Mailbag

Set up accountability commission

Sir,

The main poll plank of coalition partners during the elections 2002, was to root out corruption and provide a corruption free and transparent Government with a difference. This was the slogan which ensured a large scale participation of the people in the polling process and gave mandate to the present rulers to rule.

As a first step the Government passed a bill to set up accountability commission in the State Assembly, which unfortunately has not been implemented so far for the reasons best known to the Government.

Since the corruption at all levels of administration has adversely effected the society and is a great hinderance in the smooth development of the State, it requires to be tackled with an iron hand and not with causal approach.

Should we remain silent and allow such an evil in the society to continue? To ensure complete elimination of corruption, the following suggestions are made which if implemented honestly can help to restore the order in the society as a whole.

Accountability commission with full powers as an autonomous body be set up without further delay. It should be free to investigate all cases of corruption against Government officials and politicians referred by Vigilance Organisation without any approval from the Government. Organisation should be empowered independently.

All the legislatures and Ministers should submit statements of both immovable and movable assets of theirs and their close relations to the commission instead of Speaker.

Sufficient No. of Judges be posted with the Commission to ensure speedy trails on day to day basis.

Yours etc...
M R Gupta
Reshamgarh Colony, Jammu.

Hazy horizons

Sir,

An ugly haze is hovering over the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu these days affecting visibility and sun shine. The problem is not natural but man made due to changed life style, modern technology and criminal silence of our Govt. If the process is allowed to continue in near future, these cities shall be dangerous places for humans to live.

Over the years the quality of air in Srinagar and Jammu is deteriorating day by day due to ever increasing number of vehicles plying on the roads, use of generators by shop keepers and establishment of polluting industries as brick kilns, stone crushers, cement plants, small scale manufacturing industries etc. Adding fuel to fire is transfer of old cars and other vehicles at peanut rates from New Delhi when Hon'ble Supreme Court intervened on public interest litigation to phase out old polluting and diesel vehicles from National capital.

We have pollution control laws here and a defunct State Pollution Control Board is functioning as silent spectator. As per anti pollution laws brick kilns and stone crushers should be 750 mts may from National Highway in plain areas and 500 mts away in mountainous roads 500 mts away from State, District and other roads in plain areas 350 mts away from State roads in mountainous areas.

The law further states that such unit shall be 5 km away from municipal limits of Srinagar and Jammu cities 3km away from major district HQ 1.5km away from residential areas and tourist complex and 500 mts away from forests and agricultural lands.

But unfortunately the menace of stone crushers and Brick kilns violate all these rules in J&K. All the stone crushers are existing on major roads and national highways.

The pollution control board should awake from deep slumber and take action against these polluting industries.

Yours etc...
Dr. Ram Chander Sharma
Sunder Bani (Rajouri)

Temper-proof meters

Sir,

I want to draw the attention of the people towards anti-people policies of PDD department. The department is forcing flat rates of electricity from December to the consumers who have installed on the recommendations and advice of Deptt. electric meters out of their pocket and are paying regularly their tarriff as per actual readings. They are now being forced once again to replace already installed meters with electronic meters and bear extra burden on account of cost of meters.

Instead Government, if sincere in efforts to increase the tarriff on account of electric dues, should replace the same with so-called temper proof meters on Government expenses in a phased manner, collecting already installed meters and providing concession to consumers in future tarriff dues on account of cost of such meters already borne by them.

The Govt can change an additional amount ranging from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50 per month, per meter on a/c of cost of temper proof meters if necessary.

This procedure, if accepted by the Govt. on one hand will be welcomed by all consumers and on other hand can avoid possible resentment in near future. Till the Govt. replaces the old meters with new ones, present system of payment should be allowed to continue as consumers are at no fault for this. Moreover, in order to increase tarriff, proposed system of flat rates should be lived on consumers who have not installed any meter so far. Besides, Govt. should sincerely take steps to realise actual tarriff from the Valley as the revenue collection from Valley is already negligible.

Yours etc...
R L Sethi
29-Afghan Street
Kachi Chowni, Jammu.