India, Canada keen to step up ties in energy sector

India and Canada have identified energy cooperation, particularly exports of Canadian oil and natural gas as well as renewable energy cooperation, as an area with enormous potential, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday.

Addressing the media after a meeting with the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Singh said a ministerial-level energy dialogue will supplement the strategic dialogue and promote specific projects.

“We also welcomed the recent progress made towards concluding the modalities for the effective operationalisation of the agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation that we had signed in 2010,” the Prime Minister said.

Singh added that the memorandum of understanding signed between DRDO and York University was a “welcome foray into bilateral defence technology cooperation.”

Stating that India-Canada economic cooperation was below its potential, the Prime Minister said that the establishment of a bilateral CEOs forum and the commitment to a structured dialogue between the commerce ministers of the two countries, will help trade and economic interaction.

“We resolved to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement within the next year,” Singh said.

The two leaders also decided to take forward and strengthen the bilateral dialogue in the energy sector by elevating the discussions to the ministerial level, which will be led by the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, on the Indian side and the Minister of Natural Resources on the Canadian side, and to explore the possibility of a memorandum of understanding in the field of oil and gas.

The two Prime Ministers endorsed the decision to start a financial sector policy dialogue to facilitate mutual understanding of developments in the financial sectors of the two countries and to discuss and coordinate positions on developments in the global fora.

Geospatial technologies recommended for sustainable agriculture

With the help of geospatial technology, it is possible to generate and update information about natural resources, in spatial format, at much more frequent intervals, so enabling proper inventory and management of natural resources, said P. Subbian, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

Inaugurating a 21-day summer training on “Geospatial Technologies and Applications” at TNAU, he said the Indian geospatial industry’s current annual productive capacity was nearly Rs. 4,000 crore. “The industry is expected to annually grow at a cumulative growth of eight per cent to a productive capacity of Rs. 5,820 crore by 2014. Geospatial technology includes three components, viz., Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS),” he said.

The scope for applying geospatial technologies was enormous in Indian agriculture, especially in areas of watershed management, crop acreage and yield estimation, drought monitoring, pest and disease monitoring, soil resource mapping and command area management, which would help enhance sustainable agriculture, he added. “It is found that the use of GIS and GPS for precision farming, especially for fertilizer application, reduced total fertilizer expenditure by up to 10 per cent a year, besides enhancing yield by 15 per cent, has been profitable,” Mr. Subbian said.

Natural gas prices dip up to 20 per cent on supply glut

 Natural gas prices have dropped by up to 20 per cent in the spot market, bringing relief to Indian refiners, power and fertiliser producers, which are now dependent on imports for most of their requirement.

Industry experts say prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been on a slide for the past four months because of increased supplies from some producers like Australia and Nigeria, and sluggish demand from major consumers like the US and Japan.

"LNG prices have come down considerably in the past quarter," said DM Desai, chief executive at Ahmedabad-based consulting firm Ethical Energy-Petrochem Strategies. "It is because of softening oil prices while the demand from the major gas consuming nations like Japan and US has remained stable."

Gail, the country's largest state-owned gas processing and distribution company, recently booked an LNG cargo at $13.50 per million metric British thermal units (mmBtu), against $17 per mmBtu it paid for the previous cargo. Similarly, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, the country's largest LNG trader, booked a cargo for delivery in October at $12 per mmbtu compared to $16 it paid for a cargo in June.

LNG accounts for close to a fourth of India's total natural gas consumption. The country imported close to 55 mmscmd of LNG in 2011-12. Experts say the drop in natural gas prices has come as a relief for Indian consumers, who have been paying more for the gas because of depleting production at home and a depreciating rupee. The price of compressed natural gas recently touched an all-time high of Rs 53 per kg in Gujarat, which accounts for a third of the country's total natural gas consumption. In Delhi and neighbouring cities, CNG prices have increased 25 per cent in just one year. While CNG now costs Rs 38.35 per kg in Delhi, it is priced at Rs 43.10 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.

With supplies dwindling from Reliance Industries' KG-D6 basin on the east coast, most of the country's big oil refiners have become increasingly dependent on imported gas. RIL and Essar are now banking on spot LNG cargos to feed their refineries and power plants. Falling output from D6 has also affected city gas distribution companies, which have not received gas under the administered price mechanism from D6 for almost a year now. These companies are now rejoicing at cheaper imports.

