We have the continued hacking of tree branches in Porvorim on the main NH17 highway. The stretch from the Teen Building bus stop until the Citizen Bank turn-off is a canopied avenue of green interspersed with flowers when in bloom with trees on both sides of the highway.
On November 14 morning the area looked like a war zone straight out of Syria or Lebanon with the branches of trees hacked. The ground is strewn with the cut branches on both sides of the highway silent victims of the previous afternoon’s massacre. The culprits look like the Electricity Dept. once again since the branches nearer the wires have been chopped off.
One cannot fault the logic that during the rainy season the branches could fall on the wires and hence need to be cut but there is no excuse for that now since the monsoon is over. The branches cut are in excess as any layman can see and there was no need to almost denude some of the trees.
One also would like to know where the Forest Dept. is hiding when such acts of barbarity towards trees are done. A system of taking permission should be put in place from the Forest Dept. before the Electricity Dept. can touch any trees so that some modicum of sense of green consciousness is instilled in them.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto-Porvorim
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Progressive parents
The report “Minor girls’ small scooter ride to school throws up big questions” [Herald, 14/11/2014], it seems that the materialism afflicted modern parent may be ready to administer poison to the child instead of medicine if it is not clearly barred by law.
Do we so claimed progressive parents need a law in place to know what is proper for our kids or not? Are we teaching our children to feel proud for taking advantage of loop holes in the law to cover up risky or unlawful actions? Do parents think about the school management and the teachers who are put through embarrassment for showing concern for the safety of our child? Will we not learn from the horrific accidents involving young people abusing their rights on the roads? It is not only the letter of the law that is important but also the spirit behind not permitting the use of motorised vehicles for children below a particular age that should be considered before we act.
Soter D’Souza, Socorro
Its not fair Parrikar
This is with reference to Mr. Parrikar’s statement in Herald (13-11-14) that “Shifting Navy from Dabolim will be anti-national”.
Goans were happy having Parrikar elevated as India’s Defence Minister. As a result, we thought it will be easier now for the son of Goa, Parrikar, to shift Navy from Dabolim, placing his reasoning that Dabolim was always a full-fledged civilian Airport of Goa prior to 1961. It was understood however that it was being used then by Navy for the time being.
All previous CM’s/Govts. have offered thousands of acres of land of tiny Goa to India’s national security agencies and others, like Navy, military, KRC and others without giving any thought for Goa’s own needs despite Goa being so tiny and small. Even Goa’s islands are given to India’s Security Agency.
But, now if Goans ask to reinstate Dabolim as the civilian airport of Goa should they be considered as anti-nationals?
PM Modi chose Parrikar for his smartness in ruling Goa but with his present mind set he will fail even Modi and India. Before uttering the word anti-national Parrikar should know the real meaning of anti-national and not speak for the sake of speaking.
Elvino Rodrigues, Navelim
Excise duty hike
This has reference to the news report “Excise on petrol, diesel hiked“ (Herald Nov 14, 2014). We are told that oil prices in the retail market are now dependent on the oil prices in the international market. This means that as and when the prices change in the international market the same will be reflected in the retail market. Government has no magic wand to put an end to price rise but it sure has a lot of tricks up its sleeve.
Government has come up with a novel way of not passing the benefit of drop in the price of oil to the customers. The government has increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel and offset this by not passing the reduction of global oil rates to the customers. Is this going to be the rule rather than the exception?
DC Dias, Taleigao
