Thursday 24 November 2016

November 2016 (SPECIAL ISSUE ON POLLUTION )



November 2016
SPECIAL ISSUE ON  POLLUTION
GREEN    FEATURES

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FARMERS REGAINING CONTROL OF THEIR SEEDS: THE ALTERNATIVE TO MONSANTO IN THE PHILIPPINES




Paris deal put on fast-track, India ratifies pact on climate change


India to host Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) Health Minister to inaugurate it on 7th Nov


Now Check Your City's Pollution Levels on the National Air Quality Index



Explainers
What is PM2.5?
PM stands for Particulate Matter. PM2.5 are fine particles of diameter 2.5 micrometers or less. These particles are invisible to a naked eye and can only be seen by using an electron microscope. They are found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets.
What is PM10?
Similarly, PM10 are coarse dust particles of diameter ranging between 2.5 micrometers to 10 micrometers.
What is AQI & how is it calculated?
AQI stands for Air Quality Index. It’s an Index to define the air quality which tells us how clean or polluted the air is. There are six AQI categories namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very Poor and Severe. The AQI considers eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb). Based on the measured ambient concentrations of these pollutants, a sub-index is calculated for each of these and the worst sub-index reflects the overall AQI.
We calculate AQI based on various pollutant values as per the slabs provided by CPCB on its website. The slabs only calculate the AQI to a maximum of 500. We have linearly extrapolated the last slab (301-400) for all the pollutants to show AQI beyond 500.


Newest documentary on the climate situation/crisis --Before the Flood -- watch it now, or by November 6

India Wavers on Emissions as Power Plants Balk at Price Tag

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It is a sad story that there is no group of individuals or one or more organisations/agencies who are liable for such a sorry state of affairs. For a number of years, even as early as since the year 2000, many individuals and groups in the country have been trying to draw the attention of the authorities to the perils awaiting our communities from the pollution impacts of poorly run coal power sector. But even many credible feedbacks on the draft of the Integrated Energy Policy in 2006 (by the Planing Commission of India), could not prevent that policy recommending the continued over-reliance on coal power plants without much focus on the pollution control measures or even recognising the social, health and general environmental impacts. 

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There was another opportunity to undertake a diligent review of the flawed coal-reliant power policy for the country in the year 2012 when generation planning for 12th and 13th five years plans was undertaken by CEA.  Credible arguments were made, in the form of feednback, to move away from the coal-reliant power sector paradigm for the country but to no avail. 



Weekly roundup of news and views
http://www.ecologise.in/2016/11/02/news-update-117/

Last week's posts
http://www.ecologise.in/2016/11/01/world-on-track-to-lose-two-thirds-of-wild-animals-by-2020-major-report-warns/
The Guardian reports: The number of wild animals on Earth is set to fall by two-thirds by 2020, which a new report attributes to an ongoing mass extinction. The analysis, the most comprehensive to date, indicates that animal populations plummeted by 58% between 1970 and 2012, with losses on track to reach 67% by 2020.

http://www.ecologise.in/2016/10/31/patrick-holden-on-food-the-forgotten-medicine/
There’s no such thing as ‘healthy food’ if it’s not produced by sustainable farming systems on living soils, Patrick Holden told the recent ‘Food: The Forgotten Medicine’ conference. But after 70 years of industrial farming, there’s a huge job to be done to restore depleted soils and the impoverished genetic diversity of seeds and crops.

Does the concept of a living planet inspire and uplift you, or is it a disturbing example of woo-woo nonsense that distracts us from practical, science-based policies? While no amount of evidence can prove it false, we must acknowledge that the science that militates against an intelligent, purposeful, living universe is ideologically freighted and culturally-bound.
http://www.ecologise.in/2016/10/29/landmark-carbon-dioxide-concentration-passed-marks-new-climate-era/
Brian Kahn writes: Climate change has entered a new phase, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization. Concentrations of carbon dioxide “surged again to new records in 2016,” and the WMO predicts that the annual average for CO2 would remain above 400 parts per million, 44 percent higher than before the Industrial Revolution, for generations.
http://www.ecologise.in/2016/10/28/lower-yields-and-agropoisons-what-is-the-point-of-gm-mustard-in-india/
Colin Todhunter writes: The real story behind GM mustard in India is that it presents the opportunity to make various herbicide tolerant (HT) mustard hybrids using India’s best germ plasm, which’d be an irresistible money spinner for the developers and chemical manufacturers (Bayer-Monsanto). GM mustard is both a Trojan horse and based on a hoax.
http://www.ecologise.in/2016/10/27/degrowth-a-bomb-word-comes-of-age/
Rajni Bakshi writes: Votaries of degrowth are the first to acknowledge that they are deploying a ‘bomb-word’. Yet it highlights an inconvenient truth–that infinite economic growth is not possible on a finite planet. Even ‘green’ growth, supported by technological wizardry cannot, by itself, address the deepening global crisis of under-employment, social dislocation, and environmental degradation.








Govt unveils roadmap to tackle air pollution
Sisodia holds emergency meeting; measures include vacuum cleaning of roads, sprinkling water on streets, and monitoring construction sites for dust pollution
As various agencies termed the Capital’s air quality ‘severe’ in the aftermath of Diwali celebrations, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government convened an emergency meeting to chalk out a roadmap to combat air pollution.
Following a lengthy meeting with representatives of various government departments at his Delhi Secretariat office, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the government’s plan to tackle air pollution included the use of emission-control devices, resuming vacuum cleaning of arterial roads, sprinkling water on streets, and cutting dust pollution from construction sites.
More solutions
“Jet pressure pump technique will be used for sprinkling water on footpaths, road bumps and central verges. By doing this, we can control dust particles. In several countries, such technology is being used to curb dust pollution,” Mr. Sisodia said.
The Deputy CM said that the Public Works Department (PWD) was exploring the option of installing air purifiers and mist fountains at five major traffic intersections including Mukarba Chowk in northwest Delhi and Anand Vihar, which is the most polluted area in the Capital.
Mr. Sisodia said that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been told to carry out strict and regular inspections at construction sites of above 20,000 square meters and had also been directed to submit a detailed note about dust pollution from such sites.
“As much as 90 per cent of dust pollution comes from construction sites, which needs to be regulated. There are 61 major construction sites in Delhi, but there are several smaller sites and most of them are violating the rules,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Mr. Sisodia said that the government had also decided to make citizens aware about dust pollution.
“We will appeal to them to inform us about violations of rules. The Swachh Delhi App, developed by the Urban Development Department, can be used for this,” he said.
Sub-divisional magistrates and assistant engineers of the PWD have been asked to take action and issue challans against those storing construction material on roads.
Emission-control devices such as chimneys and wet scrubbers will be installed at 75 cremation grounds in collaboration with all three municipal corporations, the Deputy Chief Minister added.
Crushed by the cane lobby
November 3, 2016  



