Coastal corridor is threat to sea life, ground water pollution, disturb the climate, environmental pollution and facing food security problem in feature
The Andhra Pradesh Government plans to develop the coastal corridor on the eastern seacoast. Under this project, the 972 km coastline from Ichapuram in Srikakulam district to Tada of Nellore district would be developed using natural resources and private investments. The Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a wing of the World Bank, have agreed to take up this project
The State Government has proposed a major initiative to take up the integrated development of a coastal corridor by creating infrastructure, promoting industries and giving special attention to socio-economic sectors. This corridor would extend from Srikakulam to East Godavari under the first phase and from West Godavari to Nellore in the second phase. The area to be developing in the first phase consists of 73 mandals in four north costal districts. The government also a plan to develop A four-lane coastal road along the seacoast and communication corridor for this industrial region. Apart from these activities the government want to develop the seaports, air links, roads, rail networks, industrial parks, SEZs, Pharma parks establishing townships. of Andhra Pradesh begins the coastal corridor activities between Vizag and Kakinada region.
The government declared this region as ‘petroleum, chemical, petrochemical investment region’ (PCPIR) inviting more companies to establish there manufacturing units in this region. Especially chemical, petrochemical, Fertilizers, mineral based industries and refineries in to locate this area.
But environmentalists are opposing this type of development. In Andhra Pradesh Vizag is the second largest city in industrial development. The city is experienced regularly with the industrial pollution problems. Due to this problem hundreds of tortoises, Dolphins and other sea fish dead. Last three months this types of incidents are occurred in Visakhapatnm district. With this coastal corridor big climatic changes will occur. Environmental pollution increased. Biodiversity cycle is disturbed. Since last 10 years Vizag city temperature gradually increasing.
జే.వి. రత్నం , సీనియర్ పాత్రికేయులు , విశాఖపట్నం
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Bauxite mining threatens unique wildlife, warn Jamaican conservationists- A lesson to vizag
The Cockpit Country, home to 27 of Jamaica’s 28 endemic bird species and the giant swallowtail, the largest butterfly in the Americas, is reportedly at risk from bauxite mining. Under licences already granted, mining companies have begun drilling for bauxite samples, the raw material for aluminium, to meet the world’s rapidly escalating demand for this valuable metal. Conservationists in Jamaica are concerned that despite its international importance, the fate of the Cockpit Country is likely to go unnoticed by the rest of the world. During a radio phone-in, the programme host asked, “Does anyone outside of Jamaica care about the Cockpit Country?”“Unfortunately for the birds, landscape, and many communities, Jamaica is pushing hard to extract every bit of bauxite from her soils to export for aluminium production, and we recently learned that this threat is close to reality for Cockpit Country,” said Susan Koenig of the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group.Jamaica is recognised internationally for its high levels of endemism and is part of the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot. Jamaica’s endemics include 828 flowering plants, 505 land snails, 21 amphibians and 34 reptiles, five bats and 20 butterflies. Some of these -- including two amphibians, two reptiles, and 65 plants -- are found only in Cockpit Country. It is likely that the sole viable population of the endemic, globally-endangered giant swallowtail, is confined to Cockpit Country.Up to 95 percent of the world’s Black-billed Amazons -- one of two threatened endemic Jamaican parrots -- live in Cockpit Country, which is also home to the Endangered Jamaican Blackbird. This bird forages mostly on bromeliads -- epiphytic plants growing on the branches of trees. But bromeliads are especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation and caustic dust from mining.Bauxite/aluminium is Jamaica’s principal export, and deposits underlie around one quarter of the island’s surface. But the industry has a patchy record of meeting its requirements to “restore” lands devastated by mining -- and the government has a similarly poor record of enforcing the penalties for failure to do so. One community is currently preparing legal action on behalf of hundreds of people whose homes, lands and livelihoods were damaged by one of Jamaica’s major bauxite extraction companies.But even if the “restoration” work were carried out, it would not improve the prospects for Cockpit Country’s biodiversity. In a typical “restored” site, a thin layer of topsoil has been bulldozed back over densely-packed limestone gravel and non-native grass planted. Examples of native forest regenerating in such reclaimed pits are difficult to find, according to Koenig. “The ecological damage wrought by the industry is astounding for a medium-sized island (11,000 sq. km). If you were to overlay a map of our bauxite reserves on a map of other major producers, such as Australia, Brazil, and China, they cover a few pixel points: for Jamaica, it’s approximately 25% of the island,” said Koenig.
