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

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 02, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Readers' Mail

Misleading

Sir, — It was recently advertised by BSNL that a rental deposit of Rs. 500 was sufficient to get a new phone line under the `Easy Scheme'. I did so and got a new phone connection in May 2004. Now in the bill dated July 10, 2004, I have been asked to remit Rs. 250 towards balance of advance rental deposit. I fail to understand why BSNL did not mention in the advertisement that a rental deposit of Rs. 750 is required for a new phone connection under Easy Scheme. This is highly misleading.

N. S. Desikan,

Triplicane

Monthly billing

Sir, — The advent of mobile phones had necessitated reforms in BSNL including call-based billing system for landline users. The new charges range between Rs. 150 and Rs. 1,450 in addition to the rental in the traditional billing system. Both mean the same in effect. These charges along with the mandatory service tax forms a big chunk of the total bill amount.

There is no scope for consumers to verify accuracy of the reading. Mobile phone users have incoming call facility while landline users indirectly bear the brunt of the cost of outgoing calls at a lower pulse rate when compared with landline rates i.e. 90 sec. for one call made from landline to mobile and 180 sec. made from landline to landline. Plan charges are based on monthly tariff but calculated bimonthly. This places users at a higher slab.

The new system of billing will really benefit the end-users only if a monthly billing pattern is adopted.

V. Ganesh,

Saidapet

Shift shop

Sir — The Government wine shop No. 8719, along with an unauthorised bar was opened on March 17 this year at No. 4, Jothi Ramalingam Street, Bakthavachalapuram, Avadi, which is a residential area. The ward councillor and other residents personally handed over a memorandum to the Tiruvallur Collector and TASMAC Officials on March 18. We also sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister, and the Chief Minister's cell, signed by residents on June 15.

It is learnt from The Hindu dated July 16 that liquor shops will be shifted from residential areas if the residents complain, according to the Chief Minister. The residents of Bakthavachalapuram are therefore seeking her intervention to shift the wine shop.

R. Venugopal,

On behalf of residents of Bakthavachalapuram,

Avadi

Residents' wants

Sir, — The satellite town of Maramalainagar was upgraded to a municipality recently. The residents now expect the civic body to repair/relay/metal all roads/ by lanes in and around Maraimalainagar area. The municipality must also establish a bus terminus and all buses (especially those of the Periyar Transport Corporation) should stop at Maraimalai Nagar. The residents would also like mini buses to nearby villages around with stops at rail and bus stations. The municipality must also supply sufficient good drinking water, as water supply now is erratic and inadequate. It should ensure streetlights burn without fail and see that garbage is cleared dail.

S. Gopalan,

Maraimalainagar

Punish them

Sir, — Scores of star tortoises were seized by the customs recently. But the accused in such cases are arrested, and let out on bail very soon. They must be in detention at least for a year as a deterrent measure.

S. Bilal,

George Town

Censor them

Sir, — This has reference to the report `Anna Nagar murder case solved, say police,' in your issue of July 18. The report says the City Police Commissioner feels that the accused took the cue from a movie and sprayed chilli powder in the flat after the incident, to confuse sniffer dogs. This should serve as an eye-opener to the film producers of mega serials of various TV channels. They should stop presenting such ideas. Though stringent action is being taken by the police to curb the menace of eve-teasing and ragging, they find a place in most films. In one of the popular Tamil mega serials, stray dogs are made to chase a pregnant woman, to cause abortion. It is time police warned film producers and mega serial makers to tone down. The censor board should remove offensive scenes.

P. K. Sankar,

Adyar

Plea to MTC

Sir, — A direct bus service to T. Nagar is a long-felt need of the residents of Mahalingapuram area with a growing number of flats, two well-known temples and a marriage hall. A service, though not frequent, that used to operate between Villivakkam and Besant Nagar via Mahalingapuram was withdrawn long ago. We have to walk almost half the distance to catch a bus, which is always overcrowded.

I request the MTC to introduce a service from Loyola College to T. Nagar via Mahalingapuram urgently.

T. K. Subramanian,

Mahalingapuram

Flyover needed

Sir, — Traffic at the Nandanam signal — Mount Road junction is becoming uncontrollable and chaotic at times.

The number of two and four wheelers passing through this junction has increased manifold and hence the travelling public are put to untold difficulty.

The traffic, however, is smooth on Venkatanaryana Road and Chamiers road and various college, office buses ply on these roads and in addition to the schools functioning nearby on both the sides of the two roads.

It would be immensely benefited if a flyover is built from the Ramana surgical clinic side to the Nandanam extension arch on the Chamiers Road.

This will ease traffic flow to a great extent. Similarly a pedestrian subway near the Nandanam signal is needed as children, students, senior citizens in particular, find it very difficult to cross Mount Road.

V. S. Thiagarajan,

Nandanam

CMWSSB reply

With reference to the letter titled `slipshod work' that appeared in these colums on July 19, Mr. P. Swaminathan, Public Relations Manager, CMWSSB writes: It is to be informed that the laying of 600mm dia PSC sewer pumping main at an average depth of 2 metre in Postal Colony and Gopalan Street in West Mambalam were done ealier.

In Mahadevan Street the work on laying started on June 28 and completed by July 19 for a total length of 275m.

The soil in these roads is clay in nature and is made slushy even by a slight shower and the excess earth scrapped and made as a motorable road.

However, inconvenience caused during the pipe laying work is regretted.

With reference to the news item `Pulianthope residents list woes' in The Hindu of July 12, Mr. P. Swaminathan, Public Relations Manager, CMWSSB writes: To avoid overloading of existing sewers due to increase in population, various development works that have been formulated are being implemented.

No individual house sewer connection will be given in the sewers laid for the strengthening of sewer system and there is no piped water supply in Lal Singh street now.

Water supply is being made through water lorries.

With reference to the photograph that appeared in The Hindu of July 16 showing a water tanker supplying water, with public standing in queue with pots, Mr. P. Swaminathan, Public Relations Manager, CMWSSB writes: Regarding the water tanker distributing water to the public at Gangaiamman Koil Street, Vadapalani, Division No. 117, it is to be stated that for Gangaiamman Koil Street, about 1,00,000 litres of water is supplied daily through tankers for the public, residing in Gangaiamman Koil Street and 3 Cross streets that have a population of 6,300. There are two nos. of IM II pumps erected in this street working in good condition. The distribution of water is also carried out smoothly without any problem.

Railway reply

With reference to the letter titled `Raise platform level' that appeared in these columns on July 26, Mr. M. Boopathy, Sr. Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway writes: Work is in progress for raising the platform level of platforms No. 2, 3 and 4 at Villivakkam along with shelters and benches. These arrangements should be ready and in place in about four months.

With reference to the letter `Amenity lacking' that appeared in these columns on July 26, Mr. M. Boopathy, Sr. Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway writes: Three cycle stands are being planned to be opened in the newly opened MRTS section between Thirumayilai and Tiruvanmiyur i.e., at (a) Tiruvanmiyur, (b) Indranagar and (c) Gandhinagar. These will be in place within the next 20 days.

(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')

Triplicane

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