Homestays – not at the cost of State’s security
I refer to the article ‘Homestays are a real-time threat’ in the Herald, dated October 2, 2022.
Living in a crowded Metropolis, a Goan loves to travel to Goa as frequently as possible, and indulge in his inherited ‘susegad’ trait. The indulgence we enjoyed has been very adversely impacted by Homestays that have sprung up in our complex at Candolim. I discovered this on my recent visit in August 2022.
Your article brought out the nuisance value, security threat, etc, of the homestays. I was told that certain Government agencies had to give clearance before they opened. To my knowledge, that has not happened, yet, they are functioning.
We see new faces regularly, and though the name and telephone numbers of the caretakers are pasted on some of their doors, there is apparently no system or process adhered to by the Government agencies to ensure weekly/periodic inspection happens, to guarantee the security and well-being of the Complex residents on an on-going basis. The owners of the homestay apartments do not live on the campus and don’t face these problems.
The builder of our housing Complex says permission was granted by Goa Town and Country Planning Department to build the Complex for residential purpose. Also, the builder mentioned that the NA Conversion Sanad has been sanctioned for residential use.
I agree that tourism is a high potential industry for Goa, and needs to be promoted, but not at the cost of State’s security and the comfort of the lawful residents of residential complexes.
I request all residents of Goa to join hands to retain the famed peace and tranquillity we enjoyed for years after Liberation.
Neville Lobo, Mumbai
Goa’s water woes
At a time when the common men is burdened with rise in prices of essential commodities such as vegetables, cooking oil, meat and very high LPG cylinder prices, it is downright insensitive of the government to have hiked the price of potable tap water by 5%. Most households are reeling under the present high cost of living and with crass disregard to the woes of the common men, the government not only increased the water tariff, but also did a U-turn on the pre-election promise to provide 16,000 litres of free water to every household. If this government is going back on its promises after being elected, the people are being fooled by the legislators in the ruling dispensation and they have lost the trust of the people.
While all over the world, governments are doing a tight-rope walk in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people, the Goa government is taking all anti-people measures. Neither is the rate of inflation decreasing and common people mostly are struggling for existence.
The hike in water charges should be rolled back and the 16,000 litres of free water should be implemented in letter and spirit to all the households, otherwise the government is starkly demonstrating that it has lost its integrity and the trust of the people.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
Kidnapping scare
Apropos the article on kidnapping attempts that appeared on the Herald recently, it is imperative that the parents whose minor children commute to their respective schools daily, should take utmost precaution to ensure the safety of their children.
The incidence of Class V student as narrated by her father, is an eye opener to all the parents.
The kidnappers use their skill to lure the minor children but one has to realise that some children lack acumen to fool or dodge the kidnappers.
Not always are CCTVs in the institutions operational, and even if they are operational, the kidnappers can use different modes not to be caught by CCTV cameras.
In case the kidnappers are caught red-handed, they should be dealt severely with an iron hand, provided they are of sound mind.
It is of paramount importance that all the parents should be utmost alert and cautious, and accompany their children to their respective schools to and fro to avoid such untoward incidences or make alternate arrangements for the safety of their children.
Aureo Cunha Gomes, Old Goa
Swachh Bharat a failed mission
On Gandhi Jayanti amidst much fanfare on October 2, 2014, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the country. High expectations were raised but that cleanliness drive has however remained a mere paper fancy for ulterior political motives, with the campaign miserably faltering across the nation while crores of tax-payers money has been recklessly poured down the drain.
Even in a tiny State like Goa, Swacch Bharat has been a total failure as garbage continues to be escalating and accumulated all over. The situation is only worsening by the day and has infact now reached a point of crisis. Our markets across the State are stinking, while our bus terminals are no better. Government offices all over, including the Secretariat at Porvorim, are infested with uncleanliness galore. That Mission to ensure cleanliness and sanitation had to be a people’s movement and not a political one for those in power to enrich their pockets. The crores of rupees squandered by the government on this failed campaign would have brought smiles and cheers to the multitude of poor and downtrodden if all that money was instead judiciously spent for their much needed upliftment. Under the guise of Swachh Bharat, what has infact been cleaned over the last eight years is only the State coffers while the garbage and rubbish on our streets has been mounting by the day.
May the one and only Father of our great Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, intercede from his heavenly abode. Let us at least now start cleaning our conscience to be true inheritors of our great Bapuji’s legacy.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Give powers to p’yat committees
In a recent notice from the Director of Panchayats to the BDOs, Panchayat bodies have to constitute village committees. Sadly, the Director is not aware of the lethargic attitude of the BDOs and Sarpanchas in establishing the various important village development committees for the Goa Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). As seen, most of these committees are established to please the central government. Most of these committees are on papers and remain so till the end of the panchayat body’s five-year term. These committees have no powers, as the local bodies and the BDOs with ministers overrule all decisions of these committees. Nothing seems to work in this government which had promised Good Governance. The GPDP scam remains yet to be investigated by the authorities, as no social audits of the items purchased have been done by the local bodies. We need good people in the committees and the power to the committees need to be enforced for saving Goa from total destruction and corruption which is rampant. The government goes after the common man but the VIPs are left scot-free. Is this good governance or the three monkeys that Mahatma Gandhi spoke off?
Gregory E D’Souza, Siolim