Jamaica Environment Trust and the other Cockpit Country Stakeholders are calling upon the Jamaican government to withhold permission for the bauxite companies to begin work, at the very least until a more stringent and realistic environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out. The EIA should look not only at Cockpit Country’s biological and cultural heritage but also at the area’s role as the major aquifer for central-western Jamaica, and the part its forests play in reducing flash flooding and erosion after tropical storms and hurricanes (which seem to be increasingly frequent as a result of Global Climate Change). The Cockpit Country Stakeholders also point out that even discounting the value of ecosystem services, damaging one of the world’s most important and spectacular karst landscapes to get at the bauxite underneath makes no long-term economic sense. Tourism now generates 45 percent of Jamaica’s foreign earnings, and directly or indirectly, provides jobs for around a quarter of the working population. Mining employs far fewer people and is not sustainable. Writing in the Jamaica Observer, veteran journalist John Maxwell commented: “the aquifer underneath the Cockpit Country is vital to the entire North Coast, and not least, to the tourism industry. But when the red earth is disturbed, as it has been in a river in the southern Cockpit Country, you may find the water turning blood red…. Imagine, if you will, the cruise ships being told that our water is perfectly drinkable. It just happens to be red today…”
Jamaica Environment Trust and the other Cockpit Country Stakeholders are calling upon the Jamaican government to withhold permission for the bauxite companies to begin work, at the very least until a more stringent and realistic environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out. The EIA should look not only at Cockpit Country’s biological and cultural heritage but also at the area’s role as the major aquifer for central-western Jamaica, and the part its forests play in reducing flash flooding and erosion after tropical storms and hurricanes (which seem to be increasingly frequent as a result of Global Climate Change). The Cockpit Country Stakeholders also point out that even discounting the value of ecosystem services, damaging one of the world’s most important and spectacular karst landscapes to get at the bauxite underneath makes no long-term economic sense. Tourism now generates 45 percent of Jamaica’s foreign earnings, and directly or indirectly, provides jobs for around a quarter of the working population. Mining employs far fewer people and is not sustainable. Writing in the Jamaica Observer, veteran journalist John Maxwell commented: “the aquifer underneath the Cockpit Country is vital to the entire North Coast, and not least, to the tourism industry. But when the red earth is disturbed, as it has been in a river in the southern Cockpit Country, you may find the water turning blood red…. Imagine, if you will, the cruise ships being told that our water is perfectly drinkable. It just happens to be red today…”
విక్రయానికి ఖనిజ సంపద
Exploitation of Bauxite Deposits in Visakhapatnam
GO AP through G.O.Ms.No. 999, dt. 25.10.1975 reserved Bauxite bearing areas in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts for exclusive exploitation in public sector. All these areas fall in scheduled and Forest areas. Reserves in Araku group over 2.69 sq.kms consist 54.47 million tonnes and Chintapalli group over 28.71 sq.kms consist 491.89 million tonnes Metallurgical grade Bauxite. Total reserves in both groups over 31.40 sq.kms work out to 546.36 million tonnes. The Corporation filed 25 ML applications covering 4,775 ha.
An MOU was signed on 01.07.05 between GoAP and M/s. Jindal South West Holdings Ltd., The JSWHL will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about
2.5 lakh MTs Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs. 9,000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Araku group and Sapparla group consisting 2,446 ha and containing 240 million tonnes. A minimum of 0.5% of revenue shall be spent on health, training, social infrastructure and welfare of Tribals.
The Corporation is already imparting training to 200 Tribal Youth by paying stipend of Rs.3000/- per each and also providing lodging and boarding in mining and allied activities to absorb them in the industry as far as possible.
Also another MOU was signed on 14-2-2007 between GOAP and Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah incorporated an Indian Company namely M/s An Rak Aluminium Limited, who will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about 2.5 lakh MTs of Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs.9,0000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Jerrela group consisting 1162 ha. and containing 224 million tonnes. The process of getting Forest, Environmental Clearance from Govt. of India, Mining Plans approval from IBM in respect of the 4 Bauxite Blocks of Jerrela on priority is pursued as part of grant of mining leases.
GO AP through G.O.Ms.No. 999, dt. 25.10.1975 reserved Bauxite bearing areas in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts for exclusive exploitation in public sector. All these areas fall in scheduled and Forest areas. Reserves in Araku group over 2.69 sq.kms consist 54.47 million tonnes and Chintapalli group over 28.71 sq.kms consist 491.89 million tonnes Metallurgical grade Bauxite. Total reserves in both groups over 31.40 sq.kms work out to 546.36 million tonnes. The Corporation filed 25 ML applications covering 4,775 ha.
An MOU was signed on 01.07.05 between GoAP and M/s. Jindal South West Holdings Ltd., The JSWHL will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about
2.5 lakh MTs Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs. 9,000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Araku group and Sapparla group consisting 2,446 ha and containing 240 million tonnes. A minimum of 0.5% of revenue shall be spent on health, training, social infrastructure and welfare of Tribals.
The Corporation is already imparting training to 200 Tribal Youth by paying stipend of Rs.3000/- per each and also providing lodging and boarding in mining and allied activities to absorb them in the industry as far as possible.
Also another MOU was signed on 14-2-2007 between GOAP and Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah incorporated an Indian Company namely M/s An Rak Aluminium Limited, who will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about 2.5 lakh MTs of Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs.9,0000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Jerrela group consisting 1162 ha. and containing 224 million tonnes. The process of getting Forest, Environmental Clearance from Govt. of India, Mining Plans approval from IBM in respect of the 4 Bauxite Blocks of Jerrela on priority is pursued as part of grant of mining leases.
