Eco system in Goa at stake
At the rate at which the depletion of forest cover in Goa is happening and also the sanction for conversion of agricultural lands to settlement zones being granted, coupled with farm lands remaining unused, the eco-system of Goa is undergoing a sea change for the worse.
Unless the real estate mushrooming is curbed, Goa’s environment and climate change in the state will lead to anomalies which may never be remedied. The ambient air quality index is also deteriorating more so in urban areas.
The greying of Goa does not augur well and unless strict caps are put on construction activities, soon Goa will lose its scenic charm. Nature takes its own time and unabated concretisation will ruin Goa to a point of no return.
The breakneck speed of concretisation will spell the doom of Goa. Already the mercury levels are showing an upward trend due to warming due to the trapping of emissions as vehicular pollution is on the rise. As we are beckoning on the monsoon, let the green radiance glow in Goa, especially amidst the raindrops. It’s not a quirk of fate, it’s what you make it to be.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
WRD duty bound to supply clean water
It was almost after a week that action has been taken against those allegedly involved in a water tanker transporting sewage water at Sancoale. It is learnt that the police have registered a case against four persons including owners of the water tanker and septic tanker.
Given the seriousness of the matter immediate should have been taken with regards to the issue. Be that as it may, it is learnt that officials of the Water Resource Department (WRD) have appealed to the public not to use water from the tankers for drinking purposes unless the tank of the vehicle is made of stainless steel and is registered with the department. It must be said if water is transported by tankers which was earlier used for transporting sewage it is unfit not only for drinking but also unfit for carrying out other daily chores like washing utensils, washing clothes, swabbing the floor, etc. How can a tank of the vehicle made of steel stop spread of infection if the tanker was earlier used for carrying sewage? Can the tank be cleaned effectively so as to make it fit to carry potable water? How do the citizens verify whether the tank of the vehicle is made of steel? How do the consumers confirm whether the tanker is registered with the WRD when different tankers are used for transporting potable water? The responsibility of supplying clean potable water lies with the WRD and the authorities cannot pass it on to the citizens.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
After dogs, monkeys are a menace too
Nowadays, dogs are in the news for their bites and assault on children, and discussions about the ways to control them.
However, monkeys are not the ones to be left behind. Recently, a three-year-child in Tamil Nadu was crushed to death after a couple of monkeys rolled a boulder from the roof on the head of the child. Only a few days before, citizens of a locality in Bengaluru were in the news for complaining to the municipal authorities about the severe monkey menace in the area. Municipal officials expressed their helplessness because monkey control involves a perfect coordination between civic and forest authorities. There are strict standard operating procedures to be followed which entails trained rescuers. Most simians migrate from the forest due to loss of habitats and decrease in prey base.
The biggest attractions for them are left over materials from improper garbage disposal which they devour. Parallely, people are amused as well as sympathetic of them.
What the people do is to overfeed the monkeys which is quite dangerous because such animals shall never leave the areas where they are fed. Sterilisation, both tubectomy and vasectomy, according to the latest guidelines, should go some way in controlling the monkey population. Fruits, that are another enticement for the monkeys, should be kept away from them; they can be plucked wisely so that the apes are not enticed by them. Proofing the windows and avoiding using plastic bags can also keep the monkeys away from human beings. The amount of havoc caused by monkeys on agricultural crops is another story altogether.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Women empowerment cannot be a sham
In Goa, at the Panchayat and Municipal level, we have seats that are reserved for women. This is a step in the right direction to encourage women to play their role in the political arena and to serve the society at the grassroot level.
But unfortunately, we have been sadly witnessing that in many cases, elected women are only on paper while their effective role is factually being unlawfully played by their spouse, brother or at times some other relative.
The woman candidates like all others must be selected and elected on their own merit and aptitude, not as a front or smoke screen for others to run the show. They must not be puppets on a string manipulated and pushed along the way with no say. This defeats the very purpose of reserving seats for women which is meant for ensuring their empowerment.
The responsibilities of a woman elected candidate being done by a proxy is unacceptable. Before contesting any election, the woman candidate must be absolutely confident that she would be able to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post she is contesting.
She needs to realize that serving as a Ward member whether at the Panchayat or Municipal level is a full time job requiring all the patience and desire to redress public grievances.
A woman who cannot discharge her duties of the elected post independently must quit and make way for another worthy to take up the challenge of serving the community.
The people deserve the benefit of the good ideas and actions of those they elect in good faith, not of those in the shadows. A mockery should not be made of the good intentions of the lawmakers who framed the policy to encourage women to contribute their bit to public life.
Never dull your shine for somebody else. To shine your brightest light, you need to be and represent who you truly are. If you cannot be uniquely you, then please do the honourable thing and let someone else capable of standing on her own two feet take your place.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Releasing sewage into drains is disgusting
The latest news on sewage release in Panjim is disgusting. Sewage release into drains/fields by mainly specific housing societies, hotels etc., is a common occurrence in Goa and all I see is the respective elected authorities sending letters to the those concerned to stop with no stringent
penalties like heavy fines, withdrawal of licenses and even arrest with long jail terms for those involved! Looks like our politicians and so called Goa State Pollution Control Board have no interest to address this massive menace! Is it not common sense for the authorities to put in very strong deterrents to proactively stop all this?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Expedite Smart City works before rains
Enough is enough, Ponjekars have watched their beloved city be systematically decimated in the guise of SmartCity works! Our green, cultured and heritage – rich city has become a monstrosity, with ten trucks biting the dust thus far.
The monsoon will soon be here and the Smart City dissections/vivisections must be sutured up at least a week before June. Seeing as Panjim is the hub of casino entertainment, the powers-that-be at the centre should go all in and deploy the Indian Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring Panjim is both shipshape and seaworthy. It would reflect poorly on New Delhi if their sleazy item number didn’t shimmer for all and sundry; the rich and the rowdy, the armed and the tawdry.
It’s painfully apparent that the well-being of our senior citizens, the differently abled and hardworking taxpayers does not even remotely factor into the grand scheme of things.
Chris Fernandes, Miramar
