When will the PWD awaken from its slumber?
It is on account of the gross dereliction of duty by the Public Works Department (PWD) that the killer Ribandar-Chimbel junction has claimed yet another precious life. A cyclist, Devu Mardolkar, was snuffed away on the spot by a speeding Kadamba bus at this junction, which has been a death trap for far too long. Our departed brother Devu, who was a labourer at the Corporation of the City of Panaji, had for the last many years been dedicatedly cleaning the streets of Ribandar.
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How many more precious lives will have to be lost for the authorities to awaken? Ironically, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant regularly zooms across on this very road which sees heavy flow of traffic and chaos at the same junction which is very accident prone. It is about time that the work of this pending flyover is expedited in earnest. Will the CM at least now please intervene?
At many busy intersections across Goa we see vendors and hawkers squatting and making the roads further chaotic. There is a need to relocate them to avoid accidents at these junctions. Stray cattle and dogs even on the highways are also the cause for a lot of accidents.
Proper road engineering to ensure safety is of paramount importance. The Government’s first duty and highest obligation is public safety. Safety does not happen by accident. It is the solemn duty of everyone to take their own safety and the safety of others seriously. Goa, which is already known as a gambling, prostitution, drug and crime haven, is not lacking behind as an accident destination too.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Zulumxai and development
This is with regards the poem titled ‘Zulumxai’ and a short story titled ‘Patkia ani Ghatkia’ by Justiniano Fernandes and Daniel D’Souza, respectively, in Herald’s Konknni Daiz dated September 25. Zulumxai has nicely described the freedom struggle and the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, especially the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi who showed the path of non-violence and truth and fought for freedom from British Rule ultimately by sacrificing his life. The poem ends stating that if he was alive today, he would have hung his head in shame to see his beloved country being ruined by today’s greedy and untruthful leaders.
Daniel’s story speaks of the modern craze to migrate to the very same countries we gained freedom from. The usual excuse is ‘Development’, which unfortunately is taking Goa downhill and has also become the mantra of our self-seeking politicians. The story ends with the mother reminding her son to be content with what his ancestors have kept for him and reminds him of the sacrifice made by his grand-father who was a freedom fighter.
Allwyn N D’Souza, Saligao
Hats off to Nadal
Roger Federer, the tennis legend, retired recently. The last match played by him is truly a historic moment and will be remembered by many. But, more importantly people around the world are going to remember the teary-eyed Rafael Nadal.
The image that appeared on the front page of Herald, dated September 25, along with its caption conveyed a thousand words and emotions. In the image Nadal is seen sharing in his competitor and friend’s emotional moment by himself shedding tears. His tears spoke of how he not only saw Federer as a tough competitor but also as an excellent tennis player and human being.
Sharing in the joys and success of another is a noble quality to have. Especially when the other is a competitor. Nadal being an excellent sportsman has also showcased that the true spirit of sportsmanship not only lies in the field but outside it too.
Truly, hats-off to this amazing sportsman.
Menosha D’Costa, Taleigao
A bond of respect, love and admiration
Seeing the photograph of Roger Federer shedding tears at his swansong at the Laver Cup tournament in London, my eyes too turned moist for a while. That Rafael Nadal struggled to control his emotions, reflects the bonding between the two for decades and manifests the Spaniard’s great respect and love and affection for the Swiss legend.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Don’t export Mancurad mangoes
There was news in the papers that Goa will export the Mancurad mangoes. This is a wrong initiative and the Mancurad mango, a delicacy of Goa, should as much as is possible be reserved for Goans. This mango has seen its prices rising year by year. The reason for this is that with more money in people’s hands they can afford to pay more and with supply not going up, the prices naturally will rise. Therefore unless the availability of the Mancurad mango increases substantially and meets local demand, then only we should look at export. Thus this misguided idea of the government to deprive Goans of their favourite fruit delicacy should be nipped in the bud unless an exportable surplus is generated.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
Indian currency may strike century
Looking at the sad episode that the Indian currency has weakened past the 81- mark against the dollar for the first time ever in the history of the country, reminds one of how the Indian Rupee remained the only currency that withstood the Asian Financial Crisis 1997 when almost all Asian currencies including the Singapore dollar, Thai Bhat and Malaysian Ringit went for a toss. This was possible only because of the foresight, knowledge of the currency movement and its management that were possessed by all those who were at the helm of affairs of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at that time and the well informed leaders of their time who never interfered in their affairs.
Though even today we have renowned financial wizards from the cadres in the RBI, it is unfortunate that contrary to the earlier days, their hands are tied now to take decisions freely and are compelled to dance to the tunes of the powers-that-be who lack the required financial knowledge. The Rupee would have even touched the 90-mark by now but for the frequent intervention of RBI which has cost the war chest of foreign exchange reserves by almost $94 billion, thereby shrinking the reserves to $545.65 billion.
One only hopes that wisdom prevails in the ruling dispensation not to interfere in areas which are not their cup of tea. Finances have to be managed only by real professionals who are available in plenty in RBI, lest they drive the Indian currency to strike the century mark in a very short time!
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Illegal Bangladeshi business
The Goa Government has widely publicised that some Bangladeshis were apprehended for illegally staying and conducting businesses. For such illegal businesses to being conducted in the open, in such a small state, there could be mainly be two reasons: Absolute complacency and incompetence by the state machinery in keeping regular checks on various businesses in the state; and money changing hands. Can the state government urgently probe into who helped facilitate this illegal business? Did these individuals have Aadhaar Cards/Ration Cards, etc, and if so how did they get them?
The bottom line is that it’s very difficult to conduct illegal business in such a small state if not for the high corruption and in-competence of the state government. Shouldn’t the Goa Government be held accountable here by Goans in this case?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
