Veerappan, the Retired Chief Engineer of Tamil Nadu Public Works Department, is realistic in ‘watering’ down the euphoria of the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project proposed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, as an ‘unworkable’ idea, given the prevailing situation not only across the country but around the globe. He says, “Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra would never part with 200 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu at any point of time. Also, Since linking of rivers would affect biodiversity, there would strong opposition to this project from environmentalists and tribals, who would also be affected.”

Considering the mindset of people on this resource that is becoming increasingly scarce, that is reluctance to part with even kith and kin, pragmatic and not utopian solutions can only be dreamed let alone being seriously considered for implementation.

He advices to expedite the irrigation schemes within Tamil Nadu that would meet the water requirements. These include: Athikadavu-Avinashi project to fortify groundwater table (950 crore); diverting surplus (?) water from Mettur dam through Sarabanga-Thirumanimuthar-Ayyaru link canal; diverting Pandiyar river in Nilgiris district to Tamil Nadu limits, since this would provide three tmc of water to the State just at a cost of Rs 50 crore; diverting surplus water from Amaravathi river to Vattamalai Karai reservoir in Tiruppur district, diverting surplus water from Varathamanathi river to Nallathangal rivulet and building a check dam across Ayyaru in Kolli hills to get three tmc of water.

Irrespective of Whether the Godavari-Cauvery link is implemented or not, the schemes suggested by this specialist shall be seriously considered and taken up on war footing if found feasible to quench the thirst of parched Tamilnadu before it turns into a desert.

Water draining into the sea during excess rain fall shall be considered a heinous crime against the society by the future generations and those responsible for the mismanagement shall be brought before the law.

Let us only hope these new proposals are not thwarted by the ever zealous green ‘activists’ who stoke the emotions in the name of ‘dravidian pride‘.

Credits:

1. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/may/30/godavari-cauvery-linking-not-feasible-pwd-ex-chief-engineer-1983570.html

Yuval Noah Harari, in his recent best seller, ‘21 lessons in 21st century’ stresses that in the democratic polity, there is an overwhelming role of feelings over reality. Modi played this part extremely well pan india but failed to gauge the pulse in Tamil Nadu. What stands out is the Tamil Nadu results is the stark reality: AIADMK, PMK and the allies were also pulled down by the weight of their association with BJP. It appears without BJP, they would have got more votes!

Series of narration since his ascension, the Tamilians are led to believe that Modi is indifferent to their interests. His heart did not beat for anything Tamil because his party had no dividends to reap in this state. The viral memes and videos in circulation ridiculing and spreading hate against Modi were too obvious to miss.

It had been going on for around 3 years now and if one wants to fix a date/time, it could be the jallikattu agitation. The agitation really broke out big, and captured the imagination of not only those in TN, but entire India was transfixed. Though Modi guided OPS and provided a legal solution, nobody is willing to give the credit to him. What remained was the perception that Modi did not care, because he never spoke supporting the cause.

And then another spectacle, for nearly 100 days, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, by farmers from TN. Tamilians associated themselves with this cause, even if it was weird at times. The grouse of the Tamil people was that the Prime Minister Narendara Modi did not even make one symbolic visit to the Jantar Mantar and promise to look into their demands. Whatever the  justification, all that it required for Modi, was a visit to the site and a handshake, and a promise to look into the issues. Respect is all, the Tamilians expected, they say. Modi missed a trick here too.

On NEET, Modi came to TN’s rescue with an ordinance, which was trashed by the apex court, for no fault of his. He could not undo it, even if he was willing. But Modi failed to express it in public. His silence cost him his stature.

Add the killing of 13 innocents in Thoothukudi in the wake of Sterlite agitation. Modi was perceived to be cold and uncaring, since he did not sympathise with the victims, even while he tweeted his sympathies.

His failure to visit TN in the aftermath of Gaja cyclone, despite his sanctioning a huge financial aid, was perceived as disdain and indifference to Tamilians. 

The perception that BJP had no stake in TN and therefore Modi did not care hardened. And DMK and its allies brilliantly built on this ‘perception and fanned the flames to keep the issue alive as anti Modi narrative‘. Modi (read all the North Indians) is ‘anti Tamil’ sells now.

Modi-Shah duo, while being successful in getting the overwhelming majority by stoking emotions across the country, same ‘emotions’ resoundingly thwarted TsuNamo in Tamilnadu.

Credits:

1. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/280519/boon-or-bane-how-modi-lost-the-plot-in-tn.html

Excellent info on RBI Governors from Pramod Kumar Singh – Editor – The Pioneer

Dr YV Reddy had resigned during UPA-1(Sep 05, 2008).

Remember how A Ghose resigned within 20 days after his appointment (Feb 4, 85) after differences with Rajiv Gandhi Government.

M Narasimham (May 02, 1977 Nov 30, 77) had resigned after being for just 6 months in office as RBI Gov. Before Narsimhan,

NC Sen Gupta (May 19,75 to Aug 19,75) tendered his resignation as RBI Gov after 3 months.

Even venerable Dr Man Mohan Singh didn’t complete his 3 yr term as the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had removed him on January 14, 1985. Amitav Ghosh took his place only up to within 20 days before RN Malhotra took over.

Dr Manmohan Singh as the then Finance Minister in Narasimha Rao Govt had removed S Venkitaramnan as RBI Governor. Venkitaramnan an ex IAS had to go in 1 yr only as MMS wanted C Rangarajan as RBIGovernor

So much happened over the years! But, why Modi and his government are criticized now, as if the Institution (s) are loosing their “autonomy” now only!

I stumbled across a writing that talks of ethics in the animal kingdom, the virtue that is boasted to be the forte of the human race.

Even wolves, donkeys and monkeys seems to be having ethical codes. In a game if a cub bites too hard or continues to bite after the opponent has surrendered (as shown by rolling back), the other cubs would stop playing with him. Even in chimpanzees, the weak and the sicks that are let down by the group are adopted by the ‘alpha’ males.

Amazing isn’t it? Who taught them moral values? While human race invariably refers to the holy scriptures in search of ethical codes, evolution teaches all the living beings – it is in all DNAs!

Is Consciousness, which is the realm of only the humankind, not a prerequisite for practical ethics? How does one then explain this observation? But in any case, please don’t address, one who is brutal, as animal – as animals have ethics after all.

Whenever a private company is roped in for manufacturing in high technology area, our vocal media would be up with the arms protesting that Indian PSU counterparts such as HAL and BHEL have been overlooked for princely kickbacks! But in the space arena, ISRO is quietly scouting Elan Musk’s Space-X to launch its heavy satellites!

ISRO’s heavylifting rocket GSLV III can carry up to only four tonnes and is working to increase the lifting capability. Beyond the four tonne capacity, all heavier ISRO payloads are to be launched only by other agencies. Presently European spaceport in French Guiana is carrying out the task. ISRO is in talks with Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, to launch its heavier satellites. Why RaGa is not howling foul…? If he talks about this complex technology, I am sure, we are in for yet another ‘comedy time’….

Jokes apart, It is enviable that a much leaner and younger organisation, SpaceX has been able to carry out the task commercially successfully. Leave alone Musk’s ambitious Mars Mission that is bigger than our much touted ‘manned moon mission’.

We can go on blabbering our glorious historic past about the greatness of scientist Bhaskara and quoting epics on Ravana’s Pushpaka vimana and heave a big sigh!

Another storm is brewing… Now on the bailing out of three private power producers whose couldn’t repay the loan; As per the norms of IBC, they have become bankrupt and should be referred to NCLT. But an alternate strategy is worked out to save power generation capacity.

Due to the increased cost of coal imported from Indonesia for the power plants, after the power purchase agreement (PPA) has been approved, the companies wanted to charge additionally compensatory tariff to offset the increase. The top court by its order of April 11, 2017 had set aside the decisions of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Appellate Tribunal for Electricity allowing the power producers to charge compensatory tariff.

Based on the power producers’ plea, the government constituted a high power review committee. With its recommendation, SBI, which is part of a consortium of banks that funded close to 35000 Crores to the three Gujarat based power producers with a capacity of around 5200 MW, has moved the SC to permit revision of PPA with compensatory tarrif for the Indonesian coal.

While on one hand it may look logical to raise the tarrif, the government’s mediation may appear odd as such actions are not forthcoming in other stressed sectors such as steel. One argument could also be ’the power companies would not pass on the benefit of any reduction in the tarrif, had the fuel prices come down’. Even if the assets are sold through NCLT, there would be any buyers without the compensatory tarrif is another matter.

As one of the three power producers is Adani, (the others being TATA and ESSAR), Raga, whether he understands ABC of the intricacies, would tweet ‘Modi gives thousands of crores of tax payers’ money to Adani’!

I can’t resist sharing my joy on the success of the various ongoing cleaning activities in the the way business is carried out in this country. Striking of over 2.6 lakhs of shell companies to put off the money laundering and tax evasion, enforcement of GST to bring under the tax net all the evaders, and IBC are only a few in the list.

IBC is enforcing discipline in payback of loans. All along, the Nexus between corporate houses and the unscrupulous bankers have been bleeding the PSUs by ‘loan restructuring’ essentially ‘a hair cut’ for the lenders and hence loss of public money. This practice of seeking waivers from the banks, is now a thing of the past. IBC mandates either pay back the debt fully or loose control. Would any indian family like to loose its jewels?

An abject Lesson, for those corporate houses who have been squeezing the lending banks, is the way Ruias is now being taught. It all started in Aug 2017, when NCLT admitted insolvency plea against Essar Steel by SBI. After a series of court battles among the fierce bidders, Committee of Creditors, got the highest bid from Arcelor Mittal. When they were about to vote for accepting the bid, Ruias who are the promoters of the steel major, submitted fo full settlement that would be around Rs 17000 crore more than the bid received. This will lead to not only maximum recovery for lenders but also of other classes such as operational creditors and workmen and employees!

Why Ruias are eager to pay back the loan so lately now and not earlier? With the steel business slowly picking up, the promoters are desperate not to loose control of their gem.

Though the offer is attractive from the lenders perspective, the latest twist will lend itself to myriad of interpretations. This would be a classic lesson for wilful defaulters.

Knowledge, the one based experimental evaluation and methodical reasoning; faith is one traditionally followed over generations; faiths are sacrosanct – anything to analyse and interpret could be construed as a ‘revolt’; 

It is also true that once knowledge understands and interpret, those faiths will sustain in the long run; while faith when proved ‘mystic’ by the knowledge, would unfortunately not disappear quickly but would take at least a few generations to disappear as those hardened in it, would refuse to change their belief. But those faiths that could not be disproved beyond doubt by the existing knowledge would thrive and ‘haunt’ the society.

It is inevitable that any society would be a mix of both the philosophies since there is always a mortal fear of unknown that haunts even the rational and knowledgeable individuals.

But relentless pursuit of knowledge shall never be let lost, in the loud dins of those blind faithfuls, in a vibrant and progressive civilisation.