There is a spurt of uncontrolled commercialisation and rampant construction of tall buildings in and around the town areas in Puducherry. Most of these are not as per norms and I wonder how these get sanction from the authorities.
In the case of an emergency, there is no provision for a safe exit. Provisions for extinguishing fire are not present.
Very few residents, if any, know how to operate a fire extinguisher, or what has to be done in an emergency. The awareness level among people is low, and hence there are no protests about violations of safety norms. The government too seems blind to the situation. It would be good if the norms are strengthened, and there is regular inspection of buildings.
S. Premalatha
Brindavanam
Improve conditions
for women
International Women's Day is celebrated every year without solving the issues faced by women. The facilities provided for women, especially in the unorganised sector, are inadequate. Daily wage women labourers, who are migrants from villages, who work on road sites in Puducherry, do not have access to toilets. Their children and siblings have no place in the anganwadis near their work place. They cook near their places of work. The government can do something to change this.
V.Ramalingam
Thattanchavady Post
Enforce law on
wearing helmets
I spend considerable amount of time in Puducherry, which I consider my second home. This is with reference to the news items, ‘Driving without helmet fractures rules and face: study’ ( The Hindu , February 10) and ‘Incineration best method for solid waste processing’ ( The Hindu , February 12). I hope people become conscious about the danger of driving without a helmet. I call upon the government to enforce the law in this regard.
While I welcome the government’s move to set up an incinerator, I feel that a large part of the solid waste which is organic and biodegradable can be separated at source, and used for composting. Metal and plastic components can be recycled. This will reduce the volume of waste.
Besides these, I request the government to construct three flyovers-one near JIPMER, second at the Indira Gandhi statue, and the third at the start of the Puducherry-Cuddalore highway. The government must also regulate the street food vendors found across Puducherry.
Ramesh Chandra
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
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