Dealing with climate change Nepal is having the problem of landslides every year. However, climate change seems to have intensified the problem this year. I would like to opine that the country should focus seriously on our efforts to minimize the effects of climate change. Planting selected trees in the vulnerable sites, evacuation of extremely dangerous habitations, the control of the mining activities, strict discipline in logging and the management of floods should be priority programmes of the government. D.B. Sayami, via e-mail Harsh I felt very sad to hear the news that government is trying to ban all the LPG three wheelers from Kathmandu valley. At a time when the government is not being able to create an environment to do other business, and create employment opportunities, and when more and more young people are going abroad in quest of odds jobs, the decision is very much irresponsible. I don’t think those tempos have any adverse effect on the environment of the valley. In fact, the tempos are providing employment to hundreds of people and, moreover, poor and lower middle class people in Kathmandu are getting cheap transportation service. This government is acting harshly on the people who are self-employed. The government is not ensuring the well- being of the citizens, in fact, they are busy doing otherwise. So, I would like to show my concern towards such decisions made by the government that prevents people from working legally, and earning. I would like to ask the government to make Nepal a livable Nepal where all citizens can work freely. Saurav Sharma, via e-mail Rapid response Landslides and floods caused by heavy rains killed at least 34 people in the far western districts of Nepal over the last 24 hours. Paddy planted on thousands of ropanis of land was damaged. Electricity and transport services have also been disrupted in these districts due to the incessant rainfall. The government should send a team of police force to serve the people and provide food and shelter for the displaced and affected people. The slow response of the government may decrease the confidence of the people on the government. It is the government’s responsibility to look after, and serve the displaced and affected people. Being concerned citizens of Nepal it is also our responsibility to do something for the victims. So, let everyone start doing something for them. Roshan Kumar Jha, Kathmandu School of Law, Bhaktapur Be firm This is reference to the news “Perpetrators of chakka jam to face legal action” (THT, October 8). Travelers embarking on long journeys by road have often been stranded because of roadblocks after traffic mishaps. Now there are arrangements for third party insurance that covers accidents on the highways. Should accidents occur, the victims and their families receive compensation. These days hardly any day passes by without reports of accidents occurring in some highway or the other of the country. Because of this, the families of the victims often resort to chakka jams. Now that the government has decided to take strict action against those blocking the highways, the situation should improve. However, the government should be strict about implementing this provision for, should they show any laxity, then the traffic would continue to get blocked. All concerned should observe the laws of the land and those violating them should receive due punishment. In the meantime, the erring drivers should also not be left easily, because many of the accidents are attributed to them. These drivers should face stern action which would in a large way help prevent the accidents. Kiran Basnet, Jorpati Do better We see political leaders engaging in bitter quarrels against each other in politics. They are even having a hard time playing together, even in sporting events like the cricket match. Although they lost the match and failed to gain the appreciation from the spectators, they got another chance to regain the praises by brining to an end the cat and dog fights between the political parties, and drafting the new constitution within the given time frame. Let’s hope when they play a cricket match next time, they come out with flying colors. Orzo Raj Shrestha, via e-mail