Power theft

Refer to ‘Rs 1,200 cr power stolen every yr, villages account for 66% theft’; it is shocking that residents of Punjab are stealing power worth Rs 3 crore per day from PSPCL supply lines, with rural Punjab leading with 66.66% distribution losses due to power theft using kundis. Despite free power for paddy fields, villages account for theft worth Rs 800 crore per annum. Domestic and commercial urban consumers steal power worth Rs 300 crore while the industry Rs 100 crore. This is indeed a huge loss caused due to the mismanagement and negligence of the government and the greed of the people. To cover up the losses, PSPCL enhances power rates from time to time. Resultantly, the honest consumer is made to pay through his nose. Enforcement wing officials are not allowed to do their duty by villagers and influential local politicians. Special meter checking campaigns under police protection should be launched throughout the state.

NK Gosain, Bathinda

Focus on governance

Refer to ‘Course correction’; the reconstitution of the Cabinet was guided by both political and administrative considerations. The major reshuffle since the second term of the BJP government shows that PM Modi means business and that non-performers would not be tolerated even if they belong to senior ranks of the party. Governance issues might have been a factor in the axing of some ministers. New faces such as Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jyotiraditya Scindia have administrative skills that could prove valuable. They must be empowered to plan and take decisions in their respective areas. Proposals must go through rigorous technical vetting and wide political consultations. The revamping was intended to enhance governance, ramp up the economy and fuel the BJP’s political march ahead of the crucial elections.

SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI

A true royal

Known as Raja Saheb, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was committed to the uplift of people of Himachal Pradesh. The Dharamsala college gained from his official visits. A new library block, a three-storeyed arts block and a huge auditorium were made available to the students, courtesy his vision for quality education. He opened new colleges in remote areas, thus enabling the students, especially girls, to have easy access to education.

Lalit mohan sharma, dharamsala

E-learning gets push

Apropos of ‘Pushing boundaries, bit by bit’, indeed the positive side of the pandemic is the evolution and complete establishment of e-learning and its associated technologies. As a parent, I always wanted my daughter, a student of Class XI, to get the best coaching available in the country. However, this was not possible before the pandemic due to the geographical distances involved. But now with online education in place, sitting in Patiala, she can study her favourite subject from a teacher in Chennai. Educational institutions have become e-schools and e-colleges, providing all the knowledge and education required by students of varied age-groups from pre-primary to doctorate. Kudos to the teachers and students who very quickly adapted to this scheme of education. Also, it is worthwhile to mention the role of Internet service providers in the successful implementation of e-learning.

PS Sodhi, Bengaluru

No more a heaven

There is a famous saying about Kashmir, ‘Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast’ (If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here). But it is sad to know that this heaven is on the edge of economic despair (Kashmir valley on the edge of economic despair). Kashmir has been infamous since the beginning of the insurgency in 1989. The situation had started improving a bit and then came the J&K Reorganisation Act in 2019, which resulted in the widespread turmoil in the Valley. In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic came as a bolt from the blue for the residents of the Valley. Something concrete must be done to save the Valley, which depends on tourism that has been hindered due to one reason or the other. A bailout package seems to be the only solution to save the businesses which are in the doldrums.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

Flouting Covid norms

With the second wave of Covid-19 subsiding, people have become careless. Neither are they maintaining social distancing nor wearing masks properly. The northern parts of India are getting hot due to the delayed arrival of monsoon. Images of huge crowds of people without masks in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are going viral on social media. Violation of the Covid protocols is being seen not only in the mountains, but also in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Mahak Arora, Chandigarh

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