Avoid panchayat polls on party lines
In India political parties, some are national and others local. Their aim is to fight Parliamentary elections to form government at the Centre or fight Assembly elections to form governments in the States. India is fortunate to have a democratic system with Universal Franchise. Political parties participate in the elections process by selecting candidates of their choice based on various factors such as caste, religion, money, muscle power and winnability chances.
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The voters who ultimately decide the fate of contesting candidates are seldom consulted at the time of selection of candidates. Phrases such as “chosen by the High Command” are invariably used to detract the expectations of voters.
The party or a coalition of parties that form the government at the Centre or State, normally have a duty to work for the welfare, development, prosperity and happiness of the citizens. But all that has been mentioned on the party’s manifesto and promises made during electioneering are conveniently forgotten or deliberately ignored.
Now some of these political parties having their own agenda are demanding that the forthcoming Panchayat Elections in Goa, also be held on political party-lines. Most Goans are fully aware that holding elections on party-lines is going be a huge disaster and their aspirations of self-governance and peoples’ active participation will severely be dented. Also the political parties will be choosing their own candidates so that they can implement their political agenda and as a result many deserving candidates with good education, character, honesty and villagers’ interest at heart could be left out.
The other implications such as the communal harmony, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect existing between different communities may be severely affected giving rise to communal tensions and even violence, as it happens in different States of India. Finally holding Panchayat Elections without the participation or interference of political parties is going to be a big boon to the voters of Goa, as they will be able get a Panchayat Administration Body of their own choice and express their personal views and opinions freely and fearlessly, without anyone influencing their thoughts and actions at various forums, thus giving unfettered power to the people.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
Blast at ZACL
It was sad to read about the death of three workers in a major explosion that occurred on May 4 at the Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) factory at Zuarinagar. As per reports, the workers were repairing a condenser tank and were performing shutting down operation of the plant by using hot technology. They used a gas cutter to loosen the bolts to open the top cover manhole of the tank and for this they used hot technology gas cutting instead of the recommended cold technology. As per the PRO of ZACL, the contractor from Bokaro has been with factory for the last 5 years if so, how could he have been careless?
The moot points are, did the contractor or his or ZACL’s supervisor check the equipment carried by the 3 workers to the top of the 10 m high tank? Where they cutting corners by trying to complete the task in double quick time? The enquiry report could reveal if there was any laxity on the part of the people concerned with the work and also fix responsibilities. Thankfully it was an empty condenser tank and not one containing ammonia else the results would have been catastrophic. The State disaster team and Ministry of Factories and Boilers need to be informed about repairs, maintenance, shutting down and renovations carried out by factories.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Encourage use of solar power
Amidst the ongoing power crisis in the State, the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is considering to shift many residential homes to an off grid electrification model, an off grid home basically generates its own electricity, not relying on the national power grid. Given the current power woes, losses due to lower tariffs, theft and transmission and distribution losses this could offer a sustainable solution. The State should work on a long term proposal to encourage homeowners to generate solar power, store it in battery banks and then supply excess power to the State during the peak demand hours of 6 pm to 11 pm.
The high initial cost for solar installations, changing of batteries every five years and the relatively cheap tariffs hinder the shift to an off grid system, but proper incentivisation in the form of subsidies and tax breaks could do the trick. Presently the state offers 50% subsidy for installations even above 10 KW which is the cap set by the Centre.
Goa currently pays Rs. 4.50 for every unit of power purchased but supplies to domestic consumers for as low as Rs. 1.60 per unit. With fossil fuels in their sunset years, renewable energy is the only way forward and India getting enough sunshine days annually being in the tropics this should not be a problem. What is required is a little more push from the government, rationalisation of high efficiency battery prices and local manufacture of photovoltaic cells. The state cannot afford to supply cheap power anymore, citizens need to take proactive action and shift to more sustainable solutions to avoid power shocks in future. It will be a win win situation for all, the consumer, the State and the environment.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Explosion at ZACL plant
The explosion at ZACL was violation of its work permit system, which led to the death of 3 contract workers. Many companies employ contractors to perform hazardous work, thus protecting their own employees from such disasters. However, such companies should keep in mind that all contract work should be supervised by their own representatives, to ensure that work is being carried out in compliance to company’s policies and safe work practices.
A job safety analysis has to be conducted to identify hazards and ensure safety measures are in place. Before starting work appropriate permit has to be taken to perform the job. In the current case only a cold work permit could be allowed, as hot work would call for a lengthy process of thoroughly cleaning, ventilating and/or blanketing the tank with inert gas which is time consuming and a costly affair.
ZACL and their contractor have taken the easy path leading to disaster. Action needs to be taken not only on contractor, but also ZACL employee who was assigned to the task.
Jose Mlanford Coutinho, Alto Porvorim
He will always be ‘Goencho Saib’
The enormity of hatred, discrimination and hostility with which the statement made by a senior politician saying “St. Francis Xavier is not Goemcho Saib” has greatly hurt the sentiments of the Catholic community in Goa. We Goans have always lived in communal harmony for decades until controversies targeting the minorities started to rise in big numbers for the past several years.
St Francis Xavier has always been known for his protection of our small State from all harm for centuries where thousands of devotees from different beliefs, including our own Hindu brothers and sisters, come to pay their homage from all over India every year to Old Goa as a pilgrimage.
This person should have been arrested on basis of hurting religious sentiments but no action has been taken on him so far. No matter how much you try, you will not succeed in disturbing our Goan brotherhood with which we’ve lived for decades. Goemcho Saib he is and Goemcho Saib he will always be.
Savio D’Costa, Chandor
