At a recent conclave on public private partnerships in infrastructure organised by the finance ministry, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had to face some infrastructure-related issues. As soon as he started his speech, the microphone stopped working. Ahluwalia, however, did not pay much attention to this and continued to speak, audible only to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and some others on the dais. When the problem was rectified, the programme host suggested that given the hurdles to infrastructure growth, Ahluwalia should repeat his speech, which he did, in its entirety.
Brown study
The quality of water supply may be a huge issue in India but if the country’s urban planners want to feel good about themselves they should check in to a five-star hotel in Chittagong, Bangladesh. A sign in the bathrooms there informs guests to expect brown water to flow out of the tap when it turned on, that this was normal and, therefore, the housekeeping staff need not be summoned.
