Road accidents
Cocktail of drunken driving & overspeeding emerges as
new life threat on Goa’s roads - 13 Aug 2023
In a dastardly tragedy that occurred on the Banastarim
bridge recently, a very high-end Mercedes SUV driven crushed three persons
under its wheels, including a couple from Divar island. While it is not yet
known who was driving the car, but the front seats were occupied by Paresh
Sawardekar and his wife Meghna. The driver was allegedly intoxicated and as the
car approached the bridge, it swerved and took in its wake about two or three
vehicles, motorcycle riders and their pillions, leaving behind a trail of
blood, gore and death of three innocent lives for no reason at all. There are
three people who are struggling for life and even if they survive, their
condition is such that they might end up being living dead, where life would
literally have no meaning. In the middle of it is a larger narrative of a
high-end car driven by very rich people and powerful persons with absolute and
clear-cut connections with people in power and having the support of legal,
political and the business fraternity. The entire tragedy has once again
shocked the entire State, which not very long ago saw a similar car accident on
the Zuari bridge, that killed all the four passengers in the car and like the
Banastarim tragedy, the occupants of the car were also returning from a party
and were allegedly drunk. There are also allegations of a botched-up
investigation by police in an attempt to protect the real accused, since the
person belongs to an influential family of Goa. In the weekly Herald TV debate,
Point-Counterpoint, SUJAY GUPTA digs deep to find out the impact of this
tragedy, the menace of drunken driving and the truth behind the allegations of
police deliberately trying to mislead the investigation
Goa: Where ‘one-for-the-road’ kills too many - 19 Nov 2023
As the world gears up to observe Remembrance Day for road
traffic victims, a solemn occasion recognised by the United Nations, our focus
turns to the pressing issue that hits close to home in Goa. The number of road
accidents is on the rise, a trend that demands urgent attention and concerted
efforts. As we mourn the dead, we must equally grieve for the living, whose
lives are marred by crushed bones, lost livelihoods, and a future dependent on
others. In Herald TV’s numerous meetings to dissect the patterns, extent and
challenges surrounding road mishaps, a glaring concern emerges — accidents,
particularly those involving drunken and substance-induced driving, are
escalating. The suspicion that intoxicated drivers are often at the wheel
during late-night or early-morning accidents cannot be ignored. It’s crucial to
shift our focus to the ground realities. In this week’s debate
Point-Counterpoint, panelists speak about what are needed as a society to
address this menace head-on. By implementing effective deterrents, ensuring
sustainable transport systems, and fostering collaboration among different
entities, we can strive to make our roads safer and protect the lives of those
who call Goa home
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UnSmart Panjim city
Is Panjim city
everything but ‘smart’? - - 05 Mar
2023
The manner in which the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP)
has undertaken various works under Smart City Mission has been drawing flak
from the citizens, who are irked due to road closures, making it difficult to
travel in the city. There are road blockades at every intersection as CCP is in
a tearing hurry to complete the projects before the June 2023 deadline given by
the Union Ministry of Urban Development. The people of Panjim are struggling currently
with ongoing Smart City works. The commuters everyday face a lot of hardships
caused by the damaged roads and traffic snarls caused by the incessant digging
for Smart City projects. The chaos caused by the dug-up roads is causing severe
stress to not only the local residents of Panjim, but also visitors, especially
tourists. Herald TV finds out the reasons for this mess
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Tourism
GOA TOURISM: HAVE WE KILLED THE GOLDEN GOOSE? - - 24 Dec
2023
Whenever we speak about Goa, the first thing that comes to
our mind is tourism. But recently, the word tourism is evoking less of joy and
more of worry. The tourism industry in Goa is taking a beating every year. The
government is trying its best to attract high spending tourists, but succeeds
in getting only low-end spenders. The exploitation of Goa’s pristine nature and
its brand as a favourite destination to maximise revenue collection has only
made the matters worse. The tourism industry contributes about 17% towards the
State GDP and benefits an influential section of the population. The full focus
of attracting tourists has been on gambling, fun and party time events. Drugs
and sex are an integral part of that trade. Goa failed to promote quality
tourism sustainable in the long run in a tint state. In the weekly Herald TV
debate Point-Counterpoint, we find out what is going wrong with the tourism
sector in Goa, whether due to the teething issues plaguing the industry, brand
Goa has taken a beating and what can be done to resurrect the image of Goa as a
tourism destination. The moot question that needs to be answered is, have we
killed the Golden Goose, which is tourism?
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FISHING
Goans fishing in troubled waters as they continue to grapple
with multiple challenges - 08 Oct 2023
Goa, located on the western coast of India, is blessed with
an abundance of marine resources. Fishing has been a traditional occupation in
Goa, and seafood is an integral part of the local cuisine. Fish is one of the
most important natural resources of the world and holds greater importance to
the state of Goa being an integral part of Goan life and culture. It is
considered as a staple diet for more than 90 percent of the population of Goa.
