Save the ducks
It is observed that a large number of ducks which are bred in hatcheries in the neighbouring state are sold in Goa. These ducks are also badly treated by the sellers as they are held up by catching their feet and hanging them upside down. The birds fetch a good price since many consider duck meat a delicacy. It is extremely sad that a docile, timid and beautiful avian like the duck can end up on the plate on the dining-table. How can one have the heart to kill a duck to make curry for dinner? When non-vegetarians have other options to satisfy their taste-buds, why should they look to consume duck meat? It is true that ducks do not come under the category of ‘endangered species’. That does not give us humans the right to kill these beautiful birds for dinner. Ducks cannot fly in the sky like other birds do and hence fall easy prey to duck poachers. We citizens should not patronize the migrants who sell ducks by the roadside. If anyone buys them, it should be to rear them on their farms and let them live in the ponds and lakes, and not to feed on their meat.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Useless roadworks
They often say in India anything is possible. A classic example of this is the haphazard hot mixing works of the Cavelossim to Benaulim road by the PWD, coinciding with the onset of the monsoon. This road had been mercilessly abused by careless digging for laying of water pipes and re-excavated for laying high voltage cables, along with the broadband cables of a telecom company buried underneath the tarred portion with their cute road slitting machine. The PWD needs to be commended for their brilliance for waiting patiently for the start of the monsoons for commencing the hot mix works. It’s common sense that before any road works is commenced, surface preparation has to be ensured, leave alone water seepage into the raw hot mix. It would have been appreciated if the PWD had concentrated on road widening as this road has virtually turned into a no overtaking zone considering the traffic density. PWD should realize that simply pouring hot mix in the rains over loose sand, unsettled rubbles without following the basics for road repairs is a total waste of public money.
Allwyn Jorge, Carmona
Monsoon tourism
It’s interesting to know that the monsoon season here is also a time for the hotels to make some money. This was unheard of even a decade ago. It was towards the end of the last decade that things started changing. Incidentally, it coincided with the arrival of more casinos into Goa. It’s no secret that the casinos have benefitted Goa in many ways. We earn good tax off them, they provide employment to many and also fill up hotel rooms. Of course, we have to maintain our rivers and there have to be strict rules governing casinos. We should revel in the fact that Goa is now a 365 day a year tourism destination, which was envisaged a long time ago to make it feasible for businesses to function.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
