CocaCola in Kerala

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?227376

This is the case with the CocaCola plant in Kerala which details the damage caused to the ground water in that area. The intriguing part is pH factor testing. Outlook (magazine) got the ground water tested from Sargam Metals, Chennai, whose lab is accredited by the government's department of science and technology and Cocacola, in response, got the water tested from R-FRAC which is a reputed, independent, national Accredition Board of Laboratories and ISO 17025 certified Lab supported by Ministry of Food processing industries, govt of Karnataka.

Sargam Metals reported the pH factor to be 3.5 (deadly!) while RFRAC reported 6.89 (potable). The permissible limit is 6.5 to 8.5. What CocaCola did here is not to say that they are not polluting ground water, but made those figures completely irrelevant. If you can fetch a number, so can we.

From my 10th standard Chemistry knowledge, testing pH is not complicated and will not have several parameters that each accredition uses selectively to arrive at the favorable numbers. Makes me suspicious!

Ford going back to basics

Ford Motors started its journey with 1 model.. the much famous Model T over the 100 years ago, and Henry Ford prided over the operational efficiency achieved to produce that one model. At one time Henry ford called CEO of Chrysler (Walter Chrysler) (one of the 2 competitors at that time) a fool for having so many models as he could never achieve efficiency.

Now, over the years, Ford did the exact same thing as the GM and Chrysler. They acquired any brand that was for sale and released new models every so often. And in the course Ford moved from one model to a range of models and brands.

It took a recession and an almost bankruptcy for them to realize that the smaller portfolio of cars and brands is the best way they can run the company. In turn, they now realize (again) that Henry Ford was a smart man to have just one model. :) And that is why you see them selling the JLR to Tata and Volvo to Geely. Good luck to Ford...

Mobile Number Portability

Making a shift - from stories to opinions. An effort to incite readers (if any) to argue with me.

I am waiting for the Mobile Number Portability to come through.

What is the problem - Since the market has opened up to the private players, the private players have become significantly big (in consumer base).. even if we consider only the tier 1 and 2 cities. The bad part is, they are probably so big that they can lobby enough so that the MNP does not come through. And then there is the BSNL and MTNL which still think they are sitting in duopolistic market. There was news that they have not even purchased equipment to test MNP, while DOT has given a deadline of May for implementation. What audacity! All these players on one side, and the (corrupt) government on the other. What a contest this is going to be! :)

So, if MNP comes through, who is to win? consumers. Who is to lose - BSNL and MTNL!

Why I want MNP to happen - not because I have anything personally to gain from it. I am happy with my airtel connection and will probably continue with it. This MNP is a pure market pressure. It is the lever that the government holds to make the market more efficient and price competitive. In the end, probably only a handful will survive and all the existing players will trade off about +/- 15% of their consumer base. With the rock bottom prices, this might be the question of solvency and insolvency.

However, India is nothing new as a market. Historically, MNP has seen opposition from the incumbents in the market. But there are many countries that have implemented it (Australia, for one). Waiting to see how everyone reacts to it in India. What do you think?