1) Biogas produced from animal and food waste can provide clean energy for cooking and lighting while reducing environmental impacts. Several success stories from India illustrate the benefits of biogas, including reducing firewood use and indoor air pollution. 2) A village in Madhya Pradesh installed 150 biogas units that continue functioning over a decade later, eliminating the need to purchase firewood and reducing health risks from indoor smoke. A village in Gujarat pipes biogas from cow dung to 326 households. 3) Biogas units at a leprosy care center, university, temple, and church generate fuel from waste and save on LPG or prevent waste from being dumped. The units pay for themselves within a few years

1. E-Newsletter-7/18
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Six Success Stories in India That Will Show You
How Biogas Can Save Money, the Environment, &
More!
Guest Contributor, December 21, 2016
www.thebetterindia.com,Biofuel, Environment
Ever since the first modern biogas digester was built in India in
1859, about 4.5 million units have come up all across the country.
The first digester produced gas from human waste to light lamps at
the Matunga Leper Asylum in Bombay (now Mumbai). The idea
spread to England where biogas was used to light street lamps, and
then to China, which now has over 43 million biogas units. Biogas
can help improve lives of people and communities and bring
economic and environmental benefits. Here are five examples to
illustrate its advantages:
1. Khamtara village in Katni district, Madhya Pradesh:
This village has 150 biogas units. They range from two to four cubic metres in size depending on
the number of animals owned by a household. Built between 1995 and 2005 under a government
programme, these units continue to function a decade later. The main reason for the village’s
success is “Super Mason” Rajaram who built 100 of these biogas plants – including a two cubic-
metre unit for himself. Though Rajaram has no animals, he secures dung from his neighbours.
The innovative mason has even connected his toilet to the biogas digester. Rajaram has also

2. trained masons from other villages so they can install digesters on their own. He takes care of
problems whenever they crop up.
Villagers say more than 100 bullock carts of firewood (about 20 tonnes) were brought into the
village each year from nearby forests before biogas came to Khamtara. Each cart used to cost Rs
1,000. After the installation of biogas plants, people stopped cutting trees for firewood. All those
involved in the firewood business are now engaged in other occupations.
Biogas also has an important health benefit. There has been an estimated 80% reduction in the
quantity of smoke in Khamtara’s kitchens. Most rural kitchens use firewood that leads to indoor
pollution. About two million people in India (mostly women and children) suffer from asthma,
cancer, eye and nose problems, associated with this pollution every year. Using biogas can
reduce these risks. Villagers also say that since the installation of biogas, fights and squabbles on
petty issues have declined in the village and co-operation among neighbours has increased.
2. Methan village in Patan district, Gujarat:
Methan village is another example of biogas success. Dudh Sagar Dairy and Gujarat Energy
Development Agency built India’s largest biogas system here in 1987. It supplies gas to 326 of
the 500 households through underground pipes. Each family pays Rs. 50 per month for the gas.
A tractor brings 2.5 tonnes of cow dung from the village every day, which is put into eight giant
tanks with a capacity to produce 630 cubic meters of gas. This saves 500 tonnes of firewood each
year, gives clean fuel, and reduces the risk of diseases. By substituting biogas for wood, this
village avoids over 860 tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions per year, reducing the impact on
climate change.
3. The Karunalaya Leprosy Care Centre in Puri, Odisha:
This centre looks after 1,000 people living with leprosy. The centre also runs a high school, a
home for children of leprosy patients, a small hospital, and an orthopaedic workshop. A three
cubic metre-biogas unit run on animal waste is the latest addition. While earlier the centre used
to buy four LPG cylinders a month for the kitchen, the number has reduced by half since the
installation of the biogas unit.
4. The Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur,
Jharkhand:
XLRI converts about 400 kilos of food waste to energy as part of its programme to reduce
carbon emissions. Food waste from the college’s five cafeterias go into a giant biogas digester
that generates gas equivalent to two LPG cylinders per day, or about a fifth of the kitchen fuel
needed to feed 1,100 students on campus.
5. Most biogas units in rural India run on cow dung, and some in urban areas run on food waste.
We decided to experiment with flower waste at two places of worship: a temple in Bangalore and
a church in Mumbai.
On the terrace of Venkateswara temple in Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore, we set up a there cubic-
metre biogas unit with the help of Mr. Devendra Goyal, a retired squadron leader of the Air
Force. The unit is run on flower offerings from devotees, some food waste, and occasionally
some cow dung.

