Dust pollution haunts Panjimites
It is learnt that a group of residents from Panaji have reportedly filed two petitions in the Bombay High Court at Goa, urging urgent directions to the government and the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Corporation (IPSCDL) to alleviate the inconvenience and dust pollution caused by unplanned Smart City projects. The ongoing works has left most of the roads and lanes being dug up. This has caused a lot of dust pollution affecting the health of the residents especially children and the elderly population. Imagine a newborn or an infant breathing in dust-filled air. Dust particles are known for their potential to cause respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. They can also irritate eyes, throat and skin.
Regular dust inhalation can greatly increase one’s risk of lung disease and cancer because it weakens the lungs and contributes to disorders like chronic bronchitis. For people with respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema even small increases in dust concentration can make their symptoms worse. According to health experts, air pollution also plays a major part in exacerbating other ailments such as diabetes and sleep apnea. It would hence be in the fitness of things to screen residents of Panaji city for any lung disease due to dust pollution. A white-paper on the respiratory health of residents of Panaji would be welcome.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Respect sanctity of Basilica
Recently the Central Govt announced a package of Rs 17 crore for the preparation of the works to be undertaken as there will be the Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier fondly known as Goemch Saib.
This happens once in ten years, where the pilgrims and people of other faiths from all over the world and India visit Old Goa to have a lifetime closer look at the Holy Relics of the saint.
The Basilica is under the Archaeological Survey of India and hence the area that has been earmarked as heritage site and has to be maintained by the Govt of India. Catholics should pray that the money sanctioned is used for the purpose that will make the area used as a pilgrimage site and not to promote tourism that will destroy the sanctity of the Spiritual Heritage site. For the Catholics and people of India, it is a blessing and we hope that with the visit of the Pope, Goa and India will be blessed with his prayers giving us hope to live for Jesus and to spread the message of Love and Not hatred. Praise God.
Gregory E D’souza, Siolim
SAG ground finally finds good use
The large open space beside the railway bridge and Taniya Hotel in Vasco, belonging to Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) which was idle for so many years and filled with sewage and tall grass, has finally found some good use for itself. Right after dumping tonnes of mud for the land reclamation process, the ground has generously contributed itself towards various events such as parking space for Vasco Saptah, cricket tournaments, political gatherings, shopping exhibitions etc. For the recent political gathering of the BJP, which took place on that ground itself, it was mentioned by MLA Daji Salkar and the CM that the open space would be converted into a multi-facility sports complex. If this promise finds its manifestation, then this will stand testament to a great leap in the development of the port town, which citizens are eagerly looking forward to.
Milind Jakati, Vasco
Train toll plaza workers to respond to accidents
Despite the availability of modern technology and notwithstanding innumerable first-aid and safety signages, passengers struggle to come to terms with ghastly accidents on highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in conjunction with a public sector unit of the ministry of health, is planning to strengthen the Incident Management System (IMS).
The IMS strives to respond to unplanned events and service interruption by restoring the services and events to the originally planned state through a plethora of arms. A few crucial amenities like availability of ambulances will be spruced up so that the ” golden hour”— one hour following the accident— is not gone abegging.
Real-time tracking system, too, demands fresh innovation to make it foolproof. As regards to immediate medical aid, the number of trauma centres on highways, if any, require more additions.
It is beyond doubt that all passengers have heard about ‘toll-free phone number’ in exigencies but whether or not the exact number is known to them is anyone’s guess. A very vital step undertaken by the NHAI towards ensuring passenger safety is to train the toll plaza workers for instantaneous response to accidents. Education and awareness are two sensitive, and invariable, cogs in the passenger security wheel.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
PM’s words just an empty rhetoric
Narendra Modi while on a visit to the North East recently had spoken about protecting our borders which the Congress and earlier governments did not do. Many do not realise that Modi has no problem about protecting borders. The moment our neighbouring country adopts a threatening posture, Modi cedes the territory to them like to China on our northern and north-eastern borders where we gave given lakhs of square kilometers of our land to them. There is no need for protecting borders as far as Modi is concerned!
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
