Paradise in peril
In recent months, Goa has witnessed a series of unsettling developments—from protests against the Unity Mall project in Chimbel to worsening nighttime noise pollution in North Goa. Hunger strikes, road blockades, morchas, and protests to protect livelihoods and the environment have become alarmingly frequent. This raises a troubling question: how long must citizens protest at the cost of their own health before they are heard? What does it mean to be a government ‘for the people’ if timely action is absent? We often read pieces on ‘Goa, a Lost Paradise’, and the message is unmistakable. Discussions are plenty, but action remains elusive. The land feels unfamiliar, the air is choked with dust, and trees continue to disappear. What lies ahead for Goa—escalation or reconciliation, conflict or peace? The answer depends on whether decisive action replaces prolonged silence.
Lynn Rodrigues, Merces
Social cost of a bridge
The state government has proposed to build a bridge connecting Chorao island to the mainland. The proposal promises improved connectivity, economic opportunities, and easier access to essential services. But at what cost will the development come? Does Chorao really need a bridge when Ro-Ro ferries are in operation? Chorao island is a living, breathing ecosystem and one of Goa’s last remaining pockets of rural serenity. Known for the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, lush mangroves, narrow winding roads, and close-knit village life, Chorao represents a Goa that has largely disappeared elsewhere. A bridge, while convenient, threatens to irreversibly alter this fragile balance. Supporters of the bridge argue that island residents deserve better access to healthcare, education, and markets. The dependence on ferries can be inconvenient, especially during the monsoon or medical emergencies. These concerns are genuine and cannot be dismissed. However, the assumption that a bridge is the only or best solution deserves scrutiny. History has proof that wherever large bridges and highways are built, uncontrolled development has followed. This has led to real estate development, traffic congestion, and environmental degradation.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Governors as political actors
Recurring confrontations between Governors and elected state governments have turned what should be a largely ceremonial constitutional office into a flashpoint of political conflict. From stalled bills and delayed appointments to controversies over Assembly procedures and addresses, Lok Bhavans are increasingly seen not as neutral constitutional custodians but as active political actors. The latest flashpoints in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka underline a growing constitutional disquiet. The Governors in the respective states all altered, truncated or refused to read portions of the Governor’s address, a speech drafted and approved by the elected council of ministers. It is a fact that the Constitution indeed gave Governors certain powers but insisted that they must be exercised with caution in that they would act only on the aid and advice of ministers. Governance inevitably suffers when governors and state governments work at cross purposes. This is not merely a clash of egos but a litmus test of cooperative federalism.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
The Manipur cauldron
So even after almost three years, Manipur’s ethnic, racial and communal fire refuses to die with the latest horror coming through the spine-chilling murder of the innocent Meitei man M Rishikanta Singh for his ‘sin’ of visiting his Kuki wife in Churachandpur district. So apart from more than 260 deaths with 60,000 people displaced, thereby assaulting their right over livelihood and education too, situation has attained such a pass that mixed Meitei-Kuki-Zo couples can’t visit each other, else be prepared to sacrifice your life. Not to forget the innumerable women gangraped across the state with two Kuki women paraded naked during the height of the arson and the very recent tragic death of the 21-year-old Kuki-Zo woman due to medical complications and mental trauma following the brutal gangrape upon her in Imphal over two years ago. May I ask whether the ‘collective conscience’ of the nation have gone for a toss with hardly anybody coming up with even a murmur protesting this tragedy!
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata
Push for blue energy
While India celebrates achieving 135 GW of solar capacity, a vast opportunity remains untapped. Despite an estimated floating solar (FSPV) potential of 207 GW, less than 1 per cent has been installed so far. Both central and state governments are overlooking this ‘blue’ opportunity. Unlike land-based solar plants that require about five acres per MW, floating solar conserves scarce land, reduces reservoir water evaporation by up to 70 per cent, and improves panel efficiency by 5-10 per cent due to the cooling effect of water. The commonly cited concern of higher costs—around 20 per cent more—is a short-sighted barrier when weighed against these long-term benefits.
Vijaykumar HK, Raichur
