Voltage fluctuations damage appliances
In the fortnight or so Goa has witnessed several thunderstorms accompanied by high velocity winds and short stints of heavy rainfall. This has led to power outages, power cuts and voltage fluctuations. All this not only causes inconvenience to the citizens but also takes a toll of the electrical home-gadgets and electronic instruments. The constant voltage fluctuations can damage home appliances like television sets, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.
All these are expensive equipment and the people belonging to the lower-income group may have bought them by taking loans from finance companies. Replacing these equipments or even repairing them could prove to be a financial burden on the affected households. It is true that heavy winds damage electrical infrastructure due to tree falls and other reasons. The power department staff is pressed into service round-the-clock to address and repair the multiple faults and breakdown in the power supply infrastructure. It would be prudent for the power department to switch off the power supply in the locality immediately whenever there is a thunderstorm. If repair work needs to be carried out then there needs to be a power shut down till the necessary work is completed.
However, it is observed that the power-supply comes on and off several times which can damage the household electrical appliances. It is better to have no electricity till the repair work is complete than to have the power-supply going off and coming on frequently which also leads to voltage fluctuations.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Diversionary tactics
Indian is reeling under pressure with Covid pandemic and aggravated by war of Russia. Cost of living has touched the ceiling with the fuel and all commodities. Unemployment is at its peak, economy in doldrums.
Govt and BJP is raking up issues like Hijab, loudspeakers, Halal meat, non veg food, illegal construction linked to riots, stalls, communal riots, attack on mosques, churches, all over India with regular frequency and disastrous consequences, directly attacking, targeting Muslims, minorities spreading canards about patriotism, citizenship, terrorists, etc.
It is definitely an attempt on polarisation with an eye on elections. The emphasis is on building temples, renovations, statues that have no effect on lives and standard of living.
India is a secular country and bias and favouritism towards any religious denomination is patently unjustified; BJP winning elections and being in majority is not licence to harass the minorities.
The slogans are an empty rhetoric which have outlived relevance in practical life. India is on path of self-destructive mode with over emphasis on Hindutva. Religion may be an opiate to those in distress, but is no solution to economic crisis.
Indians and Hindus are spread all over the world and a similar backlash will have catastrophic effect if narrow definition of patriotism is embraced.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
St Francis Xavier is Goencho Saib
The saying that Saint Francis Xavier cannot be called as ‘Goencho Saib’ is totally in bad taste. One doesn’t understand how Subhash Velingkar came to this conclusion of not calling Saint Francis Xavier as Goencho Saib. Saint Francis Xavier is globally called as ‘Goencho Saib’. Hence lakhs and lakhs of tourists from all over the world come to Old Goa to see him at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa. In fact, my parents, on February 5, 1967 got married in the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa, where the nuptials were prayed by the late Fr George D’Sa.
Like that, so many couples must have got married in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa and went on to make their families. St Francis Xavier came all the way from Spain to spread Christianity to this part of the world.
On October 20, 2004, when the Casa Professa of the Basilica of Bom Jesus caught fire, I worked personally there for half day, lifting mud, stones, rubbles, etc, from the site along with the boys from Sao Jose de Areal. There is no shame in doing menial jobs.
In fact Gandhiji said that there is dignity in doing labour jobs. Hope better sense prevails over Subhash Velingkar and the Hindu Rakshamaha Aghadi.
Armando Maximiano Fernandes, St Inez
RTO versus pathetic roads
Well Goans the RTO did not waste any time to implement on the new rules, wow hats off to the department but my simple question to department and the transport minister is why don’t we deserve to have better roads than the pathetic ones …wait till the monsoon begins and there we are yet again with potholes and only potholes wherever we drive.. when your vehicle goes into the potholes you either injure your back or damage the vehicle (cause some are quite dangerous) but if you try to dodge the potholes there are chances you end up with an accident.
Let me remind the transport department that when a person purchases a new vehicle, whether it’s a two, four or even a bigger one, we all pay something called as the road tax, so why don’t we deserve to have good quality roads. I wonder where the road tax money goes. Well it’s simple enough, it’s a ratio shared between the transport minister and the road contractor. Well Goans are not fools. When the time came for the RTO to be strict with the new rules they were ever ready with fines and challans. Implement the new rules but simultaneously see that the roads are also standardised and of good quality cause it’s a common man who pays for the roads not the transport minister, nor does the RTO.
Remmy Alphonso, London
Stop dividing Goans on communal lines
Recently the remarks by Subhash Velingkar ex RSS of Goa wing, has sparked a communal row and has hurt sentiments of all devotees of St. Francis Xavier, the Goencho Saib. It is not a Portuguese title to this great saint who fought for the rights of the native people of Goa and criticised the immoral lives of the Portuguese in Goa. The letter written on March 20, 1544 is a great example and evidence of his boldness against the Portuguese. So also many of his other letters give us to know that he walked along with Hindus and the newly converts to Catholicism.
He rebuked and condemned the discrimination by Brahmins against the lower caste people. Any other entity or personality who should deserve this title must accomplish such great works like St Xavier and must historically exist. We cannot at least impose a mythological dominance on people.
Mathew Almeida, Bastora
Creating communal disharmony not good
I strongly oppose the statements made by Ex-RSS chief of Goa Subash Velingkar in which he is raising aspersions on St Francis Xavier being revered by the people of all faiths as ‘Goencho Saib’. People like Velingkar have failed in trying to divide the people of our peaceful state of Goa on religious and communal lines.
He has failed as a politician. Now he is trying to divide the peace loving people of Goa on religious lines and that too by trying to oppose the followers of our ‘Goencho Saib’ who is worshipped by people from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra who come on foot from far off places to seek His blessings.
These type of persons will not succeed in their dreams of dividing Goa as there are many people who worship and revere our ‘Goencho Saib’.
People will remember you for being a destroyer of Goan peace rather than doing anything good for the State and people of Goa.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
