SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
Stringent regulatory controls for vaccines
As we are on the verge of breakthrough in vaccine development for Covid-19, it should be stressed that strict regulatory controls should be the norm all over the world, so that the various vaccines that are being developed are both effective and harmless as far as collateral side effects are concerned.
In the quest for a vaccine however, a British-Swedish company has exercised ethical truthful openness in reporting that one of its participants has developed a serious illness. In fact, the revelation by the companies that one of its patients started showing signs of a rare and devastating neurological condition called as transverse myelitis, the second time someone in one of the vaccine trials developed a central nervous system problem, though unfortunate should lead to the companies to subject themselves to more rigorous testing so that the vaccine that is ultimately developed may be both efficacious as well as harmless.
Regulatory authorities across the world should not spare efforts to be able to only allow those vaccines that have passed stringent tests qualitatively. While the onus to develop a harmless vaccine is the responsibility of the respective companies, regulatory authorities across the world should bear responsibility for allowing only the best vaccines to be mass produced. Adverse effects on vaccine recipients has to be eliminated.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Pollution certificate BS IV vehicles
As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, every motor vehicle (including those conforming to BS-I/ BS-II/ BS-III/BS-IV as well as vehicles plying on CNG/LPG) is required to carry a valid PUC Certificate after the expiry of period of one year from the date of its first registration. However the validity of 4 wheeled BS-IV compliant vehicles is one year and for other vehicles it is three months.
However, in Goa it is seen that the PUC certifying agencies blatantly flout these rules by stamping the validity of certificates as six months for BS IV vehicles, forcing the vehicle owners to spend extra amounts every year for PUC certification.
Hope the transport department will take note of this illegal activity and take suitable action against those flouting the rules.
Shery T Abraham, Chicolna
Onions bring tears again
Onions have been in the news on several occasions during these past few years with prices skyrocketing every now and then. Now once again, a ban has been imposed on exports and protests are erupting.
Onions being one of the very basic ingredients in our food, especially on street stalls, the government ought to do something to ensure the interests of farmers as well as of consumers. The onion by its very nature, is meant to bring tears to anyone who dares to cut the onion or anyone who is brave enough to be around the kitchen at that moment.
The authorities must ensure that prices, not just of onions, but also of other essential commodities as well, are kept affordable for the public. People are already in tears on account of this unprecedented pandemic. Could we make life just a little better?
Melville X. D'Souza, Mumbai
Politicians need to wear masks
Since the pandemic was declared by WHO in March 2020, and after the draconian lockdown throughout India, citizens of the country are still in panic mode. As the medium of transmission of the virus is now well established to be primarily through breathing, coughing, sneezing and also during talking, doctors advised on which the government acted swiftly to make use of masks in public compulsory.
As I see that a citizen needs to wear a mask even while solo riding on a bike, it is overwhelmingly important to wear a mask in public places and at gatherings. However we see that on a national and regional scale, politicians, especially while addressing press conferences, keep the mask under the chin. This is in blatant violation of the rule of wearing a mask at public places. This is increasingly important when the ministers from the cabinet are testing positive for the virus.
So as they address without a mask, they end up transmitting the virus to the public at large. They themselves mock at the rules erected by them. So are the rules only valid for the public? They should restrain themselves from speaking without a mask.
Raghav Gadgil,
Khandola
Season of scams
So the worst kept secret of recent times is out of the bag, the outgoing Goa Lokayukta has ordered an investigation into the Covid relief scheme pertaining to construction workers for which the Anti Corruption Bureau has been tasked. Evasive answers and blatant stonewalling by the labour commissioner's office to the GFP's complaint regarding the matter have shown the state machinery in poor light. The order mandates co-opting of CBI if the involvement of politicos and bureaucrats is proved in this scam. Prima facie it appears to be a case of graft considering that the majority of the beneficiaries are well off panchas and influential BJP cadre from the CM's constituency of Sanquelim. This directive has set the cat among the pigeons and the perpetrators are running scared.
I would humbly request the next Lokayukta to order an inquest into the purchase of medical equipment and also into the recent 'capped' rates (extortion in my book ) for treatment of Covid in private hospitals. Whatever happened to the PM Cares Fund and donations given to the state pandemic relief fund, the exclusion of treatment for Covid from the DDSSY and Ayushman Bharat schemes is indeed puzzling. Private hospitals which are anyway notorious for fleecing patients have been given a leg up by these government validated exorbitant rates.
I am sure they are making hay while the Covid sun shines and are laughing all the way to the bank. Time to put an end to such malpractices and to actually provide relief to a beleaguered citizenry hit by the double whammy of the virus and job losses.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
Reuse concrete debris
It is understood that as part of the ‘Save Guirim Coconut Trees’ campaign, the Goa Green Brigade has started the new rooting process around the coconut trees lining the Socorro-Guirim stretch of the NH17. These trees which once made a picturesque sight have been drying of late. The main cause for this is the dumping of concrete debris at the roots of these trees. Dumping of concrete debris near the roots of the trees can prove poisonous for the trees which can then wither and ultimately die.
It is pertinent to note that construction debris cannot be dumped at the garbage dumping site along with other dry and wet waste. The concrete debris needs to be disposed-off separately and in a proper manner. It should also not be dumped in the water bodies also. The National Green Tribunal has recommended keeping a radius of one to two meters around the stem of a tree free from concrete debris and tar.
In order to save the trees it would be desirable not to allow dumping of construction debris at all anywhere near the trees and vegetation. The best alternative would be to reuse the construction debris to level the land by dumping it at places where ground levelling is necessary. The concrete debris can also be used in the construction of roads or for any other purpose where filling up of land is necessary.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
