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

Nuclear power has no future in India

The nuclear issue is not political but calls for science policy assessment (Look beyond NGOs, Feb 27). The scientific community in India and abroad working in atomic establishments had voiced serious doubts about the reliability of nuclear power systems. IAEA reports have said there will be “no nuclear reactors will be made in the US”. Nuclear power has no future.  

Therefore, probity demands that the concerned  ministries, energy, Planning Commission and  Medical Health Council be invited to assess the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy for  the future generations.

A reactor's designed life is 40-50 years. Thereafter, long-term management of decommissioned nuclear plants is a costly and hazardous commitment. 

Which government would pay for maintenance of useless but dangerous nuclear power plants, say 50 years from now? Besides, we do not have sufficient qualified and trained  human resource to operate the foreign-made reactors.

The  IITians in India and abroad are not joining the nuclear industry. 

Dhirendra Sharma, Dehradun

BS BHATIA, Chandigarh

Train to Patiala

An increase in passenger fares to cope with the deficit in railway expenditure in the forthcoming budget has been recommended by an advisory committee. A reasonable increase is justified as passenger fares particularly for the second class have not been increased  for more than a decade. However, the railways must also improve travel facilities to justify increase in fares.

Provision of lifts and escalators on the platforms on important stations is required. Toilets in running trains need cleaners for spot cleaning.  Wooden seats in the trains need upgradation to cushioned seats.

Advance reservation of 90 days should be reduced to 60 days. There have been no additional trains to Patiala for the city in the last two decades. The town has important institutions like Diesel Mech Workshop, NIS, Cantonment covering Nabha and Sangrur and lot of migratory labour. Either a new train or existing trains originating from Amritsar or Jammu should be diverted from Ludhiana via Dhuri, Nabha, Patiala to merge at Rajpura on its original route, could serve the purpose well.

O P Garg, Patiala

Inhuman act

The monkey menace has been an eyesore for the government as well as the people for long in Himachal Pradesh. The inhuman way in which the government is trying to do away with the apes is not correct. I was a witness to the brutal manner in which the monkeys are tortured. The monkey catchers are the unskilled labour class from Bihar who are paid Rs 500 for each monkey from the HP Govt. They handle monkeys in a cruel manner, they are confined to tiny cages, German Shephard dogs have been put on guard and they are kept out in the open in cages in the rain.

ARJUN SINGH, Sundernagar

Public awakening

We generally don’t notice much repulsion in general public against corruption, perhaps because the people have come to believe its permanence. In reality, curing of this disease will solve innumerable problems of the public. However, the general public needs to be awakened in this regard.

A panel(s) of persons of civil society, without affiliation to any political party and who possess virtue of self-discipline, strong moral character and infallible judgment should come forward to stem the rot. On the strength of their selfless service, they can guide the common man on choosing the right candidate.

JIWAN DAS, Una (HP)

Relax visa rules

Once visa restrictions are relaxed and a visa centre is opened in Amritsar, the bus to Nankana Sahib would be packed to capacity. The bus service would be a preferred choice for passengers wishing to pay obeisance at the holy shrine in the neighbouring country. It would make Indo-Pak ties more cordial and friendly.

SUNDER SINGH GIANI, Dialpura (Mohali)

Law-abiding citizens Implementation of laws is the key to a good society. In the affluent upper middle class colonies, the inhabitants follow the rules and no one takes a short cut or a wrong path to save time or fuel. Within the gates of the locality, everybody is well behaved. As soon as the same driver comes out on the main or market roads, he does everything wrong. The reason is that the police does not enforce rules framed in the form of laws. Whenever there is a policeman at the crossing, the traffic flows smoothly. The moment he gets out of sight, no one is really bothered about the red lights.  We must follow the rules that have been made for our safety. Lt-Col VINAY TEVATIA (retd), Panchkula