logo
Enhancing environmental sustainability and promoting scientific waste management practices

Enhancing environmental sustainability and promoting scientific waste management practices

Hans India7 days ago
Guwahati: In a significant step towards enhancing environmental sustainability and promoting scientific waste management practices, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has commenced a comprehensive survey for the implementation of an Integrated Garbage Treatment System (IGTS), officials said. NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that the IGTS would be implemented at NFR headquarters in Maligaon, near Guwahati, and Pandu Railway Colonies under the jurisdiction of the Lumding railway division. He said that the survey is being conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with NFR.
As a part of this collaboration, IITG would provide technical consultancy and conduct extensive field studies to assess the feasibility design and execution strategy of the proposed system. The initiative is expected to set a benchmark in smart and sustainable waste disposal across railway establishments, Sharma said.
According to the NFR CPRO, upon completion of the field survey, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared and submitted to NFR. The DPR would outline the required infrastructure, estimated costs, treatment methodology and implementation timelines for the proposed system.
The proposed integrated garbage treatment system would focus on segregation at source, scientific disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, composting and recycling measures in line with Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines and national waste management protocols, the official said.
This initiative is aimed at improving the overall cleanliness, hygiene and living conditions for railway employees and their families residing in these colonies.
It will also help reduce the environmental footprint of railway operations and contribute towards a zero-waste colony model, Sharma added. The CPRO said that the Northeast Frontier Railway remains steadfast in its dedication to sustainable practices, infrastructural innovation and enhancing the quality of life for its employees and neighbouring
communities.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SCoR GM leads Swachh Bharat drive
SCoR GM leads Swachh Bharat drive

The Hindu

time6 hours ago

  • The Hindu

SCoR GM leads Swachh Bharat drive

General Manager of South Coast Railway (SCoR), Sandeep Mathur, participated in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign at East Point Colony, on Wednesday, reaffirming the commitment to maintain railway premises free from plastic waste, garbage, and filth. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is being observed across Indian Railways from August 1 to August 31, 2025, with the objective of fostering a culture of cleanliness among the workforce. Mr. Sandeep Mathur led the cleanliness drive at the East Point Colony, along with officers, staff, Railway Protection Force personnel, and Swachh Sewaks. During the event, the General Manager administered the Swachhta Pledge to railway officers, staff, and Swachh Sewaks, encouraging them to uphold cleanliness standards and take active roles in the Swachh Bharat Mission initiatives. Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) of SCoRB Chandra Sekhar along with other senior officials participated in the event. Mr. Sandeep Mathur underlined the importance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in eliminating single-use plastics, promoting scientific waste disposal, and enhancing public awareness and participation in creating a cleaner and healthier environment.

Indias only ape Western Hoolock Gibbon under threat: Primatologist
Indias only ape Western Hoolock Gibbon under threat: Primatologist

News18

time16 hours ago

  • News18

Indias only ape Western Hoolock Gibbon under threat: Primatologist

Guwahati, Aug 6 (PTI) The endangered Western Hoolock Gibbons, the only ape of India, are under threat with cases of local extinction already observed in fragmented forest patches in the northeast region, a primatologist said here on Wednesday. Habitat loss due to encroachment, unregulated resource extraction, infrastructure development, tea plantations, shifting cultivation, hunting, and wildlife trafficking are threats to these primates, he said. "There has been a steady decline in the population of Western Hoolock Gibbons with cases of local extinction observed in fragmented forest patches of the northeastern region in India," primatologist Dilip Chetry said after returning from Antananarivo in Madagascar, where the 30th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) was held recently. He urged the central government to initiate a national-level Project Gibbon, modelled on Project Tiger or Project Elephant, to ensure the long-term survival of India's only ape. He pointed out that the Western Hoolock Gibbon is one of the 20 gibbon species found in Asia, and its distribution spans eastern Bangladesh, northeastern India, and parts of Myanmar. The population of the ape in India is restricted to the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river and east of the Dibang river across seven states in the northeast region. The primatologist, who is also the vice chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group – South Asia, called for urgent conservation actions, including the restoration of degraded habitats, creation of ecological corridors, scientific research, capacity building for forest staff, and community engagement. He also stressed the need to promote the Western Hoolock Gibbon as a flagship species to generate broader public and policy support for biodiversity conservation in the region. Chetry urged the Centre to develop a dedicated 'Gibbon Conservation Action Plan' for each state in northeast India, leading towards a national action plan with dedicated budgetary support. The Congress of the International Primatological Society, held from 20–25 July, brought together 657 registered delegates from 53 countries to evaluate the world's 25 most endangered primates for 2025–2027. The Congress declared 25 most endangered primates of the world, which include six from Asia- Banka Slow Loris, Sangihe Tarsier, Pig-tailed Langur, Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey, Tapanuli Orangutan and Western Hoolock Gibbon, Chetry said. PTI DG BDC view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 13:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

PCMC releases Environmental Status Report 2024-25, civic chief says valuable guide for road ahead
PCMC releases Environmental Status Report 2024-25, civic chief says valuable guide for road ahead

Indian Express

timea day ago

  • Indian Express

PCMC releases Environmental Status Report 2024-25, civic chief says valuable guide for road ahead

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Tuesday unveiled its Environmental Status Report (ESR) for 2024-25, which officials said offered a comprehensive review of the city's environmental indicators and progress. The report was released by Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh during the Standing Committee meeting on Tuesday. 'The environmental progress Pimpri Chinchwad has made is not just the achievement of our systems, but a reflection of the collective participation of our citizens. This ESR is a mirror of our journey so far and a valuable guide for the road ahead,' the civic chief said after releasing the report. 'This report is more than just data—it's a roadmap for Pimpri Chinchwad's sustainable and resilient future. With community participation and administrative commitment, our city can become a national benchmark in green urban living,' said Vijaykumar Khorate, additional commissioner, PCMC. The report takes a comparative look at environmental trends over the last three years and presents detailed insights into the city's land use, population dynamics, rainfall data, water supply, sanitation, air and noise pollution, soil quality, solid waste management, energy usage, transport systems, and key public services. It also covers the impact of smart city initiatives and urban renewal projects, officials said. A key highlight of the report is that Pimpri Chinchwad has once again secured the 'Water+' certification for fulfilling all sewage treatment and reuse benchmarks. This marks the second consecutive year that the city has achieved this status. In addition, PCMC has successfully retained its 7-Star Garbage Free City rating under the Swachh Bharat Mission, thanks to its robust solid waste infrastructure that includes waste-to-energy plants, decentralised composting units, bio-medical and hotel waste processing systems, as well as construction and demolition (C&D) debris treatment facilities, the report said. In 2024-25, the city carried out extensive afforestation drives, planting a total of 1,73,576 native trees with the active involvement of civic bodies, NGOs, schools, and citizens. Air quality monitoring data showed that PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeded permissible standards during certain months, with AQI readings in the 'good' category during monsoon, 'satisfactory' in summer, and 'moderate' during winter. Rising vehicular emissions remain a concern, with a 36% increase in registered vehicles over the past year. However, the share of e-vehicles has steadily increased to 3.5%, with over 50,902 electric vehicles now operating in the city, the report said. PCMC's commitment to sustainable public transport is evident in the growing PMPML fleet, which now includes 1,948 buses—of which 490 are electric and 225 run on CNG. On the sanitation front, all 19 sewage treatment plants in the city collectively process 332 MLD of wastewater, with 31 MLD reused each month for street washing, dust suppression, and landscaping, the report said. The city's waste-to-energy plant has processed over 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of household waste to generate more than 13.6 crore electricity units to date. The C&D waste plant has processed nearly 40,000 metric tonnes of debris, while the hotel wet waste project has produced 1.12 lakh kilograms of biogas from over 3,593 metric tonnes of organic waste. 'This year's ESR not only captures data but also documents the scientific and process-based efforts taken to protect and enhance our environment. Our goal has been continuous improvement, and we hope this report serves as a model for other cities,' said Sanjay Kulkarni, chief engineer, PCMC.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store