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Agonda Framework Report for Sustainable Development
March 2010Pratt
AcknowledgementsNota bene: The contents in the report are largely summaries from the workshop with commentaries from the Pratt Planning Team. The interpretative commentaries reflect the student views.
HostsMr. Jovi Fernandes, Sarpanch of Agonda PanchayatFr. Maverick Fernandes, Council for Social Justice and Peace
Goa College of Architecture Team
• Mr.AbhijeetZiluGaonkar• Ms.GayatriAnantJoshi• Ms.JamilaBiShaikh• Ms.OrianaRoseMariaFernandez• Mr.SarangNaik• Ms.SusanaVaz
Faculty:Ar.SuhasGaonkar;Ar.AmitParashar;Ar.AshishRegePrincipal:Ar.RaviHazra
Pratt Institute, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Team
• Mr.AlexSommer• Ms.AlineFader• Ms.AsmaSyed• Ms.DanaMcLoughlin• Ms.DianaHarari• Mr.GeorgeMavrogeorgis• Mr.JamesRausse• Ms.MarinSchloss• Mr.MatthewGosline• Ms.MichellePerez• Mr.SamuelTellechea• Mr.TylerCaruso
Faculty:Ms.MeenakshiVarandaniTeachingAssistant:Mr.MatthewGoslineChair: Mr. John ShapiroProgramCoordinators:Ms.EvaHanhardt;Ms.JamieStein
iAgonda Framework Report 2010
Project Advisors and Contributors
Ar.DeanD’Cruz,MozaicDesign,RP2021TaskForceMemberAr. Malini Krishnankutty, Planning ConsultantAr.HimanshuBurte,FulbrightScholar,andColumnistAr.EdgarRibeiro,RP2021TaskForceMember,Ex-ChiefTownPlannerofIndiaMr.STPuttaraju,SeniorTownPlanner,GoaTCPDMr. Agnelo Dias, President Parra CommunidadMr. Joseph Silveira, Parra Planning Committee MemberFr. Mathews Fernandes, St. Anne’s Parish, AgondaDr.BSChoudri,TheEnergyandResourcesInstituteMs.YogitaMehra,TheEnergyandResourcesInstituteMs.KavitaHawaldar,TheEnergyandResourcesInstituteMr. Premanand P. Mahambre, Chorao Farmers ClubMr.MiguelBraganza,GoaBachaoAbhiyanMr.ClintonVaz,BenaulimEnvironmentTrust,GreenGoaMr.AshokD’Costa,TurbosketchDr.KothaMahender,DepartmentofEarthScience,GoaUniversityMs.SuneethaD.Kacker,WorldBankWaterandSanitationProgram
St. Anne’s High School Survey TeamStudents:VendyFernandes, LarissaFernandes,Roshelle Fernandes,Minosh-kaFernandes,PretdalFernandes,VaishakhPagi,VeverlyD’Costa,RonexFer-nandes,SafiraFernandes,RaygonPagi,SahilDesai,ShoelD’Souza,JosbornAlfonso,JoylanRodriguez,ElderonFernandes,AshvitaFernandes,FredrikaFer-nandes, Eden Fernandes, Jamiro Fernandes, Rockson Frenandes, Selza Fer-nandes,Leroy,Niki
Web Hosting: www.sustainabledevelopmentworks.comMr.RajanPatel,ResponsiveWeb
INTRODUCTION Welcome iii Introduction iv WhatIsSustainableDevelopment? vii CommentsonthePlanningProcessinGoa viii
CH. 1 PLAN MAKING
PublicPurpose&Objectives 02 TypicalComponentsofaPlan 03 A Common Planning Process 04 SWOTAnalysis 05 SMARTGoalsOverview 06 VisionStatementForAgonda&GuidingPrinciples 07
CH. 2 AGONDA EXISTING CONDITIONS
Description of Agonda 11 ExistingLandUse,Zoning,FAR 12 Map of Proposed Plan 14 CommunitySurvey 15
CH. 3 FOCUS AREA SUMMARIES
SustainableTourism&EconomicDevelopment 18
FarmlandConservation 34
WasteWaterManagement 39
SolidWasteManagement 45
DesignGuidelines 49
CH. 4 STAKEHOLDERS MEETING MINUTES
Minutes&Summary 61
CH. 5 RECOMMENDATIONS & NEXT STEPS
Gaps,NextSteps&Recommendations 66 Recommendation Sections: EconomicDevelopment&SustainableTourism 68 FarmlandConservation 70 SolidWaste 72 WasteWater 74 DesignGuidelines 77 AdditionalDataCollection&Studies 82 RecommendationTables&ImplementationMatrix 83
TableofContents
APPENDIX Compiled Separately
iiAgonda Framework Report 2010
iiiAgonda Framework Report 2010
Introduction DiscussestheparticipatoryworkshopheldinAgonda,GoaonJanuary4ththroughthe8thaswellasthecoremotivationsbehindcreatingaFrameworkReportbasedoncommunityparticipationandsustainabledevelopmentinAgonda,Goa.
Chapter 1 Plan Making Presents a typical planning process as well as Agonda’s foundation for futuredevelopmentplans:Agonda’sVisionStatementandAgonda’suniquestrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreats(SWOT).Theseitemsprovideareference-pointfordiscussiononwhereAgonda is and where it sees itself in the future.
Chapter 2 ExistingConditions ContainssummariesofAgonda’sExistingConditions.This chapter provides a ‘snapshot’ of the physical, environmental, and social conditions of thecommunity.
Chapter3 Focus Area SummariesLooksatselectedfocusareasforAgonda.Whilethese are not intended to be the only focus areas for any future Community Plan, they provide for preliminaryobservationsonsomeofAgonda’smostpressingissues.Themethodsutilizedtostudythese focus areas could be replicated by the community when they look at other issues in the future.
Chapter 4 Stakeholders Meeting SummarizesminutesfromameetingheldonJanuary6thbyWardrepresentativesandPanchayatmemberswhoattendedtheworkshop.
Chapter5RecommendationsandNextSteps Presents the summary of findings, recommendationsbybothresidentsandplanners,andthenextstepswithwhichthecommunitywillneedtofollow-upwith.
Appendix This section is compiled under a separate document. It contains back-up data,reference materials, and information from the workshop in Agonda.
Becausethisisonlyaframework,thereisstillmuchmoreforresidentsandlocalleaderstocomplete.This report should help you jump-start yourCommunity Plan and inform future land-use, policy,environmental,andsocialdecisions.ThisFrameworkReportdoesnotrepresenttheendofaprocess,itismerelythebeginning–onlythefirst-steponAgonda’spathforaSustainableCommunity.
Welcome to Agonda’s Framework Report!
Why is this a ‘Framework,’ not a ‘Plan’?
Think of this Framework Report as thescaffolding for a Community Plan, or a building under construction. Scaffolding allows people and materials to repair or construct a large building. Itprovidesguidanceandsupport toa building before the building can stand on its own.
While the scaffolding is temporary, it is a steady base for craftsmen and artisans to fashion detailed and precise objects on thebuilding being born beneath. In this respect,the Framework Report will not provide all of the details and considerations for Agonda, but it will help residents and other stakeholders alike to develop a thoughtful and well-constructedCommunity Plan.
Basedonmonthsofresearchandculminatingin a week-long participatory workshop, thisFramework Report highlights what Agondan residents and stakeholders not only currently see in their community, but also how they would like to see their community take shape overthenext10-20years.
Thereportisbrokenintosixsections:
NewsinGoahascarriedpassionatedebatesonelementsoftheRegionalPlan 2021 for Goa (RP 2021) which was presented in 2009 for publiccommentandadoption.Theengageddiscussionsrevealdeepsentimentsandcaringamongthelocalcommunities.Theyalsorevealdeepconcernsabout the implications of proposed new developments.
RP 2021 provides a platform for the Panchayats (local governments formed atthevillagelevel),towritetheirrespectiveDevelopmentPlans.Itidentifiescurrentdaychallenges,growthprojections,andsustainabledevelopmentgoalsfortheStateofGoa.
Constitutional Amendments 73 and 74, intended to correct some ‘top-down’ governance practices, empower the Panchayats with an assigned set of responsibilities listed under Schedule XI which include proposingDevelopment Plans for adoption. Such shift in governance has long been discussed, even before the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949.While theseAmendmentswere enacted in 1993, they haveonly recentlycomeintoeffect.ThisisahistorictimeandaformativeperiodinIndia.
As a poster child for ‘Incredible India’, Goa is promoted as a tourismdestination.ItisscenicallysituatedbetweentheSahyadriHillstotheEastand Arabian Sea to the West. With its coastal villages, paddy fields and hospitable people, it is seen as a place of happiness and celebration. Unfortunately,Goaisalsoavictimofitsownpopularity.Infrastructurehasnot kept up with rampant development and tourism has brought with it undesirablesocialandenvironmentalills.Thisawarenessfiguresstronglyin people’s mind and has given cause for alarm.
Inspiteof limitedresourcesandtraining,Panchayatshavesteppeduptotakeontheirresponsibilities.ThehighliteracyrateforGoaisastrongfactorinitsfavor.AnotherphenomenalfactoristhatGoahasmanysophisticatedNGOsandactivistskeepingthepublicinformedandbringingstakeholdersto the table. This is noordinary time inGoa. The challengehashadauniting effect.
ivAgonda Framework Report 2010
FOREWORDMeenakshiVarandani,AIA,AICPFaculty,PrattInstitute,NewYorkMarch 2010
Introduction
CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENTS73AND74
a meaningful experience. Working together inteams, the students also formed new international tiesandgainedcross-culturalappreciation.
Based on several factors, among those aprogressive Panchayat, Father Maverick felt that the Village of Agondawould be an appropriateplaceforsuchapilotproject.Itmaybeoneofthelast coastal villages that has pushed back against a speculative real estate market, that poses an ever-present threat to the village character andenvironment.Itwasmadeclearattheonsetthatin Agonda, people are determined to protect their natural environment and maintain the place as a “village”. Talking about sustainability andachieving a balance between environmental conservation, social equity and economicdevelopment was like preaching to the choir.
To collaborate internationally, Pratt, GCA, CSJPand Agonda Panchayat held five web-meetingsbetween September and December of 2009.These web-meetings were important to builda relationship and to ensure there would be no surprises for the community in Agonda. Italso allowed the Pratt team to hear directly from leading professionals in Goa. Presentersincluded: PrincipalRaviHazraandProf.AshishRegefromGCA,Mr.EdgarRebeiroandAr.DeanD’Cruz from the RP2021 Task Force; Mr. S TPuttaraju,ChiefTownPlannerforGoa;Ms.YogitaMehraandMs.KavitaHawaldarfromTheEnergyResearch Institute (TERI); Mr. Agnelo Dias andMr. Joseph Silveira from Parra Communidad and Planning Committee respectively. A cheery Pratt teamwouldgatherearlyat7:00AMinNewYorkand an energetic group would stay late for the 6:00PMweb-meetingsinGoa.
Theprojectwasstructuredso that the studentswould research sustainable development practices on selected topics, share their findings at the workshop and draw out people’s knowledge of their place, listing concerns and possible solutions, leading to recommendations.
The participatory workshop in itself was adeliverable.Throughaninteractiveprocess,thestudent facilitators aimed to assist Agonda to: have a shared understanding and a common ground, establish a Vision, and developpreliminary recommendations for incorporation into a Development Plan. The DevelopmentPlanwouldbepreparedbythePanchayat.Thestudent project marked an initial stage in theplanning process.
Theworkinggroupnarroweddownona limitednumber of priority topics for Focus Groupdiscussions, namely: Tourism, EconomicDevelopment, Farmland Conservation, Wastewater Management, Solid Waste Management,andSustainableDesignGuidelines.Inthefutureothertopicswouldneedtobestudiedaswell.Theywouldinclude:NaturalResourcesand Watershed Protection, Access and TrafficCirculation, Housing, Health, Education, and Recreation.
TERI shared valuable insights and informationon sustainable practices carried out by them. They provided critical feedback on the focusedtopicsandsharedtheirexperiencewithFarmlandConservation, Solid Waste Management and Watershed Protection. Ms. Yogita Mehra and Mr. Mahambre from the Chorao Farmers Club presented their experiences on farmlandconservationandvalue-addingmeasurestokeepfarming feasible as an economic development option.Theyinspiredseveralrecommendationsandaproposalforthecreationofaco-operativefollowing the Chorao model, reflected in this report. Others who joined the workshopfacilitation inAgondawereMr.MiguelBraganzafromGoaBachaoAbhiyansharingtheNachinolaPanchayat experienceandMr.ClintonVaz fromGreenGoaondealingwithhouseholdwaste.
Getting useful and timely data for planninganalyses was necessary. Some base maps were available through the TownPlanningOffice and
InJanuary2010,thePanchayatofAgonda,inthesouthernTalukaofCanacona,hostedafour-daySustainable Development Participatory Planning Workshop. The workshop was developed andfacilitatedjointlybystudentsfromPrattInstitute’sGraduateCenterforPlanningandtheEnvironment(GCPE)alongwithstudentsfromGoaCollegeofArchitecture (GCA), in consultation and supportfromCouncilforSocialJusticeandPeace(CSJP)represented by Father Maverick Fernandes, and from Agonda Panchayat, represented by the Sarpanch (elected head of the Panchayat) Mr.Jovi Fernandes. Together the teams formed aworkinggroup. ProfessorsSuhasGaonkarandAmitParasharledtheGCAteam.
With a strong backing from John Shapiro, GCPEChair,theprojectwasconceivedearlyin2009 through discussions with architects DeanD’Cruz, Malini Krishnankutty and HimanshuBurte. It envisioneda capacitybuildingprojectfor students as well as the community. Students can be a resource for small communities and in return get valuable practical experience. Pratthas a strong orientation towards community planning and sustainable development and lends itselfspontaneouslytoagrass-rootsparticipatoryprocess.Interactionwiththelocalcommunitywas
AGONDAWORKSHOP
vAgonda Framework Report 2010
PrattandGCAStudents,January2010
field photo-documentationwas provided by theGCAteam.Moreinformationwasneeded,sothePrattteampreparedtwosurveys-aDemographicSurvey and a Resident Attitude Survey for TourismAssessment.Timingwasoftheessence.Surveys had to be designed, reviewed by the Goateam,approvedby theAgondaPanchayat,finalizedandprintedintimeforCSJPandAgondaSarpanchtotrainSt.Anne’shigh-schoolchildrenand senior citizens to conduct a door-to-doorsurvey during the Diwali holidays, photocopied and couriered back to New York for data entryand analyses, all well in time to be charted and incorporated within the workshop presentations for informed community decisions making. Itwas intense but it got done. Check! Receiving thecourierpackageinNewYorkwithcompleteddemographic surveys from 640 household,representing two-thirds of Agonda, was simplyput,joyous!Itwasamemorableteameffortwitha shared a sense of accomplishment.
Father Maverick’s vision of engaging St. Anne’s school children and senior citizens wassuccessful.Ithelpedraisecommunityawarenessandinstilltheconceptofcitizenparticipationearlyonforafuturegeneration.Theyoungsurveyorsreceived a beautiful certificate from the Panchayat acknowledging their role in the planning process.
PLAN MAKING
While the workshop focused on a number of priority topics, it was not comprehensive. To comply with regulations, the Panchayat may be required as a start to prepare an initial Development Plan and could do so with information gathered so far. As resources are available, additional surveys (land and demographic) and studies would be needed to prepare a Sustainable Development Plan which would be comprehensive. At that time, the initial Plan would need to be reviewed in light of new findings and amended if necessary. Easily understandable maps and access to pertinent information would allow for informed public decision making. Planning is a dynamic process. Provisions need to be made to allow periodic amendments to reflect changes and ensure consistency with the community s vision and values.
This report, Framework for Sustainable Development, serves to record and document participants inputs and suggestions. The recommendations section at the end synthesize
It was followed by a celebratory evening withcharming folk dances performed by local school children. Keeping a lively and festive atmosphere was important, as was providing a convenient venue for the participants. The workshop washeld at the school auditorium with generous support from Father Mathews of St. Anne’s Parish.
Agondahas aCorePlanningCommittee (CPC)in place which includes a representative from eachof thesevenWards. Theysubmitted theirneeds statements in 2009whichwere reflectedon a hand-drawn mapped Plan. The mappedPlan indicates future growth and development sites.ItisanticipatedthatawrittenDevelopmentPlan to accompany the map would be submitted bythesummerof2010.Thisreport,Frameworkfor Sustainable Development, can inform the preparation of Agonda’s Development Plan.
WorkshopBanner,Agonda,January2010
the ideas generated collectively and provide commentary, with interpretations from Pratt Institute's planning students.
Members of the CPC could start with a Table of Contents for the Plan. A sample is provided. The Vision provides the guiding principles and helps establish public purpose and basis for a Plan. Recommendations need to be consistent with the identified public purpose and be legally enabling. Problems and Opportunities can be drawn from the SWOT analysis, and Focus Group summaries. While many recommendations have been listed here, the CPC would need to consider them carefully to ensure there are no
negative impacts from the recommendations. Alternative recommendations may be needed to protect the natural resources, the turtle habitat and public health and safety. Such analyses can be done through an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Conducting an EIA for proposed developments and Plans is strongly recommended.
We hope this project allows us to build-upon in the years to come. The Pratt team, along with our partners in Goa, thank the Community of Agonda for giving us the opportunity to work with them and for their good spirited participation.
