Raja Muthiah Nagar in Kurichi Municipality area has an abundance of stray dogs, pigs, horses and hens. These animals have become a nuisance to road users. I request the municipal authorities to take immediate action to remove these stray animals.

N.P. Sivam,

A. Raja Muthiah Nagar.

Despite the issue of racial attacks on immigrant Indian students in Australia having been taken up at government level, there have been instances of suicides of Indian students. With such an inhospitable climate, how can Australia attract foreign students? With every suicide, a promising budding career withers, a family is ruined, a nation’s resource is wasted. Security is the basic need of a student and if it is denied, it is risky to take the plunge. Hospitality is the hallmark of a host country. A place can be an education centre only if the environment and ambient conditions are congenial. And to provide these adequately should be its efforts.

S. Venkatachalam,

Kavundampalayam.

We heaved a sigh of relief when the side middle berths in railway coaches were dispensed with. But our joy was short-lived. These berths have now taken a new avatar in the form of an extra cushion for the side-upper berths. This padding has given rise to many problems. The roof of the coach is so low at this section that occupants have to virtually crouch – their body having to go through a series of contortions and convolutions before they can stretch which does a gymnast proud. Gaining access to the berth calls for hazardous climbing followed by deft balancing skills of a trapeze artiste.

Climbing down is equally challenging and arduous. The strong and the sturdy may welcome this challenge but not people advanced in age who sometimes get these berths allotted. For them it is a nightmare! Can status quo be restored as it obtained prior to the introduction of these “middle berths”? The Railways must act here and now.

R. Narayanan,

Kovaipudur.

I reside on Sami Iyer New Street. The condition here is appalling. The street adjoining Edayar Street (up to Oppanakara Street) was once home to lawyers, teachers and well-placed government officials. With the advent of the business community, goldsmiths and migration of people from West Bengal, Rajasthan and Kerala for jobs, the street has virtually become a commercial centre. The street has lost its pristine glory and people have to jostle through the crowd and automobiles. The area is strewn with dust and filth. The dustbins provided by the Corporation always overflow with garbage. The traffic police do not streamline traffic at important points.

P.N. Jagannathan,

Sami Iyer New Street.

For many of us who read of road accidents they are mere statistics tinged with momentary regret over the loss of lives. But when the accident is nearer home the tragedy is far more deeply felt. This happened to me recently when I learnt of two innocent young children being killed in a bus/car accident. Bad roads, indisciplined traffic, unwarranted issuance of driving licences, inadequate enforcement of existing rules and regulations are the factors which lead to accidents. The accidents are an indictment of our systems and values and we need to act swiftly to stop them.

M. Vania,

Sowripalayam.

Since July 2007/June 2008 issue the southern zone railway time table has not been available to the public. When I enquired with the Coimbatore Junction officials they said they received only 100 copies which got exhausted immediately. Will the authorities make sufficient number of copies available – may be 2,000 – to the public immediately?

A. Krishnan,

Ramnagar.

It was heartening to read that 450 school students along with the special task force personnel cleaned the forest area near Erode and removed 5,000 kg. of plastic waste. In J&K children took part in a rally at Dal Lake in Srinagar to create awareness on global warming. In Coimbatore school children took a survey of various tanks to ascertain why some of them do not have/hold water. The anxiety of the future generation is understandable. We, the custodians of its future, plunder Nature to satisfy our selfish needs not caring for the future generation.

Pratap Gokuldas,

R.S. Puram.

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

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