Clear illegal roadside religious structures
The Government must strictly comply with every Court order and cannot flout any of it. Despite various orders and directives by the Supreme Court the Goa Government has intentionally failed to demolish and clear roadside illegal religious structures. No steps whatsoever have been taken by the State government in this regard which is in clear contempt of Court. This willful attitude of the state administration of conveniently and selectively keeping Court orders in cold storage is deplorable.
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The Supreme Court in September 2009 while ordering the demolition of all roadside religious structures had directed that no unauthorised construction shall be permitted in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurdwara on public streets or public places. But we see them continuing to mushroom across the State. Further the Supreme Court in 2011 restrained State governments from granting permission to install statues or erect any structure on public roads, pavements and sideways and other public utility places.
All these illegal religious structures along the highway and State roads significantly restrict movement of vehicles leading to long traffic snarls. This is a public hazard people have to grapple with where unauthorised religious structures are obstructing roads and inconveniencing the commuting public.
It is an irony that while on one side the government has been broadening roads and pavements for the benefit of public, many have taken the opportunity to blatantly enlarge the already existing illegal religious shrines.
It would be great achievement for the Goa government in this 60th year of Goa’s Liberation, the State is freed of all illegal and unauthorised religious structures alongside the roads and in public places.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Melauli protests
The government’s move to lodge attempt to murder cases against the peaceful protests of mostly womenfolk of Melauli is laughable. What other reaction did one expect when a 60-year-old woman is deliberately trampled upon? Nowhere in the world have we seen elderly people being trampled upon in a peaceful protest. This is the first this has happened in our supposedly susegad Goa.
Why is the government so adamant that this project will come only in this place despite these massive protests from the villages? Plenty of alternate sites have been offered. Perhaps the villagers are motivated by what has happened and is happening to the Mopa villagers. Here is another white elephant project coming up due to the Covid travel restrictions prevailing all over the world. The sufferers are always the poor farmers.
An MLA is elected to protect and safeguard the interests of the people. In Goa this is hardly the case with defectors and ML As working for their selfish interests. It is hoped that the Satari MLA will at least strive to withdraw all the false cases against his constituents. Finally, nothing short of an outright dismissal of the guilty cop needs to be ordered immediately.
Michael Silveira, Divar
Of beaches, broken bottles and blood
After almost a year of laws being promulgated to curb nuisance in public fora, the department of tourism has commenced erecting signboards on beaches cautioning visitors about the consequences of irresponsible behaviour and the subsequent pecuniary penalties. Any individual apprehended drinking on the beach shall have to shell out Rs 2,000 while groups shall have to part with Rs 10,000 as fine. This move appears to have been triggered by sights of several people sustaining injuries during New Year’s festivities due to broken alcohol bottles being scattered around in the sand by errant revellers. Some have even been injured.
Once a dedicated tourist police force armed with powers of prosecution is deployed, the authorities would be better equipped to weed out such reprehensible practices indulged in by delinquents.
Beach shack owners should be discouraged from serving alcohol to patrons sitting on the sand instead of in designated dining areas. Despite the State budgeting Rs 10 cr per annum for beach cleaning activities and some beaches getting waste removed thrice a day it is difficult for sanitation staff to pick out every single glass shard buried in the sand.
A message needs to be sent out that Goa mein sub nahi chalta.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Why Tricolour at Capitol Hill?
The recent storming of Capitol Hill in Washington DC in the US by so called “Trump” supporters is very unfortunate. However, what is more saddening is the presence of our beloved Indian Flag. It is regrettable that our flag is being used by elements to participate in violence abroad. The rioting and violence is unacceptable and has no place in any democracy.
One hopes better sense prevails in the future.
Anish Esteves, Mumbai
Condemn the use of police force
People of Goa condemn the use of brutal police force on the tribal population particularly women folk at Shel-Melauli against the project of IIT-Goa campus. This is a grossly unlawful and most degrading and despicable practice that requires to be condemned in the strongest of terms.
It has tarnished the image of the Goa police force. The Code of Conduct for the Police in India of 1960 insists that police personnel recognise themselves as members of the public. The villagers are fighting to save their cultivable land and houses. The chosen land is thickly forested interspersed with cashew trees that villagers claim have sustained them for generations. The residents wish to preserve the land while intellectual people want the IIT.
What has now occurred will only fan the fire of protest that’s already burning, instead of it being doused.
KG Vilop, Chorao
