WEDNESDAY, MAY 01, 2024
Demolition of houses in Sangolda ill-timed
In wake of demolition conducted by the authorities in Sangolda, it is learnt that a humanitarian crisis has unfolded as hundreds find themselves displaced and homeless. The displaced residents continue to endure severe hardships as they struggle to find a place to rest and access basic necessities and these include women and children.
They have reportedly resorted to sleeping under the open skies amidst the rubble of their former homes. They have vowed not to move from the place until they get proper rehabilitation. The displaced residents are facing uncertainty about their future and their ability to rebuild their lives. Be that as it may, it must be said that even if the demolition was as per orders, it was ill-timed. Sleeping in the open, they have to tackle the problem of mosquitoes.
These people have to bear with the heat-wave which is prevailing in the state. Imagine living under the hot summer sun. Rains have been predicted at some places in the state. The pre-monsoon showers could come pouring down any moment and the monsoon season is at our door-steps.
If the demolition was absolutely necessary it could have been carried out after the monsoon season was over. It is learnt that some MLAs have provided food for the displaced people. What is required is not lip-service from those in power, but a lasting solution to the problem.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Oppn needs to be vigilant during polls
Even when the country had no such advanced methodologies ably supported by digitalisation as of date and followed the ballots system, we were able to complete the entire elections in one go and declare the results within two or maximum three days, it is unfortunate that the electioneering has been spread over various phases lasting more than 43 days and a place like Tamil Nadu where the elections are slated for April 19 has to wait for 46 days to know the results! When there is every possibility to conduct the elections throughout the country on the same day and declare the results within two days, it is a real mystery why the Election Commission has decided to drag the elections to such a long period.
When there is a strong doubt in the minds of the people that the Electoral Voting Machines (EVMs) are tampered with in favour of the ruling dispensation, the long gap between the dates of elections and the date of counting adds credence to the genuine doubts of the electorate.
Unless the opposition parties are vigilant against such nefarious activities and stall the alleged tampering of the EVMs, it would be very difficult for the opposition parties to defeat their formidable opponent in the general elections, particularly when it is alleged that all the constitutional bodies including the Election Commission remain partisan and compromised in favour of the ruling dispensation.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
Keep hawk’s eye on drunk driving
A surge in cases of drunk driving has been reported from across the country and the Mahendragarh school bus accident is a pointer. Alcoholism is now more of a socioeconomic problem. Since there is literally no organ in the body which is spared of the ill-effects of alcoholism, the danger is manifold especially for drivers whose psychosomatic reflexes tend to slow down.
It's easy to increase patrolling and hasten checking process of drivers who drive intoxicated. But tipsy drivers can easily dodge these check points and find alternate routes. Besides, the authorities need to curb convenient access and easy availability of alcohol. Since abysmal fines and inconsistent punitive action have emboldened drunk drivers, the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act need a relook.
An hawk’s eye has to be kept on carefree proliferation of liquor shops. In as much as it is the responsibility of the drivers themselves to drive safely without the influence of liquor, fellow-drivers cannot turn a blind eye to happenings around them: they have to report on the erring drivers to the police. The 2017 Supreme Court order on banning bars within 500 metres of highways was a good step that was, however, poorly understood by the stakeholders.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
UAE must learn from Tamil Nadu
This refers to your article "UAE witnesses largest amount of rainfall in 75 years" in your edition dated 17.04.24 as also your prediction of more rains in the coming hours, which is a real worrying matter.
We could see through various clippings that many areas, including flyovers flooded, thus stagnating free flow of traffic in Dubai. No doubt the UAE has progressed by leaps and bounds during the past couple of decades. But it is a surprise that the UAE Administrators have failed to provide proper drainage systems in the city roads to prevent stagnation of rainy water. We feel the UAE Govt should take a leaf out of Tamil Nadu Govt, who had introduced the Rain Water Harvesting, not only in city roads, but also each and every building so that the ground water storage would improve the water scarcity in UAE. It is time the UAE Govt come out with innovative ideas to solve the yearly flooding problems in UAE cities, without any further delay.
N Mahadevan, Chennai
War is an ugly threat the whole world faces
The whole world was quarantined during the Covid-19 in 2019 and people suffered and the global economy suffered.
Just as the world was recovering from the pandemic and limping to normalcy, Russia and Ukraine were locked in a fierce war and innocent people lost their lives.
As if this was not enough, now we have Iran and Israel with chances of futility of war spreading far and wide. It is time the world unites for peace and do away with the evil designs of war.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
