DESTROYING MIRAMAR AND CAMPAL : IS GOA'S TOURISM AT STAKE? The Campal and Miramar beach stretch, which is already crowded and where garbage is strewn all over the place, is now facing the biggest challenges. Soon, if not protected, it will be in the worst state of affairs in its history.
A ropeway project planned from Indoor stadium to other side of the river Mandovi, another extension by a 5-star Hotel nearby, and a proposed football stadium at Campal will make it the traffic at Dayanand Bandodkar Marg even worse than it currently is. The ropeway and the hotel extension are planned just a few dozen metres from the High Tide Line (HTL), with no mention of relevant compliance to the CRZ regulations, and brazen flouting of the environmental norms. The rope way across the Mandovi is proposed to be located at a point which would surely spell disaster, be extraordinarily dangerous in the powerful winds that accompany each monsoon. Building this white elephant simply makes no sense, that too exactly when tourism in Goa is undergoing a real crisis, when stake holders as well as the CCP are urgently petitioning the Tourism Department to help safeguard Goa’s real assets: the once healthy environment and the once robust local culture. The 5 star hotel is extending its reach over a part of the Miramar beach. If such irregularities are allowed, the Miramar beach, which is still something of a marvel, will lose its essence. People agree that the beach still retains its magic despite the city mushrooming around it. It hosts many migratory birds and is a family friendly oasis, where locals and visitors can enjoy fresh breezes and marvelous sunsets. Making the matter even more worrying, the Government plans to have a football stadium at Campal just to fulfill the Vision document of the BJP party and to get publicity for the forthcoming elections. The Campal space where the stadium is proposed, is fraught with obstacles on all sides. The space is surrounded quite closely by multiple structures that draw crowds. Kala Academy, the Campal ground where fests, exhibitions, like the grape escapade occur, at indoor stadium, Bal Bhavan, a Campal Clinic & Hospital, the fire brigade station, the Caculo mall are some of them. Apart from existing structures, two huge 8-storey buildings have come up to the northern side of the space. All these create heavy traffic congestion, and although a foundation stone was laid down on 1st May 2016 by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and others, this football stadium must be put off in the interest of Campal, and Miramar residents or even Caranzalem and Dona Paula. Already, with many functions, fetes, and events occurring at Miramar and Campal, residents and those who have to use D.B Marg have seen the impact and have to struggle to move through massive traffic jams on those days. The permanent changes proposed above will turn these random traffic pains into a permanent nightmare. Recently I was called for the hearing by the Goa Human Rights Commission. Apparently a previous letter of mine regarding my concerns about the proposed stadium were noted by the Central Human Rights Commission, New-Delhi which directed the Goa HRC to treat it as a petition. I was happy thinking that my concerns would be addressed. However I was surprised to learn that the Goa HRC did not think that this matter was related to Human Rights. They called me pro forma since they were directed to, and then dismissed my petition. I was told that if I wanted to address this issue of my own volition, I should first get through to the NGPDA or if required even approach the Courts of law for arbitration. It is a pity that the public pains are not considered important enough to be human rights. I cannot fight this battle to safeguard Goa and the life we are accustomed to alone. I hope the Government hears the voices of the people and stops such anti-people measures. Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula Mob: 9422443110 date: 17th December 2016.
