Dear Sir,
Utilities and services in the New Industrial Area, located between streets 36 and 52, are in an extremely bad shape.
The area, which houses a large number of metal and carpentry workshops, cement factories and warehouses, lacks even a proper sewage network. The industrial units and people working there depend on the old sewage system and leaks in its network pose health hazards.
Vacant spots are used to dump waste in the stretches, leading to the emission of a foul smell. Many sections suffer from poor lighting at night. In the absence of adequate monitoring, pavements are blatantly used to park trucks and store materials. The area is used by people to abandon old vehicles in violation of rules.
Authorities concerned must develop the area through various infrastructure projects, including illumination and paving of roads, a proper sewage network, monitoring violations by trucks that dump waste in empty spaces, clearing garbage and other measures.
SK
(Full name and e-mail address supplied)
Rupee worries
Dear Sir,
The Indian rupee’s decline in value against the US dollar continues to be a cause for major concern. The Congress-led government in New Delhi has taken many measures, most of them half-hearted, but they have failed to stop the slide.
The rupee, surely the worst performing major currency in Asia this year, is now at 67.63 against the dollar. Where it will end, no one knows. Some people say that it will reach Rs70 against one dollar soon.
The Indian expatriates, through gaining from the falling exchange rate, are not overjoyed by the development as they know that the living expenses in their country will also go up with the rupee slide. That means the value of their actual savings is going to be eroded.
The government’s proposal to close down petrol stations in the night to save foreign exchange by reducing oil imports was an absurd idea. Thank God, the plan was dropped finally. Firm economic measures are needed from New Delhi, not such crazy ideas.
Rajesh Nair
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