Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Green Mela begins at Green Hotel in city

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Artisans from across India have set up stalls in the mela Green Mela to be held bimonthly from December

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Mysore :

A three-day organic products fair ‘Green Mela,’ organised by The Green Hotel on Hunsur Road began at its premises here yesterday.

The mela was inaugurated by Prof.U.N.Ravikumar, who is well-known in the field of conserving lakes, rain water harvesting and sustainable development.

Speaking to SOM, Prof.Ravikumar said “If rural India has to go on a greener path, urban Indians should lead the path by showing them non-wasteful consumption methods.”

General Manager of the Hotel Mithun said, “I am thrilled by the overwhelming response by the public who are thronging the mela.” He also said that artisans from across India have set up their stalls in the mela and from December onwards the Green Hotel will conduct Green Mela bimonthly.

The products which are on display and for sale at the mela include Avocado pickles, Bamboo pens, Bamboo lamp shades, Coir pots, Natural ice-creams, Organic coffee powder from Madikeri, various types of handmade soaps, Pashmina Shawls, Silk Scarves, Singing Bowls, drumstick tambli – a special drink from coastal region which is said to have medicinal values, Audio CD’s of the songs of Adivasis from Adivasi Munnetra Sangam, Gudlur, Tamil Nadu and other items.

The major attraction at the mela is the Pottery workshop in which public can try and experience making pottery using natural clay. The pottery workshop has programmes like ‘Make your own diya’ and ‘Make your own Ganesha.’

Different varieties of organic authentic teas imported from United Kingdom are also available at the mela which include Peppermint tea, Night time tea – an organic oat flower, lavender and limeflower tea for peaceful sleep, Vanilla chai and others.

There is a very special kind of tea at the Mela called ‘Love Tea’ , which has a tagline ‘a tea to warm your heart’. It is made from organic roses, chamomile and lavender.

The mela is open for public from 11 am to 8 pm daily and will conclude on Oct. 12.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>General  News / Saturday,  October 11th, 2014

This farmer earns Rs. 22 lakh a year from 2.1 acres of land

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

H. Sadananda grows 30 varieties of crop and even breeds dogs

Profitable venture: Innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods have helped H. Sadananda of Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk to reap a rich harvest. / The Hindu
Profitable venture: Innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods have helped H. Sadananda of Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk to reap a rich harvest. / The Hindu

Bangalore :

At a time when there is a strong perception that farming is not a profitable venture, this farmer from Tapasihalli in Doddaballapur taluk has created waves by earning a profit of about Rs. 22 lakh a year from merely 2.1 acres of land.

It is his innovative drive and constant experimentation with multi-cropping methods that have helped 51-year-old H. Sadananda to reap a rich harvest.

He cultivates nearly 30 varieties of crop on his land, including tomato and areca on half an acre each which yield him Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 50,000 respectively.

Ginger is cultivated along with areca in the plantation, and it yields him about Rs. 70,000 a year. Mr. Sadananda has also made space in his areca plantation for rearing 250 Giriraja hens which he sells every three months to earn about Rs. 1 lakh a year. The poultry droppings are valuable manure for the areca plantation while agricultural waste is used as feed for the birds.

He has planted about 2,000 rose cuttings on three-fourth of an acre, which fetches him about Rs. 4 lakh a year, and has set up a greenhouse on one-fourth of an acre for cultivating capsicum and high-quality rose alternatively. Capsicum, cultivated for about six months, yields him about Rs. 5.4 lakh while the rose variety that replaces capsicum for the next six months gets him about Rs. 2.5 lakh a year. A small vegetable garden, a fish-rearing pond, coconut and jackfruit trees on the periphery of his land, in addition to coffee plants, papaya, sapota and lime trees also find a place. His cows produce 80 to 100 litres of milk a day.

Manure

Manure comes from vermicompost and the slurry from a gobar gas plant. A tiny pond is filled with azolla plants which is a good cow feed.

Mr. Sadananda, who depends on borewell for irrigation, has installed drip irrigation system for the entire land at a cost of Rs. 50,000 (excluding subsidy). “Drip irrigation allows me to irrigate my entire land even with four hours of three-phase power,” he says. Besides, it prevents weeds and also saves him about Rs. 400 a day in labour costs.

