1) You ain't seen nothin yet
It ain't over yet. I am not talking about the politicians' lust for power rather the EC is not done with them yet. Election observers were recording on a daily basis the election expenses for even journos under the severest pressure to notice. Their video recordings are very accurate and are matched with a preset expense accounting system. So if Manohar Parrikar claims or as Babush already claimed their estimated 1000 Tee shirts were bought cheap at a retail sale, that's
not going to hold. The CEC has its own price tag for a huge list that even mall managers won't have. The CEC is clued-in believe me. Also, several EC junior officials had the time of their lives staking out politicians.
Thus observers discovered election posters of Ravi Naik and Subhash Shirodkar in farmhouses printed in Maharashtra. Ravi and Subhash each spent Rs25000. The posters had none of the statutory notices and were not authorized by the Collector. That makes the printer liable for a
6-month jail sentence and adds cumulatively to the chances of Ravi being disqualified. Six candidates have by official investigation and evidence crossed the CECs Rs5 lakh expenditure level. They are Ravi, Subhash, Manohar, Babush, Victoria and Anil Salgaocar. What went
against Manohar was his face appearing in advertisements almost daily.
Even appearing on stage with Congress, NCP and BJP national leaders' is deemed expenditure accountable and the EC has its own costing that includes the range from shaminias to kodels. Anil even dug a bore well in government land and the EC seized machinery used to dig two bore
wells.
It gets both funny and odd. A family confessed to the special observer for Calangute their house was painted by a candidate! The Pernem Shiv Sena candidate Gawandi Hanumant, a rich lawyer gave away 15 Hero Hondas. Two beneficiaries even gave written statements admitting they got a Rs.5000 advance. In the panchayat elections earlier two candidates gave away bikes. In
Taleigao shopkeepers were unusually giving away sewing machines.
2) Midnight blues
I am convinced the sound act is being used only as a combative weapon. Read: you don't like someone either blast the decibels or use it to punish your competitor. In Diwar where I live temples regularly blast their religious music through the night. That's right through the
night because of a certain compulsion I won't get into, mind you taking place in so-called secular Goa. An unemployed woman who attempted to built a Sai Baba temple pretentiously after a dawn miracle orchestrated by the saint was mercifully preempted by her neighbour because the blaring sound apart from disturbing the neighbourhood was disturbing students.
I take you to the Baga/Arpora belt where first Vanilla Lounge, then Club Cubana was shut down by the Bombay High Court but apparently somehow continues to be open. But owners are despairing because of the running around involved and the bribes that have to be paid. When
Vanilla Lounge was raided on March 21 the team was led by the North Goa Collector (his wife, is an IAS officer who decides which phirangi can stay back in Goa and spend their much loved forex.) VL had air conditioning that means it was enclosed, and that means it was sound
proof.
Strangely, our IAS man arrived with an SP and a DYSP and the Calangute Police Station claims it wasn't even informed. The two police officers too were not forewarned and received their nstructions at the last minute. Witnesses say when the posse arrived VL's double doors were
open and the decibel meter recorded 75 decibels. The permissible is 55. My point being the recording ought to have been done from outside, if the motive is to determine whether nearby residents are disturbed. VL has no residents living 300 mts behind it and 700 mts to its left and right sides.
At Tito's and Mambo's (now undergoing a costly infrastructure change to make it sound proof) when I last checked there were no 'residents' and yet there are complaints galore against them. Ditto for Ingo's Saturday Nite Bazaar where Ingo extremely conscious of his many 'resident' enemies walks around with a decibel meter constantly monitoring sound levels. SNB incidentally has more meters than the Goa Police, with three, has. Near VL, an open-air pub owned by Mumbai's Hard Rock Café and located 500 mts away, appears to get away with hell blaring loud music.
Ditto for a Saligao pub now owned by a Mumbaite that organizes trance parties exclusively for Russians. Believe me, Indians are kept away as the fliers handed out as invites are suspiciously selective as to whose palms they reach. So, its not entirely about 'residents' or public nuisance, its about people's vindictiveness and certain sinister motive that is targetted it is said against a certain section of entrepreneurs in Goa. It's also about a battle for beer. In the case of Saligao, trance parties often rock over 36-hour days but fortunately nearly all its real residents here own taxis that do roaring business all night and have therefore acquired convenient deafness syndrome.
3) Of horses and donkeys
The man heading a moneymaking corporation is getting a migraine with all the head butting he has to do with his babus. The corporation was allocated Rs15 lakh to showcase Panjim. Now his babus are busy scrambling around for chai bills etc to justify the Rs 15 lakh figure.
Our man pointed out they need not waste their precious time because the corporation is audited by CAG and even covered under the Companies and Income Tax act. "Let them get the headache, you concentrate on something more useful." The babus, used to decades of doing something they pass off as work, bleated at first and protested vehemently later at the radical approach. "When you can be a horse, why do you choose to be a donkey?" our man said in frustration. Ah, but their comfort zone lies there.
4) Only in Goa
This can happen only in Goa. In Maharashtra, Goa wineries are levied a Rs7.26 lakh K form registration plus a label registration fee of Rs5000. These are annual fees and apply to wine, liqueurs and IMFL.
Goa's wineries also pay 150 per cent of their declared manufacturing cost as excise duty. That means for a product say costing Rs100, the excise duty is Rs33.50. Additionally, Goa wineries pay 20 per cent ST that on the same product is Rs20. In this tax scenario Maharastra wineries pay nothing. Realistically speaking for a product costing Rs300, a Goa winery after paying 150 per cent excise duty (or Rs125) gets to retain only Rs175 (Rs300-125=175.) Whereas wineries in Maharashra retain the entire Rs300 and so offer Rs125 as sales promotion.
But, if Goa wineries offer Rs125 as sales promotion, they are left with only Rs50 from the Rs175 retained. The Goa winery is therefore clearly at a disadvantage in Maharashtra whereas Goa goes out of its way to oblige outstation producers. This is how. Goa levies only a label registration of Rs25,000 for outside wineries and Rs12000 for Goa wineries. Before the VAT regime Goa wineries enjoyed a 20 per cent ST holiday that was subsequently removed. Goa's excise duty is also Rs54 per case (12 bottles.)
Compare this with Maharashtra's 150 percent. Goa wineries are also levied 7 per cent octroi that in Maharashtra is refunded to local wineries. As Mumbai is the biggest wine market what Goa must do is levy the same protectionist taxes and bring Maharashtra to the table for talks. Karnataka too has a protectionist policy.
5) All at tax payer's expense
Did you know that each expedition to Antarctica costs the GOI about Rs 25cr and there have been 26 such trips since NIO chief Z A Quasim led the first contingent to the icy continent back in 1981? Did you also know that the minute a scientist flies out – as opposed to sails on the chartered ship – from South Africa to the Indian station at Antarctica, you tax payers are shelling out about Rs4-5 lakh per ticket? But Dr S K Das, advisor, Ministry of Environment and Science, has a complaint. When scientists return from their research in Antarctica they don't always continue with what was started there.
