“The State of Goa is unique in having diverse ecosystems, the montane/hill ecosystems, the riparian ecosystems, the wetlands, the estuarine ecosystem, the stagnant water bodies and marine ecosystem within distance of 50 km all of which are linked. In other words, State of Goa has highest ecological integrity and unique hottest hotspot within the Western Ghats.”

 Supreme Court’s Expert Committee on Capping of Iron Ore Extraction

“If we accept what the Expert Committee has said, then the Government of Goa is duty bound to approach the United Nations for special funding to preserve and protect the environment of the State of Goa.”

Senior Adv. Harish Salve, amicus curiae, March 27, 2014

There is general acknowledgement and agreement that existing political parties are not only enmeshed irretrievably in a culture of total corruption, but, for this very reason, they are unable to protect the people of the state from increasing adversity and its environment from steady degeneration.

In such a vacuum, it has become the fundamental duty of citizens to mobilize themselves and to generate an alternative political force which will make its presence effectively felt in the elections scheduled for 2017.

It is agreed by all those present that the following principles will be non-negotiable for the purpose of carrying on the movement:

1. The popular movement will resolve issues facing the people of the state without recourse to strategies based on caste or religion.

2. The developmental model which the group will propose and support will enhance and enrich Goa’s unique status, identity and its eco-systems. The present industrial model is steadily killing Goa and all it stands for, square kilometre by square kilometre.

3. Some steps that have been taken in the past, may have to be reversed (e.g., promotion of casino and drug culture).

4. A meaningful language solution shall be evolved in the interest of children, their educational capacity and the long term protection of Goan language (Konkani) and culture.
5. No large-scale industries shall be welcomed or supported any longer, as they employ mostly people from outside the State and indulge in corruption.

6. The popular movement will patronize employment avenues based on peoples’ initiatives and will provide support to expand such entrepreneurship potential. Thus, we must work on a survey of the number of workplaces and jobs created by common people and professionals across the State of Goa. At the moment, such employment provides 90% of jobs available in the State.

7. Citizen monitoring groups shall be installed to oversee implementation of public projects tendered, in order to ensure quality work. Tenders will be subject to independent expert opinion.

8. The garbage problem will be resolved, as simple and inexpensive solutions and competent and dedicated persons are available in the State.

9. The Regional Plan will be notified in the gazette as approved by the village gram sabhas and then strictly implemented.

10. All major projects, including the airport at Mopa, will be reviewed.

11. Government will enable revenue lands in its possession to be used for housing for young Goan couples at modest prices.

12. “Transfer of development rights” (TDR) option will be made available for those owning (private) forests or they will be compensated with carbon sink funds on annual basis.

13. Agriculture will convert to organic status in the interest of sustainable tourism and premium incomes for the farmers.

14. Small scale tourism only will be encouraged in future. However, even small scale tourism shall not be permitted to permanently damage ecological assets like beaches and sand dunes.

15. Public transport will be completely refurbished and restored to its primary status. Those travelling by such transport will be provided subsidies.

Mining Proposals

Since mining has been a major industry within the state’s economy, it will be encouraged and supported for re-start, but on a different footing from the past. The following main principles will be part of public policy on mining:

1. On the basis of the proposals made below, all citizens in Goa will be entitled to Universal Basic Income (UBI). No person will go without a monthly cash entitlement. No person will therefore go hungry, even if she or he does not have a job.
2. This programme (UBI) will be implemented through the instrumentality of the Goan Mineral Permanent Fund (or better, Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund), already being implemented by Supreme Court order.
3. To achieve credible Permanent Fund, all existing leases shall be cancelled and handed over to the State which is the owner of all the minerals. The State shall – within a period of six months – examine each lease area to inventorize all the various mineral ores it may comprise of (besides, iron ore).
4. All mining extraction activities will thereafter be contracted to competent agencies, cooperatives or persons. However, after extraction, all ore will be handed over to the government, which is the custodian on behalf of the people of the state. All minerals on the lease will be allowed for exploitation to promote higher incomes and zero waste. No new mining pit shall be opened unless older ones are filled and reforested.
5. All revenue from mining shall go into the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund. Only real income from the Fund will be used for the needs of the present generation through UBI. This income is to be distributed in the form of dividend to all Goan citizens directly into their accounts.
6. Mining dumps shall be removed progressively and areas restored to agricultural or forest production.
7. No dumps shall be allowed outside mining lease areas.