Film shoot in Divar triggers interest, protests

Panaji: Divar is abuzz with activity due to a film unit descending on its eastern side. A few islanders are excited over a Bollywood film to be shot there but protests are being raised over shooting permissions and hardship to residents.
The queues of vehicles at the ferry point are getting longer than usual. Scores of cars are already parked on badly dug up roads in Malar.
The island comprises Goltim-Navelim and St Mathias panchayats, though Divar, a serene and picturesque island, is a misnomer for the entire island.
Around 20 houses, the church premises with its cemetery and the surroundings have been given a make-over and the whole area wears a festive look.
The shooting is set to commence soon.
The owners letting out their houses and extras from the island and elsewhere will rake in some revenue. “Many houses have been informed about the project schedule,” a resident said.
But others are already complaining about local conditions being unsuitable for such a project.
“During my term as Goltim-Navelim sarpanch, we had adopted a resolution to prohibit shootings in our area,” former sarpanch Prasad Harmalkar said. But he said private properties are being used for it in Malar. “We cannot interfere but we can only protest about public inconvenience. The roads are narrow and dug up and parking on them will cause problems,” he said.
St Mathias panchayat member Swapnil Bomkar told reporters that the issue of permissions to film unit was not discussed at the panchayat meeting.
“But the sarpanch had issued oral permission to use the sports complex, which belongs to the directorate of sports and youth affairs (DSYA),” he said.
But after a complaint to the DSYA and following objections from the islanders, the panchayat after a meeting on March 13 directed the film unit to vacate the ground and complex being used for crew members and catering facilities within 24 hours.
The islanders rely totally on ferry boats to cross over to the mainland. “Even during normal times, the traffic is heavy and working people and students suffer,” Harmalkar said.
Sao Mathias panchayat has also rejected a request from Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) to issue approval (NOC) to the film shooting. “The shooting will obstruct the local residents’ vehicles and bouncers will create a nuisance,” sarpanch Anuradha Volvoikar wrote to the ESG. “However, the unit is yet to vacate the sports complex,” residents said.