Villagers fear private entities may displace local stakeholders
Members of the Benaulim gram sabha raise their hands to oppose GTDC’s plans to hand over the parking lot at Benaulim beach to private parties.
MARGAO
Benaulikars, in one voice, on Thursday vehemently opposed the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s plan to lease out its properties, including the car parking lot, to private parties.
The Extraordinary Gram Sabha meeting, chaired by officiating Sarpanch Glyda Rodrigues, saw members raising their hands as they lodged their objections to the GTDC's plans to lease out the acquired properties to private entities.
The Gram Sabha further adopted a resolution to constitute a Task Force and initiate dialogue with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, or any other elected representative, to impress upon them the sentiments of the villagers and negotiate the people’s demand.
In the event that the GTDC finds it unviable to operate the parking lot at Survey No. 365/2-A, the Gram Sabha has resolved that it should be handed over to the Village Panchayat of Cana-Benaulim for maintenance and operation.
Members pointed out that converting the parking lot into a pay parking area will discourage tourists and locals from visiting the area, thus putting the businesses of the local stakeholders (shack operators, water-sports operators, taxi operators) at risk. They feared that visitors to the beach would park their vehicles on the shoulders of the main road to avoid pay parking, thus creating traffic congestion at the entry to the beach.
Saying that private entities invest to make profits, the members pointed out the likelihood of them extending their business, and every likelihood of the shack owners being displaced, raising further fears that tourism-related activities like water sports and beach shacks would be taken over by the private entities, thus putting the livelihood of the local stakeholders at risk.
Saying that access to the beach may be compromised, the members pointed out that the land in question was acquired by the government at a meagre rate to create tourism-related infrastructure in the above-mentioned area. The area in question is found to be suitably developed for carrying on tourism-related activities and does not need further development.
Saying the parking lot at Survey No. 365/2A has been recently developed and has been in use for less than three years, members pointed out that it was developed at the cost of the taxpayer and should remain with the GTDC for the use of the general public. “There is minimal cost in maintaining the same. Handing over developed infrastructure to a private player for converting it into a paid parking is nothing but a scam. The western side of the property in question also contains an ecologically sensitive area, including sand dunes, that needs protection. Hence, it is very important that no development should be permitted in the area,” the members added.
Pointing out that the successful bidders for the proposal to ‘Develop, Operate, and Maintain’ the property are operating a hotel in the adjacent property, members claimed they have already occupied the area meant for parking and are in urgent need of parking space.
Officiating Sarpanch Glyda told the media after the meeting that although the Panchayat has not received any proposal from the GTDC regarding the move to lease out the car parking lot, members have opposed any such move. “The GTDC has not approached the Panchayat to date. We don’t know what exactly is happening,” she said.
Fisherman Pele Fernandes said the people of Benaulim will never allow the GTDC to lease out the parking lot to private players. “This car parking lot was set up after locals, including fishermen, had demanded vehicular parking when Churchill Alemao was the local MLA. Now, they want to hand over our land to private parties. We will never allow this to happen,” he thundered.
