Dear Netters, A new organisation is in the throes of birth while the GSIDC plays midwife to a number of children of doubtful parentage. Whether it is the bridge re-construction at Rawanfond-Margao, erection of bridges elsewhere or the demolition of the structures around the old GMC, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd seems to be a law unto itself. Though its last name is "Limited", it seems to enjoy unlimited powers[ got a change of zone in the ODP for prime land it does not own; ditto for cutting of trees,it seems],finance[ it is set to spend more money in crores than there are crows on D.B.Road] and patronage. It is a frankenstein version of the PWD. Cutting trees, it can do with impunity.
If PMCA wants to see a tree cutting licence, GSIDC can get it within hours.This when GSIDC has its office in EDC building ,Panaji, and the Tree Officer is at Ponda and the concerned officer to inspect the tree is in Panaji. A Form 'A' is obtained from the Forest Office, typed, signed, a sketch/plan of the GMC complex is made to show the position of the trees is made, an affidavit is executed, the form is sent to Ponda,inwarded, processed, outwarded, despatched, inwarded in Panaji, inspection of the trees is carried out, report made out,outwarded , sent to Ponda, inwarded, Licence in Form 'B' typed out,outwarded, despatched and received in Panaji.....all in a matter of hours. Only cancer cells multiply at a similar speed. Yet, if PMCA wants to see GSIDC's plans for the four-laning or the Multiplex, GSIDC has no staff to show these documents. At least some Directors of the GSIDC are congressmen[ or erstwhile congressmen] and can proudly quote Nehru, "Goans are peculair people." Goa receives about 15 lakh tourists in six months. Hardly any touristcomplains about bad roads in Goa. Goa is a leisure resort and no one is in a tearing hurry, except the poor souls whose two wheelers rev up faster than even their hormones. 15,000 delegates to a ten day film festival are unlikely to be in a hurry to go to the KTC bus stand ...or Dona Paula... during IFFI. So who really needs the four lane road from Patto to Dona Paula?? We are playing 'God' and messing up with the Mandovi River, cutting trees and trodding on the people's sentiments. Difficult to say which is the worst offence. NRIs wishing to develop their properties in Goa, to cut trees, transport wood or build bridges with their neighbours, would be well advised to contract such works to GSIDC. There is no match for this agency if you are in a hurry. What's sauce for the goose , is sauce for the gander. It cannot get better than this. Do not read news items like these: PANJIM TREES AT CHOPPER'S MERCY: Six trees have been marked for felling at the Old Goa Medical College site at Campal in Panaji sans any permission, according to activists of People's Movement for Civic Action. (GT) CM FEELS THE HEAT, MEETS RESIDENTS: Realising that the heat was building up against the manner in which the government was going ahead with mega projects for hosting the International Film Festival India later this year, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 28 held two rounds of interactions with the residents of Miramar and Campal separately. The damage control measure was viewed as an important exercise to assuage the feelings of the residents and to build confidence among the citizens that the government is "open" to discuss IFFI-related matter. (H) CM ASSURES OF RESTORING CAMPAL STADIUM BY '05: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured citizens that the Campal Stadium would be restored to its original status by December 2005. Clarifying his government's stand, Parrikar said, "The demolition is temporary." Under no circumstances does the government want to convert the Campal stadium into some other structure, he said, promising to build one of the best stadiums in its place with all the required facilities. (GT) Go to GSIDC. Satisfaction guaranteed. Go for it. Our first citizen has. Viva Goa. Miguel --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 / Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 11/21/2003 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
