Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Agri Scientist Laxmipathi Gowda awarded two Fellowships

Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nature, Science & Technology

Mysuru :

Mysuru-based renowned agriculture scientist Dr. C. L. Laxmipathi Gowda has been conferred Fellowships of two prestigious agriculture research professional bodies in 2015.

In January this year, Dr. Laxmipathi Gowda was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) based in New Delhi. The Academy is a national level body in India devoted to agricultural sciences. The Fellows of the Academy are recognised for their contributions to science, and includes distinguished personalities in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, both from India and abroad.

Early this week, the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) awarded him the Fellowship of American Society of Agronomy during the Annual Meeting held at the Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA. The ASA is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global agriculture dedicated to advancing the field of agronomy in relation to soils, crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.

Dr. Laxmipathi Gowda was formerly Deputy Director General-Research, ICRISAT, Hyderabad. As Coordinator of the Cereals and Legumes Asia Network (CLAN) he helped strengthen the national research-for-development (R4D) capacity of national agriculture research systems (NARS) in 12 countries in Asia.

As chickpea breeder he also helped 30 national programmes in Asia and Africa to select and release 70 improved, high-yielding and disease resistant chickpea (Bengal gram or Chana) varieties (both Desi and Kabuli types) that were adopted by smallholder farmers extensively leading to increased food production.

He has received more than 30 awards and recognitions from many countries and professional bodies. Recently, the Government of Karnataka nominated him as a Member of the Vision Group on Agriculture chaired by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday – November 18th, 2015

Cash from scrap: three IIT graduates show the way

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

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You can now book an appointment with a raddiwala on an Android app, after which professionals turn up at your apartment and collect scrap and pay you a handsome amount too. Three Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) graduates, who quit their cushy corporate jobs and turned raddiwalas, have made this possible. The three – Priyank Jain (IIT Kharagpur), Harshal Chowdary (IIT Madras), and Rahul Jaiswal (IIT Kanpur), who worked in various technology firms, are now excited at the good response to their startup, encashea.com.

They started it in August by collecting scrap from residents of apartment complexes.

Presently, the firm is providing service to only apartment complexes in the south-eastern part of the city.

Mr. Jain said that it all started with the residents of high-rise apartment complexes finding it difficult to dispose off scrap. “We identified that residents of apartments had very restricted access to raddiwalas due to their secluded nature. It was a gap in the market which we decided to fill,” he said.

The firm has trained around 10 pick-up boys to professionally collect scrap from households. They operate the app, evaluate the worth of scrap and generate a digital invoice. The firm segregates and sells the waste to secondary recyclers.

Mr. Jain said that unlike most of the disruptive technology aggregators coming up, they were a logistics firm with operations on the ground.

He said a resident sold them over 100 kg of newspaper he had stacked up in his house for want of better avenues to dispose it. “Such avenues will encourage segregation of dry waste and wet waste in the house every day. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the e-waste that you sell a raddiwalah will be disposed off responsibly. We ensure that,” he said.

Ragpickers were the pioneers

The first to start such doorstep waste management in the city were ragpickers themselves, trained by Hasiru Dala.

Total Waste Management started a year-and-a-half ago. Today, it services 77 apartments in J.P. Nagar and Whitefield areas. You can book an appointment on the Total Waste Management app, and ragpickers arrive to educate and manage your waste — a 360 degree service, including wet waste.

The ragpickers visit these apartments twice a week and help the residents in composting as well, apart from collecting all dry waste and scrap.

Nalini Sekhar of Hasiru Dala, said that the very fact that ragpickers go to these apartments with uniforms and use an app to calculate the value of the waste has given them immense confidence. She also said that only Total Waste Management collects all waste from the residents and not cherry pick. “Regular raddiwalas also take only high-value waste like metal and paper, leaving behind low-value waste which attains a critical mass. In our model, high-value waste subsidises low-value waste,” she said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj / Bengaluru – November 16th, 2015

Lalbagh to host India’s first national landscape fest

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

Bengaluru :

The country’s first national landscape fest is all set to begin from November 11 to 15 in Lalbagh under the joint endeavour of the horticulture and agriculture departments that would demonstrate and exhibit several aspects of landscaping, urban horticulture and spiritual gardens.

A unique initiative, the fest would showcase the biggest vertical garden in the history of Lalbagh – at 7 feet tall and 1000 feet wide, covering an area of 7,000 square feet all around the glass house at Lalbagh.

Dr Jagadeesh M, joint director of horticulture department, said, “Bengaluru being known as the garden city and losing the grandeur of its name in recent days, we have tried to organise this fest to drive the city more into landscaping and beautifying a spot. The show will be arranged inside the glass house. In addition to that, the concept of organic urban roof gardening will also be explored outside the glass house, by which the bio-waste from each household will be used to produce organic manures. This method of growing vegetables and fruits ensures the consumption of organic plant products.”

“The Bonsai Garden will host exhibition on spiritual gardening which will have Nakshatravana, Raashivana, Navagrahavana, Shivapanchayatvana and several other spiritual plants. It would have landscape technology stalls as part of the show,” he added.

The fest would receive more than 3,000 landscape experts and architects and over 3 lakh visitors are expected to visit Lalbagh during the fest.

Dr Krishna Chavan from Belagavi, an international landscape architect, who has organised the fest, said, “The fest will enable Bengalureans to explore and balance nature and colour their lives with plants and flowers. I have used the concept of five elements of nature – water, air, soil, stone and plant for beautifying the landscape.”

Speaking to TOI about police security to be provided in Lalbagh during the fest, DCP Lokesh Kumar, said, “More than 400 cops will be deployed for security and traffic in and around Lalbagh. Tickets will be available till 6.00 pm and visitors can stay till 7.00 pm in the garden. Only two-wheelers can be parked in Alameen College and both two-wheelers and cars have to be parked at Shantinagar Bus depot, JC Road and near Lalbagh HOPCOMS stall.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / TNN / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee / November 09th, 2015

Lalbagh to host India’s first national landscape fest

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

Bengaluru  :

The country’s first national landscape fest is all set to begin from November 11 to 15 in Lalbagh under the joint endeavour of the horticulture and agriculture departments that would demonstrate and exhibit several aspects of landscaping, urban horticulture and spiritual gardens.

A unique initiative, the fest would showcase the biggest vertical garden in the history of Lalbagh – at 7 feet tall and 1000 feet wide, covering an area of 7,000 square feet all around the glass house at Lalbagh.

Dr Jagadeesh M, joint director of horticulture department, said, “Bengaluru being known as the garden city and losing the grandeur of its name in recent days, we have tried to organise this fest to drive the city more into landscaping and beautifying a spot. The show will be arranged inside the glass house. In addition to that, the concept of organic urban roof gardening will also be explored outside the glass house, by which the bio-waste from each household will be used to produce organic manures. This method of growing vegetables and fruits ensures the consumption of organic plant products.”

“The Bonsai Garden will host exhibition on spiritual gardening which will have Nakshatravana, Raashivana, Navagrahavana, Shivapanchayatvana and several other spiritual plants. It would have landscape technology stalls as part of the show,” he added.

The fest would receive more than 3,000 landscape experts and architects and over 3 lakh visitors are expected to visit Lalbagh during the fest.

Dr Krishna Chavan from Belagavi, an international landscape architect, who has organised the fest, said, “The fest will enable Bengalureans to explore and balance nature and colour their lives with plants and flowers. I have used the concept of five elements of nature – water, air, soil, stone and plant for beautifying the landscape.”

Speaking to TOI about police security to be provided in Lalbagh during the fest, DCP Lokesh Kumar, said, “More than 400 cops will be deployed for security and traffic in and around Lalbagh. Tickets will be available till 6.00 pm and visitors can stay till 7.00 pm in the garden. Only two-wheelers can be parked in Alameen College and both two-wheelers and cars have to be parked at Shantinagar Bus depot, JC Road and near Lalbagh HOPCOMS stall.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / Sreemoyee Chatterjee, TNN / November 09th, 2015

Preventing privatisation of water

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders

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Kshitij Urs has spent the past two decades reminding society and the government that water belongs to the people

With rivers dying and lakes becoming bowls of sewage, water is being prophesised as the centre of the next great power struggle.

Amidst grave concerns, Kshitij Urs has spent the past two decades reminding society and the government that water belongs to the people. “Water, to me, has historically been a source of power. Because of this, it is also a source of discrimination. If one were to look at urban deprivation, lack of access to water is as important as food or education,” he said.

Privatisation

The battle for water started in 2004 when he accessed a government agreement with an NGO to “manufacture consent” among the people on water privatisation.

“We realised that this was a new era of public participation where consensus was going to be manufactured. We needed a State-level mobilisation of opinion on the actual impact of the move,” said Mr. Urs who then co-founded the Campaign against Water Privatisation.

Through a sustained campaign that focussed on the commoditisation of water over three years, the State government backed off from the reform. However, the ‘war’ is far from won. “They have tried their hand at Hubbali and Mysuru where opposition to the move resulted in water coming back to the municipality…In Bengaluru, we are seeing privatisation in other forms, such as Unaccounted Flow of Water project, where operations of water supply is being given to private companies,” said Mr. Urs.