JoviFernandes,FatherMaverick,MiguelBraganzaatGCA
viAgonda Framework Report 2010
Sustainability is the confluence between environmental, eco-nomical and social justice.When these three justicesmeet,sustainability is created, making efficiency and longevity a more likely outcome.
Inthecaseofavillageortownplan,measurestomeetsustain-able standards should be followed as a way to attain success.
This is a sustainablegoal. Peoplewouldwant to remain inGoa if the Economy is prosperous, the Social well-being isestablished, and the Environment is protected. Attaining one measurewithout theother twodoesnot fit thebill. Itwouldbe hard to imagine sustainability if the environmental and social conditions were not conducive and the economy was struggling.
Standard examples of the interaction between the threespheres can be seen in the diagram to the right.
“…one main thrust is to create a more vibrant and prosperous Goa so that Goans, especially theyoung, feel confident they have a future here.”
-RPG2021
viiAgonda Framework Report 2010
WhatisSustainableDevelopment?
What is Sustainability?
Marin SchlossPratt Institute 2010
“…with both development and conservation being complementary indicators of growth.”
-Regional Plan Goa 2021
Sustainability
Social
Economy Environment
Social- EnvironmentEnvironmental JusticeNatural Resource StewardshipLocally and Global Balance
Economy-SocialBusiness EthicFair TradeWorker’s Rights
Environment-Economic
Subsidies/Incentives for Retaining Natural Resources
Cost SavingsEconomic GrowthResearch and Development
Natural Resource UseEnvironmental MangemtnPollution Prevention(air, water, land, waste)
Standards of LivingEducationCommunityEqual Opportunity
Adapted from the 2002 University of Michigan Sustainability Assesment
A Panchayat Development Plan for Agonda could proceed after the Adoption of the Regional District Development Plan for SouthGoa.
The District DevelopmentCommittee for Goa wouldbe the body to consider the Development Plans which would be submitted by the Panchayats.
Three types of planningdocuments may compromise a complete working set which may beconsideredjointly.
The first document as per theConstitution of India would bea ‘20-year Perspective Plan’ toestablishthelongtermobjectivesand goals.
Theseconddocumentsupplementingdocumentmaybea ‘5-yearProgramPlan’,supportedbyathirddocumentthe‘AnnualBudget’workingtowardstheidentified short term and long term priorities.
APreambleinthePlanderivedfromtheVisionestablishesthebasisandpublicpurpose for the Plan.
Providing such clarifications upfront in the Plan can be helpful for Panchayats seeking financing for programs serving that public purpose.
Itassiststhereviewersmakingthegrantsandfundstojustifytheallocationandcommitments.
ThePlanningProcessinGoa
Summary derived from Mr. Edgar Ribeiro’s Comments
viiiAgonda Framework Report 2010
Mr. Edgar Rebeiro
01Agonda Framework Report 2010
Chapter 1
•PublicPurposeandObjectives•TypicalComponentsofaPlan•Planning Process•SWOTAnalysis•Visioning•SMARTGoalsOverview
Plan Making
02Agonda Framework Report 2010
PublicPurpose&ObjectivesofaPlan
Public health, environmental protection, economic development, public safety, education—these are all broad topics which are important to the success of anycommunity;beitlargeorsmall.Manyofthesetopicsaresobroadandcomplexthattheassistanceofmunicipalgovernmentsorhigherareusuallynecessary for proper management.
Many governments and agencies publish regulatory plans and agendas and keepthemonfile.Theseplansusuallyoutlinethemostimportantregulationsthatareexpectedtobecomelawrespectivetotheissues.Theseareusuallythe regulatory actions that embody the core of the municipal government’s regulatory priorities on a topic.
A regulatory plan enables the municipality or larger government to focus on the larger issues, to delegate with clarity, to monitor without meddling, to evaluate the accomplishment of goals; to truly lead the community intothe future. It is important that the Plan recommendations, policies, andregulationsareconsistentwithpublicly identifiedobjectivesand inkeepingwith legally acceptable guiding principles. A government will try to avoid any regulationsthatseemtobeputforthwithoutreasonablegroundsoradequateconsideration of the circumstances; they would be seen as arbitrary andcapricious lacking legitimacy.
Thegoalistoengagethepublicinmeetingsandpublicdiscourse,tofulfillthesocialcontract;theunspokenagreementbetweencitizensandgovernmentthatgovernmentwillmeettheneedsofthepeople.InAgonda,thecommunitymet,identified goals and created a vision for the future. Concerns about issues such as public health and safety, farmland conservation, turtle habitat protection, water management, economic development and sustainable tourism were identifiedasprioritiesforAgonda.Thisframeworkisadocumentationofthedialogue between the Panchayat and the community as well as a point of referencewhenlookingfornextsteps.
03Agonda Framework Report 2010
TypicalComponentsofaPlan The following list represents a selection of the key topics typically covered withina settlement plan. The emphasis placed upon each topic varies upon the relevantconditionsineachuniquecommunity,notwoplansareeverthesame.
•LongTermVision,ValuesandNeeds•ExistingConditions -LandUsesandZoning–TextandMaps -GeographyandRegionalSettings -CommunityandDemographicProfile -HousingStock -InfrastructureandUtilities -Institutions,CommunityFacilitiesandServices•IdentificationofProblemsandOpportunities•SustainableDevelopmentGoalsandObjectives -EnvironmentalConservationandCoastalZoneProtection -HeritagePreservation -EconomicDevelopment -EquityandWellness -PublicHealth,Education,andSafety -Recreation -TransportationandAccess•PlanConcepts&AlternativeswithFeasibilityandEnvironmentalAssessments•PlanSelection:LandUseandZoningRecommendations•LandUseandZoningMaps•TransportationandCirculationPlanandMaps•EconomicDevelopmentPlan•Housing,CommunityFacilities,andInstitutionsPlan•InfrastructureandUtilitiesPlan•OpenSpace,andRecreationPlan•EnvironmentalSiteDevelopmentandDesignGuidelines•FinanceandPhasedImplementationPlan•PlanAdoption•LegalFramework•ProvisionsandBasisforGrantingVariancesorWaivers•PeriodicParticipatoryPublicReviewProcessandPlanAmendment
GuidelinestoDraftaPlancallforittobeclearlystated,servingidentifiedgoalsthroughaparticipatoryprocess,equitableandconstitutional. A Plan needs to be legally defensible, based on soundresearch and technical studies.
04Agonda Framework Report 2010
Step1:IdentifytheProblem
1. Establish goals and terms of referenceDefine the present situationFind out the needs of the people and of the governmentDecide on the land area to be coveredAgreeonthebroadgoalsandspecificobjectivesoftheplanSettle the terms of reference for the plan
2.OrganizetheWorkDecide what needs to be doneIdentifytheactivitiesneededandselecttheplanningteamsDraw up a schedule of activities and outputsEnsure that stakeholders are identified and involved
3.AnalyzetheProblemsStudytheland-usesituationIdentifytheproblemsandanalyzetheircausesIdentifyconstraintstochange
Step 2: Determine the Alternative Solutions
4.IdentifyopportunitiesforchangeIdentify and draft a design for a range of land-use types thatmight achieve the goals of the planPresent these options for public discussion
5.EvaluateLandSuitabilityEstablish physical land suitability
6. Appraise the alternatives, environmental, economic and socialanalysis
Assess the impacts for the land users and for the community as a whole
A Common Planning ProcessStep3:DeterminetheBestAlternativeandDevelopthePlan
7.ChoosethebestoptionHold public and executive discussions of the viable options and theirconsequences
8.PreparethePlan(LandUsePlan,TourismPlan,etc)Make the plan, draw up the policy, prepare a budget
Step 4: Put the Plan in Action and See How it Works
9.ImplementthePlanPut the plan in action – planning team should coordinate with applicable agencies
10. Monitor and Revise the PlanMonitor the plan and revise and modify as needed
05Agonda Framework Report 2010
SWOTanalysisisagreatwayofevaluatingexistingconditionsinacommunity.Thisexerciseismeantto stimulate thought about the current situation in a community in terms of each category, and lead into discussion about how to retain strengths, address weaknesses, point out opportunity and mitigate threats. Seeing attributes of a community laid out like this can elicit unity – an important pat of community planning is finding common ground to work from.
Recurring themes in Agonda’s SWOT analysisinclude:
- Safe,cleanandpeacefulvillagewith beautiful beaches
- Theneedforimprovedroads
- Aproximalhealthcarefacility
- Implementationofproperwaste management
- Protectionfrompartyanddrugculture
- Landownershipregulations
- Protectionofagriculturelandandjobs
- Diversifiedjobstoattractandretain the community and youth
SWOTAnalysisStrengths,Weaknesses,OpportunitiesandThreats
06Agonda Framework Report 2010
Once thevisionhadbeendetermined,participantswere introducedtotheSMARTGoalstrategy.Thestrategyemphasizesthatspecific,measurable, achievable, realistic and timely objectives are used inmakingthecommunityvisionareality.Thinkofthevisionstatementas the final goal and the SMART strategy as the small steps usedto reach that broad goal. Throughout the four day workshop, anygoalsor recommendationsproposedwereheld to theSMARTgoalrequirements.
SMARTGoals
07Agonda Framework Report 2010
VisioningA visioning exercise was done to stimulate thoughts about what Agonda could be in 2030. These thoughts can turn into goals, and although we don't know exactly how to achieve these goals, it is important to have them to work towards. In order to form this vision, a 'Preserve-Create-Change' activity was conducted. Similar to the SWOT, people were asked to call out things they would like to preserve, create or change in Agonda.
ThePreserve,Create,ChangePanels
Father Mavrick speaks during the workshop
08Agonda Framework Report 2010
IdentifyingtheIssues
Inanefforttoprioritizenumeroustopicsidentifiedduring the ‘Preserve-Create-Change’ activity,participants were asked to raise their hand when “issues” that mattered the most to them were calledout.Thetop4common“issues”becameanotheractivityinwhichthecommunityexploredto formulate the actual goals.
TheTop4Issues
1. Roads2. BeachaccessandParking3. Hospitals4. Creationofdecentralizedwasteand
water management systems
Theworkshopparticipantsconcernsabouteachissue were discussed and recorded on four panels.
ParticipantstakepartinaVisioningexcercise
09Agonda Framework Report 2010
TheVision
AtypicalvisionstatementisanestablishmentofguidingprinciplesandvaluesthattakesalongtermviewofwhatthePanchayatwishestobe.It isastatement that concentrates on the future, as well as provides a source of inspiration.
Attheendof thefirstdayof theAgondaWorkshop,participantsutilizedthe informationgathered inboththeaforementionedexercisesto formulateageneral vision statement.
10Agonda Framework Report 2010
Chapter 2
•Description of Agonda•TheCommunitySurvey
Existing Conditions
11Agonda Framework Report 2010
Agonda is a small, 15 sq. km Panchayat located alongthe coastal ghats of theDistrict of SouthGoa in India. Thecommunity is about 40 minutes south of Margao and within theTalukaofCanacona.Thereisanapproximatepopulationof3,600residentsandadensityof240personspersq.km(theaveragedensity inSouthGoa isapproximately308personspersq.km(RPG2021)).
Description of Agonda
Type of Facility
Aganwadi (Balwadi) 5Bank 1Bhandars 4Chaples 3Church 1Community Halls 4Credit Co-operative Societies (Pvt. Bank) 2Dairy 4Government Primary School 4High School 2Number of Households 1038Number of Houses 1385Playground 3Poultry Farm 1Rural Medical Dispensary 1Temples 6Village Library 1
Type of Facility
Aganwadi (Balwadi) 5Bank 1Bhandars 4Chaples 3Church 1Community Halls 4Credit Co-operative Societies (Pvt. Bank) 2Dairy 4Government Primary School 4High School 2Number of Households 1038Number of Houses 1385Playground 3Poultry Farm 1Rural Medical Dispensary 1Temples 6Village Library 1
12Agonda Framework Report 2010
Environmental Features
Agonda’s most pronounced environmental features include Agonda Beachstretchingnorth-southapproximately2.5km, theBandharaRiver which empties into the Arabian Sea at the northern end of AgondaBeachandincludesextensiveMangroveestuaries,andtheProtected/Preserved Forests along the slopes of the two mountains which are located at Agonda’s northern and souther Panchayat limits. Agonda is also home to seasonal turtle nesting, fish populations in the estuaries and coastline, a large bat population in the north andproductivepaddy/khazan lands throughAgonda’scenterandeastern limits.
Zoning,LandUseandFloorAreaRatio(FAR)
Duetoitsruralnature,AgondaiszonedasaVP-3ClassificationofsettlementwhichrestrictsFloor-AreaRatiotoalow-density.
RoadNetworks
MDR-51, the panchayat’s main road, generally runs northwest-southeastandconnectsAgondatoNationalHighway-17intheeast.SettlementsareclusteredalongAgondaBeachand theMangrove estuaries in northwestAgonda while most of the forest and agriculture lands are located to the east.
13Agonda Framework Report 2010
IndustryTypes
Agonda has traditionally been a fishing and farming community but over thepasttenyears,tourismhasgenerallyoutpacedtheseindustries.Itisnow estimated that there are more residents employed in the hospitality and service sector than fishing and farming combined.
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A
Agonda Ownership MapCommunidade Church
Other
Forest/Government
Devasthan
N
LandOwnership
The village of Agondais located between two promontories, and surrounded by agricultural land, forests and the Arabian Sea. In termsofownership,a large portion of the Panchayat is Communidade land, particularly to the north along the main road.
AportionofthelandisconsideredDevasthan(sacred)land,whileonlytheareaaroundSt.Anne’sInstituteisownedbytheChurch.Protected/Preserved forests are located in the south and northeast of the Panchayat.
From this map, it can be inferred that the rest of the land is most likely privately owned. Based on the surveys performed in October 2009,the majority of the households are owner-occupied.. This, along withthe community-owned land, can often be a good indicator for moreinvolvementinthedecision-makingprocess.
14Agonda Framework Report 2010
Agonda Panchayat Map
ThemapanddocumentsshownbelowarepartofthePanchayatplansubmittedtotheTownandCountry Planning Department as recommended byRPG-21.
15Agonda Framework Report 2010
TheCommunitySurveyBased on responses from 640 households, the Agonda surveycollecteddemographicdataon residentsandprovidedanup-to-daterepresentationofthecommunity.Basedonthisdata,itwasfoundthatan overwhelming majority of households owned their homes (96%),mosthouseholdshadaccesstomunicipalorwellwater(88%)andusedaseptictankforwaste-water(86%).Thelargestpercentofhouseholds(97%)disposedoftheirsolid-wastebyburningiton-siteandthelargestpercentageofhouseholds(68%)usedacombinationof firewoodandLPGasfuelforcooking.
After comparing data using the Statistical Package for theSocialSciences(SPSS)function cross-tabulation,results showed other interesting perspectives as well: households in the highest-(57%)andlowest-income (72%) bracketswere traveling 31minutesor longer for employment. Whencomparingcooking-
fuel types by household income, it became apparent that as incomes increase, the use of firewood decreases and the use of only LPGincreases:59% in lowest-incomebracketuseonly firewoodwhile2%in thehighest-incomebracketuseonly firewoodasacooking fuel. Incomparison,5%inthelowest-incomebracketuseonlyLPGwhile23%inthehighest-incomebracketuseonlyLPG.
Much of the data can be geographically referenced by its Ward Identification Number revealing disparities in municipal services,income, and population trends among others between Agonda’s Wards. Forexample,33%ofresidents inWard2and31%inWard4didnothaveaccesstotoiletfacilities(septicorsewer)whilenearlyeveryoneinWard1andWard6hadaccesstotoiletfacilities.
There was a special section for open-comments which allowedrespondentstowriteremarks.Thetopthreethemesthatwererepeatedsuggested improving road conditions, improving the water supply, and improving the electrical supply.
16Agonda Framework Report 2010
SustainableTourism&EconomicDevelopment
Farmland Conservation
Waste Water Management
Solid Waste Management
DesignGuidelines
17Agonda Framework Report 2010
Focus Area Summaries
Chapter 3
FocusGroup:SustainableTourism&Economic Development
18Agonda Framework Report 2010
What is Economic Development
Theterm“EconomicDevelopment”isastrategy;orseriesofstrategies,intendedtoimprovenotjustthematerialwealthofacommunity,butalsothepoliticalandsocialwell-being.Thesestrategiescanbeledbyvariouslevelsofgovernment,business associations, public/private entities, community groups or simply a groupofcitizens.Sincecommunitieshavedifferentprioritiesandgoals,eachstrategy must be tailored to meet a specific locales needs.
TypesofEconomicDevelopmentStrategies
Thefollowingisalistofsomeofthemostcommonlyusedstrategies used to promote Economic Development:
Infrastructure ImprovementsStrategic placement of infrastructure such rail, roads, etc, can spur investment.
Tax IncentivesThisstrategyiscommonlyusedtoincentivizeandencourageparticular industries a community hopes to cultivate.
Economic Development Zones (EDZ)LocalGovernmentscandesignatespecificgeographicareasin which businesses
Job TrainingBy investing in human capital, residents will be betterpreparedtocompeteandobtainjobsinthemarketplace.
Community Development Corporations (CDC)ACDCisoftenaNon-Profitentitythathasincorporatedanddedicates its services to assisting a particular geographic area with educational programs, business assistance and various other services linked to economic development.
Business IncubatorThese programs are designed to support entrepreneurseitherthroughservicesoroftenlowcostfacilities.Theydifferfrom other assistance programs, in that they focus solely on smallup-starts.
Business ClustersLocal governments often encourage companies from aspecificsectortoclusterinonegeographiclocation.Therebycreating a concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers,supportservicesandassociatedinstitutions.Theaim of clustering is to create an environment of competition, aswellascooperationbetweenthecompanies.Forexample,SiliconValleyisoftencitedasasuccessfulbusinessclusterfor the computer industry.
“The process by which a community improves the economic, political and social well-being of a community.”
19Agonda Framework Report 2010
Creating an Economic Development PlanBeforebeingabletoimplementaneconomicdevelopmentplanitisessentialtofirstthoroughlyanalyzeacommunity’suniquecharacteristics.Thefollowingdiagram represents a general approach to crafting an economic development plan.
IdentifyStakeholders
Create a Profile
CreateanInventory
EvaluatetheProfileandInventory
IdentifyApproach
Develop Policies
Implement
Identify thestakeholdersandget them toparticipate in theplanningprocess:creatingaworkableeconomicstrategyrequiressupportfromthebroaderpubliconwhosebehalftheplan is being prepared.
Determine the community’s current condition. This section includes information oncommunity setting, trends, issues and factors affecting economic development.
Identifyandmapbusinessesthatcurrentlymakeuptheeconomy.Categorizebusinessesbyindustry sector, those businesses that make up the economic base, and by types of public revenue they generate.
Provide a framework from which to define economic development options and document the analysis conducted in determining how to manage future economic development efforts.
Identifycommunitygoals foreconomicdevelopmentanddescribehow toachieve them.Theapproachprovidesthebasisforlocaleconomicpolicyanddefinestherolesofvariousstakeholders in sustaining and strengthening the local economy. Components include the community vision, the market economy, community values, factors that influence economic development, and economic options.
Policies translate community concerns and goals into clear statements of public intent. These policies will guide public and private investment in local economic developmentactivitiesandfurtherrefinetherolesandexpectationsofkeystakeholders.
Implementation measures convert the goals and policies for the economy into specificactions.Thesemeasuresalsoclearlydefinehowpublic investmentwillbemade inyourlocal economic development activities.
20Agonda Framework Report 2010
RPG-21
InanefforttoprovideeconomicopportunitiesforGoa,RPG2021hasidentifiedvariousindustriesthatcomplimentthestatesexistingstrengths.OurdiscussionbeganbyexaminingthreeindustriesthatRPG-21hadidentifiedaswellsuitedforGoaasawhole.Thethreeindustriesare:
• Bio-technology• InformationTechnology• Food Processing
VariouscommunitiesthroughoutIndiahaveimplementedeconomicdevelopmentschemesdesignedtopromote each one of these industries. Agonda can certainly learn from the successes and failures of their examples.Thefollowingtabledisplaysthreelocationsandthetypesofstrategiesutilizedtopromotebio-technology, information technology.
Location
UttarPradesh,India
AndhraPradesh,India
Chennai,India
Industry
Biotechnology
Food Processing
InformationTechnology
Strategy
• TaxIncentives/Subsidies• BusinessIncubators• Cluster Development
• TaxIncentives• JobTraining
• TaxIncentives/Subsidies• JobTraining• Cluster Development
In 2003, a study on the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh’splans for developing a food processing sector was conducted by the Center for Economic Studies and Social Studies in Hyderabad. At the time, government officials had loosened a fewkeytaxpoliciesinanefforttoencouragethedevelopmentoftheindustry.Researchersfoundthatonlya7percentvalueadded increase was made from the sale of processed foods in Indiacomparedto23percentinChina,45%inthePhilippinesand188percent in theU.K. Additionally,only2percentofIndia’sfoodstockswerebeingprocessedwithinthecountry.Thestudyconcludedthattheindustryhadmuchpotentialtogrow due to changing tastes and lifestyles throughout the country. Some of the key recommendations made by the researchers included:
-The creation of a state level ministry of food processingindustries to provide incentives, access to financing and machinery-Areductionintaxesuntiltheindustryhadreachedamaturelevel-Thestateshouldprovidetrainingandresearch-Improvedinfrastructuretomovegoodstomarkets-Encouragementtoinvolvesmall-scalefarmers-Compensationforfarmerswillingtoswitchtoorganicfarmingmethods due to initial yield losses
Since that time the government has responded to several of the key recommendationsof the report. Their policies canbeviewedontheMinistryofFoodProcessingIndustrieswebsiteatwww.mofpi.nic.in.Thereisnoticeablylittleinformationregarding the recommendation to encourage organic farming processes or any mention of sustainable practices within the industry itself. Isthisstrategydestinedtonegatively impactthe environment at the expense of the states environment?Andhra Pradesh’s strategy may provide valuable lessons for Goa.
Source: Food Processing in Adnrha Pradesh: Opportunities and Challenges, by S. Mahendra Dev N. Chandrasekhara Rao, CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STUDIES
Food Processing Case Study
Case Studies
21Agonda Framework Report 2010
Workshop SummaryOn Day 2 of the workshop, the Pratt team delivered a presentationexaminingthegeneralprocessesandtoolsusedtoprepareaneconomicdevelopment strategy. Afterwards, workshop participants were asked to separate into fourwork groups. Three of the groups concentratedon issues relating to tourism, while the remaining group identified and discussedpossible“alternative industries”wellsuitedforAgonda.Thegroups focused on tourism will be discussed further in part 2 of this chapter.Let’sfirstreviewthefindingsofthegroupfocusedonexploringthe potential for “alternative industries” well suited for Agonda.
InordertoidentifycharacteristicsuniquetoAgonda,participantsturnedto the data provided by the community survey, as well as personal insights.Thefollowingrepresentsthegroup’sstrengthsandchallengesof Agonda, as determined by the workshop participants.
Agonda’s Strengths
Largenumberofyouths,mostofwhicharestudentsThe workgroup determined that the young generation of Agondansare aspiring to high levels of education and can inject new ideas forsustainable businesses into the community.
Stable Homeowner populationItwasunanimouslyagreeduponbygroupmembers,thatthehighlevelof homeownership demonstrated a strong connection to the community. Thisdedicationtotheirlandandhomeswasseenasanimportantasset.
Educated CommunityCommunity survey data showed that many of Agonda’s residents have atleastahighschoolequivalenteducation,withmanyacquiringMastersdegreesorevenPhDs.Itwasagreedthatthehigheducationandskillsembodied in Agonda’s residents was a powerful tool.
AdequateTransportationA strong transportation network is essential for moving people and goods in a vibrant economy. The workgroup believed that Agonda had anadequate transportation network that could help to stimulate the localeconomy.
Agonda’s Challenges
RegionalPublicTransportationAlthoughlocaltransportwasdeemedadequate,tripstooutsidelocationswere considerably more difficult due to lack of well maintained roads and public transportation.
Poor road conditionsWhile the local public transport was itself adequate, the quality of theroads were deemed insufficient. It was noted that road quality wasseverely impacted during the rainy monsoon season.
22Agonda Framework Report 2010
AlternativeIndustryAnalysisOnceparticipantshad identified the strengths,weaknessesandparticular characteristics of Agonda, they then used this knowledge to discuss the opportunity for new industries or businesses that couldtakerootinthevillage.Theworkgroupstartedbyexaminingthe three industries recommended by RPG-21, as well as thepotentialforAgro-Toursim:
Bio-Tech/Pharmaceutical–Noclearpotentialatthistime.
InformationTechnology–Futurepotential,existingskills includeword processing skills, want to see increased opportunities in the future
Food/Agro-business – participants identified this industry as one of greatpotentialduetotheexistingagriculturalsectorandgrowingofspecializedcropsinAgonda.Currently,Agondaisproducingcashews, rice, vegetables, animal husbandry products, coconuts and fishing. Additionally, participants identified a small locally run food processing business managed by a number of housewives in the community in which they pickle various vegetables and sell to both local and regional markets. Sweets derived from coconuts was another value added product.
Agro-Tourism – Strong potential, already started exploring thisoption.
ParticipantsidentifiedtheFood/Agro-businessandespeciallyFoodProcessingashaving the greatest potential for advancement. Additionally, they identified two economic development strategies that may be helpful in advancing the industry’s potentialforsuccess.Thetwostrategiesare:
Job Training – locals need to explore the potential for job training in the foodprocessing sector. Community is lacking skills related to facility management, marketing and limited knowledge on how to bring products to subregional and regional markets.
BusinessIncubators–Lackofprocessingfacilities,machineryandstart-upcapitalnecessitates the need for a business incubator in which residents can freely or cheaplyutilizethesetools.
Food Processing
23Agonda Framework Report 2010
Economic Development RecommendationsStrategies to promote Food Processing
The SMART Goal strategy was applied to the Food Processing Industry.Participants agreed that the small group of women who were actively pickling localvegetablesprovidedastartingpointforfurtherdevelopment.Thisgroupcouldbe formalized intoaworkerscooperativewith thecentralmissionofproducing local and organic products for sale to villagers, tourists and the surrounding regional market.
Participants agreed that the cooperative should be formalized within sixmonths and that government funding as well as a brand, were to be secured withinayearstime.TheconceptwastobeproposedduringthenextGranSabha meeting in an effort to gain government assistance from the Panchayat.
eing more than just travel and hospitality, Tourism is aconglomeration of multiple industries which span public, private andnon-governmentalsectors.Nearlyall facetsofacommunitycanhavearelationshipwithTourism;fromwastemanagementand
roaddevelopmenttoaffordablehousingandworkforcetraining.Tourismhas thepotential toenhance localeconomiesandexisting industriesaswell as support cultural communication and encourage environmental stewardship. However if it is mismanaged or excludes local guidance,Tourismcanpotentiallyendupdevastating livelihoods,createsocial illsand pollution, and destroy a community’s sense of place and character.
For these reasons it is imperative for a community to lead and participate in Sustainable Tourism Planning; so residents can not only guidedevelopment,butalsodetermineifTourismisrightfortheircommunityatall.ItiswiththisgoalinmindthatthePanchayatofAgondahasdecidedtofocusonTourismandensurethatactivecommunityparticipationcanleadtoaSustainableTourismFramework.
Thereisgenerallyonlyoneruleforsomeonetobecalledatourist:theymusttravelatleast80kilometersfromtheirhome.Otherthanthat,touristscantravelsomeplacefor multiple reasons: for family, friends, business, religious, or vacation purposes, among others. And tourists don’t always have to spend the night somewhere as theycanbeconsideredday-touristsordrive-through-tourists,spendingeverythingfrom hours to mere minutes in a location.
TouristscommonlyparticipateinthreemajorformsofTourism:MassTourism,FreeIndependentTravel(FIT),andNicheTourism.MassTourismisthemostcommonform and can consist of package tours, charter buses, cruise lines, group travel, andstayingwithchain-hotelsorall-inclusiveresorts.Whilethemajorityoftouristsin the world are considered Mass, Free Independent Travel often consists ofprivate tours, self-research and booking, use of small-scale hospitality like bedandbreakfasts, boutiquehotels andhostels, andoftenuse last-minuteor host-destinationbookingsandutilizelocaltransportationalternatives.NicheTourismisgenerallypartofFITbuttendstofocusonspecificpushorpullfactorsforchoosinga destination or product. Examples of Niche Tourism are the common prefixesoneoftenseessuchaseco-tourism,culinary-tourism,cultural-tourism,adventure-tourism,architectural-tourismandsoon.
Withoutthoughtfulconsiderationandparticipatoryplanning,Tourismcanthreateneven themost resilient communities. Ironically the growth of Tourism can oftendestroy the communities it seeks to turn into destinations. As can be seen in Butler’s(1980)LifeCycleAnalysis(TABLE T.1),theintensificationofacommunityasadestinationcanleadtoexponentialgrowth,stagnationorevendeclineasthenumber of tourists increase.
Manycommunitiesmaynotwant topursueTourismandare rightfully fearful ofthenegative impacts thatuncontrolledandunregulatedTourismcancreate.Butregardlessofwhatacommunity’sstanceisonTourism,iftheyareunderpressurefrom development, they should create a Sustainable Tourism Plan to mitigatenegative impacts or enhance positive effects.
BIntroductiontoTourism
Figure from: FAO Corporate Document Repositoryhttp://www.fao.org
TABLE T.1
24Agonda Framework Report 2010
The word sustainable has been growing in importance and usesincethe1980’s,butisoftenmisusedormisunderstood.ThiscanbeespeciallytrueintheTourismsector,wheremanycommunitiesandanexpandingmarket of tourists looking formeaningful and low-impacttravelsaretakenadvantageof.Tobetrulysustainable,therecanbeatleastfivemajorgoalswhichanyTourismplanshouldaimfor:
• Community-led and participatory Initial and ongoing resident and business-owner involvement in theplanningandimplementationofaSustainableTourismPlanwillnotonlyensurebuy-in,butalsoprovidein-depthknowledgeofissuesandtheimpactsthatTourismcanhavewithinthecommunity.Thefirstquestionanycommunityplanshouldask:“IsTourismrightforourcommunity?”Onlythroughpublicparticipationcanthisquestionbeanswered.
• More often supply-driven While any Sustainable Tourism Plan should include niche target-marketing to elicit tourists with the least impact, it is important to remember that a strong and healthy community makes a strong and healthy destination. The balance of investment should alwayslean towards infrastructure development, social advancements and environmental protection over advertisement and marketing. A high quality product will have slower yet sustained growth. Think abouthowtoinvolveculturalexchanges,developcivicprideandTourism’senvironmental relevancy.
• Equitable distribution of both burdens and benefits Notonly should entities aim for profit-sharingand reinvestment intolocal resources and human capital, but the community must take into account theexternalitiesofallactions includingeconomic leakages.Communities should not be disproportionately overburdened with the siting of necessary but unwanted facilities, such as waste facilities, or be forced to environmental degradation for Tourism growth. Aswell, benefits of Tourism such as greening, open space protectionand reinvestment should be distributed equitably throughout thecommunity so all can benefit.
• Not only sustains, but also enhances ItshouldbecleartoacommunityhowitwillbenefitfromintroducingorgrowingTourism.ItisnotenoughthatTourismwilloccurinevitably,butresidentsneedto have a lucid plan for revenue collection and community reinvestment. For example,howwillTourismgarneranewschool,clinic,or farmequipment?If it isunclear,thenthecommunityneedstorethinkincludingTourisminitseconomicdevelopmenttool-kit.
• Supplements local industries More than authenticity is built into a community’s traditional industries;language, skills and social roles are often attached to these, among others. Butevenmorethanprotectingcommunitysocialpatternsandauthenticity,adiverse economy buffers residents from sharp peaks and valleys in economic cycles. The growth of Tourism should not replace but supplement localindustriessoasnottoopenacommunityuptofluctuationsinasingle-industryeconomyand ensure traditional skills andmores are protected. There arenumerousexamplesofhowTourismcanhelpgrowagricultureandcottageindustries, as well as encourage resurgence in cultural education.
SustainableTourismPlanning
25Agonda Framework Report 2010
TourismplaysamajorpartofnotonlytheGoaneconomy, but also accounts for 15% of India’sannual foreign exchange. Goa alone reaps Rs1,500Croresperyear fromTourismandhas21Lakhdomesticand3.8Lakhinternationalvisitorsperyear(RPG2021).However,accordingtoRPG2021 Sec. 3.8, there is no State Tourism Plan,policies, landuseregulations,orstrongTourismAdministration. Coupling this with numerous unethical operations and Goa’s environmentaldegradation related to Tourism (RPG 2021), itis essential that communities can control and developTourismontheirownterms.
TABLE T.2 summarizes RPG 2021 Sec. 3.8.ThesearethemajorTourismGoalsfortheState.Sustainable goals have been given / for potential sustainability; // for sustainability; or left blankwhenthesustainabilityofthegoalisquestionable.
TABLE T.2
RPG2021TourismGoals
26Agonda Framework Report 2010
Public Workshop & FindingsOnTuesday,January5th,theSustainableTourismDevelopmentdiscussionguidedparticipantsthroughthein’sandout’softheTourismIndustry,includingmarketsegments,sustainabletourism,andlocalregionalissues.Theprogramthenledparticipantsthroughpotentialpoliciesandmethodsforregulatingand incentivizingtourismdevelopment inAgonda,and includedcasestudies fromfourdifferentcontinents.Afteranalyzingthesemodels,participantsbroke-outintosmallgroupsandparticipantsworkedonactivitieswhichhelpedtoclarifywhattheroleofsustainabletourismshouldbeinAgonda.
Thebreak-outsessionalsohadthepubliclocateanddiscussuniqueresourcesandthreatsrelatedtotourisminthecommunityanddetermineaseriesofactionitemsandpotentialguidelinesforfuturetourismdevelopment.FacilitatorsfromboththeGoaCollegeofArchitectureandNewYork’sPrattInstitutehelpedtoguidethesmallgroupsinansweringthesequestionsaswellasdevelopingmapsandpolicyinitiatives.Attheendofthesession,eachgroupelected a speaker to present their findings.
OnFriday,January8th,theseissueswerecoalescedandturnedintoframeworkgoalswithafinalbreak-outsession.Break-outsessionmaterialscanbefoundintheAppendixsection.Overthecourseofthefour-dayworkshop,tourismperceptionsurveysweredistributedtoparticipantstofurtherdeterminewhat theperspectives andpotentialmotivesof the attendeeswere. Thedetailed findings andmaps are located in the appendixwith their summarypresented here.
27Agonda Framework Report 2010
Agonda’s ConcernsWhenaskedabout issuesrelatedtocurrentandfuturetourismdevelopment, therewerefivemajorthemes repeated:
Crime – from drugs and pedophilia to noise and illegal business practices.
