Jammu Festival

Sir,

Jammu festival is on the festival showcases the cultural and social aspects of Jammu. It also makes people aware of the need to preserve the cultural and historical sights.

Government has done the right thing to show case Jammu. These days Mubarak Mandi and Bagh-e-Bahu are replete with Jammu Culture. Programme for the festival has been released through various papers. In these times when we are confronted with challenges of a modern and materialistic life we tend to forget the traditions and customs. The busy life does not seem to have left any space in our minds to think about such any space in our minds to think about such things like culture, religion, literature and laugher.

The world of arts has virtually been shut on our face. We have come to terms with our wild aspect, our animal aspect but not our more delicate artistic aspect.

Our ancestors have bequeathed to us traditious and customs which are time tested and old. It does not mean that they are all to be followed but it doesnot also mean that they are all to be ignored. If we make our lives meaningful and vibrant it is only because of things like Jammu festival which allows us to know about our traditions and our social life. It helps to us to smile, dance and sing. All these three things we have comprehensively forgotten. We need to know about our culture and arts. It makes a great difference to life.

Yours etc...
Akriti Mehra
Nanak Nagar,
Jammu

Sapphires

Sir,

It is heartening to know that the Jammu & Kashmir has good reserves of world's best quality sapphires. The recent international auction of these precious stones at State's summer capital fetching a record price of Rs. 1.31 crores is a good news for people. The govt. should gear up for its mining so that we can fund our development works. Some time back ONGC had carried out survey for oil and gas in Sunderbani Nowshera & Kalakote areas and indicated good reserves of hydrocarbons but it has not been put to international bidding. It is appealed to Chief Minister to approach Govt. of India to start drilling in the area. It will generate much needed employment as well as revenue.

Sd/-
Dr. Ram Chander Sharma
Village Siot Sunderbani

Discourage use of polybags

Sir,

Most cities and states have a ban on poly bags but no action has been taken to stop, or atleast decrease the exclusive use of polythene bags in Jammu city.

Our city uses polythene bags the most and inspite of reusing them, majority of the population throws them on roads or in canals which usually block pipes and make a mess on roads. They also are non-bioregradable. Polythene bags are also dangerous for soil as they contain harmful chemicals which damage the soil and on burning pollute the air.

Polythene bags are also dangerous for the animals as sometimes some animals swallow them.

The concerned authorities and Government should take step to stop or atleast decrease the excessive use of polythene bags to make our city beautiful and a better place to live in.

Yours etc...
Manvi Sharma
Jammu

Environmental problems

Sir,

Environmental problems like deforestation, pollution, over population, poor sanitation are becoming complex and universal. They have to be handled firmly. But our city, Jammu is also suffering from all this environmental problems. If they are not tackled immediately by the State Govt. then the consequences will be disastrous.

The problems are a result of population pressure and the growing economic needs of our society. They are a result of poverty and lack of development. Lack of environmental safeguards has resulted in pollution of air, water and soil. There is a wide gap between awareness and action towards environment protection.

Depletion of ozone layer, global warming, acidrain, population of air, water and land are the major problems. To overcome them the world has to act as a global community.

A new global threat is desertification; it is the reduction of the land's biological potential resulting in the appearance of desert conditions. This threat is due to the combined pressure of unfavorable climate conditions crated by the action of nature or by man.

Nature provides enough for man's need but too little for man's greeds.

Man's urge to extrat maximum benefits from nature has degraded the most important support system. To prevent the ecological backlash we should have plausible action plans to combat the environmental problems.

Yours etc...
Paaras Kotwal
Jammu