Latest news with #BabasahebAmbedkarTechnologicalUniversity
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Limit horse movement, curb Matheran pollution: Report
PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, which are inhalable. These particles are considered "coarse" and can be found in dust, smoke, and other air pollutants. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PM10 is responsible for severe lung infections and congestion. PM2.5, which is smaller than 2.5 micrometers, is considered the most hazardous air pollutant. It can be deposited in lungs, causing respiratory problems and other health issues. The report attributed the source of the air pollution in these three regions to aerosolized dried dung particles, dust generation from unpaved roads, and ammonia and methane volatilization during dung composition. For water quality, researchers collected samples from Charlotte Lake near Dashkriya Shade and four other areas. The report highlighted severe contamination of water sources, with levels of turbidity, E. coli, nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals like lead exceeding safe limits. These indicators pointed to direct faecal pollution, nutrient overload and potential health risks. "The convergence of nutrient enrichment, microbial loading, and toxic heavy metal presence signifies a cumulative ecological degradation scenario. This not only threatens local biodiversity, especially in streams and forest riparian zones, but also undermines soil stability and water quality across the landscape," said the report. This can cause algal blooms and lack of access to safe water as well, the report said, and added that high salinity, along with elevated carbon, in the soil could cause significant ecological stress. Soil health was degrading in areas with high horse traffic, and urgent measures should be taken to stop the contamination of water bodies at the hill station, the report added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The team suggested detailed waste management and limiting the movement of horses to less than 300 a day to ensure less stress on the environment. In Oct, the National Green Tribunal bench in Pune heard an application by a resident, stating that Matheran faced serious environmental degradation due to the excessive use of horses for tourism and goods transportation. The bench then constituted a joint committee of representatives from the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, Matheran municipal council and MPCB to assess the damage and suggest recuperation methods. MPCB sought assistance from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Raigad, the state's umbrella university for engineering colleges, to make an elaborate assessment of the damage. An expert team from BATU and Nagesh Karajagi Orchid College of Engineering and Technology in Solapur, conducted the first phase of the assessment during the pre-monsoon period. The first phase involved systematic sampling of air, water and soil across various locations. The team is now preparing to carry out the second phase of the assessment during the monsoon season.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Innovative patent granted for ‘drought monitoring and assessment'
In a breakthrough development for drought management, a patent has been granted by the Indian Patent Office for an innovative system for drought monitoring and assessment that combines geospatial technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The patented invention was filed by Sandeep Gaikwad and Prof KV Kale, former SPPU Vice-Chancellor, who is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU), Lonere. Addressing the urgent need for precise and real-time drought assessment, especially for drought-prone regions like Marathwada, which faces drought episodes every 2–3 years. 'Traditional drought assessment methods such as Annewari and Paisewari, though historically significant, have major limitations compared to modern technologies. Furthermore, delayed results with estimates for Kharif crops available only by December and Rabi crops by March slow down the process of providing timely relief to affected farmers,' said Prof Kale. The entire research and development work was carried out by Gaikwad under the guidance of Prof Kale. In this patent, Dr Amol Vibhute, Dr Rajesh Dhumal, and Dr Rupali Surase also contributed significantly to the research work. 'The newly patented methodology uniquely integrates satellite remote sensing data, smartphone-based ground truth collection, and IoT sensor networks to monitor agricultural drought conditions with high accuracy. A pilot study was conducted in Vaijapur tehsil of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, a region highly vulnerable to drought,' said Sandeep Gaikwad. 'This innovative system is expected to revolutionise drought monitoring by offering precise, location-specific, and timely assessments, which are critical for taking preventive measures and reducing the impact of droughts on agriculture and rural livelihoods. The solution is scalable and can be expanded to other drought-prone areas across India,' said Prof Kale.
