The recently culminated 2-day “Chintan Baitak” may seem pertinent to strengthen party grass roots for the ensuing Zilla Panchayat elections and to defuse the brewing tremor of BJP-MGP alliance. But what must be of core importance and the need of the hour in upholding promises made to the people, i.e. to put in place the harrowing state of tourism infrastructure, stinking and rotting garbage site of our beaches and market places, nightmarish state of our coastal roads, ill-managed and accident prone traffic system, utter lack of parking, sickening state of Govt. Primary Health centres and scores of basic infrastructure needs that were all the promises of the ruling party’s last election manifesto.
A “Chintan Baitak” on the above issues will surely go a long way (in the minds of the electorate) and in solidifying the party base, as those remain the true pointers of government performance and deliverance to the electorate their rightful expectations.
Domingos D’Souza, Calangute
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The sound of silence on Opinion Poll
The Congress used to make a little noise to mark the Opinion Poll Day on January 16. This year with the BJP in power, the memory of 1967 seems to have been pushed into oblivion. The Congress made no serious efforts to install a statute to honour the Father of the Opinion Poll, Dr. Jack de Sequeira because of whom today our politicians are living in style representing the people in the august House. While the Congress still remains a divided house seeking their self interest, the BJP is striving to make its foothold strong in Goa.
Very surprisingly, the man who fought against the interest of Goa and the Goans for merger of Goa into Maharashtra has been honored with two statutes, the one recently being installed at the new Secretariat. Within coming to power, Narendra Modi has commissioned work on the 3rd Mandovi bridge to give him due honor. He is projected as role model for the country. Presumably, Goa in the near future will be developed on the Gujarat model and will have its name changed to some unknown personality of a bygone era.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Sort out issues
The article in the Herald of the January 18 entitled “Government throws up its hand on garbage and taxi-related issues” was really appalling to say the least. It is a classic case of Goa burning while our elected officials continue to fiddle. A Government is elected to provide good governance and solve issues nowhere in the world are laws accepted universally, there will always be some who will not be happy but it is the duty of the government of the day to look after the good of the people
Admittedly the garbage issue requires funding, there is no reason why limited garbage collection could not be imitated and gradually expanded. The taxi-related issue is easily resolved by legislation and enforcement. In this case it appears that the tail is wagging the dog. How is the initiative of 10 women taxis going to solve the issue? A pre-paid Taxi from the airport to a certain destination costs Rs 840 whereas the tourist taxi from the same destination to the airport costs Rs 1300. If this is not fleecing then I do not know what is. It is disgusting to see militant taxi drivers forcing travellers to use only their taxis. Everyone has a right to earn a living, what the taxi owners do not realise is that they would probably earn more if they charged a reasonable rate.
Alvaro Da Costa, Canada
Preserve Western Ghats
It is welcome news that the tiger population in the nation is increasing. As per a report by the government, the Western Ghats zone hold world’s single largest tiger population. Goa appears to be home to 5 tigers.
This further reiterates the need for preserving the Western Ghats. Due to various reasons such as unfettered mining, expansion of human habitats, etc. the Western Ghats are being slaughtered. The State of Goa too needs to play a vital role in this regard.
K. B. Dessai, Fatorda
Roller coaster drive
I fail to understand why the traffic police permit heavy machinery down busy streets during peak hours. It’s not only the road rollers, but also the JCB shovels used in construction activity which are causing a hazard to the public. Such heavy equipment must be moved at night and under supervision. Another heavy vehicle should be moving in front of the vehicle being moved to avoid loss of life and damage to property in case of brake failure.
Mark Fernandes, Porvorim
