Take Goa coastal security seriously
After the deadly attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 by terrorists who allegedly arrived by fishing trawlers, the Centre gave countrywide top priority to coastal security.
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It was shocking to read (O Heraldo on Apri1 11) that for 5 years, Goa does not have a single boat to guard its 105 km long coastline. As per reports, in 2012 the seven coastal police stations each had one 12-tonne interceptor patrol boat, and since 2018, all the boats are out of order. It is pitiable that the police walk along the coast and rivers for surveillance, use inflatable boats within the rivers or are at the mercy of the Fisheries Department and Captain of Ports for loan of boats. Given the fact that Goa is host to naval installations, oil storage tankers at Vasco and industrial houses the matter of coastal security is not taken seriously.
In recent months there has been a spate of drug hauls along coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra and arrest of drug peddlers in Goa, hence it may be prudent to keep an eye for such nefarious activities.
The government must accord utmost importance and arrange for patrol boats to the coastal police who at present are putting their lives to risk by using canoes and hired boats, which may or may not have its official papers (license, registration, insurance etc.) in order. Goa is considered as a haven for criminals who come for rest and relaxation after committing a crime elsewhere in India. Many criminals have been arrested while having a blast and blowing away their money at casinos and in places of entertainment. Hope some crazy criminals with ulterior motives do not land in Goa in a boat or trawler and wreak havoc.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Tiger population growing steadily
The latest tiger census released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago brings back the focus on tiger population in India. Tigers in India have a history of their own, often serving as the poster animal for saving our forests.
From being constantly hunted during the colonial era, to being brought back from the brink of obliteration in early ‘70s, and from threats through poaching in ‘90s to establishing the National Tiger Conservation Authority, tiger numbers in India have shown a steady growth. With Indian tigers accounting for more than 50 per cent of the world tiger population, restructuring the growing tiger population in a proper manner assumes greater importance. Gratifyingly enough, there are a bunch of passionate wildlife enthusiasts, who are trying their best to make the planet more habitable for the tigers. Less consumption of forest material, less interference in forest areas, and healthy preservation of our wildlife ecology are of vital importance in protecting our forests and the wildlife they accommodate. When tigers thrive in an ecosystem, it indicates that their ecosystem too is thriving along.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Hospitals or money minting machines
Recent the Health Minister warning private hospitals on delay in shifting critically ill patients to the GMC after exhausting DDSSY medical insurance is unfortunate. Most Indians consider doctors as next to God if not God. There are many doctors with impeccable ethical records. However, there are many others – not so ethical, and their number is on the rise who don’t think twice before taking their patients for a ride.
Some hospitals in India are hell bent on extracting money from patients and have become a real estate industry. Instead of providing succour to patients in distress, it is widely felt that they have become money minting machines, which fleece patients. Some private hospitals are generating bills according to their whims and fancies even during crisis period. There needs a system to be put in place which will prevent hospitals from ‘fleecing’ distressed people. Such hospitals need to be closed.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Citizen-friendly fencing needed
It is learnt that a group of concerned citizens from Fatorda are demanding the immediate replacement of fencing around Shree Damodar Circle behind Ravindra Bhavan.
The pointed fencing of the traffic island is dangerous and could cause harm to commuters. Riders or even pedestrians could get badly injured if they fall on the fencing by mistake or as a result of a road accident which could even prove fatal. It is pertinent to note that at several places in the state as well as the capital city fencing is being put up along road dividers so that pedestrians do not cross the road at any point along the route but only at the pedestrian crossing. However it does not seem necessary to have pointed ends on these metal road-dividers which can prove very dangerous. After all, pedestrians will not climb the metal divider in order to get to the other side of the road.
Such metal fencing with pointed ends is usually used to guard private homes from intruders, house-breakers and prevent stray dogs from entering the property and is not necessary on road-dividers and fencing around traffic islands. Road dividers and traffic islands should have aesthetic and citizen-friendly fencing.
It would be prudent to free all the fences in public places of the pointed endings.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Mumbai’s IPL win is commendable
The Indian Premier League (IPL) provided another edge-of-the-seat match, with Mumbai Indians snatching victory off the last ball against Delhi Capitals, who are still winless. Rohit Sharma, the MI skipper, set the tone for the chase with a 45-ball 65 before Cameron Green and Tim David finished the job. Unfortunately, Axar Patel’s impressive showing – he made 54 runs and conceded only 20 runs in his four overs – was in vain. Mumbai’s first win in this edition of the IPL must give their side a natural lift.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Conservation of big cats a must
Tigers flourish when given enough space, food and water. So the progress is essentially an outcome of the big cats and their habitat being better protected. But conservation efforts can’t be successful without political will and initiative. This is where the initiative will have to come in a serene atmosphere. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and interacted with frontline field staff and self help groups involved in conservation activities. He also visited the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu where he met Bomman and Bellie, the stars of Oscar award winning documentary “The Elephant Whisperers”. The PM had an interaction with mahouts and kavadis in the elephant camp. He launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA), a global initiative aimed at protecting and conserving seven major big cat species –tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah. The alliance will have the membership of range countries that are home to these magnificent species. The PM also released a vision document on tigers during the Amrit Kaal, a commemorative coin of Rs 50 and the 5th cycle of evaluation of tiger reserves in India.
C K Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