The Hindu – 3 November 2016: – Data suggest that the private sector in Maharashtra is less efficient than the cooperatives
In a move that marks the reversal of a decision made on October 4, the Maharashtra State government has decided to start the sugar cane crushing season from November 5 instead of December 1 as proposed earlier. The decision was made taking into account apprehensions of weight loss due to late harvesting and of ‘poaching’ by millers of neighbouring Karnataka especially from the sugar cane-rich Kolhapur and Sangli belt of western Maharashtra.
Rumblings in the sugar sector
Maharashtra is the largest producer of sugar in India, contributing almost 37 per cent of the total national output. The 2016-17 sugar season is distinctly different for three reasons. First, this year marks the completion of a decade since major reforms were introduced in the Sugarcane Control (Order), 1966 via reduction of the aerial distance limit between two sugar units to 15 km from 50 km and the dropping of provision 5B, also known as “Bhargava formula”; the provision had enabled limited profit sharing out of excessive realisation from the sale of free sugar, in case of erratic cane supply, with cane farmers of the mill. Second, the estimated availability of sugar cane this year stands at 445 lakh tons, implying that the State will produce just 5 million tons (MT) of sugar as against 8.5 MT last season. With just 90 days of crushing, a large number of mills will remain shut resulting in idle machinery, extra manpower cost, and a likely default on term-loan repayment leading to non-performing assets. Third, the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, championing the cause of sugar cane farmers for the past 15 years, is agitating for an increased cane price.
Cooperative sugar mills have contributed largely to the development of rural Maharashtra by providing consistent farm income to large shareholding members. But the ownership profile of sugar factories in the State has undergone a major change in the past decade with the amendment to Section 6A of the Sugarcane Control (Order), 1966. The change has also been accentuated by the questionable practice of lending banks, especially the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, taking over assets under the provisions of the SARFAESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002. Data indicate that altogether 68 cooperative units were liquidated and sold later to the private sector, to entities floated by cooperative barons themselves, with a few exceptions.
The bigwigs of the sugar cooperatives, including former State cooperative ministers, floated private sugar units, in a way sowing the seeds of doubt on the working and efficacy of the cooperative model. The number of private sugar factories in Maharashtra has consistently increased from 2006-07. Almost 154 private sugar units have obtained Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM); at present there are 78 operational private sugar mills with total crushing capacity of 2.48 lakh tons of cane per day (TCD) as against a mere 12 private units a decade ago. In comparison the number of operational cooperative units stands at 102 with a capacity of 3.52 lakh TCD. Private sector capacity gradually increased from 10 per cent of the total sugar production in the State to 45 per cent.
Cooperatives vs private mills
The natural question that arises is how the increase in private sector participation impacted the sugar cane payment and sugar recovery per ton of sugarcane crushed. The change in ownership pattern has impacted the cane price payment to the growers in the State (see graphs). To understand the payment dynamics, it is essential to understand the process of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), a payment model unique to Maharashtra. Unlike other cane-producing States where the farmer brings his produce to the factory for crushing, in Maharashtra it is picked up by sugar millers from the farmers’ fields to ensure uninterrupted cane supply and smooth operations.
The harvesting and transportation (H&T) cost thus incurred by millers is, however, ultimately deducted from the FRP paid to the farmers. A year-on-year analysis of H&T costs incurred by cooperative and private millers illustrates the larger impact. The private units have incurred Rs.57.07, Rs.48.58 and Rs.83.14 per ton on H&T more than cooperative units in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively, implying thereby that the cane farmers are burdened by an additional Rs.477.20 crore. Likewise, the cooperative sector sugar recovery rate, which is directly linked to the FRP paid to farmers, has always been higher than that of the private sector over the same period.
The difference between cooperative and private sector in recovery when monetised, calculating on the basis of FRP fixed by the Government of India, comes to Rs.1076.10 crore. Shockingly, in some cases cooperative sugar units reported less H&T expenditure and better recovery before management was taken over by the private sector. If both H&T and recovery are put together in monetary terms, the ultimate loss is borne by sugar cane farmers due to dwindling payments under private mills.
The common belief is that the private sector is competitive, efficient and professionally managed when compared to the cooperative sector. Ironically, the private sugar sector in Maharashtra doesn’t stand the test of data. How can such differences between cooperative and private sector in sugar recovery and H&T cost — which are directly related to cane payment — be explained?
Cooperative society members, with easy access to management, meetings of the board of directors and vigilance on the factory premises during and after crushing, bring in effective stakeholder participation in the overall working of mills. As a result there is better sugar recovery and considerable reduction in cost of H&T, thus financially benefitting the cane farmers. Given this backdrop, the recent trend of cooperative sugar barons opting to set up private sugar units despite overwhelming support of shareholders for the cooperative model is alarming. This, when the entire country is looking to emulate the Maharashtra sugar cooperatives’ model.
Steps to control retail sugar prices — such as like putting stock limits on millers and wholesale traders, capping of retail prices, increased cess and non-payment of export incentives — succeed in providing relief to consumers even though they impact the earnings of millers. In a similar manner, identifying and effectively implementing steps to protect farmers’ interests is the need of the hour. The provisions of the Maharashtra Regulation of Sugarcane Price (Supplied to Factories) Act, 2013, enacted on the recommendation of the C. Rangarajan committee, may provide an effective instrument for the administration to limit H&T cost per ton of sugar cane and dwindling sugar recovery rate of the private sector in the State.
Rajagopal Devara is serving Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, and former Sugar Commissioner, Maharashtra. Views expressed are personal.
Kerala declared drought-hit



Deficit of 69 p.c. rainfall forecast even if 90 to 100 p.c. rainfall is received in November and December: Minister
All the 14 districts of Kerala have been declared drought-hit by the government.
This was announced by Minister for Revenue, E. Chandrasekharan in the Assembly on Monday while replying to a notice for an adjournment motion moved by V. S. Sivakumar of Congress.
“There is a deficit 34 per cent rainfall in the State during the South-West monsoon. During the North-East monsoon, it is projected that we will have a deficit of 69 per cent rainfall even if 90 to 100 per cent rainfall is received in November and December. The State Disaster Management Authority, at its meeting under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on October 28, has decided to declare the entire State as drought-hit,” he said.

