Insincerity on land protection
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently launched the Goa Amritkal agriculture policy, aiming to preserve agricultural land by banning its conversion for non-agricultural purposes. Over time, we have heard several similar announcements by Sawant focused on protecting Goa’s environment. These include measures like empowering Talathis to prevent hill cutting, ensuring all files for mega projects come to the CM for approval, taking action against hill cutting and other environmental rule violations, and investigating the Zuari land scam, where land acquired at low rates is now being resold at much higher prices by the real estate lobby. Despite these repeated declarations, little tangible action has been taken, and the situation seems to be worsening. So, the question arises: will agricultural land truly be protected from conversion, or will loopholes continue to be exploited?
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Noise nuisance
The traffic police in Goa have started a drive against vehicles using modified silencers. Several vehicles, including bikes and cars having modified silencers, which make a loud noise, have been seized. Bikes with loud silencers can have several negative effects including, noise pollution which causes hearing damage, stress, and sleep disruption for people nearby. It precipitates potential health issues for sensitive individuals like heart patients. It increases the risk of accidents due to startled pedestrians or drivers and has a negative impact on the rider’s own hearing. The Goa Carnival celebrations are a few days away. Ironically the Carnival float parade features a ‘junk cars’ category where modified cars participate in the parade. The vehicles participating in this category make an ear-splitting noise which can be harmful for little children and elderly persons. The riders of bikes with modified silencers speed up and apply brakes suddenly as they ride through the float parade. This can lead to accidents. It is pertinent to note that last year the Vasco Carnival committee decided not to allow noisy and speeding vehicles to participate in the port town float parade even in the junk cars category. When the police crack down on vehicles with modified silencers that make a loud noise, it makes very little sense to have a junk cars rally at the Carnival float parade.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Highly-skewed selection
After the Oscars on March 2, India will be hosting a movie fest in Los Angeles. For the first time the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will screen iconic films from India from March 8 to April 20. This is an honour for the Indian film industry which annually churns out hundred of movies. It is another matter whether all the movies get done, become blockbusters, break-even or sink without a trace. Twelve films have been selected, of which eight are in Hindi (Mother India, Maya Darpan, Manthan, Amar Akbar Anthony, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Devdas of Shah Rukh Khan and Jodhaa Akbar), and one each in Tamil (Iruvar), Malayalam (Kummatty), Bengali (Kanchenjungha) and Manipuri (Ishanau). The selection of eight Hindi movies of the total of 12 is highly skewed. Only Hindi movies do not constitute our film industry but somehow the impression has been set that it is the only glamorous and lavish. To be fair and justifiable, the Indian curator for the above prestigious event could yet replace 11 Hindi movies with other languages. This would make it interesting for the global audience and represent a pan-Indian canvas of the Indian film industry rather than catering only for the Indians settled abroad. Presently it appears to be an affront to the movies made in other languages. The ministry of information and broadcasting and the film industry could play a role and get corrected this lopsided approach in screening Indian movies.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Anatomy of a visit
Experts in India believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US has yielded positive outcomes, with agreements largely serving the country’s interests. However, key topics such as legal and illegal immigration, including H-1B visas—areas of particular concern for many—were not addressed. India appears to be among the prioritised countries for deportation. There has been little information on similar actions involving other nations. The trade agreements, including discussions on the F-35, seem to favour the US, as several other countries already possess these aircraft. This raises questions about whether the deal is part of a broader strategy to counter China’s growing influence. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee has weakened, reaching Rs 87 per US dollar, with further depreciation expected. The US appears to be working to balance its payments, and the ongoing tariff discussions will have implications for India’s exports. Regarding market access, Harley-Davidson and other foreign retail chains are unlikely to significantly impact Indian imports. The promise of deportation of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, is just too little too late.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
