Wake up before every last hill disappears
Amita Kanekar in her article ‘Of Bhumiputra hype and bonded reality’ (Herald, August 10,) has flagged a very important issue. She mentions an issue which has the potential to devastate, in her own words, ‘every last hill or valley in Goa’. Powerful greedy builders are buying up swathes of land and annihilating the landscape of Goa. The same builders who have ruined beautiful cities like Pune and Bengaluru, congested them to the point of suffocation and sucked them dry have entered Goa. They are in cahoots with the powers that be who ensure that they have more than a finger in the pie.
See the damage they are orchestrating every day, right before our eyes. Take a trip down to Dona Paula and see the project there. Those driving down to the airport would have seen the sad state of Chicalim. The most picturesque and tranquil places in Goa will soon find themselves overrun and in disarray with congested roads, no water, shorn of all greenery. Let’s raise a clarion call and stop this unwanted scourge.
Jerry Gonsalves, Porvorim
Other sports also need encouragement
It is learnt that, August 7, the day Neeraj Chopra scripted history by winning a gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, will be celebrated as ‘National Javelin Day’ by the Athletic Federation of India (AFI). From next year onwards the units affiliated to AFI will hold javelin competitions in their respective States. It is understood that there will also be inter-district competitions and in due course the competition will grow to become a national event.
The move of the AFI to make the achievement of Neeraj Chopra to be remembered is most welcome as he is only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal. However, it must be said that other athletic events also need equal attention by the Athletic Federation of India. The focus cannot be only on the javelin throw. There is the discus throw, long-jump, high-jump, pole-vault, etc, which also need to be encouraged. In the future we could produce champions in these individual events as well.
All sports need to be given equal importance. Of course Neeraj Chopra has given athletics in India a big boost but the country cannot rest on past laurels only but needs to move forward. There is a lot of talent in the country in various disciplines of athletics. The focus should be on unearthing this talent. It is pertinent to note that in the past the focus was only on hockey at the international level. Maximum sporting events need to be provided equal encouragement.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Remembering Goa’s first CM ‘Bhausaheb’
Today we observe the death anniversary of our Goa’s first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar. He assumed office on December 20, 1963 and continued as Chief Minister till his sudden death on August 12, 1973 except for the 127 days of President’s Rule from December 2, 1966 to April 5, 1967. Affectionately referred to by all as ‘Bhausaheb’ he was undoubtedly one of the best chief ministers we have had.
Memories linger when as a school student, I had the privilege of interacting with Bandodkar at his Altinho residence. That same year it was so nice to see the chief minister arriving in his yellow Buick without any police escort jeeps at Ribandar as the chief guest for the finals of our football tournament. Also recollect witnessing those great debates in the Legislative Assembly and Bandodkar’s pointed and witty replies. Today sadly the Legislative assembly has been reduced to a mere uninspiring classroom while on the sinking level of debates less said the better.
Though Bandodkar may have initially been for the merger of Goa with Maharashtra, he respected the people’s verdict and toiled with a vision and passion towards the all round development of Goa. As chief minister he cared to heed to the advice and guidance given by his officers. But today officials who don’t tow the skewed directions given by those in power have to face the brunt and are hounded away.
Bandodkar as a carer of the poor laid the foundation of Goa’s progress which he ably managed, including Daman and Diu with just two Ministers during his first term and later three. He then also did not have all these corporations to dish away the chairmanship as pacifiers to MLAs.
Our first CM dared to speak from his heart and always walked the talk. Bandodkar cannot be consigned as our forgotten hero. He must be rolling in heavenly abode at the way Goa is being uncaringly misgoverned today.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Gangs of Goa
The brutal murder of a notorious criminal from Goa in neighbouring Karnataka has once again brought the spotlight on the accretion of criminal gangs in the State, reminiscent of Bombay in the 70’s and the 80’s. The outlaw who had unleashed a reign of terror in South Goa was hacked to death in his native Haveri district by four axe-wielding men. Most of his criminal activities centred around extortion rackets, kidnapping and contract killings, at the time of his death he had 26 cases against his name.
It is pertinent to note that 2019 witnessed the killing of a gang lord at Margao in internecine warfare, a similar incident occurred at St Cruz last year. Inter gang killings actually kicked off in 1999 with the slaying of a matka king in Margao by rival members of another criminal syndicate who felt their turf was being encroached upon. The proliferation of gun culture fuelled by easy access to illegal arms has provided a fillip to gangland violence and heinous crimes in general.
Besides such killings the generally peaceful coastal villages of South Goa have been seeing regular incidents of chain and mobile phone snatching by bike borne hoodlums. Even kidnappings, burglary and rapes are par for the course now. As per intelligence reports some interstate gangs have struck roots here and the police machinery needs to nip the problem in the bud before there is a permanent ‘Gangs of Goa’ situation in the State with hardened ‘dadas’ and ‘bhais’ operating with impunity.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Olympics debacle
The outstanding achievement of athletes and sportspersons both men and women in the Olympics, and bags of medals won consistently by nations such as China, USA, Japan and Russia as compared with India and countries at the tail end of the medal list, exposes the dire need to examine factors contributing to poor showing by our vast country. After 75 years of freedom we cannot produce world class players who can compete with other countries.
We have to evaluate our sports system and tap youngsters and provide all necessary help from diet to training facilities especially the village youths who are economical backwards. In India we are obsessed with cricket, which is drawing more fans each passing day.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
What’s the state of defectors at present?
This has reference to the report ‘Do defector MLAs get any sleep?’ (Herald insight, Aug 10, 2021). The title of this report is apt to the situation in Goa today and sums up the state of the defectors well. Our politicians need to understand that money and power is not everything in life. There is something called loyalty, there is something called ethics, there is something called commitment.
It doesn’t matter if they have to step on the bodies of their own people in order to grab power. The interesting point the report brings out is that these defectors are shying away from attending social functions, even going to Church for fear of facing public wrath. There is no doubt, our politicians have let down the people very badly. And yes, what goes around, comes around!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
