Preparedness for National Games 2023
It appears that the State government is racing against time to get the various sports infrastructure ready in time for the National Games 2023 in a few days from now. National Games 2023 are scheduled to be held in Goa from October 26 to November 9. However some infrastructure still appears to be in the final stages of completion. It is learnt that the sports complex ground at Curti Ponda and the Archery facility at Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi, will be ready just 48 hours before launching of the National Games and that the work is going on, on a war-footing.
It is learnt that the two venues were running behind schedule namely the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor stadium at Taleigao, where the flooring is being replaced, and the Peddem indoor stadium in Mapusa. Both venues now appear to be ready. It is learnt that Kho Kho was supposed to be played in the open as is traditionally done but due to sudden rain the event will now be held indoors. It would be in the fitness of things to have plastic covering ready for open venues to protect the surface from the rains which have become unpredictable. Given the fact that the National Games could not be held in the State in the past due to unpreparedness, it was expected that all the infrastructure would be ready well in advance instead of the last minute hustle.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Organise tiatrs in a pandal
Maintenance is also important, but the artiste should not depend on Ravindra Bhavans. In my younger days tiatrs when organised conducted in the open in a pandal with a stage. Now we should adopt such innovations instead of waiting for Bhavans. For that matter, Margao Vidya Niketan was widely used in the past. Why can it not be used now? This possibility is there and it should be explored.
Antonio F Fernandes, Arossim
Give common citizens a decent life
There was news that the Margao Municipality will remove all stray dogs from the route the PM will take, when he comes to inaugurate the National Games on October 26. Why is this being done? Isn’t Modi aware that we have a stray dog problem? For the last few years stray dogs biting and killing people from infants, children to the elderly from Ladakh to Kanyakumari and Assam to Gujarat have been covered in our newspapers.
Why do we need to hide this reality from the PM? In the same manner whenever the PM visits any place, the slums are hidden behind plastic sheets. Why is this done? Let him understand that the poverty which he says has been removed is not true. Why show him a sanitised India which essentially is a fake reality? Let him see India as it is then he will realise how much work is left for him to do to bring India up to the claims that he makes day in day out.
In the same vein the road that leads from Bambolim to Dona Paula through the Goa University campus was all decked up during the G20 meetings. The pavements were cleaned up of the shrubs, the zebra crossing painted, the rumblers removed and the area looked spick and span. Hardly a month or more has gone by and we are back to the overgrown undergrowth encroaching on the pavements, it is dug up at places where some high KV electric cables are being laid leaving gaping, uncovered holes dangerous for morning walkers and the rumblers are back. Is the tidying up and comfortable driving only for the benefit of the VIPs? Why is it not used through the year for us, common citizens?
Srinivas Kamat, St Cruz
Why isn’t the Tiger Reserve being notified?
The State government under the instructions of Advocate General Devidas Pangam has now decided to approach the High Court, to seek an extension of the October 24 deadline, to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, claiming that it has undertaken the process of settling rights of forest dwellers in the Sanctuary and which is yet to be completed.
Well, it should be noted that the Supreme Court of India had recently refused to grant a stay to the High Court order of July 24, directing the Goa government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve despite the government filing a special leave petition (SPL) challenging this same High Court order in the Supreme Court.
The government has been doing all this at the behest of just one arrogant politician cum stubborn minister (who unfortunately is already seen acting/behaving like a parallel Chief Minister to show his might for all our gullible ‘sussegado’ Goans) with the sole intention of fully protecting and safeguarding his own personal self interest in Goa. Now, isn’t that shameful?
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Kudos to Colva Police
The prompt and swift action along with subsequent arrests by the Colva police of the four accused persons involved in the assault case which occurred in Benaulim some days back brings welcome relief to the people, as in the recent past the police have been found wanting.
Goa presently has been witnessing the law and order situation worsening by the day and this happens when there is no fear of the law due to the active and tacit support from godfathers who support the criminals through thick and thin in their illegal acts which further boosts the confidence and morale of the criminals.
Therefore this immediate and prompt action by the PI of Colva Therron D’Costa and his staff is commendable and it needs to be lauded and such acts by the police in Goa will definitely reduce the rising crime rate and that the anti social elements will ponder and rethink before undertaking such acts. Once again hats off to the Colva police and may such quick deterring measures be taken by the law enforcement agencies. May the law of the land prevail and let peace and harmony reign as Goa desperately needs it.
Filastro Cardozo, Varca
Forensic audit of Smart City projects is a must
A forensic audit of all projects under the Smart City mission needs to be carried out, now that the rains have receded and the actual situation on the ground can be investigated. The Smart City fiasco has left Panjim smarting due to road cave-ins, pipeline bursts, backflow from sewer lines, choked storm water drains etc. It is one of the biggest scams with taxpayer’s money being literally flushed down the drain. Handwringing and passing the buck has been the default response of the city fathers when it comes to accountability, fixing responsibility and penalizing the guilty for this mess.
Many works were commenced without soil testing, proper structural design, project management consultancy or environmental impact assessment.
The result is there for all to see. It is pertinent to note that lives were also lost due to regulatory oversight and nil supervision by the contractors or PWD, despite this work bills raised by different agencies were cleared with undue haste by the government.
A forensic and quality audit by proven accountancy firms and reputed civil engineering consultants / IITs would surely throw up some unsavoury stuff, but would also serve as a cautionary tale for further public work handlers. The government would surely not want to be shown in a bad light, but an audit will surely go some way in cleaning out the Augean stables.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
