Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Reader's Mail

Woes of Housing Board beneficiaries

We read grandiose plans of the Central and State Governments to construct housing projects to meet growing needs of people. As one staying in the Government-sponsored Housing Board Colony, I know how these projects are like. Where else we find houses constructed below the road level? Such problems are aplenty at the colony here. The material used is of substandard quality, and the workmanship too is poor.

Obviously, none dared to inspect the project at the construction stage and the beneficiaries were put to untold suffering. Some of the colonies in the north are really worth imitating. Probably, it is in this background that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has enlisted the help of a Malaysian consortium to construct HB colonies. Let's hope that the consortium will do a better job.

C. Ram Mohan,

Vijayawada

Complete Panta

Kaluva Road

If ruling party MLAs and MPs do not help in completing Panta Kaluva Road, it is very sad. They should not forget that they have come to power after a gap of nine and half years. A greater responsibility rests on all of them now to show a positive attitude to development and win enduring support from the people.

The road might have been started under the previous dispensation, but the present MLAs are duty-bound to help in completing it. The road is being widely used by residents reaching Autonagar from different parts of the city. If work on laying road and developing dividers is completed, it will become an attraction for the city itself. I request the VGTM Urban Development Authority to rise to the occasion and complete the road work.

N.K. Bhagawan,

Vijayawada

Reconsider ban on

non-iodised common salt

The Centre is considering banning production of non-iodized common salt. Though it is a bold initiate in view of the public health, it will be better if the decision is deferred for some expert advice.

In our country, in many areas, lakhs of people are engaged in production of common salt. It is not out of place if we say that it has become like a cottage industry. A sudden ban on production of non-iodized common salt will render these people jobless. Small-scale producers of common salt would be put to untold misery since it is a Herculean task for them to switch over to production of iodized salt. A good number of activities like fish curing, tannery, wild-animals, cattle rearing need only non-iodized common salt and not iodized salt. It is learnt from many reports that 60 per cent of the production of non-iodized salt is meant for uses other than human.

I appeal to the Government to keep the ban proposal in abeyance till producers of non-iodized salt get prepared to produce iodized salt.

Addanki Srinivasa Rao,

Ongole

Ensure water for

delta farmers

Though the Government has issued orders for the release of water to the Krishna delta, officials have not taken necessary steps and water is yet to reach tail-end areas of Kaikalur like Atapaka, Bhujabalapatnam and beyond.

During last year, kharif season witnessed water reaching up to Kaikalur only while leaving other areas uncovered. For the last four years, farmers of this area are facing this crisis. The area's farmers, who used to have two crops a year, are not having even a single crop. This year, the Chief Minister has promised prompt release of water. But, it has not been fulfilled till date.

The irrigation Superintending Engineer, Vijayawada, should ensure that water is released for tail-end areas at least this year so that the crisis faced by farmers comes to an end.

K.V. Subba Rao,

Kaikalur

Ration cards: new

system a costly affair

It is not a good idea to change the system of issuing new ration cards. Medium and poor families are put to inconvenience and they feel there is no need for them to go for new cards. The group photo system, with all family members, is relatively a costly affair and many cannot afford this. Hence, I request the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister to obtain the opinion of the public on the new group photo system. The issue should be discussed during the coming Rajiv Nagar Baata.

B.V. Subrahmanya Sastry,

Bapatla

Overbridge work

left abruptly

The contractor concerned has stopped abruptly work on construction of an overbridge near Manipuram railway gate at the entrance of Guntur town on NH-5. Construction material is not cleared and it is leading to traffic jams.

To complete the work, it is believed that it requires the co-ordination of the Railways, R&B and Municipal Corporation. But, it appears that such a liaison is lacking. I request the authorities to take up the task on a war footing.

H. Kalyan Rao,

Guntur

Mini railway timetable

The South Central Railway (SCR) calendar from July 2005 to June 2006 may look nice but not many are able to immediately read timings of trains. I request the SCR General Manager to take steps for supply of mini timetable in Telugu at a nominal cost not exceeding Rs.5. It may cover trains that pass through Andhra Pradesh.

V. Subrahmanyam,

Tenali

Opening up of retail sector is not wise

The proposal of the Centre to open up the retail sector for foreign direct investment is unjustified. The retail sector plays an important role in the Indian economy and it provides sufficient market facilities for the products, basically of consumer orientation. These products are manufactured by small, cottage, rural and agro-based industries all over the country and lakhs of people are employed in these units.

Once the Government opens up the retail trade for FDI, foreign funds are invested even in small industries. Domestic small entrepreneurs will stand to lose.

V.K. Bhaskara Rao,

Chirala

Vijayawada

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