The proposed exorbitant hike in water rate is not justified, since it will be a big burden for the common man! As it stands, they propose to increase it from almost 70 pc to nearly 100 pc depending on the consumption.
Without any improvement in the infrastructure, with even prime areas surrounding Bunts hostel area (Karangalpady to name one), getting water supply once in two days even during monsoon, it doesn’t make sense to implement such a drastic hike.
Definitely the citizens are bound to revolt, because as it is, their life is miserable with flooding in all low lying areas, the drainage is virtually non existent and non functional in many areas, and good drinking water is a luxury, the supply being restricted to once in 2/3 days depending on the area.
Moreover, the water we get from the Corporation is full of mud and is unfit for consumption. With crores being borrowed and spent as loan through the implementing agency, KUDCEMP, towards infrastructure development, we the citizens deserve a much better deal as far as our basic needs regarding these infrastructure are concerned, because ultimately we are responsible to repay this loan.
Depending on the various inputs, a reasonable marginal increase in water rates may be acceptable but, not the proposed exorbitant hike. Set the systems right first, and then demand a hike in rates.
B N R Rao,
Vivek Nagar, Kulur.
City roads: Worst in the decade
The roads in Mangalore have been the worst this year in this decade. It looks as if the concerned authorities don’t exist at all! Also street lights have gone in some areas. Desilting has not ben done up properly and we can see piles of mud by sides of roads (see dividers near Bendur church and bus stand near water supply dept). We have to ride over humps created by piles of mud.
Ruchir Agarwal,
Balmatta, Mangalore
Supply of food in trains
It is learnt that the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) has recently appointed Quality Control Professionals (QCP) in trains, in a bid to upgrade the standard of catering in Railways. These QCPs will focus on the culinary tastes of the passengers and work towards improving the existing food quality.
I would like to present the following suggestion before QCPs for their consideration and action. At present, whenever food is ordered, the rice, chapathi or pooris, sambar and another side dish are packed in aluminium foil boxes and supplied to the passengers. Drinking water is supplied in sealed plastic cover.
Passengers are finding it difficult to mix sambar with rice in that small box and eat it, because while mixing rice and sambar falls from the box and scattered on seat. The seats are getting dirtied. One has to open the water packet with great difficulty and if it is opened it can not be placed on the seat, because water will be spilled on the seat.
If the compartment is full, it would be very difficult for the passengers to eat the food comfortably and calmly. There is no satisfaction in spite of paying the heavy price. Moreover the empty boxes are thrown out of the windows, and they become the objects of pollution.
Many years ago, food used to be supplied on trays, and passengers could eat it comfortably. It is not known why this system was withdrawn. This system must be revived. Alternatively, already mixed food packed in plantain leaves wrapped with packing papers, may be supplied to the passengers.
Sukumar Talpady,
Kottara, Mangalore
Are we becoming sadists?
Cashing in on misery and suffering of our fellow men is cruel. Floods, earthquakes, Tsunamis, personal tragedies, natural calamities are sadly exploited. Governments and others announce compensations and help (whose money is it any way?). However, a study showed that hardly anything out of the large collections for the 2005 Tsunami actually reached the needy and suffering. Let the facts spell out the reality.
On Sunday, July 22, the DC released a CD (with a background music for better value), on the tragedy of the sinking of Den Den at Thaneerbavi on June 23. Great action packed entertainment! What is the real empathy shown by all those matter? One august personality termed the exercise as a ‘learning experience’.
Our selected and elected power mongers seem only to keep learning- at home and on foreign jaunts at the expense of the tax payer. The problems of the common man brag on and on. Are authorities just in the learning mode on the many public night-mares?
Traffic indiscipline, lack of roads, electricity, water supply, price rise, rampant crime, illegal constructions, accidents... the list is long. Why not these advanced learners be charged for the learning opportunities? When can the citizens hope for any relief?
I J S Shet,
Morgan’s Gate.
Irony of the times
While appreciating the nicely worded headline ‘DC releases CD on sunken vessel’ (DH, 23/7), I would like to mention as follows. The district administration could have definitely saved the lives of a few sailors on that fateful day in case the young and dynamic DC had used his intelligent discretion of quickly inducting a helicopter.
But the DC now wisely covers the mistake by telling that it is a ‘learning experience’ for the district administration to handle such crisis!
It is an irony that none other than the DC (with all respects to him) is made to release the CD ‘Den Den, the day that was’.
K Jayant Rao,
Mangalore.
(Readers may send their letters to The Editor, Deccan Herald, Yenepoya Chambers, 2nd floor, Balmatta, Mangalore or e-mail to dhmangalore@deccanherald.co.in. )
