Who will bell the cat?
Everybody talks of Opposition unity. The question is who will lead the Opposition Front. One cannot see anybody in the firmament. There are many Fronts one is trying to show I am smatter than the other. What is required at this juncture is all the fronts have joint convocation an decide upon the person who is capable of having or gaining the cooperation of everybody.
Soon after Liberation of Goa an Opposition leader was chosen and that man was late Dr Jack De Sequeira and thus the Opinion Poll was won. Does Goa have a man of that character, which is acceptable to all the Fronts.
Thus the responsibility lies on the shoulders of all these Fronts. So a joint convocation is the only answer. Earlier the better.
Antonio F. Fernandes, Cansaulim
For subdued Holi celebrations
As people gear up to celebrate Holi on March 29 amid fresh surge in Covid-19 infection across the country, health experts and doctors have advised citizens to hold subdued celebrations.
According to experts the usual mode of celebrations can exponentially increase in infections. Holi is a social festival where large groups play together with colours and it takes just one infected person to start off the transmission. However the religious aspect of the festival can be solemnised as usual. This is going to be the second consecutive Holi in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Holi is celebrated by application of colours on each other by the use of hands. This clearly violates the physical distancing norm which needs to be followed during the pandemic. It would thus be advisable to celebrate the festival by applying the colours among the family members and as far as possible avoid applying colours to strangers as also avoid being applied colours in a crowd. However even family members who show even the slightest symptoms of the infection may not take part in the festivities. Senior citizens in particular need to exercise caution while taking part in the celebrations.
As per a survey conducted by the travel agency Booking.com, Goa has emerged as the top destination for travellers during Holi. With the state witnessing a surge in the number of infections, it would be desirable to have muted Holi celebrations. Goa can ill afford another lockdown as it will severely affect the state’s economy.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
GST on petroleum products
This has reference to the report ‘Not possible to bring petrol pump diesel in GST even for next 8-10 years’ (Herald, March 25). Oh yes! It seems impossible to bring petrol & diesel under GST for the next 8-10 years, why even for the next 20 years. Apparently, nobody is willing to give up their share of profits in the interests of the people.
The revenue is high, with the centre & state collectively earning Rs 5 lakh crore revenue on petroleum products. Obviously, both parties are so used to earning such huge sums at the cost of the people who are funding them in the first place. Who would want to give up an asset that gives so much revenue?
Giving up the goose that’s laying golden eggs, no way! To hell with the common man, squeeze him dry, that’s the motto of our politicians.
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Second wave of Coronavirus
The second wave of Coronavirus which is far more destructive than the first one, is soon going to reach our country. The number of Corona cases has been increasing daily at a rapid pace. However, the only thing that can save us from this deadly virus is to wear masks and to follow SOPs.
Hence, we must strictly follow SOPs and wear masks to prevent the spread of another wave of Coronavirus.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Loosening strings of an empty purse
Keeping in view the 2022 elections, the CM has presented a supposedly revenue surplus, please all budget (helped of course by some imaginative accounting and window dressing) which promises everything for everyone… from farmers to students to mining dependents to taxi operators to widows etc.
The budget is high on intent but low on practical implementation; allocations have been made for power, infrastructure, tribal welfare, healthcare and education but the CM who incidentally holds the Finance portfolio is mum on how the funds will be generated. The budget is banking on revenue collections of @ Rs.15,000 crore but it is difficult to fathom the source of funds given how Covid impacted the economy. The state’s public debt stands at Rs.18,000 crores (with market loans at usurious interest rates forming the major chunk) and there is no guidance as to how the borrowings will be serviced in the long term, mere restructuring of loans won’t do.
Of course the CM was quick to blame this state of affairs on the irresponsible behaviour of previous governments, no cost cutting measures at the government level have been proposed to pare the debt; after all the ‘mantris’ would like to have their cake and eat it too. There is nothing in the budget for the marginalised sections proving hollow the claims of ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’.
Let’s see how this empty vessel of a budget, making considerable noise is going to pan out for the common man.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Relief for Port Town
According to a news report, the District Magistrate North Goa has banned excavation works on the highway from Zuari bridge Agacaim, till Hotel Taj Fort Aguada, Candolim, Sinquerim in view of the visit of the Chief Justice and other dignitaries, between March 26 to March 29.
There can be no doubt that the dignitaries are entitled to a smooth ride on all the roads that they have to use. However the million-dollar question that begs to be asked is, do the tax paying citizens of Goa not deserve the same safety and comfort through the year? For the last three or more years, the drive from Cortalim to Panjim and beyond has, at times, being chaotic and a nightmare because of bad road conditions. Further, for the last months or so, the people of Vasco are facing a lot of difficulty because of the excavation of the one and on narrow road leading into the town of Vasco de Gama. Admittedly this is an essential activity. Admittedly the work is hampered by the heavy port bound traffic that uses this road day and night.
Admittedly this heavy port bound traffic is forced to use this narrow road because the four lane highway from Cortalim to the port which had been planned to be completed in the year 2001, and had been planned precisely for decongesting the narrow road leading into the town, seems to have been blocked for more than 20 years. There does not seem to be any date insight for the completion of the vital four lane highway.
I am sure that the authorities, fully aware that this is the only narrow road that leads into the town, are doing their best to complete the work at the earliest. However the doubt still creeps into the mind of the suffering public whether more could have been done to minimise the inconvenience and dangers from poor the road conditions and the dust pollution that prevails at present.
The public fervently hopes that the authorities, the PWD minister and the guardian ministers of the port town will personally intervene to monitor the progress of the work and ensure that it is completed at the earliest, so that the road can be repaired and restored by hot-mixing well before the onset of the monsoons.
Rozario Menezes, Vasco da Gama
