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Kerala Governor calls MP Veerendra Kumar 'crusader for protection of environment’

Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday remembered late MP Veerendra Kumar as a humanist who stood for compassion and justice, and called him a crusader for protection of environment. Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday remembered late MP Veerendra Kumar as a humanist who stood for compassion and justice, and called him a crusader for protection of environment. Speaking at a commemorative meet held here on Friday on the

Covid may have stalled many a cycle but has turned the wheel for the bicycle industry, writes Anil Singh

June 3 is World Bicycle Day. In the Netherlands, almost everyone uses bicycles daily; the bicycle ownership per 1,000 persons there is 1,100. In China, it is 360 whereas in India it is a meagre 90. In Japan, ministers and bureaucrats pedal to work. Our Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal has been often seen cycling from his official bungalow to Parliament Covid has stalled many a cycle but it has revived the bicycle industry worldwide. In India, sales which were stagnant grew by over two-fold in the last year, so much so that one has to wait four months for lightweight, geared cycles which cost up to Rs 3 lakh. The acceleration has been caused by the growing desire for fitness and personal mobility. With restrictions on movement and access to gyms or sports arenas, people have taken up cycling as an alternative way of exercising. The adoption of cycling as a lifestyle is growing across age-groups and is proof that the pandemic has changed mindsets. If only the pandemic had waned in India, cycling would get a fresh pedal on World Bicycle Day which falls on Thursday, June 3. Mumbai has built up a cycling culture in the last ten years. Pedallers hit city roads early in the morning and the highways on weekends. Another positive sign is the emergence of digital rental bike systems across Mumbai and India. Cycle clubs There’s a cycle club in virtually every Mumbai suburb, with membership running into hundreds; from schoolboys to senior citizens. They organise long rides during the weekends, which cover forts to flowering trees to flamingo sites and at times, heritage precincts. Then there are timed long-distance endurance events called brevets. However, the bulk of the riders are youngsters such as Nikhil George, 26; a corporate executive whose weekday ride is from Worli to Nariman Point and back before the traffic starts. RTI activist Krishnaraj Rao, 56, and his son Viraj, 22, have had their own extreme version of a brevet; riding from Mumbai to Goa and Mumbai to Ahmedabad. Deputy Commissioner of Police Harish Baijal – the man who enforced the drink-drive tests -- often cycles from Dadar to his office at Cuffe Parade. Similar stories come from several Indian cities which are joining the global trend. In the Netherlands, the ‘cycling paradise of the world’, almost everyone uses bicycles daily; the bicycle ownership per 1,000 persons there is 1,100. In China, it is 360 whereas in India it is a meagre 90. In Japan, ministers and bureaucrats pedal to work. Our Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal has been often seen cycling from his official bungalow to Parliament. Challenges in India Indian cyclists, though, face far greater challenges. While the Smart Cities Mission of the Central government aims to facilitate walking and cycling, most of Mumbai lacks footpaths. In fact, Mumbai’s civic budget for footpath repairs this year has been slashed by 86 per cent. So, there’s a long way to go before a cycling ecosystem can come up. As of now, our cities are planned exclusively for motorised transport. Dedicated tracks for cycles are absent in business enclaves such as the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) or Mindspace or even in planned cities such as Navi Mumbai. There is a cycle lane along an arterial road in Vashi, the first node of Navi Mumbai, but it’s pointless, since it is the only such lane. Now it is used as a car park and a vegetable market. A cycle track was demarcated with green paint in the BKC, at a cost of Rs 6.5 cr in 2011 but since it was not segregated, cars parked on it and the plan was abandoned in 2014. The plan for a cycle track at Malad’s Mindspace is yet to get off the ground. There are plans but everything is on the backburner now. Maharashtra’s Environment and Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray had, in February, announced that arterial roads would be made pedestrian friendly and that cycling tracks would be provided wherever possible. Safety issues Safety remains a big concern, given the state of our roads and the skill of our motorists. Danger lurks underfoot in potholes and drain grates which are poorly laid and sometimes open. Environmentalist Sunita Narain had a nasty collision while cycling in Delhi not so long ago. In November 2017, Ashok Khale, 64, a champion cyclist and mentor for many, was knocked down on the Vashi bridge as he was cycling from his residence in Dadar to Khopoli. He died in hospital a week later. The NITI Aayog report on bicycles says that cyclists constituted 2.4 per cent of fatal road accidents in India during 2018. The Energy Research Institute (TERI) estimated in its 2018 report, ‘Benefits of Cycling in India: An Economic, Environmental, and Social Assessment, 2018’, that cycling for short distances could result in an annual benefit of Rs 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy, which is equivalent to 1.6 per cent of India’s annual GDP. The Indian bicycle industry is the second largest in the world, next only to China, with an annual production of 22 million and a turnover of Rs 7,000cr. However, it suffers on account of technology gap, lack of usage of superior materials and demand-related bottlenecks. Cycling enthusiasts trying to make cyclothons as popular as marathons bemoan the lack of advocacy and policy intervention. Bicycle mayors Part of the initiatives is the BYCS India Foundation, affiliated to BYCS, an Amsterdam-based social enterprise that is driven by the belief that bicycles transform cities. Founded in 2015, it works through its network of bicycle mayors and bicycle councillors in cities all over the world. In India, there are 36 bicycle mayors. Mumbai’s bicycle mayor is a feisty woman named Firoza Suresh, whose latest initiative is to gift bicycles to women working as housemaids, cooks, sweepers and assistants in housing societies, etc. with the money coming from from corporates and crowd-funding. At the national level, the India Cycles4Change Challenge launched in June 2020 prioritises the promotion of cycling through a collaborative method. Various state government initiatives like Karnataka’s free bicycle distribution and West Bengal’s 25 lakh bicycle distribution further promote cycling culture. The Delhi government, in its latest electronic vehicle policy, decided to give a 25 per cent subsidy on the purchase of e-bikes. Coming back to Mumbai, the city’s dream project is the 39km-long and 10m-wide track, called ‘Green Wheels Along Blue Lines’. It is to be built on the space created by relocating 15,000 hutments along the Tansa pipeline—stretching from the eastern suburb of Mulund to Wadala in Mumbai city. Expected to cost Rs 300cr, this would be the largest non-motorised transportation system the city has ever seen.

Cyclone Yaas Destroys Hundreds Of Thousands Of Homes In India

Decimated houses, uprooted trees, seawater-filled extensive swathes of fertile agricultural land, and immeasurable ecological destruction — the Yaas cyclone left a long trail of devastation on India’s east coast on May 26. The cyclone and the subsequent strong wind and continuous rainfall severely hit the Indian eastern coastal states of West Bengal and Odisha. At least four people lost their lives. More than 300,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 10 million people were affected in the coastal areas of both states as sea waters rose and breached the embankments. Cyclone Yaas hit the country in less than two weeks after Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc on the western coast. “These are signs that climate change is for real,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Center for Science and Environment. “It is evident that there is an overall rise in temperature and sea surface temperature. They are rising pretty rapidly, and this contributes to the extreme weather hazards.” She said that over time the intensity and frequency of cyclonic storms have increased in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. “This (climate change) will have a social burden on the economy. Decarbonizing should be the priority, not only for India but for all countries. It (decarbonizing) is needed to maintain a balance in the temperature,” Roychowdhury said. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, said at least 900,000 people were evacuated from the state’s coastal regions, and around 14,000 relief camps are operational, with clothes and food materials. West Bengal has incurred a loss of around INR 15,000 crore ($2 billion) as per initial reports, according to Banerjee. “The cyclone that whiplashed the country’s eastern coasts damaged 134 embankments,” Banerjee said in a press conference. “We will conduct field surveys to ascertain the actual damage to the embankments, government buildings, and other structures. The district magistrates will file a comprehensive report on this. It will take us at least 72 hours to get a clear picture.” The cyclone will be Banerjee’s first big test as the chief minister in her second term that she secured earlier this month. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the cyclone-affected areas in the two states on May 28. The landfall happened between the north of Dhamra coast in Odisha’s Bhadrak district and Bahanga coast in Balasore district with an estimated wind speed up to 135 kilometers per hour to 150 kilometers per hour (84 miles per hour to 93 miles per hour).

First death anniversary of Veerendra Kumar today; events to take place via online

Kozhikode: The first death anniversary of MP Veerendra Kumar, who was a great presence as a friend, writer, cultural worker, politician, environmental and human right activist and Managing Director of Mathrubhumi, will be observed on Friday adhering to the Covid restrictions. The event of remembrance will be held online.</p> The programmes are scheduled in two session. The event on the subject 'Veerendra Kumar, a politican and a friend' will take place at 12 pm. Veerendra Kumar's son and incumbent Managing Director of Mathrubhumi MV Shreyams Kumar will deliver the welcome speech. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will deliver keynote address. Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, MP Abdusamad Samadani, former union minister O Rajagopal, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and Socialist leader and social worker Manju Mohan will speak remembering Veerendra Kumar. The commemorative events scheduled at 4 in the evening is based on the topic 'Veerendra Kumar a multi-hued genius'. Mathrubhumi Chairman and Managing Editor P V Chandran will deliver welcome speech. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will give the keynote address. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajagopalachari, and also former Indian High Commissioner to South Africa, former Governor of West Bengal; Sunita Narain, environmentalist and editor of Down to Earth magazine; writer T Padmanabhan; integrated waste management specialist C Sreenivasan will speak at the event.

Saffola asks consumers if their honey brand is ‘100% pure’

Marico’s latest ad for Saffola Honey reinforces its claim of being the 100 per cent pure honey brand in the market. ‘100% Pure, 100% Sure.’ That’s the tagline driving Marico’s Saffola Honey. Being healthy as well as sweet are the key product benefits of honey, and what seems to be actually driving differentiation in the category is the purity claim. Marico’s latest ad for Saffola Honey reinforces its claim of being the 100 per cent pure honey brand in the market. The ad film further asks the consumers if they are completely sure about the quality of their honey brand. The purity factor of branded honey became even more important when major brands like Dabur, Patanjali, and Emami (Zandu Honey) failed purity tests during an investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation, last year. The situation further aggravated the rivalry between Dabur and Marico. Only Saffola came out unscathed from CSE’s investigation, after passing the tests. The brand’s ads carry the results of tests like NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) as a purity badge.