They go back to their old jobs as if the months' at Antarctica was some vacation. Das says that in fact, the screening committee found that 80 per cent of the scientific papers published in the country have no value because there is no productive endeavour at the end. He'd like that to change. Is anyone listening?
6) Strange but true
One of the reasons things don't move in Goa is because of its smallness. That's usually an oxymoron except when you take it in the context of corruption. So there's not much money to be made and therefore projects get stalled. That's what happened to the sewage treatment plant. One of the quotations for a simple but effective garbage treatment plant was Rs30,000. The kickback on something like this would be so miniscule that till today Goa does not have a plan
for garbage, nearly two years after a movement all over the state demanding that garbage be treated. If you don't believe me ask international fashion designer Wendell Rodricks. By the way, Wendell said he was contemplating moving out of Colvale thanks to the garbage problem there.
The same holds good for the beautification of Panjim. Apparently all that was needed to put in some traffic islands with greenery in the capital was Rs13 lakh but the CCP wanted a quote of Rs37 lakh – do the math, our city fathers wanted Rs25 lakh to line their pockets. A little bird tells me that the man who loves his plants refused "their" request to inflate the figure. "How could I ever justify this to the man above?" he says. So, he's left the employ of the government to set up his own business. Government - the last refuge of scoundrels?
7) Rationalising the irrational
The government's decision to reduce the duty on beer and exempt duty on export of liquor during 2006-07 resulted in an approximate Rs4 cr and Rs15 lakh loss respectively as compared to the previous year 2005-06. Eye Spy will try to show you how all this was done at the
behest and pleasure of the King of Good Times, one of the many madly in love with Goa, to the extent they are willing to build gargantuan bungalows that literally stretch from the main road right down to the beach, if you know what I mean.
Till then the export fee on foreign sales was as follows: IMFL Rs0.60 per bulk litre (BL) and for IMFL (whose alcoholic strength is above 80 U.P) Rs0.50 BL. For beer it was Rs0.30 per BL and for wine Rs0.50 BL. The export fee collected on foreign exports during 2004-05 and 2005-06
was Rs35,31,635 and Rs54,90,347 respectively. The Excise Department then headed by the Commissioner of Excise J B Singh actually recommended the proposed waivers for foreign exports despite as Singh said the annual loss of Rs50 lakh as per documents obtained by Eye Spy under the RTI.
There are only four units exporting IMFL to foreign countries: McDowell's, Gemini Distilleries, John Distilleries and Penguin Distilleries. McDowell's it was revealed in the documents has been
asking for the waiver of the export pass fee for overseas dispatches since 1999. Ideally, such proposals are considered only at the presentation of the regular budget, but Rane wanted the matter looked into as early as September 2006.
The Finance Department argued the case like this: In case of complete waiver, there would be a net annual loss of Rs50-60 lakh and the increased revenue on account of the bottling fee would not be clearly predictable and which was Rs25.80 lakh in 2005-06. Considering the increase in the volume of export, the net loss would still be in the range of Rs40-50 lakh taking into consideration the increased revenue of around Rs10-15 lakh on account of the bottling fee (the Excise Department charges a bottling fee of Rs2.50 per case on IMFL) and Singh argued that if the export fee was waived it would increase production and as a result boost bottling fee revenues.
Considering also the waiver losses and the increased bottling revenues, officials of the Finance Department said: Granting a 50 per cent waiver would result in revenue losses of Rs10-15 lakh; granting a complete waiver ie Rs0.60 per bottle would result in losses of Rs40-45 lakh. Critically, both the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary tried to impress on Rane that September was not the ideal time to make such "imprudent" changes and the government in the eyes of the public would be better off thinking of the waiver at the next regular budget.
The documents clearly reveal that Rane pushed through his proposal finally on September 30, 2006; and as he put down in writing in the official file: Competition has to be encouraged in order to earn foreign exchange. This will also help the brand to be able to withstand competition in the long run and also help our returns. On October 10, Rane personally pushed for as he put down in the file – a meeting with McDowell's. On November 10, 2006 the cabinet approved waiving the export pass fee leviable on IMFL, beer and wine exported overseas.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Goa under the hammer
1) The selling of Goa
The Chief Secretary using the term Russian mafia has raised official eyebrows because you simply can't say that without even a shred of evidence especially of a nation that has unflinchingly stood by India always. Foreigners, buying property should not be the issue here after all there is nothing Indians have not bought or benefited from in the rest of the world; the problem is really desi. Like Narayan Rane's explansion plans in crowded Calangute. Like India's biggest arms dealer the Vienna based Choudhary (his only rival is Nanda) buying up of land in Arambol and Calangute.
Like the fact Delhites have now started selling the properties they bought earlier at huge profits a fact confirmed to me by a potential Bangalore buyer who last month stayed in Panjim for over two weeks and by a senior architect in the business and by the fact that if you respond to many of the local advertisements the seller speaks Hindi. Like the fact Hindi is the new spoken language in the corridors of the Bombay High Court because Goans hardly own properties any longer. Like the Rs150 cr offer made to Lounginhos for its Colva hotel and like the Rs48 cr reportedly paid for another hotel in the area. And definitely like the hotel La Calypso in Baga built on sand dunes breaking every Coastal Regulation Zone regulation.
Foreigners, particularly Western Europeans come to participate and not to change Goa which is why they landscape their properties, hire Goan architects, landscapers, employ locals where they can, are the biggest buyers of antique furniture which has helped spawn an entire industry
in Mapusa and Colva and spend their money locally. They money never leaves Goa. Can you say that of a north Indian or Delhite?
2) No estate, get real
No wonder we are incensed. It's a year since DLF bought 18,120 sq metres at Rs50,000 per sq mt at Patto Plaza. They paid EDC Rs90 cr. Where is the promised mall? Have you seen any construction activity at the plot? No and if a senior officer who is in the know is to be believed you are not likely to see anything coming up there. DLF just used its prime property to get money to finance its real estate ventures in Delhi (it makes more money selling apartments there) and that was the purpose behind its investment here. It works like this: realtors like DLF buy prime land say for instance in Goa, as a result of which banks have no hesitation in lending them big money.
3) Selling of Sesa
Whether it was $1.37b or $981m is not the point. Who ever sells Sesa Goa continues to make billions while Goans get a few jobs only. In 1995 I met Emilio Riva, the Italian billionaire who through Italy's privatization process bought Ilva Laminati Piani SpA (ILP), Italy, the holding firm of Finsider International Co. Ltd., UK that till then was Sesa Goa's main shareholder. ILP was a State-owned conglomerate belonging to Gruppo IRI or Istitituto Per La Ricostruzioni
Industriale. It was evident during the interview despite his vehement denials that Riva was not interesting in retaining Sesa. Soon he sold Sesa to Mitsui that sold it to Vedenta Resources plc. The selling of Sesa could go on. Mutual funds and banks too love the cash rich firm. Sesa's lineage has change since 1954, when it kicked off as Scambi Economi Sa, Goa. The following year it was renamed Sesa Goa Ltd after it was jointly taken over by Gewerkeschaft Exploration, West Germany and Ferromin SpA, Italy, a subsidiary of Finsider SpA, belonging to the IRI group that acquired the German firm's stake in Sesa.
4) Room with a view
Bharat and Swati Bhise – their 8-bedroom bungalow is coming up on the hillside with a view to die for on the edge of the Arabian Sea at Dona Paula. The construction began five months ago and the Bihari contractor hired – he was involved in constructing Jackie Shroff's bungalow at Nerul – says the bungalow will be finished in two months.
For the Save Goa tribe, this is yet another example of how those with the big bucks –the bungalow is rumoured to cost Rs50 cr – don't bother about CRZ violations. And for those who have invested in beachside property, it is a reason to crib because their room with a view does
not have a view anymore because someone with more moolah appropriated it.
5) They luv gullible Goa too
For the past three months Rajiv Mehta went about building his 4-storied bangalow at Cacra village on the edge of a precipice despite media exposure. You have to see the NRI's mansion-by-the-sea if you want to believe this. There are reportedly eight suites per level, less than a stone's throw from the sea even if you are semi-crippled.
Neighbours wonder where his guests will park their SUVs because Kingfisher villa in Candolim (the next best comparison built on the brink of the sea) is a virtual drive-in. Not Rajiv's. His sea cliff simply has no parking space. Point is matters got to a head when pushed to the wall the Chief Secretary JP Singh sent in the posse led by the Addl. Collector Swapnil and Michael D'Souza of the CRZ. Would you believe it, even the troopers were shocked. At least they made a
pretense of it. Measured, Rajiv's bungalow is 41 mt from the high tide line. If you have the inclination and four-wheels, take the kids for a drive there. As they say, seeing is believing.
6) The Cacra cliffhanger
For once ES erred. Rajiv and Rashmi Mehta who were ordered by additional Collector North Swapnil M. Naik to stop building, were asked to quote "it is clear from the plan itself that at the eastern side of the plot the CRZ line demarcation is 32.35 mt." I said 41 mt. "In fact, this CRZ line demarcation on the plan has not been done by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and as such it appears that the structure under construction is illegal as it violates the No Development Zone of 100 mt from the river coast." GCZMS Simon D'Souza has also agreed to demarcate the NDZ. Is it Goa or gullible Goans, the Mehta's luv.
7) They luv Goa
For the moment though chew on the onslaught of Goa's current wannabes. A close relative of a Delhi newspaper magnate is building a home in Nerul on 10 acres. Actress turned director Pooja Bhat, actor Ranvir Sheorey and fashion designer Tarun Tahliani bought houses in Nerul.
Bina Ramani, arrested in Goa last September after a Delhi court ordered a NBW for allegedly forging documents for the restaurant that became notorious after model Jessica Lall was murdered there bought and sold land in Nerul to as many as five celebs. Bina Ramani sold her
Saipem property to the Baga hotel built on sand dunes, would you believe it because villagers there gave her bad vibes triggered by her arrest and used that money to buy land in Siolim. Siolim villagers my mind says could be less gullible than Saipem's gossipmongers. Malani
Ramani, Bangalore fashion designer Prasad Bidappa bought houses on the Calangue/Candolim border. So did Good Earth, the alternative lifestyle store chain in Candolim. Ritu Kumar, the Delhi designer bought a house there too as did former Miss India Neha Dupia. The Bangalore based Naresh Mehrotra and part owner Café Coffee Day bought a house in Goa.
There's also Jackie Shroff who is into building posh villas for his celeb friends.
8) Rooms with no view
Six months ago, a hill that was savagely cut at Odxel to make town houses was the focus of a protest march. Today it is a site where brisk construction is in progress and town houses at different levels, not to mention a sprawling hotel, are at different stages of completion. The promoters, Dynamix, should know that a family with diamond interests in Antwerp was interested in the town houses even if they were priced at Rs1.5 cr. But when it was pointed out that the town houses would cancel out the picturesque view of the town house on the level below, the family backed out. Further down the road the builder Landscape is constructing three (priced at Rs1cr) and two bedroom apartments (priced at Rs72 lakh). The location may be illegal
but extraordinary with a breathtaking view of the Zuari river and the sea.
9) Swept away like dirt
Big hoteliers, all Mumbaites and Delhites bulldozing sand dunes and building down to the sea is a reality from Agonda to Baga. What is saddening despite the inevitably of Goa being sold lock, stock and barrel that too for black money is the way the real aam aadmi like Justiano Pereira, a discernibly poor and genuine farmer of Adaowaddo, Majorda are swept aside like dirt. Humble as they come, Justiano's tormentor is the rich and powerful Sea Bird Resorts whose director
Nirav Parekh, is based in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Parekh bought 23,754 sq mt from Rui Fernandes Leao to build his huge hotel.
Justiano and others are now fighting to protect and retain a common well (their only water source) built with RDA funds at a cost of Rs23117 by the Majorda-Utorda-Calata Village Panchayat that now falls in Parekh's property. Worse a traditional pathway and well has almost
entirely been taken over by Parekh blocking the route villagers used for decades.
On 03.10.06 villagers wrote to the Sarpanch placing their objections to passing the construction plans, if planned by blocking off the traditional pathway. The Sarpanch issued Sea Bird a show-cause notice dated 05/10/06. But Parekh like all Mumbai and Delhi hoteliers bent on taking over Goa's protected (hypothetically) coast began building in March 2007 completing blocking off the traditional path and well. Amid complaints lodged with the Colva police and the Village Panchayat of Majorda-Calata-Utorda by them no action was taken to stop Parekh.
The power of money
Parekh effectively cordoned off and covered an ancient nullah that was a channel for rainwater flowing through the fields into the sea. The nullah, Parekh proposed to construct in concrete as an open drain in his construction plans passed by the SGPDA on 25.01.2007. Parekh's other proposal to install narrow drainpipes to replace the natural nullah and a huge wall being built around the property will flood the area during the monsoon. Parekh's punishing plans for a once beautiful hamlet also includes locating his garbage dump behind his hotel and next to the homes of Justiano and the villagers.
The TCPs NOC to Sea Bird clearly states, "the proposed development shall not block any existing traditional path passing through the property." It says again, "The pathway of 2 mt in width as shown on the site plan shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the Village Panchayat." Sea Bird as per its approved plan is building a total of four buildings and has already said it intends to rise above the permitted 3.5 mt height. With a total planned construction of 8,416.47
sq mt Sea Bird will make a sea change in idyllic Adaowaddo.
Aam aadmi concern?
Incredibly from the licenses Justiano obtained under RTI the plans were approved and signed by the town planner, senior town planner, chief town planner, secretary (TCP) the minister (TCP) and by Pratapsing Rane in the blurry of a few days in January 2007. One of them, it is difficult to say who (in the plans these remarks are closest to the initials of the chief town planner) wrote this: "In addition, the applicant has undertaken to enhance approach roads,
parking space and to enhance greenery in the areas." None of them have agreed so far to hear out Justiano's petitions that forced him to go to court.
