Mailbag

Plea to Power Minister

Sir,

The promise and dream of uninterrupted power supply cannot be achieved until the consumers are made to pay according to their consumption. While the present Government has reduced the duration of the power cuts, its uninterrupted supply remains a dream.

The public is aware that revenue collectors of the department would not allow to end their gratifications. They have tasted corruption and can not permit the Power Development Department to make consumers to pay as per their consumption. All efforts and initiatives of the Government in this regard have been frustrated by the concerned employees of PDD. Since only one-third of the power consumers are in PDD revenue collection net, the Power Minister should order that these consumers would pay for three years what they have paid for 2004-05. No meter reader or any other employee of the Deptt. would enter the houses of their consumers for collecting their monthly gratifications.

The entire filed staff of the PDD should be made to register and bring within the revenue net the consumers who are outside the net but within the knowledge of concerned PDD employees. Such consumers have to pay only monthly qualifications for limit less power consumption. Revision of tariff rates or load does not bother two-thirds of the power consumers. As the population of the state is around one crore, there must be over 33 cash power connections (domestic, commercial shops etc.). This number despite serious efforts over the last couple of years has been crossed a million yet. The Power Minister can reward the registered consumers by limiting their revenue to that collected during the last year for three years or so. More importantly, the concerned PDD employees have to be debarred from entering such premises.

Yours etc..
M L Pandit

Book festival

Sir,

This has reference to the 'Dogri Pustak Mela' published in the Daily Excelsior on Dec. 12,2004. It is indeed a landable step that the Dogri Sansthan Jammu organised a book fair. Such fairs should be held annually to cultivate a taste for book reading among the masses. This in turn would help people to get familiar with the Dogri heritage and culture. Books are indeed a good medium for preservation, transmission, and advancement of culture. Besides, these bring awareness and enlightenment. It is a matter of concern that people are losing interest in books due to paucity of time and onslaught of electronic media. Therefore the writers, organisers have to publish such books which are attractive, interesting and cost effective. If such an approach is adopted, it is hoped that it would create interest among the masses.

Yours etc...
Ramesh Salgotra
Rajpura Mangotrian
Jammu

War against narcotics

Sir,

This has reference to the news item 'Adopt joint strategy..." published in the Daily Excelsior.

The steps taken by the Governments of India and Pakistan to adopt a joint strategy to prevent opium smuggling into and outside the Asian region are welcome.

The drug menace is related to various socio-political problems of almost every country of the world. Though it fetches huge profits to cultivators of poppy, it at the same times shatters the social fabric of society. Our young youths thought belonging to any starta of society fall prey to this evil easily. Not only that, it is posing threat to our country as the money earned from this business is being used to fund terrorism. It India is a victim of this business today, Pakistan may become its victim tomorrow. It is well said that "money earned illegaly goes for illegal activities only."

Therefore the two countries in collaboration with other nations should deal with this menace on priority basis.

Yours etc...
Vikramjeet
Gandhi Nagar

Illegal immigrants

Sir,

Refer the editorial 'Atleast, a hope' published in the Daily Excelsior on Dec. 14.

It is indeed a timely step taken up the Apex Court. The infiltration of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is a grave problem and it should not be politicised as is the want of politicians. The political leaders should treat it as security problem. The Government of India should take a firm initiative to deal with this type of crisis.

India is already facing may threats to her sovereignty from internal and external forces. If we keep on engaging ourselves in conflicts, we may not progress at the same speed in other fields of life.

Numerous instances of border crossing by Bangladeshi immigrants are reported even from J&K state. They are captured but are freed as there is no specific law to deal with them.

We hope that the Central Government may not sleep at this sensitive matter.

Yours etc...
Rahul Sharma,
Talab Tiloo