The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

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M A I L B A G

Power crisis: new projects may help

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has told an employees’ delegation that if they assured him of making the PSEB a profitable organisation, it won’t be privatised.

While the PSEB posted a profit of Rs 118 crore in 2003-04, last year it incurred a loss of about Rs 2,100 crore. This was mainly due to the increase in power purchases throughout the year, being an election year, and steep hike in the rates of traded power.

The power purchased by the PSEB last year was to the tune of Rs 4,300 crore, half of which was supplied free to agriculture sector. Under such circumstances, how could the employees bring the PSEB out of red?

The power consumption in the state is increasing by 9 per cent every year. Last year, the power supplied in the state was 35.2 billion units and power cuts were imposed to the tune of 3.7 billion units. Thus, the total requirements of the state were 38.9 billion units. In the next five years, this demand would exceed 60 million units.

For bridging this gap, the state government should invest the electricity duty collected from consumers on new projects. These projects may help ease the power crisis. Further, the government will have to popularise the use of CFLs in place of incandescent lamps — this step alone would help save 1,480 million units of power every year.

VINOD KUMAR GUPTA, Kurukshetra

Time to save Ber trees

The Punjab Agricultural University scientists’ bid to save the pious Ber trees, revered by all Punjabis, is timely. In 1982, Harmandar Sahib officials requested Dr B. S. Dhillon, Head, Horticulture, to save these trees from declining. I was deputed to investigate the problem. The HoD was apprised that two factors were damaging these trees.

These were, one, ignorance of the visiting devotees, who have damaged the phloem (food transporting issue) and xylem (nutrient transporting tissue and wood for strength) by hand-touching and rubbing foreheads against the tree trunk and, two, the lac insect attack.

The authorities were recommended to protect the tree trunks by erecting trunk guards so that the devotees could not touch them. To control the lac insect attack, severe pruning of trees was recommended. The HoD was also requested to depute a “Pooran Sikh” for this job because of the religious sentiment attached to Ber trees. Dr Dhillon deputed Dr M. P. Singh to carry out the desired treatment. Later, Dr J. S. Bal took over this assignment.

Surprisingly, the Ber decline problem has lingered on for 25 years. The Director of Extension (Education), PAU, Ludhiana, should find out the reasons for this state of affairs. Action to save these trees brooks no delay.

Dr K.K. SHARMA, Senior Horticulturist (retd), PAU, Ludhiana

Improve the image

The Consulate-General of India’s office in Birmingham is a poorly maintained office. The Government of India gives an impression that India is a world power, but this office is unrepresentative of this impression.

Often for hours one single counter for accepting visa applications operates. Complaints are brushed aside as in India, causing inconvenience and delays to the public, particularly, who travel long distances and are with children.

The photographs from approved studies and machines are rejected and passport applicants are asked to use only the machine provided at its premises. This can mean several untoward things. At least outside India, our country should present a much more efficient image.

NIPUN KHANNA, Worcestershire (UK)

Forest Rangers

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister is ignoring the interest of Forest Rangers in the state. They don’t get promotion even after two decades of service.

The then chief minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, had twisted the promotion rule of qualifying in the department examination to accommodate his own people. Now the present government is going to fill up the vacant posts of Assistant Conservator of Forest through direct recruitment, ignoring in-service, qualified and experienced rangers. This is unfair.

Prof V. P. CHAUDHARY, Chandigarh