Issues like the breach in a dam in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, killing more than 23 people, high cut-off list in Delhi University causing hardships to admission seekers, builders duping homebuyers and plight of rickshaw pullers of Kolkata figured in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Drawing the attention of the house to the Tiware dam mishap, Husain Dalwai(Congress)demanded compensation for the victims and alleged that the breach took place as the local administration did not take timely action despite repeated warnings over the last few months. The Congress leader demanded strict action against those responsible for negligence.
Dalwai said it was not correct that incessant rains in the region led to the breach of the dam. The district collector was on February 12 in writing informed of the dam requiring urgent repairs but it was never done, he said.
The dam, he said, was built in 2012 at a cost of Rs 12 crore against the initial estimate of Rs 2 crore.
Raising the issue of high cut-off in Delhi University, RK Sinha(BJP) suggested that all the colleges in the national capital should start evening classes also. It will allow more students to seek admission on the one hand and give employment to more teachers on the other, the BJP leader said adding students working part-time will also benefit from such a move. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said high cut-offs speaks of standard of education of Delhi University adding he is Chancellor of the varsity.
Ajay Pratap Singh (BJP) raised the issue of delays by builders in handing over houses to buyers and demanded strict laws to rectify the situation as the existing legal recourse was not effective.
Mahesh Poddar(BJP)said the practise of men pulling rickshaw in Kolkata was not a pleasant sight and wanted an immediate end to it. He said more than 20,000 rickshaw pullers were engaged in this endeavour and lead a tough life surviving on footpaths. Many MPs associated themselves with Poddar on the issue.
AK Selvaraj (AIADMK) wanted subsidy for farmers growing fruits and vegetables through drip irrigation be increased to make up for the additional cost incurred in high density farming and where higher intensity irrigation is required due to soil quality. Vijay Pal Singh Tomar (BJP) urged laws be made stricter to deter food adulteration.