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| Tourists on the Puri beach. Telegraph picture |
Sir — The wrath of the sea waves seems to be getting the better of the authorities of the Puri town.
Twenty-four deaths by drowning this year alone is an astounding figure. Recently, when a couple of weeks ago three female devotees drowned in the sea, there was a drill of the guards and security arrangements along the beach to ensure the safety of the visitors and tourists.
But again two youngsters were said to be missing while bathing in the sea. These repeated incidents make it clear that apart from security arrangements, measures must be taken to make the tourists aware of the dangers of the sea.
They should be informed about ways to keep safe while bathing. If the authorities do not come up with a proper solution, more incidents like this will take place.
Srirupa Patnaik,
Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar.
Sir — The report regarding Odia actress Kajal Mishra’s husband ditching a woman after two years of cohabitation has brought to light yet another incident of a live-in relationship gone sour. It is a fact that such relationships have become quite prevalent in a conservative place like Bhubaneswar.
Live-in relationships are primarily a western concept and here, youngsters are getting into it without understanding the consequences. I completely agree with sociologist Rita Ray, who was quoted at the end of the story. She said the concept of live-in relationships is based on the “freedom to separate anytime” and that “any of the partners could bid goodbye anytime. So, be it the female or male partner, one should not complain about being ditched later”.
Sujit Kumar,
Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar
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| The Gangua nullah on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar |
Sir — Thank you for the series on the Gangua nullah, which passes through the city outskirts and takes the burden of storm and other wastewater from nine natural drainage channels.
It also carries all the waste and industrial water from the industrial areas in the city. The drainage channel is also associated with the historic Sisupal Garh and many old structures like bridges. The recharge of the groundwater is dependent on the water content of the nullah as the entire area at Old Town is on a laterite belt. Now the state government must take immediate, effective steps as soon as possible since the nullah is already getting silted.
Apart from the de-silting work, renovation of the water body by developing water sports facilities and landscaping can actually change the fate of Gangua nullah.
Rajesh Das,
Nageswar Tangi, Bhubaneswar.
Sir — The recent deaths of the five tiger cubs and an 18-year-old tigress at the Nandankanan Zoo were very unfortunate.
The reasons behind the deaths were equally shocking.
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| A tiger at Nandankanan Zoological Park |
The cubs died because of rejection by their mother, who did not feed them properly. The zoo officials had said: “In the case of a tigress giving birth for the first time, survival of the cubs is almost always doubtful… as mothers tend to reject her offspring. There are no reasons for rejection in the case of these animals.” On the other hand, the older tigress succumbed to the injuries sustained during a fight with a tiger, with whom she was left to mate.
The tiger population in the zoo is a little over 20 and it has been reported by a particular English news channel that the rate of survival of the cubs born in captivity to new tiger mothers is less than 10 per cent.
It is for this reason that the Central Zoo Authority has stopped captive breeding in 2000 after 12 tigers died at Nandankanan Zoo. Therefore, as long as tigers breed in captivity, these incidents will recur.
Rashmi Das,
Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar.
Sir — The news of the tiger deaths at Nadankanan Zoo is a cause for concern, especially after tiger preservation project has been one of the most important schemes in the agenda of the Wildlife Institute of India. Whatever reasons existed behind the deaths of the five cubs and a female tigress should be investigated and tackled by the zoo officials.
I feel the medical facilities and infrastructure for research at the Nandankanan Zoo still remains to develop to state-of-the-art standards. Otherwise such incidents will keep taking place. We need to adapt latest techniques and efficient methods taking tips from other zoological facilities within the country and abroad to prevent the frequent deaths of endangered species.
Pradip Behera,
Baramunda, Bhubaneswar.
Sir — Daily power cuts in different parts of the state owing to a deficit energy situation is causing a great deal of inconvenience to the common people.
The power cut lasts for at least three hours everyday - two hours in the morning or afternoon and one hour in the evening. My daughter’s examinations will start next week and it becomes difficult for her to study during the evening hours since the power outage takes place between 6 pm to 9 pm.
I have come across several newspaper reports in which the authorities of the energy department and power distributors have been saying that this is only a temporary situation and that it would improve as soon as the electricity generation increases.
This may be a “temporary” phenomenon, but it is hampering the studies of thousands of students who are preparing for various exams now. The state government must find a way out.
Lokanath Mishra,
Baramunda, Bhubaneswar.
