Goa safe from foreigners but what about politicians -February 4, 2008

One for the Mopaists
The INS Vikramaditya is not expected to join the navy till after 2010 definitely. The price for the Gorshkov is being renegotiated, because the government thinks the $1,200 million quoted by the Russian company, Rosoboronexport that incidentally has a presence in Dabolim, is outrageous. It may not sail in at all because China too has reportedly bid for the much-delayed Russian aircraft carrier and as a result Dabolim may not retain its current strategic importance forever. So, expect those including a five-star owner close to the powers that be to start lobbying again also because that cigar is now firmly stuck in Churchill's mouth and you won't hear a whimper from him on Mopa.

Postal order! For Pete's sake
It was definitely not Mathany as the TTAG alleged that frightened away foreign tourists whom as I said earlier are now wary of December's domestic congestion and therefore didn't come in their usual numbers. There is another genuine reason. The Indian Embassies in the UK (London, Birmingham, Glasgow) suddenly at the beginning of the current season decided that the fee for Indian visas should be sent by postal order only. Cheques or credit cards that are the universal transaction language were banned. British as a result had to pay 10 per cent of 30 pounds as postal charges. Add another pound for administration charges leveled by our embassies and that worked out to 34 pounds.
That was not all. The visa applications had to be sent by registered AD only. That worked out to an additional 5 pounds to send the visa application and 5 pounds the embassies charged to send it back. That's the reason why many British tourists didn't come for the season's beginning. Embassy officials also turned down requests sent to Glasgow claiming Scotland was an independent country. It does have its own Parliament, but separate country! Give me a break. Mercifully, the rule was changed in time.

Fix in time saves nine?
But there's good news. Foreigners can't buy property in Goa any longer. Because visas are now being issued abroad for exactly one day short of the stipulated period foreigners must stay in India to be eligible under RBI rules to buy property. A clever ploy quietly implemented. Next, how to deal with the Delhities one of whom stays regularly in a hotel in Panjim's heart and buys property at any price? He could I think even have been involved in the attempted coup on Kamat which is why even Wilfred De Souza in his usual vague terms is talking about an SEZ lobby being behind it. And, the likes of a Delhi woman who owns a chain of so-called heritage hotels in Goa and who bought a heritage home in Fontainhas. Yes, and nobody protested because the old GMC is the only beacon of hope for the protestors.

Goa' flying circus
It goes on. Narendra Shirodkar, who flew to London in October and therefore violates the government's three-month cooling off period, and Jose Roque Gracias Flor, both assistant tourist officers in the Department of Tourism flew to Spain on January 27 on yet another at-taxpayers-cost junket. There's more. Turns out Sonia, Eduardo Faleiro's daughter also accompanied Papa on the Qatar trip (he went to Kuwait as well) and stayed in his hotel. If you remember, the feminist activist Sabina Martins was also part of the delegation but stayed with Goan families in Qatar. I don't have the answers but a few Goans in Qatar are asking whether Sonia was there at your cost or hers.

Scramble for Goa's sand
Remember Sunny Side Up, the illegal bar on the dunes in Candolim owned by a north Indian? Well Derick Almeida the GT editor for once didn't get a broadside on account of my 'yellow journalism.' And he's had many, trust me, but him and I have never been wrong. If you recall, I did say SSU would produce an endless pile of 'evidence.' It didn't happen. Here's why. The Candolim sarpanch Lourenco Fernandes as early as October 15, 2007 wrote to the Department of Tourism asking it to depute a person to identify the illegal construction. So, there was reasonable cause as early as that. Fernandes cunningly did not suggest a date but left it to the department, because as you should know this is done to encourage more exchange of letters and buy time. The sarpanch also asked for the relevant survey number that makes you wonder why it was not given in the first place.

More evidence
On January 11, 2008 the TD wrote to the Calangute police. Excepts: "With reference to your letter PI/CAL/8479/2007 dated 1.10.2007, it is informed that the Candolim VP has shown the encroachment made on government land under survey no. 148/5 Part and 146/4 Part which is indicated in the enclosed survey plan. The letter was also sent to the Collector, north Goa, GCZMA and the Mapusa mamlatdar. In view of the above, you are requested to take immediate action against the encroachers and the anti-social elements." So, everybody knew. I now have copies of these letters and documents asked under the Right To Information. Everyone in Candolim knows Sunny Side Up has encroached on government land that was acquired from Goans a long time ago but was never put to the use it was intended. One of the intentions was to build a public toilet that was opposed by the villagers. The land acquired runs into thousands of square meters.
The TD is yet to reveal to me the results of its own investigation into the encroachment, how much was grabbed or even how much land it has in its possession though I asked this in my RTI request because the department is in disarray for a variety of reasons and despite the fact it has a public information officer (mandatory under RTI) and an additional assistant PIO each for the north and south separately one of whom took off to Spain.

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