झारखंड में पोलियो के 6 वर्षीय संदिग्ध, इस्माइली अध्ययन संस्थान, कोलकाता भेजे गए नमूने | भारत की ताजा खबर

झारखंड में विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्ल्यूएचओ) के समन्वयक ने सोमवार को कोलकाता के इंडियन इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ सेरोलॉजी (आईआईएस) में पोलियो वायरस होने के संदेह में छह वर्षीय एक बच्चे के नमूने भेजे, ताकि यह पता लगाया जा सके कि यह पोलियो का पहला पुष्ट मामला है या नहीं। अधिकारियों ने पिछले कुछ वर्षों में मंगलवार को कहा। केंद्र सरकार द्वारा देश भर में नवजात शिशुओं को पोलियो का टीका लगाने के एक मजबूत निरंतर कार्यक्रम के बाद 2014 में विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन द्वारा भारत को पोलियो मुक्त घोषित किया गया था। हालांकि, वेस्ट सिंगबूम काउंटी में, जहां हर दूसरा बच्चा कुपोषित है, 2014 से अब तक 64 बच्चों के नमूने पोलियो परीक्षण के लिए इस्माइली अध्ययन संस्थान में भेजे गए हैं। इनमें से किसी भी नमूने में अब तक कोई पोलियो वायरस नहीं पाया गया है। पोलियो 15 साल से कम उम्र के बच्चों में सबसे आम है। झारखंड के पश्चिमी सिंगबॉम जिले के मनोहरपुर आनंदपुर ब्लॉक से पोलियो का यह पहला संदिग्ध मामला है। हमने 6 साल के लड़के के मल का नमूना जांच के लिए आईआईएस-कोलकाता भेजा। इस्माइली अध्ययन संस्थान से 15 दिनों में एक रिपोर्ट आएगी जो निश्चित रूप से हमें बताएगी कि क्या यह पोलियो का पहला पुष्ट मामला है। चिपसा में डब्ल्यूएचओ के समन्वयक डॉ. सोमन ने कहा, “अगर पोलियो वायरस की उपस्थिति का पता नहीं चलता है, तो हम लड़के की समस्याओं के कारणों का निदान करने के लिए और अधिक प्रयास करेंगे।” उसने कहा कि अगर परीक्षण में पोलियोवायरस नहीं पाया गया तो लड़के की मांसपेशियों में कमजोरी और शिथिलता – तीव्र फ्लेसीड पैरालिसिस (एएफपी) के सटीक कारण का पता लगाने के लिए उन्हें विभेदक निदान के लिए जाना होगा। पोलियो के अलावा, गुइलेन-बैरे सिंड्रोम (जीबीएस), अनुप्रस्थ मायलाइटिस, दर्दनाक न्यूरिटिस, क्षणिक पक्षाघात, चेहरे का पक्षाघात, और पैरेसिस भी फुफ्फुसीय धमनीशोथ का कारण बन सकता है। अभी तक घबराने की कोई बात नहीं है क्योंकि पिछले तीन वर्षों में 64 संदिग्ध पोलियो मामलों के नमूने चाईपासा से आईआईएस को भेजे गए हैं और अभी तक किसी ने भी सकारात्मक परीक्षण नहीं किया है, ”डॉ सोमन ने कहा। 2018 में पोलियो के संदिग्ध मामलों के 13 सैंपल 2019 में पश्चिमी सिंहभूम से 32 सैंपल जांच के लिए आईआईएस-कोलकाता भेजे गए थे. इस साल अब तक 19 सैंपल जांच के लिए भेजे गए हैं। 2018 के बाद से किसी भी नमूने ने सकारात्मक परीक्षण नहीं किया है। वेस्ट सिंगबूम काउंटी के सिविल सर्जन, डॉ. ओ.पी. गुप्ता, रोरकिला के एस्बैट जनरल अस्पताल के डॉक्टरों को संदेह था कि लड़के को वहां परीक्षण के बाद पोलियो हो गया था और उन्होंने अपनी रिपोर्ट चिपसा सदर अस्पताल (सीएसएच) को भेज दी। डॉ गुप्ता ने कहा, “हमने तुरंत आईआईएस में परीक्षण करने का फैसला किया और क्षेत्र के लिए डब्ल्यूएचओ समन्वयक को सूचित किया।” 16 अक्टूबर को मनो हार्बर सीएचसी में भर्ती कराया गया था, जब लड़का लगभग तीन सप्ताह से उच्च तापमान से पीड़ित था। फिर उन्हें 18 अक्टूबर को आईजीएच राउरकेला रेफर किया गया, जहां डॉक्टरों को संदेह था कि उन्हें पोलियो हो गया है और उन्होंने राउरकेला में डब्ल्यूएचओ वार्ड को सूचना दी, जिन्होंने डब्ल्यूएचओ वार्ड चाईबासा की सूचना दी। क्लस्टर समन्वयक ने 31 अक्टूबर को डब्ल्यूएचओ के अधिकारी हिमांशु भूषण को नमूना दिया। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा जारी 2018 की एक अध्ययन रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, आदिवासी बहुल पश्चिमी सिंहभूम क्षेत्र में सबसे अधिक शिशु मृत्यु दर (आईएमआर) 56, अंडर-5 मृत्यु दर (यू5एमआर) 96 है। देश। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि पांच साल से कम उम्र के करीब 60 फीसदी बच्चे कुपोषण के शिकार हैं।

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की रिपोर्ट में कोरोना पर चौंकाने वाला खुलासा, अपार्टमेंट में रहने वालों को चेताया

