Fairy Tale of Ferries
Twenty-eight rivers to be crossed in Goa, but only 23 ferries available to you – an inexplicable shortfall of five. And, did it cross your mind that if the government takes Mauvin Godinho pitching for one Ravindra Bhavan per taluka seriously, you will end up with more Ravindra Bhavans than your much-needed neighbourhood ferry. Consider, as I said last week, this: ferry Rai – bottom plates require replacement; ferry Divar – bottom plates require replacement; ferry Diu –bottom/hull is weak and its doublers have been welded together; and ferry Sanguem – deck plates completely perforated. Plus, the fact these urgently needed repairs must be scheduled in the next 4-6 months. You are never ever going to get a ferry service that deserves to be called a ferry service. The logic: your government does not understand the simple principle behind the supply and demand theory. Mildly put, this is a logistics problem poor sods like you and me will have to navigate all alone. To put it entirely in a new perspective, this government seems determined to juggle around with whatever its existing (on that day) fleet of ferries is. It does not matter to it how many more ferries get laid up for repairs.
Vasco da Gama and his sailors had an easier passage to India
Look at the risks you run:
Ferries waiting their turn to be repaired at the marine workshop, Betim
Cumbarjua – Major repairs being carried out.
Quepem – Awaiting major repairs since February 2006. Repairs to be carried out by third party.
Chandor – Awaiting major repairs since February 2007. Repairs to be carried out by third party.
Canacona – Awaiting major repairs since October 2007 – Bottom perforated. Major repairs to be carried out immediately.
Zuari – Awaiting major repairs since August 2008. Bottom perforated. Major repairs to be carried out immediately.
Harvalem –Awaiting major repairs since August 2008. Bottom plate perforated. Major repairs to be carried out immediately.
Zorint – Major repairs being carried out since September 2008.
Dudhsagar – Awaiting major repairs since July 2008. Repairs to be carried out by third party.
Betul – Awaiting major repairs since September 2008. Has weak bottom. Kept at workshop since October 25, 2008.
The notations on the seaworthiness or delay in even bothering to repair the ferries are not mine. They are the comments of the River Navigation Department and speak volumes on how much your montris care for you. Imagine, in the midst of the mother of all recessions, and in the aftermath of which India's most gung ho SEZ players are themselves acting to get their mega plans denotified (see Herald Biz December 11), the Goa Industrial Development Corporation intends to construct an industrial estate at Carambolim on 2.82 lakh sq mts.
Not Seaworthy
That the ferries in Goa are single-bottomed unlike barges and other ships which have double–bottoms, is a worse concern. In a built-to-specifications vessel the two steel bottoms encase a series of tanks, because if a barge or ship springs a major leak, the leakage in the vessel is controlled or staggered. This is a very basic explanation to how these vessels are specifically designed for such an eventuality, but says enough for the lay person. If a ferry springs a major leak, sea water will fill the vessel in a rush and simply inundate it till it sinks like a stone in water. The panic passengers will cause as a result, and the unevenly distributed weight of the vehicles in the ferry will only hasten the sinking of a ferry. This is the cold as steel reality.
For a State that has easily the worst public transport system in India and possibly in Asia (only Bangladesh could arguably rival Goa) the river transport is no better. If you have not had the courage to look at the rusted bottom and sides of the ferry you use to cross over daily, drum up the courage and take a hard look at the facts. The harder facts are there is just no money to be made in building new ferries for you, like there is in building Ravindra Bhavans, six-lane highways, sports stadia, industrial estates, SEZs etc etc. The only money that can be made on Goa's rivers; is in building barges. You will be as stunned as if a Tsunami hit you if I tell you how many of your montris own barges. Don't get too anxious for the moment about who owns those SUVs that crawl the Mandovi and Zuari taking away our wealth and gifting it to China, there is time for that.
Feedback 6658606, lionroars@gmail.com)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Ferrytale - II
Shock and awe
My investigation of the ferry problem exposed two amazing facts. One I can understand, the other I can't. Approximately, Rs 9 cr is spent by the government to run the ferry service every year. That I can understand. If there is a disruption in service, more often than not, even before the users (who) are affected, the shop vendors at the entrance to the jetties and the motorcycle pilots are the first to complain as they have a vested interest – their business gets affected. On the other hand, it appears that of these two breeds, the shop vendors would be happier if there was only a skeletal service running at each jetty – the more the people waiting for a longer period of time for the boats, the brisker is their business. Not so with the pilots who'd be on the side of the commuter – a faster throughput for him would be welcome. Whatever be the facts, this is the real picture: There is just too much for the tiny fleet of ferries to handle.
The Crossing (ferries operating as on November 24 2008)
Kerim-Tiracol -1
Kiranpani-Aronda -1
Camurlim-Tuem -1
Calvim-Carona -1
Pomburpa-Chorao -1
Panjim-Betim -1
Ribandar-Chorao -3
Old Goa-Divar -1
Ribandar-Divar -2
Vanxim-Amboi -1
Naroa-Divar -1
Tolto-Dhauji -1
Cumbarjua-Gaundalim -1
Tonca-Sarmanas -1
Volvoi-Surla-Maina -1
Madcaim-Cortalim -2
Rassaim-Durbhat -1
Rai-Shiroda -1
Cavelossim-Assolna -1
Total crossings: 28
Ferries available: 23
Details of major repairs that will have to be scheduled in the next 4-6 months:
Ferry Rai –Bottom plates require replacement.
