Citizens’ Voice: Stop new traffic Rotary plan at SG Barve Chowk

The decision to implement one-way traffic on Jangli Maharaj Road and Fergusson College Road a few years ago had put commuters and PMPML in quandary by diverting trips on both roads.

This decision had led to several accidents,victimising pedestrians,cyclists,elders and students.

The new Rotary plan to ban left turn at S G Barve Chowk,leading to PMC and Swargate,has affected thousands of daily bus trips.

It is posing problems for all as commuters have to now cover a longer distance and spend more time and money.

Routes of all buses coming from Nata Wadi,Pune University,Sangvi,Pashan,Baner,Sutarwadi and Paud have been affected.

We understand traffic police also has expressed reservations on this new regulation. New rules should not be imposed on hapless citizens to benefit a handful of car owners. Jugal S Rathi,Vivek Velankar,PMP Pravasi Manch

Foodgrain at risk

Aropos for the news item “6.6 million tonnes of wheat at risk during monsoon.” The country produces humongous amount of grain at the cost of crippling expenditure on imported fuel and fertilisers.

The production is being wasted due to lack of proper storage facilities.

These surpluses have built up over a few years in tandem with the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices continuing to propose an increase in procurement prices and the government generously agreeing with some changes for the better. Even a bonus is being offered in one state.

The trend of wasting surplus foodgrain is in disturbing contrast to the continuing imports of edible oils and pulses.

Added to this are reports of low cost storages being surrendered by the Food Corporation of Indian and efforts to replace them at higher costs. Attempts to export leave a lot to be desired.

May be the grain required by the beneficiaries over the next few months could be released to them in advance,leaving to them the option of picking it up.

Similarly,large tracts of fertile soil are being used to produce surplus sugar.

Scarce water,expensive fertilisers and other inputs at subsidised prices all go to produce the surplus at prices that render normal exports uneconomic,and all this when we have to import edible oils and pulses needed by the common man.

It would help if the government levies a heavy land revenue for sugarcane. Another area of concern is tobacco.

A large tract of fertile land,fertilisers irrigation,fertiliser and other costly inputs are used in production.

Many state governments earn huge revenues from trade in tendu leaves used for making bidis.

Creation of alternative avenues of employment for the poor involved gets little attention and so does the diversion of these lands to produce edible oils and pulses for the comman man.

A very heavy land revenue/excise or levy for tobacco crop seems essential. Intermediaries (including government) in the agriculture create huge inefficiencies.

The producers and consumers suffer and there are no efforts to stem the rot. Improved system efficiency in all sectors of the economy is the only way forward.

Anil Shirole Ghole Road Pune 411 004