Climate Change, Resource conflicts
Madras/Delhi
Joined December 2012
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Yesterday, the #BonnClimateConference saw heated discussions. Rich countries like the US, UK and European Union prevented developing nations from including climate finance in the agenda.
A quick #thread on how rich nations evade responsibility for providing climate finance 1/12
Mrinali retweeted
This is the time when pollution in the nation’s capital generates global headlines. But there are places where, according to a detailed analysis just published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air(CREA), the public health crisis is even worse. For the month of October 2026
1. The top three most polluted cities in India going by the monthly average PM2.5 concentration were in Uttar Pradesh--Baraut in Baghpat district, Khora in Ghaziabad district and Gajraula in Amroha district.
2. 13 cities in UP, 11 cities in Haryana, 3 in Gujarat and 2 each in MP, Punjab and Rajasthan exceeded the national ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 (24-hour mean) which itself is four times the WHO safety level.
The National Clean Air Programme launched almost eight years back needs an urgent revamp and move beyond road dust mitigation. CREA’s analysis very rightly suggests that it should now (i) control emissions from industry, power generation and residential sources; (ii) control directly emitted particulate matter; and (iii) address gaseous precursors responsible for secondary PM2.5 formation. An airshed-based approach needs to be followed.
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were last promulgated in November 2009. They were acknowledged to be very progressive then—but now they need to be updated, especially the safe limits for PM2.5 concentrations.
Mrinali retweeted
1. There is really no justification for it. The huge margins offered by drug manufacturers are due to market distortion. Manufacturers view the purchasers and prescribers, ie hospital and doctor, as their clients, not the patient on whom the medicine is used.
2. Controlling the margins on these drugs won’t affect research as claimed by manufacturers, since they are still free to fix their sale price to distributors. Only the subsequent exorbitant margin gets capped. However, corporate hospitals will certainly take a big hit and by and large their overall profit margins are not good enough to fully absorb this impact.
3. Bed charges, even in highest category of rooms, are well below the infra and running cost per bed of the hospital. It is a fact that hospitals cover the cost of stay and treatment primarily from high margins on pharmacy.
4. If margins from pharmacy and consumables too are cut off, you may find that hospitals substantially increase other charges to offset this substantial loss of income. We have seen this happen in coronary angioplasty - when margins on stents was capped, the procedure charges were increased to keep package cost the same.
5. Unfortunately in India, as of now services are not valued as much as products. Most patients are willing to pay 1 lakh for an implant, stent or medicine a lot more readily than giving the treating doctor 50k for his expertise. Additionally in oncology, the fear of cancer is a big incentive for people to spend any amount for medicines in the hope of cure. It is a sad reality that manufacturers, hospitals and doctors do exploit this situation. It is not a grand conspiracy, each of them is in it for their own reasons.
6. Even though I’m not a fan of overarching govt controls, in some situations such as this, the govt does need to step in and correct market distortions. I reiterate that for antibiotics too, rampant misuse due to high margins is causing scarily high rates of antibiotic resistance. The margins on all antibiotics must be made so low that there should be no incentive at all for misuse.
7. My opinion is that it is better for medical professionals to charge directly for services rendered, than rely on such indirect and somewhat unsavoury sources of income. People too should also get used to paying their treating doctors well for good, clean and timely services and treatment.
🚨 SUPREME COURT | “Can you show any justification for this loot?”
A cancer patient’s husband, a medical distributor, told the Supreme Court that an injection available to him at a dealer price of ₹11,000 was allegedly priced at ₹1.30 lakh by a reputed hospital, which refused to administer the injection he offered.
“Why this difference? Where does the money go?” Justice Sandeep Mehta asks the Centre.
Mrinali retweeted
It seems one line makes a better headline than an entire argument. @NDTV has shared several excerpts from my interview, but that hardly justifies cherry-picking this particular remark while stripping away the context in which it was made. I shall leave viewers to judge the merits of that editorial choice. Meanwhile, here are a few more of the points I made in the same conversation.
-The police’s “ruthless” repression on Saturday and the “badly manhandled” protesters on Sunday.
-The Congress’s role in initiating this phase of protests in Delhi from 6 October.
-The extraordinary turnout of “easily lakhs” of supporters, despite the police conduct over the weekend.
-The protest as “a good day for the defence of democracy”.
- @RahulGandhi’s election petition and the wider legal challenge to the ECI’s handling of the SIR.
When an interview is reduced to a convenient soundbite, the headline may be sharp, but the journalism falls short.
🔴#BREAKING | शशि थरूर ने की केंद्र सरकार और दिल्ली पुलिस की तारीफ, NDTV से बोले शशि थरूर, 'इस बार पुलिस ने काफी संयम बरता'
#ShashiTharoor #Congress #DelhiPolice | #RanjanaRathoreNDTV @ranjanasingh95 @ShivAroor @ShashiTharoor
Mrinali retweeted
Traffic restrictions are back in central Delhi in the wake of anti-CEC protest called by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
In view of the prevailing law and order situation on 12.10.2026, traffic restrictions and diversions may be implemented at various locations across Delhi. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow additional travel time.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
* Motorists are requested to avoid non-essential travel through affected areas, follow diversion signs and directions of traffic personnel, and cooperate with Delhi Traffic Police to ensure smooth traffic movement.
