Tamil Nadu

Develop airport - Reader's Mail

The Tuticorin airport, which caters to the travel needs of the people of three southern districts of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin, is crying out for attention. Its poor infrastructure is a matter of concern. First, facilities such as ATMs and trolleys should be made available as always. The approach road to the airport should be expanded and relaid. Besides, the availability of the cabs and cars on the airport premises is grossly inadequate. Secondly, the business and the industrial opportunities in Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli are on the rise like never before. At present, the only daily flight service from Tuticorin is to Chennai. However, this service is often facing some technical snags while landing or taking off and the issue should be addressed without delay. Further, the number of seats on Chennai flight should be increased as per the demand.

The airport lacks proper flight services to metros such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Therefore, I request the airlines companies to take urgent steps to start flight services from Tuticorin to various destinations such as Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad. And also steps should be taken to expand the Tuticorin airport in order to handle the passenger volume in larger numbers.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai,

Vazhavallan, Tuticorin district.

This has reference to the news item ‘Fire safety norms flouted at schools: CAG report’ vide The Hindu, dated November 19, 2008. It is shocking that fire safety norms have been flouted in many municipal and corporation schools. It is most unfortunate that even after the heart-breaking tragedy at a private school in Kumbakonam in 2004, the departments concerned have not learnt any lesson. In the audit report, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has further noted that many of the local body schools are lacking in basic infrastructure.

Paucity of funds cannot be cited as reason for the sorry state of affairs since hundreds of crore of rupees collected by way of education tax by the local bodies are lying unutilised. Therefore it is high time that the authorities concerned should see to it that adequate number of fire fighting extinguishers is provided in all schools besides ensuring that fire safety measures are strictly followed.

S. Nallasivan,

Tirunelveli.

As and when high schools are upgraded into higher secondary schools, the onus falls on the Parent Teachers’ Association and they post a few persons with or without B. Ed. This practice continues for more than 10 years not only in rural schools, but also in urban areas. Though teachers are posted regularly still vacancies remain unfilled. Hence it is requested all teacher posts may be filled up through employment exchanges based on seniority at the earliest

V. Kumar,

Thekkurichy, Kanyakumari district.

Recently, low floor buses were introduced between Ambasamudram and Tenkasi which has got good response from the public. However, this route, in spite of being busy, has only a few buses operated during the peak hours. Further, most services are long route buses from Valliyoor and Nagercoil upto Tenkasi and are of special services such as TSS, SSS and SFS that charge more than the usual fare. It is inconvenient for passengers, school and college students in particular and also to those who travel for short distances. So, I request the authorities concerned that additional buses of ordinary fare be operated during peak hours.

M. Muralidharan,

Alwarkurichi, Tirunelveli district.

While appreciating the State Government for taking steps to tackle the power crisis, I would like to suggest the following. Free supply of power should be stopped forthwith. Subsidy may be given to the people, organisations or industries installing solar energy mechanisms and for purchase of inverters. Energy saving bulbs may be sold at a subsidised rate. For public, political meetings and religious functions, power consumption should be made minimal and theft of electricity should be monitored scrupulously. The income generated through electricity must largely be spent on starting power projects. Importance may be given to the thermostatic power generation from the sea at Kulasekarapattinam (Tuticorin district) even though the cost of production may be higher and the electricity so generated, may be sold to the affordable industries.

M.S.M. Sahubar Hussain,

Tuticorin.

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