Goa Investment Promotion Board recently gave its nod for the five-star hotel resort proposed to be set up by Ozone Leisure and Resorts in Vanxim. Although the island is located just 15 kilometres from Panaji, the village lacks important facilities like education, medicine, etc. Hence, locals hope that the project will usher in much needed development on the island, reports Padmavati Prabhu
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Althougth, the island of Vanxim is located merely 15 kms from the capital city of Panaji, not many people are aware of its existence. Though there are over 100 houses on the island, many of these are closed as people have moved to different places in search of employment and due to lack of facilities. The Goan visits Vanxim to get peoples’ pulse
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The sleepy island of Vanxim is located at a mere distance of 15 kilometres from Panaji, but going there, one needs to use the Ribandar-Divar and Divar-Vanxim ferry routes.
This tiny island, connected only by ferry, is entirely dependent on Divar for almost all its needs - education, medical exigencies, daily food items viz bread, fish, among other things. There are nearly 100 houses, many of which are closed, and some even on the verge of crumbling. Villagers inform that people have shifted to other places due to a lack of facilities, including employment.
Says 65-year-old Assis Furtado: “In my childhood, people here were mostly dependent on farming. However, but nearly four decades ago, it was discontinued as the bundhs broke down, which led to saline water entering the field. People have moved to other places in the State in search of employment.”
Furtado also lamented lack of facilities in the village. “We have no medical facilities here. There is not even a single shop here. For every little thing, we have to cross the ferry and go to Divar,” he said.
There have even been instances where people have constructed houses in Divar as there are no facilities here, he added.
Another resident, Manasi Parab said, “The only connectivity that we have is the ferry service. There are no transport facilities in the village. There is no school, so our children have to travel in Divar. And those who are studying in Panaji, they have to cross two ferries and manage their timings because if they miss the first ferry, then they waste a lot of time at the next ferry point.”
Presently, only one ferry operates along this route, and when there is a breakdown, villagers are completely paralysed as there is no other route to connect Divar.
“There have even been instances where children had to wait at Divar as the ferry broke down. Till the time an arrangement was made for another ferry they had to remain there,” said Manasi.
In case of emergency post-midnight, the ferry has to make a special trip to ply passengers from Vanxim to Divar and vice-versa.
Recalling old memories, 75-year old Henrique D’Mello, says, “In the olden days, connectivity was through canoes till a ferry route was introduced somewhere in the late eighties. Even the roads here were constructed as recently as 16 years ago.”
On a lighter note, his wife quips, “There have been instances where eligible bachelors had a hard time getting wedding proposals, as girls would refuse to stay in such a deserted place.”
There is one cemetery for the catholic population, while in case of Hindus, they have to be transported in a canoe to a crematorium in Naroa for the the last rites.
The villagers, however, want development in the village, especially infrastructure facilities. Recently, the Goa Investment Promotion Board granted in-principle approval to Ozone Leisure and Resorts for setting up a five-star resort in Vanxim. The villagers are hopeful that if the resort is built, the crumbling village will get a new lease of life.
“The roads are so small that only one four-wheeler can manage to pass. We want broader roads, a health centre so that we don’t have to go elsewhere for these basic facilities,” said Furtado, adding that the resort will benefit the locals.
“Some people are trying to give an impression that the entire Vanxim has been sold to the developers. but this is not so. Only a part has been given,” he said.
Another resident, Verediana Silveira, is confident that the project will benefit the villagers as vital infrastructure like roads will be developed, which will in turn lead to employment opportunities for the youth.
D’Mello said, “The new generation wants development. Once the project is set up, people will definitely repair their old houses and return to their homes.. Only a few people are opposing the project. What is important is what the majority of the population wants.”
BOX 1
Goa Investment Promotion Board (GIPB) has given its approval for the five-star project proposed by Ozone Leisure and Resorts in Vanxim. Presently, the company owns more than 5 lakh sq mts of land at the island.
Speaking about Ozone’s plan, Senior Vice President (Business Development) Gajanan Karkare, said, “The Town and Country Planning (TCP) had already considered 34,100 sq mts of land for the hotel and resort project under Regional Plan Goa 2021. An additional area of around 47,000 sq mts was considered by GIPB. The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is 50 per cent, so the construction will be restricted to only 41,000 sq mts.”
Elaborating further, he said, “The basic theme of Vanxim Resort underpins environmental and eco-tourism development. Hundred metres along the island has been earmarked as a 'No Development Zone', while the resort itself will have sparse development. Rooms and cottages will be designed in such a way that it gels along with the heritage of the village. The cottage villas and rooms will have eco-friendly thatched roofing. Since the area has only 50 per cent FAR, the construction will be restricted to only ground and first floor.”
The developers have also stressed that they will ensure that a biodiversity park is developed at the island which will not only protect the natural beauty of the island, but also add to the existing greenery.
Stating that the project will be an eco-sensitive, low density, sustainable and iconic tourism destination, Karkare said, “It is planned in such a way that vehicles will not be permitted to enter the island with guests. Guests will be ferried by boats through existing waterways, and they will have to use battery-operated buggies for internal movement.”
Speaking further about how the project will benefit the villagers, Karkare said, “We intend providing permanent employment to at least one member of every family. Additionally, there will also be educational facilities to all students from Vanxim, free waste removal facilities and free health consultation and medicines by in-house doctors.”
The developers are also looking forward to take up infrastructure development projects on the request of Vanximcars like restoration work of chapel, church, temple, among others.
BOX 2
Sustainable and eco-sensitive elements of the project
- Green building design
- Solid waste management
- Waste water management
- Minimising energy use through efficient technology
- Chemical-free landscaping
- Engaging and preserving nature
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BOX 3
The Resolution
The extraordinary special gram sabha of Sao Matias called on March 8, 2009 had passed a resolution giving approval to the five-star resort by Ozone Leisure and Resorts at Vanxim island.
“Vanxim people also proposed to have a tourist spot with a hotel in Vanxim and gram sabha approved of it,” reads the resolution.
BOX 4
Vanxim Self-Help Group
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, Ozone has initiated the Vanxim Self-Help Group in the year 2010, aiming at providing employment to local women of Vanxim island.
“These women were trained by Agnel Ashram personnel under the United Nations Development Programme,” informed CSR Head, Sajala Chawla.
The 23 women from the village who are a part of the group were trained in making jute bags, candles, shell craft, among others.
“We mainly focus on making jute bags. Now we get orders in huge quantities from government department when they organise seminars and programmes. We display them at exhibitions also,” said a member.
