Ganges clean by 2020, a proposal by NGRBA India…

No Untreated waste to flow in Ganga by 2020.

a) Why government waited for this long considering the fact that sewage disposal and treatment plant requires 10 years to

come into existense? Ganga was polluted before also. Ganga is victim of pollution and waste disposal

since long time, then why government waited for this long to form National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) for solving

Ganga pollution problem.

b) Now NGRBA has asked central government to provide them with 1000 MW of FREE power (electricity), why?

You have necessary funds at your disposal. Moreover if you (NGRBA) fall short of some cash you can always raise the funds

from market by floating an IPO or simply some relief fund kind of thing. As Ganga is our National River (which has been

declared in LAST November, thats Nov 2008, I mean what took them so long to declare that and take some action on keeping

Ganga clean or for that matter every river clean?) You should not be asking central government for any freebies.

c) This proposal of cleaning Ganga off wastage and pollution is good, but this proposal should go much deeper than only Ganga.

Every Indian river is ailing with pollution and wastage problem. When Government is planning to clean every river? India is

facing a very serious problem of water shortage in almost every city. Considering the fact that our rivers are more nullahs than

rivers and carry more waste than water, it needs huge investment to purify that water and supply for domestic use. So why not clean

them and use them as resources for providing water to every city and town in the country? Government should undertake that

project also as soon as possible.

d) No doubt, better late than never, Government has woke up to the fact that Indian rivers are getting polluted. But as we all

know that Indian Government is inefficient of executing anything, it will be interesting and important to see for how long the

NGRBA works in line for Ganga cleaning. It will be better if Government really follows the proposal to the exact deadlines,

unlike what’s happening in Delhi prior to CommonWealth Youth Games 2010.Project

Project:                                         Cleaning of river Ganga by 2020

Project Inception:                Still in the nascent stage.

Project planned:                    In October 2009

Project Cost estimated:    Rs. 250 crore.

Project Deadline:                  By 2020

Further process:                   A plan will be devised for cleaning the Ganga and will be presented by NGRBA.

Yes, the river Ganga is about to get clean and purified or rather Industrial wastes will not be left in Ganga anymore after 2020. But I don’t know why so late onto deciding such a critical issue? I have some doubts and questions to be asked and those are as follows:

a) Why government waited for this long considering the fact that sewage disposal and treatment plant requires 10 years to come into existense? Ganga was polluted before also. Ganga is victim of pollution and waste disposal  since long time, then why government waited for this long to form National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) for solving Ganga pollution problem.

b) Now NGRBA has asked central government to provide them with 1000 MW of FREE power (electricity), why? You have necessary funds at your disposal. Moreover if you (NGRBA) fall short of some cash you can always raise the funds from market by floating an IPO or simply some relief fund kind of thing. As Ganga is our National River (which has been declared in LAST November, thats Nov 2008, I mean what took them so long to declare that and take some action on keeping Ganga clean or for that matter every river clean?) You should not be asking central government for any freebies.

c) This proposal of cleaning Ganga off wastage and pollution is good, but this proposal should go much deeper than only Ganga. Every Indian river is ailing with pollution and wastage problem. When Government is planning to clean every river? India is facing a very serious problem of water shortage in almost every city. Considering the fact that our rivers are more nullahs than rivers and carry more waste than water, it needs huge investment to purify that water and supply for domestic use. So why not clean them and use them as resources for providing water to every city and town in the country? Government should undertake that project also as soon as possible.

d) No doubt, better late than never, Government has woke up to the fact that Indian rivers are getting polluted. But as we all know that Indian Government is inefficient of executing anything, it will be interesting and important to see for how long the NGRBA works in line for Ganga cleaning. It will be better if Government really follows the proposal to the exact deadlines, unlike what’s happening in Delhi prior to CommonWealth Youth Games 2010.

Austerity and Indian politics…

Today’s Indian Express says Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar has said that austerity by a politician should be a voluntary gesture. Well, I as a citizen of India want to question this statement made by honorary Lok Sabha Speaker.

 

-> Does flying with economy class brings down your prestige and social status?

-> Does travelling by an ambassador or any government assigned vehicle harms your status?

-> Does paying electricity and phone bills harm your status?

 

I guess every politician will answer yes to these questions, as they are not habituated to live big and work less. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are held so as to solve the problems faced by the country and state. But the picture there is pretty different. At first place MPs don’t attend the parliamentary sessions, and use the highly costly and worldly pleasures offered at these places. If you don’t want to work there, don’t become a MP. MPs fight in the parliament like they are in a school. Are you paid to do this? Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha expenditure is done through the revenue generated from people. So MPs should note this thing and don’t pretend to be spending their own money on this.

 

Another issue is, what’s the harm in flying economy class? According to Lok Sabha speaker this issue should be left to the politicians. I bet no politician will fly economy class if left on his/her own. The ticket expenditure on every politician is through public revenue and taxes. So why waste in such a foolish way?

 

New MPs like Azaruddin and Shatrugna Sinha are demanding bigger and larger homes. What’s your status man? You are just a new born kid in the Lok and Rajya Sabha. Then why demand such foolish thing? Before becoming MP weren’t you living in the same place? So what’s wrong in living there after becoming MP? If a boy or girl of age 8 is demanding to be placed in class 10, can we do that? A person gets whatever he has got according to his abilities. So better leave demanding big things. At first do some good work and then demand.

 

MPs like Shashi Tharoor sorry Shashi (GYM)oor wants his own gym and privacy. If you want privacy build your own gym at the place you live and maintain your privacy. Aamir Khan also has his own gym, go his way. Why to live in seven star hotels and that too in Presidential suit? Who’s money you are spending there? I bet you are not spending your own money there. And if you are spending your own money, give Indian citizens the source of such huge money. Same applies for S.M. Krishna also.

 

Hon. Mayawati ji also built so many statues. Who’s money you are spending madam? Why nobody questions them? Banks and courts screw common man for not paying debt and spending more than what he got. Income Tax department raids common man’s home only, if seen some inconsistency in the income pattern. But then why not raid a politicians house and take action after that?

 

These things are really maddening. I don’t see a solution to it, until politicians follow the austerity suit. Freedom Fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Lal Bahadur Shastri and many more, had also lived an austere life.  Mahatma Gandhi left wearing full cloths because people were not having anything to wear. Lal Bahadur Shastri left eating rice because common public was not getting rice to it. Why did these people have done this? Because they followed austerity and that’s why they live thousands of years in the minds of public and in History. Today’s politician’s life is very miserable, because they have done this to themselves. These politicians will only be on the paper of history books but won’t be in anybody’s mind. Once they step down from the throne they won’t be counted also. Mind it.

No to Chinese workers in Indian Power sector…

Yes, India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram has stated that India is home for skilled and semi-skilled worker. So India doesn’t need Chinese workers coming to India in Power Sector. Home Minister has asked companies to recruit Indian workers instead of Chinese workers.

 

On the other hand, Chinese Government is furious over India’s decision of not providing visas to Chinese workers. Some years back Indian Power Sector opened up for foreign players. India allowed foreign companies to bid for Indian Power Sector. The result was introduction of two Chinese companies “Shanghai Power” and “DongFang Electronics” bidding for Indian Power sector. Chinese Government has stated that Chinese workers are skilled to handle Chinese boilers and turbines so let them work.

 

But P. Chidambaram has taken a strong stand of not allowing them visas to work in India. It’s good to see that Indian politicians taking strong stands but it will be interesting to see how long they will be able to withstand this decision. But I don’t understand one thing. Reliance power also asked Shanghai Powers to serve power sector in India, but they strictly said that they will employ Indian workers only. So why can’t Indian Government state such thing while signing the pact only?

People and their driving sense…

Ahead of Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi is buzzing with various infrastructure developments (only Delhi Government knows how many of those infrastructure development programs are meant for infrastructure development and how many for internal corruption and wallet filling). The development seems to be much sluggish than a tortoise walking on the beaches. Constructions have only started but the end seems no where. May be the development will end either on the date of commencement of Commonwealth Games or after the games get over. Similarly the traffic regulation and people’s driving sense seems to have gone for a vacation on some other planet (may be on Moon as Chandrayan and other space shuttles have discovered water on the Moon).

The traffic all over India is unregulated. Traffic Polices are only for a show off and for jacking money from people. But they don’t seem to regulate the traffic. They don’t even try for regulation. People also follow the similar notes. Vehicles are provided with Upper and Dipper beams so as to facilitate people in night driving. These facilities are provided for use only. But people don’t use the dipper beam and ply with upper beams only, even though that upper beam obstructs the vision of the person coming from the other side.

Similar incidence happened with me (though it happens on a regular intervals with me) recently. A person was driving a jeep and on a narrow road we came head to head. He was focussing upper beam only. So I flashed upper and dipper consecutively so as to suggest him that lower your beam as I am not able to see anything. But he refused to lower the beam. What I could have possibly done other than cursing that man. I tried to tell him to ply the vehicle on dipper and use upper when necessary, but in vain.

