Bickering will not resolve Sonsoddo issue
The incident of leachate leaking from garbage trucks at Sonsoddo causing several two-wheeler riders to skid and injure themselves, has reportedly exposed the internal differences between the chairperson and the chief officer of the Margao Municipal Council. It is learnt that the chairperson has held the chief officer responsible for the mishap at Sonsoddo. The chairperson has reportedly issued a bizarre threat of locking the office of the chief officer and asking the CO to work from his cabin. On the other hand a councilor of the ruling panel has reportedly demanded the resignation of the chairperson.
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In another development while the chief officer has assured stringent action against those found responsible, the Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has reportedly warned the Margao civic body that trucks carrying garbage will be blocked if the issues are not addressed. All this internal bickering between the authorities will not resolve the Sonsoddo issue in the long run.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Passing the buck on Sonsoddo issue
Barely hours after leachate from Sonsoddo spilled onto the road leading to two wheelers skidding and injuring riders, the Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council washed his hands off the affair and laid the blame squarely at the chief officer’s doorstep. Not only did the Chairperson fail to address the issue of leachate flow, but at a hurriedly called press briefing, he publicly castigated the second most senior officer for the mess, accused him of neglecting his duties and harassing sanitation workers. For good measure he issued a warning besides complaining to the Margao MLA about inaction by the CO, of course the Chairperson didn’t want himself to be held accountable for anything.
There are 40 municipal workers at Sonsoddo, apart from an engineer, a supervisor and a sanitary inspector, yet things are in such a liquid mess, and as yet no action has been taken to remedy the situation. How will a municipality function if the city fathers who have been appointed to tackle civic problems simply pass the buck on to the juniors absolving themselves of all blame? No wonder the city of Margao is in such a shambles courtesy our ‘hardworking’ civic officials.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Prepare for natural disasters in cities
Natural disasters are seen as acts of nature/God. However, what Chennai has witnessed in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung is clearly the lack of human action, as the city’s residents yet again bore the brunt of nature’s fury. For many in Chennai, it is a repeat experience of the 2015 floods caused by Cyclone Vardah.
Come November-December every year, citizens of Chennai are getting more scared as even moderate rains wreak havoc to the city and affect their normal life considerably. Over the years, unfortunately, governments of the two Dravidian majors in Tamil Nadu have failed in their preparedness and response mechanisms to confront the relentless force of nature. And it is the fate of Chennai that it should brace itself to be hit by cyclones every year in future also.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Punishment should match the crime
This has reference to the report ‘Beti bachao? 73 women were raped in Goa in 2022…’(O Heraldo December 7, 2023). The data released by the National Crimes Data Bureau on crimes committed against women especially minors, is certainly disturbing and calls for some introspection. Goa may have gained the dubious distinction of the highest rate of rape cases against minors in 2022, but a crime against anybody is a crime, whether it is against women or anybody, whether in Goa or anywhere in the country. And, we have had a lot of talk about ‘beti padhao, beti bachao’ it is time to walk the talk. It should not remain mere rhetoric, we need to see some action in the ground. Criminals are getting away lightly in such crimes. Punishment should match the crime committed, otherwise nothing is going to change.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Spurt in juvenile crimes noticed
India is witnessing a dangerous spurt in juvenile crimes. More and more teenagers below the age of 18 are resorting to violence and murder just for the heck of it. Thus far largely limited to some countries outside India, murders committed by juveniles are being reported from every nook and corner of the country. Nowadays, crimes are being made to appear routine or normal by social media, and this has enthused young and inquisitive minds. A fragile criminal justice system, has emboldened and buoyed the youngsters.
Unfortunately, today’s education has miserably failed to tune their mindset with sanity and decency. Families, too, are not doing much to buffer the young minds. Leave alone supporting them, many crumbling families are heaping problems upon their young inmates. Under these circumstances, substance abuse with drugs and alcohol have pushed young minds to despondency and escapism.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Relationship between development and vote
The Opposition in Parliament demanded answers from the government on unemployment, malnutrition and inflation. The ruling BJP’s answer in the form of a counter question was – “If development had not been done, how would they have won the elections?” The Opposition raised these questions on the basis of the latest figures of the government itself. The government’s response must be logical and numerical as well. In the last 33 years, whenever the growth rate was high, the people changed governments.
The first elections were held in 1996 after the economic reforms that began in 1991.The growth rate continued to increase but Congress was voted out of power. In the next two years the country saw three PMs. The economy was weak. GDP growth was better in the year 1998-99, but two elections were held.
N Ashraf, Mumbai
