Round The States

New Delhi, 1 March, 2012

Koodankulam Plant

CENTRE, TN MAKE IT HAPPEN

By Insaf

Tamil Nadu appears to be set to break the impasse over the Koodankulam Nuclear power plant with a little bit of help from the Centre. This past week three aspects have warranted Insaf’s attention: One, with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board burdened with heavy debt, the State is reeling under acute power shortage, prompting the Jayalalitha government to resort to long power cuts. This puts her in the risk of growing unpopular. Two, the report of the panel of experts set up recently by the AIADMK Government to look into the “fears and concerns” of the local people has given a clean chit and said the plant is safe. While there is no guarantee that the protestors would accept this, but they could be coaxed into it. Three, interestingly, the report comes days after the Centre decided to put the plugs on the NGOs “funding” the agitation. With New Delhi taking action against four NGOs for reportedly funding the protests against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant, and stopping the money flow, the protests are expected to slowly fizzle out. The question doing the rounds is whether Jayalalitha and Prime Minister Manmohan have finally broken the ice and decided to make up for a common goal – power to the people even if its nuclear.

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Strike in States 

North Eastern States of Manipur, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya sprung a pleasant surprise for trade unionists. The 24-hour nationwide strike call by politically affiliated 11 Central trade unions including CITU, AITUC and 5,000 small unions on Tuesday last got a resounding response from them, the first ever. However, the TUs were not able to paralyze the nation as feared. Both the political capital Delhi and financial capital Mumbai seemed to give a cold shoulder with the call being restricted to banks and insurance companies. However, Kerala lived up to its expectations and was shut down, with Rajasthan and Bihar too joining in with much gusto. As against this West Bengal, was clearly a disappointment as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee managed to bully her way through and neutralize the strike. Her assertion that Government staff could risk a break in service if it didn’t report to work ensured good attendance.  Besides, public transport was not affected though people preferred to stay home for fear of violence. The question now is whether the strike would impact the Government to consider the TUs demands – put an end to labour contract, amendments to minimum wages Act, speedy compulsory registration of trade unions, etc.

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J&K Hot Debate

A hot debate is brewing in Jammu & Kashmir, which kindles hope for peace amongst the common man at least. Have India and Pakistan agreed through track II diplomacy to “freeze” the contentious Kashmir dispute “for a decade” and contemplate improving its relations, is a question being discussed within the Hurriyat Conference, across the State and the border. This, thanks to media reports suggesting something akin. The ruling National Conference appears to be in tune with the Centre as logically when ties and confidence levels improve, a solution to the ‘K’ issue would itself sort out. However, the Hurriyat leaders would like to dispel such reports. But it seems that the conglomerate may tend to agree with the reports as it has been camping in Delhi desperately trying to garner international support following Islamabad being caught in its own internal politics. Fortunately for Delhi, Mirwaz Farooq and Shabir Ahmed Shabir were not given an audience by the US and British envoys, who were rightly upset with the Hurriyat for approaching the Iranian ambassador. But Delhi must watch out against their plan to open an office again in New Delhi by 2013. Recall, that in 2003 its office was closed following reports of its leaders receiving hawala money from Pakistani embassy. Indeed, a lot has changed in the past decade and let’s not revive the Hurriyat.    

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Rajasthan NHRM Scam?

Is Congress-ruled Rajasthan going the Uttar Pradesh way? If the opposition BJP has its way then, yes. In the ongoing Assembly session, the BJP threw up corruption charges in the services of ‘108 ambulances’ under the Centre’s National Rural Health Mission (NHRM). On Tuesday last, it accused the Ashok Gehlot Government of being hand in glove with the ambulance operators, Ziqitza Health Corporation Ltd (ZHCL). Not only was the contract designed to suit this bidder, but the company was allegedly overbilling the State and getting away with it as two of its directors were “linked to two senior Union ministers.” Interestingly, the scandal came to light as the Mission’s director’s eye caught bills that claimed an ambulance made over 100 trips in a day! While the bill, about Rs 10 crores is a pittance compared to UP’s mind boggling Rs 10000 crore NHRM scandal, the fact is that the ambulance operators were in a position to blackmail and threatened to stop services if not cleared. This, when the services are meant for the poor. Not acceptable. The Centre must ensure that States don’t shamelessly misuse the scheme, aimed at none other than the rural folk.

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EC Stalls Goa Tourism

Goans are angry with the Election Commission.  The State’s tourism has been gravely hit by its diktat: establishments such as bars, restaurants, shacks have to shut down at 11 p.m. till the election process is over, on March 6. Worse, the deadline which in the past was for a day or two prior to polls would run into nearly two months this time and during peak season, November–April! As a result, the tourism industry, which is the State’s largest employer, with jobs for a third of the workforce, has suffered a 40 per cent loss. The beaches of Goa, on the international map draw about 25 lakh tourists every year, of which five lakh are foreigners. However, with tourists doing a rethink following the ban, the hotel industry has suffered major cancellations, forcing them to lower tariff and offer special packages. Bars and restaurants which would do brisk business till 1 a.m. have had half the rush. Fear is that revenues too are going to dip. Indeed, the Goan experience should make the EC think before it issues orders for in its enthusiasm it should not hit States where it hurts most.

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MP, Sikkim Best

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim are jubilant. Both the States have swept the National Tourism Awards, set up by the Government of India. While the former bagged four awards, including Best State for Tourism Infrastructure and Best Tourism Film, the latter got kudos for tourism infrastructure in the North-East and J&K and Best State for Clean India campaign, which has recently been introduced. Among the 78 awardees in 50 categories Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Kerala too found a place. Giving away the awards on Wednesday last, President Pratibha Patil particularly sought to highlight the importance of responsible tourism by stating: "It promotes people-to-people contacts and is one of the windows of the country to the outside world.”  Importantly, the Tourism Ministry is pitching for targeting increase in foreign arrivals to 11 million by 2016 from a prevalent six million a year.  However, States must remember that they must make efforts not only to give tourists an idea of what the country is but what it is capable of. A lot, if we make up our mind. --INFA

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