In unity lies strength
During recent months, the villagers at Melaulim in Sattari have been repeatedly agitating against the IIT project at their jurisdiction. Still the state government tried to suppress their voices by issuing notices to some of the agitators. The locals marched a step further and tried to stop the survey work being conducted by the government surveyors. Recently the Guleli panchayat denied the ‘No Objection Certificate’ for constructing a boundary wall around the 10 lakh sq mts of land demarcated for the IIT project.
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Having noticed the growing opposition of the locals, the panchayat members knew very well that the law and order situation at this area would be disturbed in case they allow construction of compound wall at the moment. It is worth appreciating that the entire population in Sattari have been opposing the project unitedly. They have amply proved that in unity lies strength.
Kudos to the people for fighting the battle unitedly in order to save their ancestral land. Under such circumstances, time has come for the state government to scrap the proposed IIT project at Melaulim thereby maintaining peace at this jurisdiction.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
The coast is not clear
The National Green Tribunal has once again upbraided the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for ignoring it’s queries on matters pertaining to the defilement of Goa’s scenic coastline. It expressed anguish at the fact that the law protectors have themselves turned lawbreakers. A CRZ directive issued way back in 1991 has still not been acted upon, courtesy the active connivance and malafide negligence by the GCZMA. Gross violation of coastal laws including illegal construction, water pollution, land grab etc. are still rampant, with no end in sight. Over the past 30 years shops, restaurants, hotels and houses of the rich and (in)famous have sprouted by the sea often in contravention of high tide line demarcations in Gazette notifications. A large portion of the coastline has (and is) being gobbled up by land sharks and builder mafias acting in cahoots with the law enforcement entities. For police and village panchayat office-bearers too ‘mum’s the word’ as long as their pockets are lined.
Even the Goa bench of the Bombay HC had red flagged this grave issue and directed that structures not in consonance with prevailing laws be demolished forthwith. The state government maintained a studied silence on this directive too, and infact it’s act of both omission and commission have helped building cartels to flourish by flouting rules with impunity. Most of the violators take recourse to appeal or manage to obtain a stay order from the courts and the GCZMA cites this as a convenient excuse for sidestepping and inaction. If keepers of the realm themselves turn into felons then the day is not far when villas, hotels and other such shall be built right on the beach with the developers laughing all the way to the bank, and of course there shall be no coast to speak of.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Reopening of Ravindra Bhavans
The new president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) has said that he will take up the discussion and attempt to start tiatrs in Goa with at least 50% occupancy of audience. Since the COVID-19 pandemic there have been no tiatrs staged anywhere in Goa. Watching tiatrs has been the number one entertainment for Konkani lovers in the state. The tiatr stage has maintained the love for Konkani language among Goans.
Even though several tiatr directors and tiatrists have been uploading new Konkani songs and short movies on YouTube, it must be said that watching a tiatr live on stage is an altogether different experience. Last week the central government gave it’s nod to reopen cinemas from October 15 with strict dos and don’ts. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) include 50% capacity, wearing of masks at all times, proper ventilation and air conditioner temperature settings not above 23 degree Celsius.
While the Goa government has allowed opening of other businesses and places like gyms, malls, bars and cinema theatres, theatre artists have lamented that no decision has been taken on opening the auditoriums thereby neglecting the woes of the theatre artists, especially of those whose livelihood depends on this medium. It would be desirable for the Ravindra Bhavans and auditoriums in the state to open for dramas, tiatrs and other forms of entertainment by October 15.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goa, coal and Karnataka
Minister Cabral says that Goa is not using coal but it is going somewhere else and everybody knows that it goes to Karnataka via Goa. If this is the case then why coal is taken to Karnataka via Goa? Cabral is saying that Karnataka burns coal to give electricity to Goa. Are there no ports in Karnataka?
There is Mangalore port, Karwar port, Belikere port etc. Goa has got only one dear port and that too a natural port situated in a densely populated town. Why can’t Adani and others take coal directly to one of the Karnataka ports? Why destroy our greenery and environment? Is there any reason? Our Goa Government always wakes up when people comes on the roads. Goa government should learn from Karnataka government. As soon as Goa government filed a petition in the Supreme Court the counter action of Karnataka government was spontaneous without waiting for the people to come on the roads.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Sangod locals, power project
There has been opposition to the proposed power transmission project at Mollem but now the locals appear divided on the issue with Sangod villagers on Wednesday coming out in support of the 400 kv project at a meeting claiming that it will create employment for them, especially the youth.
They say that 90 per cent of the locals mostly youth are unemployed and if they get jobs then the project will provide great relief to us.
The villagers said, “The Tamnar Power Transmission Company has assured 12 permanent and 80 contractual jobs. If we get these jobs it will help us earn our livelihood. We have no jobs or industries in our area.
The villagers posed several questions about the project.
The project is coming up in 1.15 lakh sq mts area at Suktholem-Sangod. The villagers also demanded that care should be taken to save their agricultural fields while undertaking the project. Mollem villagers have been opposing the project claiming that it will prove harmful to them.
Sahili S Sawant Dessai, Curchorem
Draw inspiration from Trump’s willpower
Despite having contacted Covid-19 almost a month before the November 3 Presidential election, Donald Trump has exhibited a great deal of willpower and a very positive mindset. At the age of 74, a hyped up Trump stated just before leaving the Walter Reed Military hospital: `Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life’.
Although, having been given the best of treatment available, having been administered Remdesivir, the steroid dexamethasone as well as an infusion of an experimental antibody cocktail being tested by Regeneron and also oxygen, Trump showed great determination in fighting the Covid-19 infection.
Thus Trump is a role model for other septuagenarians who are battling Covid-19. Great guts!
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
