Goa turning into concrete jungle
I am surrounded by beaches, some beautiful traditional temples and not to forget some beautiful mesmerizing churches and I hold profound in my heart some old heritage, and not to forget I am surrounded by paddy fields.
The people who live here have friendly nature and they live a susegad life and they are call Goan or known as Goenkars. The guess was right I am sobit Goa. But now my beauty is diminishing my beaches are flooded with garbage every place of mine is stinking and smelling and now I’m turning into concrete jungle and now tourist don’t come to see how beautiful Goa is but only come to destroy and create ruckus in Goa. And our honourable ministers in the name of tourism and organising events and developments have allegedly destroyed Goa and Goan lives. First the Goans would live a peaceful life but because of this broken roads how many lives are lost, because there is an increase in migrants murders, robberies, rapes, and not to forget the increasing of garbage surrounding Goa, mega projects, increase in construction our Goan people are not getting proper water supply. Please humble request to our honourable ministers please don’t make our sobit Goa a concrete jungle.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Protect nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles
In a heartening start to the New Year, it is learnt that two Olive Ridley turtles laid 193 eggs along the coastal area at Morjim. It may be recalled that a few days back, another turtle had laid 98 eggs. The incubation period takes about 40-50 days, and after that, the hatchlings return back to the sea. It is pertinent to note that the beaches of Morjim, Mandrem, Agonda and Galgibag, where there are the turtle nesting sites, have been declared as ‘silent zones’ by the government.
The sites on the beaches have been designated as turtle nesting sites and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. In Goa Olive Ridley turtles have also set up nests along beaches such as the Vagator, Arambol in North Goa and Cavelossim in South Goa. There are only two places in India where the Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore to nest. One is in the state of Odisha and the other is in Goa. A record number of Olive Ridley turtles arrive at Odisha’s Rushikulya beach for mass nesting. Gahirmatha beach in Odisha’s Kendrapara district is the world’s largest known nesting site for the Olive Ridley turtle. These turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act by The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
It is learnt that in Goa there are violations galore on turtle nesting beaches. This needs to stop.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cops should clamp down on loud music
It is interesting that the recently concluded Sunburn music festival was subject to such intense media coverage due to the apparent widespread concern about the possibly unacceptable high decibel count; indeed, it appeared that the authorities were willing to ‘crack down’ on irresponsible and inconsiderate noise levels.
Assuming that this concern is not peculiar to this single event, but a more general concern for the well-being of its citizens, one must assume that the next time an organisation plonks 15, extremely large speakers in the middle of a residential area (Parra Circle), and then proceed to emit, from 8.30pm to 3.45 am, ear-shattering racket that could no doubt to heard as far away as the Mapusa Police Station, that the same concerned authorities will ensure that the volume and timings are kept within reasonable limits, and that a venue is chosen that least affects the residents.
This concern might also be extended to event establishments that seem to be allowed to play extremely loud music until the wee hours of the morning (5 am) without a care or concern about the well-being of the local residents.
Interestingly, when these events happened in this locality (Parra) recently, the absence of any concerned authority was stark.
Adrian Cavinder, Parra
Erring GCZMA officials should be penalised
Regarding a complaint filed by the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, the NGT imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the GCZMA. With all due respect, I don’t think the GCZMA officials will be too concerned about it as the money/fine will be paid by the taxpayer and surely the GCZMA officials operate under the full support of Goan ministers; we can see specific GCZMA officials even being promoted or given bigger responsibilities by the Goa Govt despite so many cases pending against them- so what does this tell us ?
I think the only way to get the GCZMA to remedy its ways is to prosecute the erring GCZMA officials with the punishment of jail or heavily fining them on their personal wealth. Else in my view nothing will change!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Harrowing experiences for common man
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of our busy occupied life, time runs so fast. Little did we realise that apart from the common challenges in our day to day life, we are still so deprived of basic service that has caused so much of agony to the common man.
Come 2024 it’s time, we the people fight for our democratic right as citizens of this country.
As citizens, we are taken for granted. The government assumes we have ample of time in hand and can conveniently visit government offices as per their availability.
The era of online is more frustrating. Applying for Aadhar card is like a lucky draw. Change in name for Electricity and PWD bills need minimum 2 visits although it is online.
Post office visits for senior citizens is nothing less than a torture. I am educated yet I go bonkers when I visit the government offices as the requirement seem to me never ending. If given an opportunity as a citizen, I would like to make a report on all this services with appropriate solution providing our authorities give it a listening year.
Don Savio Lacerda, Chinchinim
Kudos to Indian pacers
India’s win against South Africa in the Capetown test is a tribute to the brilliance of its fast bowlers. In other words, the Indian pace attack that was once considered mediocre, came off age not long ago and the present Indian frontline fast bowlers are perhaps the best in the business in both tests and the 50– over one day internationals. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah tore into the South African batting in the first and second innings respectively to hand India a memorable win in a match where things could have gone the other way but for a tight, and right, control over the proceedings by the pacers.
Both the leading bowlers of India kept the opposition batters on a tight leash to unsettle them on a pitch that had deep cracks as well as variable, and unpredictable, bounce to make batting nightmarish. That a test match was over in four and a half sessions in 107 overs says it all but nothing can be taken away from the bowlers who, at the end of the day still had to persevere and perform. Like Aiden Markram towards the latter part of his scintillating century, and to some extent Yashaswi Jaiswal, showed how taking calculated risks and going for the big shots were some methods of batting on the mad pitch. However, a win is a win, and Rohit Sharma and his men can indeed be proud that they are only the second Indian team ever to square a test series in South Africa.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
