Footpath
It is surprising to note the absence of footpaths in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai. We can see people walking on the edge of roads risking their lives. Added to that is the indiscriminate and haphazard parking of vehicles on all roads.
It is pathetic to see pedestrians walk on these roads. There is no use planning for Smart City when citizens do no have proper walkways. It is the first and foremost duty of Tirunelveli Corporation to ensure a safe footpath for its citizens.
All other cities and most of other towns in Tamil Nadu have proper footpaths in most of the localities.
S. Ramasubramanian,
Tirunelveli.
Leader’s role
I refer to the news report, “Students demand adequate bus facility” (August 29, 2017). Students in school uniform thronging the Collectorate on Mondays to submit petitions with demands has become commonplace in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.
Though their demands are genuine they have to forego their education on that day. In addition, they are wrongly motivated by those who lead them to submit the petition. Instead of driving the children to the Collector’s office, the leaders themselves can prepare the petition and present it to the Collector.
When I was the Headmaster of a higher secondary school in Ukkirankottai near Tirunelveli, there was only a five-km-long service road leading to the village from the Tirunelveli-Sankarankoil main road.
As it was full of potholes, students using the road found it very difficult and minor accidents were not uncommon. As the Headmaster, I prepared a petition about the condition of the road, stood in the queue on a Monday, met the then Collector Sunil Paliwal and presented the matter in detail.
It was taken up with the Highways authorities in my presence and I was assured of a new road within a month. It was done perfectly within the stipulated time.
Rajakumar Arulanandham,
Palayamkottai.
Health camp
A health camp conducted at Thoothukudi Collectorate, which was comprehensive in nature, is a right step in the right direction. We come across news items on medical camps conducted by public charitable trusts in association with speciality hospitals throughout the year, where the beneficiaries are poor people.
Unfortunately, for a long time, government servants were deprived of this privilege and they have no access to timely treatment for diseases, most of which are occupational hazards.
This novel step will, beyond doubt, go a long way in improving their physical/mental well-being. I wholeheartedly thank the Thoothukudi Collector. I would like to request the Tirunelveli Collector to conduct one, for, he is already known as an ‘officer-of-action.’
A.M.N. Pandian,
Tirunelveli.
Drainage channels
Recently Tirunelveli Collector launched an anti-plastic awareness campaign at Veinthankulam new bus stand. After briefing on the threatening consequences of using plastic bags, he distributed cloth bags to passengers.
On the same day, the Tirunelveli Corporation introduced a novel initiative for safe disposal of animal waste. About 6,300 degradable leak-proof cloth bags were distributed to 50 jamaths of Melapalayam for proper disposal of waste of animals to be sacrificed during Bakrid (August 31, 2017).
The Collector and Corporation officials are to be lauded for their efforts in making Tirunelveli a healthy zone. In the interest of the public, I request the authorities to take steps to desilt all the drainage channels before the onset of northeast monsoon so that we can prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.
P. Victor Selvaraj,
Palayamkottai
Clean Thoothukudi
This has reference to the news item, “Steps taken to keep Thoothukudi clean (August 29, 2017). The Collector as well as the Corporation Commissioner are initiating steps towards cleaning Thoothukudi.
The success of schemes like this depends mainly on the cooperation of residents. Segregation of plastic waste at source is still lacking in response. One can see the garbage bins half-filled on Wednesdays, although plastic usage has not come down.
I would suggest the following steps for a cleaner Thoothukudi:
Roadside eateries shall be provided with bins in which solid waste collected in degradable leak-proof cloth bags shall be dumped. and collected every day. An integrated marketing complex, along with an abattoir, shall be constructed in each zone.
All wayside stalls shall be asked to move to the marketing complex and ultimately punitive action shall be taken if they continue to operate on highways.
Empty house plots in residential areas are another source for dumping waste. Owners shall be asked to fence their empty plots and display warning signs against dumping. Incinerators shall be installed in primary health centres where public too can dump their sanitary pads and medical waste from households.
Solar-powered push carts shall be provided to street garbage collectors, along with masks and hand gloves. More awareness camps shall be conducted. Total cooperation by residents, effective supervision by corporation staff and enforcement will make Thhothukudi clean.
J. Edison Devakaram,
Thoothukudi.
Kovilpatti bus stand
Long-distance buses between Chennai and Nagercoil pass only through the Kovilpatti new bus stand but do not enter it. Consequently, passengers have to wait in the middle of the road for a long time.
Apart from long-distance buses, even town buses do not enter the new bus stand. Hence the bus stand wears a deserted look and seems to be an unsafe place even during daytime. I request the authorities concerned to take appropriate measures for buses to enter the bus stand.
S. Rajkumar Immanuel,
Palayamkottai.
Parthenium growth
Parthenium grows unabated in rural areas. As it creates health hazards, people should be relieved of its menace forthwith. The services of people employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme should be utilised to root out parthenium in every panchayat union.
K. Chelliah,
Aundivillai.