LOOKING GLASS - 3

 Dateline Sept 27, 2005:  

 At least 70% of Vasco da Gama under Navy

September 27, 2005 Heraldo newspaper, Goa
http://oheraldo.in/node/4571 ( this link may not be presently operative)

Documents reveal that even as early as in the 1960s, the Navy was in possession of 70 percent of the total land area of Vasco-da-Gama and Mormugao.

Following liberation, the locals were apprehensive over the large tracts of land claimed by the Navy.

By the end of 1963, the Navy with the service of Military Engineering Department at its command claimed over 70 % of the area in the port town. This amounted to over 4200 acres of land around Mormugao Port and Vasco, inspite of its normal requirements of 1000 acres for airport plus about 400 acres for other establishments.

Locals came to know about the extravagant claims of the Navy when the first established urban development project -– Cooperative Industrial Estate— which was cleared by the Navy in 1963 was objected to in 1964.

People’s protest over the extravagant demand culminated in a memo being submitted to Tarlok Singh, member of Planning Commission in 1964 and Lt. Governor Mulk Raj Sachdeo — the latter who realized the threat posed by the Navy and called a meeting in August 1964 of officials of Navy, Port Trust and local government besides citizens.

It was revealed on the floor of the House on 2 August 1966 that the claims of the Navy were never scrutinized and the question of land required for urban development was never considered.

A study on Imbalanced Land Allocation Posing a Threat to Civilian Development of Vasco-Mormugao Area prepared by the Citizens Mormugao Development Committee in September 1967, revealed that the demands on land made by Navy were inflated.

The report concluded that the Navy hardly needed 400 acres for all their establishments plus 1000 acres for airport, but had on the contrary demanded 3100 acres for all their establishments plus the airport.

The report also pointed out apprehensions that the claims by the Navy would hamper expansion of the port within the city which needs 4500 acres, but is left with only 900 acres.

At the time of liberation, the Navy was in search of a naval base half-way between Cochin and Bombay, so with Liberation, it did get a ready-made military installation comprising barracks, officers mess, workshop etc coupled with the airport at Vasco.

Infact, the Navy initially claimed the port exclusively for itself, but economic considerations compelled the government to decide that the port be developed as civilian as well as naval port.

One of the main factors for the Navy to lay claim on such vast tracts of land is because it is believed that they are not required to justify their requirements, as a result they have abused this loophole to their advantage, in the process putting civilians into inconvenience, many a times blocking, even harassing locals.
 

O Heraldo Newspaper, Goa
September 27, 2005
 

TGF comment:

It is quite possible that the above article (found in the online edition of Heraldo newspaper) contains the whole truth.

Unfortunately, for reasons best known to the Heraldo, the article neither names the author NOR any references. Which "documents" is this article referring to ?

TGF hopes that the Heraldo can better qualify the "1964 meeting" and any reports or minutes of that meeting.

TGF hopes that the Heraldo can better qualify the "Citizens Mormugao Development Committee", its activities and its 1967 report; It is not enough just to quote from it, rather around it. Has the Heraldo seen the report? Is it a fair and unbiased report ? Who put that 1967 report together? Did it get any mention in the Goa press? Did the O Heraldo report on it in 1967 ? Was it considered in the House of Assembly? Did anyone consider challenging that report? Wish the Heraldo would go deeper into it.

The Heraldo states that the Navy "blocked and harrassed locals". From where did the Heraldo get this information? Were any police complaints filed? Did any person report this matter to the political establishment? To whom? What action (if any) was taken? What was the result?

It is quite possible, nay very probable that the Indian Navy considers Vasco, Dabolim and Murmugao as spoils of war. Their behaviour towards Goans often makes it appear so. But writer in the Heraldo has made some very strong statements. However, without proper references and supporting documents, it serves as no more than a rant in the dark.

How long has the Heraldo known this information?  Have there been any difficulties in informing Goans? If any pressure has been applied, who applied it? Is it possible that the writer of the above article and/or  the Heraldo knows more but aren't telling us?

May be the thing called the Goa Press will tell us more. Don't hold your breath however, for that to happen anytime soon.

May be the writer intends to do that sometime soon. Until that occurs, this piece from the Heraldo will sit as an excellent of fiction.


TGF
October 1, 2005

Looking Glass 1 , 2,

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