Warangal, Andhra Pradesh.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala....
Water woes
Many articles in Down To Earth have warned of an impending water crisis. It will be a pity if human civilisation, which originated on the river banks, disintegrates and perishes because of water wars. Let us all take a dispassionate view of all existing river water sharing controversies. Let us not also hesitate to treat water as a commodity.
T P R MATHARAN
Vadodara, Gujarat ....
Mindless killings
The media recently reported a killing spree of endangered migratory ducks and geese at Hokera in Jammu and Kashmir. Although hunting is prohibited, poaching is on the rise.
It is distressing to note that these killings had been going on for more than a fortnight and the law-enforcing agencies not only turned a blind eye, but also encouraged the perpetrators. This was probably because those involved with the killings were affluent and influential people. If the wildlife department of the Jammu and Kashmir government is not effective, then conscientious people should take immediate steps to stop such killing of endangered birds.
AJU MUKHOPADHYAY
Pondicherry ....
Small correction
The news item on the Srishti hospital waste survey ( Down To Earth , Vol 6, No 21; March 31) made good reading. However, there is one point which needs correction. Out of all incinerators surveyed in hospitals, only one hospital had an incinerator which was working in conformity with the Central Pollution Control Board ( cpcb ) standards. The incinerators at All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals are not working at temperatures suggested by the cpcb (primary chamber 800 +-50 c and secondary chamber 1000 +-50 c ).
SAMIR NAZARETH
New Delhi....
