Category Archives: Green Initiatives/ Environment

Solar energy products shine at Tiruchi expo

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

Mu.Mohan, State chairman, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Builders’ Association of India, visiting a stall at Buildrock-2012 exhibition in the city on Tuesday. / Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam / The Hindu

The exhibitors believe that in the backdrop of power shortage, people will give a serious thought to making purposeful investments

For those contemplating solar power for homes, commercial buildings and industrial establishments, all roads should lead to Buildrock 2012 exhibition presented by Builders` Association of India at the grounds of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan School near Karur Bypass Road.

The exhibition featuring various other aspects of home right from electrical, flooring, pipes, roofing, water heating and storage, plywood doors and interior decoration promises to serve as a one stop spot for keen planning and budgeting prior to commencing construction.

In the backdrop of power shortage and indications that the situation may not turn to normal for at least the next couple of years, the exhibitors of solar energy products believe that constructors will give a serious thought to make purposeful investments.

Solar panels of various sizes along with their power generation capacities are on display. Realtors and builders of residential apartments have also sought to make their presence felt.

According to J.Sankaran, chairman, Buildrock, about 50 per cent of the 66 exhibits at Buildrock 2012 showcase new products.

Be it aluminium coated galvanised sheets or low-weight concrete blocks with higher sturdiness and efficiency, visitors will be quick to learn the advantages of the products, organisers promise.

State Chairman, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Builders’ Association of India, Mu Mohan inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of Chairman of Tiruchi Chapter Jawagar and Secretary M.Thirusangu.

From the perspective of consumers, the exhibition is being organised at a time when there are price fluctuations in the cost of construction materials. The exhibition will be kept open for public until December 30.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / december 26th, 2012

Kodai gets more funds for growing fruits & veggies

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Madurai :

Kodaikanal block in Dindigul district has received Rs 37 lakh under the  Integrated Horticulture Development Scheme  (IHDS), as against Rs 6 lakh during the previous years, to augment vegetables and fruit production in the region. This is the highest allocation that this block has received under the IHDS.

According to S Raja Mohamed, deputy director of horticulture, Kodaikanal, understanding the importance of horticultural crops which require minimum water for their cultivation compared to paddy, sugarcane and other food crops and to meet the requirements of farmers in the block, the state government has sanctioned an increased allocation of Rs 37 lakh.

He said there was a need to increase the area under the highly remunerative as well as the nutritionally rich horticultural crops, especially fruits and vegetables, and also motivate farmers to grow fruit plants in their gardens. An area of 1,270 hectares under fruits and vegetable crops was to be developed with this fund, during the current fiscal under IHDS. The scheme carries an attractive subsidy.

Under IHDS, farmers can get high-yielding as well as hybrid seeds such as carrot, beans and peas at 50 percent subsidy for a maximum of half a hectare per farmer and high-yielding fruit plants like avacado, acidlime, plum grafts, peach grafts, pear grafts and coffee seedlings at 50 percent subsidy to the maximum of one hectare per farmer, he added.

Vegetable seeds like beans procured from the National Horticulture Research Development Foundation (NHRDF) , Hubli, Karnataka, and carrot seeds procured from the National seed Corporation, were being distributed to needy farmers in Kodaikanal.

Farmers can enroll their names in the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) for banana and potato crops in the block. All farmers including share croppers and tenant farmers growing notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage. Kodaikanal, Pannaikadu and Thandikudi firkas are notified under this NAIS  in Kodaikanal block for rabi season.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / December 25th, 2012

Solar-powered bus shelters opened in Tiruchi

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

tapping alternate energy: (From left to right) MLAs M. Paranjothi and R. Manoharan, P. Kumar M.P., V.T. Dhandapani, Corporation Commissioner, and Collector Jayashree Muralidharan at the inaguration of solar-powered bus shellter at Karumanadapam on Saturday. / PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM. / The Hindu

MP sanctioned fund for about 21 modern bus shelters in the city

Two solar-powered bus shelters, established with funding from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), were declared open by Collector Jayashree Muralidharan at Karumandapam on Saturday.

The Collector opened the shelters in the presence of P. Kumar, MP, who has sanctioned fund for about 21 modern bus shelters in the city under his MPLADS, M.Paranjothi and R.Manoharan, MLAs, and A. Jaya, Mayor.

