PANAJI, Aug 11: Goa's town planning has plunged into an abyss of massive corruption and unchecked activities of builders and promoters of luxury hotels. Ironically, this virtual rape and plunder is being justified in the name of tourism, little realising that tourism itself might be killed by this sort of unplanned overgrowth.

This tiny state of 12 lakh people is today crumbling under the weight of abuse of those attributes which have made it famous as a tourist and investment destination.

Land is becoming scarce with increasing demands of booming economy, expanding tourism sector and growing housing needs of its ever-increasing population. Due to this, land prices are soaring almost daily in towns and suburbs as new buildings are coming up fighting for space and moving to the fringes with an inadequate infrastructure.

And amid this rush for space, all planning principles are thrown to the winds and buildings are coming up in every inch of available space in gross violation of norms.

As it is, the important towns of Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Vasco and Ponda have long lost their traditional character as old houses have been demolished and replaced by high-rise apartment complexes and hotels where norms and standards of high rise structures are never followed and needs of open spaces, parking facilities and drainage often overlooked.

In many suburban areas, lush green agricultural land is turned into apartment complexes and hotels have been built right on the beaches in gross violation of coastal zoning regulations.

In the overcrowded beach villages of Calangute and Candolim which have become thick jungles of concrete blocks, one in every three hotels has come up within the prohibited 200-metre zone from the shore.

This fact was brought to light in a study presented at a meeting of town planners held here not long ago. The Goan people are paying a heavy price for these planning ills.

During a recent high level conference on tackling malaria crisis, health officials are said to have openly blamed the Town Planning Department for malaria epidemic charging that it was a direct result of building projects being cleared without fulfilling standard town planning norms.

Most Goan towns today are reeling under the impact of unmanageable parking and traffic crisis, high rate of road accidents and excessive floodings during rains.

During the just concluded Assembly session former Chief Minister Shashikala Kakodkar charged Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane with following the same flawed land policies which he accused his predecessor Ravi Naik of doing.

At a public function here last week former Mormugao Port Chairman Arvind Bhatikar said Goa could acquire dubious distinction of being the most corrupt state in the country given the enormity of the malaise. Bhatikar was only echoing strong sentiments of an average Goan.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.