Prohibit banners along the roads
In recent months, there were several events and festivities in Goa, some are ongoing and some more are in the offing. These were hosted in Panaji while the others elsewhere. Whenever some happenings occur there are festoons, series bulbs and banners of smiling and handsome dignitaries (State and Central) put up along the DB Marg.
These props are economically good for those who bag the large contracts. The problem is that due to wind or if not fastened properly, the decorations and banners fall on the road. In the last 3-4 days, some banners either fell or dangled from the lampposts and endangered pedestrians, motorists and bike riders.
The cut-outs, hoardings, installations and sculptures around the traffic islands eg, Divja Circle, opposite to Kadamba terminus, Miramar and Dona Paula distract and hinder the line of sight for the people. Similar may be the case in other cities in Goa. Since the events are regularly notified in newspapers, is there a need to put up hundreds of advertising boards and banners? A few at strategically located points could suffice. The money spent on these, either by the government or by friendly sponsors could be put to better use.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Who will clean up the mess on the beach?
There were two interesting pictures in yesterday’s edition of the Herald. One was a pleasing sight of a boat making its way through a pod of dolphins in the blue waters somewhere in San Diego. The other is a disgusting sight of glass and other plastic waste caught in the net of fishermen at Miramar, Goa.
While one picture shores up your mood the other brings you down to reality. The picture showing glass and plastic waste is typical of the shores of Mumbai as well. I’ve seen fishermen separating the small amount of fish from the huge amount of plastic waste caught in their nets.
It’s not just that, look at the amount of trash like empty snack pouches among other plastic waste and glass bottles strewn all over the shore by picnickers. Who will clean up that mess ? Isn’t it their responsibility to dispose of such waste suitably? But then, we have what they call, the ‘Beach Warriors’ who willingly clean up the mess, which of course is lost on the public. What we need is to do, is educating the public. Public discipline is a must!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Who is responsible for student’s suicide?
The incident of a student’s suicide in Kota, Rajasthan, once again shows that despite this issue occurring continuously over the years, there is no apparent seriousness towards it. It is noteworthy that before committing suicide, the student wrote in the letter addressing her parents, “I cannot do JEE; hence, I am committing suicide. I am looser, and I am responsible for it. This is the last option.” It is enough to convey how distressing situations are created by the burden of studies and the will to do something big. This is an issue for the family, society, education system, and government to think about. Where will this race finally come to a halt?
Karan Singh, Chennai
