Tamil Nadu   

Road repairs

People of Erode are happy that Erode Corporation has repaired ruts, pits, dips etc. on the road to ensure a smooth surface.

But the repair work has been done perfunctorily.

Small-sized blue metal has been used to cover the damage without any binding material like tar.

Blue metal gets detached easily from the patch and is scattered on the road when a vehicle runs over it.

A few days later, the roads will look damaged again.

Is there someone to supervise the repair?

V. Pasupathi,

Erode.

It is welcome news that senior citizens in Tamil Nadu will soon get free bus passes.

It is hoped that the passes will be issued to all senior citizens without any condition.

Railways can also consider extending free passes to the senior citizens as the number of travelling senior citizens is negligible and the loss of revenue will be minimum.

C. Bhaskaran,

Erode.

The news report on Erode doctor V. Jeevanantham (‘Personality of the Week’, March 31) was interesting.

Dr. Jeevanantham is certainly a versatile and multi-faceted personality.

On June 10, 2006 the Tamil Nadu Government organised a function at the historical Vellore Fort to commemorate the 200th year of Vellore Fort sepoys’ rebellion against the British army. Dr. Jeevanantham was invited by the government to organise a photo and drawings exhibition at the function.

He did a commendable job and the exhibition was a total success.

K. Subramanian,

Coimbatore.

Recently I visited Vega Land in Kochi run by a private company. It is neat and tidy.

I also went to Malampuzha Dam maintained by the Public Works Department, Kerala. I noticed waste bottles and heaps of garbage in the boating area there.

The garden there is not maintained properly.

There are no protection bars in the boating area.

Government organisations should study how efficiently private organisations are run.

G.N. Devaraj,

Bhavanisagar.

This refers to the report ‘Assembly focuses on better infrastructure in schools’ (April 25).

The discussion in the Assembly on school education largely focussed on the need for better infrastructure and improved sanitation facilities in schools, particularly in girls’ and co-education schools, across the State.

The government initiative to strengthen infrastructure in schools is commendable.

The discussion felt that the student-teacher ratio should be 1:30.

According to All India Council for Technical Education, the faculty-student ratio in engineering colleges should be 1:15.

Similarly, the student-teacher ratio in schools should be 1:20 or 1:25.

Only then can quality education be provided to students.

Apart from the regular curriculum and syllabus, soft skills training should be given.

Multinational software companies recruit only those with a sound knowledge in subjects and an excellent communication skill.

V. Joseph Emmanuvel,

Tiruchengode.

Kudos to the Salem Railway Division for having bagged the Southern Railway zonal efficiency shield for passenger amenity works for 2007-08.

But when the Salem Junction was upgraded, century-old trees in front of the junction were felled mercilessly.

Now a lot of hoardings with colourful lights and artificial trees have come up there.

Neither the Railways nor the Corporation has cared to erect a shelter for commuters waiting to board town buses. I request the Railways to look into this.

K. Ramakrishnan,

Salem.

Summer this time has been severe and frequent power cuts in the city have been affecting people in the city.

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board should avoid such power cuts.

Naveen Narayanan,

Salem.

Finance Bill 2008 introduced by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha on March 29 mentioned several sections (16) to have retrospective effect.

Although courts have held that retrospective amendments in a Fiscal Act are valid, such retrospective amendments or insertions must have some rationale in the Money Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha.

The Finance Bill, a Money Bill as defined in Article 110(1) of the Constitution of India, giving far back retrospective effect entails civil consequencies and litigations to the tax payers.

Such routine retrospectivity overlooking the Indian Limitation Act 1963 hurts the tax payers whereby absolute immunity to the Finance Ministry is hit by Article 105(3) of the Constitution of India.

By this Parliament’s actions will be subject to judicial intervention/ scrutiny as held by the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal in January 2007.

The Finance Bill never comes for discussion and is passed by voice vote.

In a democratic society aiming at welfare measures the State must do what is fair and just to the citizen tax payers.

Humane and considerate/welfare amendments will go a long way in allaying the situation.

S. Rajagopalan,

Salem.

Garbage disposal is dependant on regular clearing by the public administration – local fund, municipality or Corporation.

If suitable domestic biogas plants are installed at affordable prices, gas produced may either be used for lighting or cooking by suitable processing.

Consumable product manufacturers such as Eureka Forbes, Tatas or Hindustan Lever can manufacture and supply such units economically and sell.

This will serve the purpose of environmental clearance.

The gas so produced can be used for domestic use.

A.V. Subrahmanyam,

Salem. (Readers can mail to cbereaders@thehindu.co.in with address and phone number)

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Road repairs

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