सीएसई की रिपोर्ट आने के बाद अपार्टमेंट के फ्लैट में रहने वालों को सावधान हो जाना चाहिये कहीं फ्लैट के दमघोंटू कमरे तो कोरोना संक्रमण प्रसार की वजह तो नहीं बन रहे हैं। ऐसे कमरे में कई दिन तक वायरस ठहर सकता है। कानपुर, जेएनएन। स्टेटस सिंबल और सुरक्षा को लेकर तेजी से बढ़ रही फ्लैट संस्कृति संक्रमण का बड़ा कारण बन रही है। क्रॉस वेंटिलेशन न होने की वजह से दम घोंटू फ्लैट के कमरों में वायरस कई-कई दिन तक ठहरा रह सकता है जो अन्य लोगों को अपना शिकार बना सकता है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने पिछले दिनों ही दम घोंटू फ्लैटों से बढ़ रहे संक्रमण के खतरे के प्रति आगाह किया था। रिपोर्ट में यह भी बताया गया था कि किन्हीं दो फ्लैटों के रोशनदान, खिड़की और बालकनी में दो गज की दूरी न होना घातक हो सकता है। यह भी कहा गया था कि इस मामले में तीन दशक पुरानी कॉलोनियों के हवादार घरों को आदर्श माना जा सकता है। जहां दो घरों की खिड़कियों, दरवाजों, रोशनदान और बालकनी में कम से कम दो से पांच मीटर तक की दूरी होती थी। ये होता है खतरा विशेषज्ञों के मुताबिक फ्लैटों में जगह कम होती है। ऐसे में यदि बीमार व्यक्ति अपने फ्लैट में छींकता या खांसता है तो संक्रमित एरोसोल (सूक्ष्म ठोस कण या तरल बूंदें ) आंतरिक वातावरण में ही घूमते रहते हैं। क्रॉस वेंटिलेशन (हवा आर-पार होने के लिए खिड़कियां दरवाजे) न होने की वजह से ये बाहर नहीं निकल पाते और अन्य लोगों को अपनी चपेट में ले लेते हैं। यह भी पढ़ें उन्नाव में सब्जी विक्रेता फैसल की मौत पर गरमाई सियासत, UP सरकार के लिए ओवैसी ने कही यह बात उन्नाव में सब्जी विक्रेता फैसल की मौत पर गरमाई सियासत, UP सरकार के लिए ओवैसी ने कही यह बात फ्लैटों को हवादार बनाएं केडीए के नगर नियोजक एके सिंह कहते हैं कि फ्लैटों को हवादार बनाया जाना चाहिए। क्रॉस वेंटिलेशन रहेगा तो वायरस और फंगल इन्फेक्शन का खतरा खुद ब खुद कम हो जाएगा। खिड़कियों को बड़ा रखना भी विकल्प हो सकता है। फ्लैट में शेड बैक और अन्य जगह छोडऩे की व्यवस्था का भी पालन किया जाना चाहिए। फ्लैट की छत की ऊंचाई 2.75 मीटर होनी चाहिए यह भी पढ़ें लाख जतन के बाद भी युवाओं को पछाड़ नहीं पा रहे 45 पार लाख जतन के बाद भी युवाओं को पछाड़ नहीं पा रहे 45 पार उत्तर प्रदेश विकास प्राधिकरण डिप्लोमा इंजीनियर संघ के अध्यक्ष और भवन विभाग के अभियंता अजय ङ्क्षसह के मुताबिक भवन उपविधि के नियमों का पालन करते हुए फ्लैट का निर्माण हो तो वेंटिलेशन बना रहेगा। हर फ्लैट की छत कम से कम 2.75 मीटर ऊंची होनी चाहिए। फ्लैट डक्ट से जुड़ा होना चाहिए ताकि हवा आती-जाती रहे। घर के वातावरण से बनती है इम्यूनिटी घर के वातावरण से काफी हद तक व्यक्ति की इम्यूनिटी बनती है। वर्तमान में लोगों को बरामदा, लॉन, आंगन और अहाते के लिए जगह छोडऩा जमीन की बर्बादी लगती है, लेकिन एक खुशनुमा घर के लिए ये बेहद जरूरी हैं। भारतीय वास्तुशास्त्र में क्रॉस वेेंटिलेशन के बिना घर की परिकल्पना ही नहीं की गई है, किसी भी संक्रामक बीमारी से बचने के लिए भी यह बड़ा हथियार है।

केंद्र सरकार की नई गाइडलाइंस में कोरोना वायरस से बचना है तो अपने आशियाने को बनाएं हवादार

