Resign or be sacked
It was indeed very shameful to know that the roof of the under renovation KA project came crashing down. It is equally humorous to know that the PWD was very quick in appointing an IIT to carry out a detailed investigation leading to the cause of the collapse. Does one really need an IIT to get involved? The common man can tell you the cause… The renovation was being allegedly reinforced with greed for commission, ego and pomposity of the ‘Shame Jahan’ of the ruling dispensation- the big mouthed Govind Gaude- instead of proper materials, care, supervision, transparency and above all love and passion which was the cornerstone of an old monument built in Agra, called the Taj Mahal.
The cause of this crash is not difficult to identify, and the subsequent action that should follow should not be difficult either. Resign gracefully or the Chief Minister should fire this artificial poet from the cabinet.
Jaret Chandrapurkar D’Silva, Chandor
BJP govt fooling Goans by setting up inquiries
The ruling BJP government in the state is still seen refusing to sack and hold two of its most prominent ministers responsible in the Kala Academy stage roof collapse incident, despite both of them being allegedly directly involved in its so-called ‘renovation’ since the last three years in Goa.
Hey, wouldn’t the BJP take out huge rallies throughout the state instantly if such a similar incident had happened during the Congress regime and would have forced its concerned ministers to resign immediately over the same incident in Goa? Now, why is the hypocritic BJP government desperately trying to save and protect these two ministers over the above incident in Goa?
And what is the point of the BJP government appointing a independent agency like IIT-Roorkee to carry out a detailed investigation over the Kala Academy stage roof collapse incident when these two ministers are still allowed to hold on to their respective positions and to dictate terms for others in Goa?
I think that the BJP government is simply fooling Goans by appointing some independent agencies for ‘time-pass’ and somehow trying to save it’s two ministers responsible in the above mentioned incident by finally giving them a clean chit sooner or later through these agencies in Goa…. Shame on the BJP government….
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Kala Academy another corrupt statistic!
The Goa Government keeps on spending hard earned tax payers money, to market all the development it’s doing. But the true question is —at what cost?
Leave aside the massive environmental destruction, pollution, health hazards etc due to lack of proper planning and practical no credible or proper environmental assessment. The other part is crores of hard-earned taxpayers money is wasted on poor quality construction or development be it the new Zuari/Mandovi bridges, Smart City project, the washing away of black topped sub-standard new roads and now the latest being the collapse of a portion of the iconic Kala Academy!
Needless to say, Goa is at the worst debt hit state ever. Not only are the ministers squandering scarce funds but also being totally careless and dare I say, encouraging substandard works due to corruption! It is well known in Goa that there is a nexus or arrangement of money between ministers and specific contractors and that’s why I guess, the Goa Government does not penalize consultants/contractors for the substandard works.
In case of the Kala Academy were enough warning signals/criticism not given to the culture minister? Now that the roof of the open air auditorium has fallen, what action will be taken against the minister and the contractors/consultant responsible? In any civilized democracy the respective minister should be first penalized, but that happening in Goa under the current ruling govt is wishful thinking!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Disband Cabinet, let private parties govern
After playing havoc with the Goa master plan and facilitating conversion of around 6 crore sq mts of green area to settlement and buildable zone, forest minister Rane has put forth a proposal to hire external agencies to manage forest department properties such as the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bondla Zoo and bird sanctuaries. According to him, it will ensure proper management and enable the government to deliver high quality services? A research team has also been formed at his behest to study best practices by the forest department in other states and implement them here. The Goa budget for the next financial year has allocated a sum of Rs 4,145 crore for green initiatives which include improving forest cover and management of sanctuaries. The department of forests already has a sizeable number of staff on its rolls. Why then is there a need to farm out their duties to private entities. The external agencies/consultants will of course be paid a handsome amount from the state’s coffers to do work which is essentially the job of the sarkar, this smacks of a scam. (Remember the appointment of private consultants for the Panjim Smart City Project and the results achieved?) Why don’t we disband the entire state cabinet and also hand over the reins of governance to private parties, as it is the ministers have been doing a very poor job of administrating the affairs of the state.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
10-year-old cases must be quickly disposed
I fully agree with Adv Aires Rodrigues regarding his letter ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ (O Heraldo, July 17). There are many civil cases pending in courts in Goa for the last 10 years. The judges in the courts are fully responsible for giving repeated adjournments without imposing any cost. Moreover there is no law in the court to impose cost on advocates. Cost are imposed only on litigants. There is no law on number of adjournments asked by each advocate.
Better sense prevails on the registrar of Bombay High Court to give instructions to the courts in Goa, to dispose cases that are more than 10 years old, on priority basis.
Elvis Colaco, Collem
Politicians should care for planet’s future
I am glad that ordinary people are exploring climate issues across various parts of the country, including Goa where a lot of social activists are trying to protect the planet and they have taken global warming and climate change seriously. More than the rich, it is the poor who will bear the worst effects of climate change. China followed by US, has the world’s largest carbon dioxide emissions. The onus is on both these countries to avert climate change disaster.
In India, we have Delhi is becoming hazardous and nothing may be expected from the administration, but the citizens of Delhi and surrounding areas should be more responsible. It is the duty of all citizens to make the world a better place to live in for future generations. We should not be selfish, and should care about how the world will look like in 2070 or 2100, long after most of us will be no more in this world. Our politicians should listen to the voices of change, which care for the future of our planet.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Oommen Chandy was a leader of the people
In the demise of Oommen Chandy, two time Kerala Chief Minister and popular veteran Congress leader, Indian politics has lost a
loving leader who dedicated his whole life for the masses and was a saviour of the poor. He will always be remembered not just as one of the greatest politician of all times of Kerala but also as a charismatic leader who proved to the world that politics means serving the masses.
There is a lot that the present day politicians have to learn from him -perseverance, endurance, humility, commitment and above all a selfless leader who knew the pulse of the common man. He always put people’s interests before political interests.
Chandy will be remembered as a leader of the people, by the people and for the people. He served two terms as the Kerala CM, from 2004 to 2006 and from 2011to 2016. Oommen Chandy represented his constituency Puthuppally for the past five decades which in itself is a record. He was the longest serving MLA in the Kerala Legislative Assembly and the only Indian Chief Minister to achieve an award for public service from the United Nations in 2013.
M Pradyu, Kannur
