Latest news with #NRSMedicalCollege
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Green Initiative: With new projects, 3 Kolkata colleges turn waste into fuel
In a major push towards sustainable energy, NRS Medical College, Calcutta Pavlov Hospital, and Adyapeath Annada Polytechnic College have successfully launched a pilot project that turns kitchen waste into biogas to run their canteens. Guided by the West Bengal Renewable Energy Department, the initiative is already showing results, saving on fuel costs and cutting down harmful emissions. Biogas is produced when organic matter like leftover food and vegetable waste is broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen, a process known as anaerobic digestion. What's left behind is a slurry that works as a natural fertilizer for farming and also as feed in fishery. The three institutions now use this green fuel directly in their kitchens, reducing dependence on expensive LPG. A senior official from the Renewable Energy Department said the idea stemmed from the growing burden of waste disposal in large establishments like hospitals, malls, and hotels.'Nowadays, LP gas which is generally used for cooking is very costly. Biogas can be easily replaced with LP gas with less cost.' The senior official said that, due to inadequate waste management infrastructure and rising volumes of waste, the problems have become acute, ranging from foul-smelling garbage piles to unreliable collection systems and logistical challenges. He added that untreated organic waste dumped in landfills leads to dangerous methane emissions and environmental contamination. 'The disposal problems of organic waste are twofold. Firstly, organic materials cause severe environmental problems through methane emission in landfill applications. Secondly, disposed organic waste is the prime source of diseases and contamination of air and water.' Methane, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Biogas production not only prevents such emissions but also creates a cleaner environment. According to the energy department sources the biogas plants at NRS and Pavlov hospitals were installed on March 25, each with a 250 kg daily waste capacity and a five-year maintenance plan. The plant at Adyapeath Annada Polytechnic College was completed earlier this month. Together, the three projects cost over Rs 50 lakh. Every day, the kitchens feed 250–300 kg of waste, such as vegetable scraps, rice slurry, and leftovers, into the digesters. This produces between 15 and 25 cubic meters of biogas, depending on the volume of input, which is then piped directly to the kitchens. The nutrient-rich slurry left behind is used in the institutions' gardens. Prasenjit Ghosh, kitchen manager at the NRS canteen, said the system is not only cost-effective but also keeps the hospital surroundings clean. 'This is a very useful project. We are getting energy from waste. It gives us profit in two ways, clean premises and green fuel,' he said. Debashish Goria, a technical expert involved in the project, explained that 100 kg of biodegradable waste can produce around 10 cubic meters of methane gas—equivalent to 4 to 5 kg of LPG. With more waste, the system can generate the equivalent of up to 30 kg of LPG, offering significant savings and energy security. West Bengal Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the green kitchens. 'We're happy with the results at NRS and Pavlov hospitals. It is a step towards a cleaner and greener future. We are planning to expand the project to other hospitals as well,' he said. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Time of India
3 dead, 2 injured in bike accidents
Kolkata: Two pillion riders and one biker died in separate accidents, while two others were critically injured over the past 72 hours. The accidents prompted cops to announce a special two-wheeler safety drive. A biker died after a collision between a luxury bus and his scooter on Bridge No.4 on the Park Circus connector around 12.30 on Saturday night. While Giyas Hossain (46), a resident of Tiljala Road, was declared dead at CNMC Hospital, the pillion rider, Sakar Alam (44), who lives on Jamnagar Road, sustained severe head injuries. He is currently receiving treatment at NRS Medical College & Hospital. Neither was wearing a helmet, said an officer. In the second accident, Mohammad Labib Raja (8) died on Thursday when he was crushed under the wheels of a goods vehicle near Daighat in the South Port area. Raja, a resident of Ekbalpore, was riding pillion on a motorcycle operated by his brother, Mohammad Safi (19). The impact threw both brothers off the bike, and a truck ran over Labib's head. He was not wearing a helmet. Labib was declared dead at SSKM Hospital. Safi sustained leg injuries and was discharged after treatment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo In the third accident on Friday, Soumyadeep Bandyopadhyay (34) from Noapara in North 24 Parganas, lost his balance and fell from motorcycle that he was riding pillion on, and got crushed under the wheels of a KMC truck. The accident occurred near Philips crossing on CIT Road. He was declared dead at NRS Medical College Hospital. Cops said, the bike he was riding on, collided with a taxi door when it suddenly propped open in front of them. In another accident, Prasenjit Roy (54), a resident of Kasba, was severely injured on Friday when he was hit by an unidentified vehicle while he was trying to cross RB Avenue-BB Chatterjee Road at Kasba Bosepukur. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
