The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dangerous trees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dangerous trees

Dangerous trees

Twelve years ago we bought 10 cents of land in Kotagiri. Being ecologically conscious we decided to preserve as many trees as possible on our land. Since the last two years, six eucalyptus trees (including three dead ones above our house belonging to an institution) have posed a threat to our building by leaning towards it. On January 2004 we gave our first petition regarding the trees in our land. Since then various officers have visited the house. They agreed they were dangerous, measured their girth and asked for their photographs. We have also sent repeated petitions through proper channels. At one point the tahisildar's office lost our letter and requested us to write again. After one-and-a-half years the office said our `chitta' was not accurate and told us to rectify that. This too was done. Huge trees have been felled in nearby properties. Recent rains have caused landslides and we are now afraid not only about our building but also about our life and limb. Are there no provisions to speed up procedures in such cases?

Valsa Koshy,

Kotagiri.

Road accidents

There have been frequent road accidents on Avinashi Road and a lot of young and promising persons have died. But authorities concerned have taken no action against those responsible for the deaths. Speed is the main reason for these accidents. Traffic police monitor the speed through the speedometer. But this monitoring is only for a few hours. There should be periodic checkings on lorries and private bus drivers and the driver who crosses the speed limit should be fined heavily. Speed breakers should also be installed.

Douglasraja,

Coimbatore.

Focus on English

This refers to the report `Varsities will focus on spoken English: Ponmudi' ( The Hindu , Nov.11). Minister of Higher Education K. Ponmudi deserves praise for his innovative ideas. Laudable are his efforts in convening a meeting of the Vice-Chancellors in the State under the auspices of Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education in Chennai. It is encouraging to note that greater stress is laid on improving communication skills of students in English and Tamil. The pioneer in this respect is the present Vice-Chancellor of Anna University who has now introduced the One-Semester-Communication Skills Laboratory Programme in English. Instructions have already been issued to all engineering colleges in the State to start this programme in the sixth semester itself. It is a well-designed, two-pronged course:

1. Language lab and 2. Career lab. Language lab concentrates on listening and speaking aspects. Career lab aims at preparing them for placements.

A separate training programme will train teachers in the latest software.

M. Vathapureeswaran,

Tiruchengode.

Keep clean

The area near the Coimbatore railway station is unclean. People spit everywhere. This place is located in the heart of the city. City Municipal Corporation should take steps to keep the place clean. There should be periodic cleaning of the area. Coimbatore can attract tourists only if we keep our surroundings clean and tidy.

S. Balamani,

Coimbatore.

Damaging environment

Erode is known for its traders dealing in turmeric, art silk, powerlooms, edible oil, textiles, tanneries and jaggery. Owing to a high level of commercialisation environmental problems have reached the zenith here. In the Sampathnagar-Nasiyanoor road junction there are many fish and meat stalls where business is very brisk, especially on Sundays. Bones, flesh, pieces of meats, gills of fish and other wastes are thrown on the main road and in the drainage. Further, marriage halls in the area throw plantain leaves in the open. Municipal officials should initiate action against those who damage environment.

V.S. Ganesamurthy,

K. Kadambavanam,

Erode.

Toilet needed

A `pay and use' toilet facility should be made available at Nal Road in Palani. Nal Road is the nerve centre of Palani. Further there is a nationalised bank and a busy shopping complex. Police quarter is in the vicinity of Nal Road junction. Moreover, students wait there for boarding town and mofussil buses.

M.S. Sankaran,

Palani.

Letterbox

There is a letterbox at Kutchery Street near Karaivaikkal area.

However, as the letter box is located on the judicial magistrate court's premises, opposite the main court hall, people find it difficult to go there to post letters.

The letter box should be fixed somewhere outside the court's compound .

C. Bhaskaran,

Erode.

Readers can mail

to cbereaders@

thehindu.co.in

with address and

telephone number)

Kotagiri.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu