FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Book govt for abetment
Among the many sad news we have been getting, especially during this pandemic, is one which happened on October 15 when a young boy of 16, Rohit Varak from Pali Satari committed suicide because his father could not afford to repair his mobile phone, from where he was accessing his online classes of Std X.
Such unpleasant news are bound to continue pouring in, as there is little or nothing that this insensitive Government does to avoid such drastic steps, which people may resort to due to their financial conditions. On the contrary, it is seen that the Govt is only aggravating the situation by depriving the deserving of their financial packages which they have been getting for years. In the instant case, Varak’s grandmother had not received her DSSS dole for months and his mother also, under the Griha Adhar scheme. This, according to reports, deprived the family of some substantial amount which would have helped in getting the poor boy’s mobile repaired.
Of late and even in the past, we have heard of people being booked for abetting suicides, whether they could actually be considered as abetments or not. But, as usual, the law is different for different people, particularly if they are on the right side of the establishment.
Under these circumstances, I see no reason why the Govt. of Goa should not be booked for abetment to suicide of this youngster, who gave up his life because he could not afford to study, as the family’s regular income dropped due to Govt. failure in providing them with their dues. Will some lawyer take this up in the interests of our poor people, who are the worst victims of this pandemic, so that the Govt. will be extra careful in future in depriving themselves first before they deprive the truly deserving?
Jose Maria Miranda, Margao
IPSCDL, CCP must work together
Finally after a year the managing board of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has been reconstituted. It is, however, surprising that no architect or planner has been taken on board.
Since its inception there has been no transparency and accountability in the working of the IPSCDL. The shoddy and substandard works carried out are there for all to see. Despite crores having been spent Panjim sadly remains a decaying and stinking city. It is imperative that the IPSCDL and Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) work in conjunction and sincerely to lift Panjim out of the dumps.
Recently the High Court reprimanded the CCP for converting the Campal parade ground into a garbage dump. Despite that ironically that venue now has also become a dump yard for abandoned vehicles.
One wonders what the parameters were in last year adjudging Panjim as the cleanest city. The city which includes Ribandar sadly remains crumbling with dirt strewn all over. The roads are in an awful state.
The Panjim market and our Kadamba Bus terminal are stinking and in very dire straits, while the St Inez and Rua de Ourem creeks continue to be a horrible eyesore with our nostrils having to bear the brunt of that excruciating stench.
The city’s gardens and parks are also in a despicable state. Unless there is absolute transparency and accountability in the working of the IPSCDL and CCP with Zero Tolerance to any scams, Goa’s capital city will continue to languish as it is.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Demand our right to safe roads
Recent press reports reveal that the Goa government has taken initiatives to help local contractors secure PWD and WRD tenders, including the govt. taking a loan of Rs 446 crores to enable the same. A video which went viral recently, was a wake up call to Goans who meekly accept pothole-ridden death traps as roads. The abysmal litany of publicly documented contractor fails and allegations that the Karnataka government has flouted the Mhadei tribunal's verdict cast aspersions on the integrity of the PWD and WRD.
Last November, in a convention titled, “The New Earth summit”, visionaries were guest speakers. In one of these priceless discourses, two speakers listed the proactive changes Goa absolutely has to put into effect regarding rainwater harvesting, scientific road design and sound time -bound public construction practices.
A recipient of the World Economic Forum's 'Exceptional women of excellence 2018 award', she eloquently made her case for her model, which is currently implemented by other states. This video, along with all the insightful others, were made available for free by the link thenewagesummit.com/videos/.
Goa patiently waits for the hon'ble SC to decide whether or not to reset the cancer of defectors. Meanwhile we demand the Constitutionally guaranteed right to safe roads: built to our own hard earned taxes, adding to intergenerational equity, no longer tempered by the blood of innocents.
Chris Fernandes, Miramar
Sustain co-existence with natural world
Development in modern day is leading to, by concretisation the greying of the earth, Man is now rampantly destroying nature; the rain forests, polluting oceans, seas and rivers with effluents that are synthetic and unbiodegradable causing toxicity to marine life, over fishing, felling trees, destroying natural springs that provide crystal clear water with therapeutic properties, over mining, extracting sand and bringing about the extinction of exotic wild animals that were a treat to watch in safaris that were filled with thrill and adventure.
Concretisation has led to now people owning more artificially build structures in the form of four, five and even six homes that are left mostly uninhabited. The call and lure of the wild is now being damaged by unhindered so called development. The sustainability of the eco-system needs protection and should be preserved and well-balanced if we are to control global warming by the burning of fossil fuels and thus preventing the melting of the ice caps that lead to rising sea levels and submergence of low lying areas.
We are running out of time and if we do not act now, sooner the earth will become an uninhabitable heap of concrete with less and less nature cover and natural inhabitants. Only man can change the course the world is going by respecting nature and by protecting the flora and fauna.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Nadal rises like a phoenix
One of tennis' all-time greats Rafael Nadal, is on the verge of sublimity. The left-handed Spanish added his 13th French Open title to his kitty of 19 Grand Slams to equal the record of 20 grand slams held by the peerless Swiss Roger Federer. He made light of Novak Djokovic's challenge as only as he can. The affable Djokovic bowed out without a whimper unable to withstand the artistic onslaught of the left-hander.
The way the Spaniard consistently comes back with a vengeance, after short layoffs, is a testimony to his talent, grit and longevity. Foot, knee and wrist Nadal has been plagued by niggling injuries of all only to rise like a phoenix.
Nadal has 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open, 4 US open titles apart from the phenomenal 13 French open titles.
But for the niggling injuries, Nadal could perhaps have provided that extra cutting edge to his famous rivalry with Federer. Only the third player in men's tennis history after Andre Agassi and Federer to win the coveted "golden slam" (4 majors and Olympic gold) Nadal does not appear to be too bothered about the Grand Slam record.
Ganapath Bhat, Akola
