Dear all,
can any body help me out in giving the structure of model EIA for Coal related projects.
(like coal washery, coke oven plants etc)
Thanks & warm regards,
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Dear Friends,
Season’s Greetings!
Please find enclosed the Bi-monthly report on sea turtle andtheir habitat conservation programme of APOWA in Orissa.
We are looking forward your feedback.
Many thanks and regards,
Bijaya Kumar Kabi
Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA)
Orissa
E-mail-bijayakabi@apowa.org
Dear all
wish you a succesfull and meaningfull great new year ...2011
I Wish all members of Indian Environment Network and their family A HEALTHY WEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR 2011
International Year of Biodiversity 2010
to
International Year of Forest 2011
Celebrating Forests for People
http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/
Sabu
Dear All,
Greetings of the Day!!!
CEPT University is identified as Anchor Institute in Infrastructure Sector by Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat.
Under Anchor Institute, Faculty of Technology, CEPT University is going to conduct to 4 days workshop on, “Advanced Water & Wastewater Treatment Technologies”, from 19th January 2011 to 22nd January, 2011 at CEPT Campus.
CEPT University is invited you to participate in the workshop. Only limited seats are available, make your registration as early as possible.
For brochure - Brochure%20of%20the%20workshop.pdf
Schedule of the workshop - Workshop%20Schedule.pdf
Every professional in the field around is running to get thr coveted accreditation. I would like to have the following things highlighted.
- The original Notification of 14-09-2006 never called for mandatory accreditation.
- The compulsion of QCI accreditation has been implemeted by an office memo(OM). There have been so many amendments to the original notification.
- Legality of the OM becoming a mendate has to be checked. We must recollect the fact that in case of CEPI the development could have been stalled through an OM(Jan 2010). Later things got diluted to a significant extent very soon. This proved that OM had got something basically wrong.
- The QCI accreditation team for accreditation is not having resources to evaluate. For example, one of the activities infrastructure projects like road development or canal network where the assessment of a professinal "team" of QCI assesses the aspirant consultant without a single professional who is experienced himself of having executed an infrastructure project.
- This is proved by the fact that approaching the deadline they are not through to evaluation of their first chunk of accreditation, i.e. organizations which went in process before 30-06-2010 are still awaiting evaluation.
- The scheme in itself has been framed to monopolize the profession and comes in clear violation of constitutional rights of our country.
- QCI has to remain focussed to their business not interfere to the Ministry's powers to mutate / break / separately interprete any content in the Notification verbatim. This is done by QCI with activities being broken up further from the Notification.
- If all Ministries start working on OMs where is the necessity of Lok Sabha or Notification. This sort of operation should have been challnged in Court of Law.
- The project proponent (PP) is not exempted from any process and there the EAC puts forward the governance of the Notification. So the route of convenience (for the officials only) is used.
- State EACs have only been given an indication to follow the NABET / QCI accredited consultants. This was probably with a consideration that majority of development projects like housing projects, area development projects, local road widening projects etc. where local considerations are likely to out score the major environmental issues would be better dealt by local people with simple considerations. This type of procedural requirements will only add complications and thereby corruption only.
- Rethink really for improving the quality of the EIA and worthiness thereof has any connection with QCI. I remember in my early days as professional in 1989 also EIAs were there and even without accreditation they were in a much better quality and the motive was served. Since 1994 reports have been prepared through official procedures and nothing objectionable has ever gone without being accounted for.
The enforcement through QCI appears to be in bigger interest of QCI rather than the EC process.
Quality EIAs and better EMPs can also be availed from people who are not necessarily extra-ordinary professionals. Ministry has to rethink over the simplification of the process in better interest of the progress of the Nation.
EIA has been legislated in India since 1994 as a requirement for Environmental Clearance (EC). We all know that in most cases, conduct of EIA is perceived more as a "permitting tool" than a process that stimulates alternatives, anticipates impacts/risks and prepares a prevention and control strategy/plan and importantly "value adds" to the original project/program proposal.
EIA reports are often prepared on the fly.
