Hello all I read with interest the above note sent to us by kind favour of Mervyn Lobo, written by George Pereira, and take this opportunity of thanking him for putting pen to paper. It was only last year that an application was being made to the United Nations to list the Western Ghats as a World Heritage site. I can recall writing about the pure mountain water flowing down into Goa just like the source of the Danube, right to the Salmona Springs in Saligao where past generations could drink and bathe in. Water is a very precious resource and it is sad to note the contamination of well water due to neglect by the public authorities and irresponsible inhabitants in ensuring clean water for everyone. I can understand the management of sewer systems and for those not in the know there is a museum in Reading, England that can enlighten public officials with ideas to start taking action. History shows that during the horse and cart era London and New York faced sewage problems of both animals and human which have been transformed over the years to the standards we have today. All said and done, I have heard that Goa is one of the cleanest places in India. Septic tanks are manageable. With one car for every two people is the local Goykar responsible enough to recycle the black gold going down the drain to the water table with every oil change for their car or soon we will be having oily water.
In Colvale, Goa there is a plastic recycling factory employing over 3,000 people yet no-one from the village is an employee. Why is this? Has Goa got so many graduates minus grade that it is always for somebody else to do the work. Even the Calangute Panchayatt has to employ outsiders for litter picking. They also collect revenue from hotels to pay for animal feed abandoned by their owners after the harvest season. Some credit must be given to villages like Saligao who have clearing up days unchoking the soil. Has everyone else lost pride in their villages but come over to sweep the streets and clean the toilets of Europe for the exchange rate. Goa is trying and over the years at the Friday Balcao session run by "Goa Can Do" facilitated by Roland Martins and Tim in Mapusa and Margao have initiated a lot of changes within the administration of our Goa. In England, very GBP pound you earn, not black, 69 pence goes towards tax and national insurance which in turn pays for services like healthcare and a safety net for those who are disadvantaged and are provided with benefits to survive in the short term. There is gross abuse of this and it is going to change. The tourist visa fee valid six months to come to Goa for a UK national is now over GBP 92. Word is that the lifetime visa OCI, PIO is going up to GBP 1,400 in March 2013. The air tax to come to Goa is around GBP 375 depending on route. I am arriving in Goa this Saturday and would like to meet up with any readers under the theme of Any Answers. I note everyone is busy and with this in mind I am pencilling Saturday 16 February or Saturday 23 February lunchtime to evening in Panjim area, venue to be advised. Please let me know what date you would prefer by email or SMS. My cell phone number in Goa after 9 February will be 9766443582. Look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 6 February 2013
