MARGAO'S "SUFFOCATED" ROADS - 2. By Valmiki Faleiro.

Margao’s “suffocated” roads - 2
By Valmiki Faleiro

Intra-state private passenger buses are the other 50% cause of traffic congestion on
Margao’s thoroughfares. Don’t take my word on this. The next time buses go on
strike, see how traffic glides, ever so smoothly!

Out of the KTC terminus, buses crawl along arterial but two-laned roads into town.
They hamper traffic flow, if not holding it up altogether with sudden stops, often in the
middle of the road, to take in passengers. One can’t argue with bus drivers. They are
privileged citizens. They routinely pay the police and RTO. You and I don’t.

Private bus crews are a law unto themselves. Not long ago a bus driver, questioned
by the Salcete Deputy Collector outside the district collectorate, physically abused
the latter. Old discipline is dead, together with the likes of Dy. Director of Transport,
Venkatesh Kamat and Traffic Police ASI, Mario Valaradares. Both didn’t hesitate to
pull out an uncouth driver and give him a little physical treatment in full public view.

Crawling into the heart of town, buses can halt for a minute to pick/disembark
passengers by the Salcete Comunidades building (and near the two Jain temples at
Pajifond for Quepem-bound buses.) But they linger at will. Out of town, they turn into
speeding monsters, racing with competition, often killing or maiming people.

Traffic policemen are invariably present at both points, but they are not there to
regulate buses. They are there to collect a “hafta” from every bus exiting Margao.
How can one expect the poor constable to shoo away the hand that feeds him?

One solution to this menace is to preclude private buses from entering town. All
south and southeast-bound buses can be diverted via a road, long proposed in the
Margao ODP, linking the Ravindra Bhavan junction to the Eastern Bypass, by the
southern banks of the two Borda lakes. Instead of constructing this vital link on
priority basis, people’s heritage walls and houses are currently being destroyed to
widen the existing (and parallel) St. Joaquim road!

This diversion would entail an alternate arrangement for passengers from the KTC
bus terminal to all halts previously covered by private intra-state buses in the town.
This can be done with a round-robin KTC minibus shuttle service. The State must
provide this service either free or at a heavily subsidized rate. Commuters must not
be made to pay for the sins of private bus operators and law enforcement agencies.

No thought has been spared, in our brand of democracy where numbers count, to the
largest segment of road users: pedestrians. Crossing a busy street has now become
a daytime nightmare to able-bodied pedestrians, forget the unaided aged and infirm.
This even at notified pedestrian crossings, where zebra lines are clearly visible to
oncoming motorists.

Motorists, before being issued a driving licence, are supposed to learn that
pedestrians at a zebra crossing have a first right of road use. The opposite prevails in
Goa!

Pedestrians are not privileged to instruction on prudent road usage practices nor
need a “walking licence” to use a road. Most roads are also bereft of pavements.
People are forced to walk along treacherous roads and unfortunate ones who do that
with their backs to oncoming traffic often get mowed down.

Re-paint existing zebra crossings and provide more in Margao’s central commercial
area. Most of all, stiffly penalize motorists to create awareness about a pedestrian’s
right at a zebra crossing.

In Margao’s central area, the roads around New Market have also long cried to be a
pedestrian-only zone during daytime.

As a well-meaning friend (and one-time municipal colleague), I would urge Goa’s
current “Aam Aadmi” Chief Minister to remember the wise words of Goa’s second
Lieutenant Governor, M R Sachdev. In his first address to Goa’s first Legislative
Assembly, at its very first sitting, he had said, “No amount of development is worth
anything unless the man in the street feels that the administration is being run in the
interest and for the benefit of the people at large."

P.S.: With this, dear reader, *All-‘n’-Sundry* takes your leave. This is the last piece
for now. Thank you for reading and, as the French say, ‘Au revoir.’ Inshallah! (ENDS).

The above article appeared in the Herald, Goa, edition of November 15, 2009
*Comments welcome at valmikif@gmail.com

NEED FOR FINANCIAL HELP.

from tskk, goa‏

From:pratap naik (pnaiksj@gmail.com)
Sent:Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:37:28 AM
To: veronica fenandes (averonicaf806@hotmail.com)
THOMAS STEPHENS KONKNNI KENDR
B. B. Borkar Road, Alto Porvorim
Goa – 403 521, INDIA.
( (0832) 2415857, 2415864
Estd. 29-03-1982. Reg. No. 23/Goa/82
e-mail:pnaiksj@gmail.com

10 November 2009.

Mogall Veronica bab,

Greetings from Thomas Stpehens Konknni Kendr (TSKK).