The bus shelters are fitted with solar panels which will power the LED lights inside them, mobile phone charger, and FM radio.

RS. 4.50 LAKH EACH

The two shelters have been established at a cost of Rs.4.50 lakh each.

Each shelter has six chairs for commuters and the solar lighting system will have an automatic control mechanism.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> States> TamilNadu / by Special Correspondent / Tiruchi, December 09th, 2012

Red gram cultivation reintroduced in Ramnad

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

The Agriculture Department has reintroduced the cultivation of red gram, one of the major pulses, in this drought prone district after a gap of more than two decades.

MIXED CROP: Farmers transplanting red gram seedlings at RS Mangalam block in Ramanathapuram./  Photo: L. Balachandar / The Hindu

Red gram was cultivated in the district as a mixed crop with paddy in rain fed areas about 25 years ago and farmers gave up the cultivation after finding it non-remunerative. Since then, the cultivation of the pulse came to a nil, with farmers settling down for paddy cultivation.

As production of Red gram was witnessing a fall in recent years, Collector K. Nanthakumar had suggested the reintroduction of the crop, after which, the department has selected progressive farmers to cultivate the pulse as a pilot project on about 20 hectares, scattered in all the blocks in the district, Joint Director of Agriculture Ka. Sakthimohan told ‘The Hindu.’

“We have taken up Red gram cultivation on an experimental basis on two hectares each in the blocks, using latest technology and practice of raising nurseries and transplanting under the National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP),” he said.

Discarding the direct sowing practice, the farmers have transplanted 35 to 40 days-old seedlings with a planting spacing of 5X3, significantly reducing the seed cost in the new method of cultivation. If 5 kg of seeds were required for direct sowing for a hectare, 2.2 kg of seeds were enough under the seedling transplantation method, he said.

The farmers have been advised to follow integrated nutrient, pest and water management for better yield, he said adding farmers are expected to get a yield of about 1.5 tonnes per hectare. Unlike the paddy crops, which required more water, three to four irrigation during the critical periods of growth-transplanting, flowering and pod-filling stages would be enough for Red gram, he said.

For achieving a good yield, the farmers have been asked to follow “earthing up” for supporting the plants and to avoid weeds. The farmers have also been asked to do nipping after 20 to 30 days after transplanting, which results in sprouting of secondary and tertiary branches, he said.

A farmer in R. S. Mangalam block, who started Red gram cultivation, assisted by the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) said he has transplanted 500 seedlings in a hectare and expected a yield of 1 to 3 kg per plant and an overall yield of 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare.

Z Kamaldeen, Assistant Director of Agriculture, R.S.Mangalam block, described Red gram as an apt crop for rain-fed areas and best suited for this district. Unlike the ‘water loving’ paddy, Red gram consumed minimum water. The crop would also require only minimum fertilizer and the farmers could earn more revenue with less investment, he said.

More farmers would be encouraged to take up Red gram cultivation in this block as they could rotate the crop throughout the year and ensure sustainable income, he said. Self Help Groups would be involved in raising seedlings, he added. The foliage could be used to feed cattle, he added.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> TamilNadu / by Special Correspondent / Ramanathapuram, December 05th, 2012

Corporation dishes out siddha food

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Chennai :

Chennai Corporation’s canteen has gone herbal. Providing a haunt for the city’s health conscious, it now follows the motto ‘food is medicine and medicine is food’. Making the whole package at Ripon Buildings even more mouth-watering is the subsidized pricing.

The menu boasts of traditional south Indian food items which have been given a twist with some exotic medicinal plants and herbs. The canteen serves avarampoo (Cassia auriculata) idli, avarampoo dosa, tail millet idli, mudakathan keerai (balloon vine) dosa and thoothuvalai (purple-fruited pea eggplant) dosa. “The avaram flower prevents diabetes. Eating it once a week in any form will reduce the sugar levels in your body, ” says Dr Veerababu, who runs the canteen.

Kezhvaragu dosa and manathakkali dosa are the other specialities. “Manathakkali cures stomach ulcers. Thoothuvalai prevents phlegm formation in thebody,thus preventing cold and cough,” reads a poster in the canteen. The canteen also serves herbal tea, herbal soups, juices and ginger buttermilk.

