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

Boost Punjab industry

Punjab was once blessed with agriculture and industries, but now both have lost their sheen. The industrial belt across Dera Bassi and Lalru has suffered due to power shortage. The sports and leather industry of Jalandhar is incurring huge losses due to some unfriendly policies of the state government and the presence of Chinese products. The iron industry of Mandi Gobindgarh and the foundries and casting units of Batala have met the same fate.

Punjab can earn a lot in tourism, but that sector remains at the bottom of the government’s agenda. The government must raise VAT on China-made products as they are eating into our businesses. At the same time, the tax on domestic products needs to be halved. Though this is against business ethics, but our aim is to save and promote domestic manufacturers.

Secondly, solar parks are a necessity. The domestic and agricultural needs must be met by renewable energy. Electricity through power plants should be diverted to the industry and hospitals. A number of private medical ventures have come up in the recent past. The state government could liaise medical tourism to such institutions and use the commission generated to raise medical facilities.

We have had a lot of private engineering colleges, malls and housing enclaves. These ventures require a brief halt. We need to concentrate on agriculture and its mechanisation. Let Punjab not be known just for swanky cars, kabaddi and Punjabi singers.

Deepjot S Thukral, Ambala Cantt

IMFL price hiccup

In Sonepat, the prices of Indian Made Foreign Liquor have soared due to the gruelling winter. The brandy meant for use as a medicine during the winter season is denied to a patient. However, at Rs 100 a quarter and Rs 400 a bottle, it is supplied as a favour to him. Liquor shopowners are charging high rates for liquor. A quarter of whisky costs Rs 100.

Government officials have not been able to check the prices. The price list issued by the Excise Department with an official stamp or any other authority connected with the supply of IMFL needs to be displayed prominently at the window to control unwarranted charges.

P. C. Luthra, Sonepat

Beautify Shimla

The Shimla Municipal Corporation is trying to beautify Shimla as per its colonial past. While historic and heritage buildings need to be preserved, at the same time, Shimla should not be deprived of modern ideas, lifestyles and facilities. The effort of the corporation is appreciable, but the extensive use of toll CGI sheets on the roadside by the CPWD and some heritage and historic schools are giving Shimla a jail-like look rather than a beautiful hill station.

D.J. Dasgupta, Shimla

Art dynamics

“Dynamics of engagement” (February 10) by Nonika Singh made an interesting read. However, going by her assertion that the “recently concluded India Art Fair 2014 testified as to how art is becoming interactive and is no longer merely an object of visual wonder”, should one conclude that visual art is on the verge of extinction? Unfortunately, her views are seemingly driven by people who throng certain so-called art objects hyped through projections other than aesthetics.

I would like to mention here the serious concern of the famed Louvre Museum. The museum authorities are currently working out plans that would let its large number of daily visitors know that the museum has a huge wealth of artefacts other than Mona Lisa, which they ignore due to ‘her’ rather exalted hype or the art ignorance of the visitors.

BALViNDER, Chandigarh

Correction

The name of the Prime Minister in 1967 has been inadvertently published as Morarji Desai instead of Indira Gandhi in the table ‘The Lok Sabha Journey So Far’ with the write-up “This summer, a festival of the people” (page 9, February 11). The error is regretted.

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