The EIA process is expected to be "concurrent" to project development and not a "terminal" activity when all configurations of the project are frozen. EIA process is also expected be transparent in communicating project and impact/risk related information to stakeholders and seek their involvement. Ground realities are however often different. How could we overcome this limitation?
One of major weaknesses of our EIA system is our project-limited approach. We haven't yet legislated regional, sectoral/strategic EIAs. We therefore miss consideration of cumulative and regional impacts and hence fail to safeguard environment on a regional basis. Our development plans for instance fail to mainstream environmental and social considerations
A lot can be done to improve the present system. I would like to open a discussion on this topic.
Phytoremediation is the use of plants and plant processes to remove, degrade or render harmless hazardous materials present in the soil or water. Phytoremediation is a low cost, solar energy driven clean up technique.
The population increasing continuously and so we need more land, water, space and food across the world. Due to rapid industrialization and random urbanization environmental pollution has become a great problem.
There is an increasing trend in areas of land, surface waters and ground waters
affected by contaminants from industrial, military and agricultural activities.
The build up of toxic pollutants affects the natural resources as well as
ecosystem. The pollutants which affect our soil and water are basically organic
and inorganic pollutants.
Toxic heavy metal pollution is much more serious problem due to the non-degradable nature of metals. At high concentration all the metals are toxic to both animals and plant. Many diseases
like Itai-Itai and Minimata are very much famous caused by heavy metals.
There are various ways to mitigate the environmental pollution. Phytoremediation is the use of plants and plant processes to remove, degrade or render harmless hazardous materials present in
the soil or water. Phytoremediation a low cost, solar energy driven clean up
technique. Phytoremediation used for the removal of pollutants from both soil
and water. Some of the ornamental trees which have aesthetic effect and
tolerant to pollution have been screened and recommended for planting along the
roads like Ficus
(Ficus religiosa), Bergad (Ficus benghalensis), Neem (Azarachtica indica), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), normal"">Techtona grandis etc. These trees also used as green
belts for minimizing air pollution by filtering, absorbing and adsorbing pollutants
in an effecting manner. Phytoremediation can be used to cleanup metals,
pesticides solvents, explosive, crude oil, polyaromatic hydrocarbon and land
fill leachates. Because of other commercial methods like microbial
decomposition the metals can not be degraded so phytoremediation is very
efficient method to remove / mitigate metal pollution.
After Phytoremediation:
The plants used for the phytoremediation do not remain to take as food or fodder for human as well as for animals. These plants burn in the safe site or dump out the areas where the buildings are going to be construct or it is also possible to extract the heavy metals by metallurgical processes.
A new research is also going on to generate bioenergy from the biomass produced by the phytoremediator plants after phytoremediation process. There are many high biomass producing plants like Ricinus communis (Castor) and Jatropha curcus has very good potential to accumulate the heavy metals which are non degradable and very hazardous (Studies are going on in our Lab also) and these plants are also using to produce the biofuel from the seeds. These plants having high biomass, may be used for biogas (Bioenergy from biomass).
Why we are planning throughout the year to conserve, to save and also to restore theenvironment? All these planning are not bad but, if we start the work for thesolutions of the problems at least the works which are not required much money,pain and time also. This will be done in parallel with our personal works.Every one want to do make the environment clean but only few persons are reallydoing the things which make the same. So it is kind request to all the membersto do at least some work per day with “E-workand Paper work” which help to make our environment healthy in our dailyrunning life.
Not a lot of people like this season. I myself claim to have a complicated love-hate relationship with Winter, loving the delightful snow-scapes, and grunting at the surprisingly deep reach of those icy winds. Too bad, it takes a lot of determination to wake up early enough to appreciate the depth and clarity of mornings' freshest thoughts written in the sobering gray sky.. There is no real beauty in this world, but merely infinite perceptions of it. The bare trees, skimpily dressed in snow, in penance for some unknown sins, standing Stoic in the unforgiving winds form part of one such definition. Every landscape clad in the robes of this new starkness, rural, sub-urban, or downtown, represents the pinnacle of this beautifully solemn season.
Solemnity itself, however finds its disciples, if you will, in every aspect of winter's loathed entity. There should be strong reasons why the wintry chill of Himalayan peaks is a lure to sages who seek places devoid of the restless, endless, passions of a life lived amongst crowds. In the solitude of a snow clad mountain peak, one may listen to the voices of silence. Standing on a forest floor on a December night, looking through the frail branches at a spread of stars, one may connect again with Nature, meekly braving Her worst emotion - a cold, distant, colorless anonymity.
Anonymous exclamations would be worth discarding without analysis, but Henry David Thoreau, a reasonably smart fellow, examines in 'Walden' that all mundane endeavors - work, food, shelter, and clothing etc, are centered around maintaining the bodily heat. How hard is it, really, to keep oneself warm? Winter is after all, just another season.. Now, no reason for panic just because the miniscule planet of ours, the Earth moved barely a few intergalactic inches away from the Sun in their ceaseless cosmic dance? How hard it is, indeed, to keep warm.. If it were easy, Hell really should be frozen and thick with ice, and not a burning inferno as often assumed...
Scientists know that outer space is bone chilling cold, and heat exists only in stars, and the planets that are briefly blanketed in the warmth of their suns. We have fortunately noted that all energy in the universe is constant, so logically, there is always a means to get warm. Unfortunately, we have not yet discovered whom all the heat belongs to, since everyone (even the dead stones on the ground) is gaining and losing heat all the time... At this junction, a different strain of earthlings observe that the Ultimate Source of all energy, all 'heat', is God - the Supreme Ultimate Truth. Well, don't turn the pages skeptically already, all it takes to have faith is a single snowflake - such a simple, delicate, joyous, beautifully unique artistry humbly bespeaks a Supreme Architect, a Supreme Energy Conservationist, a Supreme Scientist...
We are too quick to condemn such theses as mere sentimentalism, or ill-advised inquiry. How is it that in the eons of discovery, we have not yet sought the key question? "Where does my living heat come from, ultimately?" As is it often said, faith and love are not 'arguments' that could be logically dismembered or constructed... However, religion is more than just 'blind faith'. What the world has tossed aside in the name of secularism is not just blind practice of meaningless superstitions, but a wealth of answers, remaining out of reach to the inquisitive seekers. After all, Ultimate knowledge is not just the mechanics of heat, of how we are keeping alive, but the essence of why we are living at all... A very important question. Just something to think about before you step outside into the chill..
Though there is a rise in environmental awareness of Indian industry but it is not reflected in their practices.There are large number of regulations available for monitoring the industry' environmental activities, but not sufficient to motivate them to adopt environment friendly practices proactively.
Approach of Indian firms to environmental issues is reactive. The common belief is that these practices are cost driven and have no positive effect on firm performance.during my interaction with some senior mangers of large Indian firms, shows ignorance about the term green supply chain, green purchasing,design for environment etc.Based on the green efforts of Indian firms, three categories can be identified.
1. Have knowledge about environmental issues but are not considering it in their activities.these firms look environment as burden and are not willing to invest in it.Also these firms are not feeling pressure from their suppliers or customer.these firms are mostly 2nd tier or higher in supply chain.
2. Have knowledge about environmental issues and considering it in their internal activities under regulatory pressure only.These firms are using environmental protection technology rather than pollution prevention technology.Some are also considering changes in their design to accommodate regulatory requirement.Recycling and waste reduction are also prevailing in these industry.These firms have implemented environmental management system like ISO14000.
3. Have environment policy, Considering environmental issues in their supply chain through collaboration and monitoring of their suppliers as well working downstream with their customer to reduce environmental impact.Some large Indian firms and multinationals falls in this category.These firms has realized the benefits of these initiatives in the form of reduce cost, brand reputation, improve product quality, decrease in regulatory penalty and industrial accidents.
