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| CHOKED: What she says in public, she does not do. Mamata Banerjee recently attended the Hool Divas programme in the middle of the Metro Channel, blocking the city centre. As the chief minister showed the way, part-time teachers and employees of schools followed, squatting at the Dorina Crossing and throwing traffic out of gear. |
I am writing in reference to the recent article (and several others published in the past) on auto drivers ruling the city roads. I have been caught in several quarrels with auto and taxi drivers and I definitely do not appreciate the current situation.
But I fail to understand why people prefer to sit in an auto that is already carrying more than three or four passengers. We talk about auto drivers, taxi drivers or bus drivers ruling the city streets, but the truth is that everybody in Calcutta is to be blamed.
The problem can be solved only with a fundamental shift in everyone’s attitude and not just that of a rogue group. It may be rightly argued that commuters have no other option but to give in to the demands of an auto driver but what stops them from standing at a designated bus stop or auto stop?
It is extremely common to wave down a bus or auto anywhere on the road, putting at risk the lives of many. The power to change lies with the common man. There is a need to create awareness instead of blaming auto drivers.
Rohit K. Nathany,
Michigan
Football training
It is a matter of pride and glory that Bengal teenagers have got the opportunity to attend a soccer camp in Germany (Bayern goal for Bengal boys, August 7).
While the teenagers should grab the opportunity to learn the tricks of the game from experts, the state should develop infrastructure for football training in Bengal.
Football being a deprived sector in India, it is not backed by sponsors who spend a fortune on cricket.
So the initiative has to come from the state government and local clubs to ensure that the training these kids receive does not go waste.
The kids should get enough opportunity back home to utilise the skills they learn and share their learning with other aspirants.
Rathin Kumar Chanda,
Chinsurah, Hooghly
Rainless clouds
The poor rainfall in Bengal this year is alarming (Curious case of rainless clouds, July 19). Poor crop production and a hike in price are obviously on the cards. Since we have no control on the weather, rain water harvesting and makeshift canals seem necessary to tackle this grave situation.
Tanmoy Goswami,
Bansdroni
Road barrier
I read the report about traffic police putting rail guards or traffic barriers in the middle of the bridge connecting AJC Bose Road with Park Circus. This is a common hazard. The other day I almost rammed into a rail barrier placed in the middle of the road near the Race Course.
Can the police help motorists by placing a warning sign or illuminate the rail guards so that they can be spotted from a distance?
Sanjay Agarwal,
Harish Mukerjee Road
Washed away
It is not surprising that a road built in 11 years can get washed away in a day’s rain in the city (Road built in 11 years washed away in one year, July 13). It is obvious that the contractors hired by the state agencies had not adhered to the norms for building the road. Corruption and lack of supervision result in substandard work. One hopes minister Firhad Hakim takes firm steps so that projects are executed properly in future.
A.S. Mehta,
New Alipore
The incident shows how public money is wasted in the name of building roads. Corruption is the only cause. Absence of a foolproof monitoring system helps corrupt officials to flout rules without getting caught.
Ayan Sarkar,
Kasba
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