CM orders probe against PCCF
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the Principal Secretary of Forest and Environment department Alka Tiwary to probe the allegations made against the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) AK Malhotra. A female Indian Forest Services officer has alleged Malhotra of harassing her. Tiwary has been asked to submit the report at the earliest.
Nandankanan inmates reach Birsa Zoo
Two female hippopotamus, pair of white ibis, grey heron, black heron
and Four Water lizards of Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo as part of the animal exchange programme were brought by Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park’s five member team to this zoo on Sunday. Notably, this animal exchange programme is one of the initial steps of Birsa Zoo for attracting more number of tourists. Since June, the officials had been mulling to begin this animal exchange programme. The expenses incurred for keeping wild animals is shared by both the sending and receiving zoo in equal proportion.
BB Chakrabarti joins as new IIM-R Director
Professor Binay Bhusan Chakrabarti joined as the new Director of Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi (IIM-R) on Sunday. A source informed that he would be leaving Ranchi on Monday due to some prior engagement and settle down finally as the director in a week.
Subroto Mukherjee Football meet concludes
The Under-14 (U-14) and U-17 boy’s state level Subroto Mukherjee football tournament concluded on Sunday. Teams of North Chotanagpur Division bagged the first positions in both the genres. In U-14 St Xavier’s High School Dhanbad defeated St Patrick High School Gumla by 8-7 goals and in U-17 BSl High School Bokaro defeated Brambe High School by 3-0 goals.
15 State Women Achievers felicitated
15 women achievers of Jharkhand from various streams were felicitated by Former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay on Sunday at a function. The list includes eminent women like mountaineer Premlata Agarwal, Athlete Aarzu, Hockey player Bigan Soy, Power lifter Sujata Bhagat and Skin Specialist Dr Saroj.
Cong’s Palamau division conference on Sept 30
Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) will be organizing workers conference for Palamau division in September 30. JPCC President Sukhdeo Bhagat said that the conference is being organized to build a direct communication with the grass root workers of the party.
Ceramic and Tiles Showroom inaugurated
Kajaria, the largest manufacturer of Ceramic and vitrified tiles, is going to open its State of the art Galaxy showroom in Ranchi today. It will be inaugurated by Ashok Kajaria( CMD, Kajaria Ceramics ltd.)
25 Nominations filed for Chamber election
Candidate Suresh Chandra Agarwall along with his team members filed 25 nominations for the coming chamber election at Chamber Bhavan on September 15. Businessmen gathered in huge numbers in support of Agarwal and held a meeting to discuss election campaign policy.
aIJ g IJIJgIJ 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)