Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

IIT-Kanpur scientists develop low-cost air pollution sensor

Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Professor S N Tirpathi said usually a sensor of this calibre costs around Rs 1-2 crore in the international market, but the scientists at IIT-Kanpur have made it in just Rs 50,000.


A traffic policeman wears an anti-pollution mask to protect himself from growing level of air pollution in New Delhi. (File | PTI)

Kanpur :

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology here said they have developed an air pollution sensor which they claim costs much less than similar instruments worldwide.

The sensor will measure the level of harmful gases, including ozone and nitrogen oxides, said professor S N Tirpathi.

The professor said usually a sensor of this calibre costs around Rs 1-2 crore in the international market, but the scientists at IIT-Kanpur have made it in just Rs 50,000.

Testing of the sensor will be done in June and if it passes the test, then the sensors will be installed in 150 cities of the country, he told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.

The first 25 sensors will be installed at IIT-Kanpur campus, while 15 sensors will be installed at IIT-Bombay, the professor said.

After the testing of data, 50-60 sensors will be installed in Varanasi, Tripathi said.

He said the success was gained in developing a reliable and cheaper monitoring sensor under a India-US project.

The Union government’s Department of Science and Technology has contributed Rs 6 crore for the project, Tripathi said.

During a press conference, the institute’s dean research and alumni professor, B V Fadi, said the continuous increase in the level of pollution in the country is a cause for concern.

“So everyone has decided that they will work together to decrease pollution,” he added.

Quoting a report of the WHO, he said 1.60 lakh people died worldwide last year due to pollution and the death rate is increasing.

IIT-K alumni association president Pradeep Bhargava claimed that in the next phase of the project, countries like Singapore, Japan, China and the UAE will also be included.

He said former students of the institute living in these countries will work on the project.

Lucknow diary

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All

Resplendent with the flavour of Kumbh, the ongoing 10-day-long Lucknow Book Fair is drawing denizens in hordes.

‘Atal’ tribute to Vajpayee
In a tribute to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, has named its new variety of lemongrass ‘CIM-Atal’. Having represented Lucknow inParliament for five consecutive terms, Vajpayee passed away in August last year. The institution’s director Dr AK Tripathi claims that true to its name, the new variety of lemongrass is firm and resistant to moderate changes in farming conditions as ‘Atal’ means firm and constant. Moreover, the plant gives a constant high yield of aromatic oil. Besides, ‘CIM-Akshay’, ‘CIM-Sukhda’, ‘CIM-Suvas’ have also been evolved from basil (tulsi) to be released and distributed to farmers for cultivation and being high yield varieties, these will contribute to consolidate farmers’ income. 

Fair with ‘Kumbh flavour’
Resplendent with the flavour of Kumbh, the ongoing 10-day-long Lucknow Book Fair is drawing denizens in hordes. Cultural performances, ‘traffic security week’ and many other attractions have been set up at the fair. Called ‘Ankuram Shiksha Mahotsav’, the festival is being managed by a civil society group ‘icareindia’. A satrangi exhibiton is also being organised with the participation of government primary and upper primary schools from 11 districts — Agra, Aligarh, Basti, Maharajganj, Etawah, Mathura, Kheri, Kannauj, Balrampur, Ayodhya and Lucknow in the festival. The Kumbh festival has been going on since January 14 and has been set up on an unprecendented scale.

Lucknow ready for Metro
In a matter of days, the first phase of the Lucknow Metro will kick off from the airport to the other end of the city, covering a 23-km stretch from February 15. The ambitious project of connecting the city’s ends is two-and-a-half months ahead of its deadline. As of now, the Metro will only ply on the 8-km route from the airport to Charbagh. Recently, ‘Metroman of India’ E Sreedharan, who is also the principal advisor to Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC), inspected the North-South Corridor — from the airport to Munshipulia — with a team of the corporation and endorsed the work carried out. Following another inspection by Commissioner Railway Safety between February 20-23, the project would be ready for commercial runs.

