SIT probe into land-grab cases
Apropos to the Edit ‘SIT must net the big fish’ (Herald June 21, 2022). Finally, it seems the government has been jolted into action, by instituting a Special Investigating Team to probe instances of land grabbing and illegal transfer of land ownership. This is a welcome step. However, one wonders whether it should really have come to such a stage when a Special Investigating Team had to be set up to probe such issues?
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How is it that such cases are becoming rampant under the very nose of the authorities? The editorial provides the answer when it says, that such a blatant violation of law without fear of any punitive action, cannot happen without the blessings of powerful politicians.
Well, this should not be surprising and this does not seem to be restricted only to Goa but in many places across the country. How does one explain illegal constructions cropping up in Mumbai for instance, and the local civic body is not aware, and it is only when they are exposed that the authorities swing into action. Needless to say, everybody knows that corruption is a curse on our country and it needs to be eradicated. But how, that is the question! The editorial aptly ends the time has come to catch the bull by the horns!
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Agnipath, not the right path
While all along it was alleged by the opposition that constitutional bodies like the CBI, ED and IT have been compromised and misused by the ruling dispensation against the opposition leaders and those who protest against the policies of the government, it is shocking that Armed Services have rushed to support the Agnipath programme against which the youth aspiring to join the Army are protesting all over the country.
They have also said that concessions conceded now were not under duress but planned earlier. If such concessions were planned earlier, why they were not revealed as a full package at the first instance itself but were announced only after the youth came out on streets to protest against this Agnipath?
The youth have a natural fear that after four years of severe training if they are not lucky to be under the 25% of the trained selected for permanent commission, they would be on road again hunting for jobs.
Hope wisdom will dawn on the government to withdraw the scheme without standing on prestige as it has more demerits than benefits to the already suffering unemployed youth.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
Working of panchayats in Goa
We all looked at Panchayati Raj as a form of government at the village level where each village is responsible for its own activities. The Amendment Act of 1992 contains provision for passing the powers and responsibilities to the panchayat for preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
But now here in Goa, firstly the delay and then pushing the Panchayat elections to months ahead do not look convincing or for better prospects, but a slippery or fishy idea with appointing fresh administrators who have little experience in running village activities or community administration. Which world are we Goans all of a sudden?
If the Panchayat ministry is really looking for a cleaner management, let’s take an analogy on a good school, where they got rid of the Principal, the headmaster and the teachers and recruited non relevant teaching staff to run a school, saying we are upgrading the standards of the school to get better results. Is this practically doable if all existing sarpanchas, panchas are released from their duties? In reality, what are these freshers so called administrators for 175 panchayats brought in the Panchayat office for? Forcing the experts to retire and handover the admin to these unexperienced staff, who are just hand-picked and not job tested to check if they can run a interim Panchayat office.
One can only say, good luck to Goa as most villages are wounded and need ICU care and not apprentice scheme! As the famous quote reads “If you want to serve your respective village, focus on utilising real leadership to better others’ quality of life by putting selfish politics aside, so your constituents can look up to you, leaving a legacy for next to follow.”
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
New threat
It seems that another contagious disease is spreading in parts of the world. The norovirus, which induces vomiting and diarrhoea, is notorious for quickly spreading through contaminated food and surfaces. It can affect people of all ages. We must thoroughly wash our hands before eating and maintain hygiene while cooking or serving food. The entire household should be disinfected after each bout of vomiting and diarrhoea. Those infected should remain isolated for at least three days after recovery to minimise the spread of the disease.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Preventing ropeway accidents
Eleven people, including five women, were reportedly stranded for hours on Monday after a cable car was stuck mid-air in Himachal Pradesh Solan district. All of them were rescued after a six-hour-long operation. The cable car carrying eleven tourists had stuck at a height of around 200-250 feet near a mountain peak. A rescue cable car was reportedly deployed to get the people out.
It may be recalled that in April this year three tourists were killed and almost 70 others rescued in a 45-hour operation after two cable cars collided mid-air at Trikut Hills in Jharkhand’s Deoghar. Two of the victims fell to their deaths while being pulled up to the helicopters. The massive rescue operation involved two MI-17 helicopters.
The first major ropeway accident in India reportedly took place in January 2003 in Gujarat where seven people lost their lives and 20 others were injured after three cable cars crashed. More recently four tourists lost their lives after two cable cars fell from the ropeway into a ravine in West Bengal’s Darjeeling in October 2019. These mishaps have once again brought to the fore safety issues regarding ropeways and other amusement facilities. India, or the world, is no stranger to such freak accidents, and several incidents have been reported over the last few years. All safety measures need to be taken while operating these ropeways. This includes proper maintenance of the cable cars and other equipment used.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cut down trees leaning over houses
In many places in Goa, dangerous trees can be seen on people’s houses. There is the law to cut down dangerous trees in the State. But sometimes there are many difficulties in enforcing the law. So people have to face those dangerous trees. Sometimes landowners object to even cutting down dangerous trees. Sometimes the panchayat does not have the funds to cut down the endangered trees. Whose job is it to protect people? Isn’t it the government?
For this, the Goa government should voluntarily recognise its responsibility and take steps to cut down the dangerous trees in Goa.
There is no point in calculating how much damage a tree has done to someone’s house after tragedy. But the responsibility must be taken by the government. The government should set up a separate division to cut down the endangered trees. And by setting up a flying squad, they should voluntarily take care of the dangerous trees and prune them. Goa is a tiny state. Therefore, modern campaigns to cut down dangerous trees can be easily carried out. The forest department must consider this idea to protect public lives.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
