MGP Opposes Discriminatory Power Cuts in Karnataka

The state government has declared that there will be 12 hours of power cuts daily in rural areas, 4 hours in urban areas other than Bangalore and only one hour in Bangalore. Mysore Grahakara Parishat has filed a complaint before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission stating that this discriminatory policy violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India "Equality before law.-The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India." MGP has urged that KERC should not allow the implementation of this policy.

Electricity consumers all across the state pay the same fixed charges/demand charges and so the government can not show preference to urban consumers at the cost of rural consumers and again to Bangalore at the cost of other cities in the state. The blatant discrimination evident in the announcement of the government is completely unacceptable.

The discrimination is especially galling since the government has not taken any steps to limit wasteful spending of power in urban areas (bill-board lighting, ornamental illumination, etc.) and the rural population has to pay for this urban profligacy

An obvious negative aspect of this discrimination is that the quality of life in rural areas is becoming intolerably low leading to large-scale migration to cities and the attendant social, economic and environmental problems.Such discrimination must not be a part of any welfare society.

The electricity supply companies or the state government has no authority to resort to such discrimination. Only the state electricity regulator is empowered to decide on such matters after careful deliberations and effective public hearing. Such unilateral decision on the part of the government (or the electricity supply companies) negates the tariff ruling prevailing in the state.KERC is mandated and empowered under Indian Electricity Act 2003 and Karnataka Electricity Reforms Act 1999 to supervise, control and direct the electricity supply in the state such that such discriminatory practices are eliminated.

MGP has drawn the attention of KERC to the fact that Electricity Regulatory Commissions of other states have acted to stop such discrimination. For example, in an order given on 5-5-2006, the Punjab ERC has ruled "The Commission further decides that the Board (Punjab State Electricity Board) should take adequate steps to minimize discrimination amongst consumers of different categories especially rural and urban domestic consumers as far as possible while imposing power cuts." In another order issued on 18-5-2007, PERC said "The Commission notes that there is disparity in the imposition of power cuts especially in the case of some urban centres and in rest of the State. The Commission observes that this clear discrimination between two sets of the same consumers seems to be iniquitous and without any rational basis. It would, perhaps, be best if power cuts are applied evenly in urban and rural areas of the State. If on the other hand the Board is still of the view that there are overriding compulsions to the contrary then it may draw up fair and transparent criteria that might justify any disparity in the imposition of power cuts." In a 2009 concept paper on power cuts the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has observed "If all such feeders are not required to be cut, requisite number of feeders only may be cut but on rotational basis so that all consumers bear the brunt of such power cuts" and then again "The practice of exempting some cities for their perceived importance should be stopped and all urban areas should be treated similarly." These are some persuasive precedents.

There are also growing suspicions in the minds of the public whether the power shortage is real in light of the copious rainfall all over the state this year. Therefore, MGP has requested KERC to

1. decide, after due public consultations and its own deliberations, whether thereÿ will be a real deficit of electricity in the state between now and June next year;

2. pass an order for improved supply side management and demand side management to overcome the deficit, if any, and

3. if the rationing of electricity is necessary, pass an order for its equitable distribution among various consumers.

 

Shankar Sharma, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

A Tip To LPG Customers

For more than a decade, MGP has been forwarding complaints received from LPG consumers to the three major supply companies, IOC, HP and BP. But despite several serious complaints, not much action was taken against the erring LPG dealers. Therefore, we were heartened to see an advertisement from Hindustan Petroleum in the local papers last week announcing the suspension of an LPG dealer, Samrat Gas Services and the transfer of service to Raghavendra Agencies. It is learnt that this suspension is a result of innumerable consumer complaints agaisnt the gas agency.

Many consumers are not aware of the options before them when they encounter bad service at an LPG dealer. If repeated complaints to the dealer do not work, then it is time to get a transfer to another dealer. You can get a transfer to any dealer (even of a different oil company) if your home in the area of his service. This transfer policy was implemented to discourage bad service. If an LPG dealer continues to give bad service, he will soon lose all his customers to other dealers. But since most consumers are not aware that they can get transfers, they continue to suffer and bad dealers continue to prosper.

As an example, in the case of Samrat, you can get a transfer to Raghavendra. The suspension of Samrat is not permanent and if you are worried that you will not get good service when the suspension is revoked, you can apply for a transfer right now and you will get it.

If complaints to the dealer do not work, you can also complain to the concerned oil company. The phone numbers are: Mr. Mohan (BPC) 94481 17453, Mr. Borkar (HPC) 99026 50151 and Mr. Shiva Prakash (IOC) 94482 85525.

C V Nagaraj, member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Mysore Genetically Engineered Food seminar report

Over 200 prominent concerned citizens of Mysore overwhelmingly said No to Bt Brinjal, called for a GE-free Karnataka and demanded a nationwide referendum on permitting the introduction of GE crops pending which imposition of a moratorium on GE crops in the country.

Through a declaration called MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOOD AND FARMING farmers, consumer and environment activists, scientists, academicians, students, national and global experts on genetic engineering termed the claims made by the biotech industry and the safety tests conducted by it as “doubtful in nature” and demanded “a proper, independent and transparent scientific tests for toxicity, allergenicity, environmental impact, pest resistance development and yield levels

The one day State Conference on Genetic Engineering, Food and Farming was held on

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Institution of Engineers Hall, Mysore and was co hosted by the Institution of Engineers, Mysore Chapter and the Deccan Development Society of Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier Dr Michel Pimbert, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development, UK – an international expert on food and farming delivered the keynote address and said that the GE foods were neither needed nor wanted. He quoted a number of global experiences on genetically engineered foods which had highlighted their deleterious effects on food and farming systems and pointed to the largest exercise undertaken by 400 world class scientists under the auspices of the World Bank, FAO, and United Nations which resulted in a report called International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development [IAASTD] that called for a new paradigm shift in agricultural research and development. In the light of this major international report, Dr Pimbert called for a complete reassessment of GE technology which was neither needed nor wanted.

Many formal GE scientists including Dr Manjunath, formerly Head of Research, Monsanto, Dr Vageesh Babu of the Indian Horticultural Research Institute and Dr Shekhar Shetty, University of Mysore put forward their arguments on Genetic Engineering. Ms Aruna Rodrigues of Sunray Harvesters, MP, Dr Vijayan, Chair, Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Mr P V Satheesh, Director Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad spoke of the harmful effects of genetic engineering on food and farming.

Dr Vombatkere of the Mysore Grahakara Parishad, Mysore and Mr Babu, Chair, Institute of Engineers, Mysore Chapter also participated in the debate beside Mr U N Ravi Kumar and Mr Satheesh.

At the end of the day long deliberations, the House adopted MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOOD AND FARMING.

MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FARMING AND FOOD

Institute of Engineers, Mysore, November 7, 2009

Having listened to the views of a group of scientists for and against genetic engineering, its regulatory, legal, ethics and social issues, its effects on food and farming and human health, we have come to the following conclusions

1 In view of the overwhelming evidence provided by the global community of farmers, scientists and independent researchers on the ill effects of G E crops and also keeping in mind the doubtful nature of the safety tests conducted by the biotech companies and regulatory bodies, it is advisable to undertake proper, independent and transparent scientific tests for toxicity, allergenicity, environmental impact, pest resistance development and yield levels. Therefore we are in favour of introducing a moratorium on the introduction of GE crops in India

2 The issues of GE crops and foods must be brought to the notice of farmers, consumers and the citizens of this country through a national referendum. The resultant people’s verdict with reference to governance of GE foods must be accepted with full respect.

3 Instead of running behind the mirage of GE crops, the government must encourage sustainable organic agriculture

4 The yield increases claimed by the GE industry are only due to presumed effectiveness in the control of pests. This can be safely achieved by organic products.

5 The government and its approval agencies should adopt stringent and transparent measures without any fear or favour in evaluating/assessing the various claims made for GE products including their safety to the consumer and the environment

6 We do not wish our people to eat GE foods as we do not know how it affects our people’s heath. We do not trust an industry that makes money at the cost of public health and we certainly do not trust a government that ignores its people’s health

7 We must strive to create a movement for public understanding of GE crops and GM foods by mobilizing all possible resources – both material and human

8 We don’t want GE crops which can be apocalyptic to life on earth. Let us say No to Bt Brinjal.

9 Government must by law declare Karnataka GM free

MGP Delegation Meets RTO

A delegation from Mysore Grahakara Parishat recently met the Mysore RTO, Mr. S.H. Kallera. The delegation consisted of Dr.T.N. Manjunath, Maj.Gen. (Rtd.) S.G. Vombatkere, B.V. Shenoy, V. Mahesh, S.Y. Sadashiva Murthy, Narasimhaiah and S.S. Sridhar.

