M A I L B A G

N-deal will strengthen Indo-US ties

The Indo-US nuclear deal is almost through. Negotiators of India and the US must be complimented for their commitment and perseverance. They manoeuvred around issues which perennially posed a threat in the runup to the breakthrough. Political leaderships on both sides readily intervened to give political push wherever the discussions headed towards a deadlock. President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, brushing aside protocol, frequently moderated the bottlenecks even on telephone.

As a result, misgivings over uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel, right to reprocess spent fuel and India’s right to shed self-imposed moratorium in the given circumstances have been upheld. Agreement 123 would usher in new vistas of cooperation and bring the two nations closer than ever before. It will also end India’s nuclear isolation.

Dr Manmohan Singh would go down in history on two counts — his irrevocable economic reforms; and the Indo-US nuclear deal which would open floodgates for India’s much-needed alternative energy needs. Dreaming of India becoming a developed nation is one thing, but taking macro level initiatives, despite stiff opposition, to redeem it is quite another.

Lt-Col BACHITTAR SINGH (retd), Mohali

Betrayal of NDA

Whatever Shiv Sena’s compulsions in supporting Pratibha Patil’s candidature in the presidential elections, in plain language, it was simple betrayal of the NDA even though it is a trusted ally.

The BJP- Shiv Sena relations have been under strain many times in the past too, but the latest act looks like the proverbial last straw. If the BJP has any commitment to the Hindutva cause, it should snap its ties with the Shiv Sena, even at the cost of losing power in some municipalities. Ideology should always be kept above all other things. The Shiv Sena will have to be taught a lesson.

A.K. SHARMA, Chandigarh

 

Price of indifference  The Amarinder Singh government had sanctioned widening of many state highways in Punjab. One of them is SHW-22 (Kiratpur Sahib to HP toll barrier at Mehatpur, Una district) passing through Anandpur Sahib and Nangal. The work was started about a year back. Earlier, the B&R department had carried out major repair of this road between September 2005 and September 2006. The current repair work is being executed by a road construction company on a BOT basis. A road length of about 200 metres (towards Nangal) between MP Ki Kothi and the Octroi Post is not at the level of the outgoing road. The height difference is of one metre almost. This is not only causing waterlogging in the houses on the roadside but also making the new upcoming road divider unsuitable for developing a flower garden. The new drain along the berm also needs to be covered with concrete slabs in front of each house to help residents drive their vehicles. Why was the existing elevated portion of the road not taken care of while planning the road widening work? Will any competent authority inspect this project and ensure judicious spending? Sq-Ldr K. K. SHARMA (retd),Nangal Township

Mobile mania

No item has become as popular as the cell phone. The customer range is from teenagers to octogenarians. Companies are luring everyone with new models of mobile sets garnished in beautiful ads, and the users, especially teenagers, are relentlessly becoming crazy about them.

No doubt, it is a revolution but at the cost of impatience, indiscipline, changed lifestyle and, of course, health risk. It has become a status symbol and teenagers are misusing it. Why not make proper use of the mobile technology instead of becoming its prisoner?

HITESH LAKHANPAL, Dharamshala

Tall claims

The Himachal government has been opening new schools purely on political considerations with no proper staff and infrastructure. In sharp contrast, private schools are far better than government schools. They are well equipped with good infrastructure and qualified teachers. There are no vacancies. If a vacancy falls by chance in a public school, it is filled up soon.

In government schools, lecturers took Classes IX and X reluctantly for some time. Now they are on the warpath. In most schools, they are not taking undermatric classes under protest. The students are resigned to their fate. The government should see reason and refrain from playing with the students’ careers.

SANTOSH KUMAR JAMWAL, Chauki Jamwalan (HP)

DG’s extension

This is regarding the report, “DG’s extension irks DGCA officials” (The Sunday Tribune, July 22). The DGCA has pointed out that while giving extension after superannuation there has been no non-adherence to superannuation rules as this was a case of re-appointment after superannuation as decided by the competent authorities in the Ministries concerned and the PMO.

Besides, in this case as provided for in the Recruitment Rules, advertisements were put out, both in the print media and on the official website of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, inviting applications from eligible candidates from IAS and IAF services, which unfortunately  did not evoke a response and the same exercise had to be repeated a second time.

The applications then received, on scrutiny, did not fulfil the laid down requirements of the Recruitment Rules. Neither was any senior official currently in DGCA eligible for the post.

Extension of service to an incumbent is given in the rarest of cases on specific grounds including as a measure to ensure continuity, avoid administrative imbroglio and in the larger interest of the country.

MAUSHUMI CHAKRAVARTY, Director (M&C), Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi.