goanet-digest Sunday, May 12 2002 Volume 01 : Number 3959
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this issue:
[Goanet] FEATURE: In rain-soaked Goa, water shortages become a political issue
[Goanet] Problems on posting to GoaNet?
[Goanet] NEWS: Queen Mother's will with details on Kohinoor kept secret
[none]
[Goanet] Cong appeases defectors, tie-up with NCP off
See end of digest for information on subscribing/unsusbcribing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 23:29:18 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] FEATURE: In rain-soaked Goa, water shortages become a political issue
IN RAIN-SOAKED GOA, WATER SHORTAGES BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE
PANAJI, May 10: Some two dozen people sat before the man who has been
Goa's chief minister on three different occasions, and water surfaced as one
of the issues in this part of Saligao constitutency.
Saligao, the North Goa constutuency some 8 kms from Panaji, that long voted
for ex-Goa CM Dr Wilfred de Souza as its MLA, is just adjacent to the North
Goa coastal touristic belt. It is also home to the most rampant sale of
water by tankers, from villages like Sangolda, Guirim and Saligao itself.
To add to its woes, as the groundwater gets depleted by incessant drawal for
sale at around five paisa a litre, parts of the village now get tapped-water
supply for just one hour every alternate day. Hotels in the coastal zone,
including their swimming pools, meanwhile, somehow get the water supplies
they need.
"We're being cheated of our ground water, and it's being sold," says Mrs Isa
Vaz, raising the water issue at a recent campaign meeting for Dr Souza.
Pointing to figures thrown up by a study undertaken by concerned villagers,
it was noted that four hundred thousand (400,000) litres of water are being
sold each day from some nine wells in this village alone. Water is drawn and
ferried out of the village by tankers.
Goa recently passed a groundwater protection law, which however is still to
be effectively implemented. It has also come in for criticism of being
ridden with loopholes.
Faced with the ire over water, local MLA Dr Wilfred de Souza argued that
villagers need not worry about what would be the plight "of our children".
Souza said that large pipes are already being laid to bring water from dam
projects in interior Goa.
But it's not so sure whether laying down pipes would ensure that water flows
through them. Goa, which gets roughly 300 cms of rainfall (over 100 inches)
each year, has been unable to solve the state's water needs through
dam-dependent centralised water schemes.
Projects like the Salaulim irrigation project have seem over ten-fold cost
overruns. Piping in water from the eastern interiors to the populated
coastline is also fraught with its own difficulties.
In the past, Goa's naturally-evolved water-management strategy dependend on
villagers having their own wells. But these are falling into disuse, or
can't cope with the insatiable appetite of the hotel and industrial or
building lobby. Sometimes, in cases like Saligao, the wells are being simply
sucked dry.
Facing some angry sentiments, Dr Souza said he himself had accused the
ground-water minister of allowing people to "rob" groundwater, while the
water-table was going down.
Another villager, Nicholas Sequeira pointed out that Saligao "has been
suffering" due to the extraction of water, while the Goa government did not
have sufficient water to meet the needs of the tourism industry.
But, he felt, if the new pipeline is sanctioned, the demand for water (which
is sold outside the village, including to the Navy colony two villages away)
would be dropped. "Hopefully, these plans will materialise," he said.
Later, in the discussion interspersed with appeals for votes, the MLA also
conceded that there is a water problem even close to his home, at the other
end of Saligao.
Said Souza, a septuagenarian double-FRCS and one-time arguably Goa's best
surgeons: "I gave my land and made a road (in front of my house). Now, every
two minutes -- throughout the day and night -- there's a tanker taking water
on that road. He's minting money out of it. I blame myself for making the
road. The intention was not to encourage the tankers."
Irked over the situation, villagers have been studying the impact of drawing
out such large quantities of water on traditional wells in the area. Even in
normal monsoon years, they reported, there was a fifty percent increase in
wells in the area around where water is being sold that ran dry for the
first-time ever in the summer months of April or May.
In other parts of Goa too, there have been reports of water shortages coming
in, particularly in North Goa. Caretaker chief minister Manohar Parrikar
appealed to citizens not to get "panicky" over the situation.
Last monsoons (2001) was a poor one, but the unsustainble water-guzzling
industries, tourism, and building-boom is increasingly making its presence
here felt. (#)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 22:02:38 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Problems on posting to GoaNet?
