Support Mhadei cause
This is to indicate my delight over the mammoth gathering of Goans from all over Goa for the solidarity meeting for ‘Amchi Mhadei, Amkam Zai’.
This gathering is equated with the gatherings organised during the Opinion Poll and as such it is called for the cause of the second Opinion Poll.
I agree with the importance of this cause where we cannot be lethargic in supporting this issue as given as second Opinion Poll but at the same time we must remember very well that all the people from our neighbouring areas in the North of Goa especially all the naturalised Goans descended including those who voted against the preservation of separate identity of Goa which was the intention of real Goans. But what surprised me is this that these same so called Goans are now standing with the genuine Goans for the good cause of Goa that is for the Mhadei River water.
I only hope that all those so called Goenkars from the North Goa who incurred us the supporters of Two Leaves into heavy inconvenience will realise their earlier mistake and stick up to their support for the Goan causes including that of the ‘Amchi Mhadei, Amkam Zai’.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
The blame-game begins
Is this how politics works? The people cast their precious votes so that these ministers start playing their blame games. We Goans are suffering. We are not ready to listen to all political statements. We want action. More than just mere words actions speak louder. People’s property is illegally encroached upon for double tracking. In the name of development, there are land grabbing cases, nuisance by illegal migrants, increase crimes such as rapes, murders and robberies. And the most important issue is the call to protect Mother Mhadei- Goa’s lifeline from being snapped by Karnataka. Save Mother Mhadei and Goa.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Fog ‘holds’ Divar, Chorao locals hostage
We all hear about terrorists keeping citizens under hostage many times. In reality we were hostage in our own islands of Divar and Chorao yesterday and again today by none other than heavy fog due to which the ferries stopped plying. This happens mostly each year besides not forgetting the roads getting submerged during monsoon, sometimes when dam water is released and some of us still say “Amkam Bridge Naka” because our island will get spoiled.
But I want to bring to the notice of my near and dear ones to imagine (God forbid) if any of our loved one falls sick and has to be shifted to hospital what will be the situation. Imagine if your children who go to college everyday has to answer exam, imagine our brothers and sisters who go to their respective workplaces to earn their daily bread how they have to struggle to cross the island to reach their offices and still we are quite thinking ‘Amkam kiteak podlam’ instead of getting united and demanding a bridge from the government. In reference to the editorial on herald dated November 14, 2014 “To Bridge or Not to Bridge” which mentioned that it may appear strange that the island villagers of Divar/Chorao have to demand for bridge. Such an infrastructure project should come to the village as a matter of procedure. I recall my friends telling me few years ago that our island will be spoiled once the bridge comes up. Now, most islanders have migrated to other countries and at present there may be 25% migrants residing on the island, which was once more beautiful with lush green fields. Instead of working for our future generation we only chat on groups about the situation with no solution. Hope our government which says that it is committed to the State’s development looks into this problem in public interest and provides our future generation a permanent solution.
Jerry Luis de Souza, Divar
Provide ferries fitted with fog lights
On January 16, Divadkars woke up to a foggy morning and got stranded on either side of the ferries and again there were discussions regarding the requirement of a bridge. Devotees missed masses at Sancoale, students their lectures, patients their appointments, workers reached late at work, etc. The above would not have happened if only the authorities concerned had provided the ferries with fog lights. We do not want bridge worth crores. Provide us with good ferries fitted with fog lights.
Alfredo Fernandes, by email
Illegal pet market
Illegal pet market is proliferating dangerously in India thanks to several families “adopting” animals such as dogs, cats and birds to flaunt their status symbol. Quite a few of these owners are in the dark about ways and means of bringing up the animals and birds. Foreign breeds are purchased just to emulate others not knowing well that a few stocks from abroad just cannot thrive in Indian weather. The pet shops care two hoots about the hygienic ways of keeping and displaying the animals. They are kept in small and narrow cages and are not administered timely vaccination. The sales records of the animals are not effectively maintained and the young are sold without being properly weaned off.
Most of the time, these shops care little about temperature control and steps to quarantine diseased animals. When the shops and the owners cannot care for some breeds of animals due to the burgeoning cost, the animals are abandoned on streets to fend for themselves. There are more than one lakh pet shops in the country that transact huge business running into crores. What can be done is to bolster shelter cares so that there is transparency. Dogs, cats and other animals should be adequately vaccinated and carefully weaned before being sold. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018 has been ineffective and needs to be tightened.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Plane crash: Nepal’s worst disaster in three decades
Unfortunately, a Nepalese passenger plane carrying 72 people turned into a flying coffin seconds before its scheduled landing at Pokhara International Airport. Fifteen foreigners, including five Indians, were among the dead. Four dead Indians belonged to UP’s Ghazipur and were planning to paraglide in Nepal’s lake city of Pokhara. The plane appeared to suffer a mid-air stall. The crash is the first accident of an ATR-72 aircraft in Nepal and the country’s worst disaster in 30 years.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
NDMA’s gag on Joshimath incident
At Joshimath in Uttarakhand, the ongoing incidents of the ground opening and cracking up, soil creep, landslides, tilting of buildings and other phenomena were disasters that were waiting to happen given the various geological conditions and human interferences. The National Remote Sensing Centre of the famed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had released report of areas in Joshimath that had slowly subsided nearly nine cm since April 2022 and to 5 cm in 12 days since December 27. The ISRO divulged this vital information so that the public would be aware as to what happened. This seems to have upset the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) which announced a gag order whereby no scientists should give interview or write about Joshimath! The NDMA should well remember that firstly, the ISRO is also a responsible and globally famed agency and set-up at taxpayers’ cost and citizens need to know the facts. Secondly, it does not make sense to restrain the ISRO or other organisations since there are foreign space agencies that may have access to the same as or better information than the ISRO. The writings by the foreign press and scientists on Joshimath could be more hard-hitting than that of ISRO’s. Hence, instead of considering the ISRO’s views as an affront, the NDMA could work in tandem with it and not arm-twist, for two excellent minds are better than one!
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
