Impose hefty fines against owners of stray cattle
A 24-year-old youngster from Candolim lost his life near a popular restaurant in Naikavaddo, Calangute after he tried to save stray cattle squatting in the middle of the road, fell off his bike, sustained severe head injuries and started bleeding profusely.
Now, when will the government really wake up and start imposing hefty fines against the owners of such stray cattle in the state for casually leaving them on roads to loiter around to eat garbage and for making innocent people to die in such type of serious freaky road accidents in different parts of Goa?
I think that the government should stop taking things very lightly to play it's own cow politics and instead should not just impose hefty fines against the owners of such stray animals but also keep a team of trained people to impound the bovines and send them in some private-run 'gaushalas' and if possible should make the owners of these stray animals to compulsorily pay compensation to those dying in tragic road accidents due to their cattle to finally teach them a hard lesson in Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Budget: Middle class ignored yet again
The Finance Minister has once again managed to give a raw deal to the middle class in a grand way by announcing some peanut rebates here and there as alms shattering hopes pinned on the Budget. A big show is made of the so called new tax regime though income limit remains the same other than altering tax deduction slabs.
The pensioner is getting a meagre benefit that will not give a moment of joy or pride and it has become routine as usual every year. The middle class has to continue to toil again to pay tax for giving free ration, other freebies to poor and low income groups.
The continued pampering of one class is making them lethargic and not able to digest so not yielding any results as seen from just concluded Elections results. The recent move to allow public servants to join political outfits is of no consequence unless supported financially may be in form of substantial tax rebate etc or mobilise in other attractive ways. We are moving forward in new digital technology.
It is high time the Finance Minister abolished this age-old tax system totally and came out with new plans to make every citizen pay tax willingly or unknowingly to eradicate tax discrimination totally.
Bhalchandra V S Priolkar, Margao
The 2024 Budget is deeply disappointing
The full budget presented in Parliament is deeply disappointing. There was no significant mention of healthcare, education, and the railways, especially given the recent track record of accidents. The budget also reeks of partisanship, as evident from the special treatment given to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, two states whose allies prop up the NDA government at the Centre.
Importantly, the poor, whose real income has been falling and exacerbated by galloping food inflation, have been ignored.
Anish Esteves, Mumbai
Branches of trees should be pruned regularly
A photo of a makeshift brick stove for cooking which has left a portion of a tree burnt near the Ferry Wharf at Panaji appeared in the O Heraldo edition dated July 23. It is learnt that cooking by the roadside is one of the reasons that trees in the capital city have turned weak.
In Goa, there is the added problem of cutting of roots for broadening the roads which ultimately leads to the death of the tree. Use of paver tiles on the pavement does not allow the roots to grow naturally. The paver tiles also stops water from reaching the roots.
After the death of the 19-year-old from Betim who died when a tree fell on her in Panaji, the government informed the state legislative assembly that a survey would be undertaken of all the potentially dangerous trees in Goa. Trees are beneficial to both the environment and general health of the citizens. But citizens and their property should also be kept safe by preventing tree fall.
While trees that are old and dangerous need to be cut down, younger trees can be prevented from uprooting by pruning the branches. Correct pruning can eliminate dead wood and reduce wind resistance that is usually responsible for tree fall.
Whenever pruning is being carried out one should first take out diseased, broken, or dead limbs in order to improve the overall health of the tree. Incidentally, pruning requires special care, as it can sometimes do more harm than good.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Even tanks are not safe Goan roads!
The punch line of the cartoon which appeared in O Heraldo dated July 24 reads: ‘With dangerous trees falling, only tanks are safe on our roads’.
However, I beg to defer as the roads are caving in, in the Smart City and in Baga, and it will be a bigger job to remove a tank if the road caves in.
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Instill discipline in the police force
The Goa police internal note flagging concerns of alcoholism and drug abuse among personnel in the coastal state, stating that officials often consume intoxicants during duty hours and indulge in gambling at police station premises.
Policemen who are found either squandering in gambling or drinking should be penalized. Although police officials are meant to uphold and follow the law, that does not make them impervious to falling under the grasp of addiction like anyone else. Consumption of alcohol at the work place or on duty is a serious act of misconduct.
Those who are habitual drinkers should be given option for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), as they are unfit to be in police force. Often there should be a checking and surveillance to streamline police force for discipline and responsible. The DGP must issue a memorandum reiterating to its personnel to live a simple and modest lifestyle.
In line with the proper decorum for public officials, all police personnel should be prohibited to engage in any form of gambling and drinking-spree in public places such as casinos, bars, clubs and other similar dens whether on or off duty.
The senior officers must conduct surveillance and inspections at every place. Policemen should not forget that they are public officials mandated to lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. Physically and mentally fitness should be made mandatory for police personnel in order to keep their job.
If policemen of our country continue to be lazy and inactive as they gain position, it would be highly dangerous for the safety of people. They are ones responsible for maintaining law and order. Enforcement of discipline needs to flow down the line to the last man. The responsibility largely devolves on the officers to check their subordinates.
K G Vilop, Chorao