Install speed radars on new Zuari Bridge
A self-accident was reported on the new signature Zuari Bridge when a car skidded off the road. Three occupants from Telangana escaped with minor injuries when their car hit the boundary wall on Sunday and were discharged after administering treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim. This was incidentally the first accident reported on the new Zuari Bridge and could be the result of over-speeding. The maximum speed limit prescribed for bridges in India is 30 to 40 kmph. The present maximum speed limit for cars on expressways is 120 kmph and on national highways, the maximum speed limit is 100 kmph. When a highway joins a bridge there is every possibility of the vehicle proceeding onto the bridge at the same speed that they were driving on the highway. It may be recalled that a car skidded off the road and plunged into the Zuari River in July last year. Police said that the driver of the vehicle lost control and it rammed into the bridge’s railings. All four occupants of the car from Loutolim died in the accident. Several accidents were reported in the past on the Atal Setu Bridge many of which have been attributed to over-speeding. The smooth roads on the new Zuari Bridge could be an open invitation for over-speeding which can lead to accidents. It seems prudent to install speed radars on the bridge to apprehend the over-speeding vehicle drivers.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Need to return
to Nature
This is in reference to the article ‘Traditional healer Romaldina cures and comforts patients with a host of natural remedies’ on Herald edition dated January 2, 2023. It’s great to see traditional healer, Romaldina being successful in treating patients with her hosts of natural medicines. In this age of scientific-medical advancement, Romaldina with her natural medicines stands out tall. One cannot deny, in the early ages, which included the time of our parents or grandparents we resorted to home remedies, involving the use of herbs, roots, seeds, etc, for a variety of illnesses. Today however, we run to our family doctor for the smallest of illnesses and if we are not cured, we search for what is called, specialists. We have seen in recent times, how commercial, these specialists and all the hospitals including the so-called charitable hospitals have become. They will milk you until your death. It’s time we look back and return to natural home remedies. But then again, in this state of pollution, one wonders, where can we find real natural medicines. In such a scenario, traditional healers like Romaldina stand out as a glimmer of hope. Indeed, we need to return to Nature, concretisation and destruction of Nature is certainly going to take its toll on human lives.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Restrict use of loudspeakers
The article, “Making a noise about noise” in the Herald edition dated December 31, 2022 made an interesting read. Thankfully I could read it without any disturbance of surrounding noise. In India, the use of loudspeakers, which are said to be the major cause of noise pollution, has been a long contentious issue. Thanks to the UP government, for it has taken the lead and decided to restrict the use of loudspeakers in public places, especially at temples and mosques. It will be good if other States also follow the example of UP in keeping with the interests of the social environment.
In a sense, sound, which pleases the listeners, is music and which causes pain and nuisance, is noise. However, at times what is music for some can be noise for others. Noise constitutes a real danger to people’s health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can cause serious physical and psychological disorders. Long-term exposure to noise can cause a variety of health issues like sleep disorder, negative effects on the cardiovascular and metabolic system, and cognitive impairment in children.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Govt staff absent during office hours
In most departments staff will not be on their seats during office hours. The absence of most of the staff during office hours clearly indicates that there is indiscipline in the office and lack of administrative control. The government should direct its employees to refrain from leaving their offices during working hours. If employees come late, or are not present at their desk during office hours, higher officials have to post remarks along with the reasons. To ensure availability of all the government officers and employees in the offices during official hours, the department heads should conduct surprise checks to keep vigil on the staff working under them.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Will we ever see
good roads?
During his recent visit to Goa, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari made two tall promises. His first tall promise was that roads in India within two years would be better than the United States and the second was that the viewing gallery at the Zuari Bridge would be better than that at Eiffel Tower in Paris. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The PWD asking people to report potholes and that they would be fixed in three days is preposterous. In a very small State like Goa are the PWD officials so blind that they cannot see for themselves the potholes all over. Or would the High Court have to monitor this issue too?
This government, which has miserably failed on all fronts, has allowed even the state of the roads across Goa to deteriorate to such an extent that some roads pose a serious danger to the public.
There are potholes galore wherever you go. The roads have also become accident-prone besides the damage that is being done to our vehicles and the human body especially for two-wheeler riders on account of the bumpy ride. So the authorities need to act with utmost urgency to ensure that the roads are made safe and motorable.
In 2003 the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced that anyone spotting a pothole on any road in Goa would be rewarded with Rs 1,000. The horrific factual position today is that there is not a road in the State without potholes. It augurs very shabbily for a leading tourist destination that we want to be.
As the Bombay High Court has already ruled that good road is a fundamental right of every citizen, the government needs to wake up from its slumber and embark upon repairing the potholed roads on a priority.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Govt has failed
every Goan
The Government has failed every Goan by hardly paying any attention to the RP2021 which was prepared by many villagers.
First the government slipped the plan under the carpet and gave the cushion cover to many real estate sharks to convert many properties and destroyed many hills and fields. Finally the RP 2021 was notified and there is nothing left to salvage of Goa. The authorities should have concentrated in widening all MDR roads of the villages and the failure is what we witness the total traffic disruptions with traffic jams everywhere in Goa, Flocking of tourists was expected after the Covid ban. The traffic police seem to be in a slump with no traffic management plan for any of these villages. What is the use of having such promotions for tourism by putting the tourists and the villagers in hardship and danger while travelling on the Goan roads? Will the authorities think seriously to learn how to manage the traffic jams that have been happening every year? We need to learn and take assistance from consultants of another country if we can’t find any one in our own country.
Gregory E D’Souza, Siolim
