Talking of good governance isn’t enough

  WITH due regard to the status and learning of Mr I.K. Gujral, I must say that his article on "good governance" (March 1 & 2) has little practical relevance to our society, though it may be a well-documented class-room lecture. One wonders what significance his five principles of good governance have vis-a-vis the present Indian democratic set-up.

I wish to ask whether the systemic sickness, rather the gangrene that has weakened our political life, would allow for the rule of law, ensuring the common good and welfare of the nation. In a socio-political atmosphere where the nexus among politics, crime and money is acquiring diabolical dimensions, any talk of individual freedom, equality, justice and even democracy sounds no more than a myth.

The irony is that people like Mr Laloo Yadav, Ms Jayalalitha and Mr Bal Thackeray, who have scant regard for democratic norms, are called upon to run the democratic system. No wonder, therefore, that there are new inequalities, new social and political disorder and an element of arbitrariness of absolute rule in most parts of country.

The need of the hour in our society is not a discussion on the principles of an ideal (Platonic) democracy. We must evolve a democratic ideology that can work in our socio-political ethos. I think we should concentrate more on our political leadership, our bureaucracy and intelligentsia, including the media, all of whom have failed to shoulder their respective responsibilities with care. While the political leadership lacks in vision and dedication, the bureaucracy is found wanting in initiative, originality and unrighteousness. The intelligentsia and the media have failed to awaken the masses about their rights and duties in a democracy.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

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Road rage problem

In this era of speed and pace, a new epidemic is emerging on the roads — road rage. This is now taking a heavy toll of precious lives. It is the only epidemic probably which requires no vaccination. Some of the reasons for this rage could be as follows:

(1) Ignorance of the road discipline: The driver ahead refuses to give way to the person following behind. This may be due to sheer callousness or a total disrespect to the driver behind. This may be also an ego projection in that a larger vehicle refusing to give the right of road to an overtaker. This game of cat and mouse leads to frayed tempers. In a surge of rashness an attempt to go ahead the safety perception factor is lost, resulting in a tragedy.

(2) Time deficit: There appears to be a sense of hurry all the time either to beat time itself or to make up for the time lost. The loss of this valuable commodity is attempted to be covered on the road. This results in periodic gushes of adrenaline in the individual. Since adrenaline prepares for flight the driver goes to cross the safety limits to end in a fatality.

(3) Problem solving on the road: There are some people who take their problems in hand to be solved on roads. As these become knottier, the clarity of solutions are fogged. In this mental muddle there is a tendency to veer off course. The results are disastrous.

(4) Misplaced sense of adventure: The younger generation, with its super fast mobikes, tends to wheel in and out of the safe distance in-between vehicles. The driver behind is always braking to allow space. Over a period of time fatigue sets in and in a sheer moment of rage, the braking breaks and another victim is claimed.

(5) Unnecessary honking: It has been seen at lighted intersections that on the traffic light changing to green everybody starts honking, egging the one ahead to move on irrespective of the progress ahead. This over and over again leads to a slow build-up of irritability resulting in a chaotic state.

(6) Obstacles to smooth movement: Frequent road blocks, barriers, diversions constructions and improper warning signs at night frequently leads to knee-jerk reactions. This adds to the mental load of the driver.

These are but a few of the innumerable obstacles a driver has to negotiate. It is equivalent to a battery of tests one has to pass to reach ones destination safely.

It would be in the interest of safety of all to avoid the clutches of the road rage. A consideration to fellow drivers, adherence to the rules of safety and respect to fellow human beings would go a long way in keeping the road rage at bay.

(Dr) RAJ KUMAR SHARMA
Chandigarh

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In support of hydel power

In an editorial of February 17, while correctly analysing the causes of tardy progress in the exploitation of the rich hydel power potential of Himachal Pradesh, the approval by the state government of 66 mini micro-hydel projects, to be executed in the private sector has been applauded. No doubt, as pointed out in the editorial, the micro-projects have certain advantages over the bigger ones, at the same time it is true that the power needs of the country cannot be fully met through small dams.

I am of the view that the priorities for undertaking projects, big or small, should be based on their techno-economic viability. The state should once and for all prepare a shelf of projects and determine the order in which these should be executed. In the early seventies the state had constituted a working group on hydel power consisting of experienced engineers and other experts. This group submitted a report to the government in which the projects likely to be executed in the state were dealt with in their various ramifications. A similar exercise needs to be repeated in view of the changed scenario.

It is desirable that the HPSEB, which has a huge trained manpower, should also execute mini-projects for which it has an edge over private entrepreneurs.

With a view to overcoming the funds crunch and expediting the exploitation of the power potential of the state, a company may be constituted which should exclusively devote to the generation of power, and be able to get loans from national and international lending agencies. The central government can help by settling the claims of HP of its dues payable by the states concerned.

The present hydel-thermal power ratio (25:75) being followed in the country has given hydel power a back-seat, and is based on an underestimate of the vast hydel potential of the states like HP. This ratio has to be loaded in favour of hydel power, which is more eco-friendly than thermal power.

K. C. CHAUHAN
Kelleston (Shimla)