Environmental Degradation & Waste Management – illegal dumping, backyard burning, water quality, access to drinking water. Wanted introduction of curbside pickup and public wastereceptacles, and protection of wildlife species.
LossofCulture – pressures to conform to outsiders, loss of traditional industries and skills, loss of community scale and social network.
Affordability–pressuresfromsecond-homerentalsandnewhousingdevelopmentsaswellascost of commercial goods especially during the peak tourist seasons.
Over-development–especiallyofthebeachfrontandforestslosttosecond-homesandresortsandprotectionoflocalaccesstoareas(especiallypublicbeachaccess).
Agonda’s AttractionsWhen asked about Agonda’s current and potential attractions, there were fivemajor themes thatdeveloped:
Beaches–specificallythebeachesinAgondaandneighboringcommunities.
Religious and Cultural Centers – the numerous temples and churches in and surrounding the community.
River Systems – Agonda’s river, the river mouth, and the mangroves
Forests and Mountains – the two mountainous areas in the north and the south and the dense forests that cover them.
VillageCharacter–thephysicalscale,thepeaceandquiet,theslowpace,theneighborliness,andthe cultural and social aspects distinctive to Agonda.
“Ourenvironmentalfeaturessuchas turtle nesting, mangroves,
forests and mountain views, are some of our best as well as our
most threatened assets”
28Agonda Framework Report 2010
Agonda’sTourismGuidance
When participants were asked how they would liketoseeTourismguidedandcontrolledinthefuture,sixmajorthemesevolved:
Create and Enforce Development RegulationsRegulationof rent-backs,constructionanddesignguidelines,hoursofoperation,hiringpractices, sourcing regulations, environmental regulations and incentives, and impact fees.
Consider Human Resource DevelopmentEnvironmentaleducationbeginningatprimarylevels,job-trainingandbusinessservices.
Develop Conservation & Waste Management SystemsMandatinghospitalitygreenpracticesforwaterandwaste-water,greenenergy,recycling,and regulation of illegal dumping.
DevelopCulturalExchangeProgramming Aneducationalpamphletforvisitorsrequiredforeachaccommodationunittodistribute,visitor volunteer programs, and cultural and environmental guides or rangers.
AssessRoleofTarget-MarketingSpecificallyforEco-Tourism,Nature-Tourism,andtheYogaandMeditationmarkets.
CreateaLocalTourismOrganizationToimplementthecommunityactionplan,conductprogramming,andmonitorandregulateongoing tourism development.
29Agonda Framework Report 2010
Sustainable Tourism Recommendations
Construction of a Community Hall/Meeting Space & MarketResidentssuggestedtheneedforacentralcommunalspaceforfunctions,townhallmeetingsandevents.Thisspaceshouldbemulti-purposeandprotectedfromtheelements.Theinclusionofamarketforlocalproducts,especiallyagricultureandaquaculture.Thiswasimportantforlocalproducersto sell their products to a wider market and attract buyers from other communities.
PurchasingofElectricVehicles Participants had suggested that funds should be reinvested into sustainablemeasures like electric vehicles (EV). Residents wanted to switch allgovernmentvehicles, taxis,andauto-rickshawstoEV.Aschemelikethiscouldworkbydevelopinga lease-to-ownsystemor incentivesforprivatedrivers to switch.
DevelopmentofaTaxiStandFormalizingataxistandwassuggested-andcouplingthiswiththeEVmeasurecouldhelp.
Development of a Health Club/Fitness CenterParticipants had remarked that the development of preventative healthcare was extremelyimportant and this evolved into a public gym/fitness/wellness center in Agonda.
ConstructionandStaffingofaPublicLibraryEducationwasatoppriorityforparticipantsandoverlapsintoTourismandEconomicDevelopment.ResidentssaytheneedforaPublicLibraryisparamount.
DevelopingWirelessInternetParticipantsdonotwantAgondatofallbehindtherestofIndiawhenitcomestointernetaccessandspeed.Theysuggestedfreeandaccessiblewirelessinternetfortheentirecommunity.Thisitem could not only reduce individual household internet costs, but also is a smart economic development tool for attracting business and can help prevent younger generations from leaving Agonda.
EconomicInvestmentOneof themostpopularsuggestionswas to reinvest revenuedirectlyback into theeconomyand local businesses. Participants suggested green business incentives, rotating loan funds for startups,andinvestingintraditionalindustries.Thiswaswiththegoaltomakebusinessesmoresustainable and encourage local ownership and entrepreneurs.
Note:Whenaskedaboutinvestmentininfrastructure,especiallytransportationandconnectivity,thegeneral participant consensus was that current connections were plenty but were in poor conditions and needed to be better maintained. Some participants had specifically suggested improving connections to the fort, Cabo de Rama, further to the north.
30Agonda Framework Report 2010
Sustainable Tourism RecommendationsAgonda’sTourismRe-investment
• Task:thesegoalswerespecificallydevelopedbytheparticipantsoftheTourismworkshopfocusgroups.
• Timescale: some goals may take years to come to fruition while others can be set up in a matter of months. Short means the goal can be implementedwithinthenextyear;mediumcanbeimplementedwithinthenextfewyears;andlongmeansthegoalwilltakeatleast5yearsto develop, maybe more.
• Cost: theexpenseof thegoalcaneitherbe low,medium,orhigh.Cheapermaynotalwaysmeanbetter,but itmaybeeasier for thecommunitytostartwithlow-costgoalstobuildmomentumandpartnerships.
• Environmental Impact: there is either a low,medium, or high need for anEnvironmental ImpactStatement (EIS) to be conducted.Alow ranking means there are only minor negative environmental impacts while a high ranking may mean that there is potential for large environmental impacts.
• Partners: this identifies the potential partners that are needed to successfully implement and manage the goal.
31Agonda Framework Report 2010
Sustainable Tourism Recommendations
A STAC can be set-up as a quasi-governmentalagency.Itoftenhelpslegitimizethe Committee if it has been mandated by the federal, state or regional government and has been given the ability to collect fees and other formsof revenue. Itcouldbeoperatedasanon-profitand includesrepresentatives fromgovernmentagencies,non-profits,residents,and private industries on its board of directors andadvisors.ButitisimperativethataSTAChasastrongsystemofchecksandbalances;there must be a method to regulate the organization and provide accountability forits actions, especially if fee collection and permitting responsibilities are imparted upon it.AnexampleSTACorganizationalchartcan
HowcanAgondaimplementaSustainableTourismfuture?
TABLE T.3
32Agonda Framework Report 2010
Repeated by participants throughout the tourism workshop was the need for creating an independent local body to manage and monitor tourism development in Agonda. As discussed during the workshop presentation,apotentialmodelforthisisaSustainableTourismActionCommittee(STAC).ThemissionofaSTACistoassessthepotentialfortourismdevelopmentandtoevaluatethesocial,environmental,and economic impacts of proceeding with developing that potential. As well, its purpose it to ensure all elementsof thecommunity –not justproor anti tourismagendas–are represented inprojectdeliberations.ASTACcanhavemajorresponsibilitiesincluding:• TourismPlanning&Policy
• RegulationandMonitoringofTourism-relateddevelopments
• FacilitationandCoordinationofstate,regional,andlocalorganizationandstakeholders
• Marketing & Promotion of Agonda and the region as a whole – especially niche marketing
• DevelopmentofTourismProductsandServices
• Human Resource Development
Sustainable Tourism Recommendations
TherearenumeroustoolsavailabletoaSTACwhichcanbeusedtomitigatenegativetourismimpactsandenhancetourism’spositiveeffects.Thesetoolscancomeintwoforms:‘hardtools’generallyrelatetolargepolicyandinfrastructuredecisions,aswellas‘softtools’,whichaimtoinfluencehumanresources and social aspects.
UsingaSustainableTourismActionCommittee(STAC):
HardToolsExamples
• Participatorylanduseplanning&zoning• Policies protecting resident access and
resource rights• Environmental assessments & impact fees• DesignGuidelinesandpreventionofLot
Mergers• Incentives&TransferofDevelopmentRights
(TDRs)• Material & Employee sourcing regulations• Two-tieredpricing• Requireduseofrecycling&renewable
resources• Equitabledistributionofutilities• Employeraffordablehousingrequirements• Policiestofavorjoint-ventures• VisitorServices-facilities• Defensible Space, Security & Surveillance• Regulation&Licensing–recreation&uses
of public lands
SoftToolsExamples
• Diversification of local agriculture – especially food processing
• Volunteerismandcommunityevents• Assure changes reflect decisions &
conscioustrade-offs• Targetmarketing• Awareness campaigns• Businessfinancialservices&access• VisitorServices–interpretation• Training&Educationoflocalworkforce–
transferable skills, hospitality, environmental• Community Policing• Environmental Education Programs
33Agonda Framework Report 2010
Sustainable Tourism Recommendations
34Agonda Framework Report 2010
armland conservation in a planning context,referstoeffortsmadetopreservefarmland from being converted to other uses (homes, businesses, industrial uses,
etc.). Communities often use a three-prongedapproach to do so:
1. Creating incentives for farmers to keep farming
2. Removing the obstacles that make farming unprofitable or undesirable
3.Settingguidelinesor controls tomakesure that the type of farming is the type desired by a community
There are many reasons conserving farmlandis important. Themost succinct reason is thatgrowing food locally helps to meet sustainable development goals. Here are a few more specific reasons:
Farmland is a finite natural resource: areas with prime agricultural soils are limited and more land can not be created.
Farmland is under growth and redevelopment pressure for other, more profitable uses: around the world, farmland is being converted rapidly to other uses. According to the American Farmland Trust, the United States is losing two acres offarmland every minute to new development. From1992to1997,theUSAconvertedmorethan6millionacresofagricultural land todevelopeduses.
Agriculture is an important part of a community’s economy: itprovidesjobsnotjustonfarms,butalso in food processing and related industries and it attracts tourists for its scenic character. Local farms provide fresh food at a reasonablecost: locally produced food is more nutritious and less costly. Transportation and environmentalcosts are high for foods that are imported from distant regions and other countries.
There are many intangible benefits associatedwith farmland, including aesthetic, open space, and sense of place: It is important for keepingthequalityof lifehighfor localcitizens.Farmingis part of the rural lifestyle and is a central part of many communities’ heritages.
Farmland offers environmental benefits: it provides wildlife habitat and the potential for groundwater recharge and it helps to mitigate flooding.
Farmlandrequireslittleintermsofpublicservice: farmlands, like other resource lands, more than pay for the community services they require.Residential developments require costly school,road, utility, police and fire protection services;farms do not.
Goan Communities will have to respond to theRPG-2021goals: As the state moves forward in creating larger scale or regional planning goals related to farming, it is important to ensure that the particular farm-related needs and goals ofAgondaareaddressedandnotlostinthemix.ThisisalsoanamazingopportunityfortheresidentsofAgonda to take control of their community’s future and not leave it purely to the state government.
“Growing food locally helps to meet sustainable development goals.”
FocusGroup:Farmland Conservation
A paddy field in Agonda
F
Regional Concerns ofFarmland Conservation
(from RPG 2021)
Conversion of agricultural land into urban real estate
AgriculturalTenancyAct
Agricultural land lying fallow
Paddy lands converted toillegal fish farms
Price of rice not rising sufficiently
Traditionalcrops(Coconut,Mango,arecanut,cashew&pineapple)cultivationhasdecreased
Lackoflabor
Lackofyouthinterestinfarming
Limitedprocessingfacilities
Dependence on other states for rice, vegetables, fruits & flowers
Looming global food shortage andpopulation growth
Increasingfoodprices
Inefficienciesrelatedtothesmallsizeoffarms
Measures to Address Concerns
(from RPG 2021)
Improvinglaborpool
Updatingfarmingtechniques
Supporting small and traditional farmers
Conserving agricultural land
Increasingproductivityand profitability
Reducing agricultural imports
Promoting organic farming
TheRPG-21citedfarmlandconserva-tion as a key element and included over twenty initiatives to keep farm-land from being converted to other uses.
35Agonda Framework Report 2010
36Agonda Framework Report 2010
A Farmland Conservation Success Story...
Onday3oftheworkshop,YogitaMehrafromTheEnergy&Resource Institute(TERI)andMr.Mahambre,Presidentof the Chorao Island Farmers Club gave a presentationon the benefits of farmland conservation which stressed that in spite of common misconceptions, farming can be a profitable endeavor: large corporations would not be interested in farming if there was no money to be made.
They outlined the process through a case study of theChorao Island farmers. Ms. Mehra and Mr. Mahambreexplainedhowtheycreatedavalueaddedproductwhichallowed the farmers to get the profits normally reaped by processors, packagers and middlemen.
In a little over a year, the Chorao Island Farmers Clubdevelopedintoamotivatedgroupthatsellshigh-qualityriceandisexperimentingwithgrowingexoticvegetablecrops.It has cooperativelyworked toget financingand supportfromoutsideagencies,madefarmingonChoraoIslandaprofitable endeavor, and has created amodel ‘apolitical’farmers group that others can learn from.
Formore informationabout theChorao IslandFarmersClub, you
can visit http://choraofarmers.wordpress.com/
PublicOutreachFindings
After the presentation, the participants who were not farmers came up with a list of reasons farming is important to Agonda. Each participant contributed one reason to the list.
Notice thatmanyof theseareconsistentwith reasons listed in RPG 2021. This isindicative that Agondans are well aware of the benefits of and need to have productive and sustainable farmland in their community.
-localidentity-foodsecurity-sourceofincome-sustainabledevelopment-sourceoffood-agricultureiscosteffective-maintainstheenvironment-import/export-sourceoffodder-sustainlife-conservation:keepsdevelopmentfrom happening
All participants came up with challenges tofarminginAgonda.Thesewereinsomecases consistent with the challenges in the RPG2021,butanumberwerespecifictoAgonda, and thus demonstrate the need to have a strong local plan that addresses their specific needs.
-impending potential conversion offarmland to other uses -Agricultural Tenancy Act and landlying fallow-smallsizeoffarms-costofricenotrising-yield and price of coconut hasdecreased-insects(mites)affectcoconutyield-lackoflaborandhighlaborwages-youth have poor perception offarming: low wages and little jobsecurity-dependencyonotherstatesforfoodand price of food increasing.-lackofwaterforirrigation-straycattle-lackofmechanization
Mr. Mahambre, President of the ChoraoIslandFarmersClub
YogitaMehra,TheEnergy&ResourceInstitute(TERI)
37Agonda Framework Report 2010
Workshop Summary
Ontheseconddayoftheworkshop,theparticipantsbrokeintotwogroups.Thefirstgroupcameupwithalistofgoalsforfarmlandconservation:
Group 1FarmlandConservationGoalsforAgonda-Conserveagriculture-Create/maintainaconsistentwatersupply-Increaseproductivitybyproducing2cropsperyear-SelllocalAgondagrownproductsatlocalmarket(andothermarkets)-Promoteorganicfarming-Seek government assistance to upgrade farming technology and supportsmall scale local farmers
Group 2 Focused on problem identification/solutions-ImprovelaborpoolProblem: wages are too high for laborersSolution: improve technology to reduce labor & increase yield
-ConserveagriculturallandProblem: low yield and costs of production is higher than profitSolution:takeadvantageofgovernmentschemestoacquiretechnologySolution 2: create a farmers club/self help group
-PromoteorganicfarmingProblem: hardwork required to farm organically & chemical fertilizers arecheap/easy/availableSolution: improve motivation & educate farmers about different organic farmingtechniquesthroughexperiments
-Increaseproductivity/profitabilityProblem:fertilization/useofchemicals&unscientificplantingSolution: lessrelianceonchemical fertilizersandemployscientificplantingtechniquesSolution 2: increase profitability by processing, packaging & value addition (cashewplantationprocessing,packaging,trading&systematicmarketing)
The products of these two groups were used on the last day of theworkshop as the starting point for creating a vision for farmland conservation in Agonda and for setting the first few SMART goals torecommend to the community as a whole. These recommendationsclearly lay forward the first steps to helping the farmers in Agonda work together and maximize the benefits to the community while seekingoutside assistance and incorporating what was learned in the waste water and economic development focus groups.
“In 2030 all agricultural land will becultivated to increase productivity, Farmers will be independent, self-sufficient, andhaveadequatewater.Noprime farmlandwill be lost to other uses.”
-Agonda’sPublicVisionforFarmland
38Agonda Framework Report 2010
These goals are a strong start to introduce the concept of convertinghumanwaste tosafe fertilizerandmanure for the farmingcommunity inAgonda.Thepotentialresultmaynotonlyreducethecostoffertilizersforfarmers, but also address some of the looming waste water issues for the community as a whole.
More goals are needed to address other issues including a consistent water supply and increasing productivity.
1.TheAgondaFarmersClub
CreateaclubforallAgondafarmersin6monthsby:-enlistingmembers(minimum5)-choosingleaders-registeringtheclubwiththegovernment-meeting6times-developingrules®ulations-selectingameetingplace
Additionally,Mr.VivekanandGaonkaragreed tocall an initialmeetingandspread thewordbyMarch31st2010.Resources theparticipantsidentifiedtoassistwiththisgoalweretheChoraoIslandFarmersClub,TERI,PalolemFarmersClub,DepartmentofAgriculture,andbanks(tobedetermined).
2.OrganicFarmingExperttospeakatFarmersClubMeeting
Intheinterestofpromotingorganicfarming,thefarmer’sclubofAgonda(committee)willseekanexpertfromTERItospeakatafarmer’sclubmeetingand give a general overview on the benefits and methods of organic farming byJanuary1,2011.Theparticipantswerespecificallyinterestedinorganicfertilizationmethodsintroducedinthewastewaterpresentation.
