M A I L B A G

How best to popularise solar energy

The editorial “Solar empowered” (Nov 10) is timely. Producing electricity through sunrays is ideal since our country has abundance of sunrays round the year irrespective of the geographical location.

For producing cheaper power through sunrays, R&D on producing cheaper photo voltaic cell needs to be revolutionised by our scientists and engineers. The government and NGOs would have to identify the talented scientists and engineers who could take on R&D projects in a time bound manner.

Meanwhile, to conserve electrical energy, the Centre and the states should enact legislation for compulsory installation of solar heaters in all new buildings and streetlights run on photo voltaic cells in all new colonies. Subsidies will help popularise the scheme. Solar empowerment may eventually give a boost to the economy.

Lt-Col V.K. NAYYAR (retd), Chandigarh

II

The editorial rightly points out the developed countries’ reluctance to harness solar energy. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s initiative on solar energy should goad everyone to make best use of solar energy. It should sensitise society for making solar energy popular.

The government should invest more in research and development of renewable sources of energy, particularly solar energy, as it will give a boost to the economy.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bathinda

What ails Haryana buses Geetanjali Gayatri’s article “Booming business for dhabawalas” (Oct 21) examines the problem of most passengers travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi on Harayana Roadways buses. Haryana has a very good fleet of buses. However, the conductors and drivers are uncouth and unsophisticated. They smoke bidis in running buses and make unscheduled halts without even informing the passengers about the duration of the halt at a designated stand or a dhaba for their freebies. The drivers stop buses at remote places of their choice for 20-30 minutes and suddenly start without notice. They need some counselling. The Haryana Government and the transport officials should take remedial measures to plug the loopholes in the functioning of Haryana Roadways. With proper planning and effective time management, the journey time between Chandigarh and New Delhi can be reduced substantially. S. P. SINGH, Chandigarh

Abu Salem case

India has, no doubt, succeeded in getting underworld don Abu Salem and his girlfriend Monica Bedi extradited from Portugal to stand trial here. But the real test starts now in terms of the capacity of our prosecution to wrap up an iron-clad case, the willingness on the part of the citizens to fearlessly

come forward to give evidence, as also the sagacity and responsiveness of the judicial system to deliver speedy justice to award well-merited punishment to the accused.

Wg-Cdr S.C. KAPOOR (retd), Noida (UP)

Madhu Dandavate

This has reference to the editorial “Dignity in politics” (Nov 15). The country would ever remember Madhu Dandavate for his role as a Union minister, parliamentarian and trade union leader. He did his homework diligently as the Railway Minister and was never found wanting in the parliamentary proceedings.

Dandavate was a replica of austerity and apostle of value-based politics. He upheld the citadel of simple living and high thinking and stood for dignity of labour.

When the news of his induction into the Council of Ministers trickled in 1977 and his friends thronged his house in New Delhi’s Vithalbhai Patel House to congratulate him, he was found busy washing his clothes!

Let the present-day leaders emulate his example of simplicity, nobility, commitment and dedication.

Prof SUDARSHAN DHINGRA, Abohar

II

Madhu Dandavate, as the Railway Minister, introduced several reforms in the railways and provided many a facility to the common passengers for which he would always be remembered. The Centre should release a commemorative postage stamp in his honour and name a road in New Delhi after him to perpetuate his memory.

Dandavate lived a simple life and remained Member of Parliament for many years. He made several illuminating speeches in Parliament and enriched the proceedings with his scholarship.

NARINDER SINGH, Chandigarh

Filling vacancies

The Punjab government’s decision to fill the vacancies of doctors and teachers is welcome. It will immensely help the unemployed youth and those working on meager salaries.

The government will attract bright and hard working candidates if it recruits doctors and teachers through a subject-wise competitive examination. This is a must because a large number of candidates have completed their professional training from different universities in Punjab and other states. There is a great disparity in their marks and divisions as universities have different regulations about evaluation of answer sheets.

The appointments should be made on a permanent basis and not on contract or ad hoc basis.

PRITPAL SINGH, Dirba Mandi (Sangrur)

FM’s address

This is with reference to the article which appeared in your esteemed newspaper on 17.11.2005 entitled “No proof poverty is rising, says Chidambaram”. Your correspondent has reported that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s speech “was worded at times with the words ‘I propose’.”

However, in the text of the speech used by the Minister, the words “I propose” do not occur even once. Only once did he say “I had proposed” in his speech.

B.S. CHAUHAN, Addl Principal Information Officer, PIB, Govt of India, New Delhi