Heritage management
It’s a wonder how the departments of heritage and architecture in India function when the monuments are not guarded well, are not taken care of and no real visiting charges are levied. Apart from the Taj Mahal in Agra and a few other monuments around the country, everything else is free. While the sentiment may be applauded, the very fact that countries charge an entry fee is to fill up the coffers of the bodies tasked with maintaining these monuments. At a recent visit to Old Goa, we are surprised that anyone can walk through the churches, chapels and cathedrals. We noticed this elsewhere in the state too, apart from the fort at Reis Magos. That fort is a good example of how a monument is well-maintained and the modest charge earns the monument a bit of extra respect from the paying visitor. We noticed many people at the cathedrals in Old Goa display a very errant attitude and that could only come from a lack of respect for such a glorious piece of art. If people pay, they tend to take care not to spoil the surroundings. It’s simple logic.
Anna Browning, Leicester
Parking charges
The story about the parking fees at the mall in Porvorim and the subsequent traffic congestion was one that many predicted a long time ago. The mall is undergoing a lot of issues, there is no proper sewage management, the underground parking lots are haphazard and now the high parking charges. In malls across the world, there are charges for parking but if one shops at the mall for a minimum amount or is a premier card holding member of any of the department stories, those charges are waived off. This is common sense and good business sense too. But not only have the owners not done their homework, but they have levied heavy charges on parking. Across India, parking charges are cheaper. That’s because owners and promoters want people to come there and also want to avoid their visitors parking on the embankments and thus congesting the roads.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
The ISIS threat to Goa has been dismissed by the government and the police but I feel we have ignored a credible threat to the State. For years now, we have been getting red alerts during the peak season. We have a regular Sagar Kavach and the Navy has been part of security checks. But all this is not enough. We need to realise that IS has managed to get past security even in progressive nations like France and Belgium. The terror outfits have even managed to crash planes in America. What makes us think we are completely safe here in Goa? In the past, men linked to terror outfits have been reported to have stayed here in Goa, and the authorities have been oblivious to this fact. The Goa government needs to put measures in place to combat this.
Purshottam Raikar, Porvorim
