Rage over roads
Lack of proper signages, cratered roads, dead signals and unlit junctions have made commuting in the monsoons not only an ordeal but an almost suicidal mission. With the PWD and the NHAI digging up roads at random for widening, laying of sewer lines, electric and optic fibre cables the tarred surface starts resembling a Martian landscape in the rains. Several fatal accidents take place especially at night, aided by malfunctional signals which instead of streamlining traffic add to the chaos; senior citizens and children trying to cross the road at busy stretches have a harrowing time.
Faulty road engineering with sharp curves and indistinct embankments along with dark work sites and absence of route diversion signs make life hell for motorists and two wheeler riders alike; a few of them unfortunately meet an untimely end on roads which get washed away with the first showers.
Traffic cops posted at 'strategic' locations are keen to impose fines on motorists rather than regulate traffic. Also there is an absolute lack of control and supervision by government engineers on civil engineering sites across the State, everything goes on Raam Bharosey and taxpayer's money is criminally flushed down the drain, yet we have the gall to talk of smart cities and being a supposedly developed country.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
Caving of road at Margao
People were shocked when suddenly a part of the road from Kadamba bus stand to Old Market circle at Margao caved in during the afternoon time. This happens to be a very busy road, however, fortunately no one was hurt as no vehicle passed that way when the road caved in as the incident took place in the afternoon when there is less traffic. If the road had caved in during the night time, a vehicle could have easily landed in the hole with disastrous consequences.
It is learnt that the sewerage department had done some work on the same road a month back by laying pipes below the tar. This has raised questions about the quality of work undertaken for which the contractor is solely responsible. When a road is dug and a pipeline is laid utmost care needs to be taken to fill in the dug-up part of the road with sufficient mud and stones before the road is covered with tar.
Due to the seepage of rain water through the tar there is every possibility of the mud under the road being displaced resulting in the caving-in of a part of the road.
It is pertinent to note that in western countries the roads that are built are water-proof. Hence all the rainwater from the road enters the drainage system present by the roadside. Incidentally in Goa the roads do not last even after a moderate shower and develop potholes and large craters.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
CZMP for fixing mega projects?
Invest India is a National Investment promotion and facilitation agency of India. By clicking on opportunities in the State of Goa on Invest India website www.indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in, we can find the list of 14 port infrastructure investment projects in the State of Goa. Each of these projects has a project ID and the cost of each project is indicated in US Dollars.
The 14 port infrastructure mega investment projects included in the investment grid in the state of Goa are as follows; Mormugao Berths project, Berths with connecting Flyover project Vasco Bay, Vasco Bay Fishing Harbour Project, Vasco Bay Passenger Jetty Project, Shiroda Jetty Project, Pilgao Jetty Project, Banastarim Jetty Project, Aldona Jetty Project, Ribandar Jetty Project, Sanvordem Jetty Project, Ribandar Fisherman's Wharf Development, Old Goa Jetty, Cortalim Jetty and Durbhat Jetty.
There is an urgent need to create awareness on these mega port infrastructure investment projects since these projects are linked to Goa CZMP. Awareness should also be created on the other mega infrastructure investment projects highlighted by the National Investment promotion and facilitation agency of India. The land-use plans of these projects are in conflict with the land-use plans of the eco-sensitive zones and settlement areas of the tiny rural-urban State of Goa.
The existing local bodies will become powerless through various laws and policies that will be enacted to implement the infrastructure investment projects. Can we allow such future transformation of Goa by displacing the existing local communities?
Wesley Edward Pereira,
Raia
Goa: Malaria free?
The Goa Government is waiting for the Centre to declare Goa ‘Malaria Free’ for filaria. Is there any sense in this? Everyone knows that every year more than 150,000 migrants work in Goa during the fishing and tourist season, many of whom come from malaria endemic areas and then return to their home States in the same year.
The Goa Health Services has been struggling to ensure such malaria infected people take their medicines regularly most of whom do not do so. Such people stay in small, pokey rooms and do not follow the required hygiene requirements like using independent utensils, towels, etc. This is just a farce to show the ‘effective’ work done by the Malaria cell in Goa and improve Goa’s standing on the SDG. When there is such a large inter-State movement, the entire country must be made malaria free.
Incidentally, just now, WHO has declared China ‘malaria fee’ after reporting ‘0’ cases for the 4th consecutive year. We need to stop such fake populist acts: let us wait and see the Centre’s response.
R Fernandes,
Margao