संजीव गुप्ता, नई दिल्ली। कोरोना संक्रमण से बचने के लिए मास्क, दो गज की दूरी और पर्याप्त स्वच्छता तो जरूरी है ही, घर भी हवादार होना चाहिए। अगर घर में वेंटिलेशन की बेहतर व्यवस्था होगी तो वहां वायरस टिक ही नहीं पाएगा। इस महामारी से लड़ने के लिए केंद्र सरकार के प्रधान वैज्ञानिक सलाहकार कार्यालय से जारी नई गाइडलाइंस में इस पर खासा जोर है। इसमें वेंटिलेशन के उपाय सुझाने के साथ-साथ नए भवनों की डिजाइन भी उसी के अनुरूप बनाने की सलाह दी गई है। सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने इस सलाह को तार्किक बताया है। नई गाइडलाइंस के मुताबिक संक्रमित व्यक्ति की लार और नाक से निकलने वाला स्राव वायु अभिण (ऐरोसोल) और बूंदों के रूप में एक से दूसरे को संक्रमित कर सकता है। इसके बारीक कण हवा के जरिये दूर तक जाते हैं। अगर घर या दफ्तर में पर्याप्त वेंटिलेशन न हो तो ये बूंदें और अभिकण वहीं एकत्रित होने लगते हैं, जिससे संक्रमण फैलने की संभावना बढ़ जाती है। इसके विपरीत खुले स्थानों में संक्रमण फैलने के आसार बहुत कम होते हैं, क्योंकि वायरस के कण जल्द ही हवा में फैल जाते हैं। गाइडलाइंस के मुताबिक भवन में अंदर की हवा बाहर जाने और बाहर की हवा अंदर आने की पुख्ता व्यवस्था होनी चाहिए। कोई भी भवन जितना हवादार होगा, उसमें रहने वालों में संक्रमण की संभावना उतनी ही कम हो जाएगी। यहां तक कि एसी चलाने की स्थिति में भी घर या दफ्तर के सभी खिड़की दरवाजे करे बंद नहीं करना चाहिए। इसके पीछे का कारण भी बताया गया है। ऐसी सूरत में संक्रमित हवा उसी क्षेत्र में जमा हो जाती है और संक्रमण की आशंका ज्यादा बढ़ जाती है। एसी चलाने पर खिड़की या दरवाजे थोड़ा खुला रखें। सीएसई का आकलन: इस संदर्भ में सीएसई ने अपनी एक रिपोर्ट में कहा है कि पहले भवनों की डिजाइन इसी तरह से की जाती थी। उनमें आंगन होता था, वेंटिलेशन के लिए पर्याप्त खिड़की दरवाजे भी होते थे। लेकिन, जैसे-जैसे शहरों की आबादी बढ़ती गई और जमीन घटती गई, वैसे-वैसे बिल्डरों एवं एसी बनाने वाली कंपनियों की गठजोड़ से भवनों की ऐसी डिजाइन बनने लगी, जिसमें कम क्षेत्रफल में भी अधिक जगह देने के लिए उसे पूर्णतया कवर किया जाने लगा। वेंटिलेशन की कमी महसूस न हो, इसके लिए एसी लगाए जाने लगे। लोकनायक में ब्लैक फंगस के मरीजों से दो वार्ड भरे दिल्ली के लोकनायक अस्पताल में तेजी से बढ़ रही ब्लैक फंगस के मरीजों की संख्या, दो वार्ड भरे यह भी पढ़ें केंद्र सरकार की गाइडलाइंस के प्रमुख बिंदु जालीदार खिड़कियां अवश्य हों। एग्जॉस्ट फैन भी लगा रहे तो और बेहतर दफ्तरों, सभागारों और शॉपिंग मॉल इत्यादि, जहां वायु प्रवाह के माध्यम सीमित होते हैं, वहां उनकी छतों पर फिल्टर लगाकर वेंटिलेशन की कारगर व्यवस्था की जानी चाहिए जहां तक संभव हो, बसों और टे्रनों में खिड़कियां खुली रखी जाएं। वायु प्रवाह को बेहतर बनाने के लिए एग्जॉस्ट फैन लगे हों और एसी में फिल्टर लगाया जाए नए भवनों की डिजाइन भी वेंटिलेशन की कारगर व्यवस्था रखते हुए ही तैयार की जाए ये भी पढ़ेंः दिल्ली के सीएम केजरीवाल ने केंद्र के समक्ष रखी 4 मांगे, बोले- युवाओं के लिए वैक्सीनेशन बंद होने का दुख सीएसइ सस्टेनेबल सिटीज प्रोग्राम के मैनेजर अविकल सोमवंशी ने बताया कि एसी के अपने लाभ हैं, लेकिन वह प्राकृतिक वेंटिलेशन का पर्याय नहीं है। हमें भवनों की डिजाइन इस प्रकार बनाने की आवश्यकता है, जिसमें वेंटिलेशन की पर्याप्त व्यवस्था हो। भवन मानकों में इसे शामिल करना अनिवार्य होना चाहिए।

SPSTI and CCNACI host webinar on Biodiversity Day

SPSTI and CCNACI host webinar on Biodiversity Day Chandigarh, May 23(UNI) The Society for Promotion of Science & Technology in India and Chandigarh Chapter of National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) jointly conducted a webinar for marking the World Biodiversity Day that is observed on May 22. The webinar titled 'We are Part of the Solution for Nature' was held on Friday, May 21. The speaker was Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science & Environment, New Delhi. The session was supported by NCSTC, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. It is information that takes us to knowledge and then to action, said by Dr. Sunita Narain. She said we understand the challenges that are needed to explore new approaches so that solutions for environmental management are affordable and sustainable. It is the politics of the inclusive society which help us in finding the solutions for environment management. While sharing statistics from Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, she said we have a huge trend of declining Biodiversity and human beings are responsible for the current phase of biodiversity loss. Also, 10,996 species of birds, 5593 of mammals, 6576 of amphibians and many species of fishes, sharks and rays have been lost. She spoke on the biodiversity – Covid-19 link that it is the result of our dystopian relationship with nature and Zoonotic diseases are increasing because of species-virus jump from animals to humans. To rebuild the relationship with biodiversity, inclusive conservation is needed so that local people are custodians and harvesters of nature and its protectors. A large number of people from all over India and countries from abroad like Spain and United Kingdom attended this session which was also streamed on the Facebook Channel of the SPSTI. The session was coordinated by Prof. R. Baskar, of GJUST Hisar, Dr. Souparno Banerjee, CSE Network, Prof. Arun K. Grover, former Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Shri Dharamvir, IAS (Retd.), Prof. Keya Dharamvir, General Secretary of SPSTI and Prof. R.K. Kohli, Chairman of UNI XC RKM

