Monitor dilapidated buildings
Apathy, neglect, unaccountability and corruption have hampered infrastructural constructions in the country. A deep politician-officer-contractor nexus, throwing caution to the wind, has proved injurious to the common man. Massive contracts are handed over to unscrupulous contractors who, along with equally if not more unprincipled engineers, run amok. To the innumerable examples of buildings collapsing like a pack of cards, another addition is the ten-year-old godown-cum-residential building in suburban Mumbai’s Bhiwandi that gave way claiming six precious lives and leaving many battling for life. It is said the building could not withstand a mobile tower that was erected recently. Structural designs of constructions should fulfil every criterion laid down in the rule book for them to last long. Any addition should scrupulously be brought to the notice of the concerned. Many a time, the materials used for the buildings are more than substandard. Blacklisted builders often get away with a dubious past. Supervising authorities look the other way when engineering ‘cracks’ are detected. Despite the fact that more than 50 people have been killed due to buildings giving way in Bhiwandi in the last five years, the authorities seem to be looking the other way. In India, laws are framed for one kind of people only for the exploration of those who do not understand them. An enhanced supervision and follow-up of all the dilapidated structures in the country cannot be underplayed.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Rainwater harvesting
In the past few days several places in Goa witnessed scarcity of drinking water. In other places, people have to cope with restricted water supply. Many households are dependent on water supplied by private water tankers. The news that a water tanker was used to transport sewage only made matters worse for the common man. There is also the fear that the Karnataka government’s decision to divert water from the Mhadei river may cause problems in many parts of the state. One way to deal with water shortage is to focus on water storage with special priority to rainwater harvesting in monsoon. The southwest monsoon is at our door steps. Goa, which is located on the Konkan coast of India, receives a lot of rain during monsoon. In spite of getting fairly heavy rainfall every year, several places in Goa face acute water shortage during the rest of the year. The increase in the number of residential complexes, population increase, industries and constructions are some of the reasons for the water scarcity felt in the state. In order to tackle the water shortage and the taps running dry on a regular basis, it would be in the fitness of things for the residents to carry out rainwater harvesting. Goa receives on an average around 100 to 120 inches of rain in the four months from June to September. Unfortunately, much of this water flows back into the sea. Government offers subsidies to individual houses and residential complexes that have rainwater harvesting measures. Schemes offered by the water resources department (WRD) include financial assistance ranging between `15,000 and `one lakh. Creating public awareness regarding these government schemes is the need of the hour. It would be in the fitness of things to make it mandatory for all mega projects, residential complexes and industries to have their own rainwater harvesting measures in place, at the time of issuing licences. On a larger scale, the government could convert mining pits into rainwater harvesting sites. Goa has to replenish the groundwater tables by storing as much water as possible. Rainwater harvesting is the way forward to solve the water problems.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Protest by wrestlers
The ongoing wrestlers’ protest intensified on Thursday morning after a scuffle broke out between the protesting grapplers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar late Wednesday night. Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that a cop manhandled and shoved the protesting grapplers. She said she will return all her medals. When the protest by the wrestlers was going on “peacefully”, the Delhi police had no right to instigate violence and then blame the protesters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is crossing all limits of civility and harassing the Olympic, Commonwealth or World medal winners of our country. I am unable to understand why the government is shielding Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh against whom the wrestlers have filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment. Singh should be immediately removed from his post pending inquiry and the investigation report should be made public. Probing and sitting on the report is injustice. Our daughters should not be made to come onto the street for justice.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad