Opinion
It's a fatal attraction
23 Mar 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Mint
The rapid rate of economic growth registered by the Indian economy so early in the new millennium raises aspirations that the 21st century would possibly be India's century. Sustaining a healthy rate of economic growth, however, would require substantial improvements in several sectors, one of the most important of which is energy. Over the past two decades, much of the ills that afflict India's energy supply and distribution industry have largely been submerged under the growing consumption of hydrocarbons- in a period when oil prices remained at historical lows after crashing in 1985.
It is also low on energy
01 Mar 2007 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| DNA
The budget needs to be seen in the context of the fact that against a 10th plan target of adding over 41,000 MW of electricity generation capacity a mere 23,000 MW is likely to be added. The insipid interest of the private sector in electricity generation has not been addressed. The Centre seems to be relying primarily on the Ultra Mega Power Projects to add capacities for the 11th 5-yr Plan period. The increased outlays on APDRP (distribution reforms) and RGGVY (Rural electrification) would have been welcome if only it was clear how these programmes are being refined to reflect learnings from previous years. The Economic Survey estimates the extent of subsidies on electricity supply to agriculture to continue to be a staggering Rs 27,000 crore in 2007-08 with an uncovered subsidy of Rs 18, 270 crore! While Chidambaram spoke of computerising the PDS system, he continues to ignore recommendations on using technology (smart cards) to have targeted delivery of services and subsidies on energy. The reduction in ad valorem excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it would have had much greater value if a longer term direction had been provided on petroleum product pricing. The unequal treatment to private players on product pricing remains unaddressed. The excise duty exemption to bio-diesel is welcome although, in terms of scale, visible impacts could only be seen a few years from now.
Sustainable Well-Being
13 Feb 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Science (Vol. 16)
Economic progress achieved since the advent of industrialization has resulted largely from advances in science and technology (S&T). Yet even as society benefits from S&T through choices that we have come to take for granted, decisions on its future are increasingly being questioned and scrutinized. The current path of economic growth deviates from the objectives of sustainable development. It is not only society at large, spearheaded by leaders of public opinion, that is expressing concerns, but also the scientific community itself, which is looking for ways to promote the sustainable well-being of all humanity.
Change Agent
12 Feb 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Straits Times
Back from Paris after presenting a climate change report, Dr Rajendra Pachauri was disturbed by a mosquito's buzz as he rested in his New Delhi home last week.
What alarmed the environmental expert, who chaired the United Nations-backed panel which issued the report, was not the insect's presence so much as the timing: This is the height of the northern Indian winter and flies and mosquitoes ought to have vanished.
Future shocks
07 Jan 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Business World
Living in this world would get much more difficult if climate change continued unmitigated in the future. Already, average Arctic temperatures increased at almost twice the global average rate in the past 100years. Contraction of snow covered area, increases in the depth of thaw over most permafrost regions and decrease in sea ice extent are projected. Arctic late summer ice is expected to disappear entirely by the latter part of the 21st century. There would bean increase in frequency of hot extremes, heat waves, heavy precipitation and tropical cyclones.
Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined on average in both hemispheres, and this would continue, with serious implications for India, especially for northern India - the rivers originating in the Himalaya-Hindu Kush range depend on supply from the glaciers in the region. With a decline in the mass of ice, river water flow is expected to shrink.
Is the US a major beneficiary of Hi-tech research being undertaken in India?: R&D culture hardly conducive here
30 Oct 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Financial Express
It would be a very limiting view and, therefore, patently wrong to say that the US is a major beneficiary of hi-tech research being undertaken in India. In fact, conversely if there was adequate high-level research on some frontier technologies taking place in India, we could benefit greatly from hi-tech research being undertaken in the US.
In terminal decline
03 Oct 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| DNA
Recent developments introducing reservations in our universities and institutions of higher learning reached a high pitch with protests and agitations about two months ago, but have since subsided due to several uncertainties on how this issue will play out in the future. While political developments and decisions such as this one often trigger an emotive response on the part of the public, some of the basic shortfalls and weaknesses in the existing system are generally ignored in the media.
Delhi doesn't get this power game
14 Sep 2006 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Indian Express
Last year, Delhi's Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) scored a point when their protests against power tariff hikes yielded positive results. While the Supreme Court last month permitted the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to announce the tariff for the current year, referring the matter of depreciation rate to the appellate tribunal again, RWA representatives need to evaluate the rationality of their call for non-payment of electricity bills to the tune of 50%.
Private participation in power - Enabling environment vital to energy security
25 Aug 2006 |
Ms Anjali Garg
,Mr Sumit Malik
| Business Line
In view of the widening electricity demand-supply gap, huge investment requirements and shortfall in investment targets, it is imperative for the government to create an enabling environment to attract greater private participation in the power sector.
India's energy sector is currently confronted with multiple challenges, which stem not only from supply-side constraints but also from demand pressures imposed by a buoyant economy and a growing population. As per recent Planning Commission estimates, if economic growth is sustained in the 7-8 per cent range, the energy demand would rise by at least 5.2 per cent annually.
In the face of relatively inflexible supply options, the gap between energy requirement and availability can only be expected to widen in the future. This gap raises serious concerns, not only about the country's energy security but also on the sustainability of its economic growth momentum. On a more micro-level, the shortage could lead to rising incidence of power outages and greater import dependency on fossil fuels such as crude oil and coal.
Step on oil & gas
11 Aug 2006 |
| The Economic Times
After a very arduous journey spanning over eight years, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Bill was passed by both the Houses and received Presidential assent and thereafter became an Act on April 3, 2006. With this, the Indian oil and gas industry can now look forward to a new phase of reform and development.