However, the one dish that caught everyone’s attention was the vegetarian omelette. “This helps people who have recently turned to vegetarianism or veganism,” says Dr Veerababu.”Itis madeof neermulli which has the properties of egg. The mixture is beaten with vegetables on a pan and made into an omelette,” he says.

Every one may like the pricing. The idlis are priced between 2 and 5, paniyarams, omelette anddosas at 5 and meals at 15.”The aim is to draw daily wage labourers to eat healthy foodinsteadof cholesterol-ridden food from unhygienic stalls,” said a corporation official. The idea to set up a siddha food canteen struck the mayor when he opened Dr Veerababu’s siddha food restaurant in Saligramam six months ago. While the canteen drew huge crowds on Wednesday, some remained sceptical about the venture.

“Eating healthy food is alright once a week, but we would want to eat plain dosa and idli daily. These don’t appear on the menu,” said a staff member. A counter outside the canteen also sells banyan branches to clean teeth.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Chennai / by Pratiksha RamKumar, TNN / December 06th, 2012

GIS in green polyhouses to aid Kodai farmers

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Madurai:

A horticulture farm in Gundupatti in Kodaikanal block of Dindigul district has gone high-tech with the installation of the GIS (geographic information system), as part of a pilot project. The GIS provides global access to promote site-specific farming for the first time in Tamil Nadu.

According to S Raja Mohamed, deputy director horticulture (Central schemes) Kodaikanal, the programme has been launched with the objective of locating polygreen houses using GIS. It is being built with the help of subsidy assistances from the National Horticulture Mission  (NHM) for the year 2012-13, in the spatial imagery and to add the attribute data (obtained during the field work) to those polyhouse features.

The GIS-initiative project was taken up by the department of horticulture, Kodaikanal division in co-ordination with the agriculture engineering department, Dindigul division and Remote Sensing and GIS Lab, ECE department, Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE). The processes involved includes the raw imagery (the satellite imagery of the location containing the poly houses is obtained), geo-referencing (the spatial data is geo-referenced using the particular toolbar), digitisation and photo-annealing (the images of the polyhouses are also attached with the point features by defining a field of type ‘raster’).

Mohamed said that development and implementation of precision farming or site-specific farming has been made possible by combining the GPS and GIS. These technologies enable the coupling of real-time data collection with accurate position information, leading to the efficient manipulation and analysis of large amounts of geospatial data.

GPS-based applications in precision farming are being used for farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop scouting, variable rate applications and yield mapping in the developed countries. The carnations grown in polyhouses in Kodaikanal are of international quality coming next only to their famous Columbian counterparts. If accessible over the GPS, cut flower cultivators in the region can become global entrepreneurs without the interference of middlemen as their buyers can get details about them from anywhere in the world.

Precision farming is now changing the way farmers and agribusinesses view the land from which they reap their profits. Position information system provides position data with acceptable degree of accuracy, available on demand at any time and at any location and is able to interface with other equipment. Farmers using the GPS system have the advantage of utilizing their land to the maximum.

According to Mohamed and G Kandasamy, deputy director of horticulture (state schemes), four poly green houses of 8,754 sq metres, belonging to four beneficiaries of Gundupatti in Kodaikanal block, were built with the subsidy being provided under NHM during the year 2012-2013.

With the help of the agriculture engineering department, Dindigul, ground control points (GCP) with GPS measurement for the poly houses were taken and were processed with the help of R A Alaguraja, associate professor, ECE department, TCE for representing these poly houses using GIS.

Mohamed said that the GIS would provide a big advantage to farmers especially those into the floral industry, which is the cut flower industry.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Madurai / by Padmini Sivarajah, TNN / November 22nd, 2012

Solar energy soon to power Koyambedu Market, CMDA and TNHB buildings

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

 Minister R Vaithilingam planting saplings at Koyambedu on Thursday as the Mayor looks on | P Jawahar

In a green initiative, the State government is exploring the possibility of tapping solar power for Asia’s largest perishable goods wholesale market.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department, Phanindra Reddy, told Express that Housing and Urban Development Minister R Vaithilingam is keen on exploring solar energy for Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority as well as Tamil Nadu Housing Board buildings. Currently, talks are going on with Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency in this regard, the official said.

Meanwhile, Vaithilingam along with mayor Saidai Duraisamy planted saplings near the flower market. The drive to plant 1,000 saplings is part of an initiative to redevelop the market, which also includes landscaping, construction of a compound wall and rainwater harvesting. CMDA sources said a tender has already been floated for the construction of the compound wall.

Also, tenders have been floated for laying concrete in the open area between the flower and fruit markets. Interestingly, CCTVs are also to be installed in the complex, officials said.

But, garbage and lack of water and bathroom facilities are some of the major issues still plaguing the market. Traders also complained about illegal parking of omni buses, which affects the movement of vehicles in the area.

Sources said work to develop the omni bus stand opposite the Koyambedu market is progressing and four acres of land has been identified.

Sources also said one acre of land behind the flower market has been identified for processing garbage from the market.

Interestingly, MMC officials say that although CMDA had allotted land acquired by it in the 1980s from Tamil Nadu Housing Board for vermin-compost, separation of garbage for the nearby bio-methanation plant as well as banana stem process, the plant could not be put to use due to a court battle over the rights of the land.

Meanwhile, traders also brought to light the lack of water in Koyambedu market. CMDA officials said the market is without water as the traders are yet to pay dues to Metro Water, which cut its connection. “The issue could be sorted out through discussions with Metro Water as well as traders who should be willing to pay their dues,” a senior CMDA official said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by C. ShivaKumer – Chennai / November 16th, 2012

Tree count at 80,000 after 1st phase of census

Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

The first phase of tree census covered educational institutions / Photo: R. Shivaji Rao / The Hindu

Number of exotic species trumps indigenous ones in city; second phase to begin by month-end

Exotic species of trees such as gulmohar and copper pods outnumber indigenous ones in the city.

This was one of the findings from the first phase of a tree census spearheaded by the urban forestry division. The second phase is likely to begin in the last week of November.

Over 80,000 trees have been enumerated in Chennai so far. The census is being carried out in two phases with nearly 150 botany students and staff from various city colleges serving as volunteers. The programme began in August 2011 at Guindy National Park.

While the first phase covered mostly educational institutions, the second one will facilitate ward-wise enumeration of trees.

Some of the places covered in the first phase are Guindy National Park, IIT-Madras, Anna University, Theosophical Society, Ramakrishna Mission, Stella Maris College, Ethiraj College for Women, Nandanam Arts College and Queen Mary’s College, an official of the forest department said.

“During the census, we collect details such as the species of the tree, its girth which is the measurement of its circumference, approximate height, age, and its importance,” he said.

So far, over 150 species of trees have been identified. Forest officials are confident they will be able to find more species as the census progresses.

“Exotic species are prevalent now because they were popular until a decade ago. It is only over the past ten years that many indigenous trees were planted,” another forest official said.

The tree census that began in Pune three years ago has not been completed yet. The census has also been carried out in some areas in Mumbai and Bangalore as well, the official said.

D. Narasimhan, associate professor, Madras Christian College, who is the project coordinator of the census, said, “We work for about six to seven hours a day during the weekends. Since we cover residential neighbourhoods in the second phase, we will need the cooperation of residents.”

The census is likely to be completed by February 2013, he said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Sunitha Sekhar / November 12th, 2012

Grape farmers take the road to profit

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Farm fresh grapes at farm gates – farmers become entrepreneurs by taking to direct marketing

Even as farmers all over the country are struggling to market agri-produces and cursing middlemen and commission agents for paying poor price, that are not meeting even their production costs and appealing to the governments to fix better price for their produces, grape growers in Dindigul district have brought a revolutionary change in the way they are marketing their fruits, creating a model, that is best, for their counterparts in other areas to emulate.

‘Farm fresh grapes at farm gate’ is their marketing concept. They neither spend single paisa for marketing and nor run from pillar to post in search of customers. Above all, their customers are anywhere in India.

A vast stretch of four-lane National Highway-7 between Kodai Road and A Vellode is their prime market base and their main customers are not the local people. They come from all corners of India to their farm gate to buy farm fresh grapes.

Multi-colour flex boards describing high quality farm fresh grapes greet these travellers on both sides of the NH-7. Men and women, holding out bunches of fresh grapes in their hands, too signal these customers to stop their speeding vehicles. Dawn-to-dusk is the sale time.

