WEDNESDAY, MAY 08, 2024
Is MMC a silent watcher?
Margao Municipal Council seems to be least bothered about the town of Margao and Margaonkars. There are lots of reasons to say so. In the first place the old chapel in front of Bank of India near Jos Cabral shop is fully encroached and occupied by the people who sell shoes and slippers and also by a photo frame worker and our MMC is a silent watcher for last so many years.
Secondly the old fish market which is situated just behind MMC building has become a garbage dump yard. It was decided once to build a car parking building at this place. Again here also MMC turns blind eye.
Thirdly Margao old bus stand which was once a Bombay bus stand in Margao old market has become a matka den and a parking place for MMC garbage trucks.
To add further the new link road from Old Market Circle to Comba Railway Gate is still without street lights and thus during night time this road becomes a place for whores and pimps and also drunkards. Hope this article will open the eyes of Margao Municipal Council and even the Shadow Council can come forward to bring these problems before them and get them solved before the onslaught of the coming monsoon. Meanwhile let's wait and see.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
The steep price rise of tomatoes
The price of tomatoes has risen to more than Rs 80 a kilo in several parts of the country, including Mumbai and has become even costlier than petrol.
Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K.
The government must control inflation and must do something to bring down the price of tomatoes and other household ingredients as a relief to the common man.
Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai
Convert dark spots into beauty spots
It is learnt that in a fresh bid to address the dark spots in the commercial capital, Margao, the civic body may go for two garbage suction machines one each for Margao and Fatorda at the cost of Rs 29 lakh each. The drawback with these suction machines is that it does not have an inbuilt mechanism to segregate the wet waste from the dry waste. Dark spots are an issue not just in Margao but all across the state and along the highway.
Despite the door-to-door collection of garbage, people still dispose off their garbage at these dark spots. It is learnt that in Margao the door-to-door waste collection tender mandates the contractors to clean up the dark spots as part of the operations. These waste collection workers have to segregate the waste at the dark spots before sending them to the garbage dump. It must be said that collecting garbage from the dark spots is not a permanent solution to the problem.
Knowing well that the garbage will be collected by the municipal workers, people will continue disposing off the waste at these spots. The more effective way of getting rid of the dark spots would be to convert them into “beauty spots”. These spots need to be beautified with potted plants and even benches could be put up for the people to sit and relax along with fencing. This will prevent people from dumping their garbage at these spots.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
That mining mess must never repeat
The Goa Government has over the last many years been taking the mining dependents for a ride by just giving dates and deadlines as to when mining in the State would resume.
Unlike the mining loot and plunder seen earlier, now only sustainable well-regulated mining may be in the State’s best interest.
While continuing as Chairman of the very lucrative Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also appointed himself to head the newly formed Goa Mineral Development Corporation.
Restarting mining which came to a halt in March 2018 is not going to be an easy task and it would be advisable if politicians keep themselves away and leave the management of this nascent Mining Corporation to experts in the field who could chart the route ahead in conjunction with other stakeholders including environmentalists.
There is no dispute that legal mining must resume. But it should under no circumstances be a repeat of the mining mess we witnessed earlier. For the sake of Goa’s environment and our already fragile ecology, that mining chaos and abuses should never ever be allowed to recur. If we take care of the things that really matter and the people directly or indirectly involved for the benefit of all then we will all benefit.
And there is a ray of hope with the Judiciary keeping a watchful eye to ensure that all mining activity will henceforth be strictly within the parameters of law.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
The woeful story of Mundka
Another fire tragedy, and this time in the national capital. Twenty-seven loss of lives and the relatives at loss to search and identify their loved ones among the charred bodies, tell the woeful story at Mundka. A massive blaze, that is said to have erupted from the second floor, engulfed the entire building within seconds causing chaos, confusion, and pain. Post mortem of the causes, without remedial measures put in based on past examples, is of little use but it has to be done.
The building, hosting CCTV camera and WiFi router offices, was said to be functioning without a fire clearance certificate. No objection certificates to all buildings, by the fire department, should be given after proper inspection and due application of mind. Fire alarm system is a must in multi-storey structures. Even after so many fire incidents, a casual approach to standardising safety aspect is shocking. Owners tend to disregard fire safety norms.
The basic commandment in case of a fire — extinguish and evacuate — are sidelined. It is stressed again and again about having more than one entrance, and an emergency exit, for all buildings in the country. But the Mundka building did not have more than one entry and exit. Approach roads to every building should be wide enough to facilitate quick exodus in emergencies. Apparently, the Mundka building lacked fire fighting equipment that could have come handy till the fire department rushed to the spot. Fire extinguishers and sprinklers are as important as smoke detectors and fire alarms.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
India’s first layman saint
The canonisation of Devasahayam Pillai by Pope Francis is a proud moment for India in the sense he is India's first layman Saint and a very special moment for Tamil Nadu as he is the first Catholic Saint from Tamil Nadu.
While the Tamil Nadu Government represented the historical event in Vatican by deputing a delegation of two of its ministers and the Chief of the Minorities Commission, it's a wonder why the Central Government which used to send its representatives on such occasions as it did when Mother Teresa was canonised failed to send its delegation this time! May be, this decision has relevance to the Hindutva agenda vehemently practised by the ruling dispensation.
While the ceremonies conducted and led by Pope Francis were very solemn and soul touching, a group of nuns created history by singing Thamizh Thai vaazhththu before the commencement of the ceremony when the entire audience comprising representatives from various countries stood up giving due respect to the hymn. It was really a proud moment for all Tamils.
Shalini Gerald, Chennai
