Indo-Pak trade

Sir,

The former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee once very famously said that we can change anything but we cannot change our geographical neighbours. Very right and quite apt, he was, when he spoke about Indo-Pak relations. We can do anything with each other but we cannot ignore one another. India and Pakistan will have to stay where they are. So the best option is to work for peace between two countries.

It is important that we do something credible in this direction. Our country has taken lead in this. We have already accorded most favoured nation status to Pakistan when it comes to trade and commerce. We have done every bit to promote trade between the two countries. Present Indian goods worth thousands of crores are finding their way into Pakistan is very costly. The best option is to directly import these goods from India. In this context the statement of the State Chief Minister that trade between two countries will be undertaken via Poonch-Rawlakote road (DE, Mar 19). Trade and Commerce between India and Pakistan will create interests and stakes between the people of the two countries. They will become dependent on each other. This inter dependency will minimise the chances of war between the countries and will thus promote peace and harmony in this part of the world. India is more than willing to do everything possible in this direction. It is for the new political dispensation of Pakistan to further and strengthen the process of peace and commerce between two neighbours.

Yours etc...
Paramjeet Singh
Digiana
Jammu

Longest rail tunnel

Sir,

Railway connection to valley when established will have to its credit some unique 'firsts'. The railway will have highest rail bridge at Keori near Reasi. This will be the highest rail bridge in the world. Then the rail line will also have longest rail tunnel in the whole subcontinent. The tunnel will be about eleven kilometers long.

Cutting across the thick Pirpanchal range. The tunnel will be an engineering wonder. At present when the tunnelling work is apace the technology employed is latest in the world. NATM (New Austrian Technology Method) is being employed to construct the tunnel (DE, Mar 17). As the Himalayas are very young mountains. There are unstable in many ways. They are still growing. Hence the tunnelling work faces many problems. Some times the tunnel caves in as happened when a tunnel caved in Udhampur-Katra section. So the engineers are faced with new challenges. But the new NATM technology allows frequent review of tunnel design keeping in view the typical geological condition of the area.

We are all impatiently awaiting for the rail line to get completed and operational. But as per the progress that is going on the rail line it is probable that the line will get operational by 2012. The Govt should press in more men and material on the project so that the railway is completed sooner. This railway is highly important from trade, transport and strategic point of view.

Yours etc...
Mool Chand
Udhampur

Cramming among students

Sir,

Cramming is very serious matter as due to it the standard of the education is going down day by day.

A great evil prevails our education system. Some students smuggle important questions torn out of help books and guides to the examination centre. They don't even bother to understand what they are writing. Our system of education is defective. It has encouraged the habit of mugging up a few important portions from the text books or guides and ignoring the rest. These days, the level of knowledge of the students has become very shallow. They may hold some degrees and diplomas but their grasp of various subjects is very poor.

It can be stopped if internal assessment conducted regularly. The format of questions should be changed. Short answer questions covering entire syllabus should be set in question paper. The number of questions should be such as can be solved with speed within 3 hrs. This could not leave students any opportunity to resort to cramming or to adopt unfair means.

I hope the University authorities will take note of these suggestions.

Yours etc...
Ankush Gupta
Rehari Colony,
Jammu