Justiano says the town planner informed him there were no restrictions on the distance to be maintained between commercial and residential users. "However, minimum setbacks are required to be maintained as per prevailing norms." No dimensions were mentioned in the reply that Justiano wanted. In another letter in fact the senior town planner informed him that Sea Bird's licenses was issued on the basis of the old RP 2001.
The Chief Secretary using the term Russian mafia has raised official eyebrows because you simply can't say that without even a shred of evidence especially of a nation that has unflinchingly stood by India always. Foreigners, buying property should not be the issue here after all there is nothing Indians have not bought or benefited from in the rest of the world; the problem is really desi. Like Narayan Rane's explansion plans in crowded Calangute. Like India's biggest arms dealer the Vienna based Choudhary (his only rival is Nanda) buying up of land in Arambol and Calangute.
Like the fact Delhites have now started selling the properties they bought earlier at huge profits a fact confirmed to me by a potential Bangalore buyer who last month stayed in Panjim for over two weeks and by a senior architect in the business and by the fact that if you respond to many of the local advertisements the seller speaks Hindi. Like the fact Hindi is the new spoken language in the corridors of the Bombay High Court because Goans hardly own properties any longer. Like the Rs150 cr offer made to Lounginhos for its Colva hotel and like the Rs48 cr reportedly paid for another hotel in the area. And definitely like the hotel La Calypso in Baga built on sand dunes breaking every Coastal Regulation Zone regulation.
Foreigners, particularly Western Europeans come to participate and not to change Goa which is why they landscape their properties, hire Goan architects, landscapers, employ locals where they can, are the biggest buyers of antique furniture which has helped spawn an entire industry
in Mapusa and Colva and spend their money locally. They money never leaves Goa. Can you say that of a north Indian or Delhite?
2) No estate, get real
No wonder we are incensed. It's a year since DLF bought 18,120 sq metres at Rs50,000 per sq mt at Patto Plaza. They paid EDC Rs90 cr. Where is the promised mall? Have you seen any construction activity at the plot? No and if a senior officer who is in the know is to be believed you are not likely to see anything coming up there. DLF just used its prime property to get money to finance its real estate ventures in Delhi (it makes more money selling apartments there) and that was the purpose behind its investment here. It works like this: realtors like DLF buy prime land say for instance in Goa, as a result of which banks have no hesitation in lending them big money.
3) Selling of Sesa
Whether it was $1.37b or $981m is not the point. Who ever sells Sesa Goa continues to make billions while Goans get a few jobs only. In 1995 I met Emilio Riva, the Italian billionaire who through Italy's privatization process bought Ilva Laminati Piani SpA (ILP), Italy, the holding firm of Finsider International Co. Ltd., UK that till then was Sesa Goa's main shareholder. ILP was a State-owned conglomerate belonging to Gruppo IRI or Istitituto Per La Ricostruzioni
Industriale. It was evident during the interview despite his vehement denials that Riva was not interesting in retaining Sesa. Soon he sold Sesa to Mitsui that sold it to Vedenta Resources plc. The selling of Sesa could go on. Mutual funds and banks too love the cash rich firm. Sesa's lineage has change since 1954, when it kicked off as Scambi Economi Sa, Goa. The following year it was renamed Sesa Goa Ltd after it was jointly taken over by Gewerkeschaft Exploration, West Germany and Ferromin SpA, Italy, a subsidiary of Finsider SpA, belonging to the IRI group that acquired the German firm's stake in Sesa.
4) Room with a view
Bharat and Swati Bhise – their 8-bedroom bungalow is coming up on the hillside with a view to die for on the edge of the Arabian Sea at Dona Paula. The construction began five months ago and the Bihari contractor hired – he was involved in constructing Jackie Shroff's bungalow at Nerul – says the bungalow will be finished in two months.
For the Save Goa tribe, this is yet another example of how those with the big bucks –the bungalow is rumoured to cost Rs50 cr – don't bother about CRZ violations. And for those who have invested in beachside property, it is a reason to crib because their room with a view does
not have a view anymore because someone with more moolah appropriated it.
5) They luv gullible Goa too
For the past three months Rajiv Mehta went about building his 4-storied bangalow at Cacra village on the edge of a precipice despite media exposure. You have to see the NRI's mansion-by-the-sea if you want to believe this. There are reportedly eight suites per level, less than a stone's throw from the sea even if you are semi-crippled.
Neighbours wonder where his guests will park their SUVs because Kingfisher villa in Candolim (the next best comparison built on the brink of the sea) is a virtual drive-in. Not Rajiv's. His sea cliff simply has no parking space. Point is matters got to a head when pushed to the wall the Chief Secretary JP Singh sent in the posse led by the Addl. Collector Swapnil and Michael D'Souza of the CRZ. Would you believe it, even the troopers were shocked. At least they made a
pretense of it. Measured, Rajiv's bungalow is 41 mt from the high tide line. If you have the inclination and four-wheels, take the kids for a drive there. As they say, seeing is believing.
6) The Cacra cliffhanger
For once ES erred. Rajiv and Rashmi Mehta who were ordered by additional Collector North Swapnil M. Naik to stop building, were asked to quote "it is clear from the plan itself that at the eastern side of the plot the CRZ line demarcation is 32.35 mt." I said 41 mt. "In fact, this CRZ line demarcation on the plan has not been done by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and as such it appears that the structure under construction is illegal as it violates the No Development Zone of 100 mt from the river coast." GCZMS Simon D'Souza has also agreed to demarcate the NDZ. Is it Goa or gullible Goans, the Mehta's luv.
7) They luv Goa
For the moment though chew on the onslaught of Goa's current wannabes. A close relative of a Delhi newspaper magnate is building a home in Nerul on 10 acres. Actress turned director Pooja Bhat, actor Ranvir Sheorey and fashion designer Tarun Tahliani bought houses in Nerul.
Bina Ramani, arrested in Goa last September after a Delhi court ordered a NBW for allegedly forging documents for the restaurant that became notorious after model Jessica Lall was murdered there bought and sold land in Nerul to as many as five celebs. Bina Ramani sold her
Saipem property to the Baga hotel built on sand dunes, would you believe it because villagers there gave her bad vibes triggered by her arrest and used that money to buy land in Siolim. Siolim villagers my mind says could be less gullible than Saipem's gossipmongers. Malani
Ramani, Bangalore fashion designer Prasad Bidappa bought houses on the Calangue/Candolim border. So did Good Earth, the alternative lifestyle store chain in Candolim. Ritu Kumar, the Delhi designer bought a house there too as did former Miss India Neha Dupia. The Bangalore based Naresh Mehrotra and part owner Café Coffee Day bought a house in Goa.
There's also Jackie Shroff who is into building posh villas for his celeb friends.
8) Rooms with no view
Six months ago, a hill that was savagely cut at Odxel to make town houses was the focus of a protest march. Today it is a site where brisk construction is in progress and town houses at different levels, not to mention a sprawling hotel, are at different stages of completion. The promoters, Dynamix, should know that a family with diamond interests in Antwerp was interested in the town houses even if they were priced at Rs1.5 cr. But when it was pointed out that the town houses would cancel out the picturesque view of the town house on the level below, the family backed out. Further down the road the builder Landscape is constructing three (priced at Rs1cr) and two bedroom apartments (priced at Rs72 lakh). The location may be illegal
but extraordinary with a breathtaking view of the Zuari river and the sea.
9) Swept away like dirt
Big hoteliers, all Mumbaites and Delhites bulldozing sand dunes and building down to the sea is a reality from Agonda to Baga. What is saddening despite the inevitably of Goa being sold lock, stock and barrel that too for black money is the way the real aam aadmi like Justiano Pereira, a discernibly poor and genuine farmer of Adaowaddo, Majorda are swept aside like dirt. Humble as they come, Justiano's tormentor is the rich and powerful Sea Bird Resorts whose director
Nirav Parekh, is based in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Parekh bought 23,754 sq mt from Rui Fernandes Leao to build his huge hotel.
Justiano and others are now fighting to protect and retain a common well (their only water source) built with RDA funds at a cost of Rs23117 by the Majorda-Utorda-Calata Village Panchayat that now falls in Parekh's property. Worse a traditional pathway and well has almost
entirely been taken over by Parekh blocking the route villagers used for decades.
On 03.10.06 villagers wrote to the Sarpanch placing their objections to passing the construction plans, if planned by blocking off the traditional pathway. The Sarpanch issued Sea Bird a show-cause notice dated 05/10/06. But Parekh like all Mumbai and Delhi hoteliers bent on taking over Goa's protected (hypothetically) coast began building in March 2007 completing blocking off the traditional path and well. Amid complaints lodged with the Colva police and the Village Panchayat of Majorda-Calata-Utorda by them no action was taken to stop Parekh.
The power of money
Parekh effectively cordoned off and covered an ancient nullah that was a channel for rainwater flowing through the fields into the sea. The nullah, Parekh proposed to construct in concrete as an open drain in his construction plans passed by the SGPDA on 25.01.2007. Parekh's other proposal to install narrow drainpipes to replace the natural nullah and a huge wall being built around the property will flood the area during the monsoon. Parekh's punishing plans for a once beautiful hamlet also includes locating his garbage dump behind his hotel and next to the homes of Justiano and the villagers.
The TCPs NOC to Sea Bird clearly states, "the proposed development shall not block any existing traditional path passing through the property." It says again, "The pathway of 2 mt in width as shown on the site plan shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the Village Panchayat." Sea Bird as per its approved plan is building a total of four buildings and has already said it intends to rise above the permitted 3.5 mt height. With a total planned construction of 8,416.47
sq mt Sea Bird will make a sea change in idyllic Adaowaddo.
Aam aadmi concern?
Incredibly from the licenses Justiano obtained under RTI the plans were approved and signed by the town planner, senior town planner, chief town planner, secretary (TCP) the minister (TCP) and by Pratapsing Rane in the blurry of a few days in January 2007. One of them, it is difficult to say who (in the plans these remarks are closest to the initials of the chief town planner) wrote this: "In addition, the applicant has undertaken to enhance approach roads,
parking space and to enhance greenery in the areas." None of them have agreed so far to hear out Justiano's petitions that forced him to go to court.
Justiano says the town planner informed him there were no restrictions on the distance to be maintained between commercial and residential users. "However, minimum setbacks are required to be maintained as per prevailing norms." No dimensions were mentioned in the reply that Justiano wanted. In another letter in fact the senior town planner informed him that Sea Bird's licenses was issued on the basis of the old RP 2001.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Hypocrites in Politics
Eye Spy toppers in their category
(Reproduced from Gomantak Times uncensored)
1) Aim like the Alemaos
Having tried unsuccessfully to launch a political party the Alemao brothers are back (yes, I club them together because they work together even opposing each other) this time trying to become president of the GFA (Goa Football Association.) But before I kick-off there's some background you must know to understand the game. Since 1974 there has been no real GFA election. From 1977 big clubs like Sesa Goa and Dempo began getting proxy voting authorization letters from the smaller clubs. The other two biggies Salgaocar and Vasco simply played along. Later newcomers MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) and their successors Churchill Brothers joined in the games. In other words the voting process was undemocratic. So was everything else.
Remember Churchill was used to break the MRF workers' strike and rewarded with MRF buying Varca SC. It happened because MRF could influence GFA into allowing Varca to be reincarnated as MRF Soccer Foundation –the proviso being Varca rightly had to be fully disbanded. But this is GFA and so a couple of years later Varca was again allowed on the field because for the Alemaos it was a 'collection center' for the club's Carnival dances.' Varca mind you is distinctly different from the Churchill Brothers football team that was born after MRF pulled the plug on football and scratched the team. Since a football is spherical what goes around also comes around in the GFA.
Between the eighties and the mid-nineties, the smaller clubs gave up their fight for election posts, their representatives mostly staying away from the elections. Those who dared were coerced or arm-twisted into withdrawing their nominations. These strange ways continued till finally Vilas Sardessai was challenged in the mid-nineties. Officially however men owing allegiance to the big clubs continued to make up part of the committee in the name of the smaller clubs.
Enter, Alberto Colaco the current paid secretary of the All India Football Federation in Delhi. He ruled GFA like a personal fiefdom, fielding his own cronies to various posts of the GFA -all officially representing different small clubs, but de facto owing allegiance to him. Alberto simultaneously grew close to the Alemaos, their friendship evolving into a political-sporting allegiance as Alberto progressed to the AIFF, and automatically became a confidante of Priya Ranjan Das Munshi in AIFF's headquarters.
Alberto ensured no GFA elections were held and his or in some cases certain compromised panels came through elected unopposed. Problem was in 1999 Alberto could not continue as secretary having completed two terms and so his choice of a yes-man fell on the shoulders of Agnelo Alcacoas the then Velsao sarpanch, who however soon turned against his godfather. The final break came when Alcacoas issued a VVIP pass to Micky Pacheco enabling him to sit alongside archenemies the Alemaos in the Fatorda stadium VVIP box. This as you should know is just not supposed to happen.
Alberto strived hard to get Alcacoas dismissed on various counts. To do this however the story had to be made public, arousing the ire of the smaller clubs who stayed quiet all these years. To make matters worse in its final resolution the general body of the GFA not only sacked Alcacoas, they dismissed the entire executive committee that included Joaquim and Alberto himself. However Alberto managed to re-phrase the decision to 'dissolution' instead of 'dismissal' to save Joaquim and himself being barred from contesting future GFA elections as the GFA constitution provides for dissolution not dismissal.
By then Micky became a minister and dared to contest the GFA elections. But once again, a 1977-type conclave of big clubs took place in 2003 to deprive Micky and his support from small clubs of a fair contest. Micky as only he can do made things worse by trying to browbeat the GFA using the SAG, and then going to court where he lost. Alberto was again the leader behind the unification of the big clubs.
These developments since 2003 however have opened a can of worms and brings me back to the present day because Joaquim is hellbent on regaining the prestigious GFA president's post that will automatically bring him close to Das Munshi. On the other hand his benefactor Alberto wants to regain control of the GFA by proxy, having been let down by Alcacoas and then having to be engaged in a running fight with the present hon. secretary Savio Messias that is often aired in the media.