3. At St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, Mumbai, flowers from Wednesday’s special service are
collected at the end of the day. The threads removed and flowers are soaked in a bucket of water.
The soaked material then goes into a biogas digester to produce gas for use in the kitchen.
Slurry, an important by-product is used as liquid fertilizer in the church’s garden. The entire cost
of investment to set up this system was about Rs. 20,000 and it has been recovered within two
years. Earlier, the wilted flowers used to go into a municipal dump as waste. They have now
become a valuable resource. The flower experiments have implications beyond the temple and
church. Mumbai generates about 200 tonnes of flower waste a day. If 5 kg flowers collected in
Mahim church can produce about 1.5 hours of biogas each day, imagine how much gas can 200
tonnes produce? This gas can run a fleet of 400 city buses every day.
So the message is clear: garbage is not waste, but a valuable resource that should not be wasted.
Also, wet cow dung used in a biogas digester produces cleaner fuel than dry dung used in
a chullah.
(Written by Emmanuel D’Silva and Narendra Jindal)
For more information, write to Emmanuel and Narendra
at ehdsilva@yahoo.com and narendrajindal48@yahoo.co.in
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or
connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
About the author: Dr Emmanuel D’Silva is an Environment Scientist from Mumbai. Mr
Narendra Jindal runs an NGO in Bhopal called Shree Dharohar Social Welfare Society.
Together, the two friends have helped set up more than 50 biogas units across India.
Letter from the reader
Dear Fr. Felix,
Thanks for forwarding the latest GEM Newsletter.
I read with interest the write-up on the Eco Kids Activities at Infant Jesus
Church. Holding poster contests twice a year does not solve the serious
environmental problems in the country. As you know we need action, not just
words and posters. Sadly, most churches in Mumbai only do window dressing
on climate change and ecological problems. Can't you think of setting up
compost stations or biogas units, as you did at the Panvel church?
Narendra Jindal and I have set up more than 50 biogas units across India.
The article below in The Better India, written by Narendra and I might interest
you. It cites a few examples of the units we put up. This week we are setting
up a 2 cubic meter biogas unit near Cuttack, Orissa.
Regards
Emmanuel

4. In Mumbai: NGO brings smiles in their garden of
equal opportunities
Badri Chatterjee, HT
As 24-year-old Amjad (name changed) carefully trims a bonsai plant, he has a smile on his face. Like
many others around him, he loves his simple and beautiful life after being burdened with the challenges of
being differently-abled. “I love spending time in the garden. The fragrance of these plants helps me forget
I am not as capable as others. While helping them grow, I realise that I am not being judged,” said Amjad,
who will get employed in a civic body-run garden next month.
For the past 15 years, a Chembur-based non-profit group, National Society For Equal Opportunities For
The Handicapped (NASSEOH), India, has been helping differently-abled persons find jobs through their
therapy of gardening, landscaping and nurturing over 80 different species of native plants and 27 species
of exotic plants at their vegetable and butterfly garden. The NGO has also helped create comprehensive
rehabilitation opportunities, free of charge for them through education, vocational training, placements,
sports and recreation.
The NGO has been using nature as therapy to help them learn skills such as taking care of plants through
pruning, cutting and planting saplings on their four-acre campus. “We observed that persons with
disabilities, after spending their day at gardens, have undergone several behavioural changes, so much so
that they were ready to overcome mental blocks and earn a living,” said Yogendra Shetty, director-
general, NASSEOH adding that the beneficiaries are from the lowest strata of the society and are aged
between 18 and 35. He added that over the past 15 years, thousands had been rehabilitated by garnering
different employment opportunities within Mumbai and other parts of the country. “More than 500 people
have acquired green jobs through this programme that educates groups of 30 per day,” said Shetty.
Along with working at a one-acre vegetable and bonsai garden home, a butterfly garden half its size was
constructed last month with the help of NGO United Way Mumbai and Kharghar-based Ladybird
Environmental Consulting. “Within large concrete urban spaces, setting up of these small gardens is easy
as they do not need large trees. They attract butterflies that directly impact the micro-ecosystem,”said
Prachi Nautiyal, director, United Way Mumbai.
Dr V Subhalaxmi, founder and director, Ladybird Environmental Consulting, said, “For the specially-
abled, the low self-esteem or frustrations are eased through interaction with nature as it helps calm nerves,
reduce blood pressure, anxiety through a ‘feel-good factor’ and introduce a positive feeling.” Leading the
way Group teaches differently-abled people gardening techniques on their four-acre campus as part of
therapy.

