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No sports on DD

In India, a majority still views Doordarshan (DD). They do not have access to any other channel. DD may be labeled as their compulsion, not choice. I feel sad the way DD was handled during the recently concluded Asian Games in which India performed reasonably well. We won 11 gold medals. The Asian Games were shown live by a private channel, Ten Sports. How many of us have the channel facility on our TV sets? Why were the majority of people deprived of enjoying these games? DD could have made arrangements to telecast hockey men’s final and kabaddi final matches. These sports are immensely popular. If DD can show one-day cricket matches live, why not these sports?

Dr Naresh Raj, Patiala

Judges’ bias

Federations are for players and due to players, not vice versa. Sarita Devi’s ouster from the semis shows how judges favoured a weak boxer. To add salt to injury, our officials at Incheon tried to hide their face. They didn’t empathise with Sarita Devi. Most presidents in our sports federations are not from a sports background. They can’t understand how players reach such heights. Sarita Devi left her family to practice hard for the Asian Games. In the end, she was left alone after the defeat, with no support from her federation. The federation officials have no right to stay in office.

Jaswinder Singh Nagi, Doraha

Seema Punia inspiring

Tough times never last, but tough people do. This is exactly what Seema Punia, Haryana’s discus thrower and the Incheon Asian Games 2014 gold medalist, has proved. Simultaneously, it gives a bad picture of the Haryana Government, known for bestowing its medalists with huge money awards but not supporting an upcoming talent. With strong determination and self-confidence, Seema inspires us to not let blocks on the way get us down. The government should amend the wrongs done and support her in realising her Olympics dream.

Dr Amardeep Kaur, Faridkot

Hockey team

The Indian hockey gold win in the Asian Games is cheerful. But is the team fit to compete in the World Cup and face formidable rivals Holland, Australia, Germany New Zealand? In the last World Cup match against Australia, the team got exhausted after 30 minutes of the game. The selectors should select tall players from a rural background whose lead a hard life. They should be groomed with stamina and speed.

JS Sandhu, Jalandhar

Brave saviour

Sahadev Samal, a 40-year-old man sacrificed his life while saving seven women and a child who were drowning in the high tide waves of HudHud cyclone in Odisha recently. His bravery should not go in vane as his sacrifice should be rewarded. All women who got a new birth should also help his family. The district administration gave a mere ~10,000 to his family. Is this the reward for bravery? Sahadev should be conferred with the national bravery award. Also, a job should be provided to his family member to compensate for his life.

Nikhil Sharma, Bilaspur

Window for films

The news item “Himachal ready to open a window for Bollywood” (October 12) will gladden the hearts of Himachalis. But sadly, while on one hand, the government swears to make the state a tourist paradise, on the other, it is committing massive ecological blunders in granting permissions to private cement plants. The plants have triggered a trail of environmental destruction by way of soil erosion due to the use of thousands of air-polluting trucks that also put pressure on natural resources and infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supply.

To make Himachal a true tourist spot, only such industry should be developed which is related to tourism and agro-products. We need better roads, good hotels, adventure sports, amusement parks and fruit products. Such industries alone have the potential to create jobs for the Himachali youth and boost economy. The example of Switzerland where tourism and banking are the mainstay of its national economy is noteworthy.

Er LR Sharma, Sundernagar

Tap scenic Sirmaur

Apropos the news item "Chail likely to have film centre" (September 20), since the Kashmir valley become out of bound for sometime because of the floods, renowned Bollywood directors and stars are keen to shoot in Himachal. The HP Tourism Development Board has perhaps forgotten the beautiful locations of Sirmaur. The scenic valleys between the Dharti Dhar and Sain Dhar of Sirmaur with hills and rivulets are the ideal location for such a project. This area has enough greenery and fresh water throughout the year. Jamta, a village on the road junction, has a commanding site on Dharti Dhar. Nearby is the famous Renuka Lake and Renuka Temple. With the completion of the Renuka Dam, a big lake will be created. In the vicinity, the old Jatak Fort is an added attraction.

When a new film city is to be developed in Himachal, the old, congested and worn-out towns should be avoided. Setting up a film city will be a great boost for the development of this backward hill area. A religious tourism circuit can also be developed here.

Dr (Prof) LK Manuja, Nahan

Bollywood in HP

Thanks to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who as a PM sanctioned special industrial packages, Baddi and Parwanoo were developed as industrial hubs and generated employment to local people. Hydroelectric power plants and cement plants are also being set up, but precaution towards environmental pollution has to be taken seriously. There is need is to bring green and non-polluting projects such as research, educational, training and medical institutes, software complexes and film centres.

The natural and scenic beauty of the state has always attracted film makers. Efforts should be made to develop film centres at different locations. It will generate employment avenues for the local youth and help in the economic improvement of state.

Political leaders should get some national-level projects sanctioned in the state.

Dr SS VERMA, Longowal (Sangrur)

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