Parking fees for rental vehicles
Calling for action to be taken against the rent-a-bike vehicles being parked in municipal property, a councillor of the Margao Municipal Council has reportedly questioned how such bikes are being allowed to be parked there when the common man struggles to find park space for their vehicles. It must be said that rent-a-bike and rent-a car vehicles parking in parking spaces meant for the citizens has become a problem not only in the commercial capital but in other towns as well. Parking space has become scarce as a result of an increase in the number of private vehicles on the roads.
Many of these vehicles are parked throughout the day or until such time that the vehicle is rented out. The vehicles are seen parked especially in the market-place, leaving very little space for parking of vehicles by the shoppers. When there are designated areas in the towns for parking of taxis and cabs, why is there no area earmarked for parking of these rental vehicles? Since these vehicles are used for business purposes, the operators of rental vehicles could be charged parking fees. This will bring in revenue for the respective civic bodies. There could also be a system wherein the operators of rental vehicles are charged a monthly fee for parking their vehicles in the town’s parking areas.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
US is shocked and horrified over Manipur
The US has a different costume for different occasions. The reaction of the US on Manipur comes after almost three months and also after the PM of India woke up from his slumber after visiting the USA, France, Egypt and the UAE where he was welcomed with open arms by some people who had banned him for his complicit role in the Gujarat riots where more than two thousand people lost their lives and some rapist and murderers have been released by the same man who was the CM of Gujarat at that time. Now the senior Biden administration official says that he supports the Indian Government’s efforts to seek justice for the people of Manipur.
If the Prime Minister of India cannot open his mouth for two months and not speak a word in the Parliament of his country even though he can speak in the US Parliament, can he bring peace by attacking the opposition who are also part of the same Parliamentary form of Governance?
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Let’s hope that fate turns its tables
The country may lose the war, but Narendrabhai wins the battles.
Gujarat, the land of the Mahatma, was a heaven of peace and harmony. The BJP et al cast the fire of strife and divide. Narendrabhai rode on the flames of this fire. Gujarat lost the war, Narendrabhai won the battle.
In 2002, Muslims were massacred by Hindus in Gujarat, and Narendrabhai became the Prime Minister. India lost the war, Narendrabhai won the battle.
As the General Elections 2019 were approaching, scores of jawans were allowed to be slaughtered by terrorists at Pulwama, and Narendrabhai rode to victory on the cavalcade of fake nationalism.
And now, on instructions of the High Court, Meiteis in Manipur, who are Hindus and a majority, were ordered to be counted amongst Scheduled Tribes, triggering reaction from Kukis, Nagas, etc., who are the real Scheduled Tribes, are Christian minority and who feared that they would have to share with Meiteis the loaves of facilities which are themselves insufficient for them. The result is the massacre of Kukis, Nagas, etc. by Meteiis. Narendrabhai is silent, because his heart is with the latter and with their support he can win the elections. The incident of two women being paraded naked came in handy for him to divert the attention from the real movers and perpetrators of the massacre.
Thus, in the hands of Narendrabhai, my country lies sorrowful, but he rides joyously. I hope that the fate turns its tables.
Mousinho de Ataíde, Saligão
Ban the sale of all weapons in the USA
The number of mass shootings in the USA in 2023 is a shame on the country. There have been 340 incidents until June (55 until 20 July) with a peak in May of 84. From these incidents there have been 416 dead (58 dead until 20 July) and 1355 injured (258 injured until 20 July). Thankfully only 6 shootings were in a school or university until June 2023 with only 1 until 20 July. In earlier years there have been many similar deaths with the ghastly Columbine school shooting. Despite the regularity of these shootings across the country, July saw 55 in 20 days that is an average of almost three incidents per day, President Biden one should say this, remains unconcerned. There is no comment from his side on the mechanisms to minimise or eliminate these killings.
Just a few days ago a one year old baby while playing with a handgun accidentally shot dead her sister another infant. Even such incidents do not prompt the US administration to wake up and take action. After the legislation to ban the sale of assault weapons from shops to individual buyers there has been no meaningful action to limit the availability of arms to individuals. It is necessary to ban the sale of handguns and maybe allow just rifles and shotguns that are used for hunting to be bought by common citizens. This along with the ban of assault weapons in place would surely reduce the number of mass shootings in the US. Progressively all handguns available with citizens should be licenced. Otherwise unnecessarily lives are being lost and it is time that President Biden takes up slowly the banning the sale and possession of all weapons on a mission basis.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
Co-existence can save the big cats
Ecosystem is boosted when tigers flourish because the latter are at the top of the food chain. The number of tigers in India stood at 3167 in 2023 as compared to 2967 in 2018. With seventy five percent of the tiger population, India, is seen as the ‘safest’ place for the big cat . However, as many as 136 tigers reportedly died in 2022; 171 in 2021, and these are official figures. Any tiger death is attributed to poaching unless proved otherwise. Also, peer-competition, diseases, electrocution and accidents add to the animal’s misery. Tiger protection mechanism in the country has come a long way: the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under ‘Project Tiger’ is seized of the task.
But deaths outside tiger reserves remains a cause for anxiety. The need for overbridges and underpasses on highways and other roads is more pronounced now. The big cats traverse through what are known as ‘tiger spots’ on the highway because they need serious demarcation of territories, and crowded highways are impediments to tiger movement. The lacunae in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 lead to the refined Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Act, 2006 which has clear provisions on tiger conservation. Overall, better conviction rates, increased patrolling, more camera traps, villager-tiger co-existence have to be stressed upon to save the big cats.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Protect the tiger
July 29 is celebrated as Global Tiger Day. The day is celebrated in order to raise awareness about the need to conserve tigers and protect their natural habitats. Since the 1970s, steps have been taken in India to protect tigers. Global Tiger Day is celebrated every year on July 29 as a way to raise awareness about this magnificent, but endangered big cat.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
