Act On Shrill Horns, Altered Silencers
WE are thankful to superintendent of police (traffic) for crackdown on traffic violations to bring about some discipline in motorists. However, it is observed that one violation that is overlooked by traffic police and noise pollution control authorities is blatant honking of horns by all vehicles and altered silencer noises especially by motorbikes. We hardly find any control on noise pollution as we see vehicles moving on Goan roads with pressure horns in full blast and motorbikes with altered silencers and that too in the dead of night and traffic police are just silent observers. I request the traffic superintendent of police to crack the whip on shrill vehicle horns and silencer noises so that roadside hospital patients and residents can live peacefully. ‘No Horn Zone’ should be declared on either side of all the hospitals/ nursing homes as per RTO regulations and this should be strictly enforced.
RAMESH NAIK, ALTO-PORVORIM
On Traffic Signboards
ON many occasions we come across traffic signboards either covered by bushes or branches of trees. This is dangerous for motorists proceeding along the roads. Due to lack of proper visibility of signboards, there is every possibility of mishaps taking place sooner or later. In order to ensure safety of motorists, it is necessary that bushes and branches of trees covering the signboards are pruned on regular basis. One such spot is at Dhavali in Ponda. The concerned authorities should initiate prompt action and get such signage cleared of overgrowth before any mishap occurs.
Pravin Sardessai, Adpai
Safeguard Footpaths
WITH the appointment of new chief officer at Margao Municipal Council, a lot of good things have happened. The MMC team needs to be appreciated for the good work done. The net revenue to the municipality has increased tremendously. Now the officials of the municipality have started cracking down on illegal traders. It is a right step towards better organisation of the market area and citizens must support them. Further it will be in the fitness of things if the municipality engineers and other officials crack down on the traders who occupy the footpaths to sell their goods, as it causes inconvenience to pedestrians and even customers. The footpaths are becoming narrower day by day and it leads to congestion. The traders have the tendency to safeguard their allotted space and then illegally occupy the outside space for business. The traders must be reminded to use the space allotted to do their trade otherwise they must be asked to pay the fine or stern action has to be taken on such defaulters.
RUI PEREIRA, NAVELIM
At Banks, Scamsters Have It Easy Than Common Man
SO, we are in the midst of another bank scam which is running into lakhs of crores. Nothing new in this. If we add up all the scammed money reported so far in India it would be a mindboggling figure and enough to comfortably run a few small countries. And we say India is a poor and developing country! How do bankers trust a handful of high-flying (many a time dubious) clients but care a hoot for the crores of common people who keep their money in good faith in the banks? A smooth talking con person with proper connections would just walk into their bank of choice and get done their job. Even the bank’s highest authorities would bend double to help such persons while the aam aadmi needs to wait for days to meet the branch manager. And if we are lucky to meet them then within no time we are shown the door under some pretext that the loan cannot be granted. In the recent scam involving the Punjab National Bank, a letter of understanding (LOU) was sufficient to grant loans by more than 30 banks (including several international ones) to a jeweller. By the way, did the jeweller link his Aadhaar number to his bank account? As per reports, such LOU is normal in the banking circles. We fail to understand as to how, just based on an LOU, can banks give huge amounts of loans to business people. When a common person applies even for a minor loan, he/she has to go through all kinds of red-tapism, fill up several forms, produce identify proof, bring guarantors, keep a security deposit, mortgage their properties etc. Banks do not trust the common person’s certificates and affidavits but readily give our money to scamsters. Perhaps the days are not far when like in the movies of yesteryears we should safely keep our money below the mattresses at home. Let us not bank upon the banks to protect our hard earned money else it could be used by banks to fund some scamster’s luxurious lifestyle.
SRIDHAR IYER, CARANZALEM