Only jail sentence will deter illegal hill cutting and constructions
The Minister for Town Planning made a statement that the Town & Country Planning Act will be tweaked to prevent plotting of orchard land as well as from hill cutting by imposition of penalty in cash based on the size of the plot.
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The builders and others in the construction industry will not at all be deterred by imposition of payment of fine in cash. They will violate the law and express willingness to pay the necessary fine. The fine proposed to be imposed is much lesser than the pecuniary benefits drawn by the violators.
Thousands of square metres of land is already plotted in Bardez and Sattari talukas during the last 10 years and constructions have also come up thereon. The village panchayats have given house numbers for the said houses before issuing NOC for water and electricity connections.
In case the government is serious about prevention of illegal conversion and prevention of hill cutting, the only penalty would be a jail sentence based on the seriousness of the offence committed by the offender. Or else, those interested will violate the law and pay the penalty, which would in fact regularise the violation.
Adv S N Joshi, via email
A fitting tribute to Karunanidhi
The release of a commemorative 100-Rupee coin on the late DMK patriarch and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu is a fitting tribute to his gargantuan contribution to the State and national politics during his decades-long political career that scaled dizzying heights.
In his colourful and eventful career, Karunanidhi wore many hats – novelist, editor, dramatist, film script-writer, poet, literary commentator, lyricist, humourist, and so on. A master orator, Karunanidhi would habitually send the crowd into raptures with his witticisms during political rallies. Karunanidhi was a perfect example of how a regional party leader can become indispensable in the national political sphere. Having left behind a rich cultural legacy in the realms of both film and politics, it is most appropriate that Karunanidhi has been honoured with the release of this commemorative coin during his birth centenary.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Provide succour, support to terror victims
When the terror-affected speak, the international community hears them with rapt attention. Terror kills and maims its targets physically and psychologically. The victims of terrorism have to live a long life filled with fear, disgust, trauma, apathy, and more.
Victims are the State’s responsibility though the tendency to provide lip service to protect the dignity and right of the individual and injured still exists.
Immediate impact and long term scars of terror have to be fully addressed by the nations without fear or favour, ignoring caste and creed. The kith of the terror-affected have the right to be heard throughout, and not in a piece-meal manner.
“International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism”, on August 21, observed by the United Nations (UN) every year entrusts the responsibility on the member nations to alleviate the suffering of the unfortunate victims of war. Support portals of the UN are vital to lift the terror-hit from the pit.
Dehumanisation of terror victims is that the UN has in its stated terms to soothe and comfort terror victims because a statement should go that there is life after terror. Parallelly, the global counter strategy is equally important. At the end of the day, rule of law and human dignity have their own roles to play.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Doctor’s strike: Patients should not suffer
The routine service at the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim were reportedly affected for the fourth day, as junior and senior resident doctors continued their protest demanding justice for a post graduate trainee physician of RG Kar Hospital, who was raped and murdered in a hospital in Kolkata. However, it is learnt that the emergency services were not affected due to the protest and OPD services continued largely which were managed by consultants.
It must be said that hundreds of patients visit the premier medical institute in the State every single day from across Goa and the neighbouring States and many are inpatients. The doctors have a right to protest against the gruesome crime and seek an assurance of a safe working environment for the medics from the government. But at the same time the patients should not suffer due to lack of medical service.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane reportedly spoke of the need to tweak the State’s laws in order to provide more protection for the medical professionals. It is learnt that the State government might promulgate an ordinance or bring in legislation in the next session of the Goa Assembly for the protection of medical staff both in government and private hospitals. This will take some time. Hence it would be in the fitness of things for the doctors to call off the strike and attend to the patients.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
India bleeds for rape victims, demands justice
Moumita, Nirbhaya and Asifa, raped and murdered will not be forgotten by India, but bleed, accusing those in power, and demanding justice for the innocent victims. We put the government in power to govern our country to keep it safe and free for everyone to live and be happy. But this has not happened, instead the culprits were given freedom and the incidents have recurred and bring shame for India through the satanic behaviour of the perpetrators.
More than the recent rape and murder of the 31-year-old post graduate doctor in Kolkata, there are other heinous rape crimes that have gone unreported and they have been kept under wrap by those being responsible in authority.
Goa next is the expression made by many when such incidents have occurred in the country. Yes, but when is most unpredictable to say. Attempts were made to disturb the harmonious life of the Goans, but so far these attempts have failed. It is said: “Blindness keeps one from seeing the light, but enlightenment shows us the way.” Very true, those who were chosen to serve the voters, instead serve themselves being in power. This is the tragedy of being in politics in our country.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Give perpetrators of rape exemplary punishment
The tremors from the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital continue to resonate, stirring widespread outrage and demands for justice.
This has sent shockwaves throughout the medical community in the country. This incident is very condemnable and extremely sad. Amid rising public anxiety over the initial handling of the case, it needs more accountability and thorough investigations. The incident has raised serious questions on the safety and security of doctors at medical establishments and women at large in India. There should be a fast-track judicial inquiry to ensure ‘exemplary punishment’ for all involved perpetrators. Implement adequate workplace security measures for all medical staff, especially those who identify as women or gender non-binary individuals, in all medical colleges and hospitals across India. This incident highlights the dire need for hospital administrations to take responsibility for ensuring the safety of their staff. In Goa, a case of sexual harassment charges at police training school has arisen. The police department, a disciplined force that boasts zero tolerance to crimes of any sort, has surfaced.
It is high time to take cognisance of the same to ensure that these instances do not happen in the future. These cases serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by women in the medical profession and in the department, underscoring the need for immediate action to address the systemic issues that endanger their lives.
K G Vilop, Chorao
