Ambitious projects in a super mess
This has reference to the report ‘Andheri or Porvorim? If you are lucky, Porvorim to Panjim is 45 mins.’ (Herald June 14, 2024).
How smart can one get? We are trying to turn existing cities into so-called SMART cities but we are actually becoming dumb.
You’ve compared the traffic situation in Panjim-Porvorim to Andheri in Mumbai, yes you may be right. In fact, there seems to be absolute lack of planning in such Infrastructure projects, whether it is in Goa or elsewhere. Panjim is one of the latest one the list. Referring to traffic chaos in Mumbai, there is another talking point, viz, Malad-Mith Chowki Junction signal where it is said, one can travel to Pune & back but you can barely make much headway at this signal!
At the end of the day, what we need is proper, detailed study before embarking on such ambitious Infrastructure projects.
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Do we surrender ethical values ?
In our personal experiences, we meet “Ethics” as a branch of philosophy that deals with questions about what is right and wrong, good and bad and how we should handle situations with principles and moral values. Being ethical, has a clear set of principles that guide our actions, include honesty, promote equality, maintain integrity, fairness, compassion, respect and give justice – striving to be transparent and trustworthy in actions with clear communication. There are few who disguise themselves as ethical humans and win the hearts of the lay segment of society – not being honest or truthful and feeling happy that they have won innocent hearts wearing sheep’s coat, sad! Our behaviour involves treating others fairly with just, regardless of race, gender, religion, rank, beliefs and status. On the flip side there are some who live a ethical life until they come across a situation that they instantly switch to please others to enable them to remain “Good” on their faces, but they get derailed of their responsibility for their actions and care less of their guilty consequences and accountability – in sane!
Ethics are not just injected or infused, but these individuals are born with, as they listen to understand and understand to live a life in balance with others.
As always, let’s end with a beautiful quote: “Principle and Integrity are the cornerstones of any ethical life, let us lead to respect our own life and that of others”. Stay blessed and happy!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
Goa’s biodiversity in danger
A few days ago, the Governor was appealing to the experts to look into the decline of cashew in Goa.
Yes, he has said it right. But his very government has brought in 39A amendment in the TCP Act to finish the hills which once had abundant cashew plantations.
Some forests are set a fire so that the real estate builders are allowed to convert the land into settlement. What more do we expect of Goa’s natural biodiversity to remain?
The tigers and other wild animals are now migrating into human habitation causing conflict.
Cases are piling in the High Court and NGT where environmentalists are battling to save the environment which is in peril.
God and nature should not spare such environmental destructors even their next generations as they have amassed filthy wealth by destroying and allowing Goa’s biodiversity to be plundered. Soon we may have to plan for wax or clay museums to showcase Goa’s biodiversity for the tourists and the generations to come.
Gregory E D’Souza, Siolim
Ethical use of Artificial Intelligence
In an address at the outreach session of the summit of G7 advanced economies in Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly said on Friday that India will work with all countries to make Artificial Intelligence (AI) transparent, fair, secure, accessible and responsible. Raising alarm about AI, Pope Francis challenged leaders of the world’s wealthy democracies to keep human dignity foremost in developing and using Artificial Intelligence. His holiness warned that such powerful technology risks turning human relations into mere algorithms. Today’s AI technology has a range of use across various industries. Businesses use AI to minimize human error, reduce high costs of operations, provide real-time data insights and improve the customer experience, among many other applications. In government it can be used to further public policy objectives. It enables multi-tasking and eases the workload for existing resources. AI enables the execution of hitherto complex tasks without significant cost outlays. It can do repetitive work, eliminate human error, perform risky jobs, available round the clock and involves fast decision-making. However the disadvantages include costly implementation, potential human job loss, ethical concerns about bias and privacy, security risks from hacking, a lack of human-like creativity and empathy. With growing concerns that AI could disrupt elections, it’s becoming clear that certain organizations aren’t employing the technology for the common good. It is important to approach AI with caution and responsibility, ensuring that it is developed and used in an ethical and transparent manner.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
National litigation policy in limbo
Government is the largest litigant in the Supreme Court and High Courts. Tricky interdepartmental cases are filed at the drop of a hat in High Courts. Obviously, the governments of the day, in inconvenient and unfavourable cases, may be quite averse to their quick disposal. When a government, that is expected to aid smooth justice delivery at various points in the system, itself becomes a roadblock towards the same, something has to be done.
The aim of a robust legal policy is to infuse transparency into the whole process and be responsible as well as efficient. Other than this, the stakeholders are also seized of the burdensome legal cost for the litigants, and lack of access to appeals. Against this backdrop, the
“National Litigation Policy” of the NDA government appears to be a step in the right direction.
The Union Law Ministry has finally approved the policy document that will be placed before the cabinet soon. However, it is intriguing that such an important policy matter that could have been a game changer in the Indian judicial system has been drafted and redrafted over the years with no concrete consensus. Infact, the policy was said to have been taken stock by the NDA government in 2014. But the entire process has been in a limbo since then with no appreciable efforts to revive it.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
