Was there, so it must be there: Peter Vaz JOVITO LOPES
OPD change from residential into central commercial zone comes to light Panjim: The Campal Stadium in the capital city was built in 1971-72. It was, however, razed in 2004 as it was unsafe with the promise that it would be rebuilt before 2006. But that remained just an empty promise by the Government, resulting in the youngsters not getting a chance to play and the fans being unfairly deprived of watching good football matches. Having suffered all these years, the movement for rebuilding it now is gaining momentum with everyone agreeing that there must be a football playground. “It’s excellent news that nobody is disputing about the need for the site as football ground. Everyone agrees that it must be rebuilt. So, have the same capacity like in the past with better amenities like four changing rooms for players, toilets for spectators, administrative block, referees room, canteen, media room, all-weather turf,” reasoned out Peter Vaz, president of I-League team – Sporting Clube de Goa. “Some Campal residents have apprehensions about traffic congestion, parking problems that would be added to the already existing ones. Exhibitions lasting almost a week, melas, bolywood-style events, mega concerts have now become the order of the day at Campal. Objecting to football activities only as such looks illogical and unreasonable,” stressed Peter. Peter felt that football related traffic, if any, would be just a matter of one hour at the most. Moreover football matches are not held everyday and these too last only 90 minutes. “I cannot understand why objections on this count are being raised now,” he added. “As per the old ODP, the open area opposite the Campal Stadium was earmarked as recreational and residential. All of a sudden, some part of it has been converted from residential into a central commercial zone which implies triple FSI benefit under the new ODP. And, nobody is talking or protesting that big commercial complexes could come up there and create traffic problems and congestion for longer hours than related to football and further development should be stopped. Some residents seem to be confused,” opined Peter. “When the Campal road was being widened, there were also some voices of protest. Ultimately, everyone now agrees that it was very much needed. Crowd dispersal and traffic management should be best left to the architects and planners who have the necessary expertise in the matter. And that’s what has been envisaged in GSIDC’s new plan, with additional road on the riverside front and further widening of the existing roads,” stated Peter. “There are at two stadiums in the cities in Vasco and Mapusa. The one in Vasco is in the heart of the city and nobody has been complaining of any football related problem even when matches are being played almost daily, and the same is the case at Duler,” remarked Peter. “Nobody is asking for a new stadium at Campal. Everyone agrees that a state-of-the-art stadium could come up anywhere else in the city including the outskirts. Rebuilding is the common denominator. So it’s time all Ponjekars join hands and request the Government to go ahead with its promise especially for the benefit of our youth, much more so that a new plan has already been designed by GSIDC, taking care of traffic and parking,” pleaded Peter. “Precious years have already been wasted, with no sports activity for nearly a decade now. Such a situation will only benefit the Government and the possibility that it could take advantage of the situation and use it for something else, like additional parking for Kala Academy, cannot be ruled out,” emphasised Peter. “Unity is the need of the hour,” he added. Source: http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Sports/Was-there-so-it-must-be-there-Peter-Vaz/49148.html
