Fast track (green channel) for power projects

The policy makers and bureaucrats of Government of India have agreed to have “Green Channel” for big power projects. The time taken for conception of a project, submission to the government and clearance by the various agencies take unusually long time. Typically, the gestation period for a power project may take more than decade! For a nation on the growth run, this long delay is causing hurdles which are difficult to jump over. Typically, the time taken for an environmental clearance is 16-18 months. The government recognizes that the delay is due many factors, some are technical and some are societal. It is intended that the delay should be brought down to 8-9 months.

Government in its anxiety to provide the infrastructure for industrial growth should not compromise on the assessment of long term impact of the thermal power plants on the environment. The behaviour of the eco-system in dealing with the discharges from the power plants needs to be carefully assessed before giving the clearance. Take a case of fusil-fuel based power plant. The discharges include: greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, the fly-ash, residual heat, some amount of radioactivity in the ash, etc, etc. This is in addition to the environmental pollution caused during transport and handling of the coal. The management of thousands of tons of the ash generated from the burning of coal is to be looked into before the clearance for the plant. The carbon credits from the developed countries can be utilized to provide efficient and clean technology for the management of environmental releases from the up-coming projects. The pollutants mainly cause respiratory diseases in humans.

Since, clean environment is an emotional issue, more and more emphasis should be given for non-conventional energy sources such as wind, solar, and nuclear, where the environmental releases, particularly of greenhouse gases and particulates are minimum.

Safety of municipal workers

Conservancy workers (who sweep the streets), sewage workers, storm water drain workers, solid waste handling workers, bio-medical waste workers and morgue staff are the main categories of lower-level staff in any municipality of big cities like Mumbai. Generally, these workers are exposed to various types of conventional and biological health hazards such as inorganic and organic chemicals, toxic dust particles, toxic gases in underground tunnels, viruses, toxins and micro-organisms. In a typical city like Mumbai, there are over 22,000 workers involved in these activities.

It is reported that the average life of such workers is just about 50 years. The death rate is alarming. It is claimed by social activists that the high death rate is due to negligence on the part of the municipality by not providing and not ensuring the use of safety/protective gears, safe work procedures and security to the workers during the course of their duty. Due to scarcity of houses, they are forced live in unhygienic conditions. Commonly, these workers are contracting infectious diseases like TB, skin ailments early in their working life. The workers also get into the addictive habits such as use of tobacco and alcoholism. Often, the death due to chemical toxicity goes unreported.

Due to proactive measures initiated by courts, a committee was set up to look into the work conditions of these workers. Guilty should be penalized and the victims should be adequately compensated. As per the law of the land, safety of the workers is the responsibility of the employer, government or private.

India is becoming increasingly dependent on imports from China?

In Indian markets one finds a large percentage of “Made in China” cheap products. Already there is uproar about the toxic nature of the colorful China - made toys and dress materials. Quality of the products has been a suspect. Then, why the Government of India is encouraging such a one-sided business and jeopardizes the growth of its own small scale industries?

It is reported that the percentage of imports from China has risen from 4% (2001-02) to 9.4% in 2006-07. India’s trade with China has increased 10 folds to a whopping US$25 billion in seven years! Concern is expressed regarding the near-monopoly of Chinese exports to India in certain critical sectors. Chinese import of Indian goods is only 1.3% of China’s global imports. The Indian government should review the imports/exports situation from China and ensure that the Indian products such as pharmaceuticals, IT services, heavy engineering, etc. are also exported to China in equal measure to have a win-win situation for both the countries.

Let the country be not over-dependent on Chinese cheap imports and compromise on the quality of the goods imported. India China Bhai Bhai is OK, but one remembers the Chinese invasion of India in 1961.

Vaccine for cocaine addiction

It is reported that medical research scholars at Baylor College, Houston (USA) are developing a vaccine to treat people with cocaine drug addiction. So now, the addicts who need help in stopping the addiction can use the vaccine which took a decade to make and is waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The research team consisted of psychologists and neuroscientist.

The vaccine stimulates the immune system and makes it to recognize the drug when it is ingested, resulting in the production of antibodies which bind the cocaine molecule and prevents it from reaching the brain. Thus, the drug doesn’t produce any “highs” and hence people do not get addicted. No highs – no interest. It is a major breakthrough in the management of the drug addiction. Will it work also for other organic compounds which are addictive?