Kirlapal residents conned while paying house tax
It was reported (O Heraldo 27.12.2023) that bogus house receipts were issued to the people by the village panchayat of Kirlapal in Ponda. This would result in problems to the people who had presented their house tax receipts to avail the benefits of the Atal Asra Yojana scheme.
Ironically, it was the Sarpanch who was the whistleblower and brought to light that the receipts were bogus since the people’s house numbers were not registered. Supposedly, under political pressure he resigned while the panchayat secretary and the clerk who were allegedly behind the corruption were transferred. Strange justice!
In the fitness of things, all the three persons should have been sent on leave till the enquiries are completed and the culprits are identified. As the investigations and perhaps the court case may drag on for months, who is going to compensate the conned residents of Kirlapal village?
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Good health through behavioural restraint
As we are drawing the curtains on another eventful year, it would be right to share with our esteemed readers the lessons learnt from the year that is just going by us.
Many people have been affected by disease and misfortune and thus these are the experiences from which we should draw out a strategy to herald the New Year 2024.
It is imperative that behaviourial restraint could be one of the most useful topics on which to dwell on as far as preventing disease may be concerned. It is well known that positive thinking leads to the secretion of juices in the body that keep us in the pink of health as far as both the body and the mind are concerned. Therefore, it would right to stop thoughts of hate, revenge, avarice, greed and envy and to replace them with positive thoughts so as to lead to an exponential feeling of well-being as also to banish disease.
In particular, the young have a lot to benefit from these experiences and thus bring about a quantum leap in the way to build a robust body in a fine tuned mind.
Behavioural restraint is one of the best ways of enjoying the pink of health and it would thus be important to practice it and empower your life.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Can we say we are Patriotic Goans?
Let’s compare the good old days in the 1960s, when our parents and the grandparents groomed us with Goan ideologies, moral values and with an essence of the 3Gs – Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn. One wonders why and how all this is gradually vanishing?
In recent times, at group meetings or public places we say “I’m a Goan” in a subdued voice, as and when we stand among non-Goans. We also hear and read from various sources that a handful of Goans are interested in preserving Goa and Goemkarponn, but how? But Goa has been slowly but certainly sold out to outsiders.
On the flip side, innocent Goans are ‘conquered’ by some uncivilised outsiders. But Goans stand as mute spectators even when non-Goans openly state that we Goans are good for nothing. We are to be blamed as it is we who gave them the freedom to ride on us, as we fear retaliation.
Let us not forget that Goans are decorated with gold medals and continue to win awards in various fields.
Goa has produced scientists, top military personnel, doctors, entrepreneurs, vocalists, poets, IITians and some holding foreign offices as well, which is enough reason for Goans to proudly stand tall in our own motherland.
One wonders whether this poor treatment to Goans by some who are disloyal to Goa, and literally living in our own house, get wiped out in the New Year 2024. Or, will we and our next generations have to live as migrants in Goa for the rest of our lives?
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
‘Development’ is gobbling up our jewels
As part of the Tamnar power transmission project a high tension line tower was being constructed in the Xeldem lake for which landfilling of a major portion of the water body has taking place. The lake, which is a notified wetland, is more than a geographical landmark, as it stands for the embodiment of the community’s shared history, culture and environmental stewardship, and is a vibrant biodiversity hotspot.
The lake’s water has irrigated fields and provided drinking water to the locals much before water from the Selaulim dam reached the village.
Bowing down to the agitation launched by the Xeldemkars, the Power Minister inspected the site and ordered shifting of the tower from the lake precincts.
At some other places too transmission towers have been planned which pass through water bodies and forests. There has to be a holistic approach taken by the government when planning such mega projects which come at immense cost to the environment.
Of what use is development if we ultimately end up losing our water bodies, hills, forests and fields which have nurtured generations for decades?
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
How many more kids must die in Gaza?
Indiscriminate bombing by Israel in Gaza, even on hospitals, schools and refugee camps, killed over 21,000 Palestinians. Over 55,000 Palestinians, including many children, have been injured. In the song ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, Bob Dylan asked, ‘Yes, and how many deaths will it take until he knows that too many people have died?’
The lives of over 8,000 children have so far been snuffed out in the killing fields of Gaza. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres has said, “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children. Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day.” Must we welcome the New Year with more dead bodies of children?
Sujit De, Kolkata
Petrol, diesel prices likely to drop
Parliamentary elections are approaching in the country, so there is a possibility that steps will be taken to relieve the people from the high prices of petrol and diesel. Prices could be reduced very quickly. This reduction might be between Rs 5-10 for petrol and Rs 18-15 for diesel. Many promises are made during the run-up to elections, but they are seldom implemented. Prices of many consumer items may be reduced inorder to lure voters, therefore, citizens should vote carefully and should not fall prey to false promises by politicians.
Tauqueer Rahmani, Mumbai
