Dabolim airport vs Mopa airport in Goa?
Goa CM Pramod Sawant recently said that the Mopa airport will only receive international flights and the Dabolim airport will continue to remain open for domestic flights. I think CM has not done a proper study of flights operations.
Currently, only four international flights land at the Dabolim airport daily, while another four international flights land at the airport only one or two times a week. I don’t think that Mopa airport is built for such a small numbers of international flights.
Secondly, Goa has never enjoyed a smooth flow of international flights. With Goans often having to travel to another destination in the country to leave for abroad.
If this is the situation than our government should give the Mopa airport to the Navy and keep the Dabolim airport for civilian use. The airport is in the centre and will be benefited both North and South Goa.
Notably, a politician from the area is already planning to corner a large chunk of the jobs at the Mopa airport to her constituents. Such an airport will only benefit Goans in the north and not the south.
Ronnie Dsouza, Chandor
RVNL-government nexus
In Velsao, some of the methods employed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited to carry out its work are questionable, especially their impact on the environment there. In some cases, the RVNL has also trespassed into some private properties. Unfortunately, the these actions are being carried out with police protection.
Whenever proposals are made to the government to pass laws to protect the Goan identity and land, the ministers are quick to quote the Constitution. The question arises whether all the actions taken by RVNL are in the spirit of the Constitution.
If the issue in Velsao is brought to the attention of the ministers, thy will likely suggest that the local take the legal recourse, which in turn is very expensive and time consuming. In the meanwhile, the action by RVNL will continue.
Notably, it is likely that there will be very little opposition to such action by the government. No wonder that such anti-people actions are flourishing in a state where the Opposition is weak. It seems very clear that there a nexus between the government and the company in question. It seems the project will be completed, even amid questionable actions.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Irregular timings of Salvador do Mundo via Pomburpa route bus
This is to draw to the attention of the Asst. Director of Transport that the last bus on the Salvador do Mundo via Pomburpa route which is scheduled to leave from the KTC bus stand is at 7.30 pm, but the schedule is not adhered by the operators.
On several occasions it is notice that the bus leaves at 7.00 pm putting the commuters who travel to places like Bastora, Ucassaim, Nachinola (Borvon), Aldona (Gavar), Olaulim, Pomburpa (arao), Ekoshi (Velotim) and Salvador-do-Mundo in great hardships as there is no bus to leave to their destination.
Moreover, there are irregular buses plying on this route during normal hours, it mostly effects the working class.
As the RTO office is located at the KTC bus stand, it is the duty bound to keep check on this route schedule and make the last schedule permanent so that after dusk all the commuters reach safely to their destination.
Babluis Pereira, Pomburpa
Cheap verbal tamasha between ministers must stop
The current pot-shots in public by some of the Goa Ministers against each other are in utter bad taste. And the public are watching in despair these cheap intrigues among Ministers.
The Cabinet has to function in unionism, and it is the collective responsibility of every Minister to work as a team and speak in one voice. This feuding, mudslinging and backstabbing in a free for all environment proves how divided this Government is on most issues. Any policy implemented as a result lacks the full agreement of the government and will be even more controversial for the people to accept and follow. Any show of unity has been for the camera and the media not based on any conviction or confidence in government policy.
The war of words between Ministers themselves and that too now all in public domain only points out that Good Governance has gone for a toss. Any differences of opinion or views should be all thrashed out by the Ministers at the cabinet meeting and should never spill out on the streets. This verbal Minister v/s Minister bashing and taunting goes against the decorum and sanity that must otherwise prevail.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Treated sewage water may not be completely safe
Stating that people are not psychologically prepared to accept treated sewage water for daily use, it is learnt that PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said that treated sewage water will be discharged in the rivers till there’s a change in the public perception of treated sewage. Citizens have every right not to accept treated sewage water for daily use as clean water is a fundamental right.
Treated sewage can be a major source of human-derived bacteria in the urban water environment, including potential pathogens that may survive the treatment process. Sewage treatment is a type of waste-water treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water pollution from raw sewage discharges.
There are three main stages of the wastewater treatment process, aptly known as primary, secondary and tertiary water treatment. In some applications, more advanced treatment is required, known as quaternary water treatment.
Furthermore, anaerobic bacteria are an important element in the wastewater treatment processes. They are responsible for methane fermentation of sewage sludge, facilitating decomposition of macromolecular organic matter into simpler compounds. Biological stages in wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove substances such as drugs, found in the wastewater of medical centers, or halogenated compounds and cyanides from industrial wastewater. What if there is a breakdown in the sewage water treatment plant?
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Let there be light!
Our government spends crores of rupees on power infrastructure, installing streetlights, replacing the lines, underground cabling and more but forgets to pass some current to light it up. With the growing road infrastructure around the State, we have also seen streetlights installed along the major highways.
But somebody is failing to complete their duty of putting this infrastructure to use for reasons best known to the government. While travelling from the capital to the village at night via the newly-built Guirim highway, one can witness the dimly lit route.
Commuting in the dark on a major highway is dangerous with vehicles moving at speed. If a two-wheeler breaks down on the way, it is tough to spot it, and one can dash onto it if the headlight is dim. Also, at times, one encounters strays lying on the road which can cause an accident if not spotted in time. It’s time the government spreads lights on the roads keeping in mind the accidents, potholes and threats on the road to see the citizens are safe.
Antonio D’Silva, Canca
