Clean the mess

Sir — The editorial, “Clean but still” (May 27), about the performance of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during his first year in office raised some important issues. It is true that the dispensation at the Centre, led by Modi, does not bear the taint of corruption. However, the editorial does not give enough importance to the need to appear corruption-free in the eyes of the people. Two instances to be considered in this context are the government’s stands on the issues of net neutrality and larger pictorial warnings on cigarette packets. Public perception is important in such cases. The government’s actions on these problems go a long way in shaping public opinion about whether or not it is corrupt.

Another point raised by the editorial can be disputed. The editorial says that a society which is absolutely free of corruption strangles initiative, and that corruption sometimes oils the wheels of decision-making and activity. An opinion such as this only serves to fuel the misconception that enterprise in India involves finding out ways to evade laws instead of actually creating new products, services  and profitable technologies. It is the propagation of such a wrong notion that often makes us look at businessmen and entrepreneurs with suspicion. One hopes that with the strong, corruption-free foundation that has already been laid, the government at the Centre will succeed in bringing about some long-overdue changes. Then, perhaps, Indians will stop viewing business and ethical practices as being mutually exclusive.

Yours faithfully,
K.R.G. Nair, Calcutta

 

Sir — The views expressed in the editorial, “Clean but still”, downplay the importance of the efforts made by the Narendra Modi-led government to eradicate corruption. I believe that even if the government spends its entire term ridding the country of corruption, it would be an example of good governance, for it would lay the foundations of a meritocracy. Most of the people in India, especially the youth, would share this opinion.

Corruption has been destroying India’s moral values and endangering the fabric of our society. It eats away at the resources of the country, ensures that the masses remain deprived and concentrates ill-gotten wealth in the hands of a small section of society. It enables those who are already rich to grow richer, and those who are in positions of authority to exploit their power. Contrary to the idea expressed in the editorial, that “corruption sometimes oils the wheels of decision-making and activity”, the truth is that corruption is the enemy of development. If corruption is removed, development will occur rapidly.

It is unfortunate that the editorial seems to suggest that a certain level of corruption may be necessary to make a government work. It is a cynical comment on the sorry state of affairs and morals in this country that people seem to think this way. It is when the government embarks upon the herculean task of trying to eradicate corruption among the lower ranks of power that it will face a real test.

Getting rid of corruption fully is easier said than done. It can take years. It is the duty of responsible citizens to contribute to the eradication of corruption from thecountry.

Yours faithfully,
Vinod Mody, Calcutta

 

Good show

Sir — The Mumbai Indians won the Indian Premier League for the second time by beating the Chennai Super Kings comprehensively in the final of the eighth edition of the tournament at the Eden Gardens. The captain, Rohit Sharma, and his team deserve accolades for their indomitable spirit which helped them overcome every hurdle in their path to victory.

This win also highlighted the importance of having great international players as part of the coaching staff. The Mumbai Indians team immensely benefited from the guidance it received from some great players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jonty Rhodes, Shane Bond, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh. These mentors worked very hard to inspire the players to play their natural game without succumbing to pressure. The inspiring teachers along with the players’ hard work resulted in a resounding victory for the Mumbai Indians franchise owned by Reliance Industries. The IPL, which provides so many people with entertainment, is growing more popular by the year, thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Yours faithfully,
Iftekhar Ahmed, Calcutta

 

Toiling hard

Sir — This summer in India has been one of the worst in years. Calcutta, too, has felt the sweltering heat and the extreme humidity. The blazing sun and the absence of rain have made day-to-day life very difficult for Calcuttans. Owing to a severe heat wave, more than 2,000 people have died in various parts of the country. A number of factors have resulted in such extreme climatic conditions, such as the rapid felling of trees, the huge spurt in the number of vehicles on the roads and soaring levels of pollution. Global warming is an ugly reality, which is a result of the ecological balance getting disturbed.While Calcuttans rightly complain about the heat, one cannot help but think of the Calcutta Traffic

Police personnel who have to work hard under the cruel sun on a daily basis. The idea of standing at a bus stop for even 10 minutes in this heat is daunting. One must admire the efforts of the traffic policemen who carry out their responsibilities silently.

Yours faithfully,
Abhishek Pandey, Calcutta

 

 

ORISSA

Grand preparations

Sir — The most important event in Odisha’s cultural calendar, the Nabakalebar, is approaching fast (“Emotional moment for devotees”, June 2). It is heartening to see that The Telegraph is closely following each event associated with this ancient ritual. However, it is a cause of concern that the promise of transforming the cities of Bhubaneswar and Puri for the upcoming festival remains only half-fulfilled. The work on the national highway requires proper and speedy completion. Other infrastructural needs related to the festival should also be addressed. With the main event just a few weeks away, pilgrims are already flocking to the town. My personal experience of failing to find any affordable lodging during the rath yatra last year leads me to believe that accommodation will become a serious issue in the coming days. Since a greater number of pilgrims are expected this year, the government must immediately make some alternative arrangements.

Yours faithfully,
Gagan Bihari Rath,
Bhubaneswar

 

Sir — The government should provide extra security at the Puri beach during mass gatherings on the occasion of the Nabakalebar festival. Thousands of people will throng the beach during this period. With the authorities focusing their resources on crowd management near the temples, the beach runs the risk of becoming a neglected spot. The initiative of the scuba diver, Sabir Bux, in training 100 young swimmers in life-saving techniques is commendable (“Diver to impart life-saving lessons”, Jan 18). Selected from various educational institutions, these students will be stationed at different spots on the Puri beach to prevent accidents. They will respond swiftly in case of any emergency. It is a good initiative. Many such measures can be adopted by the state government.

Yours faithfully,
Durgesh Nandini,Puri

 

Sir — Only a few weeks are left for the Nabakalebar festival, which involves a change of the idols of the trinity at Puri’s Jagannath temple. The construction of the new idols will begin soon. The pilgrim town is already witnessing a huge inflow of devotees. However, the basic civic issues have been left unresolved. With the number of visitors set to rise, this lacuna will create much trouble for the local administration in the coming months.

The state government should appoint a special team for the speedy cleaning up of the roadways. It should ensure proper sanitation and drainage facilities. With the crowd expected to swell into lakhs, if a larger number toilets are not made, Puri may witness outbreaks of such diseases as jaundice and cholera. It was only a few months ago that there was a jaundice epidemic in the state. Unfortunately, no serious steps are being taken by the civic administration.

Yours faithfully,
Pramod Kumar Dhir, Puri

Sir — The state government has made several arrangements for hosting the grand Nabakalebar festival. Considerable focus has been put on using the digital media to promote the event and enhance its reach, as highlighted in the report, “Nabakalebar gains online momentum” (May 30). The digital campaign launched by the state government includes a dedicated website as well as pages on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. A book of information on the festival is also on the anvil.

While this is laudable, it is unfortunate that the construction of overbridges and bus stations is yet to be completed. A smooth and efficient transport system will prevent chaos. Hence, priority should be accorded to these projects. The plans to set up a drainage system and a drinking water system are also hanging fire. The government should make sure that pilgrims are provided with the basic amenities.

Yours faithfully,
Manas Ranjan Choudhary,Cuttack

 

Sir — The occasion of Nabakalebar provided a good window of opportunity for developing the infrastructure of the state, especially in places around Puri. The new highway connecting Cuttack to Puri is impressive. The Delang-Puri railway line is another important project constructed with an eye on the festival. The project will increase line capacity on the Khurda Road-Puri section and facilitate the running of more trains to meet the influx of tourists and pilgrims during the event.

Yours faithfully,
Amrita Samantaray, Cuttack

 

 

 

BIHAR

Full house

Sir — The controversy surrounding the guards who have been installed at 1 Anne Marg to prevent anyone from plucking mangoes or litchis from the trees shows the new lows that politics in Bihar has descended to. There are so many important issues that the Nitish Kumar-led government can start addressing. Instead, it chooses to focus on such trivial matters. We never faced such problems in the past. I remember how, in the old days, the new occupant of a government bungalow would send fruits that grew on the garden trees to the previous occupant, as the latter had planted those trees. I no longer hear of such gestures being made by politicians.

However, the bigger problem at hand is the illegal occupation of government bungalows. This can be seen by the continued occupation of 1 Anne Marg — the designated residence for the Bihar chief minister — by the former chief minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The government does not act against this owing to political reasons. The rules of evicting politicians who are no longer in power should be enforced more strictly. There are over a dozen palatial government bungalows which continue to be occupied by former ministers, MPs and legislators, and even officials transferred outside Patna. They act as though it is their right to occupy the government bungalows. Kumar’s government has only added to the problem by allotting bungalows to former chief ministers, along with staff, and building new flats for MLAs. There are several states in India which do not provide accommodation to their legislators. They are given functional, modest accommodation for the period during which the assemblies are in session. Government accommodation should not be misused.

Yours faithfully,
Vikas Kumar, Muzaffarpur

 

Road rage

Sir — Wedding processions in Patna cause huge disruptions in traffic. The traffic system is so fragile that commuters have to face a jam on every road. During the wedding seasons, the processions bring the traffic to a halt. A few days ago, my ride home took me two hours instead of the usual 45 minutes as I was stuck in three traffic jams owing to wedding processions. I do not understand why men and women in these wedding parties must dance on the road, oblivious to the inconvenience they cause to commuters. The situation worsens in key areas like the Dak Bungalow roundabout, Bailey Road, Fraser Road and Boring Road. The district administration should specify when wedding processions can be brought out onto the roads. The traffic police must ensure that they do not block traffic. Such processions should only be allowed after 10 pm when the traffic in the city thins out and people are in their homes.

Yours faithfully,
Sanjay Kumar, Patna