[Goanet] Panjim looks like it is destroyed
Looking around at the roads in Panjim city today Feb 6th was a surreal experience. The whole city looks like it's being systematically destroyed. As each road is being destroyed,the public moves to another route to bypass the destroyed zone, only to find that even before the previous zone is fixed the destruction has spread to the new zones. How are businesses surviving I wonder. How are people who live in and around surviving? It was supposed to be SMART. Instead it is RUINED. Will my beloved Panjim survive this assault?
[Goanet] WATER STAGNATION AT MIRAMAR COASTAL BELT
Just while passing on the Dona Paula - Miramar highway one can see everyday large quantity of water stagnation presumably belonging to church authorities where a board is displayed of SOUTO MAYOR. This area falls just opposite to Landscape Martins Mansion at other side of main road at Caranzalem. The water accumulation is been seen quite a lot especially in this rainy weather as there is no outlet to the river. This area has turned into mosquitoes breathing menace and the residents are been complaining everyday but the authorities are least bothered and turning into Nelson eye. Similarly there are at many areas with similar patches of water accumulation all over Dona Paula where there is no water outlet. Many buildings are been coming up in these coastal low lying areas which should not have been permitted. See this photo of water accumulation at the Souto Mayor area where board is been displayed. Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110 Resident of Dona Paula 11th October 2023
Re: [Goanet] GOANET : HERALD'S E-PAPER TO GO PAID
On Wed, 3 Jan, 2018, 11:06 Stephen Dias, wrote: > Dear Readers of Herald > > The news is spread like fire throughout the state of Goa in this NEW Year > 2018 due to changes have taken place for those who are used to go online > and Herald is the paper which Goans now cannot read online from today > onwards unless the payment is made as per their terms and conditions for > payment procedure. > This was shocking news for all of us. Most of us are used to get up in the > early morning, even at 3 AM or 4 AM onwards and go to the computer to read > the news but surprisingly Herald cannot be accessed if payment is not made > in advance. Those Goans who are settled abroad must have also got the > shocking news or jerk and especially those staying in Gulf, Canada, UK, > Australia, US and other parts of the world will not get the VOICE OF GOA > instantly if payment is not made, and who knows slowly other newspapers > will follow the same system. This will give another jerk for Goans if all > other newspapers follow the same tactics. > Herald said this amount is just a peanut and it cost less than a cup of > tea. Fine, I agree but how many people go for tea in restaurants/cafe's as > they most of them prefer to have tea at home in the morning, but the > newspapers are a usual style for Goans even before brushing teeth to see or > read the paper online.The cost of newspapers in Goa is only Rs 5/- for > Herald, Navhind Times, and others are still less than that. I am not > surprised that this cost also will increase for all the newspapers in days > to come. > New Year started with a bang on Herald to read this paper on LINE which is > so bad? > Will the owner of Herald take it back? All the newspapers get > advertisement enough and thus make their expenses well calculated. This way > Voice of Goa will come down and people may not know what is happening in > Goa until they buy Herald paper through their agents or stalls etc. > Therefore the speed of spreading news fast will be curtailed and hence > people will get used to staying home with no news till lunch break thus NEW > YEAR we can say gave us a set back for those who are accustomed to reading > Herald early in the morning on LINE. > What about writers? why do they not get their pocket money once they > write some articles or letters to the Editor? They too should be given some > benefit since they waste their time and petrol cost for their > bikes/vehicles, photography etc to get the news promptly to the newspapers > and none of the papers so far thought of them except for their usual > columnists who are well satisfied and almost same writers is been > benefitted and not others. Will that trend of payment will start for these > writers? Let all get their benefit of some pocket money including the > owners of newspapers. > > Stephen Dias > Dona Paula > Dat: 3th Jan 2018 > mob: 9422443110 > > > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2018 13:23:33 +0530 > From: Frederick Noronha > To: Goanet > Subject: [Goanet] Herald's epaper to go 'paid' > Message-ID: > < > camcr53k2ore_binx05dsqbujmkq9uo+zibojebnidjspofv...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Herald, the Goa-based newspaper, has announced that its online epaper will > go paid from January 3, 2018. > > It's announcement in its newspaper today showed up on its front page, and > was headlined: "Nominal monthly subscription for Herald's epaper from Jan > 3. At Rs 4.30 per day, Herald requests its family of readers to support its > paper's digital evolution." > > After saying that the paper was being read "in the eastern hemisphere... > (and) in the extreme West of the world" the paper this would help it to > "enhance and maintain the quality of the epaper and at the same time invest > in making the website cutting edge (sic) coupled with additional news > gathering efforts, we need to imbibe the best technology and news gathering > resources." > > FN >
[Goanet] PANJIM MARKET SIDE BUILDING ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING?
Yesterday on Monday I visited the Panjim market to buy fish and to my surprise i saw a sideway building in a very dilapitated condition on the verge of collapsing. There are fishermen below selling fish and public comes to buy it in large quantity who can get injured if this adjoining building collapses. Why CCP or the Government takes it so easy or are they waiting until it collapses to get a new building? Look at this picture attached, which is very serious issue. Hopefully there will not be any tragedy or casuality if it collapses. I request the CCP Commissioner to get this market shifted at a distance or get this building repaired immediately. Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110 Resident of Dona Paula
[Goanet] Request to stop public vehicles entering into this Panjim market road.
Dear Commissioner CCP-GOA DEAR SIR My request to you to stop public vehicles entering in the fish market road in Panjim. I see many people coming to buy fish with 2 and 4 wheelers in this busy road. Can you stop these vehicles entering in this road and make it pedestrians only? May be RTO be informed on the request of public? Probably certain vehicles/ trucks may be allowed only early morning before 5 or 6 am and late evening after 10 pm for unloading stock for sale. We, the public request you to issue necessary orders or instructions to concerned authorities immediately for easy shopping. Stephen Dias Panjimite
[Goanet] DONA PAULA CIRCLE AT CHAOS
Dear Editors Local Newspapers I am resident of Dona Paula and I am now in 80s. Let me express first that during Portuguese era the tourists were almost negligible and slowly started caching up the trend and now is nearing saturation and definetely by Christmas the crowd will be untorable for motorist to move the city. I think those days are gone. Today I had to struggle so much even to complete a round of this Dona Paula circle. Then I saw 3 policemen standing together at the side of Police check post. I decided to convey my grievance to them. I told them that these tourists are crowding the circle and the road. They are not local but from neigbouring states who are roaming at any direction. Even to urinate the tourists could not find any toilet nearby, and they had to use a nearby building wall through a private plot. My request to the Government is to be alert right now as we are at October month and GOD only knows what will happen by Christmas. Will the authorities take this as input from me so as to improve the situation at least for Panjim if not Dona Paula as Christmas season is round the corner. Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula 9422443110 Date 1st October 2023
[Goanet] CARANZALEM GARDEN IS IN FOOLS PARADISE
Dear Editors Herald, Navhind Times and Gomantak Times. Sirs, Please publish in your newspaper that all gardens in the city are in very bad shape and needs attention. Public cannot relax neither enjoy the fresh breeze. It looks like it is meant for cows, dogs and other animals. The plants have grown up above our men height. This place was so beautiful that we could see the Sun set and Moon behaviour. CCP should inspect and get the work done immediately as Christmas is approaching. I had visitors from UK and they wanted to see our city garden especially from Caranzalem as they are Goans and had a good opinion of this particular garden. I could not show them as the situation in the garden is meant for playing cards or drinking DARU or else i have to tell lies that i will show them later. Meanwhile i have informed the CCP officials to keep up this garden in good condition. Look at one of photograh taken just yesterday. Hope the Panchayat or CCP whoever is interested must get the work done immediately before my UK visitors leave to their country. Also other gardens please. Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110
[Goanet] PROUD INDIA OR PROUD BHARAT?
Lots of controversy has erupted in the print media in these days in regards to proud India or proud Bharat for no reason at all. Foreigners abroad knows our country as India and not Bharat. It gives a negative impact as foreigners knows the word Bharat as CHEAP which is a translation from Portuguese language as SOVAI . If anybody wants to modify their name there is a procedure which takes time to be implemented with several formalities and approvals. I repeat we are not cheap Bharat in India. Please lets us keep this word India which is in the map of the world and not Bharat. Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110 Date 8th November 2023
[Goanet] CHALLANS FOR POT HOLES?
CHALLANS FOR POT HOLES? BY STEPHEN DIAS SOCIAL ACTIVIST DONA PAULA 9422443110 There are people especially in particular a renowned doctor who has targetted Fr. BOLMAX for his words uttered by him even after his appologies. Such doctors should concentrate in treating such patients in their clinic instead of targetting Fr. Bolmax on issue which is not his domain. There are number of back bone cases in town as people while driving two wheelers keep on falling and injuring their back bones. People have no business advicing Fr. Bolmax what he should talk and what he should not talk. Now traffic police have started issuing challans for two wheelers on this pretext of our bad roads thus making a good revenue to the exchequer. We dont know when these roads and pavements in town will be repaired which is a million dollar question.
[Goanet] ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEN RUPEES NOTES
ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEN RUPEES NOTES STEPHEN DIAS SOCIAL ACTIVIST 9422443110 BAY VIEW DONA PAULA 5TH AUGUST 2023 THE reluctance of the RBI to print ten rupees notes which is used by the common men in a big way is uncalled for. It may be stressed that the common men use in a big way this denomination for their daily purchased for necessary items which cost just ten rupees each or less or has to be given as change. It should also to be noted that the ten rupees coin which is being minted although lasting may eventually go out of circulation if the value of the metal used to mint this coin eventually becomes more than ten rupees it is worth thus leading to the fact that has occurred before that that these coins are melted so that the metal value is made use of this action by the people who melt it cannot be curbed and thus the ten rupee coin which is quite heavy weighing grammes could shortly be worth more for the metal used than ten rupees and hence go out of circulation. Also the higher the number of coins of Rs. Ten minted, the higher will be the shortage if melted for the value of the metal. The RBI should print Rs. 10/- notes to avoid this acute shortage of Rs. 10/- notes that is presently in circulation causing great inconvenience to the common men. Banks of all states and Union Territories in India should be immediately be replenished with Rs 10/- notes to streamline its circulation, and replace torn and soiled notes. END
[Goanet] BHOSLE SQUARE BUILDINGS ARE NOT AT ALL SAFE
Dear Editor Herald Sir, Everyday I go for a cup of tea at Cafe Bhonsle. I noticed that number of buildings near this Cafe are not safe. Today i saw a ladder with number of workers on the job of repairing the relatively tall dilapitated building sideways. We customers all feel this particular building is on the verge of collapsing. I enquired with some shop owners at the ground level of the Cafe Bhosle building who are still running their business there if they are not concerned and they say that they have left to Divine Providence. But customers of this Cafe Bhosle are more worried that any time this building which is in danger may collapse and fall on them. (see two photos taken today on 10th July). Look at the condition of this building for assessment. It is shocking that repairs are being attempted in the rains instead of being done more in advance. Recently on 5th July an adjacent shop which was given on rent had a short circuit and whole shop was burnt including their new furniture. ( also see this photo). I enquired with many shops close by whether CCP or Government authorities approached them to shift in case of any eventuality. They said none of these government officials nor even Collector has approached them. Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110 Dona Paula 10th July 2023
[Goanet] SMART CITY FUNDS NOT UTILIZED PRUDENTLY
SMART CITY FUNDS NOT UTILIZED PRUDENTLY STEPHEN DIAS SOCIAL WORKER 9422443110 1st June 2023 The money allocated for Smart City works has not been used judiciously and the work undertaken was not conducted in a methodical manner with the result that Panaji is going to suffer. All along most usual routes unprecedented flooding especially if on certain days the rainfall amounts to 4 to 5 inches in any 24 hour period continuously as even the Tidal effect will not come to the much rescue. It is known that on certain days in the month of July, it pours badly and thus flooding will definitely occur. Each of the responsible authorities such as the CM, Panaji MLA, CCP MAYOR have surprisingly uttered almost divergent views with no allowance to apportion blame upon themselves thus deflecting responsibility as Panaji residents suffer. The PWD Minister has been judicious in his comments, but for this year's monsoon anyway the damage has been done. However, praise has to beefed upon the belatedly appointed IPSCDL head for having with a great deal of knowledge done a commendable job in a short time towards diminishing the harm done by contractors who had no knowledge of local realities. If the money had been used judiciously Panaji could have at least shown signs of being a Smart City. Over emphasis on a sewerage network that did not address the discharge of raw sewage into the St. Inez Creek and Mala area has led to negligence in apportioning prudently a more diverse use of the sanctioned amount, which would have benefitted the capital city in a better manner. An important high level probe has to be conducted and charges framed against the guilty. --x- Dear Menino Which email is correct Sir? Stephen Dias
[Goanet] DAYANAND BANDODKAR ROAD UNDER STRESS
-- Forwarded message - From: Stephen Dias Date: Sun, 19 Mar, 2023, 16:30 Subject: DAYANAND BANDODKAR ROAD UNDER STRESS To: Joel Afonso , , editor Cc: commissioner , U.P. Parsekar < pce-pwd@nic.in> DAYANAND BANDODKAR ROAD UNDER STRESS STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 9422443110 DAYANAND BANDODKAR ROAD UNDER STRESS Dayanand Bandodkar road has been recently renovated with a fresh thick asphalt all along the Miramar to Panjim highway road. Hopefully this asphalt mixture is of good quality otherwise it will come up.
[Goanet] MIRAMAR CIRCLE WORK ON UPGRADATION
MIRAMAR CIRCLE WORK ON UPGRADATION STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 9422443110 2nd March 2023 I was told GSUDA is now active on two important issues in Panjim in recent times one is at Miramar circle and other is at Campal Stadium grounds under Smart City Mission. At Miramar circle its garden is likely to be renovated. The tiling work around the circle I assumed was never attended since Portuguese left Goa. The surroundings of this circle had cemented tiling covers for the water drainage accumulated due to regular spraying of garden and the rains. Its outlet was supposed to go in front of Pergola through a duct where there was expectation that the water would be absorbed by the sand on the beach. I feel this duct at the circle which was opened needs to be closed permanently as it doesn't serve any purpose. But no one understood the volume of water over the years accumulation on road due to rains. There was not even a rudimentary canal taking the water to the river and no one attempted to fix this over the years which is why Miramar circle area near the PERGOLA gets inundated once the rains start as there is no outlet for this water to go anywhere. Few days back, one fine morning the CCP and the Smart City personnel decided to attend to the titling work which we see now the cemented covers are lifted for maintenance and the whole circle is in a mess. (see the photo). Ex-Mayor Surendra Furtado and was candidate in this area used to raise the issue that this water gets accumulated due to non leveling of the drain to Panjim side and the problem of inundation is seen to nearby colonies. Campal colony is the main target to get affected and luckily there is a pond which gets filled during the rain. Also the other side of road there is another colony called Indoor stadium and their residents are also equally affected due to this overflow coming from Miramar circle. This flooding could be avoided if proper leveling is done to direct the water to a now existing new drain. We have now another dumpyard area which is converted into a mountain hill at Campal Football Stadium where all the mud extracted from nearby sideway road recently upgraded and this mud was recently dumped into this so called Campal football stadium. I have just visited recently this Campal ground and found a number of trucks making trips belonging to GSUDA under the banner of BCPL are plying to clear the mess. Casually I inquired about the foundation stone which was inaugurated many years back of our Ex Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and attended by high dignitaries which was existing at the corner of Campal football stadium. And surprisingly those supervisors of GSUDA at this site told me that foundation stone is missing and most probably been lifted for safety purpose as mud and pipes might have been dumped over it or taken to GSUDA premises. Hearing this, the million dollar question in my mind is whether this Campal Stadium will ever be turned back into a Footbal stadium? Stephen Dias
[Goanet] PANJIM NEEDS TO BE REVIVE
PANJIM NEEDS TO BE REVIVE BY STEPHEN DIAS 6 DONA PAULA 9422443110 26th February 2023 The city of Panjim was once superior to most of other cities in India, sadly it has become one of the worst currently. Many leaders who are non qualified are meddling with the organisation with the city affairs without experience. Many of those leaders who are in the CCP panel have vast experience but they were shunted out or not been consulted and not even taken into confidence in matters of improvement of the city. A new comer who is dictating terms in the CCP suddenly decided the city needs to revive by digging all the roads in Panjim. The old types of government department cables which were deployed haphazardly in one drain, are been put now into a big diameter pipes without analysing which department these cables belong to. This will certainly create a huge problem once any fault occurs and once again digging will have to start for detecting the fault. The actual pioneers of building this city started in the year of 1542 during the tenure of Bishop Gaspar Leao Pereira and the city went on improving with other leaders who took also the initiative and managed the welfare of the city until the Portuguese came to Goa. The Portuguese also continued to look after the city and achieved more progress. I was told they have left some documents and plans of how the storm water drains were routed to reach the River Mandovi. But these plans have never been followed in current times and seem to be missing. I remember during my childhood they made trenches or drains near Esso petrol pump at Portais, Fontainhas near Archives, at Old Pwd office, Congress House, one more near Custom house, another near Collectorate, BAL Bhavan and lastly at Miramar. Since the digging has been executed haphazardly recently all over the city I expect the exact positions to be drawn in their map by Contractors to be submitted to the City Corporation of Panjim for all Panjimite to see. I have just noticed yesterday a duct near the Printing Press when the excavation was going on by the current contractors and I casually questioned the supervisors and one engineer present at the scene about a open visible duct there. I asked where this is routed. The engineer told me that this is going to River Mandovi. I asked how he came to know and he claimed that he put a wire and saw that it goes to the river. I asked whether he really had such a long and thick wire but he didn't like my questioning and left the site with his team. What is my point is if this trench had to reach the river then it would have to pass below the Printing Press building, Police Headquarters and the Institute Menezes Braganza building. Since these buildings appears to be constructed much later, no maintenance was possible and surely must have been clogged. The current contractors might have seen several similar trenches or drains all along where they are been digging in Panjim and unfortunately I don't think they have been keeping a record of such trenches if they have come across. We are missing a fantastic opportunity to identify the old drainage system that may help fix flooding issues and may help prevent subsidence issues. I am sure if the present records are not maintained the situation will aggravate and future leaders in the CCP are going to face even more problems. I supposed whatever digging work has been done and pipes laid down, hopefully the drawing records will be available and not disappear as the Portuguese records seem to have. Will they keep these for the public scrutiny in case Panjimites would like to see? Stephen
[Goanet] Issue Feb 25 2023.pdf
Please check the attachment Shared from WPS Office: https://kso.page.link/wps
[Goanet] Let Goa not be sacrificed on Mahdei
-- Forwarded message - From: ELVIDIO MIRANDA Date: Mon, 30 Jan, 2023, 08:32 Subject: Let Goa not be sacrificed on Mahdei To: steve.dia...@gmail.com Let Goa not be sacrificed on Mahdei! Elvidio Miranda The BJP government in India is inebriated with the politics of power at any costs throwing responsible governance to the winds. The statement by the Home Minister that the Mahdei water dispute is resolved is solely in order to win in the Karnataka elections. The Home Minister is trying to play a double role for the purpose of political gains. The matter is sub-judice and thus the Home Minister should not have made this statement until the Supreme Court gives a verdict. This is a clear instance of trying to lead the Supreme Court which is not allowed even in the Courts. It must be recalled that the people of Karnataka gave a mandate to the Congress and that the BJP engineered defection and formed a government against the democratic mandate of the people. The same happened in Madhya Pradesh where the clear mandate was for the Congress that had formed a government there and again the lust for power made the BJP to infringe and form a government. The people of Goa have voted in majority numbers against a minority government and have through dubious means broken the Congress party in Goa for the second time. Will the Opposition and the people of Goa not fight in order to restore the water flow of the Madhei into Goan rivers? It is known that Karnataka is a big state with about 28 Lok Sabha seats and that Goa has only two seats. Is this the reason why the Centre is going to make Goa the sacrificial lamb? Until the Home Minister stated the Chief Minister of Goa had maintained a deafening silence for which if he is betraying the wishes of the people of Goa, he should resign. How long is the Chief Minister of Goa going to remain a puppet in the hands of the Centre? A fair and equitable solution to the Madhei issue that does not compromise Goa's interests should be the solution.
