Quepm, Curchorem and many others have witnessed illegalities over the years.
Statistics reveal a grim picture. In the first four months of the year 2024 (up to April), there have been 202 cases of hill-cutting or land-filling cases registered by the flying squad across Goa. In 2023 there were 308 cases registered and in 2022 and 2021 there were 135 and 128 cases respectively. Surprisingly, the TCP Department in its reply to an unstarred Assembly question by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, on the impact of hill-cutting and land-filling in Goa, says no such instances are brought to the notice of the Department where it could be stated that illegal hill-cutting and land-filling has increased.
Contrary to what the department claims, statistics reveal that there has been an upsurge in hill-cutting activity which only points to the fact that the government is still living in denial. Goa has been witnessing unprecedented flooding and a two-day rainfall sunk areas of Bicholim and other low-lying areas on Thursday. To conclude that the hill-cutting at the current scale does not pose any threat to the environment is illogical.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the House of conducting a survey to identify landslide-prone areas and corrective measures. On the face of it, this announcement is positive. However, against the scale of illegality, surveys will help very little if the government doesn’t show zero tolerance towards such illegalities. A few days ago, the CM announced a steep fine of ten lakhs on those digging illegal bore wells. Hill-cutting has to be dealt with ruthlessly.
While members in the House lamented the developments in Wayanad, Opposition leader Yuri Alemao maintained that such illegalities cannot be executed without the blessings of the political powers. This brings to the fore another element: What are local leaders and legislators doing when hilly areas in their backyards are being downsized?
It’s time legislators across party lines practice what they preach and consider it their responsibility towards their constituency as mentioned by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa in the House. Instead of crying over spilt milk, legislators need to walk the talk and take the issue head-on without playing vote-bank politics, or else the fears of Goa facing Wayanad-like landslides may soon come true.
