Hazards at construction sites
A five-year-old boy reportedly died after he fell into a pit filled with water at a construction site at Old Goa on Saturday. It is learnt that the police have arrested the contractor. It must be said that a construction site could prove dangerous for the general public if adequate precautionary measures are not taken by the contractor. The golden rule is that all construction sites need to be adequately barricaded with metal sheets before the construction begins. Dust and other air pollution prevention measures shall be provided at the site. The contractor should secure objects onsite and minimise the risk of them falling. Security in and outside of work hours is integral to protect pedestrians from potential construction hazards. The public suffer injuries on or near construction sites due to several reasons. Strict security and safety protocols will also protect contractors from liability and negligence in case of a safety incident or security breach. There needs to be clear signage throughout the site. Trenches should be adequately covered and movement of vehicles should be monitored. Falling of tools and materials outside the site boundary should be prevented at all cost. People can suffer serious injuries if they fall into stairwells, manholes, or excavations from open floor edges. The contractor must block these areas with barriers or use a suitable covering.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Don’t disrupt academic atmosphere in colleges
The tussle for power at the campus is considered a reflection of the younger generation’s political leanings. Educational institutions were meant for imparting education and not politics. Students should concentrate on their studies rather than indulging in politics on the college premises. Students are associated with the process of learning and politics is part of learning. Politics in college may have a downfall of loyalty and sectionalism which can create groups and rivals. Education that enables a better nation, is taking a back seat. The students should uphold the values of democracy when their language and behaviour reflects the fear of law. Any disruption by vested interests can affect others who go to universities seeking academic excellence and not political indoctrination.
K G Vilop, Chorao
EV charging stations at petrol pumps not feasible
This is in reference to the news report appearing in the State’s leading newspapers on September 8, 2023, wherein the Chief Minister called for having EV charging stations at petrol pumps. This idea is not feasible as there is no space for charging each vehicle at the petrol pumps and it takes minimum one to two hours per vehicle to charge. I would suggest having a multi-level parking for EV charging, by introducing shopping malls, eateries and business centres near all petrol stations. Another suggestion would be installing charging points in all paid parking zones, or in front of hotels, restaurants, playgrounds, shopping malls, and cinema halls. The payment system should be digital through QR codes. If these suggestions are implemented then we will witness a smooth transition of charging EVs, without putting the load on petrol pumps.
Venan Bonaventure Dias, Santo Estevam
Air pollution can reduce life expectancy
Despite innumerable studies that point to a direct causal effect of air pollution on health and quality of life, many governments of the globe are oblivious to the same. A Chicago university study has said that the life expectancy among the people of South Asia is declining by 5.1 years as the region has failed to meet the WHO standards on air pollution. Indians are, in particular, worst hit as they are facing a 5.3-year–reduction in life expectancy. The Particulate Matter (PM) concentration of 2.5 in air is usually analysed in micrograms per cubic metre, and the safe level is 5, according to the WHO.
It may be recalled that an earlier NGO study from India had said that between September 2021 and September 2022, the pollution levels in eleven leading Indian cities had exceeded the annual average limit set by the WHO over the preceding year. The Chicago study underlines the possibility of a reversal of life expectancy if air pollution standards are revisited. It is often said that air pollution is a price people pay for availing the opulence of modernisation. But governments across the globe cannot shift the blame on their citizens. Enhanced fund allocation to policies that tackle air pollution is a must. Cities that do not have air quality monitoring stations in place should quickly have one. Transparency and accountability to build people-government trust cannot be emphasised more.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Ninan’s death: Irreparable loss to caricature art
Renowned cartoonist Ajit Ninan’s passing away a few days ago is an irreparable loss to the world of caricature art. He is best known for his ‘Centrestage’ series in India Today magazine and for the ‘Ninan’s World’ in The Times of India. Of the thousands of characters Ninan inked, the ‘Detective Moochhwala’ in the children’s magazine ‘Target’ was his most famous. Ninan regularly addressed social issues and day-to-day activities in keenly observed and humorous ways. Ninan will live on, not only through his works, but also through the works of the many cartoonists that he inspired. The critical voice of a cartoonist provides a vital safety valve for society. Needless to say that Ninan truly lived by this saying. Said Jen Sorensen, the American cartoonist and illustrator, and who was named a Pulitzer finalist in editorial cartooning in 2017: “Cartoons are a great medium for demonstrating just how absurd something is, without ever having to say it directly.”
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Who will you vote for?
Wealthy citizens and companies, wealthy societies and a wealthy nation together make a capitalist system. A capitalist system is omnivorous and consumerist and makes other nations simply nations of suppliers and markets.
Wealth accumulation leads to changes in people’s values and attitudes towards more consumerist lifestyles. Then the government becomes simply ‘government by the wealthy’ to support the wealth generation and accumulation process. This wealthy group includes the rich and powerful top class of people and their supporters. Then the national system becomes simply consumerist or urban capitalist. ‘One man one vote’ popular democracy is a product of decades of popular democratic decay, leading to urban capitalist nations.
Here everything is regulated by private investments and profits and resulting accumulation of wealth. Nature manages eco-systems and forests by the fundamental principle that, ‘to each as needs are, from each as abilities allow’. This is also applicable to human societies. Here human values would prevail and nature is safe without the perils of urbanisation and consumerism. Select a party which has policies to protect nature and its resources. Let not urbanisation and consumerism destroy the rural cultures and tribal people.
Varkey M Porvorim
