The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Reader's Mail

Averting tragedies

Sir - The mental agony caused by the Kumbakonam fire accident still haunts. Another, almost deadly blow came from a Madurai school. It is sheer good luck that saved the innocent kids. When the Government itself has banned wine shops anywhere in the vicinity of educational institutions, temples, etc. the rules are blatantly flouted.

It is high time that Government pulled up such irresponsible officials who permit them. Unless the screws of laws are tightened, such tragedies are bound to continue.

V.S. Rajangam,

Coimbatore.

Caller ID

Sir - The Kumbakonam fire accident has sent shock waves. Consumer activists have been insisting on installing Caller ID in all schools, colleges, railway stations and other public places to trace anonymous callers on bomb hoax.

The Collector should convene a meeting of schools and colleges authorities to streamline their activities — the safety and security of the students.

C. M. Jeyaraam,

Vice-President,

Citizens Voice Club,

Coimbatore.

Out of stock

Sir - Revenue stamps are not affixed on receipts issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board collection centres and Life Insurance Corporation offices, where the amount exceeds Rs. 500. While LIC affixes a rubber stamp `revenue stamp out of stock,' the TNEB states: `Stamp out of stock.'

Revenue stamps are available in plenty in post offices, and hence the excuse cannot be sustained. Further this is a violation of the provisions of the Indian Stamp Act.

V.R. Ramaswamy,

Gobichettipalayam.

Price hike

Sir - It is very unfair that the price of petrol and diesel has gone up twice within a month. This will affect bus fare and prices of commodities.

I appeal to all Members of Parliament and the media to bring to light the taxing system of this product. Firstly, customs duty is levied when crude is imported. Then excise duty when it comes out as finished product viz. petrol and diesel. Added to this the State Governments levy 33 per cent as Sales Tax. The price of diesel and petrol can be reduced by Rs. 15 to 20 a litre if the Centre levy either customs duty or excise duty and oil companies reduce their profit margin.

A.V. Ramani,

Coimbatore.

No re-survey

Sir - M.T. Karunakaran's mail on "Relook needed" (The Hindu, August 11) is worth considering. There is no need to re-survey the Erode-Samrajnagar railway line. A survey was conducted during the British regime. There are stones planted marking the line that are still found in the forest area of Kothamangalam and Pungar villages of Bhavani Sagar forest range in the Erode District.

After Independence, surveys were made twice on different routes but there was no agreement on the line that must be selected. If the railway authority is really sincere to implement the scheme it must do on the basis of the pre-Independence survey.

P.S. Subbaiyan,

Coimbatore.

Show some mercy

Sir - Few calves were found near the Government Veterinary Hospital, Erode, awaiting slaughter. They appear totally starved for water and fodder. The animals may not have any enforceable legal right against their owners. But some kind- hearted people can provide water and fodder to the hapless animals on the last lap of their life, of course, with the permission of owner.

V. Pasupathi,

Erode.

Overcrowded autos

Sir - The report on crackdown on autorickshaws overloaded with schoolchildren has focused public attention to the risk children are exposed amidst heavy traffic. It is indeed a wise move to warn auto drivers against overloading. At the same time, traffic authorities should appeal to school managements to run their own buses for safe pick up of children. It would be a great relief to the parents.

Y.V. Visveswaran,

Coimbatore.

Road unsafe

Sir - This has reference to the news on the condition of the Nanjundapuram Road ( The Hindu , July 23). This stretch from Podanur to Ramanathapuram via Nanjundapuram is very narrow and is in a very bad state, with heavy traffic particularly lorries plying through Podanur perhaps to avoid payment of toll fee at Ukkadam bridge and also due to the over bridge work at Ukkadam by-pass. The entire stretch is full of potholes, making it unsafe for motorists. Added to this, the Corporation authorities, in the name of drainage cleaning, had dumped the garbage by the side of the narrow road. Pedestrians also find it difficult to cross the road during peak hours.

The quickest remedy is to attend to all the repairs required immediately duly filling the potholes and re-laying the entire stretch. The long-term plan should be to widen the road suitably by acquiring the private/public land on either side of the road wherever necessary, and also removing the encroachments right up to Podanur bazaar. It is also important that the Police authorities regulate the vehicles, especially lorries, during peak hours to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

N. Sivan,

Coimbatore.

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