The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Readers' Mail

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

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Readers' Mail

A danger

Sir, — I had sent a complaint to the Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, South Circle, Egmore, on Feb. 8, 2004 regarding shifting of a gas cylinder godown now situated in a residential area at no. 54, East Park Road, Shenoy Nagar. I met the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives at his office after a month and requested him to take immediate action on my complaint. But there has been no action so far.

K. Alagiah,

Shenoy Nagar

Municipality blamed

Sir, — This is with reference to the news item `It's no Cola, it's the water supplied in Korattur,' in your issue of July 13. It reflected the silent suffering of the residents of the locality.

Proper infrastructure for water supply such as overhead tank, underground supply line earlier provided by the Housing Board are all available here. These are not well maintained by the Ambattur Municipality. Otherwise, how can one explain their disuse for years together.

We do get lorry water supply. It is twice a week only. Till recently the supply was once a week. As is the norm, we have to pay a minimum of Rs. 5 each time. This is in addition to the Rs. 65 per month levied by the municipality for water supply. Even Metrowater is levying only Rs. 50 per month for the amenity.

G. Radhakrishnan,

Korattur

Stop construction

Sir, — There has been an acute water crisis in the city for about a year. In spite of this hectic construction activity is going on. For this purpose enormous water is required. When borewells up to a depth of 200 feet are sunk sub-soil water gets depleted. This makes the wells in the area go dry. It is not known how the Corporation and CMDA permit building of flats and houses while there is no water to drink. It would have been better to defer the permission for construction work at least till the arrival of monsoon.

S. Kothandaraman,

Virugambakkam

Urdu Academy

Sir, — It is nearly 15 months since the term of the Tamil Nadu Government Urdu Academy expired on May 1, 2003. There was hope that a new committee would be set up when, on February 19, 2004, the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohamed Abdul Ali, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Academy, the Education Minister being ex-officio chairman. But there has been no further progress in the matter. The State Government should expeditiously address this issue.

K. Malikul Azeez,

Perambur

Amenity lacking

Sir, — The MRTS trains to Tiruvanmiyur are being operated from January 21, 2004. But so far there is no two-wheeler parking stand and commuters are forced to park their vehicles outside the station at their own risk.

K. Ramesh,

Madipakkam

Raise platform level

Sir, — The platform level towards Central at Villivakkam railway station is inconvenient to entrain/detrain particularly for children, women, disabled and the aged. But the platform towards Avadi had been elevated to a comfortable level more than a year ago.

B. Rajan Boopathy,

Villivakkam

Woes persist

Sir, — Though the problem faced by the pensioners who retired from State Government service between January 1, 1996 and March 31, 1998 was vividly described in The Hindu of April 21, 2003 the problem still persists.

As per GO Ms. No. 174 Finance (pay cell) dated April 21, 1998, the arrears on account of revision of pension benefits for the period from Jan. 1, 1996 to March 31, 1998 shall be paid as below: 20 p.c. of arrears in 1998-99, 20 p.c. of arrears in 1999-2000, 60 p.c. of arrears in 2003-2004 (i.e. after 5 years) with interest as admissible to GPF.

Of course, this is due to wrong approach of the DMK Government (1996-2001) which passed the buck to its successor. These pensioners who received a raw deal at the hands of the DMK Government, which deferred their total settlement by more than five long years, continue to suffer even after seven years.

M. Sampath,

Joint Director of Treasuries & Accounts (Retd.),

Saligramam

MTNL's example

Sir, — The MTNL, New Delhi, has granted a concession of 25 per cent in the monthly rental to senior citizen subscribers.

Our forum requests through your columns the BSNL, (Chennai Telephones) to extend a similar concession to their senior citizen subscribers.

M. N. Rajagopalan,

president,

Periyar Nagar Senior Citizens' Forum

Ensure easy passage

Sir, — It has become a common sight to see ambulances taking patients who are gravely ill struggling for uninterrupted, smooth passage, especially during peak hours on Anna Salai or Poonamallee High Road.

A VVIP or VIP passing through will definitely have a pilot jeep or motorcycle outriders, to make others give way for the convoy.

May the police make a similar way for ambulances speeding through these roads, by wireless communication and advance lane allocation.

B. N. Narasimha Murthy,

Virugambakkam

Simplify procedure

Sir, — We often hear about poor setting up of question papers for entrance tests for admission to engineering and medical colleges. One must read the court judgments and judges' remarks on such entrance tests.

In this connection I wish to mention about my grandson's experience in the U.S.

He took his B.E. degree in Electronics from the Madras University 3 years ago. He applied for admission to PG course in 7 universities in the U.S. With no entrance examination he got admission in two universities. He joined a university in Ohio with full aid (waiving of tuition fees). He also got teaching aid and finished his PG course in computer Science.

R. Janaki,

Anna Nagar

Persistent violation

Sir, — I am a regular commuter by suburban trains. I usually park my two-wheeler at the Guindy station stand.

The normal parking fees for two-wheeler is Rs. 2.50 a day and Rs. 50 for monthly pass, which is clearly mentioned in counter foil, season pass and also on the display board.

But to my surprise the contractor now charges Rs. 3.50 and Rs. 70 respectively. When those who manage the facility are asked about the difference, the answer is vague and vulgar.

A.P.S. Peter,

Ekattuthangal

Tough going

Sir, — For years together, I have been imploring Metrowater to ensure equitable distribution of drinking water on Dr. Radhakrishnan 4th Street, Mylapore. All along the dictum `might is right' has been prevailing. When the water lorry arrives the house owners with money and muscle power take away bulk of the supply. To live and let live policy is not in their blood.

Senior citizens like me nearing 80, ailing, are unable to fight with the unruly servants let loose by the masters. I collect hardly three buckets at a time, on alternate days according to the arrival of the lorries, though I am entitled to an equal share, with all the house owners paying equal water tax.

To tide over the crisis, the board can instal a Sintex tank at a convenient spot on the street accessible to all, let a lorry fill the tank and arrange the distribution equitably.

K. N. Narayana Pillai,

Mylapore

Subway needed

Sir, — The stretch of the road from Greenways road junction signal to the bridge (Thiru Vi ka bridge) leading to Adyar is very congested during mornings. Patients and the disabled who visit the Andhra Mahila Sabha rehabilitation centre and the adjacent hospital find it difficult to cross the road. Girl students of Janaki MGR College also suffer. The Government should consider constructing a subway near the Andhra Mahila hospital.

S. Kailasam,

Rajah Annamalaipuram

Chennai Telephones reply

Sir, — With reference to the letter of Mr. T. Mahadevan `waiting for refund' that appeared in these columns on July 19, Ms. V. Meenalochiny, Dy. General Manager (OP & PG) Chennai Telephones writes. It is hereby informed that the refund order has been issued to Mr. T. Mahadevan for Rs. 1766 as the balance deposit, pertaining to the surrendering of telephone no. 26530187. This is for your kind information.

(Letters for this column can also be sent by e-mail to letters@thehindu.co.in with full postal address. They should be marked `Reader's Mail.')

Shenoy Nagar

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