New Bengaluru airport disappoints

Sir, I had the opportunity to visit the new Bengaluru International Airport recently as part of a delegation and we were disappointed. The only good things we noticed were the 54 check in counters and baggage handling system. The entrance bay where all passengers need to enter or exit the airport terminal building is a long platform, open to the elements on three sides. As the airport is built on farmland, the whole area is very dusty. Unless at least two sq km area in front of the terminal building is asphalted, passengers will be coated with dust.
International passengers including a number of senior citizens have to walk across a narrow half-kilometer long catwalk at the third level in the terminal, to reach departure gates. BIAL should at least stop the hype about this mediocre airport, least it become a laughing stock amidst international travelers who have been through modern airports such Hong Kong and Bangkok or Gulf nation airports.
Raj Gaeasalli
Bangalore

Water conservation

Sir, The article by Bhavani Shankar (DH, Feb 8), eminent irrigation expert, is an eye-opener. He has rightly drawn attention to the climatic changes in the future when regime flow will be affected.
In this context protection of forests in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has to be further intensified. Lift irrigation schemes can also help in utilising available water. With this the flood waters also can be utilised to a great extent.
Y K Sheshadri
Mysore

Citizen’s right

Sir, It is reported that the Hubli Bar Association has passed a resolution recently appealing to their members not to plead for Mohammed Asif, the terror suspect and defend him. Is it fair from the part of the Hubli Bar Association to pass such a resolution?
Every citizen has a right to defend himself in any forum. Every advocate has a Constitutional right to lead his legal profession. Advocates who are loyal to their profession must support Asif.
C C Patil
Dharwad

Sledging

Sir, The proposal by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to move a resolution to ban sledging in the next meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be a good thing for cricket. Regarding sledging, if it is not banned, it should be allowed in all languages spoken by the cricket-playing nations and maybe beyond. This will have the English-speaking nations at a disadvantage and therefore banning could be a better and cleaner alternative.
S Kamat
Goa

Slave culture

Sir, The auctioning of the cricket players reminds me of the days of Arabian nights where the women slaves were auctioned and the rich men were bidding. Though there is plenty of money for the players, somehow it looks demeaning because they are sold like fattened animals. We cannot allow ourselves to be handled like inanimate products which need to be advertised to be sold in the market. 
N K Mythily
Bangalore

National game

Sir, The India Premier League (IPL) is a good platform for cricket players, and the franchise's to make a quick buck. The actual fact is that a lot of bigwigs have been involved and definitely a large scale business proposition is in the pipeline. There are other sports which need to be addressed seriously. If these franchise's are speaking about passion then our national game hockey should have been given more importance.
K AMUL CHANDER
Bangalore

Magic box?

Sir, Regarding the construction of underpass near Cauvery junction, as long as discontinuity of pre-cast elements is maintained it cannot be as efficient as conventional concrete.
Knowing fully well that more quantity of conventional concrete is involved in wing walls than in precast elements in addition to other works such as asphalting the authorities should not have announced statements like “underpass in three days” to mislead people.
K Sadasiva Rao
Bangalore