At a meeting held on May 14, 2010 at Talpona the locals have unanimously decided to unconditionally oppose the proposed golf course at Talpona.
However the Poinguinim Panchayat has already granted provisional NOC to Monark Private Limited a Delhi-based company to set up the same subject to some departmental NOCs. On asked whether he personally supports the project, my friend Mr. Janardhan Bhandhari says “I am not opposed to it if ‘a’ feasibility report clears it.” “Did the panchayat obtain a feasibility report before issuing conditional clearance to the project?” Mr Bhandari says no. “Why not?” He says, “The NOC was granted after one of the panchas Bipin argued that the locals wanted the project so why should the panchayat oppose it. We have to go by the words of the panch after all he is the one representing the people.” Mr Bhandari also fervently denied making a trip to Delhi in the matter. The argument by Mr Bhandari, Mr Painginkar and Mr Shenvi that 'if the big companies are beyond the regulations of CRZ then why not allow the locals too to set up their business within the CRZ zone' is obviously a veiled attempt to drum support for the project from the shack owners lobby at Galibaga and Talpona. Jana, as he is popularly known, is a busy man due to his pressing political and social commitments. No wonder he disconnected my phone abruptly leaving me and Talpona to our destined fate. Very beautiful Talpona is in the grip of land sharks. Will the youth and youth leaders in Canacona rise up to the occasion and save it from being raped by vested interests? Cheers to our youth and youth leaders. JAI HO! TM