It is clear from the above discussion that there is growing need to create awareness about these practices and their economic and environmental benefits among Indian industries.Government and NGOs are doing lot to create this awareness but industry can play an important role by sharing their environmental achievements with others
The world over, the human beings are paying the cost of economic development in terms of the health of self and environment. Global warming, the result of greenhouse gas emissions, is the price the world pays for its ruthless growth. Similarly ozone hole depletion, climate change, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity are some of the few environmental problems the world is facing these days.
When one thinks about it, in today’s modernized society, life without the purchase of products and services appears impossible (unless we plan to go back to a prehistoric age). A demand for products creates their supply. Keeping this in mind, one can go to the extent of saying that all environmental concerns we face are due to consumerism. While it is impossible to survive without consuming, it then logically seems that it would be for our greater good that our consumerism be ‘green’ than otherwise.
The gap between green concern and green consumerism has been widened by the different orientations given to green consumerism by various segments of the society. These differences in perceptions and ideologies have intensified the debate on whether green consumerism is a strategy to save the earth or is it just a fancy of the developed nations.The green products still face the controversy regarding their purpose and credibility
The world over, the human beings are paying the cost of economic development in terms of the health of self and environment. Global warming, the result of greenhouse gas emissions, is the price the world pays for its ruthless growth. Similarly ozone hole depletion, climate change, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity are some of the few environmental problems the world is facing these days.
When one thinks about it, in today’s modernized society, life without the purchase of products and services appears impossible (unless we plan to go back to a prehistoric age). A demand for products creates their supply. Keeping this in mind, one can go to the extent of saying that all environmental concerns we face are due to consumerism. While it is impossible to survive without consuming, it then logically seems that it would be for our greater good that our consumerism be ‘green’ than otherwise.
The gap between green concern and green consumerism has been widened by the different orientations given to green consumerism by various segments of the society. The differences in perceptions and ideologies have intensified the debate on whether green consumerism is a strategy to save the earth or is it just a fancy of the developed nations .mny issues realted to the credibility and purpose of green products is misleading.
Can a synthesis of scientific temper and spiritual wisdom generate global ethics and solve the socio-environmental (and consequently, the economic) problems of our generations?
While the degree-holders of modern day academia might hurry to obviate the necessity for a discussion that brings both science and spirituality to the table, the world will lose much if we ignore the possibility for a cohesive intellectual endeavor that amalgamates the subtle and the gross sciences. After all, it is ignorant to presume that the ages past have not seen a smarter mind, a sharper wit than our own, who was willing to explore the boundaries between these dimensions. Newton, Da Vinci, Aristotle, Galileo, and Tesla never received a doctoral degree before they created their polymath-ic legacies. Modern education makes it impossible for such genius to shine through the ignorance of compartmentalized 'knowledge’, beyond which only a few outlaws dare pursue their chaste passions.
A sagacious synthesis of these science and spirituality is necessary if we are to preserve the best of the past, and combine it with the ever-refreshing flavors of the future in the tiny cauldron pot called - the present. Does such a synthesis call for suit-and-tied bankers to follow in the footsteps of saffron-robed monks? Possibly. The Bhagavad Gita, for instance, is already applied as a textbook in premier Indian Institutes of Management. Does it incite the equalization of tightly corseted, supposedly conservative, tea-drinkers with rebellious, and rarely raucous, Rastafarians? Not necessarily, their individual existence and personal contributions are important for their co-existence in the world, and the evolution of a better tomorrow – too idealistic?
The gist of my conjecture is that there is a dire necessity to observe perspicuously, and draw conclusions about the types of knowledge that are beneficial and meaningful, and have to be imparted/ imbibed in order to overcome not only ignorance, but also illusion. Several anecdotes illustrate the striking contrast between holistic and mechanistic approaches to knowledge. For instance, while Ayurveda (the ancient system of medicine from India) used turmeric since time immemorial, Western medicine has only recently discovered its miraculous applications. The practitioners of Ayurveda, with help from the Indian government then proved that the idea of extracting of "Curcumin" from turmeric and patenting turmeric is stupid. Why? Would you want to sip a teaspoon each of Theobromine and Caffeine, or eat two ounces of dark chocolate laced with orange zest? It does not take a genius to figure that one!
