SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Stay on demolition of illegal structures
Frequently we read about construction of illegal structures such as kiosks, scrapyards, small hotels, etc. Someone would file a case with the authorities who after an inspection would issue a show cause notice to the owner/s as to why the structure cannot be demolished?
The ‘affected’ party hires a lawyer who gets a stay order from demolition. The court case drags on for months or years but in the meanwhile the ‘affected’ party perhaps carries on with his/her trade and business. By the time an unfavourable verdict comes the person would have made profits while the person or authorities who filed the case would have spent immense money, time and energy.
It would be practical if the court gives a verdict in less than 6 months and in the meanwhile seals the allegedly illegal premises. If the ‘affected’ party wins then a compensation needs to be paid by the party who filed the case. But if the structure is proved to be illegal then the owner has to pay a compensation and licence should not be issued for any business for a year.
The compensation should be proportional to the business carried out so that there would not be a frivolous case filed or scope for illegalities to take place. Unless a robust system is put in place there would be filing of cases, obtaining a stay order, ad infinitum.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Children too are susceptible to Covid
It is learnt that seven children and a staff member of Apna Ghar at Merces tested positive for Covid-19 and are undergoing treatment. A child who was taken to Madhya Pradesh, following release from the State-run juvenile detention centre, initially tested positive for the virus. Later all children were tested and reports of six other children also came positive. This sudden development goes to prove that children too are susceptible to the infection.
In the past there was a belief that children may not be infected by the virus as much as adults are. This latest news of infection of children at Apna Ghar makes it all the more important to observe pandemic related protocol in the school premises. All necessary needs to be taken to see that school children are not exposed to the virus while in school.
The infection among the children could be asymptomatic which makes it all the more important to carry out tests for the virus among the students on a regular basis. If even one student is tested positive for the virus then he/she should be immediately quarantined at home and not sent to school by the parents. Orphanages which house children also need to take all necessary steps to prevent spread of the virus.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Why do we need dance bars?
With respect to "Calangute Police recommends legislation to permit dance bars" (Herald November 30, 2021), this development is shocking to say the least. Why do we need dance bars where the youths get drunk and indulge themselves in amoral and sinful behaviour? Our sins are burgeoning.
The global warming. The climate change. The unseasonal rains. The new variants of Coronavirus. The death all around us. These are all the warning signs to make the sinners realise that the end is nigh. That the Day of the Judgement is just round the corner. Beware. Stop committing sins.
We do not want dance bars to facilitate the doomsday. The urgent need of the hour is to beg God for the forgiveness of the sins
I pray for the sanity to prevail so that we have the courage to say no to the vices like dance bars and casinos - the double engine of mayhem.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao
Omicron to hurt tourism in Goa
With India not issuing e-visas to tourists from UK and Kazakhstan, charter flights scheduled for mid and end December from the two countries have been deferred; operators are also facing cancellations from potential travellers on account of fresh flight restrictions over the Omicron strain.
Shack owners and other tourism stakeholders in Goa are an anxious lot since the peak of the season is barely a week away and any clampdown on international flights would deal a body blow to business already battered by Covid over the past years. New entrants to the shack business would find the going especially tough even though the government has waived off half the licence fees.
The country cannot afford any more lockdowns, maybe the State government can designate certain hotels as compulsory quarantine centres for foreign visitors who can avail of the services for a fee. We hope that the Omicron variant does not wreak havoc of the scale witnessed during the last two waves of the pandemic.
A large proportion of the Goan population has been fully vaxxed and the healthcare system is better equipped to tackle the virus this time around, keeping our fingers crossed that there won't be kneejerk reactions from the Centre.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Omicron SARS-Cov-2, Variant of Concern
A new variant of the Coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is raising concern around the globe, first detected in the southern region of Africa. The officials from a number of countries warn that the variant, also known as B.1.1.529, may already be spreading undetected. Fears that a new, fast-spreading Coronavirus variant could potentially be more dangerous than even the Delta variant prompted several countries to impose restrictions on travel from affected regions, and caused stock markets across the globe to crash.
The authorities needed to respond with increased surveillance to ensure early detection and effective isolation. There are certain obvious things people have to do: Get fully vaccinated, continue to wear mask, avoid crowds, wash hands and ventilate rooms.
There are five variants of concern, as labelled by the WHO; Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron. As the vaccines are still effective in preventing severe disease and/or complications. Fear of exposure to Covid-19 virus is driving health care workers and even some vaccine trial participants mainly from the vulnerable groups, to opt for the third dose privately.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Unfortunate end to a precious life
It was very terrible and heartbreaking to hear about the fellow Goan from Bandora Ponda who died in untimely circumstances in Cortalim. He was working for River Navigation Department and was working on ferry "Curtorim" plying between Adpai to Rassaim but may be for some technical purpose it was halted in Cortalim. It was believed that some issue happened with rope getting stuck to the fan in the water and 3 of the workers had to drive, 2 survived and the victim was may be lost control or pulled by the water current.
I assume when you get this type of job, swimming is must and should drive with proper safety equipment. Even the rescue team had no proper equipment nor oxygen to dive in the water to safe him or remove his body out. Our Government failed to give basic requirements to work in the department. Government should appoint special squad to handle this type of underwater repairs with proper equipment and training.
I recall a similar accident in Calvim where there was little hope for saving children if the workers on the ferry had jumped in to save them, unfortunately they had no swimming knowledge and we had the black cloud on us. Let's hope the Government does better things to save Goa.
Peter Pires, Margao
