M A I L B A G

Tackle the evil of corruption from the top

Corruption is eating into the vitals of our country. There are many laws for tackling this menace but their implementation has been very poor. Prompt and strict implementation is the need of the hour. The process must start at the top.

We should rid the electoral system of the money and muscle power. Criminalisation of politics is encouraging corruption. So both should be fought tooth and nail. Voters must assert and defeat criminals and the corrupt at the hustings.

Our bureaucracy has got a bad name as no paper or file moves without greasing the palms of the officials. Those found indulging in corrupt practices should be dismissed, their benefits withdrawn and property confiscated. The same must be done to corrupt and dishonest politicians.

Persons with a clean image should come forward to join politics so that politics ceases to be the game of the corrupt. Our leaders at the top must set examples of integrity and simplicity so that others can emulate them. 

Special fast track courts are needed to try corruption cases in the shortest possible time.

Prof K.L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

II

There is need for calculating the Corruption Perception Index in all the states and Union Territories to know the status of corruption in different parts of the country. It is, therefore, desirable to publish corruption perception report for each and every state so that the balance sheet of performance (Karma Kundli) of all states can be analysed in the right perspective. We need data on all aspects of development including corruption at the district level.

There is built-in corruption in the Indian economic system. I firmly believe that by removing corruption, at least 1 per cent rate of growth in Gross Domestic Product is possible without additional allocation of resources in all sectors of the economy. Of course, there is a strong case for good governance at all levels.

Prof M.M. GOEL, Kurukshetra

Chaos on the bridge The bridge over the Sukhna Cho near Zirakpur is in bad shape. It was built in 1948 and planned for limited vehicles. Today with exponential increase in the number of vehicles, this bridge is too narrow to cope with the mad rush of vehicles. Two vehicles at a time coming from opposite sides can’t cross the bridge smoothly. Traffic jam has become the order of the day. Commuters reach their respective destinations very late. For instance, it takes 30-40 minutes for one to cover a distance of 3 km from Panchkula to Zirakpur. This bridge is the important link for going to Punjab, Haryana and Himachal. Thousands of vehicles pass over the bridge daily. The slow movement of vehicles leads to waste of precious oil which again is a national loss. Close to this bridge, the second severe bottleneck on Kalka-Zirakpur Road is the Railway Crossing. Passersby face the same ordeal as the railway gate is frequently closed. This requires the urgent attention of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal governments. They should put joint pressure on the Union Ministry of Surface Transport for the construction of a flyover covering Sukhna Bridge and Railway Crossing for the smooth sailing of the vehicles. T.D. KUMAR, Panchkula

Checking violence

Apropos of the editorial “Tackling violence” (Nov 30), communal violence in any part of the country is a matter of concern for one and all. The need of the hour is to create proper atmosphere in the country to curb activities which can give rise to communal violence.

The proposed law can be effective only if it contains stringent provisions providing for indictment of those, high or low, who encourage and incite communal feelings to gain political or personal mileage.

In the federal set-up where state governments are run by different political parties, a national consensus is necessary on the machinery to be set up for proper investigation and speedy trial of cases.

G.S. KHURANA, Amritsar

TB sanatorium

Apropos of Jagmeet Ghuman’s report “Panic among sanatorium staff over transfers” (Sept 22), I would like to add that by downgrading the sanatorium with substantial cut in its bed strength, the state is not only reducing its historical importance but also hurting the sentiments of the local population.

Most of the present inhabitants of Dharampur in Solan district are direct descendants of TB patients who had got admission in the sanatorium long back. Since TB required long treatment to cure, the kith and kin of the patients settled here permanently to look after them. The people here have great attachment with the sanatorium, the land for which was gifted by the late Pandit Dut Ram, a philanthropist.

TRALOK LAL, Dharamur