पर्यावरण प्रबंधन के समाधान किफायती और टिकाऊ बने : डा. सुनीता

जागरण संवाददाता, कुरुक्षेत्र : सोसाइटी फॉर प्रमोशन ऑफ साइंस एंड टेक्नोलॉजी इन इंडिया कुरुक्षेत्र और नेशनल एकेडमी ऑफ साइंसेज इंडिया की चंडीगढ़ इकाई ने संयुक्त रूप से शुक्रवार को जैव विविधता दिवस पर वेबिनार का आयोजन किया। मुख्य वक्ता विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र नई दिल्ली की महानिदेशक डा. सुनीता नारायण ने हम प्रकृति के समाधान का हिस्सा है विषय पर चर्चा की। डा. सुनीता नारायण ने कहा कि समाज के सामने आज कई चुनौती हैं। ऐसे में चुनौतियों को समझते हुए नए दृष्टिकोण तलाशने की आवश्यकता है। जिससे पर्यावरण प्रबंधन के समाधान किफायती और टिकाऊ बनें। यह समावेशी समाज की राजनीति है, जो हमें पर्यावरण प्रबंधन के समाधान खोजने में मदद करती है। उन्होंने जैव विविधता और पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र सेवाओं पर वैश्विक मूल्यांकन रिपोर्ट से आंकड़े सांझा किए और कहा कि हमारे पास जैव विविधता की भारी गिरावट की प्रवृत्ति है और जैव विविधता के नुकसान के वर्तमान चरण के लिए मानव जिम्मेदार है। पक्षियों की 10,996 प्रजातियां, मैमल्स की 5593, उभयचरों की 6576 और शार्क जैसी मछलियों की प्रजातियां खो गई हैं। उन्होंने जैव विविधता और कोविड -19 के लिक पर भी बात की। उन्होंने कहा कि यह प्रकृति के साथ डायस्टोपियन संबंधों का परिणाम है और जानवरों से मनुष्यों में प्रजाति-वायरस के आने के कारण •ाूनोटिक रोग बढ़ रहे हैं। जागरण संवाददाता, कुरुक्षेत्र : बिजली निगम के 11 केवी बिरला मंदिर फीडर से शनिवार को सुबह 10 बजे से सायं पांच बजे तक बिजली आपूर्ति बाधित रहेगी। फीडर से ब्रह्मासरोवर, बिरला मंदिर, केडीबी कार्यालय के आसपास, विकेकानंद कालोनी, थर्ड गेट, कर्ण कालोनी के आसपास के क्षेत्र में बिजली आपूर्ति बाधित रहेगी। निगम के एसडीओ विकासदीप शर्मा ने बताया कि इसके साथ ही 11 केवी कुरुक्षेत्र फीडर व 11 केवी केडीबी फीडर से भी शटडाउन होगा।

चिपको आंदोलन के प्रणेता सुन्दर लाल

बहुगुणा के निधन पर अश्रुपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि: डब्ल्यूएनडी ... डायलॉग एंड डेवलपमेंट' के ऑनलाइन कार्यक्रम में प्रसिद्ध पर्यावरण कार्यकर्त्ता सुनीता नारायण जी के भाषण के दौरान बहुगुणा जी के निधन की सूचना मिली। सुनकर बहुत दुःख हुआ।

Ever-growing garbage hills of Delhi

Despite complaints from the residents about the foul smell & spread of diseases, little efforts are made by authorities to clear the Ghazipur garbage hill in eastern Delhi. Hawks, vultures and other birds hover around the towering Ghazipur landfill on the eastern fringe of Delhi. Stray cows, dogs and rats wander at will over the huge expanse of filth that covers an area of over 70 acres. Ghazipur garbage hill, which was once a landfill, rises by nearly 10 meters a year with no end in sight to its foul-smelling growth. According to news reports, two people were killed and four vehicles fell into a drain after a part of the landfill site collapsed in 2017. The landfill site, commissioned in 1984 reached its capacity in 2002 and since then it has been overflowing, turning into a hill as garbage continues to be dumped here in the absence of an alternate option. At the last count in 2019, the landfill had crossed 65 meters, just eight meters short of the iconic Qutub Minar, which is 73 meters high. An east Delhi municipality officer admits that way back in 2019, the National Green Tribunal had directed the municipal bodies to biomine the infamous garbage hills at Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur. “In 2018 too, a section of the hill collapsed in heavy rains killing two people. Dumping was banned after the deaths, but the measure lasted only a few days because authorities could not find an alternative,” he informs. However, he could not explain why the work so not being done regularly or at a faster pace. Hazardous Impact of the garbage hill A study by researchers at IIT-Delhi in 2019, published in the Journal of Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste, pointed out the hazardous nature of this landfill. Through multiple mined samples from three landfills in different parts of India, including the one at Okhla, situated in south Delhi, the study determined the presence of dangerous levels of toxicity in the leachate, a dark-coloured liquid produced when water seeps through garbage, produced from such excavated and processed landfill material. More and more garbage keeps piling up every day and the trash hill continues to grow as the city’s detritus keeps on arriving each day in hundreds of trucks (MIG Photo/ Varsha Singh) The exercise of biomining and bioremediating the landfills was ordered by the National Green Tribunal following the reported success of similar work carried out by the Indore Municipal Corporation at its landfill site. The tribunal instructed three municipal corporations of Delhi to begin the project on their landfills, including that of Ghazipur, by October 2019 and finish clearing them within a year. However, more and more garbage keeps piling up every day and the trash hill continues to grow as the city’s detritus keeps on arriving each day in hundreds of trucks. Shambhavi Shukla, senior researcher at the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, says the methane belching from the garbage can become even more deadly when mixed with the atmosphere. Leachate liquid oozes from the dump and mixes into a local canal that pollutes groundwater in the area. “It all needs to be stopped as the continuous dumping has severely polluted the air and groundwater,” she says. Making life miserable for locals Residents say the dump often makes their daily lives difficult. “The poisonous smell has made our lives hell. People fall sick all the time,” says a 45-year-old local, Puneet Sharma. He adds that complaints to the municipality are often ignored and now many residents are leaving the area, especially since the past few months as the amount of biomedical waste has increased. He goes on to say that setting up a plant that recycles waste into energy next to the dump increases their misery because the smoke it releases by burning trash is also poisonous. “Fires sparked by methane gas coming from the dump, regularly break out and take days to extinguish. The overflowing landfill stinks, making the lives of locals unbearable and even becomes a hub of infections and diseases like dengue and malaria every year, especially during monsoon,” Sharma adds. In July 2020, former cricketer and East Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir said that the hill would be cleared when he received lots of complaints from locals and politicians about biomedical waste related to Covid-19 being dumped there from various hospitals in and around Delhi. “The work had started and we could see the height of the garbage hill decreasing gradually, but the process did not last long. Since December last year, again it has started rising again. We are planning to write to the chief minister but in the meantime, we continue to suffer as the whole city dumps all kinds of hazardous waste here,” he adds.

Is Ivermectin The New Hydroxychloroquine? Online Interest In Unproven Covid Drug Surges As Experts Urge Caution

The antiparasitic drug Ivermectin is seeing a surge in online interest, with some viewing it as a potential Covid-19 treatment—but just as they did other popular unproven treatments like Hydroxychloroquine, medical experts and global health bodies have warned available data does not support the drug’s use. Worldwide Google Trends data from the past twelve months show a sharp increase in Google searches for the term “Ivermectin,” with current interest levels being near the peak. Interest in the drug is particularly high in Slovakia, where the government has authorized its use in Covid-19 patients, and in South Africa, where a pack of 10-pills can be found on the black market at prices are 15-times higher than the standard $4 despite local health authorities warning against its use. Search interest in the antiparasitic treatment is at a 12-month peak in India—the global epicenter of the pandemic—and doctors are increasingly alarmed that information shared online is causing some Covid-19 patients to self-medicate with the drug. Search interest in Hydroxychloroquine—the anti-malarial drug that was previously touted by some, including President Trump, as a miracle Covid-19 cure—slumped sharply last September, and unlike Ivermectin, the drug hasn’t witnessed another surge in interest this year. Proponents of Ivermectin argue that trials show the drug helps significantly reduce mortality among Covid-19 patients, but health regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have warned against its use outside controlled clinical trials citing a lack of adequate evidence. Crucial Quote In a statement issued in February, Merck & Co., which manufactures Ivermectin, noted its analysis of the drug in studies identified “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19” and “no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19.” Key Background The use of Ivermectin as a Covid-19 treatment has emerged as a political flashpoint in parts of the developing world. In South Africa, facing pressure from local health practitioners, the country’s health regulator, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), allowed “controlled compassionate use” in an attempt to curb black-market use of it. Then in April, the health agency was ordered by a high court order to permit the off-label prescription of Ivermectin by doctors. Similarly, the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration recently approved the controlled use of Ivermectin in two hospitals, acknowledging there had been “pressure” to issue approvals. While several Filipino doctors and health experts have pushed for the use of the anti-parasitic drug, two leading doctors’ groups have warned against its use, suggesting there is not enough evidence to support its use. Last week, the Indian state of Goa announced it would give the drug to all its adult residents as prophylaxis to protect against Covid-19. The announcement was met with immediate pushback from the World Health Organization. While no other Indian state has proposed pre-emptive use of the drug as prophylaxis, many recommend its use as a treatment. The magazine Down To Earth reported (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/ivermectin-for-covid-19-is-india-overusing-76963) several doctors in the country have admitted to prescribing the drug under compulsion, peer pressure or on patient’s demand, resulting in overuse at hospitals. Tangent In March 2020, a lab study performed by Australian scientists indicated that Ivermectin inhibited the coronavirus. The study concluded that the use of the drug “warrants further investigation for possible benefits in humans.” While this piqued interest in the drug, scientists noted the dosage required to achieve an antiviral effect is not only nearly 100 times higher than what has been approved for human use but also potentially toxic. Later in December, U.S. physician Pierre Kory testified before a Senate hearing where he said that Ivermectin, alongside other medicines such as vitamin C, zinc and melatonin, could "save hundreds of thousands of people,” citing more than 20 studies. While many scientists have disagreed with Kory’s assessment, the video of his testimony went viral on YouTube—and was eventually taken down under the platform’s Covid-19 disinformation policy. A paper penned by Kory and other members of the group Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) was rejected by the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal. The journal noted that “the article made a series of strong, unsupported claims based on studies with insufficient statistical significance,” and criticized the authors for promoting their own specific Ivermectin-based treatment.

