Growing pollution

Apropos of the editorial ‘No action on pollution’, it is a matter of concern that in spite of efforts by the Central and some state governments, air quality in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh has not improved. The Supreme Court had directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold an urgent meeting to control the worsening air quality but not much effect is to be seen.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

Cryptocurrency Bill

The Bill on cryptocurrency is expected to lay the ground for ushering in a framework for the introduction of digital currency that is to be issued by the RBI, though earlier, its Governor had rightly raised concern. But at the same time, it seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India. The RBI is right to advise caution, but an outright ban is not a prudent way forward. Considering the nature of cryptocurrency, restrictions on such transactions may end up having the opposite effect, pushing them beyond the realm of scrutiny and making it harder to enforce the law in case of felony. The government should not make the mistake of ramming this legislation through without detailed discussions like in the case of the three farm laws.

PL Singh, by email

Omicron threat

Within hours of the WHO designating Omicron a “variant of concern”, more than 40 countries imposed new travel bans, places that had loosened restrictions reintroduced mandates, and anxieties ran high. The government also issued fresh guidelines for passengers from ‘at-risk’ countries. For its success, the IGIA in Delhi has made seating arrangements for people as they wait, and around 600 samples can be collected per hour. If the volumes increase, the facility for testing and seating arrangements can be increased. The emergence of the variant should spur people to get vaccinated or get booster shots.

Bidyut K Chatterjee, Faridabad

State of economy

At a time when we can rejoice in the GDP figure of 8.4% for Q2 of 2021-22, the Periodic Labour Force survey presents a bleak scenario of 15+ age jobless figures for October-December 2020. The fact that the GDP period precedes by half year of PLF survey cannot do away the fact that we are having a jobless growth. A shrinking public sector, increasing non-development expenditure of states, Covid pressure on real growth rate, is all a matter of concern. Growth with joblessness is not self-sustained growth by any measure.

Rakesh Sudan, Kurukshetra

Army engineers

Corporatising the Army Base Workshops on the government-owned contractor operators (GOCO) model is an ill-conceived move. The CAG says that implementing this model is fraught with risk. The Army Base Workshops conduct repair of weapons, equipment and vehicles by skilled manpower of the EME. Why should the workshops go to private contractors when the Army has a trained and trusted workforce? Giving sensitive departments to private contractors will be risky and demoralising for the Army engineers, who are among the best.

Capt Amar Jeet, Kharar

Traffic jam

Of late, there have been a series of protests by the ETT teachers and NHM workers in and around Kharar city, the hometown of the Punjab CM. They gather in large numbers and block the Kharar flyover both from over and underside connecting Chandigarh and Mohali with Ropar and Ludhiana and also all other entry points to Kharar city. This causes a lot of inconvenience to the travellers and office-goers commuting daily between the tricity and offices as well as institutions located on Ropar and Ludhiana roads. If the CM can’t handle such a petty issue, then how can we expect him to handle the bigger political and other administrative matters?

Vandana, Chandigarh

Repeal of farm laws

The PM’s announcement of the repeal of the contentious farm laws is a victory for the agitating farmers. The fact is that politics is all about polls and can’t be overlooked. As elections in Punjab and UP near, the BJP needed a course correction. And with the SC staying the implementation, the three farm laws were as good as dead. The ordinance route and rushed passage to parliament was poor optics. The greater political threat for the BJP stemmed from western UP where BKU leader Rakesh Tikait was threatening to spread the stir wider.

MS Khokhar, by email

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