Stop giving flimsy excuses to butcher trees
The 200-year old banyan tree which was felled for the ongoing Smart City work at St Inez despite of strong protests by green activists have now been reportedly translocated at the premises of football ground at Campal on Sunday.
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Now, how can these extra over-smart people of the Smart City Project (which includes some officers from the Forest Department) expect this banyan tree to spring back to life after re-planting it on two occasions after they mercilessly chopping-off (as seen in photographs in most newspapers) most of it’s branches so very badly?
I think that the officials who have gone to play the fool with this particular tree (which doesn’t looks like a tree anymore but like a dead show-piece) in such a horrible manner and have re-planted it to play a bigger joke on those still fighting to save trees should be taken to task immediately by the High Court to henceforth stop them from butchering more of such trees under flimsy excuses and turning the once cool capital city of Panjim into one hot desert in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
H5N1, a virus to watch out!
The question that is taking the rounds comparing H5N1 virus with Covid 19, with symptoms being similar, though it is avian influenza. If any doubt, yes, it can infect humans. In fact, H5N1 is a highly pathogenic virus that has caused several outbreaks abroad of severe illness and death in both birds and humans, proving serious as our recent enemy, Covid 19. Understandingly, Avian influenza is the infection from chickens, waterfowl and other birds with flu virus that jumps directly from birds to humans and then transmitted from humans to humans is a concern to health and medical organisations as well.
The majority of human cases of H5N1 infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected poultry or their secretions or excretions. It looks like, it’s time to go back to what COVID-19 educated us of the best practice of washing our hands with soap and water, importantly wearing mask in public, at the least you will not breath polluted air or other respiratory or flu viruses (quite a few are obedient)
Pease note, in Latin, the definition of virus is poison, toxin or venom – scary, though, but it makes sense if we stay ignorant!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Use water wisely this summer
The summer heat has started in Goa and out of 7, 3 dams in the State has 50 percent of water. The minister says we have enough water but looks like there can be a shortage in the coming month. In Goa, the population is rising day by day as many villas, flats and apartments are constructed and sold out to outsiders.
In villages, people should take the opportunity to collect fresh water from the well which is good for our health.
The people of Goa should use water wisely. Inorder to beat the heat, we should drink plenty of water and avoid soft drinks, coffee and alcohol. It’s better not to go out of the house during the peak hours from 12 to 4 in the afternoon.
As a good human being, never forget to keep a bowl of water out outside the house and in balcony for the animals and birds. Don’t use water unnecessarily to wash vehicles. Remember that each drop of water can save our lives.
The government should grow more trees during the monsoon for a greener environment.
Ronnie D’Souza, Chandor
Those not given party tickets must not feel hurt
The die is cast. The main political parties have announced the names of their respective candidates who will contest the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in the state on May 7. There have been several ticket aspirants within each party. However each party can nominate only one candidate. This will leave other aspirants heart-broken and probably filled with anger and revenge for not being given the ticket.
There are several ways on how such ticket aspirants will react. Some will openly change their party affiliation in order to show displeasure for being sidelined. Others could probably be working against the official party candidate on the sly in order to ensure their defeat. Still others could be contesting as independent candidates against the official party candidate. Veteran politicians could opt for retirement from public life.
It is ultimately left to the party think-tank to determine who should represent the party. Obviously winnability is the topmost criteria in choosing a candidate. Money also plays an important role in elections. Those who do not get the party ticket must not take it personally. They should continue working for their respective parties, unless they want to change sides. For politicians, party interest should come before personal interest. This is not always the case, which many-a-times, leads to party-hopping. However there are also party loyalists who will not leave their parent party, come what may.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Foreign tourists are shying away from Goa
It was not surprising to read about the dwindling foreign tourists in Calangute. I recently visited my home village after nine long years abroad and it was a kind of culture shock despite spending all my life there.
Having lived hundred meters from the famous beach, I was used to seeing foreign tourists from every corner of the world in my childhood and that was my expectation when I reached there in the month of December. What I saw was a handful of scattered foreigners which I could count on the fingers of my palms and hoards of Indians tourists of low level. And hardly you could expect quality foreign tourists to come to Calangute when I came to hear the ear deafening music blaring from the shacks come the sunset.
And this is done all to attract the same level of Indian tourists whom the shack associations leaders are complaining about. The tourism department’s lackadaisical attitude in issuing the licences to operate the shacks sometimes in October and sometimes almost in December like the case this year creates uncertainty in minds of tourists. Hope things start moving in the right direction to bring back the glory days to the Queen of Goan beaches.
Valent Mascarenhas, California/Calangute
