Implement disaster managment act in toto
Sir, This refers to the news report “Officials to be imprisoned for lapses” (DH, June 27 ).
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 which would comes into force from Aug 01, 2007 has separate provisions to deal with offences and imprisonment of officials for their lapses related to disaster management.
This Act will have greater impact on government officials to diligently discharge their duties relating to disaster management. The Act or the rules to be framed under the Act by the state government should reflect the provisions to identify efficient officers and reward them accordingly.
The state government should ensure that the Act is implemented in toto to make sure people suffer as little as possible during these disasters. The State Government should also create a disaster management cell also.
S NAGARAJAN
Bangalore

WB’s loan
Sir, This has reference to the news item “WB okays USD 600 million loan for Indian farmers” (DH, June 27). The World Bank’s line of credit is meant for use of funds by state co-operative banks, district central co-operative banks and primary agricultural credit societies. The co-operative sector is controlled by the state politicians and it is a win-win situation for all the ruling parties or opposition at the state level. Perhaps the WB would have made a comparative study of finances allotted to the agricultural sector in different countries and would have decided to lend to the co-operative sector in India.
K V RAO
Bangalore

Display of hypocrisy
Sir, The report “Farmer tries to end life at Gowda home” (DH, jun 27) makes sad reading. There cannot be a better display of hypocrisy by our politicians, particularly H D Deve Gowda and family. Our Chief Minister at the drop of a hat is out there in a village pitching his tent to stay overnight to be one with them to “understand”  closely the problems that plague the farmers’ community. Here the problem lies at the doorstep of the proclaimed champion of the farmers but mercilessly they are driven out. Glaring indifference and insensitivity of our netas indeed!
J A Kanthraj
Bangalore

BJP’s predicament
Sir, The argument of the BJP in the Presidential elections appears strange. It find faults with the Shiv Sena for siding with a “Maharashtrian” Pratibha Patil, but shows its glee when Natwar Singh signs Shekhawat’s papers as a Rajasthani. It faults the Sena for not supporting the “Hindutva” cause and commitment, but has no answer if questioned whether supporting Kalam against Pratibha was “Hindutva”. If it could find fault with the Sena for dumping its long trusted committed ally, why did they dump Uma Bharathi and Madanlal Khurana, who are more committed to the Hindu cause.
Basheer Ahmed
Bangalore

Useless tactics
Sir, Most right thinking people wished A P J Abdul Kalam to continue in the post of President since the present political groups could not rise above their narrow political interests. The so called UNPA leaders were dilly dallying without clarifying their stand and only when it became too late, they proposed Kalam's continuation. The UPA would not have dared to propose a person without much stature had the UNPA and NDA already jointly put up a candidate of Kalam's stature.
R Kasthurirangan
Bangalore

A vicious campaign
Sir, The Congress party through its vicious campaign, is creating an impression that contesting elections against its nominee is unconstitutional and a sacrilege. The Congress bullied out the people’s choice of Mr Kalam and now they are using the same tactics on Shekhawat.
Bhartendu Sood
Chandigarh