[Goanet] TACO BELL
TACO BELL STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 27th December 2022 942244310 A newly opened restaurant namely TACO BELL which is in the midway from Miramar to Hotel Mandovi is not having adequate parking facilities. I saw people parking in opposite road footpath and entering this restaurant TACO Bell for eating the snacks. Also there is another 5 star restaurant some few metres away called Mac Donald also having no parking facilities. I wonder who gives them approvals to run these restaurants without parking facilities. I have written very often about Mac Donald for traffic congestion but the authorities have ignored even the press statement. Another serious issue which I noticed is at the Goa Saras 2022 - 23 exhibition and sale of rural SNG products at Campal grounds which started on 20th December for 10 days duration organised by District Rural Development agency, Government of GOA that the front stalls are issued to other states clients and Goans were given rear stalls. They all told me that their business is totally low and few of them have lost to earn anything even their cost of travelling from North Goa could not be achieved and their products are not been sold after working day and night. I feel this is a bad planning to favor Non Goans businesses. The parking of vehicles were seen on adjacent footpath when enough place was available on ground. This job should have been entrusted to Smart City organizers as they claim they are keeping this city of Panjim at the top position. The whole Miramar from Samadhi till Hotel Mandovi and further, the area is in Mess with Casinos in River Mandovi, jetties suffocated with heavy constructions. I see no proper coordination within the electricity department, Forest, Kala Academy, navigation department, agriculture, PWD, CCP and Panchayat. End Stephen Dias 9422443110 Panjimite and Resident at Dona Paula 27th December 2022
[Goanet] PANJIM ROADS TO HELL
Nowhere in the world will have roads in the city like we have in Panaji Goa. Wherever you go, you find digging and digging with JCBs and some places the depth of holes are more than 3 metres deep without exaggerating and it continues its deep passages quite a long distance especially at areas near Municipal Garden near Cine Nacional, Panjim church, St Inez, Tonca, Lal Bhavan, Panjim cemetery, and Taleigao etc There is not a single road clear for us for motoring our vehicles at ease. When I plan to go to buy in a particular shop we need to plan which route I must take and wherever you reach the road is closed and go on taking all the routes until you get fed up. Waste of petrol, vehicles suspension damaged and by the time you reach home the clothes are turned red. This is our situation of Panaji city which our Government still thinks to make this city as SMART CITY. Several cables and pipes are seen in these holes and I am sure they must have been by now damaged and very soon within a year again the same digging and breaking the road will continue that means this Panjim will always remain in the same state. Luckily this government have labourers from outside state to work as our Goenkar have left to London and other parts of world for better prospects. These same outsiders workers they start searching places to sleep and plans to rob our houses. What a disgusting situation we are facing in Panaji? Instead of taking up the repairs in phase manner they have damaged all over the city these roads. And our Chief Minister still chanting to the people of Goa BIUPACHI GOROZ NAM. Enclosed few photograhs Stephen Dias DONA PAULA Panjimite 9422443110 7th December 2022
[Goanet] SEE THE GARBAGE AT CAMPAL NEAR FOOTPATH OF CHOWGULE SHOWROOM OR CLOSER TO CAMPAL BEACH RESORT THAT TOO WHEN IFFI IS GOING ON.
Shame, Shame to Government
[Goanet] CCP HAS NO CONTROL ON CONTRACTOR?
CCP HAS NO CONTROL ON THEIR CONTRACTOR? STEPHEN DIAS 9422443110 20TH November 2022 This is a clear cheating done by CCP Contractor on work entrusted to their Contractor for a drainage work near BAL BHAVAN. Many months back the public have seen quite number of cables protruding in the air near Bal Bhavan other side of road closer to Parade ground and when Panjimite and the vehicular drivers made noise quickly they closed the drain area and directed this drain towards other side of this religious tree after closure with the cement blocks. The work continued from the other side of Bal Bhavan and again more number of cables belonging to various government department were found in a mixed arrangements. The CCP Contractor carried with the work after closure of drain. This drain was suppose to direct the storm water into the river Mandovi. When I happened to see this job of drainage of storm water is not culminating in the River, I questioned the Contractor who told me lies that he was asked by CCP to connect to the chamber nearby which he quickly closed the drain and left as it is ( see the photo) and possibly pocketed the money after closure of drain gutter. I am sure that neither the CCP or the Contractor knows the canal going to the river Mandovi as CCP has no proper plans possibly non existing with the authorities. This drain is seen unattended upto a certain point fooling the public that the job is completed. Since the rains have stopped the contractor is lucky that there is no overflowing of water near the end of drainage work but it will surface only during next monsoon. Public can see the photograh clicked by me allegedly pretending to be as chamber which shows that the Contractor has completely cheated the CCP authorities.
[Goanet] Fwd: Please report with photo
-- Forwarded message - From: Stephen Dias Date: Sat, 12 Nov, 2022, 10:56 Subject: Please report with photo To: Joel Afonso Cc: , editor Dear Editor Joel Please see the debris of a vehicle which was burnt on this highway Bambolim to Dona Paula on 21st Sept 2021 and the broken glasses are still lying in the same place opposite the residence of Minister of health Viswajit Rane compound wall. That means the CCP nor Taleigao Panchayat didn't bother to clean the area. Many people had their vehicle tyres punctured including mine which happened yesterday after taking so much care. Who knows whether this whole highway was cleaned by the authorities all this time. This photo clicked by me today 12th Nov 2022 More photos Enclosed in your whatshap. Stephen Dias 9422443110 12th Nov 2022
[Goanet] FOUNDATION STONES IN PANAJI?
FOUNDATION STONES IN PANAJI STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 9422443110 6th October 2022 It has become a trend for politicians to install foundation stones for several reasons especially for a brigde, building construction, garden, religious structure installation etc are planned to come up. During the tenure of Parrikar there still exist foundation stones which are still lying idle with no output whatsoever. For example there is one foundation laid down at Campal stadium and other near Patto at Ourem side opposite Ninho Infantil at the petrol pump and both are not been put of any use. In fact the one near Campal stadium there are a dozen of damaged vehicles near this foundation stone in dilapidated condition where crows and other animals seen loitering around this particular stone. The other one near Petrol pump close to Ninho Infantil is almost the stone itself disappeared from this locality. Now, I have seen a plaque has come up for a walking bridge opposite Archives and other plaque other side of bridge for inauguration for pedestrians to walk from Patto to Ourem road. Both these plaques reads as Foundation stones and Inaugural stone with number of VIP names embossed in it. I was told the one which has Parrikar name plaque allegedly never existed in that point but was named after Parrikar foundation stone possibly of the one which existed near Petrol pump about 50 metres distance near the Water resources building. This bridge has been recently inaugurated with pomp. Now, my question is how many such walking bridges needs to be construction for people to walk from Ourem road to Patto? One is already existed during Portuguese regime which was named as Ponte de Linhares, other one is a bridge for people who comes from Corde de Oiteiro and this new one which is just inaugurated is of another 50 metres distance of high technology costing several crores near the Archives also for people to walk from Patto. Why such expenditure is needed when we Panjimites have number of problems and GSIDC are not been able to repair till now the roads which are in dilapidated condition having pot holes and they claim that Panjim is a Smart City. We see whole Panjim city are dugged up with several trenches and drains clogged with no outlet of rain water to go to Mandovi river with water stagnation everywhere. First preference should have taken for such emergency situation rather than constructing such bridges within 50 metres distance for pedestrians coming from Patto to Ourem road. Stephen Dias
[Goanet] RESUME MINING WITH STRICT MONITORING
RESUME MINING WITH STRICT MONITORING STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 9422443110 5th October 2022 IF mining is to be started in Goa, a fool-proof and comprehensive monitoring of mining activities should be in place with measures such that no space is allowed for illegal mining that was the reason why mining was stopped by the Supreme Court in 2012 and in the M B Shah Commission unearthed illegal mining to the tune of Rs. 35000 crores. A compact inventory of ores at each mine should be estimated so that grade-wise mining may take place under the hawk eyes of strict officials of the Mining Corporation to be formed. Absolutely no margin should be allowed for illegalities to take place by prior knowledge of quantums of ores being calculated with precision. The Mining Corporation should be given complete access to monitor mining activities unfettered. If the exact amount of ores have been estimated grade-wise, there will be no margin for evasion of taxes as leviable ore amount will be known in advance. It would also be prudent that in advance exhausted mines should not be abandoned but should be put to use and restored, which should be mandatory. Ideally, from the proceeds?? activity, every household should be paid a mining dividend as profits should be payable to all Goans.
[Goanet] DANGEROUS ENTRY NEAR SBI E-CORNER ATM
Dear Editors The public specially the senior citizens, ladies are finding entry into this SBI ATM near Secretariat to have transaction or withdrawal of money at this ATM. Because the trench made by Contractor to lay the pipelines has not provided a wooden plank for their customers to use their ATM. The photo shows the danger in case a senior citizen or ladies tries to jump to enter into this ATM. The security guard has requested the Contractor to provide a plank which he replied it is not their job. SBI must take action on the Contractor for not providing a temporary plank for their customers to use a ATM. Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110 25th Sept 2022
[Goanet] ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAYS DUE TO DISTRACTION OF ADVERTISEMENT BOARDS
Breaking news in Dona Paula today on 21st Sept morning around 13.00hrs this car was seen opposite the NIO colony/temple in flames and totally 100% burnt. Nothing is known so far its reasons. Glass pieces are all around the car. See the photograhs taken by me today itself. I have been stressing all the time the advertising boards must be restricted on highways which causes distraction to traffic drivers and the occupants in the car. These boards are seen fixed mostly on electric poles, compound walls and trees. I have attached few photograhs of these advertisements boards from Dona Paula to Panjim and Dona Paula to Bambolim both on highways. Concerned authorities must restrict or not allow them to install these boards which are the main cause for accidents. Below are the photograhs Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110
[Goanet] GOA GOVT MUST FIND DOGS ISLANDS FOR STRAY DOGS MENACE
SC asks Kerala Govt to find solution to stray dog menace, NGO suggests 'dog islands' http://dhunt.in/Bmqb8?s=a=0x0c8129cd3989c5a2=wsp Source : "CNBCTV18" via Dailyhunt
[Goanet] Refer TOI news report by ExMayor Furtado
First he should get rid of buffaloes, cows, dogs and rats. Second the paver blocks should be of uniform design having minimum aperture. Third we get bad tourists and they are the cause of garbage and bottles being inserted into these paver blocks' holes. Fourth Miramar to Panjim gutters are not having proper level for rain water to go to the Mandovi river. Fifth trees, leaves and branches should be cleared periodically. Sixth Asphalting of roads has increased the road level and flooding results. This has to be rectified before tender is placed. Seventh Government should make mandatory at the time of construction to have their own garbage system. Eight Penalty to imposed on defaulters who create the garbage and parking vehicles on footpath. Ninth businesses on footpath must be reduced or stopped. Tenth Heavy trucks and Buses to stop plying in cities and use small vehicles to transport goods to city market. Consulting NIO and IMD will not help much to relieve load in the drains as advised by ex Mayor Surendra Furtado. Stephen Dias Retired NIO Officer 12th Sept 2022 Enclosed Photos of stray animals at Miramar beach today 12th Sept 2022
[Goanet] MAJESTIC PRIDE CASINO POSTERS ON ELECTRIC POLES
MAJESTIC PRIDE CASINO POSTERS ON ELECTRIC POLES STEPHEN DIAS 9.9.2022 9422443110 DONA PAULA YESTERDAY on 8th September when I had gone to pharmacy to buy medicines in APOLLO pharmacy at St. INEZ, I saw a pick up vehicle fully loaded with posters belonging to Casino Majestic Pride. The workers with the folding ladder were on the job to fix their posters on electric poles. I have quickly clicked the photos enclosed herewith for my record. This job started at 7 pm and continued till midnight. Today, again I saw them carrying out the same work. I asked the Contractor who had a fleet of outsider workers seen climbing with ladder and installing on poles. I stopped my vehicle and asked the Contractor who was a Goan. What is the reason behind it, and fixing on electric poles? They were seen all over Tiswadi from Bambolim, Dona Paula, Miramar and Panjim. He said he was given a job by Casino Majestic Pride management. I asked whether permission from electrical department was obtained. He replied that the Government has approved and the tender has been floated. I demanded to show me if he has any proof. He showed the data on his mobile which I quickly glanced and there was two approvals one from CCP signed by Taxation officer with no name and other one from Electricity department. He refused to forward to me. I said why again such a quantity of posters being loaded in two vehicles. His said the order was from Casino Pride and since earlier instalation was incomplete also the sequence of posters needed to be corrected. Last question was, why these outsiders workers are given these jobs and not Goans. He said locals refused to do this kind of work.
[Goanet] PORTUGUESE PASSPORT EFFECT ON GOA POLLS
PORTUGUESE PASSPORT EFFECT ON GOA POLLS Stephen Dias, Dona Paula 9422443110 15th July 2022 The Portuguese government in their abundant largesse has to be praised for having kept a window of opportunity, so that sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters of those whose birth were registered in Goa on or before 19th December, 1961 could acquire Portuguese nationality and thus find lucrative employment in especially the United Kingdom as well as to a certain extent, in France. Several tens of thousands of Goan youth are now employed in Europe and they mostly hail from South Goa as well as places such as Siridao, Agasaim, Santa Cruz and Merces in particular. However, alas, since these Portuguese passport holders relinquished the right to vote in Goa on surrendering their Indian passports, by a conservative estimate, in the past 15-20 years about 4-5 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral rolls in Goa with the result that a sizeable percentage of the Goan electorate has shrunk. Make no mistake about it, these 4-5 lakh voters were mostly supporters of the Congress in Goa and so the support base of the Congress has reduced considerably thus resulting in the defeat of the Congress even though Congress till the 2017 Assembly polls managed to garner 17 MLAs. It is very difficult to apportion responsibility and blame for this turn of events because the youth who chose to migrate to Europe in particular were not able to find gainful employment in Goa and thus were left with no other choice then to acquire Portuguese nationality and thus earn their livelihoods in foreign shores. End
[Goanet] Panaji potholes and bad roads
PANAJI POTHOLES AND BAD ROADS BY Stephen Dias Social Worker and Panjimite 1st July 2022 9422443110 PANAJI having bad roads with pot holes and water accumulation on roads is a perennial problem which cannot be set right by any government now in power or in future because they refuse to use their best efforts. This situation is alarming when the rains are approaching and whatever has been repaired get washed out. There are two reasons for it which will never be learnt by any of the government authorities. One is that tenders are given late just before the monsoon, and second, the material used for filling these potholes is substandard. Ministers play a blame game just to show the public they are trying to improve or control the authorities -- one is the PWD and another is CCP but all of them are least bothered as long as their pockets are filled. They never supervise or send their staff to these locations where work is going on. So as usual the work is done haphazardly, resulting in the same condition or even worse after a short period of time. The public is always at the receiving end and although newspapers are continuously raising these issues, unfortunately the same system of delay and bad work continues to exist. Asphalt or the material used needs to be of high quality and this issue will resolve itself if the full or part of the payment is kept pending for certain years until the work performed proves to be good and then only release the payment. Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula 9422443110 1st July 2022 > > > > >
[Goanet] PANJIM SMART CITY OR NO SMART CITY
PANJIM SMART CITY OR NO SMART CITY We Dona Paula residents and others who are venturing to go to the City of Panjim have two routes, one is via Caranzalem - Tonca road and other via the 'outer' Miramar road. We, bike riders, usually prefer to go via Tonca as it is convenient because of less sunlight, less traffic and now during rainy season you can get shelter if it is raining. For many people especially residents of Dona Paula we take this route. Now it so happen we find the road is blocked for traffic including pedestrians near the St Ines bridge. I have enquired when this road will be motorable and many of those residing there told me it won't be completed by this year at least. The CCP authorities especially the Mayor promised that he will be monitoring its progress but instead it appears that the work plan increased so much that the bridge is totally blocked with barricades. I feel if Parrikar was there he would surely find a solution so that some part of the bridge would have taken for repairs in phased manner. If this work takes so long, it shows our present engineers at CCP could not think of interest of public. Now there is no other way but to join the outer road via Dhempe college road or if I forget I go further and than have to come back via Salgaokar college. I have made it a habit not to use the outer road as I was many times blocked near the Sharad Mandir school because of the heavy traffic near this school and no chance to get out from this traffic. The school should have been shifted away from this place to Taleigao, Bambolim or elsewhere. Currently in the rains the outer road is also a hazard for people on bikes like me because of the water that collects everywhere and that is splashed all over us by cars that pass by. Can this city of Panjim be called a Smart City? This city has been deteriorating so much and nothing has been done by GSIDC or Government to help this city. It is only in name that Panjim is upgraded as Smart City. What new things have come is road signage, high and low, giving news or instruction to motorists/public. Some say it is a distraction for vehicular traffic to read while driving and can cause accidents. There are some changes taken place at Miramar as gardens and recreation for children has come up. However, mostly tourists are impressed with it and not locals. The authorities seem to think that approving high rise buildings is all that is required to have a smart city. We can even see 12-storey buildings at low lying areas which are causing increasing floods. GOD forbid if there is no proper foundation. Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110 26.6.2022
[Goanet] REQUEST TO GOVERNOR OF GOA
Your Excellency Governor of Goa Attn Mr Pillai Today's 23th June 2022 news in front page of Herald that you were impressed of working of this publication printing press at Verna in the Goan spirits and I am happy that you have praised this paper which is of high standard. No doubt this paper gives all factual information and correct news without any influence or interference from the Government. In the same way, I would request your Excellency to look after the deteriorating electrical supply to the housing in Dona Paula area where their all mains transformers wherever installed are in dilapidated condition having broken doors and fuses completely open which can cause electrocution as 11 KV supply comes to their transformer. The below photo can be seen at Sagar Society the Mains Transformer box with no doors and lying in this condition for several years. You must be aware that we in Dona Paula has no steady or regular supply and always interrupted. Why the CE does not plan to shift this overhead wires into underground? Stephen Dias 9422443110 Resident of Bayview Dona Paula 23th June 2022
[Goanet] GOANS NEEDS LOWERING FEES FOR RENEWAL OF GUN LICENCES BY GOVERNOR MR PILLAI
Honourable Governor of Goa Your Excellency Dear Pillai A request is coming from Goans who are holding guns of ancestral era. At that time the renewal fees were less than Rs. 100 and all of a sudden it has increased to Rs 3060 during Manohar Parrikar tenure when he was Chief Minister of Goa. These guns were manufactured in foreign countries especially in Belgium under Browning make and were also sold other European countries. Since these guns cannot made use for any purpose but only has been preserved as sentimental value. Hence Goans request our Excellency Governor of Goa Mr. PILLAI to bring back the original renewal fees of Rs 100 as it has become a burden to pay such high fees. My friends many owners of these guns have suggested to write to Governor to consider this request. Hope you will do the needful Sir. Stephen Dias 9422443110 Resident of Dona Paula 12th May 2022
[Goanet] Pramod Sawant's saffron avatar
Dear Alexandre Kindly publish this letter Stephen Dias Pramod Sawant seems to be working overtime to convince his 'masters' and his vote bank that he is nothing more than a dyed-in-the-wool saffron RSS bigot. Perhaps he has realized that he owes his position to a party that has a proven track-record of promoting those who show fascist thinking. The Pramod Sawant we see now has been brainwashed by his training in the RSS philosophy and like his other brainwashed brethren, has lost his ability to think for himself. Like the blind leading the blind, he allows his Fuhrer to tell him what to think and do. And being the cowards they are, the only thing they can do is use violence against the poor and weak, who are unable to stand up to their intimidation tactics. Let me say this. In the past, before India was united into the country it is now, external aggression was common and the Mughals and later Europeans controlled the county for large periods of time. The seeds of dissension were sowed long before, but especially courtesy of the British Divide and Rule concept, unity was a hard-fought-for prize. It took brave men like Tilak, Gandhiji, Patel, Nehru to unite us so that we could show a united face to our colonialists. If it was not for them, Britain would never have given India its independence. It fell on the shoulders of these great men to lead the country in its infancy. People like Bhimrao Ambedkar, whose birthday we all celebrated on 14th April just a few days ago, was given the job of drafting the Constitution. And it was due to his wisdom that India has a modern, secular, democratic Constitution. It is because of these strong roots of freedom and equality that India has made such great progress compared to its neighbours. Unfortunately, in the last decade of Fascism that India has been subjected to, we have swiftly slipped from the status of a developing nation to even below countries like Bangladesh. I am a Catholic and the Constitution allows me freedom to profess and practice my faith. Hinduism is an age-old way of life and practice in our country and it is as old as mankind itself as it evolved with time and over the years. My ancestors were probably Hindus until they along with many others were probably converted to Christianity after the conquest of Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque. Many of those converted in Goa were the Sudras and other tribes who were exploited by the Marathas and the Brahmins. Many Chardos also converted, perhaps for better prospects. However the upper caste Brahmins were not oppressed and in fact remained part of the elite. This I remember as I grew up in those days. Soon the last of us who actually lived through those times may not be left to give witness and then the government will be unimpeded in their quest to re-write history. A very dangerous thing indeed. I have to hope that honest and thorough researchers will keep the truth burning bright. One very interesting article I read online recently by Amita Kanekar - "Shaiva v/s Vaishnava in Portuguese Goa" - for instance gives a detailed account of provable facts showing the positive dynamic between upper class Hindus and the British. In hindsight, even though my ancestors might have been converted, I have no regrets and prefer to remain a Catholic, and much more importantly, to try and always be a good and ethical person, because it appeals to my reason and intellect. It is disgusting that a Chief Minister is debasing himself and getting into a 'tu tu main main' over the religious beliefs of Catholics, Muslims and other religions. Of course he is only bothered about Ghar wapsi of people back to Hinduism. A person who does not respect the secular values enshrined in our Constitution is a misfit as a CM of any state of the republic. Every religion has had a dark history and must be forgiven for the distant past. We have to move forward doing the best we can from today. This dark past is true for Hinduism also. Dear Mr. Pramod Sawant, Hinduism has been modified and made acceptable by abolishing Sati and thus saving lakhs of widows who otherwise were forced to immolate themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands. Also the ugly practice of child marriage was banned. The exploitation of the backwards, low caste dalits who did the work of scavengers was stopped. Your belief in the existence of forced conversions in the past does not mean you can take away the free will of people today. Let everyone choose their religion and their practices. Pramod Sawant is obsessed with raking up the ghosts of the past by breaking down places of worship of all other religions. But does he know that as per the Constitution if he is not secular, he cannot continue as CM? Let bygones be bygone and let us all live together in peace and harmony. Let us celebrate the goodness of Christmas, Easter, Ganesh, Diwali, Eid and any other religious festival with gaiety and solemnity. We need all religions to profess equality, b
[Goanet] ILLEGAL CUTTING OF FOOTPATH
ILLEGAL CUTTING OF FOOTPATH BY STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA Received copy of the letter from Directorate of Public Grievances, Government of GOA addressed to PWD to inspect and verify concerns I raised on the subject in my open letter to the Governor to Goa "Illegality at Mathias project footpath broken up to tap Raj Bhavan pipeline". In my letter I had noted that there were concerns that the drinking water supplied to Raj Bhavan appears to be tapped by Mathias construction after breaking a footpath to have access to vehicular traffic at their entrance at two places on the main road originating from Bambolim plateau. It had been observed by Nelson Cabral, Corporator of CCP, that water was seeping out from the road where the pipeline was passing by the society. One likely possibility is that this was due to the Contractor of Mathias tapping into the Governor's drinking water pipeline after breaking through the footpath. I pointed out that this needs to be verified by PWD and they need to inspect the line of Mathias at the meter box to verify if the connection is made which hopefully will now happen. In this context we residents are worried if such illegal connection is being done at multiple locations, especially after taking note of the rapidly multiplying high rise buildings. If such illegal tapping goes unchecked drinking water will be affected to the common people. Already there exists scarcity of water all over Goa with many people in and around Dona Paula having to pay for tankers of water. No matter what the reason - when footpaths are cut without planning and permission, just for the convenience of a high rise society, it deprives pedestrians of a much needed unobstructed walking path. Such multiple exits and entrances cannot be allowed directly onto high speed roads without permissions etc. I have noticed such unplanned footpath cutting all over Panjim, especially in Dona Paula, Caranzalem, Campal, St. INEZ and Miramar etc. Will the PWD please looking this? Stephen Dias Social Activist Dona Paula 9422443110 11.4.2022
[Goanet] Illegal tapping on Governor pipeline?
Received the above letter by post yesterday from Directorate of public grievances on this subject which I have addressed to Governor long ago. That could be an illegal tapping for the drinking water to Raj Bhavan pipeline by Mathias construction. This was based from the inputs received from Nelson Cabral councillor of this area jurisdiction. PWD should inspect the Governor pipeline coming from Bambolim if there exist such illegalities at more places. We, residents in Dona Paula are been facing acute shortage of drinking water which needs to be checked and rectified. Perhaps their water meter may be inspected and if found illegal an action must be initiated. Already two places the footpath is raised at the new entrance of their high rise construction. The Editor must pursue and publish in their Letters to the Editor column. Stephen Dias 10.4.2022 9422443110
[Goanet] CONGRESS PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY
CONGRESS PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY STEPHEN DIAS 9422443110 12. 3.2022 The assembly polls in Goa has thrown up an unusual verdict that though seems to favour the BJP, is still fraught with deficiencies that does not augur well for the incumbent dispensation. Just like in 2017, the BJP polled just a shade over 33% of the vote share, but however it is strike rate improved from 13 to a high of 20, with several close shaves that could been either way. Even now in 2022 election the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was given a scare by Dharmesh Saglani of the Congress. Although on the surface BJP seems to have won comfortable margin but still the victory is jittery inspite of the anti incumbency factor of the Congress and the bad governance of Pramod Sawant in the last term. Digamber Kamat did extremely well for 4 consecutive terms. The AAP party managed to make its baptism in Goa by winning 2 seats. Revolutionary Goans also impressively got one seat MGP with 2 seats and Independents with 3 seats rounded off the tally. However, Michael Lobo of the Congress has a point to prove as he helped win 4 seats out of 7 seats in Bardez. Comparatively, Babush Monserrate trying to tighten his grip on Tiswadi had to be satisfied with just two wins for the BJP. The environmentalist soldier lost to Mauvin Godinho of the BJP on the Congress ticket. I was also disturbed that Elvis Gomes a former Commissioner of CCP was unable to make it to the Goa Assembly from Panjim. He had a reputed knowledge and experience about the needs of the decaying Panjim city. People of Goa would be very sad that a leading environmentalist and Activist Capt Viriato was unable to make it to the Goa Assembly and help mother nature in Goa. Sadly Mauvin Godinho polled 7500 votes but Capt Viriato galantly fought in Dabolim losing with meagre margin.
[Goanet] IS PANJIM A SMART CITY?
In this 21st century this is way the number of lines such Telephone, water, underground electric lines and other heavy cabling are laid down closely all together? When one of the line is attended by a worker for repair work, he is bound to damage other lines thus making it difficult to other department workers to find the fault. Then again digging? How many times Panjim roads will have to cut? Is this so called Smart City of Panaji? Suggestion: 1. Get all department officials together and plan to execute the work with minimum damage. 2. Why not have a bigger conduit strong pipe where these lines can be passed separately and safely? 3. Proper mapping of cabling lines drawings must be supplied to all these department for record. 4. High tension lines ( HT) must be completely separate from all these lines to avoid electrical leakage which can cause electrocution or death to these workers. This photo is just opposite to Apollo St. INEZ PHARMACY Stephen Dias Social Activist 9422443110 22.2.2022 Note May be published in Citizen Herald
[Goanet] STRAY DOGS MESS UP GARBAGE
On 22nd Jan 2022 I had severe garbage problem due to the stray dogs which was less earlier times. At night I kept the garbage bin outside the gate for the CCP/ Panchayat worker to take the garbage as usual in the morning. The bin was overturned by stray dogs all over the road which are there all over Dona Paula area. Also the plastic bag which I kept hanging to the gate for the Milkman to put 2 milk bags was torn in pieces. This I noticed when I got up in the morning. These dogs are hungry perhaps as Covid might have affected them too. Perhaps no food is put to them regularly by residents. To overcome this nonsense I have modified our garbage bin by putting school bag type strap with a buckle and the milk bag is replaced by a metal box. ( see the photo) We see also daily garbage near the Outpost Dona Paula police station and poor CCP lady workers slogging to collect the garbage spilled on the road because the CCP trolley boxes at the collection point have overturned as they have no proper protection from animals. Perhaps CCP can be inspired by my at-home-shortcut-solution and find some better solution, perhaps like proper animal-proof enclosures or bins with clasps so that no garbage is thrown on the roads by any stray animal or gust of heavy wind. Stephen Dias 9422443110 23rd Jan 2022 This letter may be published with the photo Enclosed.
[Goanet] Reg: Cross at La Marivel near Raj Bhavan is hidden for prayers
-- Forwarded message - From: Date: Wed, 5 Jan, 2022, 10:40 Subject: Reg: Cross at La Marivel near Raj Bhavan is hidden for prayers To: Good Morning. Sir. Please find enclosed copy.
[Goanet] ILLEGALITY AT MATHIAS PROJECT FOOTPATH BROKEN UP TO TAP RAJ BHAVAN PIPELINE?
The Project coming up by Mathias owners is seen a footpath broken in front of their huge building project at Dona Paula probably for water connectivity of Main Raj Bhavan pipeline? This footpath lies at the main road Bambolim- Dona Paula. I have seen this work is undertaken late hours of evening on 3rd Jan by Mathias workers ( photo enclosed) . When questioned the workers told me they will be maintaining the footpath level. And this is done to build two gates sideways to access their internal vehicular traffic. Local Corporator Nelson Cabral has been informed to check and demand investigation by PWD and CCP. Water scarcity already exist for us for the whole of Dona Paula and now it will be worst if not corrected. This is a serious issue for the government to find out the exact reasons. Photograhs taken by me on late evening of 3rd Jan 2022 will help for inspection for our authorities to investigate and must carry out before the work is completed. Stephen Dias Social Activist Bay View resident 4th Jan 2022 9422443110
[Goanet] COVID WORSENING IN GOA?
Covid cases are rising in our tiny state of Goa and all the newspapers report that the crisis is worsening in this state. This could be the failure to curb entry in the borders and crowding on all the beaches of Goa. The weddings and entertainment halls including cinema theatres are also seeing large crowds. The Government must take strict measures to implement directions to authorities such as Police, Municipalities, Panchayats and Corporation to supervise and stop crowds assembling in large numbers. Also I have seen near my residence hundreds of people everyday and even after late hours crowding for jobs with Health Minister Viswajit Rane encouraging and allowing them to attend interviews inside his Bunglow at Dona Paula. Similarly every politician is suddenly trying to help the voters in their area to get jobs without realising the crowds are getting larger and larger which surely will affect the virus spread in Goa. This must be curtailed immediately before an alarming situation worsens in this state. It lies on our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to give such directives to his politicians to stop encouraging crowds seeking jobs. Applications for jobs should be entertained only by government authorities through proper channels and not by politicians at their residences. Stephen Dias C 22/113 Bay View Dona Paula 403004 9422443110 31.12.2021
[Goanet] POSTERS
POSTERS INSTALLATION MESSED UP The Editorial that appeared in The Goan was appropriate as recently we have been seeing several posters fixed on electric poles, branches of trees and prominent circles at MIRAMAR, ADARSH COLONY CIRCLE, TALEIGAO, DONA PAULA AND OTHER PARTS OF PANJIM. Even places of worship like in front of Panjim Immaculate Conception Church is not spared. This is not a new thing in many ways. It's a bad habit that has developed over the past several years. We can still see these posters even after the function is over. So many posters remain even after the person on the poster has departed. This year I've seen certain posters where the size of the candidate's photo and name is larger than the Christmas greetings they are supposed to be for and these posters are conveniently displayed for their publicity value at high profile places and even places like gardens are not spared. These ugly posters of dubious politicians known for scams and scandles give a sorry look to the Goan society by and large who tolerate this defecament with the attitude of "MAKAM KITEAC PODLAM" mindset. It is unscientific that such posters adorn the precincts of the city garden which are supposed to be lungs of the city and where many senior citizens go for regular walk and exercise to keep themselves fit and healthy. To add to this confusion very often these mediocre Goan politician used their photos of National leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the local Chief Ministers to add sanctity to their such nefarious activity. This modus operandi promt the bureaucrats not to take due legal action against those placing banners in appropriate places like in front of Churches/Temples/Mosques garden, market, public places and electrical poles and causes harassment to the society at large. It may be recalled that during the period when Dr. T. N. Sheshan was the Election Commissioner of India, all the posters was in defecament of walls of public places and residences of people was stopped and the society was very happy with the Election Commissioner during his tenure. What is my point this bureaucracy is gone case and nobody checks on them. The posters are been installed if CM or top dignitaries photos are incorporated or added. It is easy technique if one wants to get a seat in the party or get elected put such posters. CCP appears to be first responsible department for such a mess of posters removal in time. Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula Social Activist 30th Dec 2021 9422443110
[Goanet] LIVING IN HARMONY
LIVING IN HARMONY BY Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula Social Activist After the Liberation of Goa, the possibility of merging Goa with Maharastra or Karnataka was floated. However, Dr. Jack de Sequeira and others pushed for Goa to be a separate state and the Opinion poll gave its verdict. Otherwise Goa would have been merged with Maharashtra and Goans would have lost their identity. Mumbai would have been the capital and even to get a simple birth certificate Goans would had to go to Mumbai as it is capital city of Maharastra. The usage of Marathi would be standard. Life would be very different and our children would have been born into a different world. We have much to be grateful for to anti-merger leaders like Jack Sequeira, who fought tooth and nail to ensure that Goa remained a separate state. I, now a senior citizen, distinctly remember as a young man in 1967 going around with a group of Goans organised by Dr. Jack Sequeira at the Casa Bar Barreto in Panjim. We went house to house talking to people and we were also part of the movement that moved by trucks and motorcycle motorcade to Banastarim and Mardol where we ended up in a fight with MGP forces. We also proceeded many areas accross Goa appealing to the Goan voters to please vote for the two leaves symbol of the United Goans party and to ensure that that the mergerists were defeated lock, stock and barrel. The battle for Goa was never about religion. Dr. Jack de Sequeira never directed us to destroy any temple, he only asked us to fight for our identity against merger with Maharastra. Goans had a good unity prior to Liberation among all religions and castes and it is only in the last 20 odd years, after the BJP came to power, that we lost our unity. There is no point blaming the Portuguese on issues of destroying any Hindu temples. It is well known that several Hindu temples were rebuilt by the Portuguese themselves and Sudin has confirmed in the local newspapers newspaper that their Goddess Mahalsa who was in Quelshi, Verna was shifted to Mardol, that Mahalaximi that was in Colva was shifted and rebuilt 400 years ago in Bhandora where Sudin Dhavlikar resides, and that Lord Ganesh from Curca was shifted to Nagueshi in Bhandora. Sudin made a strong statement that the Portuguese did not destroy or raze any of the above Hindu temples, but relocated/shifted them to their present sites at the above respective places. It makes sense that Salcete today is the Catholic heartland and therefore it would be inconvenient as well as expensive for poor Hindus from Ponda taluka to go to all the way in Salcete for prayers and worship. It may be recalled that the same Mr. Sudin Dhavlikar is now posing as a secularist because of his acquaintances with Tiramool Congress. This U-turn and changes in the stand by political leaders must not confuse the voters already perplexed over this issue. Election 2022 must centre around economic development of Goa and Goans. We must know that Goa is a world renowned Tourism destination which correctly adversely affected to Covid 19 and its virus variant Omicron. We must endeavour to promote Tourism as the backbone of our economy as mining has destroyed the aquifers and made agriculture reductant in this mining talukas of Goa. We must reclaim and restore silted agricultural fields around Bicholim, Quepem, Sanguem, Satari, Valpoi etc and thereon we must integrate with value addition to our agricultural produce. For example we can convert rice into porridge or biscuits similarly coconut harvest can be transformed into coconut milk curries, cookies, biscuits, cake called baatt etc. Unnecessarily raking up of non issues and giving it a religious colour, smacks of lack of vision by the BJP government in power today. We Goans must be aware of the hidden agenda of polarization resorted to by the immature CM Pramod Sawant. It is also very critical that secular forces like the AAP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, come together to save the State of Goa from safron onslaught.
[Goanet] RIVER MANDOVI IS CERTAINLY POLLUTED
Environmentalists must wake up and counter act whether there is any impact of sewage discharge in river Mandovi. I don't agree with the statement come up in Raya Sabba. According to me the STP plant in St Inez Tonca is overloaded with the sewage tankers coming from various sources like 5 star hotels and offshore casinos. This polution can be verified by renowned agencies and local Institute of Oceanography. Whether any official studies were done by local government? I have inspected the STP plant and found the sewage tankers are discharging sewage in the STP plant and found overloaded beyond the capacity of the plant and excess is discharged into the creek on turn to river Mandovi. Also when I wanted to inspect the supply of sewage from Casinos being loaded via supply boats into the standing on platform jetty I was not allowed to verify and was stopped by security at the Captain of Ports jetty. That means there was no transparency on loading operation. It is very clear that the St. INEZ CREEK water is polluted beyond quantity of sewage coming from various sources such as high rise buildings, migrants housing nearby on borders and STP plant overloading plant. The sample for analysis can very well give the proofs of sewage contamination on River Mandovi. That means the reporting to Raya Sabba by vested interest needs to be further verified by appointing government agencies to substantiate its claim and analysis of water sample near offshore casinos will give the percentage of pollution contamination on Mandovi. By Stephen Dias Retired NIO Technical Officer
[Goanet] Mc Donald outlet must vacate from Miramar area
Goan family must stop feeding especially children food from Mc Donald as it is allegedly contaminated with substance based Amonium Hydrogen. Goa Government allowed this Mc Donald outlet to come up in a congested area at Miramar originally the Times of India part of their premises existed. Public and the activists have objected Mc Donald outlet to operate just when there is no parking for the vehicles and service for the customers. The adjacent road of Miramar cannot be used for parking. The company owned by Hassan n Co allowed to operate in their premises where TOI office was existing and Government was pressurized I believe to run this outlet. It is highly objectionable to continue this Mc Donald sublet in this area. Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110 14th Dec 2021
[Goanet] WHAT THE STARS FORETELL FOR PANAJI
WHAT THE STARS FORETELL FOR PANAJI BY Stephen Dias Social Activist Dona Paula 9422443110 13 th December 2021 The election to Goa Assembly will be done by February 2022. There are various aspirants for the post of Panjim MLA in the various political parties of Goa. Panjim being the capital city is important to all the political parties. Winning Panjim is a matter of prestige in Goa and any party which wins Goa would aim and expect to go to win the parliamentary elections of 2024. Issues before Panjim are many; 1. We don't have a proper garbage management plant in place. 2. The sewage released from Casinos is dumped in the Sewage Treatment plant (STP) at Tonca despite exceeding its capacity resulting in pollution of the St. Inez Creek and the river Mandovi. 3. The garbage of Panjim is not scientifically treated and the garbage plant planned at Bainguinim is so far a non-starter. Now, we have a long time patron in charge of Panjim vying for the Panjim seat on a BJP ticket but the court case of the stoning of the Panjim Police station is like a sword over his head. The hard-core BJP party workers want Utpal Parrikar to be the Panjim candidate. Time only will tell what will happen. Interestingly the Congress is fighting hard to win Panjim which they lost when Babush won on the Congress ticket and defected to BJP. At the moment Congress have many aspirants for Panjim -- Some of which I can count are Babush Monserrate, Utpall Parrikar, Uday Madkaikar, Surendra Furtado, Menino de Cruz among others. Among the other parties the Aam Aadmi Party has got the very well educated and clean politician Valmiki Naik. It is not known yet if the TMC and MGP union which is just formed is going to fill a common candidate for Panjim. What is very important for the residents of Panjim to consider is who among these candidates will be best suited to meet the most critical challenges: 1. Will the Casinos from River Mandovi be removed. 2. Will the candidate be able to give a Garbage Treatment plant for Panjim. 3. Whether the St Inez creek and Mandovi will be desilted and sewage pollution in the river would be stopped. 4. Whether the construction of the monstrous and environmentally dangerous terminal building on the jetty near the existing Captain of Ports will be stopped. 5. Will he or she address the parking woes of the city as Casino vehicles, scooters, tourists, tempos, tankers, tour buses are choking all the arteries of Panjim streets and making loud noises not allowing the nearby residents to sleep and to move due to traffic congestion on pavements and roads. There is heavy dust pollution and buses moving without Pollution certificates thus they too emitting black smoke throughout their journey with impunity in front of traffic policemen who fail to issue Challans. All the above are causing respiratory ailments which can have far reaching consequences, specially with Covid infections starting to spike again, and must not be neglected by those seeking votes from Panjimites. 5. MIRAMAR beach has turned into an eye sore where you can see number of illegal construction including a huge Samadi construction is in progress. To shut People's mouth a recreation facility and garden has been made. Those who frequent from Miramar to Dona Paula know the whole stretch of road is smelling of sewage and bad smell at certain pockets specially near the new Vivanta hotel and also near the Goa Science Centre area. We have already seen the BJP has no interest in removing the Casinos. In fact since they have been in power for more than 10 years we have to acknowledge they are incapable of doing any of the things on this list. All they can do is promise a Smart City. Notice I said 'promise'. That's all our Goan politicians can typically do. Make promises they can't deliver. Only our government could have the nerve to talk about Panjim as a Smart City while you have multiple illegalities going on and even basics like the number of huge trees fallen down are unattended. Our roads are in a dilapidated condition with a number of pot holes all over Panjim. Even their pride and joy - the Atal Sethu - can't be used half the time. I think the best symbol of the plight we are in is one of the streetlights put up with great fanfare costing lakhs each, which stands broken and destroyed for some years now... Abandoned to be consumed by the elements. Not even worthy of being removed apparently. The government only knows how to spend our money on the facade. The house may be falling down but they will pay a huge amount to cover it in poor quality paint and pretend all is well. Let's wait and watch if any candidate will care enough to solve the structural issues that face Panjim instead of only putting on a show before the elections. Stephen Dias
[Goanet] Fwd: LUIZINHO'S ELOQUENT SPEECH IN RAJYA SABHA
-- Forwarded message - From: Stephen Dias Date: Fri, 3 Dec, 2021, 10:33 Subject: LUIZINHO'S ELOQUENT SPEECH IN RAJYA SABHA To: navhind times , navhind Cc: lpost DEAR EDITOR Arun Sinha Navhind Times Sir, KINDLY PUBLISH THIS LETTER TMC Rajya Sabha MP now from West Bengal and former Chief Minister of Goa, Luizinho Faleiro made an impressive speech in the Rajya Sabha, his first appearance in the Upper House and the speech delved deep into the misgovernance of Goa is concerned with respect to coal transportation, the ill conceived three linear infrastructure projects which is destroying the Western Ghats in particular the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park, the double-tracking of railway and the Tamnar Power project and the harm being created to the environment in Goa as also the diversion of the Mhadei water and the inability of the government to resume sustainable mining which is affecting 2.5 lakh dependents as well as the overall as he termed as the Sanctum Sanctorum of Goa. It was totally out of place that the Speaker of the Rajya Sabha M. Venkaiah Naidu was stalling him, which is not acceptable for a speech that was well delivered. Stephen Dias Social Activist Dona Paula-Goa 9422443110 3rd Dec 2021
[Goanet] REQUEST TO OUR ARCHBISHOP ..... Reminder please
Humble request to our beloved Archbishop Filipe Neri of goa who usually celebrate the feast mass of St Francis Xavier, every year you'll reserve the front row for the CM , Ministers and MLAs of Goa Government. I request you this time not to reserve the same for them as it will send wrong signals to goans as well as the Cristian community and hurt them as this are the same person who has given illegal permission for structure at Old Goa , it will be a big insult to the women who are on hunger strike, and it will be like making a joke of the priest who tells sermons on this illegal structure , I am a lay person but I can understand the damage that will be done to Christianity if this people are given place in front row ,who after the mass go and start to drink irrespective of their parties and put it on social media, God came in this world for sinners to save them and change them but this people instead of changing themselves they have reached near out st Francis church to grab the heritage land , please if any one want to add something to the message please do add and forward it to your groups so that atleast in shame this people will stay without coming for the mass. Stephen Dias Social Activist Dona Paula Goa 9422443110 29th Nov 2021
[Goanet] MINORITY COMMUNITY AS GOOD AS BEST
Dear Editor/s Please urgently this letter may kindly be published. Regards Stephen Dias Social Worker 9422443110 Resident of Dona Paula 17th Nov 2021 MINORITY COMMUNITY AS GOOD AS BEST Stephen Dias, Dona Paula The statement made by the Aam Aadmi Party's deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia that he AAP is willing to give the deputy chief minister's post in Goa to a minority community candidate is an affront against the minority community in the State. Though the minority community is just about 25% of the electorate in Goa, still minority community candidates are as good as the best in the State and thus no lines of distinction should have been drawn. Any minority candidate who is sincere, hard working, intelligent and possessing integrity and high degree of probity in public life is capable of becoming the chief minister of Goa. In fact, minority community have been doing yeoman service to the entire people of Goa with a very high degree of distinction. The minority community in Goa cannot be taken for granted. It is to be stressed here, that the Trinamool Congress Party has in very clear terms asserted that credit will be given to merit and skill. The TMC is more of a party which appreciates merit and skill and thus why should the TMC not be given support by the minority community if the TMC is not discriminating against any community. Goa has not had a minority community chief minister for a long time and it is not that minority community did not deserve. Its time there in a level playing field immaterial of the community that you belong to.
[Goanet] TMC's ROBUST COMMITMENT TO GOANS A BIG BOOST
TMC'S ROBUST COMMITMENT TO GOANS A BIG BOOST Stephen Dias, Dona Paula The Trinamool Congress have sent a powerful message to Goans that should be taken very seriously by every Goan inhabitant who have been seeking the good governance of Goa and the elevation of Goa to become a leading state in India. The TMC has promised that self-seeking ringmasters will not be allowed into its fold, that selfish politicians will not be allowed, that all candidates of the TMC will be selected by the people, there will be no high command and the high command will be the people of Goal Goans will be their own bosses, that merit and skill based leadership will be in place in Goa, that the 35 TMC MPs will raise issues pertaining to Goa in Parliament, the governance of Goa will be corruption-free and that TMC will never betray the mandate of the people of Goa. No other party in Goa has promised so much in a long time in Goa's history and a lot is to be done to redeem Goa. Goans would be advised that they would rather repose their fate in TMC than in any other party if they in their hearts feel that Goa can become a leading state of India. The offers that the TMC has given Goa makes it a very strong force to reckon with if the Goans believe in the TMC.
[Goanet] Photo from Stephen Dias (E. Dias)
[Goanet] TMC's ROBUST COMMITMENT TO GOANS A BIG BOOST
TMC'S ROBUST COMMITMENT TO GOANS A BIG BOOST Stephen Dias, Dona Paula The Trinamool Congress have sent a powerful message to Goans that should be taken very seriously by every Goan inhabitant who have been seeking the good governance of Goa and the elevation of Goa to become a leading state in India. The TMC has promised that self-seeking ringmasters will not be allowed into its fold, that selfish politicians will not be allowed, that all candidates of the TMC will be selected by the people, there will be no high command and the high command will be the people of Goal Goans will be their own bosses, that merit and skill based leadership will be in place in Goa, that the 35 TMC MPs will raise issues pertaining to Goa in Parliament, the governance of Goa will be corruption-free and that TMC will never betray the mandate of the people of Goa. No other party in Goa has promised so much in a long time in Goa's history and a lot is to be done to redeem Goa. Goans would be advised that they would rather repose their fate in TMC than in any other party if they in their hearts feel that Goa can become a leading state of India. The offers that the TMC has given Goa makes it a very strong force to reckon with if the Goans believe in the TMC. People of Goa can fast forward their support to the TMC.
[Goanet] GOANS SAY A DECISIVE NO TO COAL
GOANS SAY A DECISIVE NO TO COAL By: Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Dear Arun Sinha Editor Navhind Times Please publish this letter. Regards Stephen The people of Goa collectively have to galvanize support to that party that is not only promising but also which will act conclusively to stop Mormugao Port Trust ( MPT) from becoming a coal handling hub as also decisively stop transportation of coal through Goa. Coal is a third world fuel and the Adanis should not be allowed to use Goa as a coal conduit, thereby polluting the environment and Goans have to collectively stop Adanis from importing coal from their acquired Carmichael coal mine in Australia since coal anyway is a polluting commodity that will have drastic consequences on the ambient air quality in especially as is observed in the port town of Vasco. The Adanis who have taken a multibillion dollar loan to acquire the Carmichael mines have no business and should be put out of their coal business which is contributing to large scale pollution of the environment wherever they are using it in India. It is high time that the people of Goa say a decisive NO to coal. Stephen Dias Dona Paula Social Activist 94223110 6th November 2021
[Goanet] Fwd: WHY IS POWER SUPPLY TO GOA TMC OFFICE DISCONNECTED?
WHY IS POWER SUPPLY TO GOA TMC OFFICE DISCONNECTED? Stephen Dias, Dona Paula On 3rd November evening when I was on my rounds in Panjim, I noticed that the Goa TMC Office premises at Nizmar Centre was in the dark due to presumably the power connection having been disconnected to this office. It may be recalled that this same premises was occupied earlier by a public sector bank. Could it be that the public sector bank had not settled the electricity bills and so the connection to this office was disconnected? If such is the case, why should the Goa TMC office have to pay arrears on behalf of the public sector bank? Or is this a part of a greater conspiracy to try to deny the TMC from operating by the present dispensation because the TMC is making rapid strides in the political firmament of Goa? Power connection to this office should be immediately resumed, since the rest of the building was having normal power supply. Stephen Dias Social Activist 4.11.2021 9422443110
[Goanet] DEPLOY ECI - MANDATED PROTECTION FOR LEADERS
DEPLOY ECI - MANDATED PROTECTION FOR LEADERS STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA 9422443110 In light of the fact that the motorcade of TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee was intimidated by disgruntled elements as also that the posters and advertisements of the TMC was defaced and blackened, it would in the fitness of things that matters relating to elections should be supervised by a specially constituted police force that has to be formed and deployed by the Election Commission of India so as to prevent such occurrences from happening again. It may be stressed that the police force deployed to protect the motorcade of Mamata Banerjee was a mute spectator and did not take action to stop the rowdy elements from intimidating the TMC leader. The Election Commission of India has to ensure that election related rallies and meetings are given unbiased protection. Such happenings should not disrupt poll related campaigns by various parties in Goa. There should be a level playing field for all the parties and no favouritsm should be meted out to the party in power. On 1st Nov at 11 hrs the Corporation of the City of Panjim workers were seen removing poll related advertisement of all the parties at Miramar - Dona Paula road. This is not the right thing to do as it is a discrimination to the new parties aspiring to do well in the election. Stephen Dias
[Goanet] CARANZALEM - MIRAMAR BEACH STRETCH
CARANZALEM- MIRAMAR BEACH STRETCH In a Press statement on Friday, Uday Madkaikar former Mayor of CCP, made allegations that trees located along the Caranzalem - Miramar beach stretch are being poisoned with chemicals from the root-level. He also said that the excavator is used illegally to level sand dunes at Caranzalem and he feels there is a similar conspiracy to destroy mangroves in the beach stretch. According to me except for the poisoning of trees the statement is valid. But why was this statement was not made during his tenure as the same trees were dying even then? It takes a long time for a tree to die. Regarding the poisoning, I feel to verify the authenticity of his statement samples can still be collected and sent to various National laboratories to ascertain if these trees were poisoned. The press statement should have appeared in the local dailies and Social media after verification by laboratory analyses. The excavator/JCB driver could have also been arrested at the time the filling was being done to camouflage the poisoning of trees. Stephen Dias Dona Paula 9422443110 23.10.2021
[Goanet] DEMONSTRATE THAT EVM's CANNOT BE MANIPULATED
DEMONSTRATE THAT EVM's CANNOT BE MANIPULATED Stephen Dias Dona Paula 9422443110 6.10.2021 In preparation for the Assembly polls slated for February 2022, new EVM's with VVPATs have been received by the Election Commission in Goa machines are made to do what they are programmed to do. To convince all the parties that these EVM's will not be manipulated, the ECI should conduct a demonstration in the presence of officially deputed representatives of all the political parties that EVM's along with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) register voting accurately and that all the votes cast and the VVPATs counted tally perfectly. In previous years, apprehensions about the manipulation of EVM's have been widely believed and thus it would be in the fitness of things that the ECI should conduct a transparent demonstration in the presence of representatives of all the parties such as the Congress, BJP, TMC, AAM AADMI, GFP, MGP, SHIV SENA, MRD, GOENCHO AVAZ, and REVOLUTIONARY GOANS, so that all are satisfied that counting of votes cast on EVM's and tallying with the VVPATs will not lead to manipulation but will be accurate, beyond doubt. For the Election Commission such a demonstration will reinforce their integrity. Stephen Dias Resident of Dona Paula Social Activist 6.10.2021
[Goanet] SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN WAS A PET OF MRIDULA
Dear Aires bab We all remember this Swachh Bharat Abhyian was founded by our previous Governor of Goa Smt Mridula Sinha and she has even installed her picture in a huge board near Goa University at Dona Paula which even after her exit this board got rotten and none of successive Governors didn't even bother to use that board. SAD This board should have been installed in St Inez creek instead of a posh area where everybody could see and come forward to clean this present dirty creek. What is the point to keep at a very nice and clean environment? We all after seeing this board with her picture sitting comfortably until it rotten was really a joke for us residents at Dona Paula. All know that she had even converted her residence of Cabo Raj Niwas into a jungle full of trees and cows shed etc Old Portuguese living Governors who stayed there and some our good Indian Governors will surely curse this lady for turning this palace into a jungle. Now slowly this recent Governor is cleaning up the mess created by her. Thank GOD. Stephen Dias Social worker 2nd Oct 2021 A FAILED CLEANLINESS DRIVE By Aires Rodrigues Seven years ago on 2nd October 2014, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched across the country amidst much fanfare. High expectations were raised but the cleanliness drive has however remained a mere paper tiger with the campaign miserably faltering while crores have been poured down the drain only promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The drive to ensure cleanliness and sanitation has to be a people’s movement and not a political one. Even in a tiny State like Goa it has been a total failure as garbage continues to be mounting and accumulated all over. Even the capital city Panaji is festering with dirt galore. The situation is only worsening by the day and the lack of sanitation and hygiene being a matter of concern. Those crores of rupees squandered by the Government on that media blitz for this campaign would have brought smiles and cheers to the poor and downtrodden if all that money was instead judiciously spent for their upliftment. Under the guise of Swachh Bharat what has infact been cleaned over the years is only the State coffers in what has been a criminal siphoning of public funds.
[Goanet] CHINDABARAM FAILED HIS MISSION
[27/09, 09:15] Stephen Dias (E. Dias): Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2021 12:09:43 +0530 From: Aires Rodrigues To: goanet Subject: [Goanet] MEETING WITH MR. P. CHIDAMBARAM Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" It was enlightening to meet this morning the former Union Finance Minister and Senior Advocate Mr. P. Chidambaram. Was happy to share with him some of my humble thoughts on rescuing Goa and saving what remains of it. The very knowledgeable and articulate Mr. Chidambaram clearly stands for Discipline and Total commitment. Adv. Aires Rodrigues C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat Ribandar ? Goa ? 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires [27/09, 09:25] Stephen Dias (E. Dias): What Aires says that Chidambaram is a discipline man with total commitment.. It is pity his trips to Goa to convince these corrupt identities in the Goa Congress has totally failed until the TMC realised that they should step in and help the Goans to fight against BJP cadre before Goa is in the hands of Maharashtra Vadis.. There is no point for Chindabaram to waste his energy since our old Congress stalwads already finished them and filled their pockets which I feel Incometax must take their accounts. Who are remaining in the Congress is also seen shaky and who knows Congress will remain tall until the election. Other parties are gearing up and all together if they are united may see the safron colour is vanished. Stephen Dias
[Goanet] SCAMTERS POSING AS TRANSLATORS
SCAMTERS POSING AS PORTUGUESE TRANSLATORS PLEASE publish this letter in the letters to the Editor column. Stephen Dias Dona Paula ( Lyceum graduated prior Liberation of Goa) 18.9.2021 9422443110 Ref: Referring a report from a section of press on 16th Sept 2021 It was amusing to read some state appointed Portuguese translators with No authentic qualification but a mere certificate issued by a private body under the name of Institute de Camoes to prove their point. A certificate from Institute of Camoes is a meagre certificate and not a degree offered by a University. There are very many bogus translators shunning money from various sources private and government offering their version of translation. This bogus translation who were sanctified by the Parrikar government need to be thrown out and rightly so, the Pramod Sawant government has done it. It must be understood so that worthy documents are translated by worthy qualified men and not by fraudulent persons pretending to be experts and making money at the cost of the government and private sector individuals who require translated Portuguese documents for their own use. Stephen Dias 18.9.2021
[Goanet] Please publish
*CARS 24 RACKET IN GOA?* I had an unknown missed call on 6th Sept 21 from a organization called CARSEL (as per Trucaller) Mob. no 9319977102. I called back and as per true caller the call originated from Delhi. I called twice and there was no answer. On the next day I received another call, this time from a Pune registration number, (+91-2048563199) saying they are calling from CARS24 company. The caller asked if I was in interested to sell a car and I was asked to take the car for assessment to Porvorim where their company CARS24 operates in a small apartment. There is a Goan who inspects the vehicles and submit his report. Apart from him, there are 9 non Goans from this same company working in this apartment and one person took details from my Aadhar and Pan Card and both the details were submitted to their main office in Pune. They told me to wait for half an hour an said an OTP type code will be received. The next day I took my FORD FIESTA 1.6 Litres for inspection. The Goan inspector said except for a few scratches on the front head light glasses and the body and steering requiring greasing, the car was in very good condition. After reaching home I received a call from Pune and furnishing the OTP code I was informed they were offering to buy my vehicle for Rs. 75,000 (reduced to about 73000 after deduction of their charges). I said I was not interested as just 2 years back I was offered Rs.4 lakhs by Chowgules and I did not accept. Today 8th Sept again I received a call from the person who inspected the vehicle and he said they have increased for another two thousand that comes to Rs. 77000 . This time I fired the boy who inspected the vehicle and told him to tell the company person to contact me and told him Goans are not beggars to get fooled by these guys who are operating from Delhi and Pune. Another call received today 8th September at 12.40 from Punjab as per Trucaller (+91 9311409937) and they kept trying to get me to suggest a low price. It appears the whole game of buying cars from Goa through this Porvorim shop is a racket to buy good vehicles cheap and then sell them on for high prices. Goans must be careful with Cars24 company and avoid selling vehicles with them.
[Goanet] Joel please publish this letter
I have noticed CM Dr. Pramod Sawant after announcing free water from 1st September 2021 most of the tanks in the city which has no lids and no stop valve are seen overflowing. It is a wastage of water plus loss on pay exchequer as water meter keeps on running untill water is stopped. Now, we have free water round the clock which needs to be discontinued until lids are closed and stop valve are repaired. Government must give press release to all consumers to get it done soon and instructions to PWD to inspect both tanks, the underground as well as overhead tanks. Until then Pramod Sawant should hold his direction to water department not to release excess water which is a wastage. Also many water pipes lines are found leaking and needs to be examined including during repair conditions by Contractor. Stephen Dias Dona Paula Mob 9422443110 2.8.2021
[Goanet] DOES GOVT IGNORES NEWS FROM NEWSPAPERS?
I saw a post in our NIO VETERANS group an elephant uprooting a huge tree through a video clip. I feel we may need such elephants to uproot certain weak trees in Goa especially in Campal which are posing danger to the public and most of the times our Forest dept and CCP doesn't exercise their powers. See in the attached photo a old tree fallen down and the compound wall totally damaged which belongs to Foodland restaurant at Miramar and it is under Tourism dept. Since this tree was very weak I had in the beginning personally informed the Foodland office staff to take action. Unfortunately until today 20th Aug 2021 no action has been taken . ( Photo attached). What is the use of publishing in newspapers when the authotities ignores such important news? What is seen now is that our Miramar beach behind Pergola upto a kilometre strech, the GSIDC has transformed this beach front side into a recreational hub and there are two Samadhi in the line. Stephen Dias Dona Paula 20.8.2021 9422443110
[Goanet] GOA BHUMIPUTRA BILL ON OUR SHOULDERS
GOA BHUMIPUTRA BILL UNDER PRESSURE BY Stephen Dias Social Activist and resident of Panjim 2.8.2021 9422443110 The Supreme Court has expressed that all illegal constructions carried out are serious as murder and rape and there is no way they will be regularised. The sincere public cannot tolerate henceforth such an attitude coming up from builders. We witness tremendous irregularities going on in this state of Goa in these recent years. Even the construction coming up nearby St Cajetan church at Old Goa being Heritage site having declared by ASI wasn't spared. With this attitude from builders and owners in connvinance with the authorities is going to set a bad example to others and soon will be a disaster. Now, we are heading with much more situation as the bill on Goa Bhumitra Adhikaran is introduced and passed just recently on the floor of assembly awaiting assent from the Governor R. S. Sreedharan Pillai who is suppose to act as per rules. Already memorandum by different parties in Goa have been presented to him. This bill if passed will allow encroachment by slum dwellers for more than 30 years legal and declare him ( BHUMIPUTRA) meaning son of the soil as well as ownership of 250 square metres of land. In fact we the original Goans who are residing lesser years will be considered in a lower position as (fracas) than the slum dwellers! Hopefully such a situation doesn't arise. Stephen Dias 2.7 2021
[Goanet] Government played dirty for the debate
Lots of people has come to attend the meeting and talk between Nilesh Cabral Power Minister from BJP and Mr. Jain AAP seniormost leaders power Minister of both the parties at Institute Menezes Braganza hall. The police has condoned the area and not allowing anybody to enter the hall except Pressman and photographers. Lot of people are agitated of this kind of treatment from the Police who are under orders from Government. What is the purpose of this kind of function where people wants to know the outcome of whether public will get free electricity or not as AAP has given their verdict if they come to power there will be free electricity based in Delhi state in force under Kejrival regime. I have being senior citizen was also not allowed to attend the function and the meanwhile I met Valmiki Naik local Panjim AAP leader who had just come out from inside the hall to collect some documents for his leader to speak on the debate who was not allowed to enter and he had to pass on his documents through the police to hand over to his speaker Mr. JAIN who is debating against another speaker of BJP Mr. NILESH CABRAL. What a situation we had at the entrance of Menezes Braganza hall when public cannot attend the function which is in public interest. It is so ridiculous on the part of Government keeping such meeting strict when few police man and photographers have permitted to attend whereas the police force is in full performance with number of their buses present at the venue. See the photos of Police man who have taken shelter in various places due to rains. Stephen Dias Senior Citizen 26.7.2021
[Goanet] Open Letter to Governor - 8-Storey building at Dona Paula
YOUR EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR P. S. SREEDHARAN PILLAI I live on a tiny residential lane in the Bay View area of Dona Paula. Most of the residences along my side of the lane belong to the Taleigao Panchayat and other side of this lane falls in Municipality jurisdiction. This tiny approach road is common for both the department Panchayat and Municipality from years and it appears there is a move to change the Zone from S1 to C1 to fulfil the requirements of this illegal 8th storage building. However one residence in between 'belongs' to the Municipality. This conveniently allowed the owner and S. S. Builders to apply to build an 8-storey building in a 450 Sq metres area. It appears that approvals from various depts have been taken fraudulently or without due diligence from the authorities. The building is without proper parking facilities and has no proper approach road. Perusal of plans available in the NGPDA file inspected by me shows that the width of this road where this construction is going on is shown to be 10 metres on record, whereas the existing road in reality is approximately just 4 to 5 metres wide. Already vehicular traffic is getting congested and trucks of cement, sand and other heavy materials have to come in reverse gear from the main road. Already we are suffering from issues with water and electricity on our lane. Yet the administration seems to think it can handle the demands of a whole building of additional people. Now, we heard that to cover up the parking problems for this existing building the Tourism dept is trying to help this particular builder by offering parking slots about 60 metres distance away where work is presently in progress in the name of a Bus stand for tourists. What is most reprehensible is that this 'parking area' is across the main Dona Paula - Bambolim road (Dr. E Borges Road), right across a steep slope where the road suddenly narrows. Moving from the building to the parking zone means massive additional traffic across what is already an accident-prone zone and many accidents already taking place. The following depts have issued approvals long ago but have not renewed them (photo enclosed). 1. TCP 2. CCP 3. Health 4. Tourism 5. Directorate of Fire and Services 6. Electricity dept Several complaints from residents have been lodged over the years with various authorities but as far as I know there has been no fruitful response from any department. Since I have been told there is still an opportunity for us residents to stop this construction and get an order for demolition if the authorities take proper steps, I am appealing to the newly appointed Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai having long experience at Mizoram and Kerala to direct concerned authorities to have a look into this matter and to take suitable action.
[Goanet] STALL RAISED BY TOURISM DEPT IN DONA PAULA
Just at 11 am today on 13th July 2021 when I was standing in my balcony I saw number of people with JCB dismantling a hut opposite the rear compound wall of Nelson Cabral councillor of Dona Paula which was there number of years, has been raised to ground. This stall was carrying out repair work of sharpening knives and other kitchen utensils for number of years. Who has given permission to have this stall removed is not known. I saw police force with ladies staff under Sub Inspector Parab who guided this operation which had Tourism dept approval. I asked this Sub Inspector Parab and one of the officer of Govt dept present there whether there is a permission to get this work done. Yes, was the answer. Then I asked why this was done during rains in a hurry and why the footpath for pedestrians, electrical pole supposed to be for a sub station and trees on the way are left untouched? If this stall was blocking the vehicular passage for bus stand and what about other things like trees, footpath, poles and narrow road was not taken as first priority? I said that Forest dept, Electricity dept and PWD approvals will take time until this poor man could earn his living. None of them gave me any answer. Importantly why this narrow slope is not widen as many accidents are taking place. This action by Tourism dept to help the tourists to have a bus stand appears to be a priority? I agree that illegalities must be corrected but the approvals must come from the Government in phase manner. Even the local councillor Nelson Cabral was not present during this operation which ended at 12 noon. Just they took one hour duration to complete their task that too with the rains. See the photographs taken by me on my mobile from my balcony at distance of 100 metres.
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[Goanet] Goanet: Letter by Super Cop Ribeiro
[Goanet] BABUSH NEEDS TO WORK HARD BEFORE THE MONSOONS.... CITIZEN HERALD please
My comments on Babush having a grip over Panaji is tough and the CCP administration of Panaji is quite a difficult affair to set it RIGHT as many novices have been elected. Babush is trying and making efforts to improve city conditions but it will take a long time and much more can be done. Already we are just two months away from the start of the monsoons and lots needs to be done. His son Rohit is now a CCP Mayor will surely not be able to complete pending works by earlier Mayors. I can assure everyone of one thing for sure — the St. INEZ CREEK will be really an eye sore. Many people have come forward and attempted clean-up efforts in the past but no one has succeeded. For example the Pollution Control board and ex Director of NIO Dr. Satish Shetye also tried his level best by advising the government to use a boat Catamaran installed with Side Scan Sonar, echo sounder and other gadgets but all his ideas have failed miserably. The high rise buildings which are around the creek have no waste disposal! All the toilet sewage is quietly released directly into the creek and ultimately into the river Mandovi. The sewage released from Casinos and other vessels is transported in the tankers which very properly are directed to the STP ( sewage treatment plant at Tonca). Unfortunately if there is more load and the STP cannot cope up, overflowing takes place and it's back to square one. I was told by ex-Mayor Surendra Furtado that CCP has no control over what is going on the river and how they will control Casinos? There is lot of pressure from Capt of Ports to CCP present Mayor to complete a building which was inaugurated by late Parrikar. Let's see it's outcome.
[Goanet] ALCOHOL METERS NOT IN USE
ALCOHOL METERS IN SHORT SUPPLY? BY Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110 What a surprise I got yesterday! I asked a traffic policeman in Dona Paula why clearly intoxicated tourists are not been checked for alcohol consumption while riding two wheelers as I find them driving recklessly all over Panjim. The reply was that their instruments are not working and if they fine someone the law goes against them as proofs cannot be given in court. Although all of us know that many of these tourists are causing disturbances, police are helpless. There is neither CCTV on roads nor alcohol meters. When will our police have the tools they need?! WHAT A SHAME! IT LOOKS THAT GOVERNMENT LOST ITS CONTROL.
[Goanet] Transformers and other power issues.