Marquee bubbling with Oudhi culture
Lucknow residents woke up to the soulful notes of Raag Bhairavi and ‘Jago Mohan pyare’ rendered by noted classical singer Shruti Sadolikar, who performed at the ‘Safed Baradari’ in a concert at dawn on Sunday. Presenting timeless melodies for an enthusiastic audience at 6am, Sadolikar enthralled music connoisseurs with her ethereal voice at the ongoing Sanatkada Festival in an ode to the Oudhi culture that is quintessential to Lucknow. The event was a day-long celebration with food and a mushaira and a qawwali session in the evening.

Our correspondent in Uttar Pradesh / namita.bajpai@newindianexpress

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by Namita Bajpai, Express News Service / February 05th, 2019

Start-up incubated at IIT-Kanpur blooms at UN

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

Ankit Agarwal

HelpUsGreen recycles floral waste at temples into a substitute for thermocol

New Delhi :

HelpUsGreen, a start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) was chosen as one of the exceptional young leader projects to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations on Sunday.

HelpUsGreen, founded by a young engineer Ankit Agarwal together with Karan Rastogin three years ago, seeks to convert flowers offered in temples ,which are often thrown away as waste, polluting rivers and other water bodies, into biodegradable substitute to thermocol and fragrant incense sticks.

Agarwal was among the 17 young leaders selected from more than 8,000 youth from over 184 countries at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly currently in session in New York.

HelpUsGreen currently processes around 8.4 tonnes of floral waste from temples and mosques in Uttar Pradesh and converts them into biodegradable packaging material, charcoal-free incense sticks, and natural vermicompost.

According to Agarwal, over 8 million tonnes of flowers are used in different religious places as offerings. These flowers, a symbol of devotion, are subsequently discarded in the rivers like the Ganga, creating havoc in their fragile ecosystems and leach in the groundwater.

The start-up, supported by Tata Trusts through its Social Alpha programme, has developed a patented flower-recycling technology, which not only tackles the monumental temple waste in India, but also provide employment to people.

HelpUsGreen, which has so far recycled over 11,000 tonnes of floral waste, has been able to provide livelihood to 73 manual scavenging families, which now earn six times more than what they did earlier.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Trending Today / by The Hindu Bureau / New Delhi – September 25th, 2018

Retired Uttar Pradesh teacher gives lessons in selfless service

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Niranjan is a retired primary school teacher who was felicitated with the President’s award for his outstanding services. He received the award from then President KR Narayanan in 1999.

Niranjan can be spotted on the streets of Lalitpur city in Uttar Pradesh, removing polythene bags from canals | Express

Lucknow :

He seems to be in the grip of an obsession which he finds difficult to resist. Approaching 80, Rupnarayan Niranjan is unstoppable. His fetish for work not only inspires but also leaves one in awe.

Clad in shorts and a vest, Niranjan can be spotted on the streets of Lalitpur city in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, mending a pothole, opening a blocked sewer or even clearing roads and canals by removing polythene bags.

The first impression one gets of the man is that of an ordinary labourer at work, but as soon as the interaction starts, that perception is shattered. His polished language and mannerism bring out the quintessential teacher in him. Niranjan is a retired primary school teacher who was felicitated with the President’s award for his outstanding services. He received the award from then President KR Narayanan in 1999.

But now, after retirement, he begins his day by setting out on his mission with a handcart, broom and shovel, looking for patches on roads that need repairs or streets that can do with some cleaning. The reason he gives for doing such work all day at his age is astonishing.

“As I retired as a primary school teacher, the government pays me pension which comes to `600-700 a day. Hence, it is incumbent on me to offer services in return to the taxpayers who bear the burden of my pension,” says Niranjan, adding that his daily work keeps him physically fit and mentally content. He spends his pension to get the roads repaired and arrange for logistics in the Lalitpur primary school.

After toiling for around five hours in the morning, Niranjan, who is a certified Ayurvedic doctor, treats patients free of cost at his residence in Chowkbagh.

