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| Monday, 8 March 2004 |
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Letters | |
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There has been much publicity regarding the management of our water resources. There also appears to be an indecent hurry to privatise this precious resource. Before pontificating about the so-called efficiency of the private sector, the "powers that be" should take a hard look at the plight of people in developing countries who have made this move. A recent documentary by an established International Television Company revealed the hard facts of the post privatised water supply situation in South Africa. The Managers of the water resources of that country were interviewed in France! In short, the French Managers of South Africa's water had no clue of the plight of the South Africans! It is also revealed the callousness which people show towards problems of humanity - of course all the right phrases and words that make up glossy annual reports are used in abundance to justify their position. It won't be long before there is an explosion of emotions and the poorer people of South Africa take matters into their own hands and who can blame them, after all, its their water. I would suggest that the National Water Supply & Drainage Board perishes the thought of privatisation of our vital resource and manage them efficiently. If not, they should resign and let those who can do the job. R. DE SILVA - Dehiwela It is with deep shock and disbelief that I read (in the front page of DN Nov. 18) the pronouncements made by a spokesman for the Ministry of Education (Insurupaya), with reference to the outbreak of Dengue at St. Paul's Milagiriya. The spokesman maintained in the article that the main cause for the spread of dengue at the school was environmental pollution, pools of stagnant water etc. as no one was concerned about the school's maintenance since there had been an internal dispute in the school. I would like to draw the attention of this spokesman to take a serious look at his own working environment at the Isurupaya, along the Wijesingha Mawatha boundary. The entire storm water drain has been clogged for the past several years, with leaves, polythene, empty bottles, tyres, coconut shells and fallen branches from trees lining the inside boundary of the Ministry. These branches, some of which overhang the road are a hazard to both motorists as well as pedestrians. There are large hume pipes (dumped on the side of the main road from six years ago at the time the new building was constructed), which provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and rodents. Water from the car park area drains into stagnant pools as there is no drainage. A garbage dump area, located at the southern end of the premises is open to the elements. Stray dogs, cats, crows and disease carrying rats are constantly found attacking the garbage here. Statistics show that 50 per cent of cases of rabies in Sri Lanka are contracted from street dogs. It is indeed hard to believe that all this has escaped the notice of officials who daily drive in and out of the Ministry of Education. People in the vicinity, including several children from the two schools in the area, have repeatedly suffered from dengue fever, respiratory problems and other mosquito borne illnesses. Several appeals to the Ministry have gone unheeded. They say it is the responsibility of the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha to keep the roads and drains maintained. The Pradeshiya Sabha in turn blame the RDA. As recently seen on ITN, Wijesingha Mawatha, a main road, is in a deplorable state with no action being taken by the authorities to repair the huge craters formed along the road, which make driving a nightmare. It is only if the government were to introduce legislation as those adopted in other developed countries like Singapore, making environmental pollution and the dumping of garbage along streets a punishable offence, could there be a civic conscious society in Sri Lanka. Once again, as in other countries, individuals and institutions should be held responsible for the regular maintenance of the exterior of their boundaries. Would the Isurupaya, or the Environmental Authority together with the local authority please wake up to this desperate request before the onset of the monsoonal rains and before someone falls victim to the killer diseases - dengue, rabies or leptospirosis the deadly disease carried by rats, all of which are rampant in the country today. DTF - Akuregoda It is sad to see schoolchildren being picked up very early - as early as 6 am to go to schools which are hardly 2-3 miles away and the schools start at 8 am. This is because the vans go through circuitous routes, going to different lanes picking up children and thus taking long time and getting stuck in traffic too. Ideally the parents of children from adjacent lanes of an area must get together and arrange a single van to pick up all children to schools in one direct route. This way children can leave just before school time and come back early. Moreover, the possibility of van drivers abusing the last child to be dropped off, which we hear so often about, also will be minimized. Even on a day the van fails to turn up, it will be very easy for the parents to get together, hire out a vehicle so that the children will not miss out on school. Ideally, the van drivers should get together and make this arrangement easier, by agreeing to exchange their present passengers so that the services run smooth. And the traffic jams also will be minimized by the scheme. We have tried this and it is found to be very successful. DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI - Dehiwela We must congratulate the President for extending the IGP's term of office considering the current political situation, the forthcoming general election on April 2, 2004. If at this moment a change is made, there will be a lot of confusion. We must admit that the IGP has done a marvellous job of work under difficult circumstances. He had been able to get the cooperation and goodwill of all his subordinates and the public with his educational and sports qualifications. We hope after his retirement he will assume duties in a better position to serve our country. I wish him well and may the noble Triple Gem shower in him all ways. K. D. SYDNEY PERERA - Mabole In DN Feb. 27 it is reported that at a meeting held in Kandy recently the Prime Minister had stated that the UNP does not have a statement of policy but it has comprehensive programs. By the term policy statement, is meant what someone or some persons say about what that one person or persons intend to do or not to do about something or other. Either way that person or persons must have in mind certain propositions. When one does not have a policy statement one does not have proposition in relation to anything, leave alone something. Next in this context as a base, the Premier is reported to have said that the UNP has comprehensive programs. If he had enumerated the programs to the people at Kandy and then had explained to the people how he stands in relation to each of items in the program the people would have then known the relative UNP policy. So what the Premier seems to have said in Kandy is that the UNP has what it said did not have. Even at this stage it would be good for the people and for the UNP to clearly state each of its proposals which the UNP intends to activate for development of the country. After all, people of Kandy are not fools. DENROY - Etul Kotte Reading "Insurers gimmicks" (Feb. 19), it seems strange that the insurers concerned should have offered to settle the claim by paying the insured value (Rs. 400,000) and taking over the vehicle, when the cost of repairs was only Rs. 39,250. Such a "total loss" settlement arises, presumably, only where a vehicle is beyond economic repair. In this case, the repair cost is well within the insured value. the following points would arise from the insurers' strange decision: 1. The insurers are said to have approved repairs to the vehicles, initially, at 39,250. Having done that, they should not have imposed a penalty, after getting the insu red to incur the expenditure. 2. The penalty of 38 per cent imposed by the insurers would appear to be based on the "Condition of average", applicable in insurance under policies identified as "Valued" policies; a motor policy is one policy which is not such a policy. That condition is, therefore, neither present; nor applicable under the regular motor policy. It cannot be interpolated either, because that would be against accepted insurance principles, the world over. 3. The insurers' contention is, apparently, that the vehicle has a market value of Rs. 650,000 to Rs. 760,000, while its insured value was only Rs.400,000. The insured seemed to have maintained that value over a period, paying the appropriate premium, regardless of depreciation in value, with use. On the other hand, if the insured had the vehicle covered for more than what it cost him, the insurers could have construed it as an attempt, by the insured, to make a profit from the insurance; an accepted concept in insurance, again, is that no party can make a profit from insurance. In the foregoing circumstances, there does not seem to be any misdemeanour on the part of the insured for him to suffer a penalty? Sad to say, however, the insurers concerned seem to be wanting in technical adequacy in their subject, if one is to be charitable towards them. By offering to exercise the option of taking over the vehicle (valued by the insurers themselves at Rs. 650,000 to Rs. 700,000) on payment of Rs. 400,000, the insurers would be making a profit, which would, virtually, convert the insurance into a "Wagering Contract", in violation of the Gaming Act of 1774 - a sad situation, indeed, unless it has since been rescinded. C. S. A. FERNANDO - Moratuwa Scientists and the social contract I admire the mission of Dr. W.W.L. Modder, the new President of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL) as described in your report (DN, Feb. 24). If I understand right, he plans to identify the Sri Lankan issues in which science is involved; spend time discussing all aspects bearing upon the issues; coming to the best reasonable recommendations on them, and sending the recommendations to the appropriate authority. Paid experts and expert committees will, I suppose be beyond the reach of NASSL, which, as its Immediate Past President Dr. U. Pethiyagoda said recently, is hamstrung for money. One way out might be to appoint voluntary committees to do the work. I for one will be glad to serve on a voluntary committee to identify the issues in which science and technology are involved. V. BASNAYAKE - Colombo 4 |
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