Resources the participants identified to assist with this goal were the Chorao IslandFarmersClub,TERI,localuniversities&colleges,andtheDepartmentofAgriculture.
3.ConductaNeedsAssessment
In the interest of promoting organic farming, the farmer’s club willconduct a needs assessment and identify necessary infrastructure, land,andfarmerstoconductapilotprojectresultinginenoughorganicfertilizer/composttosupply500sqmetersoffarmlandtobeutilizedbyJuly 1, 2011.
Farmland Conservation Recommendations
Focus Group:Waste Water Management
39Agonda Framework Report 2010
Coasts also provide numerous opportunities for recreation, making them important areas for thedevelopment of tourist facilities; industriesand other commercial activities are attracted by the possibilities coastal areas provide for the transport of raw materials and products and the disposal of wastewater.
“Municipal wastewater discharges are considered one of the most significant threats to sustainable coastal development”
Becauseofthisit isnotsurprisingthatcoastalzonesareheavilypopulated.Itisestimatedthatnearly half of the world population lives within 100 km of a coastline, many of the world’s mega cities are situated in coastal areas and there is a trend towards increasing migration of people to coasts. This has put enormouspressure on fragile coastal ecosystems and
astewater is water that comes from homes, businesses and industries that is combined with dissolved or suspended solids such as human feces, urine,
industrial waste, chemical waste etc. Wastewater management encompasses all the institutional, financial, technical, legislative, participatory and managerial aspects to prevent wastewater from becoming a problem.
United Nations Environmental Programmehas identified wastewater-related problems asone of the major problems in coastal zonesthroughout the world. In particular municipalwastewater discharges are considered as one of the most significant threats to sustainable coastal development, affecting human health as well as environmental quality aspects, both resulting ineconomic losses.
Inparticular,peoplelivingincoastalareasdependonmarine food as theirmajor source of protein.
Wcontinues to threaten the sustainable use of its preciousresources.Goa,beingacostalstateisnoexceptiontothesepressures.
“It is estimated that nearly half of theworld population lives within 100 km of a coastline”
StormWaterOutflowPipeinAgonda
40Agonda Framework Report 2010
“Water is an important resource, and needs to be conserved, preserved, and valued “
“Water is related to nature , agriculture and food supply “
“Water is wasted, undervalued, and not always readily available “
Theobjectiveof thesessionwastodisseminateinformation about wastewater related issues, various sustainable wastewater management systems as well as present information on wastewater management which is climate, design andcontextappropriate forAgonda, leavingthecommunity with a catalogue of options to consider in the creation of a plan as well as to assist the community in identifying next steps, resourcesand an appropriate timeline to implement a comprehensive wastewater management program, in line with the regional plan.
In addition to some informational sessions theworkshop had a participatory aspect, in the form ofquestionandanswersessionsatthebeginningand end of the workshop, where members of the community were able to voice their concerns and share their opinions regarding the state of water and wastewater management in Agonda today. ManyoftheobjectivesoutlinedinRP2021werebrought up by members of the community, and discussed at length during the workshop.
Workshop Summary
TheWorkshopbeganimmediatelywithanicebreakerandquestionandanswersession,tobeginthegroup dialogue to assess the community’s understanding, and concern with water usage, conservation, and pollution. Some of the sentiments regarding water that were brought up by the community were:
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Cleanliness
• “Notalwaysclean”• “Unfiltered”• “Related to kidney diseases”• “Affected by tourism”•Availability
• Fluctuating availability with seasons• Particularly scarce in April, May and June
Wastewater
• Septic tanks with no further treatment• Nowaterreuse• Noorinsufficienttreatmentintouristareas
Communitywater sourceswere identifiedasKhola,Mudkud and theCanaconaDam. Inregards to cleanliness, availability and current wastewater management the following comments were noted:
42Agonda Framework Report 2010
Afteraskingthegroupquestionstherewasaninformationalsessionwherea successful community plan, as well as details and scientific information on various systems were discussed.
Thesessionbeganwithamodelof the3-stepstrategicapproach for thecost-effective management of water resources, as a framework whenchoosing an appropriate sanitation plan, as well as policy considerations for a successful municipal wastewater treatment plan.
The water cycle, ecological sanitation, composting toilets, sustainablesanitation and grey water were defined and the inadequacy of currentWestern options was then covered.
3StepApproachtoWaterResourceManagement Case Study
New York City Combined Sewerage and Drainage System Failure
NewYork’ssewagesystemoverflowsessentiallyeveryothertimeit rains. Each year in New York, Billions of sewage and runoffoverflowthrough490dischargepointsor“outfalls”intotheharborandriverswhenheavyrainscausebackup.Thisoftentimeleadsto beach closings and foul odors, as well as altering the flora and fauna of the surrounding waters, threatening the viability of fishing in the region.
Asmuchas$400billioninextraspendingisneededoverthenextdecadetofixtheUnitedStates’ssewerinfrastructure,accordingto estimates by the E.P.A. and the Government AccountabilityOffice.
NewYorkCitysewercapoverflowing
43Agonda Framework Report 2010
EcoSan
Environmental Sanitation or EcoSan, refers to a holistic and significantly more sustainablemethod of solid and liquidwaste disposal. WhilethereexistseveraldifferentversionsofEcoSantechniques,thebasicprincipleliesintheseparationofliquidandsolidhumanwaste.Onceseparated, the materials can be safely recycled into valuable nutrients andareoftenusedasfertilizer.
Different EcoSan systems were discussed in detail, covering how they function, practices, safe handling, the costs, as well as the potential fertilizervalueofhumanwasteandwhatpoliciesshouldbeexploredinorder to tap into this potential.
Examples of an EcoSan Project atNavsarjanPrimaryBoardingSchoolsinAhmedabad,Gujarat,India.
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SMARTGoalsOnthefinaldayoftheworkshops,SMARTgoalsandavisionstatementwere identified for each specific workshop topic.
Waste Water Recommendations
Create a “Water Management Committee” for all of Agonda
When the committee has two members from each ward.
When the committee has met at least once every two months, a minimumofsixtimesinayear
YES!
Starting February 2010 and achieved by February 2011
SMART
Water Committee members have to give presentations and demos
When all fourteen committee members have implemented and demonstrated examples of ecological sanitation in their homes orbusinesses. (Rain harvesting, greywater reuse, composting toilets, etc.)
Onceeachcommitteememberhasgivenonedemosntreationaswellas one follow up of their chosen technology to their ward
YES!
Starting July 2010 and Achieved by February 2011
SMART
SmartGoal1:StartSomething! SmartGoal2:SeeingisBelieving
Focus Group:Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Management is one of the most relevant issues currently affectingAgonda.BasedofftheresultsfromtheCommunitySurvey,itwasdeterminedthatapproximately97%ofrespondentswereburningtrashonsite.Thisprocesscanexposeresidentstoharmfultoxinsreleasedintotheatmosphere during combustion. Additionally, much of the remaining soot andash;whichoftencontainsharmfuldioxins,canleechintothegroundandeffect drinking water. At the outset of this focus group session, participants were first asked to simply identify their most pressing solid waste concerns:
45Agonda Framework Report 2010
Solid Waste Concerns
- Nofacilityavailableatlocallevel- Landfillmustbelastresort- Landfillisan‘opendump’- Mostmovebeyond‘sighting’andintoaction- Dry waste collected and stored- Collection trucks affect roads- Insufficientrecycling/bottleredemption
Source:November2009AgondaCommunitySurvey
46Agonda Framework Report 2010
VisionWorkshopparticipantstookpartinavisioningexcercisefocusedsolelyonhowAgondanswouldliketotheirsolidwastemanaged.Themainpointsof the visioning were:
-Agondawillhaveacentraldisposalfacilitythatwillbeclean,safe,andfreeofhazards
-Agondawillhaveanorganizedandwellmaintainedgarbagecollectionsystem for the beach as well as proper disposal for demolition and construction waste, beach wet waste (fishing excess), and arecycling facility for dry waste
47Agonda Framework Report 2010
Residential Solid Waste Management
Agondansareinauniquepostiontolearnfromthesuccessesandfailuresof communities with more entrenched solid waste management systems. While some residents expressed a desire for a centralized collectionand disposal facility, others were quick to highlight the associatedinadequaciesandhighcosts.Anothergroupofparticipantsstressedthebenefitsthatamoredecentralizedsystemcanhaveonaddressingthevillagesconcerns.Adecentralizedsystemisinherentlymoreflexibleandlessexpensive.
This is an important topic that surely needsmore debate prior to thedevelop of Agonda’s final Plan. Workshop participants did however generate a number of ideas regarding the issue:
Priorities-tominimizewaste
1. Createacommittee(inonemonth)representedbyeachofthe7wards(2representativesfromeach)
2. Committee to develop:a. SWM plan/ frameworkb. IDacentraldisposalsiteforsolidwasteand
composting]collectiontruckstodohousehold/town-wide pick ups
c. Binstoseparatewetwastefromdrywaste–50ofeachbin
Funding from Panchayat for : site, bins, collection trucks, staff, maintenance Resources: local , regional, public, privatePanchayattocollectataxfromeachhouseholdtofund(ideaforreturnfromtaxcouldbeabilitytousefertilizerproducedfromcompost)
BeachTrash- Drywastedisposal-plasticbagsandbottles
o Each property owner on beach responsible for individual trash collection/bins (at least one bin per property)
o Towncollectiontruckstobringcollectedwastetocentral site
InprepfortheOct-Maybusyseason,eachyear beach front property owners to apply for license – collection practice in compliance in order to get license.
GuestSpeaker
ClintonVaz;aGoannaturalist,deliversanin-depthpresentationdescribingthemostcommonsolidwasteissueseffectingGoans,aswellastechniquesthatwhenutilized,reduceimpactfromsolid
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Solid Waste Management Recommendations
Recommendations:ThecommunityinAgondaisonethatvaluesthenaturalbeautyoftheirbeachfrontcommunity.Itisveryclearthroughmanyoftheexercisesconductedthattheyhaveastronginterestinpreservingthepristinebeauty-somethingthatcanbeassimpleasimplementingpropersolidwastemanagement(garbage)tactics.
Theplanforsolidwastemanagementcanbeginwitheasygoalssuchaseducating the community and property owners on the importance of proper waste management, specifically issues such as recycling and composting. Althougheventuallyawastesightwillneedtobeimplemented,andnotjustsighted, something as simple as composting can differ waste from the land fill while creating valuable soil.
ThePanchayatwillneedtogetinvolvedforbiggertaskssuchasthepurchaseand regulation of garbage bins and collection trucks, but this too can be done in anaffordable,recreationalmanner.TruckscanbeassimpleasanoldTuk-Tuk,andbinsemptywaterbarrels.Theseactivitiescouldbecomeinteractivewithsomething such as an art campaign where children paint the barrels with the beautiful images of their community to further convey the message of retaining this beauty. Soil from composting can be used by the proposed Farmers Club and food can either be used to feed the community or for food packaging and selling schemes.
Shorttermgoals-- SWM committee - Signageexpressingtheimportanceofmanagingwastebynotlittering,
recycling, and composting. - Lowimpactgarbagecollectionbins(rainbarrels,orconstructedfrom
bambooorothernaturalresources)- Gettrashoffbeach!
Medium term goals- Follow up on landfill, in the mean time develop plan for sight’s proper use
and management - Propose collection truck route- Funding?Oncetrucks,binsandsightareinplay-moneywillbeneeded
Longtermgoals- Waytogeneratewasteintoenergy?- Waytoreducetotalamountofwastepercapita?Perperson?
49Agonda Framework Report 2010
FocusGroup:DesignGuidelines
IntheDesignGuidelinesfocusgroup,threetopicswereprimarilyaddressed:storm water management, architectural character and road networks.
Storm Water Management refers to controlling rain water flow to reduce pollution contamination, erosion, support groundwater recharge, and reduce negative environmental impacts.
Architectural Character refers to the conservation of different aspects of the built environment, these being building typologies, materials, topography and historic buildings, and streetscape, among others.
The Road Network section refers to the structure of the streets with all its components and what are the improvements that are needed such as lighting, pavement, sidewalks, and vegetation, among others.
Architecture&RoadNetworks
TheRegional Plan forGoa (RPG 2021) tacklesmany of the pointsthatwereaddressedinthepresentationandparticipatoryworkshops;among them are the following:
FloortoAreaRatio(FAR)isrecognizedasnotbeingastrongenoughsource for guiding the quality of developments. Since FAR is aninadequate guideline by itself, more specific rules are needed forfuture developments.
ThehierarchyofroadsissetbyRPG2021andiscurrently:–Mainpanchayatroads(15to10meters–2to3lanes)–Otherpanchayatroads(8to6meters–1lane)
The main focus of the RPG 2021 is set on major motorways andarterialroads,likenationalandstatehigh-ways,butnotontheinternal,local roads.While RPG 2021 speaks in-depth on new constructionand improvements of existing highways, specifically for goodstransportation,littleismentionedoncommunity-scaledroadnetworks.
Key Definitions...
‘Design Guidelines’ are a set of discretionary statements while ‘DevelopmentStandards’ are a set of threshold requirements. Bothare intended to guide land development to achieve a desired level of qualityforthephysicalenvironment.
SOURCE:AlamedaCountyCommunityDevelopmentAgency
www.co.alameda.ca.us/cds/planning/designguidelines.htm
‘Sustainable’ Design Guidelinesrecognizetheenvironmentalcostofbuildingsanddevelopment.Theultimategoalistoprotectourfinite natural resources such as water, forests, land and the protection of human health.
Theseguidelines recommendstrategies for futuredevelopment thatcanminimizetheenvironmentalimpactwithinthefollowingfivebroadcategories:•PlanningSustainableSites•SafeguardingWater•ConservingMaterialsandResources•ImprovingEnergyEfficiency•EnhancingIndoorEnvironmentalQuality
Source:YaleUniversity-SustainableDesignGuidelines
50Agonda Framework Report 2010
Storm Water Management
The aim of this part of the Design Guidelinespresentation is to explore the impacts industryand new developments have on the flow of storm water. Storm water runoff can alter the natural landscape, causing floods, erosion, pollution, poor groundwater recharge, negative effects on fisheries, and sedimentation in water bodies.
As far as agriculture is concerned, the use of pesticides and fertilizers can cause pollution ofwater bodies where chemicals such as phosphates andnitratescanincreasealgaepopulations.Thiscanoftencause‘deadzones’-areaswherelargeamounts of algae deplete oxygen levels in thewater, while preventing sunlight from reaching areasbelowthesurfaceofthewater.Thishasanegativeeffectonwaterquality,andcan impactfish populations as well. The same applies torunoff carrying industrial waste and water polluted from mining activities or construction sites, which often cause impermeable surfaces and erosion, within the site as well as in surrounding areas.Groundwaterrechargeisalsoaffectedwithnewdevelopment. As the flow patterns are modified, less water is recharged, and oftentimes, polluted water infiltrates through the soil.
Presentation Recap
A brief description and comparison between design guidelines and sustainable design guidelines was given in the beginning of the presentation.Itwasemphasizedthatrulesshouldbe set by the community and that these should beflexibleandapprovedbyspecificcommitteesguiding land development, and directly related to land use and building typologies such as residential, commercial, and industrial, among others.
Currently, site development is controlled by Floor toAreaRatio(FAR),meaningtheratioofbuiltareato the plotted land area. Having only these types of measurements as guidance is a disadvantage that can adversely impact development. A more specific set of tools should exist to guide thedevelopment of the built environment, such as setbacksandbuildingheight,forexample.Duringthe presentation, it was also discussed that the threshold of FAR is not enough to achieve the qualityoffuturedevelopments(alsoaddressedintheRPG2021).
Designguidelinescanimprovethelevelofqualityforthephysicalenvironment.Inconjunctionwiththese guidelines, the importance of introducing sustainable practices into the processes was suggested.Forexample
-choosingsuitablesitesfornewdevelopments-watermanagementpractices-locallyproducedbuildingmaterials-controlledharvestingofmaterials
Finally it was explained how the informationgathered by other focus groups could help develop design guidelines, considering all the recommendations simultaneously finding synergies to create coordinated proposals.Basedonrecommendationscollectedfromthesurveys, a photomontage of a typical street in Agondawascreatedasanexampleofhowa
street with sustainable design principles in place could look. This was further addressed duringthebreak-outsession,inwhichparticipantsmadeinformed decisions as to what the most important elements on their streetscape were.
A few solutions to address storm water management issues were presented as well. Retention ponds and detention ponds, for example, help prevent flooding, downstreamerosion and polluted runoff from reaching water bodies. They can improve quality of waterthrough filters and plants, sedimentation of suspended solids and recharge of groundwater. These systems usually allow water to come infrom one side of the pond, and gradually filter the water through rocks and plants. The differencebetween retention and detention ponds is that retention ponds are permanent, that is, they are artificial water bodies, yet they can also be drained when necessary. Detention ponds are temporary solutions that hold water for a short period of time.
Another answer to storm water management problems is theuseof swales. These are long,narrow tracts of land that decrease the speed of water, preventing erosion and allowing for ground water recharge. Swales can also be placed on medians or on the sides of roads to allow water accumulation and prevent roads from being flooded.
Swale:Long,narrowtractsoflandthatdecreasethespeedof water, preventing erosion and allowing for ground water recharge.
