There is clearly a direct trade-off between exploitation of natural resources and conservation of environment and human habitat . In the past, due to lower environment consciousness, the trade-off was always decided in favour of exploitation. This is deplorable. Yet, environmental fundamentalism can also exact a high cost that will prevent a number of people to remain without access to basic necessities of life. This apparently intractable trade-off has to be resolved....

NIIRA RADIA, the lobbyist at the heart of India’s audacious multi-billion telecom swindle, inaugurated a Krishna temple she funded in south Delhi on her birthday — that, interestingly, coincides with Indira Gandhi’s. Those present on the occasion said Radia prayed for long, presumably seeking divine intervention to wriggle out of the country’s biggest scandal. Before the temple visit, notices from the country’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax (IT) Department and the...

Tata group chief Ratan Tata today approached the Supreme Court seeking action against those involved in the leakage of tapes containing his conversation with corporate lobbyist Nira Radia. Tata, in the petition, has contended that the leakage of the tapes have infringed upon his fundamental Right to Life, which includes right to privacy. Tata has made the central government a party in his petition. Some of the conversation between Tata and Radia, whose...

Advocates of liberalisation argue that by reducing state intervention and increasing transparency economic reform reduces corruption. Recent allegations of corruption suggest that this may not be true. In a season for scandal, allegations of large scale corruption have captured political India's attention. The instances to which such allegations relate are many, varying from the sale of 2G spectrum and the mobilisation and/or disposal of land and mining resources to purchases made...

Each of the 18 samples of concrete cubes from the Shivaji Stadium site failed the test for required strength. The sample strength was 60%-85% less than the expected standard, raising questions on structural safety. * The tendered cost for Naraina flyover was 48% higher than the estimated cost. While cost overruns were double in the case of the road underbridge at Sewa Nagar. * Targets were revised, penalties waived for the contractor...