Ferry Divar –Bottom plates require replacement.
Ferry Diu –Bottom/hull is weak and doublers welded together.
Ferry Sanquem – Deck plates completed perforated.
This is the stark truth and if you think the ferry you use to cross over daily is any better off than the above listed. Think again. Better still, check out the gaping holes on the sides of the ferry. Which is why I said you can start whistling if you think this what-calls-for-drastic action problem, is never going to be fixed. This government and the minister who got dumped with the portfolio of River Navigation Department are just not interested. They are looking at greener pastures like turning Margao into a whole new arts and culture centre.
While this government makes it so easy to be nailed for its sins of omission and commission, a disturbing fact is that Divar island (and I presume Chorao as well) has helped spawn a culture of bribe. For the official Rs 10 Ribandar-Divar fare, the ticketless tariff is Rs 5 and for the official Rs 7 Old Goa-Divar fare, the ticketless travels costs Rs 5. I see the logic (though I do not myself indulge) in paying Rs 5 instead of Rs 10, but for crying out loud, why pay Rs 5 for Rs 7. The downside is the ferry staff go overboard (metaphorically speaking) to accommodate the many, many trucks and buses that cross daily, because there's really big money to be made. In fact between squeezing in the trucks and two-wheelers who despite the fact they were allowed to travel free (a dole out before the last elections) by the MLA and former Navigation Department minister Pandurang Madkaikar and think the ferries were specially built for them, crossing across from Divar has come to be a major irritant if you own a car.
(Feedback 6658606, lionroars@gmail.com)
My investigation of the ferry problem exposed two amazing facts. One I can understand, the other I can't. Approximately, Rs 9 cr is spent by the government to run the ferry service every year. That I can understand. If there is a disruption in service, more often than not, even before the users (who) are affected, the shop vendors at the entrance to the jetties and the motorcycle pilots are the first to complain as they have a vested interest – their business gets affected. On the other hand, it appears that of these two breeds, the shop vendors would be happier if there was only a skeletal service running at each jetty – the more the people waiting for a longer period of time for the boats, the brisker is their business. Not so with the pilots who'd be on the side of the commuter – a faster throughput for him would be welcome. Whatever be the facts, this is the real picture: There is just too much for the tiny fleet of ferries to handle.
The Crossing (ferries operating as on November 24 2008)
Kerim-Tiracol -1
Kiranpani-Aronda -1
Camurlim-Tuem -1
Calvim-Carona -1
Pomburpa-Chorao -1
Panjim-Betim -1
Ribandar-Chorao -3
Old Goa-Divar -1
Ribandar-Divar -2
Vanxim-Amboi -1
Naroa-Divar -1
Tolto-Dhauji -1
Cumbarjua-Gaundalim -1
Tonca-Sarmanas -1
Volvoi-Surla-Maina -1
Madcaim-Cortalim -2
Rassaim-Durbhat -1
Rai-Shiroda -1
Cavelossim-Assolna -1
Total crossings: 28
Ferries available: 23
Details of major repairs that will have to be scheduled in the next 4-6 months:
Ferry Rai –Bottom plates require replacement.
Ferry Divar –Bottom plates require replacement.
Ferry Diu –Bottom/hull is weak and doublers welded together.
Ferry Sanquem – Deck plates completed perforated.
This is the stark truth and if you think the ferry you use to cross over daily is any better off than the above listed. Think again. Better still, check out the gaping holes on the sides of the ferry. Which is why I said you can start whistling if you think this what-calls-for-drastic action problem, is never going to be fixed. This government and the minister who got dumped with the portfolio of River Navigation Department are just not interested. They are looking at greener pastures like turning Margao into a whole new arts and culture centre.
While this government makes it so easy to be nailed for its sins of omission and commission, a disturbing fact is that Divar island (and I presume Chorao as well) has helped spawn a culture of bribe. For the official Rs 10 Ribandar-Divar fare, the ticketless tariff is Rs 5 and for the official Rs 7 Old Goa-Divar fare, the ticketless travels costs Rs 5. I see the logic (though I do not myself indulge) in paying Rs 5 instead of Rs 10, but for crying out loud, why pay Rs 5 for Rs 7. The downside is the ferry staff go overboard (metaphorically speaking) to accommodate the many, many trucks and buses that cross daily, because there's really big money to be made. In fact between squeezing in the trucks and two-wheelers who despite the fact they were allowed to travel free (a dole out before the last elections) by the MLA and former Navigation Department minister Pandurang Madkaikar and think the ferries were specially built for them, crossing across from Divar has come to be a major irritant if you own a car.
(Feedback 6658606, lionroars@gmail.com)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Don't pay the ferryman
Taking us for a ride
Look around and watch the cars our ministers, MLAs and IAS officers travel in. There is never a shortage of official four wheels or the latest model update on the road. If you don't see one it is because you are not looking, or frankly couldn't care a fig. But there seem to be as many government vehicles in and around Panjim to put it in broader perspective as there are migrants in and around Panjim. You would think this government ran on wheels. It even has a marine police wing whose largest boat would sail down the Mandovi till about a year and a half ago with the kids of some senior cop or IAS type on board.
More to the point, this very same government at present has 37 ferry vessels. Twenty-three of them are in working condition or barely floating. Of this overly stretched fleet of 37 vessels, 28 are needed to provide a normal service (as defined by the government, not me). In other words, there is a shortfall of five. The figure of five is what the government says and is based on the fact 23 ferries are in working condition. So, because the figure of 37 ferries could be far more than what is physically required to provide a decent on-time service, the figure of five could be meaningless. But then governments love to throw figures at you. But, we who travel in ferries know better.
The river winds
Somewhere in this huge heap of virtual scrap metal, officials say are 14 ferries awaiting repairs of which 10 need major repairs. Major repairs in shipping lingo could mean bottom plate replacement or even engine overhaul. What I am saying here is we might not just have a fleet of ferries sooner than later or, at best the 23 figure could go down progressively or quickly. No one knows. Factor in the fact that the government has a budget of just Rs 50 lakh per annum for maintenance and to buy spares for its fleet. In other words, the smallest expense at IFFI couldn't have been smaller than this.
These are more facts I find startling. Over the past seven years, no outside party has been commissioned to undertake repairs as there was no real need for this. This is the official line of thinking. The government bought 12 ferry boats (single engine, single bottomed) between 1998-2000 for approx Rs 22 lakh each. Normally, a new ferry does not need to be repaired for the first six years or so. This means the government has clearly gone to sleep over the issue of replenishing its fleet of ageing vessels. Carrying out major repairs to a ferry at today's prices could cost up to Rs 30 lakh and involves overhauling of the vessel's bottom and sides. And yet twenty times this amount is wasted each time the government thinks of constructing some totally unwanted building. In fact, a fraction of its own gas bill would pay for the cost of a brand new fleet of much wanted ferries.
………and bends
The process for having six ferries repaired was started two years ago, but due to politicking especially in the Assembly, the tenders have been delayed. Result: The politicians looked good, we suffered. Now, the re-tendering process will reportedly begin this month and after that, if everything goes well, the contracts will be awarded after due process. Amen to that if happens. Repairs to a ferry normally take about 45 days and, if the firm undertaking the repairs has the capacity to handle three vessels simultaneously, it would take nearly 90 days for the six ferries to be repaired. But, the tender process must be completed, the politicking must end, and a government must be in place or, else you can say ta ta to your dream of having a passable river crossing service. But, there's still a problem I have not been able to make sense of. And that is, it appears the government will sanction only Rs 50 lakh as token money towards this repair work. This is against, the approximately Rs 2crore it would require to repair these boats. This, the government has to sanction out of a contingency fund. But what this government needs to really do is to immediately invite bids to construct six new ferry boats which will cost nearly Rs 75lakh each. These new ferries must have two engines for better speed and manneouvrability especially to avoid colliding with barges.
If this can be a smooth process, then the bidder who is awarded the contract must deliver a ferry within the stipulated period of 100 days. But, as in the case of a simple question of repairing six ferries, this has languished for two years. My final point being you can kiss goodbye to having your ferry problem resolved for several more years.
(Feedback 6658606, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Look around and watch the cars our ministers, MLAs and IAS officers travel in. There is never a shortage of official four wheels or the latest model update on the road. If you don't see one it is because you are not looking, or frankly couldn't care a fig. But there seem to be as many government vehicles in and around Panjim to put it in broader perspective as there are migrants in and around Panjim. You would think this government ran on wheels. It even has a marine police wing whose largest boat would sail down the Mandovi till about a year and a half ago with the kids of some senior cop or IAS type on board.
More to the point, this very same government at present has 37 ferry vessels. Twenty-three of them are in working condition or barely floating. Of this overly stretched fleet of 37 vessels, 28 are needed to provide a normal service (as defined by the government, not me). In other words, there is a shortfall of five. The figure of five is what the government says and is based on the fact 23 ferries are in working condition. So, because the figure of 37 ferries could be far more than what is physically required to provide a decent on-time service, the figure of five could be meaningless. But then governments love to throw figures at you. But, we who travel in ferries know better.
The river winds
Somewhere in this huge heap of virtual scrap metal, officials say are 14 ferries awaiting repairs of which 10 need major repairs. Major repairs in shipping lingo could mean bottom plate replacement or even engine overhaul. What I am saying here is we might not just have a fleet of ferries sooner than later or, at best the 23 figure could go down progressively or quickly. No one knows. Factor in the fact that the government has a budget of just Rs 50 lakh per annum for maintenance and to buy spares for its fleet. In other words, the smallest expense at IFFI couldn't have been smaller than this.
These are more facts I find startling. Over the past seven years, no outside party has been commissioned to undertake repairs as there was no real need for this. This is the official line of thinking. The government bought 12 ferry boats (single engine, single bottomed) between 1998-2000 for approx Rs 22 lakh each. Normally, a new ferry does not need to be repaired for the first six years or so. This means the government has clearly gone to sleep over the issue of replenishing its fleet of ageing vessels. Carrying out major repairs to a ferry at today's prices could cost up to Rs 30 lakh and involves overhauling of the vessel's bottom and sides. And yet twenty times this amount is wasted each time the government thinks of constructing some totally unwanted building. In fact, a fraction of its own gas bill would pay for the cost of a brand new fleet of much wanted ferries.
