It is indeed a typical situation! Warning against complacency, agitated consumers converged at the Carmona sub-station and demanded answers from department officials over prolonged spells of power cuts the region has been witnessing of late.
The uproar in coastal Salcete last week over frequent power outages could well reflect the situation in the entire state with blackouts being that perennial issue the locals will now have to learn to live with “ whether they like it or not.
With no sane explanations forthcoming for the recurrent power failures which seem to keep pace with the rising mercury, tempers are bound to soar high. All the more so when the department officials are either inaccessible or proffer very vague replies to the queries raised in this regard.
With busy tones greeting consumers who dial the local office for some relief, it becomes quite evident that the uncertainties over restoration of power are problems that have confounded the department personnel as much as it has the general public.
When the field staff attributes the power outages to shortcomings within the department, it is necessary that the higher-ups come together and decide on a course of action that will ameliorate the situation.
The harassment meted out to the people by way of power failures - and too frequently at that - definitely calls for some deliberation. The government needs to work on a long-term solution for the state’s power problems.
Let us at the outset understand that every government department, especially those dealing with public utility services, has its own limitations and works well within those parameters. No matter what pressures are brought on, there will never be any discernible response from the authorities.
At the most there will be some cosmetic changes that go well with the demands of the hour. The public ire is moderated with assurances of the irregularities being set right within a certain time-frame.
With this modus operandi in place, most of the government departments have been able to ‘quell’ the threat of public anger without deviating much from the existing state of affairs.
What I would like to impress at this stage is the indolence shown by various government departments to step out of the box and think about ways to improve the quality of services offered.
There are no long-term solutions envisaged.
But why complain, even the general public is happy with such arrangements in place!
Let us now move over to traffic enforcement in the state!
While one wouldn’t like to comment much upon the eccentric traffic sense of the commuting public, it is the ‘keenness’ with which traffic enforcement is carried out on various roads and thoroughfares in the State that is amusing, to say the least.
The surprise drive at the New Zuari Bridge conducted by the Goa Traffic Police Department under the supervision of SP (traffic) Bossuet Silva on May 23 comes readily to one’s mind.
The police team issued challans to a large number of motorists for using the lane reserved only for heavy vehicles, while proceeding from Agassaim to Margao.
The team did not even spare a police jeep attached to ATS which too had entered the wrong lane unaware of the exercise carried out by the SP (Traffic). The contention that ‘the law is the same for all’ just about sums up the gist of the whole exercise.
Despite signages and a notification to the effect that one lane moving towards Margao is opened only for heavy vehicles and light vehicles moving towards Margao had to compulsorily move on the old Zuari Bridge, motorists have brazenly overlooked this directive.
While one would have thought that placing department personnel to direct the traffic at this point would have been the most appropriate thing to have been done, the retort by SP Silva that an unknown motorist almost killed the two traffic staff who had been placed at the Agassaim side of the new Zuari Bridge nearly gives one the jitters.
As a warning to erring motorists, the SP has made it abundantly clear that Goans cannot disrespect the law and take the police for granted. He further added that such drives would be carried out regularly. Police personnel would also be making their presence felt on a regular basis. A commendable job indeed!
But even after a fortnight of this episode, people continue to disrespect the law on this stretch and have no qualms about it either. Nor can any policemen be seen around this area! This thus throws a whole lot of uncertainties over the ‘regularity’ of such drives.
Similarly, the Atal Setu has signages all along its stretch warning motorists about the presence of cameras that could capture clear videos and images of over-speeding vehicles. But has this encouraged people to drive within the prescribed speed limits?
I recall a news item published in the local papers sometime towards the end of last month.
The Goa Transport department intended issuing e-challans to traffic violators from June 1 using artificial intelligence (AI) cameras installed in the capital city and its outskirts.
No doubt, safety and saving life is the government’s first concern. Rash and negligent driving is a major cause of fatalities on the roads. Ironically though, the steep increase in fines in the New Motor Vehicle Act notwithstanding, traffic infringement is a major problem with the public.
But why has the government not made sustained efforts to curb traffic violations in the state! Do the authorities aim to get away with such ‘periodic’ cautions which intend to convey the intentions of the department to view non-compliance of traffic rules very strictly!
Mere warnings serve no purpose unless followed up by stringent action.
