Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Bangalore: Not a waste, for sweet drums are made of these

November 20, 2013Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technologyadmin

Students of University of Agricultural Sciences displaying compost produced through the drum composting method at Krishi Mela in Bangalore on Thursday. - Mohan Kumar B N/DNA — Students of University of Agricultural Sciences displaying compost produced through the drum composting method at Krishi Mela in Bangalore on Thursday. – Mohan Kumar B N/DNA

Don’t throw out that kitchen waste! It could make money for you!

Scientists from the department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore have devised a method whereby kitchen waste could be turned into compost that could be used to grow plants in your balcony, or be even sold.

Drum composting is the method of collection, digestion and decomposition of wet waste from domestic kitchens, vegetable markets, schools, colleges,offices, agriculture, agro-based industrial wastes, into compost.

“There are two types of drum composting: Drum vermicomposting and drum bio-composting,’’ says HC Prakash, professor, department of soil science and agricultural chemistry at UAS.
According to him, on an average an individual produces about 250-400 gm of wet wastes. “For about Rs5,500-7,000, you can have a solution for your kitchen waste problem,” he says.

“In India, about 1.3lakh tons of garbage is generated daily and, Bangalore city alone about 6,000 tones of it,’’ Prakash said.

Drum dry composting involves storing of wet waste in a plastic drum with its bottom punctured with a large number holes to allow aeration and draining of water. The garbage is stored for three weeks for ‘pre-digestion’ and during the period the temperature in the garbage rises and gradually decreases. When the temperature has declined to a low, half a kg of earthworms are introduced in the drum. The waste has to be sprinkled with water occasionally to enable the earthworms to survive, ingest, digest and excrete vermi casts otherwise known as vermicompost which is rich in nutrients needed by plants. It could also be sold in market.

Things to watch out: The waste should not contain plastic, glass pieces or non-vetegarian waste. He cautions that once the earthworms are introduced into the drum, in order to ensure the growth and development of worms, further waste should be stored in a second, similar drum. In this method, the drum is rotated 15-20 times twice a day. Rotation allows air circulation in the waste, eliminates fetid smell, and aids decomposition of waste.

“Here application of cow dung slurry or bio-culture helps speedier preparation of compost. If cow dung slurry is not available, even mere rotation of drums twice a day is enough for preparation of compost,’’ Prakash says.

DRUMMING UP SOME FACTS
On an average a 200-litre capacity plastic drum produces about 75 kg of compost in about 75 days

The cost of the drum and the composting is about Rs 5,500-6,000 for drum dry composting and Rs 6,000-7000 for drum bio-composting

Simple and easy to operate and can be adopted in household roof tops, gardens and parks

Aerobic microbial composting minimizes flies and mosquitoes in the area

Prevents soil and water pollution

Ecofriendly and maintains a clean environment

Can be a source of livelihood for unemployed youths.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Bangalore> Report / by Y Maheswara Reddy / Place:Bangalore, Agency:DNA / Friday – November 08th, 2013

Nurturing live and mini wonders

November 10, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Mysore :

Plants at home can add an unique touch to the decor, and miniature horticultural masterpieces like Bonsai plants, beyond doubt give a diverse look. Enhancing these further by growing them within a frame with a scenic backdrop is something all the more vivacious. Creating such beautiful ‘live sceneries’ in different sizes within varied beautiful decorative frames is this dexterous lady’s favourite hobby.

Sharada Gupta, a Bonsai expert from city is also a connoisseur in making these beautiful mural bonsais. She has created several such murals at home, each of which is a masterpiece in its own way. While watching these mini wonders with a bunch of little healthy trees marvellously growing within a set frontier is awe-inspiring. Growing them not just requires proficiency but also a lot of patience, the lady says.

“I have about five of them and I have remade one of the oldest among them recently. It is about 18 years old with almost 50 trees within,” Sharada explains.

“Making these murals requires a lot of patience and personal attention. You cannot simply bring them from the nursery and plant them within a frame. They need to be first grown in a separate space the right way, cut and pruned to rightly grow within the frame size we prefer and then transfer into the mural frame. Further, they need to be taken care of like children if not for which they fail to survive. All this is a lengthy process. Thus, growing these bonsais and turning them into live murals takes about two years time.”

