The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Readers' Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Readers' Mail

Emulate Kerala

Sir, — Recently I toured Kerala with my family and to my surprise found that there were no beggars, no open defecation and no polythene wastes. Villages and cities are well-maintained. Car and bus drivers sparingly use the horn. There is less pollution, and less migration of rural masses.

Compared to Kerala, the major problems we face in Andhra Pradesh are urbanisation, pollution, unemployment, communal disharmony and extremism, etc. We have enormous natural resources, vast lands, and tourism potential. If our politicians and bureaucrats have the will, Andhra Pradesh can also improve its economy and people's living conditions.

Ch. Kishore Kumar

Visakhapatnam

Improve banking services

Sir, — I have an ICICI Bank credit card and I have been promptly paying the dues. I issued a cheque in February 2005 for Rs.4,315 in favour of the bank which acknowledged its receipt and credited the amount to my credit card account. But a few days later, I received the bank's statement asking for payment of the amount again as my cheque was returned as the bank was closed.

The authorities of my bank have denied having received my cheque through clearing from ICICI Bank till now. On enquiry, I found out that the cheque was presented on a Tuesday, the weekly holiday of my bank. My repeated requests to ICICI Bank to present the cheque a second time were not heeded. Now the ICICI Bank sent me an e-mail statement asking me to pay with penal charges though it is not my fault. They should waive the penal charges as the fault lies with them. I also appeal to the bank authorities not to cause embarrassment to customersand ensure that such mistakes do not recur.

V. Prabhakara Rao

Visakhapatnam

Privileged customers

Sir,— My mother has a savings bank account with the State Bank of Hyderabad, P and SB branch in Seethammadhara of Visakhapatnam. The account was opened at the request of the then manager in 1999. Now, when she needed a loan, I approached the bank for a gold loan. The staff told me they were giving gold loans but the manager refused to give any. And to my shock, I saw a person availing of a gold loan the very day. I would like to know whether the services of SBH are open to all customers alike or limited only to a privileged few.

Y.C. Sekhar

Visakhapatnam

Dog menace

Sir, — Dog menace in M.V.P. Colony has assumed dangerous levels and residents are in constant panic, particularly in Sector-6. Scores of dogs run about on the streets. Children and elders dare not come out of houses at night. There are quite a few victims of dog bite. During nights, these dogs chase people. The situation is worse for two-wheeler riders as the dogs chase and attack them. This has been going on for several months. I appeal to the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (VMC) authorities to curb the menace.

K.K. Jani

Visakhapatnam

Unsafe practices

by builder

Sir, — The VMC rules say that apartment builders should put screens on the sides of the building during construction so that passers by and residents in the vicinity are protected from dust, falling rocks, debris, etc. But a builder in Waltair Uplands refuses to abide by this. Numerous appeals fell on deaf ears.

A complaint was also sent to the Municipal Commissioner, who I feel is busy with more important things than public safety.

Recently, a stone fell on a college girl who was passing by. She fell unconscious and was rushed to hospital where she was treated for head injuries. We saw on TV that a six-year old girl, Aneesha, was killed in Delhi on March 24 in a similar incident, when an iron rod fell on her head. In this case, both the builder and the sub-contractor were arrested. This disregard of public safety by the builders and the apathy of the civic authorities is condemnable.

Mahider

Visakhapatnam

Greenery gone in Rajahmundry

Sir, — Thanks to the Godavari Pushkarams of 2003, Rajahmundry has undergone a sea change. The roads are widened and are either cemented or got blacktops.

The drainages were cleaned and street-lighting had also improved. But, in the process, several old trees were felled. The telecom and electricity departments also contributed to this. Pedestrians are deprived of much sought-after shade. They have been feeling the heat, literally this summer.

The municipal corporation should plant trees during the rainy season so as to make the atmosphere pleasant once again.

V.S.N. Murthy

Rajahmundry

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