GIDC’s cover-ups
It is amazing how Goa’s various rungs of the Mafiosi work in the twilight zone and also the power they wield.
Last week I acquainted you with two covert operatives who operate with impunity within the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. One is a field officer based at the Verna Industrial Estate –I called him Agent ‘S,’ the other is a deputy general manager at GIDC’s headquarters in Panjim. Call him Agent ‘B.’ The two influential operatives own utility buildings within the Verna estate. One is located behind the Chikitsa Hospital and obviously you won’t find their names on the building documents. They own another building at the entrance of the estate. Agent B is married to the sister of an influential ex-MLA who lost his kurchi in the last Assembly election. Between the two Agents they own 20 plots at the Verna estate and a plot or plots possibly at every major industrial estate, certainly at the Kundaim, Pilerne, Sancoale and Madkaim estates which makes tracking them rather difficult, but fairly easy when it comes to ferreting out information from sources on various floors of the IDC building. Because when you rake in the kind of moolah these guys make, you tend to make enemies as well. For the record, there are 20 industrial estates. I am told if I look hard enough, I might find Agent B’s mother’s name mentioned in the documents of some of the plots he owns. And by the way, the two have a cosy partnership agreement working for them in the names of their parents, which means as stakeholders they are also shareholders.
The Food Chain
Contrary to popular belief, an industry’s minister does not rake in as much as say a GIDC chairman, because GIDC is a niche market for Agent S & B who are both so adept and accomplished in plot selling, that they are much sought after. By this yardstick, a company calling itself Meher Developments might be a front for Babu Kavlekar. This issue has been raised in the Assembly by Manohar Parrikar. It owns a plot at Verna. Thus the food chain at GIDC is restricted to a few, and it seems implausible but not impossible I am told, that Agents S and B have frequently done in their superiors when it comes to sharing the loot. You will be surprised, I was, that when land for SEZs was being parceled out in a hurry to meet Kamal Nath’s deadline of 150 SEZs, much of the money, for instance, did not reach the main honcho at GIDC. One SEZ I am informed, came through the back door invited by the scion of a political bigwig now in the dusk of his long career mostly as chief minister. The ex-CM’s son and the son of a SEZ promoter studied together in the US of A and the former invited the promoter into his parlour, so to speak. The rest as they says is history. So really, not every industry minister makes a whack, he is sometimes called on to wait till election time, and part of this expense is paid for then.
Agent B + Agent S = Plot
It works like this. At the much wanted (vaunted?) Verna estate, IDC’s official rate is Rs 750 per M2. Unofficially, this has gone up to a band of Rs 1750-3000 depending on the location of the plot and its access to link roads. As a result, entrepreneurs who refused to part with slush money, were awarded plots in remote areas of the Verna estate. An equipment dealer with the name of a popular Hindu god paid Rs 3000 per M2 for his plot. I can’t reveal the size of the plot to feed you more masala, because that would reveal the name of the entrepreneur. This forces entrepreneurs like him to turn brokers, so they can at least recover or recoup some of their losses. So, when a logistics company rhyming with the name some of you would pronounce Ghanti, approached the owner of a company with a name that sounds like it rises at the crack of dawn, the latter simply pointed the former in Agent B’s direction. Within the boundary walls of Goa’s industrial estates and some don’t even have boundary walls, this is known as chain marketing. Nice touch. The ex-MLA with more than a family relationship with Agent B sold his highway side plot for Rs 10,000 per M2.
Which is why, some entrepreneurs possibly hang on for dear life to their unutilized plots. A Bangalore company bought two plots each of 10,000 M2 size at the Verna estate nearly five years ago. It has till date utilized only one plot. Which is why, GIDC is rubbing its hands in glee at the appetizing thought of all that SEZ land falling into its sticky fingers once the promoters are returned the money they officially invested. But that might take long, because there is this little question of how the unofficial money will be returned, if at all it is to be returned.
(Feedback 9763718501, lionroars.goa@gmail)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Anything goes in Goa
Diju’s Ordinance. Even Goa ain’t seen anything like this before.
Aam aadmi was a word coined by this very government and Congress party to make a point, which after La Affaire Cidade means bullshit to you and me, not that it meant anything before, you know that. ‘Diju’s Ordinance’ the phrase to describe the CMs act of warlordism will go down well soon with your pint like ‘Monster Rat and 40 chores’ did and is probably the last nail in the collective coffin meant for the aam aadmi, for Goa is now surely a failed state. Bihar was once till the sensible Biharis decided to kick out warlord Laloo Prasad Yadav. Warlord, did I say? Like the warlords in Somali, what other word can I use to describe the actions of the men who have scripted what must easily rank as Goa’s most anti-people act in history. So if you have beach side properties, build on them furiously. You never know when it could be acquired by the Congress. After all there are precedents both by the Congress and the MGP. For instance, the MGP acquired a priceless bit of vantage land at Bogmolo decades ago for a five-star hotel, while the Congress did it for the Taj hotels at Sinquerim and again for the Goa Mariott at Mira Mar. And if you recall, the Konkan rail route was diverted out of the iron ore mining areas, dragged from the mainland on to an island (Divar), back to the same mainland. Perhaps for the first time ever in India, because the thumb rule is, you save costs (which did not happen because two bridges had to be built into and out of Divar) and you avoid fragile islands.
No Ordinance for them
If it happens to be the real aam aadmi, the Congress apparently cares two hoots. Ask these 15 Goans whose shacks were demolished in one single season last year. 1. Santiago Fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 2. Alex D’Souza, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 3. Cruz Fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 4. Anni fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 5. Maggie D’Souza, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 6. Bento Gonsalves, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 7. Francis Correia, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 8. Sunil Govekar, Nerul. 9 Govind Simepurushkar, Nerul. 10. Ritesh M. Kalangutkar, Nerul. 11. Domingos Pereira, Nerul. 12. Gopal K. Kandolkar, Nerul. 13. Concessao M. Rodrigues, Nerul. 14. Concessao Mendes, Nerul. 15. Francisco C. Fernandes, Saunta Vaddo, Calangute.
These hapless shack owners are likely to tell you that the Congress is only out to harm the aam aadmi because the license fees they paid for their respective shacks was never reimbursed by the Department of Tourism after it declared the shacks were illegal when their respective owners changed locations from the originally allotted sites. Big deal, after all what harm was done or could ever have been done by the shack owners who temporarily occupied tiny portions of land, as compared to the vast lands acquired by governments virtually free for permanent five-star hotels. This government owns the bulldozers after all, is terminally anti-aam aadmi, and is intrepid when it comes to acquiring land for the rich.
