Transport garbage in closed trucks
It is observed that civic bodies and panchayats across Goa usually transport garbage to the garbage treatment plant or garbage dump sites in open trucks and vehicles. When garbage is carried in open trucks there is every possibility of the waste dropping on the way when the vehicle is in motion. This causes nuisance and can even prove dangerous to the road users besides littering the roads.
The garbage content in the truck which is light in weight, like plastic bags and waste paper, can be carried away by the breeze which also presents an ugly sight. It must be said that in the past in several civic bodies, including the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), the garbage was transported in specially built trucks which was completely covered at the back so that the waste did not drop off. The vehicles were red in colour so that people knew that it was a garbage truck.
Civic bodies and panchayats across the State need to procure specially built vehicles to transport the waste in order to replace the open trucks. Till such time that the new garbage trucks are procured, the garbage in open trucks need to be covered by tarpaulin sheets.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Another legislation bulldozed through
Yet another important bill has been rammed through the Lok Sabha, riding on the back of the ruling dispensation’s brute majority. The ‘voluntary linkage of Aadhar to election identities’ bill was suddenly and surreptitiously included in the supplementary list of business and passed by voice vote with opposition MPs hardly give any time to move amendments. This bill is prima facie violative of the Aadhar Act which does not allow linking of Aadhar to voters lists, it is intended to be solely used for disbursal of financial and other government benefits to citizens.
Aadhaar is only a proof of residence and not citizenship, the malafide intention of the sarkar to push for electoral linkages is trampling upon the fundamental rights of citizens. Important bills cannot be rushed through in such cavalier fashion, detailed discussions and deliberation is mandatory for fine tuning and improving legislations, else of what use is Parliament; but then when has democracy mattered to this autocratic regime.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
Take care of female vendors in Mapusa
Two days ago a local, female flower vendor in Mapusa market was bullied by a male flower dealer from Karnataka who even tried to assault the poor woman but was prevented by an alert citizen. Such incidents are not rare in Mapusa market. The traditional, local female vendors earn their living by selling flowers, local fruits and vegetables, coconuts and par boiled rice.
People buy things from them because they are grown organically and not treated with chemicals. The number of such female vendors has dwindled over the years. These vendors often complain about bullying by non Goan vendors and that the municipal market inspectors don’t help them.
The Mapusa municipality President and MLA should look into grievances of these local female vendors and help them.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
Green election booths
Elections besides giving rise to a lot of hot air from party candidates tend to generate tonnes of non biodegradable material which end up in landfills and water bodies choking the environment. In a unique initiative, the Goa State Biodiversity Board has roped in traditional artisans to design eco-friendly polling booths using locally sourced biodegradable material like bamboo, hay, paddy husk and palm fronds.
The collateral benefit of this endeavour is that instead of money going to a favoured contractor (scams everywhere) shall accrue to local artisans from Sattari and other tribal strongholds, women self-help groups and Chitari artists have also been roped in to deliver an aesthetic product.
These green election booths shall be later sent to other election bound States thus acting as cultural ambassadors for Goan crafts. Tapping into pop culture, similar selfie booths shall also be designed, wherein voters after casting their ballots can click photos for posting on social media. A win win situation for all.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Reginaldo’s Cong exit expected
The treacherous exit from the Congress Party by Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco was expected and comes as no surprise. His recent midnight meeting with BJP leaders says it all.
In Lourenco’s expected, disgruntled exit, the Congress should be relieved that some of its remaining political thrash has been finally emptied and is down the sewage line. And whatever other dirt remains within the Congress, the faster it is off-loaded the better it is for Goa and the Party.
It was in fact surprising that the Congress recently went all out to pacify the Curtorim MLA with premium bread, butter and cheese without sensing that their over ambitious MLA had planned and was looking to move elsewhere.
Over the last few years Reginaldo was very opposed to Luizinho Faleiro who he always blamed for his political alienation and stagnation. Won’t it be now interesting to see the former Curtorim MLA being part of his new political abode headed by the very same Luizinho Faleiro?
Aires Rodrigues Ribandar
Thrilling moments everywhere
Apropos to Sandhya Vasudev’s piece “A Domestic Thriller” (Herald, December 21, 2021). The smartphones – the gift from the latest cutting edge technology – have turned us all into spies. Round the clock thrilling moments galore. We just have to turn to the world famous messenger service to find out what our friends and foes alike are up to. Even if they are no longer in touch, their status updates can give us a peek into their latest adventures and misadventures. Be it a new car for Christmas or their friends’ friends birthdays. There are no secrets any longer.
Life has become predictable. When people around us click selfies, we know that where these selfies are going to end up a few moments later. It is like live-broadcasting our lives has become a favourite pastime. We are no less than Bollywood celebrities and sports icons who hire PR agencies to market their latest deeds. Vick-Kat wedding is the latest example.
We do not want to be remembered for posterity. We want to be alive in present. Here. Now. The powerhouse called a handheld smartphone has put the world at our fingertips. An apt and appropriate commentary of the digital era we live in by Sandhya Vasudev.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao
Central government should act
It is unfortunate that the Sri Lankan Navy continues to arrest Tamil Nadu fishermen and seizes their boats for ‘illegal fishing’ and refuse to release them and their boats.
This continues unabated for decades together for the main reason that the Central Government is not taking up the issue seriously as they rush to the rescue of fishermen from northern shores particularly Gujarat who encounter such problems.
It is time the ruling dispensation stop showing Nelson’ s eyes to the serious problems faced by the Tamil Nadu fishermen and found a permanent solution to this perennial problem faced by the fishermen.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