For Niranjan, his father, who was the village head, was a source of inspiration. He grew up seeing him always active and concerned about keeping the village clean.

Niranjan, who shuns the limelight, was a reluctant awardee. When asked to complete the modalities for recommendation for the President’s award for his teaching services, he refused. The then education secretary, LK Pandey, had to visit him and convince him to do the required paperwork, which paved his way to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Teachers’ Day to receive the honour.

He took up the mission of repairing roads when he found that his students in Bazarra village primary school were reluctant to come to school because of the dilapidated roads.

Initially Niranjan requested the authorities to get the roads repaired, but when his pleas fell on deaf ears, he decided to do it himself.

With his own money, he got toilets constructed, an electricity connection provided and arranged for clean drinking water for students in the school.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> The Sunday Standard / by Namita Bajpai / September 23rd, 2018

Scent per cent: Temple floral waste to be put to fragrant use

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

The Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the famous Naka Hanuman Garhi temple, Faizabad, for collection of floral waste from the temple for producing exotic itra (traditional, natural perfume), incense sticks and fertilisers.

The university would collect the floral waste for this purpose, said Mahant Ramdas of the temple after signing the MoU.

Prof Manoj Dixit, vice chancellor of Avadh University, said the university will soon help recycle bio degradable refuse into exotic itra (traditional natural perfume), incense sticks and even scented havan ingredients.

Devotees offer about 200 kg flowers and 50 kg tulsi (basil leaves) at the temple every Tuesday and Saturday.

They offer 50 kg flowers on the remaining five days.

Mahant Ramdas said he was delighted that the university had come forward to sign this pact with the temple as it was becoming difficult to dispose of such a large volume of floral waste.

“We are happy that students will collect the floral waste and produce itra out of the flower juice,” he said.

The university had already signed an MoU with the Kannauj-based Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), he added. Production of itra and incense sticks will begin anytime this year, he said.

“We are waiting for the machines to come from Kannauj,” said prof Dixit.

“The students will learn to produce itra from flower juice, incense sticks from dry flowers and fertiliser from leaves. The move will not only help in disposal of floral waste but also generate employment for locals,” said prof Dixit.

The Avadh University has prepared a detailed proposal in association with FFDC, Kannauj, for this purpose. with whom they signed MoU earlier this month.

There were nearly 10,000 big and small temples in Ayodhya that accounted for 10-12 quintal floral waste daily, said Jaswant Singh, professor in environmental sciences department of the university. He is in touch with FFDC for the project.

“The idea is to use discarded flowers and leaves by traditional methods for making fragrance and flavour (itra, incense sticks, etc) with the help of local people and the finished product will be given back to the temples,” he further said.

source:http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / August 23rd, 2018

Women script success story through multi-layer farming

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment

Multi-layer farming helps maximise the use of land and all growing space is used as crops are planted together vertically, horizontally and underground

Allahabad :

After a hard work of three months, a group of women succeeded in carving a niche for themselves by yielding multi-layers vegetable and fruit production in Narwal Patti village of Muratganj block of Kaushambi.

The group of women led by Momi Dey, who sowed seeds of various crops in February this year through multi-layer organic farming technique, are now set to earn Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh annually.

Women used vermi-compost as fertilisers in around one beegha of land while sowing seeds. They yielded prodution of ginger, spinach (palak), bottle gourd (lauki), ridged gourd (torai), green potato (parwal), bitter gourd (karela), lady fingers (bhindi), papaya etc.

Momi Dey, who spearheaded the initiative and formed the group of 12 women told TOI, “We have been successful in growing different varieties of vegetables and fruit in four layer of organic farming”. She further added that, “We have produced crop of ginger in first layer, green potato, bottle guard, ridged gourd, and bitter gourd in second layer, papaya in third layer and spinach on ground level. The crop of bottle gourd, ridged gourd and green potato was produced through machan (platform) cultivation.

