Opinion
Indo-Pak relations: the way ahead
02 Jul 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire VII(13)
The Indo-Pak Summit between Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf ended without a joint statement by the two leaders. Considerable disappointment has been expressed by several persons whose voices are heard in this country on what appears to have been a meeting without any positive outcome. These feelings are largely the result of excessive expectations. Given the serious problems that have divided the two countries, it was unrealistic to expect that any solutions would emerge from one single meeting. Much of the build-up prior to the summit had been created by a hyperactive media in this country and the intense competition for headlines, which, to a large extent, were created without any substance. The rationale for accommodation between India and Pakistan is clear, but rational considerations seldom dominate international relationships and policies in most parts of the world.
Regulatory reforms in the environment infrastructure sectors
01 Jul 2001 |
Dr Kaushik Deb
| Regulateri (9)
Growing population in India over the decades has constrained the availability of resources in both urban and rural areas, though the impact of lack of delivery of services has elt more in urban areas. In this changing liberalized scenario and because of increasing pressure on resources, there is a need for regulating the environment infrastructure. Environment infrastructure comprises basic services like water supply, sewerage, and solid waste management.
S&T as drivers of economic growth
29 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Business Line
The official website of the Commonwealth Knowledge Network states that the stock of science and technology (S&T) manpower in India is 6.3 million. It estimates that scientists and engineers engaged in R&D in 1994 numbered 1,36,503 and expenditure on that year was US$ 2,172.4. This works out to 0.81% of that year's GNP. While in several respects this figure is not adequate for a country that plans to develop as a knowledge society and achieve high rates of growth based on scientific and technological achievements, it does indicate, nevertheless, a sizeable commitment of resources to S&T.
Reforesting India
29 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Newspaper Today
In the past six weeks I have had occasion to travel to the hills in the new state of Uttaranchal. The Kumaon and Garhwal hills have a unique personality, which is perhaps totally different from what is seen in other mountainous regions of the world and, in fact, even from the rest of the Himalayan range in this country. Earlier visits in thisregion generally led the visitor to believe that these hills were dying with green cover being depleted at a rapid rate and the resulting soil erosion creating dangers of landslides and ugly scars all around.
Regulators can't pack a punch without financial muscle
23 Jun 2001 |
Mr S Sundar
| The Times of India
A constructive relationship between government and the regulator is essential for the success of regulatory reform. Such a relationship can develop only when governments empower the regulators so that they can hold their own. It is, however, not easy to empower the regulators. Bureaucracies all over the world do not willingly give up the powers that they enjoy. Most countries have sought to provide for regulatory autonomy by setting up the regulators through specific legislation. In India too, where the bureaucracy is powerful, regulation has been established through legislation in order that the regulator's autonomy is not left to the magnanimity of the bureaucracy.
Population and sustainable development
16 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire VII(12)
The World Population Day is celebrated annually on July 11. The genesis of this date goes back to 11 July 1987 when the world's population crossed 5 billion people. It was then decided by the UN that July 11 would be World Population Day, when the UN system and the global community would focus on population issues and related developments. Over this period of time, thinking on matters of population has changed substantially, and in contrast with the earlier concern on growing numbers of the human race, there is now much greater understanding of development issues, the problem of gender balance, women's empowerment, and the widespread problem of poverty, all of which have a direct link with and bearing on population and demographics.
US isolation on climate change
15 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Newspaper Today
Two major events have taken place in the field of global climate change during the last one week. The first is the submission of a report by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to the US President, dealing the assessment of the extent and nature of climate change that is taking place globally. The NAS had been requested by President George W. Bush to investigate the science of climate change and provide an assessment of what needs to be done. The major focus of the NAS assessment was to look at the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), particularly as it relates to the Third Assessment Report of that body covering all the significant aspects of climate change.
Poverty in the developing world
10 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Centennial News 86(4), Fall-Winter 2000/01
I have two concerns on which I am trying to carry out research and study during my stay at Yale, both of which do have an identifiable connection. The first relates to understanding the nature of rural poverty in developing countries and its nexus with natural resources and the environment. The second deals with policies and institutional frameworks that would promote innovation and rapid technological change to alleviate poverty.
Scrap the PPA with Dabhol?
06 Jun 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
It is unfortunate that the Dabhol project is in such a terrible mess. This is clearly the result of serious lapses and mistakes on the part of all the stakeholders.
Regulating relationships
02 Jun 2001 |
Mr S Sundar
| The Times of India
Independent regulation involves the transfer of powers once exercised by governments to autonomous statutory agencies whose status in government is not clearly defined. This has naturally caused friction between ministries and regulatory authorities, and has resulted in a debate on the relationship between the government and the regulator.