………and bends
The process for having six ferries repaired was started two years ago, but due to politicking especially in the Assembly, the tenders have been delayed. Result: The politicians looked good, we suffered. Now, the re-tendering process will reportedly begin this month and after that, if everything goes well, the contracts will be awarded after due process. Amen to that if happens. Repairs to a ferry normally take about 45 days and, if the firm undertaking the repairs has the capacity to handle three vessels simultaneously, it would take nearly 90 days for the six ferries to be repaired. But, the tender process must be completed, the politicking must end, and a government must be in place or, else you can say ta ta to your dream of having a passable river crossing service. But, there's still a problem I have not been able to make sense of. And that is, it appears the government will sanction only Rs 50 lakh as token money towards this repair work. This is against, the approximately Rs 2crore it would require to repair these boats. This, the government has to sanction out of a contingency fund. But what this government needs to really do is to immediately invite bids to construct six new ferry boats which will cost nearly Rs 75lakh each. These new ferries must have two engines for better speed and manneouvrability especially to avoid colliding with barges.
If this can be a smooth process, then the bidder who is awarded the contract must deliver a ferry within the stipulated period of 100 days. But, as in the case of a simple question of repairing six ferries, this has languished for two years. My final point being you can kiss goodbye to having your ferry problem resolved for several more years.
(Feedback 6658606, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Friday, December 5, 2008
RTI - Right to Ignore
Mountain of a Mole Hill!
Remember the hill that came crashing down at Porvorim, and caused an upheaval in your travel routine. Then there was this other one, opposite the Ribandar ferry to Divar. This one went unnoticed, the PWD got into the act rather quickly, and now it looks like a resident there has turned the open space nature created, into a private car park. In Goa landslides can be advantageous too. Like, the misfortune to you at Porvorim, turned out to be a fortune for many up in the hill opposite and down in the divide. Who cleaned up the mess, that is. As of October 17, 2008 (apparently there is more to this) Sneha Engineering of Duler in Mapusa was paid Rs 87,06,578 to remove the soil and debris that came down. In keeping with the Goa government's understanding of a natural law (justice delayed, is not justice denied) to mean instead 'justice denied, is justice delayed' none of the culprits involved have been brought to book till date.
The other beneficiary of this land slid is NB Dhargalkar of Muquem in Cuncolim who bid Rs 1,23,49,112 to build protection measures on the road side embankment including construction of a retaining wall exactly 600 metres in length. To be precise, from the Km. 1/200 point to the Km. 1/800 point. I have no idea how much it cost the Chinese to restore selective touristy portions of the Great Wall. Even if I did, would it matter? Would it matter for that matter if you and I objected if the guys in the opposite of the hill, now decided to smother the 'restored' hill side with ornamental plants imported from Bali? Would it?
Back to Books
Trying to unlock the mysteries of the Central Library, I was offered this spiel by the Directorate of Art & Culture. I report verbatim: "Construction work of the new building was initiated by the Directorate of Education and the initial plans were submitted by the Central Library in consultation with library professionals to the Directorate of Education. Further, GSIDC had also consulted eminent library professionals in this regard." I thought I was better than the enemy at this RTI stuff after all these years. I am humbled. I never thought of asking this bleeding question: 'Please give the names of all the well-known, renowned, distinguished and famous librarians you consulted?' Then of course, their reply would have been: 'We did not consult any librarians, we only consulted library professionals.' RTI, as you can see also means Right to Ignore.
I asked what books will be kept at the Central Library, the answer: encyclopedias, handbooks, conference proceedings, yearbooks, manuals, law books, general reading books like novels, dramas, poetries, memoirs, humour, letters, biographies, basic books on engineering, science, architecture, social studies, psychology, religion, economics, political science, education, public administration, commerce, customs and tradition, management, house building, sculptures, music, sports, philosophy, history and geography along with maps, charts, CDs and DVDs. Phew!
(Feedback 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Remember the hill that came crashing down at Porvorim, and caused an upheaval in your travel routine. Then there was this other one, opposite the Ribandar ferry to Divar. This one went unnoticed, the PWD got into the act rather quickly, and now it looks like a resident there has turned the open space nature created, into a private car park. In Goa landslides can be advantageous too. Like, the misfortune to you at Porvorim, turned out to be a fortune for many up in the hill opposite and down in the divide. Who cleaned up the mess, that is. As of October 17, 2008 (apparently there is more to this) Sneha Engineering of Duler in Mapusa was paid Rs 87,06,578 to remove the soil and debris that came down. In keeping with the Goa government's understanding of a natural law (justice delayed, is not justice denied) to mean instead 'justice denied, is justice delayed' none of the culprits involved have been brought to book till date.
The other beneficiary of this land slid is NB Dhargalkar of Muquem in Cuncolim who bid Rs 1,23,49,112 to build protection measures on the road side embankment including construction of a retaining wall exactly 600 metres in length. To be precise, from the Km. 1/200 point to the Km. 1/800 point. I have no idea how much it cost the Chinese to restore selective touristy portions of the Great Wall. Even if I did, would it matter? Would it matter for that matter if you and I objected if the guys in the opposite of the hill, now decided to smother the 'restored' hill side with ornamental plants imported from Bali? Would it?
