The Hindu : New Delhi News : Under the table

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 20, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Under the table

The Delhi Mayor’s claim that online filing of property tax returns has been a success (The Hindu, August 13) is correct. Though the number of applicants is not very large, the measure is consumer-friendly and should gain

wider acceptance over time.

The proposal to file building plans online should be equally welcome. However, the MCD top brass should focus on the grey areas that lead to gross violations and also encourage corruption among the field staff. It is surprising how fourth floors continue to be built across the city even after the Delhi High Court’s explicit order permitting construction only up to three floors.

Builders reveal in confidence that they claim to be building only a “barsati’ and extend the covered area. Another ploy is to under-declare the area of the plot to avail oneself of greater coverage since no authentication with the lease deed is carried out. The staff is willing to turn a blind eye to it all since the onus for false declaration lies on the applicant. By the time the fraud is detected, the builder has sold off the flats and disappeared!

There may be a huge empty shaft in the middle, shown in compliance of open area requirements, which is covered once the completion certificate has been obtained. In brief, there is no dearth of loopholes if you are willing to pay under the table.

J. M. Manchanda,

C/95, New Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110 060.

Faulty microwave

I purchased a Bajaj microwave (model 2301 ETB) in May last year. It malfunctioned from the very beginning and had an electrical fault. After repeated complaints to the company they sent their engineer to check the piece and correct the fault which he was unable to do.

Thereafter they took it to their service centre and still could not mend it. I was promised that the microwave would be replaced. I also got my MCB changed at their behest but this did not make the microwave work.

I also had a word with Mr. Goswami, their local head of operations (phone No. 98181975800), who promised to change the faulty piece. Since then I have wasted my precious time and phone calls but nothing has been done and I am still stuck with the faulty piece hoping that one day it will be replaced. I hope it is done now.

Mrinalini Singh,

D/2, 2344, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110 070.

Nokia care?

I bought a Nokia N-72 on the 11th of February this year. Within three months it developed some snag and started scrolling through the menus automatically and performing operations itself like making calls, browsing the Net, etc. Moreover, all the keys stopped functioning properly, like on pressing 1, 5 appeared on the screen.

I submitted it to Nokia Care Centre and they said the problem was due to moisture, which is not covered under the warranty. I had no other option than to pay for so-called service of the premium product. I gave it to Star Mobitel Ltd. (Nokia Care), G-26, Lower Ground Floor, South Extension Part I, New Delhi-110049, on June 30. I was asked to collect it after a week. After one week, I enquired and was asked to collect the mobile. On reaching the Nokia Care Centre, they told me that some parts were to be changed and asked me to come after a week. After another week, I was told that the parts were still not available so I should come after another week. Likewise on some pretext or the other I was kept running for all of July. On August 4, my mobile with bill invoice 02389, TIN 07320292654, was returned to me.

A day later I found that the keys were still not working and the scroll not moving. This after I had paid Rs.1,432 and suffered all the trauma. Moreover, they have printed “NO FURTHER WARRANTY” on the invoice.

I live in Gurgaon and one can imagine what it feels to go all the way to Delhi and get such service!

It’s not fair for Nokia to put aside liability of service by saying that “moisture defects are not under warranty.”

Manuji Chaubey,

Flat No. C-702, Power Grid Township, Sector-43, Gurgaon – 122 002.

Issue No.1

Saw the list of articles lined up for publication in your Independence Day issue.

Very impressive. Except that you have chosen to ignore the most

in-your-face issue that plagues the country today: population!

Is it that this issue is beyond addressing and redressing? Or is it just this ugly, politically incorrect word that cannot be mentioned in a landmark – or, for that matter, any other -- issue?

I cannot understand the widespread apathy, from all quarters,

towards this very real monster called Population Explosion!

Anu George,

R 23, Nivedita Kunj, Ramakrishnapuram Sector 10, New Delhi – 110 021.

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