Interestingly, he also breeds Rottweiler and Great Dane breeds of dogs to earn Rs. 1.2 lakh a year.

He has been honoured with prestigious awards by the Union Ministry of Agriculture. Several agricultural scientists, farmers and VIPs from India and abroad visit his farm.

Innovative ideas

Mr. Sadananda says that his farm income increased after he adopted innovative ideas provided by the Department of Biotechnology’s Bio-Resource Complex project taken up in his village. He can be contacted on 9342022146.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by B.S. Satish Kumar / April 19th, 2010

College girl launches e-waste venture in Hubli

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology
Local administrations in India have neglected e-waste disposal and Vijayalaxmi Patil, a student of Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship in Hubli, launched her own firm, e-vision.
Local administrations in India have neglected e-waste disposal and Vijayalaxmi Patil, a student of Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship in Hubli, launched her own firm, e-vision.

Hubli :

A Master of Social Entrepreneurship (MSE) student has taken the initiative of collecting electronic waste from shops and households to prevent environmental hazards which arises when it’s burnt or unscientifically disposed.

Local administrations in India have neglected e-waste disposal and Vijayalaxmi Patil, a student of Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship in Hubli, launched her own firm, e-vision. Her classmates Prasanna Hegde, Jitin Sunny and Sandesh R have joined her in it.

Vijayalaxmi told TOI she was worried about proper disposal of scrap like TVs, old CDs and wires which had accumulated at home. “I browsed the web and learnt that it’s a serious concern. I was disappointed to know that no administration has done anything in this regard in North Karnataka. Finally, I started e-vision with the support of my friends,” she said.

Prasanna Hegde said when they visited electronic shops, owners encouraged them. “It was difficult to convey some people as they thought we earned a lot from their e-waste,” he said.

Jitin, who knows how to asses the value of old electronic gadgets, said people aware about e-waste have been donating voluntarily.

Sandesh R said they’ve been given authorization by 4R Recycling, a company in Bangalore, to collect e-scraps and send them for recycling. “Jindal Aluminium of Bangalore is our client to provide e-waste,” he said.

Sumangala Lingaraj Angadi, a homemaker who gave about 70kg of e-waste, appreciated the students’ move. “I was clueless about disposal of TV, mixer, etc and I didn’t want to throw it in landfills,” she added.

Vijayalaxmi said her team has collected about 700kg of e-waste in the past 2 months. “We want to have a recycling unit in Hubli by next year. We also want to involve traditional scrap pickers,” she said.

Vijayalaxmi appealed to citizens to join hands in her venture. She can be reached at: and 8867323134.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli / by Sangamesh Menasinakai, TNN / September 28th, 2014

Dasara milking contest

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

Bangalore cow bags first place, yields 30.9 kgs milk

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Mysore :

Bangalore cow bagged the first place in the cow milking competition organised by the Raitha Dasara Sub- Committee as part of Dasara festivities held at J.K. Grounds in city yesterday.

The cows were milked twice, once in the morning and once in the evening and the measurements were totalled in which Lakshman Hogebandi of Bangalore emerged as winner.

Results: Lakshman Hogebandi of Bangalore won the first place by milking a total of 30 Kgs and 900 grams. Second place was bagged by Jagadish of Mysore who milked 30 Kgs and 300 grams. Third place was bagged by Satish of Naganahalli, who milked 28 Kgs and 800 grams and the fourth place went to Bangalore resident Byanna Lohit Yadav, who milked 26 Kgs and 850 grams.

Prizes were given away by Co-operation Minister H.S. Mahadevaprasad in the presence of ZP President Dr. Pushpa Amarnath, Corporator D. Nagabhushan, Jt. Director of the Dept. of Animal Husbandry Venkatesh, Dr. Shashidhar and others.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General  News / Monday,  September 29th,  2014

Global demand for humble charakas

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, World Opinion

Bangalore-based company is the only in Karnataka to obtain permission to make the miniature models

The 145 Gandhi Jayanthi will be special for 6,500 children of Sri Vani Education Centre in Rajaji Nagar, as they will receive a miniature model of a charaka (spinning wheel).

Bangalore-based Swadesh Enterprises, the only company in Karnataka to obtain permission from Khadi Bhandar Sabarmati in Gujarat to make miniature models, has taken the responsibility of handling this big order.

