Protect Goa before
It is too late
I read the guest editorial “Ways of Belonging (to Goa)” by Vivek Menezes with great interest. It articulated, with care and
clarity, what many Goans feel but often hesitate to say aloud.
As someone who moved to Goa from another state, I like to call myself a “Goan by Choice”—a GBC in spirit, if not in birth. And it is precisely because I chose Goa that I recognise and understand the anxieties of Goans today. Over the last decade, Goa’s population has grown by more than 8%, far outpacing the national rate. Construction has expanded at nearly three times the pace of the 2000s. These are not just statistics—they translate into shrinking green cover, rising pressure on water resources, and an unmistakable thinning of what makes Goa Goa.
Many long-time residents genuinely fear the erosion of a culture that has taken centuries to shape. And this fear is not unfounded when a significant number of affluent newcomers arrive with little inclination to integrate, contribute, or
even understand the sensitivities of the land they occupy. Too often, gated enclaves replace open verandahs, and private water tankers replace community responsibility. Goa becomes a commodity, not a home.
Of course, there are shining exceptions—people like the late Dr Sudhir Kakar and his wife Katharina, whose book “Moving to Goa” is still one of the most insightful accounts of becoming part of the Goan fabric. But exceptions only highlight how rare such genuine belonging has become.
This is why Vivek Menezes’ call is so important. Those of us who are truly Goans by Choice must demonstrate our commitment—not through declarations, but through action. By standing shoulder to shoulder with Goans in fighting for environmental protection, for just and sustainable development, for safeguarding
water resources, and for defending Goa’s unique cultural identity.
If we wish to belong here, we cannot remain silent spectators while the land is strained and the people feel unheard.
I hope more GBCs will respond to this call—not to claim a label, but to honour a responsibility. Goa deserves residents who love it not only for what it offers, but for what they can help preserve.
Dr Dinesh Verma, Arpora
Big cat jaguar too deserves attention
Third biggest cat after lion and tiger, jaguar can easily be seen during dry seasons when its prey frequents waterholes. The United Nations (UN) has included the marvellous beauty in its global appendices governing “Conservation of migratory species of wild animals”, ( Bonn Convention).
Jaguar also finds a place in the “Red List” of The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Nearly 1,60,000 Jaguars are found in nineteen countries spread through North and South America though its population has seen a steep fall over the years. Loss of habitat and degradation have haunted the big cat.
The animal is known to cross many international borders of “Americas” in its quest for supremacy and breeding. Trans boundary conservation, therefore, holds great significance. Maintenance and restoration of migratory corridors are long term goals for the IUCN.
Plenty of “Jaguar Conservation Units” have sprung up across North America and South America. State-of-the-art techniques like wild life tracking telemetry are in
use to spot, and save, the adorable big cat. November 29 is “International Jaguar Conservation Day”.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Out-of-state trawlers fishing in Goan waters
In a major crackdown on illegal fishing, the Goa Fisheries Department on Wednesday seized ten Maharashtra-registered trawlers off the Calangute coast in coordination with the Coastal Police for allegedly operating illegally in Goa’s territorial waters thereby violating state regulations and maritime boundaries. This unlawful activities by fishermen of neighbouring states threatens local livelihoods and marine ecology. It is learnt that over the past two months, five fishing trawlers from Karnataka were also similarly seized. With the fishing season underway, there could be more instances of fishing boats from other states entering Goa’s territorial waters. The government has said that it is committed to protecting the rights of Goan fishermen and ensuring that our waters
are not exploited by outside fishing boats. However the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has on Thursday reportedly demanded an urgent amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 in order to include stronger deterrent penalties on any non-Goa registered fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing within Goan territorial waters. It is learnt that despite several years of complaining to the Fisheries Department, these vessels continue to indulge in bull trawling, pair trawling and even LED light fishing activities causing massive destruction of marine resources and they even destroy the fishing nets of local fishermen. Besides strict enforcement by the Coast Guard, Coastal Police and Fisheries Department, it seems necessary for the local fishermen to report suspicious activity to the authorities concerned, so that the offenders can be apprehended swiftly and necessary action taken. There needs to be zero tolerance towards this illegal activity
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
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Hong Kong fire tragedy
The Hong Kong residential towers fire tragedy in which more than 90 people were killed, many injured is definitely a wake up call to authorities and those living in high rises around the world. In India, there is a rapid surge of high rises not just in metro cities but even in tier two and three cities.
Whether all these newly built concrete towers adhere to fire and construction safety laws is a fact to ponder. In the Hong Kong tragedy, the cause of the fire is still unclear but authorities doubt substandard mesh, bamboo scaffolding and plastic sheets used for renovation work in the building may have caused the rapid spread of blaze.
Construction experts say that materials used at construction sites must have fire-resistant coating and be approved as fire safe to prevent similar disasters.
Besides hi tech fire alarms, planned evacuation procedures and safe exits, better fire fighting equipment that can reach multi storied buildings can to an extent help reduce huge damages and save precious lives. Residents too should be made aware of the steps and measures to be taken when such incidents occur.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Chance for India to bid for 2036 Olympics
As expected, India has earned the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Ahmedabad. It is indeed a proud moment and sporting honour for India since it is a global acknowledgement that the country now possesses the infrastructure and organisational muscle needed to conduct mega international events. The choice of Ahmedabad also suggests a push to expand sporting infrastructure beyond Delhi, which has been the preferred city for large international sporting events.
Notably, the 2030 CWG will offer India a chance to exorcise the ghosts of 2010 and repair its reputation as a credible sporting destination. Importantly, the organisers should focus on how to leverage the CWG hosting rights to stir up the sporting culture and ecosystem across the country — in an unbiased manner, based on region-specific needs. For a nation wishing to host the 2036 Olympics, the goal has to be bigger than showcasing its capability as an able organiser.
If Ahmedabad delivers the 2030 CWG successfully, India can boast itself as a trusted arena for global sport, convincing the world that it has both the ambition and the competence to host mega-events with excellence.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
India’s home test
aura shattered
The aura of “home advantage” – long regarded as a hallmark of India’s Test side, has taken a severe beating after the 0-2 series drubbing it received against South Africa. If one thought the 0-3 home-series whitewash against the Kiwis in November last year was an aberration, the Proteas proved it wrong, and perhaps injected a strong feeling that Team India’s humiliating series loss is a sign of decline of its primacy in Tests at home. Muddled selections, declining spin play, and rapid-format transitions have all combined to expose the glaring vulnerabilities of the Men-in-Blue. Team selection for Tests, be it for home or away series, must shift back to “performers” in major domestic fixtures like Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, rather than relying on white-ball success. India’s Test dominance at home – once a given – is now firmly in question. The transition phase is more complicated and far more costly than anyone anticipated.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Humane politicians bound to succeed
The world’s a stage with varied types of governance systems. We have seen that many different forms of political systems have been replaced in the same countries from far right to right to centre to left and far left, not to forget the greens now. America is an example that strikes the mind because of its success story. In New York, by far the richest city on earth, the people have elected Zohran Mamdani who through his policies so far disclosed seems to be on the verge of a new ‘soft’ capitalism or ‘benign’ imperialism that seems to embody a neo-socialist stance to the form of governance in the US, thus bringing on board a large percentage of people who find it difficult to live in the mecca of American cities. This humane touch is bound to propel him into greater prominence which could become a model for other big American cities to emulate. Imagine the NYC voting for a system hitherto unseen in American politics and which looks set to be the harbinger of better times in America, a system with a bigger heart.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
