What is the proposed size of the IT park? Isn't that the key point of the email below? Would be helpful to know to fully understand this issue.
George ________________________________ From: Joao Barros-Pereira <[email protected]> Goa is a small state. And so, do we have land to waste? IT parks are necessary without any doubt but certainly not on a scale of more than 3 acres in Goa, at the most. It is scandalous and outrageous for a huge land mass to be siphoned off for a single project. How about IT parks in constituencies all over Goa? Why not a mini-IT park of 1- 3 acres in each constituency? The way the IT park has been planned does not appear to me to be a sound investment, and neither is it a good way to employ Goans nor use the limited land resources of Goa to the optimum. Development is necessary but well-thought out development - and this project isn't. There is more to start-ups and development than protection of an eco-sensitive environment; no doubt, it is important - extremely important - but it is only one factor, there are others. If every minister in Goa is going to gobble up huge pieces of land for his or her pet project it will be the most inefficient way to go for development and start-ups. Why not have a ceiling of 3 acres for the biggest projects? In this way all the constituencies in the state can be developed and not only a few politically chosen ones for the benefit of a few constituencies and their representatives. Spread development equally all over Goa. If development is unwelcome, so be it. If villagers have a different idea and model of development for their village, if they do not want the government's model, accept it. After all, the tenure of the MLAs is only four years. They come and go. If this trend continues our MLAs and panchas will team up with super rich investors and we will have - Goa for Sale - all in the name of providing jobs for Goans. Our state will become unrecognizable to sons and daughters of the soil; the only recognizable fact will be - it does not belong to Goans! We need to use always the lower case 'p'; we need parks and not Parks. Why force our educated work force to have to travel from one part of Goa to another every day? Public transportation in Goa is negligible, gas prices are sky high, and land prices beyond the reach of the common educated man and his salary, even if he will works in an IT park. We cannot ask potential future employees to re-locate to their workplace. And, besides, what about other constituencies? We don't need to have huge, centralized projects which will benefit a few and inconvenience the majority. No point in having a few buildings and a lot of greenery; leave the greenery alone and put up the necessary buildings which will allow people to work and produce goods or services. After all, a so-called IT park is not a place for families to gather together and have a picnic. Totally unnecessary is the acquisition of land beyond 3 acres. Is greenery necessary for productivity of IT parks, start-ups and factories? Leave the greenery alone; it will still be there and not disappear. Give Goans jobs only to do with IT. No need to employ gardeners and others. After all, it is an IT park and not a place to picnic. We need to use our land more efficiently, and in this respect we appear to be mentally challenged. The Japanese often have factories which produce a variety of products and services in small areas, not big. They manage to be successful through the efforts of their brilliant industrial designers who use small spaces to generate a great number of finished products - and a big income. We can do the same. Efficiency is the name of the game, not more greenery. We have to do so or our land soon will be gobbled up. We need start-ups and development for the whole of Goa on an area not more than 3 acres for each project. Otherwise, sharks on land and on water will devour us Goans. We have our own food delicacies, don't we? We don't have to become theirs!