HI FI TRANSFORMERS AND OTHER POWER ISSUES Stephen Dias RETIRED NIO SCIENTIST A-1 ( ELECTRONICS) RESIDENT OF DONA PAULA Recently a WhatsApp group I belong to was rueing the frequent power issues we have been having around Dona Paula area and someone suggested we turn to lanterns. Unfortunately this old technology - the lantern - needs kerosene and you don't get that easily in the market. Just this past week, I was repairing a gas stove at home which was corroded. I hunted for kerosene in Caranzalem, Taleigao, Panjim and finally despite the fright of the Covid - 19 virus I had no option but to step into our Panjim market which is in a total mess. Not a single shop seller follows social distancing forget about the people who come in a hurry to buy essentials and leave the market soon. None of these shops had kerosene and somebody told me to go to a place housing a dirty colony near the new Ourem road or Ninho Infantil where I finally managed to collect only one litre. This is the situation of our Panjim. Mind you, olden times when I was a kid, this lantern was in demand when AC supply was not there. After I grew a bit older, DC supply came into the picture, but lanterns, both portable and ceiling ones, were still in use. I was lucky because my Uncle was an Chief electrician who used to work in Obras Pùblicas (now PWD) and as my father was keen we were only one of the few houses that had supply. Probably we may have to reach to that era or level in a very few years. Already we have signs for the last few weeks that our normal supply is playing hide and seek and many times there is no supply in one or even two phases and when it resumes the voltages are either High or Low. Many times our domestic appliances, like microwave ovens, refrigerators, geysers and mixers, get damaged. The repair costs are exorbitant and that too technicians/repairers are not available easily in town due to Corona virus. The government tells us to stay safe at home and not to get frightened. This has become a dangerous situation for us due to pandemic virus and if a more dangerous second phase comes, what will be our plight? Sometimes we also hear a loud noise from the transformers recently installed near NIO circle by electricity dept which one can hear to a distance of about a kilometer. For me it sounds like a bomb as I stay just 50 metres distance from it. Each explosion is soon followed by the supply resuming through the replacement to another standby transformer which has different levels of voltages. I wonder what is the reason for this explosive life we are being forced to live. Could it be that people residing around Dona Paula are misusing the power as many tourists are illegally staying, or are the design aspects of these transformers failing? May be our old technology of tripping system could have been a better solution and lanterns for backup on those days? Our electricity department needs to be overhauled or our engineers should be sent for training in other states to learn better technology. If such is the position of our state of affairs I don't know when the underground cabling will be commissioned and when we will get rid of overhead lines? The picture of these transformers shows one Red cable wire lifted up with a lug open without any connection. I saw other transformers at the side also seen similar having disconnected wires. I did not want to interfere and find why these wires were opened. The opened cable wires could be for earth connection. And if the earthing system was not done properly there are certainly chances of overload, tripping and electrocuted. Also there is garbage near these transformers. If by chance any spark takes place, fire can takes place with these dry palm leaves. These transformers came to existence some few years back as 'improved' technology. Earlier there was a mini power stand hand operated for switching ON/OFF manually which was considered outdated. There exist similar transformers not only in Dona Paula area but also various places in Caranzalem, St Inez, Taleigao and whole of TISWADI. Some solution to this sorry state of affairs which our Government and/or Electricity dept can think of it required. Imposing a ring transmission system with at least two HT feeders can definitely help. But who cares. There exist lakhs of ACs on domestic line unaccounted, the power is drawn illegally thus tripping of their main transformer could be the cause. Now the high rise building and many illegal connections are mushrooming everywhere in town. The linesman are unable to report to the dept as it is cumbersome to check and legal permission comes into picture. The Forest dept is not in tune with the Electricity dept as many trees needs to be pruned or cut. Mostly the overhead lines are run through private properties and legality is involved. The coconut trees are bent and leaves falling on lines which results in the everyday affair of lines getting disconnected. The government needs
[Goanet] Panjim Drains
PANJIM DRAINS BY Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Retd Scientist- A1 Instrumentation and Social Activist 12TH MARCH 2021 The CCP always claims that they have done all required pre monsoon work on all the drains and that avoiding flooding and water logging in Panjim takes top priority. However year after year they are proved wrong when the water accumulating on roads and overflowing storm gutters are visible proof of either lack of action or incompetence. Of course pedestrians are the most affected. Forget floods, even a light rain is a disaster for them. Vehicles, especially buses, while travelling on water-logged Miramar and Campal roads, splash pedestrians and two wheeler drivers without mercy. Two wheelers face bigger problem - we find them zig zagging to avoid water splashing, often resulting in accidents and even sometimes casualties. The colossal environmental degradation in goa has been witnessing over the years by way of rampant destruction of hills, fragmentation of pristine landscapes through ruthless chopping of trees and by not even sparing the lower lying fields by pouring concrete in them, shows the impact of criminal interference in Goa's age old natural ecosystem. Of course do not forget the Casinos which have obstructed the natural movement of the river and sand and are causing major displacement of water and flow. Nature's fury cannot be averted as the rain usually plays havoc with the administration's poor attempts to prepare. This time also the city MLA Babush Monserratte has given solemn assurances to the citizens of Panjim assuring them that this time panjim will not face water logging as he has taken a drive to clean all the gutters specially in Campal and Miramar. Unfortunately this is easier said than done. The traditional drainage system, water ways, and outlets for natural flow of rainwater are choked all over with no functional drainage system well-maintained by the authorities of the corporation of the city of Panjim. We residents of Panjim have witnessed how the capacitance Goan communities built over centuries with time-tested strategies designed to prevent flooding, is now getting deteriorated every year. I remember the planning of drainage outlets during my younger days because of which we had no major flooding in the streets of Panjim. Of course credit is also due to the efficient maintenance by the Portugese authorities. I remember where some major storm drain inlets were located. One was near Umesh Keni Petrol pump in Portais, another was at Ninho Infantil, Fontainhas, Custom house, Miramar, near Panjim market, Campal, Aivao market and others.These storm water drains were periodically cleaned and there was no blockage at all which made for safe travelling on roads. But now, all these drains are not only blocked but the documentation existing in the CCP and PWD has gone for a toss and nobody knows if the records are available or not. This year the deterioration has reached a new peak since the roads are full of potholes and chambers that are not well aligned, not even level, by the PWD. The tender does not specify such aspects for the contractor to execute the work and mostly supervision is not adequate or missing. The drain covers/slabs are also not well designed and all over Panjim we see a number of different types of covers of different sizes and thicknesses. They are not uniform. The CCP and PWD workers cannot lift these drain enclosures as they are heavy and no lifting vehicles/gadgets have been given to them. Their backbones can be injured if they continue to accept such heavy loads. A new concept should be introduced - uniform design for efficiency in terms of replacement and cost, strong enough to last, less weight and less thickness to be easily handled. I recently saw a close-to-ideal design in use by the CCP. See photo attached. Some improvement in terms of weight and thickness would be preferable. One benefit is that tourists or other anti-social elements cannot put bottles and other garbage into the drains with such covers. The CCP carries out pre-monsoon work by trial and error method and is hampered partially also because of the construction that has come up all over the city. Taking this into consideration the drains needed to be cleared much before the monsoon starts. The problem lies with the government as the funds are always approved at the last moment. Hence the jobs entrusted to the contractor are delayed. I cannot bame the contractors or charge them with not trying. I recently saw them attempting to clean a gutter in Panjim market. The fleet of workers and engineers struggled to remove the sand and mud from the gutter and load it into a truck. When questioned by me they said nothing can be done in terms of prevention because sand keeps on entering from the Mandovi shore side with the pressure of waves, thus getting the drain choked again and again. I asked whether the complete drain was cleared up to the beach. They said the asphalted road cannot
[Goanet] BJP FLAG IS HOISTED AT THE SIC
Our Aires bab has a point and his letter is self explanatory. Stephen Dias From: Aires Rodrigues To: goanet Subject: [Goanet] NOW BJP FLAG IS HOISTED AT THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION TOO Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" The skewed manner in which the Goa Government selected the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and the State Information Commissioner (SIC) comes as no surprise. As both these posts carry a very handsome monthly salary of Rs 2, 25,000 each, besides other perks, it was imperative that the best and brightest should have been chosen for these coveted positions. Besides the 32 candidates who applied for the post of CIC and the 25 for SIC, there were definitely many more qualified meritorious individuals. Eminence in public life as required and a very sound knowledge of law should have been the guiding factor in selection for these vital posts. The selection for any post has to be always free, fair, transparent and not vitiated by political inter meddling. Failure to do so erodes the faith and trust of the very people it is designed to serve. Despite Section 15 (6) of the Right to Information Act specifically mandating that the CIC and SIC should not be connected with any political party, we now have a CIC who is a former Speaker and a very prominent active leader of the ruling BJP. Even if he now resigns from his deep roots with that party it would not pull the wool over anyone?s eyes. That after occupying that high August Chair as Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly he chose to stoop to be CIC is another issue. Unfortunately, politicians today don?t work towards moving upwards, they sink to any levels to grab any and every Chair possible. The RTI Act is a powerful and potent tool to expose corruption and maladministration, and in this direction an independent and effective Information Commission is a vital mechanism that has to be in place. To ensure proper implementation of the Act, the Information Commission should comprise of independent minded persons of integrity, who would not succumb to the pressures and pulls of politicians in power. Their primary focus must be to defend the rights and liberty of individuals to have access to information, files and documents pertaining to the Governmental operations, performance and decisions. The all important Institution of Lokayukta, Human Rights Commission, State Information Commission and Police Complaints Authority are all bodies constituted by law and each one of them has a purpose besides a clear mandate. A lot of public money is spent in running these authorities constituted to deliver justice to the citizens and bring to book the wrong doers. So by keeping politicians at bay and to ensure true independence in their functioning, it would be proper to entrust the High Court the meticulous selection of non-partisan very qualified persons with integrity to man these bodies efficiently and serve the society. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar ? Goa ? 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
[Goanet] GOANET : CASINO POISON IN GOA
Both Benice Pereira and Rajan Parrikar expresses their own experience on Casino activities in Goa and feels that it is a poison which has come in Goa. TRUE Let me share my experience also towards Casinos : I was told by a Professor having knowledge in Environment etc that he says that Casino has come to stay forever. Just he gave me an example what he has gathered from his scientists colleagues. In this CCP elections a group has already been formed by Atanasio Monserrate Panjim MLA and everybody rest in Panjim decided to counter his plan and form an another group called We Ponjekars.. This earlier group what I called it a Safron group has received now a jitter as new group is opposing their ideology. Few of Catholics in Babush group started contacting prominent citizens in Panjim to support them probably on advice of their leader. This secret was leaked out and Congress leader was also contacted to field a weak candidate so that the safron group candidates gets comfortable majority. Now this newly formed group feels that the poison already started flowing within their group in order to destabilize them which has already been noticed and we peaceful senior citizens feels that this achievement could be by poring with heavy money weight supplied by Big Daddy. The CASINO vessels will never be shifted from Mandovi river as it is been felt by our original residents of Panjim. As it is rightly said by Rajan Parrikar that he felt vehicles moving in the night at 2 am when he was walking with his wife for safe and clean walk he saw vehicles zooming at that time possibly with casino guests and female employees working on Casinos who are coming from Nepal and other northern states are continously moving out in the night. There are new constructions coming up especially in Caranzalem and Dona Paula above 8th floor building is for the casino staff business. The CCP, Chief Secretary, Traffic Cell Tourism dept and other govt department are keen to authorize and approve these constructions so that lots of Tourism activities are mush mooring in our state where this poison will surely spreading thus creating an Impact to transform this state of Goa into a Hell. Several pimps are seen in Miramar and close to hotels offering cards pamphlets and even a permission to enter into CASINOS parked in the River Mandovi. The gardens made are especially meant for them for ghantis to sit and outsiders visiting Panjim but not even a single Panjimite or a senior citizen will be benefitted. The bad luck for these owners is these constructions coming up for high rise are having big problems as they are finding difficulty to construct high rise buildings because the area is sandy and for example the 8th floor at least half of its size or more the excavation needs to go deep as the area is completely sandy and thank GOD the height is restricted otherwise they would have gone to 50 floors and above. Panjimite feels that these high rise building should stop its construction and whatever is under process must be revised and penalized or even demolished. For example this Big Daddy owners and the builder has already under pressure from Casino industry to see the construction is completed by hook and crook even though the approach road is much below the normal size which suppose to be 10 metres width instead of present size which is only 4.5 metres. The Parrikar Samadhi construction is huge one, whereas Parrikar burial can have construction of 5 square metre at the most. The huge construction coming up at his side of Parrikar burial is planned to accommodate Casino staff employees and other activities in order to flourish the movement of Casino industry and very soon our future government if comes in power other than bjp may not be able to stop. A museum could be of better choice if not demolish totally. Finally GOA is going to DOGS and out of our HANDS. STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA SCIENTIST CUM ACTIVIST 26th Feb 2021 Message: 4 Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:57:16 +0530 From: Bernice Pereira To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" Subject: Re: [Goanet] The Casino Poison in Goa Message-ID: <542cd502-0f62-4bcb-bfe3-348df8c20...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Those ugly casinos with horrendous names have, for sure, changed the beautiful landscape of our gentle Mandovi to a bizarre satanic Sent from my iPhone > On 23-Feb-2021, at 10:53 AM, Rajan Parrikar wrote: > > ?To Goanet - > > Goa just can?t seem to catch a break. Construction activity is in > overdrive, all of it for the benefit of outsiders. If that isn?t bad enough > you have an even greater evil in our midst - the casinos. > > Some weeks ago, my wife and I, jet lagged, decided to take a walk along the > Campal promenade at 2 am. It was a week day, and we were expecting a quiet, > peaceful morning. We were shocked to find a constant, unending stream of > motor traffic at that unearthly hou
[Goanet] GOANET : It should be end of the road for Babush Monserrate
The way things are moving at the CCP level as well as with the City MLA and Revenue Minister on various aspects on City upkeep is not in proper direction. Babush aim for improvement of our roads, casinos, polluted creek, garbage dump, footpath in shamble as senior citizens cannot walk freely and Miramar beach, its width being reduced due to Samadhi and gardens everywhere on beach front which is not suppose to be done on these areas but elsewhere is totally going to be a failure plans. Coming to the point of Babush end of road, I fully agree with Aires that this will be surely end of his carrier unless lots of butter is siphoned to Pramod a present CM and other authorities connected. First biggest mistake he did is 100 days was made to lapse, for his U- turn and said businesses people will get affected but never realised that 99% of them do not live in Panjim and they are not his voters. Now decision taken by him to incorporate young generation in the CCP panel will also fail as none of these new corporates especially young ones will never understand City problems as it requires experience working in the CCP. This astute decision of removing elders and putting young ones especially his own son who is complete novice will create lot of embarrassment to public. That was his trick to advice the Govt of Pramod and got it approved and CCP managed to get these novices of his choice to run the city in his panel. Casinos will be more secure now with this present scenario if his panel is elected and definetely his plans will be a failure and end of road. To make it worst the Revenue Minister who is his wife will be exposed by the public and good chances are expected other party coming in power. Now already too late for him to make changes. I have much earlier suggested good plan but he did not listen to me. Message: 2 Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:56:26 +0530 From: Aires Rodrigues To: goanet Subject: [Goanet] IT SHOULD BE END OF THE ROAD FOR BABUSH MONSERRATE Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" There may be some good candidates in Babush Monserrate?s panel but the entire team has to be decisively defeated lock, stock and barrel so that the Panaji MLA is shown his place and taught a lesson for the arrogance in which he is taking the voters of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) which includes Ribandar for granted. If Babush Monserrate thinks that sponsoring tournaments and beat shows is Development, he is living in a different planet. These CCP elections will be an opportunity to get rid of Babush Monserrate and his puppets on the panel. Panaji deserves better and has to see better times as a thriving City with the best of amenities and all round progress with well planned development. Panaji has to be selflessly well governed with Zero Tolerance to Corruption. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar ? Goa ? 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
[Goanet] MISLEADING CASINO AUDIT REPORT
MISLEADING CASINO AUDIT REPORT Stephen Dias Concerned Citizen DONA PAULA 9422443110 4.2.2021 The heading of the news report " No possibility of Casino vessels releasing sewage into Mandovi, says 'audit' report (31 Jan 2021) gives a clean chit to the casinos operating in Mandovi River. The author of the audit report must have been well entertained by the casino lobby to make such a fool-proof statement. We are aware sometime back when it was all in the papers how senior police officials were entertained in casinos. Were these conclusions of the audit an outcome of such an exercise squandered by the casinos? We would like to know the names of the individuals involved in making and preparing the audit. What water samples were collected and its record with specific details of the sample collection, date, time, location etc from surroundings and periphery of the coast and which were the labs involved in conducting the analysis? We have over the recent years seen the power of money, when rotting black is seen or projected as linen white. In reality, we just do not doubt, but ridicule the seemingly lopsided and biased report with the slant towards possible money bags. A parallel collection of water samples for further analysis and comparison by the local NIO Institute for further accuracy and trust-building is imperative. The article mentions 40 per cent discrepancy between water usage and sewage generation. This does not foster any sense of trust in the casinos and the process. It appears the casinos have successful been able to hide their misdemeanor or the auditors are intoxicated by their largess. I'm glad they at least caught and reported the discrepancy. The auditor's report says there is no record of visitors leaving the vessel (which would have been helpful) and 'suggests' the casino tracks this using various methods. This is all a clear indication of the lack of rules and regulations governing the casinos. Indeed, money makes the world go round and round and if Mollem can bed destroyed due to the lure of the lucre, whats so alarming if the auditors see, hear and find no evil in the manner of functioning of casinos? Whoa! No possibility of Casino vessels releasing sewage into Mandovi! This auditor's report should not be an eye wash. It should be a tool to bring about improvements. Stephen Dias Concerned Citizen DONA PAULA 9422443110 4th Feb 2021
[Goanet] Goanet Historical building at Zanzibar collapses
Same thing will happen to our Sè Cathedral in Old Goa.. The walls and the roof is in the dilapidated condition. This monument is unique in the world and it is been neglected as no maintenance is being done. Stephen Dias Concerned Citizen of Gos On Dec 26, 2020, at 6:42 AM, Adolfo Mascarenhas wrote: > > The Daily Newspaper Citizen has Headline & Pix..Inside another bit of News > Russian Tycoon Found Dead. > > :*::Z'bar in Shock as House of Wonder collapses::: *There is picture and > in red Ink 1883. The Year it was built. It attracted a lot of Tourist and > a multitudes of local people A closer look at the picture shows that > only part of the Palace has collapsed .it was being renovated > Historical buildings require special skills and perspective and close > supervision. The President of Zanzibar has already paid a visit. > *::Have you heard of IGOR SOSIN*.Police have confirmed that the Russian > Tycoon was found in dead in his room at the PARK HYATT HOTEL. I had no idea > of this fellow but who knows some of you fellows might have come across > him. The <>>reported that 5 years ago he had succumbed when his > son Egor repeatedly hit his second wife with a electrical cod saying she > had a demon .he was psychiatrist hospital in Russia ..In the US Sosin owned > Ox Pasture Lane , 10 acres two pools etc all valued at P Sterling > 650,000 ..He was 53 and going through a 3 divorce.RIP ...we mortal can > say > > :Material Wealth of a nation like Tanzania Brings .the worst and the > Best . It depends how you use the Power to think through People smile > in disbelief when I narrate how , when President Julius Nyerere appointed > me Chairman of the Land Use Commission...the wolves came with tempting > offers .My answer was simple...put it in wring to the commission, > remember land belongs to the PEOPLE ... > > The official Newspaper <<<>>had the story tucked inside > . > Even in my wildest moments...I could not believe so much of evil > around us...from Goa, to US, India and Brazil and now in Zanzibar > /Tanzania >>>> Yes I am optimisticI could attend mass, (only a > handful of people wearing MASKS and these too visitors) > So HAPPY CHRISTMAS To ALL ::: Goodness will Triumph .. Christmas is a > season of JOY > > Adolfo > In Haven of Peace
[Goanet] GOANET: WILL THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA CLARIFY?