Spiritual wisdom is needed to decide what essential purpose the products of all mechanical calculations should fulfill, and why. Turmeric could be used to cure cancer, and treat infections, or as these scientists tried, to prevent the continuation of a cultural tradition and livelihood that transcends the pseudo-sophisticated mindsets of material science. Obtaining the extracts of ‘know-how’ from education, while discarding the core and shell structure of ethics and behavior is an incomplete intellectual endeavor, even more imbecile than it is to extract Curcumin from turmeric. This juncture is key to why modern education fails to solve the problems that matter as much as (and often more than just) life and death.
It is in the making of daily decisions - mundane arrangements for meeting the needs of the body and mind - eating lunch, reading a book, or voting for your next president, that the boundaries of science and spirituality merge. By sidestepping religion as a yellowed book from the past, we have made the decision making process merely animalistic, only a matter of finding food, shelter, clothing and safety. Leaders, intellectuals, and administrators of our times will regret if they fail to realize that without shouldering this responsibility, they are driving society towards an impossible future, all the time haunted by the ghosts of an immutable past. We might just dare venture to explore the images that would be conjured at this horizon, and look upon the sun rising to another possible future..
It is well known that the wetlands have rich biodiversity than any other habitat of the world. Based on the approval of National Wetlands Committe held on 16.03.2009, total 115 Wetlands have been identified to conserve Wetlands under National Wetland Conservation program judiciously. Where as almost every village consists of at least one small or big Wetlands, which gives shelter to amphibians as well as aquatic lives. These Wetlands are under threat due to echroachment or siltation. Hence, before going to loss their (village level Wetlands) identity, we should have a very micro level policy to conserve those Wetlands, which is not yet identified judiciously.
Your feed back may give an idea to restore such unkown Wetlands (Native of Creatures).
Dear all
Educational institutions at all levels across the country will celebrate November 11 as the 'National Education Day', commemorating the birthday of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, an eminent educationist and the first Union Minister of Education of independent India. As India's Education Minister, Azad oversaw the establishment of a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions of higher education.
now a days he have added our Environment subject from Primary school to PG level. so why can't we say Nov 11th is National Education & Environment(NEE) day.
if it is celebrated like NEE day it is good & Envi concern now ! what you say
This is a part of discussion:
I ask each of this group members, what is your exact contribution to protect, nurse, take care of ENVIRONMENT & how to improve the climatic condition for us & coming generation??? This is a serious question that every member has to take upon him/her self and open out & respond. There, it seems, No point blindly become a member & not doing as a serious member for the whole of the lives on the EARTH.
This is an awakening question which will stir you from within to make u activate.
Anant Dalal.
Globally, in the name of progress and development, indigenous people who inhabit world's richest regions in natural resources, face the gloomy prospect of dispossession and displacement due to mining, oil and gas development, large dams, plantations, industrial farming, industries, thermal plants….
Out of planet's 200 eco-regions or biodiversity hotspots, 80% are inhabited by indigenous people. There is a strong and definite correlation between regions of high biodiversity and regions inhabited by indigenous people. Indigenous people's attitude towards nature and their vast amount of ecological knowledge resulting from a long history of managing the environment has played a crucial role in the conservation of biological diversity on earth.
In India too, the tribal belt that stretches from Gujarat in the west, up to West Bengal in the east, and encompassing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand overlaps with the map of natural resource-rich India. For example, the state of Jharkand meaning “forest tract” and populated by 30 % Adivasis is the leadingproducer of mineral wealth in the country: iron ore, coal, copper ore, mica, bauxite, graphite, limestone, and uranium. Jharkand accounts for 40% of the mineral resources of India. The total value of mineral production is amounted to over Rs. 3000crores.
And what it costs in human suffering to rape Mother Earth and extract those Rs. 3000 crores has been best documented in the following films that expose most truthfully the injustice that has been done to indigenous people in the name of development.
Read more... and see Buddha weeps in Jadugoda