* For real-time updates and assistance, connect with Delhi Traffic Police through the following channels:
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/dtptraffic
PLATFORM X: x.com/dtptraffic
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/dtptraffic
WHATSAPP: 8750871493
HELPLINE NOS.: 1095 / 011-25844444
#DTPUpdates
#DPTrafficAdvisory
@PMOIndia
@HMOIndia
@LtGovDelhi
@CPDelhi
@CMODelhi
@DelhiPolice
@OfficialDMRC
@dtchq_delhi
@tweetndmc
@FBDPolice
@gurgaonpolice
@SonipatPolice
@jhajjarpolice
@ghaziabadpolice
@CP_Noida
@timesofindia
@the_hindu
@IndianExpress
@AmarUjalaNews
@NavbharatTimes
@Live_Hindustan
@TimesNow
@IndiaToday
@republic
Mrinali retweeted
News Alert! Matter of law and order, not my domain: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Delhi protests, related restrictions.
Mrinali retweeted
#BREAKING Supreme Court orders no illegal detention can take place of those peacefully gathering.
Court orders Metro & Rail Services to function normally, Internet facilities must remain undisturbed as per law and free movement of people and traffic be permitted.
Court also directed take down S.163 board outside Supreme Court, so there is no apprehension with regard to access to justice.
#SupremeCourt #CECProtest
Mrinali retweeted
Deeply concerned and strongly condemn the arbitrary detention of Shri Pinarayi Vijayan (Leader of Opposition, Keralam) by the Delhi Police.
He is currently being held at Mandir Marg Police Station. On my instructions, the Chief Secretary, Keralam and the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi are in direct contact with Delhi Police authorities to coordinate all necessary steps for his immediate release.
#VDSatheesan
#Keralam
Mrinali retweeted
Aviation exclusive on Delhi crackdown: What unfolded aboard Air India flight AI 2428 moments before three Cockroach Janata Party leaders were detained? The last-minute change of parking bay, the pilots caught by surprise, and why Air India is questioning the move. My report thehindu.com/news/national/a…
Mrinali retweeted
நா புறம்போக்கு! நீ புறம்போக்கா?
The schedule is out! This year, we take porombokku into the city and beyond, exploring the commons we share, create and care for.
Come join us. Come be a Porombokku.
📍 TRACE The SPACE, Mylapore
📅 19.09.2026
Watch this space for more details.
@cktv13 @NityJayaraman
Mrinali retweeted
Here is the INC statement on the shocking shift in the stance of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the consent role of the Gram Sabha under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. In this memorandum, the Ministry has stated that “there is no provision” in the Act requiring Gram Sabha consent for projects diverting forest land for non-forest purposes.
Mrinali retweeted
15–20 such people descended on my house this morning. Some have been camping outside since last night. These videos have now activated goons, a grave security threat for everyone living in the house. I am currently in Maharashtra for CJP’s two-day meeting.
Videos:
teapawt.net/Pamphlet_in/status/208…
teapawt.net/JaipurDialogues/status… teapawt.net/JaipurDialogues/status…
🚨#SOS: Certain YouTubers and media channels have broken into my house and are showing the visuals from inside. It’s not just an invasion of my privacy but also a grave security threat for me and my family.
If anti-social elements attack me at my residence as a result of this, these YouTubers and their troll handlers who are coordinating this will be directly responsible! @DelhiPolice
Mrinali retweeted
🚨#SOS: Certain YouTubers and media channels have broken into my house and are showing the visuals from inside. It’s not just an invasion of my privacy but also a grave security threat for me and my family.
If anti-social elements attack me at my residence as a result of this, these YouTubers and their troll handlers who are coordinating this will be directly responsible! @DelhiPolice
Mrinali retweeted
Udhayanidhi Stalin's words are Undefendable. Excuses, such as 'did not intend to hurt' do not cut it. An unconditional apology is needed. The threshold for public conduct needs to be very high. Why is it so difficult for politicians to say sorry, I made a mistake ?
Mrinali retweeted
We have been told by Court and govt that Aadhar is not proof of residence or identity or citizenship or anything else.
So is this the real use of biometric and other data collected under Aadhar?
State surveillance, criminalisation of freedoms, police access to data of all dissenting citizens.
Techies led by Nandan Nilekani and RS Sharma, you played a role in the making of this police state.
And don’t forget the other much touted tech enabled convenience- Digiyatra at the airport. It is premised on facial recognition data. It’s a private entity.
Who gets your data and why?
Mrinali retweeted
Several people detained by the police on Monday were picked up from locations away from the protest site at Sansad Marg, families and lawyers have alleged.
Among them was a 55-year-old man who was detained from Connaught Place. His family said he was not part of the protest and had reached the area unaware of his surroundings due to a medical condition. “He suffers from episodes that cause memory loss and delusions,” his wife, a resident of Delhi Gate, said while waiting outside the Mandir Marg police station.
@Shrimansi12 reports
thehindu.com/news/cities/Del…
Mrinali retweeted
Various opposition parties led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha have given a notice under Rule 267 for a suspension of ordinary business and an immediate discussion on -
i. the use of excessive force by police, including lathi-charge, tear gas, pellet guns, shock batons, and water cannons against peaceful student protesters on July 20th;
ii. the manner in which the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and other opposition leaders were manhandled, pushed around, and dragged on the roads by police personnel on July 21;
iii. the complete silence of the PM and the HM on the student protests and police barbarity;
iv. the continued unwillingness of the Union Minister of Education to resign in the face of the mounting evidence of his unfitness to hold office;
v. the mounting frustration and hopelessness of youth across the country with the education and examination system.
The impasse in the Rajya Sabha is entirely because of the continued refusal of the Government to have this discussion under Rule 267.