Fastags Will Check Crime Too

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December 1, 2019 is the deadline for the mandatory use of FASTag for all private and public transport vehicles, at toll plazas on all national highways (NH) across India. This will reduce the time one had to spend at the toll gates for making payment.

The FASTag, enabled with Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), has to be attached on your car's windshield. This is linked with registration details of your vehicle. As one passes through the designated toll gate the RFID code detects your vehicle and the toll fee is deducted from the prepaid balance you have. All this is smooth and fast and you don't have to waste any time on the toll gate.

Now, if the authorities want, this FASTag can help in checking crime too. We often read news of theft of cars. And most of these stolen cars are sold in another state. Only recently a gang of car thieves were caught who used to steal cars in UP and NCR and sell it in the North East. Now, all these cars, if they are driven from one state to another, will have to pass through several toll gates. The FASTag will necessarily read this car too. Same would be the case when a criminal is known to be travelling in a particular vehicle. By flashing the vehicle number the detection may be a little easier.

I may be wrong, but would request the Home Ministry and state Police to look into this.

Reducing Consumption Is The ONLY Solution

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Remember those days when we were told that using paper causes destruction of trees. Many campaigns were launched to reduce its consumption. Movements to save trees could be seen all over, even today. The paper packets started vanishing. Most must be remembering we used to get many snacks from the street seller in paper bags (called 'thongas' in some areas). Even poor people used to make these paper bags from old newspapers and earn a living.

And then came plastic. We thought that here comes the saviour of trees in real sense. It did make a difference too. One can see plastic bags, plates, spoons, glasses, bottles... everywhere.

We used it and disposed it, and where did it go? Our of our homes, yes, but ultimately where did it go? It went to the dumping sites, collected in every corner, choked drains... Today drive down any city suburb and see the amount of plastic in trash, all over. Travel by train and see outside the window how plastic waste is dumped everywhere just outside the city. And we have hundreds of thousands staying in such unhygienic conditions in these suburbs, taking a heavy toll on their health.

We have realised now, though pretty late, that this 'god sent' plastic is in fact killing us. It can not be destroyed. It is entering our body in one form or the other. One of the major causes of the ever increasing cancer patients and other sorts of illness is said to be over use of plastic. Often hear news of how these plastic bags filled with kitchen waste and thrown here and there find their way in the stomach of cows causing their death too. Recently a video went viral showing how the plastic bottles and bags thrown in the sea transforms in micro particles, by being hit repeatedly by waves, and then finds its way in the stomach of fishes causing their death.

Now, what has happened is that we once again want to switch back to paper. From throw away plastic cups, plates etc to paper ones or other alternatives, from plastic bottles to glass/metal bottles, etc. Just possible, that after a few decades we will invent something else; after a few decades realise its ill effects and then invent something else. This cycle will go on.

The ONLY lasting solution lies in reducing our consumption of everything, not only plastic. We are concerned about water shortage, or power or fuel shortage. We are extracting minerals from mother earth, which is not going to last long. Many argue that if this campaign is taken too far, it will lead to closure of business, factories, make millions jobless, the GDP will nose dive... But, then what's the better alternative?

Reducing consumption is also directly related to the steep increase in our population. The more people we have the more will be the requirement of everything. Serious thought, a change in mindset, is the immediate need.

The decision has to be ours to address this issue. All this can not be left to the rulers, the politicians or leaders. Yes, someone has to take this forward. Why not you and me. Or else our children and their children will never forgive us.

Need For 'Waste Management Council' For India

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With the ever growing population and the basic need of fulfilling the promise of ‘ease of living’ and ‘living healthy’ for all Indians, it is imperative that the waste that we create is managed properly.

India is on the path of development, the buying power of the commoner is increasing and with this the consumption of everything is bound to increase. This will also result in the increase of waste that will be generated.

The waste can be domestic, construction, medical, green(plants), industrial, e-waste or whatever.

By managing the waste, in a need based manner, the country will not only save tremendously in its natural resources, which are not going to last forever, but also create an environment friendly atmosphere for all.

Going through the information provided by PIB in 2016, the waste composition of India includes 38 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Organic waste, 22 MMT of Recyclables and 9 MMT of Hazardous. This estimated will be much more today.

According to an article in Hindu Business Line, by 2030 India will be producing 165 MMT of municipal solid waste, which is likely to increase to 450 MMT by 2045.

THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD TO WASTE THIS WASTE

In the same article of Hindu Business Line, it talks of a CPCB report which said that in 2014-15 91% of the solid waste created was collected. Out of this only 27% was treated and the remaining was dumped at dump sites. A recent study indicated that India would need a landfill of 88 sq km, to dump its waste by 2030.

Then, the recycling rates in India are very low, much below the international benchmarks - for packaging paper it is 27%, for plastics 60%, for metals just 20-25%. In Scandinavian countries, the average recycling rates have reached 90%.

Innovative ideas have to come
to use the waste
to extract precious material from the waste
for its disposal in hygienic eco-friendly manner.

WHAT WILL BE THE MANDATE OF THE PROPOSED COUNCIL

The Council will pursue the 3Rs
Recycle
Reduce
Reuse

The Council will ensure that recyclable waste does not end up in a dump yard.

It will set up a R&D Centre.

It will set up sub-branches in educational institutes to throw challenges for innovation and idea generation.

It will ensure citizen participation and engagement.

It will guide the industry to ensure manufacture of quality products to last longer, resulting in its delayed disposal as waste.

SERVICES WHICH SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL

Motivate and guide innovators to develop best practices within the country.

Provide guidance to implement approved practices on ground.

Institute awards at different levels to encourage innovation and to encourage implementation.

Promote global co-operation.

Organise seminars, workshops, exhibitions and publish subject reports for information dissemination.

WHO SHOULD CONSTITUTE THE PROPOSED COUNCIL

Representatives from:
PMO
Niti Aayog
Swachhata Mission
CSIR
Industry body
NGT

and from the ministries of:
Environment
Renewable Energy
Health
Industries
MSME
Urban
HRD