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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

F&O Trading in India: Big Opportunities, Bigger Risks

In trading, survival matters more than chasing quick profits.

Over the past few years, Futures and Options (F&O) trading has become extremely popular in India. What was once a segment dominated by professionals and institutions is now crowded with retail traders, many of whom enter the market with the hope of making quick money.


With easy-to-use trading apps, low brokerage charges, and constant exposure to market content online, more individuals are stepping into derivatives trading than ever before. But behind this growing popularity lies a reality that many don’t fully understand—F&O trading is not as easy or as profitable as it appears.

India’s derivatives market, led by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), has emerged as one of the largest in the world by trading volume, with daily activity in the futures and options (F&O) segment often far outstripping the cash market. For many first-time traders, the appeal is obvious: it allows participation with relatively small amounts of capital, offers the possibility of quick profits, and creates the thrill of a fast-moving, high-intensity market. But that very ease of entry is also what makes the segment especially risky, as many newcomers underestimate how quickly losses can mount.


Hidden Risks

The reality is simple: most retail traders lose money in the derivatives market. SEBI data has repeatedly shown that around 85% to 90% of individual traders in the F&O segment end up in losses, while only a small minority stay consistently profitable. This is not because they do not try, but because derivatives trading is difficult. Markets are unpredictable, leverage can magnify losses quickly, and many new traders enter without fully understanding the risks. Put simply, F&O trading is not a shortcut to wealth but a high-risk activity that demands knowledge, discipline, and patience.


F&O trading allows investors to use leverage, letting them take large positions with limited capital. While this can boost profits, it can also magnify losses. A small favourable move may bring quick gains, but a small adverse move can cause heavy losses. Traders also face risks such as time decay in options, daily MTM margin adjustments in futures, and sudden volatility that can wipe out capital within minutes. The reward is visible, but the risk is often underestimated.


To protect retail investors, SEBI has introduced safeguards to curb excessive risk in the derivatives market. These include stricter margin rules, mandatory risk disclosures, action against misleading financial content, and crackdowns on unregistered advisors. While these measures offer some protection, they cannot replace personal responsibility. In the end, every trade is an individual decision, and so are its risks and consequences.


One of the biggest influences on new traders today is social media, which is full of profit screenshots, “sure-shot” strategies, and claims of easy daily income. What is rarely shown are the losses, failed trades, emotional stress, and real risks. This creates a misleading picture of F&O trading. Blindly following tips or copying trades without understanding them can be dangerous. In the market, knowledge, discipline, and risk awareness matter far more than imitation.


One of the most important rules in F&O trading is simple: never trade with borrowed money. Using personal loans, credit cards, or money borrowed from friends or family is extremely risky. If the trade goes wrong, you not only lose your capital but still have to repay the debt, often with interest, while dealing with severe financial and emotional stress. A simple rule to remember: only trade with money you can truly afford to lose.


Trade With Caution

If you still want to explore F&O trading, do so with caution and discipline. Start small so that early mistakes do not become costly. Focus on learning before earning, use a stop-loss in every trade, and do not become overconfident after a few profits. F&O trading is not inherently bad—it is a powerful financial tool. But in the wrong hands, it can cause serious losses. In today’s fast-moving market, it is easy to get influenced and jump in. Yet lasting success comes not from shortcuts but from patience, discipline, and informed decisions. In trading, survival matters more than quick profits. Options trading, in particular, can become a trap—highly addictive and often difficult to walk away from once losses and emotions take over.  


(The writer is a Chartered Accountant based in Thane. Views personal.)

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