gem

1. E-Newsletter-7/7
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
How Pope Francis inspired a Thailand parish to plant
800 trees
CAN news
Bangkok, Thailand, Jun 8, 2016 / 12:36 am (CNA).- Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical on
caring for creation, and concerned by environmental threats around them, Catholic parishioners
in Thailand are planting hundreds of new trees. “Pope Francis has enlightened us and appealed
to us in his encyclical ‘Laudato Sì’ for collective action and bold cultural revolution to tackle
environmental issues,” said Father Daniel Khuan Thinwan. “As pastors it’s our responsibility to
take these teachings to the peripheries so that the faithful can find their true meaning in
practice,” he told CNA June 6.
The priest is from Mount Carmel Church in Paphanawan in the Diocese of Thare and Nonseng in
the far northeastern region of Thailand. The parish community’s reforestation program planted
800 saplings to celebrate World Environment Day, held on June 5. “Pope Francis has touched
the key points of the environment, which has been a universal reality and especially in the local
area a challenge,” Fr. Daniel said. “The question is: how to put these teachings into reality?”
The Thai priest said that environmental and climate change discussions had been mainly
confined to scientists, activists, universities, and others engaged in politics and economics. Pope
Francis has opened a new dimension on the issues and brought a broader perspective, engaging
the question with the eyes of spirituality and faith, he added.
For the reforestation program, families helped grow plant saplings and brought them to the
church. After Sunday Mass, young and old began digging and planting the saplings to help
replenish the forest and bring greener plant life to the hills. The monsoon season is gradually
picking up its pace, and the rains will naturally help the plants to grow. The trees will help
contain air pollution, prevent soil erosion and maintain soil fertility. They will also give new life

2. to wild flora and shelter to animals and birds. The trees will help bring rain and maintain
temperature and ground water level in the area. Fr. Daniel said the effort is “a small step which
will help to make an impact on climate change for a better world.” “We need to tackle these
issues and challenges before it too late to save our planet, our ‘common home’.”
The priest said that the parish catechesis on “Laudato Si” motivated the community. There are
also environmental problems in the region, including acute water scarcity. Thailand is suffering
its worst drought in the last 20 years. The water level in the river basins, dams and reservoirs is
very low, at 10 percent. This has adversely affected the farmers in many regions. In addition to
water scarcity and deforestation, the environmental issues facing the country include pollution
and decline in wildlife population.
The government has adopted several measures to combat the drought-plagued areas. It has also
forged a global alliance with other countries to reduce carbon emissions and energy
consumption. Thailand has ranked in the top 30 carbon dioxide emitters in the world and is a
significant carbon emitter in in the East Asia and Pacific region.
JOGESHWARI ‘BEST TREE CONTEST’
The Infant Jesus Church and School and GEM E-NEWSLETTER
had organised a BEST TREE CONTEST. More than 250 school
students, including some parishioners took part in this contest.
For further details on BEST TREE CONTEST visit –
www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in go to GEM PPT section.
For photographs of students planting the saplings in their
respective localities click
https://www.facebook.com/gem.enewsletter
GREEN COMPETITION FOR SCHOOLS 2016
Courtesy: AOE Newsletter

3. On the occasion of the first Laudato Si’ Anniversary, the Institute for Community Organisation
Research and the Archdiocesan Office for Environment (AOE), Mumbai will be awarding the
greenest school which registers for this competition. All participating schools may avail for free
the consultancy services of ICOR-AOE for their greening activities. For further details kindly
contact AOE at 022- 29270953/29270523 or email:
bombaydioceseenvironmentoffice@gmail.com. The scheme of the competition and registration
form is available for download at: mumbaiaoe.webs.com.
Criteria for greening include:
Environmental education
Green team/ club
Resource optimisation: Energy, Water, Materials
Waste minimisation and management
Green purchasing
Promoting sustainable lifestyles
Conducting low-impact events
Landscape and ecology management
Community initiatives, etc.
Last date for registration: August 1, 2016
A unique initiative by a village in waste disposal
Courtesy: The Hindu
At a time when some parts of Palakkad municipality are under the threat of getting affected by
various epidemics due to piling up of garbage, village Edatheruvu stands out due to a unique

4. citizen initiative aimed at collection, segregation and scientific disposal of the waste from as
many as 160 households. The village, which started the initiative five years ago, started a waste
collection centre on Sunday where daily collection would happen under the supervision of
representatives of families in the village.
While rotting garbage would be handed over to the municipality after collection, solid waste
would be segregated and disposed off in a scientific manner. Used newspapers, empty bottles
and other solid waste with commercial value would be sold to get funds for the activities. An
organic vegetable farm and a processing centre for garbage would soon function close to the
collection centre and they would solve its dependency upon the municipality to dispose of
rotting garbage. Bio-manures to be made at the treating plant would be used to promote
agricultural activities in the village.
“The collection centre is a realization of a long pending dream of ours. Last five years, we
collected solid waste once a week from households. Keeping solid waste at home for a week
started causing difficulty to the people here. So we thought of the daily collection centre apart
from a processing unit and organic vegetable cultivation. Two vacant plots extending over 54
cents in the village were used to initiate the project with the consent of owners of respective
lands,’’ said K. C. Radhakrishnan, a senior police officer, who initiated the move.
There would be separate collection facilities for plastic, paper and metal in the collection centre
Mr Radhakrishnan said the move was part of a self-reliant village initiative that would grow its
own required vegetables apart from ensuring cent percent waste management without
involvement of governmental agencies. About Rs. 2 lakh was mobilized from the residents to
build the collection centre.
This Residential Community Saved a Lake,
Recharged Groundwater and Is Planting 1000
Trees Every Year
Courtesy: Better India Portal, by Ranjini Sivaswamy
Volunteers from the layout got together every week. They cleaned the lake, de-weeded it and
fenced it.
Akshaya Nagara is a rather unassuming residential layout in Bangalore. It did not even fall
under the Bengaluru metropolitan civic body, BBMP, until recently. This means it did not receive

5. any of the public facilities like water supply, sewage drain pipes or garbage collection service
that other residential areas receive. Even today, Akshaya Nagara is not a beneficiary of the
centralised Cauvery water supply and is solely dependent on bore wells. However, the residents
of Akshaya Nagara decided not to lament about these issues or wait for the authorities to solve
their problems. They took it upon themselves to find sustainable solutions and create an
enviable living environment for themselves. It was over a decade ago that the ground work for
the development of Akshaya Nagara began.
The layout had a rare blessing – a lake. But it could not really be called a blessing then.
Although the lake has historical relevance from the times of Begur royalty and is located at the
heart of the layout, it was filthy because all the sewage water from the layout used to flow into it.
It was also a spot for open defecation. In fact, the stench, filth and overgrown weeds made the
lake and its surroundings so unbearable that it was on the verge of being abandoned. But the
scenario was totally reversed by the dedicated work of the residents of Akshaya Nagara.
The first aim was to stop all sewage from getting dumped into the lake. Since Akshaya Nagara
was not part of BBMP, it was not eligible for any funds from the civic body. The residents
decided to build the sewage drains by themselves. Every house contributed towards the fund
and the job was begun. The local MLA could not help but notice the dedication of these
residents and decided to help them with the funds. After this big achievement, the residents
went on to the next pressing issue – water supply. The layout’s water supply depends entirely
on bore wells. Ramesh Kumar and his team were convinced that the underground water
reserves need to be replenished constantly. They started building storm water drains to
channelise the water into the lake. They also dug up over 60 rain water pits near the layout,
specially layered using charcoal and sand, so that the rain water percolated into the ground.
Over the last decade, the population of Akshaya Nagara increased and maintaining the lake
became difficult. The lake again attracted weeds, debris, garbage and, of course, open
defecation.
Last year, a few youngsters saw a lone old man clearing a dirty patch of land near the Akshaya
Nagara lake. It was Ramesh Kumar. Curious as to what he was doing and why, they started to
talk to him. He told them, “I want to save this lake.” The youngsters were so inspired by his
dedication that they decided to start efforts anew to revive the water body.
They levelled the land around the lake to make a beautiful walking path. They said no to
concrete blocks for the path and decided to keep the natural mud trail. They planted saplings all
along the lakeside and installed benches for people to sit on. As a result of their hard work, the
area has been completely transformed.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting at Chhattisgarh school
reduces absenteeism
Authored By :Makarand Purohit
Posted By : makarandpurohit
Posted Date : Mon, 2015-11-02 13:00
The film “Rainwater Harvesting: From books to fields”, showcases how rooftop rainwater harvesting can
also bring about social and economic change.
Chhattisgarh ranked number 1 in the country for providing domestic water connections in 2014-15 under
the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Despite this, the government has failed to
provide safe and clean drinking water to many who are still affected by fluoride, arsenic and iron

6. contamination. 17 out of 27 districts, which includes 592 villages, show fluorosis as one of the major
public health problems. 1700 government schools in Chhattisgarh don't even have basic water facilities in
Rainwater harvesting tank
the villages, which is ironic given that "Chhattisgarh receives an average rainfall of 1200 mm, but does
not harvest even 10 percent of the rooftop water for drinking purposes", says Paras Yadav, a trained
hydrologist working with Samerth, an NGO working on water and other social issues in the state.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is the technique through which rainwater is captured from the roof and
stored for use later. Harvested rainwater can be storedin sub-surface groundwater reservoirs or in storage
tanks.
Advantages of using rooftop rainwater harvesting
 Provides self-sufficiencyto water supply.
 Reduces the cost of pumping groundwater.
 Provides high-quality water that is soft and low in minerals.
 Improves the quality of groundwater through dilution when recharged to the ground.
 Reduces soil erosion in urban and rural areas.
 Is a cost-effective and simple technique.
 RWH structures easy to construct, operate and maintain.
 In saline or coastal areas rainwater provides good quality water, and when recharged to the ground,
it reduces salinity and also helps in maintaining the balance between the fresh-saline water
interface.
 In Islands, due to the limited extent of freshwater aquifers, rainwater harvesting is the most
preferred source of water for domestic use.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting in Chhattisgarh
A rooftoprainwater harvesting model was constructed by Samerth at Madiya Kachar village in Bilaspur
district to combat the contaminated water that the community, which was predominantly the Baiga tribe,
had access to. The model structure had a capacity of 66,000 litres and was set up at the primary school
building at Madiya Kachar. The school was chosen for the following reasons:
 It had a flat roof that could capture maximum rainwater.
 The number of school going children at Madiya Kachar was higher than those at nearby schools.
 Iron contamination was highest in the village.
 The dropout rate of school going children was rising rapidly due to the non-availability of drinking
water within the school premises.
 The drinking water source was 1km away from the school building.