While a bonsai plant is not much suitable for indoors and cannot be kept inside for more than 3-4 days, as it requires a lot of sunlight and fresh air. The advantage of these murals is that they can be hung indoors as well. “As these live murals are created within a frame, they can be hung anywhere including indoors, which beautifully add to the look of home interiors,” suggests Sharada, “however, they too need to be frequently placed outdoors, so that the plants are showered with sunlight and fresh air often.” The artist is currently making a fixed mural in her garden with several bonsais which will also be decked up with a water fall within. “I am waiting to complete it for I know it will look wonderful and lively,” she says, who makes all the bonsais on her own, while the frames and sceneries of her murals are created by professional artists.

“Decorating your home with bonsai plants adds a soothing touch to the space. If placed attractively at the right places, it greatly enhances the beauty of our nest and lures many visitors. I have been doing it for almost 40 years now and I must say it’s a great feeling,” gushes Sharada, who has created hundreds of bonsais in several different varieties, has conducted demonstration classes on Bonsai making both in India and abroad and has even written books on the subject years ago.

Sharada Gupta is a resident of Yadavagiri In city.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by AN / November 05th, 2013

High on hibiscus

November 1, 2013Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

A yellow hibiscus / Photo: M. Murali / The Hindu

Add a splash of colour to your garden with these brightly-hues beauties. These dramatic tropical beauties can be grown in large containers or in the ground, and they thrive in Bangalore’s climate.

In the ’80’s we could only view the exotic and brilliantly-coloured hybrid hibiscus, in the hot house in Lalbagh. On certain days, the research section was opened to the public and we oohed and aahed over the beautiful, large blooms enviously. Today the plants are sold for a reasonable price in nurseries across the city.

Two varieties are available — the garden variety and the hybrid one. The garden variety hibiscus is the one we are all familiar with from our childhood – the simple hibiscus flowers on large bushes that grew as high as our houses. They usually come in only a single solid color, or possibly a mix of two colours. The flowers are small and not very dramatic to look at. In contrast, hybrid hibiscus bushes usually don’t grow as big or as vigorously as the garden variety, but the flowers are much more spectacular. The tropical hybrids produce large multi-coloured flowers. There is nothing more rewarding than the beautiful blooms these exotic plants produce.

A personal favourite is the blue, lavender, pink and red hibiscus called Hollywood Starlet. It blooms with large, multicolored 7-9″ ruffly flowers in tangerine, lavender, and pink with a dark red eye. The bush is full, lush, and medium sized. Another beauty is soft, pretty and ruffled one called Dreamy Morning. Its large 7-9″ single flower glows in pastel yellow, orange and pink, and a two-toned red eye. Hot Babe has large, ruffled 7-9″ flowers in shades of orange with a bold fuchsia pink eye. These dramatic tropical beauties can be grown in large containers or in the ground, and they thrive in Bangalore’s climate.

“It is one of my favourite flowers and they come in such pretty colours,” shares Snehalatha Naidu who has them growing on her rooftop garden in Fraser Town, in pots. “I could never anything shoe-like about them and wondered why they were called shoe flowers. Then I found out that they were used to shine shoes in certain parts of India. The white ones are medicinal and used a lot in hair oil. These flowers are also edible and used in salads.”

They’re easy to grow. All they need is sun, soil fed with mulch, and pruning once in a while.

Hetero colored Hibiscus flower on a same plant. / Photo: G.N.Rao. / The Hindu

Fausto Cardozo who lives in Koramangala says, “In Egypt (and perhaps elsewhere) they make tea out of dried hibiscus flowers, we bought a packet when we went there.”

“In my house in HSR Layout, I have around ten varieties and each flower is huge and colourful. They are simple to cross breed and bring about an amazing range of colours and flowers. Relatively disease free, the plant is easy to grow in our Bangalore gardens with our climatic conditions,” remarks Dr AN Yellappa Reddy the former secretary, department of environment and ecology.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Habitat> Gardens / by Marianne de Nazareth / October 21st, 2013

Moily travels by Metro, takes the lead on conservation

October 14, 2013Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Science & Technologyadmin

Leading from front, minister walked one-kilo metre stretch from his home in Tughlak Lane to Race Course metro station

Clad in his trademark white khadi, Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday did what 2.3 million Delhiites do every day—travel by a crowded Metro train to reach office. The self-imposed austerity measure was part of a fuel conservation drive to save $5 billion on the crude oil import bill.

The minister had asked all the staff of his ministry, as well as of 14 public sector oil companies under him, to mark every Wednesday as Bus Day, when only public transport should be used.

Leading from the front, the minister walked the one km stretch from his home in Tughlak Lane to Race Course Metro station, wading through a crowd of 100-odd journalists battling for a sound bite.

Calling the move patriotic, Moily termed his Metro trip a “symbolic gesture” in an effort to cut the country’s overall yearly oil import bill by $23 billion. “I hope other ministers and the common man would follow this. As we spent around $145 billion on import of crude oil, we have to conserve also in order to bring down the current account deficit. In my ministry only, we were able to save at least $800 today (Wednesday) when more than 200 staff took public transport by saving about 600 litres of petrol or diesel,” said Moily.

The minister travelled amid an excited crowd who were eager to capture a snap of him, while visual media journalists fought for his comments.

The minister generously rejected an offer of a seat from a young man. “It was a seat for senior citizens. I don’t want myself to be considered a senior citizen,” he later said.

However, it was a hard job for the Metro staff and his security personnel to manage the crowd. When asked whether he would take public transport the entire day, he said, “I’ve asked my driver to keep the car in the garage, so that it won’t create any temptation to me.”

There were light moments, too, when Moily could not trace his Metro card to swipe while he was trying to exit. Two joint secretaries, Neeraj Mittal and Aramane Giridhar, and one director cycled their way to office.

The campaign, part of the minister’s larger roadmap to reduce the country’s import bill, included steps such as public sector and joint venture refineries keeping imports to last year’s level, depending heavily on rupee payment for imports from Iran, getting on with an ethanol blending programme and allowing oil marketing companies to arrange external commercial borrowing to meet their working capital demand.

For the Rs 45-crore, six-week conservation campaign, the ministry has roped in cricketer Virat Kohli and badminton star Saina Nehwal as brand ambassadors.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Current Affairs> News> National / by BS Reporter / New Delhi – October 10th, 2013

‘Bangalore is the best in the world’

October 4, 2013About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

The city is arguably the best city to live in India. The first thing that comes to the mind when any Bangalorean thinks about the city is its conducive climate. The moderate temperature and the luscious and vast greenery make anyone to love this place. The fastest growing metropolitan city has always attracted tourists and immense talent from all over the country as well as across the globe.

A diverse city founded by Kempegowda it is the software hub of India due to the presence of large number of software companies and industries. Along with these highlights Bangalore has many tourist attractions. Starting from the Kengal Hanumanthiah built Vidhana Soudha to the Tippu palace, Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, etc.

Another thing that makes Bangalore likeable is its variety of food. Irrespective of where you are from, you get all kinds of food here, be it Chinese, Rajasthani, Punjab etc.

The quality of education here is excellent with more than 25 engineering colleges which is very high. Bangalore is a vibrant and colourful city with fashion weeks, musicians, comedians and artists performing everyday. Bangalore also has a high number of public sectors and government organisations. These are only few of the reasons for anyone who is staying or has stayed in this beautiful city to fall in love with it.

Now coming to what I dislike or things I would want to see changed in Bangalore. First thing anybody would agree is the Bangalore traffic. The heavy traffic, the traffic jams and the accidents are a major drawback. Also, the nightlife here dies after 10. Bangalore being a metropolis should have a better deadline. There is also the garbage disposal problem. We see garbage thrown everywhere on the road. Another issue people face is the poor roads. While some roads like Nice road or the Malleswaram flyover are good, there are many roads which are filled with potholes; roads which are dug up and left unattended and constructions going on from eons causing inconvenience to the citizens. Bangalore also has a very high water scarcity problem which is hampering our daily lives.

Irrespective of these problems, being a Bangalorean since my birth, I love this place and for me without doubt it is the greatest city in the world and I believe that the present, past and future residents and tourists of Bangalore will agree with me.

(The writer is a resident of Yelahanka)

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Sagar Kashyap – Bangalore / September 25th, 2013

Varsity plans to conserve every drop of rainwater

September 21, 2013Education, Green Initiatives / Environmentadmin

Comprehensive watershed system to be adopted on UAS-B campus

The University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore has taken up an ambitious project to convert its entire 1,300-acre campus into a comprehensive watershed system using scientific method so that not a drop of rainwater goes waste.

Under the proposed comprehensive watershed system, said to be the first of its kind in the country’s agricultural sciences universities, the UAS-B will build eight new ponds. At present there are six major and six minor watershed ponds.

UAS-B Director of Research M.A. Shankar said different catchment areas have been identified within the campus based on the nature of terrains, contour divides and water flow pattern. The project is said to become a watershed model for others especially the institutions with campuses, he says.

The project, which is being taken up at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh, would be completed in about six months from now, he said. The university has taken the services of retired soil conservators of the State Agriculture Department to implement the scheme.

