The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Ooty lake park

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Ooty lake park

I refer to the news item ‘Ooty lake to get a park this summer’ (Dec. 25).

Ooty has become as noisy and crowded as any other town and is in the grip of a construction boom which has turned this hill station into a concrete jungle.

Seen against this background the lake park which is coming up in Ooty is a boon...a place where one can spend a couple of hours free from the din and bustle of the town.

One hopes this park will be free from those noisy toy items.

P.U. Krishnan,

Udhagamandalam.

Ban meetings

We had in 2007 given representations to the then Commissioner of Police Gandhirajan and then the present Commissioner Mahali to revoke permission to hold meetings in Tatabad Sivananda Colony (105 feet road) which is a residential area.

This road has seven roads on one side and six roads on another side.

It is also a passage to Ooty from Gandhipuram and this leads to Rathinapuri where there are more than 1,000 houses.

Mega stages are erected here for meetings blocking almost all roads in spite of a court ban on holding meetings in the area.

Cone-shaped loudspeakers are used at these meetings though they too are banned.

Moreover, a lot of power is wasted for these meetings – that too at a time when industries reel under power cuts.

Mahalaxmi Subramaniam,

Coimbatore.

Humane force

I would like to share a pleasant experience I had at the B-5 (Rathinapuri) police station of Coimbatore.

The prevailing image of the police is that of a “corrupt, rude and inhuman” force.

But my experience has given the lie to this notion about the police who, in fact, work under tremendous pressure.

A couple of days ago I received a request on phone from the above police station to visit it with documents for verification for renewal of passports.

When I went to the station the next day, I was received at the entrance itself and offered a seat.

Writer G. Nagaraj and sub-inspector K. Angamuthu were very courteous and went about their job of verification of documents meticulously and expeditiously and completed the entire exercise quickly.

While this was going on, I also saw the humane side of the police while they were dealing with persons summoned to the station for various purposes.

Obviously, the subordinate police staff have been trained well in the art of human relations too.

K.G. Ramakrishnan,

Coimbatore.

Speed breakers

Almost all roads, including those in small layouts, have speed breakers and most of them are without any specification.

In a 2.5-km stretch from my residence in Periyar Nagar to Race Course there are 15 speed breakers.

Most of them are in front of the defence and government offices where there is no much traffic or movement of people.

The speed breakers are of different shapes and sizes.

Even though they help avert accidents, they have some disadvantages.

Buses running on these roads do not slow down when they approach speed breakers resulting in passengers being thrown from seats.

Moreover, valuable time is wasted because of the speed breakers.

Speed breakers should be set up only in front of schools and hospitals.

They should be only on cut roads which join main roads and not on the main roads.

The number, the size and the shape of the speed breakers should be specified by an appropriate body.

K. Sukumaran,

Coimbatore.

Good concept

It is nice to know that the proof of address concept has been launched in Coimbatore by the Department of Posts.

It will surely save a lot of time for people who would like to get so many amenities by providing their residential address as proof.

However, it should be ensured that it is not misused.

Thiagarajan.B,

Coimbatore.

Laughter as medicine

The piece on Dr. G. Lakshmipathi, ‘Doctor of Laughter’, made interesting reading (‘Personality of the week’, Dec. 15).

Laughter is a good therapy which helps one relieve stress and strain.

Laughter is an internal language unique to the mankind and it is also an instant vacation.

Laughter therapy exercises at early morning yoga session will enable one to remain hale and healthy.

B. Sripada Rajan,

Coimbatore.

No street light

Sharada Nagar, a segment of Kovaipudur in Kuniamuthur Municipality, does not have street lights at all.

Though promises have been made nothing has been done to have the street lights installed.

Will the authorities concerned look into this?

B.R. Shetty,

Coimbatore.

Petrol bunk

A petrol bunk should be set up on N.S.R. Road, Sai Baba Colony, urgently to cater to the growing population of Sai Baba Colony and the adjacent K.K. Pudur.

Authorities should take steps to ensure that consumers in these areas get petroleum products at a reasonable distance.

G. Balakrishnan,

Coimbatore.

Dumping yard

This refers to Rohini V. Nath’s letter ‘Dumping yard’ (Dec. 8). Ms. Nath has done well in bringing the problem of dumping animal wastes to public gaze.

I too have seen the wastes on the stretch of Thondamuthur Road, beyond Curio Garden.

The stench emanating from the yard is beyond the endurance limits of human beings.

Undoubtedly, it is a grave health hazard.

I wonder how residents in that area have been tolerating it.

The situation warrants immediate remedial measures.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore.

Harassing honest citizens

In December I got a notice from the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation asking me to pay property tax for 2008-2009 (second half) which is due in March 2009.

The notice said if I did not pay the tax within a week of the date of the notice my water connection would be cut.

I have paid tax for the first half in April 2008 itself.

How can the Corporation issue me notice asking me to pay the tax in December 2008 for the half which is due in March 2009?

The Corporation should bring defaulters who have not paid tax for years to book instead of harassing honest citizens.

Moreover, any notice should be served only after the due date and not three months before the due date?

C.R. Sadasivam,

Coimbatore.

Railway projects

Railway users of Coimbatore hope that the ongoing Southern Railway projects will progress without hitches.

The year just passed saw hectic activities such as undertaking of yard remodelling in Coimbatore junction to facilitate easy entry of more trains into and exit from Coimbatore junction and also doubling of Podanur-Coimbatore junction (by gauge conversion) and Irugur-Coimbatore north doubling works which are nearing completion.

The only work that is completed is that of the sixth broad gauge platform.

People of Coimbatore hope the Southern Railway will complete the ongoing projects in Coimbatore soon to facilitate easy movement of all trains through this junction.

Ravi. S,

Coimbatore.

Ration cards

It is time the issuance of ration cards is computerised.

This will expedite disbursal of ration cards pending for years in Coimbatore and also prevent malpractices.

The cards should be issued strictly on priority of date of application.

M. Subramanian,

Coimbatore.

Luxury buses

Introduction of low berth luxury buses in Coimbatore is a boon to its citizens.

Office-goers and the aged prefer to travel in these buses as seats in them are comfortably designed with plenty of leg space.

Even those who stand feel comfortable.

During peak hours pass-holding students board these buses in groups and occupy most of the seats.

Other passengers who pay a higher fare (three times the normal fare plus Re. 1) do not get seats and they are made to stand.

I suggest that the pass-holding students be allowed to travel only in ordinary buses and not in the luxury ones.

M.V. Namby,

Coimbatore.

Raw deal

Years ago when theatre owners, film producers and distributors requested the government to tackle video piracy the government protected the interests of the service providers.

Of late, in Chennai and Coimbatore filmgoers get a raw deal.

Tickets which used to be sold at Rs. 25 or Rs. 35 are now sold at about Rs. 100.

Air-conditioning in theatres seldom works and toilets there are unclean.

Eateries sold in the theatres are not hygienic.

Canteen contractors sell snacks at high rates.

It is the filmgoers who sustain theatre owners, distributors and film producers.

It is time the government protected the common man by constituting a committee to supervise the functioning of the theatres.

C.M. Jeyaraam,

Secretary, Citizens Voice Club, Coimbatore.

Ensure safety

It is common to see in Erode town loaded LPG cylinders being carried on the rear carrier of two wheelers for delivery.

Two cylinders will be hung on both sides of the carrier and three more cylinders will be piled up on the carrier without any support.

As the cylinders are transported openly ignoring all safety measures there is every possibility of the cylinders exploding in the middle of the road.

The loaded cylinders should either be transported in three-wheelers or ‘Minidor’ four wheelers in order to avert any untoward incident during transportation.

C. Bhaskaran,

Erode. (Readers can mail to cbereaders@ thehindu.co.in with address and phone number)

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