------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRI Continental Film Festival - Dona Paula, Goa, Sep 28 - Oct 2, 2007
http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricontinental/tricon.htm For public viewing. Registration at The International Centre Goa. (Ph: +91-832-2452805 to 10) Online Media Partner: http://www.GOANET.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Rajan, That was a positive step you took: Making the authorities aware of the problem and demanding that they set it right. That is the raison d'etre of the local self government bodies like the Panchayats and Municipalities. They must be made to perform. The devolution of powers and responsibilities to the Panchayati Raj Institutions is the subject matter of the Constitution of India [73 and 74 amendments]. No law or rule or circular stands legal scrutiny if it is ultra vires of the Constitution. Yet, Goa has been lagging behind in giving powers to the PRIs. Even to this day, the CCP does not have full control over Panaji. Its main garden is with GSIDC, the promenade is with ESG, some of the roads are with PWD and its street lights are with Electricity Dept. What exactly it governs, I doubt even the CCP knows for sure. These ambiguities can be removed by citizens actions like the one you propose. Power to your hands. May your tribe increase. It is not just ghatis and the like who need to be corrected. The builders who dump debris on the roadsides in the dead of the night, the contractors who do not "make good the site" on completion of their works, the architect who designed the gutter around the Azad Maidan that does not drain out at all [it is lower than the gutter in to which it is supposed to flow now. When built, it was not connected to any outlet.] The owners of all the cars that create a traffic jam outside Sharada Mandir twice a day, six days a week, are not much more civilised than the ghatis. Neither are those who fling plastic bags containing flower garlands into the river from their posh cars or public buses. One law for all. Mog asundi. Miguel Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:58:34 -0400 From: "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] Plea to the Mayor of Panjim This morning I met the Mayor of Panjim, Shri Tony Rodrigues, and drew his attention to some of the problems the city currently faces on account of the ghati invasion. I handed a letter to him as as well to Elvis Gomes, the city Commissioner. The following five concerns were highlighted: 1) Ghati encroachment of city spaces & footpaths, illegal hawking on pavements, setting up of paan stalls etc. 2) The riverwalk has been turned into a public bathroom by the ghatis. 3) Ghatis have now taken to assembling under bus stop shades at various points in Panjim from late evenings, using the benches there as a den for chatting, smoking, spitting etc. 4) Bhelpuri stalls along the riverwalk have multiplied rapidly. They contribute in no small measure to the litter and trash. 5) The tourist season will shortly get underway and busloads of Indian tourists will come, park their buses/cars, and use Miramar as an outdoor toilet. The Mayor said he would look into it. The Commissioner was receptive when I spoke to him on the telephone. But an isolated letter here, a sporadic protest there, won't amount to much. A large number of Panjim residents must demand action from the Mayor and his administration for surely there are vested interests sheltering the ghatis. Likewise, villagers must question their Panchayats - ghati hawkers, squatters and encroachers are not a Panjim-only problem. The choice is stark. Either we live the civilized existence we have enjoyed for so long or we let the ghatis turn Panjim - our beautiful Panjim - into another sewer of an Indian city. Warm regards, r -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
