Strawberry cultivation needs a boost
When one speaks of strawberries, the places in India that come to mind are Nainital and Dehradun in UP, Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, Bengaluru in Karnataka and Kalimpong in West Bengal. However in recent times strawberries is being cultivated in plains of Maharashtra like Pune, Nashik and Sangali. It is learnt that Goa has its own strawberry farm located in the village of Verlem in Netravali in South Goa. The farm is visited by several Goans who buy fresh strawberries from here. The fruit at peak ripeness are sweet and juicy with a little bit of acidic taste and can be harvested throughout the growing season.
As strawberries grow in warm, sunny weather, March and April is the best time for the plant. Many people in Goa do grow strawberries in their farms and kitchen gardens. However strawberry cultivation is yet to catch up in Goa in a big way. One may be of the impression that strawberries grow in cold places. However the plant thrives best in temperate climate. It is a short plant which requires exposure to about 10 days of less than 8 hours sunshine for initiation.
Growing strawberry plants can be quite profitable. In order to boost strawberry cultivation in Goa, the government needs to provide necessary assistance and training to Goans who are keen to start strawberry farming. Farmer’s help groups need to reach out to farmers who grow the fruit in their fields.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The 2-wheeler menace in Goa
It is extremely saddening to note that the number of deaths due to road accidents in the State of Goa is increasing every year. Loss of thousands of precious lives due to many accidents involving two-wheelers is even more deeply concerning. Of course, riding two-wheelers can be very enjoyable and thrilling but, if necessary road safety precautions are not taken while driving on busy roads, it leads to horrible accidents.
I have observed in Goa that most two-wheelers are driven without following lane discipline. Very often, car drivers (particularly the nervous ones) tend to get confused when the scooterists drive from all sides of the road. It’s more so at signals when the entire road is taken over by these two-wheelers. They come through the left side or the right side without following speed limits or lane disciplines. The car drivers are compelled to drive in-between and sometimes through these rash scooterists leading to avoidable accidents.
I request the authorities to put in place a system where the two-wheelers will drive and follow only one side of the road like say Mumbai where the two-wheelers are generally driven on the left side of the roads thereby enabling the four-wheelers to move at a faster pace as they are meant to.
Richard Gomes, by email
Bank employees must be vaccinated
Central government allowed priority corona-vaccination to certain categories of corona-warriors who all risked their lives during lockdown-period like including police-persons, health-workers etc, who were directly exposed to members of public during lockdown. Likewise bank-employees both in public and private sector continued their duty during lockdown directly exposing to public because banking-services were taken as essential services. All the branches of various public and private sector banks were open regularly during lockdown even though even post-offices were closed during lockdown.
Central government should now announce corona-vaccination on priority for all bank-employees of public and private sector. Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should also take up the matter with Central government for priority corona-vaccination to all bank-employees of public and private sector considering fresh corona-wave in certain States.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
Municipalities punishing vendors
The other day I was waiting for the cobbler near Goa Sahakar Bhandar, Panjim market. A mini jeep slowly cruised and halted and out jumped 4-5 persons. They headed straight to the ladies selling fruits and vegetables. Two of the ladies quickly lifted the baskets off the ground while the 3rd lady who was talking to a friend did not notice the municipal workers who seized her two baskets of pineapples and papayas. She stood there stunned and tears in her eyes as her day’s wares were gone in a jiffy. It was a pitiable sight.
The point is that those ladies and many like them carry out an honest living by sitting under the hot sun and torrential rains but are taken to task by the municipalities. Why are the authorities reluctant to collect rentals and taxes that run into cores of rupees from most of the vendors who are legally and illegally occupying spaces and shops in the market? Some of the shops have changed hands so many times that no one knows who is the original owner!
The corridors and passages that are meant for walking are filled with goods and materials displayed by the vendors. Yet, there are no actions forthcoming by the municipality on any of these vexing problems. There is no point in punishing only the small-time vendors who squat on the footpath. This deed by the municipality is like killing ants with a sledge hammer. We would soon have 30 city fathers and mothers and a mayor. Let us see if they have the mettle to take on the vendors and also those persons who protect these vendors.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Coastal Zone Destruction Plan
Goa’s coastline is an ecologically sensitive area and needs to be guarded against unscrupulous exploitation, the state is blessed with 105 kms of coastline, 12 rivers and @ 138 large and small riverine/marine islands. The ill conceived coastal zone management plan is going to hand over the coast to deep pocketed industrialists and out of State entities who would impose upon the fragile coast villas, marinas, hotels, discos, clubs and what not. The Goan fishing community has highlighted various lacunae where fishermen’s huts, fishing zones up to 12 nautical miles, fish landing zones, net mending area, breeding zones and sand dunes have not been demarcated in the CZMP, instead port limits and aquaculture ponds have been unjustifiably imposed on many coastal villages.
Public participation in regulatory decision making is critical in making environmental governance robust but the recent public hearings in this regard have been nothing but a farce. Arbitrary exercise of power by the government which cares two hoots about the people adversely impacted by this sinister plan is a flouting of fair procedure and a travesty of justice.
The sarkar has arrogated to itself all powers to rule but has failed in its responsibility to serve the people, a dangerous precedent or should I say …the new normal. The draft CZMP must be scrapped and redrafted, it’s just another cog in the wheel to destroy our beautiful state.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Proposed Goa Bazaar is on khazan land
Reference to news item in Herald, ‘Goa Bazaar is coming up in NDZ area of Merces.’ The entire area consists of tenanted khazan land which is a low lying area and no development zone.
One fails to understand how TCP which is supposed to protect no development zones can propose such a project in the area. Also recently the Govt amended the Land revenue code making development in khazan land a criminal offence.
With all planning principles thrown to the wind, how can TCP propose such a project? TCP act itself prohibits such development.
Hope better sense will prevail.
Mateus Saldanha, by email
