News Articles
Go, Goa - Cover Story, Times Crest Edition
A few of us were sitting in a friend's sundrenched kitchen the other day, postbreakfast, talking about our upcoming projects. My friend, a sought-after designer, was arranging rainbow-hued plastic spoons on her polished wooden table - experimenting with the colour scheme for a new artsy-events venue. "You know what I wish?" she said, pretty and relaxed in her soft cotton dress, "I wish we were working at the highest level;our designing, our writing, our art - I wish we were achieving and succeeding at the very top, out there in the big world. We should go for it. "Armed with fresh mugs of chai, we moved to her 'office' - an outside sofa overlooking lush green jungle. For a moment or two, while three koels and a bluebird tweeted their news from the glistening trees, our spirits wavered as we romanticised and fantasised about the life we've given up by choosing the life we have chosen. The phone rang just then;on the line, a top TV personality from Delhi working on a story. "Ooh, you are so lucky, living in Goa, how do you manage?" she gushed as we finished, "that is my dream! Someday, I'm going to finally break free, make enough money, and do it". "Come, " we tell her, but I doubt she ever will.
But others are making the move. Goa, so goes the current hype, has become the new national hub for alternative minded artistic and creative types, tired of the rat race in the major metros, etc (read: 'Amitav Ghosh Now Lives in Goa: a Trend is Born' ). One thing I know for sure: these rumours are like manna from heaven for property owners and real estate agents, who are suddenly showing houses with "perfect studio light" in the villages of Assagaon, Arpora, and Moira - all too expensive now for anyone except the seriously endowed. The cafê owners delight as well;everyone knows that artists and writers, their beret perched jauntily atop their head, like to sit for hours drinking endless cups of overly priced coffee in bohemian garden terraces.
But, ok. It is true that a new sub-culture is flowering here of late, different from the hippy scene or the 'come down and party' one of previous decades. Every country needs its own California, a place where - like in a bowl of muesli - the fruits, flakes and nuts can hang out together in perfect harmony. Goa, whether she likes it or not, has been attracting some otherly-minded folk, free spirits, cultural renegades, for a very long time, where, free to be themselves, they've invented a life that suits them. Of late, people are coming here to really do their thing, not just have a good time but manifest their creative visions. It is more a trickle than a flow;but, monthly, several more self-imposed cultural outcasts - both IB and NIB (' Indian born' and 'non-Indian born '), wash up onto shore, looking for a little quiet, a little moonlight, some good wine and a couple of close friends, and lots of glorious space for those inward journeys so necessary to some creative souls in order to thrive and survive.
Just yesterday, at the tiny village shop, I met an ex-CEO from Bangalore, in retreat in a crumbling house, working on his novel. "Ya, I'm lonely", he said, a bit gaunt, beard overgrown, "So what, I don't want to be distracted. " If he changes his mind, there is a lot going on, almost (not quite) enough to qualify us as a bona fide artistic hot spot.
Check it out in our new and funky weekly paper featuring cultural and community events. We've got cool NGOs saving animals, creating mobile libraries, and teaching videography to the disenfranchised;workshops on graphic novels, alternative photography, and screen-writing;A fabulously eclectic live-music scene and a budding vintage-film club. We even have an International Film Festival, a Festival of Ideas, and, reigning supreme, Tehelka's Thinkfest. Add to this plenty of yoga classes and organically grown muesli and, ladies and gentlemen, it seems we've got ourselves a modest scene.
All this has been met with some ambivalence by the thriving desi Goan artists etc who were doing just fine before their home became a hub to a few Artsy Outsiders. Quite a bit of segregation still remains and the relationship status is complicated. Those coming from outside, both IB and NIB, are often guilty of acting as if they have arrived in an empty land, ripe for colonisation, populated by nameless extras in an indie movie yet to be made. And possibly, and I say this with due respect, the desi Goans could try just a bit harder to get over their Outsider aversion. "A few young artists from outside have called me, asking about a studio or such advice" says Subodh Kerkar, one of Goa's premier artists invited to exhibit in Sydney and Berlin this year, "but otherwise none have mixed in with our group of Goan artists. Full integration would be of course a welcome thing", he adds, "among artists, among anyone, these kind of distinctions should not exist".
Happily, the different sub-groups have begun to intermingle, courting each other with shy hesitation. Except the musicians among us, man;these guys are breaking down those walls with a passion, with spectacular results.
But what about Amitav Ghosh, you ask, and who are the other big names? Would you maybe like maps to their houses and tours of their studies as well? The whole point of moving here, way across the world, down to the near bottom of the continent, was some peaceful sanity, a break from the mainstream, and blessed privacy. But if you do come down for a visit, do look for someone with a beret perched jauntily on their head in a Bohemian garden cafê. It will probably not be Amitav Ghosh but maybe you will find someone else willing to spin you a good yarn or two.
P. S. Somewhere out there lays a New Secret Hub for free spirited creative types, hype-less and pristine, and if you are smart, you will find it and get in on it before it is discovered by the national press.
Goa govt to invite global bids for Mopa airport in September
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said all concerns for the greenfield airport in Goa had been addressed, and global tenders for the project would be invited in September.
After sweeping to power earlier this year, Parrikar has pushed for the airport in Mopa, north Goa. Though the project had secured the Centre's in-principle approval in March 2000, it has been stuck ever since, owing to land acquisition woes and litigation. Politicians from south Goa have also protested against the project, saying it would considerably increase travel time to the new airport from south Goa.
"Whenever we set about projects, people always have differing views. There are difficulties. We will overcome these. There are no hurdles in the way. We will complete 95 per cent of the land acquisition by July, and plan to issue global tenders in September," Parrikar told Business Standard. Affected villagers, however, are unhappy with the government's acquisition and rehabilitation plans.
"The government is not even offering market rates," claims Siddarth Karapurkar of the Goan Farmers Collective.The airport at Dabolim serves as a naval base and, despite its upgrade and a new terminal at a cost of Rs 500 crore, it can handle only 4.5 million passengers. The state government estimates the Mopa airport, on completion of all its phases, can handle 30 million passengers by 2045.
Concern has also been raised on the viability of the second airport, as the Dabolim airport would also remain functional. Critics say an International Civil Aviation study, too, expressed similar fears. Parrikar, however defends the decision. "Dabolim Airport would be saturated in three-four years. It has restrictions and does not allow flying during certain hours. Traffic is also growing. In my opinion, airport developers would queue for the project," he said, adding, "The airport would be developed through private participation. The Goa government's contribution would be land. A financial consultant has been appointed to prepare bid conditions and the report would be available by July-August."
Meet the Team at Times Property Exhibition, Mumbai
We are pleased to announce our participation at the Times Property Exhibition at the Nehru centre, Worli in Mumbai on the 28th and 29th of April 2012. Our sales executives, will interface with clients and explain merits, features and payment plans of our ready possession apartments and luxury villas in North Goa.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The Acron team.
An apartment building in Aldona?
A few days ago, on the 31st of December 2012 the HINDU - Bangalore carried an article titled 'Acron's Fleur Greens in Goa'. Reporters all over India had got wind that Acron, Goa's leading-edge developer since 1988 was about to launch a low-rise low-density apartment building in the heart of North Goa's most scenic and charecteristic village, Aldona. This information got investors and home buyers excited and we recieved a flurry of calls and e-mails. The development is a one-of-a-kind eco-friendly apartment building with just 10 select large apartments of 1 and 2 BHK config for sale. As these apartments are limited in number we are selling them on a first come first served basis. Bookings open. For more information call NOELA today on 98221 21479.
Hurry call today!
Times Property Exhibition Mumbai. Meet the team!
We are pleased to announce our participation at the Times Property Exhibition at the Nehru centre, Worli in Mumbai on the 26th and 27th of November 2011. Our sale executives, Poonam and Noela will interface with clients and explain merits, features and payment plans of our ready possession apartments and luxury villas in North Goa.
We look forwards to seeing you there.
The Acron team.
'Govt must promote green buildings' - Times of India
The Green Buildings for a Green Goa conference held at the BITS Pilani campus in Goa received and overwhelming response from students and professionals in the real estate, engineering, and design sector. With a vision to promote property development in tandem with nature, Acron and the Confederation of Indian Industry [CII] played host to a range of speakers from varying backgrounds.
Sep 25, 2011, 03.58AM IST TNN [Times of India]
MARGAO/VASCO: Emphasis on the urgent need for real estate developers and state governments to change their mindsets and approach to make any real 'green' difference was the underlying theme at the day-long conference on "Green buildings for green Goa", held at BITS- Pilani, Zuarinagar, on Saturday.
Speakers including head of government departments spoke at the conference organized by the confederation of Indian industry (CII) and the state chapter of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
The speakers arrived at a broad consensus that there were roadblocks in implementation of green buildings in the current scenario due to ill-equipped government bye-laws, lack of incentives or subsidies, high costs of green products and uninformed contractors and government agencies.
"We will submit a memorandum to the state government in a few days which will consist of all the key recommendations and suggestions made by the speakers today," said S Raghupathy, executive director, CII.
Among the key highlights of the conference was the emphasis laid on the government to relax regulations allowing the construction of green buildings and the need for private-public partnership. "The TCP regulations should ideally be amended and it must incorporate the concept of green housing, which should be made mandatory," said Amar Brito, president of IGBC.
Britto added that currently, it is only voluntary for private developers to approach IGBC for green ratings. He further added that the government should also have its own green ratings assessment and accordingly offer rebate after completion of the project. "This can be in terms of reduction of infrastructure tax or reduction of VAT for green products such as solar panel and rain water harvesting appliances," he said.
Watch the video and find out what the students had to say about the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7BoJs0uhyo&feature=youtube_gdata
Acron Developers launches Emerald Court
Acron, Goa's leading-edge developer has opened bookings for a one-of-a-kind apartment complex that's ready to move into.Located at Nagoa, Arpora a five minute drive away from the famous Calangute and Baga beaches, homeowners at Emerald Court enjoy the best of both worlds; the flavor and ambience of the natural Goan setting and the excitement of the happening places along the coastal belt. The colorful Saturday night bazaar, the popular traditional Friday market and all the vivacious night clubs and lounges are also conveniently accessed.
Apart from the benefits of owning a home by Acron, this is an ideal investment for those looking for healthy real estate returns:
•1. You save 2.575% service tax because the homes are sold after completition of construction.
•2. You don't have to wait to move into your new home.
•3. You can generate revenue from your property by renting it.
Emerald Court is a distinctive high-end development comprising of 55 apartments of studio, 1, and 2 BHK configurations. Skilled workmanship, careful material selection and superior specifications are the hallmark of the construction. Creatively conceived with comfort and convenience for the modern day family, this development is styled such that nature and architecture complement each other. Set in approximately 5000 sq.mts of landscaped, freehold land, it has a typical Goan ambience and architecture, enjoying peace and quiet in the midst of coconut and mango groves yet close enough to the tourist areas and services.
The amenities include:
Landscaped gardens and non-skid pathways
•ü Walk-in swimming pool with built-in Jacuzzi and cascading waterfall
•ü Gymnasium and activity centre.
•ü Storerooms at terrace level available.
•ü Ramp access for physically challenged and older persons
•ü Power back-up for all the common areas
•ü Fire hydrants for health and safety
•ü Hydropneumatic water pressure systems with online filtration plant
A major advantage of investing at Emerald Court is that your property can be rented out all year round especially during peak tourist seaso, October - February. There are several rental and property management agencies in Goa who specialize in property rental. Apartments at Emerald Court are available at an introductory price of Rs 4,400/- per square foot and that too with easy payment plans. The added advantage being that service tax of 2.575% is not levied on purchase of apartment in Emerald Court.
Acron, Goa's leading edge developer has incorporated state-of- the-art amenities at Emerald Court. The development is equipped with video phone monitoring, fire hydrants and smoke detectors, the compound is paved with anti-skid tiles, ramp access for physically challenged and senior citizens at various places and at the swimming pool with a built in Jacuzzi. Acron Developers being eco-sensitive developers have provided each building with solar water heating provision, recirculation pumps and sewage treatment plants.
"Acron Group has launched Emerald Court ready to move in luxury homes in Goa. The USP for these charming homes is one does not have to pay service tax and what's more advantageous is these homes can be rented out when the owner is away. There is a double gain for the buyer since he is paying lesser capital for a ready to move in luxury home and also drawing returns soon after purchase ", said Mr. Amar J. Britto, Director, Acron Group.
One can select a fully furnished apartment furnished option. This includes furniture for the drawing room area, bedroom furniture and dining table with chairs. The kitchen includes granite counter, cupboards and gadgets like refrigerator, microwave and cooking range including crockery, cutlery and utensils too. Additionally a LCD, split air-conditioner and a washing machine can be installed too.
Acron Developers have been providing luxury living at affordable prices since 1988. They have developed many quality residential complexes in Goa, and are constructing homes in Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru. Acron Developers have created some of the finest five star properties in Goa and Mumbai managed by well established national and International hotel chains. Amongst their ever increasing portfolio of construction they are building a 160 room star hotel in Navi Mumbai.