Retention Pond
51Agonda Framework Report 2010
Workshop Panel Structure
Presentationpanels for theRoadNetworksportionof thepresentationweredivided into threedifferent street sections:
6meter,8meterand10meter-widestreets: foreach typeofstreet-width, therewereelementslike lighting, pavement, sidewalks, urban furniture, vegetation, drainage, and water management. Participants were asked to rank these elements based on perceived importance for Agonda’s streets.
Another break-out workshop used similar panels to refer to the architectural character ofAgonda. Using images which conveyed building typologies, topography, historic buildings,street proportions, and materials, participants ranked and gave feedback as to the importance of preserving these elements.
Twopanelswere alsoused to address issues regarding stormwatermanagement, aswell aspotential new infrastructure in Agonda.
The panel was divided into 3 categories, 6 meter,8-meterand10-meterroads.For8and10-meterroadsthe priorities were the same.
Inthecaseof6meterornarrowerroadstheprioritiesset were in the following order:1) lighting and signage 4) sidewalks2) water management 5) urban furniture3) pavement 6) vegetation
Water management was the second most important as some of the streets in Agonda have water bodies beside them so, so prevention of polluted runoff was also discussed.
In thecaseof8and10meter roads theprioritiessetwere in the following order:1) lighting and signage 4) water management2) sidewalks 5) pavement3) vegetation 6) urban furniture
Othersuggestions from thecommunitywere tobuildspeedbumps in the8and10meter roads tocontrolspeedlimit.This issuewasdisagreeduponbymany,and not considered to be the best solution to the problem. Signage and lighting were also one of the top prioritiesforthe3typesofroads.Forwiderstreetsasidewalk seemed important as the vehicles move faster than in secondary roads.
Workshop Summary1.RoadNetworkPanel
52Agonda Framework Report 2010
Inthisexercise,participantsagreedtoretainthebuilding typologies and were willing to accept structuresofupto2storiesinthevillage.Theywould also like to see new developments take topography, historic buildings and materials into consideration.
Inthecaseofstreetproportions,thecommunitydoes not want to have narrow streets, yet a priority should be set in the preservation of character of buildings, particularly Goan stylebuildings.Itwasemphasizedthatnewtemplesor churches should maintain the regional character.
Thispaneldealtwithlocatingspecificareasthatare affected by pollution, erosion and flooding using color-coded stickers on a map. Theconclusions were as follows:
Several areas around the road parallel to the beach are considered as polluted with garbage, particularly north of the church/St. Anne’s Institute. Parts of the main road east of thevillage(nearthePanchayatboundary)arealsopolluted with garbage.
Water pollution is a problem found mostly in creeks along the road parallel to the beach, northofthechurch/St.Anne’sInstitute.
Flooding is not of concern in general, although theareasouthofthemainroad(nearthebridge)is prone to flooding during the rainy season. Otherareaspronetofloodingareonthecreekeastofthechurch/St.Anne’sInstitute,andnearthe main road.
Erosion is a problem on the beach mostly, as there was only one other spot identified.
2. Architectural Character 3.StormWaterManagementPanel 4.OpportunitiesandIssuesPanel
This panel dealt with opportunities and issuesregarding storm water management, greenways andnecessary/potentialprojectsinAgonda.Theconclusions were as follows:
Green/Openspaceopportunitieswere identifiedaround the Church and near the water tanks.
Improvementstotheexistingmedicaldispensaryarerequiredatthesamelocation.Acommunitycenter was proposed on the main road (east of thebridgeconnectingthe“beach”road).
ThestreetnorthoftheChurch/St.Anne’sInstitute,and a few hundred meters south of the main roadneedstobepaved. Improvementsshouldbe made to the bridge and parking needs to be created.
Greenwayscouldbepotentiallylocatedalongthemain road, from the entrance to the Panchayat in the east section and up to the hospital. Another greenway could potentially be located along the creek running east from the church/St. Anne’s up to the main road. Silt to be removed from creeks prior to new development of greenways.
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“Create a safe and contextual district by ensuring there are no environmental impacts as a result of new development. To design and integrate sustainable development, retaining lifestyle, occupation of people and character of the village to preserve culture and traditions.”
DesignGuidelinesCommunity Visions and GoalsFollowingtheDesignGuidelinespresentation,participantswereaskedtocreateavisioncon-cerning the information that was presented to them.
ThecorecommitteehastocoordinatedesignguidelineseffortswiththeassistanceofGoaCollegeofArchitectureandexpertsinrespectivefields,considering the following:• Infrastructure• Roadswithintegratedsidewalks• Lighting• Signage• Coastalzoneregulations• Drainage• Stormwatermanagement• Newconstructionandsustainablesitedevelopment• Nomulti-storeybuildings• Parkingandcirculation• Uniformsystem,existingcharactertobemaintained• Application of sustainable materials and technology• Beachaccess
Vision
Goals
54Agonda Framework Report 2010
StreetTypologyPanel
Examplesofpossiblestreetconfigurationswere shared with the workshop participants to introduce the development process for design guidelines.
Example with pavement, lighting, sidewalk and plantings
Original view of the street
55Agonda Framework Report 2010
Design Guidelines RecommendationsRecommendationsforDesignGuidelines
Design guidelines ought to be enforced whenever any action will modify the built or the natural environment. Guidelines should be put in placeregarding architectural character, the disposal and management of waste, storm water management, lighting, water usage, and control over the regulations applying to building limits, among many others. Localarchitecture and preservation of landmarks enhance the experience oftouristsandresidentsalike,andmaintainthecharacterofthevillage.Thevillage has the opportunity to maintain its character, not by limiting growth, but by ensuring it takes place in a sustainable way that will provide a future forAgonda.Thenaturalenvironmentshouldnotbecompromisedforthesake of new developments, as it is the source of Agonda’s wealth, character and livelihood for its residents.
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ShortTermGoals
ParticipantsrecommendedcreatingDesignGuidelinesfordevelopmentsinAgonda.Withtheprioritiesalreadyset,thenextstepwouldbetogatherinformationaboutthebestpracticesforeachoftheareasforwhichsuggestionsweremade.TheGoaCollegeofArchitectureiswillingtohelpinthisprocessandit was proposed that the students, guided by professors and professionals in the field, would partner withthePanchayatofAgondatocreatetheguidelines.Oncethisisdone,thedocumentcanbetakento theGramSabhaforconsiderationforhowitcanbe implemented. Theentirecommunitywouldneedtobefamiliarizedwithbestpracticesandstartimplementingthemastheyareableto. *Lightinginthestreetswasanimportantfactorraisedintheworkshop,aspartoftheroadnetworkaswell. We recommend that the Panchayat hire technical advisers to run a study to design a comfortably well-litenvironment for thecommunitysimultaneouslyavoiding impacts to thenaturalecosystems,using the minimum amount of light. We recommend that the beach area be conserved as it is, without lighting.Inthecaseofthestreets,LEED,agreen-buildingratingstandard,vrecommendsavaluenotgreater than 0.01 horizontal and vertical foot-candles; it also recommends that no light should beemittedatanangleof90degreesorhigherfromnadir(1).Itisimportantthattherecommendationstake into consideration the right level and type of lighting to avoid impacts to the natural environment and wildlife habitat in Agonda.
PartiesInvolvedGCA,technicaladvisersandcoreplanningcommittee. Scope of work• Roads • Lighting*• Sidewalks• Signage• NativeLandscaping• GreenInfrastructure• Storm Water Management and Drainage• Soil Erosion Control• CoastalZoneRegulations• NaturalhabitatProtectionandBuffers• BeachAccess• Sustainable Site Development• Streetscape and Architectural Character• BuildingMaterialsandTechnology• ParkingandTrafficCirculation
CreateaDesignGuidelines Document
57Agonda Framework Report 2010
ItisrecommendedthatspecialattentionbegiventotheroadnetworkinAgonda,asitisnotspecificallytackledintheRPG2021,wherethemainfocusisonprimaryroadsandhighways.Minorchanges as lighting, permeable pavement and space for pedestrians in secondary roads can be developed easily and will make a substantial improvement in the life of the community. Inordertoachievethis,itisrecommendedtostudythecirculationpatternofAgondaandwherepossibleexploreone-waystreetsforvehiclesinordertogivespaceforsidewalks,turningthemtopedestrian oriented roads. Parties InvolvedTechnicaladvisersandcoreplanningcommittee Scope of Work •TrafficVolumesDuringPeakHours•ModalSplit(includingvehicularclassification)•TrafficGenerators•ParkingNeedsAssessment•PublicTransportationAccess•Pedestrian-VehicularConflictsandAccidentData•CurrentTrafficRegulations•HierarchyofRoadNetworks•DemarcationofPublicRight-of-Way(ROW),whichmayincludecarriageway,sidewalksand street infrastructure
ShortTermGoals(continued)
TrafficCirculationPatternStudy
Agonda’snaturalenvironmentisofgreatvalue.Thisisemphasizedbythefactthatthebeachprovidesaturtlenestinghabitat.Noise,lightpollutionandgarbagecanaffecttheturtles,andtheirpreservation should always be taken into consideration regarding roads, infrastructure, beach usage, lightingandnoise.Thesameappliestomangroves:pollutionfromlightindustrialactivitiesorstormwater runoff should be avoided. Parties InvolvedCore planning committee and Panchayat Scope of Work•Informpeopleofthevalueoftheirenvironment•Avoidpollutionandpromoteeffectivesolidwastemanagement•Integratepreservationintodesignguidelinesandregulations
PreserveAgonda’sBeachand Mangroves
58Agonda Framework Report 2010
Regulate Signage
ShortTermGoals(continued)Regulationof signage isalsocritical topreservecharacterandavoidunorganizedandunpleasantroads filled with publicity. Regulations of signage design should be enforced to avoid streets from beingclutteredwithlightsandsignsthatareunattractive.Originalitycanbeencouraged,yetlimitedby restrictions that maintain uniformity in terms of character to maintain a harmonious streetscape. Parties InvolvedGCA,coreplanningcommitteeandthePanchayat
Scope of Work •Regulatesignagebyintegratingrulesintodesignguidelines
Appropriatevillagesignagecouldalsoprovidecleardirectionandguidanceforcitizensinway-finding.Itcanassist ineasily locatingnecessary facilitiessuchasmedicalcentersandcommunitysupportresources. Clear signage can play an important role in preparing for emergencies.
Signage can also be used for environmental awareness and education. In Agonda interpretativesignage could inform visitors and residents about the sensitive ecology and encourage environmental stewardship.
Main road in Agonda
CommercialroadinPalolem;tothesouthofAgonda,isexperiencingheavytourismpres-sure, notice the signage difference between the two.
59Agonda Framework Report 2010
LongTermGoals
DevelopaRoadNetworkPlan andStreetTypology
Thisrecommendationismadeasacontinuationofthefirsttworecommendationsofthissection.OncetheDesignGuidelinesDocumentandtheTrafficCirculationPatternStudyaremade,theroadnetworkcan be implemented.
Parties InvolvedCore planning committee and Panchayat Scope of Work•PrioritizeInfrastructureDevelopmentProjectsforImplementation•Assigntheteamsthatshouldworkineachproject•Designtheprojectsthatwerechooseasapriority•Startwithimplementingapilotproject
Stormwatermanagementprojectsrequirethatexplorationsbemadebeforenewdevelopments,suchashydrology,topography, historic floods, and drainage patterns, among others. Sites should be accordingly selected in order to avoid pollutantsfromreachingwaterbodies.Stagnantwatershouldbeavoided,soastopreventmosquitobreeding.
InAgonda,specialconsiderationshouldbemadetostormwatermanagementbecauseofthewealthofwaterbodies,suchastheArabianSea,creeks,estuariesandpaddyfields.Asfarasfarmlandisconcerned,pesticidesandfertilizersshould be carefully used/selected in order to avoid pollution in storm water runoff. An interest was shown to preserve andenhancefarmland,yetexpertadviceshouldbesoughttoavoidpollutionfromchemicalsusedtogrowfaster,biggercrops. A Drainage and Watershed Plan could help in managing infrastructure and regulating new developments.
As part of a waste management plan, and in relation to the drainage and watershed plan, sewage and solid waste being dispersedbystormwaterrunoffcouldbeaddressed.OneimportantobservationisthatgarbagemanagementisanissueaffectingmanypartsofGoa.Thisisofseriousconcernbecauseofthethreatsposedtotheenvironment.Further,wheneveragarbagemanagementsiteisproposed(asinthecaseinsoutheastAgondaPanchayat),itisessentialtoselect thesitecarefullybecausewhensolidwastebecomesexposed to theelements, toxinsandcontaminantsarereleased, and can graduallymake theirway towater bodies, including groundwater. It wasmentioned during theworkshops that most of Agonda’s drinking water comes from wells, so preventing groundwater pollution is critical. PartiesInvolvedGCA,technicaladvisers,coreplanningcommitteeandthePanchayat Scope of Work• Informpeopleofthevalueoftheirenvironment• Integratestormwatermanagementpracticesintoadesignguidelinesdocumentandbuildingcodes• Integratestormwatermanagementpracticesintoawastemanagementplan• Regulatenewdevelopmentsandconsidertheimpacttheymayhaveontheenvironment• Preserveexistingcreeksandotherformsofnaturalstormwaterinfrastructure• Considertheimpactofstormwaterrunoffinindustrialandagriculturaluses
ImplementaDrainageand Watershed Management Plan
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LongTermGoals(continued)
ParkingandBeachAccess Considerations
Accordingtoparticipantsattendingtheworkshops,parkingisaseriousissueaffectingthecitizensofAgonda.Beforedesignatinga site for thisuse,anenvironmental impactassessment shouldbeperformed,alongwithstudies concerning traffic volumes, patterns and circulation. Designing a parking along a beach access needs careful attention. Appropriate landscaped buffers with native vegetation and other measures need to be created betweenthesensitiveenvironmentsandsuchintensiveusestoavoidimpacts.Itisnotrecommendabletoplacea parking lot very close to the beach because of the impact on the turtle habitats, the cleanliness of the beach, erosion,noise,informalcommerceandtheoverallqualityoflife.Perhapsasiteeastofthemaincommercialroadof Agonda could serve as parking, and within walking distance to the beach and commercial activities in Agonda. Thesiteshouldalsobeselectedwhereroadinfrastructureexistsandoncethenecessarystudieshavebeendone.
Permeable surfaces can be used to prevent flooding, but special attention should be made to avoid groundwater sourcesfrombeingpollutedbychemicalsoroilsfromautomobiles.Inanycase,aparkingsitewouldrequireabufferorbarriertoavoidcirculationissueswithpedestriansandcars.Itshouldbenotedthatstormwaterflowmight be affected by building impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots.
Accesstothebeachshouldbeavailabletoall,notjusthoteliersandtouristsstayinginbeach-frontproperties.Avisible,properlysizedbeachaccesscouldbelocatedwithinwalkingdistancefromtheparkingsite.Yetitcoulditselfbealandmarkthatadequatelyconnectsthebeachwiththemaintouristthoroughfare,notjustapassageway.TheonlybeachaccessappearedtobeafewhundredmetersnorthofSt.Anne´sinanarrowdarkalleyfilledwithtrash. Parties InvolvedGCA,technicaladvisers,coreplanningcommitteeandthePanchayat Scope of Work• Regulatenewdevelopmentsandconsidertheimpacttheymayhaveontheenvironment• Considertrafficcirculationpatterns,roadnetworksandstreettypologies• Considerenvironmental,socialandculturalimpactofnewinfrastructure
Planning for emergencies is an efficient way to respond in case of an urgent situation, such as storm surge, flooding, and even rising sea levels due to climate change. An evacuation plan to higher ground, for instance, could address this issue, as well as a clear route to hospitals/possible shelters or medical facilities. Parties InvolvedGCA,coreplanningcommitteeandthePanchayat
Scope of Work • Consider traffic and circulation patterns, storm water management infrastructure and plan for ways
to address emergencies• Consider village map and signage with directions to an evacuation center or emergency facility
Plan for Emergencies
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Chapter 4
•Summary and Minutes
Stakeholders Meeting
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WardRepresentativesandPanchayatMemberswhoattended theworkshopmet toexploreways tomake theplanningprocess inAgondaparticipatoryandinclusive.ThemeetingwaschairedbytheHon.SarpanchJoviFernandez.ThegroupproposedtoexpandtheexistingCorePlanningCommitteewhichworkedonthePlanforAgondabyformallyinvolvingotherstakeholders.Theylistedallthebusinessesandinterestgroups present in Agonda, and discussed formation of a representative Core Planning Committee which would be the working group going forward.Thelistincluded:
Fisherman,Farmers,DairyCo-operativeSociety,ToddyTapers,GeneralStoreMerchantsandRetailers,PermanentBarandRestaurantOwnerOperators, TransportationOperators, Beach front LandOwners, Sports andCulturalClubMembers, andMembers of theManaging Committee of the Communidad for Agonda.
UpdatefromtheStakeholdersWorkingGroup
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ItwasfeltthatsuchaCommitteewouldneedperiodictrainingaswellasinputfromqualifiedprofessionalswhichwouldincludeGovernmentProgramRepresentatives,environmentalengineers,planners,architects, lawyers,sociologists,NationalBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(NABARD),GoaInstituteofRuralDevelopmentandAdministration(GIRDA),andotherinnovativefinanceexperts.TheCorePlanningCommitteewouldidentifyagroupofProfessionalsintheformofaTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee,andfollowuponperiodiccoordinationonselectedmatters.TheywouldprovideregularupdatestothePanchayat,andformulateproposalsfortheGramSabha’sconsiderations.
Forming a Core Planning Committee
Panels from the Stakeholders Meeting
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ItwasnotedthatthePanchayathasresponsibilitiesandroletoplaytoensurepublichealthandsafety.BeachProtectionwasalsolistedasaPanchayatresponsibility.ThegroupsuggestedsomewaysforthePanchayattocontrolrampantdevelopmentandenvironmentaldegradationmaybethroughmeansof:
1.Properauthorityandregulationoflicenses.ThiswouldinvolveensuringthattheDepartmentofTourismdoesnotissueanyNoObjectionCertificate(NOC)withoutverificationandclearancefromthePanchayat.
2.Assessmentofexistingconditionsandinfrastructureandsystemcapacitytohandleplannedgrowth.Identifyingindicatosandwhereapplicablesettingthresholdsandapplicablelimitsandcompliancestandards.Itwasnotedputtingexistingregulationsintoeffectmaybeagoodplacetostart. And,
3.Establishingtourismpoliciestoensureenvironmentalprotection,plannedlocalcommunitydevelopment,andsustainablegrowth
Finally,keepingitrealistic,itwasrecognizedthatimplementationofideaswouldrequireaqualifiedanddedicatedstaffpersonwhoseresponsibilitiesmayinclude:Outreach,CoordinatingandsettingupMonthlyMeetings,CirculatingMeetingAgendas,MaintainingMapsandRecords,WritingProjectProposals,ExploringFundingOptionsforProposedPrograms,LiaisoningwithOrganizationsandPartnersforAgonda.ThestaffpersoncouldalsocoordinatesettingupTrainingProgramsforCommitteeMembersandCommunityforwhichtheremaybeGovernmentfundingavailable.
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Chapter 5
•Summary of Recommendations•ImplementationTable•Roles and Responsibilities•PrattTeamRecommendations’•Recommended Studies & Future Focus Areas
Recommendations and Next Steps
Gaps,NextSteps&RecommendationsOvertheseriesofparticipatoryworkshops,awealthof informationwasexchangedwhichdevelopedintoaclearvisionforthefutureofAgonda.As each day progressed, different goals and areas of focus were documented and incorporated into the evolving local framework. As well, numerous topics came up that were not specifically covered in any of the formal focus groups. Most importantly, a clear process for implementing these action items was developed by participants. While there were some differencesintheresultantgoals–forexample,somearetobecompletedin the short term versus the long term – many goals and their suggested processes had significant overlap.
After careful consideration, this framework offers a number of recommendations to facilitate Agonda in reaching their short and long term goalsandultimatelyachievethestatedVision.Theserecommendationsare summarized with the Pratt Planning team’s interpretation andcommentary.
Continue to involve all stakeholders and ensure transparency in managementandthedecision-makingprocess:
• Efforts and actionson sustainability issuesmust involvepro-activeparticipation and contributions of both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. Actors stem from household and neighborhood levels to regional, national and even international levels. Early, continuous, targeted and transparent communication betweenallpartiesisrequiredtoestablishfirmpartnerships.
Adoptalong-termvisionbutusewell-definedtargetsandactionsitemsintheshort-term:
• Starttodaybycreatingastep-by-stepactionplan.Thiscouldincludeaseriesofindicatorsandproperlyquantifiedgoals,thresholds,time-bound targets and are indispensable instruments for priority setting, funding and resource allocation, progress reporting and evaluation.
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Look for Linkages between sectors:
Consider developments in other socioeconomic sectors when draftinganymunicipalplan.Cutbackonexpensive,time-consum-ing bureaucracy, and make an impact in multiple sectors at once. Recommendations that can also be put to use in other sectors will be highlighted below using the symbols as follows:
Economic Development &SustainableTourism
FarmlandConservation
Solid WasteManagement
Waste WaterManagement
DesignGuidelines
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Formalize&RegulateTourism
Basedontheworkshopfindings,thereisagreatneedtoorganizealocalSustainableTourismActionCommitteeorSTACwhichcouldalsofacilitateandcoordinateall tourism-relatedorganizationsandbusinesses.Togainabetterunderstandingofthepullandpushfactors,thecommunityandtheSTACcould conduct an attraction and facilities inventory, conduct a resident attitude survey and develop economicandvisitorprofiles.ThePanchayatshouldobtainregulation,enforcement,andpermittingpowerfromStateandcreatealocalofficialtourismpolicyandenforcementorganization.Potentially,thisSTACcouldcreaterulesand,mostimportantly,enforcetheminregardstodevelopment,visitors,andtheenvironment.Howeverthesecommunitypoliciesneedtobein-tunewithpoliciesataregionalandstatescale.Forexample,thePanchayatneedstolobbytheStatetobeabletoenforce:• currentbeach-shackregulations,• waterqualityandturtle-nestingregulations,• rent-backregulations,• theongoingimproperhospitalitywaste-disposalprocedures.
Concurrently, the Panchayat needs to lobby the State to be able to develop, regulate & enforce a new hospitalitypermitsystem.Basedontheworkshopfindings,thiscouldincludeamandatorysustain-ability initiative for hospitality businesses, water conservation, solar heating and lighting, rainwater harvesting,sortinggarbage,andthephasingoutofconventionalpractices.Thiscanbedonewiththeuseofpermitfeesaswellastheuseofincentivesforequipmentupgrades,technicalassistanceandgreen-businessrotatingloans.
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Economic Development & Sustainable Tourism
Protect&ImproveQualityofLife Protect Agondan Culture
Regulate & Enforce business operating hours, use of sound systems, privateandvisitorparkinganduseofbusinessgarbagebins.TheSTACor Panchayat could ensure businesses are responsible for maintaining thequalityoflifethatthecommunityhasexpressedinterestinpreservingthrough theuseof regulationsand incentives.ThePanchayatorSTACcould also develop a system of land banking to preserve public access andenjoymentofpublicspaces(suchastherequestedpicnicareasandbeach access). Regulate stray cattle--especially on beaches. Diversifyskill sets of workforce as not to rely too heavily on tourism.
During the workshop series, participants repeatedly the importance of protectingtheuniqueAgondanculture:
• LimitaccesstoButterflyBeachanddemarcate,regulateandenforcetraditionalfishingzonesinwaterandon-shore.
• Usevolunteerismandcommunityeventstobolsterprideandculturalconnections,
• Develop awareness campaigns for both visitors and residents. • Developcultural exchangeprogramsandenvironmental education
programs for both visitors and residents. • Create cultural sensitivity pamphlets for tourists to be handed out at
hospitality events. • Considermandatoryguidesfortourists’excursions.• Explorenichemarketingforeco-tourismandyoga/meditation-tourism
as well as hinterland tourism. • Work with local artisans and farmers to develop a local market to sell
localproductstovisitorsandthatcanexporttoothercommunities.
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Economic Development & Sustainable Tourism
Education, Awareness & Funding
Inventory,Production,Value&Markets
The Farmers’ Club should find out whatgovernment schemes and programs exist andcan be utilized to Agonda’s benefit! Find outif these funds can be applied for the Farmers’ Club or Panchayat. Investigate sustainable andecologically sensitive methods for controlling pests such as coconut mites and seek advice fromexpertssuchasTERI.Possiblythiscouldbean additional educational topic for the farmers’ club education awareness and training program.
Preventprime farmland loss. Identify farmland that is consideredprime.An inventory shouldbemadethatidentifiesnotonlytheamountoffarmlandbutalsothequalityofthelandandtheownershiponalocalscale.Thisissomethingthatcoulduseassistancefromadditionalstudyinitiatives,andacommunitybasedGISprogramtohelpmaptheselandparcels.
WhatisAgondaproducing?YearlyaccountingsofcropyieldsforallofAgondawouldbetallied,recorded,comparedandpublished,ideallybytheFarmers’Club.Thiswillhelpidentifytrendsin farmland loss/gainandprofitability. Itwillalsohelp identifypotential futureprojects for theFarmers’club.Itwillalsoraiselocalresident’sawarenessoftheirlocaleconomyandthevaluefarmingaddstoit.Toddytappingshouldbeincluded.
Understandandstudymarkets.Marketresearchneedstobedonetoexploreopportunitiesforfarmers. Farmers would look for business partners in Agonda and in the surrounding areas. Analysis needs to be done on what happens to Agondan produce--is it being sold to localrestaurants?Explorethefeasibilityofsellingaffordableproductstoresidentswhilesellingvalueadded products in markets both in and outside of Agonda. Consider selling high priced value addeditemsdirectlytotourists--perhapscreatinganiche,suchasagourmetcuisineindustryinAgonda.ThiswouldallowfarmersinAgondatoprovidefreshlocalhealthyfoodtoresidentsforreasonable prices while still benefiting from a tourist market. Consider collaboration of farmers and fishermen in branding/ marketing Agondan produce and fish.
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Farmland Conservation
ConsiderAllTechnologicalOptions
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Ecological technologies may be helpful in water conservation. Coordination with the Waste Water Management Committee and input during the creation of the design guidelines for roadways and storm water runoff will likely have positive impacts on water conservation planning. Rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse both need to be considered to create a more stable and consistent water supply forfarmingthatwillallowformultiplecropstobegrownandharvestedinacalendaryear.Ifonefarmcansuccessfullyharvesttwiceayear,thereisboundtobeapushfromallotherstodothesame.Itisrecommendedthatsmall-scaleeffortspilotprojectssimilartotheorganicfertilizerproject(SMARTGoal3)bestartedwhilelargertown-wideinitiativesareinvestigated.
Decidewhetherornottomechanize.Mechanizationwillhaveanegativeenvironmentalimpact.Ifitisfeasibleforfarmerstocombineresourcesorusegovernmentschemestoacquiremachinerytoworkthefarms, will the benefit in terms of labor saving costs be worth the adverse environmental impacts (loud noise,airpollution,etc.)?Thismayimpactneighborswhodon’tfarmandmakethemlessreceptivetopreservingfarmingaspartoftheAgondanculture.Ontheotherhandlaborisextremelyexpensive,canfarmingcontinueandbefiscallyrewardingifAgondadoesnotmechanize?Thisshouldbewellthoughtout and discussed amongst Agonda residents before any action is taken. A community meeting held and coordinatedby theAgondaFarmers’Clubwouldbe an excellent place for the community todecide.
Farmland Conservation
Education & Awareness Plan&InvestinSolidWasteInfrastructure
Solid Waste Management
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Agonda’s natural environment is of great value and the appreciation of thenaturalbeautyofthisbeachfrontcommunitywasclearlyvocalized.Residents of Agonda have a strong interest in preserving the areas pristine beauty;somethingeasilyachievedbyimplementingpropersolidwastemanagement tactics.
Theplan forsolidwastemanagementcanbeginwitheasygoalssuchas educating the community and property owners on the importance of proper waste management, specifically issues such as recycling and composting.Theseactivitiescouldbecomeinteractiveandcreative.Forexampleachildren’sartcampaignwherechildren fromthecommunitypaint municipal trash barrels and rubbish bins with images of Agonda to further convey the message of the importance of retaining Agonda’s beauty.Simple signageexpressing the importanceofmanagingwastebynot littering,recycling,andcomposting isalsoaquickandeffectivemethod of spreading information.
The Panchayat will need to get involved for bigger tasks such as thepurchase and regulation of garbage bins and collection trucks, but this toocanbedoneinanaffordable,reasonablemanner.TruckscanbeassimpleasanoldTuk-Tuk,andbinsemptywaterbarrels.
Theuseofthewastesitewilleventuallybeimplemented,soitisimportantto consider ecological technologies when drafting the management plan for the site. Compost from homes (via collections or drop off) orcomposting directly on the municipal waste site can differ waste from the landfill while creating valuable soil. Soil from composting can be used by the proposed Farmers Club and food can either be used to feed the community or for food packaging and selling schemes.
ConsiderEffectsofActionsonOtherSectors
Solid Waste Management
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Itisessentialtoselectthesitehowthewastemanagementsiteisusedcarefullybecausewhensolidwastebecomesexposedtotheelements,toxinsandcontaminantsarereleased,andcangraduallymake their way to water bodies, including groundwater. As part of a waste management plan, and in relation to the drainage and watershed plan, sewage and solid waste being dispersed by storm water runoff should be addressed. Most of Agonda’s drinking water comes from wells, so preventing groundwater pollution is critical. Should composting be used to treat organic waste, bins should also be carefully located to prevent runoff from storm water entering streams or water bodies, as well as public places
AppropriateTechnologiesandEco-San Long-termGoalSetting
Wastewater Management
Sound water management relies on the preservation and efficient use of water resources. To reduce the amount of wastewater and capitalinvestment in sewage systems, a focus on preventing pollution of water sources,efficientuseand re-useofwater,anduseofappropriate low-costwatertreatmenttechnologiesisneeded.Eco-technologiesarevalidalternatives to costly traditional solutions (sewage systems, treatment plantsandassociatedmaintenance).Theyarealsoviablebasedonthecommunity’sneeds,concerns,andwillexpressedduringtheworkshop.
Compostingtoiletscanbeincorporatedintoacentralizedsystem.Basedon our findings, a centralized eco-san management policy (includingmunicipalcollection)wouldberelativelyinexpensive,viableyearround,and less disruptive than constructing and managing a large sewage system (which would not be guaranteed to function during monsoon season).
Not taking action to dealwithwastewater issueswill incur great costsfor current and futuregenerations.Thehighcostsandcomplexitiesofcreating an effective centralized water management system require along-term, step-by-step approach that minimizes environmental andhuman health damage asmuch as possible within existing budgetarylimits.Thiscanbeadauntingtask.
However, an incremental approach can allow for the implementation of feasible, tailor-made and cost-effective measures that move thecommunitycloser to reaching their long-termwastewatermanagementobjectives.Setrealistictimelimitsandunderstandthatacomprehensivewastewater management plan may take a few years to draft and properly implement.
ThecreationofawatermanagementcommitteeisagreatstartforAgonda.But,the6monthplanisquiteambitious.Inordertoensuresuccessofthewatercommittee’sfirstproject,longertermgoalsarerecommended:A full year of training and education may give committee members more time to get comfortable with ecological technologies in their own homes orbusinesses,andgivethemtheconfidenceandexperiencetoeffectivelyeducate the rest of the community.
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IntegrateSupply&SanitationSystems Study Agonda Hydrology
Municipal wastewater management is part of a wider set of water services. Thewastewatercomponent isusuallypositionedat theendofawaterresource management chain. A holistic approach to water supply and sanitation should be adopted that addresses household water services, protection of the dams and rivers (and other drinking water sources),rainwater collection, and human waste collection, treatment and reuse as fertilizerorcompost.Thiswhole-systemapproachcanreducenegativeimpacts on human health and ecosystem health. Available institutions, technology and costs relevant to all major components of the watermanagement chain need to be examined in order to ensure success.Considerthejointdevelopment,management,and/ordeliveryofdrinkingwater supply and sanitation services.
Due to concerns brought up in regards to the river and nearby water becoming brackish during low tides, a hydrological survey of Agonda is recommended. Hydrological conditions are a key component when drafting a comprehensive plan, as understanding water supply, and what occurs below ground is key to discovering the best solution to this issue.
A hydrology study is also a key component in having enough information to ensure that impurities from a solid waste management site will not be flowing towards drinking water sites, or into recreational bodies of water.
Wastewater Management
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Ensure Financial Stability & Sustainability
Consider initiatives in other sectors when drafting a municipal waste water treatment plan. For instance, farmland conservation and tourism related initiatives may create opportunities to address sanitation. Linkingwastewatermanagementwithotherinitiativescanensuresustainability,fastercost-recovery,risk-reduction,andfinancialstability.
Seek out innovative financial mechanisms: consider private sector involvement and partnerships with othermunicipalities.Factorinsocialequityandsolidaritywhencalculatingcostrecovery.
PotentialLinks:• Ecotourism, where ecological living and ecological sanitation become the draw, creating a niche
market.• Usingcompostedhumanwasteinagriculture.• Rainwater harvesting and runoff management when designing road improvements in Agonda.
Considerhowpreventing floodproneareas fromfloodingmaybe tied intoaquifer rechargeorrainwater harvesting for water supply.
• Combining solid waste management with human waste management into a comprehensive waste management program.
• Developmentofgobarplantsasalong-termoptionforwastewhileprovidingenergyindependenceandself-sustainability.
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DevelopDesignGuidelineCovenants
Design Guidelines
Participants recommended creating a “Design Guidelines” documentfor development in Agonda. After priorities are set, the next step is togather information about the best practices for each of the areas for which suggestionsweremade.TheGoaCollegeofArchitectureexpressedawillingness to help: students, guided by professors and professionals in the field, partnering with the panchayat of Agonda would create the guidelines.Oncecomplete,thisdocumentcanbetakentotheGramSabhafor consideration and potential implementation as a tool for enhancing on-goingorday-to-dayimprovements.Inthisway,theentirecommunitycanbecomefamiliarizedwithbestpracticesandstartimplementingthemas soon as opportunities arise.
Design guidelines should be enforced whenever any action will modify thebuilt formor thenaturalenvironment. Guidelinesshouldbeput inplace regarding architectural character, the disposal and management of waste, lighting, water usage, and the regulations that apply to building limits,etc.Localarchitectureandpreservationoflandmarksenhancetheexperienceoftouristsandresidentsalike,andmaintainthecharacterofthe village.
