Project at Baga hits hard ground
Thomas fernandes
CALANGUTE, FEB 19: The State government’s ambitious Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects have, in recent times, triggered off a PPP response — Peeved-Public-Protest.
While residents of Mapusa had recently protested against the proposed privatisation of the Mapusa District hospital, a proposed PPP “five-starred eco-hotel” at Baga has also generated a controversy.
The controversy was sparked off when legislators were informed in the recent Assembly of the proposed PPP projects in the State.
Included in the proposed list of PPP projects was one such project, reportedly to be set up on 52,000 sq mtrs of prime government land at Baga.
The BJP, led by Calangute BJP Block President Michael Lobo, lost no time in challenging the proposed project, especially since it was proposed to be set up in a plot currently used as a parking lot.
They claimed that since other hotels and restaurants have already infested the Baga belt leaving no space for other public amenities, there was no need for yet another hotel project in the area.
Opposition to the project soon came in from various leaders cutting across party lines.
Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar and former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira have claimed that the vacant area could easily have been developed as a parking lot.
They argue that Baga is heavily congested with traffic specially during the tourism season, with little or no parking facilities in the area.
The government, they argued, could also have used the land to set up Sulabh Souchalayas, bathing rooms and amenities for the benefit of tourists visiting the beach.
On the other hand, supporters to the project — which include GTDC Chairman Shyam Satardekar and Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes — believe that the proposed “eco-friendly” project would further boost tourism along the Calangute-Baga coast.
They claimed that the parking lot had turned into a garbage dumping yard and hence, any attempts to give the area a face-lift would be welcomed.
Speaking to Herald, GTDC General Manager D B Sawant said: “The Baga property in question falls under CRZ and there are some formalities to be followed before going ahead with the project.”
“We cannot develop the property on our own as it falls under CRZ and we need to take prior approval from the government,” Sawant said.
Admitting that they were proposing a “five-starred eco-hotel” at the site, Sawant however claimed that they had not prepared any specific plans for the project.
“The GTDC has to first get an approval from the government and only then will it invite bids for selection of consultants.”
“The consultants will guide us on what kind of temporary project could be taken up at the place without affecting the CRZ norms,” Sawant informed.
When asked about the opposition from the people, he replied: “May be some people with vested interest, who do not want development of the locality, are opposing it.”
FOR AND AGAINST ECO-FRIENDLY HOTEL
We are trying to develop the area in the interest of the locals thus giving a face-lift to the tourism sector in the coastal area of Baga and a boost to tourism. I strongly refute the allegation that PPP is a money-making racket or scam. If Goans are willing to develop the land, I am more than willing to give it to them.
— Shyam Satardekar, GTDC chairman
I was aware of the developments taking place and will always welcome such eco-friendly project that would boost tourism in the coastal belt of Calangute especially Baga.
— Agnelo Fernandes, Calangute MLA
The politicians involved in the development project are hand in gloves to sell the land under the guise of PPP. The need of the hour is not a hotel providing rooms but parking place to take care of the tourist and other vehicles.”
— Michael Lobo, Calangute Block BJP chief
When I contacted Tourism Minister Nilkant Halarnkar, he emphatically denied any plans to process the file or accord his sanction for any project under PPP at Baga.
— Joseph Sequeira, former Calangute sarpanch
The state government is all out to sell prime land in Goa for setting up projects under their PPP bandwagon through the GTDC. The people should strongly oppose this move of the government strongly and force it to scrap these projects.”
— Dayanand Narvekar, Aldona MLA
(With inputs from Thomas Fernandes and Anil Shankhwalkar)
