Taxi woes only for
air travellers?
In the recent days there is much discussion by the Goa government and by citizens about taxi counters, services and charges. From the debate it appears that taxis are used only by air passengers (especially tourists) while this is not entirely correct. There are more people visiting Goa by trains and buses and after alighting at the stations they are left in the lurch due to lack of public transport or are at the mercy of the taxi and auto drivers. There is never a talk about this category of people (local and tourists) who also need travel facilitation to reach their destinations. In addition, the residents of the State too require taxi services and at affordable rates so that the use of personal vehicles could be used reduced. The government should look into the matter and help to lessen the hardships of most people and not pamper only the air travellers.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Kohli’s magic
Kudos to Virat Kohli and the whole Indian cricket team for winning the T20 match against arch rival Pakistan in an excellent manner at the ongoing World Cup tournament. This win will go into history as Virat snatched victory away from the Pakistan team through his diligent and dashing batting leaving the opponents completely mesmerised by his magical pyrotechnics.
Virat’s splendid performance says it all – to be positive, determined and make the impossible possible. It is as if Virat, like the great Napoleon, saying that the word impossible is not in his dictionary.
He has also proved that a fearless, committed, dedicated and determined positive mindset can make anything possible. Let us hope that Virat and the team keep the winning streak and bring back the T20 World Cup for the second time.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Observe road safety month for road repairs
In a fatal accident reported at Mandrem, a 28-year-old woman died on the spot after coming under the wheels of a truck. The incident reportedly took place when the woman riding a scooter slipped on a heap of mud. She fell on the road and was crushed by a vehicle proceeding from behind. It is learnt that the accident occurred at a stretch where a portion of the road had been dug up by the Electricity Department. The work to lay underground cables was recently completed but the pits were not filled up properly on completion of the work. Goa recently observed the 11th “State Road Safety Week 2022”. With 109.4 accidents per lakh population, Goa has the highest accident rate in the country with many highly populated States behind it. The State’s accident rate is four times the national average of 27.6. The major cause for road accidents is attributed to over speeding, not following rules and regulations and drunken driving. However, bad road conditions and bad road engineering are also major contributing factors to the increasing number of accidents. Driving on dug up and potholed roads has become a nightmarish experience. It would be in the fitness of things to have a “Road Safety Month” just like the “Road Safety Week”. During this month the government needs to inspect all the roads in the State and repair those in bad shape.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Will traffic mayhem
in Panjim ever end?
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has made yet another tall promise, this time that the PWD, RTO and the Traffic Police will within 15 days prepare a plan to curtail road accidents. Let us hope that this assurance does not end up as the rest, never to be honoured. Goa desperately needs proper traffic management. Even the capital city is now without a Traffic Cell, it having been senselessly shifted to Santa Cruz over a year ago.
The traffic chaos in Panjim is horrendous. We had been assured that once the schools in the city were moved to Cujira that the traffic congestion would ease. But it has just not happened. The very busy Dayanand Bandodkar Marg is a no parking – no stopping road but the casino vehicles and tourists taxis have been parking in total breach of law while two-wheelers are seen parked on the footpaths inconveniencing the pedestrians. The Traffic Police and Transport Department have not been acting against these blatant violations which make one to believe that their palms are well greased by the casino lobby.
The traffic chaos near the Panjim Church is another nightmare while no action is being taken against double parking on the other two very busy roads of Panjim, 18 June Road and the Atmaram Borkar Road. It appears that Panjim, our once beautiful and serene capital is both offshore and onshore controlled and policed by the casino lobby and the politicians who are on their payroll or roulette wheel rather than by the Traffic Police. Road safety and the ability of innocent people to go about their normal business are left to chance with less odds of success by the day. A congested and chaotic capital is also an eyesore for the already diminishing number of quality tourists.
Unless and until the Traffic Police demonstrates zero tolerance to road safety abuses and takes total control of our roads, proper traffic management will always prove to be impossible and innocent people will continue to suffer! Words rather than urgent action from the authorities will be just hot air or water under the Mandovi Bridge!
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Are women really safe?
In India we celebrate so many festivals and some are dedicated to the Goddess. Only in speeches every woman is compared to a Goddess but looking at the present scenario is each woman really getting that same respect and honour? Frankly speaking my answer is no. The Bilkis Bano rape case where the rapists have been set free and the victim has to fear for her life. In a rape case, Baba Ram Rahim was released on parole and organising satsang for his bhakts. Is this the law and order? The rapists are free and victims have to fear their lives and also of their loved ones. Where is the law? Are women really safe? There are number of cases of rapes, murders, chain snatching, robbery and drugs reported in our beautiful Goa. But the ministers in power only concentrate on tourism and redevelopment. No doubt Goa has to be developed but the ministers in power should solve these major issues. If these are not solved then we Goans will not be safe in our beautiful Goa.
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Let us make schooling enjoyable
Heavy school bag with loads of books leads to back pain. Heavy syllabus is stressful. Students are not able to cope up with the present day schooling. There is an urgent need to reduce the standards and syllabus. Learning has become burdensome and should be made enjoyable.
We may engage the students in activities such as bird watching, bee keeping, book publishing, baking, radio broadcasting, photography, artificial intelligence, first aid , trekking, visits to factories, dancing, singing, etc and ask the students to opt a few. Let us not make them bookworms.
K Lakshman Rao, Pune
Celebrate an
Eco-friendly Diwali
Diwali, or Deepavali, is a festival of lights that brings joy to people. It`s a season of fun, laughter, heaps of sweets, pretty clothes and crackers.
Nope! Crackers are anything but an integral part of the festival. Celebrating a holiday does not necessarily have to be harmful to the planet that we live on.
Firecrackers burn and release smoke into the air, causing air pollution. This causes health hazards. So let’s celebrate an Eco-friendly Diwali.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
