WEDNESDAY, MAY 08, 2024
SOPs for tourists
The measures taken by our State Government to open of our borders without any Covid-19 test or virus free certificate subsequent to Unlock 4 directives issued by the Central Government to facilitate inter State movement of people to improve the economy of the State, has resulted in tourists visiting Goa. Such flow of tourists which is immediately growing, soon after easing the entry/exit points in Goa bringing in tourists especially with their own modes of transports such as four and two wheelers will improve the financially strained tourism sector, but at the same time we are facing a sporadic spread of the pandemic which require necessary preventive measures to contain the same.
It is observed that these holiday visitors are gradually growing in number (during week end) since the last week. These tourists have been visiting the imposing steps of the facade of the iconic Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim and do remove their masks whilst posing for photographs. Early morning pseudo pre-nuptial photo shoots with white gowns worn by the bride and colourful suits worn by the groom by affluent citizens from the capital of our country have also been shooting before the world famous Panjim Church since the last few days naturally without masks. Some of these photo shoots are commercial ventures under the disguise of a pre wedding photography with neither social distancing observed nor masks worn by the entire shooting team. When the religious services at the Panjim Church have still not yet fully opened for all parishioners due to the pandemic restrictions imposed by the authorities by issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under the DM Act 2005 of Unlock 4 from September 1 onwards . Such guidelines of allowing maximum 50 persons to assemble at any religious function in the Church premises wearing masks and thermal guns and hand sanitizers at entrances and maintaining social distance for attending the service , sadly there are no such SOPs for tourists visiting religious monuments.
Thus there is a dichotomy to the stand adopted by the State Executive Committee set under the DM Act, 2005 for those in Goa and the tourists visiting these religious venues.
Whilst appreciating the CCP for taking steps for imposing fines for tourists not wearing masks at the peak stage of the pandemic in Goa, it is a step taken which may discourage tourists from visiting the Panjim Church.
Rui Ferreira, Panjim
Not right time to re-open schools
With the COVID-19 cases escalating by the day the government has to be extremely careful in its plans to even partially reopen schools. With lack of proper infrastructure to treat and manage the COVID infected patients it would be proper for the authorities to tread very cautiously or we may reach a point of further crisis. We cannot be putting the lives of the students and their teachers at risk.
There is no doubt that the economy and tourism must revive, but the priority has to be the health of the people which cannot and should not be compromised. At the moment the focus of the government has to be on taking proper care of every patient in this current raging pandemic. All attempts must be made to save every life possible. Certain politicians for reasons best known are keen to restart casinos. But in the prevailing situation it could be a wrong gamble only leading to further chaos.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Is Goa the next Colombia?
With each passing day Goa is burnishing it's credentials as the drug capital of the world. Consider the facts... a guard at Colvale jail was arrested trying to smuggle ganja into the prison, in a raid stemming from the SSR death inquest, police detained a drug peddler from Curtorim who was a supplier of LSD to big fish in Mumbai.
A prominent hotelier in North Goa and an alleged drug supplier was questioned by the NCB in Mumbai, also a supposed Bollywood actor and an EDM event organiser were held in Vagator (and puzzlingly released on bail three days later), a Nepali national from Pernem was apprehended by the anti narcotic cell of Goa police for possession of charas and ganja. Mind you, all these events occurred within the past one month, there must have been many more such incidents which went unreported. Last year 83 drug related raids in Goa led to the arrest of 107 peddlers of which 27 happened to be locals.
An impression has gained ground that if you know the right people you can get whatever you want in this hedonistic landscape .The drug pandemic in Goa is worse than the Covid outbreak and the state government is doing precious little to control either. The day is not far when Goa will turn into the next Colombia , cartels shall rule the state with impunity and druggies would have a free run of this paradise.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
'Parkonnem' to save Biodiversity
Probably the best way to attract the attention of the general public towards saving the village's biodiversity is by holding a competition that can win the competitor a prize. The Chicalim biodiversity group has done just that by introducing the ‘Parkonnem’ (riddle me) contest on WhatsApp group as a way to spread the message of the need to save the village’s biodiversity.
It is understood that the contest will cover everything right from the village’s megalithic caves, said to be one of the earliest evidences of settlement in the Goa region, the much talked about threatened biodiversity of the Chicalim Bay, to the ancient ruin of a church and much more. The contest is made up of 50 questions put up on the WhatsApp group and the person who answers the most number of questions correctly stands to win a prize.
It is understood that in future all the riddles could be put on the Chicalim church website so that the contest is made accessible to all Goans across the globe. This is a unique way of attracting the attention of the general public towards environmental and biodiversity issues plaguing the state. It also increases the knowledge of the people regarding the heritage and the historical importance of a particular place and needs to be introduced at other places in Goa by the bio-crusaders and youth forum of the respective churches.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Unplanned development
It’s distressing to see unplanned development, illegal constructions, and destruction of natural habitat. We were tired of illegal mining, and in 2012 chose to listen to Parrikar who promised us with ‘Parivartan’ (change). Sadly, in the name of promised ‘Parivartan’ and ‘Acche Din’ we see the coal hub, concretization everywhere, and dangerous roads, without any care for architectural aesthetics nor safety.
Goa has so many IT graduates, and Goa could have been the hub for software development, which is an environmentally friendly industry. But for that to happen, we don’t have suitable visionary leaders. Goa has been blessed with fertile fields, which lie fallow, and easily become a target for concrete constructions.
Verghese Kurien established the Amul dairy plant, which helps so many farmers. The Western countries are emphasizing so much on clean solar energy. We need innovations in agriculture sector, and in the generation of renewable energy. For this to happen we need educated men, who have strong moral convictions to be at the helm of affairs.
Newton Mendonca,
by email
