Fraudulent projects
Dear Sir,
In reference to the report “Indian expatriates accuse real-estate developer of fraud” (Gulf Times, January 21), I feel sorry for those non-resident Indians (NRIs) who have invested in companies like the one featured in the article, hoping for quick profits or to have their own houses in their favourite city in India without spending much.
The report reminded me of an “investment” scheme promoted by a Kochi company whose managing director used to visit us in the Gulf. After collecting huge amounts from NRIs in the region over a few years, the company chief just vanished into thin air.
Another company lured many Gulf Indians into investing in its so-called “teak project”. Their director visited the Gulf quite often and made so many promises. Many invested in the teak “project”. When we visited the actual site in India recently we found that the director had died and his son, who is in charge, told us to wait for returns as it would take time for the teaks to grow.
The non-resident Indians are being cheated by their own countrymen. Many of us have lost our hard-earned savings and had not benefited from our “investments”. It’s high time people invested with their eyes open and do not fall victim to such fraudulent companies .
Yasmeen Asif, Doha, (e-mail address supplied)
Boeing faces turbulence
Dear Sir,
A catalogue of worrying faults and wholesale groundings has damaged the reputation of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliners. It encapsulates one of the biggest pieces of turbulence facing Boeing.
Component problems can be fixed but reputations are hard to repair. Unfortunately, what Boeing has done in order to reduce weight is use the same batteries that are in electric cars, and they are running into the same problems with the 787 as in electric cars.
Lithium batteries that can leak corrosive fluid and start fires have emerged as the chief safety concern involving the 787. The electrolyte fluid conducts electricity; as it spreads it can shorten circuits, interfere with electrical signals and make control of the plane impossible and ignite fires.
All new aircraft encounter problems during their gestation. And I am sure that the numerous problems associated with the 787 over the past four years will eventually be resolved. It is indeed a 21st-century plane incorporating cutting-edge technology.
Farouk Araie, [email protected]
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