PANAJI: A crafts bazaar, 'Goa Haat', will soon be set up across six acres of land on the eastern side of the Rua de Ourem creek in Panaji, opposite the directorate of tourism. Modelled along the lines of the Delhi handicrafts bazaar, 'Delhi Haat', the bazaar is aimed at giving a boost to Goan tourism and handicrafts.
Official sources told TOI that while the blueprints for the Goa Haat -- to be set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore sanctioned by the central government -- are ready, the approval of the Panaji planning and development authority (PDA) is awaited. The project will be tendered within two to three months, sources said.
It is learnt that tourism secretary D C Sahoo visited the 'Delhi Haat' to study its functioning, and the 'Goa Haat' is expected to function in a similar fashion. For example, stalls in the 'Delhi Haat' are allotted to a vendor for only 14 days, after which a new vendor occupies the stall. This prevents a vendor from claiming tenancy rights, sources said.
The 'Goa Haat' will not utilize the entire six acres of land near the creek. Only four acres will be used for the stalls and two acres will remain untouched so that the greenery of the area is preserved.
The 'Goa Haat' will have 25 permanent stalls which will be allotted to the tourism or handicraft corporations of different states in India on a lease basis to conduct their sales throughout the year. Another 40 stalls will be open, temporary stalls without shutters. Here, artisans of different states will be asked to apply for allotment of stalls for two or three weeks and the allotments will be done in advance. A certain percentage of the stalls will be reserved for Goan artisans who will also enjoy some preference in allotment of the stalls, sources said.
The concept of allotting stalls on a rotation basis is favourable to the government because it eliminates the permanent occupation of a stall. The government hopes that the stalls showcasing handicrafts from different states of India will attract tourists to the 'Goa Haat' giving it a national colour, feel and generate revenue, sources said.
Sources also disclosed that the tourism department has plans to utilize the other part of the land adjacent to the land allotted for 'Goa Haat'. The department is considering starting entertainment facilities like laser shows, amphitheatres, etc on the adjacent plot on a public-private-partnership basis without involving government funds, sources said.
Courtesy: Times Of India
Official sources told TOI that while the blueprints for the Goa Haat -- to be set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore sanctioned by the central government -- are ready, the approval of the Panaji planning and development authority (PDA) is awaited. The project will be tendered within two to three months, sources said.
It is learnt that tourism secretary D C Sahoo visited the 'Delhi Haat' to study its functioning, and the 'Goa Haat' is expected to function in a similar fashion. For example, stalls in the 'Delhi Haat' are allotted to a vendor for only 14 days, after which a new vendor occupies the stall. This prevents a vendor from claiming tenancy rights, sources said.
The 'Goa Haat' will not utilize the entire six acres of land near the creek. Only four acres will be used for the stalls and two acres will remain untouched so that the greenery of the area is preserved.
The 'Goa Haat' will have 25 permanent stalls which will be allotted to the tourism or handicraft corporations of different states in India on a lease basis to conduct their sales throughout the year. Another 40 stalls will be open, temporary stalls without shutters. Here, artisans of different states will be asked to apply for allotment of stalls for two or three weeks and the allotments will be done in advance. A certain percentage of the stalls will be reserved for Goan artisans who will also enjoy some preference in allotment of the stalls, sources said.
The concept of allotting stalls on a rotation basis is favourable to the government because it eliminates the permanent occupation of a stall. The government hopes that the stalls showcasing handicrafts from different states of India will attract tourists to the 'Goa Haat' giving it a national colour, feel and generate revenue, sources said.
Sources also disclosed that the tourism department has plans to utilize the other part of the land adjacent to the land allotted for 'Goa Haat'. The department is considering starting entertainment facilities like laser shows, amphitheatres, etc on the adjacent plot on a public-private-partnership basis without involving government funds, sources said.
Courtesy: Times Of India
