28 Apr 2017 | 01:07am IST
Letters To The Editor
We need street lights after sun set and before sun rise to dispel darkness. New LED lamps are replaced in place of tube lights on our electricity poles because they are energy savers, but the very purpose of saving energy is destroyed by illuminating this lamps before sun set as early as 5 p.m. and after sun rise as late as 11.30 a.m. and some times beyond that.
Who is accountable for this act ? Is it the responsibility of our elected representatives or workers doing the duty ? Are we the citizens showing our concern in this regard by bringing it to the notice of the concerned people? And if we do are the people's representatives taking any action? There is no accountability nor responsibility, and we citizens just don't care although we pay the light tax to the panchayats. There are lots of cases in Navelim where in accountability and responsibility is at lapse.
Do we remember about the Sky bus project, installed and dismantled? The unused subway? The scrapped traffic signals, and the most irresponsible irrigation project now stand destroyed. Whose money is it any way, and how could we allow it go down the drain, it's because of no accountability.
Tadeu L.M. Gracias, by email
Sonshi claims cop
as first victim
The death of police constable Mahendra Gawde when the motorcycle he was riding collided head-on with a loaded iron ore truck in Sonshi should open the eyes of the government that nothing else than suspension of iron ore transportation be immediately imposed.
While the loss of life is being investigated it would not be wrong to surmise that the collision occurred due to the near zero visibility along with the fact that the truck must have been speeding in a rash and negligent manner. It is essential also that Vedanta immediately announce a sizable compensation for the next of kin of the deceased victim. The next victim could not be ruled out due to continuance of the wayward transportation of iron ore.
The near zero visibility at Sonshi with thick cover of mining dust enveloping the air there is another case to bolster the suspension of transportation of iron ore at Sonshi immediately. It is high time that the government decide to cease iron ore transportation in Sonshi in the interest of restoring the air, water quality of the area along with stopping noise pollution in the village.
It has become a fad to have silent airports such as at New Delhi and Mumbai. The reason is that the travellers do not like to be disturbed by frequent announcements regarding take-off and landing of flights. This concept of silent airports is laughable that too in India which is quite cacophonic and where people like to talk nineteen to a dozen.
One may argue that airports have several display TVs and there is no need for announcements. But similar is the case at most railway or large bus stations, yet regular announcements are necessarily made at these places.
A silent airport does not serve much purpose especially for the visually impaired persons who would need to depend upon someone to inform them of the status of flights, boarding etc. Moreover, when someone is in the wash room with no access to TVs or a passenger needs to be paged, then announcements are the only way to do so. Could we expect to get back the announcers at silent airports?
Sometimes they are the ‘absent’ companions we have when travelling alone and whiling away the time at the airports when flights are either delayed or cancelled.
Sridhar D. Iyer, Caranzalem
Complexion is just
skin-deep
We may wear black clothes for big occasions and have black furniture in our homes but when it comes to complexion we still have prejudice towards Blackpeople. Colour bar may not be deep rooted today as it was some years ago but the day is not near when we can say that it has really ended.
The latest victim of racial slur is Serena Williams, the greatest tennis star of open era, who is expecting a baby from her relationship with a White celebrity, Reditt co-founder Alexis. A former Romanian tennis player, Ilie Nastase, said of Serena’s unborn baby. “Lets see what colour it will have”. This uncalled for comment may have earned him widespread displeasure but he did show that he is one among many with such prejudice towards Black people.
In India the situation is the same which is why fairness creams like Fair and Lovely and U-B Fair are doing roaring business. You think Goans are any better? Look at the matrimonial ads. When a dark man is seen with his fair wife, I still hear the popular whisper ‘cafe com leite’ (coffee with milk).
If the colour of the skin really mattered, we would not have had great people in every field like Cassius Clay, Sidney Poitier, Pele, Louis Armstrong, Vivian Richards, Ussain Bolt and many, many more (all Blacks). It is time that we realised that complexion is just skin deep and what the world truly needs is understanding minds and loving hearts.
There seems to be no let-up in the number of fatal road accidents taking place on Goan roads. Two persons including a police constable died in two separate accidents reported at Valpoi and Bicholim.
It must be said that the number of lives that are being lost as a result of road accidents is assuming a disturbing proportion. This is taking place despite the fact that the Chief Minister has asked the traffic police to take all necessary steps to prevent accidents on the roads and the traffic police has intensified the drive against violators of traffic rules.
It would be desirable for the government to form a committee headed by a minister or an elected representative to look into all aspects of why fatal road accidents take place at such a disturbing frequency in Goa and to suggest ways and means to bring down the number of road accidents in the state. The government committee should make a study on every aspect and prepare a report in this regard and submit it to the government for proper action to be taken.
Deaths on the roads have become a matter of serious concern and should be tackled with all the seriousness it deserves.