DesignGuidelinesDocumentScopeofWorkshouldinclude:• Roads • Lighting• Sidewalks• Signage• NativeLandscaping• GreenInfrastructure• Storm Water Management and Drainage• Soil Erosion Control• CoastalZoneRegulations• NaturalhabitatProtectionandBuffers• BeachAccess• Sustainable Site Development• Streetscape and Architectural Character• BuildingMaterialsandTechnology• ParkingandTrafficCirculation
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RoadNetworkImprovements
We recommend special attention to the road network in Agonda, where the main focus is on primary roads and highways. Minor changes as lighting, permeable pavement and space for pedestrians in secondary roads can be made easily and make a substantial improvement in the life of the community. A study about road circulation pattern can help to start improving roads, because it might be unnecessary to have double sided circulation for every road, instead roads can be redesigned to work for one direction leaving space for sidewalks and other pedestrian amenities. Thiswillalsogivemorespace to thestreets forproperurban furnitureorsmallthingsliketrashcans.Thiscaneasilyresultinbigchanges:lesstrash in the streets that ends up polluting the water, etc. Remember to keep in mind that more, bigger roads results in more vehicles and traffic – not less, and this should be a consideration when deciding to widen roads for more traffic.
RoadNetwork&StreetTypology
Following the development of the Design Guidelines Document andTrafficCirculationStudy, the actual road network build out and capitalconstructionprojectscanbeinitiated.
Scope of Work• PrioritizeInfrastructureDevelopmentProjectsforImplementation• Assigntheteamsthatshouldworkineachproject• Designtheprojectsthatwerechosenasapriority• Startimplementationofaninitialproject• Review initial project, learn from the experience and make each
succeedingprojectmoresuccessfulthantheonebefore
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ConsiderCommunityParkingNeeds
According to participants attending the workshops, parking is a serious issue affecting the citizens of Agonda. Before designating a site(s) forparking, an environmental impact assessment should be performed, along with studies concerning traffic volumes, patterns and circulation. A parking site could also be designed along with a beach access that is also a matter that needs attention. However, it is not recommendable to place a parking lot very close to the beach because of the impact on the turtle habitats, the cleanliness of the beach, erosion, noise, informal commerceandtheoverallqualityoflife.
Perhaps a site east of the main commercial road of Agonda (the road where St. Anne’s is located) could serve as parking, since it is withinwalkingdistancetothebeachandcommercialareasinAgonda.Thesiteshouldalsobeadjacenttoanexistingroad.Permeablesurfacescanbeused to prevent flooding, but special attention should be made to avoid groundwater sources from being polluted by chemicals leaking from vehicles.Inanycase,aparkingsitewouldrequireabufferorbarriertoavoidcirculationissueswithpedestriansandcars.Itshouldbenotedthatstorm water flow might be affected by building impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots.
StreetLighting
Street lighting was identified as an important factor during the workshop. We recommend that the panchayat hire technical advisers to conduct a study to design a comfortable lighted environment for the community without disturbing the natural ecosystems, using the minimum amount oflight.Theideawouldbetoreducetheskyglow,improvingnighttimevisibility. We recommend that the beach area be conserved as it is, without light. In thecaseof thestreets,LEEDrecommendsavaluenotgreaterthan0.01horizontalandverticalfoot-candles,italsorecommendsthatnolightshouldbeemittedatanangleof90degreesorhigherfromnadir.Itis important to take into consideration that if these recommendations are applied without studying the right amount and type of light emitted, it can affect the natural conditions of the fauna that inhabit Agonda, including the turtles.
Design Guidelines
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Regulate Street Signage
RegulateBeachAccess
Regulation of signage is also critical to preserve character and avoid unorganized and unpleasant visual clutter in Agonda. Regulations ofsignage design when enforced will prevent streets from being filled with lights and signs that are unattractive. Originality can be encouraged,whilemaintaininguniformityintermsofcharacter(size,brightness,etc)to maintain a harmonious streetscape.
Access to the beach should be available to all, not just hoteliers andtouristsstayinginbeach-frontproperties.Avisible,properlysizedbeachaccess could be located within walking distance from the parking site. Beyondasimplepassageway,itcouldbecomeaneconomicfocalpointfortourismandotherindustries,likefishing,orjustanattractivelandmarkthat connects the beach with the main tourist thoroughfare.
TrafficCirculationStudy
It is recommended that special attention be given to the road network inAgonda, which was not specifically tackled in the RPG 2021, where themain focus is on primary roads and highways. Minor changes to secondary roads such as lights, permeable pavement and space for pedestrians can be developed easily and will make a substantial improvement for the community.
Inorder toachieve this,astudyof the trafficcirculationpatternofAgondashould be undertaken with a particular emphasis on identifying possible road changes to create one direction roads for vehicles in order to give space for sidewalks, turning them to pedestrian oriented roads.
ScopeofWorkShouldInclude:• TrafficVolumesDuringPeakHours• ModalSplit(includingvehicularclassification)• TrafficGenerators• ParkingNeedsAssessment• PublicTransportationAccess• Pedestrian-VehicularConflictsandAccidentData• CurrentTrafficRegulations• HierarchyofRoadNetworks• Demarcation of Public Right-of-Way (ROW), which may include
carriageway, sidewalks and street infrastructure
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Erosion Prevention Plan Drainage Area Analysis
Plan for Emergencies
Planning for emergencies is an efficient way to respond in case of an urgent situation, such as storm surge, flooding, and even rising sea levels due to climate change. An evacuation plan to higher ground, for instance, could address this issue, as well as a clear route to hospitals/possible shelters or medical facilities.
Design Guidelines
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Erosion is another threat posed by storm water. Areas where there is a lack of natural ground cover are more prone to being eroded, and can eventually cause runoff carrying sediments and garbage reaching undesired locations. An Erosion Prevention Control Plan should be implementedforallnewdevelopmentsandrenovationprojects.
Storm water management projects require that explorations be madebefore new developments take place, such as hydrology, topography, historic floods, and drainage patterns, among others. Sites should be accordingly selected in order to avoid pollutants from reaching water bodies. Stagnantwatershouldbeavoided,soas topreventmosquitobreeding.
In Agonda, special consideration should be made for storm watermanagement because of the wealth of water bodies, such as the Arabian Sea, creeks, estuaries and paddy fields. As far as farmland is concerned, pesticides and fertilizers should be carefully used/selected in order toavoid pollution in storm water runoff. An interest was shown to preserve and enhance farmland, yet expert advice should be sought to avoidpollution from chemicals used to grow faster, bigger crops. A Drainage and Watershed Plan could help in managing infrastructure and regulating new developments.
ThenumerouscreeksinAgondaserveasnaturalstormwatermanagementinfrastructure. Any intervention that affects the creeks or the natural flow of water towards/from the creeks should be carefully studied. Agonda’s mangroves are also of great value, and need to be protected from polluted runoff.
Additional Data Collection & StudiesManyof theworkshoprecommendationsandgoals,will requireadditionalinformation gathering before implementation. We have listed some recommended studies and data collection, which will facilitate development of an effective community plan, and increasing the chances of successful implementation.
CommunityBasedEnvironmental Programs
• Ongoing Monitoring, Data Collection &Surveys Programs
• Web-basedGeographicInformationSystems(GIS)MapsandDataAccessibleforPublic
• Community Environmental Center and Watch Person Program
• OngoingTraining,EducationandAwarenessPrograms
• Signage and Communication Programs• ExploreFundingforProgramsandOngoing
Liaison
Additional Data Collection (includingLandSurveysandMapping)
• Land Survey showing Street Public Right-of-Way, Carriageway, and Private PropertyBoundary
• Utilities, Lampposts, Drainage, Sewage,Telecommunication
• Ground Floor Land Use for Property:Residential, Retail, Office, Industrial,Institutional,Farmland,Forests,Other
• HighTideWater-line,Water’sEdgeTreatment(Bulk Head, Rip-Rap, Erosion, Sea Wall,Other)
• Wetlands Delineation• Natural Forests andMangroves Boundaries
and Indicating Required Protected BufferAreas
• Demographic Survey• Health Survey and Assessment of Medical
Needs• HousingInventoryandCondition,Ownership,
OccupancyStatus
Recommended Planning Studies
• Growth Projections and InfrastructureCapacity Analysis
• TrafficCirculationStudy,ScopeofWorkmustinclude:TrafficVolumesduringPeakHours,Modal Split, Traffic Generators, ParkingNeeds Assessment, Public Transportationand Access, Pedestrian-Vehicular AccidentData, Current Traffic Regulations (HierarchyofRoadSection8.37– lookat theROWvs.Carriageway)
• Watershed Management / Drainage Study/Plan
• CommunityTourismAssessment• Environmental Impact Assessment of
Proposed Recommendations & Alternatives for a Plan
• Assessing Future Housing Needs includingfor Migrant Workers
• Emergency Preparedness Assessment
82Agonda Framework Report 2010
Focus # Task Timescale Cost Environ Impact Partners/ResourcesT 1 Panchayat obtain regulation, enforcement, and permitting power from State med low high Panchayat, State Tourism & Planning, Non-Profits, BusinessesT 2 Create a local and official tourism policy and enforcement organization short low low Panchayat, Community, Businesses, State Tourism, Non-ProfitsT 3 create rules and enforce them in regards to development, tourists, and the environment short low low Panchayat, Community, BusinessesT 4 Develop community and regional policies to guide tourism and related development med low med Panchayat, Community, Businesses, Non-ProfitsT 5 Regulate & Enforce business operating hours short low low Panchayat, Community, BusinessesT 6 Regulate & Enforce use of sound systems short low low Panchayat, Community, BusinessesT 7 Regulate & Enforce use of business garbage bins short med med Panchayat, Businesses, Non-Profits & Local Art GroupsT 8 Develop system of public garbage bins short med med Panchayat, Businesses, Non-Profits & Local Art GroupsT 9 Regulate & Enforce private and visitor parking - business responsible short low med Panchayat, BusinessesT 10 Develop, Regulate & Enforce new hospitality permit system - mandatory greening med med med Panchayat, BusinessesT 11 Train and employee 'rangers' and 'interpreters' for natural and cultural protection and education med med low Panchayat, Businesses, Community, Non-Profits, Youth InternshipsT 12 Develop a system of land banking to preserve public access and enjoyment of public spaces (picnic and beach) med med med Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Financial InstitutionsT 13 Develop a municipal wireless internet system med low low Panchayat, Businesses, Internet Service ProviderT 14 Limit access to Butterfly Beach short low low Panchayat, Fisherfolk, Non-ProfitsT 15 Turtle protection and monitoring program - include visitor volunteers short med med Panchayat, Non-Profit, Environmental OrganizationT 16 Create a formal taxi stand short med med Panchayat, Businesses, Taxi OwnersT 17 Develop a local market which sells local products to visitors and can export to other communities med med med Panchayat, Businesses, Regional & State Econ Dev OrganizationT 18 Regulate and enforce rental housing short low low Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsT 19 Develop a garbage curbside pickup or drop-off system med med high PanchayatT 20 Mandatory guides for tourists excursions med med med Panchayat, Non-Profits, BusinessesT 21 Create cultural sensitivity pamphlets for tourists to be handed out at hospitality venues short med low Panchayat, Businesses, Non-ProfitsT 22 Ensure public beach access med med med PanchayatT 23 Explore hinterland tourism med low high Panchayat, CommunityT 24 Niche marketing for eco-tourism and yoga/meditation-tourism short med low Panchayat, Businesses, State TourismT 25 Develop cultural exchange programs med med low Panchayat, Community, Businesses, State TourismT 26 Shift and enforce ownership of businesses and services to be controlled by residents - financial access med med low Panchayat, Community, Businesses, Financial Institutions, Non-ProfitsT 27 Regulate stray cattle, especially on beaches short low high Panchayat, Community, Fallow-land OwnersT 28 Improve roads and parking along beachfront long high high Panchayat, Community, BusinessesT 29 Develop incentives for Keep Agonda Clean - environ volunteer program & clean up med med low Panchayat, Community, Businesses, Regional/State Volunteer ProgramsT 30 Teach subjects in local schools about tourism and environment and local business training of negative impacts long low low Panchayat, Community, School System, Non-Profits, Internship ProgramsT 31 Upgrade municipal and taxi vehicles to an all electric fleet long high med Panchayat, Taxi Owners, Non-Profits, State/Federal Environmental ProgramsT 32 Demarcate, regulate and enforce traditional fishing zones in water and on-shore med low med Panchayat, Businesses, State, FisherfolkT 33 Enforcement of beach shack regulations - shift enforcement to local level med low high Panchayat, Businesses, State Tourism
Tourism and Economic Development
The matrix contains recommendationsselected by the Pratt team from each one of the previously discussed focus groups. Selected recommendations from the recommendation table are highlighted in pinkandrepresentedontheImplementationMatrixbyaniconalongwithauniqueidentifiervalue. Each identifier value corresponds with a specific recommendation from the Recommendation charts found on the preceding pages. The matrix provides aroughestimateoftheamountofinvestment;measured by cost and time, that each recommendationrequires.
RecommendationTables&ImplementationMatrix
SustainableTourism&EconomicDevelopment
Farmland Conservation
Waste Water Management
Solid Waste Management
DesignGuidelines
83Agonda Framework Report 2010
S1
S2
S3
Focus # Task Timescale Cost Environ Impact Partners/ResourcesF 1 Create a Farmers' Club short low low Panchayat, Community, neighoring clubsF 2 Introduce organic farming to local farmers short low med Panchayat, Community, TERI, neighboring clubsF 3 Organic compost pilot project short med med Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 4 Determine and utilize available Government schemes med low low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, GovernmentF 5 Investigate coconut mite control options short low low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 6 Identify prime farmland and ownership short low low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 7 Record and publish yearly crop yields med med low Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsF 8 Begin rainwater harvesting for irrigation med med high Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 9 Grey Water reuse for irrigation med med high Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 10 Determine if mechanization is desireable for Agondans med low low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Technical AdvisorsF 11 Create value added products/food processing med med low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Financial Institution
Farmland Conservation
Focus # Task Timescale Cost Environ Impact Partners/ResourcesW 1 Create a Water Management Committee short low low Panchayat, CommunityW 2 Educate Water Management Committee on Ecological Sanitation short med low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Local CollegeW 3 Apply for Funding for long term projects short low low Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Financial InstitutionW 4 Site Analysis for Water Management med low med Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Local CollegeW 5 Study Hydrology in Agonda and environs med med med Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Local CollegeW 6 Designate buffer areas to be protected watershed areas short med high Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits, Local CollegeW 7 Coordinate storm water management into rainwater harvesting program. short low high Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsW 8 Begin Rainwater Harvesting short low high Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsW 9 Transition away from septic tanks to other ecological sanitations short med high Panchayat, Community, W 10 Give Demonstration of ecological sanitation and technologies med low low Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsW 11 Run education programs for the community on Ecological Sanitation med med med Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsW 12 Develop human waste composting program med low high Panchayat, Community, W 13 Encourage Ecological Sanitation technologies for EcoTourism niche med low med Panchayat, Community, Non-ProfitsW 14 Encourage and Implement grey water use for businesses med low low Panchayat, Community, W 15 Combine all solid waste composting with human waste composting. med med high Panchayat, Community, W 16 Implement centralized human compost pick up/ drop off program med med med Panchayat, Community, W 17 Cooperate with Farmers club for use of municipal compost med low high Panchayat, Community, W 18 Develop Gobar Gas Plants long high high Panchayat, Community, Non-Profits
Wastewater Management
Focus # Task Timescale Cost Environ Impact Partners/ResourcesD 1 Create a Design Guidelines Document short low high GCA, technical advisers and core planning committeeD 2 Develop a traffic circulation pattern study short low high Technical advisers and core planning committee D 3 Develop a street lighting study short low med Technical advisers and core planning committee D 4 Implement road network and street typology plans long high high Core planning committee and PanchayatD 5 Develop a Drainage and Watershed Management Plan short low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 6 Integrate storm water management practices into a design guidelines document and building codes med low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors, Goa College of ArchitectureD 7 Integrate storm water management practices into a waste management plan med low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 8 Avoid pollution and promote effective solid waste management short med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 9 Avoid sewage and solid waste to be carried in storm water runoff med med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 10 Regulate new developments and consider the impact they may have on the environment med low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors, Goa College of ArchitectureD 11 Perform necessary studies (topography, drainage patterns, hydrology, etc.) to implement storm water management practices med high high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 12 Preserve turtle nesting habitat short med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 13 Protect mangroves from becoming polluted short med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 14 Stagnant water to be avoided to prevent mosquitoes from breeding short low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 15 Prevent groundwater pollution med med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 16 Consider the impact of storm water runoff in industrial and agricultural uses, and how it affects the environment med med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 17 Prevent erosion by implementing storm water management infrsturcture, such as swales long high med Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors, Goa College of ArchitectureD 18 Preserve existing creeks and other forms of natural storm water infrastructure short med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 19 Consider traffic circulation patterns, road networks and street typologies for parking and beach access projects long med med Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 20 Include buffer zones near parking sites med med high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors, Goa College of ArchitectureD 21 Consider environmental, social and cultural impact of new infrastructure short low high Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical AdvisorsD 22 Regulate signage by integrating rules into design guidelines short low low Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors, Goa College of ArchitectureD 23 Plan for emergencies long high med Panchayat, Core Committee, Technical Advisors
DESIGN GUIDELINES
84Agonda Framework Report 2010
Task Timescale Cost Environment Partners/ResourcesS 1 Education and Awareness short low high GCA, technical advisers and core planning committeeS 2 Plan and Invest in Solid Waste Infrastructure Medium low high Technical advisers and core planning committee S 3 Consider Effects of Actions on Other Sectors short low med Technical advisers and core planning committee
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
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