Be vocal for local issues
In a welcome move the NGT has directed the Goa government to notify 46 sq kms. of land as private forest thus providing a fillip to local efforts in checking the depletion of green cover in this beautiful state. Last year the government was also fined Rs 1 crore by the NGT for delaying submission of the final report regarding identification of private forests. This is a huge victory for the people’s movement spearheaded by Goa Foundation, the most well known and proactive of local environmental action groups. After this judgement I would request Goa Foundation and other like- minded organisations to take up in right earnest, the issue of railway double tracking, widening of NH4A highway and laying of electrical transmission lines through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and National Park in Mollem. Large scale destruction of forests by these mega projects would result in loss of livelihoods dependent on eco tourism in these areas.
It is high time Goans were empowered to decide what’s best for themselves instead of being dictated to by the powers that be at the centre. I urge everyone to be vocal for local issues.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Disadvantage!
Till today one always believed that having the same Govt. in the State as at the Centre was an advantage. The exposure of the criminally high drug purchases, even more than that spent by the Centre, puts paid to this. There is also no sanction from the Centre which means it is a case of you scratch my back and I will yours. All this while the core reason for locals falling like 9 pins is explained away as ‘natural’ and inevitable.
The Centre has used the local Govt. to push through projects very disadvantageous to locals. The local Govt. stood mum in all this. The Centre was able to push through the projects of their favoured businessmen: coal, casinos, hotels, marinas, real estate etc. Now, in return, the Centre is mum on the looting done in the name of the pandemic.
The double tracking was passed through at the time of late Parrikar, the refrain used to shut protests was: Goans want power from coal but not coal! Every single BJP MLA – with no exception – kept mum. Yes, we remember every time we hear these people speak. Thanks to them we are in today’s predicament. Helped of course by the toothless opposition.
Goa is like the SGPDA exhibition grounds: a place to organise anything and everything for the moneybags from Delhi. IFFI, drug laced rave parties, EDM’s. ISL behind closed doors, prostitution coal hubs, marinas, casinos, illegal mining! This cannot be done unless the people here also say: I want, I want.
R Fernandes, Margao
Atam Bivpachi Kasli Garaz Na
Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is also the Governor of Maharashtra, has been sworn-in as the Governor of Goa. The new Governor has reportedly taken the oath in Konkani and due to which our Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has hailed him to the sky for doing so in the state language by calling the said act of his as a proud moment for Goans.
Well, what is so great about this small publicity seeking act of the new Governor and why is it a proud moment for Goans? The new Governor must have surely been told to practice the small oath in Konkani well in advance or tutored to do so just to bring the tempers down due to the sudden sacking of the former governor, Satya Pal Malik to Meghalaya and also to win some sympathy from Goans. Today, even a school going kid can read much better then what was given to the Governor in the page to read and sometimes even by heart without holding any page in the hand. The CM should therefore stop fooling Goans by making a big show of the governor’s oath in Konkani because whether he takes the oath in Konkani, Marathi or French, it makes no sense at all if he doesn’t know to practically follow the oath whilst discharging his duties as a Governor in his day to day life.
Well, I personally feel that the reason why our CM is currently seen displaying so much of excitement is because he has successfully managed to pack the previous governor to another state for being a thorn in the flesh and also to bring a puppet in his place to guarantee the safety of his own government’s future in Goa. Yes, he now knows that ” Atam Bivpachi Kaslis Garaz Na’….. and the show of his government can now go on… its party time as with the exit of the ex-Governor, Satya Pal Malik, it is a big relief for our CM and his government finally…… Yes, this is indeed a proud moment not for Goans but for the CM and his government in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
CM making a fool of himself
Our CM Pramod Sawant has yet again made a fool of himself by requesting the transfer of the governor who was vocal against the actions of the government during the ongoing pandemic. If that was not enough the recent revelations of ordering overpriced equipment and medicine against the same availability at a reasonable price shows how the BJP has legalized the corruption in their government.
It is noteworthy to see the new governor taking his oath in Konkani but we do not want someone to please the people of this state with his vocabulary power and then dance to the tune of the ruling party. If the new governor wishes to show his love for the people of this state than we rather have it shown by his actions than the tactics of showbiz.
Wishing him all the best against the current incompetent Goa government and may his tenure exceed that of his predecessor!
Valent Mascarenhas, California/Calangute
Good article by former minister
I want to commend former Foreign Affairs Minister, Eduardo Faleiro on his excellent piece ‘The Palestinian question in India and Israel relations’ (Herald, 19 August). It was concise and a statement of fact. It is ironic that the article should be published on World Humanitarian Day as it brings in to sharp focus the inhumane treatment of an entire people.
This is exactly the sort of article that everyone should read, those who have little knowledge of the subject matter, those who may have forgotten their history and those who mistakenly believe that things are normal in the region. There is no excuse for any one group of people to subjugate and imprison another group of people.
The world should work harder to bring about fairness and equal rights among peoples of the world. After the turbulent times of recent years, the world is crying out for peace.
Walter Da Costa, London UK
