"Zulpea Xett" in Cuncolim has been a natural storm-water drain as well as a beautiful natural turf for youngsters in Cuncolim to hone in on their sporting skills. Today, as a powerful lobby has filled up the field, there could be dangerous repercussions, writes Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

“Zulpea Xett”, a low-lying field which used to remain water-logged during the rainy season, would be a centre of sporting activity during the rest of the year. Most of the Schools around Cuncolim used to hold their annual sports meet on this beautiful and "natural turf", something which could put a lot of artificial turfs of today to shame. During the rains it was a natural habitat for the sweet-water life and frogs. One used to also see a lot of birds like cranes around this water-logged ground.

The ground was gifted to the Cuncolim Union, which is a mighty powerful body in the Cuncolim social and political arena, headed by a former tourism director and a well-known politician as it’s secretary. Of late this body has become a law unto itself, they have filled up this beautiful natural turf without any clearance from the Land Conversation Authorities nor permissions of the South Goa planning and development Authority. The filling up of the paddy field  attracts penalty under Section 7 of the Town and Country Planning Act. A high ranking police officer, another elite of the Cuncolim Union and it’s vice president had been trying to build a road on the other side of this ground, where he has his property. This was opposed by the locals then but now he is served on a platter. How very convenient!

Now with the powerful politicians and the police together with their own agendas, law becomes a bystander. This is the law of the “jungle” known as Goa today. If you are powerful enough you can get away with practically anything, If the law makers and the protectors of the law themselves do not adhere to the laws, what it the point of the laws? Or are the laws only for the underprivileged and the Aam Aadmi?

The president, being a former tourism director, should have been in the fore front in protecting the environment but instead, he is a party to the destruction of the environment. I do feel sorry for the people of Culvaddo, most of whom oppose this destruction of nature but have no voice because of the powerful political lobby within the Cuncolim Union. 

I am very much surprised that the environmentalists as well as journalists of the area, have not come out strongly against this issue. The very people who have shown great concern for the environment all over Goa have failed to raise a voice in their own backyard. Probably what is good for the goose is not good for the gander. The pen is said to be mightier than the sword, but here most probably the repercussions of standing against the powerful elite have caused pens to run out of ink.

The filling up of this field will certainly affect the water levels from here on during the rainy season. We have seen what a cloud burst did to the residents of Canacona. Playing with nature is as dangerous as playing with fire. Development at the cost of nature is not what is required in Cuncolim or for that matter in Goa. Our political elite have shown very little respect for nature and ecology. Hope the flood in Canacona is an eye opener for our politicians and authorities alike, for a clearer vision.

Save the environment, save Goa.