The Shah Commission had estimated two years back that the Goa mining scam was worth Rs 25000 crore. This looted wealth must be recovered at any cost and pumped into the Public Exchequer and utilised for the development of Goa. Infrastructure projects should get a shot in the arm and all round development of our tiny state must be visible. Unless this loot is recovered please do not renew any new leases. Those who were responsible for the scam must be punished.
Some most important projects should be expansion of highways, flyovers, under passes and overhead foot bridges, minor and major bridges, expansion of Dabolim airport, metro linking major cities and towns, irrigation projects, upgrade the existing football stadia and build a new 1 lakh capacity football stadium, cruise boat rides along Mandovi and Zuari rivers for tourists, cable cars rides from Reis Magos to Miramar and Dona Paula to Marmagoa, ice skating rinks, yachting club, malls, overhaul of Kadamba Transport Corporation buses to reach every village, asphalting of all roads with footpaths, every household and village to get electricity, upgrade Goa Medical College and Hospital, District Hospitals, Clinics, ambulance services and Goa University.
Which Goan would not like to dream of a Golden Goa?
Rudolf Alex Fernandes, Porvorim
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Loud music
Contrary to the statements of the local Calangute MLA, I would like to say that loud music is played in the open air, everyday in Tito’s lane beyond 10 pm. The violations continues unabated, if I fail to call the police.
No authorities are willing to enforce the law as they claim interference of `big powerful people’.
Before Nigerians pedalling drugs could be spotted only at night, however today they roam about freely pedalling drugs in the morning also. Our voices are clamped down, as our representatives have huge stakes in the tourism industry.
Many tourists have told me that Goa is becoming very noisy for them and issues like noisy pollution need to be urgently addressed. Our learned minister needs to take a stand and uphold the law of the country otherwise it will be another case of when lawmakers become law breakers.
Ranjana Saudagar, Baga
BJP victory
Congratulations to the BJP for winning in the recently concluded elections in Haryana and Maharashtra which were under the Congress / NCP rule. Although the Congress would like to hide under the anti-incumbency curtain there is no denying the fact that the BJP is in its ascendency in the country and if the Congress dreams of making a comeback in the future they will have to work really hard at the grass roots and unite as a party which seems a tough task even in Goa though there are numerous issues which the opposition can highlight.
Best of luck to the BJP and hope that the states of Haryana and Maharashtra will prosper under the new Govt. and central leadership unlike the many false promises made to the hapless people of Goa.
Matias Lobo, Oman
North v/s South
The North/South divide has once again come to haunt us , courtesy “The politicians”. First it was the opinion poll followed by the language Issue, Konkan Railway and now the airport imbroglio.
If our politicos/babus/planners had the necessary vision, things would not have come to such a pass. If the Govt was hell bent to have another airport it could well have been at a centrally located place in Goa which could be beneficial to all. With the Chippi Airport coming up at Sindhudhurg the question of developing the Konkan region does not arise by having another airport bordering Goa at the cost of the poor farmers of Mopa and inconvenience to all.
The politicians both past and present have bought land in acres in and around Mopa which is one of the primary reasons of this project being pushed through on a war- footing with the other priority issues like Regional Plan, Zuari Bridge & special status kept on the back burner.
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
Human-worship
When the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, was convicted by the Court and sent to jail, her supporters were seen rolling on the streets, chest-beating and crying. They also stoned buses and forced shop owners to close their shops, creating a law and order problem in the state. All this happened despite the fact the court found their leader guilty of amassing crores of rupees by corruption and also delaying the case for years.
Last week, when the Supreme Court granted Jayalalitha bail (not acquittal) her supporters were seen dancing on the streets, bursting crackers, pouring milk on her image and distributing sweets.
The mantra of the politicians-in-power is simple. “Give the people freebies and doles at public cost. And they will make you their living God”. Until we stop such frenzy and human-worship, we will continue to have corrupt leaders and rampant corruption in the country.
Rodney de Souza, Assagao
