I absolutely agree with Manohar Shrestha’s letter to the editor (THT, August 18, Page 8) about the billing machine of taxis in Kathmandu. I am sure many people have the same views. This machine is just there and taxi drivers are not using it. Rather, they tell passengers where they will go and they will not go and make the passengers pay what they demand. I have rarely been able to use this service because most taxi drivers demand much more than the fares fixed by the government and to be shown on the taxi meter. Using a taxi is challenging and it is not everyone wants but but sometimes there arises a compulsion to hire a taxi. You cannot just blame the commuters for their inability to insist on the application of the government-fixed fares. Why on earth is the implementation of the rules and regulations so weak and why can’t the authorities be serious about their official duty? Most of them close their eyes to the taxi malpractices just for a few bucks. Also I can feel that the No Horn rule is dying as this seems to be coming back; no police officers are seen to be taking any action against those who blow the horns of their vehicles these days. No doubt there are many good rules but they are not often implemented in earnest.

Vimal Thapa, Kathmandu

Carcasses

This is with reference to the news story “Stench of animal carcasses makes life tough for locals” (THT, August 21, Page 5). Over 100 people were killed in the recent floods in the Tarai region leaving thousands of houses flattened or washed away. Besides, countless cattle were also killed but their number is yet to be determined. Domesticated animals were the major sources of income for the rural population. The rural people will not be able to own a pair of cattle for years to come as they have lost everything from their own houses and cow-sheds. Apart from this, stench from the dead animals has made the problem worse. Outbreaks of epidemics cannot be ruled out because of the foul smell of the animal carcasses whose management is very difficult as the people are trying to restore life to normal. The government must help the people to properly bury the dead animals to prevent possible spread of diseases caused by the stench.

Binod Yadav, Siraha

Inspiration

What is the world outside? It is a big world indeed. The interesting fact is that the world is being driven and built by numerous people who are sweating it out in the open. And these people are working on the road, on the farm, in the buildings and in the shops. The list is endless. I always admire and salute these hardworking people. Interestingly, I myself had the great experience of working on the agricultural farm in my native district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. Besides this, I have observed many people in my native areas of Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli, Palayamkottai, Nagercoil, Marthandam and Kanyakumari, all in Tamil Nadu, apart from Mumbai. These people are working in the various areas ranging from the farm to the buses.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai