Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Readers' Mail

Shortage of staff

Sir, — In the Anna Nagar main post office, all transactions such as receiving cash, cheques, payments and scrutiny of ledger balances are handled by a single woman. It is no surprise that there is always a long queue, causing inconvenience to account holders, especially the aged. The lady is under so much pressure that, while encashing a cheque recently, she gave me a much higher amount, which I returned immediately.

It is our sincere appeal to postal authorities to appoint more staff at the office. We also suggest a separate queue for the aged and infirm and a teller facility.

Arcot Easwaran,

president,

Anna Nagar Citizens' Assn.,

Be fair, TNEB

Sir, — Electricity billing is now based on bi-monthly reading. Consumers are thus being compelled to pay a higher rate for the power consumed during the second month.

The TNEB's justification that monthly readings are impossible because of shortage of staff is unfair.

S. Santhanam,

East Tambaram

Who is the violator?

Sir, — The news item regarding arrest and punishment of a few visually challenged persons for selling consumer items in suburban trains makes a painful reading. If it is right to punish violators of rules, how about the railway authorities who have totally failed the handicapped by not treating them according to the Disability Act, not providing one per cent reservation in jobs and not allotting stalls, shops and other business places on preferential basis as specified in the Act? Will the Minister for Railways think of the visually challenged and do the needful?

Welfare Foundation of the Blind,

Killambakkam village,

Urappakkam post

Unfinished flyover

Sir, — The unfinished flyover at Perambur needs immediate attention. The construction was stopped due to some reason. As the structure has made the road narrow, heavy vehicle drivers are finding difficulty in negotiating the road.

Either the flyover must be completed soon or the existing structure must be demolished to pave way for two-way traffic as before.

S. Siva Kumar,

Perambur

Fallacious logic

Sir, — A month ago, the residents of 4th, 5th and 6th Streets of Mullai Nagar (Anna Nagar West) Ward 64 - Division 5, had requested the installation of Sintex water tanks in their streets for getting water regularly. Accordingly tanks were installed on the 4th and 6th Streets. When the residents of the 5th Street asked the A.E. why have they alone been not provided the facility they were told that now the installation of tanks had been stopped by the Metrowater. Is not water tax being collected from the residents of 5th Street?

Divya Manu,

Anna Nagar West

CMWSSB's obstinacy

Sir, — With the passing a G.O. that a no objection certifificate (NOC) is not required for electricity connection to flats/residents, the CMDA has stopped issuing NOCs. But the A.E., CMWSSB is insisting on the NOC, on the ground that he has no instructions to do otherwise. I am being driven from pillar to post for water and sewerage connection. Will the Chief Minister/Chief Secretary please issue clear-cut instructions issued to the Board in the matter?

Shyamala, S.,

Ashok Nagar

Surcharge collection

Sir, — The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is more focussed on collecting surcharge than tax from its consumers. We are one of the aggrieved parties having to suffer after payment of CMWSSB tax fully up to II 2003-2004.

Not caring to give effect to the revised annual value consequent on our appeals to the Corporation, it has appropriated out of payments made towards CMWSSB tax, a sum amounting to some 65 per cent towards surcharge, even though no surcharge is payable. A number of our representations in this regard proved futile and now CMWSSB has issued notice showing that we have tax arrears to be cleared by August. Without giving due consideration for the revised annual value consequent on revision and without being transparent in the method of calculation of surcharge, what is the point in issuing notice of tax arrears?

C.S. Kumar,

T. Nagar

Flyover a necessity

Sir, — Way back in 1960s, Government employees who applied for City Housing Board plots were advised by the Chief Engineer, H.B., to opt for Ashok Nagar. Then came Koyambedu bus stand. Everything turned topsy-turvy. There is chaos around Ashok Pillar day-in and day-out. Buses leaving for outskirts from Koyambedu cause a traffic jam near the pillar. Added to this is the number of city buses; every minute there is a number 70 bus either going to Avadi or to Tambaram. This area has schools, hospitals, shops, hotels and theatres. Children and the elderly find it difficult to cross the road. The need of the hour is a flyover. The sooner it is constructed, the better.

K. R. Chidambara Kumaraswamy,

Ashok Nagar

Obesity in children

Sir, — This has reference to the news item on "Seeds of obesity sown in childhood'' (The Hindu of Aug. 9). The message contained in it should reach the children. The contributory factors for obesity leading to various other diseases should be displayed in all schools and college campuses. It is necessary to inculcate the sense of health care in the young minds to bring down the high incidence of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, etc., prevalent in the country.

S. Sourirajan,

West Mambalam

Surrounded by sewage

Sir, — Our area Thathankuppam adjacent to the Inner ring road is encircled by sewage discharge from the nearby TVS group of companies, Padi and Korattur housing board. Even during summer one can see water filling the entire area. Sewage is allowed to pass through the under bridge in Arakkonam rail section nearby.

The sewage canals from the Inner ring road side are completely blocked. Even a slight shower makes the entire residential area afloat. The stagnating sewage seeps into the ground and pollutes the groundwater.

Amal. C,

Korattur

Road in neglect

Sir, — The road connecting Perambur Loco Works Station with Ayanavaram is in bad shape. It is a vital road linking Central and South Chennai with North Chennai. The road falls under the purview of Railways but no action has been taken despite numerous complaints. The road is meant for employees of Railway Loco Works and I.C.F. to reach their works spots for day and night shifts (night shift ends at 3.00 a.m.) The road is ill-lit with thick bushes on either side, and condemned sheds providing scope for illegal activities. This road is used to transport the seriously ill to the Railway Headquarters hospital, which is situated nearby.

S. Sreedharan,

Jawahar Nagar

The Hindu thanked

Sir, — This is with reference to the picture of the T.U.C.S. ration shop in West Saidapet, published in The Hindu of August 2. The shop was closed down the very next day itself and shifted to a new location. The residents of West Saidapet wholeheartedly thank The Hindu for this wonderful service.

V. R. Sundaram,

Saidapet West

Railway reply

With reference to the letter `North Chennai ignored' that appeared in these columns on August 9, Mr. S. Krishnamoorthy, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway writes: Computerised passenger reservation centres are functioning at Tiruvottiyur and Gummidipundi, to take care of the requirements of computerised reservations on railways in the North Chennai area.

CMWSSB reply

With reference to a letter in these columns on July 26, seeking installation of a sintex tank on Dr. R.K. Salai 4th street, Mr. P. Swaminathan, Public Relations Manager, CMWSSB writes: When the site was inspected along with the petitioner and the other local residents, it was found that there is no feasibility to install sintex tank as the street is narrow and is at a tail end. However, mobile water supply of 6,000 litres is being made on alternate days through mini lorry.

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

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