Open Forum

New Delhi, 18 June 2025

Recurring Floods

POOR URBAN PLANNING

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

Flooding is a significant issue, affecting not just riverbeds but major cities in India. The country receives 80 per cent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season from June to September. Environmentalists are worried about frequent heavy rains in short periods. They attribute these extreme weather patterns to climate change and warming seas that carry more moisture, causing intense and unpredictable rainfall. 

Urban flooding is rising due to multiple factors, partly climate change, and partly poor planning. While total rainfall hasn’t changed much over the decade, it’s now falling in fewer hours, making it harder for cities to cope. “Yes, climate change has intensified rainfall — but it’s also a planning failure. We need to rethink urban design. We can’t keep building the same way in Delhi, the Himalayas, and coastal areas. That approach must change,” observed an urban planner and architect. 

“Many cities rely on outdated systems designed decades ago. And in the process of unchecked expansion, natural drainage channels, wetlands and water bodies that once absorbed excess rainwater have been built over or neglected,” he adds. Experts are of the opinion that there is no solution as each city faces unique challenges and factors such as geography, population and climate must be considered when designing effective responses. 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN’s climate science body, India is projected to be one of the most vulnerable regions to escalating heat waves, humid heat stress, and other extreme weather events in a 1.5C warmer world -- threats that could bring irreversible consequences. Added to this, is the occurrence of erratic rainfall and early monsoons that have been observed over many years. However, what has changed is the intensity and concentration of rainfall in short periods. Not just Mumbai but from Delhi in the north to Bengaluru in the south, India’s biggest cities flood every monsoon season. Roads collapse, drains overflow, infrastructure is overwhelmed and traffic grinds to a halt. 

Experts blame rapid unplanned urbanisation, poor infrastructure and years of environmental neglect as the root cause of this problem. Delhi’s Minto bridge is flooded every year during the monsoon. The pace of urban expansion has far exceeded the evolution of supporting infrastructure, particularly in water and drainage systems, according to architects and urban planners. Even expanded areas of metros like Salt Lake in Kolkata are frequently submerged if there is heavy rain.Even a newly built underground metro station in Mumbai could not withstand the heavy downpour as photos and videos of the station flooded with muddy water went viral. The pre-monsoon deluge once again exposed the fragile infrastructure of India’s financial capital and sparked widespread outrage on social media. 

Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, more than 2,000 kms from the capital, the problem looks different, but its root cause is the same. Once known for its network of lakes that helped manage excess rainwater, Bengaluru has seen many of these water bodies encroached upon. In their place now stand apartment complexes, business hubs and roads - leaving the city vulnerable to flooding. The city is made up of three major valleys through which water naturally flows but due to lack of proper sanitation and poor urban planning, inundation occurs. These valleys were originally designated as no-construction zones but over the years, encroachment has taken place and later changes in the law permitted infrastructure projects to be built in the area. 

Not just the big cities, small towns often suffer equally, if not more. News reports suggested around 40 people died in the north-eastern states after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides. Tens of thousands have been affected, with rescue efforts under way. Mapping and real-time sensors are needed to identify high-risk zones and alert communities. Predictive models can also help authorities plan better responses. But technology alone is not a fix, it needs to be paired with responsive governance and community involvement. 

An important aspect of floods and even landslides is the violations of building norms, specially construction that narrows stormwater drains or builds directly over them, have only made things worse. Then there are examples of facing natural challenges due to geography, such as the case of Mumbai. Many parts of the financial capital are low-lying and close to the sea, which makes them more vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains and high tides. 

It needs to be pointed out here that changes in monsoon patterns and rising temperatures could further reduce GDP by 2.8 percent by 2030, potentially lowering living standards for nearly half the population by 2050. Without effective mitigation policies, India could face annual GDP losses of 3-10 percent by 2100. 

