SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2024
Rejuvenate public transport system
The State government on Monday launched six of the 48 air-conditioned electric buses (e-buses) to ply along the routes in Panjim.
Well, the move is in the right direction as it will make some people at least to slowly discontinue using their personal vehicles whilst entering the city and use these e-buses by reducing traffic congestion in the city to some extent.
Today, the reason why most people are using their own two/four wheeler vehicles and causing traffic congestion leading to accidents across the State is because our public transport service system has slowly collapsed and is almost in the ICU, if not dead.
I personally feel that if the government wants to rejuvenate the public transport service system and stop traffic congestion/accidents in the State then it should henceforth decide to slowly launch a number of e-buses throughout the State to improve the existing quality of service of public transport system and make more people to travel in such modern hi-fi buses after repairing the pathetic roads in the interior villages and by setting up a number of charging stations to keep these buses running in different parts of Goa.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
‘Hitman’ leaves a strong imprint
In the annals of India’s cricket history, few captains have left their strong imprints in the game.
Rohit Sharma is one of those few, whose tenure as T20 skipper ended successfully after he won the T20 World Cup at Bridgetown, Barbados just days ago.
Rohit’s leadership has been a testament to composure, strategic acumen, and the ability to deliver under pressure. His ascent to captaincy wasn’t just about his skills with bat, but also a natural progression marked by his understanding the game’s subtleties.
After taking over the mantle from Virat Kohli in the T20 format, Rohit inherited a hunger into the team, craving for global success after an 11-year drought in ICC trophies.
His captaincy was characterised by tactical brilliance and a knack for making right decisions quickly under pressure. Throughout the World Cup, his astute field placements and bowling changes proved instrumental in navigating Team India to crucial wins against formidable opponents, including South Africa in the final.
Rohit’s legacy as a captain, who delivered results, will no doubt inspire future generations of Indian cricketers. The ‘Hitman’ will be sorely missed in T20 internationals.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Resolve issue pertaining to leaks in NEET-UG
Venality is rampant not only in India, but across the world as exposed through leaks both in India and the UK.
In India it was the leaks in the NEET UG exams, while in the UK, it was the betting on the date of the general elections which first embroiled the high officials of the Sunak government and the Tory party and later spread to even the Opposition Labour Party with Starmer’s close aides involved.
Thus it seems money and avarice speaks everywhere. As for us in India, we have seen time and again that our government tries to close the stable door after the horses have been bolted like announcing a stringent law to punish those who leak exam papers with some States following suit by declaring a Rs 1 crore fine and extended jail terms for leaksters after the leaks in the NEET UG exam had come out.
While it was imperative that considering the impact of the NEET on the lives and careers of lakhs of our students the government should have from the outset ensured a fool proof system.
Why were the exams not handed over to the IITs which every year conduct their entrance exams with a fair degree of integrity and rarely if at all events like leaks plague them, is not known?
There is a need to address this problem in a forthright manner since as said, earlier the future of lakhs of our youth are involved. However, Dharmendra Pradhan, the Education Minister, is playing politics with the issue and talking about procedure instead of looking at the gravity of the situation and its impact on those affected. It is important that people in seats of governance to have judgment and set aside procedure, if at all the objection is relevant, when the issue is dominant and crucial for the country. Playing games of one-upmanship is not desirable when critical matters are hanging fire.
One wonders if Dharmendra Pradhan understands these things in the desired context since as reported in the papers, he has failed three times in his educational career, so what value will he attribute to those who do not want to miss a year in their educational journey? Earlier we had Education Ministers in the NDA regime who lacked basic educational qualifications and now someone who has a shoddy educational record. But the fact remains that the leaks in the NEET UG and other exams systems should be resolved at the earliest.
Srinivas Kamat, Mysore
Bathing at waterfalls in rains dangerous
A video that has gone viral on social media shows how a group of five people, comprising a woman and four children, were tragically swept away in a waterfall near Bhushi dam in Pune’s Lonavala area on Sunday.
It is learnt that the bodies of all five were fished out. It must be said that waterfalls in the rains provide a breathtaking view nestled in scenic landscapes and many are drawn to these sites. The beauty of the waterfall can be enjoyed from a distance.
However, the adventurous type, prefer taking a dip in the water at the base of the waterfall, which can prove dangerous. There have been several drowning incidents reported at the waterfalls, especially during the rainy season when these waterfalls are in full flow.
One should not swim anywhere near the spot where the waterfall hits the plunge pool. Churning currents called hydraulics can trap a person under water. Water due to rains in higher regions can gush in suddenly and without warning.
It may be recalled that some years back six Goans had drowned at Nagarmadi waterfalls in Karwar, when water in the creek started rising suddenly. Warning signboards need to be put up at the waterfalls. Lifeguards need to be posted at the waterfalls to dissuade visitors from entering the water.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Jumping in the fray for publicity?
The Assagao house demolition issue is a hot topic and all present or past forgotten politicians have suddenly made their presence felt in the media to vent their views by delivering big sermons, advising the government to initiate action, condemning the act, seeking resignation of the DGP and surprisingly not of CM, by sitting comfortably in their AC cabins at Panjim, Margao, etc.
The media is keeping the issue alive so these politicians will add fuel to it. Even the local MLA is either ignorant or fooling the public or does not want to come out with facts as may be involved in it.
How many of these so-called sensitive politicians, who are concerned about the issue, have visited the site and ascertained actual facts and gone to the root cause?
The issue is raked up by these persons purely for their political gains. Some sort of inquiry will be ordered and this issue will abruptly die down and forgotten and all will settle in their cosy chambers waiting for the next opportunity.
Bhalchandra V S Priolkar, Margao
