Selfie photos on Atal Setu
Apropos your news on FIR against vehicle owner driving dangerously on Atal Setu (18 Jan 2023) there are many incidents of people parking their vehicles on the side and clicking photos. Standing on the lanes is dangerous can prove fatal not only to them but other motorists as well. Strict patrolling by traffic police should be done day and night and monitored on CCTV as well with heavy fines imposed on such offenders. Are we waiting for a tragedy to happen?
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Glen D’Costa, Mumbai
Control traffic near schools
Nuvem witnessed an uproar on Tuesday morning after an accident on the old highway near the Holy Cross Convent involving a two-wheeler and a car left two persons injured including a 13-year old student riding pillion. In the video of the accident which went viral on the Social Media platform, it is seen that the two-wheeler rider was seen crossing the road at the zebra crossing meant for pedestrians. Be that as it may, it must be said that chaotic scenes are witnessed on the road near schools in the State as students cross the roads before the commencement of school and after school hours. It must be said that having rumblers and ‘zebra crossings’ seem to have no effect on the vehicular drivers as they do not slow down. The sign-boards warning of a school ahead is also ignored by the road-users. As a result, the life of the students is at risk. It seems prudent to post a traffic police or home-guard at the road near the schools in order to stop the vehicles in order to allow the students to cross. Alternatively parents of the students could take turns to control the traffic outside schools by taking permission from the traffic police cell. Wherever possible, traffic could be diverted along another road at the commencement and closing time of the school. Parents need to be extra cautious while carting their children to and from the school in their vehicles.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
DRP approval holds no water
When a similar Mhadei diversion issue had surfaced during the tenure of the (late) Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court and was represented by AG Pangam and the hearing remained pending and was subjudice since then. If the Central Government respects the Judiciary, then the Central Water Commission approval Detailed Report Project (DRP) holds no water.
Awareness meetings, citizens protests on Mhadei diversion led by opposition political party leaders are like political gimmicks. The CM said that Goa would succeed in Mhadei and reposed full faith in the Judiciary and therefore he should urge the AG to make a strong case before the SC and wait in faith for the final verdict on Mhadei diversion issue.
Babluis Pereira, Pomburpa
Vande Bharat Trains
Prime Minister Modi is on a binge to flag off Vande Bharat trains in different States. After Kolkata, he was in Bangalore and now in Hyderabad to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train to Vizag.
One would believe that with elections on his mind, the Prime Minister wants to be in the news as also signal that he is pushing progress and development.
But this seems to be in line with the earlier BJP programme promoted by the Late Arun Jaitley of – India Shining. That did not work and in the ensuing elections the BJP lost. This should not happen once again. The reason this is being stated is that the Railways should put out statistics on the occupancy of Vande Bharat trains since the Bengaluru – Mysuru train is running at below 50% occupancy.
The travelling public seems to feel that the fares are not competitive and too high compared to luxury buses plying between the two cities. This may be the situation across the country where the Vande Bharat trains are running. The problem with the BJP is that once they are in government for a few years, they become very elitist and want to hold their meetings in 5-star hotels and cannot live without air conditioning even for party conclaves held in tents set up in the open.
Thus the Vande Bharat trains being equated to air travel is a similar initiative. It will serve the rich but not the Aam Admi who will have to suffer rickety coaches, dirty toilets, unhygienic food and then delays in train schedules because a Vande Bharat or Rajdhani train has to be given priority on the rail track.
The Vande Bharat trains when first started on the Mumbai – Ahmedabad route killed some cattle mostly in Gujarat in its initial runs. Thus our Gau Mata Bhakts should recognise the bad omens of the trains being Gau Maut Express. The government therefore has to re-orient itself and improve the standards of basic services before they introduce fancy services for which there will be few takers and justifying the economics of which is difficult. Moreover these services take away resources from much needed essential services.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
Leave judiciary independently
Recent the Rajya Sabha MP and former law minister Kapil Sibal accusing central government of attempting to “capture” the judiciary and present Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s critical comment against the judiciary and the collegium system is a matter of grave concern. The nation’s founders created the judiciary as an independent, co-equal branch of government to ensure it is protected from outside political influences. The judiciary is the last citadel of freedom. The Constitution is supreme as the power of judicial review resides with the court.
The appointments to the higher judiciary should not be handed over to the government. Judicial independence is the concept that the judiciary should be independent from the other branches of government. Instead of upholding and strengthening judicial independence, impartiality and efficiency, some governments and politicians interfere with the judiciary. An independent judiciary is necessary for a free society. Over the years, the executive and the legislature have become existential threats to judicial independence. The Independence of Judiciary is a basic feature of the Constitution of India. The Independence of Judiciary is the pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of the Constitution of India and for a realization of a democratic society based on the Rule of Law.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Poll goodies to woo voters
The Congress party has resorted to populist measures to woo women voters in Karnataka ahead of the Assembly polls in April/May this year. AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday announced a monthly dole of Rs 2,000 to each household led by a woman if the Congress is elected. Besides, last week the party announced 200 units of free electricity to all homes in the state if voted to power. Three more promises are on the cards. However, the Congress’ cash scheme must be taken with a pinch of salt, considering its promises of a monthly dole in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh remain on paper.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