Goa shares nearly two per cent of the total marine fish production of our
country. The marine fisheries sector contributes to about three percent of the
state GDP and 17 percent of the agricultural GDP. Thus the fisheries industry
plays a vital role in the State’s socio-economic development. However, the
rapid increase in population, tourism, and demand for seafood has put immense
pressure on the marine resources leading to overfishing and depletion of fish
stocks. The problems faced by the fisheries sector in Goa are multi-faceted.
However, the fisheries sector of the State faces various challenges like
over-exploitation, indiscriminate fishing practices, fish migration barriers,
pollution, habitat degradation, invasive species, climate change and lack of
proper management. We analyse the problems faced by the fishing community in
Goa and the long-term implications of these issues
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Mhadei river diversion and tiger reserve
Mhadei diversion: Goa stares at environmental
catastrophe - 22 Jan 2023
Central Water Commission’s (CWC) nod to the Karnataka
government’s detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of dams on
Mhadei river which will lead to diversion of Mhadei river water into Karnataka,
has left every Goan angry and worried about their future since it will have far
reaching implications on the overall environment of Goa. Herald TV assesses the potential loss that could be caused to
ecology and its cascading effect on the people of Goa by the CWC’s decision to
the Karnataka government’s DPR for the Kalasa-Bandura project and what lies
ahead for Goa, which has been let down by its own political leadership as well
as in the Centre, despite the fact that Goa, Karnataka and the Centre are all
governed by the BJP
Tiger will protect the Forest; forest shall guard the tiger!
- 31 Jul 2023
The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently directed the State
government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas referred to
in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s communications as a Tiger
Reserve under Section 38-V (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) within
three months from the date of the order. In a damning order which has
embarrassed and indicted the State government for flouting Supreme Court
orders, the High Court pointed out that the State of Goa has defied SC
timelines and directives to settle the rights of forest dwellers and used this
delay as an excuse for not notifying the tiger reserve. The Court also directed
the State government to take all steps to prepare a tiger conservation plan as
contemplated by Section 38-V (3) of the WLPA. It also directed to forward the
same to the NTCA within three months of notifying the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
and other areas as a Tiger Reserve. Herald TV deliberates on the impact of this
order and whether it will help in protecting the forest and the Mhadei river
water
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DOUBLE TRACKING
Beyond double tracking: When Goan lives are derailed - 15
Jan 2023
The locals and social activists are up in arms as they feel
that the double tracking project of the South Western Railways (SWR), which is
being executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), is invading into the
private properties and lands of Goans. As a media organisation, Herald has been
crusading against this issue relentlessly. The railway authorities need to
explain to the people of Goa as to what gives them the entitlement to get into
the private lands, under the garb of building embankments to raise the height
of the land adjoining the proposed double tracking work, which is going on,
especially through the thickly populated villages like Majorda and Cansaulim,
amongst others. We explore the concerns surrounding the toll that is being
taken on the lives of Goans by the double tracking project and its future
implications as there seems to be an attempt for another round of land
acquisition, this time illegally
Can Railways carry out double tracking work without survey
numbers in place? - 11 Jun 2023
The South Western Railways (SWR) is literally bulldozing its
way through the terrain of coastal South Goa, especially the upper coastal
South Goa, in its quest to carry out the double tracking of the SWR from
Majorda to Vasco. The villages of Cansaulim, Velsao, Chicalim, Issorcim, Pale
and Arossim are badly affected. The SWR has actually been carrying out its work
of double tracking with no survey numbers in place and recently after a lot of
pressure and a lot of noise by very committed people, the Revenue Department
decided to do a survey across 25 villages to ascertain the actual survey
numbers to authenticate the final ownership and the presence of the Railways in
those particular lands. We evaluate the latest developments in the double
tracking saga and what does it entail for the future of Goa
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Land acquisition
Face-off with the State over land acquisition ruining lives
of people and putting their future in peril -03 Sep 2023
Residents of Bhoma village in Ponda taluka recently staged a
protest against the proposed expansion plan of the existing National Highway
(NH), expressing concerns over the impact on their village and temples. Despite
an agitation for a bypass leading to the cancellation of the NH expansion plan
in 2012, the project has been revived, contradicting the Regional Plan. On the
other hand, Velsao villagers refused to surrender their land for the rail
double tracking project. The villagers have conveyed their resentments against
the Government of Goa and criticised the authorities for not even intervening
to protect the interest of the locals against the consistent threats from Rail
Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to deny them the right to reside in their homeland.