Moratorium on farm loan
A moratorium will come into effect on the agricultural loan taken by the farmers. The government will seek central aid to overcome the crisis. The District Collectors have been given a 26-point guideline to be followed for drought-relief, the Minister has said.
From June 1 this year to September 30, Kerala received 1352.3 mm rain against the normal rainfall of 2039.7 mm, a deficiency of 34 per cent.
There has been no rain in October and if this situation continues, there will be drought-like situation, IMD, Thiruvananthapuram Director S Sudevan, said.
“If the North East Monsoon fails then there will be problems in different sectors — Agriculture, Power etc”, he told PTI.
Pinarayi sounds the warning
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has also said that the State was heading for a “severe” drought as Kerala had received deficient rains in the South-West monsoon.
Though the North-East monsoon was yet to set in, the State had not received pre-monsoon showers, he said.
“A huge danger is lurking in the state in the form of drought as the South-West monsoon was deficient”, Mr. Vijayan had said at a function on Sunday.
RWH to be encouraged
“If this situation continues, the State is heading for a severe drought. We need to take precautions,” he had said. To tackle the situation, the government was also keen to encourage rain water harvesting, he said.
There has been an average reduction of 22 per cent water in the State’s dams when compared to the water storage in September last year.
The State was also gearing up to take measures to tackle scarcity of drinking water which is likely to be faced by the State due to deficient monsoon, according to Water Resources Minister Mathew P Thomas.
The government also has plans to rejuvenate at least 10,000 private temple ponds of the total 40,000 in the State.
The Chief Minister had convened a high-level meeting on October 13 to work out plans to meet the impending drought situation.
State-wise details of Districts declared by States drought affected
http://farmer.gov.in/drought/droughtreport.aspx


Indian government declares Delhi air pollution an emergency

Delhi smog: Schools closed for three days as pollution worsens

Air Pollution in India and Delhi, in the News

Dataquest
November 17, 2016
Can Big Data help combat Air Pollution?




The New York Times
November 10, 2016
A Lesson for India in a Fog So Thick It Could Kill a Cow


The Guardian (Editorial)
November 8, 2016
The Guardian view on air pollution: ministers must act
The New York Times Editorial Board
November 8, 2016
Choking in New Delhi
The Wall Street Journal
November 4, 2016
What Is Behind Delhi’s Soaring Air Pollution?
Bloomberg (Editorial Board)
November 3, 2016
India’s Deadly Smog
The Foreign Service Journal
October 2016
The Air We Breathe: Living with Air Pollution
The Hindustan Times
October 2, 2016
Delhi air quality set to worsen, warn experts
Times of India
September 15, 2016
Air quality index doesn’t give you correct picture
Forbes India
August 12, 2016
Gasping Tiger – Breathing Heavily in India
The Times of India
June 11, 2016
Now, air pollution linked to strokes
The Financial Express
June 4, 2016
Delhi’s pollution woes are far from over: CSE
The Indian Express
June 1, 2016
Delhi’s data deficit
The Times of India
May 25, 2016
Delhi must convert to gas for clean air: Pradhan
The Times of India
May 17, 2016
Living in Delhi akin to passive smoking: Expert
Hindustan Times
May 17, 2016
Air pollution shortens your life by 3.4 years
The Hindu
May 15, 2016
Outdated data misleading experts
NPR – All Things Considered
May 13, 2016
India’s Big Battle: Development Vs. Pollution
The Indian Express
May 13, 2016
April wasn’t January
The Huffington Post – India (Blog)
May 12, 2016
5 Ways to Protect Your Kids From Delhi’s Toxic Air
The Indian Express
May 2, 2016
Hardlook- Odd-Even II: How Delhi’s air fared
The Times of India
April 29, 2016
Delhi’s air worst amongst metros
The Indian Express
April 22, 2016
Decoding Air Quality Index
The Hindustan Times
April 20, 2016
Hindustan Times brings you a real-time air quality map
The Times of India
April 17, 2016
Among metros, Delhi worst hit by PM2.5: Study
The New York Times
April 12, 2016
Cleaner Air Tied to Fewer Lung Problems in Children
BBC News (Autos)
April 4, 2016
Should cities be car-free zones?
Live Mint
April 3, 2016
Our grey, grim future
ETAuto (The Economic Times)
April 2, 2016
Is this the endgame for diesel cars in India?
The Times of India
March 28, 2016
Delhi to have 3 more air quality monitoring stations
Urban Emissions Blogspot
March 26, 2016
What’s Polluting Delhi’s Air?
The Times of India
March 22, 2016
Delhi to check NCR air during next odd-even
SBS Worldnews (Australia)
March 20, 2016
Rickshaws going solar to fight pollution
Urban Emissions Blog (India)
March 17, 2016
Call for Open Air Pollution Information in India
Economic Times
March 16, 2016
Government downplays NGO report on air pollution
Hindustan Times
March 10, 2016
Foul air blowing over India, not just in Delhi
BBC News – School Report
March 10, 2016
Battling against increasing air pollution in Delhi
Live Mint
March 8, 2016
Go Green to Counter Pollution
Times of India
March 6, 2016
Now, Delhi Metro hit by rising pollution
The New Indian Express (Reuters article)
February 29, 2016
India Slaps Levy on New Car Sales in Fight Against Pollution and Congestion
The Independent
February 25, 2016
Air pollution: How strong is the link to cancer?
The Washington Post
February 22, 2016
Which country has worse air, China or India?
The New York Times
February 22, 2016
Beijing to Raise Threshold on Red Alerts for Smog
CNN Money
February 19, 2016
I live in the world’s most polluted city
The Times of India
February 19, 2016
Green tax: 20% dip in trucks entering Delhi
NDTV (Gadgets 360)
February 9, 2016
Crowdfunding a Pollution Monitoring System for India
The Times of India (Business)
February 8, 2016
Emissions from our cars cleaner than Delhi air, says Jaguar CEO
The Times of India
February 6, 2016
Delhi’s air not worst in India: CPCB data
The Wall Street Journal Blog
February 4, 2016
Indian Court: Find Alternatives to Wood-Fired Cremations
Hindustan Times
January 30, 2016
Air quality on Friday worst ever recorded in Mumbai
The Hindu – Business Line
January 28, 2016
Choking over foul air in rural India
News Medical – Life Sciences & Medicine
January 28, 2016
Indoor air quality in hospitality venues that allow smoking is worse than outdoors
The Times of India
January 26, 2016
Govt to impose stiff penalty on polluting trucks
The Hindu
January 26, 2016
After the Delhi experience
The Atlantic – City Lab
January 25, 2016
Half the World Still Breathes Polluted Air
The Times of India
January 24, 2016
Pollution trend unclear during trial: CPCB
Business Standard
January 20, 2016
How to pinpoint Delhi’s air pollution sources
The Indian Express
January 19. 2016
Yes, Delhi, it worked
NPR All Things Considered (Audio report)
January 19, 2016
Indian Capital Suspends Odd-Even Car Experiment to Curb Pollution
Business Standards
January 17, 2016
Sunita Narain: Odd-even a way of life
BBC News – Magazine
January 17, 2016
The city in love with cars even though its air is toxic
The Economist
January 16, 2016
Particular about particulates
The Huffington Post India
January 14, 2016
Supreme Court Refuses to Cancel Odd-Even Rule for Cars in Delhi
The Hindu
January 12, 2016
Trying and testing the car formula
FT.com (The Financial Times)
January 11, 2016
Blue-sky dreaming in Delhi, a city where the sun doesn’t shine
The Times of India
January 9, 2016
Chulhas make Bharat as polluted as India
The Times of India
January 6, 2016
Alarm over toxic air in Kolkata; diesel fleet to blame
The Wall Street Journal
January 6, 2016
Air Purifier Makers Breathe Easy in Delhi’s Pollution
The New York Times
January 2, 2016
The Dirty Truth about ‘Clean Diesel’
The Times of India
January 2, 2016
First clean shot at bad air yields results
FT.com (The Financial Times)
January 1, 2016
Delhi forces cars off roads in anti-pollution drive
CSE (Center for Science and the Environment) – Press Release
December 31, 2015
Air pollution this winter has been worse than last – CSE urges emergency action and support to odd and even system
Live Mint
December 30, 2015
IIT Kanpur study finds presence of PAH
The Indian Express
December 26, 2015
The Mexican roadmap
The Times of India
December 26, 2015
Daily air quality bulletins during odd-even run
The Economic Times
December 20, 2015
Legislation to reduce air pollution urgently needed
The Times of India
December 19, 2015
Vehicle emissions may rise 19 times by 2020
The New York Times
December 17, 2015
How Does Air Pollution Affect Your Daily Life?
The Indian Express
December 18, 2015
In fact: Understanding the focus on diesel as a pollutant
Business Standard
December 11, 2015
Mihir S Sharma: No clean air, thanks, I’m rich
The New Indian Express
December 12, 2015
No New Diesel Vehicles to be Registered in Delhi
The New York Times
December 10, 2015
Amid China’s smog worries, one more: counterfeit masks
The Wall Street Journal
December 9, 2015
Why Delhi Doesn’t have a Beijing-style Response to Pollution
The Straits Times
December 8, 2015
Delhi’s choking smog driving away expats
The Economic Times
December 6, 2015
New Delhi’s hazardous air calls for drastic measures
The Times of India
December 3, 2015
New Delhi hit by Extreme Pollution
The Times of India
December 4, 2015
Delhi is like a gas chamber
The Times of India
December 3, 2015
New Delhi hit by Extreme Pollution
The San Francisco Chronicle
December 2, 2015
AP Photos: As air quality drops Delhi fashions its own masks
MyCity4Kids (Parenting Blog)
December 3, 2015
5 Ways to Protect Children from Delhi’s Winter Smog
The Huffington Post India
November 29, 2015
Delhi’s Air Pollution Would Qualify As A Public Health Emergency
The Times of India
November 27, 2015
Bring Euro VI to check pollution: IIT-Kanpur
India Today
November 22, 2015
Delhi air can be cancerous for kids: Study
The Times of India
November 19, 2015
Vehicles bane of Delhi’s air: US scientist
The Financial Times
November 17, 2015
Pollution in India: Gasping for air
The Indian Express
November 16, 2015
Hardlook pollution watch: Particulately disturbing
Business Insider (AP)
November 12, 2015
Alarm over pollution in Delhi dampens Diwali fireworks boom
CTV (Canadian TV – AP)
November 11, 2015
India seeks clean cooking solution to combat climate change
The New York Times
November 10, 2015
India Is Caught in a Climate Change Quandary
The New York Times (Sinosphere: Dispatches from China)
November 9, 2015
Thick Smog in Shenyang, China, Draws Even State Media’s Scorn
The New York Times (Sunday Review)
November 8, 2015
The Return of London’s Fog
The Wall Street Journal – India
November 3, 2015
How Trash Is Adding to Delhi’s Air Pollution Problems
The Times of India
October 29, 2015
Needed, air quality curbs on firecrackers
ET Auto.com (The Economic Times)
October 10, 2015
Indian auto industry body calls for unified emissions rules
Financial Times (FT.com, UK)
October 9, 2015
New Delhi to levy green tax on trucks
The Times of India
October 9, 2015
Modi, Kejriwal on same page on trucks
The Hindu
October 8, 2015
No easy going for commercial vehicles
The Sydney Morning Herald (Reuters)
October 6, 2015
Indian court gives New Delhi 3 days to come up with plan to fight pollution
Business Standard
October 5, 2015
SC concerned over alarming pollution level in Delhi
NPR (National Public Radio – USA)
October 2, 2015
India Says It Will Lower Rate Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Business Standard
September 27, 2015
Expats increasingly find Delhi unlivable
The Times of India
September 25, 2015
Delhi’s air worst among 381 cities: World Bank
The New York Times
September 24, 2015
The Connection Between Cleaner Air and Longer Lives
I am in dna of New Delhi (Iamin.in)
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
After Gurgaon, Delhi to observe ‘Car Free Day’ from Red Fort in India Gate on Oct. 22
The Hindu
September 18, 2015
Delhi’s air quality very poor
The Times of India
August 29, 2015
TOI Green Drive: Urban forests can clean up Delhi air
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – Staff Blog
August 26, 2015
Global study shows deteriorating air quality in India and other vulnerable regions.
The Huffington Post India
August 26, 2015
Air Pollution: Why We All Need to be Accountable
The Economic Times
August 25, 2015
Indoor air quality protocol soon: Prakash Javadekar
The Times of India
August 13, 2015
Slew of measures announced to reduce Delhi pollution
The Times of India
August 8, 2015
11% Delhiites suffer fromm asthma, rhinitis: Nadda
The Times of India
August 4, 2015
TOI green drive: Plant a tree and clean the air
IBNLive (blog)
July 25, 2015
The curious case of polluted Delhi
The Times of India
July 24, 2015
Toxic air kills 80 daily in Delhi: Javadekar
TripleCrisis.com
July 20, 2015
Letter from Delhi: Part 1: James K. Boyce
Mother Jones Magazine (USA)
July/August 2015
Does Air Pollution Cause Dementia?
The Hindu
July 16, 2015
Reality check on air quality
The New Indian Express
July 13, 2015
Rapid Urbanizations, Devpt leading to Pollution- Rai
The New York Times
June 22, 2015
Pollution may age the brain
The Economic Times
June 22, 2015
Planned in phases: Paris shows way to cleaner air
Times of India
June 17, 2015
Foul air killing up to 80  Delhiites a day, claims study

