AQUAPONIC FARMING IN VOGUE!

Are you are wondering what this pretty picture is all about? It is aquaponic farmer Peter Singh’s unit of vegetables fed by fish tank water from ornamental pools! Thus, he grows Swiss chard, spinach, basil, bokchoy, strawberries, tomatoes, celery, mint and other greens. The unit is set up using pipes and dutch bucket system of crates… while this unit is put up in the parking lot of his residence in Goa, he also has other similar units growing bottle gourd, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, chili, radish, spring onions and much more which makes for a wonderful kitchen garden on fresh food in one’s own home!Aquaponics cultivation, anyone? It’s an urban dream come true for many around the world and is now prospering in India. ( Pic courtesy Peter Singh)

CHINA’S ATTITUDE!

TO disown responsibility for Wuhan being the origin of the coronavirus, the Chinese authorities indulged in a devious strategy of delay, clean up, cover up and obstruct. But the world will not be drawn into China’s attitude towards not accepting that the coronavirus originated in Wuhan.
China delayed allowing WHO delegation into Wuhan, so that they would clean up the evidence in the wet markets of Wuhan where the virus almost certainly originated from the bats, snakes and pangolins. A thorough clean-up of all evidence from the wet markets of Wuhan was done; then also, it may be construed that if evidence of an experiment gone wrong happened at the Wuhan Virology Institute, then it is possible that China covered up by fortifying and securing the laboratory so that the WHO fact finding team could give them the verdict that it was “very unlikely” to be the source of the pandemic.
However, a devious ruse that China was using a fourth generation warfare cannot be ruled out considering that it obstructed the WHO investigation. Another important aspect is if the countries in the world could reveal if the genome sequencing of the virus first detected in passengers that arrived in the respective countries from Wuhan between December 23 to 27, 2019 of especially Chinese travelers could be co-related without doubt with the genome sequencing of the first virus in Wuhan.
This would trace beyond doubt that the virus was imported from China into the respective countries. Considering the obstruction that the Chinese authorities are indulging in, it would be fair to point an accusing finger at China as the country of origin of the deadly coronavirus, since they are not co-operating in a fair and responsible manner. China definitely has something to hide.
— Elvidio Miranda, Panaji

REMEMBER DAYANAND BANDODKAR?
EVERY March 12 we commemorate the birth anniversary of Goa’s first chief minister, Dayanand Bandodkar. He assumed office on December 20, 1963 and continued as chief minister till his sudden death on August 12, 1973 except during the 127 days of President’s Rule from December 2, 1966 to April 5, 1967. Affectionately referred to by all as Bhausaheb he was undoubtedly Goa’s best chief minister.
As a school student when I was just 12 years old, I had the privilege of interacting with Dayanand Bandodkar at his Althinho residence. That same year it was so nice to see him arriving in his yellow Buick without any police escort jeeps at Ribandar as chief guest for the finals of the football tournament.
Also recollect with nostalgia those great debates in the Legislative Assembly and Dayanand Bandodkar’s pointed and witty replies! Today, very sadly, the Legislative Assembly has been reduced to a mere uninspiring classroom while on the level of debates, the less said the better.
Though Dayanand Bandodkar may initially have been for the merger of Goa with Maharashtra, he respected the people’s verdict and toiled with vision and passion for the all-round development of Goa. As CM he cared to heed to advice and guidance given by his officers; in contrast, today’s officials who don’t tow orders face the brunt of their higher ups and hounded away.
It was our first CM Bandodkar, who as friend and carer of the poor, who had vision enough to lay the foundation of Goa’s progress; he very ably managed Goa which included Daman and Diu, with just two ministers during his first term and later three. At that time he did not have all these corporations to give away to pacify MLAs!
Unlike many of today’s politicians who are self-centered, Dayanand Bandodkar relentlessly raised and pursued issues concerning the backward, down-trodden, and neglected communities of Goa. Leaders of his integrity, honesty and commitment, we may rarely see in today’s shoddy arena of political pygmies. Dayanand Bandodkar dared to speak from his heart and always walked the talk. Only a few such politicians still remain in our midst and will always be remembered for the good they have done for Goa and Goans.
Today Goa is being rampantly destroyed and devastated and it is distressing to see this. Our State is so sadly day by day just getting further corroded beyond recognition. Those in power should at least salvage and safeguard what remains of Goa. Today’s politics is no longer a noble mission, it has sunk to very low levels with only the thick skinned and hypocritical at the core of governance, every ready to breach and bend all the rules to survive.
It is imperative that students today in our schools and colleges learn about the rich and invaluable contribution to Goa by our first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar. He cannot be consigned as a forgotten hero! If he were alive he would have rued the manner in which Goa is being misgoverned today!
— Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

HUMBLE PIE!
The Oil Minister was forced to reply to Opposition queries on high fuel and gas costs, disclosing that gas costs doubled in the last seven years, while tax collection on petrol and diesel jumped 459%.
On March 4, just before the OPEC meeting, the Oil Minister urged the OPEC countries to not curb production, so that prices could drop. The Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia told him to use the cheap crude purchased by India in March-April 2020. At the time, India purchased 16.71 million barrels of crude, but increased excise duty!
What prompted him to ask the OPEC countries to work for reduced prices? The ruling members have become so used to doing whatever they want no questions asked, that it has become a habit to expect all to toe the line! Increased gas prices and no subsidy will force many people in the low-income group to change over to other dirty fuels like dung and firewood. This will once more raise pollution levels right in homes, leading to increased mortality rates, mostly of infants.
Economists do not just count physical money inflow: they think long time and overall picture.
— R Fernandes, Margao

PANAJI BEAUTIFICATION?

THE photograph taken on February 20, 2021 is seen with concrete benches to sit out in the garden. After a news report in some papers on March 1, 2021 the builder or the contractor next day closed it with a green cloth enclosure, not allowing passers-by to take even a look at what is going on inside.
The photo clicked on March 5 is for the public to see how our Miramar beach is under siege not only with gardens and Samadhi/memorials but a number of constructions. If this kind of idiocy continues Ponjekars will soon cease to enjoy the age old beauty of Miramar beach when it was a peaceful haven for some rest and recreation for the common people of the city.
The priority should be to repair the footpath along the promenade from Dona Paula to Miramar. It’s of importance not only for senior citizens but all those who have been advised to have a morning or evening walk for their wellbeing.
Will this government move to stop our gardens from becoming a party to construction illegalities all along Miramar beach? Just because something is hidden from the eyes of the public I does not mean the public is blind or stupid enough not to know what is going on behind tin walls and other dangerous flimsy structures to hide wrongdoing!
— Stephen Dias, Dona Paula