Reportedly, the Junta House, located on 18th June Road, Panaji is likely to be redeveloped. The proposal is for a 11-storey building with six floors for a hotel, a casino on the 11th floor and a swimming pool on the terrace. There would also be modern office and commercial complexes. In the early 1980s, people used to carry containers to buy cooking oil and get groceries wrapped in newspapers folded into a cone, from a dingy looking Goa Sahakar Bhandar located at Junta House building. The casino bettors can jump with joy into the pool while the losers cannot blame their stars because India’s first public astronomical observatory, set up in Dec 1982 by Percival Noronha, would not have a place in the new building. Redeveloping the landmark Junta House (built in 1966) is critical but are a hotel, pool and casino required? These are dime a dozen in and around Panaji. The proposed space for these could be used by the govt to host skill development classes, training centres and for other people and youngster-friendly courses. Hope the govt will give hear the janata (public) and modify the proposed plan for the Junta House.
