------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------- Hold IFFI next year, NGOs urge Prasad --------------------------------------------------------- Goa Action Group has urged Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ravi Shankar Prasad to consider holding the IFFI in Goa next year so as to give enough time for proper planning and execution of works in view of the onset of the monsoons.
A team from the Goa Action Group met with Mr Prasad on Sunday and apprised him of their concerns related to the various IFFI infrastructure coming up in Panjim city.
The delegation highlighted issues such as: anticipatory construction activity ahead of receiving approvals from the CRZ authorities, flouting the CRZ norms, demolition of football stadium at Campal for construction of festival theatre, and lack of proper parking facilities to cope up with the additional vehicular traffic inflow.
Apart from this the Goa Action Group team expressed serious concern on the scale of the budgets for the IFFI infrastructure of around Rs 200 crore, out of which as was claimed that only Rs 50 crore may come from the Centre, and whether Goa had these kind of funds to spend for such projects at the cost of basic amenities like sanitation, solid waste disposal, provision of regular drinking water etc.
The Union minister stated that the projects for the IFFI infrastructure have been drastically scaled down looking at the necessities of the inaugural festival of the IFFI in Goa during November, 2004, and that only the Kala Academy and the multiplex at the old Goa Medical College complex would be required, says a press note issued here.
He also confirmed that the said multiplex was being entirely put up with private investment and the government was not investing any money in it. The Union minister while remaining non-committal on the financial support from the Centre for IFFI, made it clear that if at all any budgetary support was forthcoming from the Centre, it would go towards the direct infrastructure towards the holding of the IFFI and not on the infrastructure being created for Panjim City.
The projects like the 4-lane road and the beautification of Panjim city would therefore have to be borne directly by the State. The Union Minister also assured the GAG team that no project would be allowed to be taken up in the absence of the CRZ clearances.
On the matter of "Transparency" the GAG team informed the minister that only after repeated persuasion by the citizens that some semblance of information was now being provided on what is going to affect the day-to-day life.
The delegation also met and briefed Ms Shabana Azmi, Rajya Sabha MP and noted film star on their apprehensions about the rush in meeting the deadline for the IFFI, and therefore the flouting of rules and regulations in this regard. Ms Azmi promised to represent the concerns of the people to those in the Key Advisory Group.
Meanwhile, the Public Grievances Forum has urged the Centre not to host the IFFI in Goa in view of the manner in which the infrastructural work is being carried out. The Margao-based organisation, in a representation made to the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, said that Goa should host the IFFI next year.
"The next IFFI can be hosted in Goa with proper preparations following transparency and accountability...," the Forum said pointing out that it was not against the holding of IFFI in Goa. Alleging that several illegalities are being committed, the forum said information was not being given for long on the plans for IFFI. ------------------------------------- HERALD 12/5/04 page 4 -------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
##########################################################################
# 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 #
##########################################################################
