Dindigul reader’s mail

Avoid double-payment

Ramanathapuram Municipality has recently been insisting that residents produce receipts for deposits paid towards the underground drainage system (UGDS) several years ago. This is puzzling as property owners have been regularly paying UGDS charges of ₹300 a quarter for residential connections and ₹600 for commercial connections.

Those unable to trace the old deposit receipt are reportedly being asked to pay the deposit again, though no fault of their own. If the deposit had not been paid, it is unclear how UGDS charges were collected from consumers all these years.

The municipality’s belated demand for old receipts is unjustified and may cause undue hardship to taxpayers. Ramanathapuram Collector should enquire into the matter and take necessary steps.

Mumtaj Begum,

Ramanathapuram.

Curb illegal discharge

At the entrance to Sikil Kadai Mandayan Sandhu Road in Ramanathapuram town, private persons have allegedly tampered with a municipal underground drainage chamber to discharge wastewater illegally. Despite repeated complaints to the Municipal Commissioner, no action has been taken so far.

It is reportedly common for such violations to occur in several parts of the town. The authorities should investigate whether municipal staff are facilitating such violations.

Asmabagh Anvardeen,

Ramanathapuram

Delay in toll collection plaza

Despite tall claims by the NHAI authorities that vehicles can pass through the barrier hassle free at the toll collection plazas, the staffs, who speak in Hindi, are not cooperating, when some vehicle get stuck for reasons not known to other drivers. Continuous honking by the vehicles lead to anger and unrest. The managers or supervisors should not be sitting in their rooms, but stand near the barriers at least during peak hours.

Padmanabhan S

Virudhunagar

Smoking in public

The Health and Family Welfare department officials should take stringent action against smokers in public places, especially, near hospitals, worship spots and schools. In Karaikudi, amidst aplenty of schools and places of worship in Subramaniapuram, shops sold tobacco products. The smokers stood in front of tea shops and spoilt the environment by smoking. When the Indian Railways can impose fines and not allow sale of tobacco products in railway stations, the government should start exploring the possibilities of prohibiting sale of cigarettes near schools.

Rajappan S V

Subramaniapuram, Karaikudi