Since 2007, the organisation has transformed into People’s Campaign for Right to Water (PCRW), which strives for the protection of water bodies. Their legal action has seen encroachments on Sarakki lake being removed – a development that set off anti-encroachment drives on lakes across the city.

The advocacy by PCRW was also crucial for drafting of the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act, which will see all lakes coming under one body, he said.

Trained as a medical doctor, Mr. Urs’ interest in social justice and deprivation started in 1993 when he met two sisters — one 10 and another 12-year-old — while volunteering at an NGO. “They were diagnosed with HIV. Deprivation had pushed them from a slum in Banashankari to prostitution in Bombay…Nothing in my upbringing had prepared me for this,” he said.

The ‘awakening’ saw him delve into the social sector with a masters in development studies from London followed by a Ph.D from National Law School of India University in the water sector.

Projects working on

Democratisation of water sources

Empowering local communities to raise issues relating to lakes

Following up implementation of Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act

Suggestions to government

Understand social conservation of water

Involve local communities in managing water sources

Suggestions to citizens

Understand the importance of traditional wisdom to secure inter-generational rights of water

Demand protection of lakes, tanks

Get involved in policy making

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Mohit M. Rao / Bengaluru – October 27th, 2015

2-day Seed Savers meet, Seed Festival in city

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

‘Desi’ Cooking Contest tomorrow

Mysuru :

With an aim to create awareness on conservation and revival of crop genetic resources and to exchange seeds, a two-day Seed Savers Meet and Seed Festival have been organised at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry in city on Oct. 28 and 29 from 10 am to 8 pm.

Zilla Panchayat President Dr. Pushpa Amarnath will inaugurate the Fest at 11.30 am on Oct. 28. Legal expert and policy analyst from Delhi – Shalini Bhutani, Joint Director of Agriculture (Mysuru) M. Mahantheshappa, farmer leader Nandini Jayaram, Convenor of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture Kavitha Kuruganti and Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch Convenor Jacob Nellithanam will be the chief guests. National Award winner Farmer-Scientist Shankar Guru will preside.

Cooking Contest

To attract people towards local food and country breed, a ‘Desi Aduge Spardhe’ (Traditional Cooking Contest) has also been organised at the venue at 10.30 am tomorrow (Oct. 28). Entry is Free.

Participants should cook food using Siridhanya, Desi Akki, Kempakki, Kale Gida, Kaadu Gida and Medicinal Plants or prepare cuisine using any of the above items.

About 50 Seed Saver groups from seven States of India, working on farm conservation and promotion of seed diversity and related knowledge, will participate.

Over 1,500 varieties of crop seeds will be on display, along with relevant posters and literature. Books, organic products, organic food and some seeds will be available on sale.

The Festival will also feature parallel talks, presentations, film shows and a cultural programme of song and music at the same venue. For details about the Seed Festival, contact Shantakumar on 94487-74871 or 95351-49520.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday ,October 27th, 2015

Discard your e-waste

Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

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From October 2, four Namma Metro stations will be part of a mission to ensure toxic e-waste reaches the right destination.

Volunteers from Binbag – a startup being incubated at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s N.S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning – who specialise in collection and responsible disposal of e-waste, will ensure that the waste you get will reach a State-authorised recycler.

The logic behind an e-waste collection drive at metro stations is that those who use the metro bring waste that needs to be disposed off. These can be dropped in bags held by volunteers, explained Achitra Borgohain, founder of Binbag.

The volunteers will be present during the morning peak hours at the stations on Reach-1.

Binbag has already been offering doorstep pick-up services in the city. “In a year, we have collected nearly five tonnes of e-waste. The most discarded items are home appliances, bought three or four years ago and have turned obsolete,” Mr. Borgohain explained.

What was pleasantly surprising though was that those who used Binbag’s services did not expect anything in return. “99 per cent of my customers are happy about the doorstep pickup and the fact that the waste will reach a responsible recycler. Our gift vouchers (given away as incentives) are more of a thank you gesture than a selling point,” he added.

Binbag now has nearly 2,000 customers, mainly individuals. “Over a period of time, we have also served communities, such as apartments. We do not focus on B2B, as they have other options,” he said.

Trash for health

Who says slums are spared e-waste troubles? Dispelling this notion, Binbag is organising a unique ‘Trash for health’ campaign on October 4 for residents of Bismillah Nagar in south Bengaluru. To incentivise people into handing over waste such as batteries, music players and radio sets, children and their mothers will be provided a free dental check-up, Binbag representatives said.

