The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Readers' Mail

Land compensation

Sir, — This refers to the news item "Chromepet landowners yet to see any money" (The Hindu, Oct. 8).

The individuals who gave their land for the MIT railway overbridge are perturbed that though the Lok Adalat had acted speedily in fixing the compensation, the Government is yet to compensate them. It was the High Court that appointed the Lok Adalat committee to recommend fair compensation payable to landowners.

The Adalat fixed the compensation amount which has been agreed to by all concerned. But even six months after the exercise is over, neither have the landowners received compensation nor has the work resumed.

V. Santhanam,

president, Federation of Civic and Welfare Assns., Pallavaram

Bank bundle is

Rs.100 short

Sir, — My friend withdrew money from the Indian Overseas Bank, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board branch, on September 22. When I deposited a portion of the amount in the ICF Colony branch of the UCO bank later, I was told by an official that a Rs.100 note was missing from one of the bundles. Though I pointed out that the bundle, which bore the seal of Tamil Nadu Mercantile bank, was intact, the official would not accept it. I had to pay Rs.100 from my pocket.

When banks count the currency notes in bundles before accepting them, why do not they follow the same procedure when issuing them too. The banks can install a counting machine for this purpose.

R.K. Nageswara Rao,

Villivakkam

Police action quick, fair

Sir, — This is with reference to the letter `Police highhandedness' that appeared in these columns on October 4. Someone has used my name to give a distorted version of what happened at the Jains Ashrayas flat owners' association general body meeting on September 13. When the incident in question took place I was there, visiting a friend of mine.

The meet took place in a community hall. Can two women enter the place and level a charge of eve-teasing on mobile phone just like that?

Something must have happened to those women seek the help of the police. Listening to the background noise, and the distressed voices on the mobile phone, a police team immediately arrived to save the women from any further trouble.

The Virugambakkam V2 Police Station personnel must be appreciated for prompt action. I am also a senior citizen. I cannot condone wrongdoing, even if the wrongdoer happens to be a senior citizen like me.

V. Narayani,

Virugambakkam

Unkept promises

Sir, — It is sad that not even a single electrification project has been sanctioned in the railway budget for Tamil Nadu.

The unfinished 16 km stretch Thirumalpur-Arakkonam is an example of how Tamil Nadu's rail projects do not get the justice they deserve. If this project is completed it will pave the way for running a circular rail from Arakkonam to Chennai and vice-versa. Trains bound for Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Cochin, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Mangalore can run on electric traction.

It is logical to extend the electrification from Villupuram to Tiruchi (chord line), which has been kept in abeyance. The main line electric multiple units (MEMUs) promised up to Melmaruvathur are yet to be run.

S. Gopalan,

Maraimalainagar

No direct service

Sir, — There is no direct bus service from Komaleeswaranpet (Pudupet) to Koyambedu Market bus terminus. Most of the vegetable vendors, middle class people and Reserve Police trainees suffer a lot. One has to take two buses (Komaleeswaranpet to Hotel Dasaprakash and from there to Koyambedu) to reach either of these destinations, which is time-consuming and expensive. I suggest that the MTC operate buses from Foreshore Estate to Koyambedu via Vivekanandar Illam, Jambazaar, Anna Salai, Adithanar salai (Komaleeswaranpet), Egmore, Dasaprakash and Koyambedu market.

K. Renuga Rukmangadan,

Komaleeswaranpet

Run buses

on time

Sir, — The buses on route No.254 (Porur to Broadway) are convenient way of getting to Anna Salai, SIET and Parry's. There were buses from Porur at 8.15 a.m., 8.30 a.m. & 8.45 a.m. (express service) to Broadway till very recently. Now the 8.30 a.m. service starts from Mowlivakkam and the 8.45 a.m. service is erratic. Many commuters who depend on these services are late in reaching their offices.

I request the authorities to ensure that the 8.45 a.m. service comes on time and starts immediately.

The cut services introduced from Guindy to Anna Salai are irregular. Further, prompt service on the route during peak hours will bring in sizeable revenue.

T.V. Ravi,

Porur

Restore bus service

Sir, — Two buses plied on route No. 20E between Aiyapakkam and Ambattur Industrial Estate, Ayanavaram the past 10 years to 15 years. The MTC has withdrawn one of these from service on Sundays and closed holidays for the past month, causing much hardship to the commuters.

V.V. Varkey,

Ambattur

Other side of

the story

Sir, — This is with reference to the letter `Temple tank misused' that appeared in these columns on October 4.

The Krishnappa Naicken tank attached to Sri Kasiviswanatha Swamy Devasthanam is a big tank. In January 1998, the then HR&CE Minister held a meeting at the secretariat, with all temple trustees/ EOs and NGOs such as the Rotary and Lions clubs and other voluntary organisations.

He discussed the state of the various tanks and worked out the cost of renovation.

The estimate for this tank was Rs.16 lakhs, but no institution was willing to renovate the tank.

The temple trustees waited for about 6 months and then started doing the job using the temple funds in a phased manner. In 1998 the compound wall on all four sides about 10 feet high was raised to prevent dumping of rubbish.

