The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Reader's Mail

Water supply muddle

Sir,_It is reported that the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation authorities are worried about the rapidly falling levels in the Raiwada and other reservoirs and the drying up of the Gosthani which supplies drinking water to the city.

The water levels in these reservoirs are less than what they were last year at this time, and water shortage is looming large.

This situation has arisen due to wrong planning and improper decision by the VMC to supply water on a daily basis which has lead to wastage. People, accustomed to store water earlier when the supply was on alternate days, are throwing away the stored water, since fresh water is at hand.

Instead of daily supply, the time of supply on alternate days could have been increased. Even now, it is not too late in view of the uncertainity over the arrival of Godavari waters to revert to alternate day supply. As the election is over, one need not play to the gallery, but take sensible decisions.

G.M. Rama Rao,

Visakhapatnam

* * *

Need for rain harvesting

Sir,_The citizens of Visakhapatnam have not drawn any lesson from the recent drinking water crisis and have not realised the need of rain harvesting.

Several buildings are constructed extending the balconies right up to the edge of the compound by cantelevering and thereby covering the entire sky. They violate and usurp the right of the neighbours also from ventilaltion.

M.V.P. Colony is on sandy terrain and a decade ago the groundwater was five feet below ground level and water reservoir below 30 feet. It is sickening to note that the buildings are being renovated with balconies protruding onto the road. Land is costly. But air, light and water are basic necessities.

The Viskahapatnam Municipal Corporation should see that at least five feet space is left around the building, lest the city should become a `black hole' like Kolkata.

S. Gopala Sastry,

Visakhapatnam

* * *

Cable operators violate norms

Sir,_ Cable operators in Visakhapatnam and surrounding areas are violating the statutory rule that they should not transmit any channel in the frequencies being used by Doordarshan on terrestrial network.

This is a serious offence making the cable operators liable to be fined or imprisoned. This act of the cable operators is spoiling the picture quality of Doordarshan news on terrestrial network. I request the authorities concerned to take action against erring cable operators.

K. Sai Manohar,

Visakhapatnam

* * *

Bane of education

Sir,_ Swami Vivekananda succinctly said: "When a child is taken to school, he will learn that his father is a fool, his teacher a hypocrite and sacred books contain lies. By the time he is 16, he is a man of negation, lifeless, boneless.''

Rabindranath Tagore said: "Our education is like a chariot - we are not sitting but dragged by it.''

How aptly these comments apply to our present education system. Kindergarten schools are to run on Froebel`s (German educationist) principle that object lessons and games figure largely, utilising instructive play. We opted for the system and at a tender age when the creative instincts will be budding, we are jailing them within four walls and burdening them with school bags.

Even at the elementary stage, the tiny tots are burdened with science, social studies, Hindi, modern mathematics (which is per se brainstorming and algebra like) and computers. The Std. I pupils are gobbled with workbooks, homework and no playgrounds.

During the elementary stage only the 3-R's (reading, writing and arithmetic) should be taught. Science and social studies should be pragmatically inserted in language textbooks. The policy makers enable their own children learn only one language (ignoring even mother-tongue) but imposing three languages on others.

It is gratifying that some schools are now turning their attention to yoga and meditation. Parents should give freedom to their children to choose their subjects of learning.

A.V.L. Bhujanga Rao,

Visakhapatnam

* * *

Solid waste disposal

Sir,_ Collection, segregation, transportation and safe disposal of solid wastes in a systematic and scientific manner is necessary to keep the city clean and healthy.

The Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation held a workshop on the subject and stressed the need for involvement of people in this endeavour.

It was suggested that the VMC create an awareness among the people on the dangers of throwing the wastes on the streets or into the drains.

It should educate people to deposit organic and non-organic wastes in separate containers provided by it. The VMC should take steps for collection, transportation and safe disposal of the domestic and trade waste by modern equipment.

Land filling with solid waste should be strictly avoided.

K. Satyanarayana,

Visakhapatnam

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