Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival which many Indians look forward to as in today’s workaholic life, it sums up ten days of spirituality, fun, faith and socializing around. But what many people fail to admit (although, they know it very well) that the after festival picture is filthy with vast amounts of pollution on the beach and inside water where the Elephant God rests post Visarjan. Such people happily befool themselves giving excuses like, “God will take care of the fishes and the beaches.” But now, thanks to Goa government, this year at least in Goa the marine life will not have to ask God’s help for its survival for the much needed human awakening is already set into motion.

Goa’s power and environment minister Alexieo Sequeira recently announced a ban on the manufacturing of Ganesha idols from plaster of Paris in Panaji, in a media conference. These gigantic idols no doubt look wonderful but their molding and modeling involves the use of highly polluting agents like plaster of Paris and coloring pigments that contain toxic chemicals like lead and titanium. These pollutants leach in the waters where these idols are immersed and then, through wave currents the pollutants reach far off areas to disturb the marine ecology. These chemicals are known to alter the life cycle of fishes and other marine fauna. Not only this, the water post Visarjan becomes highly polluted .And this happens year after year. By this time the water has become filthy and polluted enough to give skin diseases and allergies to anyone taking a dip near the beach.

The serious environmental concerns regarding Ganesh and Goddess Durga’s Visarjan
During festivals have aroused enough hues and cries but nothing concrete has happened so far because the state governments have been busy protecting the religious sentiments of people (or may I say, the state authorities have been busy sleeping over the issue!) But now, a streak of positivity has emerged with Goa’s government taking a firm stand against the manufacturing and selling of such polluting idols. The ban if followed religiously can lead to a Green Ganesh Chaturthi this year-one which will not damage the coastal ecology (any further). Also, it will curb the cases of food poisoning in the state population as reported when people consume polluted fishes.

I whole heartedly appreciate this initiative taken by Goa and plead other states to join in for Indian coast lines and marine flora and fauna are quite unique and we must come forward to protect them for posterity.

Via: mapsofindia

The Name: REVOLUTE concept

The Product: An electric vehicle designed innovative for generation next.

The Creator: Indian designer Harsha Vardhan R- Mechanical Engg. Graduate from PESIT, Bangaluru; currently pursuing industrial designing at IIT Delhi (India). He believes in designing beautiful objects that are a blend of form & function!

The Design: Revolute looks like a delicately placed ephemeral bubble on wheels! J
Only that the design is tough besides being visually appealing.

The Salient Features:
·   Static & Dynamic Postures-former for parking and latter in use. The vehicle responds to user’s remote call by assuming the dynamic position.
·   Flashing of personalized messages (to user) from the display alone entire cockpit. Unique concept for emergency contact! Response is triggered by onboard computing facility provided behind the seat which activates the swivel arms enabling the change.
·   Roll out doors aid easy entry& exit.
·   Has heads-up display with personalized message when activated from static position
·   Runs in fuel cells (cleaner technology) which are present in the base of Revolute.
·   Cockpit houses the steering system, swivel seat and on-board computer.
·   Made up of carbon fiber composites & lexan doors and windshields.

Few more:

Via Coroflot

Nestled in the Aravali Hills, Sariska National Park (Rajasthan, India) today, welcomed a male tiger flown in from Ranthambore National Park. This is the first time a big cat has been relocated from one forest to another. Sariska has been an abode for tigers in India and was one of the seats of Project Tiger in India. But in 2004, the tiger population was wiped out completely from this national park by Sansarchand and other poachers.

After this episode of national shame, the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had been thinking about relocating tigers in this area. The proposal to relocate tigers from another national park with relatively large number of tigers (Ranthambore) was cleared by the PM himself sensing the seriousness of the matter. So, the king of the jungle was given a royal treatment and was flown into the park’s Nayapani area in a tranquilized state.

The Indian Air Force was only too happy to join in and provided a MI-17 helicopter to carry the beast. This 3.5yr old male weighing 220 kg is the first among others to be relocated. The WII and NTCA have plans to relocate a tigress in coming week. Other tigers will be brought in Sariska in a period of few months to effectively initiate tiger breeding programs at the national park.

To prevent the sad events of 2004, this time all the relocated tigers will be tightly monitored using GPS collars. These collars help in keeping a close eye over the movements of animals using satellite-based tracking systems. Besides WII officials alongwith Sariska officials will strictly monitor the new king in the region which awaits a name as yet. Also, watchtowers have been set up near Nayapani to observe the settling-down process of the park’s latest inmate.

The event is indeed promising. Here’s wishing good luck to the big cat!

Via TOI