Upgradation
of Airports
Sir,
In these modern times when
the need for communication is felt more
and more the discussions between the
Chief Minister and the Minister of Civil
Aviation are noteworthy (DE, Apr 24).
The State has two main
airports at Srinagar and Jammu. Besides
there is the airport of Leh which is also
important. But the future demand on these
airports is to increase. The increasing
rush on pilgrims to the State and the
number of tourists visiting will normally
put pressure on the airports. With the
growth of aviation section many new
airlines have come into being. They are
increasing the attractions for the common
man to travel by air. So we have seen a
price war between different airlines.
This lowering of price has created a
chance for even the middle income group
to travel by air. With this the chances
of people coming to the State will
increase. Thus we need better airport
facilities and bigger capacities which
can handle say four or five flights per
hour. So these airports need immediate
upgradation not only in terms of runway
length but also apron space bigger
longues, better cargo handling capacity
etc. These airports need to be equipped
with ILS (instrument landing system) so
that even in inclement weather flights
can take off and land without difficulty.
In addition to these
airports, there is an urgent need to
operationalise the smaller airport of
Kargil. There are places like Zanskar,
Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar etc. which need
to be linked to State Headquarters. In
winter these places remain cut off for
months. This makes the life of the people
living there miserable. The Govt. should
explore the possibilities of regular
helicopter and small aircraft services to
these areas so that the people of these
remote areas are linked to the other
parts of the State.
Yours
etc...
Gh. Nabi Dar
Jammu
Protect
Ram Setu
Sir,
Ram Setu, which is the
symbol of India's rich culture and
civilization, is the bridge with was
built thousands of years ago to cross the
sea and reach Lanka, where Sita, wife of
Shri Ram Chandraji, was kept in captivity
by the cruel Ravana.
It is said that Ram Setu is
the oldest man made structure which still
exists. It is claimed that Ram Setu is
even older than the world famous Great
wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt.
India should be proud of having a
monument which is oldest than any other
monument in any part of the world.
Instead of demolishing Ram Setu, the
Government should hand it over to
Archaeological Survey of India for
maintenance, preservation for the next
generations and public exhibition. It
will not only attract tourists from the
world over but crores of Hindu pilgrims
will be visiting here annually as their
religious sentiments are directly linked
with this bridge. So it is both
historically and religiously important.
While the Great wall of China and
Pyramids of Egypt are being protected,
preserved by the Governments there, one
can not understand why the Government of
India is taking a decision which will not
only hurt the sentiments of Hindu but
demolish a very very important historical
monument. Besides this, it is also said
that demolition of Ram Setu will result
in starvation of thousands of fishermen.
It is further said that demolition of Ram
Setu would mean demolition of a strong
structure which protects states of
Kerala, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh from
the Tsunamis.
Before taking any decision
regarding demolition of Ram Setu, the
Government of India should have given a
thought on the situation that may arise
as such a decision will provoke the
hundreds of millions of people.
The Government of India
should drop the idea of demolition of Ram
Setu as it will not only hurt the
sentiments of people but our country will
also be depriving the coming generations
of such an important monument.
Yours
etc...
Balbir Ram
New Plot,
Jammu
Huge
seizure
Sir,
A news report titled, ''Rs.
2.75 undisclosed income recovered from
...... (DE, Apr 24)'' has stunned the
common and ordinary citizen.
The news report further said
that the amount of unaccounted money in
cash alone could go to Rs. 10 crores or
should we say 100 million or even beyond.
What times! How much money! And that too
in their houses. It means that how much
they must have invested in here and
there. What Greed! How much of it! May be
for us common men it means huge wealth
while as for these creame-da-la-creame of
the society it means just peanuts.
Sometimes I ponder and think about French
revolution. When people rushed to the
mansions of the rich and plundered them.
Those were the times when the people were
under the rule of kings. They had no say.
But now we are living in a democracy. And
this loot is taking place in form of
Govt. which by definition is for the
people but actually it is 'far' the
people.
It has been proved that even
now the powerful, the rich and highly
connected have their way and that their
writ runs everywhere. But there seems a
light too. Thank God that at last these
people have been caught. But they will be
left untouched. They will pay the default
money and penalty. Then things will
settle. They will again go to their old
ways. But the Govt. and its machinery
must keep a strict eye on these
defaulters list they repeat what they
have done.
Yours
etc...
R L Sharma
Gandhi Nagar
Jammu
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