5. FOR AN EDUCATIONAL
AND AWARNESS PPT on
JOY OF GARDENING CLICK
THIS LINK
http://infantjesusjogeshwari.in/
gem-ppt-37-joy-of-gardening/
Cuffe Parade residents see red as trees being
hacked for Metro III
Richa Pinto, Mumbai Mirror
In the last two days, Cuffe Parade resident Robin Jaisinghani and his family of four
are witnesses to the massive hacking of trees, which till last week stood tall,
providing shade to locals and pedestrians. The hacking of trees in the city for
construction of Mumbai Metro III has begun from the Colaba Woods garden up to
the spot outside Vivanta by TajPresident. Metro III is a 33.5km underground line
running between Colaba-Bandra-Seepz (Andheri), with 27 stations.
“It's extremely upsetting to see the massive cutting of trees take place when you
look outside your window. Having lived in this area since 1977, I played in the open
space where the trees are now being chopped to make way for Metro III. What's
worse is that after the cutting of trees we will have to bear the brunt of construction
activity throughout the day for a decade. My daughter's childhood will be over by
then, and all that they will grow up seeing is trees being hacked and noise. How are
they going to even study or sleep?“ said Jaisinghani, who along with other residents
had filed a writ petition in the high court. Their buildings are barely 40 metres from
the proposed underground Metro terminus.
Pervin Jehangir, another petitioner and a resident of Jupiter Apartments in Cuffe
Parade, said the area has been barricaded so that no one walking past will be able

6. to see what is happening. “One needs to go up to a height to notice the large
number of trees being chopped.Climate change is here despite which we are going
ahead and reducing Mumbai's green cover to such a large extent,“ said Jehangir.
Manjeet Kriplani, another resident, said the area where the trees are being chopped
has lush green trees where kids would play. “It has been two days since the tree-
cutting has begun and such a large amount of green cover has been lost. This will
be completely irreversib le,“ said Kriplani. Activist Zoru Bathena, who had filed an
RTI, said, “The authorities said the trees will be replanted at another spot, but we
have seen how it has been a sham.“
For funds, Mumbai Metro eyes real estate bonanza in
Aarey
Nauzer Bharucha| TNN | Jan 29, 2017, 05.54 AM IST
MUMBAI: A car depot for the Metro III project is not the only construction planned inside the
eco-sensitive Aarey Colony . Around 8.6 acres of the 81 acres reserved for the depot are to be
used for "real estate development". The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), executing the
Rs 23,136 crore project, has asked the state government to permit a floor space index (FSI) of 3
to commercially exploit this plot inside the green lung.
If the government sanctions this unusually high FSI, property experts said builders will be able to
construct around 15 lakh sq ft worth over Rs 2,000 crore on this 8.6 acre parcel. Documents
procured under the Right to Information Act (RTI) by activist Zoru Bhatena reveal the MMRC
wrote to the state urban development department over a year ago. Around 8.6 acres of the 81
acres reserved for the metro car shed are to be used for "real estate development." The Mumbai
Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), executing the Rs 23,136 crore project, has asked the state
government to permit a floor space index (FSI) of 3 to commercially exploit this plot inside the
green lung.
Over a year ago, the MMRC sought FSI 3 on the Aarey plot for "real estate development."
Activists and environmentalists have been protesting against any construction and uprooting of
trees inside this green sprawl. A government notice inviting objections and suggestions from
citizens last month, sought to delete the 81 acres (almost four times the size of Oval Maidan) of
the Aarey land from no-development zone and reserve it for metro car depotwork shop, allied
facilities and commercial (C-1) zone. A C-1 zone allows commercial as well as residential
construction.
MRRC managing director Ashwini Bhide told TOI the corporation plans to raise around Rs 1,000
crore by commercially exploiting part of the Aarey land. "But we do not have immediate plans to
build on this portion. For the moment, MRCC will set up a temporary casting yard on this 3.5

