Latest news with #BMCs
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Double honour for Kasaragod district in Kerala State Biodiversity Conservation awards
Kasaragod district marked a proud double victory as the Kerala State Biodiversity Board announced its 2023 awards, with the Kasaragod District Panchayat Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) named the Best Biodiversity Management Committee and Government Fisheries HSS Bekal recognised as Best Green School in the State. The District Panchayat BMC was adjudged the best in the State for its biodiversity conservation initiatives, which officials said have set a national model. Among its notable achievements, Kasaragod became the first district in India to officially designate a district tree (Kanjiramaram), flower (Periya Polathli), bird (White-bellied sea eagle), and animal (Palappuvan turtle) in 2023, with conservation efforts for these species already underway. The district has also led the way in decentralised environmental recognition, introducing a district-level biodiversity award – another first in the country. Capacity-building programmes have been held annually for BMCs under the leadership of the district panchayat. The Madhuravanam project, implemented in schools in partnership with the Student Police Cadet scheme, established fruit tree gardens whose conservation and upkeep were later evaluated. Amid concerns over the ecological degradation of laterite hills, known for their laterite richness and biodiversity, efforts are under way to declare these a heritage centre. These initiatives in environmental restoration earned the district panchayat a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a certificate. GFHSS Bekal was selected as the Best Green School for its work through its Biodiversity Club. The school serves as a heritage banana conservation centre, nurturing around 40 rare banana varieties, including those sourced from outside Kerala. Its nursery for rare tree species distributed 2,500 saplings to schools and institutions. Efforts to protect nearly four acres of mangroves along the Bekal river also contributed to the honour. The school has developed a Nakshatra forest with rare plant varieties. The award carried ₹25,000 and a certificate.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
State biodiversity board launches anti-plastic drive
Ranchi: In the lead-up to World Environment Day on June 5, the Jharkhand Biodiversity Board has launched a statewide initiative where BMC will identify and clean plastic-prone areas to combat plastic pollution. The initiative aligns with the 2024 World Environment Day theme of "Eliminating Environment Pollution. " The campaign is being implemented in close coordination with Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level, focusing on both urban and rural regions. In the initial phase of the month-long campaign, BMCs from 50 panchayats were assigned the responsibility of surveying and cleaning up plastic waste in their respective areas. These panchayats are located in five districts: Ranchi, Chatra, Palamu, Giridih, and Hazaribag, where BMCs will work to identify plastic-littered zones, including public areas, forest patches, and biodiversity-sensitive locations. Once collected, the plastic waste will be deposited in designated recycling dustbins. Member secretary and chief executive officer of the JBB, Sanjeev Kumar, stated, "The goal is to reduce plastic waste, promote community awareness, and strengthen the practice of plastic recycling across the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The campaign is not just about clean-up, but also about building awareness of the ecological damage caused by single-use plastics." The campaign encourages the active participation of local volunteers, school students, self-help groups, and panchayat members. Educational sessions, street plays, art and quiz competitions, and public awareness rallies are also being organised in several villages to amplify the message of plastic reduction and proper waste disposal. Kumar added, "As this is a month-long campaign, the awareness activities and plastic collection drives will gradually be extended to other districts across the state beyond the initial five. Additional panchayats will be mobilised in the coming weeks to conduct similar plastic surveys, community engagement programs, and recycling efforts."
Time of India
22-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
State will introduce scheme to revive salt pans, says CM
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that state govt will introduce a new scheme to revive salt pans in Goa. The scheme will be implemented through the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), said Sawant at the International Day for Biodiversity 2025 event at Sanquelim. He felicitated various individuals and communities for their initiatives in biodiversity conservation. 'From khazan farming to kulagars and sacred groves, biodiversity is deeply rooted in Goa's heritage. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), supported by the GSBB, continue to play a pivotal role in preserving our unique ecosystems through local action and community involvement. We will revive salt pans in Goa in collaboration with CSMCRI Bhavnagar and experts like Savita Kerkar. Our focus will be on local bio-salt, livelihoods, and ecological restoration,' said Sawant. He said that GoVan multi-processing centres, utilising local natural produce, run by women have been made operational by the state in Kudne, Pissurlem, Bhironda, Mayem, Pilgao, Verna, Dabhal, Sulcorna and Uguem. He said two more centers are now coming up at Sancorda and Rivona. 'These units are professionally managed to benefit women, farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Goa govt is committed to aligning biodiversity conservation with livelihood generation and sustainable development,' said Sawant.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
State level International Biodiversity Day events to be held in Dang
Gandhinagar: The state-level International Day for Biological Diversity events will be held at the Khilad eco-tourism site in Waghai taluka of Dang district on Thursday. The Gujarat Biodiversity Board , in an official statement, said that the inland mangroves in Guneri in Kutch were declared Gujarat's first ' Biodiversity Heritage Site ' early this year. The 'Natural Mango Forest' near Chinchli village in Dang was also proposed as a biodiversity heritage site. The theme for International Biodiversity Day 2025 is ' Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development'. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), effective since 1993, is accepted by over 190 countries, including India. Several events have been planned by the Gujarat Biodiversity Board with the aim to establish harmony between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Members of the biodiversity management committees at the district, taluka, and village levels will participate in the state-level meet. The Gujarat Biodiversity Board is responsible for forming biodiversity management committees (BMC) at the local self-govt level under the Biodiversity Act, 2002. A People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) is created at the district level, documenting biodiversity-related information, traditional knowledge, and biodiversity itself. Additionally, sites of biodiversity importance in the state are declared as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS). Various awareness programmes, such as workshops and radio programmes, are conducted at the state level to inform and encourage BMCs and conservation groups.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Hi-tech dairy to begin operations in Namakkal from January 2026, says Rajya Sabha member
The ₹90-crore hi-tech dairy under construction in Namakkal district will be operational by 14 January 2026, Rajya Sabha member K.R.N. Rajeshkumar said on Thursday. Mr. Rajeshkumar was speaking at a function held in Ariyagoundampatti, Namagiripettai Town Panchayat, where he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for a sewage treatment plant (STP) cum faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP). The ₹15-crore project is being implemented under the Solid Waste Management component of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0. Officials said that this STP-FSTP will be built on two acres of land, with the STP designed to handle 2 MLD and the FSTP with a 10 KLD (10,000 litres) capacity. Under this project, 22 sewage water tanks will be constructed, including eight tanks each at Namagiripettai and Seerapalli town panchayats and six in R. Pudupatti town panchayat. Sewage collected in these tanks in the three town panchayats will be taken to the STP-FSTP through 21.86 km of pipelines. The plant will treat up to 2 MLD of sewage, benefiting 43,823 residents across the three town panchayats. Later, Mr. Rajeshkumar inaugurated three bulk milk coolers (BMCs) installed at Vasanthapuram, Vagurampatti, and Ariyur at a cost of ₹61.88 lakh. He also distributed awards to nine of the region's top-performing milk producers. Mr. Rajeshkumar highlighted progress on the high-tech dairy facility, which incorporates German technology and is being constructed on Mohanur Road, and said it would significantly boost profits for Aavin cooperative milk societies once it becomes operational. MLAs P. Ramalingam and K. Ponnusamy, Namakkal Mayor D. Kalanithi, Deputy Mayor S. Bhoopathi, and officials from various departments were present at the event.