Follow the link for details and specifications:
http://www.acronindia.com/project.php?proj_id=11&prop_id=11
OR CALL: 99229 07667 or 99225 88088 TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE!
Acron - Herald Annual Essay Writing Competition
Green buildings are those that are designed, built and operated in a way that is more sustainable, minimizing their negative consequences on the environment while enhancing the health and quality of life of the people that live and work in them. Sustainability has become a crucial factor in the assessment of the impact of real estate.
Commercial, industrial and residential construction is happening all over Goa at a considerable pace. Awareness of sustainable buildings is important in our state, with it's fragile environment and significant constraints in power and water supply, sanitation services, solid waste management etc.
Eight prizes in two categories
Age group: 11 - 17 yrs
1st prize: Rs 15,000
2nd prize Rs 10,000
Topic:
"Ways in which I can make my home and school become more eco-friendly"
Age group: 18 - 25 yrs
1st prize: Rs 25,000 + a trip to Delhi*
2nd Prize Rs 15,000
* An all-expenses paid trip to Delhi and an exciting opportunity to learn more about green buildings at the IGBC Conference to be held from 20th to 22nd Oct 2011
Topics:
1. "Ways and means of making existing homes and all other buildings in Goa more eco-friendly"
2. "Ways and means of making new homes and all other buildings in Goa more eco-friendly"
3. "Ways and means of tackling garbage and other waste disposal problems in Goa"
Send you entries to
Mail to:
Acron Developers Pvt Ltd
Acron - Herald Essay Competition
851/9, Alto Betim,
Near Neo Majestic,
Porvorim,
Goa 403521
Or E-mail us the essay as a MS Word attachment at: essay@acronindia.com with the with subject : Acron - Herald Annual Essay Writing Competition including the following details.
1. Full name
2. Age:
3. Telephone no:
4. Address:
Terms & Conditions:
Last date for submission of entries is 31st August 2011
Only one entry and topic allowed per contestant. The essay must be your own, original work, in English and not exceed 2000 words.
The judges are prominent members of civil society, concerned with ecology and construction related issues in Goa. Their decision will be final.
Employees and/or relatives of employees of the Acron group of companies and Herald Publications are not eligible to participate.
All entries will be the property of the Acron Group, who reserve the right to publish and/or use the same in, advertising/promo material for the
Green Buildings for a Green Goa initiative
Prize winning entries may be published in Herald publications
Winners will be notified individually by email or phone call by the second week of September 2011 and the prizes will be awarded at the
IGBC-CII, Green Buildings for a Green Goa Conference on September 24that BITS-Pilani,
Thank you and good luck!
The Goa chapter of the IGBC meet; an astounding success
Navhind Times - PANAJI, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) member and green building expert, Ms Priya Vakil in her presentation at Candolim introspected from an architect perspective on green buildings.
She emphasised that "green buildings definitely increases rent ratio values by almost 5 per cent while reduces operating cost by almost 10 per cent and reduces energy bills by 25 per cent, increasing the savings of any middle class family."
Mentioning the various factors involved in the ratings and certifications of green building Ms Vakil stated that only innovation from the builder and the intentions of sustainable development, keeping in mind the fragile environment, can bring about this change. She also states that Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has set a 33 per cent target by 2020 to increase the green landscape in urban cities.
IGBC - Goa Chapter at its first meet under the chairmanship of Mr Amar Britto met with vendors, realtor experts and developers from the construction industry to highlight the aspect of green building and dispel the myths involved with high construction cost.
Mr Amar Britto deliberated on the platinum certification for green buildings, the norms to be followed and the green building movement in India. "Goa is just the 12th city besides the major metros in India to be a member of IGBC. Also my company Acron has built its first green building in Vicente Greens, Succoro. Acron is also constructing another five green building projects in North Goa that utilise minimum water and are energy efficient."
Mr Britto stated that big projects that involves residential units for more than 50, 000 people and over 20,000 litres of sewage can be discounted a Ministry of Environment and Forests clearance if green building initiatives of wooden floorings, water harvesting, recycling units and use of glass is used to increase lighting and decrease heat.
Mr M Selvarasu, Director of LEED presented the Chennai Central Library as a case study wherein a reduced capacity of almost 3,000 tonnes in air conditioning is the outcome of using green building initiatives set by IGBC. He pointed out that glass is the eye in such a project to reduce heat in the building, but stated that different climates will require different initiatives in green buildings.
