Symbolic move

The furore over Taj Mahal is nothing new. We removed the statue of King George V in the sixties from the canopy at India Gate. Plans for a statue of Gandhi in its place is yet to materialise and the canopy remains vacant. Perhaps the empty space symbolises our true Independence, post British rule. Likewise we could write off the Mughal rule with the disappearance of the Taj. The moot question would be: What would replace it? We have yet to take care of the empty canopy and the Babri Masjid. Perhaps such empty spaces serve our vibrant and live politics far more than the staid and dead history.

R Narayanan Ghaziabad of Dr. Deviprasad Shetty, Aravind Eye Hospital of Tirunelveli--which will boost the morale of other doctors who would like to emulate these noble souls. A separate body set up with pioneers in various professional fields should be authorised to conduct independent inspection of various professional colleges and submit a report to health ministry directly. The government should concentrate on constructing more medical colleges where affordable medical education can be provided to all strata of society. Affiliation of medical colleges lacking basic infrastructure should be cancelled. The country is in need of good hospitals. Health care benefits at affordable rates and more government-run medical colleges for students aspiring to become doctors is the need of the hour. Veena Shenoy Thane (West) hike in parking fee (by up to four times), apart from putting the cars off the road, if required, will be enforced under the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority's (EPCA) Graded Response Action Plan based on the severity of air pollution during winter months.

It is earnestly wished that the authorities concerned should impose a total ban on the registration of new cars. The question is, can such a blanket ban be imposed here and if yes, who will bell the cat?

S Kumar New Delhi