UAS-B Vice-Chancellor K. Narayana Gowda, who conceptualised the project, says the intention is to put in place a highly efficient system of watershed where every drop of rainwater is put to use.

“We decided to develop the entire university campus into a watershed system after our terrible experience during summer this year when there was severe water shortage. With the increasing number of big and luxury apartments mushrooming around the university campus, the groundwater level has depleted in the campus as these apartments account for a large number of borewells which go as deep as 1,500 feet. Such was the water shortage that we took Cauvery water connection. That made us think seriously about the comprehensive watershed model,” Prof. Gowda said.

Head of UAS-B’s Horticulture Department B.N. Sathyanarayana, who monitored the task of reviving this huge watershed tank, says that the tank got filled up now after nearly two decades.

“Water is becoming increasingly precious. Unless we try to preserve it and recharge the groundwater through the above methods, we will have to face a tough time,” he says.

The works related to the revival of the above watershed system was inaugurated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Director-General S. Ayyappan before the commencement of the monsoon.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bangalore – September 15th, 2013

Bangalore, you are still beautiful

September 20, 2013About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Traveladmin

Bangalore :

Early on Sunday evening, the sky was clear and a soft wind blew across Ulsoor, lined by the lake on one side and expensive real estate on the other. There was an edge to the traffic racing towards the city’s downtown area, dodging pedestrians and potholes.

A young girl of perhaps 18 was at the front of the traffic on Gangadhar Chetty Road, close to the Thiruvalluvar statue. A pothole that had matured into a crater with water from early morning showers flooding the area, lay ominously across the road.

The girl and her two-wheeler, followed closely by an autorickshaw, were stalled by the condition of the surface. The slightly-built teenager, who was trying to manoeuvre her bike through the slush, lost her balance and tumbled into the muck.

The auto driver and the passengers in his vehicle sat unmoving. Behind them, traffic started piling up. A young man on a bike suddenly raced through the crowd and tossed his vehicle to the side. He didn’t even pause to take off his helmet before pulling the girl out of the slush and depositing her on the footpath. He then returned to move her vehicle.

For a while, people just watched, stunned by the little drama playing out before them. I realized the girl might need medical attention and got out of my car, leaving it in the middle of the road. By then, a biggish crowd had gathered around.

It took me a couple of minutes to get back to my vehicle which was clearly blocking the traffic. But no one objected. No one honked. There was a considerable pile-up and people in the vehicles in the rear probably didn’t even know what was happening up in front, but nobody made a sound. Everyone waited patiently. At a time when rapes and crimes against women headline newspapers every day, it was an especially sweet moment. The rider who cared, the crowd that paused.

As Metallica’s James Hetfield’s told the city’s rapt audience not so long ago, “Bangalore, you’re beautiful.”

It might have been the time of day, that day of the week, when the mood relaxed. It might have been the most patient were in the pile-up. Or maybe, just maybe, the city is regaining some of its lost temperament. Fair-weathered, pot-holed Bangalore.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Auto Driver / by Prajwal Hegde, TNN / September 04th, 2013

Shiitake mushrooms can now be grown in Bangalore

September 4, 2013Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

The premium variety of mushroom is being grown only in a few countries such as Japan, China and South Korea

Seeds of weather friendly strains are ready for commercial cultivation

Shiitake, the premium variety of mushrooms being grown only in a few countries such as Japan, China and South Korea, is now ready for cultivation in Indian cities, including Bangalore.

The Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has developed new strains of this mushroom suitable for cultivation in the country.

Known for their medicinal properties, especially anti-cancer use and cholesterol-reduction ability, these varieties are now available at Rs. 1,200 a kg in Bangalore as they are being imported. “It may cost only about Rs. 50 a kg if we grow them here,” says Dr. Meera Pandey, principal scientist, Mushroom Research Laboratory, IIHR.

Dr. Pandey, who spearheaded the efforts to develop the weather-friendly strains of Shiitake, told The Hindu: “We have not only developed protocols for cultivating this variety in the Indian environment, but also produced the seeds for their cultivation. Those interested can buy these seeds from us if they book in advance.”

These varieties are normally grown in a situation where the temperature is below 25 degrees Celsius. Dr. Pandey said they could be cultivated in areas in and around Bangalore without any artificial temperature control from July to January/February when the temperature is normally cool.

She feels that north-eastern states, barring Assam, are highly suitable for cultivating Shiitake in the natural environment. Similarly, the IIHR is also planning to popularise them in Oooty, Coonoor, Chickmagalur, Kodagu and Kodaikanal.

