What ails ISL
in India?
The Indian Super League (ISL) was officially launched on 21 October 2013 by IMG–Reliance, Star Sports, and the All India Football Federation with much fanfare with the sole intention of giving a chance to all our local young Indian footballers to make it big and promote football in a very big way (on the lines of Cricket) in India.
The ISL was doing quite well in the initial stages as spectators were seen coming out in huge numbers to support their respective teams and filling stadiums in many parts of India. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore as the craze seem to have slowly fizzled out and one can see most of the ISL matches being played in nearly half empty stadiums in most parts (which includes Goa) of India.
The reason behind this is maybe because spectators believe that it is practically a waste of time coming to watch these ISL matches as most of them feel that these matches are all fixed after seeing some of the best teams deliberately loosing even after playing with some of the most weakest teams during the ISL tournament every year.
Another factor, why the spectators are seen staying away from these ISL matches is because they don't find any good upcoming new local players but some old unfit foreign players and who are due for retirement playing for most teams during the ISL tournament every year.
The managements of most teams should stop giving too much of importance to the wrong players and instead should try to give a chance to all our upcoming young footballers..
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Government must come
clear on IPB Amendment
Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB) was established in 2014s to promote and facilitate investments in the State. Further it states that the board provides or facilitates approval from the Government of Goa. Recently the Government introduced the amendment to the Goa Investment promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance in the Assembly for consideration. The investors private or otherwise are welcomed to approach the committee of the IPB.
Development in the State is needed and creation of job opportunities as well. What seems to be controversial is the sweeping powers given to this body above other statutory bodies in the State and other laws. Such sweeping powers could be detrimental to the development of the State. The Opposition seems to be right in saying, as reported earlier, that this committee is ‘super Government’ which will overlook the powers entrusted to the local statutory bodies such as panchayats and municipalities. There is a fear among the public of indiscriminate change of land-use, eco-sensitive zones just in the name of investment promotion and development of the state.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
One nation,
one election
It is really surprising as to why all the opposition parties are against the proposal of our Prime Minister, who is keen to introduce "One Nation, one Election" in our country. As a common man, who is paying taxes in lakhs, we feel that if this is implemented, crores of taxpayers' money could be saved and used for better developmental projects in India.
Not only that, even the political parties could save crores, which they spend on each and every election. It is time our opposition leaders, shed their ego to oppose each and every move of our Prime Minister and not fight tooth and nail on every subject. No doubt, our PM was found wanting on many counts, especially the Manipur issues. However, he has come out with many developmental projects to save taxpayer's money.
If only our elected representatives are brought under the purview of Income Tax, on their salary and perks and subsidies, then only they would realize the agony of the common man, who is paying taxes for each and everything, but denied the benefits under the plea that we are taxpayers. What a shame!
N Mahadevan, Chennai
Heatwaves are
devastating
According to Climate Central, a non--profit news website based in New Jersey, India lived through its second hottest summer, between June and August, 2024, in the last 54 years. There were as many as 143 heatwave deaths in the country during the period.
More, there were nearly 42,000 heat stroke cases reported in the country in the above three months. Interestingly, both man made climate change and El Nino were blamed for the scorching summer this year. In El Nino, the ocean surface warms unusually above the normal average level in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Many Indian cities bore the brunt of very high temperatures running into almost 70 days in some cases. The website has said that a mind boggling 429 million people if India experienced severe heat conditions for atleast a week.
Alarmingly, this may not be a one-off year and the ensuing years can witness a similar kind of intense heat months if different levels of global warming are not scientifically assessed and tackled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.
In the past, experts have warned that India is going to witness more frequent heatwaves with severe intensity. The entire South Asia will experience more and more heatwaves in the future.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Will fire of
war spread?
This refers to the news report “New wave of blasts hit Lebanon day after pager attack” (Sep 19). In every generation, there comes a moment that completely overturns the established order and Israel’s attack on Lebanon using electronic pagers covertly rigged with explosives is one such moment. The main target of the attack appears to be Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon and Syria. The consequences of this attack will ripple across the world in the coming days and months.
Perhaps Israel was aware that Hezbollah avoids the use of mobile phones and depends on low-tech pagers to communicate and therefore decided to exploit weaknesses in the system. Israel has sent mixed signals by stating that it does not want war, but is ready to confront Hamas and Hezbollah. It can fire the first shot in a new regional war but no one knows for sure where and how the rapid fire will spread and be controlled.
Gregory Fernandes,
Mumbai