Reducing the legal age to drink
The AAP government in New Delhi in its wisdom is defending its decision to reduce the legal age to 18 years to drink liquor. In its apples and oranges comparison the government mentions that when youngsters are given voting rights at 18 years to choose their politicians, then why not decrease the age to consume liquor?
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Those wise people need to know that if 18 years youth votes and if the elected representatives win nothing much would change for the youths even if the politicians are good or bad. But if 18 years youth are permitted to drink liquor and something unsavoury happens then it could well land themselves and even their family in trouble. If the consequences are serious then these could jeopardise the career and future of the youth.
The Delhi government could well do to rope in the youth for better things, encourage education, give jobs, provide training and trade skills and help develop other positive traits instead of defending a bad decision to reduce the legal age to drink liquor.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Traffic chaos during visit of VVIPs
While in the midst of the current pandemic and the statewide curfew still in force, Goa braces for the visit of yet another VVIP. This time President Ram Nath Kovind will be here on a three-day visit from Sept 5.
The authorities must ensure that the public do not have to endure the usual traffic chaos during such visits by VVIPs.
As the Supreme Court has clearly ruled time and again that public roads cannot be closed even for the movement of VVIP vehicles, the commuting public should not face a traffic nightmare, while the convoy of the VVIP merrily weaves its way through.
Every visitor to Goa must be given a warm welcome but not at the cost of obstructing the vehicular traffic. Such disruption of normal life is absolutely impermissible.
Closing down roads without making alternative arrangements is in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to us under Article 14, 19 and 21 of our Constitution. This indiscriminately blocking of key roads should be strongly deprecated with the message loud and clear to the VVIPs that they are not welcome to Goa if it is to create traffic mayhem.
We are all entitled to lead our normal lives. Every citizen’s time and respect is as important as that of any VVIP.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Echoes of Oppn unity to be felt in Goa
The call of a national stir by at least 19 opposition parties from September 20, consisting of Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP, Shiv Sena, JMM, CPI, CPM, RJD, JD (S), RLD, NC and PDP amongst others is bound to have reverberations in the Assembly polls in Goa to be held tentatively by February, 2022, provided all the opposition parties in Goa consisting of the Congress, Aam Aadmi, Goa Forward Party, NCP, Goencho Avaaz, Shiv Sena, MGP, Goa Revolutionary Party and independents seeking a change in regime in Goa join together to defeat the ruling BJP.
The crystallisation of a joint front in the Centre of Opposition parties will definitely lead to a massive show of strength that will have extremely bright chances of forming a new government at the Centre.
In Goa too, all opposition parties have to join hands and fight the Assembly polls under one banner. Definitely both at the Centre and in Goa, opposition unity will succeed in dislodging BJP-led governments by sheer force of unity.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Colva’s climate change mitigation
This is with reference to a recent meeting on August 6 with the Goa Bio Diversity Board along with the stakeholders on this subject. Whilst, there are important scientific facts which go against the filling of this low lying area of Colva, my point is to thank and appreciate the efforts of all who are trying to save this lake and Colva in general fighting hard, against those who are well known for their tainted political careers, corruption and various illegalities.
It is well known how Colva has been concretised, polluted and destroyed over the years and those involved shamefully are still active in politics or in some way still part of governing the village. Take for example, the Colva Ground near the beach, lush fields were then concretised for a sports ground under the name of “development”. One can only go there to see the pathetic state of the ground. Since so much green area was sacrificed, why is the ground not being used properly?
Today as we see the horrific effects of climate change in different countries, Indians/Goans should now be under an illusion that the same can’t happen to us with the rising temperatures. And if such disasters hit, are we prepared with defences like the Colva Lake or will we tolerate those who want to bury the lake and risk the whole village in the near future?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Why Goa is a mess?
Has the media become the mouthpiece of Goa Chamber Commerce and Tourism and Travel Association of Goa? Have they forgotten that there is a Task Force charged with decision making based on scientific data? How can they pressurise the govt to open up?
Scientific data today: Kerala cases up after the festival. Sept. will see more festivals. National Institute of Disaster Management warned of an imminent Covid 3rd wave that would peak in October and sought better preparedness for children who could be affected like adults.
This special report was sent to the PMO. It says “paediatric facilities doctors, staff, equipment like ventilators, ambulances, etc, are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected. Suggested to vaccinate all children with comorbidities.
Analysis of data collected in Britain’s ZOE Covid study, showed that protection from 2 doses of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines fell from 88% to 74% and 77% to 67% respectively. The data came from more than a million App users reporting self-infection against an unvaccinated group. What happens after 10 or 12 months? We need to wait and see: nobody knows.
Half of hospitalised Covid patients have persistent symptoms even after 1 year: Lancet study.
Children in the age group 10-17 years have died from Covid in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The media cites 100 cases per day in Goa as reason to open tourism. When Goa cries, they point fingers elsewhere.
R Fernandes, Margao
Rising snatching cases of valuables
During recent times, snatching cases of mangalsutras and cell phones have been rising on regular basis. The culprits proceed on a two-wheeler and the person on pillion snatches these items with ease and the rider flees from the scene with no time. On most occasions, they cover the number plate of the vehicle so that their details are unavailable for public at large.
Recently, a cell phone was snatched from the hands of a 24-year-old woman at Nessai in Salcete by unknown youth. The woman was walking along the road with cell phone in her hand and hence it was an easy task for the culprits to grab it. In the process, she had to bear a loss of Rs 17,000 which tends to be the cost of the cell phone. Similar incident had occurred at Calconda a few days before. It is very essential for the females to remain alert while carrying valuables with them. More care should be taken while walking along lonely roads and also at isolated spots.
Culprits get lured soon on viewing valuables in the open. Women need to take great care so that they protect their valuables while moving along public places.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