If you're getting this message, it means you should be able to also post
your comments/views to GoaNet. Please do so; it enriches the
discussion. It could also help put you in touch with long-lost friends or
those who share a viewpoint.
*** If you are having any problems in posting a message through to
[EMAIL PROTECTED], just send it via me, and I'll ensure it goes
through. FN
PS: The message for posting is [EMAIL PROTECTED] But you should be
sending your mail from the *same* address you're subscribed on.
- --
Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783
GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha * GOANEWS www.goacom.com/news/
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 22:47:27 +0530 (IST)
From: Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] NEWS: Queen Mother's will with details on Kohinoor kept secret
Queen Mother's will with details on Kohinoor kept secret
By Sanjay Suri, Indo-Asian News Service
London, May 12 (IANS) A will left by the Queen Mother, giving precise
instructions on what should be done with the Kohinoor diamond, is being kept
secret by the royal family.
Buckingham Palace announced last week that the Queen would not publish the
details of her mother's will. The decision has already led to a row in the
House of Commons with several MPs demanding that it be made public.
A portion of the Queen Mother's will has already been carried out.
The decision to parade her crown over the coffin through the funeral
processions was stated explicitly by the Queen Mother in her will.
According to the will, say media reports here, the crown with the Kohinoor
in it would stay in public view right until the last private ceremony in
Windsor Castle.
But the will is believed to have more to say on what she would have like the
future of the Kohinoor to be. The palace is declining to publish the will
partly because of sensitivities over the Kohinoor.
The decision to parade the Kohinoor, which the British took away after the
death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ruler of the princely state of Punjab in
India, has been sharply criticised by Kuldip Nayar, Indian MP and former
high commissioner in London.
The Foreign Office is believed to have recommended the palace play down any
issues over the Kohinoor.
Earlier, her will had become controversial over what the Queen Mother has
left, and over inheritance tax.
Labour MP Alan Williams has demanded "utter transparency" over the will. The
will is believed to contain details of the royal family wealth, one of the
best-kept secrets in Britain
Williams said the Queen should not be allowed to "cover up on money". The
Queen is exempt from paying any inheritance tax. Williams said the move is
"obscenely generous. It seems a strange argument to say, 'Because we have so
much, we should be exempt.'"
The Queen Mother is believed to have left a personal estate of 50 million
pounds. She received 643,000 pounds a year from the government but she is
believed to have spent about two million pounds a year. She employed a
personal staff of more than 50.
The Queen Mother raised the rest of the family from her investments and from
other members of the royal family. Estimates of royal wealth vary widely,
from a few hundred million pounds to several billions of pounds.
- --Indo-Asian News Service
------------------------------
Date: 10 May 2002 05:10:35 -0700
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [none]
RAVI NAIK'S EXIT WILL BOOST BJP=92S NON-CORRUPT IMAGE: PARRIKAR
The exit of Mr Ravi Naik will add credibility to the BJP's clean image
and its drive against corruption. This was stated by the Chief Minister,
Mr Manohar Parrikar at a press conference today.
Brushing aside a question whether the departure would harm the party=92s
prospects in the coming elections, Mr Parrikar said that the party had
known for some time that Mr Naik was not fully with the BJP. He had been
delaying the filing of his nomination from Ponda. The party did not want
to take the first step and had been waiting for Mr Naik=92s response, he
said. Mr Parrikar added that the voters knew very well people like Mr Naik
and that such leaders should not be under the impression that they can
take the voters for granted. Mr Parrikar said the performance of Mr Ravi
Naik could have been much better, considering that he had given the PWD Rs
300 crore for development work.
The Chief Minister said that those people who do not feel comfortable
with the party=92s stand against corruption, for cleanliness and
transparency in public life, are bound to leave. He expressed satisfaction
that the BJP had taken such a clear stand against corruption, and added
that the people fully endorsed this stand.
When asked how he had in the first place accepted such people in the
party, Mr Parrikar said he was not fully comfortable with such people in
the party, but that he had to take a decision in those circumstances
regarding government formation. Mr. Parrikar added that the BJP wished to
demonstrate to the people of Goa what good governance was and therefore
seized the opportunity that existed at that time. Mr. Parrikar said that
despite having no experience in governance the BJP still provided the
State with a better and cleaner government than their predecessors. The
situation was such that the party had to accept people like Mr Ravi Naik,
he said. He disclosed that thrice earlier Mr Naik had approached him to jo
in the BJP but that he had fobbed him off.
