Sun and sea, but not Goa

With the state government adopting a fast-track approach to developing infrastructure in the district, most of the basic facilities like power, water and an international airport are expected to be in place by mid-2000.More than 200 hectares of rocky, barren land have been acquired in the Chipi-Parola village on the Mhapan plateau. And negotiations are on with local villagers to acquire another 50 hectares of cultivated land. “When completed, the airport will be able to handle wide-bodied aircraft,” says Gulabrao Pawar, deputy collector of Sindhudurg district.

Pawar told The Indian Express that Sindhudurg will soon be in a position to beself-sufficient in power supply following the completion of related projects in neighbouring Ratnagiri.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the nodal agency for tourism development in the state, feels the private sector will follow in the wake of infrastructure development here. Under a tourism development plan prepared by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the state government, 21 sites have been identified for such development. Of these, 14 points comprise beaches, six of which should be developed on a priority basis, according to the recommendation.

The consultants have recommended that Sindhudurg be projected as an unexploited beach destination having a rich cultural tradition in contrast to Goa, which is Westernised and extremely commercial.

Should the Maharashtra government implement the plan in toto, the district’s main town, Sawantwadi, would be converted into a heritage city. The district’s most famous monument, the Sindhudurg fort built by Maratha chieftain ChhartapatiShivaji would be another popular destination. The National Institute of Oceanography is also conducting a feasibility study for construction of a marine park at Malvan.

According to Kiran Sulakhe, project manager, MTDC, the government has set a target of 1.2 lakh foreign tourists and 3.2 lakh domestic tourists by 2010. Currently, the district averages less than 2,000 foreign and 8,000 domestic tourists annually.

The hospitality industry has already shown interest in the promises held out by the Maharashtra government. The Taj group of hotels has been given a sprawling 66-hectare plot at Shiroda village to set up a naturopathy centre and resort. The Oberoi group is setting up an 80-hectare holiday village at Mithbav. The Fomento group, owners of the Cidade de Goa hotel at Panaji in Goa, is negotiating for a 55-hectare plot at Mochemad village. In addition, the MTDC itself is constructing budget hotels and camping sites at various locations.

Sulakhe hopes the concessions for tourism-related projects herein the latest budget will draw in more players. The state government has decided to provide land for such projects at 50 per cent below market rates. In addition, they will be provided electricity and water at concessional rates.

However, the growing interest in Sindhudurg has evoked mixed reactions in Goa, which is the target of Maharashtra planners. “In order to replicate the success of Goa, people from this state will have to be transported o Sindhudurg,” remarks Sundar Advani, who owns the Goa Renaissance beach resort. He says Goa’s acceptance of Western culture has helped attract a large number of Western tourists. “Today, Goa is promoted as a destination district from other parts of India,” Advani remarks. Jitendra Deshprabhu, who heads the committee on tourism of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agrees. “The local inhabitants of Sindhudurg, who are not exposed to the cultural permissiveness like the Goan people are averse to Western tourists,” says Deshprabhu, who hails from a familywhose ancestors once ruled parts of the district.

Towards promoting tourism in Sindhudurg, the district administration will organise mahotsavs and publicity campaigns in May, to educate the people, says Deputy Collector Gulabrao Pawar. Sulakhe of MTDC says the corporation is also encouraging the locals to offer lodging and boarding to tourists.

Deshprabhu says if these measures succeed, they will begin drawing tourists away from Goa in less than three years. “To begin with, Goa will have to construct an international airport if it has to remain an attractive destination,” he says.

At present, Goa’s airport at Dabolim is in the possession of the Indian Navy, which allots time-slots for domestic and international charter flights. He warns that lack of adequate infrastructure in Goa like water sports, shopping facilities and adventure trails robs the state of repeat visitors. “If Goa does not improve its infrastructure, it will be reduced to handling overflow of traffic from Sindhudurg,” hewarns.

Sindhudurg: A bird’s eyeview

Coastline: 128 km
Forest cover: 556.74 sq km
Total estuarine area: 74.6 sq km
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