NEW June 24-30, 2013
*Runaway failures: a tale of failed airport projects -4* *Kannur yet to take off* *Land, money in the bag, still no airport* ……………At various times over the last few years different news breaks were either fed to the media or reported by it. For instance is was reported that shares worth Rs 8,00,00,000 were allotted to the state government in August 2011. Next it was reported that shares worth Rs 122 crores (Rs 1 cr = Rs 1,00,00,000) were allotted to the state government in August 2012. A report said the public sector component of shares has been fully subscribed with BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited) agreeing to invest Rs 170 crores. On receipt of the first instalment of Rs 40 crores as application money, shares for entire Rs 170 crores were allotted in October 2012. Other PSU (Public Sector Undertakings) share holders were reported as the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML), State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation Ltd (KSBC), Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE) and KTDC Hotels and Resorts Ltd (KTDC). The issue of shares in private sector, which was held up in court litigation commenced in May 2012. *An affordable Greenfield airport is a passenger’s pipe dream* As the Kerala government obviously clearly has the revenue resources and the clout of its 30 MPs (21 in the Lok Sabha and 19 in the Rajya Sabha) as against Goa’s three MP’s and positively cash-strapped government; the Kannur Greenfield can’t get off the ground. ………. Read full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lead/308-runaway-failures-a-tale-of-failed-airport-projects-4 *A church that has seen better days* *Lionel Messias* ….The church has a playground whose revenue from two annual feasts and hiring it out to tiatrs and for football tournaments is an estimated Rs 1,00,000 annually. The two feasts are November’s Mae dos Porbes feast and December’s Holy Family feast. But the problem is the Fr. Martins backed Fabrica de Igreja de Mae dos Pobres has hijacked the running of the affairs of the church (also read* An (un)holy mission to make money *- May 20-26, 2013). But what really irked the confraria members is that Fr. Martins falsely declared in a sworn affidavit that the property on which the Mae dos Pobres High School was built belonged to him; and on that basis went on to get government and private funding as well as deal with the town and country planning authorities. Whereas, the land (survey no. 294/1) on which it was built clearly belongs to the Farbica de Igreja de Mae dos Pobres, Nuvem church. The confraria also pointed out that though the stamp paper on which the affidavit was signed was purchased in Margao, it was notarised in faraway Quepem. They ask why? ………….. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/letters/309-a-church-that-has-seen-better-days *Where your tax money goes* *Lionroars – 11* ………And it appears that we do have the money to spend because Rs 15,80,83,811 of your tax money is right now being spent on developing the site of the temple of Shri Mahalasadevi at Verna. According to the Archeology department, Rs 27,00,43,214.41 has been sanctioned for this project on June 6, 2010 and work began on January 2, 2012. Tendered by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (GSIDC), the project was to have been completed in March this year but clearly little has been achieved (see picture). Mind you, when GSIDC was set up, it was tasked with the job of building much needed infrastructure for Goa as indicated in its own website calls also says it is a special purpose vehicle (SPV). Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lion-roars/lion-roars-2013/307-lion-roars-11 *Finally, Goa Congress gets a CEO* “It means they are taking Goa seriously.” This is the assessment of a senior Congress leader in south Goa about the Congress high command’s appointment of Digvijay Singh as the new general secretary in charge of Goa (also Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh). “He is such a senior leader and despite this state having just two Lok Sabha constituencies, his being named means Congress is finally going in a different way.” His appointment could also mean that wayward sons like Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho will have to end his delinquency and return home because this father (Digvijay) won’t forgive him otherwise. It could also mean the appointment of a new leader of the opposition, someone with more oratory (read as: more fiery) skills than Pratapsing Rane. And definitely expect Churchill Alemao not to expect the world from the Congress as his birth right. And without a shadow of doubt expect, because of Team Digvijay-Rahul Gandhi expect a few tickets to given to younger candidates the next time around. This was done in the Karnataka elections recently……………….. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/news-summary/306-finally-goa-congress-gets-a-ceo *Made in Goa, but GI elusive* ………….According to the GHRSSIDC (The Goa Handicrafts Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation) website, Azulejos, was brought here by the Portuguese, but artisans from Moira and Bicholim have revived the craft. The website claims, that when the Portuguese left Goa after Liberation in 1961, this art form was abolished and was revived in 1998 by Goan artisans, three of whom have kept the art alive. However, Orlando de Noronha, an artist who learnt the art in Portugal, says “Azulejos is not a Goan art.” He contradicts GHRSSIDC’s claim that the art was abolished. After learning the craft in Portugal, he came back and established Azulejos de Goa in 1998. The style of painting can differ, but the technique is the same. For instance, Mario Mirando’s slice of Goan life is often seen on azulejos. “But you can never link Goa and Azulejos.” As an artist proud of his craft – his clientele, 90 per cent of whom are in the country and who place online orders – he says, “It would be better for my business if I can claim Azulejos is a Goan craft. But that is not true…………….. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/writer-s-flow/310-made-in-goa-but-gi-elusive *Rebello bout: ESG kyoed by sucker punch* ……..There’s another sequel to this ugly incident. Goa, thanks to its rulers, has gone out of the reach of small films working on tight budgets.“Goa is now a virtually inaccessible location for small-budget, documentary and film festival films,” said Kotecha without giving details. Why would they fork out such huge sums when they could shoot in Bangkok, Sri Lanka. As Kotecha put it, “Film crews earlier making a beeline to Goa to capture its idyllic beaches and colourful culture are now being driven away by the exorbitant fees and countless permission and licences demanded by municipalities and other government bodies.” We Say... Sandeep Kotecha gave the mandatory apology to Rebello but diverted the issue saying ESG is mired in problems. Was he trying to bounce off his bouncer’s testosterone attack on Rebello. Of course he was, because the two issues are unrelated. Clearly the ESG became the scapegoat but going by its past dismal performance, it was a punch even Rebello could absorb …………….. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/news-summary/312-rebello-bout-esg-kayoed-by-sucker-punch -- Lionel Messias Editor, *Goan Spirit*, *Goa's Spirited Online Weekly Magazine.* ** Website:www.goanspirit.com Worked for the best: Goa Today, Gomantak Times, Herald, Mid-Day, The Pioneer, Indian Express (Bangalore), Economic Times (Chennai, Hyderabad), Newstime (Hyderabad), Gulf News (Hyderabad) 125-E, Bellem, Velsao, P.O. Cansaulim, Goa 403712 Tel: 0832-2884484 Mob:9822152164