Ribandar looks like a war-battered zone
It is distressing and anguishing to see the alarming state of the roads in Ribandar. Our roads were already in dire straits when I saw them last two months ago and was hoping that the sad state of affairs would improve. But contrary to hopes and high expectations, the situation has just worsened with the people having to commute on these treacherous roads. Ribandar looks like a war-battered zone.
The digging of our roads in Ribandar has been going on for the last three years. Even for the blind eyes, the works are all shoddy and being done in a haphazard manner, endangering the life and well-being of the locals.
With the monsoons fast approaching, it is a matter of grave concern as to what the residents would have to endure if immediate remedial measures are not taken.
Let us all make a very personal appeal to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chief Secretary Punit Goel to please swiftly intervene and alleviate the misery looming large on the residents of Ribandar.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Mumbai hoarding collapse: A wake-up call
Recently a 100-feet tall, 250 tonne unauthorised advertisement hoarding in Mumbai uprooted and fell on a petrol pump following strong winds claimed 14 lives and left 70 others injured. Hundreds of such dangerous structures dot Goa’s highways especially the Margao-Panjim stretch.
Our State is similarly buffeted by strong winds and torrential rain during the monsoon period, luckily there have been no fatalities reported by billboard collapses in Goa as yet but the Mumbai incident should serve as a wakeup call to authorities in the State.
Law enforcement agencies should identify and remove all illegal hoardings in Goa (I am sure there must be many) and then order a rigorous structural audit of the rest. To maximise profit many advertising agencies compromise on the safety aspect by using low grade steel sections and poor design though they earn lakhs by way of renting out the billboards. Let’s learn from our neighbour’s follies.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Hoarding collapse: Reactive steps too late
On May 13, Mumbai was taken aback by a short extreme weather event that saw brought about a dust storm, wind speed up to 60 km/hour and heavy rains. An illegal 100-feet advertisement board weighing 250 tonnes crashed on a petrol pump at Ghatkopar.
Fourteen people have lost their lives, dozens were trapped and several were left injured. Luckily the crash did not lead to an inferno at the petrol pump where about hundreds of vehicles were parked as people were taking shelter.
The authorities woke up, rubbed their eyes in disbelief, only to see that the same company had installed eight more hoardings! The Director of the company is allegedly booked by the police, and by now, may be out on bail. All these reactive measures are too little and too late. Who is responsible for the loss of innocent lives?
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Have ‘Missing Persons’ booths on the beaches
Five children were reportedly reunited with their families while vacationing on Goan beaches over the weekend. These children were separated from their families at various beaches including Baga, Calangute and Varca. These days, as is usually the case in the summer season, Goan beaches are overcrowded with people, many of whom are children.
As children love to play in the sand and the seawater, there is every possibility of them straying away from their families and in the process getting lost in the crowd.
It is learnt that the total number of children, who were united with their families across beaches in Goa, stood at 51 in the first four-and-half months of 2024.
The lifesavers working on the beaches were largely responsible for reuniting the children with their families. It is pertinent to note that there have been several cases of kidnapping of children that have been reported in the State.
These potential kidnappers could be roaming on the beaches with the motive of picking up lost children. It would be in the fitness of things to have ‘Missing Persons’ booths put up by the Tourism Department on the beaches, which are normally overcrowded. Those children, who have been lost, can be kept in these booths so that their family members can pick them up.
Such ‘Missing Persons’ booths are usually seen at the major festivals held in the State.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
A proper diet shapes overall health
Diet and nutrition play a huge role in shaping an individual’s overall health.
Intriguingly, foods that are quite palatable are generally unhealthy with a few exceptions. What to eat and, more importantly, what not to eat, have been intensely debated.
India’s principal body on formulation and promotion of biomedical research, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after a gap of 13 years has come out with a comprehensive report outlining 17 ‘guidelines’ on diet.
Its report will be taken with a pinch of salt; it has bemoaned the tendency of increased intake of sugar and salt among the Indians. As expected, excessive consumption of cooking oil has been decried by the body. Broadly, most of its guidelines are known and adhered to by sections of the society.
However, the research body has strongly advised against the excessive consumption of popular protein powder preparations.
According to ICMR, the presence of sugar, artificial flavour and non-caloric sweeteners in the protein powder are reasons to worry. In fact, non-protein energy from carbohydrates and fats are needed for dietary proteins to be used for protein synthesis.
One salient feature of the ICMR report, that may receive nods of approval from healthcare personnel, is its suggestion to exclusively breastfeed infants upto six months of age and continue breastfeeding till the age of 2 years.
About 57 per cent of total disease burden on India is said to be due to unhealthy diet, and it’s time all stakeholders overhaul their knowledge on diet.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Assess vehicle emissions in Goa
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in association with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) could conduct a comprehensive emissions assessment of the vehicles in Goa, so as to determine the amount of emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in Goa.
It is known that when every new car and new scooter or motorcycle is being registered, an affidavit is sworn by the purchaser detailing the type of vehicle that is being registered.
With the help of the company of manufacture, it could be determined as to how much of greenhouse gases are emitted by use of a litre of petrol or diesel for each type and model of vehicle.
If the percentage of the total number of vehicles on the road is known, then the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the vehicles can be calculated accurately.
This will go a long way to ascertain the quality of the ambient air in Goa and monitor by fixing rules on the emission stage of the vehicle which can go a long way in controlling emissions in Goa. Other States can also conduct similar tests.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