The IIHR mushroom laboratory has also developed a technology to grow these premium mushroom varieties at homes through ‘ready-to-fruit’ bags.

These bags will have mushrooms which are about to sprout and all that you need to do is keep them at a place away from direct sun light and sprinkle water for about a week to 10 days. This will yield about 250 to 400 grams of mushrooms in two batches, Dr. Pandey says.

This can only be done from July to January/February if they are being grown in natural environment in and around Bangalore. While the prices of the ready-to-fruit bags for Shiitake varieties are yet to be fixed, she says it is expected to be in the range of Rs. 20 to 40. Those interested in buying Shiitake ready-to-fruit bags can contact Dr. Pandey on 080-28466420-Extension-347 during office hours (email: meera@IIHR.ernet.in).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by B. S. Sathish Kumar / Bangalore – August 17th, 2013

New plants to take root in Lalbagh

September 2, 2013Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

The largest lung space in Bangalore, covering a sprawling 400 acres, Lalbagh is now home to 1,916 species./ Photo: Murali Kumar K. / The Hindu

Around 25 species of ornamental and fruit-bearing plants will be introduced

New species of ornamental, medicinal, commercial and fruit-bearing trees are to welcome you on your next visit to Lalbagh Botanical Gardens here.

The over 200-year-old garden is to get around 25 new species from the National Botanical Garden, Kolkata.

“We have brought species…that could suit Bangalore’s climate,” deputy director of the gardens J. Gunavanth told presspersons here on Monday. “We are identifying space across the gardens to plant them, as there is a space crunch,” he said.

Among those being introduced are palm varieties such as thatch, gingerbread, cabbage, feather, feather duster, desert fan, Nicobar and ruffled fan palms. Some other plant species are velvet apple, star apple, Hanuman phal, brush cherry, as well as poon, empress, olive bark and locust trees. Most of these species are natives of South America, tropical Asian countries, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Africa.

REPLACEMENT

This comes even as around 50 to 60 species are planned to be replaced. Some of these trees are more than 100 years old. “An old tree fell last week and many others are old,” Mr. Gunavanth added.

Crowds swell at Lalbagh flower show

September 2, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

A massive crowd turned up at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to enjoy the biannual flower show - Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu — A massive crowd turned up at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to enjoy the biannual flower show – Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu

Over 50,000 people thronged Lalbagh on Saturday, resulting in windfall collections

Like butterflies, thousands fluttered into Lalbagh on Saturday for the annual Independence Day flower show. According to official figures, over 50,000 people thronged the venue, resulting in windfall collections at the gate.

The show, which was opened to the public on Wednesday, took wing on Friday with nearly 60,000 footfalls thanks to the public holiday for Ramzan. With one more day to go before this long weekend ends, the Horticulture Department expects the total figure to touch two lakh. “We are expecting one lakh people at the very least on Sunday,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture J. Gunavaantha.

The Ikebana display and the flower-laden houseboat appeared to be the biggest draws. Almost every second visitor could be seen walking out with Ikebana showpieces. George and Christina Butcher from England bought such a large display that they had to carry it together with the taxi driver, who brought them to the venue. “We don’t know how we will take this back with us. But we couldn’t not buy them,” said Mr. Butcher. “I have never seen something so beautiful,” gushed his wife.

TRAUMA OF TRAFFIC

However, the city’s meagre infrastructure once again played the party pooper. The roads leading to Lalbagh were clearly in no shape to bear the extra load. Negotiating traffic on Lalbagh Double Road, J.C. Road and Hosur Road is a tortuous experience even on a normal day. But on Saturday, these roads were practically impenetrable.

The jam on K.H. Road extended all the way to Richmond Circle Flyover. The situation was not too different at Dairy Circle, Lalbagh West Gate and Main Gate junctions as well as the R.V. Road Junction. Special arrangements were made at the multistorey parking lot at the Shanti Nagar KSRTC bus depot as well as the BBMP multistorey parking lot on J.C. Road.

Yet, hundreds could be seen stalling on the road waiting for a parking spot and blocking traffic. Policemen were at their wits end trying to wave these vehicles forward but they stuck to their ground. Commuters arguing with each other and with overworked traffic constables was a common sight throughout the day.

The crowd displayed their lack of civic sense by littering the venue. It was a sad contrast: lily and chrysanthemum blooms on one side; chocolate wrappers, ice-cream sticks and corn cobs on the other.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore – August 11th, 2013

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