Herald, 8 May 2008, Editorial Affordable housing needed urgently Everybody wants a slice of Goa. That's the reason real estate prices in the state have been skyrocketing over the last few years. And the world has joined this new gold rush. With large developers from other parts of the country descending on this tiny territory, we are left in a piquant situation where both the sellers and the buyers of land, houses and apartments in Goa are those from outside the state. Goans, it seems have no role to play in this big bazaar, except to watch as their motherland becomes the playground of the rich from all over the world. With prices ranging from Rs20 lakh for a small apartment to over Rs 1.5 crore for a bungalow overlooking the sea, what chance do middle class Goans have of even dreaming of a place of their own? In fact, the developers have started advertising and promoting their properties almost exclusively at heavily hyped Goa property shows in the big metropolises, at real estate exhibitions abroad, and on the Internet. Their target buyer, obviously, is not the Goan. These real estate bazaars, like the much publicised 'Times of India' Goa Property Show held in New Delhi a month or two ago, have seen large builders from Mumbai, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) – even one from faraway Kanpur – showcasing properties in tiny Goan villages at exorbitant prices, for wealthy Indians – and foreigners – looking for a holiday home. In fact, some of the builders in the Delhi show quoted prices in Pounds Sterling, in addition to rupees! Many of these are the very mega-projects that are now facing fierce opposition from irate Goan citizens who are rightly fearful that these huge housing and commercial complexes will permanently alter the delicate demographics of their ancestral villages. But, regardless of how this ongoing struggle finally pans out, the fact is that Goa's ridiculously high real estate prices are unlikely to come down to realistic and affordable levels in the foreseeable future. In these circumstances, what are middle class Goans expected to do? What Goa needs is a government-led initiative to acquire land at sensible rates and then build housing colonies that are sold at a modest profit, so that those who live in Goa – are domiciled here for the past 10 or 15 years – and earn the kind of salaries that are paid in the state will be able to buy them. Unless the government steps in to make housing available to ordinary Goans at prices they can afford, what does the Aam Admi have to look forward to? --- Herald, 8 May 2008
Citizens garner support to save villages BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 7 – These certainly are not political meetings as one would assume to be repeatedly taking place in Salcete's coastal belt. But, meetings of small groups of anxious and worried citizens garnering support to launch a sustained movement to preserve and protect their villages from being destroyed and degraded by builders with mega housing projects. In a way, Salcete's coastline – from Carmona to Varca, Benaulim and Colva – is playing host to meetings of local residents to take the ongoing disorganised battle against mega housing projects to its logical conclusion. Herald understands that residents are being mobilised from village to village to bring them under one banner to save the villages from destruction. Towards this end, the organisers are meeting in the villages with different groups working in the same direction and to organise a mammoth meeting at Dando ground Benaulim by next week. Sources in the know say, the meeting will set out an agenda for the government and the local self-governing bodies on housing and the needs of local residents. These meetings assumes significance given that state-level group titled Ganv Bachao Abhiyan is proposed to be launched shortly to save the villages for posterity. "It is high time people opposing mega housing projects are being organized under one banner and fight the battle jointly", remarked a prominent social activist, who has been actively involved in brining the various groups under one banner. He observed that outside builders are slowly trying to set up projects along the state's countryside, especially the coastal belt, taking advantage of the real estate boom. "But, we local citizens are more worried about the existing infrastructure, which is pathetic and inadequate to meet the present requirements", the activist said. Meanwhile, the Vasvado ward of Benaulim saw residents of Tamdimati, Vasvado holding a meeting at Zarbo Khuris to object to a potential mega housing project in the area. The meeting was addressed by Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) activists, besides local citizens. A local residents, Michael Rodrigues set the ball rolling against the Panchayat body for keeping the concerned citizens in the dark about the construction projects. BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes and Rudolf Baretto questioned the logic of the three Panchayat members for seeking explanation from a local Parish Priest. The meeting also hold a meeting at Vaddie, Vaswaddo, Benaulim later this week. A meeting at Colva village was held this evening. -- Question everything -- Karl Marx