Delhi Government has announced a new program wherein they will educate the Delhites on proper driving rules and practices. But I doubt how useful that will be. But there is no harm in trying things out. Delhi Government and P. Chidambaram (Home Minister of India) stressed out that Germany and China have done the same thing before hosting such big events. The education program in Germany and China were successful because people there think for their nation and feel dejected if someone from outside blames their country. But that’s not the same with Indians. We Indians have lost pride in our country. And that’s the reason we are facing issues like corruption, ill-politics etc. (the list will go on and on).

This is where our TAX money goes…

This is a mail which I have received. And instead of just forwarding this to my mail list, I decided to forward this to general public and everybody out there. This is the reason I am posting this on my blog.

Politics is not a SERVICE anymore but a PROFESSION.

Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament 

Monthly Salary: Rs. 12,000/-

Expense for Constitution per month: Rs. 10,000/-

Office expenditure per month: Rs. 14,000/-

Travelling concession (Rs. 8 per km): Rs. 48,000/-(eg. For a visit from South India to Delhi & return: 6000 km)

 
Daily DA TA during parliament meets: Rs. 500/day

Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times)
(All over India )

Charge for Business Class in flights: Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.)

Rent for MP hostel at Delhi: Free.

Electricity costs at home: Free up to 50,000 units.

Local phone call charge: Free up to 1, 70,000 calls..

TOTAL expense for a MP [having no qualification] per year: Rs.32, 00,000/-[i.e. 2.66 lakh/month]

TOTAL expense for 5 years: Rs. 1, 60, 00,000/-

For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years:
Rs. 8,54,40,00,000/- (Nearly 855 crores)

AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS ASKING THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, OUT PERFORMING CEOs TO CUT DOWN THEIR SALARIES. This is how all our tax money is been swallowed and price hike on our regular commodities. And this is the present condition of our country. Plus When the parliamentary sessions are going on almost Rs. 100 crores are spent daily. And even after spending so much on the MP’s comfort in the Parliament, every session almost goes futile and without any result. So why should an Indian pay taxes if the money is going into such a dustbin??? Is it really worth to pay taxes if such situation prevails??? Indian Government should answer and clarify all these things. And I know when clarifying on the things mentioned above only one answer comes and that is “These things are baseless”. I doubt how baseless these things are.

855 crores could make their life liveable!!
Think of the great democracy we have…

 

Prasad B. Kulkarni

Aurangabad.

 

 

Courtesy: A mail I have received.

Terrorism peeking its head again…. and politicians sitting quietly…

Delhi once again hit by bomb blast. The previous attack was just 14 days before. After the attack on 13th, Police and Government showed they are now alert, but the next blast within striking distance of Qutub Minar and within 14 days of last blast showed that Police, Government and all politicians  are still sleeping and partying.

 

Why government is so lethargic about acting on such serious issues???? This will be the most nagging question in every common man’s mind. Today every citizen of Republic India is under continuous threat. Any time a freaky terrorist will come and will decide onto when WE can LIVE and when WE will DIE. This is so insane. Why government is not acting onto it???

 

The convicts of 1993 bomb blast are still to be punished. Our Law and Order is so good, that any one from 5th standard can also trigger something that will be out of hands of system. The convicts of previous terrorism are yet to punish and new cases come and this process continues under Perpetuity law. This must change. And common man is hinting towards this change. As was shown in the movie The Wednesday, a common man can change all things but the system again is incapable of handling anything.

 

If a common man kills any terrorist, he must be punished as he has taken law and order in hand. But if a terrorist kills hundreds of people, he will not be convicted. Even if convicted or punished he has access to upper court and finally he asks for President’s help. If the law and order is for common man, why the same thing is not applicable for terrorists? There should be an order of shoot at site or if caught hanging is the only option. Unless and until terrorists are not made victims of terror, they will not listen to us.

 

Every time, Indian Prime Minister and every politician says this is bad what is happening. And again carry out their personal activities. Everytime, a blast takes place and Prime Minister urges and says “We will take strong action against terrorism”. But nothing happens. The same politician again utters the same thing till he gets votes and after getting elected he forgets all things.

 

The system of Republic India is so corrupted and so incapable that these things will go on continuously as it is. And a common man needs to habituate himself according to all these things and will have to get accustomed to terror and live with it. There seems no possible solution with current system. The situation is hinting towards a change and system must change.

 

Prasad Kulkarni

Pune.