Vacant VC post for GU
Reports say the GU Chancellor has formed a committee to interview candidates for the post of VC. The tenure of the current VC has seen a regular sliding of the GU rank.
In 2017, amongst Indian universities, under National Institute on Ranking Format (NIRF)) the GU rank fell from 20 to 64. The present VC gave excuses of new Universities coming up and that the GU set up a special committee to study the reasons. In 2018 the GU rank fell further to 68. The GU gave the exact same excuses, word for word, this time through the Registrar. Slid further to 93, and now?
Hope the interviewers ask the candidates their objectives.
Does the Chancellor know how many Goan students must go outside Goa to complete their MSc as the number of seats here are so meagre with more than half going to reserved category? Which century will they start the latest courses in Pharmacy, given the high number of Pharma companies and Doctors in Goa? Why are Post Graduate Courses in GU started for courses where there are no Graduate Courses in Goa?
GU needs to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and not pull the wool over our eyes. Quality and fairness start from the top. The top two must own responsibility.
R Fernandes, Margao
Goa’s ‘wonder’ heading for disaster?
The Atal Setu Bridge across the River Mandovi which was amidst great fanfare projected to be Goa’s wonder is headed for a disaster.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which has been alleged to be a den for rampant corruption has to be made answerable for this nightmare.
The potholes on this bridge and other recurring defects is a matter of concern. The problems may now be perennial. An independent probe and audit of the bridge is required to fix responsibility. The contractor must be brought to book and the GSIDC officials must be also booked if they colluded in this colossal loss to the State exchequer.
After two years of its inauguration the work of the bridge is not yet completed in all respects and the debris lying all over. More importantly the work on one arm of the bridge which was supposed to be for entering the city has been abandoned and there is no explanation whatsoever.
The government must also ensure that the existing traffic bottlenecks from Guirim to Porvorim are cleared, without which the travelling time from North to South Goa will not be curtailed which was one of the tall objectives of Atal Setu.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
‘Blue Flag’ certification for beaches
The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach. The certification is awarded by the Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education, (FEE) which sets stringent environmental, safety-related and access-related criteria that applicants must meet and maintain. It is awarded annually to beaches and marinas.
Incidentally the Blue Flag programme was reportedly started in France in 1985 and in areas out of Europe in 2001. The programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas through four main criteria: water quality, environmental management, and safety. The beaches to get the Blue Flag tag are selected by an eminent international jury. Eight beaches in India have reportedly been awarded the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
Following activities and facilities would be permitted in the CRZ of the beaches subject to maintaining distance of 10 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL). These include portable toilet blocks, changing rooms and shower panels. Solid waste management, solar power plant, purified water facility, beach access pathway, landscaping, lighting, benches, CCTV surveillance, fitness equipment, parking facility, first-aid station, fencing, etc which are among the 36 stringent criteria put forth by the FEE. The water needs to be clear blue in colour. The primary reason for not having clear blue water at Indian beaches is the rivers, and the terrain on which those rivers run.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
In black and white
RTI documents filed by citizens reveal that the contentious Bhumiputra Bill was rammed through the assembly without any discussion, with even the ruling party members stating that the Act would have far reaching and unforeseen deleterious ramifications. The revenue minister had red flagged the document and warned that the proposed law was faulty on many counts and would jeopardise the interests of private owners, government departments, comunidades, devasthans and eco-sensitive zones.
It is pertinent to note that the provisions of the Bill facilitating forced transfer of land would also violate Article 300 A of the constitution. The revenue secretary put it on record that the Bill had not been administratively approved and was not recommended for introduction. The CM brushed aside these observations as also the concerns of the IAS officers & law and finance departments and surreptitiously introduced the bill before 4am on July 30.
The notings of the bureaucrats on the files clearly indicate that the half baked Bill did not find favour with any organ of the government or the administrative machinery. Daal mein kuchch kala hai, ya phir poori daal hee kali hai. The Bhumiputra Bill is another nail in the coffin of Goans and Goemkarponn, God save us from our own rulers.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Covid-19 is here to stay
Every day thousands of people get affected with Coronavirus, not just in India but all over the world. But in spite of getting affected, they do not follow Covid-19 rules that has been imposed by the government. They take things very lightly and feel that Covid-19 will not affect them or their family members. This is ridiculous! They should realise that Covid-19 has taken away the lives of many people in the last 20 months. Some people have even lost both their parents and many children have even become orphaned. Covid-19 is here to stay just like tuberculosis, AIDS and cancer. It will not go away. So taking precautions is the safest way of not getting infected by the virus.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Politicians on fast track mode
With the State elections scheduled early next year the development mantra and freebies have started flowing in full swing, with different parties coming with their lollipops to somehow induce the electorate and grab their vote share. Hot-mixing and broadening of roads which were hitherto neglected, building taxi stands, new bridges, planting of trees, health centres, offering apartments have become a common feature these days around the State. These netas need to be questioned as to why all these projects are suddenly taking shape at a rapid pace just when elections are on the horizon.
Prices of essentials have skyrocketed and don’t be surprised if prices of petrol, gas and other day to day necessary items come spiralling down just to have a feel good factor on the electorate. The public has suffered enough due to the Covid pandemic which has made their life all the more miserable due to loss of jobs n other factors and these sops like free water and subsidised electricity should have been given earlier to ease their burden.
Crime rate has reached its peak in the State with robberies, rapes, murders becoming daily features. Now is the time for us the electorate to elect in the forthcoming elections good loyal candidates with impeccable integrity and honesty for the next five years.
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
