Shoddy road work
It is shocking to note that a road at Savoi Verem constructed barely eight months ago has given way in its middle section following heavy rains. The affected portion was reportedly created by filling soil in the middle of the road. With heavy rain, water appears to have eroded the soil beneath the road, weakening the foundation. In a region that experiences intense monsoon rainfall, drainage and water management are particularly critical while constructing roads. Water that is allowed to penetrate and remain beneath a road can rapidly weaken its foundation. Whenever road construction contracts are awarded it is mandatory to ascertain whether the contractor possesses necessary technical qualification, experience and resources. Where necessary, qualified civil engineers and road specialists should supervise construction and ensure that specifications are followed. The ability of a contractor to execute such work should be assessed not merely on the basis of the lowest quotation but also on competence and past performance. The authorities must make it certain that contractors are being selected on genuine technical competence, that qualified engineers are actually supervising projects and that quality-control procedures are being rigorously followed.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Divide and rule
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Dimagi Naxal’ remark during his Independence Day speech sparked creative memes, songs, and political satire, but primarily raised deep concern. Why would an elected leader attack his own citizens from the Red Fort? In a democracy, we expect our Prime Minister to remain loyal, respectful, and protective of all citizens, irrespective of their voting choices. A core tenet of parliamentary democracy is that representatives are equally responsible to those who did not vote for them. Modi’s persistent animus towards a section of the public reveals a troubling lack of character and represents a despicable attempt to divide people through dog-whistling. However, in post-Jantar Mantar India, these Machiavellian tactics will no longer succeed. Citizens clearly see through this agenda; this remains deeply condemnable.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Self-inflicted damage
The Congress repeatedly shoots itself in the foot. After putting the ruling party on the back foot during the monsoon session of Parliament over youth-related issues, Delhi Police’s violence against student demonstrators, and alleged embezzlement of donations at Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sonia Gandhi allegedly halted the singing of Vande Mataram halfway on Independence Day. This surrendered their advantage, handing the BJP a prime issue to attack the Opposition. Given her recurring health issues or age-related decline, Sonia Gandhi should retire from active politics and serve solely as an ageing matriarch. In fact, the Gandhi family should exit the party entirely, as the Congress would fare better without them. Rahul Gandhi consistently demonstrates immaturity, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is unclear whether she is serious about politics or merely protecting her husband Robert Vadra from legal trouble over his misdeeds.
S Kamat, Mysuru
Waste crisis
India generates over 166,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, creating a severe environmental challenge driven by rapid urbanisation and inadequate infrastructure. Primary collection fleets across urban centres remain severely overstretched, leaving millions of tonnes uncollected and forcing citizens toward illegal open dumping. Rather than building neighborhood biomethanation plants or localised composting hubs, municipalities overwhelmingly transport mixed waste to suburban landfills, shifting severe health and environmental burdens onto peripheral communities. To achieve true waste independence, India must move beyond temporary cleanup drives and implement strict at-source segregation, decentralised processing units, and enforced Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks.
Vijaykumar HK, Raichur
Scourge of slavery
“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed more if only they knew they were slaves.” One need not look beyond these thought-provoking words of American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman to decipher the evils of slavery. Human trafficking, bonded labour and forced marriages are direct examples of today’s slavery whereas domestic work, construction activities, and sexual exploitation fall into the “domain” of forced labour. Nothing can exemplify modern slavery better than the child labour. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has identified about 25 million men and women as victims of modern slavery. The ILO has specially targeted migrant workers who are easily lured because of their poor understanding of local language and tradition. To take stock of the progress done by ancillary agencies and the respective governments, ‘International Day for the Abolition of Slave Trade’ is observed on August 23.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
