I enjoyed reading your cover story on ways to save Uttarakhand from ecological disaster. The Central and state governments must ensure that tourism infrastructure projects in the state are executed after enough environmental impact assessments (‘Moving mountains’, December 3). One must always remember that the Himalayan ecosystem is one of the most fragile in the world. Geologically, most of the Himalayas is wobbly. The government must limit infrastructural projects in Uttarakhand, which is known for its biological wealth.
The Char Dham Pariyojana, the highway project linking the four main shrines of Uttarakhand, is definitely an important project as the state receives a large number of pilgrims, but all environmental concerns have to be addressed there and then. If lessons are not learnt, we can expect more Silkyaras.
Preetha Rajkumar,
On email.
Your cover story was a comprehensive coverage of natural disasters, and it adds to my existing fears about the survival of the Himalayas.
Since 2009, I have been visiting Netala village—11km from Uttarkashi, on way to Gangotri—as part of my service to develop a middle school. My trips have taken me to several parts of the northern Himalayas, which are being excessively exploited for power generation. The concept of development has to be understood properly—electricity at the cost of the destruction of water resources. There is a regular movement of plates under the mountains and rivers tend to change their course. The landslides are recurring phenomena and building houses at the edge of a mountain, closer to the river, will invite trouble.
Without any further description of the degradation of nature let me stop by saying that I am pained to see what is happening and look at the future with great worry.
K.S. Ramamurthy,
On email.
For those crucial 17-days, the tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand engulfed the psyche of the entire nation. Every passing hour brought fresh hopes. The beaming faces of our heroes, as they came out of the tunnel, were a grand sight. The entire force of men and machines, including the daring rat-hole miners, handled the crisis with surprising aplomb.
Sachidananda Satpathy,
On email.
As a soil mechanics specialist, I have worked in the Himalayan region. The strata in the region are very fragile consisting of boulders and soil, disturbed by water flowing through the cavities. Landslides are very common during the rains.
Rescuing all 41 trapped miners was done efficiently. I congratulate all the agencies involved. I was mighty impressed with the effort put in by rat-hole miners, who refused to accept any remuneration stating that their work was service for their fellow workers. Our workers achieved what the American drilling machines could not do in those conditions.
K.V. Jayaram,
On email.
Your cover story on the amazing rescue work in Uttarkashi was laden with information. We became familiar with the situation at the accident spot by your hope-filled cover story.
Kudos to everyone involved in the rescue operation. They toiled so many days and nights. The pains taken by each of them need to be admired and appreciated.
K. Ravi,
On email.
Out of BJP’s reach
Telangana is never going to elect a BJP government. Meenakshi Lekhi can dream as long she wants to (‘Forthwrite’, December 3). There were a few BJP leaders who said there will be a BJP government in Telangana but all they won was eight seats.
The BRS was not doing a good job in the state, and people have taught KCR and his family a lesson. The AIMIM and the BJP are fringe players in the state and they will continue to be like that. A. Revanth Reddy is a capable leader. I admire the confidence he showed when he told your reporter many days before the counting of votes that the Congress will form government on December 9. He will do just that.
Suresh Kumar,
On email.
Very rarely does THE WEEK publish highly partisan articles. In fact, most of such rare ones are from Union Minister Lekhi. This time she tarnished the image of K. Chandrashekar Rao, the former chief minister of Telangana. Without any proof Lekhi called the BRS a corrupt party, and said that Rao’s daughter was involved in the Delhi liquor scam. Lekhi said Telangana should go saffron. This was an open appeal to the people of Telangana to vote for the BJP. I strongly believe that the pages of THE WEEK should not be wasted for party politics.
George Mathai,
On email.
Hear, hear, Maldives
R. Prasannan, in his column on the new Maldivian president (November 19), has done a good job by listing out the reasons why the islanders should be grateful to India. A section of the people in the Maldives, including the new president [Mohamed Muizzu], seem to prefer China to India. India has always helped the neighbouring island whenever it was in a crisis. Hundreds of teachers, doctors, and nurses from India are serving in the Maldives.
Maldivians come to our country for treatment in our hospitals. Students from that country come to India for higher studies. Then, why the anti-India stand? Does Muizzu want his country to get trapped in debt to China, as many other countries have? Hope he realises the consequences before it is late.
P.L. Jothindra,
On email.