Tamil Nadu

Uneven road

The road from Vishalakshipuram to P and T Nagar and beyond (Old Natham Road) through which hundreds of lorries, buses, vans and two-wheelers pass through is in a very bad condition. Drivers negotiate this stretch with so much difficulty, besides proving dangerous to pedestrians, especially aged people and children. After laying drainage pipe lines in the middle of this road, one half of the road (entire distance) has not been levelled and renovated. The road surface is uneven and full of potholes on one side forcing drivers to use the other half, placing the oncoming vehicles to a lot of inconvenience. Since vehicles cross the path of others, it may lead to accidents. Will the Corporation authorities look into this matter and set things right soon?

R. Veeraraghavan,

Madurai

Kudos to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Chairman for encouraging customers to make complaints. Hitherto, TNEB would not entertain complaints unless it was lodged in person. In the event of any short circuit, power failure due to burnt out fuse or power leakage, one had to go all the way to the AE / JE office to register the complaints since the EB all over Tamil Nadu would not take down message over phone.

By the time the wiremen reaches the spot, much damage would have been done due to short circuit or leakage. Thanks to the new TNEB fiat, no sooner they receive the message, they rush to the spot to rectify the snag in time. The move by the TNEB is not only a good gesture but also consumer-friendly.

M. A. Kaja,

Madurai

Recently, law abiding motorcyclists wearing helmet were given cash awards by the Commissioner of Police in front of his colleagues and media persons. This indirectly implies that he wants his department personnel to wear helmets; but surprisingly no policeman wears helmet even after this incident.

It is high time our policemen were educated with regard to safety of wearing helmets.

S. Balachandran,

Madurai

The ever growing population of stray dogs in the Indian Bank Colony (Narayanapuram) has become a serious case for concern. They roam about freely on streets, posing a threat to pedestrians, especially children. At night, these dogs howl one after the other, depriving the residents a good night’s sleep. It is also likely that some of the dogs carry rabies. Therefore, the disease can be easily passed on to humans when they are bitten and prove fatal if not treated immediately.

It may be recalled that, as reported in your newspaper, a year ago, doctors had to put in 72 stitches on the face of one of the children (aged 4) at the Kanyakumari Medical College Hospital when five children and a man were bitten by stray dogs.

Hence, it is hoped that the local body (Naganakulam Panchayat) will take immediate steps to eradicate the stray dog menace, considering the gravity of the situation.

V. Krishnamoorthy,

Madurai

Recently I travelled by 3 A/C sleeper from Chennai to Madurai in Pandian Express where three side berths (instead of two) were installed. I saw passengers finding it inconvenient to get into the berth, especially middle berth passengers since they also experienced uneasiness due to constant jolting of the berth, depriving them of a sound sleep. Moreover, there is not enough space under the side berths to put luggage of all the three passengers.

The railways, while taking comfort in generating more revenue through this measure, should have taken into consideration the inconvenience caused to passengers. May I request the railways to do away with this three side berth system. Moreover it will be lot more difficult to endure a journey for long distances, like a two- night journey.

R. G. Rethinam,

Madurai

With reference to the letter published under this column on November 11, a reader had stated that he could not watch a TV programme at a particular time on Pothigai channel due to power cut. The TNEB cannot act according to one’s whims and fancies. Everyone has some sort of inconvenience due to power cut. We have to bear with it and adjust to the situation. If one is so much interested in that TV programme, he has to find some alternative measures like installing inverter at home.

Another reader stated that the new inland letter was difficult to paste on three sides. The top flaps only need be pasted by simply inserting the left and right flaps inside the letter.

These two grievances were trivial and could have been sorted out by the readers themselves.

R. Gopalakrishnan,

Madurai

India being a country of people from different States speaking different languages poses many problems. One such problem is unemployment. To seek employment, people flock to cities all over India. A few narrow minded politicians have been creating problems for the migrants by instigating sentimental topics like son of the soil policy etc. which create tension and ill feeling among people of different States. This problem challenges the very concept of national integration, as witnessed in Mumbai recently. If this sort of regionalism, racialism and linguistic chauvinism continues, then no one can lead a peaceful life in India.

Hence, I suggest that an Act should be enacted in the Parliament to create Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai as city States with independent administration structure as in New Delhi. If such States are created, the majority sons of the soil in the respective cities will have to depend on the minority migrant population at the time of elections. Hence the balance of power can be maintained. Representation in the office of various departments such as police and judiciary can be given based on the population strength of the various linguistic minorities settled in the respective cities.

Will the Parliamentarians consider this view and take necessary steps?

K. V. Jeyaraj,

Madurai

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