Legacy of late General Rawat
It is with a heavy heart we have received the sad news that CDS, General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 army officers have lost their precious lives in a helicopter crash. At a time when the country needs his valuable services with the external threats posing serious problems to the nation at the borders, we have lost a dedicated and valiant soldier par excellence.
No amount of consolation and sympathy is going to compensate the irreparable loss the family is facing today. May the untiring and dedicated work Rawat and the other departed soldiers had done for the safety and wellbeing of the country be a guide point not only to their soldier-colleagues but to every citizen to become more nation -oriented and patriotic.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
No entertainment programmes
To pay tribute to Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, there is a suggestion that entertainment programs on all language channels may be stopped for a few days. It’s duration can be determined by the channels. This can only be done with positive way. It is not appropriate to express grief on the one hand and watch entertainment programs on the other. The gravity of the incident should not be limited to expressing regret over the incident. If you do not watch entertainment programs for some time, then no storm is going to come.
The sacrifices and prowess of that great warrior who devoted most of his life to the country should be respected. Entertainment should be abandoned to inculcate this important point in the minds of the society. Everyone can do this for the country. We must take immediate steps to do what is possible. This ideal will remain in front of everyone.
How annoying is it when there is loss of life and property belonging to the security forces? This is well known to the security forces. We read the news of the martyrdom of the soldiers and move forward. Unknowingly, it has become a sacrament. The seriousness of the martyrdom of the soldier should be taken care of and it is the duty of the patriots to do so.
Jayesh Rane, Mumbai
Tomatoes at reduced price
The retail price of tomatoes and few other vegetables have skyrocketed after fresh arrivals from Maharashtra and Karnataka wholesale markets at a higher price. Consumers have to pay Rs 100 for a kilo of good quality tomatoes even as the retail price hovers around Rs 80 per kg.
It is understood that the rise in price of tomatoes is because of unseasonal rain ruining the crop in the neighbouring states thereby causing a shortage. This has also led to damp and average quality tomatoes entering Goa.
It is learnt that due to the current conditions the high rates are likely to prevail till the end of the month. It is quite upsetting that the price of tomatoes has increased during the festive season. Tomato happens to be an important ingredient in cooking. The poor and those belonging to the middle income groups will feel the pinch due to the rise in the prices. In the run up to the elections political parties are promising several freebies to the voter right from reduced power tariff to free water. It would be in the fitness of things for the Goa government to see that tomatoes and other vegetables are made available at a nominal price during the festive season.
Tomatoes and vegetables procured from wholesale markets in neighbouring states could be sold to the general public at a reduced price through the government horticulture outlets.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
What a travesty of justice!
Apropos to “CM says he’ll sack ‘anyone’ if he gets a complaint regarding the sex scandal controversy” (Herald December 09, 2021). What a travesty of justice!
How unfortunate and unwarranted the entire kerfuffle is! Goa is on the verge of a crucial assembly election in 2022. The outcome of this election will determine the future of Goa and Goans. At this juncture, Goans ought to be united and well-informed about the choices that they are going to make at the polling booths to deliver the mandate that both protects and provides good quality of life to Goans. Alas we are wasting our time on the private lives of two adults speculating what might have or might not have happened behind closed doors between them! There cannot be a greater sin than abdicating our responsibilities as alert citizens and custodians of Goa’s rich heritage and unique identity.
We do not want to know what the scandal is all about. We do not want to know the main protagonists in the entire sordid saga. We do not want to know whether Goa CM wants to take actions. Please spare us the trauma of sitting in the judgement of something about which nothing concrete is available in the public domain. We want to protect our beloved Goa and its future for next five years. We want to make an informed decision in February next year. We do not care who sleeps with whom. Let us move on. Focus on real issues. And, not the manufactured ones to hoodwink the gullible people of Goa.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao
Green push
In a welcome move ,the government is pulling out all the stops to make Goa a carbon neutral state, 100 % powered by renewable energy by 2026.Goa presently has an energy demand of @ 650 megawatts per day peaking up to 695 MW on some days, almost all of which is met my power purchased from other states.
Towards making Goa self-sufficient in energy the government has planned for putting up rooftop solar plants on all government and institutional buildings with large roof areas by 2022, which shall result in production of 35 MW of electricity.
All government transport shall be replaced by electric vehicles by 2023, also charging stations would be installed along highways across the state for furthering the green push. These stations can be located via a dedicated app and users shall be charged Rs 8 per unit. This will alleviate ‘range anxiety’ experienced by many electric vehicle owners who drive long distances. Dams and reservoirs can also be considered for putting up photovoltaic cell arrays where large parcels of contiguous land are not available.
Similarly, decommissioned barges can be put to good use as floating solar power farms. Judicious planning in conjunction with swift implementation devoid of bureaucratic red tape can ensure that Goa could very well be the first green power ‘atmnirbhar’ state of the country.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Unseasonal rain spells cause concern
The unseasonable rain spells has become a cause of concern for the State including farmers, parents and the elderly. The adverse weather and flooding in some of India’s coal-producing states is threatening to stretch out a shortage of the fuel just as supplies to power plants rise.Rainfall pattern is going through a change. And such heavy rainfall occurring during a short span of time is the consequence of climate change.
In some places the excess of rainfall has even been dangerous. Climate change is inevitable and unstoppable in its nature. As Delhi-based strategic communications company says that the three weather phenomena have come together and are resulting in massive precipitation in the southern region.
These three phenomena are La Nina, Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Calamities are real and the only way to ensure survival and minimize loss is to attain resilience. One of the fundamental things needed to prevent any natural calamity is the capability to predict its occurrence and course.
K.G.Vilop, Chorao
