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| (From above) Bad roads in Puri, autorickshaws in Bhubaneswar and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Telegraph pictures |
Sir — Majority of the roads in Puri are in pathetic condition. The Sarada Devi Road, perhaps, leads the race. Heaps of garbage are permanently dumped along the road and these are not cleaned up for months together. The drain passing through the road and going right towards the court area is a major nuisance. No modern, civilised town anywhere in India has such a drainage system, which lies completely choked and overflowing with dirty water.
An inactive and worthless municipal authority has let this drain to become an open public urinal.
During the rainy season, the condition of this area is indescribable. Stench from rain water mixed with human waste is simply unbearable. Will the Puri Municipality wake up from its slumber now?
Alok Kiran Deb,Sarada Devi Road, Puri
Sir — Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has made a very smart political move by axing minister Damodar Rout who held the agriculture and animal husbandry portfolio. It has become very clear that he is trying to divert public attention from the various scams and failures of his government once again.
The report in your newspaper on May 10 has rightly pointed out that though Rout had appeared to have been a victim of a court case against him for his alleged derogatory remarks against harijans, the real reason of his unceremonious exit was his “war of words” with Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. This shocking cabinet reshuffle has also made it very evident that the so-called rift between Naveen Patnaik and Pyari Mohan Mohapatra was just an eye-wash which had succeeded in fooling the public to quite a great extent. Those who are loyal to Pyari Mohan Mohapatra have found a place in the ministry this time.
The chief minister cannot escape the blame of every scam by demanding resignations from ministers time and again. Like many others, I have serious doubts if this rejig can bring about any positive changes in the corruption-riddled administrative affairs.
Samarendra Panda, Jagmohan Nagar, Bhubaneswar
Sir — The report, “Women figure in capital’s crime orbit”, published in The Telegraph on April 29 shows a very discouraging trend of more and more women getting involved in criminal activities.
These types of reports/follow-ups would ensure that the investigation would go down to the root.
Although the media is often highlighting such issues, rackets and scandals in the past, but the cases are being suppressed by the powerful people of the society.
Bhubaneswar is growing by leaps and bounds, and women are probably being misguided or are too experimental that they are diverting from their way.
Former DGP S.N. Tiwari is right when he says that women are taking advantage of our belief and committing crimes. Media has a huge role to play in curbing these activities.
Sarmistha Kabi, Kendrapara
Sir — The traffic condition in the state capital is getting chaotic. The major contributors to rough driving are autorickshaw drivers and bikers.
While traversing on the streets, the autos move about as if the road belongs to them. They do not even bother to keep a wary eye on the vehicles coming from behind. Autos are supposed to keep to the left and ply on the third lane but that is rarely seen as most of them drive in the first lane which is meant for four wheelers.
Most of the autos in the city are still without licence and proper registration.
Similarly, bikers tend to create a similar turmoil. Even those with cars do not even give any indication while taking a turn.
There must be hoardings and banners in major city squares on speed limits and that two and three wheelers to stick to the last lane. There should be stringent penalties for those who flout rules. Barring major city squares, we seldom see traffic police in other squares. Vehicles are seen slithering in those squares easily becoming prone to accidents.
I hope the police commissionerate’s plans to convert major traffic junctions as “zero tolerance zones” would come as a relief to all those who commute on busy roads with the constant fear of getting run over.
Devavrat Devesh, Sailashree-Pragati Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar
Sir — I loved the news feature ‘Girl, travel uninterrupted!’ published in The Telegraph on April 30. I had no idea that there are such unique online travel websites (www.wowsumitra.com) through which trips abroad and within the country, exclusively for women, can be arranged.
It was indeed heartening to know that the website started with the initiative of a former travel writer, Sumitra Senapaty. Women on Wanderlust (WOW) also arranges trips only for women and their kids. I am a single mother and was looking for such an opportunity. Although I was not able to plan a trip this May, I would love to take my four-year-old daughter out on such a holiday next summer.
Kindly keep publishing such interesting and informative articles.
Silpa Priyadarshini, Bomikhal, Bhubaneswar
Sir — I really appreciate the report ‘From classrooms to lock-ups’, published in your esteemed newspaper on May 4.
It is indeed sad to know that while Bhubaneswar is being recognised as a major education hub of the country, it is merely certificates and degrees that are being provided at the institutes here. Had the quality of education been maintained and the focus been on all-round development of students, we would not have come across so many instances of theft and crime that involves young students.
Bibekananda Tripathy, Laxmisagar, Bhubaneswar
