----- Original Message ----- From: Floriano Lobo To: The Goan Forum ; Goan Causes ; Goa World Today Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:53 PM Subject: Fw: From Arch. Dean D'Cruz
----- Original Message ----- From: Floriano Lobo To: Capt. Leo A Lobo ; Aires Rodrigues ; Albertina Almeida ; Goa Environment Federation ; Goa Foundation Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:52 PM Subject: Fw: From Arch. Dean D'Cruz ----- Original Message ----- From: Floriano Lobo To: Arch. Dean D'Cruz ; Arvind Bhatikar ; Dr. Nandkumar Kamat Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:50 PM Subject: Fw: From Arch. Dean D'Cruz ----- Original Message ----- From: Floriano Lobo To: Simon Carvalho ; Samir Kelekar ; Rajan Narayan ; Patricia Pinto ; kamatsrinivas ; Godfrey Gonsalves ; Goa Desc ; Gerald Fernandes ; George Menezes Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:48 PM Subject: Fw: From Arch. Dean D'Cruz Dear all, You will realise that the letter to Mr. S. Kamat from Arch. Dean D'Cruz makes a shocking reading. Let us start by asking questions to the GSIDC, CM , PMC etc. This needs a concerted effort and a lot of publicity. We have Arch. Dean D'Cruz, Mr. Srinivas Kamat, Aravind Bhatikar, Dr. Nandkumar Kamat et al to come to the rescue of Panjim once again after the Miramar Beach Privatization affair . Let reason prevail over spending of money and the arrogance of the Government. Let the blueprints of the development of our cities and towns be displayed and public be made aware as to what these will look like. Afterall it is their money. sincerely, Floriano Lobo +++ For your kind info, the following:- Dear Mr D'Cruz, It was a pleasure receiving your message as attached. I trust your proposal for development of the Kala Academy to Miramar stretch to the PMC was not caught up with the PMC getting changed to a Corporation. The hurry and obsession with the incumbent Govt. to overbuild is possibly subscribing to the philosophy that under all concrete you have money. A number of us have been talking that the stretch from Patto to Miramar should have the genteel feel of a promenade with facilities for recreation, dining and public parks so that life remains unhurried and distinctly like the backwaters of Europe. This is the difference that Goa offers to India and the rest of the world. However, with what is planned now will be another edition of the Marine Drive which Bombay-ites(I refuse to call it Mumbai) have belatedly realised they have spoilt and spending money to bring back the 60's look. I think there is still time to review the development plans of the Patto-Dona Paula stretch by building public opinion unless all, individuals & NGO's alike, have been bought by distributing the loaves of office and therefore we could take it up through the PMCA or similar NGO's. I am also referring this msg to Floriano Lobo of the Environmental Action Group @ Mapusa to see if they would like to include this in their agenda. I am copying this msg to him and his e-mail id is : [EMAIL PROTECTED] All development in Goa should be relevant, sustainable and beneficial which is not the case now and unless like-minded citizens like us get together to do something about it, it will not be long before Goa's distinct identity is lost and submerged with the national mainstream which is nothing much to talk about. Keep in touch. With best regards Srinivas Kamat 212 Defence Colony Phase 2 Alto Porvorim Goa 403 521. Ph : 91 (0832) 2416430 Mob: 91 832 3114150 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Architecture" wrote: 23rd February 2004 Srinivas Kamat Alto-Porvorim [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Mr Kamat Your letter to the Press on IFFI will hopefully be an eye-opener to the public. There seems to be an enormous hurry to get the whole act together without any proper research or planning. To give you an example, the Municipality had planned a road / footpath public space improvement programme from Patto to Dona Paula. Our architectural firm was appointed by the Panjim Municipality to undertake the road development from Kala Academy to Miramar. Our design saved the trees on this stretch, created a pedestrian promenade with integrated bus bays that linked the two ends and also the Parade and Campal grounds, integrated underground services through easy-to-service pavement accessible chambers. On request from GSIDC, th! ese drawings were then given to them for their information. However, we are surprised that there has been no communication for over two months from them and the final scheme from the Patto to Dona Paula jetty seems to be very different from what was envisioned. The cost of the project is also disproportionately high to what is really needed. The Government plans to bring the filmi tourist from the Airport to Dona Paula jetty by boat and then race them to Kala Academy by road, forgetting that the boat can also go directly to Kala Academy and avoid congesting and overdeveloping the Dona Paula jetty. All in all it seems GSIDC does not have professional acumen to do proper research and planning and will simply waste public money on fanciful schemes. I do hope the public seeks information on such schemes to check wasteful expenditure. Kind regards, DEAN D'CRUZ (This is the letter in reference) Dear Sir, Your paper truly reflects the picture of Goa in its lopsided priorities and apparent contradictions. On Page 3, of your Sunday edition of 1st Feb 2004, you have on one side the CM highlighting the plans for the IFFI with catamarans zipping from all over to the Kala Academy pier and just adjacent the plaintive appeal for funds for sanitation in Merces. With all this, is spending the Rs 90 -100 crores for the IFFI in upgrading the facilities in Panaji really worth it since movies do not mean much to the average Goan. Moreover movies by their very nature and content provides an escapist release for individuals while viewing them. Can we afford this when we have more down-to-earth realities? Can these funds not be re-allocated to other much needed projects for the benefit of the people of Goa.? Again, on your Monday, 2nd Feb 2004, edition you have in the Personally Speaking column the writer politely asking if all is well if Panaji is developed and Goa is not. The developments in Goa are being cornered by Panaji, the CM's constituency which is not exactly right since up until now there were not many disparities between the various towns of Goa though Panaji being the capital had a distinct edge in getting funds. This is not true in other States like in Maharasthra or Karnataka where you will see a huge difference between the capital and other cities/towns which in its turn has created disparities with large parts of the population drifting towards the capitals and creating an unbearable strain on its infrastructure, services, creation of problems in housing, mushrooming of slums and consequent law and order problems. Goa could have avoided this by learning the lessons from the other cities of India and nurtured a gradual and uniform development throughout Goa with Panaji , still being the jewel in the crown. However, the way things are going the day is not far off when the people of Panaji will regret that they allowed a concrete jungle like a mini-Mumbai to be built with its concomitant problems. All like-minded citizens should stand up and be counted to put a stop to these trends. ########################################################################## # 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 # ##########################################################################