7. hectares (8.6 acres) abutting the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road," she said. Bhide however
added that the car shed will be "open to sky ."
Bhatena, who has filed several public interest litigations in the high court, said a metro shed
does not require 81 acres, but a much smaller area. "The modus operandi seems to grab a no-
develop ment zone under the garb of a metro shed and then use a large chunk of it for
commercial use," he said. The 81 acres at Aarey colony was controlled by the state animal
husbandry department, which then handed it over to the government for the metro car shed.
Due to protests by citizens against the depot, the state appointed a technical committee two
years ago to examine nine locations.
The committee recommended the Aarey site despite objections by two environmental experts on
the panel, IIT Mumbai professor Shyam Asolekar and NEERI director Rakesh Kumar. Their
dissent note said, "Not in agreement with conclusions and all the recommendations stated
above." MMRC claimed that "one of the most critical activities for the successful delivery of
Mumbai Metro Line 3 project is the construction of the depot to receive, test, commission the
trains for service..." Last month, the Union environment ministry issued the final notification on
the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Colony . Bhatena
said, "MMRC is proposing land for real estate development with FSI 3, which is totally unrelated
to Metro activity and cannot be termed as "public interest.Hence, it cannot be permitted."
TOI had on January 17 reported how, ahead of the Mumbai municipal corporation polls,
protecting the green cover of Aarey Colony has united the citizens and activists of P-South
ward, which covers Goregaon east and west and parts of Malad and Oshiwara.
TIMES VIEW:
Once real estate development takes place within Aarey Colony and developers get a
foothold inside the green zone, the area will certainly be ravaged with steel and
concrete structures and Mumbai will suffer a heavy blow to its environment. Though
the Metro III is a crucial public transport project which will be of immense benefit
to commuters, development should not be allowed to take place at the cost of the
environment, especially in a city which lacks open spaces.On the one hand, new open
spaces are not being created and those that exist are not being taken back by BMC
from private parties, and on the other there is a deplorable `development' plan now.
Bandra residents fear work on coastal road will
pollute air, damage ecology
Badri Chatterjee, HT

8. Bandra residents have opposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ambitious
Coastal Road project and feared that it will cause more problems, including irrevocable
ecological damage, than provide solutions to the city’s traffic woes. Irked citizens alleged that the
civic administration did not hold a single public meeting on the project. Close to 50 residents —
led by Darryl D’Monte, president of the Bandra West Residents Association — were part of a
two-hour meeting near Carter Road promenade on Sunday morning. D’Monte termed the
project expenditure ‘wasteful’ and said it is a ‘willful destruction of nature in the name of
development’.
In its bid to decongest arterial roads along the Western Express Highway, the civic body intends
to construct the coastal road that will connect the western suburbs along the coast with undersea
tunnels, roads on reclaimed land and elevated stretches. Among other concerns, residents said
the project will lead to an ‘unimaginable’ spike in pollution levels with over 200,000 vehicles
plying on the 29.2-km coastal road. The coastal road will have eight lanes, with two dedicated
bus lanes for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). The project has been planned to be
constructed in two phases.
In Phase-I of the Rs12,000 crore project, the BMC will construct the stretch from Marine Drive
to Carter Road in Bandra. The north Mumbai phase is from Bandra to Kandivli. The road will
also have a sea-link between Bandra and Versova, which will be built by the Maharashtra State
Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). “The sea which currently brings fresh air will emit
toxic fumes from the coastal road. The project will destroy the thick mangrove cover. Mangroves
are essential for a city like Mumbai, which is susceptible to inundation,” said D’Monte. “In less
than half the cost, traffic can be eased out by implementing a comprehensive transportation
policy,” he said.
He added that a very small percentage of Mumbaiites use their own vehicles as opposed to more
than 90% dependent on public transport for their daily commute. “Only a small percentage of
commuters, living along the west coast, will use the road, making it a false solution to traffic
problems.” According to the civic body, the project will reclaim around 186 hectares of land, of
which, 91 hectares will be developed as green space. “Specific measures are being taken to
protect the environment. We have planned to build the elevated roads on stilts along creek areas
to save mangroves,” said a senior civic official.
While the BMC is expected to complete its tender process by March next year, the Union
environment ministry is yet to clear the project.
‘Project will endanger mangroves and heritage’
Mumbai is already choked by traffic and is heavily dependent on its mangrove cover which
works as a buffer against inundation. The Coastal Road will lead to severe environmental
damages, said members of the Bandra West Residents Association. In the Sunday meeting held
by the association, they highlighted that historical monuments, — inlcuding Mahalaxmi temple
and Bandra Fort — waterfronts and public places might be lost. The project can damage the
livelihood of all coastal communities, they said. The construction of the coastal road can lead to
soil erosion along the coastline, they feared.
What are the alternatives?
“While the project planners have failed to address our issues by not holding a single public
hearing, infra projects such as the Metro II and Metro III or constructing Bus Rapid Transit
System (BRTS) along the Eastern or Western Expressways can ease traffic congestion in the
city,” said Darryl D’Monte, president, Bandra West Residents Association.

