75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY JOYS!

FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF THE NATION COME ALIVE IN ASSAGAO: It was a celebration of Independence Day with a difference at the Dnyanprasarak Mandal’s college auditorium to celebrate the country’s 75^th Independence Day on August 15, 2021. After the flag hoisting the cultural performance which followed featured the singing of much loved patriotic songs, as also an “Freedom Fighters of the Nation” attire competition. It has students and faculty dressing up as familiar freedom fighters and the staged came alive with Swami Vivekananda, Rani Laxmibai, Rani Chennamma, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rajendra Prasad, Gandhiji, Chandrashekar Azad, Annie Besant and more. This tableau was done with the guidance of Dr M Shanthi. Patriotic songs presentation was by faculty members of the college led by Assistant Prof Yogita Karkhanis and Associate Prof Girish Abhyankar. Speaking after the flag hoisting, Dnyanprasarak Mandal’s Principal Prof DB Arolkar observed that “Teachers should act as motivators and inspire students towards nation building…we must salute our freedom fighters for the supreme sacrifices that they have made for us and vow to walk on the path they envisaged for the nation.” He added, “Though India has made progress in all the fields like science and technology, sports, education, it has also thrown up challenges before humankind in the form of floods, earthquakes, global warming due to man-made activities in the name of development. So, we the teachers are duty bound to infuse scientific temper and rationality in the society through the medium of students.” Others who spoke on the occasion included Associate Prof Subhash Patil, Mangesh Vererkar (HOD, Department of History) and others. Prizes were distributed and a vote of thanks  proposed by Vice-Principal Rashmi Redkar. Clearly, it was a memorable celebration of Independence Day at the Dnyanprasarak Mandal College in Assagao.

‘TARIKH PE TARIKH’ VICIOUS CYCLE!
 

LACK of proper discussion of bills in Parliament leads to confusion and complexity in the laws and results in  increased litigation, inconvenience to citizens, loss of government. While a detailed discussion reduces litigation. It was an observation made the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Both the ruling party and the opposition have experience in running the government. When there is a government!

Opposition groups called for a boycott of the assembly, saying “the bill was passed without discussion.” Also, don’t forget to criticize the bill. Controversy and criticism are more of an opposition than a discussion, and they seem to be more interested in petty courtiers. The fault lies in our society! Cases eventually go in for compromises out of court.

This vicious cycle of tarikh pe tarikh (date to date) does not end even if you die. Public frustration never ends for all this government cares!

–Jayesh Rane, Mumbai

GMC POSTMORTEMS

IT IS really pathetic to see that even when post-mortems are conducted by doctors, crucial evidence and clues to strengthen the prosecution against the accused, are carelessly ignore and omitted. The GMC did tremendous work during the pandemic but I feel post-mortems are not done with diligence and due respect for the victim or deceased.

In the recent case of a young girl drowning at Calangute beach there was so much public suspicion about the case. The GMC has a history of botched post-mortems and political interference in the past. Citizens both poor and rich repose a lot of hope in Goa’s premier medical institution and expect more credibility.

It is my humble request that all post-mortems to do with questionable death be video recorded for evidence, with at least two members of the public on the post-mortem panel so that credibility does not suffer. Doctors must keep the trust of the people untarnished in their medical service.

–Jo Dias, Chandor

BJP’S FAKE DREAMS

POLITICIANS are currently jumping like monkeys from one political  party to another for their own political survival, along with their supporters and well-wishers – all to enjoy ache din after the elections are over in Goa! Look at leaders like Elvis Gomes, Micky Pacheco, Benjamin Silva – all have joined the Congress, while former BJP leaders like Mahadev Naik and Kiran Kandolkar have joined Aam Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Goa Forward Party, respectively.

Unfortunately, two former CMs/elected leaders of the Congress like Ravi Naik, Digambar Kamat and Goa Forward Party MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, are believed to be biding their time to join the ruling BJP very soon.They feel that only BJP can form a government for a third consecutive time and guarantee them ache din.

See the current political situation/infighting/chaos in politics in which Goans are being divided along religions lines. The BJP will have the last laugh and carry on destroying the larger interests of Goa. BJP leaders have learnt the art of hypnotising Goans to sell them fake dreams! They buy MLAs from rival camps with their ill-gotten wealth and built the party’s popularity  — I personally feel even the gods will not be able to stop them from abusing power for the next 30 years to permanently finish/destroy Goa.

— Jerry Fernandes, Saligao

NEW HIGH COURT BUILDING TRAGEDY

I WRITE this out of sheer concern! Hoping those responsible and accountable take remedial steps to prevent a disaster in the making. May God help us to take the right decisions, and may He protect us always.

As a citizen and an Officer of the Court, I am very anguished and flabbergasted that due to sheer faulty planning and construction we have landed up with a new High Court building at Porvorim which is headed for disaster.

The onus falls entirely on the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which executed the work recklessly and without application of mind. GSIDC officials must be brought to book.

Experts in the field of civil engineering and architecture are unanimous in their opinion about the doomed fate of the new High Court building in its present shape. The flat roof is a matter of concern, it is considered inappropriate for a high rainfall area. Buildings in Goa need to be judiciously sloped with resilient roofs and excellent rainwater drainage systems in place, as also satisfactory waterproofing – to handle strong winds and continuous days and weeks of rainfall.

It is obvious that the principles of an ecologically and environmentally compatible design were not incorporated in the provision of the new High Court building. The planners did not keep in mind the location of this building is on the edge of a lateritic hill, in a highly breezy and wind swept zone with heavy winds blowing directly from the Arabian Sea. 

Evidently, the rain hits very hard on the roof, but the designer of this project abdicated responsibility in checking this factor and effect of acidic rainwater pouring onto the roof. In view of the perceived environmental and weather incompatibility of this roof, the authorities need to do rectifications. An expert view is that a strong windproof and fire resistant sloping roof on the existing structure will make it withstand strong cyclonic wind speed – the building’s location lies on the path of storms witnessed in our coastal areas.  

However, the location receives excellent sunlight for at least  nine months of the year. It would be prudent to see the feasibility of solar power generation from the sloped roof by installing power generation panels. The building needs a suitable integrated rooftop rainwater harvesting system so that precious rooftop rainwater is used and recycled.  

As the walls and windows of the building face the open Arabian sea there would be salt water impact directly and so there will be progressive deterioration of exposed exteriors and possible ingress of water into the interiors. To add to the nightmare there an ugly, hazardous barbed wire fencing, around the new High Court building. Our High Court being a seat of Justice! The  first visual impression is very unpleasant and it is marred by   aesthetically incompatible barbed wire fencing.

While awaiting the authorities decision to take steps to undo the goof-ups of this building, we may only pray that the good Lord keeps our new High Court building, which has cost  taxpayers over Rs125 crore, safe and secure  — so that justice may flow uninterrupted.

— Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

SUBTLE CHANGES IN LAWS.

THE favoured Indian Refineries are making a killing from the public who are merely consumers! Last year, international oil  prices dipped to throwaway prices. Companies were asked to just pick up the oil.

All manners of storage facilities were filled. In India, there is the ISPRL-Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd under the Administrative Control of the Ministry of Petroleum & Gas. It has underground storage capacity of 36.92 million. Barrels of crude oil, which was filled to capacity with the cheap price oil in 2020. This oil is for use during disruption of oil imports.

 At the moment there is no such disruption and the ISPRL should hold on to the reserves. Yet, ISPRL is now selling 30% of the oil to Indian and foreign companies by amending the laws and allowing commercialization of this capacity for leasing. To arrange for the leased-out capacity, it is selling the equivalent capacity of oil!

Why is this oil not used to benefit the public? Why this change in law? There is total absence of financial acumen in the government which has nil cash  reserves. A very precarious condition hidden by so many diversionary tactics like Partition Terror Day. Wake up BJP sympathizers, wake up!

–R Fernandes, Margao