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Water crisis looms large in Gurgaon

There could not have been a better reference than Emperor Akbar’s compulsion to abandon his grand imperial complex at Fatehpur Sikri near Agra for paucity of water in the context of the grave water crisis in Gurgaon (editorial “Bored to death”, July 18). It is ironical that the Millennium City’s sewage system has dirty nullah water even after a drizzle, while increasing numbers of taps are going dry with every summer season.

Gross abuse of ground water by the dream merchants raising villas and multi-storeyed complexes in the mega city is one of the reasons for the continuously depleting water-table. Large reservoirs of usable water is wasted in swimming pools in most of these complexes besides reckless misuse of water in washing vehicles of people residing in the high-rises dotting Gurgaon’s skyline.

Today’s aspiring youth investing their hard-earned money in Gurgaon can be in for a surprise when like Akbar’s army, they too may have to relocate elsewhere in less than a decade. It is surprising that considering the increasing shortage and mounting consumption, how can the builders go on promising 24 x 7 availability of supplies in their new complexes?

Massive efforts are required to contain wastage of water: Work on the water treatment plant needs to be completed, massive campaigns need to be launched for effective rainwater harvesting and permission for boring tube-wells should be given only at the level of commissioner in each zone.

TEJINDER SINGH BEDI, Gurgaon

Power management

It is wrong to say that power boards are run by non-professional, political appointees in Punjab (editorial ‘Power politics at play’, July 18). Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has professionalised management of power utilities by bifurcating the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board into two separate units. The Punjab State Power Corporation is headed by a professional known for his experience in power distribution and possesses an impeccable record of integrity. The board has two technical experts as directors and this is the only utility in the country not to have any bureaucrat as its full time director.

The professional inputs are certainly going to stand the people of Punjab in good stead in the long run as lot of improvements is under way. The CM must concentrate on curbing corruption which would certainly rid the consumers of irregular and lengthy power cuts. The CM must ensure that no political patronage is given to corrupt inefficient employees as well as dishonest consumers. The regulator is also required to come clean by not bowing to political considerations while deciding tariffs.

S C CHABBA, Panchkula

Narendra Modi as PM? If Indira Gandhi, despite indulging in excesses during the Emergency, can re-emerge as Prime Minister and Rajiv Gandhi as a mute spectator to the massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi in 1984 can head the government, what prevents Narendra Modi from becoming the next Prime Minister? The only obstacles in the elevation are not rank casteists like Nitish Kumar but the power-hungry leaders in the BJP itself because, as Kuldip Nayar in his article ‘Whither national polity?’(July 9) rightly pointed out, the party has an instinct for self-destruction. Nayar has failed to observe that modern youth in India is no longer enamoured of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. The Congress is welcome to commit harakiri by projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate in the next elections. KUL BHUSHAN GUPTA, via e-mail