VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
After facing flak from cross sections of society, including the media for allegedly privatising the garden located on government land along the Miramar-Dona Paula road; the Shalom Residents Association now claims it takes up maintenance and development of the ‘Public Garden.’
The question is who has authorised them, when the former Mayor and the current CCP Commissioner stated officially that they are not fully aware of the garden belonging to them.
Herald produced an official document signed by a former CCP Commissioner clearly stating that the garden was being developed by the CCP, by virtue of which this CCP’s garden and it is its custodian on behalf of the people of Panjim. The current commissioner has totally different theory altogether with no documentation, as yet to match his claim that the garden belongs to the Town and country planning department (See box)
The Resident Association’s claims are interesting. Their members, who met Herald, the Association stated that the metal fence and gate are erected to prevent entry of stray cattle and stray dogs.
The Shalom residents association has developed a presentation, to buttress its claims that they have protected and maintained the garden. We will take the claims on record, with only one question Did the CCP approve this and on what basis did the CCP allow a private residents association to “develop” its garden?
The presentation titled ‘Upkeep of public garden maintained and developed by SHALOM for all citizens practising our moral and civic responsibilities’ has photographs comparing the scene before and after building the fence and front gate. It stated, with pictures, that stray cattle would feed on plants and flowers inside the garden areas while also wild shrubs were a home to snakes. Therefore, the association claims they decided to put up the ‘safety measures for children and citizens.’
“Syringes and chillums were found in the garden along with broken alcohol bottles. We cannot shy away from our civic responsibilities. It is easy to point fingers but difficult to do the job. We have never claimed ownership of the garden and never will,” a spokesperson of the association further told Herald.
Why is the front gate locked, why should public enter from the back gate, why is the name of ‘Shalom’ on the garden fence?
While it reiterates that general public are allowed access to the garden, the question, however, arises on why public are denied entry from the front gate and are instead asked to get through the rear gate.
The Shalom Residents Association also had no clear answer over a board displaying the garden belongs to Shalom. The spokesperson justified that the society is oblivious who is behind the mischievous activity. “Shalom society itself doesn’t know who has put the name of Shalom on the fence. (We) suspect malicious intent to malign society’s name by miscreants/third party,” is what the spokesperson replied. The association is once again answerable about why it has failed to remove the board, if they have not installed it.
What’s ironical is that despite former Commissioner of CCP Dipak Desai assuring a board displaying the garden belongs to CCP would be put up; there is no move towards this direction as of now.
The association argues that an illegal construction close to the premise is affecting cleanliness. And Shalom’s residents have claimed that, the area outside the fence is neglected and has sought an approval to maintain and beautify this space as well.
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CCP now says the garden belongs to TCP
Former Commissioner Melvyn Vaz wrote garden developed by CCP; Current Commissioner Ajit Roy says it belongs to TCP
In a fresh twist into the controversy over the ownership of the garden adjoining the Shalom society in Miramar, the Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP) stated the property belongs to the Town & Country Planning. Months after debate over the garden’s alleged privatisation by the society cropped up, CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy and former Mayor Surendra Furtado had feigned ignorance that the property belonged to the corporation.
This is despite former CCP Commissioner Melvyn Vaz categorically stating that the garden adjoining the ‘New Shalom Housing Society’ is developed by CCP. “..There is a garden developed by the CCP in the government-owned land on the Miramar-Dona Paula road, adjoining the Shalom residential building. Like all other gardens, the said area is intended to serve as an area for walking and sitting and partially as a child play area which is filled with sand and which is being used by kids for playing on the swings,” his letter to the then Shalom Residents Association said.
Moreover, former Commissioner Dipak Desai was also quoted as saying that the garden belongs to CCP.
The CCP, however, now claims it belongs to the TCP. “The garden belongs to TCP, not CCP,” Roy told Herald.
But the Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik said they are going through the records pertaining to the subject, only after which he will make a statement.
