Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday 17 September 2017

How to Raise $ 500 BILLION

Stop  Flogging  a  Dead  Horse  !


Times of India ( 16 Sept ) carries following news report :




“  Centre to tap market to fund infra projects  “


Facing a huge need for funds for on-going urban infrastructure projects including housing for all and smart cities, the Centre will tap the market for borrowings to raise resources.



While addressing the ‘Public Affairs Forum of India’ on challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanisation in the capital on Friday, Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said his ministry is seriously thinking of borrowing from the market to incentivise speedy execution of urban infrastructure projects launched in the past two years.


This will be the first such move by the ministry to raise funds from the market. Puri said his ministry will set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for this purpose and the process will start soon.


“To overcome the severe infrastructure deficit accumulated over long years, huge order of investments is required. To meet various contingencies and to ensure fund availability to meet the targets under new urban missions, we are thinking of mobilising resources from the market. We have undertaken an assessment of requirement of funds till 2022 and likely flow of funds,” Puri said.


Till now, only a few municipalities including the Pune Municipal Corporation have raised fund from market through bonds.


TOI has learnt that the fund raised from market by the ministry will be used to meet the fresh demand. For example, Andhra Pradesh government on Friday assured the ministry to construct over five lakh affordable houses in the next 15 months. So, the Centre has to pay more as assistance to the state than what could have been allocated from budget under normal circumstances.


“The fund raised by ministry could be used to meet such demand and subsequently government would increase the budgetary allocation,” a source said.


Earlier Puri also said that a comprehensive evaluation of implementation and outcomes of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) will be undertaken.




Dear Shri Hardeep Singh Puriji :



Whereas ideas of,


·         raising funds for Infrastructure from the market ( Public ? )

·         setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle ( SPV ) ,



are very good , I have serious doubt that your effort will succeed , since neither the banks nor the general public are likely to come forward with $ 500 BILLION that you need ( - to start with ! )


I urge you to follow the example of tiny Indonesia which , only a few months back , managed to raise $ 460 BILLION , for its own Infrastructure needs  ! @ 4% tax – no penalty for declaring tax-evaded assets  !



Here is how :



















18  Sept  2017


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