Wesley Edward Pereira
I refer to the O Heraldo news report (refer page 1) dated December 21, 2024 on the demand of the Save Old Goa Action Committee to come out with the master plan for Old Goa. It is reported that over 34,000 citizens have demanded action against illegal constructions and unchecked development within the heritage precinct, and further highlighted the need for a Master Plan to save the UNESCO World Heritage site at Old Goa after the Exposition of 'Amcho Goencho Saib' and to stop all illegalities and unwanted projects in the area.
Let me repeat. The Bharatmala Pariyojna attempts to notify the existing National Highways in Goa as Economic Corridors with massive road right-of-way. The fancy 8-lane new Zuari Bridge and the New Mandovi Bridge having connectivity to National Highway NH-17 (now NH -66) from Patradevi to Polem and National Highway NH-4A (now NH 748) from Mollem to Panjim are components of the massive economic corridors in Goa.
The National Perspective Plan report dated April 2016 of the Sagarmala Project under the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India has identified 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) along the coastline of India. Each of these CEZs is mapped to the nearby ports. The tiny State of Goa is included in the Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) of South Konkan-Maharashtra under the Sagarmala project. The South Konkan-Maharashtra CEZ layout under the Sagarmala project is mapped to the Mormugao major Port.
CEZs in India have been proposed to promote large commercial development projects with industrial clusters and urban townships. The identified commercial development investment projects are to be implemented in Special Economic Zones (SEZs)/National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs)/Special Investment Region with transportation connectivity of these development nodes to the nearby economic/industrial corridors.
The CEZ investment projects under SEZs/NIMZs/ Special Investment Region require massive multi-modal connectivity with logistics hubs and other commercial projects. The economic viability of the unsustainable Mopa Airport (to be developed in four phases) is linked to such development concepts with unwanted urban townships. SEZ policy has been scrapped in the State of Goa. Who says Goa needs zoning plans instead of a new Regional Plan for the rural-urban state?
The economic corridors have to be connected to inter-corridor and feeder roads for the success of the investment projects. The Major District Roads (MDRs) and State Highways (SHs) in Goa are proposed to be upgraded to National Highways (NHs) under the Gati Shakti Master Plan. The existing MDR road connecting Old Goa to Pilar is included in the list of 29 In-Principle declared NH projects in Goa.
The local communities living along the 29 In-Principle declared NH projects in Goa should be aware that the Right-of-Way (ROW) for land acquisition of the road upgrading projects will be 70 m as per policy guideline No.NH-15017/21/2018-P&M dated May 10, 2018 of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India. Is it possible to upgrade the existing Major District Roads (MDR’s) and the State Highways (SH’s) in Goa to the required 4-lane access controlled roads to designate them as inter-corridor and feeder roads? The Old Goa jetty is included in the list of 14 port infrastructure investment projects under the investment grid in the State of Goa.
Can we allow such unsustainable development projects required for converting Goa into a logistic hub by destroying peaceful villages, livelihood areas of local communities and heritage zones for promoting unsustainable investment projects approved by the Goa Investment Promotion Board ?