7. A village committee was formed and the school and Aanganwadi staff were trained in order to maintain
and monitor this rainwater harvesting structure. "Implementation of rooftoprainwater harvesting at the
household level is not possible right now in rural areas because most of the houses at Madiya Kachar have
earthen roofing tiles that require high maintenance and monitoring", says Suvigya Pathak, Senior
Programme Coordinator, Samert, Chhattisgarh. The villagers now have access to clean and safe drinking
water, and are also not dealing as much with scarcity. Neighbouring villages are trying to replicate this
model due to it being sustainable.
The film “Rainwater Harvesting: From books to field”, provides an overview of how rooftop rainwater
harvesting when implemented properly can also bring about social and economic change.
SAVE THE MANGROVES – Construction debris
destroying Navi Mum mangroves: Activists
BB Nayak, toi
Navi Mumbai : The wetland and mangroves stretch at Roadpali along Taloja creek are under
threat from dumping of debris and encroachment by an illegal shop, claimed activists. Recently ,
truckloads of construction debris was dumped at the mouth of the Taloja MIDC Link Road that
connects to Sion-Panvel highway , they said, adding that an illegal shop too has come up on the
road. The area is very close to the creek line and a stone's throw away from the proposed Navi
Mumbai international airport. “The mangrove stretch will be depleted soon if dumping activity
continues along the creek. Now, there's one shop here, a few days later, many such shops will
come up,“ said Sukumar Killedar, founder of Save Mangrove and Navi Mumbai Existence.
The area is known to attract mi gratory birds. “With construction activities and rampant debris
dumping, the number of migratory birds has dwindled,“ said a nature lover, Mahesh Sharma.
On the one hand, Cidco has started planting mangroves to compensate the marine green patch
that will be damaged to pave way for the airport project in the neighbouring Kamothe area while
on the other hand, residents allege that dumping activities are going on brazenly and Cidco has
failed to prevent the damage. “Debris continues to be dumped along the Roadpali mangrove
stretch, killing mangroves and reclaiming the wetland along Taloja creek. The creek shore has
been encroached upon by roadside shops.The latest encroachment, adjoining Sion-Panvel road,
will soon grow if action is delayed by Cidco. Nobody seems to be bothered about preserving
ecosystem,“ said Rajesh Poojary , an environmentalist.

8. “Our executive engineer has been instructed to complete a final survey of the creek line as a plan
is being readied to erect fencing along the stretch to prevent such encroachments,“ said Kiran
Phanse, superintending engineer of Cidco and Kamothe-Kalamboli administrator.
Environment minister bats for Dahisar river
Shot in arm | Ramdas Kadam asks BMC to prepare proposal for resolving
crucial issues faced by the waterbody within 3 mnths
Virat A Singh virat.singh@dnaindia.net
In what can be a shot in the arm for activists fighting for the revival of Dahisar river, environment minster
Ramdas Kadam has warned BMC to prepare proposal for resolving three crucial issues faced by the
river within three months or face suspension. It was during a meeting at Mantralaya last week where
Kadam praising the work of River March — a citizen led initiative that has been working on the ground
demanding rejuvenation of Dahisar — asked BMC to take the matter of Dahisar river at priority. “For the
past three years we have been campaigning to get this river, which originates inside Sanjay Gandhi
National Park (SGNP), revived as the river once it leaves the forest area resembles a sewer. While we
have been having river walks and even clean up drives, recently our local MLA Prakash Surve met us and
fixed a meeting with Kadam,” shared Suresh Lala member of River March.
According to Lala, after the initial meeting, the environment minister called for a detailed meeting last
Monday where several BMC officials as well as mayor and deputy mayor were present along with Sena
MLA Surve. Gopal Jhaveri, another member of River March, said they explained Kadam as well as the
BMC officials present during the meeting that the three major issues plaguing Dahisar river as soon as the
river left the forest were Dhobi Ghat, Sewerage entering the river at Kulupwadi and the Tabela on the
Western Express Highway that was directly releasing all the waste directly into the river.
“Under River March and with consultation with experts as well as Rajendra Singh, who is regarded as
Waterman of India we have been asking BMC to begin revival of Dahisar river by resolving these three
issues. There should be a waste water treatment plant at Dhobi Ghat as we do not want the washermen to
be evicted from the place along with it the there should be treatment of sewage water coming from
Kulupwadi and Devipada and Daulat Nagar before it enters the river,” said Jhaveri, adding that apart from
this it was BMC’s job to ensure that no solid waste from Tabela should be released directly into the river.
Speaking to dna, Surve said that the environment minister had assured full support of his ministry for the
work of getting the river restoredto its original glory and had even warned BMC officials that they might
have to face suspension if they delay the work further.
“BMC officials have been asked to study three issues and prepare proposals accordingly within three
monthsand environment minster even told BMC officials that funds will be sanctioned for the same,” said
Surve. If sources are to be believed, the Dahisar river revival project has been a bone of contention
between the Sena and BJP. It was during October 2015 that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced

9. funds of Rs150 crore had left local Sena councillors and leaders upset as they alleged that it were they
who were working on this issue for several years.
Bad tidings for Mumbai's seafacing bungalows
Aditi Saxena, ET
Author Amitav Ghosh portends calamity for Mumbai's coast-hugging homes as an
outcome of climate change
What is common between Mumbai's coastline and Miami beach? Writer Amitav Ghosh says
both are likely areas to be worst affected by climate change. “When you look at the Mumbai
coastline, you see these beautiful homes. I look at them and think these homes are profoundly
in danger,“ says Ghosh, who was recently in Mumbai to launch his new book on climate change.
He was in conversation with columnist Anil Dharker.
“Climate change is here. We are experiencing it already. 26/07 (the July 2005 floods) was an
apocalyptic event. The world is no longer a predictable bourgeois world,“ he says. According to
Ghosh, the association of the idea of freedom with images of “a person in a convertible, wind
blowing in the hair,“ has caused irreparable damage to climate patterns in the world. “The
frontier of the problem is culture. Fundamentally, it's the cultural consumption that we have to
address,“ he says. While climate change will invariably affect other Indian cities adversely too, it
is Mumbai's geographical location that positions it uniquely in danger's way.“It (Mumbai) is this
thin finger of land stretching into the sea,“ says Ghosh. “When a storm comes, it will hit Mumbai
directly. It will be monumental in size. It will come from both sides and Mumbai will be blanketed
by it,“ he says.
Ghosh has more words of doom: the fact that the city lacks a cogent and viable evacuation plan.
“If you try thinking of evacuating only South Mumbai's population, there are 11 million people
and two narrow roads that will submerge later,“ he says. In the face of disaster, that picture
should pretty much put the brakes on anyone imagining a quick getaway, in a swank
convertible, wind blowing in the hair.
Mumbai: Aarey metro carshed: Project will lead to loss of
historical remains, artefact, say archaeologists
Courtesy:IE
A team of archaeologists, who have recently conducted a survey of Mumbai, said the Aarey metro
carshed project could lead to the loss of a considerable amount of historical data. The archaeologists have
found various structural remains and artefact in Aarey Colony that date back to the rule of the Shilahara
dynasty between 750-1010 AD. The findings of the study, which is a part of an archaeological exploration
project by the Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS), the Centre for Archaeology, University of
Mumbai and the Sathaye College, was unveiled at a seminar Saturday at the university’s Kalina campus.

