The green movement, all over the world, is gathering steam. The latest is the emphasis on green architecture. In this context a three days Green West Exposition and Conference was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The majority of about 75 exhibits, on display had green theme to them. The exhibits had wide variety of technologies that could be used to harness solar energy, save electricity, water, fuel and other green efforts. One of the interesting exhibits at the Expo was Water saving toilets that included Waterless Urinal.

Waterless Urinal was introduced in 1992 by Waterless Company and others companies such as Falcon Waterfree Technologies and Sloan Valve Company, as well as Duravit, followed suit in 2001. This type of technology utilizes a trap that is filled with a sealant liquid. This liquid is lighter than water, thus it floats on top of the urine collected in the U-bend, it traps the odor and prevents it from being released into the air. The sealant is required to be replaced after a period of time, however, it manages to save around 56,800 to 170,000 liters of water per urinal per year. These types of Urinals are installed in the water deficient areas or where water saving is desired.

Uptill now the technology was prevalent in Western World, but slowly it is making inroads in India too. However, India is still lacking in per capita availability of Urinals and we are used to open air, out in the nature type of excreting habits. At the same time, it would be better still, if Waterless Urinals are able to make inroads in Indian country side before their with-water counterparts could.

HP India is spearheading the green PC movement with the launch of Compaq dc7800 in India. The new PC comes with a stamp of approval from the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) Gold registry for passing all the strict environmental requirements making it the most environment friendly PC. It has the first ever Solid State hard drive (SSD), coming in an ultra-slim form factor.

Features:
• It has latest technology including Intel® Core™2 Duo processors, Windows Vista® OS, for more manageability and security there is optional Intel® vPro Professional technology.

• The computer is well protected by the higher level of identity, data and network security with features such as HP Protect Tools and standard Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 chip help provide strong protection to keep the PC up and running smoothly.

• The Green in this PC is its power efficient processors and 80 PLUS power supply. its Intel Q35 chipset, which is energy efficient, and Verdiem Surveyor remote power management software provide energy efficient solutions that reduces PCs appetite for electricity and reduce adverse impact on environment.

The other features are faster boot times, improved power efficiency, shock improvement, and a smaller overall footprint. HP is claiming it to be the smallest business-ready desktop being around 46 percent smaller and 85 percent more power efficient.
The PC is available in India from 1st May, 2008 and is costing around Rs 40,000/-

The water supply scheme being operated was laid down by the British when the town was established more than a century back. Over the course of time, the machines have became obsolete, pipelines got corroded and started leaking at every nook and corner, the population had exploded and there is many fold increase in the number of tourist visiting this scenic place. All this has resulted in quantum jump in demand whereas there has been little to negligible increase in the supply. The peak demand has reached 45 ML daily and 5 ML daily is required extra for the tourists during the season and IPH Department supplies only 26 ML daily. The political fraternity hardly loose sleep over the issue as VIP areas are always kept well stocked, even at the cost of exchequer and general public.

The water shortage had plagued this township since time immemorial. Earlier, it use to be relegated to the couple of peak summer months, now it has become a whole year phenomenon. In summer, as authorities explain, there is less water in Ashwani Khad, the chief source of water, so there is low supply. In winter the supply lines freeze so there is disruption in supply and during monsoon the silt gets stuck in water pumps that are used to lift water, hence irregular supply. So there are any numbers of reasons, except for their incompetence, put forth by officials, to not to supply water regularly even for couple of hours.

New fantastic ideas are launched that never take off and some semblance of work being done is made every year. Congress regime had launched a very ambitious project, which promised to quench the thirst of city for next 100 years to come. It entailed tapping the water of Pabbar River. The water was to be brought in two giant pipelines all the way from Rohru. As Rohru happen to be at higher altitude, it was argued, that no pumping would be required. However, the pre feasibility study grounded the project; the terrain was difficult, long and entailed felling of lots of trees. The present government promised water from Giri Ganga. The water was supposed to reach the town and start functioning before 15th April, then ten more days were sought, then it was beginning of May, now it is supposed to start on 10th May, 2008 and official inauguration will be on 27th May, 2008 after the election process is over in Hamirpur constituency. Public is waiting, with bated breath for miracle to happen.

The major source of water for the town is Ashwani Khad. The water is lifted by two very old, heaving and puffing pumps. This is then supplied through old pipelines laid during the British Raj, they leak more water than they transport. Even if these pipes are replaced, in phased manner, then lots of water could be saved. If the aged pumps are replaced then regular disruptions due to frequent breakdowns and choking could be avoided.

Earlier water crisis plagued Shimla and few major cities only, now for last couple of years, it has become a major problem in all towns and cities even villages are no more immune. Ecological disruptions are a major contributing factor towards this water crisis. Utter neglect of nature, loss of green cover, global increase in temperature has resulted in low and erratic rain and snowfalls. Further unplanned development, haphazard, unplanned illegal constructions have further led to choking of small streams and nullahs which had been contributing to big rivers and ground water levels. On the way they had quenched many thirsts. If man has to co exist with nature then these little sentinels of nature has to taken care of, the bigger ones will take care of themselves. With the plethora of hydro electric projects, the water and other ecological problems are bound to increase.

The rot starts right from the appointment of teachers. Infrastructure and other facilities, though important, are not basic necessity, the first and foremost need is good teachers. Over the years, teaching profession, due to many reasons, has lost its sheen. Consequently, bright students keep teaching at a very low priority in their pursuit of career. All those who take pains to study and obtain professional degrees in education are left in a lurch. New schools and colleges are opened at the drop of hat, for political gains; however, appointments are not made at the same pace. Thereby, leaving qualified candidates waiting and hoping for the best.

The State Governments devise different modes of recruitments to save on money and find politically correct persons. Once such person is recruited, he knows what and how of the whole process and tries to keep his political masters happy at the cost of students. Once this rot spreads the overall performance suffers and it is ‘gracefully lifted’. These seats of disgrace produce half learned, half baked citizens who then go into various arms of Government and the whole process is repeated again.

Private sector is doing a commendable job in providing quality education. This is evident as all officers, politicians and top brass send their wards to private institutes. However, the chief concerns of these institutes are commercial. Therefore, the poor and the needy, who constitute a big chunk, are deprived of the quality education, especially at primary level.

Once a social reformer had suggested, to improve the standard of education in the country, all private institutes should be banned. As a result all the top brass, will be forced to send their children, to the Government schools, consequently they will be forced to improve the standard of these schools. What is required is the complete revamp of system, which require tremendous political will, which in turn is dependent on a strong political opinion. Thus the onus lies with the general public as well as political power to overhaul the whole education system, so that the growth of new India is not stemmed in the beginning.

Ironically and amusingly the firm votaries of reservation are the one’s opposing reservation to the Women. At last, they are getting the taste of their own medicine. The Women Quota Bill is going to hit where it hurts the most, the Parliamentary and Legislature seats. In effect the whole quota issue was raked, raised and fought over the years for these very seats by the same very persons. They will be damned before they hurt their own self interest, any reservation not withstanding.

Reservation in itself is not an answer to any problem, it’s a political gimmick perpetuated to pursue their vile agendas. The latest development goes on to prove just that. The parties like SP, BSP, RJD, JD etc who swear by reservation, day in and day out, are opposing this particular reservation, tooth and nail. Forward caste women, who otherwise oppose quota for SC & STs are pleased with this particular Bill. The moral of the story, reservation is a good thing, if you are on the right side of the fence.

Talking of reservation, it does more harm than good, to the society. It’s not a visionary attempt at solving the problem but myopic, partisan, petty politics at play. Quota system always kills merit and lowers the entry bar, thereby marring the institution in which it is used. Upto now the women have entered the august house on their own merit. We had leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Brinda Karat etc. After the reservation is introduced we would have likes of Rabri Devi, Supriya Sule or to an extent Sonia Gandhi. Sonia had entered politics and reached the helm solely on the basis of her surname Gandhi. Shorn of her label and the power she derives from it, she have very little to show by the way of a leader.

Earlier, reservation for Women had been made in Panchyati Raj institutes and is considered a great success. However the ground realities are different. Although many Panchyats now have women Pradhans, not many of them could be considered a true representative of women. The elections are fought and later panchyats are run by the husbands of these women pradhans, in proxy. There is a minuscule minority, though, that is different. However, to cater to this minority it would be wrong to infringe over the rights of majority of male pradhans, the right to contest an election and of villagers to choose their candidate.

Reservation is a short sighted, adhoc solution of the deep rooted problem which require, viable, long lasting solutions instead. Rather than flashing quota card as a panacea of all ills and to garner some quick votes, the political leadership should come up with viable lost lasting statesmen like solutions. Surely the people of the country deserve better. But then, again, to expect any one from present political quagmire to be statesman is like asking for the moon.