Rock concerts better than EDMs in Goa
This is with reference to the letter by Adelmo Fernandes in your column titled ‘Promote rock concerts instead of EDMs’ dated December 5. Well, I fully agree with the views expressed by Adelmo Fernandes over the said topic in his letter.
Well, today states (forget bigger states like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai) like Meghalaya too are seen inviting and allowing legendary rock bands like Europe, Mr Big etc to perform live in front of a full-house crowd in their state.
Now, why can’t Goa do the same thing here, when most of our Goans have also grown up listening to some of the best rock artists/bands like Robbie Williams, Bon Jovi, Pink Floyd, Guns n Roses, Scorpions, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest etc from around the world since childhood?
Anyway, the only silver lining this month is that the legendary Canadian rock star Bryan Adams is all set to enthral our Goan audience with his classic rock hits as well as his new album 'So happy it hurts' at the Bambolim Athletic Stadium on 17th December, 2024.
I therefore do feel that after checking the pulse of most Goans and their love towards international music, the Tourism Department should try to promote rock concerts of some international rock artists/bands in the state to really entertain all the international tourists/our live music loving Goans rather than fully backing some controversial drugs promoting EDM festivals like Sunburn to entertain all the fake music lovers or drug addicts from our neighbouring States in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Submarine–fishing boat collision shocking
Recently a tragic collision between the Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj and a fishing boat left two fishermen dead, while 11 others survived.
The crash reportedly caused Rs10 crore worth damage to the submarine, and the fallout has raised some big questions. The fishing vessel, which had a crew of 13, collided about 70 nautical miles northwest of Goa, near Malvan. The families of the two fishermen who died blamed Navy’s negligence, and demanded compensation for the families of the deceased fishermen and a government job for a member of the family.
Be that as it may, it is learnt that an FIR has been registered and the Tandel (captain) of the fishing boat was booked in connection with the death of the two fishermen. The question that arises is why did the Navy file an FIR against the fishing boat's captain? Only a thorough investigation will throw light on the accident. But the incident raises some pertinent questions.
How did the submarine with all the sophisticated modern technology not detect the fishing boat on its radar? How could a submarine, which is capable of detecting a warship several miles away, not prevent a collision with a fishing boat?
A submarine operates below water level and cannot be seen on the surface by the fishing boats. The big question is how can a collision with a mere fishing boat cause Rs 10 crore worth of damage to the submarine?
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Balance development with ecological challenges
The Western Ghats runs parallel to India's western coast, approximately 30-50 km inland and cover six states of India (States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat).
The recent landslides in Waynad exposed the government’s failures to tackle its well-known ecological vulnerabilities, there were silent screams of the activists, intellects regarding ecological destruction but the unregulated tourism boom has also played a key role in ‘ghatastrophe’ this happens in ‘Rome of the east’ Goa also lots of mega projects and hill cutting going on at a fast pace destroying the ecological balance.
This ‘ghatstrophe’ deserves more attention, because it wreaks havoc across several tourist hot spots in the country, including Goa, which is of great concern for future generations. Governments have no interest in protecting nature.
Business barons benefit from the close relationships with powers to be through an anti-competitive regulatory environment, direct government corruption that includes obtaining permits, government grants and tax benefits.
As recommended by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert panel, Kerala and Goa including other four states should discourage engineering projects in eco-sensitive zones and constitute empowered expert committees to study viable alternative projects.
Kerala and Goa should balance development needs in consideration of environmental challenges. Governments have to change their priorities. The decade-long inaction is a typical example before us of the two states how other interests prevail over the environment.
While humans gain from it in some way or other, later they suffer continuous losses due to natural disasters. What took centuries to build, ‘Gods own country’ (Kerala) and The ‘Rome of the East’ (Goa), we are ruining impulsively in the name of development synonymous with all governments.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Dona Paula circle likely to be congested
I am a resident at Bay View Dona Paula and staying in the nearby area since 1976. Today, I came across a person who obtained permission to construct a high rise building in a vacant plot near the circle at the side of the Prima Dona building and started its measurement. This area is actually not meant for high rise constructions but the owner of this plot sold to an outside party jurisdiction who possibly managed to get all the necessary permissions for construction.
If such a permission is granted then the beauty of this circle will vanish. Hope the concerned authorities withdraw such a permission if any.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
The camel in
the tent again
Once again, the proverbial camel in the tent parable has been enacted in Maharashtra. This time the camel has not only kicked the owner out of the tent but has also arm-twisted him to become subservient to it. What a disgraceful treatment meted out to one who led the NDA to win the just concluded Assembly elections!
However, the affected deserve this ignominy for splitting the original Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and aligning with the BJP alliance to become the Chief Minister of the state knowing fully well what they have done to such partners in other states to grab the throne from them.
By conceding the chief ministership and accepting to serve as Deputy Chief Minister after dilly dallying for almost two weeks, Shinde stands thoroughly exposed of his avarice for power. Are the Maharashtrians listening?
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai