Lackluster Sale of Goa

Published Article

Destiny permitted me to attend Goa Property Show organized by Magicbricks.com (TIMES BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LTD) at Tivolli Gardens, Delhi on 15th & 16th March 2008. I am not sure, about the expectations of the Developers who had their stalls. As low turnout was seen on the first day with less than 300 viewers registered. Shockingly for me, most of the real estate developers were based in Delhi, NCR, one even from Kanpur. With all showing images and videos of ready to move properties and dream homes to the affluent “Delhiites”. With typical sales promises such as “When do you plan to visit Goa next, just give me a call, we will pick you up at the airport and take you to the site”

Some of the developers who had their stalls were Acron, Linc Property Developers, Chowgule Real Estate & Construction, Integriti Real Estate Developers, Nirvana, Nest Buildcon, Jai Bhuvan Builders and Rivera Construction, Tarika Lifestyle, Bullion Limited, Expanse India Buildcon, Geo Realtors, Gold touch Developers & Promoters, Decolive Realty Developers, Le Gardenia, Akar Creations, Property Management group, and Heritage Real Estate Developers.

It was sad to see, that many Young Goans at these stalls mentioning how easy it is to get a home near the sea. It was painful to see many sales representatives and developers talking & mispronouncing almost all places in Goa where they had development plans. Just made me, realize how easy it is to buy, develop and sell properties in Goa for anyone without even knowing the name of place, its culture and its people. One stall named Goodwill, run by young Goans, mentioned how they would get any kind of property from Plots facing beach or Hill side near sea. “Just send me your requirements and give me few weeks to get back with various options” were his words.

Another painful sight was the selling of plots and apartments in enchanted serene side of Goa such as
· Assagao by Expanse Buildcon and Delhi based Decolive,

· Kanpur based Geo Realtors’s project near Nagoa Church,

· Riviera Constructions “Foothills” Project and Integriti Developers’ “Aldeia Miraflor” Project in Arpora village.

· Delhi based Nirvana Nest Projects in Vagator, Anjuna, Aldona, Bogmallo

· Chowgule Real Estate Project “Meadows” in Paithona, Bardez.

To balance the equation of much hyped Goa Real Estate Show, was an unnamed Goan outside the exhibition area, who was distributing pamphlets with SAVE GOA printed on them, spreading the awareness amongst the visitors / buyers to be extra cautious when anyone promises them home near the sea, as it could violate the Goan Laws of CRZMA and Town & Country Planning Act (Hill cutting). Pamphlet mentioned “Unprecedented Demand in Real Estate is killing Goa’s Natural Beauty, where once existed serene beaches is now filled with concrete cement & high walls.” Going a step further he urged them to control their aspirations and profit motive to preserve a better Goa for the next generation.

There seems to be greater interests in the audience to know about the feelings of the locals. He mentioned that just as the Real Estate lobby, he was doing his job of listening to his inner voice of spreading the awareness of Socio-Cultural and Environment impact of these affluent projects. In apt words he quoted his friend as “Wrong will always remain wrong, even if everyone does it. Right will always remain right, even if no one does it.”

Image: SAVE GOA Pamphlets being distributed at exit of Exhibition Area

There were more surprises at this event, a Delhi based real estate developer –GoldTouch had plans to start a 5 floored apartment named Ruby Residency with 70 flats in the forests of Chawdi, Canacona. The Developer softly mentioned that there was a “nominal fee” of Rs. 50,000 for Water and Electricity Connection per apartment. I was surprised with his confidence in alien state when the Director mentioned about Read to Move Apartments near Patnem Beach. I wondered possible violations of hill cutting by projects such as Clairemont in Kadamba Plateau overlooking Mandovi in pursuit of providing “Priceless view from your apartment” starting from a crore.

Another surprise was many of brochures had the prices in Sterling Pound, I wondered how many Indians would like to use that currency. It was extremely evident that there is a greater story for selling the properties to NRIs and possibly Foreigners. Chowgule Real Estate Project “Meadows” in Paithona, Bardez also distributed CDs which started with video of Google Map showing journey from Great Britain to Paithona, Goa it seemed like a fairy tale in search of abode.

Another sad observation was the architecture of these upcoming projects. All seemed to be extremely lucrative and cost effective, a typical metro architecture. I wondered why Goa unlike some states in the world doesn’t have a set architecture pattern set, based on its unique Hindu-Portuguese Architecture much expressed in museum Houses of Goa. With no such legislation, Goa is all set to become an apartment complex filled with pigeon boxes for Indian families. With so many real estate projects in pipeline far away from the affordability standards of the large Goan Middle class, I wonder who would buy them. Question than arises as there is existing problems such as sewage, garbage disposal, malaria, pollution, traffic jams, water and electricity shortage, expensive private healthcare, drug trafficking, prostitution, foreign land mafias, etc. Will the office bearers, Panchayats and Government be held responsible for the “unprecedented” real estate splurge and its collateral damage as well as aggravation of existing problems? Do we fix the problems first and then start the real estate bandwagon.

To the Change the Land Rules, What is Goan Government waiting for? Another Land Scandal, Another Foreign Mafia Expose, Another exponential crime rate with greater disparity between the rich and poor, or Another “Aam Aadmi” movement to vote the Government out. All politicians in the recent turbulent political history of Goa are remembered for all the wrong reasons from greed to power hunger. I often dream to see Goa as the first developed state of India, I wonder where are the leaders to take Goa there. Perhaps many of them, selfishly driven with no time to introspect their cause to be remembered as martyrs of Development.

Back in Bangalore, I wondered why none of the Real Estate lobby thinks of sustainable and affordable homes for the poor and deprived staying in slums of Chimbel. Perhaps it was all about profit motive and greed. On introspection, I could relate to it, as many of my breed of IT Consultants choose to work for development of Global MNCs rather than Indian Rural Sector improving Public Distribution Systems, Traffic Management Systems etc. All I hope is that this realization turns into execution.

I conclude with words ringing in my mind of the activist outside Goa Real Estate Show that “Wrong will always remain wrong, even if everyone does it. Right will always remain right, even if no one does it.”

Jai Hind,

Navendu Shirali

(Writer is Consultant in Bangalore)

Encl: Photos of Exhibition - Goa Real Estate Show

Preferred Correspondence: navendu.shirali@gmail.com