In 2000 the temple hired a JCB and removed all the rubbish and silt in one corner and raised the parapet wall inside the tank and cleaned the storm water drain with the help of the Corporation. In 2002 it again got the permission from the HR & CE for about Rs. 2.75 lakhs, to put up a parapet wall and laid one more storm water drain to the tank.

The HR & CE also gave permission for repairing the steps and plastering the wall. Now the temple authorities are executing the work with the help of HR & CE. The work is nearing completion. The tank is used only for temple purposes. To prevent encroachment the temple is having a `nandavanam' on the eastern side and parking space on the southern side.

Natarajan K.A.,

Viswanathan A., Vinayakam A.,

hereditary trustees,

Sri Kasiviswanatha Swamy temple,

Sowcarpet

Steps to root out video piracy

Sir, — The Chief Minister's concessions aimed at reviving the fortunes of the Tamil film industry are laudable. The invocation of the Goondas Act will prove a deterrent to video piracy and curb the proliferation of illegal video libraries. Cheaper tickets, adequate parking facilities and provision of clean and wholesome entertainment will help bring movie-lovers to theatres again.

The cooperation of the moviegoers is necessary to eradicate video piracy.

Seema Pai,

Mogappair East

Pollution grows,

danger lurks

Sir, — There is a housing complex on the western side of the shopping area provided by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board in Besant Nagar. The occupants of the shopping complex, separated by a compound wall, throw the garbage everyday into the neighbouring area situated behind the supermarket, resulting in accumulation of filth. The compound wall has also collapsed partially. The remaining structure may come down at any time, endangering the safety of the residents living nearby. We have brought this problem to the attention of the Corporation Commissioner and to the Secretary to the Government for Housing. But no action has been taken so far.

R. Subramanian,

Secy., Tank view flat owners

welfare assn.,

Besant Nagar

Slushy road

Sir, — I live in and do business on the M.K.N. Road, Alandur. Whenever it rains, water stagnates and huge puddles are formed. This is because the underground drainage was dug nearly a year ago. There is a foul smell from the garbage heaped on the street. It has not been cleaned for weeks now.

M. Suresh Chand Surana,

Alandur

Problems persist

Sir, — Soon after the problems of residents of Kandappa Mudali Street was highlighted in your paper, officials of the Corporation visited the street with a few sweepers. `Cleaning' and `road dressing' was done. But the relief was temporary. The problem of the street getting flooded with sewer water continues.

Residents of Kandappa Mudali Street,

Choolai

Parking space

Sir, — This refers to a news item "1.3 million vehicles but no place to park" (The Hindu, Oct. 2). To overcome this problem I suggest that Government buildings without sufficient parking space should not be allowed anymore. (Ashok Nagar police station, for instance). The Corporation, CMDA and police should review buildings with approved plans and ensure that parking space is used only for that purpose. Multi-storeyed parking complexes must be encouraged through tax cuts both by the State and the Centre.

The Centre can also give tax exemptions or exempt them from tax totally.

P. Vijayasenan,

Nandanam

Post office address,

phone numbers

Sir, — It would be good if post offices indicate their telephone number in the acknowledgements issued at the time of booking money orders, registered post etc. This will enable the public to contact the post office concerned over telephone in the event of any problem with the transmission of money orders or postal articles booked by them.

It would be ideal to indicate the name of the post office on the acknowledgements, as the postal seals affixed on them are not always decipherable.

S. Sourirajan,

West Mambalam

The noise is deafening

Sir, — With the increase in vehicular traffic, noise pollution is becoming a major problem.

In case of heavy vehicles, the engine noise itself is deafening. Many of the drivers resort to intimidatory tactics; and MTC bus drivers, in the absence of horns, resort to revving up the engines to scare away two-wheeler drivers, who get in the way. Many autorickshaws remove their silencers, probably in the belief that it gives better mileage.

Thus they cause noise disproportionate to the size of the vehicle.

A few years ago we heard of a ban on air-horns in the city. I live in a flat close to the Ring Road and am forced to bear with truck drivers who roar down this road even after midnight, with air-horns blaring.

Akshay Dinesh,

Anna Nagar West

Stagnating water

Sir, — In the 5th lane of Subramanian Garden Cross street in Perambur, sewage mixed with rainwater has been stagnating for the last one year. We have requested the Corporation to clean the street, but nothing has been done.

B. Abdul Gafoor,

Perambur

BSNL clarifies

Sir, — With reference to the letter of Mr. G. Srinivasan titled `BSNL apathy,' the office of the General Manager, Chennai Telephones, Marketing division has issued the following clarification.

In the case of OYT deposit of Rs. 8,000 or Rs. 15,000, 96 p.c. of the money is adjusted in monthly rental charges at Rs. 4 per Rs. 1000 per month for 20 years from the date of provision of line.

The balance of the deposit is treated as book keeping charges for the same period.

In the case of Mr. Srinivasan the telephone line was installed on March 24, 1994 and closed on September 18, 2002 (9 years had gone by, since a part of the year will be treated as a full year).

Hence Rs. 3,600 at the rate of Rs. 400 per annum has already been adjusted as rental rebate, with the refundable deposit remaining at Rs. 4,400 against the OYT deposit of Rs. 8,000.

The refund of deposit paid to the customer is in order.

(Letters for this column can also be sent by e-mail to letters@thehindu.co.in with full postal address. They should be marked `Readers' Mail')

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