Exploitation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands
The Corporation already filed applications for grant of MLs in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts covering 156.59 sq.kms. M/s Bothli trade AG, Switzerland based company evinced interest to establish Titanium Sponge and Titanium Metal Industry with an investment of about of Rs.4,000 crores. The GoAP entered into an MOU with M/s Bothli Trade AG on 18-4-2006 covering an extent of 82.37 sq.kms. and consequently the Corporation entered into an agreement on 24-08-2006 with M/s Bothli. The Corporation proposes to consider additional extent of 33.33 Sq.Kms. subject to approval of GoAP.
M/s V.V.Mineral, Chennai also evinced interest to form Joint Venture with the Corporation for mining and mineral separation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands and also establishment of Value added unit based on the deposits in Srikakulam District over an extent of 14.78 sq.kms. Accordingly the Corporation entered into an agreement with M/s V.V.Minerals Pvt.Ltd., on 30-12-2006 as approved by the GoAP.
Exploitation of Calcite Deposit
The Corporation holds leases for Calcite in Visakhapatnamdistrict. The Corporation already initiated action to exploit the deposit in Nimmalapadu through rising and sale contracts and expects to produce about 24,000 MTs with a profit of 30%.
The Corporation already filed applications for grant of MLs in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts covering 156.59 sq.kms. M/s Bothli trade AG, Switzerland based company evinced interest to establish Titanium Sponge and Titanium Metal Industry with an investment of about of Rs.4,000 crores. The GoAP entered into an MOU with M/s Bothli Trade AG on 18-4-2006 covering an extent of 82.37 sq.kms. and consequently the Corporation entered into an agreement on 24-08-2006 with M/s Bothli. The Corporation proposes to consider additional extent of 33.33 Sq.Kms. subject to approval of GoAP.
M/s V.V.Mineral, Chennai also evinced interest to form Joint Venture with the Corporation for mining and mineral separation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands and also establishment of Value added unit based on the deposits in Srikakulam District over an extent of 14.78 sq.kms. Accordingly the Corporation entered into an agreement with M/s V.V.Minerals Pvt.Ltd., on 30-12-2006 as approved by the GoAP.
Exploitation of Calcite Deposit
The Corporation holds leases for Calcite in Visakhapatnamdistrict. The Corporation already initiated action to exploit the deposit in Nimmalapadu through rising and sale contracts and expects to produce about 24,000 MTs with a profit of 30%.
Cage culture in వైజాగ్
For the first time in the country, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has demonstrated here that cage culture of marine species could be undertaken. The first crop was harvested. The local branch of CMFRI, which developed the technology, first undertook cage culture last year, but did not prove successful in the first attempt.
The cage, placed in the Bay of Bengal, was washed ashore and another attempt was made, after making modifications to the cage. Mr Mohan Joseph Modayil of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and former Director of CMFRI, said Visakhapatnam had been chosen to demonstrate the project, as aqua farmers of Andhra Pradesh were pioneers, especially in shrimp culture.
He said the project had first been conceived five years ago when he was the Director of CMFRI.
“Cage culture of marine species is commercially viable and it will greatly enhance production.
The returns to farmers will be high,” he explained. He said China, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia had made giant strides in cage culture and there was no reason why India should be lagging, with all its advantages.
‘Can take roots’
Mr N.G.K. Pillai, Director of CMFRI, expressed confidence that cage culture would take roots, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Dr G. Syda Rao, scientist in-charge of the local branch of CMFRI, said that some 1,400 seed of Asia Bass (locally known as Pandugappalu) were stocked in the cage on December 23, 2007.
They were fed with low-value fish on a daily basis. The first harvest was carried out on Saturday. Commercial production could begin from June, he said.
Dr Rao said that a one-time capital investment of Rs 15 lakh would be needed and the culture cost for seven months would be Rs 16 lakh.
The yield would be roughly 25 tonnes and the estimated return Rs 35 lakh per crop, he added.
సోర్సు:Hindu
The cage, placed in the Bay of Bengal, was washed ashore and another attempt was made, after making modifications to the cage. Mr Mohan Joseph Modayil of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and former Director of CMFRI, said Visakhapatnam had been chosen to demonstrate the project, as aqua farmers of Andhra Pradesh were pioneers, especially in shrimp culture.
He said the project had first been conceived five years ago when he was the Director of CMFRI.
“Cage culture of marine species is commercially viable and it will greatly enhance production.
The returns to farmers will be high,” he explained. He said China, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia had made giant strides in cage culture and there was no reason why India should be lagging, with all its advantages.
‘Can take roots’
Mr N.G.K. Pillai, Director of CMFRI, expressed confidence that cage culture would take roots, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Dr G. Syda Rao, scientist in-charge of the local branch of CMFRI, said that some 1,400 seed of Asia Bass (locally known as Pandugappalu) were stocked in the cage on December 23, 2007.
They were fed with low-value fish on a daily basis. The first harvest was carried out on Saturday. Commercial production could begin from June, he said.
Dr Rao said that a one-time capital investment of Rs 15 lakh would be needed and the culture cost for seven months would be Rs 16 lakh.
The yield would be roughly 25 tonnes and the estimated return Rs 35 lakh per crop, he added.
సోర్సు:Hindu
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
భారతావని లో
* India has the world's largest child development program. Yet, the prevalence of underweight children is nearly double that of Sub - Saharan Africa, and among the highest in the world. This is mainly because the program has placed priority on supplementing food rather than on nutrition and health education, and mostly targets children after the age of three when malnutrition has set ఇన్.
* Every year 2.4 million children and about 136,000 women die unnecessarily in India. This is about one fifth of the global total. India’s National Rural Health Mission, launched in April 2005, has a strong commitment to reduce maternal and infant mortality and provide universal access to public health services, the delivery of which is extremely complex and involves a host of public and private, local and international players.
* A severe water crisis looms ahead for India unless the country changes the way it manages water and changes it soon. India’s dams can only store small amounts of its fickle rainfall and its groundwater is rapidly depleting. Estimates reveal that by 2020, India’s demand for water will exceed all sources of సప్లై.
సోర్సు: వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు నివేదిక
* Every year 2.4 million children and about 136,000 women die unnecessarily in India. This is about one fifth of the global total. India’s National Rural Health Mission, launched in April 2005, has a strong commitment to reduce maternal and infant mortality and provide universal access to public health services, the delivery of which is extremely complex and involves a host of public and private, local and international players.
* A severe water crisis looms ahead for India unless the country changes the way it manages water and changes it soon. India’s dams can only store small amounts of its fickle rainfall and its groundwater is rapidly depleting. Estimates reveal that by 2020, India’s demand for water will exceed all sources of సప్లై.
సోర్సు: వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు నివేదిక
వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు ముందు భారతావని
India is one of the oldest members of the World Bank having joined the institution in 1944. New World Bank lending to the country in FY07 (July 2006-June 2007) was US$3.7 billion. At end of June 2007, the Bank group had 67 active projects with a net commitment of about US$ 14.3 billion for these projects.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths
Although alcohol consumption has occurred for thousands of years, many of the varied health effects have been discovered fairly recently. Alcohol consumption has health and social consequences via intoxication (drunkenness), dependence (habitual, compulsive and long-term drinking), and other biochemical effects. In addition to chronic diseases that may affect drinkers after many years of heavy use, alcohol contributes to traumatic outcomes that kill or disable at a relatively young age, resulting in the loss of many years of life to death or disability. There is increasing evidence that besides volume of alcohol, the pattern of the drinking is relevant for the health outcomes. Overall there is a causal relationship between alcohol consumption and more than 60 types of disease and injury. Alcohol is estimated to cause about 20-30% worldwide of oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, homicide, epilepsy, and motor vehicle accidents.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro-psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. The burden is not equally distributed among the countries, as is shown on the map below.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro-psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. The burden is not equally distributed among the countries, as is shown on the map below.
Globally alcohol consumption has increased in recent decades, with all or most of that increase in developing countries. This increase is often occurring in countries with little tradition of alcohol use on population level and few methods of prevention, control or treatment. The rise in alcohol consumption in developing countries provides ample cause for concern over the possible advent of a matching rise in alcohol-related problems in those regions of the world most at risk.
ఇండియా ఇన్ Statistics:
Total population: 1,151,751,000
Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,800
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 62/64
Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 53/54
Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 76
Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 276/203
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 100
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2005): 5.0
Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008
Gross national income per capita (PPP international $): 3,800
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 62/64
Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 53/54
Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 76
Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 276/203
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 100
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2005): 5.0
Figures are for 2006 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2008
Oil spills
Pollution of marine waters was realized somewhere in the 1970s. It was otherwise thought that the world's oceans have an infinite capacity for absorbing our waste. This hazard is purely of anthropogenic origin. Some major types of pollutants that have been the focus of recent research are oil, sewage, garbage, chemicals, radioactive waste and thermal pollution. Among these, the oil pollution is always discussed at length because other pollutants affect limited areas. Not enough information is yet available about radioactive waste disposal and its pollution effect.
We read in the media about oil spills when oil tankers break close to coastlines or oil is spilled from these tankers. However, only about 10% of oil pollution is because of the oil spills and is a short-term coastal hazard. However, the other causes that affect in long term are: leaks at marine terminals, disposal of drilling muds from offshore operations. Only a small fraction of the world's used oil is recovered, the rest simply goes down the drain and away into the sea.
Oil pollution is important to the Indian coastline, because, most of the petroleum products (including oil) originate in the West Asian countries and are transported from the Indian Ocean to other parts of the world.
Besides, the effects of these on the environment, this type of pollution also affect the living biota of the seas which is consumed by human being world over.
We read in the media about oil spills when oil tankers break close to coastlines or oil is spilled from these tankers. However, only about 10% of oil pollution is because of the oil spills and is a short-term coastal hazard. However, the other causes that affect in long term are: leaks at marine terminals, disposal of drilling muds from offshore operations. Only a small fraction of the world's used oil is recovered, the rest simply goes down the drain and away into the sea.
Oil pollution is important to the Indian coastline, because, most of the petroleum products (including oil) originate in the West Asian countries and are transported from the Indian Ocean to other parts of the world.
Besides, the effects of these on the environment, this type of pollution also affect the living biota of the seas which is consumed by human being world over.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
ఇండియా infrastructure
India has the second largest road network in the వరల్డ్
For a country of India's size, an efficient road network is necessary both for national integration as well as for socio-economic development. The National Highways (NH), with a total length of 65,569 km, serve as the arterial network across the country. The ongoing programme of four-laning the 5,900 km long Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata is nearing completion. The ongoing four-laning of the 7,300 km North-South East-West (NSEW) corridor is to be completed by December 2009. In its third meeting held on 13 January, 2005, the Committee on Infrastructure adopted an Action Plan for development of the National Highways network. An ambitious National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), involving a total investment of Rs.2,20,000 crore upto 2012, has been established. The main elements of the programme are as follows:
Four-laning of the Golden Quadrilateral and NS-EW Corridors(NHDP I & II)The NHDP Phase I and Phase II comprise of the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) linking the four metropolitan cities in India i.e. Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata, the North-South corridor connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari including the Kochi-Salem spur and the East-West Corridor connecting Silchar to Porbandar besides port connectivity and some other projects on National Highways. Four-laning of the Golden Quadrilateral is nearing completion. The contracts for projects forming part of NS-EW corridors are being awarded rapidly for completion by December 2009.
Four-laning of 10,000 kms (NHDP-III)The Union Cabinet has approved the four-laning of 10,000 km of high density national highways, through the Build, Operation & Transfer (BOT) mode. The programme consists of stretches of National Highways carrying high volume of traffic, connecting state capitals with the NHDP Phases I and II network and providing connectivity to places of economic, commercial and tourist importance.
Two laning of 20,000 km (NHDP-IV)With a view to providing balanced and equitable distribution of the improved/widened highways network throughout the country, NHDP-IV envisages upgradation of 20,000 kms of such highways into two-lane highways, at an indicative cost of Rs.25,000 crore. This will ensure that their capacity, speed and safety match minimum benchmarks for national highways.
Six-laning of 6,500 kms (NHDP-V)Under NHDP-V, the Committee on Infrastructure has approved the six-laning of the four-lane highways comprising the Golden Quadrilateral and certain other high density stretches, through PPPs on BOT basis. These corridors have been four-laned under the first phase of NHDP, and the programme for their six-laning will commence in 2006, to be completed by 2012. Of the 6,500 kms proposed under NHDP-V, about 5,700 kms shall be taken up in the GQ and the balance 800 kms would be selected on the basis of approved eligibility criteria.
Development of 1000 km of expressways (NHDP-VI)With the growing importance of certain urban centres of India, particularly those located within a few hundred kilometers of each other, expressways would be both viable and beneficial. The Committee on Infrastructure has approved 1000 k.m. of expressways to be developed on a BOT basis, at an indicative cost of Rs.15,000 crore. These expressways would be constructed on new alignments.
Other Highway Projects (NHDP-VII)The development of ring roads, byepasses, grade separators and service roads is considered necessary for full utilization of highway capacity as well as for enhanced safety and efficiency. For this, a programme for development of such features at an indicative cost of Rs.15,000 crore, has been mandated.
Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East RegionThe Accelerated North-East Road Development Project is under consideration, which will mainly provide connectivity to all the State capitals and district headquarters in the north-east. The proposal would include upgrading other stretches on NH and state highways considered critical for economic development of the north-east region.
Institutional InitiativesSteps are being taken for restructuring and strengthening of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is the implementing agency for the National Highways programme. Institutional mechanisms have been established to address bottlenecks arising from delays in environmental clearance, land acquisition etc. A special focus is being provided for traffic management and safety related issues through the proposed Directorate of Safety and Traffic Management. It is expected that the sum total of these initiatives should be able to deliver an efficient and safe highway network across the country.In order to specify the policy and regulatory framework on a fair and transparent basis, a Model Concession Agreement(MCA) for PPPs in national highways has been mandated. It is expected that this common framework, based on international best practices, will significantly increase the pace of project award as well as ensure an optimal balance of risk and reward among all project participants.
.India has an extensive road network of 3.3 million kms – the second largest in the వరల్డ్
.Roads carry about 61% of the freight and 85% of the passenger ట్రాఫిక్
.Highways/Expressways constitute about 66,000 kms (2% of all roads) and carry 40% of the road traffic
.The ambitious National Highway Development Project (NHDP) of the Government is at an advanced stage of implementation. Key sub-projects under the NHDP include:
- The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ-5846 kms of 4 lane highways)- North-South & East-West Corridors (NSEW-7300 kms of 4 lane highways)
.National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the apex Government body for implementing the NHDP. All contracts whether for construction or BOT are awarded through competitive bidding
Indian telecom మార్కెట్
India is the fifth largest telecom services market in the world; $17.8 billion revenues in FY 2005
- Industry grew by about 36% in FY 2005 over FY 2004- 142 million subscribers - 49 million fixed lines and 93 million wireless - March ౨౦౦౬
Telecom market has grown at about 25% p.a. over the last 5 years- Wireless segment subscriber base grew at 85% p.a.; fixed line segment at about 10% p.a.
The Indian telecom market has both public and private sector companies participating:
- Public sector has over 43% market share, down from over 90% in 2000- Private companies have added subscribers at a CAGR of 172% since ౨౦౦౦
Mobile operators have deployed both CDMA (24 million users) and GSM (69 million users) wireless నేత్వోర్క్స్
For a country of India's size, an efficient road network is necessary both for national integration as well as for socio-economic development. The National Highways (NH), with a total length of 65,569 km, serve as the arterial network across the country. The ongoing programme of four-laning the 5,900 km long Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata is nearing completion. The ongoing four-laning of the 7,300 km North-South East-West (NSEW) corridor is to be completed by December 2009. In its third meeting held on 13 January, 2005, the Committee on Infrastructure adopted an Action Plan for development of the National Highways network. An ambitious National Highway Development Programme (NHDP), involving a total investment of Rs.2,20,000 crore upto 2012, has been established. The main elements of the programme are as follows:
Four-laning of the Golden Quadrilateral and NS-EW Corridors(NHDP I & II)The NHDP Phase I and Phase II comprise of the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) linking the four metropolitan cities in India i.e. Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata, the North-South corridor connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari including the Kochi-Salem spur and the East-West Corridor connecting Silchar to Porbandar besides port connectivity and some other projects on National Highways. Four-laning of the Golden Quadrilateral is nearing completion. The contracts for projects forming part of NS-EW corridors are being awarded rapidly for completion by December 2009.
Four-laning of 10,000 kms (NHDP-III)The Union Cabinet has approved the four-laning of 10,000 km of high density national highways, through the Build, Operation & Transfer (BOT) mode. The programme consists of stretches of National Highways carrying high volume of traffic, connecting state capitals with the NHDP Phases I and II network and providing connectivity to places of economic, commercial and tourist importance.
Two laning of 20,000 km (NHDP-IV)With a view to providing balanced and equitable distribution of the improved/widened highways network throughout the country, NHDP-IV envisages upgradation of 20,000 kms of such highways into two-lane highways, at an indicative cost of Rs.25,000 crore. This will ensure that their capacity, speed and safety match minimum benchmarks for national highways.
Six-laning of 6,500 kms (NHDP-V)Under NHDP-V, the Committee on Infrastructure has approved the six-laning of the four-lane highways comprising the Golden Quadrilateral and certain other high density stretches, through PPPs on BOT basis. These corridors have been four-laned under the first phase of NHDP, and the programme for their six-laning will commence in 2006, to be completed by 2012. Of the 6,500 kms proposed under NHDP-V, about 5,700 kms shall be taken up in the GQ and the balance 800 kms would be selected on the basis of approved eligibility criteria.
Development of 1000 km of expressways (NHDP-VI)With the growing importance of certain urban centres of India, particularly those located within a few hundred kilometers of each other, expressways would be both viable and beneficial. The Committee on Infrastructure has approved 1000 k.m. of expressways to be developed on a BOT basis, at an indicative cost of Rs.15,000 crore. These expressways would be constructed on new alignments.
Other Highway Projects (NHDP-VII)The development of ring roads, byepasses, grade separators and service roads is considered necessary for full utilization of highway capacity as well as for enhanced safety and efficiency. For this, a programme for development of such features at an indicative cost of Rs.15,000 crore, has been mandated.
Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East RegionThe Accelerated North-East Road Development Project is under consideration, which will mainly provide connectivity to all the State capitals and district headquarters in the north-east. The proposal would include upgrading other stretches on NH and state highways considered critical for economic development of the north-east region.
Institutional InitiativesSteps are being taken for restructuring and strengthening of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is the implementing agency for the National Highways programme. Institutional mechanisms have been established to address bottlenecks arising from delays in environmental clearance, land acquisition etc. A special focus is being provided for traffic management and safety related issues through the proposed Directorate of Safety and Traffic Management. It is expected that the sum total of these initiatives should be able to deliver an efficient and safe highway network across the country.In order to specify the policy and regulatory framework on a fair and transparent basis, a Model Concession Agreement(MCA) for PPPs in national highways has been mandated. It is expected that this common framework, based on international best practices, will significantly increase the pace of project award as well as ensure an optimal balance of risk and reward among all project participants.
.India has an extensive road network of 3.3 million kms – the second largest in the వరల్డ్
.Roads carry about 61% of the freight and 85% of the passenger ట్రాఫిక్
.Highways/Expressways constitute about 66,000 kms (2% of all roads) and carry 40% of the road traffic
.The ambitious National Highway Development Project (NHDP) of the Government is at an advanced stage of implementation. Key sub-projects under the NHDP include:
- The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ-5846 kms of 4 lane highways)- North-South & East-West Corridors (NSEW-7300 kms of 4 lane highways)
.National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the apex Government body for implementing the NHDP. All contracts whether for construction or BOT are awarded through competitive bidding
Indian telecom మార్కెట్
India is the fifth largest telecom services market in the world; $17.8 billion revenues in FY 2005
- Industry grew by about 36% in FY 2005 over FY 2004- 142 million subscribers - 49 million fixed lines and 93 million wireless - March ౨౦౦౬
Telecom market has grown at about 25% p.a. over the last 5 years- Wireless segment subscriber base grew at 85% p.a.; fixed line segment at about 10% p.a.
