Jam-packed KTC buses
With reference to the news report ‘To reach classes on time, students take the risk of travelling in jam-packed KTC buses’ appearing in O Heraldo edition dated September 3, it is disheartening to note that the KTC is unable to run an efficient transport system especially, during peak hours.
This has been the same story now for almost over 30 years. It’s quite apparent that those running the corporation are inefficient. These people should take cues from neighbouring States and learn how well their State corporations run their transport network.
That too, considering that the number of buses in those States is more than ours. If one observes the KTC depot, there are always a large number of buses lying unused. Why are these buses not pressed into service? Is it corruption?
The government should look into these faults and act immediately.
Garcilio Falcao, Velim
Mpox threat also looms large at Cutbona Jetty
The largest fishing hub in Goa, the Cutbona Jetty in Salcete, is once again grappling with a dengue outbreak, raising concern among local residents.
The situation has escalated with one suspected death and several confirmed cases, primarily affecting migrant workers employed as crew members on mechanised fishing vessels. It is learnt that on September 1, 11 dengue patients were detected in Cutbona.
According to officials, the possibility of detecting more dengue cases cannot be ruled out. All necessary steps need to be taken on a war footing to prevent the spread of the disease in the locality. It is learnt that around 50 cases of cholera and diarrhoea have been reported here and at the fish landing centre at Mobor.
To make matters worse, with the threat of mpox looming large, four labourers working at Cutbona Jetty, were on Monday, reportedly taken to the PHC, Balli, after they developed strange blisters all over the body.
According to PHC officials, tests will be carried out to ascertain the cause of the blisters.
It is pertinent to note that the common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. It would be prudent to declare Cutbona Jetty as a hotspot and quarantine all those working here while restricting their movement so that these diseases do not spread in the locality.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Deposit refund system
is impractical
Goa is set to be the first State in the country to implement a deposit refund system (DRS) which will supposedly protect the environment, reduce the load on oceans, forest ecosystems and result in cleaner beaches.
If anyone purchases a non-biodegradable product in the State, he/she would have to pay an additional fee of Rs 5 for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, while Rs 10 will be levied for glass bottles. This amount will be collected over and above the product MRP.
The government claims that DRS will incentivise consumers to return empty containers, create green jobs and boost the local economy. The State will soon invite bidders to set up a system to implement DRS; the bidder has to pay money upfront to the authorities and recover his money from recycling the waste collected.
Goa receives almost a crore of tourists annually, most of whom, are here for short periods of time, who would bother to spend time, money and fuel to return beer cans, bottles or plastic packaging to claim the meagre deposit. It simply isn’t worth it. Even the local populace of Goa would be forced to shell out extra for almost every item purchased, as all products come with plastic, metal or some form of non-biodegradable packaging.
The government would be getting a guaranteed amount from prospective bidders but there is very little possibility of the latter making profits. This seems to be another Machiavellian scheme floated by the government to collect funds for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Khata-khat model,
fata-fat debt
The Congress and AAP-ruled States are facing a financial crisis where freebies have become a costly affair and there is no paisa for guaranteed delivery.
Still in Bengaluru, women are in rush to open SB accounts at post offices due to the effect of Rahul Gandhi’s connotation ‘Khata-Khat Khara Khat’ (Mahalakshmi scheme) crediting Rs 8,500, into the account of a woman in every poor household each month, if the party comes in power.
States like Karnataka, Punjab, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are facing burden due to guaranteed policy. The implementation of the ‘guarantees’ has pushed some States into financial bankruptcy. Unfortunately in India, freebies are doled out to people by the political parties from the public exchequer, just prior to elections, to get their votes to remain in power.
And the guaranteed scheme culture had made the people lazy and dampened their spirit to work hard. The taxpayers have remained mute spectators to the public exchequer being drained on guaranteed schemes and on distributing freebies.
If this trend continues, a day might come soon when some political party in the State would offer to visit the houses of voters and cook food for them every day and another party might offer not only to cook, but also to feed the voters.
K G Vilop, Chorao
District judiciary's significance
The recent ‘National Conference of District Judiciary’ rightly focused on two pressing issues plaguing the country’s judicial system: pendency in courts and working conditions of district judges.
Paucity of judges has been a matter of concern for a long time but as senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the distinguished gathering comprising the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, many brilliant young minds choose not to seek appointment at the district judiciary because of the abysmal conditions in which the judges operate.
The district level judges are hampered by, among others, lack of proper courtrooms, office staff and residential accommodation and transport facilities. Sooner the stakeholders address these lacunae, better it is for the litigants, because it is only a secure and comfortable judge, who can deliver dispassionate and speedy justice.
Although procedural delay leading to snail-paced justice delivery has to be addressed on a war-footing, there will be a disproportionate number of cases filed on a daily basis, so the problem is chronic.
However, hiring retired district judges to dispose of cases should be expeditiously considered because these judges will bring-in a tremendous amount of experience and talent, familiarity with the task at hand, and focusing on the job with no worries over interference, promotion or transfer.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola