Sir — New research has found that the toxic impact of pesticides on bees and other pollinators has doubled in spite of a drop in the amount of chemicals used. This is shameful. The study — based on the use and toxicity of 380 pesticides from 1992 to 2016 — shows that even if used in less quantities, pesticides can have a high level of toxicity. This indicates that efforts to reduce the harmful impact of pesticides on the environment have not been enough. Scientists have emphasized the importance of bees to human survival as they pollinate food crops. Any further fall in their numbers will destroy the delicate balance of the Earth’s ecosystem and affect global food supplies.

Ria Sarkar,
Calcutta

Proud moment

Sir — As a veteran actor with a long and illustrious career, Rajinikanth rightly deserves the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award (“Dadasaheb Phalke for Rajini just before polls”, April 2). For over four decades, Rajinikanth has been one of the most prominent figures in Indian cinema whose cult status remains unmatched.

The contrast between Rajini’s on-screen characters — with their outlandish antics and style statement — and his simplicity and modesty in real life has endeared him to the masses. It was a wonderful gesture on the part of the superstar to dedicate the award to his bus driver friend, Raj Bahadur, who recognized his talent for acting and supported him during his struggling days. People like him are few and far between.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai

Sir — The decision of the government to confer the Dadasaheb Phalke award on the superstar, Rajinikanth — his distinct body of work spans decades — must be supported. Few in the field of Indian cinema have endeared themselves to the masses the way Rajinikanth has.

While there is no doubt that the award is well-deserved, the Centre’s timing is indeed questionable. The announcement came days before the Tamil Nadu polls. Given that he has a strong — almost fanatic — fan base in the state, the decision had the potential to tilt public opinion in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party, giving it an unfair advantage. Had the timing been right, it would have been a moment of unbridled joy and celebration.

D.V.G. Sankararao,
Nellimarla, Andhra Pradesh

Sir — There is no question that Rajinikanth should have been honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award. However, the timing of the announcement is suspicious. Nevertheless, this is a moment of pride for the Tamil film industry.

Chandan Kumar Nath,
Guwahati

Safety measures

Sir — It was wonderful to learn that researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra have developed a filtration system for eliminating arsenic from groundwater. People in several states, particularly Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal, are vulnerable to the health problems caused by a high level of arsenic in water. Access to clean water is a human right. Hopefully, this low cost system will soon become widely available to the masses.

Shyamal Thakur,
Ramnagar, East Burdwan

Sir — There is little point in institutes coming up with cost-effective technology if governments do not make it widely available to people. This includes not just a financial commitment but also a significant amount of ground work.

Roshni Sen,
Calcutta

PARTING SHOT

Sir — The ace sailor, Nethra Kumanan, must be congratulated for becoming the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Olympics (“Nethra does a first”, April 8). The 23-year-old had a 21-point advantage over her nearest rival — another Indian athlete, Ramya Saravanan — in the Laser Radial Class event. It is hoped that Kumanan will perform to the best of her abilities in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. This is a proud moment for India as a nation. The sports ministry must extend its full support to Kumanan.

Sourish Misra,
Calcutta