Five-star versus shack owner
Each year after a great deal of wheeling and dealing, tears often, the government allots 196 shacks in north Goa mainly along the beaches of Keri, Arambol, Ozrant, Mandrem, Morjim, Anjuna, Vagator, and in bigger stretches at Calangute and Candolim. In the south of Goa, 106 shacks are allotted in the beaches of Velsao, Arrossim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim (Colva), Benaulim, Velludo (Benaulim) Fatrade (Varca), Varca, Zalor, Cavelossim and Palolem. The figure marginally increased in the north from 166 in 2006-07 to 168 in 2007-08, to 196 in 2008-09. There has hardly been a season when there has not been any rancour directly connected to the system of allotment, allegedly by lottery picking. In 2006-07 there were 569 applicants, in 2007-08 there were 562, and in 2008-09 there were 572. Do the math and you know how many were turned back disappointed. The Department of Tourism denies any wrong doing, but veteran shack owners swear some shacks at least are allotted on a “reference basis” or outside the lottery system. The department denies that. But everyone is acquainted with the might of the five-star hotel industry which claims the shacks eat into their profits running into hundreds of crores, all of it siphoned out of Goa, except in the case of good old Cidade de Goa. Really, this was never meant to be a David versus Goliath thing, but it must be said that in government there are mostly believers of Five-star power and in the entertainment thereof, and therefore they stay Believers.
So shall it reap the fruits
And like the rich who reap the fruits, literally and metaphorically, of the land, so does government. In 2006-07 the government earned a revenue of Rs 68,50,00 from its inflated shack licence fee, in 2007-08 it earned Rs 55,50,00 and in 2008-09 it earned a massive Rs 77,20,00. And you can bet despite what Digambar Kamat said about the licence fees for the onshore-offshore Casinos being used for social causes, this ain’t never gonna happen. Amen.
Aam aadmi was a word coined by this very government and Congress party to make a point, which after La Affaire Cidade means bullshit to you and me, not that it meant anything before, you know that. ‘Diju’s Ordinance’ the phrase to describe the CMs act of warlordism will go down well soon with your pint like ‘Monster Rat and 40 chores’ did and is probably the last nail in the collective coffin meant for the aam aadmi, for Goa is now surely a failed state. Bihar was once till the sensible Biharis decided to kick out warlord Laloo Prasad Yadav. Warlord, did I say? Like the warlords in Somali, what other word can I use to describe the actions of the men who have scripted what must easily rank as Goa’s most anti-people act in history. So if you have beach side properties, build on them furiously. You never know when it could be acquired by the Congress. After all there are precedents both by the Congress and the MGP. For instance, the MGP acquired a priceless bit of vantage land at Bogmolo decades ago for a five-star hotel, while the Congress did it for the Taj hotels at Sinquerim and again for the Goa Mariott at Mira Mar. And if you recall, the Konkan rail route was diverted out of the iron ore mining areas, dragged from the mainland on to an island (Divar), back to the same mainland. Perhaps for the first time ever in India, because the thumb rule is, you save costs (which did not happen because two bridges had to be built into and out of Divar) and you avoid fragile islands.
No Ordinance for them
If it happens to be the real aam aadmi, the Congress apparently cares two hoots. Ask these 15 Goans whose shacks were demolished in one single season last year. 1. Santiago Fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 2. Alex D’Souza, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 3. Cruz Fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 4. Anni fernandes, Maddo Vaddo, Calangute. 5. Maggie D’Souza, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 6. Bento Gonsalves, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 7. Francis Correia, Umta Vaddo, Calangute. 8. Sunil Govekar, Nerul. 9 Govind Simepurushkar, Nerul. 10. Ritesh M. Kalangutkar, Nerul. 11. Domingos Pereira, Nerul. 12. Gopal K. Kandolkar, Nerul. 13. Concessao M. Rodrigues, Nerul. 14. Concessao Mendes, Nerul. 15. Francisco C. Fernandes, Saunta Vaddo, Calangute.
These hapless shack owners are likely to tell you that the Congress is only out to harm the aam aadmi because the license fees they paid for their respective shacks was never reimbursed by the Department of Tourism after it declared the shacks were illegal when their respective owners changed locations from the originally allotted sites. Big deal, after all what harm was done or could ever have been done by the shack owners who temporarily occupied tiny portions of land, as compared to the vast lands acquired by governments virtually free for permanent five-star hotels. This government owns the bulldozers after all, is terminally anti-aam aadmi, and is intrepid when it comes to acquiring land for the rich.
Five-star versus shack owner
Each year after a great deal of wheeling and dealing, tears often, the government allots 196 shacks in north Goa mainly along the beaches of Keri, Arambol, Ozrant, Mandrem, Morjim, Anjuna, Vagator, and in bigger stretches at Calangute and Candolim. In the south of Goa, 106 shacks are allotted in the beaches of Velsao, Arrossim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim (Colva), Benaulim, Velludo (Benaulim) Fatrade (Varca), Varca, Zalor, Cavelossim and Palolem. The figure marginally increased in the north from 166 in 2006-07 to 168 in 2007-08, to 196 in 2008-09. There has hardly been a season when there has not been any rancour directly connected to the system of allotment, allegedly by lottery picking. In 2006-07 there were 569 applicants, in 2007-08 there were 562, and in 2008-09 there were 572. Do the math and you know how many were turned back disappointed. The Department of Tourism denies any wrong doing, but veteran shack owners swear some shacks at least are allotted on a “reference basis” or outside the lottery system. The department denies that. But everyone is acquainted with the might of the five-star hotel industry which claims the shacks eat into their profits running into hundreds of crores, all of it siphoned out of Goa, except in the case of good old Cidade de Goa. Really, this was never meant to be a David versus Goliath thing, but it must be said that in government there are mostly believers of Five-star power and in the entertainment thereof, and therefore they stay Believers.
So shall it reap the fruits
And like the rich who reap the fruits, literally and metaphorically, of the land, so does government. In 2006-07 the government earned a revenue of Rs 68,50,00 from its inflated shack licence fee, in 2007-08 it earned Rs 55,50,00 and in 2008-09 it earned a massive Rs 77,20,00. And you can bet despite what Digambar Kamat said about the licence fees for the onshore-offshore Casinos being used for social causes, this ain’t never gonna happen. Amen.
Goa as the Land of Opportunity
We the People
Last week I wrote how the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) refused to divulge information that would be released to citizens in most democracies, certainly India’s. But, it chose instead to make it look like the Right to Information Act was an Albatross around its neck, so to speak. My questions to GIDC were borne out of the knowledge of a surreptitious method to transfer already owned plots to new owners. This information was also withheld from the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) after a few dogged Goan entrepreneurs perturbed by these goings-on asked GIDC for information. I am not even sure GSIA has the information, which speaks volumes of how government-owned corporations and its departments are managed – sneaky as hell. After the Herald business pages exposed the pathetic conditions in a few industrial estates, GIDC did repair some roads, but came down on a few prime suspects. Now entrepreneurs are too scared to talk.
Sleaze and vice
Why should entrepreneurs, many of whom who have totally suspect agendas, see Goa as the Land of Opportunity like the US is seen as by a Diaspora of immigrants? And why should they take on lease a plot (in some cases plots) and when the going gets rough or, a sucker shows up, sell the plots off at a fat price. As rumour has it, there is an interest group at work that lays its sticky fingers on as many plots as possible. Legally, can an entrepreneur who has taken a plot on lease, sell or transfer (that’s the legal term used in this game of Musical Chairs a.k.a Musical Plots) ownership? If he can, should be be allowed to do at will on what is unarguably government land? And is that what is government-owned is fundamentally owned by We the People? I mean you don’t like your employer, you walk away. Your job sucks, find another that you like. Your local grocery/pub is crap, you walk away. You don’t hang in there for a replacement! So, if a failed entrepreneur can’t get his act together, he should be shown the door. Right?
Sinking hooks in
An application form to transfer a plot was especially formatted proving GIDC knowingly prepared itself for exactly this eventuality with typical bureaucratic foresight. To make the entire process look self-important, a procedure was set in. Thus a formal letter from the transferor and transferee and a Memorandum of Understanding were a part of the elaborate paper work. The transferor has to submit a deregistration certificate from the Directorate of Industries (applicable for registered units only.) Really now, if the entrepreneur has been ‘pre-deregistered’ simply show him the door (he is on his way out anyway, for Chrissakes) and bring in the new. So, why bait a fish, if it’s not food you want on the platter? Or, is it that the bait is not for the fish but really for the fisher. There is more of paper work, but it’s frankly boring.
Even bigger bait
As on December 31, 2008, GIDC received 242 applications for transfer of plots from January 1, 2007. It approved 180 transfers. My investigations reveal that the first official cut-off date for the transfer was October 31, 2008. Guess why the deadline was deferred? On a bet of 10 to one, you would be dead right if your answer was, ‘some transferors were themselves part of the decision making.’ Within the Langley (CIA headquarters) like structure of GIDC where secrets are also not leaked out, there are two well-known handlers whose undercover operations ensure that plots are transferred at a price. One goes by the code name Agent ‘S’ and works undercover at the Verna Industrial Estate. The other is Agent ‘B’ based at the GIDC’s headquarters in Panjim. He was once a simple computer assistant, but got promoted high up on the hierarchy when GIDC discovered his talent for undercover work.
Turning tricks
The number of transferors and transferees involved in the packaging or offset printing trade involved in both directions of the plot exchange business that obviously transacted under the table, boggles the mind. I say under the table because, if it were over the table, then entrepreneur transferors would mandatorily hand over their unutilised plots to GIDC. That’s the way it should be. One headline grabber is the case of Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt. Ltd that owned two plots (141 &1470 M2) in the Sancoale Industrial Estate which it transferred to Goa Shipyard Ltd. Two things cross the mind instantly: GSL is a GoI-owned defense public sector unit; why should it have to negotiate with a private company for plots? Why, for exactly cases like this, and for that matter deserving new generation entrepreneurs; are failed entrepreneurs not forced to surrender their plots, so that fresh negotiations can be conducted that would financially benefit GIDC. Get my point?
--
Last week I wrote how the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) refused to divulge information that would be released to citizens in most democracies, certainly India’s. But, it chose instead to make it look like the Right to Information Act was an Albatross around its neck, so to speak. My questions to GIDC were borne out of the knowledge of a surreptitious method to transfer already owned plots to new owners. This information was also withheld from the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) after a few dogged Goan entrepreneurs perturbed by these goings-on asked GIDC for information. I am not even sure GSIA has the information, which speaks volumes of how government-owned corporations and its departments are managed – sneaky as hell. After the Herald business pages exposed the pathetic conditions in a few industrial estates, GIDC did repair some roads, but came down on a few prime suspects. Now entrepreneurs are too scared to talk.
Sleaze and vice
Why should entrepreneurs, many of whom who have totally suspect agendas, see Goa as the Land of Opportunity like the US is seen as by a Diaspora of immigrants? And why should they take on lease a plot (in some cases plots) and when the going gets rough or, a sucker shows up, sell the plots off at a fat price. As rumour has it, there is an interest group at work that lays its sticky fingers on as many plots as possible. Legally, can an entrepreneur who has taken a plot on lease, sell or transfer (that’s the legal term used in this game of Musical Chairs a.k.a Musical Plots) ownership? If he can, should be be allowed to do at will on what is unarguably government land? And is that what is government-owned is fundamentally owned by We the People? I mean you don’t like your employer, you walk away. Your job sucks, find another that you like. Your local grocery/pub is crap, you walk away. You don’t hang in there for a replacement! So, if a failed entrepreneur can’t get his act together, he should be shown the door. Right?
Sinking hooks in
An application form to transfer a plot was especially formatted proving GIDC knowingly prepared itself for exactly this eventuality with typical bureaucratic foresight. To make the entire process look self-important, a procedure was set in. Thus a formal letter from the transferor and transferee and a Memorandum of Understanding were a part of the elaborate paper work. The transferor has to submit a deregistration certificate from the Directorate of Industries (applicable for registered units only.) Really now, if the entrepreneur has been ‘pre-deregistered’ simply show him the door (he is on his way out anyway, for Chrissakes) and bring in the new. So, why bait a fish, if it’s not food you want on the platter? Or, is it that the bait is not for the fish but really for the fisher. There is more of paper work, but it’s frankly boring.
Even bigger bait
As on December 31, 2008, GIDC received 242 applications for transfer of plots from January 1, 2007. It approved 180 transfers. My investigations reveal that the first official cut-off date for the transfer was October 31, 2008. Guess why the deadline was deferred? On a bet of 10 to one, you would be dead right if your answer was, ‘some transferors were themselves part of the decision making.’ Within the Langley (CIA headquarters) like structure of GIDC where secrets are also not leaked out, there are two well-known handlers whose undercover operations ensure that plots are transferred at a price. One goes by the code name Agent ‘S’ and works undercover at the Verna Industrial Estate. The other is Agent ‘B’ based at the GIDC’s headquarters in Panjim. He was once a simple computer assistant, but got promoted high up on the hierarchy when GIDC discovered his talent for undercover work.
Turning tricks
The number of transferors and transferees involved in the packaging or offset printing trade involved in both directions of the plot exchange business that obviously transacted under the table, boggles the mind. I say under the table because, if it were over the table, then entrepreneur transferors would mandatorily hand over their unutilised plots to GIDC. That’s the way it should be. One headline grabber is the case of Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt. Ltd that owned two plots (141 &1470 M2) in the Sancoale Industrial Estate which it transferred to Goa Shipyard Ltd. Two things cross the mind instantly: GSL is a GoI-owned defense public sector unit; why should it have to negotiate with a private company for plots? Why, for exactly cases like this, and for that matter deserving new generation entrepreneurs; are failed entrepreneurs not forced to surrender their plots, so that fresh negotiations can be conducted that would financially benefit GIDC. Get my point?
--
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Of Pots and Kettles
Is the pot calling the kettle black?
Some weeks ago Dayanand Narvekar accused his own government of clandestinely conceding a financial benefit of Rs 1,060 cr to United Telecom Ltd in the broadband project. This is his own scoresheet while he was briefly (thank God for small mercies) the Information Technology minister. A total of six companies were attracted by his high pitched sales:
1. Elin Electronics, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 159.16 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 50.
2. NE Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 5 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 20.
3. Digital Alchemy India Pvt. Ltd, Myles High Corporate Hub, Patto Plaza. Investment: Rs 3.2 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 386.
4. Mehul Developers Pvt. Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 1 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 110.
5. BlackJack ITES, Goa Housing Board Complex, Penha-de-France, Alto Porvorim. Investment: Rs 9 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 332.
6. First European Infotech India Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 5 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 500.
You think this reads like a low-scoring cricket game? All I say is if the investment figures are so subdued and the manpower figures so lofty that they caught you on the wrong-foot, please be informed they are positively not typos I made in my copy. I have not erred in giving them to you. Someone else might have, not me. So make your own conclusions. Investigating further I discovered Mehul, a company registered in Defence Colony, New Delhi (where else?) recently transferred 35,000 M2 to Bosch Industries. This is a plot it held at the Verna Industrial Estate. This as I have said before can happen only in Goa.
Not quite Satyam, but getting there
Recently, I asked the Goa Industrial Development Corporation a few pertinent questions under RTI. Now, GIDC is Goa's equivalent of L&T in bagging huge contracts, but possibly the equivalent of a Satyam- in- the- making, where management of its internal affairs is concerned, as this column has proved time and again. I was stunned when it refused to answer these questions claiming 'the information sought does not fall within the definition of (the) Right to Information Act, 2005.' My questions were: 1. Give the number of vacant plots in each industrial estate. 2. From these; how many plots were allotted; to whom were they allotted. 3. From this list of allottees; how many have not taken possession; how many have taken possession but have not started any activity. 4. Give the lease amount paid to IDC in each of the above cases. 5. Was there a cut-off date after which no plot was allotted? What was the date? 6. Were any plots allotted after this date? If so, give details. 7. Give details of the progress achieved towards setting up the proposed industrial estate at Carambolim.
Transparency not a strong suit of Republic of GIDC
Clearly, like Manohar Parrikar said of the Mormugao Port Trust, GIDC thinks it is a Republic on its own. Either that or, it thinks like an Embassy on foreign soil. Therefore all the industrial estates in Goa belong to the Republic of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation or, do they call themselves Peoples' Democratic Republic of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. I'm not sure which. Let's break-down its so-called democratic hypothesis on Right To Information.' Without a doubt, the industrial estates do not wholly belong to GIDC in a manner it can do whatever it wants to do with them under the veil of 'Official Secrecy' Act, whatever. When I last checked, India was still a democracy, where state-owned corporations were answerable to the people, and Goa was not a failed state like Somali or Pakistan (in Swat, the Pak government bowed down to the Taliban and brought in Shariat law.) Not yet here at least, though we are heading thataways, surely. In fact, the RTI Act came into being only to clear any misconceptions government officials had about their self-proclaimed extra-constitutional powers. But what we are getting is obfuscation to protect the government, the politicians and the real power behind the throne, the bureaucrats.
For Your Eyes Only
What the 'Republic' deemed appropriate for your eyes to see is this bit tidily put together piece of information. The vacant plots in the Pissurlem Industrial Estate total 94,460 M2 in area including 10 amalgamated plots totaling 76,412 M2, done so, and reserved perhaps for someone with deep pockets. IDC 'revealed' that Kadoda PH-III had vacant plots totaling 9785 M2. In the Canacona estate there is a total vacant area of 4320 M2. In Cuncolim vacant plots total 1800 M2. In Honda phase-II the figure is 6134 M2. In Quitol, vacant land amounts to 8,88,576 M2. No wonder the urge here is start something, even remotely concerned with processing anything vaguely tied to food. In Kundaim Industrial Estate there is a total vacant area of 2,50,000 M2. This is as far as GIDC will go. But wait, the RTI is not done with it yet.
(Feedback 9763718501, lionroars.goa@gmail)
Some weeks ago Dayanand Narvekar accused his own government of clandestinely conceding a financial benefit of Rs 1,060 cr to United Telecom Ltd in the broadband project. This is his own scoresheet while he was briefly (thank God for small mercies) the Information Technology minister. A total of six companies were attracted by his high pitched sales:
1. Elin Electronics, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 159.16 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 50.
2. NE Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 5 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 20.
3. Digital Alchemy India Pvt. Ltd, Myles High Corporate Hub, Patto Plaza. Investment: Rs 3.2 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 386.
4. Mehul Developers Pvt. Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 1 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 110.
5. BlackJack ITES, Goa Housing Board Complex, Penha-de-France, Alto Porvorim. Investment: Rs 9 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 332.
6. First European Infotech India Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate. Investment: Rs 5 lakh. 5-year manpower projection: 500.
You think this reads like a low-scoring cricket game? All I say is if the investment figures are so subdued and the manpower figures so lofty that they caught you on the wrong-foot, please be informed they are positively not typos I made in my copy. I have not erred in giving them to you. Someone else might have, not me. So make your own conclusions. Investigating further I discovered Mehul, a company registered in Defence Colony, New Delhi (where else?) recently transferred 35,000 M2 to Bosch Industries. This is a plot it held at the Verna Industrial Estate. This as I have said before can happen only in Goa.
Not quite Satyam, but getting there
Recently, I asked the Goa Industrial Development Corporation a few pertinent questions under RTI. Now, GIDC is Goa's equivalent of L&T in bagging huge contracts, but possibly the equivalent of a Satyam- in- the- making, where management of its internal affairs is concerned, as this column has proved time and again. I was stunned when it refused to answer these questions claiming 'the information sought does not fall within the definition of (the) Right to Information Act, 2005.' My questions were: 1. Give the number of vacant plots in each industrial estate. 2. From these; how many plots were allotted; to whom were they allotted. 3. From this list of allottees; how many have not taken possession; how many have taken possession but have not started any activity. 4. Give the lease amount paid to IDC in each of the above cases. 5. Was there a cut-off date after which no plot was allotted? What was the date? 6. Were any plots allotted after this date? If so, give details. 7. Give details of the progress achieved towards setting up the proposed industrial estate at Carambolim.
