Tamil Nadu

Ban meetings

We had in 2007 given representations to the then Commissioner of Police Gandhirajan and then the present Commissioner Mahali to revoke permission to hold meetings in Tatabad Sivananda Colony (105 feet road) which is a residential area.

This road has seven roads on one side and six roads on another side.

It is also a passage to Ooty from Gandhipuram and this leads to Rathinapuri where there are more than 1,000 houses.

Mega stages are erected here for meetings blocking almost all roads in spite of a court ban on holding meetings in the area.

Cone-shaped loudspeakers are used at these meetings though they too are banned.

Moreover, a lot of power is wasted for these meetings – that too when industries reel under power cuts.

Mahalaxmi Subramaniam,

Tatabad.

I would like to share a pleasant experience I had at the B-5 (Rathinapuri) police station of Coimbatore.

The prevailing image of the police is that of a “corrupt, rude and inhuman” force.

But my experience has given the lie to this notion about the police who, in fact, work under tremendous pressure.

A couple of days ago I received a request on phone from the above police station to visit it with documents for verification for renewal of passports.

When I went to the station the next day, I was received at the entrance itself and offered a seat.

Writer G. Nagaraj and sub-inspector K. Angamuthu were very courteous and went about their job of verification of documents meticulously and expeditiously and completed the entire exercise quickly.

While this was going on, I also saw the humane side of the police while they were dealing with persons summoned to the station for various purposes.

Obviously, the subordinate police staff have been trained well in the art of human relations too.

K.G. Ramakrishnan,

Sivananda Colony.

Almost all roads, including those in small layouts, have speed breakers and most of them are without any specification.

In a 2.5-km stretch from my residence in Periyar Nagar to Race Course there are 15 speed breakers.

Most of them are in front of the defence and government offices where there is no much traffic or movement of people.

The speed breakers are of different shapes and sizes.

Even though they help avert accidents, they have some disadvantages.

Buses running on these roads do not slow down when they approach speed breakers resulting in passengers being thrown from seats.

Moreover, valuable time is wasted because of the speed breakers. Speed breakers should be set up only in front of schools and hospitals.

They should be only on cut roads which join main roads and not on the main roads.

The number, the size and the shape of the speed breakers should be specified by an appropriate body.

K. Sukumaran,

Puliakulam.

It is nice to know that the proof of address concept has been launched in Coimbatore by the Department of Posts.

It will surely save a lot of time for people who would like to get so many amenities by providing their residential address as proof.

However, it should be ensured that it is not misused.

Thiagarajan.B,

Civil Aerodrome Post, Avanashi Road.

The piece on Dr. G. Lakshmipathi, ‘Doctor of Laughter’, made interesting reading (‘Personality of the week’, Dec. 15).

Laughter is a good therapy which helps one relieve stress and strain.

Laughter is an internal language unique to the mankind and it is also an instant vacation.

Laughter therapy exercises at early morning yoga session will enable one to remain hale and healthy.

B. Sripada Rajan,

N.G.G.O. Colony.

One appreciates the persistent efforts being made by the Police Commissioner to make our roads accident-free (Nov. 22).

There are a few areas, though, where views on the measures being adopted may differ.

Put bluntly, it is the job of the Corporation and other civic authorities to ensure pavements are free of encroachments, hawkers, garbage and open sewers which force pedestrians onto the roads.

The other aspect is the very poor quality of road maintenance and the so-called “beautification” of traffic islands.

Many of these severely obstruct road visibility, an example being the Race Course leading to KG Hospital traffic islands.

Of course, my personal grouse against indiscriminate and unmarked speed breakers, undisciplined traffic and cutting of trees (obstructions?) remains!

M. Vania,

Sowripalayam.

The Transport Corporation has got 100 new buses.

At the inaugural these buses were parked on Avanashi Road and it was a wonderful sight.

The new buses were decked with huge plastic garlands.

The garlands were distributed to the drivers in huge plastic carry bags.

This means the Vellalore garbage yard would have got 100 non-bio-degradable garlands and 100 huge non-bio-degradable plastic bags!

A.P. Suresh,

ATT Colony.