10. While revealing the findings of the team, Vinayak Parab, who led the team of six, said, “We have
discovered several structural remains from the area which are now being worshipped as local deities or
The team had, for over a year now, been scouting for relics and artefact in Mulund, Bhandup, Nahur,
Vidyavihar, Sion and Kurla.
Gaondevis. A study of these findings will give us valuable information about the history of Mumbai
during the Shilahara period.”
The team had, for over a year now, been scouting for relics and artefact in Mulund, Bhandup, Nahur,
Vidyavihar, Sion and Kurla. “Within Aarey, we could survey only seven padas owing to the paucity of
time,” said Parab. These include Ultanpada, Bangoda, Maroshipada, Mataipada, Khambachapada,
Charandevpada and Keltipada. “But we must admit that a considerable part of our findings came from
Aarey,” said Parab, adding that more such temple remnants and relics can be found in the area.
“Aarey’s proximity to Marol, which became the capital of the Shilahara kingdom after Mahim, makes it a
place of historical importance,” he said.
According to Parab, there are many archaeological remains behind the Ganpati temple between Aarey and
Marol as well. However, if the metro car shed for the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro III, as planned by the
state government, comes up in Aarey, the historical data could be lost to construction and development.
“We will urge the government to not take up the project until an exhaustive archaeological survey of the
area is done,” he said.
When asked how much time such a survey would take, he said, “It depends on the dedication and the
number of people in the team. If the government takes up a survey, with sufficient number of people, the
work could be done in two months.”
The team will soon write to the government about the historical importance of the area. Mugdha Karnik,
director, CEMS, said, “We will write to the state government about the findings of the team and apprise
them of the importance of Aarey. There is a lot of scope for further study in the area.”
The environmentalists, too, have opposed the project claiming it will affect the biodiversity of the area.
priyanka.sahoo@expressindia.com
Public open spaces will increase: CM

11. Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the assembly on Tuesday that public open
spaces will increase in the draft development plan 2014-2034 (DP) even though construction
will be allowed in No Development Zones (NDZ). “There is 25% reservation for public open
spaces within the NDZ,“ Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis pointed out that 3,000 hectares of NDZ land is to be unlocked for development under
the draft DP . Of this, 25% has been reserved for public open spaces, 8% for institutions, 8% for
public amenities, 25% for affordable housing and 34% for development by land-owners.
Responding to concerns raised by Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil about landmarks
not being shown in the draft DP, Fadnavis said that the DP will reflect the type of use of the land.
BJP leader Ashish Shelar demanded that discussions of the planning committee be videotaped.
However, Fadnavis said such instructions could not be given to the BMC. Instead, he would
write to BMC to maintain transparency and that this information should be made available
under the RTI.
Fadnavis also shot down demands that BMC maintain public open spaces. “The BMC is
overburdened. As long as there is no profit being made and users are not charged, private bodies
can come forward to look after public open spaces,“ he said.
NGO convener leads agitation to protest Gorai-Uttan
tourism hub
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
By Suresh Golani
To protest the government’s determined move to wipe out the last natural frontier in Mumbai and
its outskirts by imposing the recreation and tourism zone (RTDZ) in the Gorai-Manori-Uttan belt,
a massive protest agitation was held in the notified areason Sunday.
Noted social crusaders, including convener of the NGO Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Ulka Mahajan,
who spearheaded the protest agitation said, “Turning a blind eye towards the thousands of
objections filed by the villagers, the development plan mooted by the MMRDA is not only
unjustified but an anti-democratic ploy to grab our land through the backdoor, under the garb of
development. We are capable of protecting our ancestral land and will fight till the end, and not
surrender to the evil designs.”
Taking a dig at the NDA government, Mahajan said, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (Everyone’s
support, Development for all) and Achhe Din was their stereotype sloganeering during the
election period; now where has the good days gone? While rising inflation has taken a toll on the
common man, they (government) are now busy in trading our land and sea to pamper the rich.”
Holding placards and shouting slogans against the administration, thousands of villagers from
the coastal belt squatted on streets to vent their ire in protest of the proposed tourism zone.
Fearing that the plans to develop their age-old villages into a tourism hub will endanger the
environment and pose a threat to their livelihood, the villagers have rolled up their sleeves to

