CM lays out the red carpet
Throwing all caution to the winds and overriding the well meaning advice of his own health minister and the Centre (wonder of wonders) CM has laid out the red carpet for King Corona again. He shot down the proposal for night curfew on New Year eve as was imposed in other states so that domestic tourists could have a gala time in Goa, partying as if there was no tomorrow sans masks and social distancing. All the CM did was to humbly ‘ request’ tourists, party organisers, event managers and hotels to adhere to Covid norms which of course none of them did.
Our CM’s patently foolish non action has the locals and medicos worried who fear that all the gains accrued over the last two months, courtesy the Corona warriors shall come to nought and the creaky public health infrastructure shall be swamped again.
God forbid that if there is an upswing in cases, the healthcare workers will have to bear the brunt and pay dearly for the failure of the state machinery to enforce counter contagion measures. Super-spreader events and free for all celebratory all nighters at beaches and clubs was quite the rage this NY eve.
CM sir has recently recovered from the virus and he of all people should understand that jaan hai toh jahan hai, also with the new mutant strain of Covid (which is 70% more contagious) spreading its wings in the State it is only a matter of time before the results of the government’s folly are manifested. But brace yourself for deja vu. ‘Bivpachi Garaz Na 3.0’
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
No government calendar
Every year for Rs 40 we used to be able to buy the Goa Government published calendar at the Government Printing Press. It was very handy and useful, as it had all the government notified public and restricted holidays on it.
We are already in the New Year and it is for the first time ever that we have no access to that government calendar.
It is an irony that this has happened in a year when Goa is needlessly spending Rs 100 crore on a yearlong celebration of Goa’s 60th year of Liberation. The Government needs to clarify as to why the 2021 calendar is not yet available.
It is high time that this faltering and fumbling government gets its priorities right. There is need to heed to the voice of the people and govern with responsibility as sincere custodians of the State. There should be total transparency and absolute accountability at all levels of Governance. Only then will the now debt-ridden Goa be on the road to economic recovery.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Is Goa for sale?
It seems that the central government is treating Goa as if it’s a union territory and our Goa Chief Minister every time shakes his head like a bull. Many years back Goans kept quiet when central government took over our Anjediva Island saying that it’s required for defence purpose,then they took some area on the Cavelossim beach saying again for defence training.
And now the present BJP government is hell bent on taking everything from Goa.They have started with the nationalisation of most of our rivers,followed by diversion of our Mhadei waters to Karnataka. After that the increase in coal unloading at MPT harbour only to transport it to Karnataka. And to achieve this Highway expansion, including new adjacent roads, double tracking of South West railways ,expansion of electricity in whatever possible way at the cost of Mollem Forest and the wild life sanctuary has been planned by the present government only to make Goa a coal hub so as to transport Adani’s coal to Karnataka.
And the recent news is that Goa Government is planning to start cultivation of cannabis an marijuana in Goa citing the reason that it is for medicinal purposes.So keeping all this in mind we all want to know “Is Goa for sale”?
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Leaders to set an example
The entire world is expecting early arrival and application of an effective vaccine for the eradication of the COVID-19 pandemic and India is not an exception to this anxious wait. People who are really scared of the disastrous effects of the pandemic and desire to get themselves vaccinated sooner than later. PM Modi has also suggested that a vaccine was at hand and has advised people to guard against rumours about the side effects of the vaccine.
However, we also cannot blame the people for some of the apprehensions they have about the side effects and efficacy of the vaccine. This is more so, when the pharma companies that are bringing out the vaccine have not vouched for the 100% efficacy or that the vaccines are devoid of any serious side effects.
Under the circumstances, will it not be a confidence booster and allay the fears in the minds of the people if only our tall leaders like the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister set an example by volunteering to go in for the vaccine as the first three in the list of the initial probable? That Joe Biden, the President of the US in wait has led his country by receiving the dose among the first, is indeed a case in point.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
Mobile app to highlight public issues
It is learnt that Taleigao’s road issues have been flagged via a mobile app. In a step towards eliminating road hazards from Taleigao, over 38 potholes, among 80 other road safety issues have been flagged in the village and the data has been submitted to the Taleigao panchayat to set up a road safety committee. It is understood that the mapped data initiated by citizen groups and well-meaning individuals was submitted to the Taleigao panchayat to be included in the Village Development Plan (VDP).
Besides the potholes, unpainted speed-breakers, broken or missing signboards, broken street-lamps and bad stretches of uneven roads across the village were also flagged on the mobile app. This is a novel way to bring the issues pertaining to the village of Taleigao to the notice of the concerned authorities and needs to be initiated in other cities and villages by citizen groups as well. This move will keep authorities on their toes and get the necessary work done.
Besides the road issues, other issues like garbage hot-spots, frequently occurring stray-cattle menace, uncovered drains, etc. could also be highlighted on such an app. Another advantage such an app will provide will be to keep a tag on the remedial measures taken by the authorities with regards to the issues highlighted in the app.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
NDA govt is victim of own excesses
The NDA govt has lost the unofficial vote of confidence that the majority of farmers in India have passed at present. Since the farmers number almost 50% of Indian population, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government is staring at a humiliating defeat. No measure of talks can diminish the resolve of the farmers to make government accept repealing of the three farm laws which is not negotiable.
The NDA government has become a victim of its own excesses against the people of India. The demonetisation, the Aadhaar coercion, the then anti-CAA, NPR and NRC protests, the GST imposition were all badly intended against the people of India in general and are now starting to boomerang.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
