TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Smart City officials should control pollution
Just before the two renowned High Court judges fixed a site inspection of Panjim where the Smart city works are on there was terrific flurry of activity, the type one has never seen before. The roads were literally swept and washed and given a photo finish to impress the respected judges. Being one of the co-petitioners, I was around when the inspection took place and the smart city officials were questioned on various aspects such as work-in-progress, the completion date, safeguards adopted, traffic arrangements and Pollution control which was one of the main pillars of the petition.
Some of the city roads like the Parade ground road, road from Tonca to the bridge at the St Inez creek and some of the internal streets of Panjim have already been opened after the works on the roads have been finished. It was emphatically stated in the petition that there needs to be thorough and regular cleaning up of all the completed roads.
Though 10 days have elapsed since the inspection the debris and the dust is still to be cleared from the above stated roads due to which there is perpetual cloud of dust on these streets, sometimes blinding the motorists and causing heavy pollution to one and all. The matter of pollution should not be taken lightly and immediate measures need to be taken to use mechanical road sweepers, vacuum cleaners, washing of the finished roads, etc. Citizens should not be expected to breathe in the pollutants till the 31st of May, the stated date for completion of work.
Alwyn M D'Sa, Miramar
Crack down on vehicles using police stickers
In yet another incident, a Telangana-registered private car was found with a ‘Police’ sticker in Canacona taluka. It is learnt that the sticker was used because a policeman was seated in the car who claimed that it was not an offence to have a ‘Police’ sticker on a private car in Telangana. It seems that various states have different rules to deal with the matter.
It does not seem right for a policeman from another state who is on a vacation in Goa to use a ‘Police’ sticker on the private car. Such a sticker should be allowed only on vehicles which are on official duties. Those who break the rules should not get away by merely removing the sticker and paying a fine since it is a serious offence.
It must be said that the ‘Police’ sticker on vehicles, be it a car or a scooter, can be misused. Non-police persons using them might engage in cheating and criminal activities. There have been incidents in Goa of anti-social elements extorting money from the public by impersonating as policemen. Criminals from other States, who are on the run, could be using such a sticker to hoodwink the law-keepers. Several motorists, including bikers, are also found using 'press' or 'defense' stickers on their vehicles. This also needs to be checked. Necessary permission from the authorities concerned seems mandatory to display such stickers on vehicles.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Eid Mubarak!
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and will be celebrated with great fanfare across most States of India on April 11— today.
In Mumbai alone, over lakhs of Muslims go out early in the morning dressed in their finery to offer their special Eid congregational prayers as a thanksgiving at the 800-plus mosques.
After the prayers, people joyfully greet each other with hugs of 'Eid Mubarak'.
The festival marks the culmination of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan during which Muslims observe a stringent dawn-to-dusk fast in which water is also not even permitted to drink.
After offering the Eid 'namaaz' (prayers), it is time for the celebrations to begin with family, friends, neighbours and community members savouring and serving each other the festival's special dish of 'sheer-korma' (a sweet preparation of milk, vermicelli and dry fruits).
Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai
Dug and dusty Saligao road is a real nightmare
The main road stretch of Arrarim at Saligao starting from Peggy's corner and heading right up-towards the iconic old Padmanab building is currently giving nightmare to motorists using this road as the same has been fully damaged by PWD labourers in the name of laying some underground pipeline network.
The worse sufferers are residents whose houses are located right across this stretch as dust frequently enters their houses after the passing of every moving vehicle and due to which most of them are even seen constantly watering a few road stretches in front of their houses every morning using their water pipes to minimise dust pollution.
These locals have been silently tolerating with this nonsense for quite some time and no one really knows for how many more days they will have to beare with this inconvenience because the labourers are still seen carrying on with their work of laying of underground water pipeline in a most unprofessional manner and slow motion.
The authorities converned should take a very serious note of the above fact and instruct the labourers to speed-up with their work before the rains drown us in miseries.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Need to understand the futility of war
This has reference to the report ‘Humanitarian crisis due to Israel-Hamas conflict’.
The worst affected in any war, are mostly civilians. Just imagine waking up suddenly to find the roof coming down on you out of the blue, and your family scattered. The situation in the Israel-Hamas war is no different.
Yes, this war has created a humanitarian crisis. India has therefore rightly made known it's views to the UN that this is not acceptable. This calls for an immediate cease-fire. The world needs to understand the futility of war. Hatred, violence, war cannot bring about any settlement, on the contrary it brings about further unrest and creates bad blood. We need to look inwards, at the disturbances in our country on account of violence, hatred, religious issues, etc., etc. What we need is immediate cease-fire of all such acts that disturb the peace, harmony and unity of our nation. The freedom that we have earned is too precious to be lost.
Melville X D'Souza, Mumbai
