<p>Sir,<br />BBMP is spread over 710 sq km with the population of 58.40 lakhs, consisting of 270 members in the council - 198 councillors, 20 nominated members, 29 elected MLA's, 5 MP's, 11 MLc's and 7 MP's of Rajya Sabha. What a grand union! With the increased number of councillors it is going to be a big pinch for tax payers. Have we, the tax payers pay thorough our noses for their upkeep? The governments in the past never had a vision of its phenomenal growth but milked the city cow for maximum revenue yield and never gave its due for its development of projects and infrastructure.<br /><br />The present administration at BBMP is made up of deputed staff and engineers from PWD and other departments of the State Government. Their tenures and continuance are subject to the pulls and pressures of the politicians and they cannot give their best in their jobs. The present administration structure needs overhaul. <br /><br />The administration shall be professional, function-oriented, people friendly, efficient and dedicated. It is possible only when the city is made city state under the Centre, like Delhi. The autonomous status of the city will bring in the best possible administration with professional vision sans state government's interference and the revenue earned by the city is not diverted but utilized for the city development.<br />D.Krishna Murthy<br />C.K.Achukattu, BSK III Stage,<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> More 'Lalgarhs' will happen<br />You have very rightly analysed in the editorial "Blood at Lalgarh" (June 19) that ''Lalgarh is the symptom of a larger problem". But after several days of helpless hand wringing, the West Bengal government has awakened to crackdown on Maoists in Lalgarh. This hasn't suddenly tumbled out of the sky in the form of Maoist thunderclap, but was being pressure-cooked for years.<br />An administration had long forgotten to recognise its part of the bargain with the very people who had given the CPI (M)-led front its generational power. What applies to administrative ignorance holds true for a police force that simply doesn't know anything about crowd control or how to tackle a riotous mob. Either the police do nothing (as they did when the Maoist-goaded People's Committee Against Police Atrocities in Lalgarh first marched to the CPI (M) zonal headquarters in Dharampur last week to destroy any signs of the CPI (M)/administration and attack party workers), or they shoot first and ask questions later (as they so memorably did in Nandigram on March 14, 2007). The police arrive at the scene later, if the comrades and their local commissars have failed to do their job. <br />Now the state government has finally let the police and security forces enter Lalgarh to 'reclaim' it from the Maoist 'invaders'. It will remain unclear for a long while whether this reclamation is being conducted at the behest of the CPI (M) or the people of Lalgarh, considering that the concerns of the two are different and almost diametrically opposite. Your conclusion is perfect that Lalgarh is the symptom of a larger problem and until that is resolved more Lalgarhs will happen.<br />Dilbag Rai<br />Kendriya Vihar<br />CHANDIGARH.<br /><br /> <br />If BTC has the will, it will find place<br />While present CM gave advance notice that he means business, the BTC had been under pressure since over 30 years and BTC could some how get away. The pretext that place is not available is a cover up, since many industrialists 'who were determined' to set up industries, did try and have got them. And as far as the issue of employees losing the jobs is concerned, it has no ground, as the 'employees' have become addicts to racing. The place should be thought of having a 6-way link road, connecting Majestic area and the High grounds, very much like the road passing through the 'Multi-Storied Buildings', that would also release the load from the visitors to the 100-storied buildings that has been planned. <br />Chaitanya Raghuvir<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> <br />Is there no dept to monitor CCTVs?<br />This is referring to 'Only 6 out of 21 CCTVs were working at CST on 26/11' (DH, June 19). The sprawling Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) where thousands of commuters throng either for boarding or alighting is most vulnerable spot for the ultras to carry out their nefarious activities. As the then Railway Minister was raking huge profits, obviously the concern towards the safety aspects leaves much to be desired. The relevance and sanctity of the CCTVs in CST is defeated with as many as 15 remained non-functional. How can the officials turn their Nelson's eye towards the glaring mistake? <br /><br />Is there no department to monitor whether all the parameters fitted in the Railway station are in working condition? The Indian Railways is not cash crunch to repair the faulty ones or replace it with new ones, such pressing needs has to get top priority. Hope such costly mistakes do not recur in future.<br />H.P.Murali<br />II Stage, Rajajinagar<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> <br />Wipe them out once for all<br />Before we talk of brutality of the outlaws Maoists, I want to hark back to the 32 years of CP (M)'s brutality of the Saibari killing in Burdwan, the Marichjhappi massacre in 1979 by it's cadres and police, Ananda Margis massacre in broad day light at South Kolkata and the Santaldihi power plant torture and killing of hundreds of tribal after they were tortured by CP (M) cadres. Now the same powerful cadres have to bear the heat for all their misdeeds by their own 'red brothers'. <br /><br />Though no sensible person will support such type of heinous crime it is clear that Maoists draw their strength not from the women and children but from the politicians who are trying to fish in troubled waters. This is not the right time to play politics, and Mamata Banerjee must understand that her party's unholy alliance with the Maoists will be detrimental to the nation's interest. <br /><br />Centre should also take strict action against all the Maoists, Ulfa, Bodo, PWG and Naxalite organisations operating in India. These terrorist organisations have been troubling our nation for long time now and the central government must intervene and wipe them out once for all, without saying that 'it is a state affairs and we cannot involve'.<br />Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee<br />Faridabad</p>