Connect with scrap dealers

No one is ‘trashing’ the app-way, not even trash. Binbag is piloting an ambitious app in south Bengaluru that connects scrap dealers with potential customers. “We are creating a network of last-mile collection agents where the nearest dealer will get notified based on customer location,” Mr. Borgohain said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by K.C. Deepika / Bengaluru – September 30th, 2015

Call to farmers to adopt Agnihotra farming

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

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Mysuru :

A day-long workshop on ‘Agnihotra Farming,’ organised under the aegis of Ananta Bharatha Charitable Trust (ABCT), was held at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) on Manandavadi Road here yesterday.

Indian Informal Worker Initiative Secretary Dr. Dhwani Sharma, who spoke after inaugurating the workshop, regretted the negligence of Agnihotra Farming in our country.

Pointing out that Agnihotra Farming is the invention of our country, she said that German farmers have successfully practised this form of farming and are growing vegetables and crop that are abundantly rich with life-enriching nutrients.

She called upon the farming community to adopt Agnihotra Farming, which is ‘Homa Therapy Farming’ for abundant crop production and less expenses.

ABCT Founder and former Minister S.A. Ramdas, in his address, said that the Agnihotra was a concept perceived by our ancient Saints for better agricultural production and nutrition- rich crops.

Stating that the ABCT will join hands with Indian Informal Worker Initiative for promotion of agriculture in such a way that it gives good monetary returns besides delighting the mind, Ramdas said that this concept is based on 5Ms — Minimum cost, Maximum production, Marketing, More profit and More healthy.

Ramdas also said that the ABCT has planned to set up soil research centres, water centres, environment centres and agriculture product centres across the State in the near future.

Explaining the salient features and benefits of Agnihotra Farming, he declared that 102 farmers of the district will be selected in the first phase of Agnihotra Farming promotion.

Dr. Shailendra Sharma, Scientist, Dr. K.M. Indiresh, Dean, College of Horticulture, Mysore, Dr. V. Sivaprasad, CSRTI Director and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Friday – October 02nd, 2015

‘Forests and Wildlife can be protected only if there is transparency in the Dept.’

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Travel

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Says Hon. Wildlife Warden N.M. Naveen Kumar

One should not work in the forest just for the sake of working but should have the passion for wildlife, its protection and conservation. One such person, who not only has the passion for wildlife but also wants to create awareness among the young generation about the importance of forests and wildlife, is N.M. Naveen Kumar, Hon. Wildlife Warden of Chamarajanagar district, who holds a M.Sc degree in Public Policy and Management from University of London. He has been appointed by the State Government for the second term. Chamarajanagar District Wildlife Division consists of six ranges in Bandipur National Park, complete BRT Tiger Reserve, M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and a major portion of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

In a tete-a-tete with Star of Mysore, Naveen Kumar spoke about Wildlife Wardens, their duties, responsibilities and challenges. Excerpts…

by S. Kenneth Shishir

Star of Mysore (SOM): Who is an Honorary Wildlife Warden?

Naveen: An Hon. Wildlife Warden is a gazetted public servant, appointed under Section 4, Sub Section BB of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. It is a statutory post that is created by an Act of Parliament.

SOM: What are the duties and responsibilities of Hon. Wildlife Warden?

Naveen: The notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests has clearly stipulated the duties and responsibilities of the Hon. Wildlife Warden. The primary duties according to the Act are of enforcement in nature, namely, Control of poaching and clandestine trade in wild animals and products; Detection and prosecution of offences under the aforementioned Act; Preventing damage to the habitat of wildlife; Initiating measures for dealing with man-animal conflicts including the assessment and payment of compensation, etc.; Carrying the message of conservation to the people and enlisting public support for nature and wildlife conservation.

SOM: What powers do you have to carry out these duties?

Naveen: Hon. Wildlife Warden has the status of a deemed public servant under Section 59 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and has powers of entry, search, seizure and detention under Section 50 for prevention and detection of offences under the aforementioned Act and also has powers to inspect records of licences under Section 47 Sub Section B of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

SOM: Do Forest officials extend co-operation to Hon. Wildlife Wardens in carrying out works?

Naveen: Co-operation is being extended to a limited extent only by a few honest officers who have the passion for wildlife conservation.

The officers whose priorities (unfortunately in majority) have certain personal agendas and they see the Hon. Wildlife Warden, especially an educated, informed and pro-active ones, as a thorn in their flesh.