The following problems faced by the public of Mysore were brought to his attention along with MGP's suggestions on how to solve them.

1) The public is continually facing hardship due to defective and tampered autorickshaw meters. The problem is exacerbated by the frequent fare rate changes which are implemented whenever the market prices for petrol change. It makes it difficult for the public to figure out if they are being overcharged.

Suggestion: The problem can be eliminated by installing autorickshaw meters that read the distance covered in kilometers rather than the actual fare in rupees as is being done now. A conversion card issued by the RTO can be used to convert the distance travelled to the fare amount.

There are several advantages to this system. Thousands of autorickshaw meters need not be recalibrated every time there is a rate change. Only the new fare conversion cards have to be issued saving enormous amounts of money. Whenever there is fare rate change, the conversion table can also be published in local dailies so that the public is up-to-date on the fare change.

The correct distances between the various landmarks in Mysore can be made available in the form of a booklet to the public, charging a fee to cover the cost of the booklet. If these distances are known to the public, there will be very little incentive to tamper with the meters. Defective meters can also be easily identified and corrective measures taken.

By changing fare meters to distance meters in autorickshaws, overcharging of the public due to defective or tampered meters will stop.

2) A very large number of autorickshaws with Kerala registration and some with Maharashtra and Bihar registration are plying the roads of Mysore. They do not get registered in Karnataka even after several years. This is causing a major loss of revenue to the state government. Most of these autos do not seem to have insurance and in cases of accidents, they are just abandoned. Citizens involved in acccidents with such autos have can not get insurance cover.

Suggestion: Do not allow Kerala registered auto rickshaws to operate in Mysore beyond the initial grace period.

3) In most places in Mysore, autos are parked randomly. Very often they are parked at intersections, blocking vision.

Suggestion: Proper autorickshaw stands should be constructed in various places in Mysore in consultation with the police.

Dr.T.N. Manjunath, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

MGP CONDUCTS LECTURE-DEMO ON FOOD ADULTERATION

Mysore Grahakara Parishat recently conducted a lecture-demonstration on food adulteration detection at the following places: Mahajana NSS Camp at Megalapura, Coorg Institute of Technology, Ponnampet, and College of Forestry, Ponnampet. C.V. Nagaraj (formerly Senior Chemist, Regional Agmark Laboratory, Bangalore) demonstrated simple tests to detect adulteration in various food items. He also spoke about the harmful effects of various types of adulteration and on the laws that exist in India against food adulteration. Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha spoke on various aspects of consumer protection.

Associations interested in arranging such lecture-demos can contact C.V.Nagaraj (Ph: 2521640) or Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha (Ph: 2515200).

V.Mahesh, member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

State-level Conference on Genetic Engineering, Farming & Food

State-level Conference on Genetic Engineering, Farming & Food

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Institution of Engineers (India), Mysore Local Centre, J.L.B.Road, Mysore-570005

Sponsors:

The Institution of Engineers (India), Mysore Local Centre, Mysore

Mysore Grahakara Parishat, Mysore

Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad

            Media have been reporting that genetically engineered (GE) Brinjal (Bt-Brinjal) is to be the first human food item to be introduced into the market in India, following field trials. This has raised discussions regarding aspects of its necessity and safety, and the issue of  enabling the consumer to exercise the right not to buy the GE product. The effect on the farming community who may choose to grow GE-Brinjal and other GE crops, as well as on farmers who do not so choose is also being discussed; there are many who argue against introduction of GE products especially in food.

            It is well known that several countries, especially in Europe, are not allowing GE crops and products into their countries for reasons of safety and genetic contamination, even in the face of possible trade sanctions. This raises doubts as to the desirability and safety of GE products.

