FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Staff shortage in PWD?
It is shocking to note that PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Monday admitting that he is having difficulty in carrying out various works as the Public Works Department is presently working with hardly 50 per cent of the required engineering staff strength. The Public Works Department plays a major role in the economic, commercial and tourist development of the State of Goa. Being a service department, it is entrusted with all the developmental activities like planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of all types of construction works in this State of Goa.
It is learnt that of the 750 odd vacancies of engineers in the PWD, almost 400 are vacant. It must be said that the citizens are put to great inconvenience due to pot-holes on the roads. This has also led to several road accidents, many of them resulting in fatalities. PWD also looks after water supply and sanitation.
In many areas in the State there is shortage of water which is supplied by the PWD. The Public Works Department happens to be one of the most important departments of the government which needs to be working efficiently in order to reduce the inconvenience caused to the general public. For the department to work efficiently it needs to have adequate staff. Necessary recruitment of the necessary staff of this important department needs to be carried out on a war footing.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Aviation market needs to grow
As our country is set to surpass China as the world largest populous country in 2023, as estimated by United Nations, it is the right time for air travel in India to become the fastest growing aviation market in the world and also be more affordable. If that happens the heavy burden on railways will lessen to a great extent. It will also help those who take the road route and get caught in chaotic traffic. Regional connectivity schemes like UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) which aim to develop smaller regional airports might help achieve 40 crore air travellers target by 2027.
Though I agree that India needs more airports which today the number of airports in our country stands at 136, there are many who say we need 200 airports in the country, we need to be careful. To go on a spree building airports nook and corner of the country which will only turn most airports into white elephants, but also cause environmental hazards. China, with more and more white elephants is an example in front of us. A better way is to rely on analysis, facts, demand and the impact analysis of such projects. India needs an infrastructural push but not at the cost of its own people and environment.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Feel free to bring home the Tiranga
India got independence on August 15, 1947 from the British rule. It is nice to see that on the Anniversary of 75th Independence Day the St Francis of Assisi church at Old Goa illuminated in tri colours ahead of celebration.
As per the revised flag code of India individuals can now hoist the National flag in their homes and offices 24 hours. So please feel free to bring home the Indian flag from August 13-15 and fly it with pride. Our Government of India campaign is Har Ghar Tiranga which means Every Home must have Indian flag to mark its 75th Anniversary.
Let us all hold hands together and bow before all the heroes who fought for our nation. Also like to honour the memory of the great warriors and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to make India an independent nation. Feel proud to be an Indian and I salute our brave Army soldiers who are protecting us by working hard all the seasons on the borders to keep us safe from the hands of enemies. I love my country India. Jai hind.
Ronnie D'Souza, Chandor
Panchayat polls devoid of politics?
Panchayat elections are round the corner and as is the norm gullible voters exercising their franchise will be taken for a ride once elected as Sarpanchas and panchas. These village level elections are not autonomous and devoid of political interference.
Most of the political parties have thrown their hat in the ring by fielding their like-minded candidates for self aggrandisement. It is a misnomer to believe that these grassroots elections are not held on party lines. Shamelessly even the defeated MLAs hungry for power are trying to make a backdoor entry by fielding their proxy candidates. Such panel backed candidates would not do justice to the people's mandate as they possess the hereditary traits in their genetic makeup.
Needless to say that Goa has earned the sobriquet as a den of corruption at all levels of governance. As an important initiative the newly elected local governing body, should take up the sanitation issue on a war footing as open defecation still persists in the villages although the CM has made tall claims that Goa is Open Defecation Free (ODF). Any zero open defecation programme should be anchored on the objective outlined in the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan (NSSP). Let bygones be bygones and hope that the new crop of grassroots workers will be an inspiration and worthy of emulation.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
El Dorado, but more work ahead
The Commonwealth Games have been a veritable El Dorado, a happy hunting ground for Indians in the past and this time was no different. With 22 golds, 16 silver and 13 bronze medals it was a rich haul for the country, kudos to all sports persons who made this possible with their blood, toil, sweat and tears.
Coming up next year are the tougher Asian games being hosted by China for the third time, and Indians will find the competition much tougher there especially in our big medal delivering disciplines like wrestling, boxing and badminton. Therefore it is very important to analyse what worked for us at CWG, do more of the same as well as to address the shortcomings. On the first front, the investment in foreign exposure trips has definitely provided a boost to our sporting prowess. In a telling example Avinash Sable whose silver made him the first non Kenyan to win a medal in steeplechase since 1994, credits his training in the US with an enormous impact on his progress and performance. A crisis of confidence seems to have sapped our women's cricket team and men's hockey squad; jangled nerves taking a toll at climactic moments is a weakness demanding special attention, maybe specialist sports psychologists and mental strength coaches need to be drafted in.
Well done team India for all the guts and glory and here's wishing you the very best for your future endeavours.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Are we entangled by corruption?
India is blessed, be it from nature to culture but lags behind when it comes to the development. After being liberated from the foreign rule. Are we truly free? No, we are entangled by corruption.
How can we uproot corruption? Be alert and responsible citizens. Never be ignorant of any social issue, it can be a threat. We should not overlook and be blind to the wicked and illegitimate behaviour of our leaders and authorised people. If we allow them to fool and rack us with bribes, tax evasion and misuse of command, corruption will never end.
Secondly, stop viewing violence on television. It is simple to end corruption if we all unite and fight for the right. If ever in power, use it for the welfare of the society, casting aside all the personal interests. Replace selfish with selfless, hate to love, ‘I can't to I can’.
Valanka Jilda Rebelo, Chinchinim
