Category: Green Products

** ‘Warming in Himalayas accelerating snow melt, flooding in rivers’

It has direct implications on water availability and security of South Asia, say studies

Two independent studies point to increasing risk from warming in the Himalayas that is accelerating snow melt and contributing to flooding in rivers. Last February, an avalanche and snow melt in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand killed at least 70 persons and destroyed two hydropower projects.

The first study from researchers at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the University of Kerala used high-resolution, regional climate and chemistry models to quantify the effect of “snow darkening” from aerosols has on snow melt and flood risk, using data from 2011 to 2015.

Aerosols are particles suspended in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight. When some of these particles settle on snow, they tend to increase the amount of heat. Such aerosol pollution, the scientists say in their report, is “darkening” the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack, accelerating melt and increasing flood risks in the river basins near the Himalaya. The study appears in the peer-reviewed journal Water Resources Research.

** RIL unit picks up stake in EV firm Altigreen

eliance New Energy Ltd (RNEL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has entered into an agreement with Altigreen Propulsion Labs Private Ltd (Altigreen) for subscription of 34000 Series A Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of face value Rs 100 each for an aggregate consideration of Rs 50.16 crore.

Based out of Bengaluru Altigreen is an electric vehicle technology and solutions company for commercial last mile transportationthrough 2/3/4 wheeled vehicles.It has developed an E3Wvehicle and its vehicles are built in-house in Bangalore on a mobility platform that is 100% indigenous.Its current patent portfolio spans 60 countries with 26 global patents, RIL said.Some of Altigreen’s current technologies include electric motors & generator vehicle controls， motor controls， EV transmissions， telematics & 10T and battery management.“The investment is part of our Company’s strategic intent of collaborating with innovative companies in New Energy and New Mobility ecosystems,” RIL said.Altigreen is a private limited company incorporated in India on February 8， 2013

* Experts recall success story of CFTRI’s infant food from buffalo’s milk

The story behind the formulation of infant food (Amul) from buffalo’s milk using the technology developed by the scientists from CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) was retold during a webinar organised on Monday, in commemoration of 80 years of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Under the title “80 years and 80 success stories”, experts, including present and former CFTRI directors, former senior official of Amul and others brought to light how the infant food using buffalo’s milk was formulated and the efforts put in by the scientists of CSIR-CFTRI decades ago when resources were in scarce.

** The man who built a forest: Jadav Payeng

Jadav Payeng, known as ‘The Forest Man of India’, takes us through his journey of grit that saw a desert turning into a forest. His story has inspired a trilingual film starring Rana Daggubati

I take a 20-minute boat ride from the Baghmora camp site in Jorhat, Assam, followed by a 45-minute trek to meet ‘The Forest Man of India,’ Jadav Payeng.

Assam

** Winner of UNICEF Photo of the Year 2021 on the changing face of the Sunderbans

Supratim Bhattacharjee, whose photograph from his Sinking Sundarbans project was chosen, shares why he chooses to be a visual storyteller of humanitarian crises.

The photograph was chosen among thousands as the winner for 2021 by UNICEF Germany, which once a year awards photo reports that document the personality and living conditions of children around the world. This year both first and second place have been awarded to Indian photographers.

The photograph was chosen among thousands as the winner for 2021 by UNICEF Germany, which once a year awards photo reports that document the personality and living conditions of children around the world. This year both first and second place have been awarded to Indian photographers.

Mumbai

** Two more Ramsar sites announced on world wetlands day

The Union Environment Ministry had notified the Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar as Ramsar sites — the first two such sites in Haryana — in August 2021

Two new Ramsar sites — Khijadiya wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh — were announced on the occasion of World Wetlands Day at Sultanpur national park in Gurgaon Wednesday. Forest and Wildlife Department officials said India has a network of 49 such sites, the highest in South Asia, covering 10,93,636 hectares.

The Union Environment Ministry had notified the Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar as Ramsar sites — the first two such sites in Haryana — in August 2021. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance as per UNESCO’s 1971 Convention on Wetlands held in Ramsar, Iran. Officials said the certification brings visibility to ecologically sensitive wetlands and helps in conservation.

** ‘AirVaidya’ dhoopa can be effective in preventing air-borne infections, including COVID, say researchers

Prepared by AIMIL Pharmaceuticals, ‘AirVaidya’ contains phytochemicals from 19 medicinal which are known for their potential therapeutic effects to combat the coronavirus.

Researchers at Banaras Hindu University have found that anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the fumes of ‘AirVaidya’ herbal incense sticks can be effective in preventing air-borne infections.

Prepared by AIMIL Pharmaceuticals, ‘AirVaidya’ contains phytochemicals from 19 medicinal which are known for their potential therapeutic effects to combat the coronavirus.

Benares, Uttar Pradesh

* Bengaluru-based biotech lab develops tabletop papaya variety ‘Dawn Delight’

Developed by Thomas Biotech Lab, the papaya variety, christened ‘Dawn Delight’, grows only up to three or four feet and is best for cultivation on the terrace, balconies, and kitchen gardens.

** India’s largest electric vehicle charging station set up in Gurugram

It will be able to charge 100 EVs round the clock

India’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station, with 100 charging points for four-wheelers, was commissioned in Sector 52 here on Friday. Before this, the country’s largest EV charging station was in Navi Mumbai, with 16 AC and 4 DC charging ports for such vehicles.

The EV charging station in Gurugram, with 72 AC slow-chargers and 24 DC fast-chargers, has been installed and is operated by a partner company of National Highways for Electric Vehicle (NHEV), as part of a pilot project to install charging stations on the Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways, and turn them into e-highways.