Disaster mitigation has emerged as a major issue and clear thinking on the matter calls for technical expertise and well-planned strategy.  With the onset of monsoon, flooding becomes a critical disaster. Special drives should be initiated to mitigate rampant encroachment of stormwater drains. Residents often connect the rooftop drains to the sewage network due to a lack of local-level stormwater drains in the city. Serious efforts are needed to stop the rampant disposal of garbage, road dust and construction waste into storm drains. 

Urban planners are of the view that most of the city’s drains are poorly designed as they are quite old and not capable of meeting the present needs. Their efficiency can be significantly enhanced by improving the slope, alignment and cross-sections. An important suggestion is that of rainwater harvesting in parks & open spaces which will act as sponges and reduce flooding. 

Environmentalists and planners attribute human actions that have made things much worse: cutting down mangroves, which normally act like natural barriers against floods, and building on floodplains where water is supposed to drain. The breakdown is systemic - it begins with planning that often doesn’t account for future climate variabilities, gets exacerbated by poor execution and is compounded by weak enforcement of regulations.  It must be admitted that political will is often reactive - responding to disasters rather than investing in long-term resilience. 

States are not giving adequate attention to addressing floods in metropolitan areas and towns, which are highly congested regions where people experience significant issues due to waterlogging. Many states face financial constraints, making it difficult for them to implement various measures such as ensuring proper water flow through cleared drains, improving sanitation systems, dredging rivers, constructing embankments in villages, among others. These initiatives require substantial funding, and there is a need for the Central government to provide financial assistance to states that are frequently affected by floods and cyclones.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Political Diary

New Delhi, 17 June 2025

 Femme Fatale 

HERE’S TO WOMEN POWER!
By Poonam I Kaushish

It seems a tall order, but possible. A stepping stone to gender equality with Prime Minister Modi announcing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures 2029 via the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam September 2023. Women representation will rise to 181.Thereby, making ‘Her Story’!

But with a rider: It will take effect only after delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies which can be done after Census 2027 is completed. Both face three challenges. One, enumerating census data as caste will be added for the first time since 1931. Two, lack of political consensus on delimitation of constituencies, as Southern States fearing decrease on number of parliamentary constituencies have demanded a freeze based on 1971 census for 25 years. Three, firewall the delimitation exercise from contingencies of electoral politics.

However, Parties recognize that in a changing Bharat, women marginalization, exclusion from power corridors and decision-making echelons is becoming unsustainable. Hence having more women in politics will improve the system and society. Their absence alienates women thereby undermining the system’s legitimacy.

For doubting Thomas’s the value of women power is on full display by rising female voters’ turnout 65.8% as they outvoted men 65.6%. Their greater visibility and imprint in public spaces are rising inexorably. Whereby, women power acts as a potent force to ensure policies and legislation that affect their lives is inclusive and representative of population needs. Eventually, women-centric policies would heighten political efficacy among female voters.

Yet, women legislators in Lok Sabha account for less than 13.6% 74 MPs in 2024, down from 14.4% 82 MPs 2019 and much below global average of 24%. Think. If in 1950 women formed 5% of Parliament, today a mere 9.3 % increase in 75 years is a sobering reminder of how slow progress has been. Consequently their under-representation not only reveals gender disparity but also constitutes gender deficit.

BJP has 31 women MPs, Congress 13, TMC 11, SP 5, DMK three, JD(U) and LJPRV two each and one each from 7 other Parties.  Among States, Mamata’s TMC with 38% has the highest proportion.  Shockingly, States like Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal and J&K don’t have a single women MP in Lok Sabha.   

Women representation in State Assemblies is more glaring. Assam, Arunachal and Karnataka have fewer than 5%. Mizoram has none and Nagaland one. Surprisingly, Bihar and Haryana boast of 10% fair sex representation. Hence this lack of representation is problematic as legislation reflects the values of those who make it.

