First, my congratulations to your publication on completing 11 years of fearless and responsible journalism. Your coverage has been vital in shaping public discourse in Goa. I write to draw attention to the haunting relevance of the old Le Sancy soap ad, “Rahul, paani chala jayega”. Once nostalgic, it now reads like a warning for the water crisis looming over our state. The question we must ask is: Who is to blame? We can certainly point to the government: for failing to monitor businesses that waste water, for unchecked construction, for unplanned infrastructure projects and for industries that disrupt rainfall patterns and worsen extreme temperatures. But we must also turn the mirror on ourselves, the citizens. Overconsumption, poor family planning and apathy have equal weight. We can demand accountability from the government, but only if we shift our focus from region, religion and language wars to critical issues like water, air and food. At an individual level, action is urgent. Stop cutting large trees to build extra houses for tourism. The guesthouse market is saturated. Pivot to other businesses. Catering to groups of men who come here to drink-drive-damage helps no one. Focus on environment, employment and economy.
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
