Delhi party eyeing Talpona for golf course

CANACONA, MAY 12
Coastal Talpona in Poinguinim is reportedly eyed by a Delhi-based party for housing a golf course.
According to sources in Poinguinim panchayat, a Delhi-based party has applied for issuance of licence to start a golf course at a sprawling coastal land, admeasuring over 80,000 sq mtrs in Talpona.
If sources are to be believed, the panchayat in its meeting has approved to issue a provisional NOC to the applicant for starting the golf course with certain terms and conditions.
However, local opposition is reportedly brewing over the move, saying the land for golf course comes under Coastal Regulatory Zone and something bigger is also on the anvil in the garb of starting only a golf course.
The locals alleged that once the golf course gets going, the party has plans to start a hotel on the adjoining hilltop.
Locals also alleged that when panchayat makes hue and cry if any common man applies for a construction licence or constructs anything including residential structure in CRZ areas, why same yardstick is not applied to this party.
When one of the panch was approached informing fears expressed by locals, the panch confirmed that an application was indeed received and panchayat in its last meeting had decided to issue a provisional NOC with conditions to comply with certain requirements.
Reliable sources informed that two of the prime conditions among several ones imposed by the panchayat while issuing provisional NOC (reportedly valid for six months) is that the party should first obtain NOCs from CRZ and tourism department and simultaneously guarantee employment only to locals.
When growing objections of locals was cited to the project, panch and former deputy sarpanch Satish Painginkar opined: “If similar yardstick is applied to the applicants who wishes to operate shack restaurants on Galgibaga beach and if golf course applicant party meets all the conditions imposed in the grant of NOC, there should be no problem for the locals for playing host to a modern golf course.”
Another panch, who didn’t want to be identified, said: “If locals are provided preference in employment, I have no objection.”
If sources are to be believed, two panchas which includes a former sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, posed question in the last panchayat meeting as to why application of the party was not processed favourably, after which the panchayat reportedly decided to issue a provisional NOC to start a golf course in the village.
However, efforts to contact Poinguinim Sarpanch Tejaswini Daykar proved futile.
It is not known if panchayat has any plans to bring the issue and obtain gram sabha’s agreement before going ahead in granting a provisional NOC.