New Delhi

Monumental folly

Although almost every monument in Delhi is marked with all kinds of graffiti, the worst example is Quli Khan’s tomb in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park just behind the famous Qutab complex. The tomb is better known as Metcalfe’s Estate. I have been conducting heritage walks in the area for the past two years for an NGO called INTACH. Till this past February, before the Sufi festival Jahan-i-Khusro happened, the inside of the monument was full of absolutely vulgar drawings and sketches of female organs with abuses written close by. For the festival, all the graffiti was painted white. But recently when I visited the area again, I found the monument full of all the horrors that existed before the festival. The graffiti in the monument – as indeed in other monuments of Delhi -- has worsened. Earlier it used to be “A loves B”, but now it is all very figurative and dirty. It is impossible to go inside the tomb and look at the beautiful ceiling and intricate designs. The graffiti is destroying the monument. It is worse than the bulldozer. I humbly request the Archaeological Survey of India and other authorities to look inside this and the other monuments in Delhi and elsewhere and save them. Otherwise they will become very like the dirty walls of our public toilets.

Vijay Misra,

14 ARD Complex, Sector 13, R. K. Puram, New Delhi – 110 066.

I am a senior citizen. I have invested my retirement benefits in the Government of India 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003, with the State Bank of India, Parliament Street, New Delhi. To get maximum benefit from my investment I chose to invest in the bonds cumulatively. The Government of India through its notification dated May 31, 2007, announced that with effect from June 1, 2007, tax would be deducted at source on interest exceeding Rs.10,000 payable during the financial year. The State Bank of India, as I understand, is taking action accordingly on the non-cumulative bonds. Customers can get Form 16A and senior citizens whose income tax for the financial year is nil can deposit Form 15H with the bank to avoid TDS.

However, on bonds which are cumulative no action is being taken. If TDS on the cumulative bonds is made at the time of maturity, there will be a heavy deduction. And as we all know, one has to approach the Income Tax Department only for refunds. This will be very taxing for senior citizens like me. On fixed deposits with banks even when they are cumulative, it would be a great help if the same procedure as mentioned above for the non-cumulative bonds is adopted for the 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003.

H. P. S. Iyer,

390, Nilgiri Apartments, Alaknanda, New Delhi – 110 019.

I surrendered 14 of our Reliance Communications landline telephone connections, registered in the names of different firms of ours, several weeks ago. The reason for the surrender was the pathetic quality of the instruments the company had given us. I was told that our security deposits and advance rental charges would be refunded within 45 days from the date of termination of the connections.

It has been much more than 60 days now and nothing has happened yet. I have been continuously calling and writing to the company’s officials/representatives here but they do not even bother to update me with the status of my request. These very same worthies kept contacting me endlessly when I was taking the connections. It is annoying to see such companies rob the common people of their money and get richer every day. I hope for some quick action now.

Mohit Singhania,

15/480 Civil Lines, Raj Path, Raipur - 492 001. Chhattisgarh.

Several Saharsa BSNL users (under the Bihar Circle) are facing problems due to a highly irresponsible and discourteous attitude of the Senior Accounts Officer and some other officers posted here for more than 10 years. No customer gets his bill on time and if he complains about the same, he is threatened with “dire consequences” or asked to get the line disconnected. Surprisingly, if any other officer dares to interfere in the matter, he is immediately transferred away.

Because of such harassment, customers are increasingly turning towards other telecom companies. It is high time the higher authorities in BSNL acted.

Deepak,

226, Dhirpur, Near Nirankari Colony, Delhi – 110 009.

My Tata-Indicom internet dial-up connection has been dead for the past

three weeks and more (User ID: baviskar1@vsnl.com). I complained on October 4 (No. 88183337) and at regular intervals since, but in vain. Each time I call, I listen to irritating recorded messages and, worse, Customer Service agents who earnestly assure me that my complaint will be taken care of “within 24 hours”. Tata-Indicom probably laces its office water with time-altering drugs: it’s been 24 days, but their 24 hours haven’t ended. What adds insult to injury is that Tata-Indicom does not have a toll-free number -- I’m paying for each 10-15 minute call that I’m forced to make because their service is faulty. An e-mail complaint sent on October 13 did not even get the dubious courtesy of an automated acknowledgment. Mr. Ratan Tata, your company is a joke! Please take some time off from your high-profile acquisitions abroad to improve your services here in India.

Amita Baviskar,

(Associate Professor, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University Enclave), 194, DDA Flats, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi – 110 009.

It was a privilege to visit the National Physical Laboratory along with all the students of Class XII (Science) of D.T.E.A. School, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, the other day. The foundation stone of NPL was laid in January 1947 and I am proud to have visited one of the best laboratories in India today. The amount of knowledge we all gained is immense.

M. Srinath,

S-11, Sector 12, Noida – 201 301.

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