Opinion
On track with Teheran: Shift in India's West Asia strategy
20 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to Iran lends substance to aspirations for a close relationship between the two countries which is based as much on historical factors as mutual interest defining the future. Geopolitical realities emanating from the Talibanisation of Afghanistan, the emergence of the Central Asian republics after the break-up of the Soviet Union, and the enormous economic opportunities for trade in natural gas to India and science-based services and products from India to Iran provide the imperatives of a strategic relationship between the two countries. The inclusion of a strong group of business leaders in the prime minister's delegation provided the necessary economic thrust to this visit, which was a major factor in the announcement of a $200-million line of credit by the Indian government.
CNG: The right choice?
18 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
CNG, known to be a clean fuel, is certainly not the only choice for public transport. It is a desirable option to convert petrol-based vehicles, such as taxis and three-wheelers, to the use of this fuel.
India's food security: need for reorienting priorities
17 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire VII(8)
The food situation in the country exhibits a set of paradoxes, which are typical to the Indian scene. On the one hand, there are record stocks of foodgrains in the godowns of the FCI (Food Corporation of India), implying considerable wastage in storage and subsequent movement. On the other hand, there are many in this country who are undernourished and underfed. This, of course, is a function of poverty and lack of purchasing power. Another facet of the agricultural scene is the significant number of suicides by farmers in recent months because of the effect of drought and reduced output or their inability to repay the loans that they have taken for financing their operations. It is sad that after the widely touted Green Revolution, our policies still suffer from serious imbalances, and the existence of widespread poverty continues to impose several hardships on hundreds of millions of our countrymen who remain undernourished and deprived.
Delhi and the CNG Muddle
15 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Newspaper Today
A major development that has gripped the attention of the public in Delhi and the rest of India is the changeover to the use of CNG (compressed natural gas) for a very large number of vehicles in the Capital, with effect from the 1 April 2001. Air pollution in Delhi has reached alarming proportions, and in response to several expressions of extreme dissatisfaction with the way various government departments both at the Centre and in the states had dealt with this problem, the Supreme Court of India has stepped in and appointed the Bhure Lal Committee to advise the Court on actions that the Government must take to improve air quality to acceptable levels. The result has been the selection of CNG as the preferred fuel for the bulk of the city's public transport system.
A hasty decision, clean diesel is a better bet
09 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Hindustan Times
The level of air pollution in Delhi during the 90's had reached a magnitude that earned the city the distinction of being labelled as one of the most highly polluted places in the world. Several well known visitors to the capital city including the last Australian cricket team that toured the country shed their politeness to complain about the air they had to breathe in Delhi.
Towards implementation of Agenda 21
02 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire VII(7)
The CSD (Commission for Sustainable Development) is currently in session for its ninth formal meeting, which commenced on 16 April and is due to end on 30 April 2001, at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Budget 2001/2002: the environmental perspective
01 Apr 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Newspaper Today
The Central Government's Budget 2001/2002 has been hailed by the captains of industry as well as analysts of the stockmarket as growth oriented and forward looking. The Finance Minister has not only silenced several of the Government's critics but has actually earned compliments from distinguished leaders of the opposition. The Budget has deftly managed to bring about a decline in the fiscal deficit calculated for the year without an increase in taxes. On the contrary, by removing all but the 2% surcharge on income tax imposed in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake and through some other measures, the Finance Minister has added to the take-home income of most Indian citizens who pay taxes. The Budget has emphasized specific principles and outlined several initiatives that would accelerate the pace of reform if implemented faithfully.
Clean fuels for Delhi's vehicles: the best options
17 Mar 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire VII(6)
From 1 April, the order of the Supreme Court of India applicable to Delhi would require the Transport Department of the state to allow only buses using CNG (compressed natural gas) to ply on the roads of the capital. In response to the petition submitted by the Government of Delhi and other affected parties, the Supreme Court would allow, for a period of six months, such numbers of diesel buses to be operated by owners equivalent to the number that they have registered for conversion to CNG and for which firm orders have been placed by them for conversion to the use of CNG.
Beyond the budget: We must repay our natural debt
08 Mar 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The finance minister has presented a remarkably popular budget, the success of which can be seen from the positive response from almost all sections of society. It is also obvious that the public and the market have reacted favourably not only to several measures that will have a desirable impact on growth and development in the short run, but also to the provisions for economic reform contained in the budget.
The environment is too crucial for the finance minister not to have highlighted it
08 Mar 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| rediff.com
When he started work in the Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi, no one thought that Dr Rajendra Pachauri would one day get a Padma Bhushan for his pioneering work in environment and energy conservation. And that he would go on to write 21 books.
As the euphoria over the latest Budget continues, he spoke to Roving Editor Mr Ramesh Menon on various crucial areas that are being overlooked, like environment conservation and sustainable development.