Back to Books
Trying to unlock the mysteries of the Central Library, I was offered this spiel by the Directorate of Art & Culture. I report verbatim: "Construction work of the new building was initiated by the Directorate of Education and the initial plans were submitted by the Central Library in consultation with library professionals to the Directorate of Education. Further, GSIDC had also consulted eminent library professionals in this regard." I thought I was better than the enemy at this RTI stuff after all these years. I am humbled. I never thought of asking this bleeding question: 'Please give the names of all the well-known, renowned, distinguished and famous librarians you consulted?' Then of course, their reply would have been: 'We did not consult any librarians, we only consulted library professionals.' RTI, as you can see also means Right to Ignore.
I asked what books will be kept at the Central Library, the answer: encyclopedias, handbooks, conference proceedings, yearbooks, manuals, law books, general reading books like novels, dramas, poetries, memoirs, humour, letters, biographies, basic books on engineering, science, architecture, social studies, psychology, religion, economics, political science, education, public administration, commerce, customs and tradition, management, house building, sculptures, music, sports, philosophy, history and geography along with maps, charts, CDs and DVDs. Phew!
(Feedback 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
The Reading Habit - Final
How the Library came about
Here's another perplexing item on the Central Library. The land on which it is being built was first acquired on behalf of the Education Department. It was later transferred to the Directorate of Art & Culture (DAC) – I am not sure if at that point in time, the Education Department also sold them the idea (at the behest of a certain master puppeteer; after all departments don't think, they just do) of building the Central Library.
But, you can bet your hard earned money on the fact that the same genius working from the Porvorim Secretariat decided everybody would be better off if the DAC were made the motivators of the plan that was about to unfurl. So, you now have a ground plus six floors building under construction, each floor, I estimated from the plans to be 2100 m2 per floor. That's a huge 14,700 M2 for the grand edifice!
Knowledge Society
You think? Nah. Rest assured our politicians have no intention whatsoever of turning us into a Knowledge Society. The band of voracious readers will simply have to discard their reading habit when the old Central Library is eventually moved from the conveniently located Institute Menezes Braganza to difficult-to-access Patto Plaza. Ironically for the lettered men, women and kids who go to absorb knowledge clearly the writing is on the wall.
From my reading of the plans, the ground floor of the building is almost wasted and appears to be entirely a utilities area. It has a basement too. Ground Floor: It has a 50 M2 kitchen and a 77 M2 dinning hall. The remaining space in the floor has a transformer room and 2 toilets, and will be taken up to house offices for the DAC. Remember, I said each floor had an area of 2,100m2 . Floor 1: Has two more offices 139 M2 and 280 M2 in size, atrium space of 139 M2 (in other words wasted) an entrance lobby of 281 M2, an exhibition hall of 210 M2 and wonder of wonders, a bookshop of 68 M2. Do you think, the planners of this hoax on you, could have made this a wee bit smaller? But, the good news is there are loos a dime a dozen on every floor.
The Maze Continues
Floor II: It has 3 library areas – 422 M2, 136 M2, 421 M2. An exhibition hall (no size mentioned), a lecture room 139 M2 in size and a mobile+taluka+circulating libraries (this is exactly how it is described in the plans) of 281 M2. There are also two huge unmeasured spaces called 'void' in the plans. Floor III: It has a Konkani and Marathi library section of 492 M2 which purposefully I think was not bifurcated. No prizes for guessing why. And if you didn't know, silly, it is because you won't find any Konkani books there eventually. That's also why the Hindi section is as large as 492M2. And, guess who is going to read books in Hindi? There are spaces called 'technical' and one called 'storage.' Check this out. There is a rest room for peons, a rest room for female staff and a rest room for male staff. And I am talking loos here, if you think American and imagine rest room means a loo. There are more large offices of every kind imaginable and two waiting rooms. Floor IV: It is entirely a library. Floor V: Half this floor has been divided up into a local history section and a reference section. I am not sure about the other half because the floor plan does not say anything about this area. Or, I was not meant to understand it. Attic: Has a section called 'scholars' among other library sections.
(Feedback: 6658606, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
--
Here's another perplexing item on the Central Library. The land on which it is being built was first acquired on behalf of the Education Department. It was later transferred to the Directorate of Art & Culture (DAC) – I am not sure if at that point in time, the Education Department also sold them the idea (at the behest of a certain master puppeteer; after all departments don't think, they just do) of building the Central Library.
But, you can bet your hard earned money on the fact that the same genius working from the Porvorim Secretariat decided everybody would be better off if the DAC were made the motivators of the plan that was about to unfurl. So, you now have a ground plus six floors building under construction, each floor, I estimated from the plans to be 2100 m2 per floor. That's a huge 14,700 M2 for the grand edifice!
Knowledge Society
You think? Nah. Rest assured our politicians have no intention whatsoever of turning us into a Knowledge Society. The band of voracious readers will simply have to discard their reading habit when the old Central Library is eventually moved from the conveniently located Institute Menezes Braganza to difficult-to-access Patto Plaza. Ironically for the lettered men, women and kids who go to absorb knowledge clearly the writing is on the wall.
From my reading of the plans, the ground floor of the building is almost wasted and appears to be entirely a utilities area. It has a basement too. Ground Floor: It has a 50 M2 kitchen and a 77 M2 dinning hall. The remaining space in the floor has a transformer room and 2 toilets, and will be taken up to house offices for the DAC. Remember, I said each floor had an area of 2,100m2 . Floor 1: Has two more offices 139 M2 and 280 M2 in size, atrium space of 139 M2 (in other words wasted) an entrance lobby of 281 M2, an exhibition hall of 210 M2 and wonder of wonders, a bookshop of 68 M2. Do you think, the planners of this hoax on you, could have made this a wee bit smaller? But, the good news is there are loos a dime a dozen on every floor.
The Maze Continues
Floor II: It has 3 library areas – 422 M2, 136 M2, 421 M2. An exhibition hall (no size mentioned), a lecture room 139 M2 in size and a mobile+taluka+circulating libraries (this is exactly how it is described in the plans) of 281 M2. There are also two huge unmeasured spaces called 'void' in the plans. Floor III: It has a Konkani and Marathi library section of 492 M2 which purposefully I think was not bifurcated. No prizes for guessing why. And if you didn't know, silly, it is because you won't find any Konkani books there eventually. That's also why the Hindi section is as large as 492M2. And, guess who is going to read books in Hindi? There are spaces called 'technical' and one called 'storage.' Check this out. There is a rest room for peons, a rest room for female staff and a rest room for male staff. And I am talking loos here, if you think American and imagine rest room means a loo. There are more large offices of every kind imaginable and two waiting rooms. Floor IV: It is entirely a library. Floor V: Half this floor has been divided up into a local history section and a reference section. I am not sure about the other half because the floor plan does not say anything about this area. Or, I was not meant to understand it. Attic: Has a section called 'scholars' among other library sections.
(Feedback: 6658606, 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
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Friday, November 21, 2008
Book Worm
Reading Habit
It boggles the mind. When your montris want to make money they have ingenious ways to do that. Once before, if you remember, despite you not being great film buffs, they smothered you with IFFI. The big bucks got bigger for them despite all the reels they give us about making IFFI more about films and less about glitzy entertainment which btw, is what IFFI has turned out to be. Then they decided that entire India could do without IFFI. So, now it's going to have a retirement home at Kala Academy and live there happily ever after. A little later they decided you and I have a voracious reading habit. So, they planned a Central Library, now being built at Patto Plaza. You can bet next, they will find an equally stunning reason to convert the existing Central Library at the Institute Menezes Braganza to a mall. ADAPTIVE REUSE, they call it. Thank you very much.
Guess what, the Central Library will cost? Rs 15,95,00,629.70 and I am still trying to find out what the heck they intend to do with this monolith, so stay with me on this will you, even if you are in danger of losing the Reading Habit temporarily. This business takes time.
Booker Prize stuff
On what basis was the consultant for the project appointed? The Goa State Industrial Development Corporation, Goa's very own L&T with a difference said it appointed Architecture Autonomous (Gerard D'Cunha's outfit) on the basis of a national level architectural competition. You and I, the shareholders don't get to enjoy dividends, only the stakeholders do, if you get my drift.
GSIDC said it got 75 applications, and from that five were short listed. These five were invited to take part in a competition but only Architecture Autonomous and a Uttam C. Jain participated. This is about the only part I can't quarrel with. Oh, there's this part about the fees you may think is high. I do too. It's like this – the architect will be paid 4% for his comprehensive architectural services, 4% for interior architecture, 6% for graphic designing and 5% for landscape architecture. There was no response to the first call from GSIDC's list of empanelled project management consultants. Only Frischmann Prabhu (I) Pvt Ltd bid at the second call. Isn't it amazing, remember Garden of Eden, how even empanelled firms are reluctant to bid in Goa? I say just un-empanel them. Do we really need to invest Rs 15,95,00,629.70 cr in a building ostensibly for reading.
Museum Piece
On November 11 when I visited the Goa State Museum there were more attendants than visitors. I was the only one in fact. The visitors registered showed eight footfalls, none on 10th, 9th and 8th. Only four visited on the 7th. Need I say more?. In the so-called Christian Art Gallery there are bigger than life-size portraits of two Portuguese governors. Figure out how governors become 'Christian' art for your selves, because I can't. No single art work or portrait has details (so essential) like the period it came from, or its origin. The museum has quite a few statues with the legend 'unidentified saints.' In other words, the Goa State Museum inaugurated in June 1996 is yet to determine whether these are really saints or just some ancient craftsman's genius. A remarkable wooden Chariot Parod-Quepem 18th c AD lies there, un-restored and uncared for. In fact there are far too many huge offices in the museum and far too few historical pieces, all of which point to a criminal waste of space. And yet, right now the museum's auditorium is being renovated. Probably at great expense.
Book of Fiction
Clearly when a museum is neglected, what can you expect of the Central Library? In fact, the design plans for the Central Library to be discussed here next week duplicates some of the facilities available at the museum. Did the planners of this project also consider they might be duplicating facilities available at the Institute of Menezes Braganza, Kala Academy or even the International Centre at Dona Paula? You bet they didn't. After all why should they bother about such niggling details when they are using taxpayers' money? Do you think they also considered that the overly commercialized Patto Plaza was hardly the venue for fostering the reading habit? By a hair's breadth maybe, because, to be put up next, opposite the Central Library is Ginger, the 5-star hotel with a huge shopping mall. Of course they didn't by any breadth of measurement, because if they did, they would have built it within the huge Goa University campus. Oops do you think I am giving them ideas that will cost us further?
