Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100752450300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Passengers’ woes

I would like to highlight some of the difficulties faced by long distance passengers travelling in government buses, which could be brought to the notice of the authorities concerned through newspaper.

All long distance buses, including SETC, are compelled to enter all bus stands on the way. Even if buses are full, they have to just go through the bus stands without stopping. This serves no purpose. It leads to waste of time and diesel.

In most of the bus stands in the southern districts, buses have to follow the queue system and the long distance buses have to wait for their turn.

This should be changed and long distance buses should take a break for about 10 minutes to enable passengers and the crew to relax and relieve themselves or take refreshments. If these things are taken care of, the passengers can expect to reach their destination earlier.

S. Alwyn Sirbaul,

Sivakasi.

Solar streetlights

In a tropical country like India, streetlights could be used with solar energy, which will be available almost round the year. By replacing electricity lights in streets, huge quantum of energy could be saved. Though this would appear as a costly project, it will yield very good dividends in the long run.

It may not be possible to replace the existing electric lights all at a time, but the government could implement the scheme in a phased programme.

The electric energy saved by this way could be utilised for more important sector like food production as well as industrialisation. I appeal to the Central and State Governments to consider this suggestion favourably.

Asmabagh Anvardeen,

Ramanathapuram.

Supply drinking water

In Paramakudi Government Hospital, the work has been completed for laying drinking water pipe connections. But the municipality has not taken any step to supply water to the hospital.

In the hospital, more than 500 are taking treatment as inpatients and nearly 1000 outpatients come every day for treatment.

Will the authorities supply water to the hospital?

V. Rajendran,

Paramakudi.