Worse, only 724 women contested polls out of 8000. The Congress fielded 54 (13%), BJP 53 (12%), BSP 24, TMC 23 (43%), BJD 33%,  CPM 10, CPI four and one NCP (Pawar’s daughter). As many as 222 women contested elections independently. Four transgender candidates also fought. The situation in Vidhan Sabhas is worse.

Appalling are their educational qualifications. While 232 (32%) declared educational qualification to be between Class 5-Class 12 pass, 37 were just literate, 26  illiterate and rest graduates, according to Association for Democratic Reforms.

Sadly, there are only a handful of women leaders today: Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati. So unlike the strong female freedom fighters: Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kripalani, Aruna Asaf Ali, Durgabai Deshmukh and Savitri Phule, who defied notorious patriarchal norms and blazed a trail of women’s empowerment.

Unfortunately, post-Independence, women slipped to secondary status where not just leaders, women continue to remain the ‘unwanted’ and neglected sex. Yet, there is no dearth of women workers in Parties who are sidelined and denied Party tickets to contest elections. Despite, more women voting than men in 18 of 29 States.

Worse, Party bosses are reluctant to trust women with handling the rowdy business of electoral political maneuverings. Alongside, neglect of women issues in most elected bodies. Questionably: Will female entry correct centuries-old imbalances and stigma against women? Will increased participation of fair sex in the political process lead to less female infanticide, fewer dowry deaths, bride burning and trampling of female aspirations? No.

However this is not to take way that India has come a long way from 1996 when the Women Reservation Bill was introduced by Gowda’s UF Government but failed to clear Lok Sabha. It was re-introduced by Vajpayee’s NDA Government 1998 but lapsed. In 2008 Manmohan Singh’s UPA 1 introduced it again only to see it fall due to high drama of MPs physical removal by regional satraps 2010. Happily, opponents laid down their arms before an idea whose time finally came.

Asserted a BJP Minister, “There was dire necessity of affirmative action to improve women’s conditions, as recent studies on Panchayats where there is reservations show positive effects of female political participation, leadership, women empowerment and allocation of resources. No matter, instances of them being used as proxies by men to win elections in States like Maharashtra, Bihar.

Its’ par on course for Opposition to carp. Congress’s grumble is delimitation and census are “poor excuses'” for postponement of women's quota, alleging the entire exercise is to create an election issue, without actually implementing it. “We wanted implementation from last year’s Lok Sabha elections itself along-with reservation for women from OBCs besides SC and STs.” Big deal, if  it reversed  its 2010 position against OBC quota within a quota.

Cribbed a Samajwadi leader, “I’m not belittling women reservation by saying it will only benefit ‘lipstick-wearing-short-haired women from upper castes’. The intent is good but the practical political outcome may be far different in the absence of quota within a quota.” Added another, “It’ll be fight in a ‘ladies only’ compartment in a metro, nothing more”.

Not a few argue it would perpetuate an unequal status of women as they would not be perceived to be competing on merit. Also, it restricts choice of voters to women candidates and diverts attention from larger issues of electoral reform, criminalisation of politics and inner Party democracy.

Instead, India should consider reservation in Parties and dual member constituencies. Rotation of reserved constituencies in every election might reduce incentive for an MP to work for his constituency as he may be ineligible to seek re-election from that constituency. Others, aver it would strengthen upper caste and elite rule and promote family politics. Men of this segment would ‘remote control’ their women to use political power.

Undeniably, politics of presence is crucial for effective functioning of our democratic system, as women constitute 50% population. Presently, even as we talk about more power to woman, a reality check bares some unpleasant home-truths. Women account for less than 10% of  Parliament.

Further, one needs to watch for danger that gender politics can lead to, ferocious brand of political Puritanism. So far jobs, posts and legislatures seats have always served as “apples of discord.”

Either way, implementation of 33% reservation has set the stage for future where nari shakti will play a substantial role in politics.. Clearly, if it becomes reality it’ll be a unique precedent as the only major democracy globally to implement such affirmative action.

True, it is not a magical fix but a crucial leap forward for women empowerment and gender parity. One hopes it will not end as an exercise in competitive, reckless populism at its worst. Today, women are at the cusp of a bright future as our leaders’ help them break the glass ceiling and give them their place in the sun. Femme Fatale is the way to go! ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Economic Highlights

New Delhi, 16 June 2025

AI Crash Jolts Global Aviation

IGNITES PVT Vs PUBLIC DEBATE

By Shivaji Sarkar 

In a single fiery instant over Ahmedabad, the confidence in civil aviation—India’s and the world’s—came crashing down with Air India’s ill-fated Dreamliner. The death toll of 142 plus about another 20 deaths on the crash site at thehospital is tragic, but the fallout runs deeper. Investor panic, plunging Boeing shares, and over Rs 1,000 crore in insurance claims expose a volatile mix of corporate negligence, regulatory failure, and a sector increasingly driven by cost-cutting rather than caution. 

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, promptly announced a Rs 1 crore compensation per victim—a gesture as much about damage control as it is about accountability. Aviation analysts believe this move is less generosity and more recognition of the magnitude of the crisis—and the global scrutiny that now hovers over India’s civil aviation, the third largest in passenger volume and sixth in cargo worldwide. Apart international norms mandate such compensation. 

The impact has been swift and global. The crash has led to circumspection and crashing share prices rattle investor confidence. Boeing shares dropped by 8 per cent just days before the Paris Air Show, where the company is expected to showcase its productions. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has announced cancellation of his visit to the air show as the crash revived concerns of about Boeings widebody jets. Boeing’s supplier of 787 fuselage, Spirit Aerosystems; and engine - GE Aerospace have also suffered 20 per cent losses. Total losses are estimated in billions of dollars though in percentage terms it might look small. 

This crash has reignited a long-standing debate: is Boeing’s private-sector-driven model more vulnerable than Airbus, a European government-backed consortium? The Dreamliner, despite its reputation as a safe aircraft, has faced repeated technical issues—chief among them, its lithium-ion battery system, which has caused electrical fires and aircraft groundings in the past across the world, including by Japan Airlines. These batteries, similar to those used in e-rickshaws around Delhi, are prone to thermal runaway: a condition where internal heat builds up uncontrollably, leading to fires, toxic gas release, and even explosions. 

In 2018-19 Boeing has paid $1.1 billion to avoid prosecution for its two 737 Max plane crashes.It has been mired in such controversies, including last year’s Starliner crash that stranded Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore at the international space station (ISS). There are reports of Boeing workers complaining about shoddy production, including a claim by whistleblower that the Dreamliner had structural flaws, said to be six tonnes heavier, than it should be. No Dreamliner had crashed before the Ahmedabad incident. Another whistleblower, a Boeing engineer warned in 2024 that all 787s should be grounded due to structural flaws. One who reportedly expressed concerns about substandard spares, was later found dead under mysterious circumstances. 

The Ahmedabad tragedy also highlights vulnerabilities in India’s aviation ecosystem, increasingly dominated by just two players—IndiGo and Tata group airlines (Air India and Vistara)—which together control nearly 90 percent of the market. This quasi-duopoly, despite Udaan and other regional airline schemes, limits competition and raises concerns over pricing, service quality, and most alarmingly, safety. 

Flying is becoming costlier and more fragile. High aviation fuel costs in India—among the world’s highest—along with supply chain constraints have pushed airlines to cut corners. There are growing passenger complaints about air-conditioning being kept off during boarding to save fuel. Some aircraft remain grounded for lack of spares—especially engines from Pratt & Whitney. As of this year, 133 aircraft across airlines of India or 16 percent of the fleet were grounded. 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) fined Akasa Air, Air India, and IndiGo for repeated safety violations. SpiceJet was ordered to halve its operations in 2022. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has also levied multiple penalties—for instance, Rs 30 lakh on Air India and over Rs1 crore in fines on airport operators across Lucknow, Bhavnagar, Chennai, and Delhi for violating the 1937 Aircraft Rules. This year Mumbai airport was also penalised for ignoring safety. 

