Direct transfer
The government of India intends to roll out direct transfer of subsidies to LPG consumers in North Goa district from February 15. Under the scheme, all consumers of LPG in North Goa will have to pay market rates (Rs 900 plus) for every cylinder purchased. The difference in the subsidized rate (Rs 400 plus) will be transferred directly into the consumer’s bank account.
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This scheme will curb corruption to a large extent. There are several commercial/hotels who misuse the domestic gas facility by using domestic cylinders in their establishments. However, the poor people are likely to suffer considerably. Housewives will have to shell out over Rs 900 at one go, which they may not have. They may have to resort to taking small loans. Moreover, there is no clarity on the time limit for payment of subsidy into the bank accounts. The government needs to address this issue and make payment as soon as possible, so that house budgets may be adjusted accordingly.
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
Children denied parochial school
It is not right to claim church property without the consent of the diocesan authority. However, the church is always compassionate towards the poor and the needy irrespective of class, caste and creed. Taking advantage of this nature, an interested party approached the parish priest of Salvador do Mundo, to let him a part of the existing 19th century parochial school to carry on a small business, to sustain his family. It was given to him in good faith and only for temporary use, on the understanding that he would return the same as and when the church would need it in future.
Now the parish priest is denied the use of that portion and is inconvenienced while conducting catechism classes and other activities for children.
All parish priests must remain cautious hence forth in dealing with unknown persons. Times have changed and so have men ~ in cunning and fraudulent behavior. Sometimes, even those who speak sweetly with a soft voice, know the art of stabbing you in the back. The old adage: prevention is better than cure ~ holds good even in present times.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Two airports
Some of Goa’s longtime politicians are saying Dabolim will co-exist with the proposed new airport at MOPA. I would like to be convinced with hard facts about the economic viability of both and am not satisfied with such statements. How will it survive in small Goa, when two airports have failed in bigger states eg. Bangalore, etc?
Arwin Mesquita, UAE
Barricades at Porvorim
I fail to understand the logic of installing two barricades, one at the Mandovi bridge near the circle and the other at O’Coqueiro, Porvorim. This is accepted as an annual feature every year, and continues to remain until someone makes a noise. The first barricade has caused a heavy flow along the Betim to Porvorim road and chaos at the crossover near the petrol pump at Porvorim. The second has resulted in all the traffic moving via Defence colony and causing a mega build up at the Porvorim chapel junction. On days when there is mass or functions at the chapel, it becomes very dangerous for vehicles and senior citizens to cross ~ given that drivers/riders are insensitive to pedestrians. When are we going to see traffic signals and better planning instead of shortcuts such as barricades and speed breakers to manage the flow of traffic? I have also noticed that walking along the highway will be a thing of the past, as it is slowly and steadly being widened. Porvorim residents have been requesting alternate options such as a bypass. Still, the highway is being steadily bulldozed through Porvorim.
Edward Fonseca, Porvorim
Firemen on bikes
This is regarding the article in newsline Goa firemen to zip about on bikes (January 16). I would like to congratulate the Goa State Fire Services and its chief Ashok Menon on its decision to dispatch motorcycle units with back packs. This is a decision taken to tackle fire incidents in more crowded areas. This will allow a lot more flexibility to get to the scene of the incident and tackle it in the much advanced stage.
The article says the two man fire fighter unit will have back packs with compressed foam, gear, rope and other equipment. Foam is good but not good enough, as it can tackle only Type A and Type B fires and hence might render the fire fighters vulnerable to Type C and Type D fires. I would like to suggest that the back packs should contain DCP (dry chemical powder) rather than foam. Foam cannot be used in windy conditions and needs a bulkhead to spray it, so that it can slide on to the fire so as to cover it (foam cannot be sprayed on to the fire to douse it). These are its disadvantages.
DCP will cost more, but it is one fire fighting medium that can be used on all types of fires, even metal fires. One hopes the fire services chief takes note and improves on his good plan.
Jackson Fernandes, Sangolda
Pantry car needed
The super fast Mangalore Express, that runs between CST Mumbai and Mangalore, needs a pantry car. The limited stop train has no drinking water facilities or any other amenities for its journey. No blankets or bed sheets are provided. Travelling with children is a nightmare. Unhygienic tea is only available at Ratnagiri the next morning! I hope the Konkan Railway accedes to our request. In case of any minor emergencies, one is left to the will and fancies of destiny.
