Common man is being blackmailed and swindled!

The prices of vegetables, onions, tomatoes are spiraling to unrealistic heights. This is a clear case of nexus between the politicians and traders (APMC) to enhance the prices and swindle the poor man and get fortunes to the political parties and the politicians. The Food Minister declares that the prices are likely to increase and the very next day the prices increase like a magic band. Very nice planning indeed!

The farmer is not at all benefited. He continues to get almost the same price which he used to get earlier.

It is high time that the APMC type of system is discontinued in India, and the marketing chains such as MORE and RELIANCE FRESH should be permitted and encouraged to buy the vegetables directly from the farmers so that the actual grower get a better price, and naturally the consumers need not pay APMC fixed rates which is three to five times higher than what the farmer gets.

Emission cuts-fundamental shift in India’s stance

US is praising India’s Environment minister for facilitating the climate deal at Cancun and expressed commitment for accepting emission cuts voluntarily in the future. Unfortunately, there are no targets, but only pledges by the rich countries to reduce future emissions. Without any legally binding emission cuts, nothing is going to happen. There will be constraints only on the developing countries and their developments will be on hold or will be economically not viable for global trade.

Are the voluntary pledges of the rich and polluting countries adequate enough to prevent the dangerous climate changes we are already witnessing today? The threat is for real. It is reported that the world is already emitting 48 billion tons of CO2 equivalent of Green House Gases. To keep the world below 2 degrees C temperature increase, the global emissions must drop to 44 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2020.

The world leaders should see the clear writing on the wall that the climate change is already ON, and whatever is planned to be done by 2020 should be done right now. It is now or never.

May be, the world leaders are realizing slowly that the climate change is the naturally occurring cyclic phenomenon and nothing can really be done or achieve by GH gas emission cuts at the cost of much needed global economical development

Exposure to EMF radiations from mobile phones and towers

The health effect Electro-Magnetic Frequency (EMF) radiation from the towers/mobile phones is of great concern. As reported, the probability of health effects is about 5 times higher in case of children and teenagers. Pregnant women should also be protected from the exposures so that the fetus is not exposed.

It is reported that about 50% of Indian population are using mobile phones! There are several thousands of transmission towers mushrooming all over the country. The convenience of mobile phone in passing on messages is undisputed. But it is over-used and unregulated. That is the concern.

I doubt whether India has a separate regulator to ensure safety from the EMF radiation exposures. It was suggested that BARC/AERB should start monitoring the EMF density in different locations to ensure see compliance with the available international standards. Just formation of committees is not enough. It is already late.

Through mass media communications, the public, both urban and rural, should be made aware of the situation and warn them against using mobile phones indiscriminately and regulate the service providers in installation of towers.

Self regulation is missing in Indian aviation industry

Why every time the government machinery should intervene in sorting out irrational actions by the industry resulting in public outrage in India? Airlines in India started to charge exorbitant spot domestic air fares without any justifiable reason. The airfares were steeply raised often three to four times the normal fares, particularly during festive seasons! This is not existent in any other public transportation system. If this is permitted, why not allow railways to follow the same and swindle the common man who is already harassed by the inflation?

As of now, there is no transparency in deciding the airfares. Let alone the public, even the regulator (Director General of Civil Aviation), if functioning, is not aware of the modus-operandi followed by the airlines in deciding the airfares.

Following the public outcry, the government seems to have intervened and issued stern warning to the airlines to give fair airfares in consumer-friendly and transparent manner.

The airlines should not be allowed charge fares outside the range of fares which should be decided in consultation with the government regulator. Maybe, the government can also contribute by reducing the sales tax on ATF and control the airport charges which is reported to have gone up by 30% (out-sourcing effect).

Unreal Realty

In India, it is not shocking. Well established bank officials have taken bribes to dole out multi-crore rupees loans to real estate companies. It is suspected that some of the projects are risky and dubious. Though, apparently it looks like bribes-for-favours scandal, there must be much more than meets the eye. There are inherent irrationalities involved in the realty sector. The realty prices are soaring not because of the actual demand, but the prices are manipulated by the builders. The banks are providing them easy money which helps them to hold-on to the property thereby an artificial demand is created. Prices are rigged by the builders lobby in all the major cities.

The government should intervene and investigate the scandals since government banks and institutions like LIC of India are involved, and it is public money. It is high time that the prices of realty should have some controls and the prices should be justified. The bank officials should be made responsible for the recovery of loans given to the builders in a given time frame. The guilty should be punished and sent to jail. India should not end up in a situation similar to the US sub-prime mortgage crisis.