The villagers have vowed not to give up their land no matter what. Herald TV
joins these two important developments together in the Herald TV weekly debate
Point-Counterpoint and finds out such face-off between the people and State
administration over land acquisition for the so-called development projects is
presently ruining people’s lives and puts their future at risk
GOA’s MUNDKARS: A prolonged fight for protecting their land
& identity - 05 Nov 2023
When the State government passed the Goa Bhumiputra Bill in
2021, wherein even migrants residing in the houses for 30 years were to be
granted ownership rights, being the original bhumiputras; tenants and mundkars
in Goa, fighting for years to get their right under Agriculture Tenancy Act and
Mundkar Act, urged the government to look into their grievances first. The
existence of Mundkars is completely linked to Goa’s land and the existence of
people, who’ve been working on this land and living on it for generations.
While this whole issue of Tenancy and the Mundkar Act and its associated
problems have been doing the rounds for a very long time, unfortunately all
that has happened is just pure lip service in trying to sort out the issues of
the tenants. There are people fighting for years to get rights to the
properties that their forefathers had. Recently in the Pernem taluka, these
issues have surfaced at Mopa. Lot of land has been sold and transferred to
persons without taking them into consideration. Denying land to the tenants is
the biggest betrayal of the mundkars. The leaders who became what they are
today through their participation in the Kul-Mundkar movement, are keeping
quiet. We evaluate the issues revolving the mundkars and what’s in store for
them
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Domestic violence, 10 Dec 2023
A ‘PARADISE’ VIOLATED: Goa's domestic violence explosion
hits hard
If the issue of sexual abuse of women in Goa wasn’t enough,
there is another social evil harming our women, which is domestic violence.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), around 20 per cent of
the surveyed women (aged 18-49 years) had experienced either physical or sexual
violence, and three per cent had experienced both. Overall, eight per cent of
women, who were or had ever been married, reported experiencing violence from
their spouses. Only 10 per cent of the women who had experienced physical or
sexual violence sought help. Total 189 domestic violence cases in Goa were
reported to the Block Development Officers in 2022. In a vapour cloud explosion
incident on November 18, at New Vaddem in Vasco, a pregnant woman named Shivani
Rajawat and her mother Jaidevi were killed. Brother of Shivani Rajawat has
filed a complaint before the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Mormugao, accusing
his brother-in-law Anurag Rajawat, husband of Shivani, for allegedly planning
the murder and also against Anurag’s mother for her alleged role in dowry
harassment. Herald TV finds out why domestic violence is a worrying situation
and its long-term implications
==
Human trafficking, 17 Sep 2023
Menace of human trafficking continues unabated in Goa
defying all laws
The Anjuna Police recently busted an international sex
trafficking ring, operating between Kenya and India and arrested two Kenyans.
The police also rescued five victims from Kenya. A Nigerian national who is
involved in the racket, who was absconding, has been arrested. The rescued
women have been lodged in the Protective Home at Merces. This incident is a
grim reminder of the fact that Goa continues to be a major destination for sex
trafficking. There are traffickers who are both from the country and
internationally who are operating with absolute nonchalance, which is totally
baffling. What is critical here is that there seems to be a complete lack of
coordination between different law and order agencies to prevent trafficking.
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Portuguese passport -
03 Dec 2023
Portuguese Passports for Goans: Brace for the new challenges
lying ahead
Over the last one year, the Goa Passport Office has been
revoking approximately one passport out of 15-20 sent to its office for
surrendering the same. Following a communication dated November 30, 2022, from
the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Portuguese authorities, indicating
that citizenship is acquired upon birth registration in Portugal, the Regional
Passport Office, Panjim initiated the revocation process on the basis that the
MEA is now using the birth registration date in Portugal as the citizenship
acquisition date. Typically, Indian passport reissues or renewals aim to
correct names for submission to Portuguese authorities, facilitating Portuguese
citizenship. Previously, obtaining a Portuguese passport or acquiring a Bilhete
de Identidade (identity card) determined foreign nationality acquisition. Now, it
hinges on the date of birth registration in Portugal. If a passport is revoked
during surrender, one cannot apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card,
making them a foreign national, who has to, in turn, obtain legal permission
for being in the country. This action did not go down well among a large
section of Goans, who have criticised this move.
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Rottweiler issue - 27 Aug 2023
Untrained and unleashed canines spread terror on the streets
of Goa
An evening walk turned out to be a nightmare for two
siblings aged between five and seven years as they were brutally mauled by a
Rottweiler in a horrific incident reported in an elite colony at
Shivnagar-Alto-Oaitiyant, Taleigao recently. The ferocious dog managed to get
out of the compound of a bungalow and pounced on the little kids brutally
attacking them. The boy sustained facial injuries including his ear and also
injuries to his chest, while the Rottweiler sunk his canines deep into the
girl’s skull and neck. The kids were out on an evening walk along with their
mother when the horrible incident unfolded. The helpless mother could do
nothing much to save her little ones from the beast. While the police booked
the owner of the Rottweiler, the incident has spread terror throughout Goa.
Herald TV deliberates on the double whammy caused by lack of awareness
regarding regulations governing the management of such pets on one hand and
inadequate number of dog trainers on the other