Villagers seek answers on Swadesh Darshan master plan
The Colva beach master plan is displayed at the Colva Panchayat library ahead of the Gram Sabha scheduled on November 30. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
As the stage is finally set for the Sunday's (November 30) Gram Sabha of the Colva panchayat which would deliberate and discuss the Tourism Department’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 to beautify the world-famous Colva beach, Colva villagers seem anxiously waiting for Tourism officials to explain the salient features of the master plan, what exactly lies in store for the iconic beach and the future of the prime sea-facing properties et al.
For, while the Tourism Department has displayed the master plan at the village library hall for the benefit of the villagers, no official was present to explain the features of the master plan to the villagers, the development proposed to be taken up under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and whether the development will in any way impact the livelihoods of the fishing communities eking out a living from fishing activities et al.
A glance at the master plan shows that it has proposed to set up a shopping and food court plaza and its outdoor beautification, a shopping complex and its outdoor beautification, a beach deck, reconstruction of the pedestrian bridge and vehicular bridge, besides the construction of a new pedestrian bridge, as well as a hawkers’ plaza.
The plan has noted the survey numbers where these projects are proposed as per the Swadesh Darshan scheme, but sources said the layperson is unable to understand the location of these projects unless explained by officials of the Tourism Department or the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).
When The Goan called up Colva Sarpanch Tereza D’Silva to shed light on the Swadesh Darshan plan, she said the plan will be discussed at the Sunday Gram Sabha. She pointed out that the plan is presently being displayed at the library hall in the panchayat office.
When pointed out that no official is present to explain the salient features of the plan, the Sarpanch replied that the panchayat has invited officials of the Tourism Department to explain the master plan in detail at the Sunday Gram Sabha.
Colva-based social activist Judith Almeida, however, said officials of the Tourism Department will have a lot of answering to do in respect of the plan proposed for Colva beach. “We are presently in the process of studying the plan. Villagers will have a lot of questions to ask the Tourism Department officials vis-à-vis the Colva beach beautification plan,” she said.
When her attention was drawn to the fact that the beautification plan has been displayed at the panchayat library hall, Judith shot back: “Why is the plan not displayed in the panchayat office? Members of the public do not visit the library, which is located on the first floor of the panchayat ghar. If the Tourism Department or the panchayat was serious about displaying the plan for the benefit of the villagers, they would have displayed it in the panchayat office.”
