Recall the fireworks explosion at the Puttingal temple at Kolam. There were many casualties and 108 plus people died. Many more injured and lives destroyed. There were countless lapses and sheer negligence on the part of the organizers, temple authorities, the government administration and the police! There are reports of government authorities stating they had refused permission, that there was some sort of fireworks competition and extraneous issues, now leading to ban firecrackers etc. The real issue is defiance of laws and norms of public safety and a culture of political patronage with utter lack of discipline and accountability! This is criminal and must be investigated as such, people responsible castigated and given exemplary punishment as deterrent, if there is any hope of justice and improving matters!
What about our midstream ferry failures? This is not a new problem. First and foremost is the safety aspect where both public and government have a ‘chalta-hai’ attitude. Right from safety equipment on board, absence of Quick Response Team for emergencies to undisciplined commuters whom a ferry Captain described as “They enter and exit like herds of animals!” Commuters do not listen to the ferry staff and behave rudely, endangering the ferry and themselves by their behavior. There was lucky escape for Pomburpa ferry commuters, when government was away celebrating Baba Ambedkar holiday. Engine fails at 8.40am. Navigation office department closed and no official can be contacted for help! Luckily the drifting ferry with cars, two-wheelers and people hit a pole planted in the river by fishermen and could be tied to it to prevent further drift. A passenger reportedly could contact the Captain of Ports who was in Mumbai and three hours later help arrived! PWD Minister Davalikar excuses of distance for rescue, only one engine, unpredictable accidents etc hold no water even for a two engines ferry if ropes or nets get entangled in the propellers. When will our Sarkar and commuters learn? Generally after some great calamity results or people die! Then there will be the usual over reaction, cover up of who is responsible, compensation paid and back to square one. Only if heads roll and there is accountability, punishment for the guilty, or the courts take sue motto notice will the executive be worthy of the oath they take and privileges they enjoy!
Tackling the traffic problem we find there is no discipline and accountability from the police or drivers. The traffic and police act without respect for pedestrians. There is no serious consultation with residents and those who will be affected/ stake holders. I can give the example of Alto Porvorim traffic control mess. Actually also an administrative problem! Authorities unilaterally blocked the access to CHOGM road for Porvorim traffic which is considerable. Traffic is senselessly diverted through narrow residential Defence Colony roads resulting in pile up at the Holy Family Church junction due to no less than eight to ten streams of traffic having to cross at peak times, with pedestrians darting in between and helpless traffic police; that has led to many accidents maiming and even deaths! Who is responsible? Nobody is! Subsequent road widening and traffic lights at the crossings did help. However with some accelerating at the yellow light instead of slowing down despite a speed breaker, others ignoring red light etc there is no discipline enforced! I did not see anyone being penalized by traffic cops present.
At a joint meeting chaired by the Collector North Goa, it was decided to open the blocked access to CHOGM road on a trial basis, so traffic lights could be properly fixed and coordinated and practical problems observed and ironed out. This was again unilaterally not done, resulting in dangerous risking of life and limb on a daily basis for traffic and pedestrians!
At a press conference Arun Jaitly when asked whether there is any intolerance in India replied that those bad and terrible incidents that happened are extremely rare and exaggeration a creation of the media! “There is no introspection on this subject within the party since within a large country like India, the answer to climate of intolerance is no!” This negates the intelligentsia, NGOs, Media, the insecurity created in the minorities; hides take over of institutions, creeping intolerance and polarization taking place in the country.
Respected Farooq Abdullah categorically states that the greatest challenge facing India today is religious intolerance. A flyover construction by the previous government in Kolkata is thoroughly neglected and today when a part collapses causing great calamities, investigation reveals syndicates and mafias seem to be over ruling public feedback and government control is severely compromised!
What gall the public are the ever increasing staff and salaries and perks of elected representative and government servants with no accountability, also failure of Law and Order. Violent and destructive protests of Jats, Patidars and mobs succeed. Also display of hypocritical rhetoric from the BJP and Congress on Bhimrao Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary whereas Ambedkar resigned in disappointment when both worked to block passing of the Hindu Code Bill. He embraced Buddhism in Nagpur with half a million dalits in disgust, something Rohit Vemula’s family also emulated! Today for those who are not rich, in power or in a quid pro quo are protected by them, life is insecure, even in their very own Bharat Mata. Violence, propaganda, denials and trolls cannot obfuscate the truth!
(The author is a retired naval officer resident in Porvorim.)