The Indian telecom market has both public and private sector companies participating:
- Public sector has over 43% market share, down from over 90% in 2000- Private companies have added subscribers at a CAGR of 172% since ౨౦౦౦
Mobile operators have deployed both CDMA (24 million users) and GSM (69 million users) wireless నేత్వోర్క్స్
Population: Historical Prospective
Discussions/Debates on population policy and population growth had started in India even before Independence when a Sub Committee on population was set up by the National Planning Committe appointed in 1938 by the Interim Government. The National Planning Committee, in its resolution in 1940 said, inter alia, that in the interest of social economy, family happiness and national planning, family planning and a limitation of children are essential and the State should adopt a policy to encourage these.
The First Five Year Plan called for an explicit population policy and considered family planning as a step towards improvement in health of mothers and children.
The basic strategy in the First Plan was to treat family planning as a part of the health programme and provide 100% funds for it as a centrally sponsored programme. The position continues to be almost the same even today. Increasing funds for family planning were allocated from one plan to the other. In 1966, a separate Department of Family Planning was carved out in the Ministry of Health in order to strengthen the population control programme.
A modified National Population Policy was announced in 1977 which viewed the policy "as an integral part of education, health, maternal and child health etc. and stressed the voluntary nature of the family planning programme". During this time, the name of the programme also changed from Family Planning to Family Welfare which is retained till date. The Government appointed a Working Group on Population Policy. Its report advocated a Net Reproduction Rate of one (NRR=1) by the year 2000, which meant a Birth rate of 21 and a Death Rate of 9 per thousand. This implied a population growth rate of 1.2 per cent per year. This was considered as the threshold level for population stabilization. The recommendation of the Working Group still remains the guiding number for our population programme.
In 1983, the Government announced a National Health Policy which adopted the recommendations of the Working Group on Population Policy as the long term demographic goal of the country.
The 1986 version of India's Population Policy views family planning in a broader perspective of child survival, women's status and employment, literacy and antipoverty efforts. The policy calls for increasing age at marriage, postponing the birth of the first child, increasing birth intervals and concentrating on child survival.
In 1991, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare decided to impart a "new dynamism' to the programme by devising innovative strategies. This led to the development of an Action Plan for revamping family welfare programmes in india. The Plan emphasizes the need to improve the quality of services and to devise special area specific strategies. It calls for micro-level planning, priority filling of vacant positions, construction of subcentres and ICDS centers, improved management training and active involvement of district administration.
In 1993, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appointed an expert Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan to draw up a Draft Population Policy for consideration by Parliament. The report of this Group was submitted to the Ministry in 1994. The Report basically related population growth to the basic needs, democratic decentralization, gender issues and eco-system. These features were incorporated in the 'Statement on National Population Policy prepared by the Ministry in 1996-97.
The five states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa, which constitute 44% of the total population of India in 1996, will constitute 48% of the total population of India in 2016. These states will contribute 55% of the total increase in population of the country during the period 1996-2016. The progresss in these states would determine the year and size of the population at which the country achieves population stabilisation. In all the states performance in the social and economic sector has been poor. The poor performance is the outcome of poverty, illiteracy and poor development which co-exist and reinforce each other. Urgent energetic steps are required to be initiated to assess and fully meet the unmet needs for maternal and child health (MCH) care and contraception through improvement in availability and access to family welfare services in the states of UP, MP, Rajasthan and Bihar in order to achieve a faster decline in their mortality and fertility rates. The performance of these states would determine the year and size of the population at which the country achieves population stabilization.
National Population Policy 2000
One of the major recoomendations of the NDC Sub Committee on Population was that a National Population Policy should be drawn up so that it provides reliable and relevant policy frame work not only for improving Family Welfare Services but also for measuring and monitoring the delivery of family welfare services and demographic impact in the new millenium. The Dept of Family Welfare has drawn up the National Population Policy 2000 it provides reliable and relevant policy frame work for improving quality and coverage , measuring and monitoring the delivery of family welfare programme so as to enable the increasingly literate and aware families to achieve their reproductive goals, and the country to achieve rapid population stabilization; simultaneously the policy aims at promoting synergy with the ongoing educational, info-technology and socio-economic transition so that India can achieve not only rapid population stabilization, but also sustainable development, improvement in economic ,social and human development in the new millennium.
One of the the major objective of the Policy is that the country should achieve replacement level of fertility by 2010. The country’s medium and long term efforts will be focussed on bringing about an accelerated convergence of ongoing demographic, socio-economic, educational and information technology transitions, enable the increasingly literate and aware families to achieve their reproductive goals, and the country to achieve rapid population stabilisation, sustainable development and improvement in quality of life.
The First Five Year Plan called for an explicit population policy and considered family planning as a step towards improvement in health of mothers and children.
The basic strategy in the First Plan was to treat family planning as a part of the health programme and provide 100% funds for it as a centrally sponsored programme. The position continues to be almost the same even today. Increasing funds for family planning were allocated from one plan to the other. In 1966, a separate Department of Family Planning was carved out in the Ministry of Health in order to strengthen the population control programme.
