TUESDAY, JULY 09, 2024
Driving with a ‘sinking feeling’
A photo of a road caving in behind the Old Secretariat in Panaji appeared in O Heraldo dated July 4. Recently a concrete mixer reportedly sunk into the road and fell over to the side near the Savoi-Verem bazar on Sunday causing a traffic jam.
It must be said that while driving on Goan roads one has to bear with faulty road-engineering, slippery road conditions and pot-holed roads. However now one also encounters roads that suddenly cave-in. Roads have been caving at various places across the state and particularly in the capital city Panaji due to the on-going Smart City work.
Road-users in the state have to drive with a “sinking feeling” quite literally. Roads cave in due to road digging for various works such as laying the sewerage pipe-line or underground cabling among other work. Obviously after the underground work is completed the dug-up area is not filled properly with the right material.
Due to the rainwater, the mud below the road tends to slide down leading to the roads sinking in due to the weight of the vehicle. All this is the result of sun-standard work being undertaken. The problem with sinking roads is that it takes place so suddenly that the driver is left with no time to prevent the vehicle from sinking. This leads to disruption of the smooth flow of vehicles leading to traffic congestion and even accidents. The contractor engaged in underground work needs to be held responsible whenever a road caves in.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Are cops law enforcers or law breakers?
The recent issue on a claim made by a woman alleging that PSI attached to the Colva police station assaulting her before forcing her to lick his shoes has triggered outrage. The assault has triggered debates regarding abuse of power by the police officials.
People who are supposed to protect citizens are seen insulting and assaulting women and this incident is shameful.
The incident also underscores the importance of accountability and swift action in such cases. The State Human Rights Commission nor State Women’s Commission has yet to take cognizance of this case. The government is yet to accept the rule of law or the urgency of undertaking comprehensive police reform, including the need to make police accountable for widespread human rights violations.
The Indian government also has yet to recognize the immediate need to improve the working and living conditions of low-ranking police which. While those conditions in no way justify the human rights violations committed by police, addressing them is critical to changing a working environment that facilitates, condones and encourages such violations.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Crowd management is need of the hour
Over 120 people mostly women, were trampled to death, during a religious congregation in Hatras (UP).
Religious tourism is seeing an upswing in the country. It is a booming industry. With religious congregations and pilgrimages increasing in numbers, crowd management is of serious concern.
Police and civilians need to be given specialized training in crowd management. Such trained personnel should be deployed at all events having 5,000 plus congregations. The number of such trained personnel must be determined by the local police. These are in addition to the volunteers of such events. A first-aid tent with medical or para medical personnel must be made mandatory as many people faint at such events. So also for crowds over 10,000, an ambulance must be mandatory. Finally, the police must inspect the event site one day before the event to check the exit routes. Such exits must be in proportion to the number of expected to attend, so that safe evacuation is possibly in emergencies.
Robert Castellino, Mumbai
Garbage plant at Verna is most unwanted
Despite of multiple objections and memorandums, a solid waste management plant is being set up at the Verna plateau to dump garbage from almost the entire Salcette and Mormugao taluka.
As it is the villagers of Verna, Nagoa, Nuvem and Loutolim are undergoing enough problems in dealing with the floating migrant population and with the garbage plant it will add up to their woes.
There is also the possibility of the ground water getting polluted as there are numerous acquifier springs which feed the wells and the Ambulor lake from where river Sal originates.
The slow death of Kesarval spring is a testimony to this manmade blunder.
Most of the factories in this area have borewells which further depletes the water table despite having a dedicated raw water pipeline servicing this area.
Another oft repeated excuse is the funnel zone effect. Then why are the high rise buildings allowed in close proximity of the airport? How were permissions given to them in the first place is for the people to judge.
Coming back to the garbage plant, hope wiser counsel prevails and abort this idea of having this plant in our midst
Lucas D’Souza, Verna
Authorities must keep tab on drivers
Though the badges are worn by some drivers, it is of paramount importance that the drivers not only of private buses, taxi drivers, tourist four wheelers meaning tourist buses that carry passengers from Goa to other states viz, Mumbai, Mangalore, Hyderabad and other states, need to be checked for wearing badges.
Regular checks by RTO officers and the police is the need of the hour.
Many private buses and so also taxis are not serviced regularly and they often breakdown and the passengers commuting to their respective destinations reach late. So it is a matter of regular check up by the authorities concerned. The passengers should not be put into inconvenience due the occasional breakdowns.
Aureo Cunha Gomes, Mapusa