Swadesh Enterprises started as a small venture by Sri Charan Bhaskarachar three years ago. It now employs 25 workers crafting six models of charakas at a unit at Banavara in Chikmagalur district. The charakas are gifted as mementos in India and abroad.

“We receive orders from Indian consulates across the globe. Recently, we received a huge order from the consulate in Peru,” says Mr. Sri Charan.

Miniature models crafted by him were presented to United States President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited India recently.

What made Mr. Sri Charan, a documentary film maker, switch over to making miniature model of charakas? A native of Bhadravathi, he was influenced by Gandhian ideals as his father Khadhi Bhaskarachar was a staunch follower of the Father of the Nation.

Once he needed a charaka for a documentary. It was after much difficulty that he got one made. It was then that he decided to switch to making charakas. Initially, he crafted every component with wood. But this made spinning difficult. Then he opted for a steel spindle. Everyone, including officials of Khadi Gramodyoga, appreciated his model. To meet the increasing demand, he established Swadesh Enterprises. “Now I make over 3,000 pieces a month,” he says.

The charaka has become a most sought-after memento at public functions. “While a micro model costs Rs. 500, a bigger one crafted with teak will cost Rs. 5,000. Some demand charakas fitted in hand-crafted boxes, which costs a bit more,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bangalore – October 02nd, 2014

Cubbon Park Management Authority caught in a turf war

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

CubbonParkBF03oct2014

Department of Horticulture alleges that the Department of Tourism is intruding in its jurisdiction

The controversial Cubbon Park Management Authority (CPMA), a proposed autonomous body to manage the lung space and develop it as a tourism hub, has been caught in a bitter turf war between the Horticulture and Tourism Departments.

CPMA was proposed as part of the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group, appointed by the government. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced formation of the Authority in his 2014-15 budget speech, under the ‘tourism’ head.

However, a note seeking approval from the government did not even find its way to the cabinet, as the Department of Horticulture alleged that the Department of Tourism was unduly intruding in its jurisdiction through CPMA, sources said.

The cabinet note was prepared by the Tourism Department. It envisages the CPMA to be on the lines of English Heritage in England, an executive public body for the protection of historical buildings and monuments in that country. CPMA was to be headed by a private individual with representatives from all government departments that have a stake in the park. The Authority had envisaged to re-purpose some of the buildings in the area to provide for tourist attractions, sources said.

Alternative proposal

Meanwhile, sources said, the Horticulture Department has now proposed an alternative CPMA headed by the Horticulture Minister instead of a private individual as a face saver for the government since it was announced by the chief minister. The CPMA proposed by the Department of Horticulture would have six members from the public of which one would be the non-executive vice-chairperson.

Also, the CPMA is caught up in another tangle — over jurisdiction. Lokayukta has ordered the City Survey Department, Survey Settlement and Land Records to conduct a survey of the Cubbon Park area and fix its boundaries, as there have been multiple notifications issued by the State government demarcating the Cubbon Park area. The survey report is expected by November second week. CPMA is likely to be withheld till the boundaries are finalised in the survey.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by K. V. Aditya Bharadwaj / Bangalore – September 30th, 2014

Country’s First Electric Bus Launched in Bangalore

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel
BMTC launched an electric bus at Shantinagar Bus Station on Thursday; Right: A view of the interiors | Sudhakara Jain
BMTC launched an electric bus at Shantinagar Bus Station on Thursday; Right: A view of the interiors | Sudhakara Jain

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) introduced the country’s first electric zero-emission bus in the city on Thursday.

Although the bus has been in Bangalore for over a month now, it was officially launched by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy after getting the required permissions from the Transport Department.

The bus will run on a trial basis for the next three months. During this time, it will operate along various routes, beginning with one from Majestic to Kadugodi that is likely to cost `80.

Plans are also afoot to run the bus along the airport routes. The charging point for the bus is at the Volvo depot at Majestic.

“We will study whether the bus is economical and if it can function efficiently in the city. When the battery is fully charged (six hours), the bus can run for about 250 km, which is ideal for BMTC. However, this needs to be tested. We also need to see how it fares on various roads in the city and which routes are best suited to operate the bus,” said BMTC managing director Anjum Parvez.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that though the bus is expensive, it is likely to be a good deal as a long-term investment.