9. Eco-friendly ways helps cut power use at Thane
church
In 2012, he formed the parish environment club in Thane that introduced a biogas plant at the
church ground.
Ucannews: Posted on January 26, 2017, 10:26 PM
Mumbai: St John the Baptist Church at Thane has shown the most energy efficient way to
pray by using a large fan – equivalent to 10 household fans – that ensures 30% reduction
in electricity consumption and cools a church that has an attendance of 1,000 people on
Sundays. Fr. Allwyn D’Silva, as the parish priest of the 500-year-old church and manager
of St John the Baptist School, set up the fan along with a number of environment friendly
initiatives ranging from solar power, rain water harvesting, recycling organic waste to
installing LED lights at the church grounds.
Fr. D’Silva, who will be ordained auxiliary bishop of Bombay on Jan 28, urges the Catholic
Church, which has nearly 500,000 members in Mumbai, almost 4% of the city’s
population, to take climate change seriously. “This is a crisis that affects the future
generations. If we have been handed over a beautiful world by our forefathers, it is our
moral obligation to hand the same over to our next generation,” he said.
Over the past two decades, the priest has been trying to reduce the impact of global
warming through several awareness initiatives, environmental education at schools and
published academic papers to make the parish eco-friendly. Fr. D’Silva is also the head of
the Archdiocesan Office for Environment, and secretary for the Federation of Asian Bishops
(FABC) Climate Change Desk.
In 2012, he formed the parish environment club in Thane that introduced a biogas plant at
the church ground. Daily kitchen waste amounting to 20kg, leftovers from weddings, and
waste from a local vegetable market is all converted into cooking gas through a biogas
plant. During the same year, a rooftop solar system with nine panels was set up at the
school that powers lights and fans in every classroom, staff rooms and principal’s office.
After the restoration of the church in 2015 and the setting up of the Johannine Centre
(church office), rainwater harvesting program was setup that saved 2 lakh litres of water
over the past two monsoons.
“It is an integrated system that can automatically switch to the grid. The move reduced
our electricity bill by 40%,” said Father Michael Pinto, principal, St John the Baptist School.
“People learnt from Fr Allwyn about eco-spirituality – faith combined with the concept to
protect the environment. His efforts have created a lot of awareness among students
through faith and practical examples.”
A visiting professor at St Pius College, a seminary in Goregaon, Fr. D’Silva started an ‘eco-

10. club’ in 2012 that manages a garden with 26 species of 3,000 trees, 15 species of
butterflies, 22 species of birds and seven species of insects and reptiles on campus.
Additionally, his efforts gave way to a kitchen garden and a rainwater harvesting project at
Our Lady of Nazareth High School, Bhayander (West).
“Fr Allwyn is one of the first green voices in the city and recognised India’s environmental
crisis long before anybody else,” said Father Savio Silviera, environmentalist and director,
NGO Green Line.
Source: Hindustan Times
Meet The Man Who Has Built A House That Satisfies All His
Needs From Food To Water To Gas
Koshika Mira Saxena
February 2nd, 2017
Solar power is reshaping energy production around the world. While people are choosing to
move to solar power in many countries like China, Japan, Germany, and the United States,
Indians are also changing their lifestyle to use solar power as a source of energy.
One such person is Dwarkadas Suresh, popularly known as Solar Suresh. An IIT Madras and
IIM Ahmedabad graduate, he lives in Chennai with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. He
has worked in textile marketing industries in various capacities including as the Chief Executive
Officer, Managerial Director. He retired in 2015, and is now enjoying his green home.
The Logical Indian spoke to Mr Suresh to know more about his lifestyle, inspiration and
challenges.
What was the motivation to shift to solar energy?
I was in Germany and witnessed many rooftop plants there. I thought if a country with a lot less
sunshine can install these facilities, then why not implement the same in India which has solar
energy in abundance?When I came back, I interacted with a lot of vendors, but no one agreed to
install it. It was hard to find a suitable rooftop solar plant vendor and also to get a proper solar
inverter. Even big corporates did not show any interest. After some time, I located a local vendor
who had the same interest as mine. He manufactured and designed the solar power plant of my
home.
What changes have you observed since then?