Clouds of worry: Farm fire count doubles from last summer

New Delhi: With the rabi crop harvest season going on in the northern plains, the intensity of stubble burning has increased significantly over the last few weeks. The VIIRS satellite data (375m) analysed by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has recorded over 4,000 more farm fires in Punjab between April 1 and May 16 this year as compared to the same period last year. The figure is also higher than that of 2019. Similarly, fire counts in Haryana are almost double than what were recorded during the same period last year, the data shows. According to satellite imagery, Punjab recorded 12,033 fire counts between April 1 and May 16 this year, as compared to 8,172 during the same period last year. In 2019, 10,307 fires were recorded. Haryana, meanwhile, has shown an improvement from 2019, but the count is almost twice as compared to 2020. According to the data, 4,825 fires were recorded in Haryana this year as compared to 2,523 last year. In 2019, the figure was 5,443 for this duration. “Punjab and Haryana have recorded over 12,500 and 5,500 fires so far during this rabi harvest season. Fires during this season are witnessed every year but their impact on air quality is not as pronounced as summer conditions such as higher temperatures and wind speeds facilitate smoke dispersion,” said L S Kurinji, research analyst at CEEW. The impact is more during the winter due to stable atmospheric conditions with calm surface winds, she added. She states proactive measures to cut pollution from its sources during the winter season, including agricultural burning, will be critical. “State and central government agencies, and entrepreneurs involved in biomass management should coordinate with farmers to ensure they have access to viable crop residue management options. Year-round awareness campaigns will help demonstrate better residue management practices and address misconceptions around such practices.” Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the focus on farm fires had generally been lower in summer, with the state machinery and the Centre often shifting focus towards stubble burning just before winter. However, she believes that due to the pandemic, “attention right now is to save lives and to ensure people are safe. Therefore enforcement around farm fires could be lax”. According to SAFAR, a forecast body under the ministry of earth sciences, active fire counts in the northern plains crossed upwards of 1,500 per day in the last two weeks. However, wind conditions have largely been unfavourable in terms of influencing Delhi’s air.

Hundreds of dead fish floating in Bengaluru lake; residents complaint of stench, but to no avail [details]

The inflow of effluents and pesticides from surrounding industries and agricultural fields resulted in sudden dip in dissolved oxygen in the lake. The water bodies and the resulting biodiversity have been bearing the brunt of the growing population and unsustainable development for a few decades now. Dead fish, murky waters and the resultant stench are some of the very visible signs of nature having reached a breaking point. It's been a week since hundreds of dead fish have been floating on Mottanalluru Lake in South Bengaluru. An inflow of chemicals, pesticides, effluents from the surrounding industries and agricultural fields has finally come to a breaking point. After the reports of dead fish gained traction, some of the local residents alleged that they have been forced to live with the stench of dead fish despite complaining to the concerned officials for the last week. After the stench became unbearable, several residents and lake activists complained to the local authorities, including the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. After a team inspected the site, senior officials from KSPCB said the inflow of effluents and pesticides from surrounding industries and agricultural fields resulted in a sudden dip in dissolved oxygen in the lake. Classic case of unsustainable development The lake, located 16 kms from Koramangala, sits on the border and does not fall under BBMP limits. Local residents also said that they requested MLA Shivanna too in the matter. Time and again, from foam to dead fish, have all washed up on the shores of the city's lakes. Last year, Kommaghatta Lake in Kengeri had thousands of dead fish floating on its surface spread over 34 acres. The shocking site resulted in a bureaucratic blame game with several residents complaining of foul smell. The area had to be barricaded and the dead fish cleared out. Polluted lakes in Bengaluru - a perennial problem In 2019, thousands of dead fish landed up on the shores of Sheelavantanakere lake at Nallurahali, Whitefield in Bengaluru. At the time, contamination due to sewage inflows resulted in not just polluting the lake, but black water, stench and dead fish. A year before that, again thousands of dead fish were found floating on the surface of Seegehalli Lake in Bengaluru. Many years ago, the fisheries department made several recommendations, including the installation of aerators to increase the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in the lake. A recent assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment stated that the number of water bodies in Bengaluru had reduced by 79 per cent in the past four decades. Once a report submitted by the Lake Encroachment House Committee, said nearly 144 religious institutions have encroached upon lake beds. The water bodies are threatened not just in numbers, but in terms of the quality of biodiversity too.

प्रदूषण पर बेअसर है इस बार का लॉकडाउन

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के विवेक चट्टोपाध्याय के अनुसार, इस लॉकडाउन की विस्तार से स्टडी की जरूरत है। इसके बाद ही चीजें साफ हो पाएंगी। इस बार एक तो हवाएं नई दिल्ली: 2020 के लॉकडाउन में हर तरफ पर्यावरण पर पड़े अच्छे प्रभावों की बात हो रही थी। विजिबिलिटी सुधरने से लोगों को काफी दूर तक की चीजें नजर आ रही थीं। तारे अधिक नजर आ रहे थे। इस बार उस तरह का माहौल नहीं है। एक्सपर्ट का कहना है कि 2020 का लॉकडाउन राष्ट्रव्यापी था। इस वक्त दिल्ली में लॉकडाउन चार हफ्तों से है, लेकिन एनसीआर में यह काफी बाद में प्रभावी हुआ। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के विवेक चट्टोपाध्याय के अनुसार, इस लॉकडाउन की विस्तार से स्टडी की जरूरत है। इसके बाद ही चीजें साफ हो पाएंगी। इस बार एक तो हवाएं दिल्ली का साथ नहीं दे रही हैं। राजस्थान की धूल लेकर हवाएं निरंतर पहुंच रही हैं। दूसरा प्रदूषण फैलाने वाला ईंधन भी दिल्ली-एनसीआर में काफी अधिक जल रहा है। अब दिल्ली-एनसीआर के काफी शहर में लॉकडाउन है, तो हो सकता है पर्यावरण के लिहाज से कुछ अच्छे नतीजे देखने को मिलें। दिल्ली में लॉकडाउन के बाद भी राजधानी को बेहद खराब दिनों का सामना करना पड़ा है। सफर के मुताबिक, इस समय भी पराली का धुआं, प्रदूषण फैलाने वाले ईंधन की वजह से राजधानी में कुछ दिन प्रदूषण काफी अधिक रहा। कई मौकों पर दूर से हवाओं के साथ आ रही धूल प्रदूषण की वजह बनी तो इन दिनों हर हफ्ते हवाएं और बूंदाबांदी की वजह से प्रदूषण सामान्य स्तर पर बना हुआ है।