murali772's blog

Stake-less stake-holders

2 July 2008 - 7:30am — murali772

One significant drop out from the list of 'stake-holders', compared to the BATF days is Bangalore Telephones.

Shrine entrepreneurship

28 June 2008 - 8:00pm — murali772

If any one can do anything about this menace, it is the BJP government.

Privatisation of Lakes:

20 June 2008 - 4:45pm — murali772

The 'Hasiru Usiru', along with a few other organisations, is organising a human chain to "Protect Our Lakes for Posterity" on Sunday, the 22nd June, at Agara lake, Koramangala.

Even with my not being against the Hebbal lake 'maintenance arrangement'(with the Oberoi's), I have signed their online petition, because I am dead against the Nagavara and Agara deals.

The right of the pedestrian to use the pavements unhindered is sacrosanct which has been repeatedly echoed even by the highest court of the land. But lower courts grant stay orders whenever attempts are made (though half heartedly) to remove the footpath hawkers. These stay orders go unchallenged effectively.

Harnessing the Desert Sun

14 June 2008 - 4:24pm — murali772

A tiny fraction of the sun's energy that shines upon the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East could meet all of Europe 's electricity demands. The technology to harness the energy already exists.

Likewise, entire Karnataka's energy needs can be met by a similar plant at Gulbarga or Raichur, or one in Rajasthan through a consortium involving other states.

Auto's - good, bad, or ugly?

14 June 2008 - 11:20am — murali772

Auto's, by virtue of their easy maneuverability, are easily the biggest menace on the city roads, and the cause of all the chaos on them. Their de-merits as a public transport vehicle far out-weigh their merits.

Mail exchanges (between 10th June and today) in a Yahoogroup.

Finland's pride - our future model?

12 June 2008 - 12:42pm — murali772

The Finnish parliament voted to build OL3 (Nuclear plant) in 2002, in a decision seen as revolutionary in a Europe that had built no new nuclear plants since the 1986 Chernobyl accident and where opposition to nuclear power has traditionally been fierce.

Post-chauvinist trends?

9 June 2008 - 11:51am — murali772

Few things in my cricket-watching experience have been as enthralling as the same Eden Gardens crowd, 100,000 strong, roaring in support as Shoaib Akhtar came steaming in on his debut for Kolkata against Delhi. The sight of a Pakistani fast bowler being cheered by an Indian crowd as he demolished the likes of Sehwag and Gambhir - - -

Private colleges

7 June 2008 - 7:22pm — murali772

The latest 'India Today' ranking of the top engg colleges in the country places Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) at no 10, the highest amongst all the private engg colleges, and higher than quite a few NITs. Amongst the Bangalore city colleges, only M S Ramaiah College of Engg figures in the list at no 21.

Education's loss is call centres' gain

6 June 2008 - 4:00pm — murali772

Being an MBA graduate with a PhD, Ravichandran who handles classes for MBA students at Madurai Kamaraj University in Tamil Nadu, says he earns Rs 40,000 per month after 20 years of experience. "But my student who did an MBA course last year, already earns about Rs 10,000 more than me", he says. He said only 5 per cent graduates from these streams opt for teaching.

Bus services - a different approach

1 June 2008 - 10:07pm — murali772

"Vayu Vajra I am told is very convenient - for 150 rupees - starts from Aishwarya stores - supposed to be at every half an hour - but that's not the case. I was told today morning that they have one at 3.40pm but when I reached I realised it got cancelled and the next one was only at 6.40 PM.

Luckily, they had this cheaper alternative called 'Suvarna' for 80 rupees at 3.50 PM and I am now on my way!! The driver fellow has promised to reach in 90 minutes - but I doubt it; since he is stopping at every stop shouting airport airport airport airport..... ."

Imperatives of privatisation of power distribution

28 May 2008 - 1:41pm — murali772

The World Customers' Day was observed by BESCOM in its usual ritualistic style on Saturday, the 15th March by holding a workshop on 'Customer Care', in association with Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Swabhimana, Consumer Advocacy, and Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). Of the audience of a 100 odd people, only some 30 were members of Civil Society groups (RWA's, etc), the rest comprising mostly of BESCOM officials. Seeing this, the chief guest, Dr Samuel Paul, Chairman, PAC, remarked that the poor turn out was perhaps an indication of the high level of satisfaction with BESCOM services.

organised retail

28 May 2008 - 11:58am — murali772

The ICRIER survey on the question of 'entry of organised sector into retail' has found that producers and consumers also gain considerably. It further noted that all income groups saved on costs through organised retail purchases, but lower income groups saved much more.

Precarious supply-side scenario

22 May 2008 - 8:00pm — murali772

With the oil and gas prices having risen to exorbitant levels, and thermal power generation posing serious challenges with regard to issues like carbon emission, technologies which were earlier considered uneconomical, are beginning to be re-visited. One such possibilty is discussed here. India is perhaps better placed to take it forward faster.

UP state - Road to prosperity

14 May 2008 - 4:03pm — murali772

Road to Prosperity - UP offers investment opportunities in Transport Sector.

That's the caption to the half page ad by the Transport Commissioner, UP, in today's leading newspapers (page 15, TOI).

Salient points (as appearing in the ad), and my comments are as below:

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