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Augment water, electricity supply

Sir,

It is a welcome step that the high-level committee of the Principal Secretaries of PHE and Power Corporation Deptts. presided over by the Divisional Commisisoner Jammu met on 25.5.2000 to review the water and power supply position of Jammu Division. The Committee assessed deficiency of one crore gallons of water per day in Jammu city and 20 lakh power units per day in the Jammu Division vis-a-vis respective requirements in this behalf. Obviously, the supply position of these two essential necessities of life is quite bad. Just a couple of weeks back there was disruption in water supply in many areas of Gandhi Nagar, including our Mohallas for complete 72 hours at a stretch; causing great inconvenience to the residents. It is however, relieving that one-time water supply for over half an hour daily even though too inadequate for consumers having only one pipe water connection has since been started. Notably in this water scarcity scenario with mercury rising above 41degree celsius the recommendations of the Review Committee under-lining an urgent need of harnessing all the available sources of water supply so that it is made available in each nook and corner of the region'' are quite assuring even though they are not immediately helpful to the people as it will take much time to findout available sources of water supply and tap them after completing execution of works formalities. It is, unfortunate, that proper timely action has been wanting to augment water supply in view of increasing requirements of growing population and developmental activities. The water and Power crisis speak itself of lack of proper forecasting, pre-planning and programming actions in this behalf by the Government. So far as power shortages are concerned the modus operandi stated to be adopted by the Department is ''Power cuts are being administered in different groups and phases'. It is obviously no solution. The solution lies in augmenting power availability by purchase and or generation of power with reference to prospective needs of growing population, townships, industry and other areas of developmental activities, woefully, not much seems to have been done over the years so as to avoid the present Rationing (of water and power) situation. The steps envisaged to provide adequate power to the consumers and Industry need to be expedited ontop-most Priority basis.

Yours etc...
Babu Ram Sharma
443-A Gandhi Nagar
Jammu.

Uncertain Monsoons

Sir,

India is a water thirst land since her agricultural activity depends on monsoons. This thirst for water is universal in our country. Monsoon rains in India is neither certain nor well timed. Sometime it starts very late. And sometimes much earlier or ahead of time and some times very late. Sometimes rainfall is so small that there is drought and famine. At other times there is so much of rain that the rivers are flooded and the standing crops submerged. In India the figures of mean annual rainfall is almost meaningless. Even this amount is not reliable. Nearly 30 percent of total land area receives an amount of rainfall which is less than 75 cm. The lack of scientific approach together with the inefficient and incompetent Governments has led to the present situation.

Taken into account the usual flow of Indian rivers, it has been calculated that the water to the tune of 167 million hectare meters are available for irrigation. The rest water is wasted. The underground water level which we use for drinking and irrigation is reduced very much.

The already contentious issue of sharing river waters by reparian states would be further aggravated. Of late, we have seen how the sharing of river waters between states has become a political issue.

The prospect of living with grim reality that our country would receive less rainfall in coming months are too serious. Any erratic behaviour of rains in coming months would certainly upset applecart and create problems of multi-dimensional proportion for one and all. An atmosphere of panic and scarcity has already gripped and crippled states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra and Orissa. To overcome this natural disaster, we need to adopt short term and long term measures. We need to develop low cost means of drinking water and irrigation. We need to adopt and strengthen the local traditional methods of storing water for use during off season. Emphasis should be on long term comprehensive river Valley projects called multipurpose projects so that the water of perennial rivers is properly utilized and not allowed to get wasted.

Yours etc..
Autar Krishen Razdan
Lale Da Bagh, Jammu.

Erratic water, electricity supply

Sir,

It is communicated to the authorities concerned particularly the authorities of PDD and J&K Housing Board that their negligence in maintaining the civic facilities as also the proper supply of electricity in the colonies of J&K Housing Board, particularly Channi Himmat Housing Colony, may not prove as criminal negligence on their part. Housing colonies and in this regard particularly the Channi Himmat Housing is facing lot of problems, such as inadequate proper road surface, coupled with faulty and bad roads which are full of ditches and pot holes, improper water supply and above all inadequate and erratic power supply. Before such authorities which are maintaining such essential services fall a prey to the wrath of the consumer protection laws, let these bodies and departments set right the things as early as possible. In regard to erratic power supply, not only the voltage component has to be maintained in such supplies, but also the amperage part of the current is also to be maintained for maintaining appropriate values of power component so that electric gadgets work properly for which a consumer pays. This may be noted by PDD authorities cautiously.

Yours etc...
Residents of
Channi Himmat
Housing Colony, Jammu.

Vulgarity on walls

Sir,

It has become a matter of common interest to all to have a look at the posters of a semi-nude, vulgar film; most of which are either the dubbed versions of some South Indian or Western movies. Interestingly but not surprisingly, the posters are found billed on the walls of our so-called City of Temples. I wonder whether morals have been lowered to this level that we have even stopped raising our voice against nudity of this kind in films; a media which otherwise could prove to be more useful for the upliftment of degrading social norms and values. It is high-time that the concerned Government authorities come forward to check this menance of cultural deterioration through blatant display of semi-nude posters which has reached an all time low in the recent years.

Yours etc...
Dr Rajnikant
58, Nitco Lane Extension
Canal Road, Jammu.