Stray cattle
Stray cattle menace happens to be a serious problem at Adpai in Ponda. Cattle moves along the main road on most occasions and travellers proceeding along this location face great inconvenience and trouble. The bovines occupy the entrance area of the local village panchayat as well. Although the Directorate of Panchayats had recommended the village panchayats to set up cattle pounds to accommodate the impounded cattle, Durbhat has not yet obliged to this requirement. Hence it is the local population that has to face untold hardships in the process. Perhaps the Directorate of Panchayats has not been following up this important matter with the VPs situated in different parts of Goa. Over the years many accidents have occurred due to existence of cattle on the main road. With a view to assure safety to precious human lives, it is absolutely necessary for the VPs to set up cattle pounds on priority basis to bring the dangerous condition under firm control.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
Save water
Many states in India are affected by drought and are facing severe water crisis. The situation is so bad that crops are destroyed and animals are dying. People do not even get sufficient drinking water and have to depend on water supplied through tankers. According to a report released on World Water Day, India has the world's largest number of people without access to safe water. At a time when people are suffering due to water shortage, it is like a crime to waste water. Huge quantity of water is usually wasted at public places like gardens and wash rooms where people are least bothered to close the tap properly after use. Sometimes, water pipelines which are damaged are not repaired for many days. There are predictions that future wars will be fought on water issues resulting out of the social conflicts over sharing of water resources. Many states are already at loggerheads over sharing of river water and tribunals have been constituted to resolve the interstate water disputes. I think the time has come when we should start saving water for the future the same way as money.
Rohith Shetty, Bambolim
Rogue administrator
The Secretary of Cansaulim Panchayat one Pradeep Tamankar seems to law unto himself and violates every rules of the Panchayat Raj Act. A habitual absentee, he is not available at his desk and refuses to conduct site inspections as in the case of the pontoon episode. He fails to execute resolutions adopted by the elected body of panchas, where he failed to grant a construction license for the primary health center at Cansaulim for over two weeks after the body had resolved to grant the same.
The VP boasts of only taking instructions from his higher ups and the villagers would like to know who are his "handlers"? Registers of the panchayat are not available in the panchayat office, there is a fudging of minutes, besides other offences that occur regularly. Complaints to the Block Development Officer and Director of Panchayats have failed to yield results in his behavior.
Frank Lemos, Arossim
