Curb overspeeding
Another massive bus blaze, this time in Karnataka near Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, has left everyone in a state of shock and despair. In the October Kurnool accident, more than 20 passengers lost their lives, and in the Hiriyur accident, a container truck collided with a road divider and rammed into a private Volvo, killing at least nine. Of the 29 passengers, nearly 25 were below the age of 30, eager to enjoy their vacation at the picturesque and holy Gokarna. The height of the dividers is being questioned all over, and rightly so. On the Pune-Bengaluru highway, road dividers are a joke; the authorities should seriously consider increasing the height and thickness of the dividers instead of focusing on extending road networks pan-India, because saving lives is more critical than anything else. Widening the gap between two divided adjacent roads needs to be considered expeditiously. It is time to restrict the speed of all vehicles on national highways with strict monitoring.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Delhi’s main pollutants
Air pollution is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment. Pollutants can be gases, like ozone. The capital breathed slightly easier for the second consecutive day, with air quality improving to the ‘poor’ category and an AQI of 234 recorded on Thursday. Transport emissions and pollution from neighbouring cities continued to contribute significantly to the capital’s air pollution load, according to official data. Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 234 at 4 pm, remaining in the ‘poor’ category, compared to 271 recorded at the same time a day earlier, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Delhi tops the list — after toxic froth, toxic fumes cause pollution in the air. Illegal dumping of debris near the river and seaside causes immense pollution. Toxic fumes choke the city and dried weeds put lake edges on fire. Further, chemicals dumped into lakes from nearby industrial units cause more concern. Unauthorised urbanisation affects flora and fauna of the area and also poses a threat to human life. Pollution control boards should act in the best way possible to move things in the right direction and ensure a pollution-free atmosphere, especially for metro cities. Unlike other cities, Delhi has certain issues that need to be addressed from a different perspective. Stubble burning during winter in neighbouring states, more than the combined vehicular population of the other three metros, unabated construction activities, mounting landfills, and massive deforestation in the name of redevelopment are the main causes.
C K Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
Innovative initiative
In an exciting and progressive move, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is reportedly set to implement a traffic warden programme for schoolchildren to regulate congestion near schools. This initiative aims to equip young minds with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage road safety and traffic rules, while also raising awareness about responsible behaviour on the roads. One of the primary advantages of training schoolchildren as traffic wardens is the long-term impact it can have on road safety. By involving children, the CCP is fostering a generation that understands the importance of traffic rules and the dangers of unsafe behaviour on the road. Children often serve as messengers in their families and communities. A child who learns about road safety and traffic rules at school can pass on this knowledge to parents, grandparents and even neighbours. This creates a ripple effect that extends beyond the school walls. Being a traffic warden is about leadership and responsibility. Additionally, as they take on this role, students develop a sense of civic duty and become more aware of their community’s well-being. It is also a great opportunity for children to learn how to work as a team, coordinate with others and communicate effectively. Children may be young, but their voices are influential. By being informed, responsible and confident, schoolchildren can help create safer roads and encourage adults to adopt better road safety habits.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Warmongering nations
The US and Israel are the two principal warmongering nations at present. They do not care for international laws. The manner of bullying unleashed by US President Donald Trump on Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela is a shame. On trumped-up charges, the US President is threatening an independent, sovereign nation, and there is not even a squeak from other countries or multilateral agencies like the UN, which makes it all the more surprising. And Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize. It is not only Venezuela; Syria too has been targeted, with the US launching air strikes over the alleged killing of a US soldier. In tandem, its compatriot in war, Israel, has bombed Hezbollah in Lebanon with the objective of forcing the militant outfit to lay down arms and has conducted air strikes in Gaza, for which Israel needs no real reason.
S Kamat, Mysore
