Hello team
I would like to install Weather monitoring station at my factory.
Pls suggest me some best make and features.
Pls share your experience
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Hello Team.
My company is new green field project ...(now under construction) and we have a valid consent to establishment (CTE).
And , we also apply for consent for Operation ( CTO),
And after obtaining that we will apply for Hazardous waste authorisation .
But the case is now we are generating waste oil and used oil from our factory.
Right now we are storing the same
Pls tell me legally whether we are eligible to dispose waste oil /used oil to PCB authorised vendors even before obtaining consent for operation/Hazardous waste authorisation ..
Thank you team
by rajesh
nature_rajesh@yahoo.com
If you are in favor of Mr. M.Gadgil Report on Western Ghat Ecology Please support them on Below link http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/wg-invitation-of-comments.pdf
Hello...
I want to do research in E-waste management as my phD Topic.. can anyone suggest me any material, research papers, site or data..
नमस्कार, आदाब, मैं पेड़ दादा एक बार फिर से पेड़-पौधों की रोचक दुनिया में आप सभी पाठक गणों का हार्दिक अभिनन्दन करता हूँ। हालाँकि अबकी बार आपसे मुलाकात करने में काफी समय लगा जिसके लिए मैं आपसे क्षमाप्रार्थी हूँ. तो दोस्तों अभी तक आपने पूरे संसार में फैले हुए मेरे परिवार, भाई बंधुओं और मेरे पूर्वजों के बारे में जानकारी प्राप्त कर चुके हैं.
अब मैं आपको हमारे परिवार के प्रत्येक सदस्य से जुड़े महत्वों से आपको अवगत करता हूँ. यूं तो जीव धारियों के लिए ऐसी कई आवश्यकताएं हैं जिन्हें हम प्रत्यक्ष या अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से परिपूर्ण करते हैं. इन्ही आवश्यकताओं से एक है पर्यावास. अब आप यह सोच रहे होंगे की ये पर्यावास क्या है? तो धीरज धरिये जनाब मैं आपको इसके बारे में भी बताता हूँ.
पर्यावास दो शब्दों से मिलकर बना है परि अर्थात आस-पास या चारों ओर तथा वास अर्थात रहने योग्य. अर्थात पर्यावास का अर्थ है ऐसा क्षेत्र या स्थान जहाँ पर कोई जीव-जंतु या पादप प्रजाति निवास करता है. आप ये भी कह सकते हैं की यह एक ऐसा प्राकृतिक या भौतिक पर्यावरण है जहाँ पर सजीव प्रजाति निवास करती है और प्रत्यक्ष या अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से उस वातावरण से प्रभावित भी होती रहती है. उदाहरण के लिए: उत्तर प्रदेश में स्थित एक मात्र राष्ट्रीय उद्यान "दुधवा" में साल के वन और यहाँ का वातावरण इस क्षेत्र में पाए जाने वाली हिरणों की ५ प्रजातियों को एक सुखद एवं सुरक्षित पर्यावास प्रदान करते हैं.
क्या आप जानते हैं की एक छोटा सा पौधा या एक बड़ा विशाल वृक्ष कई जीव-जंतुओं एवं अन्य कीट-पतंगों के साथ-साथ सूक्ष्म जीवों को भी निवास करने के लिए पर्याप्त स्थान प्रदान करता है. परन्तु हम सिर्फ यही जानते हैं कि वृक्ष या पेड़-पौधे केवल पक्षियों को ही आश्रय या पर्यावास प्रदान करते हैं, जबकि ऐसा नहीं है.
यदि आपको जानना है कि हमारे भाई बंधू किन-किन जीवों को आश्रय प्रदान कराता है तो एक काम कीजिये कभी हमारे किसी एक सदस्य के पास जाइये और गौर से हमारे जड़ों कि ओर देखिये आपको असंख्य छोटे-छोटे कीड़े मकौड़े, चीटियाँ इत्यादि दिखाई देंगी. अब एक काम करिए जरा हमारे तने पर नजर दौड़ाइए आपको फिर से कई प्रकार के अन्य जीव-जंतु दिखाई देंगे. और सबसे अहम् बात कि आपको हमारी प्यारी सी छोटी सी गिलहरी बिटिया भी दिखाई देगी जो एक डाल से दुसरे डाल पर हमेशा अटखेलियाँ करती दिखाई देती है. और क्या आपको हमारे पत्तों पर कैटरपिलर दिखाई नहीं दे रहा. वो भी तो हम पर ही आश्रित है. इसके अलावा आपको दो पत्तो के बीच जाल बनाते हुए मकड़ों कि कई प्रजातियाँ भी दिखाई दे जाएँगी.
हम तो अनेक पौधों को भी आश्रय प्रदान करते हैं, जैसे ऑर्किड कि कई प्रजातियाँ हम पर ही आश्रित रहती हैं, इन पौधों को सामान्य भाषा में हम अधिपादप कहते है. और तो और हम कई मधुमखियो और पक्षियों को भी तो आश्रय प्रदान करते हैं. हम आश्रय देने में इतने आगे हैं कि मरने के बाद भी कई जंतु हमारे खोखले तनों में अपना आश्रय ढूंढ लेते हैं. आपने कई फफूंदों को उगते हुए देखा ही होगा.
आइये अब मैं बूढा आपसे एक प्रश्न पूछता हूँ क्या एक विशिष्ट पर्यावास, जीव-जंतुओं एवं जैव प्रजातियों को केवल आश्रय प्रदान करता है? हो सकता है कि आप कहें हाँ? परन्तु ये गलत है. यह उन जैव प्रजातियों के लिए आश्रय के साथ-साथ भोजन और जल तथा रहने के लिए अनुकूल वातावरण भी प्रदान करता है, जिससे की ये प्रजातियाँ वहां पर न केवल सुरक्षित ढंग से निवास कर सकें बल्कि अपना पूर्ण रूप से विकाश कर सकें और प्रजनन कर के अपना वंश आगे बढ़ा सकें.
तो देखा आपने की हमारे परिवार के सदस्य किस प्रकार से विभिन्न जीव-जंतुओं और पेड़-पौधों को रहने के लिए पर्याप्त और सुरक्षित आवास प्रदान करते हैं. अरे जनाब ये तो बस शुरुआत मात्र है. आगे-आगे देखिये मैं आपको और किन-किन जानकारियों से आपका परिचय करता हूँ. जैसे किस प्रकार से हम वायु को शुद्ध रखते हैं, किस प्रकार से हम प्रकृति में संतुलन बनाये रखते है इत्यादि-इत्यादि.
कैसे? ये सब जानने के लिए के लिए यूं ही पढ़ते रहिये "प्रकृति मित्र" ब्लॉग (http://akd6.jagranjunction.com/)!!
तब तक के लिए धन्यवाद!!
अलविदा दोस्तों.....
आपका पेड़ दादा
प्रस्तोता: आशुतोष कुमार द्विवेदी "आशु"
Hello Team .
Pls share be the procedure /requirment related to Hazardous chemical management.
As part of my organisation, we have to import chemicals for the process requirment.
option 1 : directly from countires like thailand,china,france
Option 2 : from the suppliers who supplies imported chemicals.
I have gone through - MIHSC rules 1989 & 2000.
Pls tell me in a nut-shell what are the things i have to do as a company.
And what are the things i have to check if i have to buy from the local suppliers as per env.regulations
My idea is to 100 % comply with legal requirment and put in place sound environment practice
Regards
Rajesh
Respected all Indian Environmental Network user,
I Somnath looking forward for guidance through this blog for job. I did M.Tech (Env), M.Sc.(Env) as well as P.G.Dip.in Health, Safety and Environment. Presently, I am working as Project Assistant II at National Institute of Oceanography. Currently looking job in corporate sector, If any member have appropriate opportunities for me kindly let me know/guide for the same.
regards
Somanth vedpathak
Dear All,
Would appreciate your experience and knowledge on applicability of environmental laws in India for facilities outside 12 Nautical miles in the sea.
