Quality asphalting
of roads in Goa
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Reports have been appearing in the print media about the abysmal quality of newly asphalted roads in Goa. One needs not go very far in order to find if quality asphalting of roads are possible. The relatively newly tarred road from the Panjim Church up to the Circuit House traversing along the Bishop’s palace is a clear and present example of how very good quality tarring of roads can be done in Goa if the authorities, namely the Public Works Department allot the tender of asphalting of roads to the same contractor that undertook the work of asphalting this Altinho road. Even though this road is on the slope of the Altinho hillock and accumulation of rain water does not take place thus leading to the asphalted surface not being washed out, still if the same quality control is maintained while tarring any other road, even not on slopes but on even stretches, where there is accumulation of water, still if quality work is undertaken, the road surface will not be washed out.
The expenses incurred may be higher but if large contracts are allotted to this contractor or that particular contractor maintaining stringent quality control, quality asphalting can become the norm in Goa. Where there is a will there is a way! Smart indeed can be the quality of asphalting!
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
Landslides occur at disturbing frequency
A landslide that reportedly occurred on the National Highway 66 at Dhargalon Sunday led to disruption of traffic on the road. It is learnt that the landslide occurred in an area where hill cutting is being carried out at the national highway work site. Mud and boulders came crashing down and blocked one lane of the national highway. It is understood that the works were undertaken without taking proper precautions to avoid such incidents. Protective walls need to be built by the roadside when hill cutting needs to be undertaken.
It may be recalled that in the month of June a major landslide was reported along the Verna-Cortalim link road, which left traffic stalled for several hours. Heavy rains brought down a huge chunk of the hill crashing onto the road despite the presence of a retaining wall and protective net thereby indicating poor engineering. Fortunately no injuries to people were reported in both these incidents. There have been landslides of a lesser severity that have occurred in several parts of the state and we are hardly a few weeks in the monsoon season. It won’t be wrong to say that these landslides are man-made calamities and can be prevented by taking precautionary measures. Use of sandbags can help in temporarily minimizing a landslide during heavy rainfall. Investigation of the soil of the hill before cutting it seems necessary.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Selfless service
National Doctors’ Day was celebrated in India on July 1 to express gratitude for the relentless service provided by doctors across the nation. It is observed in honour of Bidhan Chandra Roy, the physician-politician who was the second chief minister of West Bengal. Since the beginning of the pandemic, doctors have selflessly served the people of the nation. With Covid-19 infections on the rise, once again, this is the right time to appreciate the contributions of doctors to our healthcare apparatus.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Government must help families of virus victims
COVID-19 has created havoc across the world not sparing any corner and is far from over. Hundreds of thousands of many precious lives have been suddenly lost. Even in a very tiny State of Goa so many have departed. We have lost young jewels leaving their family in utter distress. So many families have been left in a hopeless situation with the main earner snuffed so quickly and unexpectedly by that dreaded virus. The Goa Government needs to ponder and reflect on how best it can reach out to these grieving families in these times of despair. Having been a natural catastrophic calamity the government would have to think out of the box and come up with innovative ways to assist these families struck with sheer grief and financial hardships which they may never overcome. As one concrete measure, could the government contemplate reserving a certain percentage of government jobs to the surviving family members of COVID?
As in many cases, where the sole breadwinner in a family has vanished, it would be gracious if the school and especially higher education fees are exempted for the children of those swept in the COVID wave. The Government has to do something concrete for the families of those who lost their lives in the battle against COVID. Paying lip service or mere words of sympathy and crocodile tears will not meet the ends of Justice. People need concrete help and financial support and actions that speak louder than words. May better sense and goodwill prevail on those in Power.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
India, bottom of
every index
Srinivas Kamat in his article ‘Making a virtue of the lack of privilege’ (Herald July 4, 2022) has very rightly described the present situation in India. He has rightly pointed out that India is presently at the bottom of every international index, whether it is the economic front or the religious front, or the very quality of life. Yes, our country seems to have hit the pits. Look at the political scene for instance where all democratic norms are thrown to the winds. Our elected politicians have lost all morality & ethics in their pursuit of power. The powers that be, are playing their cards well, it seems. As Srinivas points out the nomination of the presidential candidate, no offense meant to the candidate though. She may be the right candidate, but the hype that is being created about the whole affair is bad. Yes, we are making a virtue of the lack of privilege. How long should we continue to remain in that mould which we have put ourselves in? The world is watching every development in our country. We are hitting back at the criticism raised by the world but we need to come to grips with reality. There is many a ‘slip between the cup and the lip’!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Violation of public trust doctrine
Beach Shacks on the Eco-sensitive Beach area can be put up only after being successfully allotted by the Tourism Department through the lot process and after payment of fees and further by taking necessary approvals of GCZMA, FDA, Excise, Pollution Control Board and other Departments. However due to the Tourism Department and GCZMA Authorities turning a total blind eye to the ground reality, there have been a number of Beach Shacks that have come up on the Calangute Beach Stretch without any Licence or Allotment whatsoever. Some of these illegal Shacks have even built Permanent RCC Structures and Concrete Wells right on the beach and have continued to run the business even during the monsoons, thereby severely endangering the Eco-sensitive Beach belt in the area. The Govt. Departments which are the custodians of the Public places like Beach Area, have made a mockery of the Public Trust Doctrine and the respective Heads of the Departments involved ought to be held in contempt of the same and made answerable for this glaring lapse. I request the Chief Minister & Chief Secretary of Goa to take strong note of the same and initiate necessary action immediately before further Govt land is lost via privatisation at Calangute Beach stretch.
Agnelo D’Souza, Calangute
