Bureaucrats must be impartial
The Constitution of India makes a special provision to safeguard the existence, continuity and independence of the bureaucracy in Articles 309 to 312. The framers of the Constitution wanted that the bureaucrats be free from political persecution and intimidation.
The bureaucracy has to be independent and impartial but sadly in Goa it is not living up to this reputation. Some bureaucrats in Goa seem to have totally surrendered to the political rot.
The latest glaring example is of the Law Secretary who while officiating as the State Election Commissioner merrily danced to the tunes of his political masters. This very sordid saga has been taken serious note of by our High Court and later by the Supreme Court in very heavily worded observations.
The entire bureaucracy must ensure that the State administration at all levels is kept free from political interference. It is unacceptable that officials shamelessly bend and bow all over, while signing on the dotted line at the dictates of the politicians in Power. This not only sets a bad trend, but also exposes the bureaucrats to criminal prosecution for intentionally allowing wrong decisions even on vital matters.
Every government employee from the peon to the Head of the Department cannot be directly or directly engaging themselves or participating in any work pertaining to any political party. This is totally out of place and no government servant should ever have an occasion to visit an office of a political party.
Over the last few decades in particular we have seen successive governments using bureaucrats as pawns in their political games, and the situation has just got worse in recent years.
Goa has seen and I have been personal witness to brave officers like a former Chief Secretary SR Sharma who in 1999 and a former DGP RS Sahaye who in 2000 refused to succumb to the unlawful political diktats and were ready to be over night shunted out. The government had the audacity of humiliating these two officers to the extent of locking their offices and withdrawing the personal staff at their residences while they were readying to depart by the first available flight.
We need to stem the rot over this interdependent chronic relationship that exists between Ministers and civil servants. It may be time for the parameters of the relationship between ministers and civil servants is made abundantly clear by having a code of conduct for bureaucrats and a code of ethics for Ministers which ensures a neutral relationship between a Minister and Civil servants. The fundamental focus has to be on the political neutrality and impartiality of civil servants preserved at all costs. The bureaucrats in Goa cannot be reduced to being caged parrots.
Aires Rodrigues,
Ribandar
Where has Campal Stadium vanished?
During our golden childhood days we still remember there were only two famous stadiums in Goa, MCC stadium Margao and Campal Stadium, Panjim where famous football tournaments were held. Even when Pope visited Goa, he addressed Goans from Campal. MCC stadium still exists there but Campal stadium was destroyed by BJP government to hold the first IFFI festival in Goa. And then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised Goans that the same Campal stadium would be rebuilt as world class standard stadium with a parade ground adjacent to it.
And soon after, everybody forgot about Campal Stadium. Few years later when Parsekar was the chief minister of Goa and late Parrikar was the Defence Minister they suddenly remembered about Campal Stadium and a foundation stone was laid down in 2016. Now five more years passed and that stone has become stray dogs toilet and Campal ground became a dumping ground for abandoned four wheelers.
Panjim saw two MLAs, Sidharth and now Babush but nobody remembers Campal. Manifestos of both panels, Babush Jennifer Panel and We Ponjekar Panel fighting CCP elections failed to mention Campal issue there because nobody remembers the Campal Stadium nor the laid foundation stone. So how to expect Panjim to be a smart City?
Will Campal Stadium ever be rebuilt? Present Government and concerned authorities should apply their minds.
Natividade Fernandes,
Cavelossim
Conserve our wells for posterity
Any person who wants to dig a new well requires permission from the Water Resources Department (WRD) under section 5 (3) of Ground Water Regulation Act 1 of 2002. However, no permission seems necessary to bury an existing well. In order to carry out construction activities, as more and more old houses give way for multi-storey buildings and housing complexes, age-old wells could be buried to make for more space. These could also include public wells on which people used to depend for water for daily use, including drinking purposes.
Many of the wells that are being destroyed could also be private wells. If necessary permission is required from the authorities concerned to cut a tree, why shouldn’t it be made mandatory for a NOC to be obtained from the authorities in order to destroy or bury a well?
Wells are our precious possessions which have been handed over to us by our ancestors and need to be conserved for posterity. A time may come when future generations may not know what a well is. The government needs to conduct a survey of private and public wells existing in the State. Burying and destroying a public well needs to be considered as an anti-social activity comparable to destruction of public property and the culprits booked as per law.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
