Narayana Murthy warns of climate change-driven migration to Bengaluru, Pune
Pune: Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has cautioned that climate change could lead to mass migration to urban centres like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad in the coming decades. Speaking at an event in Pune on Friday, he highlighted how rising temperatures and extreme weather could render certain rural areas uninhabitable, forcing millions to relocate to cities already grappling with infrastructure challenges.
"Within the next 20-25 years, many rural parts of India may become uninhabitable, triggering a significant migration to places like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad," Murthy remarked during an award ceremony.
Murthy also warned that these urban centres face their own issues, such as pollution, traffic congestion, and resource shortages, making them increasingly difficult to live in. "These cities are heading toward becoming unlivable," he said.
He called for urgent collaboration among corporates, political leaders, and bureaucrats to address climate change and mitigate its impacts. He stressed that proactive measures were essential to prevent rural-to-urban migration from overwhelming urban infrastructure.
Despite the challenges, Murthy expressed optimism about India’s ability to respond effectively. "I am optimistic that we will make progress by 2030," he said, urging timely intervention and collective action to tackle climate and migration crises.
India’s rapid urbanisation and growing population have already strained urban centres. The anticipated climate-driven migration could further exacerbate these challenges, intensifying demands on infrastructure and resources.
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Rupee declines 27 paise to 90.95 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 27 paise to 90.95 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, weighed down by a strong American currency and higher crude oil prices due to the escalated geopolitical tension.
A selling rush in domestic equities further pressured the Indian currency, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.94 and slipped further to trade at 90.95 against the greenback in early deals, losing 27 paise from its previous closing level.
The rupee rose 4 paise to settle at 90.68 against the US dollar on Wednesday. The currency exchange markets were closed on Thursday on account of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.04 per cent higher at 97.89.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.14 per cent higher at USD 71.77 per barrel in futures trade.
Analysts attributed the strengthening dollar and crude prices to heightened tension between the US and Iran, with both countries signalling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear programme fizzle out.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex fell 150.35 points to 82,347.79 in early trade while the Nifty declined 35.15 points to 25,419.20.
On Thursday, foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 880.49 crore, according to exchange data.
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