Expedite drive against MV violators
I’m concerned over the increasing drunken driving fatal accidents. Despite having strict rules and imposing increased fines to prevent traffic violations, motorists seem to be undeterred as traffic offences are on the rise. Come Christmas and New Year motorists driving under the influence of alcohol is common every year. The law enforcement authority should conduct stringent drive against drunken driving and other violators at several junctions in the city, since drunken driving has become a menace.
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The traffic police must acquire latest breath analysers which can give printouts of Blood Alcohol Count (BAC). In the city, the unbridled entry of unauthorised vehicles, dearth of parking zones, incessant digging, third-grade roads and proper pick up stands and city buses stops are the nagging menace causing traffic snarls. The traffic offenses can be curtailed by stricter punishments as well as helping people to understand the potential consequences of violation. A unified traffic management system comprising proper infrastructure, safety compliance by drivers, curtailing the number of vehicles and widening roads is the need of the hour.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Goa of yesteryears is gone
Goa was once a lovely tourist destination in her pristine glory, when the hippies descended to enjoy the serenity, greenery, clean beaches with its enchanting surf, sand, clean fresh air and savoured the authentic Goan cuisine and more so the hospitality, love and affection of locals. More than these attractions other European tourists flocked to the local markets and visited the numerous sight-seeing heritage and religious structures. Goa was then clean, particularly during the Christmas season with decent entertainments to keep the hotel crowds joyful. All this is now only history.
Sadly, only recently Goa has been in the media limelight for the wrong reasons. For the desi tourists, this land is a heaven with freedom to do what they want to do and get away with their misconduct. The reason: our law enforcing authority turn a Nelson’s eye to them. No stringent punishment is given for drunken driving and stunts. How sad! A peaceful land has today turned chaotic. We can only lament: Sorrowing lies my land.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Patronize farmers selling local veggies
It is learnt that the Gandhi market, Margao will now have only locals selling Goan Tambdi bhaji (Red Amaranth) grown in the State as the sale of the vegetable brought from Karnataka has reportedly been banned. It is learnt that after marigold flowers which flooded the Goan market on the eve of Dussehra festivities from outside, leaving local marigold farmers high and dry, tambdi bhaji from across the border have started giving sleepless nights to Goan vegetable growers.
It must be said Indian farmers have the right to sell their produce in any part of the country and there cannot be an official ban in this regard. It needs to be noted that Goa relies on the neighbouring states for its daily supply of several essential commodities. This includes milk, various types of vegetables, meat and even flowers. What will be the situation in Goa if the neighboring states stop supplying these essential commodities? It is understood that local farmers produce the Tambdi bhaji in large quantities across the State but fail to compete on the price compared with that being brought across the State. Competition is always welcome as it will bring down the price which will benefit the consumer. Goans can help the local farmers by patronizing the locally grown vegetable which is free from pesticide and organic.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Is AI a viable tool?
AI is basically the knowledge gathered from generations of people and condensed into algorithms, so that it is now freely available for most common people to use.
To my humble understanding, it means that people now no longer need to be adept at Maths, History, creative writing or any other application as we have computers or computer programs/applications that can do the work for us. I feel the time is coming where our future generations will question the need to attend schools or academic institutions.
The basic question humanity and the technological geniuses need to ask ourselves is -are we affording too much power to machines? Are we going to be doomed by our very own successes in these fields?
Octavio Goes, by email
Tunnel tragedy a manmade disaster
The tunnel collapse at Yamunotri recently was a tragedy waiting to happen and more such incidents will take place unless the government of the day sees the light, by respecting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and paying heed to the SC’s orders pertaining to the Chardham Pariyojna (of which this tunnel was a part). It is a controversial, totally misguided and dangerous road widening plan over a course of 900 kms in the Himalayas. The project envisages a 12 metre wide all weather road connecting four Hindu shrines which cuts through pristine forests, valleys, river basins, meadows and mountains and involves cutting, blasting, felling of forests, muck dumping, destabilization of near vertical topography, tunneling and concreting in the mountains.
An SC monitored high powered committee had strongly recommended that the road widening should be no more than 5.5 -7 mts. Similar views were also expressed by the road transport ministry, domain experts and practicing civil engineers but to no avail. The BJP dispensation follows unscientific crude notions of development in the hills, flouting all environmental laws, engineering principles and advice of its own experts simply to bag the Hindu vote.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
India should wait and watch on Maldives
Finally it’s official as Maldives has categorically asked India to withdraw its ‘military presence’ from Maldivian shores. President Mohamed Muizzu appears to be a man in a hurry. Obviously he is playing into the hands of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Muizzu’s party won riding on an ‘India out’ campaign specifically at the insistence of the latter. President Muizzu’s acknowledgment of India’s sanguine intentions in offering military equipment and personnel as humanitarian gestures, but putting the onus on the ‘democratic will’ of Maldivian people says a lot while saying nothing at all. At least for the time being, President Muizzu seems keen to be at the beck and call of President Xi Jinping.
China’s ambition to dominate the Indian Ocean region has no parallel. Muizzu’s predecessor Ibrahim Solih had painstakingly worked to infuse trust and friendship in the Male-New Delhi relations. It is widely felt that Muizzu himself may be aiming to play a deft game to balance Male’s power equations with both New Delhi and Beijing. Therefore, it is in the fitness of things that India has avoided knee jerk reaction to President Muizzu’s statements. The need of the hour is utmost restraint, and a ‘wait and watch’ policy is the right way ahead.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