Prompt arrival of this train at Margao station would also alleviate the strain somewhat.
F Sanches, Mumbai
Konkani activist heroes
I refer to the news item ‘Opinion poll was rigged’ (Herald, January 10). In this respect, I would like to say that the areas of Pernem-Sattari-Bicholim talukas; Madkai-Kundaim-Priol, Borim-Shiroda-Panchwadi, Sanguem-Quepem-Canacona; Pali-Usgao, Marcel-Kumbarjua and Sada-Baina were totally pro-merger areas and the United Goans Party did not venture into these areas to campaign. Similarly, Salcette, minus Margao, Bardez minus Mapusa, Tiswadi minus Panaji and Cortalim were psychologically pro-union territory areas and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party was scared to touch these areas to carry out their propaganda. There was third portion as well, which included the cities of Canacona, Cuncolim, Sanvordem, Curchorem, Quepem, Sanguem, Ponda, Margao, Mapusa, Panaji and Vasco. The Hindu section of these areas were in a confused state however, undoubtedly more inclined towards merger. Interestingly, the UG Party did not press hard to get these votes. Apparently, there entered the real heroes ~ Konkani activists and Konkani writers who fought gallantly against the heavy odds and won over these voters. Union Territory conquered the battle by 34,000 votes. If the opinion poll were to take place earlier, Union Territory would have scraped past Merger by a meagre margin of 5000 to 7000 votes. And surely, if it had been held even earlier, we would have been struggling in Maharashtra now.
Arvind Kakodkar, Chicalim
Development for locals?
In Goa, development is defined as being only about building hospitals, roads, bridges, railway tracks, stadiaa, housing board and industrial estates ~ wherein the powerful make deals with the powerful, no matter where the power comes from. With money and connections, you can break the laws. Goa has become a place where laws are frequently broken, wherein men in khaki and politicians are accused for their connection with gangsters, drug peddlers, traffic rule offenders, criminals, land grabbers, mining mafia and night clubs ~ but yet, this is not considered lawlessness. Today, there is little legal protection for the weak. When houses have to be pulled down to make way for a new road for mining, or a bridge or a dam or a railway track ~ the people who live there must disappear too. There are laws and regulations to be sure. But they are used to obstruct those who don’t have the right connections or who lack the wherewithal to pay the right people. Has all this development improved the standard of living of locals?
V Hermengildo, Cansaulim
Goans not smart?
An article published in Herald (January 12) that said Goans were not very smart, got me thinking. Diesel in India is cheaper than petrol, but in Goa petrol costs are lower. The `wise-few’ who travel in cars are given a `dole’ by the government, which has punished those of us who travel in buses and use trucks to transport food in diesel driven automobiles.
Every government from various political formations in Goa, have looked the other way when drugs, Sunburn and other festivals, alcoholism, casinos and other gambling, and black coal imports through Panjim, make the lives of the common man difficult. Do we stand against this? No, we tolerate it and suffer in silence.
Ralph Fernandes, Margao
Stop all obscenity
I think with the growing number of rapes in our country, our government should block all pornographic sites just like in the Gulf countries. Obscenity must be removed from movies, posters, advertisements; even television channels should be scrutinized. After all where does the mindset come from ~ youngsters see it on TV, internet, magazines etc and are instigated to commit such crimes. How can we say we respect women, when we allow such obscene pictures of women to be published freely?
Violet Mascarenhas, Ponda
Underground electrical cabling
While underground electrical cabling has been completed in some cities in the state, plans are afoot to replace overhead cables with underground power cables in other cities as well. Underground cables have many advantages over over-head power-lines. But then due to constant digging for sewerage works, for laying water pipe-lines and other such works these underground power cables get damaged very often. It is much easier to repair an over-head cable than a cable running underground. In cities which have underground power-cables the officials of the PWD which engages in digging work, should be aware of where exactly the underground power-cables are located in order to prevent any damage to them during digging operations. They should have a plan of the underground power cables. This will prevent a lot of hardships to the residents of the locality and the need to pinpoint the damaged cable and repair it.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
