Land grab, BDA
Sir: The Orissa land grabbing (prohibition) ordinance 2015 which got the assent from President Pranab Mukherjee recently has been issued under a gazette notification May 28, 2015, as was reported some days ago. But, in practice, it is seen that within the periphery of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, innumerable individuals are grabbing small pieces of government land in front of their homes or offices or shops. In the process, efforts at widening of roads suffer even as the number of vehicles on the road keeps multiplying over time. This is also affecting the laying of drainage lines along the roads to discharge filth as also rain water. Roads as a result get flooded within minutes of a downpour. Quite a few of the BDA lands are also being encroached upon, but there is hardly any action from its part to check this. BDA has turned out to be a shame for this city due to its wayward performance.
KC Mohanti, GGP Colony, BHUBANESWAR
Medicare, hospitals
Sir: Medical care is one of the most essential requirements of the people and governments must pay special attention to this aspect. When hundreds of crores of rupees are spent every year by the government, the situation in government hospitals remains pathetic. Private hospitals that charge hefty sums for treatment thrive and exploit the people, because of this situation. When Capital Hospital was started, it boasted of having the best facilities. Today, it is ailing due to lack of even basic facilities. Government hospitals across the state are lacking in facilities and modern equipment. The government citing the excuse of lack of funds will not cut ice, as it is for the government to find the funds. What else are governments for? The introduction of a free medicine scheme was a good step, but much more needs to be done, and without loss of time. Hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray. But, due to the weak systems in our country, fulfilling even the basic requirements is itself a major drag. If the systems are made transparent and well-regulated, it will help.
Dr Ramnath Panigrahi, Teachers’ Colony, PIPILI.
UP, crime
Sir: Uttar Pradesh remains killing fields. Neither Mulayam Singh nor his son is able to make a difference to the situation there. Rather, they are said to be promoting gangsterism for their very own existence in power. The killing of a journalist, and several other similar attacks in the state in recent days showed the law and order situation remains pathetic there.
Ranjan Das by EMAIL