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PANAJI EXPO - MEET the THINK TANK -Architects and Commissioner CCP
The Panaji Expo had a very strong vocal audience this evening 4th June, 2004 interacting with the Architects initiative - 8 architects have given much
of their time free of costs to the most prominent throughfare of Panaji along the Mandovi River front from Pato to Dona Paula and some of the main arterial roads extending from Fontainhas now Mala Lake and the 18th June Road via the Mahalaxmi Temple.
The architects constituted the "THINK TANK" for Together for Panaji attempting to make it the cleanest city in India as one of the participants remarked.
But there is clearly a lack of sound principles and co-ordination of activities - the right hand does not know what the left hand does --in the vision they have for Panaji:
a) there is no MASTER PLAN for the city of Panaji - or if there is one those involved have not co-ordinated their ideas collectively towards this Plan. One Mr Dhume did state there is a Plan for Panaji 2020 but "its in the air" it appears.
b) there is no time bound programme to decongest the city - shifting off Government offices viz Secretariat the
Collectorate or even the Market Place at Campal outside the city.
c) if there was fretting and fuming on the non availability of parking the answer lies to ensure an efficient reliable MASS TRANSPORTATION system which is sadly not in place despite so many debates ideas etc, etc. - there is no political will on this score.
d) Parking can be made available yes but ENFORCEMENT is lacking - vehicles have been towed criminal cases have been booked but the erring party gets off with a bail and the judicial system is blamed.
e) there are no laid down paramaters for the norms of provision of parking slots -- if there is one they are not followed and owing to this uncertainity none of the think tanks could clearly spell out (i) whether the existing parking area is sufficient for parking (ii) whether there is scope for additional parking (iii) whether pay parking and enforcement could ensure a healthy parking system.
f) there is no thought given to the fact that Panaji gets a floating population of over 40,000 but there is no contingency plan to take care of their needs and if at all it is at the cost of the locals.
g) earlier Panaji Municipal Council maintained the bus stop they built it and later handed over the same to the Kadamba Transport Corporation and they inturn are
believed to have put transportation into a mess.
h) the people of Caranzalem could have their own markets so also Dona Paula and perhaps Bhatulem and Mala now that Taleigao is out of the Corporation of City of Panaji. The real market could have been at the KTC bus stand.
i) One of the think tanks suggested that HOK International Ltd the consultants for IFFI have in mind a development in the main cities and facing the river front ---- ATUNED TO PEDESTRIANS -- which means overspeeding of cars buses will all be done away with
-- It will be pedestrian friendly and most important take care of the disabled ones too. The four lanes are a must to save traffic snarls.
j) The think thank perhaps did find the need to involve a SOCIOLOGIST as suggested by a participant who would able to tune in the feelings of the people towards the urbanisation or beautification that is ongoing.
k) a Professor of the Goa University strayed away from the debate --
but did provide very important inputs -- he expressed concern over lack of sensitivity towards the street children, the beggars the few without shelters and the others. This was taken note of.
The Commissioner of City of Corporation of Panaji the young and dynamic Mumbai bred Mr Sanjith Rodrigues recieved bouquets and brickbats from the enthusiatic audience.
He pointed out that the Corporation of City of Panaji HAVE YET NOT BEEN GIVEN the POWERS OF PLANNING. There is a HEAVY DECENTRALISATION of agencies - viz:
the PWD - the Road, Public Health Engineering wing (Water Supply) the Sanitation wing -- then the Directorate of Health Services which has a Malaria Cell -- then the Town & Country Planning, the Coastal Regulation Authorities, the Panaji Planning Development authorities, the Directorate of Transport the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited. Yet when it comes to blame fingers are pointed out to the Commissioner-- Yes he was willing to take the blame but he needs all these activities pertaining to transport markets health sanitaition should be granted to him. The citizens thus far are levied only the house tax, the Government does not pay construction licence fees nor are they paying for garbage removal. This limitation on resources creates a problem. Why should the Government be exempt from such payments.. He has a point but will the Government look into that?
Then he has made attempts to take care of strays (dogs) under a body
PAWS and they are doing a wonderful job slowly but surely;
He agreed to the suggestion for the need of a sociologist involving various sections of the communities of the city.
There is a plan for the street children -- there are funds coming towards this need There are night shelters too planned and Central government funds are in the offing.
The eateries are being checked the Malaria prevention activities are in place but mere spraying of the insecticides etc does not suffice. He needs the powers to fully implement things within his jurisdiction. Jaundice too can be checked but we need full powers he said. Otherwise he cant be blamed if the epidemic of malaria and jaundice grips the city de novo.
There is a clear distinction between the activities of "Together for Panaji" and perhaps it was the success of this which led to Goa getting IFFI -- the activities of IIFI should not be mixed up with Together for Panaji he said.
As Nodal Officer
for IFFI on the Campal Stadium -- he stated that until such time the CRZ clearances are not recieved the 1400 seater Festival theatre at this venue will not be in place. If it is does not come then he is unsure whether the stadium would come up. But he stated that there is not much to regret about the Campal Stadium as a past resolution did speak of the unsafe standards of the Campal Stadium.
The Old GMC complex now intended for the IFFI offices and the upcoming one of the four multiplexes would each maintain a distinct identities as per his notion the gap between the multiplexes and the Old GMC will maintain the aesthetics.
He admitted bluntly that the contractor of repute had violated the terms of understanding to restore the dismantled ballustrades along the river front. Mr A Madgavkar a participant who expressed distress over the dangers especially with the schools re-opening was informed clearly that the contractor would have to set the thing
right or else the CCP would take over the work ( it is understood that the contractor is M/s Simplex Constructions ? from Kolkatta) attending to work at the Mormugao Port Trust as well..
On the need for toilets at Aviao in Dona Paula non availability of land was cited as the reason. The Chief Ministers contention some time ago that police personnel would be deployed to "shoo away those defecating in the open along the Campal Miramar Beach was laughed at by the audience" as the real need was toilets for the natives.
Yet another clarification to a pointed question whether the Together for Panaji has any vision for Bhatulem Mala etc because there has been no development in these areas. He said that the Mala Lake is the starting point and other plans are in the anvil.
It was finally clear there is a need for a Master Plan and above all those that constitute the "think tank" should ensure that their views are made clear and above all heard by the Government. They should not function as fronts as
it now appears for the realators to get business in the modernisation plans for the city. The common view was that citizens have time and again debated these issues but the message does not seem to have reached the Government or if it has it lacks POLITICAL WILL.
A member of the South Goa Public Interest Action Group strongly demanded efficient mass transportaion and that the Commissioner should place in writing to the Government all the shortcomings that he has experienced even if this would amount to his being transferred.
Another suggestion from a member was that while the Commissioner deserves the credit for the enthusiasm since his one and half years tenure he felt there is a need for a second line - up who whould follow up things as the momento gained thus far should not be lost.
The Chief Minister should note these observations and decide on a time bound programme - The Corporation of the City of Panaji needs to be given full
powers
mulitiplicity of authorities only help passing on the buck this is the moment this is the Hour.
Political expediency should not outweigh genuine considerations to improve upon the quality of life of the citizens.
from the Kala Academy Complex, Panaji
Godfrey J I Gonsalves
Borda Margao Goa
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Originally forwarded to The Goan Forum www.yahoogroups.com/group/goa-goans )
____________________________________________
DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, GOA
http://goagovt.nic.in/dtegoa/welcome.htm
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