Pollution control
There was a centre to check vehicle pollution at Cuncolim that served the areas of Assolna , Cuncolim, Chinchinim, Velim and the other surrounding , contiguous areas. But it was stopped. Several attempts were made personally through the office of the then minister from Cuncolim, but to no avail, in spite of tall promises. The present MLA has also been approached to do the needful and complete the unfinished task for too long, but it may not be a priority for him.
The centre at any of the surrounding places would ease the congestion on roads, reduce pollution, save on time and also on the fuel consumed by all types of vehicles to travel to the nearest centre at Margao. There are persons willing to undertake the venture, but the response from concerned department is not very encouraging. How can one undertake the expenditure without getting any assurance of granting the permission, subject to the fullfiling of the terms and conditions laid down therein? In fact the renewal of this facility around these areas should be most welcomed necessity and encouraged without any technical impediments.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
Fishing issue
The issue of fishing with LED lights is actually not an issue at all. Yes, there is a major rivalry between different factions of the fishing community and most of it has to do with economics. The ramponkars can only catch a certain amount of fish. The trawlers and those that employ the purse seine method with LED lights catch more fish, which brings down the price in the market. In fact, the accusations that the middlemen are the ones who are instigating this useless protest is by and large correct. Fish is one of Goa’s staple foods and with the emergence of so many hotels and restaurants, there is a lack of fish for us Goans. Price and availability are both responsible for this. If the purse seiners can bring more fish to our tables then why aren’t they being allowed to. At the same time, the government must formulate a proper policy to ensure that fishing is done in the most humane manner, like policies employed in many other countries, and at the same time ensure that pricing and other things are done systematically. We must also increase the fishing ban period to let more fish breed. It is in our bets interests.
Sanjay Naik, Mapusa
National flag
There are news reports which state that the compulsory national flag at all central universities means that Rs 45 lakhs will be spent to erect each flag pole and flag. This is a lot of money which doesn’t need to be spent. Is this another way to pushing patriotism down our throats? After the Rohit Vemula and Kanhaiya Kumar cases, the central government is perhaps enforcing this rule to try and intill patriotism in colleges. But merely asking for the national flag to be displayed doesn’t make patriots. When the government is undertaking anti-democratic methods, why should the people be quiet?
Steven Pereira, Merces
