IHCL HOTELS:  NO TO PLASTICS!

IHCL, India’s largest hospitality company, ahead of World Environment Day 2023 (June 5) has reaffirmed its commitment to phase out single-use plastics across all its hotels. Speaking on this decision Executive Vice-President-Human Resources Gaurav Pokhariyal says, “In line with the vision of IHCL’s ESG+ framework of Paathyha, we are committed to phase out single-use plastic from all our hotels. From elimination of plastic straws, replacing plastic-wrapped dry amenities with eco-friendly substitutes, introduction of bottling plants to initiating zero-single use plastic hotels in the country, IHCL has stayed the course on beating plastic pollution.” It is the IHCL or Taj group of hotels which are credited for the introduction of the country’s first ever “Zero Single-Use Plastic Hotel.” For example, the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in the Andaman Islands has taken many strides over the years to avoid any plastic pollution and instead focus on environmental sustainability. The Taj hotels have replaced the use of pet plastic water bottles with reusable glass water bottles, bottled with treated water. They F & B services no longer use plastic straws and plastic wrapping of dry amenities in the rooms have also been replaced  with eco-friendly alternatives for things like toothbrush, shaving kit, other bathroom and room accessories. IHCL hotels may take a bow this World Environment Day and may they inspire other players in the hospitality industry!

FLOODS IN PANAJI

THERE is growing suspense about smart city Panaji will be drowned when the rain comes. The areas likely to be worst affected are Miramar Circle, the Raj  Bhavan junction at Dona Paula, EDC Patto Complex, Camra Bhat, 18 June Road, KTC Circle, Mala, Portais , Bhatlem and the GMC underpass. The cause for the flooding includes closure of the St Inez creek outlet along Bandodkar road, dumping of debris in the waterways and clogged storm water drains and construction in low-lying areas and fields. Citizens may have to be ready with alternative arrangements if they want to move in and out of their homes.   

FISHING BAN IN FORCE IN GOA

THE  61-day fishing ban begins on June 1  and ends on July 31. Fishermen have  been demanding a 90-day ban on fishing during the monsoon months. Unfortunately for Goa other states like Orissa and Kerala do not enforce such a fishing ban. So much so Goa is flooded with fish from its neighboring states. It will be recalled that there was a controversy over the use of formalin in preserving fish coming long distance from faraway states. However, the fishing ban is imposed more to give the fish breeding season a chance at survival. Many Goans voluntarily switch to dry seafood including eating dry Bombay duck during the monsoon months.

VANDE BHARAT

THE Vande express train will soon be landing in Margao. This train is the first  superfast train between Mumbai and Goa and will reportedly cover the distance in seven hours, achieving a top speed of 180kmp. Vande Bharat has become the new brand ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is determined ot launch Vande Bharat trains to reach every destination in the country. His pet Vande Bharat train is to the North-East. Though we have a railway minister the prime minister of India insists on flagging off every Vande Bharat train himself – many say for photo ops.  So we see Modi everywhere.

PRAMOD FOLLOWS MODI!

AT the launch of the re-vamped  Secretariat complex in Porvorim, Pramod Sawant follows the example of Narendra Modi. The CM held a havan puja with half-a-dozen priests on the occasion of the re-inauguration of the ministerial block. The “sengol” was substituted by wooden sculpture, it’s religious significance is a mystery. The CM and his Cabinet colleagues have moved into their newly reworked ministerial block at the Secretariat to be freshly inspired by the gods of HIndutva.     

PROTEST AGAINST ORE

THE unloading of ore at the Kalai railway station has provoked a lot of protest. The contract for unloading the ore went to Vikas Gowas Desai. The deputy collector finally convened a meeting to persuade the locals not to obstruct the movement of ore. The 40 wagons carrying ore from Karnataka were to arrive in the morning but were delayed to arrive at only 7pm because of the protests all along the way. The unloading in Kalai has also affected the truck owners who transport ore.

WRESTLERS’ GOLD MEDALS

THE Olympic-award winning wrestlers headed by Vinesh and Sangita Phogat went to Benares as they planned to dump their gold medals in the river Ganga ceremonially in protest against the alleged vile sexual harassment they were at the mercy of from one Brij Bhushan Singh (president of the Wrestlers federation). However, the women wrestlers were persuaded not to dump their medals by some farmer friends. The wrestlers were arrested and FIR lodged but they have been freed since. They had marched in protest to the venue of the new Parliament during its inauguration on May 27, 2023 but an ugly fracas took place and they were taken into custody. In the meantime the molester Brij Bhushan Sahan Singh was welcomed to the Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

DANCE WITH REPTILES

A PUB in Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad has given a new twist to the idea of a wild weekend out. It allowed customers to not only handle exotic snakes but allowed them to dance with the snakes. Both forest officials and the police reached the premises and seized 14 Persian cats and parrots among other animals and birds from the pub which were being used by the creative pub owner to give his clients some cheap thrills of the wild animal kind or so to speak. Sort of dance with the wild animals.

MATERNITY LEAVE

FOR the first time a student doing a post-graduate degree at Delhi University has been permitted to take maternity leave. This is the first time university students have been extended such a privilege. However, these pregnant students will have to maintain minimum attendance stipulated.  

GANGA-ZUARI ACADEMY CELEBRATION

THE Ganga-Zuari Academy celebrated its  17^th Foundation Day with a scintillating musical evening on May 28, 2023 at the  Menezes Braganza Hall in  Panaji. The Ballarina 2023 program treated the audience to Rabindrasangeet by Rupashree Dey and other singers who sang Telugu and other language songs; there were some dance performances too by young artistes.
This year’s 3^rd Mita Dey Social Goodness Award was given to Ana Gracias for her “selfless social service.” She and her three sons are crusaders for poor BPL families in Goa. The keynote address was given by chief guest Prof Suman Kundu, director, BITS-Goa who said he was still new to Goa and was learning many interesting things about it, he was impressed by the Ganga Zuary Academy’s members who’s events attempt to arrive at “a confluence of minds.”The event was partnered by the Directorate of Art & Culture, Goa and the Maria Crescencia Menezes Memorial Educational Trust. Over the years the Bengali-oriented GZA has been promoting many fusion cultural and educational programs to bring people together to better understand and appreciate India and Goa’s rainbow culture rooted in history, language, art and craft, landscapes, lifestyles rooted in the villages and their cultural moorings.  The event was moderated by Rumi Roy
Choudhury and playing host for the colorful evening were GZA’s president Bimalendu Dey, past president Ranadhir Mukhopadhyaya, members of the Bengali community as well as their family and friends.