Transparency not a strong suit of Republic of GIDC
Clearly, like Manohar Parrikar said of the Mormugao Port Trust, GIDC thinks it is a Republic on its own. Either that or, it thinks like an Embassy on foreign soil. Therefore all the industrial estates in Goa belong to the Republic of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation or, do they call themselves Peoples' Democratic Republic of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. I'm not sure which. Let's break-down its so-called democratic hypothesis on Right To Information.' Without a doubt, the industrial estates do not wholly belong to GIDC in a manner it can do whatever it wants to do with them under the veil of 'Official Secrecy' Act, whatever. When I last checked, India was still a democracy, where state-owned corporations were answerable to the people, and Goa was not a failed state like Somali or Pakistan (in Swat, the Pak government bowed down to the Taliban and brought in Shariat law.) Not yet here at least, though we are heading thataways, surely. In fact, the RTI Act came into being only to clear any misconceptions government officials had about their self-proclaimed extra-constitutional powers. But what we are getting is obfuscation to protect the government, the politicians and the real power behind the throne, the bureaucrats.
For Your Eyes Only
What the 'Republic' deemed appropriate for your eyes to see is this bit tidily put together piece of information. The vacant plots in the Pissurlem Industrial Estate total 94,460 M2 in area including 10 amalgamated plots totaling 76,412 M2, done so, and reserved perhaps for someone with deep pockets. IDC 'revealed' that Kadoda PH-III had vacant plots totaling 9785 M2. In the Canacona estate there is a total vacant area of 4320 M2. In Cuncolim vacant plots total 1800 M2. In Honda phase-II the figure is 6134 M2. In Quitol, vacant land amounts to 8,88,576 M2. No wonder the urge here is start something, even remotely concerned with processing anything vaguely tied to food. In Kundaim Industrial Estate there is a total vacant area of 2,50,000 M2. This is as far as GIDC will go. But wait, the RTI is not done with it yet.
(Feedback 9763718501, lionroars.goa@gmail)
Oscar for IT minister
Hullabaloo over IT
Dayanand Narvekar's accusation that his own government, "clandestinely conceded a financial benefit" to the extent of Rs 1,060 cr to United Telecom Ltd for the government's broadband dream scheme, makes strange reading. It's actually a long-winding complaint he got tabled in the Assembly, and I really don't have the space to explain it all. But, I think you know that till date no single project of any kind has ever benefited Goa to the extent of a thousand crores! It truly reads like a script which deserves an Oscar for fantasy. Well, here's food for thought. It's amazing what MLAs ask of each other in the Assembly. But, you know what, they never appear to go anywhere with them. Often, is it called playing to the gallery!
It's all about getting land
A Mahadev Naik question produced these answers recently. So, make good use of it, because he ain't. A total of 133 plots have been allotted in Shiroda constituency for industry purposes. Three plots are still to be 'properly' utilized till date. One plot at the Bethora Industrial Estate, allotted in 2006, it transpires is within the validity period to start activity. Get hold of this, in infinitesimally tiny Goa where there are more NGOs, activists and protectionist organizations than there is land available, industrial plots that are allotted can be kept vacant for up to three years without any industrial activity. A show-cause notice has however been sent to the one offender, I think is the Electricity Department, that was given 5328.34 M2 at Rs 100 per M2. Miditech Pvt. Ltd, one of the many outstation companies to enjoy the largesse of the Congress –it was offered 67,457.50M2 of land at a miserly Rs 275 per M2 at the Shiroda Industrial Estate, is within this validity period. So, wait and see. The third company, KFG Glass Industries Ltd offered 2161.39 M2 M2 at a niggardly Rs 12 per M2 in 1996 has attracted an eviction process against it. Wait and see, again, what happens of this. Meanwhile, I am wondering if the government cannot 'evict' a small timer who is yet to 'occupy' public-owned land, how in hell are they going to evict the might owners of the SEZs?
Another progress report
Here's a list of unutilized sheds/plots estate-wise that remained unutilized two years after allotment.
Verna Industrial Estate: Laminex 2180 M2, Shailesh Packaging 1212 M2, Noble Industries 1520 M2, Ganaram's 500 M2, Shail Foods & Packaging Pvt. Ltd 2070 M2, Amartara Pvt. Ltd 3450 M2 and 1225 M2, Petals Healthcare Pvt. Ltd 8210 M2, Green Company 2220 M2, Century Comforts Pvt. Ltd 894 M2, TJ Naik & Co 4836 M2, Maheshwari Corporation 1000 M2, AVA Industries 8381 M2, Bhavani Shankar Purohit 1000 M2, Florence Flora 2300 M2, Maheswari Enterprises 1154 M2, Marine Electricals 9296 M2, Astra Metals Pvt. Ltd 10,943 M2, Matrix IT Enabled Services 4670 M2.
Colvale Industrial Estate
GKB Optolab Pvt. Ltd 6850 M2
Kundaim Industrial Estate
Aditya Electro Mechanical Works 700 M2, Gopala Masala 2356 M2, Synnovate Health Care Pvt. Ltd 3880 M2.
Pissurlem Industrial Estate
Hindustan Engineers 1600 M2.
Diu Industrial Estate
Durga Ice & Cold Storage 1886 M2, Sonal Plastic Industries 940 M2, Varundev Ice Plant & Cold Storage 1400 M2, VV Garments 700 M2.
Canacona Industrial Estate
Goa Industrial Packers 900 M2, SGA Enterprises 525 M2, Goa Packaging Products Pvt. Ltd 1980 M2.
Margao Industrial Estate
Geo Industries 1380 M2.
Sanguem Industrial Estate
Samapriya Holistic Healing Pvt. Ltd 25,297 (wow!)
Kakoda Industrial Estate
East Quepem Consumers Coop Society Ltd 1392 M2.
Bethora Industrial Estate
Dimensions 600 M2.
Madkaim Industrial Estate
Anbee Pipings Pvt. Ltd 605 M2
Pilerne Industrial Estate
Gurukrupa Logistics 600 M2
Shiroda Industrial Estate
Miditech Pvt. Ltd 67,457 M2 (wow again)
(BTW Miditech Pvt Ltd is the production company run by Nikhil and Niret Alva, sons of Margaret Alva, who was the AICC secretary in charge of Goa till she took on the Congress high command and became persona non grata. Let's not forget that Margaret Alva is currently in the doghouse after alleging last November that tickets were sold by the Congress in the Karnataka assembly election. It came out that she wanted a ticket for Nivedith, another one of her sons, but did not get it.)
(Feedback lionroars.goa@gmail.com, 9763718501)
Dayanand Narvekar's accusation that his own government, "clandestinely conceded a financial benefit" to the extent of Rs 1,060 cr to United Telecom Ltd for the government's broadband dream scheme, makes strange reading. It's actually a long-winding complaint he got tabled in the Assembly, and I really don't have the space to explain it all. But, I think you know that till date no single project of any kind has ever benefited Goa to the extent of a thousand crores! It truly reads like a script which deserves an Oscar for fantasy. Well, here's food for thought. It's amazing what MLAs ask of each other in the Assembly. But, you know what, they never appear to go anywhere with them. Often, is it called playing to the gallery!
