Double tracking and coal hub
After bull-dozing the Konkan railway through the thickly populated villages of South Goa, the SW Railways are now clandestinely acquiring land to lay a parallel track from Hospet Tinaighat to Vasco (Mormugao) primarily for the carriage of coal to Karnataka for the steel factories of the Adanis, Jindals and Vedanta.
The area from Utorda to Dabolim is full of heritage houses which will be badly affected due to the vibrations caused by these high speed goods trains besides the pollution effect it will have on the citizenry living along the periphery of these tracks. I have even shifted my residence from Majorda to Verna, unable to bear the noise and air pollution of the Konkan railway and one can imagine the devastating effect it will have on the people if another track is laid.
The government which has acquired land at Majorda keeping the owners in the dark should immediately revert this land back to its original owners to avoid a legal recourse.
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
Vasco lockdown need of the hour
Deaths due to Covid-19 are increasing in Goa and fifty per cent of the are reported from Vasco. May be this is due to the fact that Vasco is a hot spot for Corona virus. Other reasons could be that Vasco people immune system is weak and their lungs damaged due to inhaling of coal pollution caused due to operation of coal export day and night causing dust pollution.
Even during lockdown the railways did not follow the lockdown for a single day, on the contrary fearing lockdown increased the movement of coal at higher speed.
The MLAs of Vasco, Mormugao made a big noise to stop coal transportation from the Harbour but their voices were silent when Vasco and surrounding villages needed their support to stop the movement of coal from the Port by rail.
Taking into account the worsening condition of the Port town the government should lockdown the coal transport inorder to improve the immune system of the people to fight Corona virus. Vasco lockdown is the need of the hour to save Goa from Covid-19 virus.
Gerardo Fernandes, Cansaulim
GI tag for ‘Khaje’
Cashew feni was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2009 as a specialty alcohol beverage from Goa. It is now indeed a proud moment for the state as ‘Khaje’ the traditional Goan sweet available at every temple and church feast fair across the state received the GI notification on Thursday.
It is understood that the notification states that the sweet originated in Goa centuries ago and what gives the ‘khaje’ the unique taste is the ginger, local salt and potable well water that goes into making the sweet.
The Bicholim-based All Goa Khaje Producers Association (AGKPA) had reportedly applied for the tag through the department of science and technology last year.
No zatra or feast fair is complete without the traditional ‘khaje’, also known as ‘kaddio-boddio’, being sold.
People who visit the fair make it a point to buy the ‘khaje’ without fail and take it back home to share with the other family members and neighbours.
Those working in the offices also make it a point to distribute the sweet among the office colleagues when they come back after attending a temple zatra or a church feast.
It indeed makes every Goan proud that their well-known traditional sweet, which is enjoyed as a snack or even after meals, now has a GI tag.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Tough test
Parents with school-going children are in a state of perplexity not sure about the reopening of schools anytime soon. They, themselves, are in no mood to send their kids to schools, and it is perfectly understandable.
Opinions are divided on the immunity potential of school children. No age seems to be exempt from the dreadful corona affliction though children below 10 years are said to be more secure than the age group 10–19. Studies have varying reports.
A United States study claims children were a little more than a third likely to be infected as adults. But opening of schools will make them three times more susceptible to contract the infection. Other studies point out little or no difference between grown ups and children.
All studies, however concur on one aspect: Covid–19 disease is less severe in the below-19 age group in general and school-going children in particular. Studies or no studies parents will stick to their guns. Lack of unanimity on reopening of schools among different States in the country has thrown all stakeholders into a state of confusion. Children are children; they cannot be expected to behave like adults.
Even with utmost personal protection mechanism in place something is bound to go awry.
Therefore, schools opening again, till the pandemic dips to an extent everything appears safe from the corona infection, look a very remote possibility. In times of exigencies like these out of the box ideas should not be imposed upon the parents and children.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Much-needed fillip to the economy
The Karnataka State government has toed the Centre’s line relating to Unlock 3.0, allowing the opening of gymnasiums and yoga institutes from August 5, with some restrictions in place.
There will be no Sunday lockdowns and night curfews. But swimming pools, entertainment parks, bars, auditoriums, theatres, assembly halls will remain closed and social, political, and religious gatherings will be banned. The easing of curbs should give the much-needed fillip to the economy.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
