Focus on Mhadei issue
instead of Carnival
February is the month in which Goa celebrates the Carnival. Thousands of tourists from the various states within the country and across the globe come to Goa to witness the festivities and take part in the merriment. However it must be said Goans willingly take part in the merriment if everything is going well in the state. However this is the time when Goans are very much concerned about the future of the state as it appears that the stage is set for the diversion of Mhadei River water to Karnataka. This will have a very deep impact on life in the state. Drinking water is the basic necessity for survival. This need cannot be taken away due to political compulsions of certain political parties. If the matter does not improve for Goa as far as the Mhadei River water issue is concerned, Goans will not be in the right frame of mind to celebrate the Carnival festival. It would hence be in the fitness of things to cancel the Carnival floats slated to be held in the various cities as also other programs related to the festival. Instead of fun and merriment, Goans should come together in a show of solidarity towards the Mhadei River water diversion issue. Goans should fight against the injustice being meted to the state in one voice. We need to forget the Carnival celebrations and concentrate on the task at hand. Carnival has now become more of an enjoyment for the tourists, many of whom come from Karnataka .
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Discriminatory customs should be done away with
This has reference to the report ‘Woman power to the fore’ (Herald 30 January 2023).
It was encouraging to read the success story of Sarita Warang a widow, pulling herself together after the loss of her husband, founding a self-help group, supporting other women to make a respectable living, setting up their own businesses. Quite an achievement, one would say. This only proves that where there is a will, there is not only a way, but a highway! And, hard work can definitely get you there, were you want to be. As Sarita Warang says, “if you utilise your time well and are willing to work hard with the help of other women, success is certain.” It is good to see women coming out to make a change in society.
In the meanwhile, I recall reading news report of how widows in some remote villages are moving to put an end to discriminatory customs such as shunting out women from society after the death of their husbands. What is needed is a complete change of mindset. Our Constitution also guarantees equality of the sexes. Moreover, God has created both, men and women in his own likeness. So, who are we to discriminate?
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Union Minister
spills the beans
On a recent election campaign in neighbouring Karnataka, it was announced with great pleasure by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, that the Central Government managed to resolve the long pending dispute between Goa and Karnataka by “giving” the Mhadei water to Karnataka. This he added, was done in consultation with the Government of Goa. This is a strong indictment of our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and it also contradicts the assurances he gave to the people of Goa that his Government would fight politically and legally to save Madhei. It also begs the question, what was the need in leading a delegation to meet Shah when it is the same Union Minister who spilled the beans and let it be known that the dispute has finally been “resolved”, albeit in Karnataka’s favour?
Even after the dust cleared and a clear image of connivance and betrayal started to emerge, Sawant continued to insist that he will continue to protect Goa’s interests. The fact of the matter is that Sawant has lost all credibility as the leader of our State. His tenure also shows him more of a Centre’s “elected representative” than he is as the Goan people’s representative. He has destroyed the last vestiges of trust the people of Goa have in him. Alas, the battle to save Madhei has been lost and as a result, the damage to Goa’s fragile ecosystem will be felt in the time to come. She was slayed by the very leader who referred to her as his own “mother”. Only three words can best sum up the mood right now, “bhivpachi garaz asa”.
David Fernandes, Margao
Pathetic condition
of Goan roads
Goa is beset by pothole roads, which has led to fatal accidents. The roads in Goa lack of proper maintenance. Most of roads in cities have no dedicated sidewalk and pedestrians have to share the same road space with bikes and cars. This makes driving and walking experience painful and unpleasant.
Whenever a VVIP is going on city rounds or the election is nearing, the roads are tarred, but soon after the visit, the roads are filled with potholes again. Poor-quality roads contribute to epidemic of traffic fatalities and there seems to be no solution for bad roads.
When it comes to design, engineering norms are often circumvented, leading to faulty roads that are accident-prone and hence there should be a regular test to check the quality of roads.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Assagao is no
garbage dumpyard
The Mapusa Municipal Council chairperson assured the residents of the city on Republic Day that they are working towards making the city clean and garbage free. Such assurances have been given in the past but are yet to see the light of the day.
Further, the civic body which generates tons of waste daily – domestic, hospital, market and hotel waste, dumps it in our neighbouring village of Assagao. Not only this, the people residing nearby have complained that the municipality burns part of this waste at night periodically causing toxic fumes. The heavy metal and lead seeping into the ground water have also contaminated wells in nearby areas.
Each civic body has to tackle its garbage problem within its jurisdiction. MMC should work towards better garbage management. It should not consider Assagao as its backyard and for sure it stop dumping tons of toxic waste in our village.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
