Quarterly Bulletin APRIL 2017 JUNE 2017

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1 Quarterly Bulletin APRIL 2017 JUNE 2017

River Rejuvenation Reviving Rivers Biggest Challenge: NEERI Chief NAGPUR: Stepping into its 60th year, the city-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has decided to

2 River Rejuvenation Reviving Rivers Biggest Challenge: NEERI Chief NAGPUR: Stepping into its 60th year, the city-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) has decided to focus on rejuvenation of river and water bodies, air pollution, energy and climate change, and waste minimization. At the foundation day ceremony on Saturday, Neeri director Rakesh Kumar said that river rejuvenation is the biggest challenge for Neeri and other institutes of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). "Rivers across the country are highly polluted. Apart from rivers, perennial open surface water bodies are either drying up or are being encroached upon," Kumar said. Speaking to TOI later, Kumar said that apart from major river projects like Godavari, Mithi and Chandrabhaga in Maharashtra, and Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada and Krishna across the country, the institute has also identified water bodies in Delhi, Jharkhand and Punjab. "A city like Delhi once had 600 water bodies but is now left with only 100. This is one of the reasons why the capitals gets flooded despite received little rainfall. There is no space left for immediate storage of rainwater," said Kumar, adding that the focus will also be on cleaning drains.

3 River Rejuvenation Reviving Rivers Biggest Challenge: NEERI Chief The institute is also planning to rope well-known water conservationists like Rajendra Singh for the projects. Cleaning a stretch of Nag river is also on the agenda. While these projects are being planned, availability of funds is a major cause for concern. Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminum Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, Anupam Agnihotri, who was the chief guest of the foundation day programme, said that the government funds provided to CSIR institutions are static for the last few years. "The percentage of funds for the department of biotechnology and space technology has seen an increase but the same cannot be said for CSIR-run institutes," said Agnihotri. He, however, added that the present government looks favourably disposed towards research and development. "This year, the parliamentary committee report was encouraging towards R&D," he said. Stressing the need for an increase in R&D spending, Agnihotri said, "While India spends only 0.8 % of its gross domestic product on research and development, countries like China, South Korea and America spend 2.5%, 4.6% and 2.7 % respectively." Another problem in the R&D sector is the fear of failure. "We discourage failure under the pressure of funds and other arrangements. Trying and experimenting is an integral part of research," Agnihotri added. On its foundation day, the laboratories of Neeri were open for general public, including students. Eight hundred and fifty school students from 17 schools and few colleges and got a chance to interact with scientists from different divisions. A science model competition and exhibition was also organized for school students.

4 क र चक रम: र स थ प ददवस श ध पर खर च क फ कम व ज ञ न क क ष त र क ल ग क जल द आए ग अच छ दद : अगग ह त र स र त: नवभ रत ट इम स - 9 अप र ल 2017 स र त: ल कमत सम च र - 9 अप र ल 2017

5 क र चक रम: र स थ प ददवस व ज ञ न क क ष त र ल र त आह त अच छ दद स र त: ल कमत - 9 अप र ल 2017

6 Event: CSIR-NEERI Foundation Day CSIR should Seek More Funds for Research Sources: Hitavada 9 April 2017

7 Event: National Technology Day National Technology Day Celebration

Event: World Environmental Day NEERI Celebrates World Environment Day, signs MOU with VIA Nagpur: Municipal commissioner Ashwin Mudgal assured that Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) would take

8 Event: World Environmental Day NEERI Celebrates World Environment Day, signs MOU with VIA Nagpur: Municipal commissioner Ashwin Mudgal assured that Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) would take necessary steps to address the problems of sewage treatment and solid waste management in the city. Mudgal was speaking on the occasion of World Environment Day at the CSIR- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) on Monday. Sticking to the day's theme for this year 'Connecting public with nature', Neeri launched a waste segregation campaign in slum areas to create awareness. Neeri officials distributed free dustbins in slums of Ajni and explained the dwellers about segregation of wet and dry waste. The institute also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA). "CSIR- NEERI will function as a help-desk centre for the industries of Nagpur region. We will provide them support and technical guidance in ensuring environment protection and curbing industrial pollution," Neeri's spokesperson said.

9 Event: World Environmental Day NEERI Celebrates World Environment Day, signs MOU with VIA A panel discussion on role of citizens in urban environment management was also organized. Talking about people's role in environment protection, SP Gautam, member of Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission and former chairman of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said, "It is necessary to maintain an ecological balance. Spiritual books are the best medium for acquiring knowledge regarding conservation of nature. This knowledge with practical experience turns into science." To encourage use of fuel-less transport, employees of Neeri had organized a cycle rally on Monday morning. A debate competition on 'Free food and power is this really a sustainable option?' was also organized.

10 Event: World Environmental Day

11 Event: World Environmental Day

12 Event: World Environmental Day

13 Event: World Environmental Day

14 Event: World Environmental Day

15 Event: Workshop

16 Event: Workshop

17 Event: Workshop

18 River Rejuvenation Brainstorming Sessions on River Ecosystem: Management & Conservation and Urban Planning

19 River Rejuvenation Brainstorming Sessions on River Ecosystem: Management & Conservation and Urban Planning

20 River Rejuvenation Brainstorming Sessions on River Ecosystem: Management & Conservation and Urban Planning

21 River Rejuvenation Brainstorming Sessions on River Ecosystem: Management & Conservation and Urban Planning

22 River Rejuvenation Brainstorming Sessions on River Ecosystem: Management & Conservation and Urban Planning

Ecosystem and Water Pollution NGT Orders Probe Into ESSAR s illegal Constructions in Gujarat s Eco-Sensitive Zone The Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal appointed a three-member Court

23 Ecosystem and Water Pollution NGT Orders Probe Into ESSAR s illegal Constructions in Gujarat s Eco-Sensitive Zone The Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal appointed a three-member Court Commission comprising director of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), senior scientist of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and director of Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Jamnagar for local investigation to ascertain exact area which is being used by the Essar Bulk Terminal (Salaya) Ltd (EBT). The green bench, comprising Justice U D Salvi and Ajay Deshpande, has directed the committee to ascertain the extent of constructions carried out by EBT.

24 Ecosystem and Water Pollution NGT Orders Probe Into ESSAR s illegal Constructions in Gujarat s Eco-Sensitive Zone The Salaya Fishermen s Association (SFA) had filed an application for appointment of Court Commissioner/Commission to investigate into illegal construction of soil bunds carried out by the EBT. The application also alleged that the EBT has encroached upon protected Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Salaya Marine National Park and Sanctuary. It claimed that the encroachment resulted in the destruction of mangroves and obstruction to inter-tidal water in Salaya Creek. The EBT, however, has replied that there is no illegal construction made by them. The probe order, which was passed on May 25, was uploaded on June 14 on the tribunal s website. The SFA counsel Asim Sarode submitted before the NGT that the Notification dated August 22, 2013, declared sq km area around Salaya Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary as ESZ, of which area measuring sq km is landward, sq km is seaward and sq km is covered by rivers. The committee has to furnish its report before July 26.

25 Event: Induction and Orientation Programme Induction and Orientation Programme for Student/Trainees of CSIR-NEERI

Produced by Unit for Science Dissemination, CSIR, Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, New Delhi

Produced by Unit for Science Dissemination, CSIR, Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, New Delhi 1 CSIR-NBRI 9 th April 2017 Published in: Sunday Navbharat Times, Page 6 Also Published in: Dainik Jagran, Page 15 Rashtriya Sahara, Page 8, 7 th April 2017 21 CSIR-SERC 9 th April 2017 Published in: Dainik