From: "Aires Rodrigues" To: "goanet" Sent: Sunday, 20 Dec, 20 At 11:45 Subject: [Goanet] WILL THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA CLARIFY? Airesbab President visit to Goa was unexpected and his assessment on our beaches and forest was remarkable and made us happy to know that all is well in Goa. As you said I am also interested which beaches he visited because being a Goan I do not find any of the beaches in Goa are in good condition especially pollution is rampant in every beach in Goa. Mining and sewage have destroyed our beaches. The forest I have a faint idea about the forests in Goa but I was told maximum of forest is been damaged as trees and plants have been cut and vanished just to give opportunity for construction of high rise buildings, airports, bridges etc to come up. Which forest has he visited? I think somebody having good knowledge in the environment should have guided him as it appears that he is fond of these things. If our beaches and forest were good then what would be the fate of other beaches and forest in India. Definetely they must have been worst than Goa. Thank you President for your appreciation of what you have seen in Goa during your visit. Stephen Dias Yesterday it was preposterous to hear the President of India Ram Nath Kovind make a public statement that he has been influenced by Goa?s forests and beaches. Could the President of India please tell us which beaches and forests of Goa he has cared to visit which have influenced him. Twitter@rodrigues_aires
[Goanet] GLOBAL RESPONSE TO DEALING WITH COVID-19
GLOBAL RESPONSE TO DEALING WITH COVID-19 Elvidio Miranda Initial reported figures point decisively that Covid-19 started either in the wet markets of Wuhan through the bats, snakes and pangolins or the virology institute of Wuhan due to an experiment going wrong there, However, though China first reported the majority of cases, if reports are to be believed, China managed to control Covid-19 faster than the rest of the world. If the case of America is taken into consideration, then there is no doubt that America abjectly failed in containing the corona virus which led to over 2,50,000 deaths in America itself, a toll that even the recent wars fought by America in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the rest of America's antagonists did not totally tally ever since 9/11 in 2001. While fatalities in America is ascribed to bad management and sloppy implementation of standard operating procedures, it has also to be agreed that American health care system is one of the best in the world and so what baffles most is how did the over two lakh fifty thousand persons die in America. Was it abject neglect of following norms like social distancing, wearing of face masks, use of sanitizers as well as washing hands as also ;maintenance of environmental hygiene or was it the tardy way of life of the Americans which might have made them more susceptible to the corona virus? Just like China should accept the blame for the outbreak of Covid-19, so also the Americans have to come clean as to why they could not reduce fatalities by better management of the pandemic. While also, another reason could be that those that perished in America had greater relative percentage of comorbidity that resulted in the toll having spiraled out of control the high death toll is alarming. However also in small measure, if we consider the global toll of over one million deaths, it can be ascribed to the fact that the oceans and seas and the trees which account for 50% each of oxygen generated into the atmosphere and thus as a consequence of damages due to pollution both in the water bodies and the air worldwide due to the felling of trees and due to forest wildfires such as the big ones in the Amazon, California as well as drought in Australia and the subsequent wildfires there too, it may be argued that coupled with pollution due to greenhouse gas emissions in particular fossil fuels could be one of the minor but significant reasons why due to lack of normal oxygen levels the world became susceptible to respiratory disease as at least 10% of the oxygen that would have been released by the oceans, seas have been reduced and due to air pollution the toll worldwide might have been contained by 10%.Climate change is one of the paramount reasons why the death toll increased and could have been contained otherwise by at least 10%d to 25%, Brazil, India, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy are also countries that did not respond well to curbing fatalities, although in smaller measure compared to the USA.
[Goanet] REMEMBERING SALAZAR WHO REFUSED TO DIE
Remembering Salazar, the Portuguese dictator ‘who refused to die’ – or depart from Goa with dignity Reading a new book about the Portuguese leader, it’s impossible to ignore parallels to the megalomania of US President Donald Trump. Vivek Menezes 5 hours ago Remembering Salazar, the Portuguese dictator ‘who refused to die’ – or depart from Goa with dignity Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar listens to national anthem during the reopening of the National Assembly in Lisbon on November 30, 1938.. | France Presse Voir/ AFP On November 7, several hours after the main broadcast networks, Fox and CNN on cable, and the Associated Press had all called the 2020 US Presidential Elections for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and huge crowds of happy Americans were still celebrating in the streets, Donald Trump tweeted, “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT.” Three days later, despite an array of world leaders having congratulated his replacements, amid senior voices from his own party acknowledging their victory, Trump tweeted, “WE ARE MAKING BIG PROGRESS. RESULTS START TO COME IN NEXT WEEK. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” Then again, “WE WILL WIN.” ADVERTISEMENT By that point, like everyone else, I was bored of Trump’s irrational antics, but his social media barrage kept giving me acute déjà vu. The lame-duck’s monumental obduracy – that extraordinary degree of refusal to accept the facts – resonated uncannily with what I was reading: Tom Gallagher’s new, highly adept Salazar: The Dictator Who Refused to Die (Hurst Publishers). It’s the story of another larger-than-life political figure who stands out in world history for his epic denial of the obvious. To be sure, there are significant differences between the two. António de Oliveira Salazar was cautious and conservative with genuinely historic achievements to his credit. Sheer competence skyrocketed him from provincial obscurity to unrivalled power. For a sizable portion of his 36-year reign, Portugal performed an outsized global role that it hadn’t managed since the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries – and never enjoyed again after his posthumous regime collapsed in the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Reaching the goal And yet, the similarities cannot be denied. Just as the American trumpeted, “I alone can fix it”, his Portuguese predecessor felt the same way. On April 28, 1928, the day he assumed high office for the first time as finance minister, Salazar said, “I know quite well what I want and where I am going, but let it not be insisted that I shall reach the goal in a few months. For the rest, let the country study, let it suggest, let it object, and let it discuss, but when the time comes for me to give orders, I shall expect it to obey.” Even from his wheelchair in his last months of life – with the fact he was no longer in charge being kept from him by fearful aides – he kept repeating, “I cannot go. There is no one else.” These comparisons must have loomed omnipresent for Gallagher as he researched and wrote this book. Earlier this year, he tackled them head-on in The Critic. He wrote: “Despite their obvious disparities in wealth and scale, it is possible to see Portugal a century ago as comparable in some ways with the United States today…fractured, chaotic, ill-governed and spiritually moribund. There was an aching desire among many in the nation to put aside the partisan squabbles [and] a readiness existed to look beyond the lawyers, soldiers and full-time politicians to see if an outsider could pacify the nation, cure its financial ills, and embark upon reconstruction.” To his supporters, Gallagher writes, “Salazar succeeded in making Portugal great again”. Gallagher is an admirably scrupulous biographer, but also rather interestingly sceptical about liberalism. In the same essay for The Critic, he writes with distinct approval about “Salazar’s traditional outlook”. ADVERTISEMENT He writes, “Today, in an age when middle-class radical youth protest against white privilege and patriarchy, Salazar appears to embody much of what they are against. For many of them, colonialism is perhaps the worst sin of white patriarchy and Salazar was the most stubborn and implacable 20th-century European colonial leader.” Preserving the national identity, Gallagher says, was a “primodial need” for the Portuguese leader. “His Constitution upheld the family, which contemporary radicals see as a curb on the requirement to be experimental and nonconformist. He believed in fostering elites in order to guide society and would surely have been horrified by their vilification of successful individuals. He had no time for income guarantees, believing in the necessity for able-bodied people to work for a living. He also believed the economic victimhood that was a feature of communist doctrine was based on a false conception of humanity. And it is unlikely that he would have been impressed by an even bolder definition of victimhood encompassing not
[Goanet] ALLOW OVER 65 YEARS OLD TO ATTEND MASS
ALLOW OVER 65 YEARS OLD TO ATTEND MASS Stephen Dias, Dona Paula With masses under strict protocols having resumed around the State, it would be in the fitness of things to allow all those above 65 years of age to attend mass, since the very idea of hearing mass in the spiritualistic solemnity of the church or chapel, not only provides moral upliftment that is not experienced in the confines of the home but could also infuses a religious mindset that could allow those above 65 to keep Covid-19 at bay and thus reduce infections among the elderly. In yester years the first thing a lady would do in the morning was to attend mass wearing a black veil to cover the hair and this spiritual participation would empower and strengthen women to build a strong morality to face the entire day ahead. It goes without saying that these ladies were very healthy and resistant from diseases. Also confessions form an important part of the Catholic faith and thus it may be impressed that even confessions should be resumed in churches and chapels keeping distance between the priest and person confessing from the next one in the line by keeping them away from earshot., as confessions are able to reduce feeling of guilt and by taking holy communion your sins are forgiven and positiveness resides within the mind as also the body remains shielded from disease as also the soul is enlightened. Hearing masses on line people can only see the priest and the altar but many elderly persons prefers to pray by seeing other altar images which gives them more strength.
[Goanet] SHIFT BAINGUINIM SOLID WASTE TREATMENT PLANT
Shift Bainguinim solid waste treatment plant away from Old Goa churches. Hope all the newspapers make a wide publicity. Stephen Dias, Dona Paula 27.10.2020 9422443110 On deeper introspection, I have realized the folly of setting up the solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim as its closeness to the World Heritage site of Old Goa with its ornate churches in particular the Basilica de Bom Jesus as well as the iconic Sè Cathedral will definitely affect this holy city which is a tourist attraction for very discerning visitors from far and wide. Besides these two churches other monuments such as the Santa Monica convent which houses the Museum of Christian Art as well as the St. Cajetan Church among others are marvels of intricately crafted Renaissance era architectural genres, which will never be replicated again. Also the residents of Old Goa as well as neighbouring Corlim, Carambolim, St Andrè annd other villages nearby are up in arms against this waste treatment plant. It is thus the duty of the North Goa MP and the MLAs of Tiswadi for whom this plant will benefit to scout for an alternate site any where else in Tiswadi. As long as, the monuments of Old Goa with its unique old world charm exists, the Bainguinim waste treatment plant should not come up there at close vicinity. Goa does not have an efficient disaster management response force to deal with the effects of malfunctioning of the plant and also industrial depreciation of machinery is 10-15% per year, which means that the plant can be guaranteed for 10 years only at the most. We, in Panjim and Taleigao already facing incompetency of garbage collection and heavy accumulation and foul smell on roadside is seen all over the city limits. Prudence necessitates an alternate site.
[Goanet] Shift Bainguinim solid waste treatment plant... CITY MAILBOX PLEASE
Shift Bainguinim solid waste treatment plant Stephen Dias, Dona Paula On deeper introspection, I have realized the folly of setting up the solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim as its closeness to the World Heritage site of Old Goa with its ornate churches in particular the Basilica de Bom Jesus as well as the iconic Sè Cathedral will definitely affect this holy city which is a tourist attraction for very discerning visitors from far and wide. Besides these two churches other monuments such as the Santa Monica convent which houses the Museum of Christian Art as well as the St. Cajetan Church among others are marvels of intricately crafted Renaissance era architectural genres, which will never be replicated again. Also the residents of Old Goa as well as neighbouring Corlim, Carambolim, St Andrè annd other villages nearby are up in arms against this waste treatment plant. It is thus the duty of the North Goa MP and the MLAs of Tiswadi for whom this plant will benefit to scout for an alternate site any where else in Tiswadi. As long as, the monuments of Old Goa with its unique old world charm exists, the Bainguinim waste treatment plant should not come up there at close vicinity. Goa does not have an efficient disaster management response force to deal with the effects of malfunctioning of the plant and also industrial depreciation of machinery is 10-15% per year, which means that the plant can be guaranteed for 10 years only at the most. We, in Panjim and Taleigao already facing incompetency of garbage collection and heavy accumulation and foul smell on roadside is seen all over the city limits. Prudence necessitates an alternate site. Stephen Dias DONA Paula 26.10.2020 9422443110
[Goanet] LEMBRANÇA DO NOSSO LICEU AFONSO DE ALBUQUERQUE
Este video foi enviado pelo meu amigo em Portugal que estudou comigo atè o fim do Ano no Liceu Nacional Afonso de Albuquerque em GOA no Ano 1961 e este video foi enviado para mim como uma recordaçăo das cantigas que nòs cantamos em GOA naqueles tempos antes da invasăo da Goa em1961. Estevam Dias EM GOA È chamado agora como Stephen Dias em Inglês
[Goanet] INCULCATE RESTRAINT IN CHILDREN
INCULCATE RESTRAINT IN CHILDREN Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Since lessons have gone on line for students, if not a computer or a laptop, at least every student has to possess an android smartphone. While on the one these contraptions serve the purpose of study, on the other hand the variety of applications available may lead to students being tempted and drawn into the vortex of being explored with unnecessary distractions on internet and bad sites that harm and may not be conducive to stressing on their educational forays and could deviate from studies. Such deviations are mostly the cause of poor or no connectivity. The first problem that the government should have addressed before going for digital India, on line education and on line commerce. Even those living upscale locality, these students have poor connectivity in their houses. It is the duty of the parents and the teachers to guide their children and wards into refraining from being tempted into applications that are not meant for children who are easily influenced by temptations. It may be cautioned that some tempting sites might blunt the students' senses and reduce their educational incisiveness in pursuit of excellence in their respective subjects. In the present scenario where students may not get a chance to mingle and socialize, it should be the endeavour of parents and teachers to provide the best for their children and wards towards their maximum educational advancements.. There are some students who demand sophisticated mobiles from parents and those who cannot afford they get them from loan thinking their children will excel in the studies.
[Goanet] .