            There are fears and anxieties about cultivation and consumption of GE crops and products among a wide cross section of people, both urban and rural. At the same time, the biotechnology industry and promoters of GE crops and products as well as government regulatory agencies are issuing assurances about the safety, even the desirability, of introduction of GE-Brinjal and many other food and non-food crops that are currently undergoing field trials all over India, claiming that GE is necessary for food security. In the meanwhile, GE products are entering the food chain.

            In order to help the public to get a perspective on the issue, the One-Day Conference will provide a platform for the biotechnology industry to state its case, and experts from the field to place their scientific arguments regarding the facts about GE in general and its effects on biodiversity, the environment, and human health and safety aspects.

            The Conference will be arranged in three Technical Sessions, each Session with two speakers, one from the biotechnology industry or promoters of GE, and one from an expert opposing GE, with time for audience participation in each Session.

           

PROGRAM

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Coffee 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Inaugural Session    11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

KEY NOTE ADDRESS: Dr.Michel Pimbert; Director, International Institute for Environment & Development, U.K.; Formerly Principal Entomologist, ICRISAT

Technical Session-1 12:00 Noon – 1:15 PM

BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY – Technical, legal and regulatory issues

Speaker 1: Dr.T.M.Manjunath, ConsultantAgri-Biotechnology & Integrated Pest Management, Bangalore

Speaker 2: Ms.Aruna Rodrigues, Lead Petitioner in PIL against GM Foods in Supreme Court of India, Sunray Harvesters, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh

Lunch Break 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Technical Session-2 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM

FARMING – Problems and perspectives

Speaker 1: Dr.C.Aswath, Head, Biotechnology Division, IIHR, Bangalore

Speaker 2: Dr.P.V.Satheesh, Food & Farming Activist

Technical Session-3 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

FOOD & THE CONSUMER – Health, safety and ethical issues

Speaker 1: Dr.H.S.Shekar Shetty, Professor Emeritus, Dept of Biotechnology, University of Mysore, and Principal Investigator ICAR

Speaker 2: Dr.V.S.Vijayan, Chairman, Kerala Biodiversity Board

Concluding Session 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

            Speaker 1: Mr.H.L.Satheesh

            Speaker 2: Mr.U.N.Ravikumar

Tea 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Is MUDA Aiding Illegal Land Use Change?

Whenever a person wants to change the land use of his site (from residential to commercial, from agricultural to residential, etc.), he has to obtain permission from MUDA. According to law, MUDA places an advertisement in the papers regarding the land use change and calls for objections. The proposal and the objections are then placed before a MUDA meeting and the recommendation of the meeting are sent to the state government for approval.

Most of these land use conversions are against the law, against orders of various courts and against public interest even though they comply with the above formalities. But now, even these formalities are being ignored. Here are two examples.

Two MUDA advertisements appearing on p.8 of Andolana of 1-9-09 state that they are corrections to two earlier MUDA land use change advertisements which appeared in Andolana on 6-6-09 and that "from agricultural zone to residential zone" which appeared in the earlier advertisements should be read as "from transport zone to residential zone".

There are several question marks about these advertisements.

1. Why did MUDA make such a fundamental mistake in the first ads?

2. Why do the ads of 1-9-09 not call for public objections as is usual for all land use changes?

3. The ads on 1-9-09 carry only the corrections and not any other details. Since they appeared three months after the original ads, should MUDA not issue the complete corrected ad and again ask for objections from the public?

4. There are six land use change advertisements in the 6-6-09 issue of Andolana and none of them have the same numbers as the corrected ads. Therefore, to which two ads do the corrections apply?

5. In light of issues 1 - 4 above, does it not appear that MUDA has deliberately conducted this charade to avoid public objections?

6. According to Sec. 14(a)(1) of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961, land use change can be effected ONLY WHEN SUCH CHANGES ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. The Supreme Court in Bangalore Medical Trust vs. B.S. Muddappa case (AIR 1991 Supreme Court 1902) has clearly stated that converting to what is beneficial to many (such as CA site) to what is beneficial to one person (such as residential or commercial site) is against public interest and hence should not be permitted. Why then is MUDA advertising an illegal land use change from Transport (CA) to Residential?