It's all about getting land
A Mahadev Naik question produced these answers recently. So, make good use of it, because he ain't. A total of 133 plots have been allotted in Shiroda constituency for industry purposes. Three plots are still to be 'properly' utilized till date. One plot at the Bethora Industrial Estate, allotted in 2006, it transpires is within the validity period to start activity. Get hold of this, in infinitesimally tiny Goa where there are more NGOs, activists and protectionist organizations than there is land available, industrial plots that are allotted can be kept vacant for up to three years without any industrial activity. A show-cause notice has however been sent to the one offender, I think is the Electricity Department, that was given 5328.34 M2 at Rs 100 per M2. Miditech Pvt. Ltd, one of the many outstation companies to enjoy the largesse of the Congress –it was offered 67,457.50M2 of land at a miserly Rs 275 per M2 at the Shiroda Industrial Estate, is within this validity period. So, wait and see. The third company, KFG Glass Industries Ltd offered 2161.39 M2 M2 at a niggardly Rs 12 per M2 in 1996 has attracted an eviction process against it. Wait and see, again, what happens of this. Meanwhile, I am wondering if the government cannot 'evict' a small timer who is yet to 'occupy' public-owned land, how in hell are they going to evict the might owners of the SEZs?
Another progress report
Here's a list of unutilized sheds/plots estate-wise that remained unutilized two years after allotment.
Verna Industrial Estate: Laminex 2180 M2, Shailesh Packaging 1212 M2, Noble Industries 1520 M2, Ganaram's 500 M2, Shail Foods & Packaging Pvt. Ltd 2070 M2, Amartara Pvt. Ltd 3450 M2 and 1225 M2, Petals Healthcare Pvt. Ltd 8210 M2, Green Company 2220 M2, Century Comforts Pvt. Ltd 894 M2, TJ Naik & Co 4836 M2, Maheshwari Corporation 1000 M2, AVA Industries 8381 M2, Bhavani Shankar Purohit 1000 M2, Florence Flora 2300 M2, Maheswari Enterprises 1154 M2, Marine Electricals 9296 M2, Astra Metals Pvt. Ltd 10,943 M2, Matrix IT Enabled Services 4670 M2.
Colvale Industrial Estate
GKB Optolab Pvt. Ltd 6850 M2
Kundaim Industrial Estate
Aditya Electro Mechanical Works 700 M2, Gopala Masala 2356 M2, Synnovate Health Care Pvt. Ltd 3880 M2.
Pissurlem Industrial Estate
Hindustan Engineers 1600 M2.
Diu Industrial Estate
Durga Ice & Cold Storage 1886 M2, Sonal Plastic Industries 940 M2, Varundev Ice Plant & Cold Storage 1400 M2, VV Garments 700 M2.
Canacona Industrial Estate
Goa Industrial Packers 900 M2, SGA Enterprises 525 M2, Goa Packaging Products Pvt. Ltd 1980 M2.
Margao Industrial Estate
Geo Industries 1380 M2.
Sanguem Industrial Estate
Samapriya Holistic Healing Pvt. Ltd 25,297 (wow!)
Kakoda Industrial Estate
East Quepem Consumers Coop Society Ltd 1392 M2.
Bethora Industrial Estate
Dimensions 600 M2.
Madkaim Industrial Estate
Anbee Pipings Pvt. Ltd 605 M2
Pilerne Industrial Estate
Gurukrupa Logistics 600 M2
Shiroda Industrial Estate
Miditech Pvt. Ltd 67,457 M2 (wow again)
(BTW Miditech Pvt Ltd is the production company run by Nikhil and Niret Alva, sons of Margaret Alva, who was the AICC secretary in charge of Goa till she took on the Congress high command and became persona non grata. Let's not forget that Margaret Alva is currently in the doghouse after alleging last November that tickets were sold by the Congress in the Karnataka assembly election. It came out that she wanted a ticket for Nivedith, another one of her sons, but did not get it.)
(Feedback lionroars.goa@gmail.com, 9763718501)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Culture Vultures literally
Traditionally), Goans have watched from the sidelines as the political class that ruled Goa for decades provided the people with a fair dose of entertainment on the streets, over the frequent horse trading, their sons sometimes participating in this entertainment. This is apart from entertaining themselves with expensive dinners, travels across the country and abroad. Perhaps only the tip of the iceberg has been covered in this column. And then, I discovered recently there is money to be made in conning you into believing they are going to give you a Central Library, to make you more knowledgeable than you are. Now, you are being conned into thinking there is a cultural side to you. Or, is it them? The question, whose cultural side is for you to figure out. But let me give you a hint and say, it's fairly clear, whose. Till now, you probably thought there was money to be made only in the Public Works Department and Transport Department. Think again. There's a bundle to be made in the Directorate of Art and Culture. And its done with little sophistication and elegance, an irony, because art and culture, by definition, have both attributes. Here's how it is possibly done:
Expenditure for various schemes, events & festivals:
Rs 1,52,500 was spent under the head Indian classical dance in 2003-04. Strangely no one thought of propagating this art in later years. Beginning with 2003-04 and up to 2006-07 Rs 1,23,500, Rs 1,46,000, Rs 1,46,500, and Rs 1,60,000 was spent on a scheme called Ghumat Vadan workshop. On Ganeshotsav Rs 54,301 was spent in 2003-04, Rs 1,08,000 in 2006-07 and Rs 1,13,100 in 2007-08. Rs 80,000 was spent on Natyotsav in 2003-04, Rs 83,327 in 2004-05, Rs 95,805 in 2005-06 and Rs 1,36,800 in 2007-08. Also, Rs 69,892 was incurred to send a Goan cultural troupe to Himachal Pradesh in 2003-04, Rs 91,066 to send a troupe to New Delhi in 2003-04, Rs 1,71,900 was spent again the same year on another junket, and Rs 61,250 again in 2007-08. In 2003-04 Rs 17,418 was spent on Balotsav and Rs 61,250 in 2007-08.
Rs 2,50,000 was spent separately in 2003-04 and 2004-05 and Rs 4,00,000 in 2005-06 to organize a South classical dance & music festival. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08 Rs 5,00,000, Rs 7,69,444, Rs 7,36,415, Rs 6,16,118 and Rs 9,54,990 was spent on Lokotsav. In 2004-05 Rs 1,33,823 was spent to hold a lecture dance demonstration, Rs 1,44,056 in 2005-06, and Rs 1,54,000 in 2006-07. On Shigmotsav Rs 51,791 was spent in 2004-05, Rs 60,000 in 2005-06 and Rs 1,15,000 in 2007-08. In 2005-06 Rs 65,600 and Rs 9700 was spent on a fabric painting and glass painting workshops. In the same year Rs 88,250 was spent on a mehndi workshop.
Thereafter it appears holding workshops took centre stage because in 2006-07 Rs 2,11,000 was spent on a bajani (sic - bhajan or is it bandhini?) workshop, while Rs 9,74,424 was spent in 2006-07 on the Margao festival and Rs 6,65,000 the following year. Rs 59,000 was spent on a tailoring and embroidery workshop in 2006-07, while Rs 1,56,000 was incurred to send a Goan cultural troupe to Tamil Nadu.
In 2007-08 it was back to organizing mainly workshops: Rs 3,86,161, Rs 24,505 on a Hindustani classical workshop and Rs 20,329 on a bajani (sic - bhajan or bandhani?) workshop, Rs 55,415 on a wood and thermocole carving workshop Rs 71,606 on a tabla workshop, Rs 44,687 on a chikankari workshop, and Rs 1,50,939 on a Hindustani classical music and dance festival at Jaipur, Rs 1,23,145 on a Hindustani classical music natyageet festival, and Rs 40,141 on Yuva Pratibha Puraskar. Phew.
feedback: lionroars.goa@gmail.com 9363718501
Traditionally), Goans have watched from the sidelines as the political class that ruled Goa for decades provided the people with a fair dose of entertainment on the streets, over the frequent horse trading, their sons sometimes participating in this entertainment. This is apart from entertaining themselves with expensive dinners, travels across the country and abroad. Perhaps only the tip of the iceberg has been covered in this column. And then, I discovered recently there is money to be made in conning you into believing they are going to give you a Central Library, to make you more knowledgeable than you are. Now, you are being conned into thinking there is a cultural side to you. Or, is it them? The question, whose cultural side is for you to figure out. But let me give you a hint and say, it's fairly clear, whose. Till now, you probably thought there was money to be made only in the Public Works Department and Transport Department. Think again. There's a bundle to be made in the Directorate of Art and Culture. And its done with little sophistication and elegance, an irony, because art and culture, by definition, have both attributes. Here's how it is possibly done:
Expenditure for various schemes, events & festivals:
Rs 1,52,500 was spent under the head Indian classical dance in 2003-04. Strangely no one thought of propagating this art in later years. Beginning with 2003-04 and up to 2006-07 Rs 1,23,500, Rs 1,46,000, Rs 1,46,500, and Rs 1,60,000 was spent on a scheme called Ghumat Vadan workshop. On Ganeshotsav Rs 54,301 was spent in 2003-04, Rs 1,08,000 in 2006-07 and Rs 1,13,100 in 2007-08. Rs 80,000 was spent on Natyotsav in 2003-04, Rs 83,327 in 2004-05, Rs 95,805 in 2005-06 and Rs 1,36,800 in 2007-08. Also, Rs 69,892 was incurred to send a Goan cultural troupe to Himachal Pradesh in 2003-04, Rs 91,066 to send a troupe to New Delhi in 2003-04, Rs 1,71,900 was spent again the same year on another junket, and Rs 61,250 again in 2007-08. In 2003-04 Rs 17,418 was spent on Balotsav and Rs 61,250 in 2007-08.
Rs 2,50,000 was spent separately in 2003-04 and 2004-05 and Rs 4,00,000 in 2005-06 to organize a South classical dance & music festival. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08 Rs 5,00,000, Rs 7,69,444, Rs 7,36,415, Rs 6,16,118 and Rs 9,54,990 was spent on Lokotsav. In 2004-05 Rs 1,33,823 was spent to hold a lecture dance demonstration, Rs 1,44,056 in 2005-06, and Rs 1,54,000 in 2006-07. On Shigmotsav Rs 51,791 was spent in 2004-05, Rs 60,000 in 2005-06 and Rs 1,15,000 in 2007-08. In 2005-06 Rs 65,600 and Rs 9700 was spent on a fabric painting and glass painting workshops. In the same year Rs 88,250 was spent on a mehndi workshop.
Thereafter it appears holding workshops took centre stage because in 2006-07 Rs 2,11,000 was spent on a bajani (sic - bhajan or is it bandhini?) workshop, while Rs 9,74,424 was spent in 2006-07 on the Margao festival and Rs 6,65,000 the following year. Rs 59,000 was spent on a tailoring and embroidery workshop in 2006-07, while Rs 1,56,000 was incurred to send a Goan cultural troupe to Tamil Nadu.
In 2007-08 it was back to organizing mainly workshops: Rs 3,86,161, Rs 24,505 on a Hindustani classical workshop and Rs 20,329 on a bajani (sic - bhajan or bandhani?) workshop, Rs 55,415 on a wood and thermocole carving workshop Rs 71,606 on a tabla workshop, Rs 44,687 on a chikankari workshop, and Rs 1,50,939 on a Hindustani classical music and dance festival at Jaipur, Rs 1,23,145 on a Hindustani classical music natyageet festival, and Rs 40,141 on Yuva Pratibha Puraskar. Phew.
feedback: lionroars.goa@gmail.com 9363718501
Monday, February 9, 2009
Whose Right is it anyway?
Civic Rights Don't Matter
Does it always have to be so overwhelmigly against the real Goemkar? Pandurang Madkaikar's defense of the stall owners (almost all non-Goans including other illegal squatters of Church land) at Old Goa whose illegal stalls were demolished by the government did not take into account the hardship they cause to the taxpaying public using the public road built with tax money. On one side of the road are these stalls, on the other a double line of taxis and tourist vehicles. In the centre jaywalking tourists, touts, hawkers and taxi drivers. It's a perennial problem, but as is occurring now with dangerous finality, nobody takes into account what the citizen taxpayer wants or, has a right to. It is always about the polluter's or in this case, the transgressor's so-called rights. It is the righteous indignation of these two that matters only in Goa nowadays. In this case Madkaikar without an afterthought said the stalls owners have to be given places where they can do business. In other words, if it means occupying a kerb, public and or even private property, so be it. Perhaps this is why the government and CCP do not have the political will to make the 18th June Road a vehicle free road. There are vehicle free plazas like this across the planet where the absence of traffic actually encourages shoppers and sightseers. Can't be done because the traders would protest. And we don't' won't to upset traders raking in the moolah, do we?
The fact that the road turning off the Panjim-Ponda highway was choked by these stall owners, and the road from the Gandhi Circle leading to the Sao Pedro ferry crossing to Divar are probably Goa's worst, does not matter. A stretch in the former is almost entirely covered by sand through the year, while the other where there are no potholes, has tourist buses, illegal stalls, hawkers and jaywalking tourists. What is important in Goa, are the 'rights' of illegal squatters and stall owners. Isn't it ironical that the word 'rights' needs to be used here? These for instance are easily the most 'righteously' protected car parks or in the case of some, public land usurped for a selfish few to ply their trade. The coal van parked perpendicular to the zone marked for parking instead of vertically, opposite the Azad Maidan. A glass trader who for years has placed two huge wooden frames outside his shop at St. Tome, so that he has free access to the public road. The garage owner near the ICICI bank at Panjim who has the audacity to place No Parking signs in the parking zone. The steel trader next to the Dhume clinic in Panjim who uses instead a trolley cart to preserve his own private car park. The stalls at the garden opposite the MES who have usurped the pavement for themselves. But the prize goes to Soul Of Asia which has even laid out a green carpet on the road and stationed a guard to prevent cars from parking in front of the shop close to the Education Department. If you have some of your own 'landmarks' to expose do write in giving exact details and find them mentioned in this column next week.
