Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Envigreen develops environment friendly plastic product

In Ashwath Hegde’s 10th-floor office in the south-Indian city of Bengaluru, plastic has become a multi-sensory experience.

“Just see what happens,” Hegde says, tearing a piece from a small plastic bag and setting it on fire. “There are no fumes. Plastic normally has a horrible smell when it burns.”

Hegde... Read more..

Major power consumers zero in on Madhya Pradesh for solar energy

Giant power consumers are now inclined towards solar energy to cut back expenditure in a long run and ensuring their contribution in promotion of green energy in India. Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited is the centre of attraction in the country for signing lowest solar power tariff of Rs 2.97 per unit in the country at Rewa Ultra Mega Project.

Major consumers like Indian Oil Corporation, Oil India... Read more..

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to sell treated domestic waste water

For the first time, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is offering treated domestic waste water from its Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) for sale.

For a start, HMWSSB will charge Rs 125 per 5,000 litres, with the tanker and transportation charges to be borne by consumers. Earlier, the Board was diverting all the treated water into Musi River. Now, the Board intends to put the... Read more..

Centre clears Ganga cleaning projects worth Rs 1,050 crore for Patna

The Centre has awarded projects worth Rs 1,050 crore to different private companies for setting up sewage treatment infrastructure in Patna in next two to three years. The projects are part of the government's Ganga cleaning programme under its 'Namami Gange' mission.

The amount will be spent for setting up two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), renovation of one existing STP, construction of two pumping... Read more..

Bengaluru water crisis: Karnataka faces severe scarcity, 160 of 176 taluks declared drought-hit

The South Indian state, Karnataka is facing a severe water crisis for the fourth consecutive season as less than 20% water is left in 9 of Karnataka’s 12 dams. The situation is getting worse in the state as we are heading towards the cropping season and even the IT city of Bengaluru may face a drinking water crisis by May. Currently, 160 of 176 taluks in Karnataka have been declared drought-hit while the rainfall has come down by 40-70% between August and December bringing down the agricultural production to... Read more..

Industry should make sustainable plastics for infrastructure: Suresh Prabhu

 As part of an effort to grow while preserving the fragile environment, industry should try and make sustainable plastics for developing infrastructure, said Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways, at a ‘Conference on plastic processing’, organised by FICCI last week. He underlined the need for developing sustainable infrastructure and creating opportunities for moving to the next level of a sustainable paradigm.

... Read more..

Coca-Cola Supports Program to Get Customers to Return Used Plastic Bottles

Coca-Cola is supporting a plan to cut waste by charging consumers a small fee upfront that would be handed back if they return their bottles. The goal is to prevent litter and to cut down on trash going into landfills.

The Independent is reporting that such an effort is already underway in Germany and Sweden — and that if approved, it would go into effect in Scotland, which along with the rest of the United... Read more..

Arunachal CM Khandu holds meeting with officials of REC & SECI

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today held a meeting with officials of REC and SECI to discuss ongoing Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) scheme being implemented in the state.

The chief minister sought information on the status of tender floated and pending works regarding the rural electrification work under the DDUGJY scheme with the officials of the Rural Electrification... Read more..

Solar solution to water crisis in Sundargarh

Come summer and rural population in tribal-dominated Sundargarh district can be seen walking miles for collecting water. But, not anymore. The scene in rural Sundargarh has changed for the better. At least four lakh people would have assured safe drinking water through solar dual pump sets and Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants.

During peak summer remote rural pockets, particularly the non-electrified villages,... Read more..

Andaman & Nicobar: Power consumers urged to install rooftop solar systems

The A&N Administration, under the guidance of Lt. Governor and in order to reduce the dependency on diesel generated power, is in the process of framing a Solar Policy with an aim to introduce green energy in the islands by harnessing solar energy through ‘Rooftop Solar Plants’ in all sectors, including private residential buildings.

In this regard, bids are being invited from the developers/manufactures... Read more..

Wind power auction: PTC India to facilitate 1,000 Mw electricity trade

PTC India Ltd, India’s largest power trading company, will act as the trading partner for sale and purchase of power from wind power projects selected through the government’s first-ever auction of wind power projects of 1,000 Megawatt capacity. PTC will be the nodal entity for supplying power to utilities after entering into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with successful bidders.

With the just concluded... Read more..

Bengal government draws up green city blueprint

The Mamata Banerjee government has come up with an operation guideline on the 'Green Cities Mission' for all the urban local bodies of the state. The government has allocated Rs 456 crore from the state plan fund this year for the mission.

State urban development and municipal affairs department minister Firhad Hakim held a meeting with the mayors, chairpersons and other representatives of all municipalities... Read more..