When the Congress led UPA Government received a winning mandate in this year's Palrliamentary election, Dr Manmohan Singh was quick to remark that 'the election result was a verdict for inclusive growth'. "It is a verdict for equitable development," he had added. The term inclusive growth has suddenly acquired
great importance for our country in the last 10 years or so.
In fact, the Government has been using it like some kind of magic mantra. Almost all of Dr Singh's ministers have been emphasising on it. When I spoke to Mr Kamal Nath about highway development, even he couldn't resist refereing to it. Yesterday, while delivering the World Habitat Day Address, the Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation & Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has said 'only an Inclusive city can be a sustainable city'. "We have to work towards an urban India where we would have addressed the developmental disparities in a comprehensive and holistic manner," she added.
The Commerce minister too acknowledged this while speaking at the National Seminar on Industrial Productivity for 'Inclusive Growth'. He said that the Government has followed an inclusive model of economic growth to ensure that the benefits of growth percolate down to the poorest of the poor.
One appreciates that there is a clear shift of focus from mere growth figures to betterment in the lives of the masses. In the context of infrastructure development, this assumes a significant dimension because infrastructure by definition implies a social structure that includes all sections of the society. A road, for example, does not belong to any particular class of the society; all can use it. (Paying a tax or toll is the democratic price of keeping it in running condition.) Inclusive Growth in terms of infrastructure development for Construction Week India (and me personally) means positive augmentation...
1 Comment
Labels:Niranjan Mudholkar
A land plot being dug for a construction project in Mumbai. Land acquistion issues are known to have direct and long-term impact on real estate prices
If you are to list the key challenges faced by the infrastructure industry, you will have land acquisition listed amongst the top five. Several infrastructure (and industrial) projects have been delayed, cancelled or shifted due to the land acquisition issue. I don't want to get in the details of these projects. Many are well known, whether it is the Narmada project in Gujarat, the Nano project in West Bengal or the recent Reliance SEZ project in Maharashtra.
In this light, it is important to note that the Government is likely to introduce the new land acquisition Bill in the forthcoming season of Parliament. The objective is to comprehensively tackle issues related to land acquisition for industrial purpose by ammending the Land Acquisition Act,1894* through the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (NRRP) 2007. If implemented the provision bill will allow private developers to acquire 70% of land for a proposed industrial project directly from farmers and land owners. The state government will have to acquire the remaining 30%.
The major hurdle that the ammendment will face will be from a key partner in the UPA government - Ms Mamata Banerjee, Union Minister of Railways. (The Ministry of Railways has recently taken a decision that there shall not be any forceful acquisition of land for the railway projects. The Ministry is currently reviewing its Land Acquisition policy to ensure that forceful acquisition of land, including agriculture land, is completely avoided. The aim is to facilitate transaction/purchase/acquisition of land directly from the land owner with complete transparency.
As a fair and conscientious media platform that caters to the interests of the infrastructure industry, Construction Week India completely supports any move that facilitates land acquisition by just and transparent means. However, we are aware that things are not as simple as they sound. The bottomline for us is that all developmental...
more...
1 Comment
Labels:Public Purpose
I have been attending the Green Building Congress (GBC) since 2006 (Bangalore). It wouldn't be wrong to say that GBC truly initiated me into the Green Building movement. Not that I wasn't aware of this movement prior to that. However, attending the GBC gave a better perspective about the concept as well as the industry's progress in this field.
The next two events - 2007 in Chennai & 2008 in Mumbai - were equally exciting. The key message that all these editions have brought out is that going green is not only our responsibility today but it also makes great business sense.
The event is getting bigger and better every year and the Hyderabad event was testimony to this. The Hyderabad event was particularly special for me since Construction Week India was an official media partner along with our sister publication (Architect & Interiors India). While I was there for just two days, our stall
received very heartening response from the visitors. The conference & presentation sessions that I attended were quite stimulating.
The overall visitor and exhibitor profile too was interesting. Persoanlly, it was a very enriching experience as I met a lot of industry professionals who are contributing immensely in making India's buildings green. Key amongst these were Dr Prem Jain - chairman of IGBC & CMD Spectral, Architects Karan Grover & James Law, AK Joshi - COO & Executive VP Voltas, Lindsey Parnell - CEO and President of InterfaceFlor (Europe, ME, Africa & India), Mike Leney - VP of InterfaceFlor's global services, Gurmit Singh - chairman IPA Mumbai & MD Rajco, Zafer Ansari - VP Dow Chemical, Varun Pahwa - Executive VP DRI and Louise McGrath - National Business Development Manager from the Australian Industry Group. Sorry if I missed out on somebody.
1 Comment
Labels:Niranjan Mudholkar
Silver lining
Posted by: Niranjan Mudholkar
One of the biggest problems faced by our industry and by many other industries in India is the scarcity of skilled workers. When I was in Delhi recently, I had the opportunity to meet senior officials at the Construction Federation of India and the Construction Industry Development Council. Both the officials that I met emphasised the importance of training and skill development for the industry.
In this light, I think it is important to mention that India recently won a Silver medal at the 40th World Skills Competition held at Calgary, Canada. India’s N Priyadarshan of Coimbatore won the Medal jointly with Japan in the Mould making category. Korea won the Gold medal in this event.
The World Skills Competition, popularly known as World Skills Olympics, has 900 competitors from 51 countries participating in 45 skills this time. The event is held every two years. The various skill categories include manufacturing mechatronics, polymechanics automation, Mechanical engineering Design-CAD, CNC turning, CNC Milling, Mould making, Information technology software applications, welding, plumbing, electronics, industrial control, robotics, carpentry and even jewelry, floristry, hair dressing, beauty therapy, confectionary, landscape, gardening, restaurant service and caring, etc.
India became member of the World Skills International, a body consisting of 51 countries, in 2007. We participated in 39th world skills competition for the first time in 2007 in Shizuka, Japan with 5 participants. The 41st World skills Competition will be held in London in 2011.
This year, India sent a team of only two – Mould making and Information Technology software applications. While it is a fact that India has a much bigger talent pool, it is important to note that the demand exceeds the supply overwhelmingly.
Be the first to comment
Labels:construction industry in India
plumbing
Slum area in Mumbai's Juhu suburbs
According to a Human Development Report by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mumbai has lived up to its pseudonym Slumbai. The report has confirmed that the city is home to India's maximum number of slum dwellers.
More than half (54.1%) the population of the country's financial capital dwells in slums. Percentages for other key metros are nowhere close to Mumbai. Kolkata has 11.72%, Chennai has 25.60%, while the National Capital has 18.9% of its population living in slums. It is worth noting that in 2006-07, the Mumbai had a per capita income of Rs 65,361, which more than double of India’s average per capita income of Rs 29,382.
By the way, the report is based on the 2001 Census. Many of you may remember that the present Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra has recently decided to legalise all slums that have come up till early 2000. Just for the record, previously the slums till 1985 were regularised, followed by 1995.
Mumbai - the Capital of Maharashtra - is home to Dharavi, one of the biggest slum areas in the world. Incidentally, Dharavi used to be Asia's largest slum but not anymore. The Report has given this dubious honour to a Pakistani township called Orangi in Karachi.
2 Comments
Labels:Niranjan Mudholkar
Capital of Maharashtra
Came across this really interesting forward today. Thought I should share it with you.
'It is the month of August, on the shores of the Black Sea. It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted. These are tough times; everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit. Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town. He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to choose one.
The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.The butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower. The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel. The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town's sex worker that in these hard times, gave her services on credit. The sex worker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there.The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.
The tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.....
And that, ladies & gentlemen, is how the United States is doing business today.'
Be the first to comment
Labels:American economy
Core issues
Posted by: Niranjan Mudholkar
Core issues are deep rooted. They will need hard digging with concerted efforts.
While I was in Delhi for the exclusive interview with Mr Kamal Nath, I also dropped in at the office of the Construction Federation of India (CFI). I always do that whenever I am in Delhi. The past secretary general Mr SC Mehta is a wonderful man. Very learned and very insightful. He is still associated with CFI but in
an advisory role. The current secretray general Mr Siddharth Singh brings an equally no-nonsense approach to his office.
Having worked in the corridors of power, Mr Singh very well understands how bureacracy works and in just three months has put in a lot of efforts to understand the core issues of the construction industry in India. These issues - and I agree with him wholeheartedly - include Training, Contract Management, Finance, Taxation and Arbitration. Like I promised him, I would also like to assure the industry through this platform that Construction Week India will make every possible effort to highlight these core issues so that these are known, understood and comprehensively addressed by the people who can bring the change.
Be the first to comment
Labels:Niranjan Mudholkar
It's about going forward, the Minister tells me.
Met Mr Kamal Nath, the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways at his office in New Delhi yesterday evening. Was really impressed by the energy and opitimism of this man. He has ambitious plans for the development of the road infrastructure in the country. And he is not unaware of the challenges. Rather he
is continously looking to address these challenges.
When it comes to politicians, we have a typical image of them and it isn't a very good one. Mr Nath came as a pleasant surprise. Read this exclusive interview in the September issue. As I was telling someone from the PIB, what makes this interview special is the fact that B2B media makes such headway very rarely.
By the way, I wasn't very impressed by the security at the Minister's office at the Transport Bhavan. Could have been better. Should have mentioned it to the minister.
Be the first to comment
Labels:Kamal Nath
Niranjan Mudholkar
Developers???
Posted by: Niranjan Mudholkar
The excessive and uncontrolled growth within the city is driving the unplanned growth on its fringes. Lack of proper infrastructure hurts both!
One of the biggest drawbacks of the real estate industry in India is that it is extremely fragmented in nature. While one must acknowledge that things are changing - thanks to the efforts of the organised players, there's still a long way to go. Yesterday evening, I was in the remote part of Mumbai's suburb called Mira Road.
This location - situated on the other side of the Western Express Highway and on the fringes of the National Park - has several residential buildings coming up in and around it. It seems to be going through somekind of boom time with several new projects coming up. Most projects have a sign board proclaming the name of the builder. What hurts is the fact that most of them call themselves 'developers'. Why it hurts is because these areas do not have any proper infrastructure - whether roads, water and electricity supply, sewage systems, public transport, hospitals, schools, organised retail outlets, etc.
And these 'developers' are least bothered about providing any. They are well aware that they cater to the requitrements of those who cannot afford to buy a house anywhere near the proper city locations. But the demand is so extreme, these buyers are forced to ignore the lack of infrastructure and buy a house here no matter what.
Be the first to comment
Labels:Niranjan Mudholkar
roads
The Urban Divide is a challenge but it is also an opportunity.
Mumbai's water supply system passing through a slum area
Site Map
