The recent horrendous incident of the alleged rape of a 2-year-old opposite the income tax office has highlighted the fact that the EDC Complex, Patto Goa's premium commercial space is slowly degenerating. A couple of weeks a badly decomposed body presumably of a strangulated victim was found near some pipes. Absence of the law enforcers is only one aspect of the problem. The fact that the area is always deserted -even during business hours aids and abets the criminal. Even after a decade occupancy of the buildings in the commercial district remain below 50%.
Paradoxically while the rest of Panaji -notably its heritage structures, parks and roads, - is getting a face-lift under the Parrikar regime the Patto Plaza is deteriorating. The EDC complex set up in the 80's to showcase Goa's industry is home to the HQ of captains of industry Sesa Goa & Dempo, a couple of consulates and major central and state departments and major banks. The Goa State museum and GHRIDC too share the Patto Plaza. Yet the roads remain potholed, the pavements dug up and obstructed with construction material. Rickshaws, taxis and various vehicles parked in the No Parking zone, block the access to the so-called business district. Pedestrians block the roads, as the pavements are unusable. Come the monsoon and the whole area floods as the drains are choked with mud. The parking areas are used as permanent parking by the neighboring travel shops and as a dumping ground of scrap vehicles. The beautification process, which is going on in the rest of the city, has somehow escaped the EDC complex with its open spaces becoming home to the natural fauna and flora. All this appears to be a deliberate attempt by the Panjim City corporation of neglect. Is it a tussle between the PMC and the EDC or is it simply to remind its citizens of the state of the state prior to Parrikar? Lest we should forget the changes Parrikar has wrought. If Goa's Nariman point reflects the health of its industry then one can imagine the state of its industrial parks and estates. Will Goa's industrial leaders wake up? Pascal Pinto Panaji ------------------------------------------------- Sify Mail - now with Anti-virus protection powered by Trend Micro, USA. Know more at http://mail.sify.com Sify Power mail- a Premium Service from Sify Mail! know more at http://mail.sify.com ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
