M A I L B A G

Slow progress of railway projects

There is uncertainty about the progress of the Morinda- Chandigarh rail route because the deadline of March 31 has expired. Are the Railway authorities planning to use the existing Ludhiana- Sirhind- Morinda route to link Sahnewal-Morinda section? It needs to be completed expeditiously because work on this project started in 1998.

In addition, the projects yet to be executed are Abohar-Fazilka and Taran Taran-Goindwal. Each year, the Railways announce a number of surveys in Punjab like Hoshiarpur-Una, Jaijon-Una, and Ferozepur Cantonment- Taran Taran. These are important routes as many Punjabis residing in Una travel to Punjab via Hoshiarpur. Ferozepur is not connected to Amritsar and its connection with Taran Taran will link it up with Amritsar.

The authorities need to lay track from Ferozepur to Jalandhar. This is a small stretch because track already exists between Amritsar and Taran Taran. By this, southern areas like Abohar, Bathinda, Mansa and Fardikot will get connected to Amritsar. I request the railway authorities to give attention to the above routes and facilitate growth in Punjab.

A.K. SHARMA, Ludhiana

For direct rail link

There is no direct rail link between Amritsar and Hisar. The present 10 LJH Passenger connects the two places at present, but it takes a long time. This train should be converted into Intercity, Mail or Express train to enable passengers to reach their destinations early. It will boost the earnings of the railways and immensely help the people.

H.C. GOEL, Dhuri (Sangrur)

The missing file

The White Paper on fiscal reforms presented by HP Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the Vidhan Sabha has brought to light the mysterious disappearance of the file containing correspondence regarding the MoU. He asserted that the initial MoU was signed during the earlier regime and subsequently implemented. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal has refuted the charge and denounced the White Paper as a “Black Paper.”

Mr Virbhadra Singh’s claim that the document signed and implemented in 1999 during the tenure of the BJP-led government was MoU in the same manner and with the same validation as the one signed in 2004 by the present government cannot be dismissed lightly. An independent probe, may be a judicial inquiry, should be instituted to ferret out the truth.

Brig H.S. CHANDEL (retd), Una (HP)

MLAs’ income tax

We, the people of Punjab, pay for the legislators’ bungalows, air-conditioners, cars and subsidised meals. We pay their income tax too. This is amazing! The earner himself should pay the tax on the income earned by him if the income falls in the taxable limit. This forms the basis of taxation. The concept of someone else (even if it is the government) paying the earner’s tax is violative of the basic principle of taxation. That the poor are being forced to pay the rich persons’ taxes makes the practice all the more unethical and even sinful.

Let the President, the Governor and the Congress President reflect on the issue. The Comptroller and Auditor-General and the Income-Tax authorities should be asked to give their opinion on this.

Dr L.R. SHARMA, Jalandhar City

Repair the road

The road opposite Veer Hakikat Rai School, Rajpura Colony, Patiala, is in a deplorable condition. It has not been repaired for seven years. School children and people find it difficult to use this road.

The Municipal Council and the PSEB authorities say that they cannot help us in this regard since this road is not registered in their records. We appeal to the Chief Minister to intervene and get the road repaired in public interest.

HARBANS LAL GUPTA, Patiala