7. Are not CA sites under the control of MUDA? Why then are these sites in possession of private parties?

8. As the city expands, it needs more and more space for suburban bus stands, private bus stands, metro stations, ELRTS stations, etc. Such spaces have been provided for in the Comprehensive Development Plan for the city. But due to short-sightedness of MUDA, the city is losing them one by one. In 2001, MUDA changed the land use of 6 acres reserved for transport purposes on Bannur Road and allotted the land to a private developer, despite strenuous objections from the public. Now it is the turn of two more sites earmarked for transport. It is sad that MUDA is selling off the future of Mysore because of its short-sightedness. If this trend continues, twenty years from now, we will be having several reenactments of the JK grounds bus-stand controversy which is raging now, controversies which could have been easily avoided with a little more vision from MUDA.

 

Maj.Gen. (Rtd.) S.G. Vombatkere, President, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Will The RTO Please Clarify?

The RTO of Mysore has recently issued a press release (duly reported in many newspapers) stating that according to a government order, all vehicles must display both English and Kannada licence plates.

But this contradicts the clarification the RTO had given to us on 27-2-2009. In response to an MGP letter to the Government of Karnataka, the RTO had then stated that according to Government Notification dated 12-9-1995, " ... if the vehicle owner wishes, he/she may have an additional number plate bearing the registration number in Kannada". The clarification also stated "if Kannada is used in licence plates, it will make for effective implementation of Kannada language". So dispalying Kannada licence plates was not compulsory but left to the choice of the vehicle owner.

Since the clarification issued by the RTO in February and the recent press release of the RTO are contardictory, we talked to the Department of Transport, Government of Karnataka (080 2235 2434) this afternoon and we were told that Kannada licence plates are only optional and not compulsory.

Will the RTO please clarify to the public whether Kannada licence plates are compulsory and if so give the details of the government notification which makes it compulsory?

The RTO press release poses some other problems. According to it, motor cycles should have English licence plates on the front left, Kannada licence plates on the front right and English licence plates in the back. Three-wheelers and four-wheelers must have English licence plates on the front left, Kannada licence plates on the front right, English licence plates in the back left (or centre) and Kannada licence plates on the back right. Which vehicle has provision for so many licence plates? We are only glad that there are no restrictions on the sides, the top and the bottom of the vehicles!

B.Vaikunth Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Workshop on Consumer Awareness and Employability Skills

(Prof.S.K. Ananda Thirtha introducing the speakers C.V. Nagaraj (2nd from left) and Vasanthkumar Mysoremath (3rd from left) of MGP at a recent Workshop on Consumer Awareness and Employability Skills Development at Vidyavardhaka Sangha. Others in the picture are Shri Subramanyam, faculty member and Shri Boregowda, NSS Officer.)
 

 

Vidyavardhaka Sangha group of institutions organized a special interactive workshop on 16-10-09 on Consumerism and Employability Skills Development for the benefit of about 100 NSS volunteers and ITI Trainees on its campus. Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) members. C.V. Nagaraj, Retired Chief Chemist and Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, IAAD (Retd) were the resource persons for the workshop.

Nagaraj spoke about how unscrupulous merchants are playing with the lives of consumers through a variety of adulterations all for the sake of a few extra rupees. He stressed the need for awareness of the rights of consumers and especially the special role of NSS volunteers in creating that awareness in our society. He lamented that consumers are assuming that they are being served the right commodities and at the right price whereas, in reality it was not so. Under his guidance, the students themselves conducted simple experiments on various methods adopted by the merchants for adulteration..

Mysoremath spoke about how to develop self confidence, face interviews, be a good leader, and express oneself in public with the right body language.

Students participated enthusiastically in the interactive sessions with the two speakers. Prof.S.K.Ananda Thirtha introduced the speakers and NSS Officer Shri Boregowda and faculty member Shri Subramanyam were present.

Such programmes can be arrangeed by calling MGP office at 2515150.

Dereliction of Duty by MCC

According to Sec. 2(1-A) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, phone towers are buildings and since they are used for commercial purpose, they are commercial buildings. So they can not be built on residential sites.

