Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy.
Respected Farooq sahib,
I am a nationally known mechanical engineer whose long professional innings has focussed on development of globally competitive Indian technology and its commercialisation; entrepreneurship, total quality management and higher technical education.
After a 12-year stint on Indian Railways, I joined CSIR in 1965, where I led the design of the 100 per cent Indian Swaraj Tractor and moved on to raise Punjab Tractors (PTL) in Mohali for its commercialisation in 1970.
I then led PTL and its Swaraj group of companies (Swaraj-Mazda, Swaraj Engines and Swaraj Automotives) for 28 years into a Rs 1500 crore nationally and internationally known blue chip.
I was 65 in 1997 when I called it a day at PTL. I have been pursuing my two other interests thereafter: higher technical education (away from rote towards practice) and TQM.
Solar and non-conventional energy and environment pollution have been distinct interests in my long tryst with technology. Latest manifestations of this interest are:
Single-axis tracker for extended linear arrays of PV panels to improve their power factor by 20 per cent +. Patent applied for. Prototype installation in hand in association with Moser Baer
Conversion of environment-nuisance paddy-straw into ethanol. Process also applicable to other bio-mass. Lab process cleared. The Rs 5-crore Pilot Plant under discussion with MARKFED/Punjab S &T.
Our urgency of alternative sources of energy reminded me of the globally exploited practice of advancing the national clock by 1 hour in summer. It shifts human activity to sunlight hours to the maximum extent. The sunrise and sunset times on our longest and shortest days are:
The difference in the duration of our day is as high as 3.42 hrs. Isn't it a criminal waste of sunlight during the summer months to laze round till 900 or 10.00 hrs when the sun has been up for four hours? What is still worse is its consequential impact on extending the working hours of commercial establishments late into the night. Overloaded power-systems and peak-hour restrictions are natural corollaries.
Since we are, and will remain short of power in the foreseeable future, should we not adopt this practice straightway. The beauty of adopting summer time is that:
It involves no capital investment or large effort.
Since its adoption across the country is universal and simultaneous, there is no dislocation of work. Readjustment of body clocks takes just a couple of days.
Developed countries, all in the temperate zones, adopt summer time to leave enough for social activity and weather for outdoor activity is most amiable. In our case, conservation of electricity should be the dictating factor.
With respectful regards and best wishes for the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Chandra Mohan, Padmashree
Respected Farooq sahib,
I am a nationally known mechanical engineer whose long professional innings has focussed on development of globally competitive Indian technology and its commercialisation; entrepreneurship, total quality management and higher technical education.
After a 12-year stint on Indian Railways, I joined CSIR in 1965, where I led the design of the 100 per cent Indian Swaraj Tractor and moved on to raise Punjab Tractors (PTL) in Mohali for its commercialisation in 1970.
I then led PTL and its Swaraj group of companies (Swaraj-Mazda, Swaraj Engines and Swaraj Automotives) for 28 years into a Rs 1500 crore nationally and internationally known blue chip.
I was 65 in 1997 when I called it a day at PTL. I have been pursuing my two other interests thereafter: higher technical education (away from rote towards practice) and TQM.
Solar and non-conventional energy and environment pollution have been distinct interests in my long tryst with technology. Latest manifestations of this interest are:
Single-axis tracker for extended linear arrays of PV panels to improve their power factor by 20 per cent +. Patent applied for. Prototype installation in hand in association with Moser Baer Conversion of environment-nuisance paddy-straw into ethanol. Process also applicable to other bio-mass. Lab process cleared. The Rs 5-crore Pilot Plant under discussion with MARKFED/Punjab S &T. Our urgency of alternative sources of energy reminded me of the globally exploited practice of advancing the national clock by 1 hour in summer. It shifts human activity to sunlight hours to the maximum extent. The sunrise and sunset times on our longest and shortest days are:
| Sunrise Sunset Duration of day Longest day 5.31 19.43 14.12 hrs Shortest day 7.24 17.58 10.30 hrs |
The difference in the duration of our day is as high as 3.42 hrs. Isn't it a criminal waste of sunlight during the summer months to laze round till 900 or 10.00 hrs when the sun has been up for four hours? What is still worse is its consequential impact on extending the working hours of commercial establishments late into the night. Overloaded power-systems and peak-hour restrictions are natural corollaries.
Since we are, and will remain short of power in the foreseeable future, should we not adopt this practice straightway. The beauty of adopting summer time is that:
It involves no capital investment or large effort. Since its adoption across the country is universal and simultaneous, there is no dislocation of work. Readjustment of body clocks takes just a couple of days. Developed countries, all in the temperate zones, adopt summer time to leave enough for social activity and weather for outdoor activity is most amiable. In our case, conservation of electricity should be the dictating factor.
With respectful regards and best wishes for the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Chandra Mohan, Padmashree
Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India.
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