Vox Populi

War memorial a good initiative
This refers to a report,“City bows to war heroes”,CNL,January 31. The Indian Express Group of Newspapers had contributed a lot towards the Chandigarh War Memorial. The memorial is a tribute to our war heroes. Many of us had also given donation to The Indian Express Citizens’ Relief Fund for the War Memorial. This is the largest war memorial dedicated to those who laid their lives defending the country since Independence. The list of names of a thousand soldiers has been appeared on the board that had scarified their lives in the wars. Now,this war memorial has become a place of paying homage to the martyrs on different occasions.

M L Garg
Chandigarh

Complete Amritsar-Chandigarh rail link
I strongly endorse the views of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urging Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for early completion of the Chandigarh-Amritsar rail link (news report,Chandigarh Newsline,February 5). This rail link has been hanging fire since a long. People from far-off places in Punjab have to come to Chandigarh as it is the state capital. Bus journey is boring and tiresome and it takes more time than a train. It will also be beneficial for the business and industry as it would be easier and safe for the movement of goods between the two stations.

R K KAPOOR
Chandigarh

MC should manage parking lots
The move by the Municipal Corporation,Chandigarh,to hike charges of monthly passes from Rs 25 to Rs 50 for two-wheelers and Rs 50 to Rs 150 for cars,the problem of paid parking is not going to improve. In compliance with High Court directive,the Municipal Corporation had started paid parking through contractors in selected places. This caused serious infirmities such as frequent thefts of vehicles,non-issue of proper receipts,staff without uniforms,non-cleanliness of parking lots,child labour and illiterate employees. The staff (mostly child labourers) considers only giving the receipt but are not concerned for the return journey. This writer has kept a number of receipts issued at various paid parking places,where nobody has asked for receipts while exiting the parking lot with vehicles. The main lacuna is that the personnel employed do not consider themselves responsible for any loss of vehicle — not only theft but also damage caused to the vehicle or theft of any part of it — whereas the owner of the vehicle pays the money for security and safety of the vehicle. The MCC has sufficient funds and the present income from paid parking through contractors is just like a drop in the ocean. MCC should take charge of all existing paid parking itself,preferably by allowing free parking or charging nominal Rs 2 for cars and Re 1 for two wheelers.

S K Khosla
Chandigarh

Autorickshaw drivers openly fleece city residents
Autos have become a big menace for commuters in Chandigarh. Ironically,they do not operate on meters and arbitrarily demand substantial amount from hapless passengers.

The situation is very alarming at Chandigarh Railway Station,where even in the presence of traffic policemen,they ask for arbitrary amounts. It may be added here that most autos do not have meters and they flout pollution control norms. The authorities should also prominently display auto/taxi administration approved charges payable for various important destinations at the railway station,ISBTs and various other important locations in the tricity.

S K Gupta
Chandigarh

Ambala bus stand an eyesore
The Ambala bus stand presents a picture of utter neglect and official apathy. Dotted with potholes,surrounded with stagnated water and bus bays full of dirt and filth,the bus stand is an eyesore. With no proper facility to park vehicles,there is usually chaos in and around the bus stand. Stray animals add to the problem. There is no arrangement of cold water at the bus stand even during the summer. There is no good place for meals either. Due to its location,buses enter the already crowded town to reach the bus stand. On top of this,there are encroachments by private transporters,autorickshaws,cycle rickshaws,rehris and vendors,right under the nose of the authorities concerned. The encroachers have even taken over places near the entry and exit points,leaving little space for smooth traffic. Dhaba owners and other shopkeepers near the stand have also encroached the pavement area. Even as thousands of passengers face hardship daily,the district administration and the local civic body are yet to wake up.

Dr Shruti K Chawla
Chandigarh

Time management is key to success during exams
Examination time is round the corner and children are stuck indoors with books. Apart from working hard and coping up with stress,time management is the key to success. Boost confidence and reduce any pre-exam stress by avoiding last-minute cramming. Play is as important as work,so make sure to find time to have fun and relax in between study sessions. Develop a timetable to track and monitor the progress. As soon as one starts losing concentration,take a short break — go for a walk,talk to a friend or listen to music. Sleep is the best stressbuster. The quickest and most effective way of eliminating feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long,slow deep breaths.

Vineet Kapoor
Panchkula

Admn should take schools to task
The Sunday Special (CN Feb 7) “No room for poor” was both timely and eye opening. May one ask why the Administration is sleeping over the issue with city schools blatantly ignoring the well laid out compulsive norm of providing 15 per cent seats to students from the weaker section of society? It is another matter that all these faltering ‘elite’ teaching shops have been given land for peanuts.

BALVINDER
Chandigarh

Implement no-smoking ban in letter and spirit
Ban on pubic smoking was announced in Chandigarh with all the fanfare and publicity. However,it seems no serious effort has been made by the Chandigarh administration for the enforcement of the ban. The boundary wall of all schools in Sector 38 display notices informing that the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres is strictly prohibited. Unfortunately,all the sub-sector mini markets located within the prohibitory limits stock and sell tobacco products. The mini markets are very much public places. Yet,one can find the youth hanging around these markets throughout the day and smoking cigarettes loaded with hashish. This blatant defiance of law is not peculiar to Sector 38 only. It must be the situation prevailing in all the sectors of Chandigarh. The Chandigarh administration and the enforcement agency must ensure the deliberate flouting of law is curbed at the earliest with strict punishment to the guilty.

Col K D Pathak (Retd)
Chandigarh