Food safety

The Data Point column (June 30), which has highlighted a serious issue that is often ignored — food poisoning cases and food safety — is timely. The mushrooming of food outlets and the proliferation of street food pose a major challenge to food safety. The reported staff shortage of 30% to 40% in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India reflects gross neglect of a critical area of public health. The statistical data effectively underscore the gravity of the problem.

Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad

Automobile use

The Centre has removed all restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel. In his latest Mann Ki Baat programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised measures such as carpooling to conserve fuel. However, the carrying capacity of roads relative to the volume of traffic they are expected to handle does not appear to receive adequate attention in urban planning.

The result is worsening traffic congestion, declining average vehicle speeds, rising air and noise pollution, increasing road accidents, and wasteful fuel consumption. These problems can be addressed only through proper transport planning, adequate investment in mass urban transport, and road infrastructure designed with future traffic needs in mind. Transportation planning must be accorded the highest priority in public budgets if fuel is to be conserved and urban mobility improved.

A.J. Rangarajan,

Chennai