Margao needs more COVID care
On June 17, 2020, through the letters to the Editor column of Herald, I, as a concerned Madgaum- kar had raised the issue of the pandemic entering Margao and highlighted the unpreparedness of the Govt, administration, health sector, and the Margao MLA to guide citizens of the contested commercial capital to prevent the outbreak of the virus at its onset. Today, with the virus spreading at Monte Hill, through to Aquem-Alto and other areas, the citizens live in a constant fear of a Vasco-like scenario happening in Margao.
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Yet, the Govt and the administration, seem to be totally lost and healthcare oriented departments which had the Margao Municipal Council as a major shareholder have still not woken up in the earnest perspective of putting brains and hands together to control further spread of the virus in the city.
A famous city hotelier lost his life, there are others and today, the count of infections in Margao has crossed more then 100 and the figure is increasing gradually, yet, one finds no enforcement of social distancing (Sec 144 in place), mask wearing and other prevention measures being adopted by the locals. Like there was politics during Lockdown 1 for distributing essentials, there was a politics in distributing immunity booster (IB) tablets, wherein MMC Councillors owing allegiance to the MLA were seen distributing only to their faithful.
The outcome was one former councillor whose wife is acting councillor and belonging to the MLA’s camp has tested positive. A few days ago, on a second term campaign trail, the same councillor was distributing sweets door-to-door, as his child had cleared SSCE results. There is an immediate need to test the neighbourhood and the people he has come in contact with, but yet, there is no action whatsoever on any authorities part to work towards preventing a mass spread of the virus. Margao needs attention, and now. May better sense prevail.
Cedric da Costa, Margao
Recover all illegal mining dues
Illegal mining in Goa had been continuing unabated and thanks only to the pushing and prodding of the Goa Foundation, some mining dues are going to be recovered.
It is heartening to know that the state will recover Rs 3.431 crore mining dues from the mining companies in two tranches of Rs 1,508 crore and Rs. 1, 922 crore in a span of 4 months. This is a good beginning. However, what is most alarming is that the biggest booty of mining illegalities amounting to Rs 65,058 crore owed by the mining companies due to illegalities between the years 2007-2012 should be recovered, failing which the mining activities in Goa should not resume.
If this large amount is recovered then deserving mining dependents can be allocated about 15% of this owed amount as subsistence allowance during the pendency of cessation of mining activities in the state. The Supreme Court should not allow mining in the state at least till the amount of Rs 35,000 crore as calculated by the Justice M. Shah commission is not recovered.
It may be emphasised that mining is a one time activity and hence conduct of this business should be strictly monitored.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
Beirut blasts
The tragic and unfortunate twin blasts that occurred in the vicinity of Beirut port completely destroying the entire port area calls for a close introspection and planning in order to avoid such bizarre incidents from happening in future. The first explosion happened at a warehouse which had fireworks stored inside and the second more intense one which destroyed the port happened in the warehouse which had ammonium nitrate stored there since 2014 ever since it was confiscated from a cargo ship. These avoidable tragedies has to be eyeopener to the authorities closer back home.
One way of doing this is to relocate all warehouses and tanks storing inflammable materials to the remote uninhabitated areas to avoid human tragedies. We have the Mormugao port within kissing distance of the human habitat. The pile of coal which is a combustible mineral and which can ignite due to spontaneous combustion, and which can spread to the petroleum tanks in the close vicinity of the port has the capacity to destroy the entire city of Vasco and its surroundings. The only way to avoid this is to stop coal handling and other inflammable cargoes at the port, which can be used only to handle general cargo ships n cruise liners. Even Mumbai port which also is in the midst of the city has relocated it bulk cargo and container operations to the nhava seva satellite port and tanker operations to butcher islands. The authorities should act fast in order to avoid tragedies like Beirut from happening closer back home.
Lucas DSouza, Verna
Justice for SSR
It is being nearly 50 days since many Hindi serial enthusiasts lost their icon SSR. In parallel, as sentiments on the other hand, the whole of India is asking for justice, even those who never knew who SSR was, what an irony. On the flip side, some power house are treating the same as an ‘Open and shut’ case’ with so many legitimate issues unanswered.
All Sushant’s so-called staff, close friends, flat mates have disappeared after they hush-hushly cremated his body and stood in the media with a cosmetic smile. Just that social media and Bihar government approached the Supreme Court to intervene to bring the culprits to books, now things are gradually coming to light. The saddest thing that we most Bollywood film investors have noticed is, the rich and famous actors, producers who the aam janta supported to make their movies hit are now silent spectators.
As we all see ‘when a crow dies, 100s of crows show sorrow and solidarity’ but here in Bollywood there is no remorse to their colleague as it is controlled by their own mafia, how selfish is that, though they call them ‘desh bakti’ with crocodile tears and wearing a coat of highest hypocrisy of the order. Please wait and watch ”Justice will surely prevail” to great hearted and lovely Sushant Singh Rajput.
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Memorable event
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the first brick of the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya is a watershed moment. Leading the Bhumi Pujan, Modi extended gratitude to those who struggled to make the temple a reality.
The Prime Minister rightly remarked that the day marked the freedom of Ramjanmabhoomi from the chain of “destruction and resurrection” just like what Independence Day means for India’s freedom struggle. Unfortunately, the pandemic prevented BJP patriarch, L K Advani, who played a pivotal role in the Ramjanmabhoomi movement and undertook the Ram Rath Yatra, from being a part of the ground-breaking ceremony. The memorable event will be remembered by millions of Indians for a long time to come.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Wearing mask helps beat Coronavirus
In order to beat the Coronavirus pandemic and get case numbers down, there are a few things we have to do:
The virus spreads fastest in enclosed places where people are together for a long time. Those places have to be closed down.
Anyone who has the virus, or has been recently exposed to it, can spread the virus even if they’re not showing any symptoms. Those people have to stay in one place and not go anywhere.
The only clearly effective way to prevent the spread of the virus between individuals, apart from physical separation, is to wear a mask.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