Dey further said, “We have used only vermi-compost to maintain the taste of vegetable and fruits. Multi-layer farming is the best way for utilisation of field to grow many crops in a limited space”.

Vandana Gautam, another volunteer said, “More and more women have come forward to learn the basics about multi-layer farming in Kaushambi and Allahabad villages.” She further added that this was the first time when local women in the district had used the multi-layer organic farming technique.

The women focussed on the quality of the crops and vegetables and for that, seeds were sown on different heights in the same field. Dey, meanwhile, said under multi-layer farming different crops of varying heights and rooting pattern are cultivated together. She has also been imparting training to other farmers of the block briefing them about advantages of the techniques.

Dey had learnt about multi-layer crop production while training agricultural-expert Akash Chaurasia in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Chaurasia is one of the experts who is credited with introducing multi-layer farming in the country.

City based Agro experts, however, said, “The objective of multi-layer farming is to utilise the vertical, horizontal and underground space more effectively. In this method, the tallest components have foliage of strong light and high evaporative demand. The shorter components with foliage require lesser shade and or relatively high humidity.”

Currently, majority of farmers opt for multi-layer farming using only cow urine and dung as manure. More importantly, “The income of farmers have increased substantially. Besides, the multi-layer technique also ensured a steady supply of farm products throughout the year.’

Multi-layer farming helps maximise the use of land and all growing space is used as crops are planted together vertically, horizontally and underground,” said an agricultural official adding, that it also enriches the fertility of the soil and adds organic nutrients to soil.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Allahabad News / by Kapil Dixit / TNN / May 22nd, 2018

New finding turns sweet potato tastier

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

BSIP scientists said the sweet potato fossil found in Meghalaya is the oldest in the world

Lucknow :

There’s sweet news for India. Scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, claim that sweet potato plant originated in India and not the United States.

They claim to have discovered a 57 million-year-old sweet potato fossil from the East Garo hill district of Meghalaya, adding that it is older than the last recorded 40-million-old sweet potato fossil found in Colorado, US.

Their premise is based on an 18-year study conducted by a team of three scientists — BSIP’s Rakesh C Mehrotra and Gaurav Srivastava, and David L Dilcher from Indiana University, US.

The sweet potato fossil found in Meghalaya is the oldest in the world, say BSIP scientists.

The study has been published in the international scientific journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.

The fossil of some leaves were collected by the two BSIP scientists in 1996 from Meghalaya. After the initial fossil identification study, they found that the leaves were of sweet potato. A detailed research work began in 2000.

“The discovery of a plant fossil is rare because plants’ soft structure is not easily preserved in the rocks,” said senior scientist Rakesh C Mehrotra.

He said that 17 specimens of the fossil of leaves discovered were made to study the pattern of veins in the blade of a leaf and secretory ducts (cells). The study showed that the leaves were of sweet potato and belonged to the ‘morning glory’ family, Mehrotra added. The research was conducted at three herbariums in the country — National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and Central National Herbarium, Howrah.

Mehrotra said the sediment where the fossil was extracted was found to be 57 million years old, hence the fossil was also considered to be of the same date.

BSIP director Sunil Bajpai said it’s a landmark discovery.

“The study will help in understanding the evolutionary origins and the existing concepts of sweet potatoes. It will also help in understanding the climatic conditions and related factors that prevailed millions of years ago.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Mohita Tewari / TNN / May 24th, 2018

Lucknow boy’s creation wins top honours at AtomExpo

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Gautam Bishwas receives the award

Sochi :

‘Atom on Wheels’, a campaign designed by an NPCIL communication expert who hails from Lucknow, won the top honours at AtomExpo Awards 2018 at a glittering ceremony here on Monday evening.

The campaign which especially targeted the rural audience for creating awareness and dispelling myths about nuclear energy, received the award in public communication category. Other two entries in the category were from Hungary and Kenya. Gautam Biswan, executive director, NPCIL received the award from the chairman of the jury.

