Panda hails decision on Modi
Brahmapur: BJP Kissan Morcha national vice-president and former Assembly Deputy Speaker Ram Chandra Panda has hailed the BJP central leadership’s declaration of Narendra Modi as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Panda had campaigned for Modi’s elevation to the national scene since January last year. He said the BJP has no choice except to consider the sentiments and aspirations of the people in the country, adding that the decision is sensible and justifiable. Under Modi’s stewardship, the party would form the next Government at the Centre by acquiring an absolute majority in lok Sabha, Panda added.
Jain Sadhvis visit Nabarangpur
Nabarangpur: Jain Sadhvis Bal Bramahachari, Silpi Devi, Sriya Devi and Sachi Devi from the Vasunandi Sagarji Ashram in Uttar Pradesh visited Nabarangpur on Saturday. Attending a function at the Saraswati Sishu Mandir, the Sadhvis advised the students to develop positive thinking towards life, righteous faith in spirituality and right view in behaviour. On the observance of Anant Chaturdashi, the Sadhvis would stay for four days and teach the Jain lifestyle to people here. Different programmes including cultural shows are scheduled to be held at the Jain temple here, said Sussma Jain.
GKEl bags CSR award
Dhenkanal: The GMR Kamalanga Energy ltd (GKEl) bagged the CSR award at the State Safety Conclave 2013 held here on Friday and Saturday with the theme ‘Safety first, safety always’ by the Institute of Quality and Environmental Management Services, Rotary Club and the Bhubaneswar Heritage with support of the Union Ministry of labour and Employment, State Department of labour and Employees Insurance and the State Disaster Mitigation Authority. GKEl President RV Sheshan received the award from Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of labour and Employment Arun Kumar Sinha.
InIJs iIJIJgIJmen Football Tournament to be organised by Football Association of Odisha from September 22. For further details the interested players can contact to Nita Ambani Football Academy coach Nanda Kishore Patnaik (Ph. No. 9861257517) for the selection.
Somya Rout new physio of India U-16 football team
Bhubaneswar: All India Football Federation has been selected Somya Rout as physio of the National Under-16 football team for the exposure tour of India U-16 team at Dubai and AFC U-16 Championship 2014 (Qualifier) at Kuwait from September 19 to October 1. Rout had already served as the physio of Football Association of Odisha. In 2012 he was the Physio of State senior men football team and participated in the 66th National Senior Men Football Championship for Santosh Trophy held at Cuttack (Odisha). He is currently employed in AIFF Regional Academy at Kolkota. FAO secretary Sanjay Behera wished Somya Rout for this prestigious assignment.
eabIJIJgIJe and nitrogen oxides. The increasing demand for energy to run air conditioning and electrical appliances is also contributing to pollution. These emissions lead to global warming, which can cause destruction of the ozone layer and climate change.
Transport policy, planning and land use policy are fundamentally linked. The pattern and density of urban development has a major influence on travel patterns. Sustainable city planning should aim at achieving social and environmental equity while improving the lives of the people. For that to happen, we need to have a sustainable city form as well as provision and proper management of the services. Thus, in order for a city or urban area to be sustainable it needs to produce and manage basic services like water, waste, energy and transportation in a way that it conforms to the principles of sustainable development. In other words, the city should be able to produce and distribute the services in an economic, environment-friendly and equitable way.
While planning for sustainable development of the towns, we should also take into account the factor of climate change. Planning looks at the needs of people and the environment whilst respecting limits to development. Urban planning must recognise regional limits to development in order to maintain natural habitats and biodiversity, which is so important to our continued existence. Broad landscape conservation is necessary to maintain ecosystem function and biodiversity, but there is also a great opportunity for sensitive redevelopment of many previously-developed areas. Urban design facilitates individual building lots to maximise winter sun penetration, minimise excessive summer heat gain and the design and construction of dwellings that are designed with passive solar design principles.
The rapid demographic growth in and around Indian cities is changing the physical dimensions of its cities, that is, the size, shape, density, land uses, spatial structure and building types. Increased urban development puts intense pressure on existing urban infrastructure to support a good quality of life. Rapid urban growth often manifests itself as overcrowded and very high-density urban forms, claimed to contribute to crime, physical and mental illness and poor living conditions. Such urban forms are, therefore, generally considered to be socially, environmentally and economically unsustainable.
Sustainable urban development is an integral component of the universal aim of “Sustainable Development”. If properly designed, constructed and operated, a sustainable city and sustainable building will require less money and fewer resources to operate, and will be healthier for its occupants. Buildings are “sustainable” when they are designed, built and operated with low environmental, social, and economic impacts while enhancing the health, welfare and quality of life of the people.
For sustainable urban development, a number of urban programmes have been initiated by Government of India. Recent urban initiatives of the Government of India include Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), e-Governance in Municipalities, National Urban Sanitation Policy, Citywide Slum Upgradation Programme, setting up of Centres of Excellence in Urban Development, Sustainable Habitat Mission - Green Building, public transportation and solid waste management.
Recognising the importance of urbanisation and its vulnerability from climate change, the National Action Plan on Climate Change had proposed setting up of a National Sustainable Habitat Mission. The mission looks at developing standardised eco-building norms to promote energy efficiency, improved urban planning by integrating land use and transportation plans and focus on shift towards public transport to facilitate growth of cities, promoting sustainable waste management focusing on reduce-recycle-reuse and waste-to-energy options.
India became a party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer and has ratified all the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, provide a comprehensive set of regulations to control and monitor production and use of ozone depleting substances (ODS) in India.
Besides, there are a number of practical measures which can be taken at individual level to protect the nature earth. Everyone should be responsible for the use and abuse of certain products that have a negative effect on nature. There are many simple ways in which we can save our ozone layer. We should use alternative means of transport: buses, bicycles, or simply walk.
To protect the ozone layer, we must prevent the release of ozone-depleting substances to the atmosphere. Whenever possible, we must also replace them with safer alternatives. Before demanding implementation of policies, let’s begin ourselves doing something to protect the ozone layer and save our environment.
(Dr Mayarani Praharaj works at the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)