Domestic tourists
need to be disciplined
Two domestic tourists were seen dancing atop a hired/rented ‘Thar’ jeep like jokers in a recorded video which had gone viral on social media.
Many domestic tourists drink like fish and just don’t know how to behave, especially when they come here in groups to enjoy their weekends or holidays.
Today, most of them come here with ‘Goa Mein Kuch Bhi Chalta Hai’ attitude as they believe that Goa is a land of sea, sand, free-sex and unlimited ‘daru’ or booze.
They think that most Goans are culturally tolerant people, who tolerate all types of nonsense here due to which we see most tourists daringly indulging
In nonsense like dancing atop rented hired private jeeps, doing dangerous stunts on the roads, driving one the beaches, etc during their weekend getaways.
The authorities should impose hefty fines on such nuisance creating domestic tourists.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Local bodies need to
adopt Kerala model
Civic bodies promote local economic development, infrastructure development besides social development. The most important role of the civic body is to maintain public order which is sadly forgotten.
In Goa, land grabbing cases are on the rise while the authorities prefer to see no evil. While genuine land losers weep, the new finders keep what is not theirs.
The genuine land owners have to run from pillar to post to seek justice with no help coming from anyone.
Buildings are constructed overnight while the civic bodies prefer to see no evil. The question that arises here is whether there is public order and social justice.
In certain cases, the owner lives in a foreign country with his family and by the time he reaches Goa, his land is gone and a new owner stands on his holding.
Land grabbing is done directly by preparing fake documents or by extending boundaries illegally. Many councillors and ward members too are oblivious to what is happening around them
Local bodies are mere white elephants that wake up only during elections. The Kerala government has taken a great step and directed authorities to go from house to house and conduct site inspections and additions if carried out to the existing buildings the violator is penalized.
Field officers carry out the inspections and enter the details in the software and fix a penalty amount. It’s high time, Goa too adopt the Kerala model and put an end to illegal constructions and land acquisition here.
Pranay Sawant Dessai, Curchorem
Lifeguards should
be empowered
The loss of four young lives due to drowning at Keri beach has once again caught the attention of how visitors continue to flout warnings issued for their own safety.
The allure of the perfect selfie has proven to be stronger than fear of death as many venture to dangerous spots blatantly ignoring the warning by the lifeguards. The job of a lifeguard can be very stressful. The need to respond at a second’s notice to save a life is constant. Prevention is an effective skill that is vitally important to a lifeguard because it can aid in maintaining safety. However lifeguards face difficult situations as they have to deal with not only the risk of drowning of visitors but also the anger and frustration of visitors who are stopped from taking selfies or not being allowed to swim in the prohibited zone. Many a time, lifeguards are at the receiving end of abuses hurled by visitors who are in an inebriated state and it could even end in a brawl.
It would be in the fitness of things to arm the lifeguards with more power to deal with troublesome visitors to the beach.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Danger zones should not be ignored
The drowning deaths at Keri has shaken Goa as four precious lives were lost while taking selfies.
The group had come for picnic and inspite of danger signs, the two amongst them started taking selfie on the rocks and lost their balance and were dragged to death by sea current.
Today youth with smartphones want to click photos of all their actions and activities and post them on social media.
Goa has marked around 20 sites as a danger zones for selfies but such signboards are ignored by the tourists and picnic lovers and thus put their lives at risk.
Time the government create as awareness on the dangers of taking selfies especially in danger zones.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Resist linking PAN
with Aadhaar
The Income Tax department’s deadline of June 30 to all to link the Aadhaar to the PAN card is not legally binding as the Supreme Court has clearly ruled that Aadhaar linking is optional.
Even the levying of the fine of Rs 1000 is not legal and thus in contravention of the SC ruling. It should be stressed here that the IT department is trying to intrude into the privacy of the people of India whose financial investments such as bank accounts including fixed deposits, stock holdings in the share market and mutual funds will become known to the Income Tax department which is in violation of the law.
In the first place even the initial linking of Aadhaar and PAN card for bank accounts, mutual funds and stock holding was illegal and flouting of the law laid by the SC. The people of India should resist linking Aadhaar to the PAN card and not cave in to falling prey to exposing all their investments. It is unlawful to inoperationalise your PAN card if not linked to Aadhaar which contains sensitive biometrics such as the iris scan and the fingerprints. Do not subject yourselves to being deprived of the privacy of your investments.
Elvidio Miranda,
Panjim
Ribandar is now
without a post office
Ribandar may be part of Corporation of the City of Panaji but as far as overall development and basic amenities is concerned, we remain utterly neglected and in a decaying state despite the very high municipal taxes we pay. With the BSNL services for long already in shambles, now in a very retrograde move Ribandar’s Post office has been shifted to Old Goa. This has created a lot of inconvenience to the residents of our densely populated locality who have to now travel five kilometres to avail the much needed postal facilities. The authorities should have been sensitive to the plight of the Senior Citizens in particular. Such apathy and insensitivity is appalling. The Postal authorities must act swiftly in restoring a Post office back in Ribandar by possibly finding a small premises in the Old Ribandar Hospital or at our Old Primary school.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Murderers and
rapists walk free
The release of murderers and rapists in Gujarat and Bihar has sent shock waves in the country. How can you change the law to release murderers and rapists? What kind of signal does this send to the criminals? Is this being done at the behest of the criminals who are ruling the country?
Changing the textbooks and syllabus may also be a consequence of electing leaders whose ministers and the PM himself is accused of having fake degree certificates.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
