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Popularising community radio

Abhilaksh Likhi’s article, “Making community radio a reality” was well researched. As one who studied economics and local broadcasting in America and India, I feel the low powered community radio in India has no viability now. Why saturate the airwaves with no much financial or information gains?

In Punjab, we have a good AIR network. With Jalandhar and Chandigarh serving as the capital stations and a complement of studio and transmitting centres at Patiala and Bathinda, AIR’s FM covers most of Punjab with the exception of the border areas. Help is on the way.

Amritsar is getting India’s tallest 1000-foot high radio and TV tower with a range of 60 mile (97km) radius. Fazilka already has a similar 300-metre high tower. We need only a 300-foot high repeater tower 15 miles south of Ferozepur to terresterially link Fazilka and Amritsar. After completion of the Amritsar- Fazilka link, the entire Punjab will be covered by first grade FM radio service.

SHINGARA SINGH, Ludhiana

We will miss you, Kumble! Cricket lovers have been in a shock on hearing Anil Kumble’s retirement. He is one of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced. A graduate in mechanical engineering from Bangalore, he is a true gentleman who remained above all controversies throughout his long and illustrious career. Indeed, cricket is aptly called the gentlemen’s game due to players like Anil Kumble. His exit from cricket marks the end of an era. Playing competitive cricket for over two decades and getting 619 wickets speaks volumes for his ability and character. We are proud to have seen him play. We will really miss you, Jumbo! RAJESH KHOTH, Sirsa

No amenities

There are no basic amenities in DMU/EMU trains on Saharanpur-Ambala-Nangal section and Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar section. These trains have no toilets. As a result, they stink and the passengers find it hard to travel. The worst sufferers are the old, the women and the children.

Sometimes, some passengers alight at wayside stations to defecate and when the trains start after a minute or two, they get either hurt while boarding or miss the train. The authorities should restore toilets in these trains immediately in public interest.

Prof ASHOK SOOD, Sirhind

Shining example

Speaking at the World Summit of the alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University, Vice President of India Hamid Ansari has called upon the Indian Muslims to be part of vibrant India’s growth story not by insisting on concessions but by acquiring necessary skills and qualifications for competing with others for jobs and other opportunities.

If most Indian Muslims are backward today, this is because of their staying away from modern education and not availing themselves of the facilities offered and the obscurantist leadership that treated them as a “vote bank” for bargaining rather than working for their uplift.

They should make up for the loss of time by becoming a vigorous part of the national mainstream. Dr Ansari, who has come up in life by dint of hard work, is a shining example for other Muslims.

R.J. KHURANA, Bhopal

N-plant for Punjab

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD leader, has ruled out a nuclear plant in Punjab in view of its proximity to the Pakistan border. Compared to nuclear power, thermal power is costlier because the thermal plants would be at a distance of 2000 km from the pithead.

If Punjab sets up a plant with a high power thermal power generator, the production of fly ash will be much more (20 per cent of it will be in the form of furnace button ash, unsuitable for mixing with cement).

In addition to carbon dioxide and other green house gases entering Punjab, the impact on the state’s environment would be tremendous. Consequently, instead of four ultra-mega thermal plants, Punjab should go in for one nuclear plant of 10,000 MW capacity. There will be no air pollution and the environment will be clean.

Dr G.S. DHILLON, Chandigarh