Opinion
Tinkering with the profit sharing mechanism may do more harm than good
14 Sep 2012 |
Mr R K Batra
| InfralinePlus
R K Batra, Distinguished Fellow, TERI throws light on various issues which need to be taken into account while reviewing the production sharing contracts (PSCs) so as to preserve the investor confidence.
Grid failure was no mere technical snag
02 Aug 2012 |
Mr Shahid Hasan
| Business Line
The grid failure on July 30 and 31 is a reminder that we are living on the edge. It is time for some serious action by all of us, says Shahid Hasan, Associate Director, Knowledge Management, TERI.
Overview of Wind Power Forecasting Methods in India
01 Aug 2012 |
Mr Ankit Narula
| Energetica India
Ankit Narula, Research Associate, Renewable Energy Technology Applications, TERI studies the Wind Forecasting Methods and discusses the current challenges for Indian Wind Developers in this area.
Lack of adequate delivery infrastructure fails gas discoveries
20 Jul 2012 |
| InfralinePlus
Dr Prodipto Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, shares his thoughts on how India needs strategies and policies that focus on environmental sustainability and equity while addressing its development needs.
Let's connect with nature's marvels
17 Jul 2012 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
A change in priorities and values of modern life has left us disconnected with the marvels of nature, says Dr R K Pachauri, Director General, TERI.
Check this mad rush
11 Jul 2012 |
Mr Nitya Nanda
| The Financial Express
The excessive dependence on coal is worrying not just for the social, environmental and climate change reasons, but is questionable purely on the economic ground as well. Given this, it would be prudent for India to reduce its dependence on coal and diversify its energy basket says, Nitya Nanda, Fellow, Resources, Regulation & Global Security, TERI.
Development as Right - The Rio+20 summit resulted in an agreement to mark time
11 Jul 2012 |
Mr C Dasgupta
| The Telegraph
The Rio+20 outcome includes a reaffirmation of the Rio Declaration, refers specifically to the principles of right to development, and to equity (in the context of climate change). It recognizes that poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge facing the world today.
Be the change you want to see in the world
29 Jun 2012 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Pioneer
India has a responsibility not only to its own people but to the whole world to establish a path of development which will at least help protect the eco-systems of this planet and the bounty of nature, says Dr R K Pachauri Director General, TERI.
Whose credentials are greener?
25 Jun 2012 |
| The Financial Express
It is surprising but true that of the three most energy efficient cement plants in the world, two are from India. In several sectors, like aluminum, steel, paper and power, Indian plants are among the most energy efficient in the world. Energy efficiency is also a reliable proxy for overall environmental performance, as modern energy efficient technologies are also required to meet stringent environmental norms in the developed countries of origin-typically Europe, Japan, and the US. Indian industry has perforce had to employ these modern technologies in their investments in recent years owing to global competitiveness concerns.
Another driving factor has been the requirement of mandatory environmental appraisals in a number of potentially polluting sectors. Environmental impact appraisals, in the case of many types of projects, involve consultations with stakeholders. The concerns of the stakeholders, besides those revealed in the impact assessment reports, have to be addressed by an environmental management plan, which is subject to monitoring and enforcement. Lapses in implementation of environmental management plans may also be reported by third-party stakeholders to the state pollution control boards for enforcement. The courts have also been pro-active in several cases. I do not argue that the system is as effective as it should be. Nevertheless, it does act as a significant deterrent to rampant polluting behaviour.
There have, of course, been some lapses. Unauthorised groundwater withdrawals by a soft-drink major in Kerala brought the company in direct conflict with local residents. Pollution from a power plant in Maharashtra have allegedly reduced agricultural yields, leading to court intervention. Mine tailings in Goa have made agricultural lands unfit for cultivation. On the positive side, Indian industry has garnered the second-largest number of clean development mechanism (CDM) projects worldwide, involving considerable innovation in clean technologies.
Nevertheless, Indian industry faces a number of challenges on the environmental front. The older plants are generally more polluting than recent ones. They need significant technology upgradation and modernisation. Competitive pressures and heightened awareness of environmental issues by local stakeholders are gradually forcing them to do so. The pace of change can, however, be significantly accelerated by more effective monitoring and enforcement. The power of random audits as an instrument of governance may help. A few years ago, the Central Pollution Control Board adopted, on an experimental basis, a system of randomised selection of industrial plants for surprise inspections. The rate of detection of environmental violations increased manifold. Unfortunately, the experiment was abandoned when a new chairman, whose priority was technology innovation rather than governance, took office. This system needs to be revived, institutionalised, and mainstreamed across the entire environmental monitoring and enforcement regime.
There remains a serious problem of pollution in the small-scale sector. These units have serious constraints of access to capital and technology. However, all is not lost. Many such units employ standard equipment-electric motors, boilers, cupola furnaces, etc. The adoption and enforcement of strict environmental performance standards in the manufacture (in the large-scale sector) of such equipment may help ensure environmental sustainability in the small scale sector.
Power tariffs need to be rationalised
25 Jun 2012 |
Mr Shahid Hasan
| Business Line
Rationalization of power tariff is one important aspect that needs to be seriously looked at if we are considering secure and equitable energy resources for future growth, says Shahid Hasan, Director, Human Resources, TERI.