17,787 rickshaws in Pune have switched over to Compressed Natural Gas

As many as 17,787 rickshaws - 39% of the total number of rickshaws in the city - have switched over to compressed natural gas ( CNG. ) by March-end this year.  CNG.  kits have also been fitted in 4,392 light motor vehicles (cars) in the city.

According to the latest statistics available with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), around 45,000 rickshaws operate in the city, of which 17,787 run on  CNG.  while another 8,134 run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This makes for 57% of the city's rickshaws running on environment-friendly fuel.

An RTO official said, "Since the last couple of years, we have registered a significant increase in the number of applications for passing of rickshaws fitted with  CNG.  kits. As many as 13,621 rickshaws opted for CNG kits in the last two years. Of these, 7,538 vehicles made the change in 2011-12 and 6,083 in 2010-11. The RTO received more than 560 applications every month."

Baba Shinde, former member of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed the decision of rickshaw-owners to go in for  CNG. . "The government has made it mandatory for rickshaws to switch over to CNG. It is also mandatory for new rickshaws to have  CNG.  kit fitted in them. Initially, there was resistance to  CNG.  from among rickshaw-owners, but that has reduced now," he said.

Shinde, who is with the Pune City Auto Rickshaw Federation, said the municipal corporation should expedite the process of disbursing CNG subsidy among rickshaw drivers. Rickshaw man Raju Kadam said  CNG.  was a cheaper option given the current prices of petrol. "Running rickshaws on CNG helps us save money. Besides, CNG helps curb pollution," he said.

However, Nana Kshirsagar of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Sena felt that the government needed to take urgent steps to provide adequate and regular supply of CNG at refilling stations. "Rickshaw drivers have to wait in long queues at CNG stations, which affects their daily earnings," he said.

There are around 15 CNG refilling stations in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.

Separate fares for autos using CNG sought

Commuter organizations in the city have said that rickshaws running on  CNG.  should have a different fare structure from those running on petrol.

Vishwas Sahastrabuddhe of the Sajag Nagrik Manch said, "Besides a separate fare structure, rickshaws using  CNG.  should also have a dedicated colour (like green) for their hoods. This will help passengers identify  CNG. -operated rickshaws. Passengers can avoid travelling in rickshaws that still run on petrol."

Suryakant Pathak of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat said the proposal for a separate fare structure for  CNG. -run rickshaws has already been submitted to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). The benefit of using the cheaper  CNG.  should be passed on to travellers, he said.

Sapphire Gets $144 Million for New Mexico Algae-Crude Plant

Sapphire Energy Inc., which produces crude oil from algae, received $144 million from investors to build a demonstration plant in New Mexico. The plant in Luna County has received a $50 million grant from the U.S. Energy Department and a $54.4 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Agriculture Department, closely held Sapphire said today in a statement. Sapphire grows oil-containing algae that’s refined into diesel and jet fuel. The demonstration plant will be able to produce as much as 100 barrels of algae-derived crude a day by the end of 2014, according to Beth Llewelyn, a Sapphire spokeswoman.

Participants in the San Diego-based company’s Series C financing round include the private equity company Arrowpoint Partners and Monsanto Co. (MON), which agreed in March 2011 to back Sapphire as part of an effort to identify genes that stimulate algae growth. Investors in the company’s Series B financing round joined the new funding, Sapphire said, including Arch Venture Partners LP, Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment LLC, the London-based charity Wellcome Trust Ltd. and Venrock Associates, the venture capital company of the Rockefeller family.

Coal is Vedanta’s new frontier; to bid for blocks

Vedanta, the $11.4 billion non-ferrous metals conglomerate, is now venturing into coal and is looking at acquisitions of mines in Colombia and Australia.

“We are looking for mines which are already producing between two to three million tones per annum of coal and which we can buy and ramp up output to between 20-25 million tonnes per annum. We have looked at deals in Colombia and Australia though none has fructified so far,” a top Sterlite Industries official told Financial Chronicle.

Earlier on Saturday, chairman of Vedanta group Anil Agarwal said in a news conference, “We need coal in our portfolio. When the Indian government auctions coal blocks we will participate in the bids. Balco, in which we own 51 per cent has a coal block which will be developed this year as a high quality resource. We are also looking at Latin America for coal assets.”

Vedanta diversified into iron ore in 2007 by acquiring Sesa Goa from Japan’s Mitsui and into the oil and gas sector by acquiring Cairn India last year.

Bhavesh Chauhan, an analyst with Angel Broking said, “Most of the metal companies like Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Nalco, among others, are all scouting for coal mines to integrate their raw material supply and bring down costs. The metal companies are scouting for coal mines as there is huge demand for it. Also coal prices are on the higher side.”

Chauhan added that Australian mines have higher calorific value coal that is considered superior in quality. Calorific value refers to the amount of heat energy that is released by burning coal.

“Indonesia is almost over as all the mines worth buying have been taken up, so we are not looking there. We are interested in Colombia as the gross calorific value of the coal there is very high, making it a high quality output,” said the top Sterlite official. Indonesian coal tends to have a high moisture content which leads to it commanding a slightly power price. Coal in India too is generally considered to be low quality due to a high percentage of impurities.

While Tatas bought stakes in one of Indonesia’s largest coal exporters, Anil Ambani has bought some mines in Indonesia’s East Kalimantan province. Tatas had also bought stake in a mine in Mozambique while Adani, India’s largest coal trader cum importer, has bought mines in Australia.

Ownership of coal blocks by Vedanta could provide energy security to Sterlite Energy as it supplies power to group companies and sells part in the open market on a merchant power basis.

Sterlite Energy has a 2400 mw independent power plant at Jharsuguda district in Orissa that sells power to Gridco, Vedanta Aluminium and also on merchant power basis. Sterlite Energy is also developing a 1980 mw thermal power plant in Punjab, which will sell its output to Punjab State Electricity Board. According to a company presentation, Sterlite Energy is in the process of expanding its capacity to 8,600 mw.

Navin Agarwal, deputy chairman at Vedanta group said on Saturday that all fresh acquisitions would be undertaken by Sesa Sterlite (the merged entity) as it was in a very comfortable position and “had no concerns whatsoever in servicing debt at all”.

“We expect the Ebitda of Sesa Sterlite to touch between $8-19 billion in around two years time,” said Tarun Jain, group director finance at Vedanta group.

BP wants predictable price regime for natural gas in India

Oil and gas major BP Plc wants a predictable pricing regime for natural gas in India, as this is vital for developing future projects in the country, the head of its Indian unit said.

"Clarity on gas pricing is vital for the development of the "next wave" of projects, which will add production beyond 2015 but for which investment decisions need to be made now," Sashi Mukundan said at an event.

Cool planet biofuels, makes 4000 gallons per acre of biofuel

The California biofuel company Cool Planet BioFuels has announced the successful test of a pilot biorefinery that can convert an acre of the giant grass miscanthus into gasoline at the rate of 4,000 gallons per acre. You read that right – the process yields straight, drop-in quality gasoline that is chemically identical to its petroleum-based cousin.

A word about gallons per acre

According to Cool Planet, 4,000 gallons/acre means that the process generates about twelve times the yield of a corn ethanol refinery. However, the company cautions that this figure represents optimal growing conditions. In the real world, given routine growing conditions for miscanthus in appropriate regions (primarily the Midwest), Cool Planet estimates a typical yield of 3,000 gallons per acre.

Cool Planet also notes that as an added benefit, some carbon could be diverted from the refining process and used as a kind of “terra preta” to enhance crop soil. That would decrease the production of gasoline but the yield is still pretty impressive. The company claims that the process will work on switchgrass and other woody biomass, and even agricultural waste will yield about 1,000 gallons per acre.

“Kitchen stove” biorefining

Cool Planet’s biorefining process requires a relatively low energy input at every stage. That starts with growing, since Miscanthus is a hardy perennial that does not require annual planting. The biomass prep stage is low-impact because the refining process is designed for crops that can be air dried to the appropriate moisture content while still in the field. No additional treatment is needed other than grinding. As for the refining, Cool Planet describes the process temperature as comparable to a “kitchen stovetop,” and the pressure barely tops that of a portable tire inflater. All in all, the conversion process from dried biomass to gasoline takes about one hour.

Thisclose to biofuel parity with petroleum

Taking into account only the feedstock and energy input, Cool Planet estimates that its biogasoline comes in at less than 60 cents per gallon, based on current commodity prices. That’s not what you would pay at the pump, obviously, but it does indicate that

biogasoline is breathing down petroleum’s neck in terms of ahceiving price parity.

That day could be coming sooner rather than later. Cool Planet is readying a modular biorefinery design that can be planted just about anywhere that feedstock is available, and expects initial installations to begin within the next two years. After that, it’s just a matter of sitting back and watching the grass grow.

Experts reject draft water policy

Speakers gave the thumbs down to the draft National Water Policy during a seminar organised at Kisan Bhawan here on Saturday. The event was jointly organised by the Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur-Ekta) and the Internationalist Democratic Party (IDP). GS Dhillon, former chief engineer, irrigation, Punjab, said 70% of the irrigation in the state was being done by drawing groundwater through 14 lakh tube wells sunk by farmers themselves. Dhillon said the proposed policy was intended to impose an official control on the use of groundwater, adding that the installation of new tubewells would be allowed only after official permission.

The union government has circulated a draft water policy to the states and sought their views, which are to be submitted to the union water resources ministry by February 29.

Another expert, former Punjab bureaucrat Pritam Singh Kumedaan, said the Centre had already robbed Punjab of its river waters through fraudulent agreements and official diktats. The new policy would further erode Punjab’s control over river waters, which was already diluted through the Water Dispute Amendment Act, 2002, he added.

Pishore Singh Sidhupur, BKU (Sidhupur-Ekta) president, said the political leadership of Punjab had failed to protect the state’s water resources from being ‘plundered’ by neighbouring states and the Centre.

More than half of Punjab’s river waters has been taken away by the non-riparian state of Rajasthan without paying a single penny as royalty, he alleged.

Social activist Hamir Singh said the proposed policy would weaken the Indian federal set-up and lead to more centralisation of powers, reducing the states to mere municipal committees in essence.

The policy is also aimed at throwing open the waters to the control of corporates and multinational companies, he added. Kheti Virasat Mission executive director Umendra Dutt and All India Kissan Sabha leader Bhupinder Sambhar were among the others who spoke at the seminar.

Prof Manjit Singh from Panjab University, Chandigarh, suggested the formation of a People’s Water Commission to document the ‘snatching’ of water resources from states by the Centre. Experts expressed concern over the Centre’s fresh initiative to enact a new legislation for taking control of river waters and groundwater - hitherto a state subject.

WB govt to seek re-allotment of 10 coal blocks

The West Bengal government will seek re-allotment of 10 coal blocks that were offered during the Left Front regime but were not taken up by the state.

The blocks included the one earmarked for the West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL).

"We are sending a letter to Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal tomorrow seeking re-allotment of 10 coal blocks, including one earmarked for the WBPDCL, which were given to the state during the previous Left Front regime but not taken," Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters here.

The Centre had allotted 16 coal blocks in all but only six were taken by the previous government.

He said that the state government would honour all the pre-conditions required for acquiring the blocks.

Chatterjee also said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently for a national iron ore policy for equitable distribution of the mineral from bearing to non-bearing states for the development of the steel industry.

"Steel industry is affected for want of equitable distribution of iron ore from Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and partly Madhya Pradesh to the non-bearing states," the minister said.

Oil & gas producers oppose preferential allotment of gas

Ahead of the meeting of a panel of ministers on natural gas, a body of oil and gas producers such as Reliance Industries has opposed pre-allocation of the scarce fuel saying it distorts demand-supply equation and eliminates possibility of discovering free market price of gas.

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to meet tomorrow to consider changes in the natural gas allocation policy.

The panel, which is meeting for the first time in more than 18 months, is also to consider the Saumitra Chaudhuri report that has recommended reserving or preferential allotment of domestically produced natural gas only to fertiliser and power plants.

The Association of Oil and Gas Operators (AOGO), whose members also include BP plc of UK, Cairn, BG Group and BHP Billiton, has written to Mr Pulok Chatterji, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, saying the recommendation “contradicts the contractual commitments of the Government made in the production sharing contracts (PSC) and New Exploration Licensing Policy” for market discovery of price of gas.

Once gas is reserved for certain sectors, they are not likely to quote optimal price for gas and instead would under-price the scarce fuel.

Pre-allocation of gas, AOGO said, “distorts demand-supply equation and eliminates the possibility of discovering free market price of gas.”

“Discovery of free market price of gas is a fundamental feature of PSC signed under NELP... there has been a huge escalation in costs for developing oil and gas fields over the last few years. An incorrectly specified domestic gas price will retard domestic gas development,” it added.

The EGoM meeting tomorrow may consider changes in gas allocation in view of a sharp drop in output from RIL’s eastern offshore KG-D6 block.

Officials said the Oil Ministry had proposed to the EGoM to stop gas supplies to power producers that do not sell electricity at regulated tariff and cancel allocation to a few merchant power plants in Andhra Pradesh that currently sell electricity at way above the tariff determined by the sector regulator.

Also, it proposes making future gas allocations to only urea fertiliser plants and fuel supply to phosphates and potassium fertiliser producers be stopped.

KG-D6 gas output has fallen to about 35 million cubic metres per day after touching a peak of 60 mmcmd in March 2010, prompting the Ministry to suggest changes in the allocation policy.

Organic farming important for agro-biodiversity: Farmers

Preservation of indigenous crop strains, a strong political will and a people's movement towards organic farming are the need of the hour for agro biodiversity that were discussed at a session at the Vasundhara International Film Festival, on Wednesday.

A team of seven farmers from various parts of the country are exhibiting organically produced grains, vegetables and millets at the event, have set examples of sustainable organic farming as a collective effort towards agro biodiversity.

Seedbank promotion has taken off successfully in Karnataka, said Bangalore-based Krishna Prasad, who has set up the state's first organic producers' company.

"Karnataka is the first Indian state that brought out an organic farming policy and also

allocated Rs 250 crore for organic farming. We have an organic village programme, now in its third phase, where it is implemented in every 'taluka' through a network of NGOs," said Prasad, who works with a network of 30 farmer groups across the state.

"Entire communities are into seedbank promotion. The Karnataka government also gives Rs 10,000 to groups that set up such seedbanks. We have a network of more than 60 seedsavers, each one conserving more than 20-30 varieties of crops and grains," he added.

Satish Awate from Pune-based Centre for Environment Education, said, "We are gradually going the organic way and people are realising the nutritional value of what they eat. Indigenous species of crops that comprise a rich dietary heritage need to be preserved."

Babulal Dahiya, a farmer from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, said local, indigenous species of crops are gradually dying due to modern trading. "We have 100 different species of crops. There's a huge demand for these indigenous species, but more efforts need to be put in to promote them," he said.

Deepika Kundaji, who focuses on conserving rare and endangered vegetable varieties in Auroville, Pondicherry, said, "We have 90 different varieties of vegetables that are being shared with gardeners and farmers all over India. National seedbanks make no sense because these are ex situ conservation attempts. We want to conserve and share. We are very concerned that the new seed laws will restrict the free sharing of these traditional varieties because we are now coming under the intellectual property regime. There's paranoia surrounding these valuable genetic resources and we are against this regime."

Sabarmati, who works with a network of farmers in Orissa's Nayagadh district, faces the challenge of promoting the indigenous crop varieties in her area. "People have to gain back faith that indigenous varieties also do perform well. Sadly, the government provides incentives mostly for hybrid and high-yielding rice varieties. Hardly anyone works on conserving indigenous varieties. Despite this, people are trying hard to conserve these varieties.

We directly working with farmers in surrounding areas, and 5,000 farmers from other states and districts follow our methodand visit us every year," Sabarmati said.

The rising production cost of farming led a group of farmers in 15 villages of Sangamner 'taluka' to resort to the organic way. "Six years ago we began to acquire private plots for growing produce organically. We've realised this project can be branded and packaged properly for mass consumption," said a farmer from Sangamner.

70% Of Americans oppose federal subsidies for the fossil fuel Industry

President Obama, in his latest budget proposal, has called to repeal more than $4 billion a year in subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, arguing that these inefficient fossil fuel subsidies impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to address the threat of climate change.” And it turns out that a large percentage of the American population is with him.

In the Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in November 2011 report, Yale researchers found that 70% of Americans opposed federal subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, including nice majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Interestingly, independent voters are most opposed to these subsidies.

Here are the highlights from the report:

Priority

• 70 percent of Americans say global warming should be a very high (12%), high (25%), or medium (33%) priority for the president and Congress, including 44 percent of registered Republicans, 72 percent of Independents and 85 percent of Democrats.
• 90 percentof Americans say developing sources of clean energy should be a very high (30%), high (35%), or medium (25%) priority for the president and Congress, including 82 percent of registered Republicans, 91 percent of Independents, and 97 percent of Democrats.
• 54 percentof Americans say that a candidates views on global warming will be either the single most important issue (2%) or one of several important issues (52%) in determining their vote for President next year, including 39 percent of registered Republicans, 55 percent of Independents, and 65 percent of Democrats.

Revenue Neutral Carbon Taxes

• 65 percentof Americans support a revenue neutral carbon tax that would help create jobs and decrease pollution, including majorities of registered Republicans (51%), Independents (69%), and Democrats (77%).
• Likewise,60 percentof Americans support a $10 per ton carbon tax if the revenue were used to reduce federal income taxes, even when told this would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. This policy is supported by 48 percent of registered Republicans, 50 percent of Independents, and 74 percent of Democrats.
• 49 percentof Americans support a revenue neutral carbon tax if the revenue was instead returned to each American family equally as an annual check. Only 44 percent support this policy if the revenues were instead used to pay down the national debt.

Opposition to Subsidies

• 69 percentof Americans oppose federal subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, including 67 percent of registered Republicans, 80 percent of Independents, and 68 percent of Democrats.
• 54 percentof Americans oppose subsidies to the ethanol industry to make fuel from corn, including 56 percent of registered Republicans, 65 percent of Independents, and 49 percent of Democrats.

Support for Other Policies

• Public support remains high for regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant (73%), signing an international treaty to cut emissions (66%), and requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20% of their electricity from renewable energy sources,even if it costs the average household an extra $100 a year.
• Since May of 2011, there has been a decline in strong support for research into renewable energy sources (-9), tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (-11), and building more nuclear power plants (-5). However, overall public support (strongly and somewhat support) for the first two policies remains high (78% each). Overall public support for nuclear power now stands at 42 percent.

Action

• Despite ongoing concerns about the economy,66 percentof Americans say the U.S. should undertake a large (26%) or medium-scale effort (40%) to reduce global warming, even if it has large or moderate economic costs.
• 85 percentof Americans (including 76% of registered Republicans, 83% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats) say that protecting the environment either improves economic growth and provides new jobs (54%), 

Indian agriculture unsustainable due to water crisis: Sachs

India and China will be at the centre of the global sustainable development agenda, Prof Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, United Nations, said here on Saturday. He was interacting with the media along with Dr R.K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.

Prof Sachs said: “I don't think the agenda on development should be pushed any more to the side. Asia, meaning India and China will be at the centre of this drama, given the rapid growth in the economy, the central role that India and China play in technological growth and the sheer size of the population, almost 40 per cent of world population.”

Prof Sachs said Indian agriculture was not sustainable because of the water crisis. “Farming methods need to be changed, particularly in Green revolution areas such as Haryana and Punjab, where the water tables have fallen”, he said, and added that attention should now move to the North-East, where water tables are high.

On the high cost clean technology, Prof Sachs said not all technology was expensive. He said regulatory and market concerns were impeding the growth of cheaper technology. He added that markets were too short-term and did not reflect the concerns of future generations, but there were ‘powerful vested interests' in markets.

Earlier, Prof Sachs said while information technology would play a big role in sustainable development, “one must be mindful of its application for purposes such as manipulation of public opinion”.

He said the key for achieving sustainable development objectives would lie in strengthening public institutions, attracting private-led technology and provision of public financing for underlying science.

Tap water, then bottled water... Next?

The two-day Bangalore World Water Summit, which was inaugurated in the city on Wednesday, had policy-makers and researchers highlighting issues surrounding water security. Rural development minister Jagdish Shettar said: “We currently have about 300 schemes that cover 1,000 villages, but what we are doing is insufficient.”

He said the money spent on water supply is a “national economic burden.”“We are spending so much money — `1,000 crore — every year. But we want to ensure wards receive water. We have sent a proposal for grants worth `1,700 crore to the World Bank and the proposal is pending before the Centre,” he added. He also said that India should copy Israel’s model of using water economically.

“Now, 70% of water supply is used for agriculture. There should be better water management adopted here,” he said. Dr Glen T Daigger, president, International Water Association, spoke about the importance of using water in moderation.“Water should be looked at as a means to an end and not vice versa. We have enough water, but it needs better management. Water lubricates the economy. It is needed for the well-being of society and we need it to preserve the environment,” he said. On the sidelines of the event,Daigger said he supported the monetisation of water as long as it is priced correctly. Urban development secretary Dr Sudhir Krishna said the summit is an opportunity to put in place correct policies regarding water security. “Groundwater development should be the focus. Treatment of water is another important issue and 70% of water can easily be recycled today,” he said, adding that a clear policy should be formulated for the preservation ofwaterbodies as they are shrinking.

Madhya Pradesh leading in organic farming with focused policy measures

Noida, UP -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/02/2012 -- In India, the organic food market has been experiencing a significant growth for the past few years. The government is taking several initiatives to promote organic farming in the country. According to “Indian Organic Food Market Analysis”, the latest research report by RNCOS, Madhya Pradesh government has formulated an organic farming policy to make agriculture profitable in the state. Issues like resource management, technical development, and achieving growth rate at par with other progressive states through effective research have been given special attention in the policy. With such strategy, which aims at creating conducive atmosphere for developing organic products, and making healthy food available in plenty, Madhya Pradesh is expected to drive the country’s organic farming sector.

The research report points out that the Indian government treats the organic sector mainly as a growing market opportunity for producers, and considers organic food as a differentiated product accessible to consumers. The National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) has raised the profile of organic products, and they are becoming highly popular among the mainstream retailers. Indians are purchasing organic food as these are considered healthier and more natural. Besides, high cost modern farming and rising input costs have made organic farming a necessity in many regions.

The report, an outcome of in-depth research on organic food market potentials in India, provides extensive information and rational analysis on emerging market trends and drivers along with regulatory initiatives, which are collectively uplifting the industry’s position. 

Additionally, it provides insights into organic export market, consumer behavior analysis, and industry roadblocks, and gives a brief overview of the prominent industry players to provide a balanced outlook of the industry. It presents a complete and coherent analysis of the Indian organic food industry to help clients understand the market and it’s potential.

CII to launch ‘Enviro Tech’ in Vadodara

The city based Central Gujarat Zonal Council of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) will launch ‘Enviro Tech’, the first-ever environment policy dialogue forum in the city, tomorrow.

The Council Chairman, Mr Nitin Mankad, told PTI that this forum will focus upon two critical areas of marine outfall and waste water treatment and recycling.

After Gujarat attracting huge industrial investment and becoming a growth engine, it is important to have a regular dialogue forum involving experts, industry, policy makers and other pressure groups for deliberating upon key areas which need greater focus in terms of creating framework for better environmental governance, he said.

“‘Enviro Tech’ is meant to be the bridge between industry and policy makers on important areas where there exist grey areas or white spots and, this year we have decided to focus upon two such critical areas namely marine outfall and waste water treatment and recycling,’’ he said.

The day-long conference during the launch of this forum will see participation from key state bureaucrats dealing with environment and industry including Mr Maheshwar Sahu, Principal Secretary, Department of Industry and Mines, Government of Gujarat, Dr S.K. Nanda, Principal Secretary, Department of Environment & Forest, Government of Gujarat, and Mr Hardik Shah, Member Secretary, Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

The conference will also have Prof Tobias Bleninger from Karlsruhe Institute, Germany, speaking on the important aspects of marine outfall norms.

GAIL opposes margin control on imported gas

Joining the chorus of the private sector player Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), GAIL (India) on Monday opposed the attempts by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to regulate marketing margin charged on the sale of imported LNG.

Talking to journalists after announcing the third quarter results, Chairman and Managing Director B. C. Tripathi said: “The government rightly has the right to regulate marketing margins on all domestically produced gas. 


We have no issues with that. But there should not be any regulation on a commodity imported from international market and market rates.” GAIL reported a 13 per cent rise in net profit for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011. The net profit stood at Rs.1,091 crore which was 13 per cent higher than Rs.968 crore recorded a year ago.

Prime Minister to inaugurate the seventh Asia Gas Partnership Summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 7th Asia Gas Partnership Summit 2012 AGPS, scheduled to be held on March 23-24 in New Delhi.
This is for the first time the Prime Minister will be inaugurating the AGPS, BC Tripathi, chairman & managing director GAIL India told reporters on Monday.
AGPS is promoted by GAIL and supported by International Gas Union. The event, organized by FICCI, is the biggest natural gas conference of the country.

Oil Ministry proposes key changes in natural gas allocation policy

The Oil Ministry has suggested key changes in the natural gas allocation policy in the view of sharp drop in output from Reliance Industries' eastern offshore KG-D6 block.
In a note to the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the ministry has proposed to stop gas supplies to power producers that do not sell electricity at regulated tariff.
Also, future gas allocations are to be made only to urea fertiliser plants and fuel allocation to phosphates and potassium fertiliser producers be stopped.