“The bus costs about `2.7 crore and this is expensive. But this is one bus in the entire country. Once the demand for the bus goes up and more people express interest in purchasing it, the rates are likely to come down. Moreover, the research and development wings of various bus manufacturers are working on this and it is some only time before the initial cost of the bus is reduced,” he said.

When asked if the state government would be willing to share the cost or offer subsidies, Reddy said, “We will consider various options if the bus is found to be suitable for the city. At present, it is on a three-month trial and following this, a decision will be taken on whether or not to purchase the bus,” he said. He added that what was important was that pollution levels would be brought down by using electric buses, hybrid or CNG-operated buses. The bus, manufactured by Build Your Dreams (BYD), was brought to India by Utopia Pvt Ltd. At least 5,000 such buses are operational in countries such as the United States, Netherlands, Switzerland and some European countries.

GOING GREEN

Zero emission

No oil required

Costs Rs 2.7 crore (Volvo Rs 88 lakh)

Fare from Majestic to Kadugodi – Rs 80

Runs for 250 km with 6 hours of charging

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service- Bangalore / February 28th, 2014

‘Shukavana’ Aviary opens at Ganapathy Ashram

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

AviaryBF28sept2014

Mysore :

‘Shukavana’ (Rehabilitation Centre for Birds) has come up at the premises of Sri Ganapathy Ashram on Ooty Road here.

The aviary was inaugurated by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji yesterday.

More than 1000 birds of about 300 species are kept and being nurtured in the aviary. Over a couple of decades, injured birds were being nursed and nurtured by the Swamiji at the Ashram. Now the modern and scientifically crafted aviary will be a safe haven for thousands of birds. Speaking on the occasion, the Swamiji said humans should have concern and love for birds which represent nature. He advised the people not to disturb or harm birds.

Raja Segranm, General Manager, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore, who was present, regretted that human bondage was dwindling with words like love, friendship and mercy turning misnomers. He commended the work of Sri Swamiji in establishing an aviary. Addl. PCCF Ajay Mishra, Feather Friends Forever-USA Founder Ronald Johnson and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Monday , September 22nd,  2014

Sowing seeds for a healthy life

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Urban spaces

SeedsBF20sept2014

Kitchen gardening has been gaining popularity over the years as more people are becoming aware of its benefits. In accordance with this, several forums where one can get tips on the ways of growing organic food, and also promote the healthy lifestyle, have been popping up.


One such forum is ‘Organic Terrace Gardening’, which is dedicated to organic food farming in an urban environment. They promote organic events and organic gardening resources.

This includes growing our own food within City spaces like the yard, gardens, terraces, balconies or even spaces as small as window sills. They also aim to move away from unsustainable technologies and lifestyles, and adopt more of eco-friendly and sustainable methods of living.

Another forum is Oota from your Thota which means ‘food from your garden’. It is a one day organic vegetable gardening event in Bangalore and it makes various gardening tools available under one roof, along with technical know-how.

Visitors can pick up seeds, saplings, herbs, compost, eco-friendly cosmetics, organic produce directly from farmers and more. These pages have people posting regular pictures, advice, takes a healthy interest in organic gardening, helping beginners start off, and experts showcasing harvests.

Vishwanath Kadur, founder of ‘Garden City Farmers Trust’, which is popularly known as ‘Organic Terrace Gardening’ on Facebook, says, “Bangalore was known for kitchen gardening at one time. Before, every house had a food or flower garden, but now due to the greed of the people, they use up the entire land for commercial purposes.”

He adds, “I started farming in 1995 but from 2005, people started realising the benefits
of organic farming. We all know the negatives of market vegetables and that has made kitchen gardening popular.”

Minette Ranjit and her husband have been into kitchen gardening for the past five years and is a founder of ‘Greenthumbs Boutique’. “Being nature and plant lovers, we began our little adventure together. With most of the vegetables being produced with a lot of chemicals and fertilizers, we decided to start own vegetable patch. A single tomato or chilly gave us immense joy in the beginning years, after which we were inspired to grow more,” she says.
She went on to grow brinjal, snake gourd, bitter gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano and mint.

Taking care of a garden is a lot of hard work. Dr Vishwanath says, “People should have a love for gardening and the plants will grow automatically. Start with one pot and the collection will grow gradually. Greens like bush beans and bhindi will harvest in 45 days and ground space is the best as it doesn’t involve monetary investment. And plants need to be taken care of just like you; they will need vermicompost, compost and regular watering is a must.”

Kitchen gardening has a lot of benefits. “This is a healthy way to relieve stress, eat healthier and safer, provide better nutrition to your family with fresh vegetables, and get some exercise while enjoying the warm sun and environment. By planting and tending to your garden, you control what you eat as well as how it is grown. Even apartment or flat dwellers can produce a nice size vegetable garden on their balconies,” sums up Minette.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Preethi Ravi / DHNS – September 19th, 2014

Call of the Jungle

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Travel

At Saad Bin Jung’s luxury eco-tourism lodge in Kabini, Karnataka, villagers and tribals work together to conserve the forest and the big cats that inhabit it

Image: Shaaz Jung A new calling: Saad Jung believes in eco-tourism that conserves more than animals
Image: Shaaz Jung
A new calling: Saad Jung believes in eco-tourism that conserves more than animals

As the last rays of sunlight filter through the leaves, a shadow slinks out of the thick foliage with an unmistakable feline elegance. “There,” whispers 27-year-old Shaaz Jung from his perch atop a jeep. Immediately, seven pairs of eyes turn to the clearing ahead. Under the rapt gaze of the tourists, a male leopard emerges from the foliage. A flurry of clicks from SLR cameras breaks the silence of the waning dusk. But the leopard makes an indifferent model. He was aware of the jeep the moment the vehicle entered his territory, deep in the jungles of Karnataka. For the tourists, however, this sighting is a privilege. The shy animal deigned to make an appearance on the last of the five game drives organised by Bison Wildlife Resort near Kabini Lake, Karnataka. The resort, started by Shaaz’s father, 53-year-old Saad Bin Jung, lies between two national parks, Nagarhole and Bandipur, and is a two-hour drive from Mysore. It is also a labour of love, one in which villagers and tribals work with the Jungs to conserve and preserve this ecologically vibrant zone.

Though the eco-resort opened five years ago, it took over a decade to come to fruition. Consider its back story.

Like his uncle Mansur Ali Khan—the late nawab who is remembered by his moniker ‘Tiger’ Pataudi—Saad Jung started his career as a cricketer. A descendant of the royal Pataudi family of Bhopal and the Paigahs of Hyderabad, he acknowledges and accepts the popular portrayal of Indian nobility as hunters. “I now realise the mistakes we made while addressing wildlife conservation within the forests that belonged to our family,” says Jung. “The rulers, to a large extent, permitted community usage of forest produce. Locals were asked to manage forest land, but were banned from hunting. That was the sole prerogative of the royals. There was control, but there was also inclusion.”

Image: Prasad Gori for Forbes Life India The village: The resort maintains a rustic look and feel, although it houses luxurious facilities
Image: Prasad Gori for Forbes Life India
The village: The resort maintains a rustic look and feel, although it houses luxurious facilities

Saad began taking an active interest in conservation in 1986. He started with Bush Betta Resort at Bandipur and an angling camp on the Kaveri river soon after. In 1997, he acquired patta (registered) land outside the protected forest area and worked with locals to build a luxury resort, one that doesn’t intrude on or disturb the ecologically sensitive zone. The Bison Resort,  made up of African lodge-style stilted, elaborate tents and decks that overlook the forest and Kabini lake, is the result. Most of the building material for it was sourced locally. Rather than alienating tribals and villagers from the land, Saad brokered a symbiotic relationship between resort and village.

The Bison, which opened in 2009, has succeeded because it combines luxury with inclusive growth. Saad and Shaaz, who is the resort manager, create a rustic yet opulent experience. From sunken showers in bathrooms to bars that overlook the lake, the resort delivers a unique kind of grandeur—one that typically costs more than Rs 10,000 a night for Indians and Rs 24,240 ($400) a night for foreign nationals. Most employees are locals and their intimate knowledge of the land heightens a visitor’s experience.

source: http://www.forbesindia.com / Forbes India / Home> Forbes India/Live / by Shravan Bhat / August 16th, 2014