Round The States

New Delhi, 31 July 2008

Terror Strikes India

Gujarat, Karnataka Hit, Who Next?

By Insaf

Bloody terror battered India when Karnataka and Gujarat stood testimony to serial blasts on two consecutive days last weekend. In Bangalore, nine blasts had people scurrying for cover while Ahmedabad witnessed 17 explosions which left 49 dead and over 150 injured. For the first time the militants’ targeted three hospitals besides markets and heavily congested areas. While Surat stood testimony to 21 ‘defused’ bombs. Interestingly, in both the States the modus operandi was similar to the blasts that rocked Rajasthan and UP earlier. The bombs were placed in tiffin boxes and bicycles.  Needless to say, the explosions have exposed the sad state of intelligence gathering mechanism at the Centre and in the States.

Clearly, by unleashing a proxy war and targeting cities such as Bangalore, Ahmadabad and Surat, the terrorists have hit upon a novel method: cripple the country’s economy and wreck India’s attraction as a destination. Given that both Karnataka and Gujarat mirror the economic clout the country enjoys. While Karnataka has drawn foreign investments in the IT and pharmaceutical sectors Gujarat has emerged as a hot destination in the manufacturing and power sectors and has netted investments of over Rs. 5.62 trillion, FDI to the tune of $5 billion and industrial production grew by 12.6 per cent this year. Security experts now have their task cut out: ensure that the blasts remain an aberration in India’s growth story.

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States Thumbs Down For Federal Agency

The cup of terror woes continue to overflow for the Centre. Its much-touted 8-year old flagship of setting up a Federal Investigation Agency to tackle the terrorist menace and probe inter-state attacks has been given thumbs down by most of the militant-infested States, including those ruled by the Congress. Besides Orissa and a few select North-eastern States, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka, Andhra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have serious reservations vis-à-vis the Federal Agency’s legal powers to independently investigate crimes with Inter-State and international ramifications. These powers, they fear not only go against the spirit of federalism but would also infringe on the States exclusive powers. Besides, it has the potential of being misused to score against a democratically-elected State Government. Clearly, the Centre needs to be innovative, dust the cobwebs and convince the States the advantages of a Federal Agency.

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Maharashtra In The Dark

Once a beacon for other States in the power sector, Maharashtra today finds itself groping in the dark. Afflicted by an acute power crisis the State is facing a mind boggling deficit of 5000 MW of electricity. Barring Mumbai, most urban areas endure seven-eight hour long power cuts, while rural regions suffer up to 14 hours without electricity. Even Pune, which was once touted as a ‘model’ of zero load shedding and was exempt from energy rationing since June 2006, now undergoes up to six-hour-long power cuts daily. Shockingly, the 40 per cent energy shortfall has resulted in over 36 villages facing a 40-hour weekly power cut. Ironically, this power disconnect comes at a time when Maharashtra is being touted as a model power State and its ‘Pune Model’ is being replicated in other parts of the State and actively being pursued in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

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Militants Hit J&K Infrastructure

The travails of Jammu and Kashmir continue. If the incursions from across the border by Pakistani soldiers in the Kupwara district were not bad enough now militants are targeting construction sites in the State. Leading to the stalling of various infrastructure projects. Among those affected are the 193 kms National Highway 1B Project connecting Kishtwar-Anantnag districts which would provide easy mobility for troops in the mountainous areas. However, as the area today is inaccessible, militants use it as a safe heaven and continue to wreck havoc. Also badly hit are the Bani-Basolhi and Bhaderwah-Chamba projects in the militant-infested Doda district, which would directly connect Doda with Himachal Pradesh. Needless to say the security apparatus needs to be tightened to ensure speedy implementation of these projects.

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Ultimatum To States Over Forest Act

All States have been put on notice by the Centre to speedily and effectively implement the Schedule Tribes and Traditional Forest Dweller (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. In a letter to the Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has fixed the onus on them to ensure that the tribal population finally get their basic rights over the land which has historically been in its possession. Further, the Act provides that no member of a forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dweller should be evicted or removed from the forest land under his occupation till the recognition and verification procedure is complete. Besides, the Centre has asked the States to ensure protection of the biodiversity and wildlife in the forest. Recall, the Act, which was operationalised by the Centre on New Year’s Day, continues to be treated as a ‘dead letter’by the State. Will they finally enact the Act?

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Uttarakhand Government In Bind Over Corbett Transfer

The Uttarakhand Government has been ensnared by the Centre for its decision to transfer crucial officials of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. That too during the monsoon season when tigers are most vulnerable to poaching. Despite the State Government terming these as ‘routine’ transfers it is finding it difficult to justify why it went against the Central National Tiger Conservation Authority advisory on transfers. Specially against the backdrop of the Centre allocating over Rs 50 crores as part of its special ‘Operation Monsoon’ fund for patrolling in tiger reserves under the Tiger Protection Force. Adding to the State Government woes, the National Board for Wildlife and wildlife conservationist have upped the ante over the theft of ivory tusks from the Jim Corbett Museum. It remains to be seen who will have the last roar!

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Assam Says No To Mega Dams

The Assam Government has outrightly rejected the construction of mega dams over several rivers in the region specially those of Arunachal Pradesh. Both Governor Shiv Charan Mathur and the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi are convinced that the construction of big dams would do more harm than good and be unable to solve the problem of over flooding. In a missive to his counterpart in Arunachal, Gogoi has cautioned against the displacement of communities and the destruction of forest and the environment. Instead, given the regions high seismicity, he has mooted the construction of small dams to address the power situation in the North-East. Will Arunachal heed?---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)