If I am having a facility of exploration in sea at a distance more than 12 NM away from the nearest shore base, do I need to follow the Environmental laws of India. If yes, kindly provide the information regarding the same.
Does EPA act, 1986 is applicable??
Do I need to monitor water quality, ambient air, noise etc.,
Appreciate your response and continuous support to save our environment.
Regards
Veera
Entrepreneurs who are keen on starting a venture in any of the green enterprise sector can take part in Entrepreneur- Investor meet during Green Enterprise Summit 2012. Green Enterprise Summit 2012 is going to be held on August 4, 2012 at NDIM ( New Delhi Institute of Management) campus 50 (B&C), Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062. The Summit would be jointly organized by Samadhan Foundation and NDIM.
Financial institutions and angel groups are expected to take part in the parallel Entrepreneur – Investor meet which will take place during the Summit. The Green Enterprise Summit would provide a platform for all industry sectors and business houses to discuss, share knowledge, understand and learn more about applying & adopting sustainable business practices and thereby emerge as green enterprises. There will be an opportunity for companies to showcase their products & services as well.
In addition to that, GES 2012 would be an excellent platform and an opportunity to network and build alliances with experienced green entrepreneurs/ enterprises, think tank organizations, technology experts, NGOs, industry specialists, policy makers and researchers working in the field of green economy, finance, technology and other aspects of green enterprises, which has some relevance on green businesses and green entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs can get in touch and register their names by contacting Mr. Bhavesh Jha: < bhaveshjha08@gmail.com> 91-9971635600 ; Mr. Amar Singh < amar33004@gmail.com > 91- 880 2670 855
GES 2012
Green Enterprise Summit, 2012
Date: 4 August 2012, New Delhi
Venue: New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM),
50 (B&C), Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062
Jointly Organizad by
New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM)
&
Samadhan Foundation
About the organizers
New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM)
NDIM is one of the top rated MBA business schools in India. NDIM has been rated above A++ by different surveys, approved by AICTE in 1996. It’s a part of a National Level NGO to promote excellence in management education, research, and managerial training. Having students from every part of India, it has been providing 100% finest placements to its MBA graduates for the last 16 years.
For more about NDIM at < http://www.ndimdelhi.org>;
Samadhan Foundation
Samadhan Foundation (SF) is a registered society under the Travancore - Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955 (R No: P.372/08). It works with a focus on micro and small enterprises; informal sector and green economy. It has a plan of setting up schools for mentally disabled children and village knowledge centers in selected 100 districts .For more about SF http://samadhanfoundation.com
GES 2012
The Green Enterprise Summit would provide a platform for all industry sectors and business houses to discuss, share knowledge, understand and learn more about applying & adopting sustainable business practices and thereby emerge as green enterprises. There will be an opportunity for companies to showcase their products & services as well.
In addition to that, GES 2012 would be an excellent platform and an opportunity to network and build alliances with experienced green entrepreneurs/ enterprises, think tank organizations, technology experts, NGOs, industry specialists, policy makers and researchers working in the field of green economy, finance, technology and other aspects of green enterprises, which has some relevance on green businesses and green entrepreneurship.
Key dates
Submission of Abstracts: July 14, 2012
Abstract acceptance intimation: July 18, 2012
Submission of full paper: July 25, 2012
All electronic correspondence should be sent to < ges2012.newdelhi@gmail.com > mailtogepc@gmail.com
Green Enterprise Summit 2012
Transition towards green enterprises & green economy
The idea of a green enterprise has become a key component of mainstream economic & enterprise discourse. The global economy has to move towards a more efficient and equitable entity, where better use of natural resources to achieve sustainable growth is the focus. The idea of organizing this event has been conceived in the context of relevance of green enterprises. There are green entrepreneurial potentials and opportunities. Promotion and transition of enterprises towards ‘green’ is pivotal for achieving economic and social development that is environmentally sustainable.
A broader policy agenda for climate-resilient strategies and sustainable growth, which is enterprise oriented, that reduces poverty and generates job is the need of the hour. Green Industries which are based on green technology are promising growth sectors. However, in order to promote this sector, the Government must support them through green oriented financial policies. Also, it is to be noted that promotion of green enterprise and green economy require favorable legal frameworks, policies, strategies and a regulatory environment that has strong institutions with strong apex leadership to provide financial and non-financial services.
Focus: Questions to be addressed!
Green enterprises can substantially contribute in reducing pollution and environmental degradation. But how far industries are aware of their responsibilities? Green technologies can support green growth by conserving energy and resources in various social and economic activities with environmental enhancement i.e. GHG reduction technology that minimizes GHG pollutant emission, energy efficiency technology, clean energy production technology, resource recycling, and eco-friendly technology (including relevant convergence technology)
GES 2012 would address some of the above issues with a focus on the following:
- Green technology; innovations in the field of green technology; Green IT
- Green financing; Global Trends in Green Finance; green micro finance
- Promoting private investment to build green infrastructure
- Clean Energy; sustainable energy business opportunities & challenges ; green fuel entrepreneurship
- Green marketing
- Waste management; recycling industry
- Green enterprise ideas ; emerging green sectors
- Setting up your green enterprise
- Carbon trading market
- Sustainability reporting; responsible businesses; CSR
- Skill development for a green economy and green enterprises
For whom
- CEOs, Management professionals , business executives
- Entrepreneurs
- Representatives of Industry associations, chambers of commerce
- Waste management companies
- Alternative energy companies , solar, wind energy and other alternative energy
- Manufacturing and service sectors such as IT
- Agro based industries with a focus on organic fertilizer, bio-pesticides
- Policy makers, officials of government departments
- NGOs, Research organizations
- Academicians
- Research Scholars & Students
Submission of papers: key dates
Abstract Submission
The last date for submission of Abstract ( 250 to 400 words) would be July 14, 2012.
Paper acceptance would be intimated by 18 July 2012.
Final paper
The last date for final paper (up to 5000 words maximum) submission is July 25, 2012.
You may send a ppt of your paper together with final submission. You would be provided with 12-15 minutes for the presentation.
Please send your submissions electronically to: <ges2012.newdelhi@ gmail.com> < mailtogepc@gmail.com>
Publishing of Proceedings
All the accepted papers will be published in an edited volume titled, “Greening the future, an enterprise oriented approach”.
For more details contact:
Dr. P. Koshy: < caushie@gmail.com > < ges2012.newdelhi@ gmail.com>
Coordinators:
Ms Teena Singh < teena.singh@ndimdelhi.org >
91-9899994926
Mr. Bhavesh Jha: < bhaveshjha08@gmail.com>
91-9971635600
Marketing & Collaboration
Mr. Amar Singh < amar33004@gmail.com >
The fast growing economy, rapid industrialisation and growing urban population in India along with increasing wastewater generation are reasons for concern and reiterate the need for appropriate water management practices. Centre for Science and Environment recognises this need and has developed a five-day hands on training programme aimed at giving practical exposure to participants on wastewater treatment for industrial and urban wastewater management including reuse and recycle.
The objective of this programme is to build capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, consultants, NGOs, students and academics to understand wastewater treatment process, technologies and affordable treatment options. The programme further aims at evaluating the performance and design parameters along with the applicable cost implication associated with each treatment system.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
• Issues and challenges of urban and industrial wastewater treatment, conservation/ efficiency including reuse and recycle.
• Wastewater treatment technologies including advanced treatment options
• Decentralized approaches in treating urban wastewater (existing and emerging)
• Planning, designing, monitoring and inspection of wastewater treatment systems
• Proficiency on water and wastewater accounting
• Sector specific exposure on wastewater treatment and management such as construction and industrial projects (distillery, tannery, textile, refinery, power plant etc).
• Concept of zero discharge with case studies
• Issues and challenges with Common Effluent Treatment Plants and way ahead
• State of art practices for wastewater management
• Law, policy options and standards for wastewater treatment
• Hands on experience in wastewater sampling and analysis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lectures by experts, site visits to existing projects, practical group exercises, presentations by participants, reference materials and film screening.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulators, Consultants, Engineers, Environment Managers, NGOs, Academics and Students.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The course fee is Rs. 9900 per participant. The fee includes training material, field visit, lunch, tea/coffee and refreshments during training and field visit.
Discounts for NGOs and students: They can avail a discount of 25% on the course fee. Discounted seats are limited and offered on first come first serve basis.
Fellowships Available for South Asian Participants. Participants will get a certificate at the end of the course.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: August 6-10, 2012
Timings: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: Anil Agarwal Green College
Centre for Science and Environment,
38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area
(Near Batra Hospital)
New Delhi- 110062
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Date for Applying: July 20, 2012
Deblina Dwivedi
Senior Research Associate – Urban Water Programme
Swati Singh
Research Associate – EIA Unit
Email: deblina@cseindia.org, swati@cseindia.org
Mobile: 9899596661, 9910496283
CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110 062
Phone: +91 (011) 29955124 (Ext. 244);
Fax: +91 (011) 29955879
Could anybody please suggest universities specializing in water research? It would be of great help as I would like to pursue a PhD.
कोयले के अभिशाप की महज धुंधली सी झलक है शिकारी बैगा की आपबीती. छत्तीसगढ़ का यह बाशिंदा प्रकृति की गोद में जी रहा था कि अचानक विकास के नाम पर पेड़ों का कटना और कोयले की खदानों ने इसकी और इसके आसपास की जिंदगियों को तितर-बितर कर दिया. जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण उपजे इस संकट को फिल्माया है आकांक्षा जोशी ने अपने वृत्तचित्र ‘अर्थ विटनेस: रिफ्लेक्शन्स ऑन द टाइम्स एंड द टाइमलेस’ में. अब तक कई पुरस्कारों से नवाज़ी जा चुके इस वृत्तचित्र की कहानी एक पिता, एक शिक्षक, एक चरवाहे और एक किसान के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है.
फिल्म शुरु होती है छत्तीसगढ़ राज्य के स्थानीय निवासियों के देशज पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को समझने से। वहां से गुजरात के शुष्कप्रदेश से गुज़रते हुए नागालैंड के पर्वतीय और सुंदरवन के तटीय पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को दिखाती है और लौटती है उन्हीं चरित्रों और उसी पारितंत्र में ताकि वहां जबरिया लादे गए विकास की पड़ताल कर सके.
थोपे गए विकास ने किस तरह से प्रकृति के इन सहज मित्रों के जीवन और जीवनयापन के तरीकों को तहस-नहस करके रख दिया है!
फिल्म का पहला चरित्र शिकारी बैगा अपनी आपबीती सुनाते हुए कहता है कि वनोन्मूलन के चलते धीरे-धीरे नदियां सूख रही हैं और लोग बेघर हो रहे हैं. वह प्रतिनिधित्व करता है छत्तीसगढ़ और मध्यप्रदेश राज्यों की बैगा और गोंड जनजातियों का, जो पूरी तरह से वन-आश्रित जनजातियां हैं. गौर तलब है कि मध्यप्रदेश के सिंगरौली में बिजली संयंत्रों के लिए तेज़ी से जंगल काटे जा रहे हैं. इससे न केवल जनजातियां विस्थापित हो रही हैं, बल्कि उनकी रोज़ी-रोटी भी प्रभावित हो रही है. इन क्षेत्रों में इंसानों के साथ-साथ वन्यजीवन पर भी कोयले का अभिशाप साफ नज़र आता है.
एक अन्य चरित्र को आशंका है कि आने वाले 15 सालों में वह बेघर होगा क्योंकि नदियां उसका घर बहा ले जाएंगी. गौर तलब है कि वनों के विनाश के कारण नदियों और उनके साथ-साथ समुद्र का स्तर लगातार बढ़ रहा है. वनोन्मूलन के कारण देश के कुछ हिस्सों की औसत वृष्टि पर खासा असर पड़ा है. बेवक्त बारिश और ज़रूरत के समय अनावृष्टि ने खेती-किसानी को बुरी तरह से प्रभावित किया है.
ध्यान देने की बात है कि छत्तीसगढ़ और मध्यप्रदेश प्राकृतिक संपदा के मामले में देश के चुनिंदा सबसे समृद्ध राज्यों में आते हैं. वहीं विंडबना है कि यही प्रकृति राज्य के स्थानीय लोगों को विस्थापन की ओर भेज रही है. सरकार की इन राज्यों को पावर-हब बनाने की होड़ में अंधाधुंध जंगल काटे जा रहे हैं और कोयले की खदानों के लिए गांव के गांव विस्थापित हो रहे हैं. छत्तीसगढ़ में बॉक्साइट का कारखाना स्थापित करने के लिए विस्थापन तो मध्यप्रदेश में कोयले की खदानों के लिए जनजातियों का विस्थापन किसी से छिपा नहीं है.
लगातार वनोन्मूलन के कारण इन राज्यों की ज़मीन चट्टानी हो रही है और विस्फोट के कारण जलस्तर नीचे जा चुका है. छत्तीसगढ़ में स्थानीय वन विकास एजेंसी ने सागौन के पेड़ लगाने के लिए जंगल काटने और साफ करने के आदेश दिए हैं. यह आदेश कितने ही जाने-अनजाने पेड़-पौधों, औषधीय पेड़ों, फलदार वृक्षों और जलाऊ लकड़ी को नष्ट कर देगा. यहां सागौन लगाया जाएगा और उसे भी कुछ वक्त बाद फर्नीचर बनाने के लिए काट दिया जाएगा. ये वो जंगल और वो ज़मीन है, जिसपर बैगा जनजाति जीवनयापन के लिए आश्रित है. वहीं सिंगरौली के बाशिंदों का दर्द न सिर्फ विस्थापन बल्कि बेरोज़गारी और अपनी संस्कृति से दूरी भी है. इसके अलावा वनोन्मूलन के चलते वन्यजीवन भी बुरी तरह से खतरे में आ गया है.
वनोन्मूलन के खिलाफ़ ग्रीनपीस ने भी अंतरर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर मुहिम छेड़ रखी है. अपने उत्पादों की पैकेजिंग के लिए वर्षावनों की कटाई का दोषी फास्टफूड केंद्र केएफसी भी ग्रीनपीस के निशाने पर है. संस्था की अपील है कि केएफसी वनोन्मूलन छोड़कर वैकल्पित तरीकों को सहारा ले ताकि जनजीवन और वन्यजीवन सुरक्षित रहें. अधिक जानकारी के लिए यह लिंक चटकाएं- http://www.greenpeace.org/india/hi/6/blog/40707/.
नागालैंड के सेनो ने अंतिम शब्द दिए- जीवनयापन के लिए उत्पादन और लाभ के लिए उत्पादन में संतुलन ज़रूरी है वरना चीजें बेकार और बेकाबू होती चली जाएंगी. ये शब्द इशारा करते हैं वैकल्पिक ऊर्जा की ओर जाने का. कोयले को छोड़कर सौर और जलीय ऊर्जा का इस्तेमाल करना हमें न सिर्फ विकास बल्कि पर्यावरण के भी करीब लाता है.
जोशी अपने कैमरे के ज़रिए विषय के साथ पूरा न्याय करती हैं. वे दर्शकों पर जबरिया कोई निष्कर्ष थोपने की बजाए वास्तविकता को जस का तस उतारती हैं ताकि दर्शक ख़ुद इससे रुबरू हो सकें. उनके चरित्र डूंगरा, बैगा, सेनो और सुखदेव भी जलवायु परिवर्तन के शहीदों की तरह नहीं दिखते, बल्कि सीधे-सपाट ढंग से अपनी ज़िंदगी की दास्तान सुनाते हैं. पर्यावरण को दोयम रखने वालों के लिए इस फिल्म को देखना आंखें खोल देने जैसा अनुभव साबित हो सकता है.
Continuing the discussion on the politics of protest from the last week's post on the rise in petrol prices in India, this time we take a look at the actors who are not a part of the central government regime. so, while last week we talked about the protest politics of the regime participants or the coalition partners, this time we take a look at the opposition.
Any reflections from the readers are welcome.
A few weeks ago, the people of India were gifted with one of the steepest hike in petrol prices; a hike of about Rs 7.5. This came as a surprise to many while some commentators argued that this was a natural hike. While the Indian people have been quietly protesting (in their drawing rooms) the continuous hike in petrol prices that came after its deregulation in 2010, this time the protest was much more vocal due to the steepness of the hike.
Prof. (Dr.) Soumen Kumar Mahapatra, Minister-in-Charge, Department of Water Resources Investigation & Development, Govt. of West Bengal, released the DVD of a SUSANTA BISWAS documentary titled 'Jal Dharo Jal Bharo' (Preserve Water, Reserve Water), produced by the Govt. of West Bengal, at Pragati Utsav in Milan Mela at Kolkata, Thursday, 24th May 2012. Mr. Prasanta Sarkar, Engineer-in-Chief & Ex-Officio Secretary and Mr. Rajib Chatterji, Chairman West Bengal Agro-Industries Corporation Ltd. were present in the occasion.
The documentary, first of its kind produced by the Government of West Bengal, is on the pioneering project of the State Government to preserve rain water with a focus on the activities of State Water Investigation Directorate in this regard. To meet the increasing demand of water for the purpose of irrigation throughout the state of West Bengal, the issue of preservation of rain water and conservation of water in general has emerged with significant gravity for combating the overall scarcity of drinking water and maintaining its regular supply to the fisheries industries. To preserve rain water and other natural water available on the earth’s surface by carefully controlling the respective resources, Government of West Bengal has initiated a pioneering project, titled “Jal Dharo–Jal Bharo” (Preserve Water Reserve Water). All out initiative is being taken to establish appropriate storage tanks and check-dams of various capacities and sizes in different areas at the state, in implementing its goal. The Documentary is made in three languages, e.g. Bengali, English & Hindi.
For details click on the following album link:
Releasing of a SUSANTA BISWAS Documentary - Jal Dharo Jal Bharo
Imagine a world where human well-being, social equity and protection of our natural environment are the primary considerations for making business decisions. Sounds too utopian? Not if you go by what today’s foremost environmental think-tanks call the “Green Economy”. Indeed, the term has become a buzzword in environmental circles today, almost as popular as the well-bandied term “sustainability”. The United Nations Environment Program, an international organization coordinating the United Nations’ environmental activities, and assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices, thinks there is a lot of promise in the premise of green economy. But what exactly does this term mean? To understand it, we need to first look at India’s track record in economic terms.
