Opinion
Budget should reflect economic security
06 Jul 2004 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Times of India
The Budget should leverage private investments in the infrastructure sectors through scarce public resources that are linked to social deliverables. For example, in meeting the target of 100% rural electrification, public resources should be used to bid for lowest subsidy demands. This would bring in private participation and efficiencies while providing energy to the poor. Regulatory Commissions should be strengthened to effectively monitor rural energisation programmes.
Power politics: no light at the end of the tunnel
04 Jun 2004 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The country is fortunate to have a prime minister with the convictions of Manmohan Singh. As finance minister, he opted for policies which were in the national interest, even when they seemed heretical to some. He countered with great success opposition from vested interests. As the new government gets going, there is one particular issue on which Singh cannot compromise. His handling of it will send out a powerful signal in several other areas of economic policy. And this is putting an end to politicians promising free electricity to farmers.
Green building
11 Apr 2004 |
Dr Debajit Palit
| The Assam Tribune
The relevance of energy efficient buildings has assumed greater significance in the light of fast depleting energy resources, energy scarcity and environmental pollution hitting an obscene high. The building construction is one of the largest energy consuming sectors. Studies conducted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate that in 1990, the residential, commercial and institutional building sector consumed 31 per cent of global energy and emitted 1900 mega tonnes of carbon and by 2050, its share may rise to 38 per cent and 3800 mega tonnes, respectively. In our country, it is estimated that about 25 per cent of the total energy demands are due to manufacturing materials required in building construction, while another 30 per cent go into the running needs of the building. The ministry of power approximation indicates that 20-25 per cent of the total electricity consumed in the government buildings are wasted because of inefficient design parameters of the building, thus resulting in a whopping energy financial loss of about Rs 150 crore a year.
Double dilemma on green goods in WTO: It is in the interest of developing countries to keep the list as small as possible
17 Mar 2004 |
Mr Sandeep Singh
| The Financial Express
In the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations on trade and environment, it is being explored whether environment-friendly products should be brought in the ambit of environmental goods for the purpose of reduction of trade barriers. There are pros and cons of extending the scope of environmental goods, beyond pollution abatement equipment and services. However, in the context of the international trade rules and long-term trade interests of developing countries, the cons seem to outnumber the pros.
PDS supply of kerosene: a burning issue
13 Mar 2004 |
Dr Ibrahim H Rehman
| The Hindu Business Line
The 55th round of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO ? June-July 2000) reported that around 51 per cent rural households, corresponding to 70-80 million families, burn kerosene in lanterns for light. Although 87 per cent of villages have been declared electrified, barely 43 per cent of rural households actually have power connections, leaving the un-electrified homes and poor dependent on kerosene.
Not All Hot Air Indo-Pak Peace in the Pipeline
06 Feb 2004 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The recent thaw in relations with Pakistan has created an opportunity for moving towards a lasting understanding between the two countries. The bilateral talks between officials will undoubtedly deal with political issues, measures to improve trade and easier people-to-people contact, but it would help greatly if some attention is also paid to concrete projects that could pioneer greater economic cooperation.
Will coal remain king?
06 Jan 2004 |
Mr R K Batra
| Business India
At the time of India's independence in 1947, the total power generating capacity in the country stood at 1300MW; enough to meet just one third of Delhi's power requirement today. Over the last five and a half decades, this capacity has grown to over 100,000 MW and is projected to increase at 5-6 per cent per annum in the foreseeable future. India is currently the 8th largest producer of electricity in the world. Per capita consumption however still remains very low by world standards, at around 360 KW per annum.
The enterprise in context
04 Jan 2004 |
Dr Maria Ligia Noronha
| Business India
In 1970 Milton Friedman of New York Times wrote: "..the social responsibility of business is to increase profits..". This view is often held and propounded by those who do not see much merit in companies being engaged in issues of social responsibility other than the making of profit. However, increasingly, the profit case, evident in indicators that are 'tangible', and the altruistic/philanthropic/ ethical case, evident in the 'intangibles' are getting blurred. In this commentary, my purpose is to highlight the need for a paradigm shift and the importance of greater investment in 'intangibles' to enhance corporate value.
Fuelling the dream: India can take a different trajectory in the energy sector
29 Dec 2003 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Week
The evolution of India as a superpower in 2020 presupposes rapid economic growth in the intervening period. If the nation has to reach that status, then the rate of growth would necessarily have to be 8-10 per cent per annum. The record of the developed countries shows that the growth of consumption of energy has been higher than the rate of economic growth itself.
Need to manage spectrum-related issues at international level as demand rises
18 Dec 2003 |
Asha Ram Sihag2
| The Financial Express
Spectrum is a fundamental resource that's employed in a wireless communication service. It is scarce and is allotted by the government among its users. Its management was not an issue until few years ago, as there were few wireless-based applications. Then it had been liberally allocated to departments such as defence, home and railways; but now with the proliferation of new technologies being inducted into the country, the demand for spectrum by users has increased manifold.