Wayanad Tragedy is an "Air Raid Siren" for Goa. Do you hear?

Wayanad tragedy is a man-made one and ditto scheme of things is happening in Goa, due to the greed and apathy of everyone. It's time to resolve and act, before all is lost for Children of the state.

The landslide disaster of Wayanad, which unfolded yesterday very early morning.

A massive tragedy of epic proportions unfolded at very early hours of 30th July 2024, at Wayanad in Kerala, when two massive landslides, killed 126 (report so far) and about 100 still missing, buried deep inside the sludge and mud.

Digging down deep into reports of "The Times Of India" of today's edition; it is a manmade disaster due to the Greed (read, as "development") and apathy of all concerned.

Mundakkai town, which transgressed from a sleepy village to Touristic town and saw rampant and haphazard development, in terms of homestays, resorts and other touristic facility is almost destroyed.

Earlier, there were only Cardomom and Tea states there, with villagers living peacefully within the protective confines of nature.

Does this sound familiar, with some other place as well? Hell Yeah, Goa. You are absolutely right.

---

The Butterfly Effect

"The butterfly effect" is a concept in science that suggests that small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable outcomes.

For Example, Imagine a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil. This tiny action itself could set off a chain of events that could hypothetically ,ultimately results in a tornado in Texas weeks later. While this is a very simplified example, often used to explain the term, it however illustrates the core idea:

1) Small causes can have big effects.

2) Systems are interconnected.

3) Outcomes can be unpredictable.

Essentially, the butterfly effect highlights the complex and interconnected nature of the world, where even the smallest actions can have far-reaching consequences. It's often used in fields like meteorology, economics, and even psychology to explain how seemingly insignificant events can lead to major changes.

No Scientific concept, in recent times, have been so bang in the eyes, as "Butterfly Effect"; as we read daily disasters unfolding in front of us.

Cutting down forests, orchards and filling up fields meant for agriculture with Farm Houses, is gonna have a cascading effect, not sooner, but later.

The initial thought is that, cutting down free trees and a hill for building a villa or resort, would cause, what harm?

That's how greedy and uneducated fools think and execute, and years down the later, it's the children, who have to bear the brunt of the folly.

At Mundakkai, resorts and homestay were built right at the edge of river, thereby blocking it's natural route and also altering it. The Tourists who stayed in those places, had a gala time, clipped gazillion of pictures and made thousands of reels, and they escaped. 

Those who built those homestays and resorts, earned a lot of money , and even if their structures have been damaged, they would have enough to fend themselves. But what about simple villagers and the Patraos, who lost everything near and dear to them, for no fault of theirs?

---

Climate Change is REAL AND PRESENT DANGER.

The summer this year in Goa was obnoxiously hot, with temperatures touching 40 degrees and sometimes crossing it. And, summer started so early, from the fag end of February.

The availability of tap water in Goa now gets disrupted from February itself, with water rationing happening, on alternate days at best, and then it further dwindles.

This is all while the Chief Minister of Goa blows the trumpet of "Har Ghar Nal" which means water is available at every household in Goa, in nation's capital.

While all this is happening, the Government of Goa and the ruling dispensation carries on with impunity, the task of destroying, everything natural in the 3,700 Sq Kms of state boundaries, at the pretext of development.

And when their follies are brought to notice, like the conversion of 21.29 Lakh sq km of natural cover into construction, the Minister shuts it down by invoking "Privilege". God forbid, if tomorrow, a Wayanad disaster struck Goa, who would be responsible?

The so called "development" in Goa of resorts, farmhouses, villas, hotels and restaurants is going on unabated, as if it's still the Hippie Era of 1960s and there is plenty to lose, and nature won't mind at all.

The rainfall in Goa, this July is highest in several decades, some even suggesting, highest in last more than 6 decades. But, this rings no alarm bells. Stupid Ministers and Bureaucrats would say, Nature is repeating itself after 6 decades.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/rainfall-in-july-2024-likely-to-be-the-highest-in-decades/articleshow/111891960.cms

---

Who is the beneficiary of “development” un Goa, is it the common people or the politicians and crony businessmen?

The blatantly naked irony of the situation in Goa is that, all this so called rampant destruction of nature is happening at the pretext of "development" is done by the entities and people who have no affinity, love or empathy for the state, it's culture and it's aboriginal people.

They are building their 3rd Home, New businesses in connivance with State Government and Panchayats. The illegal construction saga of Arambol and Anjuna is a prime example. They are not here for the love of Goa, building their only home, or only business.

Rampant hill cutting and Orchards are being destroyed by crony businessmen in Mandrem to build resorts and farmhouses; and when locals protest, the government gets them arrested.

Tomorrow, if a natural disaster struck Goa; they would run away to safer pastures, as they have plenty left to fallback on but where would the Goan go?

There are 40 MLAs in Goa, 33 of them are in ruling. And they are tacitly, directly and indirectly; all the acts of government, which is not sustainable and right for the future of state and its aboriginals. 

How many of them would be really affected by a Wayanad like disaster. None. They are all filthy rich and multiple times Crorepati. It's the common Goemkar, who would suffer.

It's already late, but we can still decide, what is more important; hinterland tourism, homestays or safe guarding forests and demarcation of Ecological Sensitive Areas and protecting it for children.

Future is not ours. Future belongs to the Children of Goa.

We have the moral duty to safeguard that, being a custodian and a guardian.

What kind of future we want the children of Goa, is a question that now seriously needs to be asked.

To suffer in heat and with thirst? Drown in water and landslides? Or to be crushed with falling trees around?

PS: There are other related posts, which you can explore on this publication. They have not been cited for brevity.