07 Dec 2022  |   06:03am IST

Letters to the editor ( 07 Dec 2022)

Till the land to safeguard it

It must be said that the best way, or probably the only way, for farmers to protect their agricultural land from the clutches of the government or the land sharks is to till the land. It is learnt that with the government set on purchasing additional land as Sanguem to make way for the IIT project, the farmers owning paddy fields and agricultural plantations in and around the proposed site have begun tilling their land and making preparations for the cultivation of paddy on their fields in a bid to safeguard them from the government.

It must be said that paddy fields lying fallow is an open invitation for farmers losing their land for various government projects and land sharks. Incidentally many of the farmers working in the paddy fields are elderly people. It is for the youth of the village to come forward to save the agricultural land belonging to their ancestors.

The youngsters need to take up farming in a big way and should not go after white collar jobs or migrate to foreign countries. Once their ancestral land is lost it will be lost forever. There have been several instances of land grabbing reported in the state of those who have migrated to other countries.

When they come to trace their ancestral roots they could be in for a shock as their land could have been grabbed and a housing project has come at the place. 

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco


Noise pollution order, a blessing 

The recent high court order on noise pollution has come like a blessing in disguise for many 

in Goa.

The recent order of the High Court of Bombay stopping noise pollution at all outdoor events in the state beyond 10 pm must have come like a blessing in disguise for not just those living in densely populated residential areas but also for people living in all the coastal belts of Goa.

Some stakeholders (especially the owners of all the reputed hotels, discotheques, pubs, bars and restaurants, shacks, etc) have indeed made it a habit to woo all the domestic/foreign tourists by supplying them with unlimited booze, drugs, etc and playing loud blaring music throughout the night at their outdoor premises/venues after bribing the cops & in the bargain disturbing the sleep of all the senior citizens, students etc in different parts of Goa. 

I therefore strongly feel that the enforcement agencies should not buckle down this time under no circumstances at the behest of the tourism stakeholders but should continue to keep a strict vigil against those who are still found disturbing the peace of all the helpless innocent Goans to make their own quick bucks by playing loud blaring music beyond 10 pm in different parts of the State, especially in all the densely populated residential areas of Goa.

Jerry Fernandes, Saligao


Panjim roads to hell

Nowhere in the world will have roads in the city like we have in Panaji Goa. Wherever you go, you find digging and digging with JCBs and some places the depth of holes are more than 3 metres deep without exaggerating and it continues its deep passages quite a long distance especially at areas near Municipal Garden near Cine Nacional, Panjim church, St Inez, Tonca, Bal Bhavan, Panjim cemetery, and Taleigao, etc There is not a single road clear for us for motoring our vehicles at ease. When I plan to go to buy in a particular shop we need to plan which route I must take and wherever you reach the road is closed and go on taking all the routes until you get fed up. Waste of petrol, vehicles suspension damaged and by the time you reach home the clothes are turned red.

This is our situation of Panjim city which our Government still thinks to make this city as smart city. Several cables and pipes are seen in these holes and I am sure they must have been by now damaged and very soon within a year again the same digging and breaking the road will continue that means this Panjim will always remain in the same state.

 Luckily this government have labourers from outside state to work as our Goenkar have left to London and other parts of world for better prospects. These same outside workers they start searching places to sleep and plans to rob our houses. What a disgusting situation we are facing in Panjim? Instead of taking up the repairs in phase manner they have damaged all over the city these roads.

And our Chief Minister still chanting to the people of Goa. Biupachi goroz nam.

Stephen Dias, Dona Paula


Goans need to buy more e-vehicles

It is heartening to see that people in Goa are buying more e-vehicles in present times. Also it is a positive aspect that electrical buses are in operation in Goa. It is estimated that there are about 15 lakh four wheelers in Goa along with about 12 lakh two wheelers and thus if only petrol vehicles are bought the air quality index of ambient atmosphere will result in more emission of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide into the atmosphere thus significantly affecting the air quality in Goa.

Also it is a fact that the conversion ratio of electrical energy to mileage in an electrical car is 93% while a petrol car converts only 50% of energy into mileage, thus over the long run if an electrical vehicle costs twice the amount, still taking into consideration the economic factor as well as the amelioration of the air quality, it is definitely better to use an electrical vehicle as in about 8 years, you have recovered the cost of the vehicle as well as led to no pollution at all due to use of electrical cars. 

Thus Goans should buy more electrical vehicles as they are cheaper as well as better to the environment.

Elvidio Miranda, Panjim


The controversial 'Kashmir Files'

All controversy surrounding the film, ‘Kashmir Files’ could have been avoided and India would not have suffered such an ignominy if only the said film was not nominated for the prestigious IFFI award for obvious reasons.

Though Nadav Lapid had to face lots of criticism over his comments on the quality of the film, now that the majority of three jurors have backed his statement that the film is indeed ‘vulgar and propaganda’, it becomes very clear that Nadal has only voiced the opinion of the majority board members whose duty is only to look into the merits and worthiness of the film to get an award based purely on critical artistic parameters. 

In their opinion, ‘Kashmir Files’ has fallen into the category of despicable 'vulgar and propaganda' and one that has been produced based on a manipulation formula. 

It is also a lesson that we should take utmost care in selecting films for awards in such prestigious International Festivals.

Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai


God bless the Sikh community

It was very disturbing to see as I got up today on FB that the Sikh community Langar (as mentioned) being removed from Old Goa venue where they were serving free food to the poor and needy since the novenas at Old Goa started in the name of Cardinal as reason given that cardinal would be passing that side as spoken by some on media.

As we hear practise what you preach but we hardly see in today's day-to-day life and everything is just lips service. Yes there are few Angels who silently don’t preach but practise like our Sikh brothers who not only served the poor and needy in novena days but saw them doing the humanitarian work during Covid times all over.

 St Francis Xavier Bless You all my dear Sikh brothers and pray that you all carry your social service for mankind always.

Jerry L De Souza, Divar



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