Tackling drug menace

This refers to the news item “Will make state drug-free in two years, says Badal” (June 26). Due to the nexus of the functionaries in his government, the drug menace has spread in the state. Another report published on June 28 says that “two in every 10 drug addicts are under 16 years of age.” Many drug addicts have been arrested and put in jails. A majority of them were alleged conduits of the nexus. Drug-lord Bhola has indirectly named some powerful members of the nexus, but not much action has been taken.

The state government has opened de-addiction centres in various hospitals at the cost of the public exchequer, which is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. The drug menace should be everyone’s concern. Had the state government nipped the evil in the bud, the youth could have been saved. If the Chief Minister is sincere, he should wag a war against the drug peddlers who have ruined the lives of the youths.

BK Jethi, Khanna

Shoot drug smugglers

I agree with the views of Dr Gandhi, who says that the step taken by the government to control the drug menace cannot succeed (“Patiala MP seeks Union Government's help”, June 16).

The appeal of religion has also failed to keep these elements in check. Some countries like Korea and China allow death by shooting for drug smugglers. Such provision, if made in India, may have some deterrent effect. Otherwise, the Punjab Government is fighting a lost battle.

Sher Singh, Patiala

Waterlogging in Muktsar

It has been stated that the Muktsar administration has framed a ~8.38-crore scheme which will “solve the perennial problem of waterlogging of villages of Haraj and Khokhar of Muktsar sub-division (“Rs 4.19 crore to check waterlogging in Muktsar village”, June 26). These villages had witnessed “massive losses” during the monsoon last year. The scheme involves the building of a 28-km drain to drain water from ponds of the two villages. In addition, a 9,000-ft long pipeline will be built to drain water from the villages of Haras and Warring and the rainwater will be disposed towards the Warring drain. It is not yet clear if the Warring drain will have a “clear outfall” so as to make above scheme successful. The design and the construction of the Trunk drain having outfall in the river Sutlej” is waiting 0-5 m contour maps. It is not known when the requisite contour map will be available.

It is started the above scheme will be in place of ~ 8-crore bio-drainage scheme which would have planted 3 lakh samplings of 'cloned eucalyptus' which was to tackle waterlogging menace of the area and would have covered some 3000 hectares of waterlogged area. It is difficult to say if the alternative drainage scheme would be as effective as bio-drainage scheme because the drains would get clogged if outfull of waving drain is not provided with "clear out fall". Will the money go down the drain?

Dr GS Dhillon, Chandigarh

Arming with information

Dinesh Kumar has painted a true picture of the events concerning revealing of information in the MOD (“Information, the new force multiplier”, June 24). The armed forces should be free from political interference, but practically the civil authority is superior to them and this scuttles any move of going to the media with facts.

I am an 82-year-old retired soldier. I was a member of the Bombay harbour defence in the coastal battery manned by the crew of INS Trata. Then came news from the NHQ informing us that INS Khukri, an anti-submarine ship, had been sunk by a submarine. No information was given about the submarine’s nationality. The truth was covered with the belief that it would provoke the people. Our political leaders hide facts rather than bring them to the people to judge what we as the protector of the nation have done.

Multan Singh Parihar, Hamirpur