HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 02 IN THE NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019

llTRAFFIC TOIL l CAR BOOM BRINGS GRIDLOCK BOOK REVIEW A delightful learning MISERY TO ‘HAPPY’ BHUTAN experience! Bhutan has seen a more than Armaan Mathur five-fold increase in cars, The book, titled The Earth buses and trucks on its roads Carer’s Guide to Climate Change, is an intuitive effort to in the last two decades, with acquaint young readers with capital Thimphu hardest hit the adverse consequences of our actions on the planet. Brim- by the influx of vehicles ming with colourful illustra- Agence France­Presse tions, quirky art and interactive language, the book is a must- read, especially for new read- THIMPHU, BHUTAN: Famed for valuing ers. The book opens up with Gross National Happiness over some beautifully composed economic growth, Bhutan is a poems on nature and social life, poster child for sustainable devel- abbreviations to ensure easy along with a touching Japanese opment. comprehension even at a lay- folk tale, thereby setting the But booming car sales may man level. Throughout the book tone for the issues of Climate impact efforts to preserve its rare readers have been encouraged change and how it impacts on status as a carbon negative coun- to explore, discover, and com- our future. The editor has made prehend rather than simply try — and an increase in traffic is n A view of a traffic jam on a road in the composition engaging and testing the good humour of its citi- Bhutan's capital Thimphu. Famed cram plain facts. easily comprehensible. zens. for valuing Gross National As the title suggests, it is a Let’s start with the art. Bhutan has seen a more than Happiness over economic growth, guide to climate change; but Things like climate change, the five-fold increase in cars, buses Bhutan was a poster child for what I am really happy about is greenhouse effect, or even and trucks on its roads in the past sustainable development, but a that instead of emphasising on global warming are not easy to two decades, according to trans- boom in car sale may jeopardise its what is out of our hands, the illustrate through flow charts port authority director general rare status as a carbon-negative focus has been on what we can and diagrams. The art was sim- do as an individual. I have to Pemba Wangchuk with capital country. AFP ply invigorating; for the dura- Thimphu hardest hit by the influx admit that this book has cleared tion of this book I was an 8-year- of vehicles. quette -- some simply leave their even my personal conceptual old again, gawking at the col- Phuntsho Wangdi, a media con- cars parked in the middle of the doubts regarding climate ourful illustrations and the sultant, says the congestion and road -- compounds the problem. four-year-old daughter at school RADICAL MEASURES change.Another thing that can quirky side notes. And by col- lack of parking now makes driving “Every year the number of cars every day before heading to work. Bhutan and Suriname are the only be mentioned is the little titbits ourful, I don’t mean only the stressful in the tiny Himalayan and the number of people are The traffic jams are a sign of the two countries to claim they are car- of information sprinkled very traditional ‘crying earth’ illus- kingdom where there are no traffic increasing, and the roads have wider economic changes the nation bon negative. Public transport is cleverly throughout the text. trations; the art here is of a lights. remained the same, and it’s a prob- is facing. Bhutan is renowned for poor, particularly in Thimphu, All in all, the book checks all the much more personal nature. I “I wish there were fewer cars. It lem for us,” Lhendup, a taxi driver, prioritising Gross National Happi- which is home to 100,000 people but good boxes; beautiful art, sim- remember a poem titled Woman wasn’t like this before,” he adds of says. ness over GDP, and has captured barely 40 buses. ple language and most impor- by Alison Dummell which was life in Thimphu, which is home to Morning rush hour journeys tourists’ imagination as a tranquil, The capital’s mayor Kinlay Dorji tantly, fun learning- check! nothing but a woman fetching half the cars in the country. The that once took five minutes now idyllic land, but there are signs of plans to introduce bus-only lanes water with a matka (earthen The contributor is a student of Class 11, nation’s economy has grown 7.5% take more than half an hour. This malcontent. on city roads and wants to buy pot). But the shades used and Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar each year in the past decade, may seem a small figure compared Bhutan ranked 95th out of 156 more buses.“It’s time for radical the atmosphere enhanced the according to the World Bank. Offi- to the hours of gridlock faced by countries in the 2019 UN World measures,” he says. “We have to appeal of the poem. cials estimate there is now one car commuters in Manila, Jakarta, Happiness Report. make public transport more Unlike most educational Title: The Earth Carer’s Guide to for every seven people in Bhutan, and Bangkok, but it is a step- And while taxes have increased attractive and discourage owning Climate Change books intended for a younger which has a total population of change for the Bhutanese who say and restrictions put on vehicle cars,” he adds, warning that unless Author: Various audience, this book didn’t try 750,000. the situation has rapidly deterio- loans, car buyers are not discour- action was taken Thimphu risked Edited by Geeta Dharmarajan too hard to be humorous or cool. But the nation’s narrow country rated in the past year. aged. Local financial institutions grinding to a standstill. To ease Publisher: Katha Books The editor has refrained from lanes and outdated city roads can “Its chaotic. I eat my breakfast in gave $46 million in car loans in congestion, the city is also building Price: ₹195 using any sort of slang or even barely cope. A lack of infrastruc- the car now to save time,” says 2015, but by last year the amount its first two multi-storey car parks ture, along with poor driving eti- Kuenzang Choden, who drops her had reached $96 million. that will each take about 600 cars..

llBULLETIN l Boris Johnson to formally take charge as US announces Goa govt planning to launch water taxis Swift, Grande lead PM with promise to meet Brexit deadline antitrust review of PANAJI: In a first, the BJP-led Goa tabling the performance budget of VMA nominations government is planning to ply the River Navigation department LOS ANGELES: Taylor Swift and Ariana LONDON: Boris Johnson began put- sive figure best known for his big tech firms ‘water taxis’ in its inland water- for the 2019-2020. “Water taxis will Grande dominated nominations on ting together his top team as he pre- gaffes and rhetorical flourishes, WASHINGTON: The United States on ways between Panaji and Old Goa, be introduced for Panaji to Old Goa Tuesday for the MTV Video Music pared to take over as Britain’s was elected on Tuesday by mem- Tuesday announced it would begin the Legislative Assembly was told route with the help of experts,” Awards (VMA) with 10 apiece, but Prime Minister on Wednesday, on bers of the governing Conservative an antitrust review of major online on Wednesday. Chief minister Pra- stated the document. The depart- some K-pop fans cried foul when a mission to deliver Brexit by Octo- party to be their next leader. platforms to determine if they have mod Sawant also said ferry boats ment stated it was considering to best-selling Korean bands were ber 31 by any means necessary. “stifled” innovation or reduced operating on solar power would be replace three old ferry boats with placed in a separate category. The former London mayor, a divi- HAMMOND QUITS AS competition. introduced on different routes. The new ones and procure solar ener- Grande’s breakup anthem ‘thank FINANCE MINISTER The announcement by the Jus- announcement was made while gy-operated hybrid boats. PTI u, next’ and Swift’s ‘You Need to British finance minister Philip tice Department did not name spe- Calm Down,’ will contend for the Hammond resigned from the gov- cific companies but appeared to top prizes of song of the year, best ernment on Wednesday, following signal the department was target- NTPC and BHEL ink pact for power plant pop and video of the year. REUTERS through on a promise to leave ing Google, Facebook and Amazon, rather than serve under incoming which dominate key sectors of the NEW DELHI: State-owned power pro- said the plant shall be the most effi- prime minister Boris Johnson. digital economy. ducer NTPC on Wednesday said it cient and environmental-friendly Hammond said he had left the It was not immediately clear if has signed a pact with BHEL to set power plant in the world, once it economy in a state that would the probe would also target Apple, up an 800 MW technology demon- becomes operational, resulting in allow his successor to choose which despite not being the domi- stration plant (TDP) at its power reduction of carbon dioxide emis- between tax cuts, higher spending nant smartphone maker wields plant in Chhattisgarh. The TDP sion by about 20 per cent as com- n Boris Johnson, leader of the Conservative or faster debt reduction if they left power over services via its App will be set up through a joint ven- pared to the conventional sub-crit- Party, in London, on Tuesday REUTERS the EU smoothly. AGENCIES Store. AFP ture (JV) company, NTPC said. It ical technology. PTI n American singer Taylor Swift

HT CHRONICLE July 25 >> from the archives of the Hindustan Times Longowal, PM Bindra shoots a first for India reach agreement New Delhi- ABHINAV 14 New Delhi- A comprehensive BINDRA is known for inviting Left Front in Bengal divided over Ganguly attack on Dalmiya Tuesday,July 25, 2006

accord was reached between Rs 2.50 tags that were not exactly New Delhi Metro Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and kind. Some called him a snob, hindustantimes.com Akali Dal president Sant Harch- others self-centred. On and Singh Longowal here today Pakistan’s big nuke leap or a big dupe? ation lobby will fight to the last an interview, Albright argued all Monday, the world tagged the deal. One co-author of the report, minute," said an Indian official. WHAT IT Report of Islamabad planning a hugesay thenuclear report does reactornot seem to could be an attemptthis topointed sabotage to a need for the India-US US to N-deal days from now. David Albright, has been one of the Unsurprisingly, in media re- provide any new data or proof re- aggressively