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Journalism of Courage
A large number of residents of the city seem to have no civic sense. People throw garbage by the roadside and in the parks at night. Even where there are dustbins provided by the Municipal Corporation (MC),residents are seen throwing garbage-filled polythene bags outside the bins and litter the space around. This pollutes the air and causes problems for residents who live in the vicinity of such dustbins. Maids washing courtyards throw the dirty water on the roads in front of the houses instead of throwing it into the gullies. And yet the house owners dont say anything.
Moreover,people are seen walking on the left side of the road when they should walk on the right side. Because you can have an eye on the oncoming traffic and save yourself by stepping aside. While walking on the left side,one has to constantly turn and look back to save oneself from the traffic coming from behind. Such lessons must be taught during school days. But no one cares about such things. People here are frequently seen littering the roads by throwing rubbish from running cars. Whereas in the US,people are fined for such non-civic activities. The problem here is that the offenders are neither caught nor punished by the callous staff – whether it is the MC or police force. Minting money and fattening pockets by catching the wrongdoers has become the order of the lawmen here. In the US,the car drivers stop their vehicles if anyone is crossing the road. But here,the pedestrian crossing the road is showered with the choicest of abuses … Anna hoyaan hain,dekhda nahin gaddi aarahi hai? by the vehicle owner! What a contrast! When will we learn civic sense and act as responsible citizens?
R K Kapoor,CHANDIGARH
The only crematorium is in a shambles
The Municipal Corporation,which is responsible for maintenance of the crematorium,has failed to check dumping of garbage here. Also,in spite of repeated appeals,no efforts are made to relocate the slum-dwellers to Sector 25 with the proper public toilets,as most of them use the cremation ground or the children burial ground as washroom. The crematorium is the only place available to citizens who live in Chandigarh and nearby areas for performing the last rites of the dead. Lack of water,water tanks without cover,rain shelters without benches,mismanagement in selling of wood for cremation,among other things,are the order of the day. The toilet for ladies is of no use. People face a lot of problems if it rains during the cremation ceremony as the cemented shelter is open from both sides.
Mayor Subhash Chawla,in whose ward the crematorium comes,can create a garden with the help of the horticulture department in the space surrounding the cremation ground. Not only would it give some solace to the aggrieved family,it would also increase the green cover of the area. The Municipal Corporation commissioner should inspect the ground change the sweepers deputed there as the present the condition of sanitation is deplorable.
Anshu Chawla,CHANDIGARH
Gurgaon CJM should be divested of powers
Although the Hooda government delegated the probe into last months mysterious death of the wife of a Chief Judicial Magistrate(CJM) of Gurgaon to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the victims parents requested for it,one would wonder why even more than three weeks after the sordid incident and even being booked on serious charges of alleged murder,dowry death and other counts,until the completion of investigation,the judicial officer concerned has not been sent on leave by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Although suspension seems highly exaggerated at this point of time,but for a free and fair probe,at least the CJM ought to be divested of his judicial powers until submission of chargesheet by the CBI.
One thing is clear that had an officer from executive cadre or even senior bureaucrat or police officer been booked on similar grounds,the state government would have done the same. If not on its own,then under public pressure. But as administrative/disciplinary control over judicial officers is exercised by the high court,the state government is powerless in the present case.
The inaction by the high court sends out worrying signals to the society in general and the kin of the victim in particular. Without raising any aspersions on the credibility of the countrys elite investigating agency,I,being a member of legal fraternity,am of the considerable view that holding of a coveted post of judge by an accused puts serious question marks over the probe to be fully impartial and neutral,thus,leading towards a logical conclusion. At a time when a common mans faith and trust over executive authorities has been seriously derailed and judiciary is the only ray of hope in contemporary times,it is hoped that those sitting at the helm of affairs of the high court would do so in order to substantiate the fact that justice should not only be done,but also seen to be done.
Hemant Kumar,AMBALA CITY
Punish those who waste water
The news item 22-25 per cent water for city is lost to theft and wastage (Newsline,August7) was shocking. Such wastage should be highly condemned. This also shows the casual who cares? attitude of the public servants,who are quite often seen striking at work and shouting for their rights. But what about their duties? Water theft and water wastage both occur due to the criminal neglect of the duties by the municipal staff.
Water,which otherwise is one of the most essential elements for survival,as such is fast becoming a scarce commodity. So its wastage,if not theft,should be considered as one of the most heinous crimes and people responsible for it should be awarded exemplary punishment.
A K Sharma,CHANDIGARH
People need New Chandigarh
Mullanpur as the New Chandigarh is really an apt decision taken by the government of Punjab. With the population increasing with each day,it is necessary to develop a new city for people as Chandigarh is becoming too overcrowded.
If the Punjab government is keen in developing this area by providing the basic amenities to the resident dwellers,then the decision is really praiseworthy. On the other hand,the state government must implement the similar policies in other cities and take initiatives to set right the horrifying condition of those cities. The government must look for a new Corbusier,who can advise the government on the architecture.
The problems which are being faced by the residents of New Chandigarh,like parking,water pressure,roads etc are minor if discussed before-hand and action is taken.
Arshdeep Singh,S A S NAGAR
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