Heat stroke tragedy at Raigad
The 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award event held in Raigad on Sunday, turned out to be a tragedy, where at least 11 people died while several others were admitted to hospital as a result of heat stroke. Lakhs of people had attended the function, which was held in an open ground, Union Home Minister Amit Shah who attended the function, conferred the Award to Dharmadhikari.
Among the attendees, there was Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.
While this is a very unfortunate incident, where 11 people lost their lives due to heat stroke, this incident should be seen as an eye opener to all those who are responsible and have the authority to approve and allow such event, where lakhs of people are expected to attend.
There is no doubt that, those on the podium are well taken care of with decorated overhead stage to protect them from the sunlight, and portable AC or air cooler for their comforts, but the audience are clearly neglected and left out in open air in the hot sun.
Such incidents, where lives could have been saved with proper planning and humanly consideration, need to be thoroughly investigated, not just to apportion the blame and accountability, but to ensure lesson learnt and subsequently new measures implemented in order such unfortunate incidents are never repeated.
Freddie Dias, Panaji
Smart City works go on without deadlines
It is unfortunate for the business establishments taking a severe beating due to a drastic fall in revenue, as the Smart City works continue without any deadlines or fixing of responsibilities. Even there is an instance where a newly tarred road has been dug up again leading to a waste of public money.
The taxpayers, are paying a heavy price for the shoddy unplanned work of the government departments and Smart City works.
Poor coordination between government authorities and Smart City with poor planning, burning a hole in the taxpayers’ pockets. Unplanned repairs, simultaneous digging of roads, traffic congestion and haphazard parking in the state capital has created chaos. The rush to repair and tar the main roads due to G20 delegate meetings. But the internal roads were causing inconvenience to commuters, adding that certain practical difficulties had hindered the works. There is a limit to the sufferings and endurance the general public can sustain. Recent Opposition parties had alleged that, the Smart City project in capital city is a scam of Rs 1000 crore.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Biggest betrayal in history
With reference to the above of today's edition and the poll thereof, is clearly a damning assertion of "biggest betrayal in the history of liberated Goa!"
However while this may be the biggest betrayal, Goans and Goa have been tragically betrayed a number of times, in matters that are vital for the well-being and welfare of our people and our land.
I am convinced that this tragedy is upon us and continues to be upon us, because we slavish continue to name the reality of the 19th December 1961as "Liberation," when even the Supreme Court of India ruled it as "Conquests," in the case of Fr Francisco Monteiro Vs. the State, in early 1962.
Sergio Carvalho, Mapusa
Panchayat Raj and gram sabha
April 24 2023 is Panchayat Raj day and it is high time the Director of Panchayats and the politicians and their henchmen allow the people freely without fear or favor to express their views and put forward their problems. The major ills are government secretaries and observers who either do not / or are not capable or permitted to do their job, sarpanchas not conducting the meeting properly, minutes not recorded correctly, agenda not drawn up as per people’s wishes, questions not answered and no follow up, bedlam and shouting, meetings being adjourned !
We are a democracy and we have control freaks in the government and opinion makers hogging the limelight! There must be open debates and reflection on gram sabha powers and funding and help realize Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of true democracy at grass roots level!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
He came, he saw, he asked for votes
OurHonourable Home Minister paid a flying visit to Goa in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and with 'folded hands' asked the people to give both the parliamentary seats to the BJP. In closed door meetings with ministers, core committee members and karyakartas, he instructed that they reach out to the minority community and ask ( coerce) them to vote for the saffron dispensation ; his speech sounded more like a veiled threat than an appeal for votes. As to critical issues facing Goa, there was nary a mention. Mhadei : deafening silence, rampant unemployment in Goa: silence, definite date for resumption of mining activities : silence, ecological disaster taking place in Goa : silence, price rise : silence, rising crime in the state : silence. The HM also said that BJP will fulfil all it's promises in the next four years ; what is stopping them from making good on their words immediately now that they have a brute majority in the state assembly ( 3 free gas cylinders to every Goan household, remember? )
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Open letter to the Traffic Police/RTO
I am a senior citizen and, like me, many others live along the Porvorim - Betim road. For a long time, now we have been facing sleepless days and nights due to the nuisance created by some rowdy elements who keep zooming on their bikes at high speeds along this road by removing the silencer provided by the manufacturer and/or deliberately installing a prohibited gadget which makes huge noise while its engine is on, thereby disturbing the peace and tranquillity of this otherwise quiet region.... A similar letter made by me some time ago in another local daily seems to have fallen on deaf ears..
Request your kind action so as to put an immediate end to this unbearable nuisance...
Much aggrieved,
Jose Luis O Fernandes,
Alto Betim