Fight for Goa
Why citizens must struggle against their own elected government, which has sworn to uphold the Constitution but instead acts against the people? Concerns have been raised about 15 MLAs receiving state-funded security without transparency, while ordinary citizens face rampant illegalities disguised as ‘development’ and ‘nation first’ rhetoric. The ‘Enough is Enough’ movement led by former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello has outlined 10 ‘commandments’ representing the demands of Goans and residents. These have been submitted to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Chief Minister. Yet the recently concluded Assembly session ignored these pressing issues. Laws and bills were forced through without proper debate, leaving the Opposition sidelined. The movement has gained support from figures like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, highlighting its legitimacy. Hence there is an urgent need to stop illegal land use, protect forests and wetlands, prevent environmental destruction, and restore constitutional law and justice for all.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Selective enforcement
The Electricity Department has allowed high-speed internet cables to be strung across electric poles for years without permission, resulting in unsightly clusters of hanging wires. Despite repeated public complaints, officials—from engineers to the minister—ignored the issue. Recently, one engineer staged a dramatic cable-cutting exercise at select locations, gaining publicity but failing to address the larger problem. The department has lost moral authority to act now, given its negligence and selective enforcement. The only practical solution is to create a separate network of poles dedicated to internet cables, thereby removing the messy clusters and laying new lines properly.
Bhalchandra VS Priolkar, Comba
On illegal constructions
There has been an alarming backlog of over 3,200 illegal construction cases in Goa’s panchayat system. The situation, I feel, is a deliberate attempt to weaken local governance to benefit the construction lobby. These unauthorised buildings often encroach on forests, wetlands, floodplains, and green belts, causing severe environmental damage and undermining urban planning. Authorities are accused of negligence and collusion, failing to enforce zoning laws or conduct proper inspections. There should be stricter enforcement using modern tools like satellite imagery and AI to detect violations in real time. Officials who permit or ignore illegalities should face criminal and departmental action. It must be noted that the government’s tendency to ‘regularise’ violations for revenue, along with recurring election-season promises, leaves citizens frustrated. Homebuyers should be cautious while purchasing suspiciously cheap properties, and illegal structures should be demolished without compensation. Hence there must be a strong push for RERA registration for new buildings.
KG Vilop, Chorao
Healthcare at doorstep
There should be government-provided home visit medical services in rural Goa at affordable rates; the fees should be between Rs 150–500. Such services would reduce travel stress, provide personalised care, and especially benefit elderly patients in remote areas. Respected private doctors like Dr Walke, Dr Dukle, and Dr Sandesh once offered home visits in villages such as Calangute, Candolim, Baga, Arpora, and Nagoa. Similar services by government doctors are now urgently needed. While telephonic consultations can help with immediate advice, home visits by government doctors should be institutionalised, with modest charges, to ensure accessible and quality healthcare at people’s doorsteps.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora
India in catch-22 situation
The Gaza Board of Peace proposed by US President Donald Trump is in sync with his preference for ambitious deal-making outside traditional multilateral frameworks. The plan raises concerns about sidelining the UN and reshaping multilateral norms through coercion rather than consensus. Apart from India, several countries have been invited, including Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. The invitation places New Delhi at a diplomatic crossroads. India has historically supported a two-state solution while deepening strategic ties with Israel and maintaining solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Joining an informal, Trump-led initiative risks complicating this carefully balanced position, particularly if the Board bypasses multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, where India has consistently argued that durable peace requires inclusive, rules-based diplomacy. Importantly, the Board is silent on how and who will disarm Hamas, and to what extent Israel will be restricted from going over the brink. Undoubtedly, Trump views the Board as the stepping stone to his own personal United Nations. India joining the Board would amount to complicity in his efforts to steamroll international law and the rules-based order that India itself touts as a pillar of its foreign policy.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