A beaming Amritesh Srivastava, senior manager (corporate communication) who conceived the campaign, told TOI: “Atom on Wheels” is a unique tailor made public awareness campaign which is especially crafted for rural people to make them aware and educate about numerous aspect of nuclear energy and to dispel the apprehensions related to this. It was organised in 6 states of India, covering more than 6 lakh people in 1500 villages. The response was tremendous and people accepted this wholeheartedly.”

“It’s really a matter of immense pleasure and proud to win this prestigious award for our country and organisation. It’s dream come true for me to achieve this international award,” he said.

‘Atom on Wheels’, the customised AC bus has travelled 1500 villages of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

It has creative panels, models, posters and multimedia presentations in local languages to help villagers develop a positive and rational thinking towards nuclear energy, particularly to build a constructive opinion for setting up of more and more nuclear power plants in a phase wise manner at various locations across the country.

In all, awards were given in five categories. There were participants from 22 countries and entries were judged by a 25-member jury panel, all world renowned experts from across the world.

This campaign has already got many awards at national level and Monday evening got it the ultimate international recognition at what Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev called ‘Atomic Davos’.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> India News / by Pravin Kumar / TNN / May 15th, 2018

‘Critically endangered’ gharials thriving at Kukrail breeding centre

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel

The gharial is threatened by the loss of its riverine habitat, depletion of fishes, and entanglement in fishing nets.(HT Photo)

The Kukrail gharial breeding centre in Lucknow alone houses around 300 gharials — once considered to be the total population of the crocodilian in the country. And there are still eggs left for new ones to make an appearance.

“We have 300 gharials with us. But this figure represents only what is left after hundreds were sent for breeding to different places over the years,” said Ashok Prasad Sinha, conservator of forest endangered species project, Uttar Pradesh forest department.

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, is a type of Asian crocodilian set apart by its long and thin snout. It is different from the crocodile or the alligator, which exist in bigger numbers. It is native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.

The jaws of the gharial are too thin and delicate to grab a larger prey. They keep lying in wait for fishes to swim by and then quickly catch them by whipping their heads sideways. They do not chew their prey, but swallow it.

Sinha said that the Kukrail centre is responsible for sending gharials for breeding to places like Madhya Pradesh and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. “In all, 238 gharials were sent to Delhi, Rampur, Bijnor, Etah, Mathura and Kanpur. Thirty-one gharials were also sent to other countries, including Bhutan, the US (New York), Pakistan and China,” he shared.

The latest batches of 116 gharials left the centre for the natural habitat of Kartania forest range on March 15 and 29. “We are happy that even after sending so many, we still have 300 gharials left. According to wildlife statistics, gharials fall under the critically endangered category,” said Sinha.

The gharial is threatened by the loss of its riverine habitat, depletion of fishes, and entanglement in fishing nets. As its population has sharply declined since the 1930s, it has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List — a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Gaurav Saigal, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 14th, 2018

Uttar Pradesh: State’s first butterfly park now open for visitors

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel

At present, 28-species of butterflies could be seen, but soon the number can go up to 40, said zoo director RK Singh. Butterflies are the most important indicator of good environment.

The park will be further developed to increase the number of butterflies(HT Photo)

Now, visitors can also have a look at different species of butterfly at the Lucknow Zoo as the state’s first butterfly park was inaugurated by forest minister Dara Singh Chauhan here on Monday.

At present, 28-species of butterflies could be seen, but soon the number can go up to 40, said zoo director RK Singh. Butterflies are the most important indicator of good environment.

He said that the park will be further developed to increase the number of butterflies. “We have placed host plants that attract butterfly and hopefully more species will come up soon,” said Singh.

He said that the park will also generate awareness among visitors about the risks that butterflies face due to increasing pollution and use of chemical fertilizers.

There are around 2,000 species of butterflies in the world of which, 1,500 are found in India. On the occasion, the forest minister said that soon Uttar Pradesh would be leading state in eco-tourism as several programmes for the same were being implemented.

source: htt://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Gaurav Saigal, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 10th, 2018