Recent torrential rain and flood situation created havoc in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra. Canacona taluka too was hit by rain and flood. Two of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) staff members Ms Basavva Chalawadi and Mr. Ningappa Chalawadi from Bagalkote district of Karnataka lost their two mud houses with all their belongings and farm products and standing crop was totally destroyed. Their handicapped brother was living in one of these mud houses. Basavva and Ningappa are really poor and they lost their parents when they were young. They earn their livelihood by working in TSKK. Both of them faithfully and with love and dedication served Fr. Matthew Almeida my colleague at TSKK for 23 years during his sickness. Since they have lost everything in their native place it is my sacred duty to help them to rebuild their houses.

Basavva and Ningappa are not in a position to contribute financially to rebuild their houses. However they will do the manual work while rebuilding the houses. Since their village has a lot of monkeys, tile houses are not advisable. Hence I intend to rebuild their houses (two rooms each) with stones and concrete roof. I intend to start the work after Christmas. The rough estimate to build these houses will be Rs 2.25 lakhs. With the corrupt government system in Karnataka, one cannot expect anything for the poor and needy from the government sources. I rely on God and the people of good will.

As a close friend of TSKK, I request you to help me as best as you can. No amount is too small for me. You can contribute either in cash or cheque written in my name or in the name of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr. In case you need any further information kindly do not hesitate to contact me.


Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours truly,



Fr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director

ON "MEMORIES OF 12TH NOVEMBER 1990.

From:Joao Fernandes (joaofdes@aol.com)
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 6:20:24 AM
To: averonicaf806@hotmail.com

Hello Veronica,

A good article.

As a matter of interest, do you have a reliable source to tell and inform me how many Goans are here in Kuwait?

Would appreciate your help,

Best Regards,

Johnny Fernandes

ON KIFF SUSPENSION & REBELLION.

To: averonica.
Subject: KIFF matters.
From: robin.fernandes@jotundxb.ae
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:46:16 +0300.

Dear Mr. Veronica,
A very good day for you, I am a very good fan of critics and I strongly believe criticism leads changes in ones behavior, whether it relates to political affairs or social affairs. In this case it is very much a sports matter. However I have not addressed this mail to the rest of the federation members but i would like to ask you as the President of the affiliate member of Indian football Federation, Kuwait. if you have any clue of the facts that, why these 7 members has ended up forming a New football federation.

Just to update on myself, I have been an active member of KIFF for the past several years ( In house as well as the committee) who have been also playing Football simultaneously for the past 26 years and personally contributed thousands of KD to the federation either in terms of sponsorship or direct assistance to the required situation. Do you think I would interest such matters if we intend to separate from KIFF?

Now I have a few specific Questions for you, which are related to your write up - please answer them with logic. Do you have a clear knowledge on KIFF constitution? Yes or No. If yes then how KIFF can suspend these affiliates? while they were insisting to adhere the constitution of the federation? when they pleaded the managing committee to stick to the rules of the federation. Did we have a choice, when we were out of all football activities for the complete season? Would it be fair to fight like the animals in the house which is usually the case? Don't you think that we are implying the modest democratic ideology? And if No what would you do at the situation like this? I would personally invite you to have an open discussion or forum on the matter as IFF members are bold and wise to face all challenges based on facts which are unknown to most community in Kuwait who overlooked smart gentlemen as cowards. You stop yourself there for a moment and try to weigh the people you know within the organization and you will definitely find your answer. Mr. Xavier has sent you a detail mail, go thru these facts of testimony which may not necessarily change your mind but know the fact.

Oh by the way you r wonderfully gifted with the art of writing yet you need to be careful on your language, Just read it twice before you click for delivery it will help you to anticipate how people perceive you and your beautiful talent. Thank you.

Best Regards.
Robin Fernandes.
Senior Sales Executive,
Towell Int'l Group Jotun Paints Division.
Kuwait.
Mob. 00965-9704157Office Tel. 009654743014/009654769347
Email ID - robin.fernandes@jotundxb.aehttp://www.jotun.com/me

HAPPY FEAST - GUARDIAN ANGEL.

Wishing all the Sanvordem-kars and Curchorem-kars
a very happy feast of our patron
"GUARDIAN ANGEL"
which is celebrating today
15th November 2009

Cajetan de Sanvordem
President
Guardian Angel Club
Kuwait