Opinion
Institutional change required in India's science and technology programmes
02 Jan 2002 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 8(1)
News reports indicate that the US administration is planning to support research on fuel-cell technology with the objective of creating transportation options based on hydrogen as a fuel. The previous US administration under President Clinton had, according to reports, committed a total funding level of 1.5 billion dollars for the development of hybrid vehicles that would use hydrocarbon fuels to generate power on vehicles incorporating an electrical drive. The focus of this R&D effort was to increase fuel efficiency substantially. It appears that a reappraisal by the US Department of Energy has culminated in giving a much higher priority to fuel-cell-based transportation rather than the development of hydrocarbon-based electrical vehicles.
Ethanol: A practical idea?
26 Dec 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Economic Times
When the late H N Bahuguna was minister for petroleum in the late 1970s, he had set up a committee to go into the entire gamut of issues associated with the production of ethanol as a fuel from sugarcane.
Human Face of Corporates
25 Dec 2001 |
Dr Ritu Kumar
| The Times of India
Do corporates have a role to play in community initiatives? How compatible are money-making and social responsibility? To find out, TERI-Europe, the London affiliate of the The Energy and Resources Institute, conducted a poll among over 1,200 workers, company executives and the general public in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Tirupur on their perceptions of and expectations from business in India. Ritu Kumar, Director, TERI-Europe, who co-authored the report, 'Altered Images: Understanding and Encouraging Corporate Responsibility in India', tells Saira Kurup that the popular mood is to include sustainable development into mainstream business strategy.
Innovation in habitat design
17 Dec 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 7(24)
As this issue goes to press, the knowledge capital of India, Bangalore, has witnessed the completion and formal opening of a new building, which proclaims in a practical manner the importance of eco-riendly building design and construction. The Hon'le Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr S M Krishna inaugurated the new building complex of TERI' Southern Regional Centre on 3 January 2002 on a bright and sunny day. This complex has been designed and constructed with unique features. Every corner of the building has a cheerful atmosphere because of the extensive use of daylighting through a provision of skylights and judicious provision of window area.
Regulatory commissions: resource challenges
12 Dec 2001 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
,Mr Shahid Hasan
| Regulateri 11
The infrastructure sectors in the South Asian countries are undergoing reforms and restructuring. The micro objectives could differ from country to country but the overall goals of such economic reforms have been to create a stable economy, and to make conditions conducive to private sector participation in various spheres of economic activity, improving the efficiency and competitiveness. India and Sri Lanka were the first to liberalize their economic policies. Pakistan has also set up independent regulatory agencies in the gas and electricity sectors. Nepal, too, has taken a lead and established an independent regulatory authority in its telecom sector. Other South Asian countries, too, are contemplating setting up regulatory commissions on similar lines in future.
Global recession: time to act now
02 Dec 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 7(23)
The global recession currently gripping the major economies of the world appears to be deepening; most predictions now indicate that a turnaround may be as many as six months away. The Indian economy, too, has been influenced by these global trends but the sheer size of the Indian market and the relatively low dependence on exports insulates the country significantly from unfavourable global trends in economic growth. India would, therefore, have to do well to maintain a growth rate of about five per cent in the current fiscal year and aim for a significant increase in the following year. However, in order to bring about a resurgence in the Indian economy, it would be essential to ensure a bigger flow of foreign direct investment.
Price of Power
27 Nov 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
Oil prices soared on September 11, fuelling fears of an adverse impact on the import-dependent Indian economy. But, oil prices in fact tumbled, despite predictions to the contrary. R K Pachauri, director of the TERI, however, feels that India cannot afford to be complacent. He tells Saira Kurup that it is high time the government planned for the country?s energy security.
Collapse of the energy giant
17 Nov 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 7(22)
A major development which has shaken the financial markets in several countries and caused concern worldwide in business and government circles is the collapse of the energy giant Enron. The fallout of this catastrophic caving in of a major company, which till less than a year ago was regarded as a shining example of a dynamic and successful corporation, is yet to be assessed. But, of course, this development has major implications for India, since Enron has been at loggerheads with the Government of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board over the Dabhol power project for almost a year now. Several Indian financial institutions have provided a large amount as loan capital for the 3 billion dollar project, and it is not clear at all how the impending bankruptcy of Enron might affect their stakes in the project.
Environmental concerns: catch them young
02 Nov 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 7(21)
Some years ago the festival of Diwali had become, for several million citizens of Delhi and other cities, a nightmare with prolonged bursting of firecrackers, sometimes through the night, and air pollution at a level that was not merely a long-term hazard but an immediate threat to life. Fortunately, a movement began among schoolchildren who were not only disturbed by the thought of supporting the fireworks industry that employs child labour on a large scale, but also saw the dangers in the enormous noise and air pollution resulting from this distorted form of celebration, which had to be brought to an end. Diwali stands for the triumph of good over evil! So how can the celebration of the victory of good be carried to a degree that it harms the lives of millions of people? The result of action by children has been a significant toning down of the noisy and visible manifestation of Diwali celebrations, with results that are clearly desirable.
India's energy dependence: quest for developing R&D
17 Oct 2001 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| TERI Newswire 7(20)
Catastrophic events and calamities become and remain the subject of attention worldwide only for a short period of time. In some sense, this is to be expected in an age when news and pictures travel rapidly round the globe only to be replaced by new sensations, and when the news media concerns itself almost entirely with what sells as news. But enlightened societies have to develop and nurture institutions that are capable of looking beyond the immediate, and engage themselves in assessing the long-term implications of events and disasters of the type we have seen since 11 September.