Feedback: 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
It boggles the mind. When your montris want to make money they have ingenious ways to do that. Once before, if you remember, despite you not being great film buffs, they smothered you with IFFI. The big bucks got bigger for them despite all the reels they give us about making IFFI more about films and less about glitzy entertainment which btw, is what IFFI has turned out to be. Then they decided that entire India could do without IFFI. So, now it's going to have a retirement home at Kala Academy and live there happily ever after. A little later they decided you and I have a voracious reading habit. So, they planned a Central Library, now being built at Patto Plaza. You can bet next, they will find an equally stunning reason to convert the existing Central Library at the Institute Menezes Braganza to a mall. ADAPTIVE REUSE, they call it. Thank you very much.
Guess what, the Central Library will cost? Rs 15,95,00,629.70 and I am still trying to find out what the heck they intend to do with this monolith, so stay with me on this will you, even if you are in danger of losing the Reading Habit temporarily. This business takes time.
Booker Prize stuff
On what basis was the consultant for the project appointed? The Goa State Industrial Development Corporation, Goa's very own L&T with a difference said it appointed Architecture Autonomous (Gerard D'Cunha's outfit) on the basis of a national level architectural competition. You and I, the shareholders don't get to enjoy dividends, only the stakeholders do, if you get my drift.
GSIDC said it got 75 applications, and from that five were short listed. These five were invited to take part in a competition but only Architecture Autonomous and a Uttam C. Jain participated. This is about the only part I can't quarrel with. Oh, there's this part about the fees you may think is high. I do too. It's like this – the architect will be paid 4% for his comprehensive architectural services, 4% for interior architecture, 6% for graphic designing and 5% for landscape architecture. There was no response to the first call from GSIDC's list of empanelled project management consultants. Only Frischmann Prabhu (I) Pvt Ltd bid at the second call. Isn't it amazing, remember Garden of Eden, how even empanelled firms are reluctant to bid in Goa? I say just un-empanel them. Do we really need to invest Rs 15,95,00,629.70 cr in a building ostensibly for reading.
Museum Piece
On November 11 when I visited the Goa State Museum there were more attendants than visitors. I was the only one in fact. The visitors registered showed eight footfalls, none on 10th, 9th and 8th. Only four visited on the 7th. Need I say more?. In the so-called Christian Art Gallery there are bigger than life-size portraits of two Portuguese governors. Figure out how governors become 'Christian' art for your selves, because I can't. No single art work or portrait has details (so essential) like the period it came from, or its origin. The museum has quite a few statues with the legend 'unidentified saints.' In other words, the Goa State Museum inaugurated in June 1996 is yet to determine whether these are really saints or just some ancient craftsman's genius. A remarkable wooden Chariot Parod-Quepem 18th c AD lies there, un-restored and uncared for. In fact there are far too many huge offices in the museum and far too few historical pieces, all of which point to a criminal waste of space. And yet, right now the museum's auditorium is being renovated. Probably at great expense.
Book of Fiction
Clearly when a museum is neglected, what can you expect of the Central Library? In fact, the design plans for the Central Library to be discussed here next week duplicates some of the facilities available at the museum. Did the planners of this project also consider they might be duplicating facilities available at the Institute of Menezes Braganza, Kala Academy or even the International Centre at Dona Paula? You bet they didn't. After all why should they bother about such niggling details when they are using taxpayers' money? Do you think they also considered that the overly commercialized Patto Plaza was hardly the venue for fostering the reading habit? By a hair's breadth maybe, because, to be put up next, opposite the Central Library is Ginger, the 5-star hotel with a huge shopping mall. Of course they didn't by any breadth of measurement, because if they did, they would have built it within the huge Goa University campus. Oops do you think I am giving them ideas that will cost us further?
Feedback: 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Garden of Eden - Final
Of monolithic malls
Last week you read how Rs 1,59,68,204 of your tax money is at this moment being wasted on a project mysteriously called 'renovation of the garden at Rua De Ourem' in Panjim. There is no garden really, but that's old hat now. You also read how a duct is being built at a cost of Rs 77 lakh whose only purpose is to accommodate the telecommunication cables of various agencies. That was the first part conceived for the project. The second part described here, costing all of Rs 82 lakh, was conceived to create an additional pathway for pedestrians by extending the footpath/garden by 90 cms into the creek. This will be achieved by constructing reinforced concrete cement beams and slabs. And what do you know, there still won't be a garden, which is what I have been saying in the past two columns.
Led down the garden path
After all how much money can you make on plants etc? It is the concrete aspect that solidifies this and makes the big bucks move, if you get my drift. The funny thing as I said before, nobody uses this side of the road because it is sun drenched. Those who do walk in this rather isolated area, use the opposite footpath shaded by a long line of buildings etc. This is the side too where people park their cars because it has buildings and shops etc. Therefore, I don't see anybody using the car park planned on the other side. Why? Because, the narrow road, approximately 8-9 m wide simply won't accommodate cars parked either side. On the other hand, since drivers don't care any longer where they park, this could create one hell of a parking problem. I asked GSIDC, the perpetrators of this imbecilic idea if they had ever thought about shifting this equally misplaced parking lot to an appropriate place, they answered they had never thought of it. You won't, you simply can't when you don't appoint an architect to design a plan, but do things on your own.
