The Hindu : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reader's Mail

Remaining relic of monarchy

Sir, — The traffic blocks enforced at every junction on the roads whenever a VIP visits the city cause innumerable problems. The volume of carbon monoxide let out in a limited area when cars in their hundreds move bumper-to-bumper is a grave health hazard. Many miss trains, the sick in need of immediate hospitalisation undergo heart-stopping moments,

schoolchildren get stranded and office-goers are forced to give fawning explanations to their bosses for the delay. On top of this is the economic loss involved.

During our Deputy Prime Minister's recent visit to Chennai, it took 1-1/2 hours for me to reach Mylapore from Alwarpet. Cannot the public be informed in advance of this cavalcade catastrophe?

N. D. Chandramouli,

Alwarpet

* * *

G.O. flouted

Sir, — It is distressing that despite a government order, most of the builders in the city are doing away with age-old trees. I read the report on the G.O. about six months ago in your paper, but obviously there is no enforcement. There is construction activity everywhere and trees are axed ruthlessly. On the morning of February 18, I saw a big tree in the old Palaniappa theatre complex on Nelson Manickam Road felled. I hope that the authorities in charge of environment protection will make a note of this.

M. Money,

T.Nagar

* * *

Deter nuisance

Sir, — While I go through TTK Road, I find areas around all telephone/electric junction boxes fouled by passersby who relieve themselves. The junction boxes at bus stands are also used as toilets after dusk. Recently, when I was walking along TTK Road where it joins St. Mary's Road (opposite Hotel Park Sheraton) I saw three supervisors of the Telephone department standing on the filth to repair the junction box. I suggested to them that they request the department to put `warning boards' at such places to prevent contamination. The Electricity Board should do likewise wherever it is necessary.

P. S. Raghavan,

Teynampet

* * *

Regulate parking

Sir, — North Chitrakulam Street at Mylapore is congested because of heavy traffic. For bylanes it is the main approach road to reach Santhome High Road. There is also a playground of a neighbouring school from where children come in groups for PT classes. An additional, but unavoidable difficulty, is the movement of water tankers. There is a fleet of tourist cabs parked all over the road, posing a constant danger to the safety of road-users.

S. Ramadorai,

Mylapore

* * *

`Forgotten voters'

Sir, — The Chief Election Commissioner and the State Election Commissioners are talking much about identity cards to all those who have not got them till now. But there are many who got the cards in 1998 and surrendered these soon after for some rectification of errors. Their number may run into lakhs. I am one of those. As my name was wrongly mentioned, I had to surrender the card on September 16, 1998 for which I have an acknowledgement. There the matter rests.

B. Sulochana,

Purasawalkam

* * *

Civic awareness

Sir, — Civic consciousness begins at home and ends at its neighbourhood. More so, in urban set-ups than in the rural areas where a semblance of community living and good neighbourliness still prevails.

The situation has improved over the years in some parts of the city and suburbs where the roads look cleaner and litter-free, thanks to the excellent work done by private agencies entrusted with conservancy work.

The sands of the Marina beach look gorgeously clean after sand-cleaning equipment has been put to use and penalty imposed for littering. One really enjoys walking barefoot on the sand without the fear of stepping on rubbish.

M. S. Subramanian,

Anna Nagar Western Extn.

* * *

Facility closed too early

Sir, — On February 14, I was coming from the Central Station at 11.20 p.m. to catch the last suburban train, to go home.

But I found the subway closed. To reach the Park station, I had either to walk up to the Southern Railway Office on the left or to the right near Sydenhams Road, which would have been time-consuming. Having undergone a spinal cord surgery I was a little hesitant to climb the median, which has iron roads. But I was forced to do that and was able to take the suburban train, which was entering the Park station.

S. Sivasankar,

Choolaimedu

* * *

Need for public toilets

Sir, — Recently, a foreigner, walking on a street in the city, looked for a toilet. Her host, who was with her, had to suggest to her that she return to the hotel for answering Nature's call.

The lack of public convenience on the city streets is one of the reasons why people commit nuisance in public places.

It is suggested that all four public sector oil companies be requested to insist on dealers of retail outlets to provide at least urinals for the public use in all outlets.

The State Government should provide the amenity to the public in all its offices.

T. S. Gopalan,

T. Nagar

* * *

Revenue stamp scarce

Sir, — There has been an acute shortage of revenue stamps at post offices in and around the city for some time now. Will the authorities take steps to replenish the stock immediately?

Quilon S. Krishnamurthy,

Nanganallur

* * *

Needlessly large

Sir, — The recent widening of the road leading to Porur from St. Thomas Mount near the Kathipara junction deserves appreciation. Even then, traffic jam is common at this junction during peak hours in the morning and evening. This is because the Kathipara roundtana, where a Nehru statue has been erected, is occupying a major portion of the road stretch, leaving only a little space for vehicular movement.

V. Parthasarathy,

Pozhichalur

* * *

Terribly unfair

Sir, — Authorities of the Kapaleeswarar temple cordoned off the entire area i.e. the corridor from where both Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal `sannadhis' can be seen, on the Sivarathri day, almost denying the devotees access to both shrines. They were made to stand just before Nandhi to have the dharshan of the God and the Goddess. The space that was barred was almost deserted.

N. Vanchinathan,

Mandavelipakkam

* * *

Appeal for more water

Sir, — Metrowater supplies one load a day (3,000 litres) to residents of Hospital Street at T.Nagar. As there are about 70 families in the street with four or five apartments that have 40 flats fully occupied, we are forced to take only one or two pots. We request Metrowater authorities to supply us with two loads everyday.

Thulasi Subramanian,

T.Nagar

* * *

Lay approach road

Sir, — I own a plot of land at Lakshmi Nagar, Anakaputhur, duly approved by the Director of Town Planning. Recently the Government has laid the 200-foot bypass road. This road is passing between the Anakaputhur bus stand and the layout. It is therefore requested that the director study the problem of those who bought sites in the above layout and have an approach road laid from either Tiruneermalai or GST Road.

B. Venkataraman,

Nanganallur

* * *

Make it easy

Sir, — Bazullah Road near Vivek & Co., T. Nagar, is heavily congested before and after school hours. In the mornings and evenings the public and schoolchildren find it difficult to cross the road in view of the heavy traffic from all sides. I request the authorities to post a constable during these hours or erect a speedbreaker.

S. Venkatesh,

RKM Matriculation School,

T. Nagar

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