Battered city
Depressions and cyclones have become routine (“Cyclone Fengal brings city to its knees; 3 dead”, December 1). And the result is the same — inundation of houses leading to losses. Having a disaster management team on standby is not a solution. Visits by Ministers of the ruling party are only temporary forms of appeasement. The government must ensure that there is an almost immediate draining of rainwater. Though constructions in low-lying areas are most vulnerable, damage can be minimised only if tanks and lakes have strong bunds.
The city drainage infrastructure needs constant review. It is disheartening that the authorities do not seem to be finding permanent solutions. Unless a master plan is drafted, there is no lasting solution.
V. Lakshmanan,
Tirupur, Tamil Nadu
Elusive ‘plastic deal’?
It will be sad if countries cannot agree on a global plastic pollution agreement (December 1). Plastic production has increased over the last 50 years and plastic wastes have become a major source of pollution in various ecosystems. A ‘plastic deal’ could be the most significant deal since the 2015 climate-warming agreement in Paris. Without a global agreement in place, the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the air, freshwater and even human breast milk will only increase.
Dr. Thomas Palocaren,
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
The digital form
As an avid reader of digital books, there is no doubt that it is a reading medium that scores (‘Open Page’, December 1). You can store thousands of digital books on a single device, making it a vast mobile library. There is no clutter or need for a bookshelf. There are also text-to-speech features. We have to adapt to new technology.
J. Anithakumari,
Salem, Tamil Nadu
Published – December 02, 2024 12:24 am IST
