Meeting with Adviser to the CM on road-widening issues

murali772 - 25-JUN-2010

The meeting was convened by Dr A Ravindra, advisor to the CM on urban issues, at the instance of the Bangalore Environment Trust (BET), on the matter of 'road-widening', on 23rd June, at the Vikas Soudha. Along with Dr Ravindra was his deputy Dr Ashwin Mahesh. Though the Commissioner had apparently been requested by Dr Ravindra to be present, along with some of his top officials, only a Superintending Engineer turned up, that too some half way through the meeting.

There were about 20 invitees, largely from Civil Society groups, including Capt Prabhala, Mr Govardhan, Mr Nityananda, Mr Devare from BET, Ms Kathyayini Chamaraj from Civic, Dr Harini Nagendra, a Doctor who is spear-heading the 'Sankey road widening opposition' movement, apart from yours truly representing Praja and Koramangala Initiative.

It started with Mr Nityananda of BET making a presentation, making out a case for widening, where need be, in a more tree-friendly way, citing examples of some specific roads.

Forced into jay-walking

murali772 - 23-JUN-2010

Today, I had this strange experience. I had been invited to this meeting convened by Mr A Ravindra, advisor to the CM on urban issues, at the instance of the Bangalore Environment Trust, on the matter of 'road-widening', at 3.30 PM at the Vikas Soudha (On what transpired at the meeting, I will post separately - nothing too earth-shaking, though).

I reached well ahead of time, parked my car in the paid parking lot in the Cubbon park, near the library, and walked upto the Vikas Soudha main-gate. But, to reach the main gate, I had to cross the busy Vidhan Veedhi. There was a convenient pedestrian crossing, with signal lights, though the zebra markings had mostly got obliterated. The signal was showing red as I reached it, and the law-abiding citizen that I like to be seen to be, I waited for it to turn green, even as many people were crossing all over, darting through the speeding traffic. After some patient waiting, it suddenly occurred to me that a whole new cycle had started, even as the pedestrian signal had remained red right through.

Killing the golden goose?

murali772 - 21-MAY-2010

India is the world's most competitive telecommunications market. But, the 3G spectrum auction is going to land things as a fiasco for the common man, even while it is a bonanza for the exchequer.

The outcome of the 3G spectrum auction in the UK was disastrous. The 3G network did not diffuse for a decade thereafter, because firms were broke. They had no money left to invest in infrastructure after paying for the spectrum licence and interest. The telecom firms could not generate positive cash flow from 3G activities for a decade. In fact, the principal UK telecom company, BT, sold its wireless business to pay off debts incurred to acquire 3G spectrum licences!

What happened in the UK can happen in India. The firms that have bid Rs 67,719 crore for 3G licences may not have finances left to fund infrastructure. If they borrow substantially, the combination of licence and interest costs, to be factored into pricing decisions, will make 3G services expensive or completely unaffordable. And, as everybody knows, it is low price that enables high offtake of any product or service.

Future of Capitalism

murali772 - 7-MAY-2010

''The public trust in business and its leaders has never been lower. To restore trust, it is time for business leaders to embrace their own version of the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath, which shapes a common understanding of the role of business in society and the conduct expected of business leaders,'' wrote Nitin Nohria ( who has been named to take over as the Dean of the prestigious Harvard Business School) recently after critiquing the failure of leadership in the recent economic and corporate turmoil.

''Developing, adopting, and institutionalizing such an oath is not going to be easy. But there is no better or more important moment to try—because at stake is the very legitimacy of business leaders and the future of capitalism,'' he warned. His passion for the idea led to HBS students adopting a voluntary MBA oath.

For the full report in the TOI, click here

Right model from the left?

murali772 - 2-FEB-2010

When even die-hard Socialists seem to be reconciled to letting perennially sick public sector units (PSUs) being either privatised or left to waste away, Kerala is showing another way. The state is not just propping up haemorrhaging PSUs but is pulling them out of the red; some are even making decent profits.

Why Tata still doesn’t get it?

murali772 - 30-DEC-2009

Ratan Tata had this to say on the Singur debacle: “More often than not, conflicts related to land are promoted by individuals who do not belong to that area, but who have other political motives.” Quite so, but this, interestingly enough, was the exact position taken by British planters to stop Mahatma Gandhi’s first mass movement in India, the anti-indigo cultivation

42.5% of Children are Malnurished in India

Ravi_D - 13-MAR-2009

Though not typical of Praja discussions, I think this report is worth sharing and pondering about. It moved me so much, couldn't resist bringing up a national issue...

Take a look at today's NY Times article: As Indian Growth Soars, Chid Hunger Persists.

Smart Growth Principles Book Review

psaram42 - 6-MAR-2009

Getting to Smart Growth II book provides 10 policy options to achieve each of the 10 Smart Growth Principles. These policies are supported with ''Practice Tips'' which offer additional resources or brief case studies of communities that have applied the approach to achieve smart growth.

The 10 principles are:

Palace Property sold for Rs 6,000 cr?

murali772 - 8-DEC-2008

Wodeyar has sold prime land in Palace Grounds to a city-based developer. Many high profile realtors were interested in the deal. But in the end leading developer Dayanand Pai struck the deal. It is disputed land but already been sold for Rs6,000 crore.