In a circular (No. UDD 17 Aa Pra Sa 2001) issued on 12-11-2001, the Karnataka Government has clearly reiterated this point. It says that establishment of a mobile tower is a commercial activity and that it is subject to the provisions of zonal regulations of the approved Comprehensive Development Plan for the city. It also specifically instructs all local bodies not to permit any captive power generator set on the rooftop of any building.

But there are dozens of mobile towers erected on residential sites in Mysore and MCC is blind to these law violations. Many mobile towers erected on residential/commercial buildings also have generator sets installed on rooftops. MCC is again blind to these violations.

 

C.V. Nagaraja, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Consumer Awareness Workshop

(Students at JSS First Grade College conducting experiments to identify food adulteration under the guidance of C.V. Nagaraj and Vasanthkumar Mysoremath of MGP.)

 

Mysore Grahakara Parishat conducted a consumer awareness workshop for final year B.Sc., B.Com, B.A. and B.B.M. students at JSS First Grade College, Nanjanagudu recently. C.V. Nagaraj (formerly Senior Chemist, Regional Agmark Laboratory, Bangalore) demonstrated simple tests to detect adulteration in various food items. He also spoke about the harmful effects of various types of adulteration and on the laws that exist in India against food adulteration. Vasanthkumar Mysoremath spoke about the importance of consumer movement and gave a demonstration of how one can save electricity by utilizing sunlight. The workshop was presided over by the Prof.S.Rathnashekar, Principal, JSS First Grade college. Prof.C.A.Basavaraju, Vice Principal and Shri H.G.Natarajan, Principal, PU College, were present.

It is learnt that His Holiness Sri Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Mutt has instructed that such programmes should be held at all JSS institutions.

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Need To Move Away From Big Dams

Recent floods in the Krishna basin have left hundreds of people dead and lakhs homeless. Countless livestock have been destroyed and the total monetary loss ran into thousands of crores of rupees. As a hydrogeologist with 4 decades of experience, these are my observations on this disaster.

1. There are several major dams across the Krishna river and its tributaries and these dams were supposed to prevent such disasters. So the dams have failed in one of their primary purposes. Not just that, it now appears that these dams themselves were a major cause of this great tragedy.

2. The backwater of these dams has submerged some of the richest black soils in the country and rendered them worthless.

3. This soil is silting up the dams and is continuously reducing their designed water holding capacity. This capacity has already gone down by as much as 30%.

4. The land which is intended to be cultivated with the water stored in these dams is mostly barren rocky land with poor soil cover. Even if this land is supplied with plenty of water, there is little scope for highly productive cultivation. The increase in agricultural output due to the dams may not be even enough to cover the interest charged on the huge loans taken from international organizations to finance these dams.

5. It is quite likely that the enormous additional pressure exerted by the water reservoirs on the basaltic rock bed of the river valley has been responsible for a large number of earthquakes in and around Koyna (Maharashtra). Additional reservoirs may cause bigger earthquakes in times to come.

6. The loss of fertile lands and the submergence of hundreds of villages and towns by the dams and inadequate compensation has made the rehabilitation of the countless displaced people a major continuing humanitarian problem.

In light of these major problems posed by big dams, it is time we start looking at effective alternatives to big dams in managing river waters. Building a system of small and medium barrages across the rivers in the valley and canals to carry the waters stored in the barrages seems a much superior scheme. In the ghat section in which Krishna and its tributaries originate, they have cut deep ravines in the hill areas and deep gullies in the plains with banks 8-10 m high on either side. These natural structures can be put to optimum use by constructing a series of barrages starting from the source all the way to the plains with an accompanying canal system. The advantages of this system are:

1. There would not be any overflow of water over the banks.

2. The fertile lands on either side of the rivers would remain intact and available for intensive agriculture.

3. The usage of water would be optimum.

4. There is no need for resettlement of people and the consequent heartburn, corruption and huge expenditure.

5. Since each barrage weakens the force of flood water, damage to life and property will be minimized even in the case of intense rainfall.

6. The cost of each barrage will not exceed a crore of rupees and could be as small as a few lakhs of rupees. The total expenditure for a series of barrages will be much less than the cost of a major dam and would eliminate the need for foreign assistance and loans. The construction time for barrages is also very short and so benefits start accruing within a few months.