For years, the Indian economy has been the cynosure of the global markets. Will it surpass last year’s growth? Will it outpace China’s? Will the aftermath of the global recession take a bite out of India’s economic dream run? India is often seen by most economists as a rising economic superpower. However, India’s dreams of becoming an economic superpower are limited if the country does not face certain facts. Between 1990 and 2008, India’s wealth as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita rose by a whopping 120%. But a myopic focus on economic capital is flawed, contends Professor Anantha Duraiappah, Executive Director of the International Human Dimensions Program on Global Environmental Change. When measures of natural, human and manufactured capital were considered together to obtain a more comprehensive value in a recently released report (see Image 1), India’s “Inclusive Wealth” rose by a mere 9% from 1990–2008. In other words, India continues to post positive GDP growth but is rapidly exhausting all its natural resources while doing so. The GDP then becomes an unintended but nevertheless dangerous smokescreen; what is needed is an indicator that estimates the true wealth of nations—it natural resources, human and manufactured, coupled with the social and ecological constituents of human well-being.
Above: How does India really fare economically? According to a new “Inclusive Wealth Indicator” designed to augment the GDP as a measure of economic progress, India’s natural capital or the sum of a country’s assets from forests to fossil fuels and minerals, declined by as much as 31%.
Source: Inclusive Wealth Report, 2012
As Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the World Resources Institute, puts it, “The prevailing economic growth model is focused on increasing the GDP above all other goals. While this system has improved incomes and reduced poverty for hundreds of millions, it comes with significant and potentially irreversible social, environmental and economic costs. Poverty persists for as many as two and a half billion people, and the natural wealth of the planet is rapidly being drawn down. In a recent global assessment, approximately 60 percent of the world’s ecosystem services were found to be degraded or used unsustainably. The gap between the rich and poor is also increasing; between 1990 and 2005, income inequality rose in more than two-thirds of countries.” This is exactly where the “Green Economy” concept comes in; it promotes the triple bottom line: sustaining and bettering not just economic, but also environmental and social well-being.
However, transitioning from a business-as-usual economy to a Green Economy is not easy. It requires a variety of institutional reforms and regulatory, tax, and expenditure-based economic policies and tools, customized to the country in question. For example, the Republic of Korea has adopted a national strategy and a five-year plan for green growth for the period 2009–2013, allocating as much as 2 per cent of its GDP to investment in several green sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean technology and water. Countries are also constantly exploring ways to tax pollution so that those that generate it can be made to take responsibility for the environmental and social costs associated with it. This would presumably drive businesses to seek more environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways of providing products and services, thus helping to green the economy.
While many heartwarming possibilities for altering patterns of production, industry, agriculture, the organization of cities, construction systems, and transport have been highlighted as economy-greening initiatives, the truth is, it is easier said than done. Not surprisingly then, the Green Economy has its detractors, who label the very idea as a “naïve expression of very good intentions, without any possibility of altering the current course of the planet”. As Edgardo Lander, Professor of Social Sciences at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, points out, “the capacity of existing political systems to establish regulations and restrictions to the free operation of the markets—even when a large majority of the population call for them—is seriously limited by the political and financial power of the corporations”. He goes on to provide the example of the United States, where no environmental regulatory policy and no international commitment can be assumed by the government without the prior approval of major corporations potentially affected by such measures. It is a sad fact that these corporations have the capacity to veto policies they do not agree with.
Above: The protracted failure of the United States to against making a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United Nations climate change negotiations is a glaring example of politics triumphing over policies.
Image sourced from Greenpeace.org.uk under Creative Commons License
Sadly, the political cost of altering corporate interests for the larger good is simply too high. The extraordinarily unequal power relations existing in today’s world and the prevailing interests in the operation of this global system can put a spanner in even the most well-intentioned of ideas.
According to India’s erstwhile Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, by 2015, India will report a GDP that takes into account environmental degradation. How well India maneuvers its way towards the entrenching the Green Economy remains to be seen.
This piece first appeared in Yahoo! Voices on the occasion of World Environment Day 2012, as part of a collaboration between Yahoo! India and Federation of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI).
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.
– Chinese Proverb
If you can't plant one today, consider donating to Project Green Hands who'll do it on your behalf :)
http://www.ecowalkthetalk.com/blog/2012/06/05/world-environment-day-2012-support-project-green-hands/
