Letters to the Editor

Zuari Bridge

Is the South Goa lifeline to connect the capital city really out of danger? My understanding, margin of safety is getting smaller on the basis of corrosion. The increased volume of traffic accelerating the corrosion process, we have allowed heavier trucks as well, without knowing the load of cargo and design load for bridge. Goa does not have any regulator or register to check bridges for adequate maintenance and deterioration with a reporting system to avoid a potential collapse.

Extreme temperature and climatic changes degrade the bridges the PWD minister asserts the bridge is safe. Politicians are not trustworthy so the fear in our mind will be clear if the audited report is published.

James Moraes, Cuncolim

Suicide, not the solution

Apropos the letter, "Is suicide an answer to all problems?" by Carlos Luis (Herald, September 7, 2018), it is human greed that causes poverty, slavery and all kinds of human miseries for the needy and mechanical existence and boredom for the greedy. And these products of human greed trigger depression. 

To combat stress, a psychologist generally advises her/his patients to listen to soothing music, to read an inspiring book, to get solace in the beauties of nature and even just to cry as these things have no negative side effects but only positive ones. 

It is dangerous to try tobacco products, alcohol or drugs to get rid of depression or any kind of stress. These will only add insult to injury. It will be like pouring diesel to put out the fire of depression! On other hand, committing suicide can invite more problems for the family members and near ones of the self-destroyer.

Sujit De, Kolkata

Consensual sex, good or bad?

Really it was a historical moment in the country when the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the 158-year-old colonial law - Section 377 of the IPC - which criminalises consensual homosexual acts between two consenting adults. The verdict of SC upholds that homosexuality, lesbians’ gay sex or un-natural sex between a man women is no more an offence. 

The entire country is celebrating the judgment because it gives equality to everyone to choose his partner as per his choice. But in the same way this judgment has disappointed a large number of people of the country, because of the negative effects of the judgment. Actually the judgment will leave miserable effects on our society and the new generation irrespective of whether it is right or wrong, natural or un-natural. 

Mohd Usmani, Mumbai

Fish vendors and detection kits

It is understood that the newly developed detection kits for adulterants in fresh fish are in demand all across the State. However, the requirement is mostly confined to starred hotels, leading general stores, super markets and pharmacies. The testing is done by swabbing one paper strip on the fish in different places. If the fish contains harmful chemicals like formalin, the strip changes its colour.

Though the technology is user friendly there are some pertinent questions that arise. Since fish happens to be the staple food of Goans, almost every household relishes consuming fish on a regular basis, if not on a daily basis. Will it be possible to make these detection kits available in such large numbers all across the State? Obviously the people who have these kits will be doing the test at home. If the fish contains formalin, they will have to take it back to the fish market which could be extra burden for the consumer. Another question is whether the fish vendor will be willing to accept the formalin laced fish back from the customer and refund the money?

It would thus be in the fitness of things for these detection kits to be made available with the fish vendors themselves. The fish vendor could test the fish in the market itself in front of the customer, free of cost, if the person intends to buy it.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Hamburger or samosa?

Advocate Radharao makes a strong case in his op-ed (Hamburger height or samosa bite, Sept 7) for a well-balanced diet to achieve the peak of athletic performance. If you are a vegetarian of whatever ilk, the key issue is adequacy of protein and adequacy of essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are 21 in toto, 13 of which are made by the body. The other eight are the "essential" amino acids we must get from food. Some protein sources include all eight; others contain only a few. Animal products contain all eight essential amino acids.  But a vegetarian must eat a wider variety and gulp enormous amounts of foods containing protein — grains, beans, nuts and soy products — to get all of the essential amino acids... a daunting task! 

But, to me, the take-home message from Radha’s article is, “respect the food habits of all and do not mock or ridicule the practices of your fellowmen”.

Francisco Colaço, Margao

SC verdict on Art 77

A five-member bench of Supreme Court on Sept 6, 2018 through a unanimous verdict struck down an earlier verdict by Division Bench of the Apex Court, giving right to equality for minority gay-section should be applicable on other aspects too.

Caste-reservation is one such major issue which gives extra rights to those under reserved categories over those in general category and thus is anti-constitutional.. Likewise only Uniform Civil Code can provide equal rights and duties to all citizens in India where only Muslims are allowed for bigamy. However, best practical comments on SC verdict have come from RSS which has described gay-sex is neither a crime nor normal. 

A larger bench of the Apex Court should be formed as suggested by Parliamentarian Dr Subramanium Swamy to further elaborate the issue in a practical manner to prevent big damage.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi