Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Sep 10 2014 : Mirror (Pune)
Solar desalination for Indian villages
Pune Mirror Bureau punemirror.feedback@gmail.com TWEET @ThePuneMirror
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A new initiative could create off-the-grid solar-powered desalination plants that could provide palatable drinking water to rural Indian communities with salty groundwater
Around the world, there is more salty groundwater than fresh, drinkable groundwater. For example, 60 per cent of India is underlain by salty water – and much of that area is not served by an electric grid that could run conventional reverseosmosis desalination plants.Now an analysis by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers shows that a different desalination technology called electrodialysis, powered by solar panels, could provide enough clean, palatable drinking water to supply the needs of a typical village.
The study, by Natasha Wright and Amos Winter, appears in the journal Desalination.
Winter explains that finding optimal solutions to problems such as saline groundwater involves “detective work to understand the full set of constraints imposed by the market.” After weeks of field research in India, and reviews of various established technologies, he says, “when we put all these pieces of the puzzle together, it pointed very strongly to electrodialysis” – which is not what is commonly used in developing nations.
The factors that point to the choice of electrodialysis in India include both relatively low levels of salinity – ranging from 500 to 3,000 milligrams per liter, compared with seawater at about 35,000 mg/L – as well as the region’s lack of electrical power.
Such moderately salty water is not directly toxic, but it can have longterm effects on health, and its unpleasant taste can cause people to turn to other, dirtier water sources.
“It’s a big issue in the water-supply community,” Winter says.
HOW IT WORKS
Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, Winter says, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.
Both electrodialysis and reverse osmosis require the use of membranes, but those in an electrodialysis system are exposed to lower pressures and can be cleared of salt buildup simply by reversing the electrical polarity.
That means the expensive membranes should last much longer and require less maintenance, Winter says. In addition, electrodialysis systems recover a much higher percentage of the water – more than 90 per cent, compared with about 40 to 60 per cent from reverse-osmosis systems, a big advantage in areas where water is scarce.
Having carried out this analysis, Wright and Winter plan to put together a working prototype for field evaluations in India in January.
While this approach was initially conceived for village-scale, self-contained systems, Winter says the same technology could also be useful for applications such as disaster relief, and for military use in remote locations.
Susan Amrose, a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkeley who was not involved in this work, says, Amrose adds, “The water scarcity challenges facing India in the near future cannot be overstated. India has a huge population living on top of brackish water sources in regions that are water-scarce or about to become waterscarce. A solution with the potential to double recoverable water in an environment where water is becoming more precious by the day could have a huge impact.”
The study, by Natasha Wright and Amos Winter, appears in the journal Desalination.
Winter explains that finding optimal solutions to problems such as saline groundwater involves “detective work to understand the full set of constraints imposed by the market.” After weeks of field research in India, and reviews of various established technologies, he says, “when we put all these pieces of the puzzle together, it pointed very strongly to electrodialysis” – which is not what is commonly used in developing nations.
The factors that point to the choice of electrodialysis in India include both relatively low levels of salinity – ranging from 500 to 3,000 milligrams per liter, compared with seawater at about 35,000 mg/L – as well as the region’s lack of electrical power.
Such moderately salty water is not directly toxic, but it can have longterm effects on health, and its unpleasant taste can cause people to turn to other, dirtier water sources.
“It’s a big issue in the water-supply community,” Winter says.
HOW IT WORKS
Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, Winter says, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.
Both electrodialysis and reverse osmosis require the use of membranes, but those in an electrodialysis system are exposed to lower pressures and can be cleared of salt buildup simply by reversing the electrical polarity.
That means the expensive membranes should last much longer and require less maintenance, Winter says. In addition, electrodialysis systems recover a much higher percentage of the water – more than 90 per cent, compared with about 40 to 60 per cent from reverse-osmosis systems, a big advantage in areas where water is scarce.
Having carried out this analysis, Wright and Winter plan to put together a working prototype for field evaluations in India in January.
While this approach was initially conceived for village-scale, self-contained systems, Winter says the same technology could also be useful for applications such as disaster relief, and for military use in remote locations.
Susan Amrose, a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkeley who was not involved in this work, says, Amrose adds, “The water scarcity challenges facing India in the near future cannot be overstated. India has a huge population living on top of brackish water sources in regions that are water-scarce or about to become waterscarce. A solution with the potential to double recoverable water in an environment where water is becoming more precious by the day could have a huge impact.”
ep 10 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)
Kashmir Floods Need Special Response
Long-term damage when a valley gets flooded
Buildings in Srinagar are submerged two-storeys deep.These floods are more severe than anything in recent memory in the place. In the hills or on the plains, heavy rains or a cloudburst can cause huge damage but the water will soon drain away . It will take much, much longer in a valley , where the only way out for the water is into the ground. This means that even buildings that withstood the initial impact of the rains would eventually give way , as they stay under water for an extended period.This could mean that rehabilitation in flood-ravaged Kashmir would be of a different order of magnitude as compared to that after the periodic floods that other parts of the country are used to. The nation must gear up for a huge, prolonged effort, even after the immediate relief measures are over.The government has initiated action. But it is not enough to leave everything to the government. Even for immediate relief, in which boats, rafts, chlorine tablets to make the available water fit for drinking, medicines for waterborne diseases and temporary shelters have to be procured and delivered, there is every reason for non-state agencies to chip in. Political parties and their youth and volunteer wings should mobilise themselves and launch into action. They are the most readily available vehicles for organised action available to channel the readiness of those who want to help into useful action on the ground. Parties should understand that the end to which they pursue power, the common good, right now means helping floodaffected people in Kashmir.
Companies have corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to spend this year. The government should notify Kashmir flood relief as CSR-eligible. People in Kashmir should plan and design the habitat that will have to be rebuilt, to minimise flood damage in future. Expertise from around the world should be drawn in to do this planning. Individual components of the plan should then be taken up by those who want to chip in. Relief and rehabilitation in Kashmir is a challenge the nation must rise to.
Companies have corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to spend this year. The government should notify Kashmir flood relief as CSR-eligible. People in Kashmir should plan and design the habitat that will have to be rebuilt, to minimise flood damage in future. Expertise from around the world should be drawn in to do this planning. Individual components of the plan should then be taken up by those who want to chip in. Relief and rehabilitation in Kashmir is a challenge the nation must rise to.
Sep 10 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Neel Mukherjee's novel makes it to Booker shortlist
London:
PTI
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Kolkata-born British author Neel Mukherjee's latest novel `The Lives of Others', set in troubled Bengal of the 1960s and centres around a dysfunctional family, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize 2014, in its debut as a global literary award.Mukherjee, who had studied at Oxford and Cambridge, was also the only Indian-origin author to be longlisted earlier this year, the first time that the prestigious literary award opened up for anyone writing in English regardless of their nationality.
“We are delighted to announce our international shortlist. These six books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand, Italy , Calcutta and times past, present and future,“ said A C Grayling, chair of the 2014 judging panel.
“We had a lengthy and in tensive debate to whittle the list down to these six. It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe will demonstrate the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English,” he added.
Mukherjee, who is now a British citizen, was selected for his second novel which was published in May this year. He reviews fiction for the Times and the Sunday Telegraph and his first novel, ‘ A Life Apart’ was a joint winner of the Vodafone-Crossword Award in India.
The other authors shortlisted include, US authors Joshua Ferris for ‘To Rise Again at a Decent Hour’ and Karen Joy Fowler for ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves’; Australian Richard Flanagan for ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’; and British authors Howard Jacobson for ‘J’ and Ali Smith for ‘How to be Both.’
“We are delighted to announce our international shortlist. These six books take the reader on journeys around the world, between the UK, New York, Thailand, Italy , Calcutta and times past, present and future,“ said A C Grayling, chair of the 2014 judging panel.
“We had a lengthy and in tensive debate to whittle the list down to these six. It is a strong, thought-provoking shortlist which we believe will demonstrate the wonderful depth and range of contemporary fiction in English,” he added.
Mukherjee, who is now a British citizen, was selected for his second novel which was published in May this year. He reviews fiction for the Times and the Sunday Telegraph and his first novel, ‘ A Life Apart’ was a joint winner of the Vodafone-Crossword Award in India.
The other authors shortlisted include, US authors Joshua Ferris for ‘To Rise Again at a Decent Hour’ and Karen Joy Fowler for ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves’; Australian Richard Flanagan for ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’; and British authors Howard Jacobson for ‘J’ and Ali Smith for ‘How to be Both.’
ep 10 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
RELIEF FOR BABUS - Govt employees can declare their assets by Dec 31
New Delhi:
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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The government has extended the September 15 deadline for public servants to file revised returns of their assets and liabilities under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act to December 31, 2014.The government has also amended the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 to increase the timeframe for making rules regarding filing of annual returns and declaration of assets by public servants, from “within a period not exceeding 270 days (from the Lokpal law coming into force)” to “within a period not exceeding 360 days”.
Giving reasons for the amendment, a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order issued on Monday noted that many ministries and departments had raised concerns about the complexities involved in posting every detail of a public servant’s assets in the public domain. The concerns include “exacerbation of vulnerabilities of the public servants after filing such details, specifically of moveable property and their publication on the websites of respective ministriesdepartments, giving rise to apprehension of safety and security of family members of the public servant, particularly his children”.
