Philip, YOU SAID IT! AND HERE I SAY IT AGAIN! --- Philip Thomas wrote: Quote > "How does one break the vicious circle and begin to > make progress. People like me are not worried about >>concrete jungles cropping up everywhere in a > decade or so. What we want is clean beaches, smooth > roads, smooth sidewalks, garbage collection, no >>littering, good drainage, electricity and water >>24x7, no beggars, no stray animals, etc etc here >>and now. > Why is all this so dependenton elected politicians? >>What are the average officers, employees, >>contractors etc doing? Maybe if the airport is > demilitarised everybody will stop the tiatr of the >>absurd and do genuine work." UNQUOTE
NASCI CALDEIRA Adds: I agree with all that Phillip says and here is more. 1) 'Uninterrupted 24/7 Electricity and Water' is the Key to Progress on all fronts! 2) I also add 'Zero tolerance' for Hawkers of all types everywhere and at all times! 3) Also 'zero' tolerance for Animals on Beaches, other Tourist Spots and Roads and Rail of course! If animal lovers object then just collect these animals and post them to their homes or their enclosures! It's as easy as that. Please note that it is not always the Politicians that are the cause of mal function or non or bad governance in Goa or for that matter in India! It is the totally incompetent bureaucracy, their methods of execution of plans and projects, is at the the 'core' of mal function. The Electricity Supply problem which has been with Goa since inception, can only be resolved by 'privitising' the transmission and distribution system! I have advocated this earlier with reasons, but has been sidelined! THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN LINESMEN and THE GOVT DEPT; The more the breakdowns the more the 'overtime' these linesmen get!!! However the Controlling Authority for this enforcement must be a Public Independent Authority and accountable. The same is with Water Supply! Why are the Pipelines bursting and other causes of water supply failure?? THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN THE 'WATER TANKER" OWNERS/DRIVERS AND THE WATER SUPPLY DEPT. If there is good continual water supply then the tanker wallaws will be out of work. And so on, this type of blackmail and suffering for the residents and Tourists in Goa goes on! Sorrowing lies my Land! Also there has to be 'Discipline' on the Beaches! The Beach Beds should not be in the way of easy access to the water side beach aera for strolling and or wading. No fake massagers/ masseuses or astrologers and hawkers and acrobatic performers, dogs, elephants and snake charmers etc should have any foot hold on the beach! They can ply their wares away from the beaches in properly designated places and the local Panchayats should be held totally responsible for upholding this. It's funny that officialy in Goa, a PWD road is suposed to just a min.of six meters wide; and that too with the contractors getting away with it the actual road built is only five metres wide and tarred! Even two bullock carts can not ride side by side on a six metre wide road without slowing down or colliding! Why should all PWD roads not be a min. of TEN meters wide and with a parking lane and service lane in tourist areas and other important places like markets and shopping places, and Public Offices etc.? The govt of Goa just has to ensure these above minimum facilities and enforce them; This does not need too much money in budgets but just discipline honesty and Competency! Do all of the above first and then only entertain the ideas of more hotels, buildings of residence and more tourists' enticement. For now the advertising bluff for tourists should stop forthwith! Do not take the tourists for a ride. When ever I come to Goa I am a Tourist even though Deshi born; and I am complaining of being 'fleeced' by transport system that is non existant so to say; of power failures and low voltages etc that are destroying my laptops and electronic devices that I may be bringing along! Then there is the pollution with burning refuse dumps in towns like Margao etc. and even right next to the Police Station and High Schools. What a SHAME! The Goa Govt is collecting additional tax from tourists for 'this failures extravaganza'! How much more STUPID can any Govt. be?? Please Call off the Bluff and now! Get working man or resign your jobs, ( all the bureacrats who are not doing or not competent in doing their job.) and go swim out into the deep oceanand drown yourselves! More later! End now hoping this tamasha in Goa will come to an end, one day soon! Concerned but Disgusted! Nasci Caldeira Melbourne Down Under. Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com