Most recently, DGCA inspections of Turkish Airlines flights between May 29 and June 2, 2025, revealed alarming safety breaches—unauthorized ground personnel at Bengaluru, missing documentation for dangerous cargo, and unaccounted equipment at Hyderabad and Chennai airports.

Statistically, Boeing appears to fare worse than Airbus on safety metrics in the U.S. Since 2014, Airbus aircraft have faced 10 technical malfunctions, but no fatal crashes. Boeing, in contrast, has reported 32 malfunctions and multiple fatal issues. While more Boeings are in operation, the frequency of groundings and incidents raises red flags.Despite this, the Tata Group has inked a massive deal for 500 Boeing aircraft to be delivered over the next decade—a stark contrast from earlier decades when India, through Indian Airlines and Air India, maintained a balance between Boeing and Airbus procurement under public ownership. 

Every time an aviation tragedy strikes, the default explanation tends to be “pilot or human error.” While human error is real, this narrative often absolves aircraft manufacturers and operators of deeper accountability. In the Ahmedabad case, it’s imperative that investigations go beyond the cockpit and scrutinize systemic safety lapses, fleet maintenance records, battery safety, and manufacturing standards. 

The DGCA’s report on an earlier in-flight shutdown incident on a B-787 (VT-ANW) in August 2023 is one of many warning signs. In November that year, the government admitted in the Rajya Sabha that 18 safety violations had been recorded across airlines, airports, and ground service providers in just three years. 

The aviation sector—by design—cannot afford to operate on the edge. When corporate profit, regulatory apathy, and weak oversight intersect, the result is not just turbulence—it’s tragedy. The Ahmedabad crash is not just an accident; it is a wake-up call. India’s aviation authorities must seize this moment to launch a full-scale, independent safety audit of all domestic fleets. Because in the sky, there is no room for error, and no margin for complacency.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Spotlight

New Delhi 14 June 2025

Trilateral Dialogue in Beijing

China’s Model of Stabilization or Regional Dominance?

By Piotr Opalinski               

On May 21, 2025, an informal, tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Wang Yi, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar, and Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi was held in Beijing. The aim of this Chinese initiative was to ease tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, which had intensified after the deportation – from April 1, 2025 – of over 84,000 Afghans from Pakistan under the second phase of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. The meeting also served as a platform for dialogue on deepening economic and infrastructure cooperation, including the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project to Afghanistan. It was announced that the next round of talks would be held in Kabul. 

China pursues a highly pragmatic policy towards the Taliban government. Despite the lack of formal recognition, it maintains full diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level – indicating de facto recognition resulting from strategic and economic calculations. This pragmatic approach is driven by both security considerations – particularly those related to the situation in the Xinjiang region and countering extremism – and important economic interests. 

Chinese companies have already signed concession agreements with the Taliban government, including in the field of oil extraction (USD 540 million), and are also planning investments worth USD 10 billion in the lithium deposits sector. Work is underway to launch a copper mine in Mes Aynak – one of the largest unexploited deposits of this raw material in the world, managed by the Chinese company MCC. Beijing is also financing the construction of road infrastructure, including a route connecting Badakhshan province with Chinese Xinjiang via the Wakhan Corridor. These investments not only strengthen China's economic presence, but also aim to create a safe transport corridor, bypassing areas not controlled by the Taliban. 

From a security perspective, Beijing expects the Taliban to firmly curb the activities of Islamist groups that threaten China, especially the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Chinese authorities have consistently emphasized that Afghan territory cannot be used as a base of operations for separatist groups. 

