Shack policies
The move by the tourism department to ask shacks to first seek a panchayat NOC before granting them their own NOC is unfair. This proves that the tourism department does not want to take on the responsibility in cases, which arise from CRZ violations by shacks. It is a known fact that backdoor entry of building in the CRZ area is done first through the temporary permission granted to shacks. Secondly, unlike the panchayats, the tourism department is a neutral body which only goes by authentic land papers and not by affiliations to any MLA or political party. The panchayats, on the other hand, do not go by clear-cut legal papers, but rather on political clout and on haftas paid, through which the legal can be made illegal and the illegal legal. The tourism department needs to urgently own up and revert to the rules of the previous shack policy.
Raymond Monteiro, Panjim.
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Ballooning inflation
Inflation has gone beyond control. Onion prices are ranging between Rs 80 to 100 a kg; the prices of other essential commodities have also increased steeply to the extent that the common man cannot afford these items any longer. The ballooning inflation reflects the defective economic policies of the government. From the factory owner to the retailer, those involved in the chain-selling of a product are responsible for the rise in prices. The other reason is that demand has exceeded supply. And the government levies multiple taxes and high rates of taxation, especially service tax and VAT, on a single commodity. The tax component influences the retail price. Hoarders and black marketers are also responsible for the shortage. The other factors are fake currency and corruption. The Essential Commodities Act needs to be enforced to hold the price line. If the inflation rate is not curbed, the Congress might lose the Lok Sabha election. The price of onions has often spelt the difference between electoral victory and defeat.
Mahesh Kapasi, New Delhi
Neglected bus stands
It has been noticed that the maintenance of bus shelters has been sorely neglected. In some areas, benches are missing while at others GI sheets have been blown away by high winds and rain. At the bus shelter near the RTO office at Varkhandem in Ponda, bushes have come up at the entrance, thereby obstructing commuters. The bus shelter at Borim Sakov has been overgrown by grass and there is waste paper scattered all round the bus stand at Shiroda bazaar. Labourers have grown accustomed to taking a nap on the benches inside these shelters, especially the one near the junction adjacent to GVM college at Farmagudi. At some spots, such as the Konnem bus stop in Priol-Ponda as also the one near the forest check post at Banastarim even two-wheelers are parked inside. Commuters are thereby put to great inconvenience and trouble. It is absolutely necessary that regular maintenance work at bus shelters is undertaken in order to improve them.
Pravin U. Sardessai, Adpai
Collector’s duties
This has reference to the news item published October 20 “Agrawal ouster- -Reginaldo backs Collectorate staff”. The Aam Admi of South Goa will not agree with the Curtorim MLA that the Collector (Mr. Agrawal) is no one to decide whether the employees are working or not. This is for the simple reason that the collector being head of the Collectorate, it is his duty to evaluate the performance of the staff working under him in order to provide efficient and hassle free service to citizens.
Above all, the Curtorim MLA should first assess the situation at ground level to see how the ordinary citizen is trampled upon by the Collectorate staff when one goes to seek the services provided by the government and how insensitive they are to the woes of the general public. The Curtorim MLA, it appears, has no concern for the woes of the very electorate that has voted him to represent them in the Assembly.
Glocerio Fernandes, Velim
Jet ski invasion
I see in the ‘Herald’ that the Captain of Ports has approved 1,100 applications for commercial water sports activity in Goa. This equates to some 700 plus operators in North Goa. On a ten mile stretch of beach this amounts to 70 plus operators per mile. With this number plying the trade, I can visualize jet skiing parallel to the shore and dangerously close to swimmers. My plea to the tourism and police departments is for them to ensure the safety of bathers by protecting the swimming zones from this jet ski invasion.
Dranreb Aclos, UK
Stop Ribandar jetty
Recently there was news on electronic media and Herald that one councilor of CCP Vivina Asnodkar brought objection to upcoming jetty at Ribandar, near Old Hospital with the CCP chairperson in the interest of the fishing people. The reason for objection was that the jetty is coming to accommodate a hotel project in Vanxim, Divar. Well, whether it is true or not, I fully support Vivina Asnodkar because not only the fishing people will suffer, but the lives of people of Divar, Old Goa and beyond will be in danger, as it is Highway 17 and once the jetty comes, there will be chaos and obstruction for highway vehicles as it will be a dangerous right or left turn. Hence, please think twice before starting it.
Jerry D’Souza, Divar
SC electoral reforms
With the impending Lok Sabha polls, we cannot thank our Supreme Court enough for all the electoral reforms brought in by it. It is the Supreme Court that pointed out the freebies distributed by the politicians violated the electoral process. In 2003, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all the contestants to declare their assets and liabilities. It is worth mentioning that all the efforts to bring in reforms are coming from the Supreme Court and not from any of the political parties. Recently, the court has given the voters the option of rejecting all candidates by pressing ‘None of the above’ button. It also ordered immediate disqualification of any MP or MLA convicted in any criminal cases in jail for two or more years. The political parties try to oppose such moves, the most evident example is the ordinance to protect convicted legislators. Nevertheless, thanks to the so-called Prince of the Congress party the ordinance had to be scrapped.
Valent Mascarenhas, Rome/Calangute
