LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Insult to a revolutionary

The Pakistan High Court holds every right to dismiss a plea seeking renaming of Lahore’s Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh, but the reason offered is bizarre to say the least. How can Bhagat Singh be dubbed as a “criminal,” not a revolutionary? What was Singh’s “crime” – fighting for the independence of India? Wasn’t the modern-day Pakistan part of that very India as well, for the independence of which Bhagat Singh laid down his life at a mere 23 years of age when the well-read man could have selfishly made a successful career of his own? Even if the concerned judge doesn’t find himself indebted to Bhagat Singh for his selfless, valiant fight against British imperialism, at least he should have refrained from dubbing him a “criminal,” the fruits of whose sacrifice have also contributed to the independence of the erstwhile United India. However, we must not equate the Pakistan High Court or the concerned judge with the whole country itself. After all, the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation and its chairman, Advocate Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, are part of Pakistan too, and all well-meaning persons of both countries are thankful to them for serving the cause of the memory of the great revolutionary who took birth in the Banga village of present-day Punjab in Pakistan.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

Protect marine wealth

Goa is known for its marine delicacies, with fish of various kinds found in abundance. It should be our endeavour to keep on improving the quality of fish, crustaceans, shrimp, and shellfish so that the best available marine catch is provided to everyone. At certain times, it would be prudent for us to test the quality of our water in our rivers and other water bodies like lakes, ponds, and streams so that we are assured that pH, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, the presence of E. coli, and the dissolved mineral content of the water are tested for compliance with required standard quality so that it does not impact the marine life in our waters. It would be a big boon if the water in our rivers and other water bodies were tested for appropriate levels of various parameters, and this could be done at least once every three months. Doing so will ensure that marine products available are of the highest standard. Under no circumstances should impermissible limits of heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic be allowed since effluents discharged from industries into our water bodies may contain these toxic metals. A constant vigil in this matter is of utmost importance.

Stephen Dias, Dona Paula

Power woes

As per the news report ‘Power tariff hike imminent, opt for solar scheme: Sudin’ (NT Jan 14), the Power Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar has hinted at an imminent power tariff hike in Goa after comparing the charges of domestic and industrial rates per unit in Mumbai with those in Goa. Instead, it would have been much appreciated if the Minister had studied why Mumbai has an uninterrupted power supply every day and all through the year, without power outages or breakdowns, as we witness every day in Goa. Even after six decades, uninterrupted power supply is a mirage in Goa notwithstanding the spending of crores of rupees on underground cabling works and high-tension transmission lines. One should not deviate from the problems by making false promises, increasing power tariffs, and painting rosy pictures of solar power and smart meters.

A F Nazareth, Alto Porvorim

Rising stray dog menace

The recent government census reveals that there are 56,000 stray dogs in India’s smallest state. The factual canine population in Goa must be much more. Every road, be it in cities or all corners of the villages, is infested with stray dogs, even messing up our beaches. The situation now is very alarming. It is high time that the authorities address the situation on a war footing, making it a priority to redress this distressing menace in Goa. Over the years, crores have been spent to rein in the stray dog menace, but the situation has just been getting shoddier. It is also true that animals are required to be protected from unnecessary pain and suffering. Love and compassion for animals is also growing. However, when it comes to choosing between the sufferings of human beings due to a dog bite, obviously the weightage will have to be given to the suffering of humans. There is a necessity to consider the seriousness of the stray dog menace in a very dispassionate manner, not being influenced by any emotional issues.

Aires Rodrigues, London