China’s relations with Pakistan are strategic and long-term. Islamabad is considered by Beijing as an “iron friend for all seasons,” which is reflected in infrastructure, economic and military cooperation. Of fundamental importance is the expansion of CPEC, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which provides China with land access to the Indian Ocean through the port of Gwadar. 

Beijing is pressuring Pakistan to step up protection of Chinese investments and personnel in the face of repeated terrorist attacks. The joint coordination of policies toward Afghanistan aims not only to limit the influence of armed groups but also to create effective trade routes and promote stability in the difficult border region. 

The Beijing meeting is part of China's broader strategy of building a regional security architecture independent of Western influence. The tightening of cooperation with Pakistan and Afghanistan can be interpreted as an attempt to form a "regional stabilization triangle" based on diplomacy, infrastructure investment and energy security. 

Extending CPEC to Afghanistan could transform the country into a regional trading hub , linking the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. While the project promises economic growth and stability, it has also drawn opposition—particularly from India—that has hindered broader regional integration and increased the risk of geopolitical polarisation. 

India has expressed strong opposition to the expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan, viewing it as a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to its strategic interests in the region. The main sticking point is the fact that CPEC runs through the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, which India considers an integral part of its state. As such, any infrastructure projects in this area are considered illegal and unacceptable by New Delhi. 

Expanding CPEC also raises concerns in India about the strengthening of China and Pakistan in the region, which could undermine New Delhi’s strategic ambitions in Central Asia. India has invested heavily in developing the Chabahar port in Iran, which is expected to provide a key link in an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and beyond to Central Asia. Including Afghanistan in CPEC could limit the significance of this project and reduce India’s influence in the region. 

In addition, New Delhi is concerned that China's presence in Afghanistan could increase security threats, including the risk of Afghan territory being used by groups operating against India. New Delhi therefore appeals to the international community to heed these concerns and refrain from supporting projects which it believes have the potential to deepen instability and perpetuate geopolitical divisions. 

Although New Delhi does not formally recognise the Taliban government, it maintains pragmatic contacts with it – mainly concerning security and trade, motivated by strategic considerations and concern for its own interests in the region. According to unofficial media reports, in early May, during the escalation of Indian-Pakistani tensions after the Pahalgam attack, Mullah Muhammad Ibrahim Sadr, the Taliban's deputy interior minister for security, was supposed to be in the Indian capital. A few days later, on May 15, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with the acting head of Afghan diplomacy Amir Khan Muttaqi, thanking him for condemning the attack and distancing himself from the Pakistani narrative. Issues of economic, visa and transport cooperation were also raised, including the use of the Chabahar port bypassing Pakistani territory. 

In addition, despite the closed border crossings with Pakistan, India allowed 160 Afghan trucks carrying dried fruits to enter through the Wagah-Attari border. These actions indicate India's pragmatic approach, which is trying to secure its interests in Afghanistan and balance the influence of China and Pakistan in the region. 

Through simultaneous diplomatic engagement towards Pakistan and Afghanistan, China is consistently building a narrative of its own role as a mediator and guarantor of regional stability. Its infrastructure and economic investments are both a tool for building influence and a challenge to regional and supra-regional powers such as India and the United States. 

Beijing knows that its presence in Afghanistan and involvement in projects such as CPEC will be met with further criticism and resistance from many countries, notably over sovereignty issues and ethnic and religious tensions. But it’s clear “connector” strategy – between Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East – points to China’s growing role as a regional leader. 

The meeting in Beijing is an important step towards building a trilateral format of cooperation that can bring stability, but also potentially contribute to new divisions in South Asia. The China-Pakistan-Afghan "triangle " shows that the geopolitics of this region is taking on a new dimension, combining economic interests with security challenges and great-power rivalry. The development of the situation will depend on the parties' further ability to compromise, which may prove to be particularly difficult due to the deep prejudices and distrust between Kabul and Islamabad, as well as the reactions of external actors, especially India and the US, which will not easily accept Beijing's growing influence.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)