MyVoice is to lift up the voices and experiences

Do something about our roads, Mr CM!

We are very much satisfied with KCR's governance and the steps that are being taken by him for uplifting the poor and the agriculturists and for eradication of corruption in our state.

Also, his intention of making Hyderabad city 'number one' in software industry is also praiseworthy and entrepreneurs of the world are looking at Hyderabad for their investments.

But the sad fact is that no steps are taken for improving road conditions in Hyderabad due to which travelling on these roads have become a nightmare and lot of time is wasted on traveling to work places in addition to causing traffic jams and avoidable accidents on the roads creating unnecessary tension to the public.

I therefore request him to see that roads and infrastructure are developed on the lines prevalent in modern countries instead of wasting precious public resources on construction of new secretariat, new assembly buildings, construction of temples and their renovation etc.

Further, please wage war against corruption relentlessly as this malady is neutralising the development and still many are living below poverty line and children are dying due to malnutrition and avoidable diseases even after 70 years of independence.

Please think over and plan to spend the resources according to the priorities and not to waste precious funds on unproductive expenditures.

Praying that God may give KCR unusual wisdom in doing good to the humanity as God has destined him for this purpose.

A M Daniel, Hyderabad

TSRTC strike unjustified

The TSRTC employees strike is very unfortunate, more so during this important festival season . The JAC 's demand of take- over of RTC by the T S Govt just like in A P is not justifiable because each state has its own problems and issues.

For that matter there are several issues between TS and AP pertaining to employees itself which are not solved even after years. Therefore, it is better if the JAC confines itself to issues concerning employees and the TS govt also should amicably settle the issue without making it as a prestigious one.

Not only the employees, even the state governments also should know that the resources are limited compared to the promises the political parties make during elections.

The JAC should understand that the functioning of the govt is totally related to the revenue generation and ' taking over ' is not the solution .

Katuru Durga Prasad Rao, Hyderabad

Stop uranium mining in Nallamala forest

The historical Nallamala is going to be a thing past if two Telugu States Chief Ministers fail to take concrete action against drilling of bores for exploring uranium ore in the forest in about 83 square kilometres.

It is a natural treasure for two Telugu States as it mainly spreads in Nalgonda and Kadapa districts. Moreover it is a green canopy for five districts in both the States besides being a birth place for Chenchu tribe and habition for hundreds wild life .

The wild life includes right from butterflies to national and state animals and birds. It is estimated that 2,32,315 tonnes of uranium ore is available across the nation. Of which 52.75% and 6.77% in AP and TS respectively.

The main concern of uranium mining is that the people who are interested in mining is not showing that much interest in its wastage treatment. Consequently, that wastage has become a threat to human beings, wildlife and number of Siva temples in the forest besides polluting the river Krishna.

As per environment Laws, the tank that receives wastage must be three layered with bentonite, polythene and sand from the bottom. Otherwise it will lead to salinity of water, hard water, sulphate ,uranium, chromium, nickel in water etc.

The drinking water that contains more salts cause kidney and stomach problems, sulphate makes the water bitter taste, uranium and chromium lead to cancer,lung infection etc. The uranium that causes several ailments will be used for atomic energy.

But the government must remember that only 25 per cent increase is registered in atomic energy where 35 per cent is achieved in solar energy in the globe.

So authorities concerned must ponder over whether is it right or not ? Whether, the exploration of uranium is justified in the wake of it harming the interests of humans, nature, wildlife, divinity and river.

Moreover, the exploration process is being taken up against the national and international environmental laws. So, both the governments must restrain the Centre in regard as there is wide-spread movement against it from all walks of the people in the society.

Pratapa Reddy Yaramala, Tiruvuru

Privatisation will aid railway efficiency

It has been an one- of- its- kind implementation of running the country's first private train on Friday from Lucknow to New Delhi.

There are lot of benefits if the country continues to evolve such measures of operating private trains on major routes. Railways come under the oligopolistic markets in India. There is a need for structural reform programmes for growth.

Privatisation can be done by issuing shares or stock, sale of assets or divestiture.

When privatisation is increased in this sector in a phased manner, there is every chance of improving infrastructure, timely maintenance within compartments, quality of service and sanitation, no political or government interference and witnessing an upsurge of revenue.

Level of burden on the government gets shrunk which helps government to focus on other key issues which bear the brunt of country's development and can also find a dip in public sector borrowings.

As risk and reward go together, privatising a government sector has its own stigma attached to it. Railway unions along with few people of the central government show resistance for such a change.

If all limitations are put to a side, and when privatisation is introduced at a slow pace, there will be a creation of a stream of innovations in the railway sector.

Madhulika N, Hyderabad

The govt needs to work harder to ban plastic usage After several attempts by the centre and state governments to ban

The govt needs to work harder to ban plastic usage After several attempts by the centre and state governments to ban use of plastic up to a certain thickness, it has not yielded the desired results after initial hullabaloo as the single use plastics were back on the stands of retail shops and roadside vendors.

Thereupon Prime Minister in his I-day speech asked people to phase out single use plastic because it was causing more harm to the environment as well to animals before going for a complete ban of plastic products was a welcome move.

However, this is not easy as it appears to be. As a similar initiative announced with much fanfare earlier though started well in the beginning but ended in a fiasco as single-use plastics usually used by fruit and vegetable cart vendors were back in rampant use under the nose of law-enforcing officials.

Lack of political will on the part of government and opposition turning a blind eye only saw an alarming rise in the usage of plastic products by people who despite knowing the ill-effects to the environment as well to animals, particularly cattle.

Surprisingly, even educated people and right-thinking people did not raise protest or made any attempt to educate the people. Shockingly, not only they were unmindful and least perturbed but disposing it off carelessly after its uses thus adding to the already deteriorating environmental problem.

Despite the fact that appeals by environmentalists and activists from time to time fell on deaf ears due to the reason that it could neither prevent people or resist the temptation from using single use plastic coming in various sizes and colours.

Further as it has become part and parcel of modern day living, it appears even a ban may prove ineffective despite the hazards it causes to the health and well-being of the people.

In short, as things stand, it may not be able to drive the people to switch over to eco-friendly products until it is priced reasonably and available in plenty.

Recent instances where the residents of Ambikapur, a small town in Chhattisgarh taking the initiative to recycle waste plastics and similarly school children in a school in Assam as per the directives of school management collecting plastic waste to pay school fees are finest examples to make people realise and take up eco-friendly products.

However, keeping in view the failure in the past to ban plastic products completely despite imposing heavy fines and seizing stocks from manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, the government instead of taking piece-meal temporary plans must come out with a clear-cut alternate plan and strategy besides creating awareness in a big way to phase out single use plastics totally from the market.

K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad