Though there has been no dearth of discussions and debates on the disease, going by its appalling contagiousness, virulence and uncontrollability, one wonders why the possibility of the epidemic being a biological warfare has not been considered.

After all, a tardy garbage-disposal system leading to mosquito breeding is not new in the State.

Considering that the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has listed the chikungunya virus as a biological agent that can be used for warfare, the possibility should not be ruled out.

To contain the devastating epidemic from spreading like wildfire to other States, the least the Union Health Ministry can do is to conduct an inquiry immediately and adopt aggressive measures to stem the scourge.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan

Thiruvananthapuram

The Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi, in December 2003, ordered shifting of the office of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) V from Kochi to Thrissur. It is, however, regrettable that the order has not been implemented on the contention that the it was only for shifting the office and no specific order posting the Commissioner has been issued.

Being an income tax assessee residing at Thrissur, I request Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to intervene in the matter and get the office shifted immediately.

P.K. Menon

Thrissur

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has been in the red for so many years. To overcome the crisis, the authorities should act against defaulters, whether Governmental or private. Similarly, they should ensure that streetlights within city limits are switched off in time in the mornings. Likewise, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation should act by increasing the city bus fares. The minimum fare should be raised by Re. 1 to Rs. 4.

Apparently, the authorities are scared to increase fares, fearing its impact on the vote banks, which is unethical when public sector undertakings have been in the red for long.

O. Mathai

Thiruvananthapuram

National-level calculations reveal that annual rainfall is gradually decreasing owing to deforestation and failure of the monsoon. Groundwater level is falling year by year. If the same situation continues into the coming decades, an acute water scarcity will threaten the nation.

Considering this pitiable condition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has advised people to harvest rainwater as much as possible.

Mother Nature has benevolently given the invaluable gift of water for healthy living, which should be collected and preserved with care.

It is worthy to note that the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu has been successfully carrying out rainwater harvesting for the last five years. The Kerala Government should instruct panchayat authorities to take special care to follow suit without delay.

M.T. Karunakaran

Pothencode

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