‘SWACHH BHARAT NITOL GOEM SUMMIT – EDITION II’

BE RESPONSIBLE, BE ACCOUNTABLE! The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) organized a Swachh Bharat Nitol Goem Summit – Edition II in collaboration with Responsible Earth Foundation on Oct 4, 2023 at the Agnel Institute of Technology & Design, Assagao, Goa. The summit hopes to foster insightful discussions, share valuable perspectives and explore emerging trends and challenges within the environmental sector. It was inaugurated by guest of honour dy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and Mapusa constituency MLA Joshua D’souza, special guest was cricketer coach Ashish Nehra, Ramesh Verma (IAS, secretary-Urban Development, Science, Technology & Waste Management) and Gurudas P Pilarnekar (director of Municipal Administration). A video was played in the absence of Chief Guest Vishwajit P Rane (Minister for Health, TCP, Forest, Urban Development, Women & Child Development and MLA of Valpoi) in which praised the summit’s aim of promoting sustainable practices, waste management and achieving a plastic-free Goa. He said the mantra of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ should be at the forefront of our sustainable strategies. MLA Joshua D’souzas called for strict protection of the environment to keep it toxicity-free, he said the key people who should be empowered are the “Safai Karmacharis, the heroes who work tirelessly to keep our surroundings clean. These individuals, often underappreciated, play an important role in maintaining the cleanliness of our cities and towns. By providing them with support, dignity, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, we not only enhance their quality of life but also strengthen the fabric of our communities.” The summit sparked discussions revolving around pivotal themes such as climate change, sustainability and capacity-building programs aimed to enhance urban and rural infrastructure.

CHAOTIC DONA PAULA CIRCLE!

I AM a resident of Dona Paula and I am now in my 80s. Let me express first that during the Portuguese era the tourists were almost negligible and slowly started catching up… the trend now is nearing saturation and definitely by Christmas, the crowd will be intolerable for motorists moving in the city. I think those days are gone. The other day I had to struggle so much even to complete a round of this Dona Paula circle.
Then I saw three policemen standing together at the side of Police Check-post. I decided to convey my grievances to them. I told them that tourists were crowding the Dona Paula circle and a main Panaji road. They are not local but from neighbouring states and they think they can roam in any direction. Even to urinate the tourists could not find any toilet nearby, and they had to use a nearby building wall through a private plot.
My request to the government is to be alert right now as we are in October month and God only knows what will happen by Christmas time! Will the authorities take this as inputs from me and improve the situation at least for Panjim if not Dona Paula…as the festive Christmas season is around the corner?
—Stephen Dias, Dona Paula

ARE EATERIES HYGIENE-COMPLIANT?
THE move by the Minister for Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) Vishwajit Rane to crack down on unhygienic eateries is a very appropriate step in the right direction. This much-needed action across Goa must be a sustained one till we get to the last untidy eatery blatantly violating the laid down food safety norms. Needless to say, this deterrent action against erring eateries must be free from fear or favor.
From restaurants to cafes and food carts, it must be ensured that the highest level of cleanliness is maintained at every place and by those handling and selling food items. A lot of people fall sick due to the un-hygienically cooked and adulterated food they consume out of necessity. This is an unacceptable state of affairs.
Restaurants spend a lot of money on making their sitting areas cushy and swanky, all glitter but no substance. But the kitchen and cooking areas of many restaurants are an eyesore and in a despicable state. In fact, to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene, the inspection of every eatery must commence in the kitchen and end at the main entrance. It must also be ensured that the surroundings around every eatery are clean and safe, not posing any threat to the health of people.
In the drive to make sure that every eatery is safe from any health hazards, it would be prudent that the FDA officials should work in conjunction and in association with the local Municipalities and Panchayats.
We must always regularly exercise zero tolerance to unsafe eateries and proactively do all we can to safeguard the health and well-being of our people and our Goa, so heavily dependent on good quality food and tourism.
—Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

NO RELIGIOUS HATE-MONGERING, PLEASE!
CHIEF Minister Pramod Sawant whilst speaking to reporters recently urged Goans to have faith in his government and not to take to streets if someone tries to disturb the religious harmony of Goa. His government is already working in the right direction over this issue and will take swift action against those who were/are still trying to hurt the religious sentiments of people of different faith.
If what Pramod Sawant is saying is really true how come his government has still not bothered to arrest Subhash Velingkar for hurting the religious sentiments Catholics by openly saying at a press conference some months back, that St Francis Xavier is not the “Goencho Saib” of Goa? How is it that the two main culprits named in the FIR in the Sancoale incident were arrested but allowed to approach the high court to get anticipatory bail like special VIPs of Goa?
Today we see many non-Goan individuals/sympathizers belonging to right wing organisations casually making derogatory remarks about other people’s gods/religions on a daily basis on social media, by using their fake IDs in Goa. Why is such rabid messaging not taken down from social media by the authorities? Are we interested or not interested in maintaining religious harmony in Goa?
If CM Sawant wants people to have faith in his government and not to take to streets he should see that his government takes strict action on religious hate-mongers. Police should track down these communalist who have a stake in fomenting trouble at large.
Please don’t disturb the religious harmony of Goa. Long live Hindu-Christian-Muslim unity in Goa. Viva Goenkaar!
—Jerry Fernandes, Saligao