Former Goan Minister Joins Padayatra
KP Sasi Reports
Former Goan minister Matanhy Saldanha joined the padayatra today in coastal Orissa, protesting against the invasion of land water and forests by the multinational companies. The padayatra co-ordinated by Abhay Sahu, the leader of anti-POSCO struggle, is under taken by fourteen people’s movements started from Paradeep on November 29 and will end in Puri on December 5. Around fourteen people’s movements comprising of Posco Pratirodh Sangharsh Samiti (PPSS), Vedanta Viswavidyalaya Virodhi Sangharsa Samiti, Jatadhar Bacao Andolan, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti, Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch, Lok Shakti Abhiyan and others have initiated the coastal march against the exploitation of land, water and forests.
`The loot of natural resourses is not just in Orissa, but all over India including my home-state of Goa’, said the ex-minister.`But we get enough inspiration from the strong resistance of people against globalisation in Orissa’. Matanhy Saldanha had led the first struggle of the fishing community against ecologically hazardous trawlers and the fishing community in Kerala followed the agitation in the eighties. Later, even the official committees set up by various governments recommended in favour of the demands of the fishing community, which forced the restriction of trawlers during the the breeding season.
`In our boat, there are 20 persons,’ said Avinash Khatua, a fisherman from Ersamma. ! We used to catch 8 quintals of fish every day. After Oswal fertiliser plant arrived in the nineties, our catch has gone down to 3 quintals. The proposed Jatadhar port by POSCO is the fresh problem. It will ruin our lives.’
`I sell fish here,’ said an obviously upset Kalpatarau Khatua who stood nearby. `A small boat with 5 fishermen used to catch one quintal a day before the fertilizer plant. Now the catch has come down to ten kilos. The waste from the plant has affected not just the fishing community, but also farmers. Coconuts which used to be large,now look likie cricket balls. The port will stop the flow from the river (branch of Mahanadi). This will create major environmental implications for the fishing community. It will also generate waterlogging and affect the farmers. Around 30,000/- fishing families will be directly affected by the construction of the port by POSCO.’
`The south Korean President need not even dream of laying a foundation stone for POSCO’, lashed out Mr Saldanha against the present plans of the Indian Go government, South Korea and POSCO.`The struggling people of Goa will always support and express solidarity with the agitating farmers, fisher people and adivasis trying to protect their environment. And so will all those who respect social justice anywhere in India’.
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