The Chief Minister said that the dissatisfaction over the situation (of
having to admit MLAs who were not competent or not fitting the BJP
criterion of cleanliness and transparency) was one reason why he went in
for dissolution. The BJP has returned to the people for a fresh mandate
because of this dissatisfaction, he emphasized.
Commenting on the recent exit of other leaders from the BJP, Mr Parrikar
remarked that ``birds of the same feather flock together.=92=92 He added th=
at
the Congress was full of corrupt people.
He said the exit of people like Mr Naik and others had brought about a
clear polarization as far as voter choice was concerned. The choice is now
between a clean, non-corrupt government or a government full of corrupt
people, he remarked. Mr Parrikar said that the people had to decide
whether they want a clean government such as the one the BJP had provided
over the last 18 months or a government that existed in 1999 and before.
END
Govind Parvatkar
General Secretary
PLEASE VISIT US
www.goabjp.com
FOR MORE ARTICLES & COLUMNS.
THANK YOU.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 13:05:28 -0600 (MDT)
From: Vicki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Cong appeases defectors, tie-up with NCP off
DECCAN HERALD=20
Sunday, May 12, 2002 =20
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Countdown begins for Goa assembly poll
Cong appeases defectors, tie-up with NCP off
From=20Devika Sequeira
DH News Service
PANAJI, May 11: Failing to seize the day and clean up its act, the
Congress Party chose to 'reward' its perennial defectors. It has
re-nominated 12 of them in the list of 36 candidates released by the AICC
in Delhi today, bringing dismay and consternation among Congress
supporters here.
Goa Congress leaders blamed AICC secretary Ramesh Chennithala and his band =
of party observers for so blatantly disregarding loyalty and sincerity in t=
he selection of candidates. "We are back to square one. Instead of weeding =
out the black sheep, the Congress is once more encouraging the politics of =
money, muscle power, and opportunism," one outgoing MLA said.
The Youth Congress is threatening en masse resignation to register its prot=
est, and said discussions for a plan of action were on.
Mr Ravi Naik who walked out of the BJP yesterday, and former Union minister=
Ramakanth Khalap figure prominently among Congress nominees, as do 'tainte=
d' former ministers Dayanand Narvekar, Mauvin Godinho and Somnath Zuwarkar.
Mr Chennithala is said to have over-ridden protests from all local Congress=
leaders in clearing the names of Mr Sardinha, Mr Narvekar, Mr Godinho, Mr =
Zuwarkar and Mr Naik with AICC president Sonia Gandhi. The green signal for=
these names held up the announcement of the list by a day.
Among the nominees are also five former chief ministers, Luizinho Faleiro, =
Pratapsingh Rane, Francisco Sardinha, Churchill Alemao and Ravi Naik, as we=
ll as the PCC president Nirmala Sawant. All of them will be in the race for=
the CLP leadership.
The Congress held back declaring candidates to four constituencies, includi=
ng Tivim, Siolim, Mapusa and Saligao, saying it was leaving these to the Na=
tionalist Congress Party (NCP) to contest in a poll understanding.
But a dissatisfied NCP said it was not prepared to accept "mere sops" from =
the Congress and announced that negotiations were off. It will now contest =
all 40 seats on its own. Congress sources said the NCP had asked for a mini=
mum 7 seats from the alliance.
"We waited till the last moment for the seat adjustment with the Congress b=
ecause we sincerely desired a tie-up between secular forces. But it require=
s more than one hand to clap," NCP leader Wilfred De Souza said. He accused=
the Congress of "betraying the secular cause, and giving in to corrupt and=
opportunistic politics".
With just a day left for filing nominations on Monday, the NCP camp has tur=
ned into a rallying point for Congress rebels. A number of them are expecte=
d to now enter the fray as NCP candidates.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
=A9 Copyright, 1999 The Printers (Mysore)Ltd.=20
[E-mail to Editor] [Main Page..Text Version] [Main Page..Graphic Version]
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
------------------------------
End of goanet-digest V1 #3959
*****************************
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--W-E-B--S-I-T-E--=-=-=
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet Digest | http://goacom.com/goanet
======================================================================
* Send e=mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT [EMAIL PROTECTED])
* Leave SUBJECT blank <--- Commom Mistake !!
* On first line of the BODY of your message, type:
subscribe goanet-digest YOUR.EMAIL
OR unsubscribe goanet-digest YOUR.EMAIL
DO NOT include the entire digest when replying to goanet !!!!!!
Questions/Problems? Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
