8/6/2019 Architectonic, Herald, May 30th, 2011

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Our introspection of present day architecturesSeven deadly sins has moved on. From the first sinof Pride which is the sin of designer egotism,

where we produce bad buildings because of our deludedideas of showcasing greatness of self, to the second sin ofEnvy, which is the sin of the copy cat design method where we imitate, because we covet the qualities of an-other.

We now, sample the third sin of Wrath and and thefourth sin of Sloth.

WRATH:

Beer known today as: dogmatism (the intolerance ofopinions that differ with ours)

The sin of wrath is the sin of prejudice, with which we

express our opinions in a way that suggests they shouldbe accepted without question.

Architects always serve at the pleasure of the client, butthis is much confused with design being the prerogativesolely of the client and no one else.

In such a circumstance, either the architect has to volun-

tarily withdraw and hope that the next client will notbe the same, or put up with these expert clients whowont accept anything other than that, which followstheir own ideas of Ar-chitecture.

Reversely, experi-ences abound aboutclients, aempting adiscussion of the pro-

posed design or forclarity on consultancyfees claimed in lieu ofservices rendered, andfacing a sudden hostil-ity, however honest

and well intentioned, theirrequest may be.

We are increasinglystuck in this rigid dogma-tism - a sort of Either youare with us or against us

pig-headed behavior, which means that a good idea fromone side almost never finds its way to the other.

It is naive to think that all clients and architects, today,are open-minded, up-for-debate liberals who wouldwant to discuss and hearout each other.

So, while each side worksitself up against doing any-

thing that may be seen ascrediting the others andinto finding more ways tokeep the others out fromparticipating, Architecturesuffers.

SLOTH:Beer know today as: in-

competence (lacking in

skills and ability to do

something properly)

The sin of sloth is the sin of the inability, contributing tothe apathy in our architecture.

Incompetence has bracketed architects as impracticalat construction and consequently classified, detailing forbeer construction, as an unnecessary waste of time, thatis best le to contractors and material suppliers to workout and finalize, directly on site.

The consequence is that, while it is the client who, nowoen, differs to the opinion of the contractor to oversee themundane task of construction at site, the architect hascome to be known as a fixer, with a wide range of activ-ities, that include more serious responsibilities like bro-kering construction approvals, middling the sale of ourever popular clear-title properties, commissioning sup-pliers and contractors for confirmation in selection forworks and shadow partnering with contractors.

We hear of architects mockingly re-christened aer their

modus operandi, such as 5 percent who indicates to all, by the art of skilful subtlety, a cover commissioningcharge and asli-nakli who hides incompetence of designby fake decorative elements like dummy columns, dummyarches, dummy cornices, etc., etc. - asli- nakli facades.

The list of such slothfulness can go on and on.

to be concluded

-The author is a practicing architect based inCarambolim, Goa.jim.manjooran@gmail.com

lands, thus illegally allowing con-struction activity and continuing thedestruction of the coastal ecology in-stead of preserving it.

CONSTRUCTION OFPORTS

The CRZ notification bans construc-

tion of Port and harbour projects inhigh eroding stretches of the coast, ex-cept those projects classified as strate-gic and defence related in terms ofEIA notification, 2006 identified byMoEF.

Saldanha expressed the Forums biggest fear of abuse of this clausewhich would allow establishment ofports in so-called stable zones. Here,the first issue is that once a port is es-tablished, an entire stable zone willbecome unstable. The greed of thecorporate lobby will finish Indiascoastline. 350 ports are proposed to beestablished along the Indian coast.How can such a huge number of portsbe established when present ports arenot saturated? This creation of ports isonly based on corporate greed. Everycompany wants to establish a port.

To be concluded next week

O

n paper, the demarca-tions of CRZ from HTLto 500 metres at theseafront and HTL to

100 metres on the riverfront seems non-problematic. How-ever, there are several problems withthe CRZ notification when one readsthe fine print.