11. I installed a rooftop solar plant of 3kW capacity four years ago. I connected one Air Conditioner,
Pump, Refrigerator, Fans, Lights, TV, Computer and Laptop, Mixer Grinder and Washing
Machine. I have not experienced power cut even for a minute in the last four years except during
Cyclone Vardah. There was no electricity for one day.
The electricity charges are saved by producing around 12-16 units a day. There are many other
advantages like no daily maintenance. It generates electricity even during mild and rainy days.
The major advantage is that solar produces non-polluting power, does not work on fossil fuel
and thus saves foreign exchange for the country.
The general idea is that solar plants are expensive, high
maintenance, etc. What is your take on this?
It is a one-time investment. Raw material is free for around 20 years, and the process of
generating electricity is also free for 20 years during the lifespan of panels. There is an inbuilt
insurance from future tariff increase which is certain. For example, the tariff was Rs 3 per unit
(beyond 500 units) in 2012 scaling up to Rs 6.60 now, an increase of over 120% in 3 years.
There is no separate wiring required. The standalone rooftop solar plant is a sustainable,
affordable, viable project, presently giving over 6 percent tax-free return including battery
replacement. With tariff increase, this return on investment will only increase. The installation is
also quite simple. It requires a shadow-free area, about 80 sq ft per kW.
What other projects have you started at your home?
Solar panels are reliable sources. I have also installed indoor biogas plant of 1 cubic meter to
process around 4 kg organic waste per day, and it produces to about 20 kg of gas per month.
There is no daily maintenance. The waste which is generated is converted into two useful
resources- cooking gas and organic manure. What can be a better way of garbage
management? Installation is also very simple process, and no odour is generated. The entire
process is automatic. There is no manual intervention except feeding the plant daily. There is no
pollution generated. There are also certain conditions like only organic waste such as cooked or
uncooked food, spoilt food, vegetable and fruit peels, etc. can be used as input. The other items
like lime, orange, onion, egg shells, bones, ordinary leaves should be avoided.
I also started rainwater harvesting around 20 years ago. Now there are two types of RWH – first
is filter and store use and second is recharge groundwater use. In the first case, rainwater is
collected and filtered through a simple organic filtration by using pebbles, charcoal and river
sand. This water can be used for cooking and drinking purpose. The second case is when the
rainwater accumulates or stagnates, a pipe of 15 feet length and 8-inch diameter with holes
every foot is inserted into the ground such that water goes into the pipe and recharges
groundwater. And then again there is no daily maintenance required. Just before the arrival of
monsoon season, the terrace space should be cleaned, and organic items like pebbles,
charcoal, sand are to be reused and kept tidy.
Apart from these, I have a terrace kitchen garden. Since I was a novice then and had no
knowledge about it, I started with five pots and sowed seeds. I watched vegetables like lady’s
finger, tomatoes, brinjal growing. Now there are 70 earthen pots, broken plastic buckets and
many bags. Organically we have grown about 15 types of vegetables. It is a very pleasant sight
to see my garden growing, and the vegetables from the garden are tastier than we get from the
market. We do not go to the market to buy groceries, and we just have everything on our
terrace.

12. How does it feel to go green?
Oh, it feels wonderful. In fact, we have created a forest atmosphere. There are growing bamboo
plants, creepers to flow over them. When you peep from the terrace, one gets a feeling of being
in the forest and not in Kilpauk. I cannot see neighbouring buildings and chaotic traffic. I am
surrounded only by greenery.
You can get in touch with him at his email-id sureshd157@gmail.com
Bengaluru, Garden City And Then Silicon
Valley, Now Tagged Garbage City
Bengaluru | Edited by Malini Chatterji | NDTV
BENGALURU: The stench of rubbish hanging over swathes of Bengaluru is so powerful it
rouses residents in the middle of the night, the fetid result of a trash crisis that threatens its
reputation as one of India's nicest places to live. Hailed first as the country's Garden City and
then its Silicon Valley, drawing in multinational IT firms and their monied executives, today
Bengaluru is paying a heavy price for its success -- it's a city overflowing with garbage, its
infrastructure and waste collection services unable to keep up with decades of unchecked
growth. "You will wake from your dreams because of the smell," says local Kamesh Rastogi.
"You have to close the doors, but even then there is no respite," he adds.
The capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru was once a favourite retreat for families seeking respite
from the heat of the surrounding southern farming plains and particularly popular with people
in retirement. Located on a plateau and blessed with a relatively cool climate, the city is dotted
with public parks and gardens as well as a network of lakes. But since marketing itself as India's
tech hub, drawing in a raft of multinationals, Bengaluru's population has soared from three
million at the start of the 1990s to in excess of eight million. The surge has placed huge pressure
on its municipality, which stands accused of inadequate urban planning and, in particular, of
failing to cope with the accompanying rise in waste volumes.
When Rastogi, who works for the tech firm Oracle, bought an apartment a decade ago in a leafy
suburb called HSR Layout, he thought he was moving into one of the city's most pristine
neighbourhoods. But as part of efforts to cope with the 3,500 tonnes of rubbish that are
generated in the city every day, the municipality reopened a mothballed waste treatment plant
near his apartment in 2013. At the time of construction, the plant was some distance beyond
Bengaluru's outskirts, but it has since been encircled by the urban sprawl of the last quarter of a
century.

