########################################################################## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ##########################################################################
A Sea Harrier running off the runaway at Goa's civilian cum naval airbase Dabolim early morning with the pilot bailing out (as confirmed from the desk of PRO Indian Navy (Tel 2513950) made news today. Politically the Goa Government Cabinet meet yesterday decided to pursue to its "logical (read political) conclusion" the Justice Pendse report on the Economic Development Corporation imbroglio the "one time settlements (OTS) " . The accusations and counter accusations by the CM Manohar Parrikar and then Industries Minister, now present MLA (Navelim Constituency) and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Mr Luizinho Faleiro, is only intended to CHECKMATE moves for a political instability "rock the CM's boat" by the Indian National Congress as the Supreme Court decided to refer back the case of disqualification (on grounds of holiding "office of profit and contesting" the Assembly elections June 2002) of two elected representatives of the BJP Mr Dayanand Mandrekar Minister for Agriculture and Mr Rajendra Arlekar MLA VascodaGama & BJP Chief in Goa back to the High Court . The rumours( at Mickeys birthday bash) floating of a comeback to the "Parrikar fold "by ex Tourism Minister Mr Francisco (Mickey) Pacheco MLA Benaulim, and the reported Town & Country Planning Minister Mr Atanasio (Babush) Monseratte "stay off" (holidaying in gulf pastures Dubai) from major part of IFFI event happening in his backyard all these made news today. But then this is Chirstmas season and every one has a reason to dance the X"mas polka and true to this spirit the Mormugao VascodaGama Citizens Forum President Mr Andrew Alvares (a veteran trade union leader in the Port town )in association with the Mormugao Municipal Council headed by Mr Deepak Naik its latest Chairperson (after several rounds of musical chairs read seating and unseating of Chairpersons resignations withdrawals and what have you) have drawn plans to organise a 4 day (16 - 19 December 2004) under the stewardship of Mr Rajendra Arlekar (MLA and President of BJP Goa Unit) "Food and Cultural Festival 2004" on the sands of the famous for its (then) infamous activity (the worlds oldest profession) city Beach Baina Vasco da Gama (the other being Miramar in Panaji which had witnessed the IFFI Goa 2004 entertainment bash up). This writer visited the festivity scene this afternoon,and found enthusiasts natives of Baina putting up the stage on the beach just beyond the Housing Board Colony, the giant wheel and a merry go round by a Kolhapur party. To stay off the High Court directives and vigilant NGOs the food stalls are put up not on the beach but on the road across the proposed highway which runs from Headland Sada via Bogda and via Desterro alongside the beach (but suffers illegal encroachment by squatters behind the MPT Hospital). There are still some traces of stench of excreta in the air a grim reminder of the hoary past ---pre June 2004 when demolitions of illegal hutments and encroachers (on the Government and Municipal land) existing since post November 1965 were carried out with NGOs Human right activitist fuming at the draconian inhuman act of the Parrikar Government moves and many knocking unsucessfully at the High Court's doors. It was a blessing in disguise said a native of Baina to this writer it needed political guts and guts he (read CM) has shown. But today it was different the debris has been cleared; but at the far end southwards of the 3.4 kms beach which ends up in the INS Hansa air base there are several partly demolished structures the occupants looked with suspicious eyes the movements of this writer. But they were all genuine labourers from Karnataka UP some Moslems (they have two Mosques one at the approach of the Beach which they have volunteered to have it demolished the other at the south end) who do provide support services in menial jobs in Goa, and some "niz goencars" toddy tappers, fishermen, now entered into commercial business bars, taverns, and the grocery (posres). This writer interacted with Mr Andrew Alvares President of the Forum who was overseeing the activites for the festivities -- they are happy that this third event is coming up this evening -- it has the support of every Goan there is no doubt -- Baina was never believed to have been changed to its present status. There is resentment but from the non natives but by and large the cosmopolitan community of Mormugao and Vasco da gama the Port town and city have welcomed the demolitions carried out in June to rid the palce of this menance. Little beyond along the southern side resides Mr Alvares in a cute looking recently built complex and beyond is the bungalow of "the man" a baker by profession, a man who took the first step to cleanse the city beach Baina of its evils the ex MLA and ex Revenue Minister Mr John Manuel Vaz (now out of active politics) who obviously lost at the hustings against "Sheikh of Mormugao" INC MLA of Mormugao Haji Shaikh Hassan Haroon, for his tirade against the Baina encroachers( all non natives). Unfortunately Mr Karl Vaz son of Mr John Vaz humbled the Shaikh (who switched sides to BJP ranks) and is now the present sitting MLA of the Indian National Congress Party Mormugao Constituency and his mission " to puruse to its logical conclusion the unaccomplished tasks of his father John Manuel Vaz of restoring Baina to its pre Liberation fame and glory Last month the beach witnessed the first musical show of Musicians of yesteryears staging a performance this was the beginning of more things to come. Then the screenings of the IFFI Goa 2004 film early this month was a huge sell out the turnout was tremendous. The Goa Government promised a 15 lac budget to clean Vasco pre- IFFI Goa 2004 and Mr Parrikar is sure to change the face of Vasco da Gama with the same gusto and drive. Yesterday evening was the eviction of all encroachers from the market square opposite the old bus stand (near Cine Vasco now closed) and a protest this evening did not arouse much public support as the message is clear the port town needs to be rid of its menance and the people have resolved to co-operate The officials entrusted the clean Vasco-da-Gama and Mormugao task are the Chief Officer Mormugao Municipal Council Mr N D Agarwal, Dy Collector Ms Meena Goltekar Mamlatdar Mr Anthony De Souza, PI Vasco da Gama Mr Mahesh Gaonkar along with well meaning citizens industrialists etc. There are many apartments facing the beach who had nearly abandoned the Government Housing Board Colony and other private housing societies. Some tenements suffered extensive corrosion due to salinity lack of maintenance the MPT quarters the other private buildings are other habitations -- but now there is revival of activities prices of real estate is appreciating and Baina is getting a new look for the better. The four day extravaganza of Konkani Musical shows Cultural programmes Goan Folk Dances Dhalo Fugdi Samai Nrutya orchestra music by Four seasons will culminate with the felicitation of the Chief Minister of Goa by the Guest of Honour the ex-MLA and ex Revenue Minister Mr John Manuel Vaz. There are several other plans in mind one school of thought is the need to have a joggers park recreation grounds amusement park (not by private parties but by Department of Tourism ) the emphasis is to leave the beach side (demolition area) exclusively as an "open space" for the port city's populace. One expects the Chief Minister to spell out the plans at the felicitation ceremony (19.12.1961)which happens to be 43rd Goa Liberation Day. There is also an underlying danger the pipeline of the Zuari Oiltanking Limited which carries fuel from the port to the tanks now relocated at Sancoale run along the beach, the warning sign boards planted on the beach are an indicator. This aspect needs to be dealt with the caution it deserves to avoid an inferno due over activity once the four-lane highway gets underway. This evening there is a reasonable crowd the Chief Guest Mr Mathany Saldhana Minister of Tourism and MLA Cansaulim promised to change the face of Baina Beach and the beach makers applauded in appreciation from the Baina Beach GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
