Round The States

New Delhi, 12 November 2016

Choking Politics

DELHI, A GAS CHAMBER

By Insaf

Welcome to India’s Choke Capital, Delhi which has transformed in to a gas chamber. As part of a slew of measures to combat the emergency situation arising out of severe air pollution the Lt Governor banned construction and demolition activities, shut down schools and the Badarpur power station for a week. But this was not before our netas crossed swords accusing one another of causing this dastardly situation. While Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed neighbouring Haryana and Punjab for paddy stubble burning for the hazardous levels of air pollution, his counterparts in both States Badal and Khattar asserted its farmers could not be blamed for Delhi’s smog and cited NASA images. Alas, none had paid heed to the warning signs as early as August of impending disaster. Consequently the situation got compounded because of agricultural crop and garbage burning, use of firecrackers and prevailing meteorological conditions. Will our rulers tighten their belt and stop playing dirty politics!

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has given the Centre an ultimatum to set in place a pollution policy immediately. Adding to the States woes the National Green Tribunal has asked five States - Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to constitute a Central Committee of Chief Secretaries and prepare an emergency action plan to combat air pollution. Also, it wants the States Pollution Control Board, Environment and Urban Development Departments to submit monthly report to the Committee. Adding to the Delhi, Punjab and Haryana Government’s woes it lambasted them for ineffective implementation of its orders against crop burning and air pollution. More, the States have been asked to classify different types of pollutants and how they deal with them. Will the States bite?

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Defections In Manipur

It’s the beginning of the season of crossovers as elections to five State Assemblies ensues early next year. In the North East the BJP is gearing up for netting its second win in Manipur with two Congress heavyweights leaders joining its ranks. Namely, former Minister Yumkham Erabot and Vice President and spokesperson Nongthombam Biren Singh. Sworn detractors of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh who now is the Congress’s undisputed leader, the BJP has its fingers crossed that their defection will net them more Congressmen. Though the Party does not intend projecting a Chief Minister it hopes that a ‘corruption-free Manipur’ along-with an anti-incumbency mood against the Congress’s will wrest them victory, at least 40 of the 60 Assembly seats. Will this tiny North Eastern State deliver a double whammy post it gaining control of Assam by ending 15 years of Congress rule.

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Gujarat Thakores  Flex Muscles

Identity politics has staged a big comeback in Gujarat’s political sweepstakes with both the Patel and Thakore communities mobilizing their members, ostensibly on social causes but with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections. Following the meteoric rise of Hardik Patel who rode to fame demanding reservation for his upper class Patidar community, young Alpesh Thakore has chosen issues like de-addiction, raids on illegal liquor dens and education to tighten his hold on his flock. Already his Thakore Sena has spread across 9000 villages and the pan-community OBC SC ST Ekta Manch has covered another 3000 villages. With both communities on the political ascent, the ruling BJP Government is worried. More so, after last year’s debacle in the local bodies' elections where the Patidars showed their anger by voting against the BJP. Resulting in the Congress winning 22 of the 31 district panchayats and 126 of 230 taluka panchayats, leaving six district panchayats and 65 taluka panchayats for the Saffron Sangh. Chief Minister Rupani’s Party is now banking on evoking nationalist sentiment post the surgical strikes against Pakistan. Will it come out trumps?

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EC Cancels Tamil Poll

An inclining of the shape of things to come post Prime Minister’s Modi’s dhamaka of corruption free India came when the Election Commission cancelled polls in two Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies over voters being bribed. However, for reasons best known to arch rivals DMK and AIADMK both have decided to field the same candidates again. This is not all. A wizened electorate has made clear he is no longer willing to play ball unless the respective candidates give signed assurances that they will fulfill promises made during the election campaign prior to re-polling. With elections due early next year in five States the poll watch dog has made it clear that the old ways of electioneering will no longer hold good. Leaving our politicians running for cover.

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Maharashtra’s Faulty Dams

Build first design later, underscores the Maharashtra’s Irrigation Department’s  foolishness or madness vis-à-vis building dams. Worse, as engineers are finding out the dams designs are not according to the areas topography like soil quality, catchment area, average rainfall, capacity of dams etc.  Consequently, this has resulted in drastic changes of plans, delays and cost escalations that too after the work started. Shockingly, the erstwhile Congress-NCP Government which constructed these reservoirs paid no heed to public safety and instead copy-pasted earlier designs for different dams and awarded contracts to their favourites depending on kickbacks. Leaving the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena Government no option but to cancel over 34 such projects. Predictably, the BJP and rivals Congress and NCP are now trading charges over cost escalations, read corruption. A classic case of money down the drain! ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)