<p>Sir,<br />BBMP is spread over 710 sq km with the population of 58.40 lakhs, consisting of 270 members in the council - 198 councillors, 20 nominated members, 29 elected MLA's, 5 MP's, 11 MLc's and 7 MP's of Rajya Sabha. What a grand union! With the increased number of councillors it is going to be a big pinch for tax payers. Have we, the tax payers pay thorough our noses for their upkeep? The governments in the past never had a vision of its phenomenal growth but milked the city cow for maximum revenue yield and never gave its due for its development of projects and infrastructure.<br /><br />The present administration at BBMP is made up of deputed staff and engineers from PWD and other departments of the State Government. Their tenures and continuance are subject to the pulls and pressures of the politicians and they cannot give their best in their jobs. The present administration structure needs overhaul. <br /><br />The administration shall be professional, function-oriented, people friendly, efficient and dedicated. It is possible only when the city is made city state under the Centre, like Delhi. The autonomous status of the city will bring in the best possible administration with professional vision sans state government's interference and the revenue earned by the city is not diverted but utilized for the city development.<br />D.Krishna Murthy<br />C.K.Achukattu, BSK III Stage,<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> More 'Lalgarhs' will happen<br />You have very rightly analysed in the editorial "Blood at Lalgarh" (June 19) that ''Lalgarh is the symptom of a larger problem". But after several days of helpless hand wringing, the West Bengal government has awakened to crackdown on Maoists in Lalgarh. This hasn't suddenly tumbled out of the sky in the form of Maoist thunderclap, but was being pressure-cooked for years.<br />An administration had long forgotten to recognise its part of the bargain with the very people who had given the CPI (M)-led front its generational power. What applies to administrative ignorance holds true for a police force that simply doesn't know anything about crowd control or how to tackle a riotous mob. Either the police do nothing (as they did when the Maoist-goaded People's Committee Against Police Atrocities in Lalgarh first marched to the CPI (M) zonal headquarters in Dharampur last week to destroy any signs of the CPI (M)/administration and attack party workers), or they shoot first and ask questions later (as they so memorably did in Nandigram on March 14, 2007). The police arrive at the scene later, if the comrades and their local commissars have failed to do their job. <br />Now the state government has finally let the police and security forces enter Lalgarh to 'reclaim' it from the Maoist 'invaders'. It will remain unclear for a long while whether this reclamation is being conducted at the behest of the CPI (M) or the people of Lalgarh, considering that the concerns of the two are different and almost diametrically opposite. Your conclusion is perfect that Lalgarh is the symptom of a larger problem and until that is resolved more Lalgarhs will happen.<br />Dilbag Rai<br />Kendriya Vihar<br />CHANDIGARH.<br /><br /> <br />If BTC has the will, it will find place<br />While present CM gave advance notice that he means business, the BTC had been under pressure since over 30 years and BTC could some how get away. The pretext that place is not available is a cover up, since many industrialists 'who were determined' to set up industries, did try and have got them. And as far as the issue of employees losing the jobs is concerned, it has no ground, as the 'employees' have become addicts to racing. The place should be thought of having a 6-way link road, connecting Majestic area and the High grounds, very much like the road passing through the 'Multi-Storied Buildings', that would also release the load from the visitors to the 100-storied buildings that has been planned. <br />Chaitanya Raghuvir<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> <br />Is there no dept to monitor CCTVs?<br />This is referring to 'Only 6 out of 21 CCTVs were working at CST on 26/11' (DH, June 19). The sprawling Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) where thousands of commuters throng either for boarding or alighting is most vulnerable spot for the ultras to carry out their nefarious activities. As the then Railway Minister was raking huge profits, obviously the concern towards the safety aspects leaves much to be desired. The relevance and sanctity of the CCTVs in CST is defeated with as many as 15 remained non-functional. How can the officials turn their Nelson's eye towards the glaring mistake? <br /><br />Is there no department to monitor whether all the parameters fitted in the Railway station are in working condition? The Indian Railways is not cash crunch to repair the faulty ones or replace it with new ones, such pressing needs has to get top priority. Hope such costly mistakes do not recur in future.<br />H.P.Murali<br />II Stage, Rajajinagar<br />Bangalore<br /><br /> <br />Wipe them out once for all<br />Before we talk of brutality of the outlaws Maoists, I want to hark back to the 32 years of CP (M)'s brutality of the Saibari killing in Burdwan, the Marichjhappi massacre in 1979 by it's cadres and police, Ananda Margis massacre in broad day light at South Kolkata and the Santaldihi power plant torture and killing of hundreds of tribal after they were tortured by CP (M) cadres. Now the same powerful cadres have to bear the heat for all their misdeeds by their own 'red brothers'. <br /><br />Though no sensible person will support such type of heinous crime it is clear that Maoists draw their strength not from the women and children but from the politicians who are trying to fish in troubled waters. This is not the right time to play politics, and Mamata Banerjee must understand that her party's unholy alliance with the Maoists will be detrimental to the nation's interest. <br /><br />Centre should also take strict action against all the Maoists, Ulfa, Bodo, PWG and Naxalite organisations operating in India. These terrorist organisations have been troubling our nation for long time now and the central government must intervene and wipe them out once for all, without saying that 'it is a state affairs and we cannot involve'.<br />Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee<br />Faridabad</p>
