PANJIM: The Save Panjim Group has devised a strategy to oppose the alleged hyper commercialisation of Panjim.
At the meeting, the group held a presentation to chalk out a plan to oppose the commercialisation of the State’s capital city.
The Save Panjim Group has alleged that public spaces in Panjim are being usurped and hyper commercialised by “casinos” and unnecessary “tourism projects”, which have adversely affected the quality of life.
The group claims to have decoded this through the presentation for residents of Panjim to understand what’s happening and act in a ‘last ditch effort’ to save what’s left.
The group plans to oppose the alleged ominous commercialisation of public and open spaces.
Architect Arminio Ribeiro, former CCP councilor Patricia Pinto, Elsa Fernandes, former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes, Valmiki Naik and Sabina Martins were amongst the prominent participants.
“We are seeing the commercialisation and erosion of the public and open spaces in Panjim. The idea is to make people of Panjim aware of the effects of the projects encroaching upon the spaces meant for people,” said architect Ribeiro.
The group has opposed the Panjim-Betim Ropeway Project, the Waste to Art Park at Campal and other projects, which they allege will overburden the capital city.
Elsa Fernandes conducted a presentation on the Jetty Policy.
Elsa said, “Infrastructure in Panjim will be burdened to such an extent that we may have to leave the city for peace. The policy is a commercial document, minus biodiversity and minus social impact.”
Alleging that the impact of the casinos on society will be huge, Sabina Martins said, “Every law is being changed to accommodate casinos. Women are being advertised as sex objects. At what cost is this coming?”
With two remaining days to file objections to the Jetty policy, the Save Panjim Group has decided to file maximum objections to the draft policy.