Incidentally, Union minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh on Tuesday denied that any public servant had expressed concern or reservations against placing information of his assetsliabilities in the public domain. With the report of a committee, appointed by the Centre on August 28 to simplify the manner in which a public servant shall make declaration of assets and lia bilities, expected within 45 days, the DoPT has extended the outer limit for completion of the process of framing the said rules from 270 days to 360 days. As per the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns), all public servants must declare, apart from their immoveable property , their moveable and liquid assets such as vehicles, cash in hand, gold and other precious jewellery , investments in shares, bonds and mutual funds as well as bank deposits, etc.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Giving reasons for the amendment, a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order issued on Monday noted that many ministries and departments had raised concerns about the complexities involved in posting every detail of a public servant’s assets in the public domain. The concerns include “exacerbation of vulnerabilities of the public servants after filing such details, specifically of moveable property and their publication on the websites of respective ministriesdepartments, giving rise to apprehension of safety and security of family members of the public servant, particularly his children”.
Incidentally, Union minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh on Tuesday denied that any public servant had expressed concern or reservations against placing information of his assetsliabilities in the public domain. With the report of a committee, appointed by the Centre on August 28 to simplify the manner in which a public servant shall make declaration of assets and lia bilities, expected within 45 days, the DoPT has extended the outer limit for completion of the process of framing the said rules from 270 days to 360 days. As per the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns), all public servants must declare, apart from their immoveable property , their moveable and liquid assets such as vehicles, cash in hand, gold and other precious jewellery , investments in shares, bonds and mutual funds as well as bank deposits, etc.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Sep 10 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Govt plans to fight child abuse with awareness
New Delhi:
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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There will be three programmes for kids in the 5-8, 9-12 and 12-18 age groups and one for parents, teachers and care-givers in children's homes
In an effort to prevent child abuse in general and sexual abuse in particular, the women and child development department of the Delhi government will soon create “comprehensive awareness modules“.There will be three separate programmes for kids in the 5-8, 9-12 and 12-18 age groups and one for parents, teachers and care-givers in children's homes. To help with the development of modules, a “brainstorming exercise“--they're calling it `Stay Safe-Prevention-Educating Children'--is planned for September 11.
Principal secretary (women & child development), government of Delhi, Dr Satbir Bedi, while giving details informed, “The department believes that though there are laws in place, it is imperative to create a culture of prevention of child abuse at home, in school and form a partnership network to raise awareness, mobilise public opinion and action, and disseminate prevention programs. Child abuse affects millions of children and families every year and this menace has to be stopped.“
Bedi added that raising awareness will not only give children the tools to defend themselves but also encourage them to report incidents.A2007 study conducted by the department had found that over 85% child sex offenders were known to victims and only about 25% victims ever reported the incidents.
The awareness modules will be developed in consultation with experts from gov ernment departments, independent institutions and civil society at a national level. Inputs will be sought from the national and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Department of Education and a number of NGOs across the country .
“The module for 5-8-years age group, for instance, would describe examples of positive and harmful practices; define sexual abuse; stress on personal safety and good touchbad touch,“ says a statement issued by the department, “It would arm the child with self-awareness techniques and reinforce hisher feelings of security and self confidence.“ The module for the nine-12 agegroup will explain forced sexual activity, sexual abuse and its prevention; understanding their bodies' changing physiology and needs, among others; the one for 1218 year olds will explain the law. The care-give module will be on reading the signs of abuse, response and legal provisions.
Interestingly , the DCPCR had brought out a batch of guidelines on “Prevention of Child Abuse“ last year. It was meant to be implemented in schools but authorities are yet to develop a suitable mechanism for its implementation.
Principal secretary (women & child development), government of Delhi, Dr Satbir Bedi, while giving details informed, “The department believes that though there are laws in place, it is imperative to create a culture of prevention of child abuse at home, in school and form a partnership network to raise awareness, mobilise public opinion and action, and disseminate prevention programs. Child abuse affects millions of children and families every year and this menace has to be stopped.“
Bedi added that raising awareness will not only give children the tools to defend themselves but also encourage them to report incidents.A2007 study conducted by the department had found that over 85% child sex offenders were known to victims and only about 25% victims ever reported the incidents.
The awareness modules will be developed in consultation with experts from gov ernment departments, independent institutions and civil society at a national level. Inputs will be sought from the national and Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Department of Education and a number of NGOs across the country .
“The module for 5-8-years age group, for instance, would describe examples of positive and harmful practices; define sexual abuse; stress on personal safety and good touchbad touch,“ says a statement issued by the department, “It would arm the child with self-awareness techniques and reinforce hisher feelings of security and self confidence.“ The module for the nine-12 agegroup will explain forced sexual activity, sexual abuse and its prevention; understanding their bodies' changing physiology and needs, among others; the one for 1218 year olds will explain the law. The care-give module will be on reading the signs of abuse, response and legal provisions.
Interestingly , the DCPCR had brought out a batch of guidelines on “Prevention of Child Abuse“ last year. It was meant to be implemented in schools but authorities are yet to develop a suitable mechanism for its implementation.
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