TRAI regulation on call drops is arbitrary, unreasonable: SC
Supreme Court today struck down the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI, regulation making it mandatory for telecom companies to compensate subscribers for call drops. The court held the regulation as arbitrary, unreasonable and non-transparent.
The apex court passed the judgement on the appeals filed by a body of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India and 21 telecom operators, including Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Reliance. TRAI had earlier told the Supreme Court that it will take action against the Telcom companies for call drops to protect the interests of consumers as the service providers are not willing to compensate them.
Cong wins Uttarakhand floor test
Congress has won the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly. The Supreme Court today declared that Mr Harish Rawat got 33 votes out of 61 in the Assembly. The apex court said Mr Rawat will assume office as Chief Minister after President’s rule is revoked.
The court said no irregularities were found in the voting. The result of the trust vote was handed over to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover early today along with video recording of the proceedings in the State Assembly.
President’s Rule has been revoked in Uttarakhand. The Union Cabinet took the decision after Supreme Court declared that Congress has won the floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly.
The decision to revoke the President’s rule in Uttarakhand has created an atmosphere of jubiliation in state Congress camp. The Congress has stated it is a victory of democracy.
Mr Harish Rawat has said that his government will need active support of the Centre to move forward. He said he will soon meet Prime Minister and seek his cooperation for the state.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has said democracy has won in Uttarakhand. In a series of tweets, Mr Gandhi said, the party did its best while BJP did their worst. He said, it is a lesson for all, that people of the country and institutions built by its founding fathers will not tolerate murder of democracy.
Media Contact:
Gaelle Gourmelon
Phone: +1 (202) 745-8092 x 510
E-mail: ggourmelon@worldwatch.org
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Cities Hold the Key to a Livable Future
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Washington, D.C.—–Today, nearly 3.9 billion people—–half of the world’s population—–live in urban areas. By 2050 that number is expected to nearly double. According to Can a City Be Sustainable? (State of the World), the latest edition of the annual series from the Worldwatch Institute, there is no question cities will continue to grow; the only debate is over how (www.worldwatch.org).
“Cities are at a crossroads, confronting historic challenges posed by rising populations, accelerating climate change, increasing inequity, and—–all too often—–faltering livability,” writes Eduardo da Costa Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
Cities have voracious appetites for energy, accounting for about three-quarters of the world’s direct final energy use in 2005—–far more than their 49 percent share of global population that year. Cities today must also deal with growing stress on raw material supplies. Extraction of metals, minerals, and fuels is increasingly complex now that the easiest sources have been tapped. A city’s food system—–the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste of its food—–has impacts that extend to a city’s host region and country, and often to other countries as well.
“As rural migrants to cities adopt city-based lifestyles, they tend to use more resources as their incomes rise and as their diets shift from starchy staples to a greater share of animal products and processed foods,” writes Tom Prugh, author and co-director of the report. This, in turn, puts natural systems—–either in the migrants’ own countries or in other countries that export products or their inputs—–under strain.
However, cities today are also in an exciting position to take leadership on the effort to build sustainable economies.
“People care about their cities and often are motivated to protect and improve their urban homes,” says Gary Gardner, author and co-director of State of the World. “Cities can harness that passion to help advance a sustainability agenda, perhaps more easily than national governments or corporations can.”
Perhaps the biggest single step that cities can take toward a sustainable future is to create economies that greatly reduce materials use, (re)circulate most materials, and rely largely on renewable energy. “Green infrastructure”—–the use of natural areas to provide economic services—–can also help cities avoid building costly new water management facilities, can recharge aquifers, and can provide flood protection. Ensuring that decision-making is transparent and participatory ensures that no community is left behind.
“Building on the new hope created by the breakthrough agreement on climate action achieved in Paris last December, cities stand ready to engage their citizens in building a sustainable future,” writes Mayor Paes.
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Naresh will you be one of the 9 we need in your town today?
We literally cannot wait another day here
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