The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Shocking neglect

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Monday, Jul 06, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Shocking neglect

It was a shock to watch a news report on television recently of two children having died due to electrocution from a cell tower transformer in Kurnool district. According to draft guidelines of Telecom department of India, cell towers must not be placed in residential areas and schools and hospitals. Proper fencing must be provided to ward off the public.

The guidelines are not being followed by cell phone companies. They are more interested in profits and are throwing the public safety to wind, and the greedy land owners tempted by the high rents are allowing the companies to erect towers despite the neighbours’ protest. The town planning officials grant permission for erection of towers in residential areas. How many more lives have to be lost before the law is enforced strictly?

Dr. V. Sridevi

Suryaraopeta, Vijayawada

Pensioners’ woes

It is a matter of great concern that the present State Bank of India branches in the State are not allowed to settle minor problems of customers, particularly pensioners, with all the powers vested in the online office located at the SBI in Hyderabad.

The pensioners are asked to send their grievances online through their local branches to the online office, resulting in colossal waste of time. Family pension to widows is not being paid even after long periods and the sufferings are innumerable in case of illiterate wives. I suggest restoration of powers to SBI branches till foolproof arrangements are made at the online office in Hyderabad.

H. Kalyan Rao

Guntur

Surprise checks laudable

At the recently concluded Collector’s conference the Chief Minister has disclosed that he would be making surprise visit to the districts. This is indeed a laudable decision.

It would have been good if he had directed the Collectors too, to make surprise visits to mandals, and other offices under their control. In fact, it is very desirable that the top official in each department makes a surprise visit to offices under his or her control. That would keep the lower rung staff on their toes. Many public utility departments do not acknowledge any letter, be it a complaint or suggestion, in spite of the fact that office automation gadgets are available.

Is this what the politicians call transparency? By surprise visits the government can know how far the aam admi schemes reach the beneficiaries.

C. Ram Mohun

HB Colony, Vijayawada

Tribute to a great guru

The demand of music lovers to announce the name of kruti and the raagam before rendering it, has been conceded, kudos to the organisers, during the five-day long 58th aradhanotsavam of Parupalli Ramakrishnaiah Pantulu, in the local Sivaramakshetram recently. A native of Vijayawada, Ramarkrishnaiah Pantulu whose direct sishya was the renowned artiste Padma Vibhushan Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, taught music strictly in the gurkula system without taking remuneration and feeding them freely. As many as 24 concerts including five instrumental were held, and connoisseurs of music, who attended in large numbers, had a field day during the celebrations which were conducted on the lines of Tyagaraja festival at Thiruvayur.

V.V. Ramanaiah

Krishnalanka, Vijayawada

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Andhra Pradesh