Loo and behold the missing files!
It was reported that some files belonging to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department were found dumped on a platform in an unused rundown toilet of the Osia building complex at Margao. A senior TCP officer watered down the issue by citing that since the office was being cleaned and maintained, perhaps the labourers might have temporarily kept the files in the toilet. The moot question is, why was there no supervision or watch on the labourers as the files were being moved around?
Luckily the files were safe and sound else the parties concerned would have been coolly told to submit fresh set of documents and plans, without assigning any reasons. In the future, whenever clients are told that his/her files are misplaced/missing in a government department, they need not get all flushed but to look in the loos! It would save them from draining their energy.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Is toilet the new record room for the TCP dept?
It’s is really shocking to read that files belonging to TCP office situated at Osia building complex at Margao were lying dumped on a platform in an unused dilapidated toilet of the building. The TCP (Town & Country Planning) department storing its records in a toilet is a new norm.
Visitors who went to use the toilet here came to know how filthy it was and then were bewildered to see these documents dumped here. Most of the government buildings in Goa are in filthy and unhygienic conditions without any proper maintenance.
Such things can happen only under the Goa government. Junta House at Panaji is among one of them. If such the TCP dept can store records in a toilet, then what service do they give to a common man? This is carelessness and negligence on the part of the TCP. There should definilty be an accountability when such acts are committed.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Tragic and untimely end to an innocent life
It was devastating to hear about the recent smothering to death of a little four-year-old boy allegedly by his own elite mother. Very sadly the little boy who was born around the onset of Covid-19 didn’t live to see the foundations of schooling or to achieve what aspirations life had in store for him.
This innocent boy was unfortunately a victim of a matrimonial dispute between his parents which went awfully sour. When marital disputes cannot be resolved and the marriage salvaged, parting of the ways is the only way forward. And it should be as amicable and dignified as possible. Admittedly this easier said than done.
The police investigating this murder should inquire why the mother chose Goa as her destination to commit this ghastly and chilling act. Our State is known for its peace, tranquillity and as a friendly laid-back haven and a much sought after tourist destination should not be in the news for all the wrong reasons.
May the innocent young boy rest in eternal peace and may those involved come to terms with the reality of their actions. Nothing equates to the pain of losing an innocent child!
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Restore functioning of Ravindra Bhavan
It is learnt that the chairman of Ravindra Bhavan, Baina has asked the government offices housed in the bhavan complex to vacate the premises. The offices of the health department, mamlatdar’s office and the office of the Deputy Collector of Mormugao were shifted to Ravindra Bhavan, Baina when the building of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) underwent restoration in December 2021. However, after the restoration work was completed, it was expected that three offices would be shifted back to the MMC building.
This has not been the case. The general public is being put to great inconvenience due to shifting of the offices to Baina as it is far away from Vasco city and with poor transport facilities. The worst hit are the senior citizens and those who do not possess a vehicle. The staging of the popular Konkani tiatrs had also stopped at this Ravindra Bhavan as the AC chiller plant was not functioning since the pandemic. Tiatr lovers from the port town had to travel all the way to Margao to watch the tiatrs at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. It is learnt that the AC chiller plant will be made functional very shortly. It is time the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina was put to use for which it was built in the first place. The tiatr shows and other entertainment programs need to commence at this center of art at the earliest.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Music transcends language barriers
Indian cinema has been rich and wide for nearly a century, and the Tamil film and music industry has immensely contributed to its overall beauty. From representing the culture of Tamil Nadu to taking this beautiful language to ears across the globe, Tamil film songs have done it all over the years.
However, intriguingly enough, from the mid 1950s until the time of the late S P Balasubrahmanyam a few years ago, Tamil film music was enriched and dominated by playback singers largely from the rest of the three States in South, and their names became synonymous with Tamil Nadu. Legendary singers P B Sreenivas, K J Yesudas, S P Balasubrahmanyam, P Suseela and S Janaki – all are/were from Karnataka, Kerala and Andhrapradesh. Another legend, T M Soundararajan, a Saurashtrian, born in Madurai, dominated Tamil film music like nobody else for well over six decades. Needless to say Tamil film music wouldn’t have been what it is today without the golden voices of the above renowned playback singers, and for which Tamil Nadu owes a lot to them. Music transcends language barriers, and truly so.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Join hands to build a happy nation
On the 26th of January every year, we celebrate our country’s Republic Day. But unfortunately today, India is surrounded by demons of all kinds that are destructing the freedom of the country and are robbing the Indians of their livelihood and freedom like corruption, terrorism, unemployment and underemployment; child labour, illiteracy, corrupt political interferences and fanaticism. These demons are devouring the country and are robbing the peace and happiness of the country.
There is a need for every Indian to understand the need of being united as Indians and pledge not just our loyalty to the country but also to voice out towards the factors that breaks and divides our unity and fraternity. Today, there is a need for every Indian to show that united we can build a happy country.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