Business Standard
June 16, 2015
Air pollution may damage brain
The Times of India
June 11, 2015
Traffic Cops Falling Prey to Lung Disease
Business Standard
June 7, 2015
Sunita Narain: Delhi’s clean-air challenge
The Citizen.in (opinion column by Saeed Naqvi)
June 7, 2015
New York Times Exposé of Delhi Pollution Spoils Modi’s Anniversary
The Times of India
June 6, 2015
‘Act on Delhi’s foul air – now’
The Times of India
June 3, 2015
Foul air hems in people with breathing problems
Times of India
June 2, 2015
City night air heavy with pollutants
The New York Times
May 29, 2015
Holding Your Breath in India
Business Standard
May 28, 2015
As Delhi sizzles, toxic ozone levels rise
World Health Organization (WHO) – Press Release
May 26, 2015
World Health Assembly closes, passing resolutions on air pollution and epilepsy
Science Daily – University of Pittsburgh Schools of Health Sciences (USA)
May 21, 2015
Particulate air pollution linked to risk of childhood autism
NDTV
May 23, 2015
The Fight for Clean Air
The Economic Times
May 24, 2015
Few steps taken to kill bad air in Delhi
The New York Times (Editorial Board)
May 21, 2015
The High Cost of Dirty Fuels
Yahoo! News (IANS – Indo Asian News Service)
May 15, 2015
Can vitamin E protect lungs from air pollution?
The Wall Street Journal (Blogs)
May 15, 2015
Beijing vs. Delhi: The Politics of Air Pollution
The Times of India
May 15, 2015
Check PUC graft, CM tells departments
The Times of India (Kolkata)
May 6, 2015
Clean up Kolkata air to make it inviting: US diplomat
The Times of India
May 6, 2015
Experts say put trucks on trains through Delhi
The University of British Columbia – Press Release
May 4, 2015
Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies
The Hindu
May 4, 2015
Gasping little hearts
The Times of India
May 4, 2015
What’s fouling the air? Data puzzling govt
The Hindu (Opinion column by Aseem Shrivastava and James K. Boyce)
May 1, 2015
Green goals for the Delhi aam aadmi
The New York Times
April 28, 2015
Air Pollution Tied to Brain Aging
The Times of India
April 26, 2015
Carrot & stick policy can help implement NGT ban
Skymetweather
April 21, 2015
Delhi’s air pollution mess shifting to Agra
The Times of India
April 21, 2015
Not just winters, Delhi’s air toxic in summer too
The Indian Express
April 21, 2015
Why Tughlakabad depot is toxic heart of South Delhi
The Times of India
April 21, 2015
Air pollution may cause stroke: Study
BBC News (Magazine)
April 198, 2015
Breathing poison in the world’s most polluted city
The New York Times Magazine
April 16, 2015
How Do You Keep Your Kids Healthy in Smog-Choked China?
The Indian Express (Opinion piece by Francois Richler, French Ambassador to India)
April 15, 2015
What delhi can learn from Paris
The Financial Express
April 15, 2015
3-month action plan to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR
The Indian Express
April 12, 2015
Make the polluter pay
The Economic Times
April 12, 2015
Delhi government aims to make city dust free
The Indian Express
April 11, 2015
A new vehicle for clean air
The Indian Express (Opinion piece)
April 10, 2015
Take a deep breath
The Indian Express
April 10, 2015
Mumbai to Chennai: How Delhi could show the way
The Indian Express (Opinion)
April 10, 2015
Clearing the Air
The Financial Times
April 6, 2015
Delhi’s politicians pass the polluted buck
CTV (Canadian Television – Associated Press story)BBC News
April 6, 2015
BBC News
India Air Index: In World’s Most Polluted City, Delhi
April 6, 2015
Indian PM blames changing lifestyles for rising air pollution
The Indian Express
April 5, 2015
Lab in a box
The Indian Express
April 3, 2015
No bypass for Delhi’s choked heart
The Indian Express
April 2, 2015
Embassy schools only place where alarm bells heard
The New York Times
April 2, 2015
Air Pollution Takes Early Toll on Children
The Indian Express
March 31, 2015
Delhi pollution: The studies no one acted on
The Indian Express
March 31, 2015
Explained: Know your toxins
Business Standard
March 16, 2015
Competitive pollutionism no good
Arunabha Ghosh & Hem Himanshu Dholakia
Times of India
March 12, 2015
‘Euro VI can filter out problem’
The Financial Express
March 12, 2015
Aam Aadmi Party to make Delhi dust-free
The Wall Street Journal
March 12, 2015
The Problem With Delhi’s Air Pollution Readings
Business Standard
March 12, 2015
India needs habitable cities before smart cities
The Financial Times (FT)
March 11, 2015
Delhi to limit visibility of smog data
The New York Times
March 11, 2015
Delhi to Delay Release of Air Quality Data
Foreign Policy (USA)
March 5, 2015
The Fog of War Over India’s Polluted Skies
Foreign Policy (USA)
March 4, 2015
Don’t Get Caught Up in the Air Pollution Hype
The Wall Street Journal
March 5, 2015
Bad Air Chokes New Delhi’s Livability Ranking
AFP – Daily Mail (UK)
March 4, 2015
As Delhi chokes, pressure grows for India climate action
The Economic Times
March 3, 2015
Air so clean, Obama would have liked it
Christian Science Monitor (CSMonitor.com)
March 1, 2015
Air in Delhi is world’s worst, 13 other Indian cities aren’t far behind
IndiaToday
February 28, 2015
Study says Delhi air is doubly dangerous now.
Foreign Affairs (Published by the US Council on Foreign Relations)
February 25, 2015
Harder to Breathe: India’s Pollution Crisis – And What to Do About It
Business Standard
February 24, 2015
Subir Roy: Save Lives, Fight Air Pollution
Live Mint
February 24, 2015
Clearing the air we breathe
Live Mint
February 24, 2015
The Air We Breathe
Hindustan Times
February 23, 2015
US Scientist Runs Pollution Check on Capital in Auto
February 23, 2015
The Wall Street Journal
Al Gore on Pollution in Delhi
February 23, 2015
NDTV Interview with Al Gore – (Video)
‘Delhi Air Life and Death Matter’: Al Gore on India’s Inconvenient Truth
February 23, 2015
The New York Times Editorial Board
Cutting Through India’s Smog
The Economic Times
February 20, 2015
India to Launch National Air Quality Index in March
Hindustan Times
February 20, 2015
Govts Dither as Delhi Chokes on Its Own Air
The Times of India
February 20, 2015
India’s Air Under US Scanner
The Times of India
February 17, 2015
Air Pollution Level in City Schools ‘Alarmingly High’
Hindustan Times
February 16, 2015
Centre to Launch Air Pollution App
Business Standard (Opinion)
February 16, 2015
Sunita Narain: Straw in the Wind
Hindustan Times
February 15, 2015
Alarming Air Pollution is What Kejriwal Must Fight
Times of India (Blogs)
February 12, 2015
What is Killing Delhi? Diesel Exhaust
TheThirdPole.net
February 11, 2015
Wanted: Clean Air and Water for Delhi
The Economic Times
February 6, 2015
Clean Air Must Be a Birthright for All, Javadekar Says
Hindustan Times – Column by E Somanathan, Centre for Research on the Economics of Climate, Food, Energy and Environment, Indian Statistical Institute.
February 4, 2015
Cost Effective Measures to Rid India of Air Pollution
NDTV – “The Buck Stops Here” program
February 4, 2015
‘Toxic’ Campaign in Toxic City: Who Cares About World’s Worst Air?
Times of India
February 5, 2015
‘Delhi’s Poor Air Quality Not Acceptable’
Times of India
February 4, 2015
Clean Up Capital’s Air
LiveMint
February 3, 2015
A Measure of Air
Governance Now
January 30, 2015
The Foul Air We Breathe
The Washington Post (Editorial Board)
January 28, 2015
Mr. Obama’s Trip to India Leaves a Clear Deal on Curbing Emissions up in the Air
The Times of India
January 28, 2015
Experts Bank on US Air Quality Alert
Live Mint
January 26, 2015
India, US to Increase Focus on Solar Power
Marketplace (American Public Media)
January 23, 2015
India’s Air Pollution Problem
UK Mail Online (Associated Press)
January 23, 2015
Hazy Skies the Backdrop for Obama’s Climate Talks in India
DownToEarth Website
January 20, 2015
(Blog posting by Avikal Somvanshi, Society for Environmental Communications , India)
Will Delhi Air Poison Obama on Republic Day
The Economic Times
January 19, 2015
India Likely to Seek US Help to Clear Air in Delhi
Times of India
January 18, 2015
MoEF Guided by Bad Science, EPCA Tells SC
Huffington Post (India edition)
January 8, 2015
Obama Could Encounter ‘Very Unhealthy’ Problem On Upcoming India Trip
The Economic Times
January 8,2015
Pollution to be Blamed for Cold Wave in North India
The New York Times
December 30, 2014
Pollution Around the World: A Matter of Choices
Scientific American
December 18, 2014
Autism Risk Linked to Particulate Air Pollution
BBC News
December 18, 2014
Autism Linked to Air Pollution Raised
The Times of India
December 12, 2014
Air quality worst at night, early morning
The Times of India
December 6, 2014
R-Day: Will Obama Breathe Easy?
The Economic Times
December 5, 2014
Air Pollution Affecting Even Foetal Growth
The New York Times
December 2, 2014
The Next Big Climate Question: Will India Follow China?
The Times of India
December 2, 2014
DIY Pollution Tests Challenge Govt Data
The Times of India
November 27, 2014
Move to Euro 5 Make Diesel Cars Costly
The Times of India
November 26,2014
Government Drags Feet on Taking Step
The Times of India
November 26, 2014
Delhi choking on foul air, time to clean up
The Indian Express
November 26, 2014
Paper War on Pollution
The New York Times
November 23, 2014
In Delhi, Pushing Through the Wall (of Air Pollution)
The Times of India
November 21, 2014
Leaves burnt in Delhi despite ban
The Times of India
November 19, 2014
Global index calls city air hazardous
The Times of India
November 19, 2014
Gov’t Told to take 3 steps to fight winter smog
The Huffington Post.com blog
November 18, 2014
Good Climate Policy is good for Economic Growth
The New York Times
November 17, 2014
Coal Rush in India Could Tip Balance on Climate Change
Live MINT
November 17, 2014
Killer in the Air
Business Standard
November 18, 2014
Air Pollution May Up Chronic Kidney Disease Risk
Business Standard
November 16, 2014
Putting the ‘air” back in “despair”
OnEarth Magazine
November 16, 2014
The Particulars of PM 2.5
The Times of India
November 9, 2014
Smog Scare: Patients Told to Stay Indoors
Business Standard
November 8, 2014
For Cleaner Skies
NDTV (video clip)
November 6, 2014
Delhi Doctors Advise Delhiites not to go out for daily morning walks; Hospital in the city are seeing a 25%-30% increase in patients with Respiratory illnesses.
The Times of India
November 6, 2014
Delhi Gasps as Neighbours Burn Waste
The Times of India
November 2, 2014
Cancer-causing Benzene no part of Air Quality Index
Outlook India.com Magazine
November 2014
Accursed County
The Times of India
October 30, 2014
Delhi’s air Very Unhealthy: US Embassy Monitor
The Wall Street Journal (blog)
October 29, 2014
Pollution in Delhi Prompts U.S. Embassy Warning
The Economic Times
October 14, 2014
Why India’s Numbers on Air Quality Can’t Be Trusted
Hindustan Times
September 2, 2014
Delhi’s Air Pollution Levels Remain a Problem
The Times of India
June 27, 2014
Air quality hit as CO levels shoot up
The Business Standard
June 14, 2014
M Ramachandran: Urban transport in focus, finally
The Times of India
June 14, 2014
Tough Pollution Regimen on the Cards for Delhi
The Times of India
May 9, 2014
Polluted Air Weighs Down Delhi
The New York Times blog
May 9, 2014
Denials Follow Latest Report on New Delhi’s Pollution
Hindustan Times
May 8, 2014
Delhi is Most Polluted City in the World, Beijing Much Better: WHO study
The Times of India
March 6, 2014
Toxic air hurting kids’ lungs, heart & minds
The New York Times
February 14, 2014
India’s Air Pollution Emergency
The Times of India
February 6, 2014
Wide Gap Between New Delhi, Beijing, Smog Policies
The New York Times Blog
January 31, 2013
Think the Air Pollution in Beijing is bad? Try New Delhi
Hindustan Times
January 29, 2014
Delhi world’s most polluted city: Study
The New York Times blog
January 27, 2014
On Bad Air Days in India, Staying Inside Doesn’t Help
The New York Times
January 25, 2014
Beijing’s Air Would Be a Step-up for Smoggy Delhi
The New York Times
February 14, 2013
The air that kills in IndiaThe New York Times
Press Releases
The World Health Organization
May 7, 2014
Air Quality Deteriorating in Many of the World’s Cities 
The World Health Organization
March 25 2014
7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution
Environmental Performance Index
January 25, 2014
Yale Environmental Performance Index ranks India 155 out of 178.
Noting “India’s air quality is among the worst in the world, tying China in terms of the proportion of the population exposed to average air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organization”





पत्र सूचना कार्यालय
भारत सरकार
आवास और शहरी गरीबी उपशमन मंत्रालय
02-नवंबर-2016 17:44 IST

कोई भी चूक होने पर प्रमोटर और खरीदार दोनों ही अनुबंध को समाप् कर सकते हैं

अनुबंध के तहत अपार्टमेंट के मूल्यों में बढ़ोतरी नहीं करने के लिए बिक्री नियम अधिसूचित
कब्जा देने की तिथि का अनुबंध में उल्लेख किया जाए, खरीदार दो महीने में कब्जा ले सकेंगे








Behind the colours of Kathakali


Writer-photographer K.K. Gopalakrishnan describes vividly every aspect of the art form in his book. Lalithaa Krishnan has the details.
Rooted in a rich 400-year heritage, Kathakali is Kerala’s gift to the sphere of performing arts. A self-confessed Kathakali bhranthan (fanatic) K.K. Gopalakrishnan, noted writer-photographer and connoisseur specialising in Kerala performing arts, who currently serves as the Director, Centre for Kutiyattam, Sangeet Natak Academy, guides the reader through the origin, evolution, traditions and complexities of the genre, viewed through the prism of personal experience in his book ‘Kathakali – Dance Theatre – A Visual Narrative of Sacred Indian Mime’. The author navigates the vast canvas with the familiarity of one treading home ground and the precision of an insider who formally learnt the art.
Like his peers, KKG gained an appreciation of Kathakali at an early age while still at school. Hailing from a tharavad famed for its staunch patronage of the art, he gravitated towards Kutiyattam and Kathakali performances. His father encouraged his interest which soon turned into a governing passion. In the mid-80s, KKG became the founder-secretary of the Kottayam Thampuran Memorial Kathakali Club which led to greater opportunities for direct interaction with stellar artists. Simultaneously, he began gaining recognition as a Kathakali reviewer. His big break came when he was recruited by M.T. Vasudevan Nair to write a series for the weekly, Mathrubhoomi, after which he also became a columnist for local and leading publications. Giving up a secure job in the banking sector, he devoted himself to a full-time study of the arts.
Kathakali is believed to have originated in the 17th Century from Ramanattam, in turn said to have been formulated as fitting reply to Krishnattam, with all these genres being predated by Kootiyattam, the most ancient extant form of Sanskrit dance-theatre. The similarities and differences between them are clearly delineated. It was Kottayathu Thampuran, the raja of Kottarakkara whose four classic oeuvres are prized as the holy grail of Kathakali, who defined the essential form and content. The next phase saw the evolution of regional styles — the northern Kallatikkotan shaped by Vellath Chathu Panikkar and the southern Kaplingatan chiselled by Kaplingat Narayanan Namboothiri. In Kannur, Kozhikode and Vatakara areas, the Katathanad style germinated as a regional variant of the Kallatikkotan. Pioneered by Nalloor Unniri Menon, the Kalluvazhi chitta, an integration of the Kallatikkotan and Kaplingatan styles, flourished in the Palakkad district.
The institutionalisation of Kathakali came with the founding of the iconic Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930, the brainchild of poet laureate, Vallathol Narayana Menon and Manakkulam Mukunda Raja. With this, the doors were opened up to all those who wanted to learn the art, irrespective of class or creed. Other noted schools established were the Kottakal PSV Natya Sangham, Unnayi Warrier Smaaraka Kalanilayam, Sadanam and Margi. Immediately prior to and after independence, several changes were effected in training, syllabus and costumes. Among the titans whose dedication ensured the growth and survival of the art were Netumpura Valiya Itteeri Panikkar, Pattikkamthoti Ravunni Menon, Kuyilthoti Ittiraricha Menon, the Panikkar trio of Chandu, Ambu and Chinta Panikkar, the Kannan trio, Parassini Kunhiraman Nair, Kuthannur Shanku Panikkar, Vazhengata Kunchu Nair, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and a host of other great asans. Their efforts were augmented by Kathakali sangeetham stalwarts such as Nenmara Madhava Menon, Kavassseri Samikutty Bhagavathar, Katathanattu Govindan Nambeesan, Takazhi Kuttan Pillai, Venkatakrishna Bhagavathar (vocal) and Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan (percussion). Though there are a handful of active women performers today, Kathakali remains a male-dominated genre on account of the physical rigour involved. As recorded in K.P.S. Menon’s ‘Kathakalirangam’, the first woman believed to have learnt and performed Kathakali was Katyayani, in the 1700s. Kattasseri Sarojini Amma, Vanchiyoor Katyayani Amma, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, Chavara Parukutty, Kottarakkara Bhadra and Ganga rank among the rare tribe of women artists.
Why does Kathakali hold endless fascination for aswadhakas who watch the same performances, sometimes by the same artistes for consecutive days and nights, enacting themes drawn from the same repertoire that has remained unchanged for centuries? The answer lies in the fact that it is a ‘classic art form which is always contemporary’. A sophisticated amalgam of vocal and instrumental music, percussion, theatre, mimesis and dance, it urges the rasika to delve deep into the realm of myth, Gods and demons and to correlate it to the universal play of emotions and actions that shape the lives of mortals, through themes both common and rare, from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata. A complete art form, the discipline includes, but is not limited by, the four elements prescribed in the Natyasastra – aangika, vaachika, aahaarya and saathwika. Kathakali defied the much-debated Aryanisation that coloured many other South Indian traditions. For instance, it depicts death, violence, blood and gore on stage with relish, with a blithe disregard for the Natyasastra precept of refraining from the same. Again, anti-heroes such as Ravana, Duryodhana and Narakasura are featured as central characters, while the roles of Rama and Krishna assume secondary importance.
For all its visual sumptuousness, Kathakali has a core of austerity. Stage props are minimally used and economy of movement draws depth from subtlety. However, the splendour of its costumes and make up (aharya) is so distinctive that it merits a separate study. The original lime and rice paste ‘chutti’ (white facial border) was replaced with white paper in a pioneering move by Tiruvalla Ramakrishna Panikkar . While facial colouring pigments continue to be naturally derived, coloured glass and plastic are used nowadays in kesabharam (crown) and ornament inlay.
KKG emphasises that an in-depth appreciation of Kathakali entails an understanding of the land, its people, their social and cultural ethos. Yoked to a feudal society, whose laws stemmed from a rigid caste system designed to keep the dispossessed classes in perpetual subjugation, some Kathakali practitioners joined the discipline voluntarily, while others had the decision made for them by rich local patrons who wielded the power to determine their destinies. In this parochial set up, their lives revolved around the kaliyogams (troupes/schools) which in turn were entirely dependent on the largesse of the patrons. Epic heroes on stage, the artists were subjected to the whims of patrons off it, often having to compromise on their self-respect. While many patrons encouraged them with public approbation, a gift of new vestments, veera sringala (golden bracelet)or the conferment of titles such as Menon and Panikkar, there were some who belittled and even insulted them, deliberately making them wait for hours under a blazing sun, before doling out a token remuneration. The footnotes provide an overview of local customs and a social commentary which records legends, landmark events and their repercussions, ranging from stories of Poontanam Namboothiri and Irattakulangara Rama Warrier to the Kuriyidath Thathri scandal.
More agony than ecstasy, the Kathakali artist’s lot has never been a happy one. Considering the pain and rigour of the training generating ‘the cramps of the early days, the blood in the urine as the massage regimen progressed’, meagre earnings, almost nil recognition, absence of capable stage directors, thinning audiences, and inadequate corporate sponsorship, it remains a wonder that a few brave souls still choose to enter this arena. Hence, the author’s immense pride in a priceless heritage is underscored by a palpable concern for the well-being and future of the art and its practitioners who await long overdue recognition at the state and national levels.
Firmly ensconced in his bailiwick, the author serves up a comprehensive, compelling account, wrapped in the flavour of a lived experience. Empathy and insight light up his descriptions of the noctilucent aura of all-night performances and the vicissitudes of artists’ lives. Thoughtful touches include the listing of famous, oft-staged plays and illustrations detailing mudras (hand gestures). With an aesthetically designed layout highlighting the text and outstanding photographs by KKG, the volume is a labour of love, passionately and painstakingly compiled over several decades. Capturing memories and impressions with remarkable vividness, the book is a visual treat, a collector’s item and a must-read for students, scholars, researchers, and all aswadhakas.




Trans-pacific Partnership (TPP)
FINANCIAL SCENE
Tough challenges on the trade front
In days to come, Indian policy makers have to take cognisance of new trade blocs and alignments taking place.
Indian policy makers face a number of stiff challenges as they prepare for the 10th ministerial meet of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya during the middle of next month. The ministerial meet is the highest policy making body of the WTO covering 161 members.
First, the news on trade front is nothing to cheer about. The September foreign trade data showed Indian exports declining for 10 straight months in row. The slowing Chinese economy is a significant factor impacting global demand and investment. Other countries, both emerging as well as developed ones are reckoning with the declining Chinese demand and not just for raw materials.
The sad fact is emerging market countries as a group have become a drag on global trade. This is in sharp contrast to just a few years ago when they boosted global trade. It is not clear as to when and what measures will be necessary to reverse the trend.
A serious threat
A more ominous threat is to the orderly conduct of world trade. Less than two months before the Nairobi ministerial, the very relevance of the WTO and more specifically its Doha development round is once again being called into question. India might be wrongly accused of single-handedly blocking the trade facilitation agreement, which has been the only tangible success of the WTO’s Doha round so far. India’s persistence in seeking a simultaneous agreement on an extended food stocking might go well with certain domestic constituencies but has done nothing to dispel its image as a tough and often difficult negotiator.
Mega alignments
In days to come, Indian policy makers have to take cognisance of new trade blocs and alignments taking place. These may strike at the very structure of the WTO and more importantly the multilateral trading it embodies.
The reference is to the emerging mega trade deals involving some, but not even a majority of WTO members. Referred to as plurilateral deals, to distinguish them from bilateral (two countries) or multilateral these are bound to alter the structure of world trade.
Two important trade blocs are on the anvil — the Trans-pacific Partnership (TPP), which excludes India and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes India and ten members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plus Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
Very recently, the U.S. concluded negotiations with 12 countries of the Pacific RIM to create what is called a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Although two major economic powers of the region — China and South Korea are not yet in, the TPP includes the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan among the large economies and Chile, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia among the smaller economies. Together they account for 40 per cent of global trade. 800 million people live in these countries.
The TPP has not yet been voted into law. Even at this advanced stage it faces opposition within the U.S. as influential politicians stoke the fear of job losses at home in the wake of the mega agreement. But with the U.S. President backing it to the hilt, the TPP might soon become a reality.
The TPP seeks to ease the flow of goods, services and investments among its members and to strengthen the rules on labour standards, environmental issues, origin criteria and intellectual property. Tariff reduction will hardly been an issue as much has been achieved already.
For India, the TPP might signal the erosion of the competitive edge its goods and services enjoy especially in the traditional markets of European union and the U.S. India might also have to meet the challenge of a new rule bound trade architecture.
India must act proactively
The Commerce Ministry has urged Indian exporters to convert the imminent threats into opportunities. But that is going to be easier said than done. Policymakers should adopt a more give and take attitude in trade matters without compromising on India’s needs for food security. The emergence of plurilateral agreements is a warning that the world will simply pass by ignoring India’s interests. It has been reported that China will soon seek membership of the TPP, a move India should emulate, if possible at all.
Setting back multilateralism
At the global level, the TPP, the biggest trade pact in recent times, has been welcomed but with a few qualifications. The fine print of the agreement has not been released but those in the know of things say that it could boost the GDP of its members by one per cent by 2025, with the emerging markets among the signatories gaining more. The biggest loser is multilateral trade and its main sponsor the WTO which has been trying and largely failing to negotiate a deal since 2001. Regional deals are the next best thing, but by definition they exclude some countries and so might steer business away from efficient producers.
The 10th ministerial of the WTO is bound to take note of the perils of plurilateral trade deals.
Donald Trump vows to probe work visa abuses

President Barack Obama has championed the TPP deal of 12 Pacific Rim countries that notably excludes China. Mr. Obama has argued that the TPP is essential to ensure that America continues to write the rules of global commerce, and not China. The pact is now awaiting Congressional ratification……


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