To satisfy such valuable customers, innovative farmers lure them with unimaginably cheaper prices. Customers can get one kg of grapes for Rs.30 a kg, enjoying 33 per cent rebate on prevailing market price. (Grape price at fruits shops in towns is Rs.45 and Rs.50.)

Another major benefit is that customers buy fresh fruits plucked from the farm before their eyes. Shelf life is also high for these fruits. At the same time, farmers register a three-fold profit.

“When we sell it to commission agents, they fix different prices for every plucking. They reduce the price for fruits during second and third plucking. It is hard to get Rs.10 a kg for the best quality. If the production is high, prices will crash to Rs.7 and some times to Rs.6 a kg. With no storage facility, we cannot stock plucked fruits and are forced to sell to agents at a very low price,” says Muthu Pandi of Uthupatti in Nilakottai block. “Now, we pluck fruits on the basis of demand. Post harvest loss is very less. Freight charge is nil,” he adds.

“We sell at least 300 kg a day on weekdays and 400 to 500 kg on weekends,” say many farmers.

This silent revolution is making ripples in that area. Today, many growers have come to the street to boost their income and profit margin. Some progressive farmers even depute farm workers in direct marketing.

At last, grape farmers have become entrepreneurs taking care of marketing on their own. Grape is being cultivated on around 150 to 200 hectares in Dindigul, Nilakottai and Athoor blocks in the district.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> States> Tamil Nadu / by K. Raju / Dindigul, November 06th, 2012

I saw a roof garden amid the concrete jungle!

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

Lakshmi banks on her balcony for most of her kitchen needs. Photo: Special Arrangement
A few days ago, I was on my way to a fruit stall (Pazhamudir) outlet on Venkatakrishna Road, Mandaveli in Chennai. After a minor test in parallel parking on Thiruvengadam street, I got out of the car and looked up at the veritable roof garden across the road…..glossy, green, yet unripe tomatoes and brinjal, graceful snake gourd and was that cauliflower in a garden? I was aghast! Blaming the illusion on Chennai heat, I walked towards my destination. Then, on second thoughts, I traced my path with long strides determined to find out if it was indeed cauliflower in a pot, on a balcony of a small bungalow on the busy streets of Chennai!

I walked up two short flights and rang the bell. The young man who answered the bell, obviously hiding his amusement at my enquiry, called out to his mother. A simple looking middle-aged lady appeared, with a humble smile and introduced herself as Lakshmi. She informed me promptly that they were cabbages. All the same, I conveyed my incredulity at what she had achieved in a little balcony. As she showed me around, I found to my utter surprise, radish, lemon grass, papaya, slender brinjal, bajji milagai (a chilli variety) and many more plants, but all in pots. From the pergola above was suspended a frail looking pandal laden with gundu malli (jasmine), ridge gourd, and betel leaves. Economical and ecofriendly, I was told. Hidden in a corner, I found two large pans with different keerai (greens) varieties. “Supplies my family with enough greens twice a week,” she said casually.

In the course of a conversation interspersed with my oohs and aahs of admiration, Lakshmi informed me that the kitchen garden was the result of a never-give-up attitude developed over 20 years of hard work, frustration, failure and discouragement. She had experimented with different types of soil, containers and watering patterns to arrive at what was the most suitable for her balcony garden. She also procured spill-proof and rodent-proof grow bags from a rural supplier to keep her balcony spic and span. Lakshmi proudly said all the vegetables were organically grown. Vegetable wastes from hotels and fast food joints across the city were composted at a friend’s house outside the city, and this was the main medium. Organic sludge from industries and coconut fibre were recent additions to her inventory. A paste of turmeric and neem leaves keeps pests away. She refrained from adding inorganic fertilizers and growth enhancers to the soil.

A PASSION

Lakshmi gets nearly 75 per cent of her weekly requirement from her balcony and distributes the surplus to her neighbours and friends. She has found her vocation and passion. She now employs a dozen hand-picked and trained gardeners and maintains numerous family and corporately-owned gardens around the city. Now if she is not self-made, who is?

For those who want to give gardening a go, Lakshmi is more than willing to help. Get in touch with her at lakshmisriram@hotmail.com

(The writer’s email ID is suresharuna@rediffmail.com)

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Opinion> Open Page / by Aruna Suresh / November 04th, 2012