PANJIM: The State government is all set to revive its decade-long State-of-the art ‘Goa Bazaar’ project, planned at Merces, which failed to kick off, due to administrative hurdles. The project, envisaged by the Rural Development Agency (RDA), has received Rs 12 crore funding from the Central government.
RDA Minister Michael Lobo said that Central government in lines with Delhi Haat, had proposed to come up with ‘Goa Bazaar’, in a bid to provide a business platform for local artisans and self help groups, almost ten years back.
“However, the project could not take shape till now, due to administrative hurdles,” said Lobo, while adding that one of the bureaucrats had raised objection to the area acquired at Merces, being a low lying.
“We have allocated a portion of the same area to the District Court, where the complex has already come up. So why is the objection to the balance 30,000 sq mtrs area, where Goa Bazaar is proposed,” Lobo questioned.
The Minister said that he has already taken up the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant requesting to revive the project, which would be a permanent platform for our local artisans and self help groups. .
Minister lamented that the State government has failed to provide the required platform for local artists, and more particularly to self help groups.
RDA project director Sanjit Rodrigues said that the project was sanctioned for women empowerment, to provide a marketing platform for self help groups.
He added that the plan has been prepared by GSIDC and is waiting the approval from TCP. He also said that the approval from the expenditure finance committee is also awaited.
Meanwhile, the annual SARAS, Goa’s trade fair, will be inaugurated on January 23 at SGPDA ground Margao at the hands of the CM.
