A Progressive Yogi ?

We have to admit that Shri Yogi Adityanath – CM , Uttar Pradesh , is a “ progress – minded “ person , going by the following news report :

“ UP to launch 700 app-based bike taxies “

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-up-to-launch-700-app-based-bike-taxis-2583710

The Yogi Adityanth government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to launch 700 app-based 'motorbike taxis' as a mode of public transport to solve traffic problems in the state capital Lucknow.

The state government has entered into an agreement with app-based cab services Ola and Uber to launch the motorcycle taxis before the two-day Investors' Summit in Lucknow.

Lucknow is undergoing massive construction activity on thoroughfares in order to complete the Lucknow Metro Project, which has resulted in frequent traffic jams in the City of Nawabs.

The 'motorcycle taxis' were to be launched last month but there was delay due to conversion of motorbikes from petrol-based to CNG-based. Now the regional transport department has given six months to the two taxi companies for CNG conversion.

The two cab aggregators have been given road tax benefits. Instead of five years, the transport department has decided to charge road tax for one year only on the sanctioned permit.

The state government has also fixed rates for the new mode of transport. The companies will be charging Rs 8.10 for the first km and Rs 8.20 for every km travelled after that.

The mobike taxi drivers will carry one passenger at a time and will provide helmets as per the state transport rules. The service would be made available on all routes in Lucknow.

State Transport Minister Swatantra Dev Singh said the bike taxis, if successful, may be extended to tourist places and other cities.

Some 2 years ago , local transport authorities had banned “ bike taxies “ in Bangalore  !

I believe they have a " change of mind " ( - after reading this report ? )

Read :

How toStop the Start Ups  [  28  April  2016  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/how-to-stop-start-ups.html

I am not surprised why BJP asked Shri Yogiji to campaign in Karnataka for the upcoming state elections !

14  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

To Curb speeding : Immobilize those Cars

Times of India ( 12 Feb ) carries following news report :

“ Govt seeks new tech to curb speeding “

The road transport ministry’s approval for higher speed limits for cars, buses and trucks on expressways and higher limit for buses on highways is seen as a formality as officials concede that lax enforcement had made violation of earlier limits widespread. This has prompted the government to explore new technologies to prevent speeding.

Government officials also admitted that there was no enforcement on stretches within or close to major cities which had robust traffic police departments.

“Road accident data indicates that majority of vehicles involved in crashes on national highways are speeding. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove it.

So, until you have a proper system in place to catch speedsters, you need to find innovative ways to prevent people from speeding,” an official said.

He added that the transport ministry would hold talks with stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, on how to have in-built technology in new vehicles.

While Electronic Control Units can do this task, there are also technologies that automatically control the speed of a vehicle based on its location determined by a GPS device.

This can be of great help in reducing speed of vehicles near schools, hospitals and accident-prone locations.

I urge the concerned authorities to implement suggestion mentioned in my following blogs :

Internetof Vehicles ( IoV ) ?  [  04  March  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/03/internet-of-vehicles-iov.html

SmartCars , Safe Cars , Social Cars ?  [  31  Aug  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/08/smart-cars-safe-cars-social-cars.html

 

CanTechnology Out-Smart the Traffic Offenders ?  [  16  June  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/06/can-technology-out-smart-traffic.html

 

HORN OK ?  [  22  Aug  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/08/horn-ok.html

 

12  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

 

 

Michio Kaku thinks like me ( or vice versa ? )

Michio Kaku  (http://mkaku.org/ )  is a renowned theoretical physicist

Yesterday , he spoke at the “ World Government Summit “ at Dubai , where he said :

https://futurism.com/michio-kaku-life-20-years-future/

=================================

“In the future, we will have smart paper,” Kaku elaborated.

This paper will be able to show us any information that we request, just like computer screens do today. And it’s not just that we will talk to our walls, they’ll talk back. To this end, the architecture of our living spaces will be transformed — our walls will become our smartphones, laptops, and TV screens.

Imagine sitting in a chair in your living room, speaking aloud, and rushing yourself off to the farthest corners of the digital world. That sounds remarkable. It also sounds isolating and, perhaps, more than a little lonely.

Of course, technology also has the potential to help us connect with people wide and far. Kaku noted this point, outlining how tech will allow us to exchange thoughts and ideas as never before. “You will be able to talk to people in any language because your contact lenses will translate speech,” Kaku predicted.

My own idea of what tomorrow’s news papers might look like , were  2 YEARS  ahead of Kaku’s !

Find comparisons at :

RedesigningNewspapers ?  [  23  May  2016  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/05/redesigning-newspapers.html

For design of that future paper , read :

NextGeneration Newspaper ?  [ 21  March  2016  ]

 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/03/next-generation-newspaper.html

 

=================================

12  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Solar Pumps can sell Power ?

Business Line ( 09 Feb ) carries following news :

“ Solar Pumps : A nondescript village in Gujarat shows the way “

 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/solar-pumps-a-nondescript-village-in-gujarat-shows-the-way/article22694612.ece

At one place, the article reads :

“ So far, these farmers have been able to rake in a total of Rs 7 Lakh from SELLING surplus power “

Can we assume that ( without any publicity / fanfare ) , Electricity Act has been amended to enable :

“ ANY ONE to generate SOLAR POWERED ELECTRICITY and SELL it to ANYONE , at ANY TIME and at ANY PRICE  ? “ ,

-       as suggested in my following blog ( sent as email to Policy Makers ) :

Not GoodEnough !  [  02  Dec  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/12/not-good-enough.html

We need this amendment to the Electricity Act to start a SOLAR  POWER  REVOLUTION !

11  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Safeguard Duty on Solar Cells ?

Business Line ( 08 Feb ) carries following news report :

“ Centre weighing lower safeguard duty on Solar Cells “

 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/centre-weighing-lower-safeguard-duty-on-solar-cells/article22681854.ece

The government is weighing the option of lowering the proposed 70-per cent safeguard duty on imported solar modules and panels from China and Malaysia recommended by the Directorate-General of Safeguards as power producers have complained that the move will significantly increase generation costs and render some projects unviable.

The Standing Board on Safeguards, headed by the Commerce Secretary, which is currently examining the proposal, is yet to make its recommendation to the Finance Ministry as it is deliberating upon the appropriateness of the high duty proposed by DG Safeguards, a government official told BusinessLine.

“It is a tricky situation. While domestic manufacturers of solar panels would definitely benefit from a steep safeguard duty, what can’t be ignored is the debilitating effect it would have on power producers as it would result in a steep increase in cost of production,” the official said.

The preliminary findings indicated that the domestic industry is experiencing significant losses and increasing unsold inventory due to cheaper imports, specifically from countries like China and Malaysia.

However, a high duty of 70 per cent on modules and panels from China and Malaysia has the potential of putting at risk up to 3 gigawatt of solar projects worth over ₹12,000 crore under implementation, said an analysis by rating agency Crisil, published shortly after DG Safeguards came up with its proposal last month.

“The safeguard duty proposed will also inflate project costs by 25 per cent and crank up viable tariff to ₹3.75 per unit from around ₹3 estimated earlier, making solar power less attractive to discoms. That would also be more than the average power purchase cost of 10 out of 14 discoms last fiscal,” the report said.

The US President Donald Trump, too, imposed a 30 per cent duty on solar panels, which was less than half of India’s recommended duties, the official said. “It is important for all countries to promote solar power generation domestically, that is why Trump, too, limited import duties on solar panels to 30 per cent,” he said.

I have no idea what is the current import duty on Solar Cells / Modules / PV panels etc

But , in the larger interest of the entire national economy ( - and not merely in the interest of domestic Solar industry ) , I feel that duty ought to be “ Lowered “ – not increased !

Here is why :

·         INDIA

#  Solar Power Capacity added during 2015-16 was 3 GW and during 2016-17 was 5 GW , taking our total installed capacity to 17 GW by Dec 2017

·         CHINA

#  Had total installed Solar Capacity of 75 GW in Nov 2016

#  Added 52 GW between Nov 2016 and Nov 2017 ( almost TEN TIMES of our addition )

#  Total by Nov 2017 reached 126 GW ( - a jump of 67 % in one year )

For further justification ( in favour of lowering duty ) , read :

WhoseInterest ?  [  26  Jan  2018  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/01/whose-interest.html

 

SolarPower : Internal Rate of Return  [  27  Jan 2018  ]

 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/01/solar-power-internal-rate-of-return.html

 

11  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

  

Big Brother is watching us ! And how !

From following news report, you would think that Shri Kapil Sibal is afraid of year 2024 when “ Big Brother “ ( the almighty Surveillance State ) would be watching us 24*7

================================

"Big Brother Is Constantly Watching Us," Supreme Court Told In Aadhaar Case “

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/big-brother-is-constantly-watching-us-supreme-court-told-in-aadhaar-case-1804279

 "Big brother is constantly watching us... Why should the big brother have data ?  He may use it," senior lawyer Kapil Sibal told a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court 

Mr Sibal was also seen to counter suggestions that people could take remedial measures. "By the time, individuals come to court, years will pass and big brother will become bigger "

Dear Shri Sibal ,

For your information , Big Brother is already present in your office , your home , in your car and even in the smart phone in your pocket !

In case you want to know “ How Big ? “ , do spare 10 minutes to read :

===============================

The Beginner’s Guide To Online Privacy  [  29 Jan 2018  ]

https://medium.freecodecamp.org/the-beginners-guide-to-online-privacy-7149b33c4a3e

Extract from this article :

Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll review your thoughts about online privacy.

 Before moving on, take a moment and consider how would you feel if you had to share the following information about you with a group of 200 strangers:

·         where are you located (geographically)

·         when do you surf the Internet and for how long

·         what is the list of all sites you are visiting on each day

·         what illnesses (if any) you have that you searched online

·         what types of products you buy online

·         what devices you use to connect to the Internet

·         what type of content you prefer to read

·         what type of food you prefer to eat

·         what your political views are

The list can continue, but let’s stop here. Probably you wouldn’t share all this information with your friends, not to mention strangers.

However, the reality is that today many people unwillingly and unconsciously are already sharing such data about themselves to “strangers” in companies who collect this data to benefit from it.

Or , you may want to look up my following earlier e mails :

2024! – V 2.0 of Orwellian 1984 ?  [  07  July  2017 ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/07/2024-v-20-of-orwellian-1984.html

Privacydoes not live here !  [  22  July  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/07/privacy-does-not-live-here.html

10  Feb  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs