There is always political sensationalism, impulsive euphoria ( like a teen who gets an opportunity to satisfy his lust), followed by MSM & social media hype ( breaking news, great for our economy bla bla).
These are done to get short term and sudden brownie points.
You are correct not only this, there are so many very costly and much more valuable minerals esp. in Andra ( MMTC officials and Geo-Chemists know about these from pre-BJP days itself ( I mean in 80's, my friend's father one Chari was a director of MMTC who lived in Shenoy Nagar).
There were even a few half hearted attempts made by central governments under various leaders to mine them.
However, these half hearted approaches were met with full hearted protests and demands ( from public and also provoked by LEFT) like:-
Compensation of settlement as per their requirements.
1. Build alternative residences,
2. Issue letters of employment per one person at least per family of those in that area,
3. 5 times the market value of the land needed etc.
4. They accompanied this ( within one month of not getting any positive reply from the government ) that the government officials are planning to spoil the environment and pollute the lands which give us our very livelihood etc.
5. This was followed by demands of ransom and threat from Maoists to the MMTC officials.
All these led to no one ever even thinking of utilising the potential resources scientifically for both social and economic development at minimal damage to the environment. The best part is Kerala & TN have magnesium deposits all over, Trichy belt has excessive sulphur & I was given to understand that Andra has Nickel in huge quantities and a bit of Uranium as well.
But unfortunately, our policy makers at the highest level must think of long term macro benefits and various impacts ( positive & negative). This requires the knowledge of few basics first among them is knowing our
A. Topography ( that is why even now, as it was during the gruesome invasions of the 12 th century, the real estate grabbing- for various reasons-is the highest cause for wars. Often, patriotism itself is reduced to be an euphemism for real estate veneration.
Why Russia had a war and took over Armenia, why is it now at war with Ukraine because the USSR bequeathed Russia with 9 important, vital and strategic gaps for its free movement of trade and commerce.
B. Need to know ( the exact quantity, quality, utility and value of items ) that go out of and come in through our ports and airports.
C. If INDIA, USA and Europe had done this homework ( B) properly, then they would have an ecosystem in place rather than trying hard to come out of the dependency of China.
D. Unfortunately, items A & B are either ignored for political expediency and international diplomacy thinks these are out of their syllabus.
E. The world should have known that China's belt road initiative was not out of its love to unite countries by road but to get easy and quick access for its trade by road as well.
F. China was making a silent invasion into the economies across the world by offering cheap labour ( cheap in every sense) and cost effective manufacturing hubs while the rest of the world was in blissful indifference/ignorance , wallowing in sloth, slumber and sumptuous consumption.
G. I really don't understand what the huge posse of staff in MEA do other than posing for photos in parties, dinners and sharing their visiting card for post retirement consultancy jobs ( I said this as early as 1993 and sadly, this status continues).
H. Being vigilant and guarding the borders cannot be delegated only to the military but one has to look at cultural, economic, ideological invasions which go in the name of different avatars.
I. Identity- no one must or can live inside the bubble of exclusivist identities and ideologies of any particular hue or strut around with solace in insulation and xenophobia because life has always been, more so now, interconnected, interrelated and interdependent.
J. However, one must also be actively and constantly be ' Aware' of any excessive anomalies of any new activity and its impact on humanity and environment as a whole and the sudden imbalance it creates.
K. This is better than parroting fancy terms like globalisation, inclusive growth ( of course even Viagra provides inclusive growth) as if these have happened only after these terms were thrown around.
L. When I hear the word ' in a globalised world- oh fantastic then remove the borders, do away with passports and visas, stop wars and allow anyone to go everywhere to do anything - a free for all LA LA land.
M-Mankind is yet to get over mass mania, mind slaughter and manipulations of the few ( who make statements of Utopia generously) at the cost of all.
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