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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

'Everything in excess is pollution'

IIT Bombay Director Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare Mumbai: “The extreme of anything becomes pollution.” With this powerful axiom, Prof. Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, opened a roadmap for the future of urban India at the Harit Samvad symposium. Addressing a diverse audience of over 190 delegates at the NSE Auditorium in BKC on Sunday, Dr. Kedare moved beyond traditional environmental rhetoric to deliver a data-driven wake-up call regarding the planet’s disturbed energy balance. Dr....

'Everything in excess is pollution'

IIT Bombay Director Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare Mumbai: “The extreme of anything becomes pollution.” With this powerful axiom, Prof. Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, opened a roadmap for the future of urban India at the Harit Samvad symposium. Addressing a diverse audience of over 190 delegates at the NSE Auditorium in BKC on Sunday, Dr. Kedare moved beyond traditional environmental rhetoric to deliver a data-driven wake-up call regarding the planet’s disturbed energy balance. Dr. Kedare identified excessive consumption as the primary driver of the modern environmental crisis. He noted that while pollution and climate change are distinct, they are inextricably linked by human activity that has pushed natural systems to their breaking point. He drew urgent attention to Carbon dioxide levels, which have now surpassed 425 ppm, creating a greenhouse effect that destabilizes global weather cycles. He warned of the "silent" crises—micro-plastic infiltration in food chains, land degradation, and the rapid erosion of biodiversity. He also warned of the energy imbalance, while stressing that this shift is not just academic; but it results in the extreme climate events and unpredictable natural cycles currently witnessed across the MMR region. Shifting focus to solutions, Dr. Kedare argued that sustainability cannot be achieved through policy alone; it requires a fundamental shift in the "unit of action"—the individual and the family. First comes Systematic Measurement. Dr. Kedare advocated for the "democratization of data," urging citizens to use modern apps and technology to measure - Daily water and energy consumption; Personal and household carbon footprints and Waste generation metrics. He also suggested a set of practical everyday actions. He called for a return to simplicity, emphasizing that real change begins with reducing needs rather than just managing waste. Key recommendations included - prioritizing walking and use of public transport; implementing household-level composting and biogas generation and opting for local, organic, and skill-based products over mass-produced goods. Dr Kedare also stressed on the power of collective transition. Emphasizing India’s historical strength in traditional knowledge, Dr. Kedare concluded that the path to a "Harit" (Green) Mumbai lies in structured, step-by-step collaboration. He noted that lasting environmental transitions only occur when families, neighbourhoods, and institutions work in tandem. Organized by My Green Society (MGS) the event was a vibrant display of collective spirit of ‘Symposium of Action’. From the Mangrove Foundation’s conservation reports to Godrej & Boyce’s net-zero corporate strategies, the forum echoed Dr. Kedare’s call for a multi-sectoral approach. The day concluded with a practical example of the circular economy: participants received THELU bags—upcycled from five-star hotel linens by tribal women in Palghar—proving that the remedies Dr. Kedare spoke of are already being woven into the fabric of Mumbai’s community action.

Clever seat selection helped BJP to secure historic win

The party won 65 seats against Congress, 37 against NCP (SP) and 29 against Shiv Sena (UBT)

Clever seat selection

Mumbai: The BJP’s strategic seat sharing with the allies has proved beneficial for the party. An analysis of the Assembly election results show that the BJP has scored over its main rival, the Congress, in a big way because of the direct fights.


The analysis shows that BJP defeated all three constituents of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) – in the direct fights. This is attributed as one of the reasons for the BJP’s historic poll success.


The BJP contested 147 out of 288 seats. In 76 constituencies, it faced Congress. BJP secured victory in 65 seats and lost only 11 seats, making it a whopping 86 per cent of the total direct fights. This was followed by an even stronger performance against NCP (SP). Of the total 39 fights with Sharad Pawar’s party, BJP captured 37 seats making it 95 per cent of the total fights with NCP (SP). BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) were head-to-head in 32 constituencies, of which BJP emerged victorious in 29 seats, making this 91 per cent of the total direct contests.


According to a BJP strategist the party had bargained hard with its allies, Shiv Sena and NCP to get the desired constituencies in the seat sharing formula. “We had studied to potential candidates of the MVA. That helped us in choosing the seats where we can register comfortable victories,” the strategist said.


BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty attributed the success to all the party workers who worked hard to boost development, infrastructure in the state. He gave credit to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his contribution to the party’s success.


Shetty pointed out that in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray had stalled all the “novel” and “legendary” projects that Fadnavis had started when he had taken over as CM, making it very easy for the people of Maharashtra to strike a comparison between both the leaders and the potential they had for serving the people. “Devendra Fadnavis gave up his post very easily for the larger good. There are many such examples like Venkaiah Naidu who was BJP National President and later worked as the Vice President of India because that was the need of the hour. We seldom care about our posts,” Shetty told The Perfect Voice.


Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe refused to call the election results as the people’s mandate. “This is not at all a Janata mandate. Despite Maharashtra struggling with so many basic social issues, how can BJP acquire such a huge mandate is the question. If a student copies and fails with just passing marks, it can go unnoticed, but if a student copies and bags the number one position, something is fishy. Why is the BJP scared of ballot papers?” he said.

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