Ban construction
on slopes
The Guirdolim gram sabha on Sunday reportedly adopted a resolution to bar construction activity on sloping land in the village, belonging to the local Comunidade.
The Nuvem gram sabha adopted a resolution opposing development that involves hill cutting for mega housing projects in the village. The Camurlim gram sabha too adopted a resolution demanding that the government put a cap on the mega housing projects in the village. Gram sabhas of other villages need to follow suit. Sancoale villagers are protesting against a mega project coming up in a forested area. In the past, hills and forest areas were used as grazing grounds for cattle and needed to be conserved for future generations.
Construction on slopes can increase the risk of landslides. Slope instability occurs when an inclined mass of rock or soil is unable to withstand the force of gravity, resulting in the movement of rock and soil.
Erosion can also destroy ecosystems, affect water supplies, and increase the risk of flooding. Retaining wall failures can damage houses and road facilities located at the base of the hill.
A study has shown that hill-cutting during construction accounts for 40% of landslides. Forests are reservoirs of water. They fulfil the water requirements of households at the base of the forest. Forests help in maintaining ecological balance and maintain optimum climatic conditions for the survival of wildlife. There needs to be a total ban on construction activity on slopes.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goa overflowing
with outsiders
The way the migrants and other people are coming to Goa from other States to make a home of their own, it looks very scary. Not to mention the influx of other unwanted elements like murderers, rapists, thieves etc, who are making our State the most dangerous one.
Now if migration continues at this spree, Goa will be worst than Mumbai or Gujarat or any other State, since everyone wants to settle here.
Now, have the authorities concerned conducted a survey regarding what is the carrying capacity of the State? The way our authorities give these migrants every government identity card - be it voter card, Aadhar card etc and also the place to stay, very soon our beautiful State will be converted into most populous place.
A line should be drawn as to how many people can be accommodated at a particular place. If not done, there will be a serious pressure on our resources like water, garbage etc.
Hope the concerned authorities wake up from their deep slumber and not merely watch the current huge influx of people from other States making Goa a lawless State.
Jerry Fernandes, Vanxim
No Health centre
for Margao?
The age-old Urban Health Centre of Margao has been suddenly shifted to Fatorda in South Goa District Hospital on fourth floor. It should not be surprising if the commercial capital of South Goa is renamed as Fatorda instead of Margao in due course. The Health Centre continued with Hospicio and was functioning for many decades initially in premises near Cine Lata, then in a government building near the then Hospicio Hospital and was very convenient for elderly patients to get treated for minor ailments and newborn infants, children for immunisation process and was of immense use, besides a convenient outlet in Covid epidemic.
Now all have to slog in hot sun/rains for going to District Hospital though on the main road, without proper transport facility. The public in general and children are put to hardship and bear extra heavy costs to reach there and back as the Government has not made arrangements for shuttle service from the city.
The Health Minister is boasting of improved medical facilities and health at door step for the masses and closing the existing ones without specific reasons.
The local MLA is silent, as he must have given consent to it, along with those self-styled NGOs who are conveniently avoiding taking up issues of public interest.
The Health Centre is very much needed in Margao town and the government should re-examine the issue and restore the Centre for the benefit of the public, without waiting for public unrest.
Bhalchandra V S Priolkar, Margao
Elderly people are left to fend by themselves
Assembly elections are due in some States like Maharashtra and all parties will try to give sops and freebies to the population below 60 years and especially to 60 percent younger population of the country, which is necessary.
But it astonishes to note that the politicians and political parties hardly look towards the senior citizens, which require equal attention as they have served the nation.
In European countries, elderly citizens get doles for their sustenance and health is covered, including surgery. But in India, after the age of 70, the senior citizens are not eligible for driving licence, no jobs are offered due to weak physique, any medical insurance and loan.
Some are left begging, but he has paid all taxes on his purchase for survival and some are still paying Income tax. Do the senior citizens, who have no one to depend on in their life, need any justification that they paid all taxes in the younger times?
Government spends crores of rupees on irrelevant schemes and waves of huge loans given to business houses. But it never gives any relief to at least needy senior citizens of the country. What a tragedy to be a senior citizen in this country. I hope and pray that the government looks into the problems of needy senior citizens, atleast if not all of them.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
India: China’s Puppet
on a String
China condescending approach for thaw in East Ladakh by accepting patrolling rights, disengagement of troops and grazing rights as they were in 2020 in the Dhemchok & Depsong Plains is being viewed in India as a great diplomatic & military victory.
In fact it is just the opposite. China has thrown a bone towards India to gnaw and chew until it arrives at something more devious to do on our northern borders with them. And India has fallen for that trap.
China is sitting on lakhs of square kilometers of Indian territory and building infrastructure on it like roads, bridges and housing on it and has nothing to lose by offering the present concessions since it also is not going far back on the status quo but only till 2020.
The attitude is like you squat on Indian territory and then say we will give you this right & that right. What China should be doing is withdraw back to their territory, dismantle the infrastructure that they have put up on the India side and then talk about accepting positions
Srinivas Kamat, Mysore