============================== Fortnightly News Bulletin (October 5, 2012) ==============================
Junk food is bad news. Junk food in schools, preying on our children, is especially bad news. CSE has been quite outspoken in its criticism of these foods and of everything that perpetuates their consumption. Schools need to keep them out of the reach of kids. It's a cause all of us in CSE believe in fervently, and on October 14, we are running to 'junk the junk food'. Running with us in this Delhi Quarterathon are school children, their parents and teachers, and many others. If you haven't already joined in, please do so now. We need you in this battle for public health. Just reach us at http://cseindia.org/node/4374. This is not all that we are doing -- in fact, the coming days are packed with launches and releases of new studies and reports, panel discussions, training courses, media programmes and of course, the Conference on Biodiversity in Hyderabad. Here, in a unique initiative, CSE and Gobar Times is joining hands with local students to capture their perception of this mega conclave. Down To Earth is marking the event with a special biodiversity issue in print, and an information package online http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cbd ========================================================= To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters, please click on http://cseindia.my2.in/cseindia/?p=subscribe To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just click http://www.cseindia.org/content/please-enter-your-email-id-unsubscribe-cse-newsletter If you have any questions or concerns about newsletter subscription, please contact Vikas Khanna at [email protected] =========================================================== EDITORIAL: Public private prank by Sunita Narain ====================================================== Growth is back on the agenda, says the government. It is hoping that with pushy announcements foreign and Indian investment will miraculously start pouring in and infrastructure will be the name of the game once again. But this assumption ignores one crucial detail: currently, public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure are on the cusp of disaster. The country needs a different strategy to build public services infrastructure. This is because in India, which has a large population of poor and relatively poor middle-class, public infrastructure has to be affordable to build and to run. But since we do not think about the nature of the asset we need to build, we make standard, capital-intensive infrastructure plans in the hope that someone will cough up funds to build. This then justifies the need for private investment. But in reality little private money comes. Worse, the private player is unable to run the public asset—be it water supply, public transport or a swanky airport—without substantial recurring funds. So the private sector’s interest is to make profit by building the infrastructure and then stay clear of the responsibility of making the system work. In this way PPP stands for public investment and private profit. Take water and sewage. The country has a huge infrastructure backlog in this sector. The High Powered Expert Urban Infrastructure Committee, set up by the Union Ministry of Urban Development and headed by economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia, came up with a mouth-watering estimate for this sector. According to its estimate, building water, sewage and drainage infrastructure requires Rs 5,70,000 crore over the next few decades. In the past five years, the Centrally sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission that has been a game-changer, pumped in some Rs 43,000 crore in water and sewage infrastructure. But this is far below what is needed in a country with a backlog and an exploding “front log”—out-of-control urban growth that needs services fast. The need for finances to build the public water and sewage infrastructure of the present and future is apparent and urgent. But the fact is that private partnerships in this sector are going horribly wrong. It is always a sign of trouble when experienced players sit out and new fly-by-night-type operators take control. In the case of this sector, this is exactly what is happening. We should ask why. In cities where water supply (never sewage) contracts have been awarded, private parties are realising they underestimated the capital cost of building infrastructure. The reason partly lies in the way contracts are designed. The detailed project report is made by one party to estimate costs and bids are tendered on this basis. This works when the quality of existing assets is known or when the work is for a standard design specification. Since that’s rarely the case, the bid is opened and the lowest bidder succeeds, even if he is wide of the mark in terms of costing. The situation is made worse by the fact that there are few players with experience or expertise. So there is an opportunity to make deals to “share” the market. The recently opened bids for water distribution in certain pockets of Delhi is a case in point. All bids had one common Indian player—Subhash Projects—with combinations of foreign players. But once such projects get off the ground, they are unfeasible, hence negotiations begin. Private concessionaires ask for changes in the awarded contract. One by one all the original conditions are done away with in this mother of all scams. Read the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report on the implementation of PPP in the case of Indira Gandhi International Airport to know the game. All this could even be justified (especially by the growth-at-all-costs proponents) if the project ends up getting private equity and delivers the goods and services to people. But in the water-waste sector private investment is a chimera. In Shivpuri where Doshion-Veolia and in Khandwa where Vishwa Infrastructure have been awarded projects to ensure 24x7 water supply, 90 per cent of the investment is public. In return for the 10 per cent capital investment, high tariffs have been fixed in this relatively poor region. The catch is that the operator must recover money from operation and maintenance. Given that the state of supply is unreliable and full of holes, the meters faulty and collection difficult, it is near impossible to break even in the business of supply. Everybody, including the concessionaire, knows this. The profit, therefore, is in building the project—in the cement, steel and pipes. It is not in the water that is to be supplied. What is worse, these projects cream off the most lucrative part of the sector—water supply—and leave the expensive sewage, waste collection business to the stretched municipal supply system. The system crumbles further because now it does not even have the money from water to pay for sewage—and remember 80 per cent of the water leaves homes as waste. The public system takes a further hit and the private system does not benefit. Development does not happen. What happens is loot in the name of growth. Post your comments on this editorial online at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/public-private-prank ======================= MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH ======================= The special biodiversity package in this issue includes a nine-part Cover Story: - Taking stock of biodiversity: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/taking-stock-biodiversity - The hunt for benefits: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/hunt-benefits - A conservative agenda: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/conservative-agenda - A bill for biodiversity: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/bill-biodiversity - Whose germplasm is it?: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/whose-germplasm-it - Curious case of seaweed: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/curious-case-seaweed - The Kani learning: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kani-learning - Safeguarding ancient wisdom: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/safeguarding-ancient-wisdom - Legislation for a few: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/legislation-few Special Report: Double whammy Increasing pollution, depleting water table make groundwater in Kathmandu unfit for drinking http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/double-whammy Special Report: First comes chick Kuroiler hens offer a poultry business model that can fight poverty, nutritional stress http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/first-comes-chick Special Report: Virtual coast guard Non-profits develop web application to monitor haphazard development along Indian coastline http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/virtual-coast-guard Special Report: What a waste Solid waste management plant that won Kanpur an award raises a stink http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/what-waste Crosscurrents: It’s not just about a good holiday Making ecotourism work for all stakeholders requires a new vision http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/it-s-not-just-about-good-holiday Interview: Tulsi fights fluorosis Rahul Kamble, assistant professor of Environment Sciences at Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya at Chandrapur, Maharashtra, explains how a tulsi plant can get rid of flouride levels in drinking water http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/tulsi-fights-fluorosis Features: Agents of change Gramdoots, or village volunteers, mobilise people to get government machinery moving http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/agents-change Features: A cool idea Roofs that reflect sunlight save electricity http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cool-idea Science and Technology: Code of conduct for space EU drafts law to govern space activities as countries increase explorations http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/code-conduct-space Science and Technology: Detergent detector New test to identify synthetic milk http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/detergent-detector Science and Technology: Monkey’s tale New species found in the rainforests of Congo basin http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/monkey-s-tale Science and Technology: Green way to recycle paper Bacterial enzymes can replace chemicals in recycling http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/green-way-recycle-paper News: Irongate opened Shah Commission report shows how authorities, mine owners stripped Goa of iron http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/irongate-opened News: Discoms bailed out Cabinet Committee approves plan to free state power distribution companies of debt http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/discoms-bailed-out News: Billionth carbon credit issued Kyoto Protocol device marks impressive milestone, but its effectiveness remains doubtful http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/billionth-carbon-credit-issued Down to Earth magazine on iPad !! Down to Earth magazine is now available on your iPad too. For more information and ordering please visit us at : http://www.magzter.com/IN/Society-for-Environmental-Comm/Down-To-Earth/Technology/ Down To Earth is also on Google+. Please "+1" at https://plus.google.com/106293307783638713083 Down To Earth is on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with our reporters on www.facebook.com/down2earthindia and twitter@downtoearthindia. =============================================== Web DTE =============================================== - Reporter's diary: Dream run over Aparna Pallavi finds out why residents of Goa’s prettiest village cannot wish away mining which they hate http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/dream-run-over - Photo Gallery: Welcome to Goa, state of mines by Papia Samajdar http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/389 - Blogs: Sayonara to nuclear Even if Japan aims to exit nuclear power by 2040, its path remains treacherous http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/sayonara-nuclear - DTE Rewind: Cauvery river dispute http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cauvery-river-dispute =========================== On India Environment Portal =========================== FREE ALERT SERVICES ON THE India Environment Portal (IEP) IEP team regularly identifies and sources new studies and reports on environment and development. To remain updated, do subscribe to this free service http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/reports-documents/rss Also subscribe to the exclusive Daily Environment News Service here http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/daily-news-bulletin/rss Contact: Kiran Pandey (kiran@cseindia,org, [email protected]) -------------------------------------------------------------- On the Renewable Energy Portal - Photo essay on the 'Solar Trick' A number of solar mission projects are operational only on paper. The government has decided to act tough with 14 companies which did not commission their solar power projects in time (http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/solar-trick) --------------------------------------------------------------------- CSE Photo Library presents a selection of photos on environment and development by Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628728282841/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628849514621/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- India Environment Portal is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/indiaenvironmentportal/228015872817 and http://www.twitter.com/indiaenvportal For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at [email protected], [email protected] not what you do not know. Don't expose your ignorance before others. ============================================= LEARNING WITH CSE Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College ============================================= EIA training programme UNDERSTANDING EIA:FROM SCREENING TO DECISION MAKING Date: October 29 - November 2, 2012 Last Date for Applying: October 22, 2012 Course Module: - Exposure to all aspects of EIA, from its theory to the practical – such as better understanding regarding - Better understanding of the EIA process – from screening, scoping, data collection to impact assessment as well as the role of public consultation - Better understanding of the environmental and social impacts of the industrial and developmental projects - Better ability to review EIA reports and identify its strengths and weaknesses - Increased ability to play active role in post-EIA monitoring. For details contact: Swati Singh Sambyal [email protected] Mobile: 9910496283 Website: http://cseindia.org/content/eia-training-programme-understanding-eiafrom-screening-decision-making ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOOTCAMP - Covering India For mid level professionals, an orientation on the environment development debate bogging the Indian polity. Date: Oct 29 - Nov 9, 2012 Six days field visit to rural India, to experience and report on the eco-restoration work being done at the grassroots. Anil Agarwal Fellowships available for a few participants from other South Asian countries. Course details: cseindia.org/node/2607 Contact: Sharmila Sinha Deputy Program Manager) Centre for Science and Environment 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110062 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Tel: +91 (011) 29955124/125 (Ext.270) M: +919818482018 ================================= UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS ================================= - Jaipur City Dialogue on air quality and transportation challenge: An agenda for action Date: October 9, 2012 Venue: Venue: Jupiter Hall, Ramada Hotel, Govind Marg, Raja Park, Jaipur Time: 9.00 am – 2.30 pm CSE along with Jaipur Development Authority, Jaipur, is organising a collaborative workshop to build public and policy awareness on clean air and public health as well as urban mobility for a liveable city. Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, State minister, urban development and housing, Rajasthan is the Chief Guest. For futher details, please get in touch with Vivek Chattopadhayay at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSE at the Convention on Biological Diversity, Hyderabad October 16, 2012 A Gobar Times special issue is on the cards. Panditji is coming up with a summit edition of Gobar Times that would capture the heat and dust of this massive 11th Conference of Parties. And his editorial team would be made up of students — from schools and colleges in Andhra Pradesh. Find out their perspective on this discourse. Also planned is a panel discussion on the 'Future role of the youth in global environmental negotiations: Passive observers or active partners?' The venue is Side Event Room 3, Hitex 1, Ground Level, Hyderabad International Convention Centre. The panel discussion will be held on October 16, 2012, at 6.15 PM. You can also visit our stall at Booth No 11, Hitex Hall No 2. For more information on what CSE would be doing in the Convention, please contact Sumita Dasgupta at [email protected]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partnership between HSBC and CSE October 17, 2012 HSBC is supporting CSE to set up a state-of-art Environment Training Institute that will be a crucial part of our efforts to improve environmental governance. We have envisaged this institute as a high-quality training centre for environmental regulators. We hope the institute will build informed, committed and accountable governance systems and initiate the practice of new knowledge. We will launch the partnership in Delhi in the presence of the HSBC Board on October 17. There will be a panel discussion on 'Strengthening Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development in India'. For more on this, please contact Nitya Jacob at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------ Meeting on water pollution October 18, 2012 9:00 - 2:00 pm CSE is organising a roundtable on ‘Evolving water quality standards and domestic wastewater monitoring protocols in India’ at CSE office, India Habitat Centre, Core 6a, 4th floor. The aim of the workshop is to look into the existing standards for sewage treatment and suggest how they can be tightened to meet future water quality standards. The context is the overuse of surface water and replacement with waste water. For more details, please get in touch with Bharat Lal Seth at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------- Release of study on industrial pollution in Sonbhadra October 19, 2012, Lucknow CSE's Pollution Monitoring Laboratory has carried out an extensive analysis of water and soil samples and biological samples like blood, nails and hair of people. The focus area for the study includes Anpara, Shaktinagar, Obra and Renukoot. Pollution in the area is not new and has been talked about for many years, but no action has been taken to check it. This has led to long term health impacts which have now started to show up in the population of the region. For details, get in touch with Sugandh Juneja at [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------- Third National Research Conference on Climate Change Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, November 3-4, 2012 For more information, go to www.icrn.in or contact Indrajit Bose at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - RainWater Harvesting Technical Support Every Friday between 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, CSE provides detailed technical guidance to interested individuals, RWAs and institutions to implement rainwater harvesting. This technical assistance is provided at CSE’s office at 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi. For details, see http://www.cseindia.org/content/catch-rainwater-solve-your-water-problems ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Technical advice: Decentralised wastewater treatment systems Every second and fourth Friday, meet our experts at CSE, 41, Tughlaqabad Institutional Area for guidance on planning and designing these systems. For details, contact Deblina at [email protected] or call her on 9899596661. ==================================== The CSE Store ==================================== Into the Furnace: The life cycle analysis of Indian iron and steel industry The latest publication from CSE -- a report of the green rating of one of India's key industrial sectors. For details and to order, just go to http://csestore.cse.org.in/books/environment/into-the-furnace-1.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Food as toxin “All substances are poisons; the right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” Modern food regulation is about determining what is that right dose in our daily diet. How is food safety defined? What are the global systems that regulate food safety? What does ‘Acceptable Daily Intake’ (ADI) mean? Why do we have to accept pesticides in our food? If you are also troubled with questions like these and some more, you are not alone. It concerns the health and well being of every family, and that's why we did a careful in-depth research and came out with this revealing new book, which will give you all the answers. For more details please contact us at [email protected]. --------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________