which has the inaugural foundation stone at this location having no meaning. To further aggravate the situation, migrant families have made their housing around this stadium. The relocation of the six off-shore casinos to an alternate site has to be done so as to de-congest the river Mandovi as was promised by the government. Casinos relocation has not been pursued as promised to its logical conclusion. Instead the Government keeps on renewing licences and their curse appears to be never ending. It should be the endeavour of the authorities to give Panaji a very smart look by implementing these various 'smart' solutions. Stephen Dias DONA PAULA 9422443110
[Goanet] Sub: A Request in connection with Bands in Goa from Portuguese times
Sir, What exactly first hand info you mean or you will like to know. See give me time as I am busy at the moment with another burning issue /project of coal and mining which Adanis, Vedanta and others are going to destroy systematically our beloved Marmagoa, Vasco de Gama, Chicalim Harbour and of course ultimately our tiny loving Goa. In the meanwhile I suggest you that also to keep in touch with the following friends 1. DR.Francisco Colaco 2. Francisco Martins 3. TAVARES MESSIAH 4. GAMBETTA GONSALVES 5. LUIS ABREU BROTHER OF LATE CAETANO ABREU. 6. VASCO PINHO 7. CASA PEDRO FERNANDES SONS AND THEIR FATHER 8. MERWYN MENEZES OWBER OF CAMILO MENEZES PHARMACY 9. EMERCIO RODRIGUES LEADER OF RINGERS BAND GROUP 10. REMO FERNANDES 11. VERO NUNES 12. TONY DIAS 13. ALLELUIA MENEZES SONS 14. PRESENT PRESIDENT OF VASCO DE GAMA 15. AND OTHERS PROMINENT CITIZEN OF PANJIM. HOPE THE LIST MADE BY ME SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR YOUR INFORMATION IF YOU BE! ABLE TO CONTACT THEM STEPHEN DIAS RESIDENT OF PANJIM 9422443110 30TH SEPT 2020 On Wed, 30 Sep, 2020, 18:40 252Anish Esteves, wrote: > Dear Sir, >Hope you are fine and safe at home. Just need some help. This is for my > personal information. >I just read something about the list of bands in Goa (Goanet post). Do > you know of any people who had a first hand experience of the Clubs in Goa > during the Portuguese Rule? Clube Vasco, Panjim etc > > Best, > Anish Esteves > > Anish Esteves >
[Goanet] RINGERS BAND GROUP LISTED
As per the request of Frederick I am providing the inputs to be considered in the listing of our Band which was playing in 1950s for two decades in Goa. The Band leader was Emercio Rodrigues and the members of this band which was called RINGERS are Stephen Dias, Crescencio Dourado, Luis Joao Rodrigues and Domingos This Band was playing Portuguese numbers, Konkani songs and Mandos, Spanish n Brazilian numbers, and little Hindi songs. We have been playing mostly at the Clube Nacional, Clube Vasco de Gama, Colva and Margao clubs. Also taken part at Emissora de Goa, Carnival, Serenading, Cabaret dances and weddings was our most attraction. The following instrument were played by this group members of the Band are ; 1. EMERCIO RODRIGUES leader of the group played Guitar, Violin with all variations. 2. STEPHEN DIAS played Bass on Rebecao. 3. CRESCENCIO DOURADO on bandolim 4. LUIS JOAO RODRIGUES on gumott, violin and guitar for accompanhamento and vocal along with Emercio and others 5. DOMINGOS on guitar Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2020 02:30:20 +0530 From: Frederick Noronha To: Stephen Dias , Goanet Subject: Re: [Goanet] GOANET : MUSIC LIST OF BANDS FROM GOA Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi Stephen, Who was the team leader of The Ringers? When was the band active? Who were its members? What kind of music did it play? Thanks in advance for the inputs, FN On Fri, 25 Sep 2020 at 15:52, Stephen Dias
[Goanet] GOANET : MUSIC LIST OF BANDS FROM GOA
It is sad that well known bands like Santimano band is missed in the list of Band from Goa. Although they were quite old but very famous. I don't understand how it was missed. Similarly our band which is called RINGERS also missed. My team leader of RINGERS was well famous musician who was also a composer and one of the top musician in Goa. We started playing in 1950s for various weddings clubs and Emissora de Goa. My team leader at present is having a top band in Canada because he had settled in Toronto. While in Goa he thought many band musicians and their leaders and surprisingly how our band missed appearing in Goanet. We were playing in most of the famous club in Goa. Also for Cabaret, weddings, Carnival and for parties. Santimano is right and I am not wrong the family used to stay down the Corte de Oiteiro road. I am sure some few bands also not been listed. I remember their names of the band but let them bring to the notice of Goanet. ( Frederick). STEPHEN DIAS Message: 7 Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2020 09:15:56 +0400 From: "Maria Do Ceu Santimano De Souza" To: "'Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!'" Subject: Re: [Goanet] [Goanet-News] MUSIC: List of bands from Goa Message-ID: <063101d69231$c873bf90$595b3eb0$@alhathboor.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Hi Frederick, I would like to bring to your attention that there was a family band = parents + 8 children who used to perform in the Panjim gardens, mando festival and specially in Clube Nacional and Clube Vasco da Gama known as SANTIMANO FAMILY BAND. May be the old timers have heard about this famous family band in the mid 60?s??? Best regards, Maria Do Ceu P.O. Box 2246, Dubai, U.A.E. Tel: 00971 4 6085422
[Goanet] Fwd: Seção Portuguesa no NIZ GOENKAR
SENHOR ESTIMADO MENINO JA ESTOU A PENSAR ESCREVER UM ARTIGO EM PORTUGUÈS.. EMBORA MEU PORTUGUÉS ESTÁ FERRUGENTE MAS FICO SATISFEITO PARA RECORDAR O QUE EU TENHO ESQUECIDO. NĂO SEI QUE EU ESTOU A FAZER OS ERROS MESMO ASSIM FICO A FAZER OS MEUS ESFORÇOS. STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA -- Forwarded message - From: Stephen Dias Date: Sun, 20 Sep, 2020, 15:39 Subject: Fwd: Seção Portuguesa no NIZ GOENKAR To: Stephen Dias -- Forwarded message - From: Date: Mon, 14 Sep, 2020, 01:00 Subject: Seção Portuguesa no NIZ GOENKAR To: Almerinda Romeira , André Cabrita-Mendes < amen...@jornaleconomico.pt>, Ânia Ataíde , Audhut Caro , Cônsul Geral Rui Baceira , Dean Cruz , Delfim Correia da Silva (ICamões Goa) < clp...@gmail.com>, Dona Curiosa , Dr Neil de Jesus Rangel , Dr. Ferdinando dos Reis Falcão < drferdina...@hotmail.com>, Eng.Cristo Prezeres da Costa < babacri...@yahoo.com>, Floriano Lobo , Fr. Monteiro , Ganganeli Pereira < pereira.gangan...@gmail.com>, , Gonzaga Coutinho < gonz...@netcabo.pt>, Gopal Vernenkar , Indo Portuguese Friendship Society , Inês Pinto Miguel < imig...@jornaleconomico.pt>, Isodore Dantas , Jean Catão , Jéssica Sousa , Joana Almeida , José Maria Alzira < zemaria.alz...@gmail.com>, Jose Maria Miranda , José Varela Rodrigues , Keith Athaide < keis...@hotmail.com>, Keith Xavier Ataíde Herédia , Lígia Simões , Margarida Távora e Costa < nostalgia...@yahoo.co.in>, Mariana Bandeira , Natasha Donn , Nuno Miguel Silva < nmsi...@jornaleconomico.pt>, Oscar Carmano Lobo , Pedro Lopes , Rodolfo Alexandre Reis < rr...@jornaleconomico.pt>, , Shrikesh Laxmidas < slaxmi...@jornaleconomico.pt>, Simone Falcão , Stephen Dias , Valmiki Faleiro , William Afonso Prezados, Há muito que iniciamos esta secção em português no nosso site. Todos vocês estão convidados a contribuir com seus artigos ou comentários nesta seção. Com os melhores cumprimentos Alisha da Cunha Moderador Niz Goenkar (www.nizgoenkar.com) Artigos recentes: [image: Covid-19: Vaticano Defende Regresso Presencial Das Missas] *Covid-19: Vaticano Defende Regresso Presencial Das Missas * <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1330> Saturday - Sep 12, 2020 Vaticano: A Congregação para o Culto Divino e a Disciplina dos Sacramentos (Santa Sé) defendeu hoje o regresso à celebração presencial das missas, após as limitações provocadas pela pandemia de covid-19. Numa carta dirigida aos presidentes das conferências ►► Read more... <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1330> [image: Areias Do Guadiana – Henrique Salles da Fonseca] *Areias Do Guadiana – Henrique Salles da Fonseca * <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1329> Saturday - Sep 12, 2020 Espanha nunca aceitou de bom grado a conquista portuguesa do Algarve com base numa herança de um avoengo qualquer. Mas a «uti possidetis» vingou por antecipação à inclusão dessa figura (posse efectiva de uma região) no Direito Internacional e o Algarve é português e ponto final na discussão ►► Read more... <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1329> [image: A Arte De Pegar Toiros - Manuel Peralta Godinho e Cunha] *A Arte De Pegar Toiros - Manuel Peralta Godinho e Cunha * <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1314> Sunday - Sep 6, 2020 Quando o forcado pelo seu saber e valentia – e também por intuição – consegue vencer o medo, o perigo e as dificuldades que o toiro apresenta e alcança emoção e domínio, pode dizer-se que atinge a perfeição. Mas essa perfeição só é atingida quando demonstra naturalidade durante o cite e facilidade ►► Read more... <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1314> [image: A Grande Catalunha? - Manuel Peralta Godinho e Cunha] *A Grande Catalunha? - Manuel Peralta Godinho e Cunha * <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1303> Wednesday - Sep 2, 2020 A tentativa de independência da Catalunha é antiga e quando em 1640 Portugal restaurou também a sua independência em relação a Espanha, depois dos reis espanhóis Filipe II, Filipe III e Filipe IV terem ocupado os territórios de aquém e além mar de Portugal, também na Catalunha houve uma ►► Read more... <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1303> [image: Rui Rio Considera ‘Censurável’ Que Novo Banco Já Conheça A Auditoria – Bianca Marques] *Rui Rio Considera ‘Censurável’ Que Novo Banco Já Conheça A Auditoria – Bianca Marques * <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1302> Wednesday - Sep 2, 2020 O presidente do PSD Rui Rio considera que é “censurável” que o Novo Banco já conheça a auditoria realizada pela Deloitte, enquanto que os deputados ainda não acederam ao documento. “Se a auditoria ainda não é do conhecimento de ninguém, nem sequer dos próprios deputados, legítimos representantes ►► Read more... <https://www.nizgoenkar.com/newsDetails.php?id=1302>
[Goanet] O Heraldo goes Portuguese
Senhor Bernado Colaço Gostaria que este papel O Heraldo começa a publicar as notícias e assuntos de Goa em Português. Mey pai foi grande amigo do senhor Amadeu Praseres de Costa que naqueles tempos O Heraldo foi uma grande coisa que todos nós sabiam falar e escrever em Português e depois este papel disapareceu e nunca consegui publicar nesta amada lingua que até agora ficarìa satisfeito se este nosso Rahul O filho de Heraldo que não tomou interesso para começar com esta publication. Eu passei O sétimo ano do Liceu e gostarìa publicar artigos em Português. Fiquei a saber os nomes do Casmiro Monteiro a pessoa que acabou com tudo e PIDE outro grande grupo que foi bem conhecido na nesta terra. Estevam Dias conhecido agora como Stephen Dias Message: 1 Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:01:34 + (UTC) From: Bernado Colaco To: "goanet@lists.goanet.org" Subject: [Goanet] O Heraldo goes Portuguese Message-ID: <935810868.1646779.1600426894...@mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Thanks to Sr. Fonseca for the below link on O Heraldo. now publishing some articles in Portuguese. Also a big up to Shri Barbosa the current editor of the newspaper for taking the initiative in its 120 years of publication. O Heraldo you might know was a Portuguese only daily until the 80's, when the owners decided to shut down the Portuguese editorial.? Somewhere in the mid 50's my late old man was an editor of the newspaper along with one Cabral Sa and under the guidance of Dr. Amadeu Prazeres of Orlim, Salcete. During that period the newspaper had many blank spaces due to censorship by the PIDE (Portuguese secret police) and the editors were lucky to escape the wrath of Casmiro Monteiro. I wish Shri Barbosa the very best in his endeavour. Kitem zalem murre those 60 years of fotioponn has finished. Now Goans have travelled and lived around the world with Portuguese citizenship and seen for themselves how the world exists. That anti Portuguese rhetoric coming from those freedom fighters atam ghlem dobian. BC Mais Antigo Di?rio De Goa Volta A Publicar Cr?nicas Em Portugu?s Para Celebrar 120 Anos
[Goanet] APPOLO SUPPLY OF STEROID TABLETS
The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration at Bambolim must investigate of this missing two tablets intact sealed in a 10 tablet strip. This strip should contains 10 tablet but 2 are forgotten to load into the strip which shows they are careless and being steroid tablet called DEFSA or DEFLAZACORT meant for life saving drug should have been extra careful. This is a second instance of supply and previously a different issue was with Wellness pharmacy Panjim. These tablets have been prescribed by our NIO dispensary doctor for authorised APPOLO pharmacy to a NIO patient. I suggest FDA should investigate this supply coming from Wallace Pharmaceuticals and sold through APPOLO pharmacy at St Ines Panjim. Enclosed photograph
[Goanet] MIRAMAR CROSS HAVING NOW METAL ENCLOSURE?
All authorities which includes CCP, CAPT OF PORTS , GSIDC AND RESIDENTS are busy with the renovation of their structures at Miramar. There is totally no transparency what it is going on in Miramar as the constructions are seen in full swing. Behind Pergola still nobody knows what kind of construction is coming up in this area and what is the purpose of it. Several months before we have seen work of cementing on the beach area is taking place by using JCBs and the whole stretch of this belt is also under renovation with GSIDC. We know that a huge construction for late Parrikar Samadhi is coming up which is going to close the entrance to Miramar beach in this side which was once upon a time was a free access to those who wanted to go for sea bathing especially for elders who have contracted with artrites and rheumatism and now this passage is blocked. Today ( 20th Aug) I saw a Cross at Miramar were seen people are praying at open area is being closed with metallic sheets and some few housing nearby have also started their renovation work. We, the Panjimite are puzzled the way such illegal or legal constructions are going on having no transparency at all but we know only that our Miramar beach is being destroyed. Better sense may prevail on governnent authorities who don't realise the importance of beach which we have enjoyed our olden days passing our time happily sitting on beach side. Stephen Dias Dona Paula 21.8.2020 9422443110
[Goanet] DON'T DISRESPECT MEMORY OF DR. JACK DE SEQUEIRA
Dear Alexandre People here in Dona Paula are everyday asking me when this letter is coming in Herald. Already Citizen Herald has passed on last Monday and this Monday is of no use because Independence day is on 15th Sat and the shrubs not yet been removed by CCP and GSIDC whereas all other areas around Dr Jack De Sequeira are cleared. This is the way to treat our Leader of Opinion Poll who saved Goa otherwise we all had to go to Maharashtra to get even a birth certificate. Please modify as per your own way and show the public Herald has not forgotten this great Leader. We need his pedestal photo Sir attached to the letter . I have sent you more photos on whatshap please select the best. Thanks Stephen Dias Dona Paula 9422443110 -- Forwarded message -- From: "Stephen Dias" Date: 9 Aug 2020 16:29 Subject: DON'T DISRESPECT MEMORY OF DR. JACK DE SEQUEIRA. To Citizen Herald please To: "Alexandre Moniz Barbosa" , "secretary herald" Cc: "editor" DON'T DISRESPECT MEMORY OF DR. JACK DE SEQUEiRA Stephen Dias, Dona Paula The biggest statue of Dr. Jack de Sequeira in Goa, the Architect of Goa's unique identity and the Father of the Opinion Poll, the only referendum held in India since independence on 16th January, 1967 is located at NIO Circle, Dona Paula. This area is under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of City of Panjim. It is a great disrespect to the memory of the first Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly as although the surrounding area has been cleared up and bedecked in the run-up to the Independence day, only the portion of the circle where the statue of Dr. Jack de Sequeira is installed has not be cleared off by trimming the bushes and the shrubs in the circle by the CCP. The authorities including GSDIC should immediately clear this area and accord respect to the memory of Dr. Jack de Sequeira whose fluent rhetoric and charisma clinched the Opinion Poll verdict for keeping Goa a separate entity which is now a full-fledged state and has a Rajya Sabha MP, two Lok Sabha MPs and an Assembly consisting of 40 MLAs. This became possible only because of the efforts of Dr. Jack de Sequeira who conclusively clinched the Opinion Poll verdict and who was the main mastermind behind 19 constituencies in Goa, Daman and Diu then having voted against the merger while the merger forces could only muster 11 constituencies. It would be in the fitness of things that the Mayor of CCP maintain the NIO Circle with the pedestal and the statue of Dr. Jack de Sequeira spic and span. Had it not been for Dr. Jack de Sequeira's noble efforts, Goa would have become a backyard of Maharashtra with only two district and without a separate identity that the brainchild of the Opinion Poll so very stolidly fought for. More photos sending separetely
[Goanet] Complaints for street light and housing.
This problem is not only to you but to many in our Dona Paula residents. These people are not been able to streamline the system of load at various localities/ areas. I had been in constant touch and advising them what needs to be done. The Asst.Engineer at Taleigao sub station who directs his junior engineers and his staff to attend the repairs at our Dona Paula area, was my student at Goa Polytechnic, Altinho in 1970's and he told me that many illegal constructions have come up plus people and tourists are staying in new posh apartment/ bunglows and using illegal load like geysers, AC's, immersion heaters, washing machines, microwave ovens etc thus lot of load is generated to their feeders which many times are constantly tripping that is the cause of erratic supply. ( enclosed photos). It appears that they cannot enter the houses to check but Yes upto the meter, because of law restrict them from entering inside the houses unless court or Mamladar orders are issued. To get orders they need proofs. So they have pin pointed certain houses and warn them to disconnect their line supply if the load proved illegal. The illegal building construction especially in Dona Paula cannot be stopped because they are smart influential guys. With all these trouble the government does not have proper infrastructure to deal with the situation of frequent breakdown specially in this season. Linesmen do not have transport, not even tools like gloves, raincoats and ladders etc. The risk is involved to climb the HT line without proper tools and mobiles connectivity. They have to depend sometimes on their personal mobiles as no walki- talki are provided nowadays and yesterday 3 electrial junior staff died at Borim while transporting poles to different location appears to be a private hired truck. This is the situation of our Goa electricity department management. Have a look the newly installed transformers feeders installed near the Police station outpost Dona Paula and at the side of NIO institute compound wall for different areas including Raj Bhavan and elsewhere. Stephen Dias 7.8.2020 On 7 Aug 2020 10:14, "Onkar Chauhan" wrote: Dear Dias, I need your help set right the street light repairing issues. There are almost all street lights at Nagali Hills are not working safe be past one and half months I have complained for This (complaint I’d GL00010786) several times to some helpline in Andhra and Goa electricity help line. But nothing is done. I request you to kindly help. > >
[Goanet] GREATNESS OF DR. IRA, EXEMPLARY CONFORMITY
GREATNESS OF DR. IRA, EXEMPLARY CONFORMITY Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Rarely do we come across a doctor, in this case like Dr. Ira Almeida who is such a conformist that she gracefully accepted her transfer as Hospicio Medical Superintendent, although she has been praised of doing `a fantastic job' by the very health minister who sought her transfer. Dr. Ira got the Hospicio OPD services shifted to South district hospital as she did not want patients to stand out in the sun and rain. Before the monsoons started, she shifted the medicine wards to the new district hospital fearing that patients who sleep on the floor in Hospicio would be exposed to Covid-19 risk. These decisions on her part speaks volumes about her concern and care for patients and should be applauded. Acceptance of her transfer without a grouse is further testimony that she wishes to serve humanity anywhere she is posted and she accepted her fate without rancour. It is an exemplary reaction, that any other doctor would have at least protested and not acquiesced to with humility. A role model for other doctors to emulate. We wish Dr. Ira Almeida all the very best in her future endeavours and expect other doctors to follow her gracefulness. Great things await you in future.
[Goanet] Fwd: Big Thank You Alexandre
-- Forwarded message -- From: "Stephen Dias" Date: 3 Aug 2020 05:38 Subject: Big Thank You Alexandre To: "Alexandre Moniz Barbosa" Cc: "secretary herald" , "editor" < edi...@herald-goa.com> Dear Alexandre > VERY GOOD CITIZEN HERALD BY ME PUBLISHED BY HERALD TODAY 3.7.2020 WITH > THREE PROMINENT PHOTOS OF NO VALID CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING IS SEEN BY THE > PUBLIC AND AN ACCIDENT BY VIP VEHICLE NEAR THE MAIN ROAD NEAR AIVAO WHERE > THESE WORKERS ARE WORKING ON SEWAGE TANK IS ALSO PROMINENTLY SEEN IN THE > PHOTOGRAPH. > HATS OFF TO HERALD FOR PUBLISHING. > THANK YOU > > STEPHEN DIAS > DONA PAULA > 3.7.2020 >