Mr Rishad D'Cruz made a presentation on Acron's Vicente Green Project which is Goa's first pre-certified IGBC Platinum rated project.The meet was initiated by Confederation of Indian Industry
http://www.navhindtimes.in/business/green-buildings-can-increase-rent-ratio-5-goa
ACRON hosts the Goa chapter of the IGBC meet
The Indian Green Building Council meet will be held at the ACRON constructed Fortune Select Regina resort at Candolim today. As Goa's leading-edge developers of eco-friendly homes ACRON plays hosts to a range of dignitaries and press who promise to make this event an astounding success. Members of the public, well wishers and our esteemed customers are encouraged to be a part of the ACRON sucess story by attending the event. Vicente Greens is Goa's first pre-certified platinum-rated green development.Eco-friendly 1 - BHK Apts at Socorro, Hurry call us today!
Call our sales team today on: 99225 88088, 98221 21479
Meet us in LONDON at the HDFC exhibition on the 11th & 12th of June
If you live in the UK and would like to purchase an Acron development in Goa, please take this opportunity to meet our Director at the HDFC property expo held at the Hilton Metropole, Monarch Suite, Edgeware road, London W2 1JU. Closest tube: Hyde park corner station [Piccadilly line]. Find out first hand, information relating to investing in India's booming real estate market, rules pertaining to NRI and PIO purchases and details about our exciting upcoming villas and apartments in North Goa. We look forward to meeting you in person.
Times property expo - 6th & 7th of May 2011 at Hotel Fidalgo
Our sales team will be present at the Times property sales exhibition on the 7th and 8th of May 2011 at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim - Goa. Meet us and find out how you can avail of our easy payment plans for 1, 2 and 3 bhk apartments at Vicente Greens.
Easter offer: Buy an Acron home. Get a car for free !
Acron, Goa's leading-edge developer presents 1, 2 and 3 bhk apartments under construction and on ready possession with superior specifications and high standards
to suit your budget.
This Easter week, we 're making your home-buying decision even easier by gifting cars like the Tata Nano, Maruti Alto, Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo
on purchases of our homes.
So, invest in an Acron apartment this Easter and enjoy the comfort and convenience of a brand new car to go with it !
Terms & conditions
•1. This offer is valid from 10 a.m. on the 2 until 6 pm on 02st May 2011 on a first-come first -served basis
•2. This offer is based on payment of 50% upfront instalment for VG homes and 100% down payment for our ready possession homes
•3. This offer cannot be combined with any other Acron promotion, offer or discount scheme
•4. The offer is based on price of homes as specified in our 2010 printed list.
•5. The cars are offered as per availability with dealer, - Vistar Motors Panjim and prices of their ex-showroom, base model, solid colour vehicles only, as per their price list dated
•6. Taxes, insurance, registration charges and all other vehicle-related costs and expenses shall be borne by the home buyer.
•7. Payment to the vehicle dealer will be made by us on behalf of the home buyer simultaneous with the realization of the payment as in clause 2 above
•8. This offer is based on payment of 50% upfront instalment for VG homes and 100% down payment for our ready possession homes.
•9. In the event of termination of the Agreement for Sale, for any reason whatsoever, all refunds, paid by us to the home buyer will be subject to deduction of cost of the vehicle and interest at 12 percent thereon.
•10. All homes may not have associated car ports and are subject to availability.
•11. All cars must be registered in Goa.
Times property exhibition | 6th & 7th May, Hotel Fidalgo Panjim
Our sales team will be present at the Times property sales exhibition on the 7th and 8th of May 2011 at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim - Goa. Meet us in person and avail of exciting Easter offers.
Indian real estate report - Economy watch
The real estate market in India is yet in a nascent stage and the scope is simply unlimited. An unhindered growth for the next twenty years is almost sure. This is because the outsourcing business in India is going in great guns and this entails a huge demand for commercial buildings and urban housing besides improvement in infrastructure.
Indian real sector has seen an unprecedented boom in the last few years. This was ignited and fueled by two main forces. First, the expanding industrial sector has created a surge in demand for office-buildings and dwellings. The industrial sector grew at the rate of 10.8 percent in 2006-07 out of which a growth of 11.8 percent was seen by the manufacturing sector. Second, the liberalisation policies of government has decreased the need for permissions and licenses before taking up mega construction projects. Opening the doors to foreign investments is a further step in this direction. The government has allowed FDI in the real estate sector since 2002. FDI was deemed necessary in the view of making the sector more organised and increasing professionalism. farmers. The villages adjacent to the metro cities have experienced sky-rocketing land prices. This has induced farmers to sell their land for good money.
http://www.economywatch.com/real-estate
Acron wishes you a happy Gudi Padva
Celebrate the auspicious, first day of Vasant by purchasing an apartment at our Eco-friendly development Vicente Greens. Excellent 1, 2 and 3 BHK apartments for sale at Socorro, Porvorim.Riya Sen gets a Goa address
Bollywood startlet, Riya Sen buys a villa in beautiful and sunny Goa. Like Riya, many other Bollywood celebrities have made Goa their second home. Stars such as Akshay Kumar, Celina Jaitley, Neha Dhupia, Sanjay Gupta, Imtiaz Ali, Nana Patekar and even the big B himself has been eying a home in Aldona, Goa.
Source: Goa Times
Come back home to Goa - Live in Arpora, near Baga beach
2 BHK Apartments in Villa Vera at Arpora near Baga. Call 99225 88088 today. Apartments in a quiet cul-de-sac at Arpora, a 5-minute drive from Baga beach. Off the road to the northern beaches and amidst mango and palm groves. The shops, markets and services are a 5-minute walk away.
Features include:
- Swimming Pool
- Landscaped Gardens
- Solar water heating
- Automatic elevators
- Piped cooking gas
- Sewage treatment plant
- Hydropneumatic system
- Each home has double aspect and two large balconies
Acron makes Arpora affordable this festive season
Acron are making homes in Arpora affordable this festive season, with a special bonus on purchase of apartments in our prestigious, exclusive apartments in Villa Vera, Villa Serena and Magdalena court.
We have a range of exciting tailor-made offers to make our ready-posession homes in Arpora and Siolim very affordable this festive season. Call us to find out what offers are suitable to you.
As with all our developments we have been pre-approved for home loans by leading banks and HFI's that include SBI, ICICI, HDFC, AXIS, GICHF, LICHF, IDBI, Corporation Bank, etc.
To grab this super offer, simply call us on
+91 99229 07667 or +91 99225 88088 or +91 98221 21479
You can also e-mail us: sales@acronindia.com and we will responsd within 24 hours.
Terms & conditions apply
Jairam modifies draft CRZ notification provisions
Acceding to the demands of the fishing community, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has agreed to drop or modify many provisions of the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2010 notification.
Chairman of the National Fish workers Forum (NFF) Matanhy Saldanha told The Hindu here on Friday that the draft notification, brought out in September 2010, had drawn the ire of the fishing communities for its failure to reverse the liberal permissions that were provided for industries by the much amended CRZ notification of 1991 that was currently in vogue.
Mr. Saldanha disclosed that the Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh, during the second round of interactions with NFF representatives in New Delhi on Wednesday, announced that the new notification would come out in the first week of January after making the modifications agreed upon. In a significant policy pronouncement, he also agreed that the Ministry would start working on replacing the notification with an Act of Parliament.
According to Mr. Saldanha, while recognising that some important differences remain, the Minister agreed to many of the fishing community demands.
The former Goa Tourism Minister said that the provisions for housing for fishermen were also felt to be grossly inadequate. Though the draft notification came in the wake of a series of public consultations in all coastal States, most of them attended by the Minister of Environment, the fishing communities strongly felt that their views were not properly reflected in the draft.
The coast-wide mobilisation against the draft notification under the leadership of the NFF on October 29 found significant support from political leaders and State governments, notably Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Source: The Hindu.com PANAJI, January 2, 2011 by Prakash Kamat
Bachchans Buying House in Goa
The quaint village Aldona in North Goa is in a state of excitement. The residents have been shaken out of their slumber and are at their windows, curiously peeking out at their potentially new neighbours, Bollywood's glam couple Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan.Yes, it is believed that the Bachchans are house hunting in Goa, and they have zeroed in on Aldona where a bungalow belonging to a Kashmiri has caught the family's eye. It's of Portuguese architecture, naturally, and has a swimming pool attached.
Amitabh and Abhishek, who is shooting in Canacona for Dum Maro Dum, went around the house last week. Abhishek is understood to have fallen in love with Goa after working on his second film there and would be keen to have a summer home in the picturesque state. As for Amitabh, among his first hits in the swinging Seventies was Mehmood's Bombay To Goa. The Big B subsequently returned to Goa to make Pukar in the 1980s. [Source: TOI online]