SOM: Could you elaborate?

Naveen: The problem with the functional process of the Forest Department is that it is completely beyond public scrutiny unlike the works of Revenue, PWD or Police Department. For example, the Forest Department’s functioning is beyond the sight of the common man (Public) because forest is a technical subject and most importantly, the general public has no right of entry. This has created an atmosphere where “Power – Transparency = Corruption.”

Therefore, the role of Hon. Wildlife Warden becomes very crucial as he/she is the only representative of the public who has powers of entry and access into the forest.

SOM: How is the Anti-Poaching Force working in Bandipur?

Naveen: We have increased the number of Anti-Poaching Camps and to a large extent, they have been instrumental in preventing and contain poaching. But on the ground in case of Bandipur, more than 60% of the Anti-Poaching Camps do not have a gun despite several written observations in this regard.

SOM: How do they work without weapons then?

Naveen: Patrolling on foot with a machete in their hands and any observations of human intervention, animal deaths, etc. are being reported to the head quarters in the evenings. Moreover, Anti-Poaching Camps are under-staffed and in case of Bandipur, there are 68 vacant positions with 28 persons at the guard level being transferred with a replacement of only 10 guards which has left Bandipur National Park to the mercy of poachers and timber smugglers.

SOM: What are your suggestions to improve forests?

Naveen: In order to protect, conserve and improve the forests, there has to be transparency and open public scrutiny of the Department’s functioning; Corrupt officers, especially those trapped by Lokayukta and against whom cases are pending, should not be given sensitive postings in places like Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks; The subordinate staff vacancies should be filled on priority; Weapons should be issued and hardness allowance extended to those working in the Wildlife Divisions. They should also get basic incentives like Life Insurance, canteen benefits on the lines of Police Department.

SOM: What are the challenges faced in the forest?

Naveen: Some of the major challenges being faced in the forest include sand lifting from core area sometimes with the connivance of officials concerned, timber smuggling which is being routed to depots and small game poaching especially deer, variety of fowls, hares and so on.

SOM: Has the night traffic ban been effective?

Naveen: Of course yes. Night traffic ban has been effective in ensuing peace and tranquillity for wild animals and has averted a lot of road kills. It is an outstanding example of what a passionate officer (in this case Dr. R. Raju, IFS) can contribute to the wildlife if he really minds.

SOM: What measures have been taken to end or control man-animal conflicts in forest borders?

Naveen: The Congress-led State Government has taken up a major project which is worth Rs. 230 crore. The Railway Barricade Project for border areas of both Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks is the first in the country which is an initiative of C. Srinivasan, retd. APCCF, Project Tiger. Upon completion of this project, man-animal conflicts, especially man-elephant conflicts, would drastically subside.

Apart from this, night patrolling along sensitive areas and Village Watch Committees has been functioning to control Man-Animal conflicts.

SOM: What is your message to the younger generation who are interested in nature and wildlife conservation?

Naveen: Just remember, wildlife conservation is all about ‘swimming against the tide.’ Never hesitate to voice your opinion against the system when it is not in the interest of conservation. Help in protecting, preserving and conserving forest and wildlife by creating awareness about its importance to mankind. Those interested in wildlife conservation or have suggestions pertaining to wildlife and forest conservation may contact Naveen Kumar on e-mail: nmnaveen@yahoo.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Wednesday – September 30th, 2015

A green house in the urban jungle

Green Initiatives / Environment

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At the first look, this house looks like any other. But it is different from other houses in ways more than one. That is why its occupants were neither affected by the power cuts last fortnight nor do they remember when it was the last time that they cooked on LPG-fuelled stove.

S.S. Raghunandan, a renewable energy technologist, adopted a green way to build his three-bedroom house in Vidyaranyapura. In an attempt to reduce carbon footprint, he installed a solar power generation unit. The unit produces enough energy to meet the needs of the household, and Mr. Raghunandan also manages to earn around Rs. 20,000 a year by selling additional power generated to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company.

The rooftop solar power unit generates 10 to 12 units of electricity every day, while the household requires only around 4 units a day. All appliances, including lights, fans, washing machine and refrigerator, run on solar energy.

Besides that, the solar power panels prevent direct sunlight from falling on the building, thus reducing the need for air-conditioners.

Mr. Raghunandan’s house also has a rooftop garden. Using bio-waste, organic manure is produced and used in the garden to grow plants. To top it all, the rain-water harvesting system adopted by the occupants makes the house an ideal eco-friendly one that is worth emulating by people in the urban jungle.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Tanu Kulkarni / Bengaluru – Friday – September 17th, 2015