Mob rule

Morning trains to Colombo on the Southern coastal line were held up on Wednesday near Maggona by angry protesters who turned violent. Their issue - the non erection of a railway gate at a level crossing in the area. Their ire can be justified in that the death trap is in the vicinity of a school and also there had been several fatal accidents involving trains at this spot.

This is not the first time that railway tracks had been lain siege on. Numerous are the instances where irate commuters had disrupted train services by blocking the track due to such issues as train delays. In Maggona, it is reported that the protesters had even pelted stones at some trains. The Police were brought to the scene before the services could resume.

But can a bunch a villagers be allowed to take the law into their hands in this fashion and hold up public transport. Can the travelling public be held to ransom however justified may be the grievance of the protestors? What if trains are stopped at the whims and fancies of mobs at every turn. Won't this result in chaos not to mention the inconvenience and hardship to the commuters.

Today the bulk of office workers travel by train which is a popular mode of transport and if disruptions of this nature continue unchecked it would not only leave commuters stranded but also cause general breakdown in the country's transport network not to mention the serious impact on the economy. No one would know how many among those train commuters had to present themselves at job interviews or other appointments at set times. It is a question of one's future that is at stake here. Hence unruly mobs cannot be allowed to have their own way. They cannot hold the travelling public responsible for the lapses of the authorities.

The authorities too should ensure that people do not take the law into their hands in this high handed manner and bring public transport to a standstill. Hopefully it does not come to a stage where the fate of private buses befall our trains too. We are referring of course to the summary justice delivered by the public following accidents by setting fire to the vehicles.

Saying that there is no excuse for the negligence of the authorities in leaving level crossings unprotected. Not just Maggona there are countless level crossings throughout the length and breadth of the country that are not protected. And numerous are the tragedies resulted due to this callous negligence.

It is time the Transport Ministry takes a census of all unprotected level crossings in the country and apply remedial measures. One recalls the late President Premadasa ordering the erection of bamboo bars at all level crossings entrusted to be manned by Janasaviya recipients following a horrendous tragedy at a level crossing in Ahungalle in 1989. The Ministry could consider a similar device until such time all level crossings are fitted with proper railway gates.

In the meantime the Ministry should not permit mob rule. Those who disrupt train services for whatever reasons should be dealt with.

Controlling air pollution

Our front page news report yesterday about the dilapidated state of our air quality monitoring stations should be a cause for concern. According to the report the two stations, one based in Colombo to monitor local air quality and the pollution meter based in Anuradhapura for monitoring trans boundary air quality are decadent.

Unlike in the past today our environment has become highly polluted with industrialisation and there is no knowing the kind of noxious agents that are sent into the atmosphere. Therefore it is vital that we have an up to date method of detecting these pollutants that is also the cause of many new diseases and ailments. We have installed a state of the art Tsunami early warning systems which is commendable. But at the same time it is prudent to ensure existing systems function properly to deal with the immediate threat.

It is elementary that poor air quality is a cause for serous health problems and an early detection of this would help in taking remedial steps.

It is also appropriate here to ask the CEA on the fate of anti-pollution vehicle testing scheme. We say this because polluting vehicles are still on the roads with Traffic Police still wearing handkerchief masks instead of apprehending the offending vehicles emitting black fumes. The Transport Ministry who spearheaded the scheme should make inquiries to ascertain if the project is being implemented as planned. Or if corruption has crept in to thwart the process.