LOCALCOMMUNITIES

Though the term local communitiesincluded in CRZ notification by theCentre seems to be harmless,Matanhy Saldanha, Chairman of Na-tional Fisher Workers Forum (NFWF)says that it provides scope for abuse.Within CRZ, reconstruction and re-pair of houses of fishermen and socalled local communities is al-lowed. However, Saldanha predictedthat irregularities would crop up in itsinterpretations and monitoring.

The inclusion of other local com-munities is seen as a backdoor entryfor illegalities. He cites the instance atVelsao and Colva where illegal con-structions have come up within CRZ.In the name of a tenant, a Delhi resi-dent has started illegal construction atVelsao. In the same village, MadrasRubber Factory had put up a plinthfor a coage, which was illegal and

construction stayed by the CoastalRegulation Zone Management Au-thority. Aer seven years however,they showed it as an existing structure

and the structure was legalized. Thisstructure is within 10 metres from theHTL. These are certainly not localcommunities, but businessmen misus-ing the provisions with a lile helpfrom the authorities.

This apart, major irregularities areallowed by the Director of Panchayats,says Saldanha. Even if panchayatsstay the construction of illegal struc-tures within the CRZ, it is the Directorof Panchayats who overrules them.This, he alleged, was done on behalfof ministers and politicians.

MAPPING VILLAGES

Goas coast is doed with fishingvillages and therefore there is noquestion of mapping villages. The en-tire coastline should be declared ascomprising of fishing villages. Allcoastal villages viz Cansaulim, Vel-sao, Baina, Nerul, Candolim,Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Arambol,Morjim are fishing villages so thequestion of mapping does notarise.Much will depend on how thelocal bodies would interpret the pro-visions, said Saldanha.

COASTALMANAGEMENT PLAN

Under the notification, the StateGovernment through the CoastalZone Management Authority has todraw up the Coastal Zone Manage-ment Plan, map khazan lands, man-groves, sand dunes, turtle nestingsites, etc. Saldanha reiterated that theNFWF had prepared a primer on theCRZ notifications to create awarenessamong the fishing communities andsupport organisations and the samehad been placed before the CentralGovernment prior to the finalisationof the notification. Our apprehensionabout the provisions, giving power tostate government to map sensitivezones such as khazan lands, man-groves and sand dunes etc is that itcan be easily manipulated. TheNFWFs first demand is that the plan

should not be changed for a minimumof 10 years, said Saldanha.

Our second demand is that the Cen-tre should specify the criteria for iden-tifying and mapping Khazan lands.The moot question is who will iden-tify them and what will be the criteriafor mapping them. Khazan lands caneasily be mapped as non-khazan

>6www.oheraldo.inGoa I Monday, May 30, 2011

estates

While it is the client who often differs in opinion ofthe contractor to oversee the mundane task ofconstruction at site, the architect has come to be

known as a fixer, with a wide range of activities,that include more serious responsibilities likebrokering construction approvals, middling thesale of our ever popular clear-title properties....

Manpan nam gamCoastal regulation zone notifiCation

The 1963 notification which gives theMPT this jurisdiction was given as a warbooty, when there was no government inGoa. They now carry out any activitywithout any permission.

The National Fish Workers Forumsuspect that the new Coastal RegulationZone 2011 offers ample scope forgovernment manipulation, whicheventually can have seriousramification. L P Fernandes met NFWFchairman Matanhy Saldanha to get aninsight into their apprehensions.

NFWFs biggest fear isthe abuse of the clausewhich would allowestablishment of portsin so-called stable zones.

--- Matanhy Saldanha

architectonic

JIM MANJOORAN

Seven deadly sins Commit the oldest sins, the newest kind of ways

Architecture of wrAth: Either you are with us oragainst us

Architecture of wrAth: Architecture suffers ofdogmatism

Architecture of sloth: Apathy in our architecture

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