A modified National Population Policy was announced in 1977 which viewed the policy "as an integral part of education, health, maternal and child health etc. and stressed the voluntary nature of the family planning programme". During this time, the name of the programme also changed from Family Planning to Family Welfare which is retained till date. The Government appointed a Working Group on Population Policy. Its report advocated a Net Reproduction Rate of one (NRR=1) by the year 2000, which meant a Birth rate of 21 and a Death Rate of 9 per thousand. This implied a population growth rate of 1.2 per cent per year. This was considered as the threshold level for population stabilization. The recommendation of the Working Group still remains the guiding number for our population programme.
In 1983, the Government announced a National Health Policy which adopted the recommendations of the Working Group on Population Policy as the long term demographic goal of the country.
The 1986 version of India's Population Policy views family planning in a broader perspective of child survival, women's status and employment, literacy and antipoverty efforts. The policy calls for increasing age at marriage, postponing the birth of the first child, increasing birth intervals and concentrating on child survival.
In 1991, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare decided to impart a "new dynamism' to the programme by devising innovative strategies. This led to the development of an Action Plan for revamping family welfare programmes in india. The Plan emphasizes the need to improve the quality of services and to devise special area specific strategies. It calls for micro-level planning, priority filling of vacant positions, construction of subcentres and ICDS centers, improved management training and active involvement of district administration.
In 1993, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appointed an expert Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan to draw up a Draft Population Policy for consideration by Parliament. The report of this Group was submitted to the Ministry in 1994. The Report basically related population growth to the basic needs, democratic decentralization, gender issues and eco-system. These features were incorporated in the 'Statement on National Population Policy prepared by the Ministry in 1996-97.
The five states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa, which constitute 44% of the total population of India in 1996, will constitute 48% of the total population of India in 2016. These states will contribute 55% of the total increase in population of the country during the period 1996-2016. The progresss in these states would determine the year and size of the population at which the country achieves population stabilisation. In all the states performance in the social and economic sector has been poor. The poor performance is the outcome of poverty, illiteracy and poor development which co-exist and reinforce each other. Urgent energetic steps are required to be initiated to assess and fully meet the unmet needs for maternal and child health (MCH) care and contraception through improvement in availability and access to family welfare services in the states of UP, MP, Rajasthan and Bihar in order to achieve a faster decline in their mortality and fertility rates. The performance of these states would determine the year and size of the population at which the country achieves population stabilization.
National Population Policy 2000
One of the major recoomendations of the NDC Sub Committee on Population was that a National Population Policy should be drawn up so that it provides reliable and relevant policy frame work not only for improving Family Welfare Services but also for measuring and monitoring the delivery of family welfare services and demographic impact in the new millenium. The Dept of Family Welfare has drawn up the National Population Policy 2000 it provides reliable and relevant policy frame work for improving quality and coverage , measuring and monitoring the delivery of family welfare programme so as to enable the increasingly literate and aware families to achieve their reproductive goals, and the country to achieve rapid population stabilization; simultaneously the policy aims at promoting synergy with the ongoing educational, info-technology and socio-economic transition so that India can achieve not only rapid population stabilization, but also sustainable development, improvement in economic ,social and human development in the new millennium.
One of the the major objective of the Policy is that the country should achieve replacement level of fertility by 2010. The country’s medium and long term efforts will be focussed on bringing about an accelerated convergence of ongoing demographic, socio-economic, educational and information technology transitions, enable the increasingly literate and aware families to achieve their reproductive goals, and the country to achieve rapid population stabilisation, sustainable development and improvement in quality of life.
Indian Diaspora
The Indian Diaspora is a generic term to describe the people who migrated from territories that are currently within the borders of the Republic of India. It also refers to their descendants. The Diaspora is currently estimated to number over twenty million. composed of "NRIs" (Indian citizens not residing in India) and "PIOs" (Persons of Indian Origin who have acquired the citizenship of some other country). The Diaspora covers practically every part of the world. It numbers more than a million each in eleven countries, while as many as twenty-two countries have concentrations of at least a hundred thousand ethnic Indians. The Diaspora is very special to India. Residing in distant lands, its members have succeeded spectacularly in their chosen professions by dint of their single-minded dedication and hard work. What is more, they have retained their emotional, cultural and spiritual links with the country of their origin. This strikes a reciprocal chord in the hearts of people of India. It is to nurture this symbiotic relationship to mutual advantage that the Government of India, following the express directions of the Prime Minister, had established a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. L.M Singhvi, MP, with the mandate to make an in-depth study of the problems and difficulties, the hopes and expectations of the overseas Indian communities. Given the great diversity and global spread of the Indian Diaspora, it was a mammoth task. The Committee completed it within the timeframe set for it, with the active cooperation of NRIs and PIOs and submitted the Report to the Prime Minister on 8th January, 2002. The High Level Committee in its recommendations suggested formation of an organization on the lines of Planning Commission to look after the affairs of Overseas Indians. Hon’ble PM has however decided to have a full- fledged Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs headed by Shri Jagdish Tytler, Minister of State with Independent Charge to deal with affairs related to Overseas Indians.
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