Goa’s AI step against traffic violations
The Goa government introduced an AI-based traffic surveillance system on July 15 to improve road safety and enforce traffic regulations. The initiative comes in the wake of several road accidents, including fatal crashes in recent months, many allegedly caused by rash and negligent driving, including by some tourists using rent-a-car vehicles. According to the Minister for Transport, the primary objective is to regulate traffic flow and automatically issue e-challans to motorists violating traffic rules. The AI system can detect traffic signal violations, riding without helmets, driving without seat belts, overspeeding, mobile phone use while driving, and other traffic offences. The system is expected to improve traffic discipline and ensure smoother movement on Goa’s roads. It will also help authorities identify habitual violators, particularly among young riders who often misuse motorcycles and scooters for racing and reckless driving instead of safe commuting. The government has also granted vehicle owners a one-month period to ensure their vehicles are insured. Many vehicles continue to ply on the roads without valid insurance, exposing owners to significant financial and legal consequences. Under the law, at least third-party motor insurance is mandatory. It covers compensation for injury, death or property damage caused to third parties in an accident. If an uninsured vehicle is involved in an accident causing injury or death, the owner or driver may be personally liable to pay compensation. In contrast, when a vehicle is insured, compensation is generally paid by the insurer through the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) or the courts.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco
Reviving Goa’s springs
A survey of 500 natural springs would be undertaken in Goa by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH, Bengaluru), to supplement groundwater for farming and to increase the area under irrigation for cultivation. The project, approved and sanctioned by the Centre, will be executed by the Agriculture Department (AD) over three years. About Rs 2 crore will be spent in the first year to revive 75 springs (NT 16 July). The spring rejuvenation project would address the issues of tracing the springs’ source, water preservation in the catchment areas, and the course of the water. These will help to recharge aquifers and water tables. During the project the NIH and AD could educate and train residents, who depend on the springs, ways to conserve the springs and instruct them not to contaminate the water by washing clothes, cattle, vehicles etc. These tasks could be undertaken in a designated area where a course of the spring water could be diverted, collected, used, treated and reused. Erect signages to warn people not to litter near the springs and the penalty to be paid. NIH and AD officials could create public awareness to maintain the pristineness of the springs through public lectures, talks in schools and colleges and notices in the newspapers. Goa’s springs need a new lease of life and safeguarded as they feed the rivers and would boost the agricultural economy.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Farewell Sir Gary
Just ten days before his 90th birthday, Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder and one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Century, passed away peacefully at his home in Barbados on Friday, July 17, 2026, aged 89. During an illustrious international career from 1954 to 1974, Sobers excelled as a world-class batsman, a rare triple-threat bowler—capable of left-arm fast-medium, orthodox spin and wrist spin—and a brilliant close-in fielder. In 1968, while playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, he became the first batsman in first-class history to hit six sixes in an over, off Malcolm Nash. A decade earlier, at just 21, he scored an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan, a world-record Test innings that stood for 36 years until fellow West Indian Brian Lara surpassed it in 1994. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, Sir Gary will forever remain etched in my memory for another reason. I was present at Eden Gardens on January 1, 1967, during the second Test between India and the touring West Indies—a day I will never forget. More than 80,000 spectators packed a stadium built for 59,000. Before play, an altercation between cricket fan Sitesh Das and Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Rony Moore escalated into violence after Das was assaulted, triggering clashes between spectators and police. Tear gas filled the air, fires broke out and both the Indian and West Indian teams fled the ground on foot to reach their hotel safely. As one of the last spectators to leave the stadium, I witnessed West Indies opener Conrad Hunte, disregarding his own safety, climb the main flagpole to lower both the Indian and West Indian national flags, protecting them from the flames.
Bidyut Chatterjee, Faridabad
