Music marks heritage day campaign to save Goa's green space By Frederick Noronha
PANJIM, April 19: Citizens organised a colourful fest of music and performances on World Heritage Day, that went well into the night late Thursday, which was also intended as a protest against plans to commericalise one-pretty Panaji's open spaces. This event saw performances by Jazz, Latin and other bands, for which Goa is well known. It was held at the Municipal Garden, a prominent colonial-time landmark in this picturesque century-and-half old town along the riverbanks of the Mandovi, which is however now getting gobbled up by hi-rises put up by builders and politicians who cashed in on the real-estate boom of the nineties. Panjim municipality's plan to convert this garden -- one of the few open spaces and green areas in a fast-getting congested Panaji -- into a multi-million rupee entertainment centre has already evoked concerns. Citzens led by heritage and conservation campaigners held the musical protests to make the point that green areas and open spaces need to preserved. "We just called it a celebration. Our goal was to highlight (on world heritage day) what citizens could actually do with their cities. How public spaces could be effectively utilised," said writer Margaret Mascarenhas, one of the key organisers. On the argument of promoting tourism, the Goa government has been taking up some mega-entertainment plans, which have drawn ire from the citizen. These include attempt to privatise "facilities" at the popular Miramar beach by the BJP government, legalising offshore casinos, and the handover of a hillock for setting up a Disneyland-type park okayed by the Congress and other state governments. Panjim lacks sorely in entertainment options. But converting the town's municipal garden -- one of the few green areas available in its central business district -- into a chaotic park for kids is something citizens who got early wind of the plan are not too amused by. This pending plan includes setting up 'castles' in the tiny garden's four corners. The 'mountain' is needed because a toy train has to pass through the tunnels. Also planned is a ropeway connecting two mountains. On one side will be a duckpond with ducks. "To say we were shocked is an understatement," says architect Raya Shankwalkar, who is known for his interest in conservation issues. "Perhaps the most alarming feature of the entire plan is to have a five metre high mountain," says he. The plan is to put up a fencing and a gate, this, feel citizens, could alter the traditional movement of people across the garden. "It's supposed to stop 'unwanted elements'. But is it fair to term people who have no place to go at lunchtime such? What's wrong with sleeping on the park? This is done across the globe...," says former Society editor Margaret Mascarenhas, one of those who took up the issue. Author of the Penguin novel 'Skin', Mascarenhas gave went to her feelings in song on Thursday night, when she was on stage vocalising Jazz numbers. Citizens in Panaji are worried over the impact of the city-father's plans. They point to what happened to the South Goa capital of Margao, where the park was recent "developed". There, the town's garden area has been fenced off, and a whole lot of ugly hoardings have come up, encircling the once-green area, and leding to what conservationists and architects term "more visual pollution" in the area. (Porvorim-based architect Dean D'Cruz is one of those who has been fighting a uphill battle against the 'visual pollution' caused by an increasing number of billboards across this small state which has been attractive to visitors because of its rustic lifestyles and natural charm.) In planning for the Panjim municipal project, architects say little care has been taken to see where exactly trees exist. "There are dozens trees in the place. They don't have a clue where exactly the trees are located, and this is simply not shown in the plan for the project," says Shankwalkar. The budget for the propsal is Rs 65 lakh (Rs 6.5 million). Oldtimers recall the Panjim municipal garden as a place where citizens could meet. After Thursday's musical-protest, some pointed with nostalgia to moments spent in the park, listening to military brass band performances from the special bandstand in the garden. History lecturer Prajal Sakardande, explaining the history of the area, says it was earlier known as the Garcia da Orta garden. It was named after a Portuguese botanist who spent three decades in India sometime around the sixteenth century, primarily around current-day Mumbai, collecting rare and medicinal plants. The garden was created in the second-half of the 19th century, when Panaji was a young town, just being rebuilt after the collapse of the earlier capital, Old Goa. Some of Old Goa's building-material, brought in from 8 kms east, were also used to build Panjim, including parts of the municipal garden. Says Margaret Mascarenahs: "Earlier, the municipality used to pay bands and theatre grups to perform here, in a measure towards community building in these areas. We need to show how the garden can be developed into a useful place..." She argues that building more "entertainment facilities" would only add to parking problems in the already-congested area, in the heart of Panjim's small central business district. "The idea is to show the city how that space can be effectively utilized," says Mascarenhas. Conservation enthusiast and writer Heta Pandit argues that open space should be multifunctional, and kept for people of all ages. After Thursday's function, organisers said its success showed the place could be used for music performances, students' readings, or theatre. "Not on that scale, as it might disturb others. But something (at lower volumes) could definitely be done," said Mascarenhas. One performance that took most by surprise was a rock performance by a group of youth, aged 11-15. After the event, the local press quoted BJP minister Manohar Parrikar suggesting that the knocking down of two Panjim heritage buildings would not be hurriedly gone ahead with. "Of course, the CM is up for elections shortly. What we're asking is for an official listing of heritage structures in Panaji, and a final decision to be taken, once and for all," said Mascarenhas.(ENDS) -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha * GOANEWS www.goacom.com/news/ Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