Benchmark
Call it that, because KG Thomas, the contractor who apparently contrived to get this lucrative job, quoted Rs 2,60,000 to supply 13 concrete benches that will be placed on the footpath being built. So, now you will have vagabonds resting on these benches at night creating a nuisance for people waiting for the last bus to Margao. Or, the Corporation of the City of Panjim (what a glorified name for an organization that sleeps 24x7) might just be convinced to shift the radhiwallahs from the sacrosanct Azad Maidan and also persuade the cricket team of migrant workers to shift their club grounds from there to this new venue. There, could of course be worse uses for this. And meanwhile, amidst the costly extravaganza, the creek will continue to stink and be a breeding ground for mosquitoes becausing nobody thought of cleaning it.
Parsvanath, the builder of monolithic shopping malls across India announced it will build a 5-star hotel in what is left of Patto Plaza despite what EDC's MD assured me a long time ago that no hotel would be allowed to come up at Patto. This was repeated to other journalists and in other forums too. Now, Parsvanath claims it has sanction to build a hotel on 3,150.20 square meters. Here's a shocker, the Panjim PDA says it has approved plans for a mall with a food court only. Parsvanath which has already gone to great expense to fence out (and 'typically' stationed security guards inside) its huge Patto Plaza property also cleverly erected an equally huge hoarding depicting (but without actually saying it) that a huge shopping mall will be built.
Typically, because builders follow a format: First, they erect a huge fence around the land to keep away prying eyes and not to prevent dust or debris spilling out as is popularly thought. Because, when construction actually begins, they care less about that as you can see happens in Panjim even at this moment. Then, at the last moment they erect the statutory board that gives details of the construction. In this case Parsvanath has not yet put up its board. But, it will soon, after this.
So, is Panjim heading for a complete collapse of its traffic system? Consider this. Soon the starred hotel at the St Inez traffic light junction will be ready. Then there's this huge Milroc Neurekar building complex (with an impressive high-rise and impressive fence) being built near the Police Headquarters; several more about to be readied and occupied. You bet the traffic congestion will get worse.
Feedback: 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
Last week you read how Rs 1,59,68,204 of your tax money is at this moment being wasted on a project mysteriously called 'renovation of the garden at Rua De Ourem' in Panjim. There is no garden really, but that's old hat now. You also read how a duct is being built at a cost of Rs 77 lakh whose only purpose is to accommodate the telecommunication cables of various agencies. That was the first part conceived for the project. The second part described here, costing all of Rs 82 lakh, was conceived to create an additional pathway for pedestrians by extending the footpath/garden by 90 cms into the creek. This will be achieved by constructing reinforced concrete cement beams and slabs. And what do you know, there still won't be a garden, which is what I have been saying in the past two columns.
Led down the garden path
After all how much money can you make on plants etc? It is the concrete aspect that solidifies this and makes the big bucks move, if you get my drift. The funny thing as I said before, nobody uses this side of the road because it is sun drenched. Those who do walk in this rather isolated area, use the opposite footpath shaded by a long line of buildings etc. This is the side too where people park their cars because it has buildings and shops etc. Therefore, I don't see anybody using the car park planned on the other side. Why? Because, the narrow road, approximately 8-9 m wide simply won't accommodate cars parked either side. On the other hand, since drivers don't care any longer where they park, this could create one hell of a parking problem. I asked GSIDC, the perpetrators of this imbecilic idea if they had ever thought about shifting this equally misplaced parking lot to an appropriate place, they answered they had never thought of it. You won't, you simply can't when you don't appoint an architect to design a plan, but do things on your own.
Benchmark
Call it that, because KG Thomas, the contractor who apparently contrived to get this lucrative job, quoted Rs 2,60,000 to supply 13 concrete benches that will be placed on the footpath being built. So, now you will have vagabonds resting on these benches at night creating a nuisance for people waiting for the last bus to Margao. Or, the Corporation of the City of Panjim (what a glorified name for an organization that sleeps 24x7) might just be convinced to shift the radhiwallahs from the sacrosanct Azad Maidan and also persuade the cricket team of migrant workers to shift their club grounds from there to this new venue. There, could of course be worse uses for this. And meanwhile, amidst the costly extravaganza, the creek will continue to stink and be a breeding ground for mosquitoes becausing nobody thought of cleaning it.
Parsvanath, the builder of monolithic shopping malls across India announced it will build a 5-star hotel in what is left of Patto Plaza despite what EDC's MD assured me a long time ago that no hotel would be allowed to come up at Patto. This was repeated to other journalists and in other forums too. Now, Parsvanath claims it has sanction to build a hotel on 3,150.20 square meters. Here's a shocker, the Panjim PDA says it has approved plans for a mall with a food court only. Parsvanath which has already gone to great expense to fence out (and 'typically' stationed security guards inside) its huge Patto Plaza property also cleverly erected an equally huge hoarding depicting (but without actually saying it) that a huge shopping mall will be built.
Typically, because builders follow a format: First, they erect a huge fence around the land to keep away prying eyes and not to prevent dust or debris spilling out as is popularly thought. Because, when construction actually begins, they care less about that as you can see happens in Panjim even at this moment. Then, at the last moment they erect the statutory board that gives details of the construction. In this case Parsvanath has not yet put up its board. But, it will soon, after this.
So, is Panjim heading for a complete collapse of its traffic system? Consider this. Soon the starred hotel at the St Inez traffic light junction will be ready. Then there's this huge Milroc Neurekar building complex (with an impressive high-rise and impressive fence) being built near the Police Headquarters; several more about to be readied and occupied. You bet the traffic congestion will get worse.
Feedback: 6658606, lionroars.goa@gmail.com)
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