Uncertainty persists over whether the Colva development is limited to beach square or extends to acquired land; fishing communities fear encroachment, call for special gram sabha
File photo of the crowded Colva beach square.
MARGAO
Tourism Department’s plan to develop the iconic Colva beach under Central government’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme has thrown up a host of questions amongst the tourism and fishing stakeholders, besides the civil society.
With no clarity forthcoming on the nature of the development proposed by the Tourism Department under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, members of the civil society say they are at sea on the nature of the development and have called for placing the entire tourism development plan in public domain. In fact, Secretary, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Judith Almeida has called for a special gram sabha of the Colva Village Panchayat to discuss the tourism development plan threadbare and its implications for the local stakeholders, especially the local fishing communities.
The Tourism Minister had earlier this week unveiled plans to give Colva beach a facelift, with amenities such as a beach deck, bird walk, shopping and food plaza, shopping complex, pedestrian footbridge, surveillance in view of safety and security, etc.
Couple of months back, the Tourism Minister along with officials had an interaction with local Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, Colva Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes and owners doing business in the Colva tourism shopping complex on the development plan.
Local stakeholders, including the fishermen say that they have no idea over the tourism development plan proposed at Colva. Given that a host of services are proposed at Colva, the fishermen are anxious to know whether the proposed development will be restricted to the existing shopping complex and the beach square or extend to the Tourism Department acquired land in the village, which is being used by the local fishing community to pursue fishing activities such as fish drying, etc.
Social activist Judith Almeida said the interest of the fishing communities needs to be protected at all cost. “When the shore is being used by the fishermen for fishing activities and the acquired land for fishing, nothing should be done to disturb the activities of the fishing communities,” she said.
She added; “In the name of tourism, the fishing communities cannot be displaced from their habitat. Also, the zoning norms pertaining to No Development Zone needs to be strictly adhered to. Just because the government has proposed the development, the laid down norms cannot be thrown to the winds.”
While demanding that the Tourism Department place the Colva beach development plan before the gram sabha of the Colva panchayat, Judith has warned that any attempt to bulldoze with the project without taking the stakeholders, including the fishing communities, into confidence will be opposed tooth and nail.
Resolve creek and fishermen’s issues first, sarpanch tells Tourism Dept
MARGAO: Tourism stakeholder and Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz has demanded to know that issues plaguing the Colva creek, local businesses, besides problems staring at the fishermen need to be addressed first before any development by the government at the Colva beach.
Saying that Colva beach is known for its pristine beach belt, where people from all over Salcete visit, Dixon, however, lamented that the beach has been totally neglected, driving away the foreign tourists, especially the hippies who have put Colva on the world map.
He said the recent announcements made by the government to develop Colva beach and the projects planned need to be discussed with the local stakeholders first. “There are so many issues that need to be sorted our first before taking any decision especially the local fishermen’s issue were they unload their fish and dry and make their living. This is an old issue and needs permanent solution,” he said.
He added: “The redevelopment master plan for Colva has to be discussed with the local stakeholders such as restaurant operators, taxi, water sports operators. A detailed power-point presentation must be given to the local panchayat and stakeholders and general public so that local people and local business will benefit.”
Saying a permanent solution must be found for the Colva creek so the same issue doesn’t arise again and again, Dixon has disclosed plans to request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to hear the local grievances first before finalising the projects.
