FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Provide basic facilities in parks/gardens
There are several parks and gardens in the cities and villages in the State. These are places for children to play and elderly people to spend time in leisure. Parents accompany their children who play in the parks. When so many people visit a particular spot, it becomes necessary to provide them with basic facilities. However, it is observed that many parks and gardens in the State do not have toilet facilities. Children need to visit the toilets in order to relieve themselves.
In the absence of toilet facilities these children will be forced to relieve themselves in the open. Senior citizens, especially those who have diabetes, need to visit the toilet frequently. Hence it becomes necessary to provide toilet blocks for the elderly visitors to the parks and gardens. Parks and gardens also need to have drinking water facilities. This is necessary so that the children can quench their thirst after spending their time in play. There also needs to be adequate security provided at these places.
Adequate lighting of parks and gardens is also of essence. There should also be adequate benches in the gardens as well as provision for litter collection at regular intervals. Parks and gardens are like green zones in the cities as they help to fight pollution and to control temperature and humidity. Hence they should have adequate trees and plants. Urban parks keep us connected to nature.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Infrastructural work done during night
In most Indian States we come across civil and infrastructural works being implemented such as filling of potholes, speed breakers, construction of culverts, laying of roads, building bridges and many more. During the day perhaps the government engineers and supervisors are present to check and monitor the works for quality, quantity, materials, use of safety gears etc. But many a time major constructions carried out in 3 shifts so as to complete the task in time and throw open the facilities to the people.
During night time the contractors may get more work done due to less disturbance from traffic and curious onlookers. We presume that government personnel are present at the sites to oversee and certify the works that are executed in the night and wee hours of the morning.
Hopefully the contractors’ do not cut corners and leave much to be desired in the works allotted to them.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Which Roman script for Konkani?
A joint delegation, drawn from the Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendra and the Dalgado Konkani Akademi, led by Tomazinho Cardozo, met the Presidents of the local BJP, of the local Congress, of the GFP, impressing upon them the need of including in the election manifestoes of their respective parties a firm commitment to work for addition of Roman Script for Konkani in the Official Language Act 1987.
I am at a loss to decipher which Roman Script the delegation proposes: the one of Thomas Stephens and his contemporary writers; or the one of Eduardo Bruno de Sousa; or the one of Prof Joaquim António Fernandes, updated by Fr Crescêncio Monteiro and Felίcio Cardoso, in use in the Church liturgical books and other publications; or the one where ‘tourists’ y and ie have intruded; or the one brought out in 2005 by the TSKK as a scientific one; or a different one brought out in 2021 also as scientific by the same TSKK.
I am really at a loss. When TSKK brings out and drops prototypes of what it calls scientific, of the Roman Script, should it not discuss it threadbare with and act in agreement with the competent diocesan entities? After all, for good or for bad, it is the diocese, its institutions, its parishes which make most use of the Roman Script for Konkani and bring out Konkani publications in this Script. So, it is not a question restricted to the four walls of a religious institute, however exempt it may be, or of a cultural centre.
Mousinho de Ataide, Saligão
Passing of Dam Safety Bill in Rajya Sabha
The RS rushed through the Dam Safety Bill 2019 with amendments on Dec 2, 21 without proper discussion using brute majority of BJP that has become the norm. The Opposition members reportedly came wearing black bands due to suspension of members who were agitating outside under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, and many present demanded the Bill be referred to a select committee. There was the usual ruckus in the House, adjournment and then call for division of vote demanded which was also denied!
The Bill was passed with a voice vote. A comparative analysis of Parliamentary conduct with the Nehru government, even by the Vajypee government, for passing of Bills since 1947 of number of hours spent in discussion in subsequent sessions, how many times referred to a select committee etc, starkly reveals the huge unruly contrast in attitude and behaviour of today's ruling party and members. The deterioration in democratic norms is shockingly exposed where so many Bills are comparatively passed even in a few in minutes without discussion!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Politicians, stay away from Goans’ protests
It is a very well known fact that the Save Old Goa Action Committee led by patriotic and dedicated Goans started this movement to take action against the illegal construction at the protected area in Old Goa. As the protest gained momentum and as, even after numerous protests and morchas by people of Goa the authorities failed to take any concrete action the committee resorted to start a relay hunger strike during the novena days with a strong ultimatum to authorities to demolish the structure by the feast of St Francis Xavier.
Goans from all walks of life participated in the movement irrespective of religious, social or political affiliations. Political parties very wisely refrained from claiming any credit (of course, for obvious reasons). Midway during the protests Adv Amit Palekar judiciously claiming not represent any political party joined alongside the movement to a rather skeptical but welcome move, which was given rather undue attention by both print as well as electronic media. Anyway, after dubious assurances from the authorities, Palekar with all fanfare broke his fast and went home despite no concrete action has been taken. Herald dated December 6, 2021 claims "Aam Aadmi Party leader who risked his life to save Old Goa received hero's welcome.....AAP national convenor Kejriwal salutes Palekar's bravery for putting his life on line to save Old Goa...Amit has started revolution..."
All politicians note. All the recent movements/revolutions be it Melauli, linear projects, coastal management, save Old Goa, etc, have been started by people of Goa and will fight till the end without the help of politicians for we Goans have identified the wolves in sheep's clothing.
Boaventura Vaz, Cavelossim
Free water supply just a farce
The CM of Goa promising to provide 16,000 litres of free water to households every month has proved to be just another way to overcharge customers. The Goa government should scrap the free water distribution scheme and roll back the revised tariffs. Already with inflated water bills shocking the common man the new tariffs have increased high and the gimmick of giving free water was just a farce.
In the name of free water, the government is hoodwinking people and that to when election is nearing. This government has failed to provide free water and ensure 24x7 water supply to people.
K G Vilop, Chorao
