Editor,
For various reason we don’t find too many underground water sources (springs) in Shillong nowadays. In my earlier days we used to get our drinking water from these sources. Now we get water from the Municipality but it is heavily polluted for reasons best known to the authorities. For over a year now we have been getting water laced with grease which remains even after boiling the water twice over and filtering it. In this regard I suggest to the Municipal authorities that ‘ Dissolved Air Floatation ‘ treatment would be successful in delivering 500 million liters of potable water every day to the Shillong population. The Bengaluru Water Supply Board has adopted this technology eight years ago. Dissolved Air Floatation system is used for the primary stage removal of suspended particles in water which is distinctly different from the conventional methods of reducing turbidity. Our conventional methods involve chemical coagulation to group particles into flocks and giving them time to settle down. In the Dissolved Air Floatation system, tiny air bubbles are injected to the water; particles adhere to the bubbles and float to the surface forming a layer of froth that is removed intermittently.
The conventional method in fact is not able to take advantage of the low turbidity in the water here because coagulants are necessary for flocculation of suspended particles. By adopting this technology turbidity in the raw water remains well under 10 NTU ( Nephelometric Turbidity Units). This will make it possible for the plant to run in what is called direct filtration mode, where water is taken directly to the filtration tank, by-passing the clarifiers thereby reducing chemical and electrical consumption. This will also reduce costs. This technology would require less civil works and therefore lower the cost. This technology is now acceptable in many Indian cities since it also tackles the problem of algae. Algae can choke filters, which is common in the conventional settling systems. I suggest that our Shillong Municipal Board can contact The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board to get the technology in order to provide good drinking water for the Shillong residents.
Yours etc.,
Kamakhya Bhattacharjee
Shillong -3
Death of a coffee dream
Editor,
The tragic death of Cafe Coffee Day founder V G Sidhartha has resulted in a political slugfest and also corporate boardroom wars over ‘tax terrorism’ that allegedly played a role in driving the 55-year old businessman to death. Fishermen preparing to set out to sea found Sidhartha’s body about 5km from Netravati Bridge from where he is believed to have jumped into the river.
Speculations are running rife that he took this extreme step due to the torment by federal tax sleuths and relentless pressure from a private equity investor to buy back the shares it held in Coffee Day Enterprises, which owns and runs the Cafe Coffee Day chain. At the same time, the opposition leaders slammed the Narendra Modi government for terrorising businessmen who are anything less than effusive in their support of its policies.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, “I hear from different sources that captains of industry in the country are under pressure. Some of them have left the country, and others are planning to move out.”
A tweet from the Karnataka Congress’s Twitter handle squarely blamed the tragedy on the harassment by income tax officials, and the former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said Sidhartha’s death is both disturbing and mysterious. The reasons and the invisible hands that ended his life in this tragic way should be unearthed through impartial and fair investigation. Something is fishy about the circumstances that led to Sidhartha’s death. It must be thoroughly investigated, and the truth regarding this should come out without delay.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
Why ID proof for RTI?
Editor,
We are saddened to learn that the Board of Indian Railways has made it compulsory to attach ID-proof along with RTI applications to Indian Railways. Comparatively, in metros, citizens are more alert about RTI and its provisions, but, then, this is not true across India. RTI was, and still is, for transparency, fairness, and information. It was one of the most momentous piece of legislation in independent India. Because of this act, the executive, the bureaucracy, the legislature, etc., have become more alert and answerable, in the Governments, the public sector, Governmental agencies, etc. Even then, people find it difficult to get response from those concerned. Many valid applications are denied and rejected. The RTI Act, 2005 should be understood in this context. RTI Act is to help an ordinary Indian citizen, not just the corporate bodies or agencies: swadeshi or videshi!!
Yes, a small percentage of individuals and entities may have taken unnecessary advantage of the Act, but if information is supposed to be in the public domain, it should. Let’s have no doubts about it. Let’s not create hurdles for the citizens, for the discomfort of some individuals, babus and those in the executive. If the Indian Railways have started asking for ID proof from RTI applicants, it is morally wrong, to say the least. There are enough safeguards in the Act to deny information to RTI applicants. Also, the recent move to amend the RTI Act would encourage more rigidity, and lack of transparency in the system. Let us not be tempted to flash back to mid-1970s when emergency loomed large in the name of executive power, and opaqueness. Many years ago, the great man, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi wrote letters to all and sundry, on post-cards, which any mortal could read, and yet, he could lead the nation to its independence. The onus is on the present and future generations, if we want to be truly independent, economically, socially, and of course, individually.
Yours etc.,
A Bhuyan
Nagaon