12. pose stiff resistance to the RTDZ mooted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA). The plan will affect villages including Manori, Gorai (under BMC
jurisdiction), Uttan, Pali, Chowk, Tarodi and parts of Morva which come under the purview of the
Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC).
About the Tourism Plan
Approved almost entirely as it was proposed despite several objections to it, the Development
Plan for the Gorai-Manori-Uttan coastal belt aimed to boost tourism moots new road links,
widening of existing roads, junction improvement, hiking trails, mangrove parks/boardwalks,
public parking lots, bus depots, open spaces, tourist centers and social amenities such as
schools and hospitals.
Citizens protest against Mumbai’s flawed development plan
Jul 19, 2016, 1:59 PM IST | Source : Magicbricks Now
Mumbai rose in protest at the Azad Maidan on Monday (July 18) against the civic body, BMC. Over 2000
people braved heavy rains and gathered to protest missing churches and mosques on the BMC map and
proposal to build on no development zones among other shortcomings in the proposed development plan
for the city. This plan lays out a blueprint for the city's development till 2034. Citizens claimed that
despite the fourth attempt, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has got the plan wrong once
again. Miffed citizens demanded the civic chief Ajoy Mehta’s resignation.
Citizens demanded scrapping of the Mumbai development plan as they believed religious institutions are
not shown in correct perspective. Despite lodging complaint in the previous year, citizens complained of
wrong marking of Mahim dargah as an orphanage. The outraged citizens complained that the livelihood
of the Koli community, which is considered as the original settlers on Mumbai, would be destroyed with
the construction of the Mumbai Coastal Road.
Citizens ask the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint a better committee for
citizens’ grievances and complaints.
NGT slaps Rs 10 lakh fine on NBCC
PTI | Jul 26, 2016, 07.32 PM IST

13. New Delhi, Jul 26 : The National Green Tribunal today cracked the whip on state-run National Buildings
Construction Corporation (NBCC) for causing air pollution and environmental degradation while carrying
out redevelopment of East Kidwai Nagarin southwest Delhi. The green panel slammed NBCC and its
officers for release of pollutants into ambient air while carrying out construction work and causing
"nuisance" on the roads in the sensitive area where two biggest hospitals -- All India Institute of Medical
Sciences and Safdarjung hospital are located.
"It is evident that NBCC and its officers have failed to take appropriate precautionary measures and steps,
thus, violating the 'Precautionary Principle'. Further, they have committed repeated violation and defaults
of the orders of the Tribunal, thus, rendering themselves liable for payment of environmental
compensation in terms of Section 15 and 16 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 on the principle of
'Polluter Pays'.
"NBCC is held liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs 10 lakhs for the persistent defaults and
violations of the rules and directions issued by the Tribunal," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson
Justice Swatanter Kumar said while directing the company to deposit the amount within two weeks.
The tribunal made it clear that the amount would be paid to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee which
shall use it for restoration of environment in the adjoining areas. "It is expected of such a company to
maintain higher standards of social corporate responsibility rather than be instrumental in causing air
pollution and health hazards.
"NBCC is hereby warned that in the event of any default in future, the Tribunal would be compelled to
direct penal action against the company and its officers responsible for its business in terms of the
provisions of the NGT Act, 2010, besides other actions in accordance with law," the bench said.
The directions came while hearing a plea by South Delhi resident K S Gahunia who has alleged that
NBCC, the project proponent, in the garb of redevelopment is destroying roads and "illegally" erecting
barricades on the roads. PKS SC
Hyderabad: Pollutants in Musi rise, river becomes
sewage
DECCAN CHRONICLE. | V NILESH
PublishedJul 25, 2016, 2:00 am IST
Hyderabad: Despite several attempts by various governments, the river Musi, which cuts across
Hyderabad, continues to be one of the most polluted rivers in the country. The river, which once
upon had clean water, receives nearly 645 million litres per day of sewage water. According to a
study, the Musi is the eighth most polluted river. The Musi, which is a tributary of the river
Krishna, is sarcastically referred to as the city’s sewage drain because most of 1,300 million
litres day sew-age generated by Hyderabad ends up there. However, it seems they did not get
to see the high levels of pollution in Musi river which cuts through Hyderabad and in
Hussainsagar.

14. As per data obtained from Telangana State Pollution Control Board, main indicators of water
quality — the values of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and total
dissolved solids — have not changed for the Musi since 2007 and in some cases have
increased drastically. The pollution board monitors water quality at nine points along the Musi
river. High TDS indicates the presence of sewage water and untreated industrial effluents in the
water.
While the BOD figures have doubled, COD has more than tripled. The value of total coliforms is
almost the same. The only relief is that compared to figures from 2011-14, only the BOD value
has decreased. An official from TSPCB said, “Mixing of sewage is a major issue. It should be
controlled to improve the water quality. Industrial effluents are also a problem but they just form
a small percentage of the pollutants, which get mixed directly into Musi. people should would
towards this the individually if they want to restore the Musi to the old glory.”
4 Reasons Why Pune Scores in Waste
Management
Sucheta Dalal
All of India’s metropolises are grappling with problems of pollution, poor air quality, no sewage
treatment and inadequate solid waste disposal. We ignore the issues until they suddenly erupt in
the form of frequent fires at overused dumping grounds (Mumbai), lakes frothing with toxic foam
that hit the streets or mass death of fish (Bengaluru), cities being flooded (Chennai) or having to
resort to extreme traffic restraints (Delhi). Most of this is a result of economic prosperity and
soaring land values which have led to indiscriminate infrastructure building by openly flouting
rules or even no serious rule-making. Growing prosperity also means a sharp spike in waste
generation by individual families.
The entire gamut of these issues is high on the agenda of prime minister Narendra Modi’s in
various forms—the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Clean Ganga project, or the drive to build
toilets or plan to build smart cities with well-planned infrastructure. The task is humungous and
needs change at the local level where multiple political equations and entrenched corruption
comes into play. But some cities have managed to beat the problem, while the bigger ones
struggle. Let’s consider just one example.
While it may not rank among India’s cleanest cities as yet, Pune, which is now a part of the PM’s
Smart Cities initiative, has made big strides in improving its solid waste management problems,

15. in recent years. The success of the ‘Pune model’ of solid waste management (SWM) is often
discussed by Mumbai activists and concerned citizens. On 9th July, a dozen-odd activists,
engineers, journalists and concerned citizens visited Pune (a self-paid, independent trip) to
figure out why it is doing better than Mumbai. The visit included an overview of Pune Municipal
Corporation’s (PMC’s) activities and a visit to Noble Exchange Environment Solutions Pvt Ltd
(NEX) which converts bulk food waste into bio-fuel that will soon power Pune’s public transport
buses, in a shining example of converting waste to wealth. What we found is an effort to reduce
the waste going to landfills and greenhouse gas emission that needs to be expanded and
amplified in cities across the country, with some fine-tuning for local characteristics. What has
triggered the push for better SWM is also important; but is not the subject of this column.
Here are four things that seem to be working in Pune where the integrated SWM effort has
ensured high (50%-55%) segregation at source in a city that generates 1600-1700mtd (metric
tonnes a day) of waste every day.
1] Right Man for the Job: Committed and dynamic individuals drive change. In Pune, joint
municipal commissioner, Suresh Jagtap is the driving force and seems totally committed to the
4Rs (reduction, reuse, recycle and recover) of sustainable development. Concerned Punekars
acknowledge that there is genuine ‘stakeholder engagement’ and accountability that extends
from rag-pickers’ collectives, to NGOs, citizens’ groups, educational institution and elected
corporators. This is through increased transparency and a third-party audit by three educational
institutions who produce a well publicised colour-coded monthly scorecard on how each
corporator’s constituency has fared on the SWM front.
2]Multiple Solutions: PMC has combined an integrated approach with a decentralised waste
management strategy that encourages NGOs and private sector participation. It has 25
decentralised bio-methane plants which produce 600kw of electricity and compost; the 300tpd
NEX plant that converts food waste to bio-CNG, 300TPB (total plumbum) vermi-compost and
compost projects (Ajinkya Biofert and Disha), and the Rochem Separation Systems which
processes mixed waste to produce 300tpd producing RDF (refuse derived fuel). It also has 13
smaller composting plants. Townships such as the unique Magarpatta City in Pune also take
pride in being near-zero garbage as just a part of its focus on eco-sustainability. Key to efficient
waste sorting and collection are large organisations such as SWACH (Solid Waste Handlers and
Collectors’ Society), at the ground level.
3] Incentives & Fees: Segregation of waste has been made mandatory for all residents with the
levy of user charges. At the same time, there is a 5% tax rebate for those who have onsite
waste disposal facilities. PMC makes it a point to highlight and celebrate those who adopt
innovative solutions and practices in SWM and sanitation, through awards and recognition.
4] Public-private Partnership: Part of Pune’s success in waste management is its ability to
persuade, and work with, private CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives such as the
Adar Poonawalla Clean City Movement (APCCM) which pledged Rs100 crore to the city’s waste
management efforts. The NEX project, including the land, is fully funded by APCCM; in addition,
it has contributed to awareness building, welfare measures for grassroots workers and providing
litterbins and mechanised cleaning at specific public spots. The model is working well so far; the
process of recycling waste to recover energy is complete.
For Pune, India’s eighth largest city, the challenge now is to prevent slippages in standards
already set and to work on plans for efficient disposal of electronic waste, biomedical waste,
construction waste and sanitary hygiene products more effectively. Its achievements are best
seen in contrast with more resourceful Mumbai which has yet to come up with a sensible plan to
reduce garbage and litter in public spaces, enforce segregation at the household level, or even

16. act on easy-to-do bits like collection and reduction of bulk food waste, let alone biomedical and
e-waste.
Pune is on track to become a smart city while Mumbai has come up with a 20-year development
plan which is full of shocking holes, despite two iterations.
While Pune is involved in a scientific closure and beautification of its 30-hectare dumping site at
Urali Devachi, Mumbai has yet to find a solution to repeated fires at the 132 hectares of
dumping ground at Deonar where 6,550 metric tonnes of unsegregated garbage, silt and bio-
medical waste are dumped every day. Pune’s DBOT (develop build operate and transfer)
project, NEX, started producing 45tpd of bio-CNG and 150 tonnes of organic manure at its
Talegaon plant, based on the anaerobic digestion system in exactly 11 months after it was
awarded the contract. The municipal corporation’s responsibility was to ensure collection of food
waste from bulk producers such as hotels and markets and to provide 15,000 sq ft of space for
the first-stage sorting, segregation and making a slurry. The actual processing is done at the 5-
acreTalegaon plant owned by NEX and Pune’s municipal buses will soon use the fuel
generated.
In contrast, Mumbai’s second ‘scientific’ dumping ground at Kanjurmarg (67 acres) has provided
land to a contractor free of charge, but has yet to convert methane into electricity and has been
mired in litigation and controversy, for over a decade. Operating in the same political
environment, with the municipal corporation controlled by an opposition party, Pune seems to
have found a way to get past political issues through greater transparency. Mumbai, which has
an ally of the ruling party controlling the municipal corporation, cannot usher in even basic
transparency in handing out contracts to tackle issues such as waste management or potholed
roads which can bring cities to a standstill, and destroy years of development in a natural
calamity.
PMC is controlled by National Congress Party which is not exactly known for delivering great
governance. On the other hand, governance, cleanliness, smart cities are among the biggest
promises of PM Narendra Modi. Maybe the prime minister’s office can push other cities to learn
from Pune’s success on the SWM front and implement the model in a time-bound manner.
`Climate change may kill 2.5 lakh more a yr by '30'
Sushmi Dey
India May Contribute Significantly To Toll: WHO
Climate change is likely to kill 2,50,000 more people each year by 2030, latest assessment by
the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows. Most of these deaths will be caused from malaria,
diarrhoeal disease, heat stress and malnutrition. India, already having a high burden of these
diseases, is expected to contribute significantly to these deaths globally . A separate study

17. conducted by the University of Oxford, which was published in the international medical journal
Lancet earlier this year, projected 130,000 deaths in India from climate change in 2050.
The heaviest burden of such diseases due to climate change will fall on children, women, elderly
and the poor, further widening health inequalities between and within populations. It asked
countries including India to spend more to protect health from risks linked to climate, such as
extreme weather events and outbreaks of infectious disease, and in cleaner energy sources.
The UN agency had set up the agenda and proposed key actions for its implementation during
its recent Paris meet. The WHO estimates that climate change is already causing tens of
thousands of deaths every year. These deaths arise from more frequent epidemics of diseases
like cholera, the vastly expanded geographical distribution of diseases like dengue, and from
extreme weather events, like heat waves and floods.
At the same time, nearly 7 million people each year die from diseases caused by air pollution,
such as lung cancer and stroke.More than half of these air pollution related deaths are being
reported from China and India. India alone contributes 1.59 million deaths to this dismal statistic.
Climatic conditions intensely affect water-borne diseases and diseases transmitted through
insects etc. According to WHO's assessment, in the next 15 years, heat exposure will cause
around 38,000 deaths, whereas 48,000 deaths due to diarrhoea, 60,000 due to malaria and
95,000 due to childhood under-nutrition are projected.
Highlighting the benefits of switching to cleaner energy sources, WHO said it will help reduce
levels of climate and air pollutants, as well as provide desperately needed power for health
facilities in low-income countries.“The health sector should themselves make a greater effort to
promote low-carbon healthcare facilities and technologies; these can simultaneously improve
service delivery and reduce costs as well as climate and environmental impacts,“ it said.
Power plant plan for Arunachal
Itanagar, July 8 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh power minister T.N. Thongdok has advocated
immediate submission of a proposal to the Union ministry of coal and mines for setting up a
coal-pit thermal power plant at Kharsang in Changlang district. Addressing a meeting here
yesterday to discuss issues related to execution of a 10MW gas-based power project at
Kumchai and thermal power plant at Kharsang, the minister directed the power commissioner to
prepare a detailed project report in consultation with the department of geology and mines, an
official press note said today.
Thongdok said the Union minister of state for power and mines had shown keen interest in
setting of thermal power plants wherever coal is available during the conference in Goa on June
16 and 17. At present, gas available is about 30,000scmd from the existing well whereas they
would require 55,000scmd for the proposed project. The construction period of the proposed
project would be one year, the officials said.

18. They said the mining lease permission and forest clearance issued by the state government for
the present wells have expired and they have requested the government to issue fresh mining
lease permission and forest clearance. The foundation stone of the project at Kumchai was laid
in Itanagar by former Union minister Veerappa Moily.
From,
Shankar Sharma
shankar.sharma2005@gmail.com
Private Consultancy
A thermal power plant plan in Arunachal Pradesh ?
What can we say about such irrational approaches other than that we seem to have set out to
destroy the ecology of every sq. kM of our land ?
It is well known in classical power plant economics that a coal power plant can be economical
either at pit head or at the load centre. Can Arunachal Pradesh meet any of these two criteria?
Can we say we, as a society, have lost the ability to consider the welfare of all sections of the
society, including the flora and fauna?
Regards
Trasi tragedy: Take time out to grieve - In memory of little
angels, families
July 21, 2016 (A month since the tragic accident at Trasi)
By Dr Zita Lobo, daijiworld
And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth
until the hour of separation.
--Khalil Gibran
And when the separation is permanent, it is profound. If then it has come as a bolt from the clear sky,
unexpected, it must be inexplicable. This is what the parents and relatives of the children involved in the
school bus tragedy at Trasi must be going through. Accidents happen, lives are lost, but when the loss and
damages are cumulative are we as a societyready for this? Soon after the crash, good Samaritans rushed

19. to help, while they were busy, others, the self appointed news dispensers, not wanting to miss out any
action of the tragedy were busy video graphing and relaying the gory, graphic, tragic pictures as if the
official description of the tragedy was not enough for the whole region to go down on their knees and ask
"Why?", "Why were innocent beautiful lives snatched away in such a disaster?" Next, the victims rushed
to hospitals while the tragic news reached the parents and relatives.
Meanwhile, some lawyers visited the hospitals and volunteered to manage the cases. This is followed by
the last rites of the victims who succumbed to the fatal injuries. For some time thereafter, we analyze the
road and transport systems, the corrupt government, the uncompromising discipline of school
administrations, driving discipline, parents’ helplessness and then collectively forget the incident as a
society. We go on about our business while, the most affected in those tragedies are left to themselves to
fathom what just happened to them.
All people don’t grieve in the same manner. Grieving is a personal process. Whether it is the loss of a dear
one or coming face to face with the prospects of impending death, people react differently. They try to
find answers from theology, karma or any answer they become fatalistic. Some might just be stoic
enduring emotional pain without complaining. Each one has a different grief threshold. Some are used to
showing emotion while others keep their tears private. People go through five stages of grief according to
Elisabeth Kϋbler Ross. There is no time frame or order by which people mourn. In some countries doctors
are specially trained on the awareness of this process of grieving to help patients and their families to cope
with bad news. Though they see death and dying on an everyday basis they are not immune tothe feelings
and emotions of the people who are under their care.
The five stages of griefand loss are:
1. Denial and Isolation: "No!!", "This cannot happen to me" it is normal to react thus. We try to listento
only what we want to hear. One cannot fathom the reality of the situation and so the mind does not accept
the facts.
2. Anger: Primarily, we feel disappointed or distressed at the loss and this is manifested in anger. In this
particular case, anger towards the driver who caused the accident or authorities who might be directly or
indirectly responsible for the driver to speed up. Anger towards the healthcare providers, especially
doctors. Anger itself is an irrational emotionand it can even be directed towards the person who has died.
Sometimes it could be diverted at self, and guilt can override sanity and people can inflict pain on self to
the extent to even commit suicide.
3. Bargaining: "God, please don’t let this happen, I’ll change my ways".
"If this is not true, I will vow to pay a visit to your shrine" or "Please don’t let this happen to me"
Even the thoughts of "If the kids were sent to another school… another vehicle… What if...
All these come through feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.
4. Depression: Feeling low energy and listlessness is a natural after-effect of losing someone precious in
life. Sadness and regret, helplessness, and the realization that one has to live without the person’s presence
can catapult the person into being introverted for some time. With support and reassurance and patience
people can be helped to come to terms with reality. Empathy and timely assistance can help cope.
5. Acceptance: At this stage a person comes to terms with the loss of the loved one. It is certainly not a
happy acceptance but a quiet reconciliationof one’s own mortality or of a dear one’s, as inevitable.
Perhaps, the consolation and condolence of well-meaning people could help her or him to accept the
inevitable. When death is sudden and tragic some people might never come to this stage and may stop at
depression or anger.
The survival instinct in human being gives hope for themselves and for others who depend on them- this
hope is what the societyshould come forward to give the grieving. It is not only for the parish, or nuns or
any support group, but any person who can call herself and himself a neighbor could help cope. It is for

20. the family and friends to support and help the survivors of these tragedies. All they need is compassion
and time out to grieve.
Existential doubt for Thane church after errors in city
plan
Members of the church are worried that it could be demolished as it is not marked in the DP.
Mumbai: As citizen groups point out more errors and omissions in Mumbai city’s revised Development
Plan (DP) for 2014-34, the residents of Thane are discovering mistakes in their city’s DP. When they read
about Mumbai’s error-ridden planning papers, residents of Pokhran in Thane, curious about the status of a
ruined three-century old church in their locality, decided to look at their DP. They found that the nine-acre
plot on which the building stands is marked as a playground with no mention of the church. The DP was
prepared in 1999 and Thane is expected to get a new blueprint after 2020. Members of the church are
worried that it could be demolished as it is not marked in the DP.
Shailendra Bendale, an officer in Thane’s town planning department, said there are no plans to destroy the
monument. Thane’s DP does not have many errors, but Bendale admitted that the ruined church’s absence
in the document was an error. “We prepared a ‘land use plan’ in 1991 before the DP was made, but
nobody pointed out that the church was not listed. Suddenly they are claiming that it is not marked,” said
Bendale, adding that the building is a complete ruin.
“I saw the church 30 years ago and nobody has repaired it or used it. Till today, the Thane Municipal
Corporation has not decided to demolish it. We are not touching the church.” The history of the church
has been documented recently.
The Pokhran church – called the Our Lady of Mercy Church – was probably constructed in the early 17th
century and was in regular use till 1737 AD when a war broke out between the Marathas and the
Portuguese, said Mayur Thakare, an archaeologist with the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. He
visited the ruins in 2010 when he was researching medieval archaeology in north Konkan. Pokhran
residents said though the church was not used regularly, there were occasional religious services there.
“Workers from Raymond factory and the East Indian community would worship there,” said Ignatius
Quadros, 81.
In 1977, a statue of a Hindu deity was found on the premises and when the dispute over which community
should have the right to worship at the site was unresolved, members of the church moved the idol of
Mother Mary to another building on the premises. Vandals are reported to have destroyed the doors and
furniture, leaving the building to fall into ruins. More recently, there has been a dispute over the
ownership of the land around the building – the area is now filled with multi-storeyed housing --- with a
construction company claiming that it has the development rights on the plot. The church members have
challenged the plans and the matter is being heard by the courts.
The residents of Pokhran want the structure to be declared as a heritage structure. “We are collecting
signatures from our parishioner to petition the municipal corporation,” said Melwyn Fernandes, joint
secretary of Our Lady of Mercy Welfare Association. Thakare said the church needs to be protected.“The
Our Lady of Mercy Church is a beautiful specimen of Indo-Portuguese art and architecture. We should
protect it, not just for the local resident but also for others.”
Source: Hindustan Times

21. WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Victor Cardoza(48),# 2-198 Dailabettu Banangady
post,Kallamunkur,Niddodi,Karnataka 574227
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Victor Cardoza(48) is suffering from major heart disease with triple vessel disease and has been
advised CABC Surgical treatment which may cost Rs 2-3 lacs.
Since he is poor and the only breadwinner in the family, it is not possible for him to bear this huge
cost by himself. Kindly help him generously to undergo the necessary treatment at the earliest.
Please send your kind remittances to his following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 116301050000114
Name of the Account Holder: Victor Cardoza
Bank: Vijaya Bank, Kallamunkur post,
Niddodi, Mangaluru 574274
Bank IFSC Code: VIJB0001163
Ph.No: 91 99009 25782
Muralidhar Raju Poojary(32),Aural Bailu Mane,Palimar grama 574103
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Muralidhar Raju Poojary(32), S/o Gulabi R Poojary, is physically challenged due to polio since
childhood. He was taken to several hospitals for treatment but he has not recovered.
His mother Gulabi, a daily wage worker is unable to go to work as Muralidhar has to be looked
after at home like a small child. They have no other source of income. Therefore his mother has
requested for monetary help for their living and medical expenses of her son.
Kindly send your remittances to her following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 01292200008441
Name of the Account Holder: Gulabi R Poojary

22. Bank: Syndicate Bank, Palemar branch,
Palemar main road, Udupi district 574112
Bank IFSC Code: SYNB0000129
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