Withdrawing adverts
will not solve problem
An obnoxious advertisement ‘Delhi, Rulers of India, Now Conquer Goa’ has reportedly kicked up a storm with the Goa government asking the builder to immediately withdraw it for hurting the sentiments of the people of Goa failing which appropriate action will be initiated against concerned persons.
Obviously the advertisement is objectionable but at the same time there is a lot of truth in the written word. It seems that the writing is on the wall. Builders from Delhi have taken over massive stretches of Goan land for mega housing projects. There is the Bhutani project coming up at Sancoale on the hill slope which is declared as a private forest. The DLF project coming up at Reis Magos is another monstrous housing project which has destroyed vast stretches of green cover. There are several more such mega housing projects coming up in numerous villages across the state. These are the second homes for the elite from Delhi.
Hence in a sense, Goa is literally being “conquered” by Delhi. How these builders are getting the necessary permission to carry out the mega projects is anyone’s guess. Unless prompt action is taken on a war footing, Goans will become strangers in their own land. Goans should not be lured and desist from selling their property to these land sharks from Delhi. The government on its part needs to revisit all the permissions given for these projects and act. Just withdrawing the advertisement will not solve the problem.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Destroying hills
can be disastrous
Riddled to know why our roads get rain washed and potholed every year, Goans are unable to understand the reason how it happens. However, pushing this issue aside, the latest trend now with the politicians in power at present is to destroy the existing hills by flattening them to raise constructions, be they residential complexes or bungalows with facilities to meet the needs of the super rich high lifestyle living.
High hills standing around are natural protection to protect us from the vagaries of nature, be it in the monsoons or during the cyclones striking us. We in the hinterland remain safe more than those in coastal areas. But these natural advantages are not taken into consideration by the TCP Authority while granting permission to builders and this is one reason, people assume, why Delhi builders are now forcefully usurp on our pristine land.
The concerned politicians involved in this game have been targeted by activists who demand explanation but they deny their involvement by passing the buck on others which has now become a game. But the lust for money, wealth and power keep these politicians destroying the scenic beauty of Goa, environment and nature which attracted tourists in the past to enjoy pleasant holidays know our culture, traditions and unique simple lifestyle. Presently, all these have vanished into oblivion giving rise to unrest among the Goans to protest, agitate and demand an explanation from the elected people's representatives.
What next is to push the Goenkars out of their ancestral land and bring in the Delhites and land sharks and convert Goa into Delhi. Then these politicians will rein to become super power heroes taking all the honour to change the face of Goa and Goans will not be known anymore. Should this happen.
Ayres Sequeira,
Salvador do Mundo
Govt’s service extension trend must stop
The government granting extensions of service to some senior officers in an arbitrary manner must be reviewed. The extensions given to key officers amount to favouritism, makes them subservient and denies an opportunity to deserving senior officers to reach the top. Unbridled powers of the executive demoralises the officers. It appears that the entire state government is running on contractual basis.
By making interim appointments on plum posts many capable and eligible officers are not getting due chance to serve on these posts and it hurts the interests of the talents of Goa. After someone’s retirement, new officers should be given a chance to highlight their talents and on capability.
By not doing this, the government is certainly discouraging talented officers on one hand and on the other hand, by giving extensions. The government has made them a target of extortion by giving extensions to the crucial posts of government institutions. By giving extensions repeatedly to officers, the government is doing injustice to talented officers. This is not a good indicator of a clean and transparent administration. The Government should take cognisance of such cases and immediately stop this trend so that the affected officers can get justice and the arbitrariness of the officers can also be stopped.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Error on online
mapping platform
‘Dictation’ is infact a prominent word which everyone might have heard during their childhood days in schools. However, to some it might have been quite pleasant, while to others a bit 'Mind Scratching'. Moreover, spellings are very much significant and just a slight error in it can prove dangerous.
Worse news has now just trickled that names of certain prominent coastal villages of south Goa are misspelt on Google Map. The error includes in names such as:-- Orlim to Urli, Carmona to Karmane, Beltabatim to Btalbhati, Utorda to Utarda, etc. Infact, this issue that's plaguing these areas seems to be a grave error and quite confusing to tourists. Simultaneously, it can also hamper tourism growth in Goa. However, Goa is trending across the globe as a tourists destination, and such type of errors need to be rectified to the earliest. Furthermore, this incident could provide a reality check for more such type of unfamiliar names which might been existing on the online mapping platform.
I hope better sense will prevail, and the authorities concerned will pursue the matter with the concerned officials for the uttermost satisfaction of the local populace and the preservation of Goa's heritage.
Joseph Savio Desouza, Rajasthan
Stop selectively
targeting officials
After the exposé of the junket trip to Norway and the expenditure incurred therein, in quick response, the government shunted the Director of Fisheries. Did the Director act without consulting the Minister and the Accounts Department with regards to this junket trip?
If the Chief Minister could unceremoniously shunt the Director and why was the minister concerned who was also a part of the trip not dropped too?
She was meted up with the same treatment when she stood her ground as an FDA official during the formalin controversy.
Will the Chief Minister take the same stand and drop the Chief Town Planner for the alleged scams that are happening in Goa? If the Chief Minister believes that he can give Goa good governance then he should act against the TCP officials involved in land conversions. We need to change our slogans to Swampurna Goem scams.
Gregory D'Souza, Siolim