Delayed court orders
become insignificant
In 2012, a person had allegedly encroached upon the land of Curti Panchayat (Ponda) and constructed several rooms, a chicken shop, scrapyards and more (O Heraldo May 25). The same year, a demolition squad was sent but since the Public Works Department (PWD) team had not turned up, the process was postponed. Subsequently, the alleged encroacher obtained a stay order from the court. Finally, after 13 years, the court ordered the razing of the structures and on May 22 the panchayat cleared about 1,000 sq m of land. A judgement after 13 years becomes inconsequential because in all these years, the alleged encroacher must have made a handsome profit from rentals obtained from the tenants and from the shops and scrapyards (if owned by him).
This is not a one-off case but perhaps common throughout the country due to long pendency of lawsuits in the courts for various reasons. Under these circumstances, the courts could fast-track the cases or seize the encroached land and release it once the verdict is out. Further, any establishments existing on the infringed land should be sealed, tenants should pay their rents in the court while house title-holders should deposit the relevant ownership documents in the court. The money and documents would remain with the court till the judgement of the petition is declared. Unless such a nation-wide deterrent procedure is not implemented, encroachers would have a field day raking in the money by selling and renting out the trespassed lands belonging to the governments or panchayats.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Drone tech to combat
mosquito infection
It is learnt that top doctors of the Directorate of Health Services and heads of departments of Goa Medical College and Hospital held a meeting to assess the state’s preparedness to face the threat of vector-borne diseases in the face of heavy early rains arriving in Goa. It must be said just as in any other illness, in vector-borne diseases too prevention is better than cure. This is done by creating awareness among locals and taking necessary steps to prevent mosquito breeding. Soon research would reportedly be initiated in Goa to study the deployment of drones to combat mosquito infestation.
Drones fulfill the growing need for mosquito management in areas which are dangerous and inaccessible. It is learnt that drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can identify mosquito breeding sites like stagnant water, even in hard-to-reach areas. They lend speed and precision.
They can also collect real-time data on mosquito density, species and movement patterns. Drones can be used to spray larvicide in non-residential areas since traditional methods like fogging and manual spraying have proven inadequate. They can access areas that are difficult or dangerous for humans to reach thereby making mosquito control more effective. Drones can survey and treat large areas quickly, saving time and resources.
This highly maneuverable technology reportedly uses GPS technology to access mapped target sites, leading to precision. Drones can survey and treat large areas quickly, saving time and resources. Indeed drones are transforming the way we approach vector control programs as they bring unmatched precision and efficiency. According to experts the technology will continue to progress at a rapid rate.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Repercussions of the
Big Beautiful Bill
It does seems as if Trump holds all the aces as far as India is concerned, the prime reason being Adani. Modi will bend over backward to fulfill Trump's wishes, it will not be surprising if Apple exits India and Modi does nothing to stop that exit and the consequent job losses. With the passing of the 'Big and Beautiful Bill' by the US Congress, Indians sending money back home will now be subjected to a 5% tax at source, the tax can increase to 15% or 20% depending on Trump's whims. This will encourage hawala transactions, which effectively means that US dollars will no longer come into India, they will be settled abroad while Indian rupees will exchange hands back here.
India received remittances of $ 32 billion last year, even if 50% of transactions shift to hawala, then the dent to Indian inward remittance from US will be $ 16 billion ie. Rs.1,36,000 crores. Last year, NRI's repatriated $ 120 billion with a large chunk of that being accounted for by the US. It will be interesting to see how Modi handles this problem, whether he fights back or allows his good friend Trump to pulverise India simply because Adani is involved.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Immediatly arrest
inhuman brutes
It is painful that while our sisters who have been widowed by the terrorists who killed their husbands in cold blood in Pahalgam are still struggling to come out of their great sorrow and the nation is praying that they should come out of their grief soon, the utterances of some of our leaders do not appear to subscribe to this intention.
Sindoor on the forehead of our Indian sisters is considered sacred because it is a symbol of holy matrimony. When our military mission against Pakistan was called 'Operation Sindoor', we believed and appreciated that it was named so, as the operation was to avenge the dastardly act of the terrorists which snatched the Sindoor of our sisters.
In the circumstances, recently while announcing various projects in Rajasthan, Prime Minister Modi thundered, 'it is not blood which flows in my veins but 'boiling' sindoor!' and he also compared the sacred Sindoor to the gun powder used by the armed forces in 'Operation Sindoor'. One wonders what type of an impact his speech would have made on our widowed sisters who have lost their Sindoor.
Right now, what our sisters expect from PM Modi is not this type of rhetorics on their lost Sindoor but immediate arrest of the four terrorists who are still at large after killing their husbands in cold blood and maximum punishment rendered to those inhuman brutes.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Crescendo concert
What a marvellous show/ Crescendo...I enjoyed every bit. It went on so well. What a lively show.... very good songs so well trained. The orchestra was so good too...... Wish the Crescendo was of another hour long. Excellent. I was feeling so sad to leave. May you have many more musical shows to come. May God bless you immensely with good health, happiness, patience n peace to compose, arrange and write music. This type shows should be held outside Goa too.
My best wishes to Fr Peter Cardoz and group today and in near future.
Linda Diniz Braganza, by email