Solemnity marks All Souls Day
Poignant scenes were witnessed at the St Inez cemetery, Panjim as the faithful prayed at the beautifully decorated graves of their dear departed on the solemn occasion of All Souls Day. This being one of the biggest cemeteries in Goa, the occasion was made more reverent and colourful as graves were decorated with crosses and hearts made from carnations, rose petals, and several other flowers in multi-hued red, yellow, white, blue, purple which lent a festive look to this annual event observed to pray for the souls. These persons would have included grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and friends of residents of Panjim city in particular and some from other parts of Goa. The Corporation of the City of Panaji has to be appreciated for organizing this occasion in a methodical manner with decorative lights and painting.
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Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Government must stop wasting court’s time
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has declined to grant the State government the two weeks it sought to reply to the Goa Foundation’s plea seeking that contempt notices be issued to the government for failing to notify a tiger reserve within the time stipulated by the court. The Advocate General Devidas Pangam is resorting to subterfuge and stonewalling tactics by submitting that the state has filed a review petition in the SC which shall come up for hearing in November and that things should be held in abeyance till then. He also claimed that the government has complied with all other directives of the courts.
This is prima facie ‘contempt of court’. Even a layman not well versed with the law can figure it out. Add to that judicial time being frittered by such time wasting tactics being indulged in by the government’s legal representative. There is a fit case for the Goa government to be heavily penalized by the courts so that it doesn’t resort to such misadventures in future.
Rekha Sarin Trehan, Benaulim
Social media is enticing children
Social media is indeed a double edged sword. A 33-state-group in the United States has filed law suits against Meta, that company that operates Facebook(FB), Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. Meta has been accused of deliberately designing features on FB and Instagram to lure children into engaging these platforms. The company is accused of making profits by damaging children’s mental health by feeding them harmful contents. The allegations of the US group is not unfounded at all. It is widely felt that children’s addiction to different apps including FB and Instagram has assumed alarming proportions.
Since, today’s school education involves a lot of mobile phone and internet usage, sifting the grain from the chaff is quite tough for the parents. Some sort of age appropriate apps are the need of the hour apart from seriously involving parents with regard to what their children should, and can, browse on social media.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Govt must bring down onions prices
The price of onions has increased considerably. As a matter of fact, the existing rate has brought tears to the eyes of consumers all over the country. Onions are an important food item and people have been hard hit due to the present high prices. The State government has to consider the difficulties of citizens and initiate appropriate favourable steps in order to provide onions at a subsidised rate through its outlets.
The onion is widely seen as the poor man’s vegetable. The government must control inflation and must do something to bring down the price of onions so as to provide relief to the common man.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Govt at the service of coal lobby
The Goa Government seems to be totally at the service of the polluting/destructive coal lobby and building road/networks/bridges all to have the coal lobby operate faster and get better profits! The latest is the bridge being planned to be built at Loutolim which risks large area of eco/khazan lands! How far can we tolerate this devastation/destruction of our hills, fields, khazan lands, water bodies, thousands of trees, forests, wildlife etc all so that that the Goa Government can make the coal business as profitable as possible ! Are funds to the BJP by these greedy corporations more important?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Salute Patel for uniting India
This has reference to the report ‘Patel remembered on Foundation day of eight States and five UTs (O Heraldo November 2, 2023). Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is known as the ‘iron man’ of India, who was responsible for uniting more than 550 princely states of an India left fragmented by the British. It is therefore fitting that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel should be remembered at celebrations such as the Foundation Day of Eight states in the country.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution must always be remembered not just on the October 31 which is celebrated as ‘National Unity Day’ but always. Moreover, what is important is that, the unity of our nation needs to be protected and preserved at all costs. It is too precious to be lost to petty differences like caste, creed, language, religion, etc.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Improve the national highway
The National Highway is connected to the port town of Vasco and has a high volume of traffic flow, vehicles move at high speeds. Currently this highway is so bad that it is not in a smooth condition and can lead to stress in the mechanism of transmission drive and can shear the main bolts parts and lead to accidents. Professional highway engineering must meet safety, service performance, long service life and consider environmental and social effects on the surrounding areas. Also there are no guard railing on the side, whereas there are obstructions in some places which are dangerous. Hopefully the authority will act on this a improve the safety of the highway.
Ashwin Caeiro, Cansaulim
No fireworks at two World Cup venues
Fireworks, light and sound shows have been quite the norm during World Cup 2023 matches at all the venues in India. They have added to the viewer experience and the festive atmosphere. But things are set to change in the upcoming World Cup matches in Delhi and Mumbai. The BCCI has decided to cancel fireworks in both cities due to the rising pollution levels.
Fireworks are made of various chemicals. It is common knowledge that the air quality after fireworks deteriorates substantially which affects the health of the citizens. The main symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, airway inflammation, headaches, and sore throat. More serious conditions involve pneumonia, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
Goa may not be experiencing as much air-pollution but one hopes there will be no fireworks at the end of the closing ceremony of the National Games slated for November 9.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
