Rules of engagement
From all indications, there is a fresh build up against mega housing projects in Goa, particularly in South Goa. In late January the Majorda-Utorda-Calata gram sabha erupted in protest warning the panchayat against clearing the plans of mega housing projects. In Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat, the same message was sent with the panchayat adopting a resolution to this effect. The village of Raia followed suit, while in Curtorim the locals are on watch as well.
In Sao Jose de Areal, the village has asked the Town and Country Planning Department to stick to issues permissions based on the regional plan that villagers had submitted for the village. Projects that are cleared based on the controversial expanded road widths, are being opposed by locals in Raia. In the fast urbanising village of Corlim, villagers resolved to stop mega multi-storied projects and ensure that road widths are restricted to less than five metres ~ this they say is to prevent the mowing down of religious structures and existing old houses. When a challenge against a housing project in Corlim on licensing from the local body came up before courts in Goa, the judges themselves were alarmed at the pace at which local bodies were willing to green flag projects. Increasingly, the dubious role being played by local panchas in issuing questionable licenses are being held to legal scrutiny. As the landscape heats up again on questions of mega housing projects, especially those that are situated in villages, the dichotomy in perceptions of development and growth come to the fore.
The Goa Bachao Abhiyan at a recent Press meet pointed out that the 10-month-old Manohar Parrikar government was in no mood to finalise the Regional Plan 2021 citing its preoccupation with the illegal mining issue. The GBA was scathing, indicating that the government’s preoccupation with mining, did not preclude it from announcing development plans for Panjim or going ahead with changes to the Outline Development Plans of urban areas, the key areas of building construction activity. Architects, planners and civil engineers have alluded to the fact that the prevalence of both the RP 2001 and RP 2021 in current operation was permitting developers to choose the plan that suited them best. The disenchantment with the government not sticking to its promises of reworking and finalising the RP 2021, that was meant to apportion and balance out growth and sustainability while maintaining the integrity of Goa’s landscape is creating a climate of suspicion that will only spark further protests.
Governments are expected to be inclusive, especially the current one that came in on a wave of promises much of which were made in relation to the Regional Plan and development. The real estate industry points out that many of the protesters have vested interests and this is certainly true in some cases. For sure, professional real estate companies operating within the rules are an integral part of the economy and property development is not a bad word, but when local residents and village groups ~ as opposed to sundry individuals and/or NGOs with vested interests ~ protest vociferously, we have to take note of the people’s voice.
Rapid urbanisation, without adequate infrastructure backup of power, water supply and sewage, are converting villages to urban sprawls and residents recognise the downward spiral and their own growing marginalisation for what it is. Building houses that fuel land and real estate speculation (with very low actual occupancy), bring in a workforce to feed this industry and its estimated 250 odd ancillary linkages, and that these dwelling units are out of the reach of most Goans is at the root of the deep resentment.
That, however, does not mean that the development of the real estate and building industry should cease ~ on the contrary, an industry that provides that most essential of products (a house/flat of one’s own) and brings value to the economy should be actively encouraged to stay within the zoning and building rules duly set up. The protests against some projects can be traced to attempts made to circumvent rules and regulations using malleable local officials at a micro level and politicians at a macro level and it is these “bad apples” which are giving the real estate sector and the many professionally run firms a bad name.
Indeed, the real estate industry nationwide is asking for adequate regulation and clear rules of engagement to enable it to help consumers differentiate the responsible developers from the irresponsible ones. The onus is really on the government and policy makers to set reasonable, stakeholder-driven rules and once this is done not change them to suit their whims depending on which way the wind is blowing.
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people’s edit
Mopa: A gamble of no gain for Goans
Orlando da Silva
The letter by Irineu Gonsalves `Alternate tourism ideas for Mopa,’ suggesting alternate tourism ideas deserves kudos. If the people of Pernem could believe and live in hope that Mopa airport will bring in development which can give jobs to the locals, they will be mistaken and repent later on. They will be shocked to realize that tourism would only provide them jobs as drivers of the taxi trade run by the multinationals to ferry them across the state to luxury hotels. The few elite jobs which normally the airport can provide, would be cornered by professionals from outside because the professional qualifications required for such jobs at present are not available in the state. Think of what has already happened in the five star hotel trade in Goa. Non-local hotel owners bring in people from outside the state for top level jobs and Goans are not preferred even for lower end employment.
Also one should realize that Mopa airport will cause great inconvenience to local Goans from Canacona and from down south, who will have to drive all the way to Mopa to catch a flight once Dabolim dies a natural death. We should learn lessons from Hyderbad and the Bengaluru new airports. The hotel industry that has developed in the south would also die a natural death, when the foreign tourist discover the hidden Maharashtra tourist hotspots. Mopa will be only a gateway for the development of the Sindhudurg district, that Maharashtra has not yet been able to successfully develop and market. But why use scarce Goan land and upend the entire existing economy for this purpose?
Dabolim, a centralized location is profitable to each and every Goan , whether from Pernem or from Canacona. The fear that the neighboring state will develop a similar airport in Sindhudurg cannot be an excuse to put to inconvenience sons of the soil from the south. At present Dabolim as a centralized location is a win-win situation to each and every Goan, whether from Pernem or Canacona.
If the taluka of Pernem is hungry for development why can’t the BJP think of an alternative to Mopa Airport. If the same land is developed to bring in industries such as software, or some other job-oriented industry, the youth of Pernem can hope to become software professionals, engineers, data entry operators, etc and not drivers alone because at present Goa has enough educational facilities to provide such manpower but no such jobs. In addition these industries will also provide them opportunities for business ventures such as hotels, guest houses, restaurants, in addition to the taxi trade.
Also if software industries are set up at Mopa, thousands of Goan professionals working in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and even abroad, may get an opportunity to return to their homeland and help in the development of the entire state and protect Goan culture and identity.
I request the Chief Minister who is the only IIT qualified Chief Minister in the whole country, to take a break and think before Mopa is pushed forward and Goans pushed to doom.