Rewind
Remember the Central Library your government is building for you at Patto Plaza at a cost of Rs 15,95,00,629.70. The Plaza is the place that looks like an Olympic standard steeplechase course with dangerous potholes, broken concrete drain covers, drain covers that could break anytime with your vehicle on top, vehicles and pedestrians fighting for a place on the road because the pavements disappeared a long time ago. I didn't forget. I promised to tell how conscientious successive governments have been about propagating the arts and culture in Goa. Trust me, there's money to be made in every nook and corner in Goa, under every stone. Figure it out for yourself. I did the donkey's work, you do the thinking.
Expenditure for the last 5 years:
Kala Samman Scheme - 2003-4 Rs 87.17 lakh, 2004-05 Rs 152.22 lakh, 2005-06 Rs 157.51 lakh, 2006-07 200.26 lakh, 2007-08 Rs 222.16 lakh
Grants to cultural institutions -2003-4 Rs 19,15,974, 2004-05 Rs 32,44,585, 2005-06 Rs 31,58,298, 2006-07 Rs 35,32,594, 2007-08 Rs 40,88,498.
Scheme to provide special financial assistance for organizing cultural events – 2003-04 Rs 27,02,500, 2004-05 Rs 30,85,000, 2005-06 Rs 69,40,000, 2006-07 –Rs 1,91,06,400, 2007-08 Rs 1,54,35,179.
Dhalo Fugadi Festival -2003-04 Rs 3,00,000, 2004-05 Rs 4,21,344, 2005-06 Rs 6,35,000, 2006-07 Rs 58,945, 2007-08 Rs 6,63,752.
Deepotsav festival -2003-04 Rs 54,230, 2004-05 Rs 63,677, 2005-06 Rs 29,460.
Mahila Sanskrutik Melava – 2003-04 Rs 1,85,250, 2004-05 Rs 1,88,675.
Kalakar Kritagnyata Nidhi -2006-07 Rs 5,10,000, 2007-08 Rs 6,00,000.
(Feedback lionroars.goa@gmail.com, 9763718501)
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Does it always have to be so overwhelmigly against the real Goemkar? Pandurang Madkaikar's defense of the stall owners (almost all non-Goans including other illegal squatters of Church land) at Old Goa whose illegal stalls were demolished by the government did not take into account the hardship they cause to the taxpaying public using the public road built with tax money. On one side of the road are these stalls, on the other a double line of taxis and tourist vehicles. In the centre jaywalking tourists, touts, hawkers and taxi drivers. It's a perennial problem, but as is occurring now with dangerous finality, nobody takes into account what the citizen taxpayer wants or, has a right to. It is always about the polluter's or in this case, the transgressor's so-called rights. It is the righteous indignation of these two that matters only in Goa nowadays. In this case Madkaikar without an afterthought said the stalls owners have to be given places where they can do business. In other words, if it means occupying a kerb, public and or even private property, so be it. Perhaps this is why the government and CCP do not have the political will to make the 18th June Road a vehicle free road. There are vehicle free plazas like this across the planet where the absence of traffic actually encourages shoppers and sightseers. Can't be done because the traders would protest. And we don't' won't to upset traders raking in the moolah, do we?
The fact that the road turning off the Panjim-Ponda highway was choked by these stall owners, and the road from the Gandhi Circle leading to the Sao Pedro ferry crossing to Divar are probably Goa's worst, does not matter. A stretch in the former is almost entirely covered by sand through the year, while the other where there are no potholes, has tourist buses, illegal stalls, hawkers and jaywalking tourists. What is important in Goa, are the 'rights' of illegal squatters and stall owners. Isn't it ironical that the word 'rights' needs to be used here? These for instance are easily the most 'righteously' protected car parks or in the case of some, public land usurped for a selfish few to ply their trade. The coal van parked perpendicular to the zone marked for parking instead of vertically, opposite the Azad Maidan. A glass trader who for years has placed two huge wooden frames outside his shop at St. Tome, so that he has free access to the public road. The garage owner near the ICICI bank at Panjim who has the audacity to place No Parking signs in the parking zone. The steel trader next to the Dhume clinic in Panjim who uses instead a trolley cart to preserve his own private car park. The stalls at the garden opposite the MES who have usurped the pavement for themselves. But the prize goes to Soul Of Asia which has even laid out a green carpet on the road and stationed a guard to prevent cars from parking in front of the shop close to the Education Department. If you have some of your own 'landmarks' to expose do write in giving exact details and find them mentioned in this column next week.
Rewind
Remember the Central Library your government is building for you at Patto Plaza at a cost of Rs 15,95,00,629.70. The Plaza is the place that looks like an Olympic standard steeplechase course with dangerous potholes, broken concrete drain covers, drain covers that could break anytime with your vehicle on top, vehicles and pedestrians fighting for a place on the road because the pavements disappeared a long time ago. I didn't forget. I promised to tell how conscientious successive governments have been about propagating the arts and culture in Goa. Trust me, there's money to be made in every nook and corner in Goa, under every stone. Figure it out for yourself. I did the donkey's work, you do the thinking.
Expenditure for the last 5 years:
Kala Samman Scheme - 2003-4 Rs 87.17 lakh, 2004-05 Rs 152.22 lakh, 2005-06 Rs 157.51 lakh, 2006-07 200.26 lakh, 2007-08 Rs 222.16 lakh
Grants to cultural institutions -2003-4 Rs 19,15,974, 2004-05 Rs 32,44,585, 2005-06 Rs 31,58,298, 2006-07 Rs 35,32,594, 2007-08 Rs 40,88,498.
Scheme to provide special financial assistance for organizing cultural events – 2003-04 Rs 27,02,500, 2004-05 Rs 30,85,000, 2005-06 Rs 69,40,000, 2006-07 –Rs 1,91,06,400, 2007-08 Rs 1,54,35,179.
Dhalo Fugadi Festival -2003-04 Rs 3,00,000, 2004-05 Rs 4,21,344, 2005-06 Rs 6,35,000, 2006-07 Rs 58,945, 2007-08 Rs 6,63,752.
Deepotsav festival -2003-04 Rs 54,230, 2004-05 Rs 63,677, 2005-06 Rs 29,460.
Mahila Sanskrutik Melava – 2003-04 Rs 1,85,250, 2004-05 Rs 1,88,675.
Kalakar Kritagnyata Nidhi -2006-07 Rs 5,10,000, 2007-08 Rs 6,00,000.
(Feedback lionroars.goa@gmail.com, 9763718501)
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