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

Picture of lopsided progress

Successive governments have failed to provide bare essentials to the common man (news item “60 per cent rural India lives on less than Rs 35 a day”, May 4). We mercilessly spend millions of rupees on hosting Asian games, Common Wealth Games, film festivals, air shows, et al while there are different categories of poor people (BPL, AAY categories) living hand to mouth. Precious grain goes down the drain for want of adequate storage system. What a perfect picture of lopsided progress! Yet we believe that we are a fast developing nation. Let us come out of our deep slumber and face the bitter facts. An honest introspection is the need of the hour.

HARBANS SINGH, Ambala Cantt

Beware of China

Chinese companies being given contracts for building roads in India is highly questionable. Are Indian engineers and labour incapable of fulfilling this simple task? The Chinese are not only draining Indian finances but might also be spying on Indian infrastructure. When time comes to lay a claim on Arunachal and invade India as they did in 1960s, will the Chinese remember the benefits they are accruing from India? Who is supporting Chinese get these contracts? The government should change this policy of pro-China trade as we all know by now how deceptive they are in their dealings.

Dr K K SHARMA, UK

Badal’s bias

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and majority of his colleagues must be above the age of 70, and some nearing it. They are government servants, they draw salaries, allowances and other financial benefits which run into crores of rupees from the state treasury.

When they can continue in office irrespective of their age, then Badal's statement that barring PCS, no other government official will be allowed to work after the age of 58 raises many an eyebrow. Why should different yardsticks be applied for the same work? The CM needs to explain his discriminatory attitude.

SAHIL RAJ, Patiala

Punjab’s sorrow

The Hansi-Butana canal has been strengthened by building toe-wall along its left bank, making it ‘breach-proof’. Though it is a good engineering feat, but farmers are a harried lot (news item “Punjab farmers fear the worst”, May 6). The Punjab government should seek intervention of the Punjab & Haryana High Court and get a sanction of provision of another drainage crossing of adequate capacity at appropriate location so that floods cause the least damage.

The river Ghaggar (river of sorrow) after joining of its tributaries of Markand and Tangri, carry normal flood discharge of above one lakh cusecs. The capacity of the existing drainage during 2010 flood was found to be around 20,000 cusecs.

The area on the left side of the Hansi-Butana will get flooded to a depth of 15 ft or more till flood water starts pouring into the empty Hansi-Butana canal. The extent and damage of floods would thus be tremendous.

Dr G S DHILLON, Chandigarh

Dehra as district

The big debate on the creation of new districts in Himachal Pradesh (HP edition, May 8) did not bring forth the ground reality.

The HP government is justified in realising the difficulties of the people of the hilly state who have to travel more than 150-200 km to reach their district headquarters. Not many people are aware of the long distance between Tarris and Dharamshala, between Serimolig and Dharamshala and between Chhota /Bara Bhangal and Dharamshala.

The people of Dehra subdivision have been clamouring for its upgradation to the status of a district since 1990.

The people of Dehra sub division have sacrificed their most fertile land, the granary of Kangra district, for construction of the Pong Dam, a pride project of our nation. People have been rendered refugees, most of whom are still shelterless and landless, by this project and the Rajasthan government, the main beneficiary of Pong Dam, has not fulfilled its commitments towards the people of Dehra, the oustees.

Setting up a commission would only delay the matter. Since Dehra is the most deserving case for upgradation as a district, financial or any other constraints may be overlooked.

Dalip Singh, ex- MLA, Dehra (Kangra)

Endless source of love The best thing God has gifted all of us is a mother, the never-ending source of love, care and blessings. She has created us literally with her blood and flesh and nurtured us with love. Her smiling eyes, soothing words and heavenly embrace shield a child in its cocoon from the crude world outside. We all take our moms for granted. I lost my mother recently. Don’t wait for ‘Mother’s Day’ to make her happy. She deserves love from you every day because every moment of your life, you’ve been pampered and made happy by her. It is your turn now. Dr ABHIRUCHI MAKKER, Mohali