7. Since the irrigation is seasonal, soil quality and fertility are not damaged.

8. Since submergence by the backwater is kept to a minimum, soil erosion and loss of water storage due to silting are very small.

9. Since the water is stored in several reservoirs, the pressure on the river bed is distributed and so the barrages will not cause an increased incidence of earthquakes.

10. The canal network from this series of barrages will be spread over the entire river basin and will immensely help the building up of ground water which, if used in conjunction with the surface water, will greatly enhance the area and scope of irrigation. Since ground water is being recharged continuously, there will be no shortage of drinking water in the entire river basin.

11. The water distribution is more equitable.

So it is clear that the construction of many barrages is preferable to the construction of a big dam in more than one way. The arguments given above for the Krishna river basin apply by and large to other river basins also. Recently published studies of the Bhakra Nangal dam have shown that the return on the investment in the dam is far below what was claimed. So it is high time we come out of the straightjacket of major dam construction and consider alternative approaches to irrigation which may be more effective.

V. Mahesh, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

JNNURM- IS THERE DANGER AHEAD FOR MYSORE?

In the euphoria over hundreds of crores of rupees flowing into Mysore for JNNURM works, most people have forgotten that Mysore City Corporation has to foot a hefty bill, with no indications till now as to how MCC will meet this challenge. JNNURM is clearly no free lunch.

The City Development Plan prepared by MCC as a prerequisite for obtaining JNNURM projects shows how much MCC will spend over 25 years 2007-2031 towards developing infrastructure in Mysore. During 2007-12, the average yearly expenditure is Rs. 328 crores of which MCC provides Rs.53 crores and the rest comes from central and state grants. The average yearly expenditure for the remaining period 20013-2031 is Rs. 547 crores and MCC has to pay this amount all by itself.

It is not at all clear how MCC can raise Rs. 53 crores per year during 2007-12 and Rs. 547 crores per year during 2013-2031 towards JNNURM works. As it is, MCC has been defaulting in repaying the ADB loan taken a few years ago for the same purpose of infrastructure improvement. As a result of non-payment, the Rs. 130 crore loan has now ballooned to more than Rs. 300 crores. Strangely, MCC remains silent about this fast-growing liability and makes no allocation in its budget towards clearing this loan.

From a cursory glance at MCC's budgets for the last few years, it is clear that MCC can not generate the revenues needed to meet its Rs. 53 crore annual liability for the JNNURM works for the period 2007-12, let alone the Rs. 547 crore annual liability for the years 2013-31. It will be forced to take loans from outside sources for this money. But if MCC has not been able to repay its old (ADB) loan, who will come forward to give a fresh loan? In case some bank comes forward, will it not impose stiff conditions? Will it not ask for a collateral? Will our city be pawned off to pay JNNURM works? Does anyone have answers to these questions?

Another cause for deep worry for all Mysoreans is that these huge expenditures may not produce any lasting benefit for Mysore. In the ADB works, despite the many checks and balances instituted to insure that money was spent properly and the quality of work was high, the works were to a large extent shoddy providing very little benefit. In JNNURM works, these checks and balances are not evident and so the prognosis on the quality of work is not hopeful. Caving in of the road near Ballal Circle and questions raised about the new bus stand are some early indications.

Maj.Gen. (Retd.) S.G.Vombatkere, President, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

MGP CONDUCTS CONSUMER AWARENESS PROGRAMMES

Mysore Grahakara Parishat conducted two lecture-demonstrations on food adulteration detection at Kushalnagar on 16-9-09. The first programme was for the general public of Kushalnagar and the second one was for the members of eight Rotary clubs of Zone 6. C.V. Nagaraj (formerly Senior Chemist, Regional Agmark Laboratory, Bangalore) demonstrated simple tests to detect adulteration in various food items. He also spoke about the harmful effects of various types of adulteration and on the laws that exist in India against food adulteration. V.Mahesh, a hydrogeologist with more than 36 years experience, spoke about various aspects of ground water

C.V. Nagaraj and Meghashree, a high school student, gave the food adulteration detection lecture-demo at CONTECH-09 held on 20-22, September at NIE (See Photo in Attachment).

V. Mahesh, Mysore Grahakara Parishat