I refer to the Public Notice advertisement of the Department of Tourism that appeared on the Herald, (August 27 on page 11). According to the advertisement, views of all stake holders are sought on the so-called interim submission of the Tourism Master document within seven days.
The tourism master plan document dated 24 August 2016 neither refers to nor includes any defined sustainable tourism policy for Goa finalized through proper stakeholder and local community consultation process. There was a need for a detailed notified sustainable tourism sector development policy document clearly highlighting the methodology to resolve the existing local tourism sector issues, over a period of time. The sustainability for the tourism sector projects and the carrying capacity of the State of Goa should be clearly defined in this sustainable tourism policy document.
There is a difference between a tourism sector development policy/sector development master plan and a tourism investment policy / investment master plan. The tourism master plan document highlighted in the above referred advertisement is actually a tourism investment master plan for promoting massive investment projects in a hurry, without studying sustainability and carrying capacity of the tiny State of Goa.
The tourism master plan consultant is also the financial consultant for Mopa Airport. It appears the main objective of the consultant is to propose long-term unsustainable hidden urban district for implementing massive unwanted hotel & housing development investment projects near the geographical boundary of Goa, by destroying the eco-sensitive Western Ghats and the surrounding region.
The above referred tourism master plan of August 2016 highlights the unsustainable multi-modal transportation connectivity strategy including track doubling of the Konkan and South Western Railways, jetties, inland waterways river cruises, seaplane services, marinas, National Highways expansion/ new linking road and proposed ring roads in the tiny State of Goa.
The 3 years and 3 to 5 years tourism development programs to revive and promote traditional agricultural practices and protect eco-sensitive villages across Goa makes no sense, if the agricultural villages of Camurlim, Raia, Rachol and Curtorim are going to be encircled by an unwanted proposed ring road from Camurlim to Rawanfond (refer page 56 of the master plan report).This road has massive utilities/services corridors in road right-of-way for implementing hidden mega housing/ urban township projects in these villages.
The multi-modal transportation networks required for promoting unsustainable tourism and housing investment projects under hidden medium-term (15 years) and long-term (25 years) tourism master plans will completely destroy existing peaceful village settlement areas and beautiful eco-sensitive zones in Goa. Such development models should be immediately rejected. Can we allow such infrastructure development concepts all over Goa for promoting the unviable Mopa Airport? This subject needs urgent attention.