push for a fissile ma- PRAMIT Pal Chaudhuri The report by the Institute for most strident voices against the ports Pakistani officials en- garding Pakistan's nuclear pro- terial cutoff treaty -- an agreement New Delhi, July 24 Science and International Securi- deal. His think-tank had earlier dorsed the report's broader MEANS gramme. "Pakistan has been fol- neither New Delhi nor Washington (July 24) on the entire range of claims their country is expand- ty admits construction has been written a largely discredited report Report claims Pakistan is A WASHINGTON think-tank has lowing a plutonium weapons pro- is enthusiastic about. going on for the past six years and claiming India assisted prolifera- ing its nuclear programme. How- making a 1,000-MW plutoni- claimed in a report that Pakistan gramme for over a decade," said Trying to inject curbs on India's marksman a champ. "that nothing suggests that Pak- tion and was a rogue nuclear power. ever, they declined to verify that um reactor. This could give it seems to be building a 1,000-MW one. The report says Pakistan fissile material production into the istan is moving quickly to finish The new report concludes by the images were of a reactor. 200 kg of plutonium a year, reactor designed to increase its seems to be having problems Indo-US nuclear deal has been one this reactor". The satellite images hinting that India's decision to The report's bogey of a South enough for “40-50 nuclear plutonium production twenty- completing the reactor including of the key objectives of the non- show "a round, metal structure in- keep a large number of nuclear re- Asian arms race, however, re- weapons a year” fold. The report, issued on Mon- "a shortage of necessary reactor proliferation lobby. "The report is issues concerning Punjab, mark- side a square building under con- actors outside of international futes the claims by Indian critics day, warns that "South Asia may components" and critical sub- trying to influence the US Con- Pakistan said to have 55-90 struction that appears to be a re- safeguards may have been driven that the deal limits India's nu- be heading for a nuclear arms stances like heavy water. gress, but the debate there is pret- The 24-year-old from nuclear weapons compared to actor vessel" inside Pakistan's ex- by the knowledge Pakistan was clear fissile material stockpile. race". But its real target may be a The real target of the report ty much over. But the nonprolifer- India’s 55-110. It matched isting Khushab nuclear complex. constructing this new reactor. In seems to be the Indo-US nuclear India’s plutonium stockpile in US Congress set for another vote Washington-based analysts Milkha Singh wins a mid-1990s, say most analyses on the Indo-US nuclear deal two ing a welcome end to the Chandigarh did a first for an prolonged crisis in the border Farm fissures too deep for Indian when he clinched the WTO: Talks suspended State that has bedevilled the "We can't accept the opening of our markets K.A. Badarinath for subsidised agricultural products," said Ka- 10-metre air-rifle gold at the New Delhi, July 24 mal Nath. He said the developed countries should break the deadlock and blamed the US gold medal for India THE WTO talks in Geneva collapsed on Mon- for refusing to make cuts in farm subsidies. day as the G6 -- the US, EU, India, Australia, Both the EU and the US spend over $440 billion nation. Brazil and Japan -- failed to agree on freeing annually as subsidies for their farmers, which trade in agricultural goods. makes it financially unviable for developing quadrennial ISSF World Shoot- "Talks have failed. All negotiations have countries to export goods to their markets. While been suspended," Commerce Minister Kamal the EU softened its stand on subsidies, the US de- Hindustan Times from Geneva. Nath told the cided not to slash its domestic support. Market closed CARDIFF-India won her first gold Although He said it would take "anywhere from months Brazil, which along with India joined the G6 India said it would The 11-point Memorandum of to years" to restart the negotiations. This trans- as representatives of developing nations, not open its markets lates into an inordinate delay in the opening up called it a major setback. The US, however, put to subsidised agricul- of markets of developed countries for goods the blame on developing nations for not agree- tural goods ing Championships in Zagreb, from developing nations like India. ing to reduce tariff on agricultural imports. to The last-ditch efforts to save the Doha Round US refused In the absence of a WTO agreement, coun- reduce its farm sub- medal at the British Empire and drawn in the of negotiations collapsed when the US refused tries will have to depend on regional trade sidies that distort to reduce its farm subsidies even as it asked the pacts and bilateral arrangements. For India, Settlement signed at 5-30 p.m. in developing countries to open their markets to international trade there is Asean, G20 and the fledgling Safta. Commonwealth Games here worst lane Croatia. The previous best was its heavily subsidised goods. Parliament House provides for AP today (July 24) when Milkha possible- the silver-medal performance Abhinav Bindra during the 10 metre air rifle competition at the ISSF World Shooting Championship in Zagreb, Croatia on Monday. transfer of Chandigarh to Bindra shoots a first for India of legendary trap shooter Anjali Bhagwat, Manavjit Singh Shooting Championships in Za- and Gagan Narang). AJAI Masand greb, Croatia. The previous best Singh won the 440 yards, setting No.5- Singh New Delhi, July 24 "I'm thrilled. I just spoke to my was the silver-medal performance mom in Chandigarh and my entire Punjab, two high-power commis- of legendary trap shooter Mahara- family is thrilled," Bindra told ABHINAV BINDRA is known for ja Karni Singh at the Cairo World HT from Zagreb. "I've worked hard inviting tags that were not exactly Championships in 1962. Maharaja kind. Some called him a snob, oth- and have got the results." Bindra, a 2004 Athens Olympics What makes success sweeter is ers self-centred. On Monday,the finalist, scored a superb 597 in the up a new Games and Common- ran a well world tagged the marksman a that Bindra has been fighting a back preliminary round and shot a 102.1 injury that forced him out of some champ. in the final round. sions to decide on the territorial The 24-year-old from Chandigarh events. He will soon go in for a sur- With this, Bindra also qualified gery,and then for the next target: did a first for an Indian when he for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (join- Karni Singh at the Cairo clinched the 10-metre air-rifle gold Olympic gold. ing Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, wealth record. His time was 46.6 Judged race disputes between at the quadrennial ISSF World sec. to beat the World Championships in 1962. It wasn’t Tunda: Kenya Indian counterparts of this the very next Punjab and Hary- Mumbai, July 24 day,says N.R. Wasan, joint director, policy, CBI. THE GOVERNMENT did not show much In Delhi, an official said: "The problem 1985 Bindra, a 2004 Athens enthusiasm in acting on last week's media Business &World is that media reports and Kenya's official reports that Lashkar-e-Tayyeba's Syed Ab- statements are at divergence." Believed to The Indian not only bettered favourite, dul Karim, alias Tunda, had been arrested be one of the founder members of the Pak- Condoleezza Rice on the Kenya-Tanzanian border.Here's why. based LeT, Tunda is wanted in connection ana and tribunal on The man arrested was not Tunda but a with over 30 terrorist acts in India. in Lebanon British national of Nigerian origin. And Full coverage, P3 Olympics finalist, scored a US Secretary of State to the Nairobi Interpol office had told their the previous record of 47.1 sec. set Spence (South seek “sustainable” cease- fire even as Israel intensi- P23 RIGHT THING the Ravi-Beas water systems, superb 597 in the preliminary roundfied airstrikes mom in Chandigarh and my entire by Gosper (Australia) in 1954 but Africa) by a SHORT TAKES Jaswant shows courage, reference of the controversial POs to accept I-T returns form will give PM mole’s name and shot a 102.1 in the final New Delhi: The Central family is thrilled," Bindra told HT Board of Direct Taxes has also the South African, Malcolm few inches. On Sunday,Manmohan announced that 2,000 post SHEKHAR Iyer Singh had said, "If Jaswant offices across the country New Delhi, July 24 Anandpur Sahib resolution to the Singh had the decency and have been designated to courage, he should name the accept income tax return PICKING UP the gauntlet person whom he's accusing of round. forms from July 26. P11 fromthrown byZagreb. Manmohan