13. Furious residents, many of them executives for international tech companies, set up a
neighbourhood association to campaign for the plant's closure and relocation. Contacted by
AFP, management at the plant said an air filter was being installed to clean up emissions but
residents are unconvinced. "I feel I have to be reincarnated to see these changes happening," one
of them quipped. Anger is growing throughout the city, with newspapers carrying stories of litter
louts being beaten up on the streets by furious residents. The municipality's waste management
team turned down several requests to speak to AFP.
But around a hundred CCTV cameras have been installed to catch fly tippers in two districts that
have become regular dumping grounds. The municipality has even installed GPS devices in
dump trucks to ensure crews don't take short cuts and is reportedly considering hiring ex-
servicemen with the authority to fine offenders to enforce "garbage discipline". Campaigners say
such measures are little more than sticking plasters and the crisis can only be resolved once the
municipality increases its capacity to treat rubbish.
"It's mostly what we call trying to douse the fire when it happens, instead of a systemic approach
to resolve these issues," said Venkatesh Kannaiah, an activist with the Janaagraha civic
organisation. As awareness grows about the environmental impact of India's increasingly
consumerist society, more residents are trying to recycle or setting up their own compost heaps.
"Bengaluru used to be one of the most beautiful cities in India, and look at it now," said Myriam
Shankar, a member of the Solid Waste Management Round Table pressure group.
Activists Announce People's Climate
March
Mark your calendars for April 29.
26/01/2017 1:21 AM IST | Updated 27/01/2017 4:23 AM IST
An estimated 400,000 people joined the 2014 People's Climate March in New
York City.
A coalition of multiple organizations is seeking to mobilize crowds in major cities to demonstrate
against President Donald Trump’s environmental policies.
It’s the latest action following the Women’s March on Saturday, which, if the Metro’s trip count
is any measure, had a bigger showing than Trump’s Inauguration in Washington, D.C., a day
earlier.
On Wednesday, the Sierra Club, one of the organizations that’s involved, announced it will
sponsor a “People’s Climate March” on April 29, 2017, in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere
around the country.

14. The Saturday march will take place one day before Trump’s 100th day in office, giving the event
special importance, organizers said.
“On April 29th, it’s going to be much clearer to Donald Trump that he won’t drag America or the
world backwards on climate without the fight of his life,” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael
Brune said in a release. “Our planet is in crisis, and voices from around the nation must and will
be heard.”
The last People’s Climate March, in September 2014, had a turnout of more than 400,000
people in New York City, and was hailed as the largest climate march in history. That march
preceded the United Nations climate summit, held just days later at the U.N. headquarters in
New York.
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Word of God at the comfort of your desk.
Just click the following link and enjoy knowing more about the greatest
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Go to RESOURCES section, click BIBLE STUDY.

15. Marry before you are 25, a bishop in Kerala tells his
flock
It comes at a time when the church in the state has expressed
worry on the declining percentage of Christian population.
Posted on January 18, 2017, courtesy: Ucannews
Thiruvananthapuram: The bishop of the Thamarassery diocese in north Kerala has
come out with a prescription for a better family life - marry young.
Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil issued a circular saying late marriages, now
quite common in their diocese, are having a negative impact on relations between
partners and between parents and children. The circular was issued after a meeting
of the parish assembly. The bishop said in the circular that he is conveying the
suggestions of the "assembly". The circular said the age at which people get
married in their diocese- 28 for men and 25 for women - is quite late. It comes at a
time when the church in the state has expressed worry on the declining percentage
of Christian population.
"Our suggestion is that women should marry at the age of 23 and men by 25. If
they think of settling in their career first and marrying they will not find a suitable
partner. In our diocese itself there are about 1000 youngsters who waited and are
not able to find a suitable partner," Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil said. The
circular said people these days are prioritising career ahead of family and that they
should learn from older generations who put more importance on getting married
and planning a family life.
The bishop has called for the circular to be read out in all churches in the diocese
during Sunday mass. When pointed out that individuals are free to choose when to
marry, the bishop said it was only a suggestion from the parish assembly that was
conveyed in the circular.
Besides advice on the age of marriage the circular also prescribes that the bride
should wear an appropriate dress, that the wedding should be held in a pious and
traditional way. The circular also said while conducting festivals churches under
their diocese should not use fireworks display. The diocese has about 1.2 lakh
members.
IJMB (Infant Jesus Marriage Bureau), Jogeshwari,
Mumbai.

