Opinion
Double dilemma on green goods in WTO: It is in the interest of developing countries to keep the list as small as possible
17 Mar 2004 |
Mr Sandeep Singh
| The Financial Express
In the ongoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations on trade and environment, it is being explored whether environment-friendly products should be brought in the ambit of environmental goods for the purpose of reduction of trade barriers. There are pros and cons of extending the scope of environmental goods, beyond pollution abatement equipment and services. However, in the context of the international trade rules and long-term trade interests of developing countries, the cons seem to outnumber the pros.
PDS supply of kerosene: a burning issue
13 Mar 2004 |
Dr Ibrahim H Rehman
| The Hindu Business Line
The 55th round of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO ? June-July 2000) reported that around 51 per cent rural households, corresponding to 70-80 million families, burn kerosene in lanterns for light. Although 87 per cent of villages have been declared electrified, barely 43 per cent of rural households actually have power connections, leaving the un-electrified homes and poor dependent on kerosene.
Not All Hot Air Indo-Pak Peace in the Pipeline
06 Feb 2004 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The recent thaw in relations with Pakistan has created an opportunity for moving towards a lasting understanding between the two countries. The bilateral talks between officials will undoubtedly deal with political issues, measures to improve trade and easier people-to-people contact, but it would help greatly if some attention is also paid to concrete projects that could pioneer greater economic cooperation.
Will coal remain king?
06 Jan 2004 |
Mr R K Batra
| Business India
At the time of India's independence in 1947, the total power generating capacity in the country stood at 1300MW; enough to meet just one third of Delhi's power requirement today. Over the last five and a half decades, this capacity has grown to over 100,000 MW and is projected to increase at 5-6 per cent per annum in the foreseeable future. India is currently the 8th largest producer of electricity in the world. Per capita consumption however still remains very low by world standards, at around 360 KW per annum.
The enterprise in context
04 Jan 2004 |
Dr Maria Ligia Noronha
| Business India
In 1970 Milton Friedman of New York Times wrote: "..the social responsibility of business is to increase profits..". This view is often held and propounded by those who do not see much merit in companies being engaged in issues of social responsibility other than the making of profit. However, increasingly, the profit case, evident in indicators that are 'tangible', and the altruistic/philanthropic/ ethical case, evident in the 'intangibles' are getting blurred. In this commentary, my purpose is to highlight the need for a paradigm shift and the importance of greater investment in 'intangibles' to enhance corporate value.
Fuelling the dream: India can take a different trajectory in the energy sector
29 Dec 2003 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Week
The evolution of India as a superpower in 2020 presupposes rapid economic growth in the intervening period. If the nation has to reach that status, then the rate of growth would necessarily have to be 8-10 per cent per annum. The record of the developed countries shows that the growth of consumption of energy has been higher than the rate of economic growth itself.
Need to manage spectrum-related issues at international level as demand rises
18 Dec 2003 |
Asha Ram Sihag2
| The Financial Express
Spectrum is a fundamental resource that's employed in a wireless communication service. It is scarce and is allotted by the government among its users. Its management was not an issue until few years ago, as there were few wireless-based applications. Then it had been liberally allocated to departments such as defence, home and railways; but now with the proliferation of new technologies being inducted into the country, the demand for spectrum by users has increased manifold.
India's water crisis
09 Dec 2003 |
Mr Ashok Jaitly
| Business India
Cherrapunji, a small town in North Bengal, India, has been famous the world over as the wettest place on Earth. It receives an average of more than 11,000 mms of rainfall per annum. Today, Cherrapunji is facing a severe water crisis. During the monsoon it rains continuously for days, even weeks sometimes. But the water runs off taking with it soil, trees, plants and even animals. The residents depend upon the pipeline which is supposed to supply them drinking water. It is ancient and overburdened. Modernisation would be costly. People are not prepared to pay for water. Instead, during the drought months, women and children trek miles all day to fetch water. This unparalleled irony highlights one of the most important issues for the poor of our planet-an issue, which has now come centrestage globally.
'Clinical research will play a major role in India?s biotech future'
24 Nov 2003 |
Dr Banwari Lal
| The Financial Express
TERI's microbial biotechnology research area has made rapid strides in micropropagation of useful plant species and development of oil-destroying bacterial strains that clean the environment, while keeping the commercial viability of the end product as the bottom line. It is now focusing on clinical research, mainly for quick detection of pathogenic organisms and gene-sequencing methods. Senior fellow and area convener Dr Banwari Lal spoke to Sudhir Chowdhary of The Financial Express on the quality of clinical research in India and more.
'Regulatory oversight of agricultural biotech should be science-based'
11 Nov 2003 |
Dr Vibha Dhawan
| The Financial Express
One of the major goals of TERI's Division of Bioresources and Biotechnology has been application of biotechnological techniques to supplement conventional methods for improvement of plant species. Biotechnology research is being carried out in the areas of micropropagation and transgenics, plant tissue culture, genetic engineering, and microbial biotechnology, among other fields. In an interview with Sudhir Chowdhary, the director of the division, Dr Vibha Dhawan, talks about the crucial role of biotechnology in accelerating agricultural productivity.