Singh, "I've worked hard being a mole." former foreign minister Spence's Commonwealth record 2006 Speaking to CNN-IBN, Jaswant Singh has said that he HT.com poll; Weather report: p4 Jaswant said: "I'll seek a time is ready to tell the PM about with him. I'll go and give him Sarkaria Commission widening the mole who snooped on the the document that I have, but I MARKETS PMO a decade ago. will not make public the With this, Bindra also • BSE Sensex 10,215.37 +129.46 and Inhave a letter to the PM, got the results." What name, because there's a na- 2,985.85 +40.85 Jaswant is understood to have NSE Nifty tional purpose behind it." of 46.8 sec. set up last year at Port Everyone • Gold N /A said that he is willing to fur- He, however, did tell NDTV N /A nish all details, including the SIlver Plan of action that the mole was no longer of the scope of the inquiry into • Dollar (Buy/Sell) 46.90 46.91 documentary evidence in his he’ll in a position of authority. Jaswant says possession, regarding the spy. Pound (Buy/Sell) 86.92 86.94 Unhappy over the contro- go and give the In his memoir,A Call to qualified for the 2008 Beijing Euro (Buy/Sell) 59.22 59.24makesPrime Minister the successversy caused sweeter by Jaswant's is that Bindra Honour, Jaswant has alleged (Interbank forex rates, PTI) book, senior BJP leaders, in- Elizabeth. here knew that document he has that during P.V.Narasimha cluding A.B. Vajpayee, are But he will not make Rao's tenure there was a mole 54 pages, including six said to have advised him to TODAY: public the mole’s in the PMO who leaked nu- last November's riots, rehabilita- pages of HT City, 10 pages of HT hold a press conference to HT name, “because clear secrets to a US diplo- Power Jobs and 12 pages of clear the air. He might do so Commercial (Situations Vacant and there’s a national mat, who in turn informed an Olympics (joining RajyavardhanTenders) . has been fightingon Tuesday,BJP sources said.a back injury that purpose behind it” American senator. When the Indian mounted Milkha Vol. LXXXII No. 175 tion of those discharged from the Singh Rathore, Anjali Bhagwat, forced him out of some events. He the rostrum to receive his 1958 Singh was Army, and compensation to the medal, he received one of the the Asian Manavjit Singh and Gagan Narang). will soon go in for a surgery, and then families of all the innocent people "I'm thrilled. I just spoke to my for the next target: Olympic gold. biggest cheers of the day from the champion but killed in agitation and riots since crowd in the Cardiff Arms Park. not having had August 1982. Millions of Britons also saw him any real compe- receiving the medal on TV. tition with the edge over the others. WATCH OUT THIS SPACE FOR QUIZ He said afterwards: " I am very world-class quarter milers, few Down the straight, it was either ON FRIDAYS proud of having won the first gave him a chance to win the title. Spence or Tobacco but Singh was medal for India." He hoped to coming up very fast and he made The quiz will be based on HT archives. Send in your answers at compete in the 1960 Olympic The final was a really thrilling it-he breasted the tape a few [email protected] Games at Rome. well-fought out duel. At the last inches ahead of the South It was a very popular victory. bend, it looked as if Spence had African.

The Memorandum was tabled in the Lok Sabba within 20 minutes of its signing by a beaming Prime Minister, who expressed the hope that this "will bring to an end a very difficult period through which the nation has passed." The five-page Memorandum, signed by the two leaders, itself ends thus: "This settlement brings to an end a period of confrontation and ushers in an era of amity, goodwill and co-operation, which will promote and strengthen the unity and integrity of India." The announcement by Mr Gandhi which had been awaited anxiously by members in both Houses of Parliament was greet- ed with loud and prolonged thumping of desks by members on all sides. Two senior Opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha, Prof. Madhu Dandavate Tanata and Mr C. Madhava Reddy (Telugu Desam) welcomed it immediately. The transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, as also of Hindi-speak- ing areas now in Punjab to Haryana is to take place simultane- ously on the next Republic Day, Jan. 26, 1986. The commission will give its findings by Dec. 31, 1985, which