It is a fact that the architects go by the rules of the road, a hand-book of
do's and don't.
As far as I am concerned, this is the Bible for the profession.
There was an instance reported to me [ during the RP2011 ongoing
agitations]. A certain Delhi Party had acquired the approval of plans to
develop an entire hill side at Arambol, facing the Arabian Sea. This Delhi
party approaches this architect to plan a spread for him. When the
architect was told that it was a hill-side, he wanted to see the place he
was going to develop. That done, the architect, having found that the slope
was more than 25 degrees, wanted the contour plan done. No need, he was
told. You go ahead and do the sketch so that we can sit down and check it
out. Therefore the architect did do the sketch, limiting himself to 33 per
cent in view of the more than 25 per cent gradient. The party gets
infuriated to see this and tells the architect that he has to utilize 100
per cent of the space as he has the clearance from the highest authority
(meaning Babush Monserrate). That he is being paid handsomely to do the job,
and what was his problem. This architect guy tells him to go f**k himself.
To get the plans done by some one else. That he values his Goa more than the
money his is going to make and/or his license to operate. And in so doing,
he returns the file to the high and mighty Delhi party and it would seem
that this was the end of the story.
However, Patricia Pinto got the marketing brochure of this place and
through she saw to it that this project was halted. However, I had no
knowledge at the time about the dealings of the Delhi Party with the
architect. This, I came to know only when this project was questioned and
halted. It was done because sensitive members of the Goa Su-Raj Party from
the area contacted me and for my part I sent one of our executive members
from Siolim to check this out.
However, I am not sure if this project has been revived or not as the people
in the vicinity have not reported to me to the contrary, whom I have
instructed to be on guard for these beautiful hill slopes for 100 per cent
development. If the rule book say 33 per cent, then it must be 33 per cent.
I wonder if more architects do the things that this champion of Goa's cause
has done.
At a time when it is required and proper, I shall openly felicitate this
dear Goan architect for a job well done unto his motherland. And I do hope
more architects do the same, including architect Dean D'Cruz, who I am sure
is doing his very best to preserve Goa for posterity especially since he is
the GBA and the Goan gullible people will want to place full trust in him
and people like him.
Cheers
floriano.l...@gmail.com
from PPS to PPS
9890470896
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
www.goasu-raj.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "soter" <so...@bsnl.in>
To: <goa...@goanet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 10:41 PM
Subject: [Goanet] Need for developing credibility in activism
Once again Soter, Rajan and their group have been accused of slander by a
celebrity architect. An editorial in one of the local corporate mouthpieces
mentions campaigner disunity. Why is Soter attacking the poor architect
(before this it was the poor doctor) has been the question asked to Soter's
friends but not to Soter. Some others express fear that such exposures will
embolden the corrupt political establishment and must not be done in larger
interest. Whose interest we do not know?
Goa is a small place and if one is observant then double standards in
activism gets noticed very easily. Whether these are mere contradictions or
betrayals is left for the people of Goa to decide. In some cases it is not
less than an irreversible sell out. Activists sometimes have no inhibitions
in receiving awards instituted by agencies with controversial or dubious
reputation.
To err is human but what about these double standards which get marketed as
normal and beneficial to the community? These contradictions are something
like one consuming poison and also telling others to keep away from the
poison. It is a contradiction where corruption by politicians is condemned
by professionals but corruption in their own professional dealings gets
marketed as entrepreneurship. This contradiction is of a type where one
participates (directly or indirectly) in an activity that destroys the
environment and at the same time also claims to be an environmental
campaigner. This contradiction is of a type where a campaigner demands
upholding the freedom of expression by the government but supports the
suppression of truth in the media.
And while all this goes on, anyone who exposes this contradiction or
duplicity gets quickly accused of slander. They get accused of fostering
disunity. This double standard club is no small club. Like the politicians,
it has influence over the information machinery to distort the truth and
portray villains as angels and angels as villains. This is a class that
create their own publicity as impeccable champions of the masses. When their
contradictions are pointed out it becomes slander. When they expose the
double standards of others it becomes a social change campaign.
Just as exposing corruption strengthens the nation, similarly exposing
double standards of campaigners can only help develop the credibilty of
social movements. If not, social activism will also become the refuge for
scoundrels which appears to be the case today.
-Soter
