Kerala - Kochi   

Readers' Mail

Work on approach roads

Sir, — The reported rejection of tenders to construct the approach roads of the railway bridge at Edappally by the Central Government is causing concern to thousands of road passengers. The road traffic from Edappally junction through the NH-17 has become a mess due to the numerous blocks at the Edappally rail gate and the junction at Edappally. The bridge at Varapuzha attracts considerable traffic through the route. The increased vehicular traffic to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) usually causes blocks for hours. This causes untold misery to the patients, especially to those who require urgent medical attention. The work on the bridge would be completed within a couple of months. The State Government had forwarded the tenders to the Central Government as the quoted amounts exceeded five per cent of the amount fixed. The State Government should mount pressure on the Central Government to accord sanction at the earliest to the approach roads. The Government should also take the initiative to expedite the completion of the work of NH-17 from Edappally junction to Varapuzha.

C.P.Velayudhan Nair

Vaisakha Geetham

North Edappally.

Transparency needed

Sir, — The average man on the road associates Government in general and the municipality or panchayat in particular, with tax, fine and bribe. One wonders why one has to pay a hefty fee while applying for permission to build a house.

The municipality gives no promise to do anything in return; there is not even an obligation to provide drinking water or clean roads.

The Government puts hindrances in everything an honest taxpayer does and facilitates nothing.

Building tax is an area where there is huge scope for corruption. The officers in charge of taxes have wide arbitrary powers.

This should be removed and building tax should be based on the floor area and the age of the building alone and nothing else. Transparency in this will end a lot of malpractice.

Ranjit Grover

Grover House

Thripunithura

IIT in State

Sir, — The demand for setting up an IIT in Kerala is a longstanding one. The S. K. Joshi committee appointed by the Central Government to suggest the names of institutions, which can be elevated to the status of IIT, has recently submitted its report. Among the seven institutions recommended by the committee, the name from Kerala is that of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).

The final decision is pending with the Central Government.

The Cusat is the only science and technology university in Kerala and is the most eligible candidate to become an IIT. The Cusat has already established its credentials in frontier areas of research such as photonics, biotechnology, particle physics, polymer technology, marine sciences and electronics. The presence of full-fledged departments of humanities, social sciences and law is an added advantage.

The University has the right infrastructure required for an IIT.

In addition to the well-established science and humanities departments, it has a full-fledged faculty of engineering which conducts under-graduate and postgraduate courses in various branches of engineering.

This rare blend of basic sciences, humanities and engineering is unique to Cusat. Other institutions such as the National Institute of Technology, Calicut do not have well-established science and humanities departments.

I hope the Government will take a decision in favour of Cochin University. The State Government also should push the case of Cochin University, as the setting up of a new institution from scratch may not find favour with the Centre as it involves huge investment.

The general public, political parties, people's representatives and academicians of Kochi should lobby for the setting up the proposed IIT in Cusat. The MPs of the State can closely follow up the matter with the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Krishnaraj

Krishnakripa

Edappally.

Vaisakha Geetham
North Edappally.

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