Diocesan Commission for Ecology has expressed concern over the serious ecological damage and disruption of life being caused by the double-tracking works being ruthlessly pushed through in parts of Goa.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, DCE has urged him to peep into his moral conscience as an elected representative of the people to ensure holistic development of the State.
It is distressing to witness the miseries and troubles of the affected populace being greatly compounded by the unresponsiveness and arrogance of the officials concerned, which is only serving to inflame the atmosphere further, the letter addressed by Fr Bolmax Fidelis Pereira, Convenor of DCE, stated.
The letter has raised several questions. "In the steady march of development, where do the human rights of the people stand? Is it morally right and permissible to run roughshod over the rights of citizens to a peaceful, harmonious, and healthy quality of life?" it asks.
The letter also raised the spectra of climate warming as a result of the ecological damage across the State. "Intense precipitation and floods, severe droughts, water shortages, unstoppable wildfires, rise in sea levels – all foretell what’s in store for the human race if we do not correct course," it warns.
"Even in Goa, the impact of changing climate and ecological conditions is undeniable. The amount of carbon emissions the trains produce pollute the air, soil, water and cause damage to living organisms," the letter stated.
The letter has impressed upon the CM to stop, think, collect data, analyse it with impeccable honesty and have the will, courage and capability to change direction accordingly.
It calls for the have a positive spirit as the guiding force behind conceptualisation of sustainable developmental policies. Every locale has its own unique human, cultural and ecological characteristics that must be given due respect in the steady progress of development, it stated and added, or else, we in Goa, can look forward to a very bleak future – if indeed there will be a future at all.