AAM AADMI PARTY has said that the government has always shown unfriendly attitude towards environment of the state with severe compromises made only to protect interests of those capable of throwing money, thus making the state vulnerable to natural calamities as was seen recently. AAP leader on environment Sidharth Karapurkar alleged that there has not been a single positive action by the government to safeguard the ecological balance and on the contrary, it was allowing illegal activities that cause damage to natural environment, whether by allowing razing of hills or filling of fields to mass deforestation. Stating that Gadgil was a man of eminence in matters relating to environment, Sidharth Karapurkar said “it was unfortunate that the voice of a learned man was not audible to the government. Gadgil is a prophet when it comes to environmental matters. What he warns about , comes true. What happened in Kerala last year which had disregarded his warning of impending calamity, is before all to see. Alas! we do not have statesmen with strong will but small petty politicians who cannot grasp these things”.
Meanwhile AAP challenged the government to state the truth about the volume of water in the Selaulim dam at peak dam levels. Sidharth said that filling and the resultant overflow of the dam waters, which makes an excellent picture in the media was now happening in early July. He said that past records will show that the dam would overflow only in late August or thereafter thus proving that the dam was holding less water due to massive siltation that was caused by mining ore run offs as corroborated by what Mr Gadgil has said about the overall situation with the rivers of Goa. “Even dam capacity has got compromised to suit interests of a few. Selaulim dam is the lifeline of the people of south Goa. These governments will come and go. People will suffer” said Sidharth Karapurkar.
