27 May Letters

The editorial “People come before Gadgil or Kasturirangan do” (Herald May 26) 

rightly anticipates a “Man vs Environment” (or “mining dependent vs environmentalist”) conflict in the hinterland of our State. The mining industry indulging in a proxy war of sorts is a possibility. The situation calls for statesmanship and sagacity from both sides for a mutually acceptable and lasting solution. 

Sustainable development and intergenerational equity and responsibility now constitute the fundamental principles of international environmental law and form the cornerstone of all conventions and treaties, with appropriate  provisions incorporated in our Constitution as well. These principles and doctrines have also been evolved by our Apex Court for 

protection of the environment. On the other hand is question of livelihood of a substantial section of the local population dependant on mining now threatened by the proposed MoEF notification.Environmental protection and improvement cannot be considered in isolation from the development process; what is good for the environment is also good 

for the economy. Hence the need to explore that middle ground. 
Savio J F Correia, Vasco

Priyanka Gandhi should have been the face of the Congress not Rahul. She is a crowd puller and she has a charismatic personality which reminds of late Indira Gandhi for her boldness and courage, even the BJP I am sure accept her 

as a strong politician who can influence voters to a great extent. The Congress President should nominate Priyanka Gandhi as the new face of the party and her services should be utilized throughout the country so that the grand old party 

survives a slow death and if Modi as a Prime Minister does a good job till 2019 than it will be curtains for the dynasty rule.

Speed-radars needed

Statistics will prove that one of the main reasons for so many road accidents that occur in the state, some of them fatal, is over-speeding. Besides the highway road users indulge in over-speeding even within the city limits. 

However the traffic department appear to be in no position to curb this menace on the roads. 

It must be said that one of the important equipment necessary to check over-speeding is speed-radars by means of which the speed of a moving vehicle can be measured. The question to be asked is whether the traffic cops are equipped 

with these speed-radars. If not why doesn’t the government procure this important equipment and provide them to the traffic cops? This will go a long way in keeping a check on over-speeding vehicles thereby minimizing the number of road accidents in the state.

Power dept must act promptly

From May 22 to May 25, i.e. for four consecutive days, streetlights at ‘Dessai-Bhat’, Adpai in Ponda were found to be non-functional. Linesmen of the Electricity Department deputed at this location failed to rectify the defects at the appropriate time. 

In villages, linesmen work under the village panchayats. But even the elected representatives of the village panchayat of Durbhat failed to levy a serious thought to this major problem. The acting Sarpanch proceeds through this location even during the night. But he too could not come to the rescue of pedestrians and travellers who faced great inconvenience and trouble on above mentioned days. With stray cattle occupying the main road at this strategic location, lives of innocent travellers were subjected to great risk and danger especially during the night. On various occasions, the acting Sarpanch fails to assure timely relief to the local population with regard to various civic problems prevalent in this jurisdiction. Above mentioned fixtures were attended only on May 26. It is absolutely necessary that such defects are rectified on top priority so that difficulties of public at large end at the earliest. I hope delaying tactics like that of above are done away with in future. Timely rectification of streetlight fixtures will indeed help in assuring welfare to the village population. It is the need of the hour for the elected representatives of this village panchayat to work with greater responsibility and enthusiasm in 

solving the genuine problems faced by the village population. This will go a long way in achieving development in above jurisdiction.