M A I L B A G

Punish officials for bridge collapse

THE unfortunate death of some people following the collapse of a bridge on the Kala Amb-Shahbad state highway is most unfortunate. The authorities are callous and apathetic towards our problems. The basic infrastructure is rickety and little has been done to improve the roads and bridges. Every year, a large chunk of taxpayers’ money is spent on the maintenance of public works. However, it is doubtful whether the money is being spent judiciously.

When the bridge was considered “weak at certain points”, why was it not closed for the vehicular traffic? Or were the officials waiting for a disaster to happen before starting the work? Responsibility must be fixed for the bridge collapse and the guilty must be punished.

Dr SAROJ THAKUR, Lecturer, NIT, Hamirpur

Dr G.S. DHILLON, Chandigarh

New rail link

There is dire need of a rail link between Rajpura and Chandigarh. This will help the people of the whole region of Malwa and Sirsa in Haryana as well as Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Moreover, it will reduce the traffic congestion on the busy Patiala-Chandigarh road.

The Punjab government should take up the matter with the Ministry of Railways as this link will be financially viable for the railways as also help the daily commuters. Since the rail link between Chandigarh and Ludhiana is about to start, the railway connectivity between Rajpura and Chandigarh will give a boost to the transport network in the region.

L. MONGA, Patiala

Subsidy support

The Reliance Industries’ SOS to the government for subsidy support (as provided to public sector) in selling petrol and diesel (July 22) is timely. This should be considered favourably.

The Reliance Petroleum’s best services have resulting in long queues on its petrol pumps. But the hike of petrol and diesel prices on June 5 turned the tables when Reliance had just made its debut in the field. On the basis of common principles, private and public sector firms should be equally treated.

Prof B.M. RAWLLEY, Nabha

Tarn Taran deserves SEZ tag ON the occasion of the 400th Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh made Tarn Taran the 19th district of Punjab, comprising the areas of three sub-divisions of Tarn Taran, Khadoor Sahib and Patti. This area was once famous for its unique culture and heritage. This border area is very backward, land holdings are very small and some families have their land outside the fencing along the international border. As a result, they find it difficult to get two square meals a day. The youth of this area are frustrated as they are unemployed. Most of them are drug addicts and indulge in petty crimes. The infrastructure is poor. Even the Government College at Tarn Taran has been functioning from the 100-year-old Khalsa High School building for the last 20 years. We appeal to the government to give this border belt the status of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for all-round development. RAJINDER SINGH, Mohali

Fill PCS posts

In the past 10 years, the recruitment for PCS (Executive) and allied services has been made only once. This has left the state administration in bad shape.

Presently, about 100 posts of PCS and allied services are lying vacant in Punjab. The state government should send requisition to the Punjab Public Service Commission and ask it to expedite the selection process and fill the vacant posts.

YASH PAL GHAI, Ludhiana

No allotment

In 2001, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) had issued letters of intent in Sectors 76-80, Mohali, to 3995 allottees who had deposited 25 per cent of the cost of plots with PUDA. Six years have elapsed, but allotment letters have not been issued till date. This is causing great hardship to the applicants.

The Punjab government should direct PUDA to issue allotment letters immediately.

PREM SINGH, Patiala

Overhaul needed

Mumbaikars’ resilience is, certainly, remarkable, but what is the way out for an average Mumbaikar except to use an overstretched public transport system to travel to his/her place of work. Not everyone can afford to travel by car, taxi or autorickshaw everyday.

Call it resilience or helplessness! Mumbaikars travel in local trains like sardines in a tin box and this makes the task of mischief-mongers very easy and to succeed in inflicting heavy damage to the life and limb of hapless passengers. The public transport system in the commercial capital of India needs a complete overhaul.

M.K. BAJAJ, Gurgaon