In its worst-ever peace-time incident, the Indian Navy has lost one of its frontline submarines involving on-board explosions that have resulted in the tragic death of 18 naval personnel comprising three officers and 15 sailors. INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian-made Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine which sank soon after the explosions while docked at the Mumbai naval base, had only four months ago returned from Russia where it underwent a major refit-cum-upgrade involving the integration of land-attack missiles and other advanced equipment at a cost of $156 million, which, incidentally, exceeded its original cost of an estimated $118 million. The incident is indeed horrific as it is shocking. It is for the first time that the Navy has lost a submarine and that too in peace time while docked in home waters. The incident raises several questions relating to technical and human error and even sabotage. As of now there is considerable speculation on what went wrong and it would be premature to arrive at a conclusion. A specially constituted Board of Inquiry is expected to determine the causative factors. As of now it is widely believed that the explosions were triggered by either a buildup of hydrogen generated during recharging of the batteries or mishandling while arming the on-board weapon systems.Incidentally, three years ago in February 2010, this very submarine was the scene of a smaller explosion that led to the death of one sailor and the wounding of two others while its batteries were being recharged at the Visakhapatnam naval base. Needless to say, the Indian Navy can ill afford such incidents and must identify the reasons that led to this terrible incident which has resulted in a tragic loss of lives, the loss of an expensive and potent weapon system, the further depletion of an already limited submarine fleet and a loss of image to a professional Navy. Furthermore, it certainly does not auger well for a country that projects itself as a major power in a very complicated region where some powerful adversaries are at play. Independent, not vibrantNeed to improve the economyIndia celebrated its 67th Independence Day and the Prime Minister, in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, was right in stressing on the nation's deep commitment to secularism and the need to build a progressive, modern India. He, however, also dwelt on some of the tribulations that the country has faced - the floods and the tragedy in Uttarakhand, the loss of the submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, and the death of schoolchildren after eating a mid-day meal in Bihar.The UPA has had a tough year and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is right in acknowledging that "the journey is long and a large distance still remains to be travelled." Some of the reforms that the UPA government could have cited as a success have not been implemented. While children are being imparted education, the education system needs to be reformed. High food grain production has not translated into the alleviation of hunger. Even the much-touted Food Security Bill has not yet been passed in Parliament. As an economist, the Prime Minister knows all too well that the growth rate has come down and the fiscal health of the nation has weakened considerably over the past year. There is no doubt that "rapid economic growth is an imperative for our country," as he acknowledged in his address, but it is for his government to take the necessary steps and deliver to the people of India.The nation remains a strong democracy with a far-from-vibrant economy. It has faced challenges from sectarian forces and borne the brunt of Naxal violence and terrorists with cross-border links. The basic fabric of the nation is strong. It is the challenges of a legacy of scams, of large-scale corruption and institutions that have performed below par that have all created a situation where the Independence-Day celebrations lacked the traditional fervour for a nation that is justifiably proud of its Independence. It even clouded some remarkable achievements, including the launch of INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, which has made the nation join the elite club of countries that can make their own aircraft carriers.Animals on prowlMinimise conflicts with wildlifeThe shooting down of a man-eating leopard at Mandi village in Himachal Pradesh has once again brought into focus the urgent need to minimise man-animal conflict. The man-animal faceoff is neither a new phenomenon nor confined to any one particular region. In Jammu and Kashmir, where 195 lives have been lost to wild animals in the last seven years, at least two or more conflicts were reported on a daily basis. Shrinking habitats, depletion of the natural prey base, changing crop patterns, suitability of man modified habitats to wild animals, presence of stray dogs and cattle in forest fringe areas are some of the factors that have forced the flight of animals into human zones. The relationship of man with wild animals, particularly with the spotted cat, is indeed becoming more and more antagonistic. In the recent times, the rise in human losses due to animal attacks has alarmed the Environment Ministry. Besides, there have been reports of leopard deaths at the hands of villagers in various parts of the country. Leopards are being lost repeatedly to poaching and conflicts with humans. In 2011 alone, 358 leopards were lost, of which 52 per cent were believed to have died due to human interference. Many leopard deaths were recorded in Uttarakhand. Human intrusion is rightly thought to be the reason behind the increasing number of leopard attacks. However, a study conducted in Western Maharashtra found a number of leopards in human habitats peacefully sharing the human space. Thus conservationists who argue for protected areas have to think of new strategies for the conservation of wildlife. Monitoring mechanisms have to keep the interests of both animals and humans in mind and must be environment-centric. While campaigns must stress on dos and don'ts to help people, especially those living in buffer areas, majestic animals like leopards can't be driven to extinction. Thoughtfor the Day
Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara Full Movie With English Sub Free Download
Download File: https://tinourl.com/2vKL4H
2ff7e9595c
Comments