2) Boot’s on the wrong foot
The man lost the elections for the GFA executive committee but still said he won. Never mind that, you know it all by now. What was not reported was that at the Friday July 13, 2007 (was that ominous or what?) Mapusa dinner meet exclusively for Bardez clubs he told members without pretence they could vote for anybody they wanted for the executive committee but for the presidency they must vote for him.
What Joaquim Alemao does not know now is where to get the Rs50,000 assistance package he promised village clubs as the carrot for their votes. Because there are 170 clubs in Goa eight of which are professional clubs he promised a special package, which makes it 162 clubs left of which about five are institutional clubs like the Police etc.
That makes it 157 village clubs who now expect to get a whopping Rs.78,50,000. Look at it like Joaquim's first yellow card. Now where is he going to get that kind of dough? Not from the government or from Sports Authority of Goa (which is the same thing really) and in any case not from SAG because that portfolio has been retained by Digambar Kamat. So, there you are one more Alemao was made to bite the dust.
And bite he will because the new executive committee is determined from Day 1 to put him in his place with a strategy that included postponing the very first executive body meeting from July 16, 2006 which Joaquim ordered to July 20 just so to show who's boss. His second yellow card! Keep reading this column for the red card.
Remember it was ES that first exposed Joaquim's machinations that he subsequently officially denied and which actually led to both the passive and active English media at least working around what I first exposed and continued on the sports pages. Why keep reading? Because GFA certainly does not want either his pre-election promise of a stadium or his post-election altered desire to lay an all-weather turf at the open Campal stadium; instead GFA wants a simple 5000-seater stadium built on Campal's parade ground to revive Panjim's dying football culture and small club interest. It also says the cheaper and more practical option is to simply rebuild the Campal stadium that Parrikar demolished because of International Film Festival of India. GFA wants its own stadium because SAG controls at its whim all village playgrounds and is distinctly pro-cricket when it comes to the Fatorda stadium.
ES also has it that the GFA election was turned into a political circus. Thus Dr. Rufino Monteiro's campaign was discreetly accused of being BJP supported because he lent his name to the controversial doctors' pro-BJP support campaign in the Assembly elections though the BJP actually has little football in its political arsenal. Thus while some BJP MLAs who could, helped him; all the Congress MLAs supported Joaquim. For example all three St. Andre's clubs Sridao, Goa Velha and Agacaim supported the Congress.
3) Hardly Shanti
Shanti Almeida is a woman you don't want to mess with despite her name. Ask Vishwajit Rane. This resident of Sagar Housing Colony and central government employee mind you, is opposing VRs illegal encroachment on government land he claims. VRs new firm is called Meridien Real Estate. What you don't know is the bungalow, he is expanding was once owned by a Mapusa lad who owed Babush money.
Borrowing from B means principle plus accruing interest equals you lose your land because Bs recovery methods are a bit like Citibank's. He takes your keys and you take a hike. Next B sells to VR the single level bungalow that VR turns into an emblematic Dona Paula monstrosity. I digress. VR, almost a minister without portfolio, ensures the Talathi under Dy. Collector Agnel Fernandes hides her complaint file in a steel cupboard despite the fact he was ordered to make a site inspection on February 2, 2007. The only government official who made an appearance there for investigation is Jennifer Monserrate, who had the temerity to ask SA "now what do you want?" Was it money she hinted at? Did I say government official? I did actually, that makes it twice already. VR also got three water connections from his single water meter that is why he never hires water tankers.
And it goes on
The last South Goa LS poll cost the taxpayer nearly Rs3 cr. This one (2007) cost Rs4 cr. Churchill Alemao in other words is squeezing you in more ways than one.
(Reproduced from Gomantak Times uncensored)
1) Aim like the Alemaos
Having tried unsuccessfully to launch a political party the Alemao brothers are back (yes, I club them together because they work together even opposing each other) this time trying to become president of the GFA (Goa Football Association.) But before I kick-off there's some background you must know to understand the game. Since 1974 there has been no real GFA election. From 1977 big clubs like Sesa Goa and Dempo began getting proxy voting authorization letters from the smaller clubs. The other two biggies Salgaocar and Vasco simply played along. Later newcomers MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) and their successors Churchill Brothers joined in the games. In other words the voting process was undemocratic. So was everything else.
Remember Churchill was used to break the MRF workers' strike and rewarded with MRF buying Varca SC. It happened because MRF could influence GFA into allowing Varca to be reincarnated as MRF Soccer Foundation –the proviso being Varca rightly had to be fully disbanded. But this is GFA and so a couple of years later Varca was again allowed on the field because for the Alemaos it was a 'collection center' for the club's Carnival dances.' Varca mind you is distinctly different from the Churchill Brothers football team that was born after MRF pulled the plug on football and scratched the team. Since a football is spherical what goes around also comes around in the GFA.
Between the eighties and the mid-nineties, the smaller clubs gave up their fight for election posts, their representatives mostly staying away from the elections. Those who dared were coerced or arm-twisted into withdrawing their nominations. These strange ways continued till finally Vilas Sardessai was challenged in the mid-nineties. Officially however men owing allegiance to the big clubs continued to make up part of the committee in the name of the smaller clubs.
Enter, Alberto Colaco the current paid secretary of the All India Football Federation in Delhi. He ruled GFA like a personal fiefdom, fielding his own cronies to various posts of the GFA -all officially representing different small clubs, but de facto owing allegiance to him. Alberto simultaneously grew close to the Alemaos, their friendship evolving into a political-sporting allegiance as Alberto progressed to the AIFF, and automatically became a confidante of Priya Ranjan Das Munshi in AIFF's headquarters.
Alberto ensured no GFA elections were held and his or in some cases certain compromised panels came through elected unopposed. Problem was in 1999 Alberto could not continue as secretary having completed two terms and so his choice of a yes-man fell on the shoulders of Agnelo Alcacoas the then Velsao sarpanch, who however soon turned against his godfather. The final break came when Alcacoas issued a VVIP pass to Micky Pacheco enabling him to sit alongside archenemies the Alemaos in the Fatorda stadium VVIP box. This as you should know is just not supposed to happen.
Alberto strived hard to get Alcacoas dismissed on various counts. To do this however the story had to be made public, arousing the ire of the smaller clubs who stayed quiet all these years. To make matters worse in its final resolution the general body of the GFA not only sacked Alcacoas, they dismissed the entire executive committee that included Joaquim and Alberto himself. However Alberto managed to re-phrase the decision to 'dissolution' instead of 'dismissal' to save Joaquim and himself being barred from contesting future GFA elections as the GFA constitution provides for dissolution not dismissal.
By then Micky became a minister and dared to contest the GFA elections. But once again, a 1977-type conclave of big clubs took place in 2003 to deprive Micky and his support from small clubs of a fair contest. Micky as only he can do made things worse by trying to browbeat the GFA using the SAG, and then going to court where he lost. Alberto was again the leader behind the unification of the big clubs.
These developments since 2003 however have opened a can of worms and brings me back to the present day because Joaquim is hellbent on regaining the prestigious GFA president's post that will automatically bring him close to Das Munshi. On the other hand his benefactor Alberto wants to regain control of the GFA by proxy, having been let down by Alcacoas and then having to be engaged in a running fight with the present hon. secretary Savio Messias that is often aired in the media.
2) Boot’s on the wrong foot
The man lost the elections for the GFA executive committee but still said he won. Never mind that, you know it all by now. What was not reported was that at the Friday July 13, 2007 (was that ominous or what?) Mapusa dinner meet exclusively for Bardez clubs he told members without pretence they could vote for anybody they wanted for the executive committee but for the presidency they must vote for him.
What Joaquim Alemao does not know now is where to get the Rs50,000 assistance package he promised village clubs as the carrot for their votes. Because there are 170 clubs in Goa eight of which are professional clubs he promised a special package, which makes it 162 clubs left of which about five are institutional clubs like the Police etc.
That makes it 157 village clubs who now expect to get a whopping Rs.78,50,000. Look at it like Joaquim's first yellow card. Now where is he going to get that kind of dough? Not from the government or from Sports Authority of Goa (which is the same thing really) and in any case not from SAG because that portfolio has been retained by Digambar Kamat. So, there you are one more Alemao was made to bite the dust.
And bite he will because the new executive committee is determined from Day 1 to put him in his place with a strategy that included postponing the very first executive body meeting from July 16, 2006 which Joaquim ordered to July 20 just so to show who's boss. His second yellow card! Keep reading this column for the red card.
Remember it was ES that first exposed Joaquim's machinations that he subsequently officially denied and which actually led to both the passive and active English media at least working around what I first exposed and continued on the sports pages. Why keep reading? Because GFA certainly does not want either his pre-election promise of a stadium or his post-election altered desire to lay an all-weather turf at the open Campal stadium; instead GFA wants a simple 5000-seater stadium built on Campal's parade ground to revive Panjim's dying football culture and small club interest. It also says the cheaper and more practical option is to simply rebuild the Campal stadium that Parrikar demolished because of International Film Festival of India. GFA wants its own stadium because SAG controls at its whim all village playgrounds and is distinctly pro-cricket when it comes to the Fatorda stadium.
ES also has it that the GFA election was turned into a political circus. Thus Dr. Rufino Monteiro's campaign was discreetly accused of being BJP supported because he lent his name to the controversial doctors' pro-BJP support campaign in the Assembly elections though the BJP actually has little football in its political arsenal. Thus while some BJP MLAs who could, helped him; all the Congress MLAs supported Joaquim. For example all three St. Andre's clubs Sridao, Goa Velha and Agacaim supported the Congress.
3) Hardly Shanti
Shanti Almeida is a woman you don't want to mess with despite her name. Ask Vishwajit Rane. This resident of Sagar Housing Colony and central government employee mind you, is opposing VRs illegal encroachment on government land he claims. VRs new firm is called Meridien Real Estate. What you don't know is the bungalow, he is expanding was once owned by a Mapusa lad who owed Babush money.
Borrowing from B means principle plus accruing interest equals you lose your land because Bs recovery methods are a bit like Citibank's. He takes your keys and you take a hike. Next B sells to VR the single level bungalow that VR turns into an emblematic Dona Paula monstrosity. I digress. VR, almost a minister without portfolio, ensures the Talathi under Dy. Collector Agnel Fernandes hides her complaint file in a steel cupboard despite the fact he was ordered to make a site inspection on February 2, 2007. The only government official who made an appearance there for investigation is Jennifer Monserrate, who had the temerity to ask SA "now what do you want?" Was it money she hinted at? Did I say government official? I did actually, that makes it twice already. VR also got three water connections from his single water meter that is why he never hires water tankers.
And it goes on
The last South Goa LS poll cost the taxpayer nearly Rs3 cr. This one (2007) cost Rs4 cr. Churchill Alemao in other words is squeezing you in more ways than one.
Friday, December 7, 2007
My complete profile
I began my career as a journalist with the Goa Today in the late
Eighties. Next an opportunity arose to write for the Marine Times,
Bombay, a fortnightly I recall and the Shipping and Transport News,
Bombay, a daily, both of which I eagerly grabbed because they were the
best opportunities then. I free-lanced for the Sunday Free Press
Journal, Bombay, got appointed as the correspondent of the then
Maharashtra Herald, wrote a couple of articles for Sunday the Calcutta
magazine, was the stringer for The Telegraph, Calcutta and later for a
longer period for the Amrita Bazar Patrika, Calcutta. I was also Chief
Reporter of the Gomantak Times when the paper arguably played the most
forceful role in ousting the then Speaker Dayanand Narvekar over a
molestation charge.
My first big break, if that could be called one, was to be Special
Correspondent of the Mid-Day, Bombay. I followed that with a move to
Bangalore as Senior Reporter of the Indian Express and later as the
Senior Business Correspondent of The Pioneer. I really was the senior
most reporter around so looked upon as an interloper!
My next pit stop was the Economic Times in Madras I joined as
Principal Correspondent. I relocated to Hyderabad later with the same
paper to become Special Correspondent eventually, the high point in
the life then of any foot soldier walking beats doing the real McCoy.
During my long stint in Hyderabad I achieved another acme launching a
new daily called the AP Times for the owners. My Hyderabad spell
included a job as Assistant Editor of the Newstime heading the
business bureau. Much later (July 1997) I became the correspondent of
the Gulf News, Dubai covering Andhra Pradesh.
The Economic Times was my most eventful period as a journalist but it
also opened my eyes to the real freedom of the press that is
mythological like Moses parting the Red Sea. Individual freedom never
existed just the freedom the publisher and editor apportion to you
that at day's end means nothing really. In Madras when I wrote a
biting half-page on Jayalalitha (reproduced here) the Puratchi
Thalaivi held back the government's cheque for an advertisement
supplement the Times of India had published.
Hyderabad was where I decided I wanted out of the rat race and here I
am now thanks to Google doing what I should have done much earlier.
Because, Hyderabad was where a senior Times of India editor Monu
Nalapat told me politely I didn't fit into the 'good corporate
citizen' persona the Times group expected of its paid journalists.
That did not mean I had to be shadowed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan
Police, it meant I had to be in the shadows, subservient. The then
Economic Times Brand Manager also told me in New Delhi I would never
make Resident Editor of the Hyderabad edition. I never was. That was
the nearest I got to become chief ass-kicker, a genre I have
confronted all my life. Hyderabad also got me invited by the German
government to write on Germany's achievements in environmental
protection.
But Hyderabad towards the end did allow me to write a hard-hitting
weekly column in the Deccan Chronicle thanks to its harder-than-nails
editor AT Jayanthi till she decided the paper had to move on without
Lion Roars. But they were truly rip-roaring times and I was often
asked why I was such a misanthropist. As a journalist I will always be
on the other side of the fence, disparaging as hell; never sitting on
it, continuing to expose corruption and politicians and big builders
that trample on the honest-to-god original landowners, because that to
my mind is the package deal. You will always have corrupt politicians,
avaricious businessmen, and somebody has to do the job of exposing
them. Though I am not too sure about journalists sitting on my side of
the fence either. Our numbers have dwindled.
Hyderabad and the Economic Times also took me to the Andamans and
Nicobar, Cochin, Calcutta and Goa writing for the ET's Corporate
Dossier section. It took me into the nitty-gritty of business
journalism and produced the best in me. In between I found myself on
the editorial board of the Mumbai NGO's magazine Humanscape. For two
years till now I wrote regularly for the Business India from Goa. I
can claim also to have written once for the Times of India -a
travelogue on the Sapphire coast of Karnataka. But I just had to go
solo sooner than later because of my genetic makeup and what my newest
column Eye Spy that appears in the Gomantak Times Monday's and
reproduced here is all about. I did try to convince the Gomantak Times
to call it Lion Roars. The Lion will continue to roar however through
this blog.
When I am not writing, I travel, and can claim to be a backpacker. I
have backpacked solo through Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania-Zanzibar,
Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, with a friend to Thailand,
Macau, Hong Kong and China. My travels have taken me to Paris, London,
Dublin, Madrid, Lisbon and much of Germany.
I have a fascination for rivers and lakes, cruised 640 miles from
Chongqing to Yichang on China's Yangtze river, sailed overnight from
Mwanza to Bukoba in Lake Victoria in a passenger ship, skimmed at top
speed in a 'long tailed boat' in the Mai Kok river from Chiang Khong
towards Thaton, boated down some of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok,
bobbed up and down in a tiny boat on the real source of the Nile in
Jinja, Uganda and cruised up the Rhine for several hours in Germany. I
have written for the Outlook Traveller Kerala guidebook on Sulthan
Bathery 'A farewell to arms' and on Bekal 'Anchored in stone.' I also
wrote on Goa's Mollem National Park 'Goa's wild side' for its
guidebook 'Wildlife Holiday in India.'
Lionel Messias
Independent Journalist
0832-2280935, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com
Eighties. Next an opportunity arose to write for the Marine Times,
Bombay, a fortnightly I recall and the Shipping and Transport News,
Bombay, a daily, both of which I eagerly grabbed because they were the
best opportunities then. I free-lanced for the Sunday Free Press
Journal, Bombay, got appointed as the correspondent of the then
Maharashtra Herald, wrote a couple of articles for Sunday the Calcutta
magazine, was the stringer for The Telegraph, Calcutta and later for a
longer period for the Amrita Bazar Patrika, Calcutta. I was also Chief
Reporter of the Gomantak Times when the paper arguably played the most
forceful role in ousting the then Speaker Dayanand Narvekar over a
molestation charge.
My first big break, if that could be called one, was to be Special
Correspondent of the Mid-Day, Bombay. I followed that with a move to
Bangalore as Senior Reporter of the Indian Express and later as the
Senior Business Correspondent of The Pioneer. I really was the senior
most reporter around so looked upon as an interloper!
My next pit stop was the Economic Times in Madras I joined as
Principal Correspondent. I relocated to Hyderabad later with the same
paper to become Special Correspondent eventually, the high point in
the life then of any foot soldier walking beats doing the real McCoy.
During my long stint in Hyderabad I achieved another acme launching a
new daily called the AP Times for the owners. My Hyderabad spell
included a job as Assistant Editor of the Newstime heading the
business bureau. Much later (July 1997) I became the correspondent of
the Gulf News, Dubai covering Andhra Pradesh.
The Economic Times was my most eventful period as a journalist but it
also opened my eyes to the real freedom of the press that is
mythological like Moses parting the Red Sea. Individual freedom never
existed just the freedom the publisher and editor apportion to you
that at day's end means nothing really. In Madras when I wrote a
biting half-page on Jayalalitha (reproduced here) the Puratchi
Thalaivi held back the government's cheque for an advertisement
supplement the Times of India had published.
Hyderabad was where I decided I wanted out of the rat race and here I
am now thanks to Google doing what I should have done much earlier.
Because, Hyderabad was where a senior Times of India editor Monu
Nalapat told me politely I didn't fit into the 'good corporate
citizen' persona the Times group expected of its paid journalists.
That did not mean I had to be shadowed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan
Police, it meant I had to be in the shadows, subservient. The then
Economic Times Brand Manager also told me in New Delhi I would never
make Resident Editor of the Hyderabad edition. I never was. That was
the nearest I got to become chief ass-kicker, a genre I have
confronted all my life. Hyderabad also got me invited by the German
government to write on Germany's achievements in environmental
protection.
But Hyderabad towards the end did allow me to write a hard-hitting
weekly column in the Deccan Chronicle thanks to its harder-than-nails
editor AT Jayanthi till she decided the paper had to move on without
Lion Roars. But they were truly rip-roaring times and I was often
asked why I was such a misanthropist. As a journalist I will always be
on the other side of the fence, disparaging as hell; never sitting on
it, continuing to expose corruption and politicians and big builders
that trample on the honest-to-god original landowners, because that to
my mind is the package deal. You will always have corrupt politicians,
avaricious businessmen, and somebody has to do the job of exposing
them. Though I am not too sure about journalists sitting on my side of
the fence either. Our numbers have dwindled.
Hyderabad and the Economic Times also took me to the Andamans and
Nicobar, Cochin, Calcutta and Goa writing for the ET's Corporate
Dossier section. It took me into the nitty-gritty of business
journalism and produced the best in me. In between I found myself on
the editorial board of the Mumbai NGO's magazine Humanscape. For two
years till now I wrote regularly for the Business India from Goa. I
can claim also to have written once for the Times of India -a
travelogue on the Sapphire coast of Karnataka. But I just had to go
solo sooner than later because of my genetic makeup and what my newest
column Eye Spy that appears in the Gomantak Times Monday's and
reproduced here is all about. I did try to convince the Gomantak Times
to call it Lion Roars. The Lion will continue to roar however through
this blog.
When I am not writing, I travel, and can claim to be a backpacker. I
have backpacked solo through Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania-Zanzibar,
Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, with a friend to Thailand,
Macau, Hong Kong and China. My travels have taken me to Paris, London,
Dublin, Madrid, Lisbon and much of Germany.
I have a fascination for rivers and lakes, cruised 640 miles from
Chongqing to Yichang on China's Yangtze river, sailed overnight from
Mwanza to Bukoba in Lake Victoria in a passenger ship, skimmed at top
speed in a 'long tailed boat' in the Mai Kok river from Chiang Khong
towards Thaton, boated down some of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok,
bobbed up and down in a tiny boat on the real source of the Nile in
Jinja, Uganda and cruised up the Rhine for several hours in Germany. I
have written for the Outlook Traveller Kerala guidebook on Sulthan
Bathery 'A farewell to arms' and on Bekal 'Anchored in stone.' I also
wrote on Goa's Mollem National Park 'Goa's wild side' for its
guidebook 'Wildlife Holiday in India.'
Lionel Messias
Independent Journalist
0832-2280935, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com
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