Goa’s buses
Last week while on holiday in Goa, we had a chance to board the bus from Candolim to Mapuça at around 5.30 pm. After collecting more passengers from Calangute bus stand and waiting for eight minutes there was no for passengers at intermittent bus stops, but passengers started rushing in and the bus was jam packed, so much so that door of the bus was opening whilst moving and a youth held the door tight to close it for the nine minutes of travel. It is the people’s fault for jumping into crowded buses, especially young ladies with their big handbags like market bags tossing it up to take care of it and students with their backpacks brushing other passengers. It was saddening to see senior citizens getting crushed, yet they are boarding the bus.
It is a similar sight at the Mapuça bus depot where buses were filled to capacity with passengers the starting point, and making intermittent stops renders it difficult for passengers to alight, thus delaying buses.
Leo Fernandes, Candolim/Mumbai
Austerity drive
In Goa, the expenditures by our Governor and netas on travel, food and extravaganza have been regularly obtained and published by Herald under “Lion Roars” in vain, so that it shocks us no more! At the swearing in ceremony, it is reported around 11lakhs was spent to swear in CM and five cabinet ministers on free SAG grounds at Campal.  Looked at from BJP perspective, it was a grand occasion involving invitees and public putting Congress to shame. Change of mindset required for any meaningful austerity drive! Generally they are used to perks and free services, with red lights for priority and honour. Parrikar may individually be an exception. Once again our netas are belated going to be officially on an austerity drive. Pratiba Patil has led expenditure on foreign tours and local jaunts, Speaker Meira Kumar made 29 foreign trips in 35 months to the tune of 10 crores, Mayawati has squandered crores. The Lokpal Bill (even a weak one) will never see the light of day in a hurry. All this, whilst millions of tons of foodgrain rot and there are so many problems besides hunger, strangulating the people of India who have to helplessly tolerate all this until the next election, where dirty politics and big money will call the shots.
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Sports and politicians
The change of guard at the GCA was long overdue, but sooner better than later. Mr Phadke and his team deserve credit for taking this bold step to put an end to the autocratic and dictatorial functioning of the GCA. Other State Associations and National Federations should emulate this initiative. We have people who have never played the game, heading some associations/federations which should have rightly gone to former sports personalities. It is high time the central and state governments enact laws for the same, and limit them to two terms as proposed by the GCA.
Lucas D’Souza, Qatar Offshore/Verna
Increased fine
Carrying persons in goods carriages is non-permissible according to the rules. The offence is serious. However, the Traffic cell personnel impose a meagre fine of Rs. 100/- against the said offence. Due to this, the offence is reported very often, considering that vehicles would be set free once Rs. 100/- is paid every time. In order to imbibe some discipline among vehicle operators, it would be worth it if the concerned authorities raised the fine amount from Rs. 100/- to Rs. 500/-. This will indeed help in exercising some sort of control and discourage such unjust acts.
Pravin U. Sardessai, Adpai
Road repairs
The authorities concerned have done it again. With the South West monsoon knocking at our doors, the roads in Vasco have been dug-up again. This time it is the busy Francisco Luis Gomes road near the vegetable market which has been dug-up in order to lay a sewerage line. Patch-up work was done on several roads in the Port Town just a few days back and this has been followed by the digging. There seems to be a lack of co-ordination between the various departments as far as work on the roads is concerned. While one department repairs the roads, the other one digs it. The question to be asked is whether the dug-up part of the Francisco Luis Gomes road will be tarred before the monsoon sets in, otherwise the slushy and slippery condition of the road will prove very dangerous for the road-users.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Art of cartooning
Laughter is the best medicine for everyone; it is not acceptable though to degrade anyone. Cartoons are meant to be taken lightly and laughed at. Mature people take it in the right spirit, unless it is a personal attack. Unfortunately people have changed for the worse and feel offended at the smallest issue. The art of cartooning must not die as it depicts things in a lighter vein.
 M. Kumar , New Delhi