Safe labour
Regarding your front page picture (The Goan Everyday, April 24) of laborers holding on to the arc tightly as they paint the Gaundalim-Cumbarjua bridge. Does nobody care about putting people in this dangerous situation, with no sign of any safety equipment? Would anybody involved in getting this job done allow any member of their family to be put into a similar situation. It should always be safety first not last.
Mike Jones, Majorda
Keeping it clean
It is understood that the Director General of Police, the Inspector General of Police and other policemen cleaned a ward at the Goa medical College and Hospital at Bambolim on Monday during a cleanliness drive undertaken by the Goa Police. This is a laudable act on the part of the Goa Police and needs to be emulated by other government departments as well. It must be said that hospital is a place which should be ensured of maximum cleanliness as the patients who are admitted here could have low resistance to infection and there is every possibility of cross-infection after a surgery. It is pertinent to note that in Goa politicians could be celebrating their birthdays by throwing lavish parties for their supporters. These elected representatives, be they the ministers in power, sarpanchas, panchs, chairpersons of Municipal bodies, councilors, etc. should make it a point to celebrate their birthdays or any other occasion by carrying out cleanliness drives in their constituencies, municipal wards or their localities. Last week a politician from Kerala, Thomas Issac, belonging to the CPM party reportedly kicked off his election campaign by organizing a massive cleanliness drive where hundreds of party functionaries and cadres swept streets and cleaned the markets in their constituencies. This will reportedly be followed by a tree plantation drive. Politicians in Goa need to follow the example and make cleanliness drive and tree-plantation drive the centre of any celebration, be it the birthday of a politician or celebration of some event of a political party along with the party cadres and party supporters. This is one effective way of achieving the goal of Swachh Bharat.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Obstacle course
The electricity poles situated very close to the main road adjacent to Shree Ghodkeshwar Ghumti at Gholiwada-Talaulim in Ponda poses a serious threat for travellers proceeding along this strategic route. Due to poor visibility during the night, there is every possibility of vehicles hitting these poles, thereby leading to adverse consequences. Employees returning home from night shift face great risk and danger.
Under such circumstances, there is every possibility of a serious mishap taking place at this location, sooner or later. Over the years, the concerned authorities have not initiated any favourable action for providing relief to innocent travellers. However in terms of safety, it is absolutely necessary that the said poles are shifted away from the road on priority basis. There is already enough space at this area to carry out necessary shifting work with great ease.
Pravin U Sardessai, ADPAI