16. ✍Personality Development series
Advantages of Early marriage as against late marriage
 Early Marriage means physically fit and easier to click a proposal as against
late marriage.
 Early marriage means, sexually more active and better sex life (as per church
teachings 2 purpose of marriage is physical union and to open to new life. So
enjoying sex at right time is in tune with God’s plan and Church teaching).
 In early marriage, more possibility of conceiving children (see the above
purpose 2 – open to new life) as against late marriage where less possibility of
conceiving a child.
 Getting kids earlier means, enjoying the company of kids for a longer time
(imagine you get kids after 40-45! Your time of playing and enjoying with kids
is already gone).
 Getting kids earlier also means, getting your kids married earlier. This means
you will able to see your children’s children (becoming grand mother/father, or
even perhaps great grand parents). In late marriage possibility of seeing grand
children is remote.
 Early marriage means, longer period to prepare for a well settled family life as
against late marriage where u have crossed the prime of your life.
 In Early marriage, both spouses work together at their early age to take care
of the material needs of the family (house etc). So less possibility of ego
clashes (Iike for example - this house is mine, I have invested money for this
flat/house etc etc!!).
 Marriage at young age means, you are flexible to learn and change. Even if
mistakes happen, you have time to learn and correct. Once you are old, you are
less open to learning as your mind and attitudes are already formed and
become rigid.
 Early marriage provides better family and social support as your relationships
base widens which includes in-laws.
✍Above analysis is purely based on my personal reflections. Whether you are happy
or unhappy, agree or disagree, I believe that there is some truth in what is said
above, as the Bible itself says, "there is time for everything".
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity

17. Ankith(14 yrs),'Amma',H No 5-59,Kodiyoor village,Udupi-576103
Ankith(14 yrs), S/o Ramesh Kotian, 'Amma', H No 5-59, Kodiyoor village, Udupi 576103 is impaired of
speech and hearing severely. He is studying in 9th standard with much difficulty in Saint Mary's
Kannada Medium School, Udupi. He is a very good drawing artist and has excellence even in academic
studies. Master Ankith has won Silver medal in 42 kg category in TAEKWONDO State level competition
held at Chikkamagaluru on April 24th and 26th, 2016. He is also a good skater.
The doctors in KMC have advised to fit a COCHLEAR IMPLANT to Ankith. The procedure costs Rs nine
lacs. As his father Ramesh Kotian is a poor auto driver, he can only dream of the medical treatment.
Therefore, he has humbly requested to donate generously to realize the dream of implant to Ankith.
Please send your kind donations to the following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 0630101059652
Name of the Account Holder: Ankith
Bank: Canara Bank, Udupi town branch,
Post Box 28, Kanakadasa Road, Udupi 576101
Bank IFSC Code: CNRB0000630
Telephone No.: 91 91649 12110
Rani Lidya Basto(50 yrs),4-85,Jappinamogaru,Permannur,Karnataka 575017
Rani Lidya Basto(50 ), who was operated for incisional hernia six times previously has pain in the
abdomen. She underwent Laprotomy and adhesiolysis with incisional hernia repair under spinal
anesthesia on September 14, 2016.She is a widow and her son is a daily wage worker in a bakery
earning Rs 300 per day. She has taken loan for her medical treatment. Staying in a rented house, she
finds it hard to manage her expenses. Therefore, she has requested for monetary help from kind
hearted individuals and philanthropists for her treatment.
Kindly remit your donations to her following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 34182053712
Name of the Account Holder: Rani Lidya Basto
Bank: State Bank of India, Kankanady, Mangaluru 575002
Bank IFSC Code: SBIN0003300
Telephone No.: 91 96865 62104

18. Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o Infant Jesus Church, Jogeshwari
Mob. 9819688630, Email:frfelixrebello@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
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