Margao CDP
MADGANVKARS will be happy that after having allowed the city to be congested with multi-storeyed buildings with less or no parking space and conversion of parking lots, the Chief Minister has at last decided that construction activity in the city needs to be frozen.
Perhaps, there will still be some new buildings queued up for construction before the freeze comes into force. Fortunately, the Councillors did not object to the City Development Plan, as it is made out to be, but rightly asked that it be kept for public scrutiny. This is needed, as every plan or project the government proposes has to be treated with suspicion, as it is rarely seen doing anything in public interest. While the freeze is welcome, it remains to be seen which areas are being converted into commercial hubs–whether the government proposes to take over more fields and allow some more levelling of hills. Even when ample space was available for a new hospital near the TB Sanatorium, the government chose to construct it in the fields depriving the farmers of their land and income. Further, it abuts the national highway and will lead to more chaos and traffic congestion. Such thoughtless projects need to be opposed tooth and nail. The issue of TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) in the CDP also needs to be explained to and understood thoroughly by the stake holders. Perhaps the government should seriously think of organising urgently a debate on the issue. However, while the government should not rush with this project without taking the Madganvkars into confidence, it also needs to be ensured that Margao does not lose on grants from central government agencies, if the project is unduly delayed.
JOSE MARIA MIRANDA, Borda Margao
Honour the Dead
THE Muslim community in South Goa has been asking for a burial ground for over a decade. During the same decade thousand of hectares of land have changed hands, be it for mega projects or mining or SEZ. Every person irrespective of his caste or creed is entitled to this basic right and every religion preaches that the dead must be honoured. But, this does not seem to the case in Goa. Let us not create additional barriers in our society because of these issues. Let us not make human burial as complicated an issue as the garbage disposal one. Let us not sink so low as to deny burial space to the dead. I am a Catholic and as I understand Catholic faith in the Paschal Mystery (the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) reveals itself through the dying and death of each Christian. In facing death, we are reminded that God has created each person for eternal life. We celebrate funeral rites to offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a person’s life. For the final disposition of the body, it is the Christian custom to bury or entomb the bodies of the dead in a consecrated and holy place. Can we not respect the same faith by which Muslims too are called to bury their dead. When we are so generous to sell our land to the highest bidder irrespective of his caste or creed, can’t we be a little generous and offer a few yards of our land to our Muslim brothers?
AGNELO PINHEIRO, Raia
Free Medical Treatment
RECENTLY, I visited the Tonca Veterinary Hospital for the treatment of my pet dog where I noticed that the doctors on duty seemed overburden with work, while the assistants go missing. What is needed is for CCTVs to be installed in order to monitor the staff management at the hospital/clinic and memos could be issued accordingly to the defaulters. Incidentally the administrative procedure at VET Hospital Tonca is well organised and this is appreciated. I expect the Animal Husbandry Department to recommend the installation of CCTV and also to make available medicines as well as laboratory investigations free of cost so that the aam admi is benefited.
STEPHEN DIAS, Dona Paula
