As reported in various sections of the press that from October 1, 2014 wearing of helmets by the two wheelers and the pillion riders would be made compulsory on all the roads in Goa. The reason cited is that more and more people die on the roads due to non wearing of helmets. May I please bring to the notice of the concerned authorities, especially the PWD minister that the reason for the above is not over wearing of helmets but due to the potholes on the roads all over Goa. Before making helmets compulsory please give us roads without pothole. 95% of the deaths on the roads are due to the potholes. The concerned minister/dept should make sure that the road contractors are allowed to carry out their work diligently and not to demand certain percentage from the contractors. On daily basis thousands of drivers are cursing the minister concerned for their negligence and corruption due to which the road users are suffering. The PWD minister should ride a two wheeler from Marcaim to Porvorim assembly with a pillion rider and with helmets and see for himself if it is worth travelling on our roads.
Inacio Fernandes, Candolim
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Drive slow and safe
People in Goa will never ever learn to drive safely. They just don’t know that they are not only risking their own life but others’ also. If u can drive in Goa you can drive anywhere in the world, even in the cage of death. I have experienced all this within a week of my stay in Goa. Last year my uncle got hit by a two wheeler while the guy was talking on the phone. He still cannot walk properly due to a very bad leg fracture. It is high time to wake up Goans. The number of accidents are rising in our state. If you have no value for your own life, at least think of those on the roads. My kind advice to my “susegad goemkars” is to leave sooner, drive slower and live longer.
Bronson Coutinho, London
Clean up Goa
Why is Goa dirty, foreign travel agents pop the question. A very good question indeed! With all the so called development taking place in Goa, which one never sees, we only hear about it in the local newspapers stating that so many crores etc have been spent on development, but where is this development ? Goa is as filthy as ever. You got garbage on the streets, on the beaches, people urinating everywhere, cows and cow dung, dogs running all over places. It is a joke inviting foreign travel agents to promote Goa. Our elected leaders go on foreign junkets and come back having learnt nothing. The same people get elected every time and do the same service for Goa – Nothing! No wonder the younger generation is moving abroad. The people in power should realize that tourism in Goa will terminate if the present garbage problem is not solved and people have to be educated on cleanliness. One day there will be nothing special about Goa. What makes a place special is the people and the place itself without this we have nothing.
Mark D’Cruz, Mapusa
Save Clube Nacional
The Clube Nacional of Panjim, currently in the news for the wrong reason of collapse of part of its roof and wall, is essentially a Goan institution. It has served Goans well for over a century , not only by catering to their cultural needs but also by projecting an image of Goa to the national and international public. In no small measure it has fostered the image of Goa as a peaceful and joyous destination.
For all these reasons , and many more, the whole of Goa – through the agency of the state government – must save the Clube Nacional. Goa government must come forward with adequate financial help, in addition to its obligation of statutory intervention in case of any dispute, to rehabilitate the heritage building of Clube Nacional.
