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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Floods: Need to stop the blame game

Floods in Punjab and Haryana have witnessed a blame game being played by both governments. This is not the time to find faults but to make serious efforts with the help of modern systems in hydrology and hydraulic engineering to identify the causes of these floods. There is a need to take some urgent steps. These are:

Aerial survey is a must to identify all the areas which have been flooded. We must see which area (catchment area) has contributed to the flooding of these areas. The catchment areas contributing to the floods keep changing due to manmade obstructions like construction of new roads and widening of the old roads, cultivation in the natural drainage areas, development of new colonies etc.

Only a team of experts in this field can find the exact reasons and suggest remedies. As the river’s catchment area is in Himachal Pradesh, its experts should be associated with those from Punjab and Haryana.

While the water table is going down, flood waters in this season should be effectively used in for recharging the aquifers. Geo-hydrologists and hydro-geologists should help identify these aquifers expeditiously.

Suffice it to mention, the charging of aquifers with floodwaters will also immensely benefit the rainwater harvesting schemes being propagated by the Centre and the state governments.

Er S. S. VIRDI, Chandigarh

Checking ragging

The Panjab University has introduced a system of induction programme to keep a check on ragging in all hostels from this academic session (July 25). This programme includes interaction between seniors and juniors which builds up their confidence and gives them opportunities to know each other in a better way.

Also, the freshers introduced will result in an another informal way of interaction which will prevent ragging. This is a positive step on the part of the university authorities. Hostel wardens have already put up anti-ragging banners near the gates and on notice boards.

VAISHALI RAI, Chandigarh

Mobiles in schools

I disagree with the contention of schools restricting the students’ use of mobile phones. In the digital age when schools are stressing on the use of computers, what is the point of restricting the use of mobiles after school hours? At the most, the schools can ask the students to refrain from using the mobile phones during the school hours. Can any one tell me which house in India does not have a mobile phone?

Let’s accept the fact that these students are more mobile savvy and more aware of the in-built features in the mobile than their parents and teachers. So why restrict? Let them learn to become responsible. It’s a learning stage for them.

R. KAPOOR and SURAJ KAPOOR, Solan

Why accuse Centre of bias?
The charges of murder, extortion, abduction and criminal conspiracy filed by the CBI against Gujarat’s former Minister of State for Home Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case are very serious (Editorial, “Acid test for Modi”, July 26). The hue and cry made by the BJP against the CBI and the UPA- led Centre carry no meaning because it is the Supreme Court at whose behest the CBI has swung into necessary actions.
Consequently, how can the CBI and the Centre be accused of bias against the BJP or the Gujarat government? Does the BJP want to prove that the CBI committed a sin by following the Supreme Court’s directive?
The BJP and its government in Gujarat must help the investigating agencies to find out the truth. Let Amit Shah come out unscathed with the help of a constitutional legal process. Both the BJP and the Congress should refrain from taking any political mileage out of a case of criminal nature.
However, common people have some questions. What will happen to our democracy if our protectors — politicians or policemen — become kidnappers and killers? Who will provide good sense to our deviant leaders who are never afraid of carrying out their nefarious designs? And when will a mechanism be put in place to prevent the persons in power from misusing the state machinery, especially the police force?
SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala