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Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Isotopic study of dust particles undertaken to understand their impact on environment'
With several cities in the state being hotspots of air pollution, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has initiated some necessary steps to reduce the load and ensure a safe environment for people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an exclusive interview by B K Mishra, BSPCB chairman Devendra Kumar Shukla has said the board has recently launched an isotopic study of dust particles in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for identifying their source. Excerpts: Bihar is ranked among one of the most polluted regions in the world. Why? Some pockets of Bihar are certainly considered hotspots of air pollution mainly due to the large concentration of dust particles in atmosphere, but due to the recent initiatives of the BSPCB, the position has improved considerably. Recently released World Air Quality Report, 2025, by Swiss firm IQAir has shown signs of improvement in several towns. Notably, Patna's position has improved significantly, dropping from 20th place in 2023 to 37th this year. What initiatives have been taken by the board to combat air pollution? Most recently, the board, in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), has undertaken an isotopic study of dust particles in the air to understand their sources, transport and impact on the environment. The NIO has already started collecting samples of dust particles from Patna region in the first phase. After collecting samples from different parts of the state, the work will focus on using isotopic ratios, particularly Sr and Nd isotopes, to trace the origins of the dust particles, especially those transported from river Ganga. Q. You are also making some studies in collaboration with the IITs? A. Earlier, last year, the board started the study of dust particles in three most polluted cities of the state, namely, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Gaya, in collaboration with the IITs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study will identify the "seasonal mass concentration level of PM2.5 and PM10 in ambient air" of the extended urban areas of the thee cities. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are minute particles present in the air, and exposure to these is harmful to health. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries, responsible for an increase in air pollution in an area. The study on dust particles of Patna region is likely to be completed this year. What about water pollution in the state? Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme of the state has not only provided the people with drinking water supply but also enhanced the rate of groundwater recharge. About 1.85 lakh hectare area has benefited under eco-restoration scheme with focus on watershed development. Further, more than 3,500 ahar pynes (a traditional water management and irrigation system) will be restored under the fourth agricultural road map of the state. All these will result in the total groundwater reserve of 34.15 BCM, of which 30.95 BCM can be extracted. At present, only 14.1 BCM of groundwater is being extracted. Hence, there is no problem of groundwater pollution in 473 blocks of the state. Do you think groundwater is being misused in urban areas? As many areas of the state are water-surplus, people are in habit of misutilising this resource. But, its overexploitation can be checked by introducing water meter in the supply system. People will try to save water, if they have to pay for it.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
May brings record rain, climate alert for Goa
Panaji: The month of May this year gave Goans a volatile mix of blistering heatwave-like conditions and torrential rain — both in the pre-monsoon and early monsoon phases. The early arrival of the southwest monsoon, which made landfall in Goa on May 26 — 12 days ahead of schedule — marked a rare meteorological event for the coastal state. Prior to the monsoon's onset, Goa was hit by a surge in the pre-monsoon showers, with a total of 462.3mm recorded till May 25. A single-day downpour on May 21 brought 139.5mm, 'pushing the pre-monsoon rainfall figure to nearly 900% above normal,' said meteorologist and retired National Institute of Oceanography chief scientist, Ramesh Kumar. 'Two weather systems played a critical role in this precipitation surge. On May 24 and 25, a depression in the Arabian Sea near the Goa coast acted as a catalyst for early monsoon currents,' he said. 'A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on May 29 and 30 brought further monsoonal intensification.' As of May 30, the official monsoon rainfall total for Goa stands at 208mm, just four days into the season. The most intense single-day rainfall so far was recorded in Sanquelim on May 28, with 178mm in 24 hours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo That same day, Panaji received 138mm, Canacona 117.2mm, and Margao 104.2mm. May did not start wet — quite the opposite. The first half of the month was dominated by widespread discomfort and heat stress. Then, almost overnight, the heavens opened. 'This dramatic transition from intense heat to extreme rainfall fits precisely into climate change projections,' associate professor at BITS Pilani's Goa campus Rajiv Chaturvedi said. 'The extremes are becoming the new normal. We are, without a doubt, in the middle of climate change.' The report of the State Plan for Action on Climate Change, 2023, warned that Goa could experience maximum temperatures crossing 40°C and minimum temperatures rising at an even higher rate over the next decade. 'Such an increase will make nights extremely uncomfortable and amplify the risk of heat-related illnesses,' Chaturvedi said. More alarmingly, he noted that while daily rainfall events exceeding 150mm used to be rare in Goa, they are now becoming more frequent — a trend expected to continue as global temperatures rise. 'There is an urgent need to climate-proof our state,' he said. 'From heat action plans to flood management strategies and disaster preparedness, we must build climate resilience now. The evidence is not just in climate models anymore — it's in our daily weather.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Goa University begins PhD admission for 2024-25
Panaji: The Goa University has started the process of admissions to PhD programme seats for the academic year 2024-25 at the university schools and research centres affiliated to it. The university notification states that online applications will be received till June 3 and interviews with candidates will be held on June 11 and 12. Declaration of candidates is expected by June 17. The Goa University has announced hundreds of vacancies for PhD across general stream and professional streams. Seats are available at National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa College of Engineering, Goa College of Pharmacy and Goa College of Music, among others. Subjects for research include deep Sea and estuarine geochemical studies, disability and gender studies, biological oceanography, pharmaceutical sciences, law, Hindustani classical music, Marathi feminist literature, among other topics. 'Admission to the PhD programmes is open to candidates who qualify for the fellowship/scholarship in UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR NET/ GATE/CEED and similar national level tests or any other test notified by the UGC from time to time, based on an interview. Candidates not falling under above, but have qualified NET/SET lectureship shall be eligible for admission to the PhD programme based on an interview. There shall be 70% weightage for the score at the NET/SET and 30% weightage for the interview,' the notification states. Candidates not falling under these categories but who have answered the entrance test conducted at the University and those qualifying this test will be eligible to attend the interview, the university has said. Students have to apply for the seats through the e-Samarth portal. Applicants are eligible to apply for a maximum of three programmes, the varsity stated. 'Every candidate shall have to reside within the territorial jurisdiction of Goa University during the first three years of the period of research leading to a PhD degree,' the university said.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Report on Mhadei by NIO will hurt Goa'
Panaji: Protesters gathered outside the Dona Paula-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to express their dismay over a recent report by NIO scientists on the impact of Karnataka's diversion of water from the Mhadei basin. Activists and protesters said that the NIO report will jeopardise Goa's stand in the ongoing dispute over water-sharing. The demonstration was led by activists who have fought against the diversion of water, and by RG president Manoj Parab and St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar. 'Let the NIO scientists tell us how long they spent in the wildlife sanctuary when they conducted the study and why the study was not released in Goa in the presence of CM Pramod Sawant and the WRD minister. Why was it hidden?' said Parab. The NIO study published in the Journal of Earth System Sciences claimed that the diversion of water from the Mhadei basin by Karnataka would have 'less impact' on Goa. Borkar said that the study shows that BJP is committed to permitting Karnataka to divert water from the Mhadei basin. The protesters, under the 'Together For Mahadayi Movement' banner, said the study was led by a scientist from Karnataka. They also alleged that it was undertaken and published at the behest of BJP govt. 'Goa govt is working to strengthen the position of Karnataka and they have used the NIO scientists for this,' said Parab.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Protests in Goa over NIO hydrologists' report claiming Mahadayi river diversion will have limited impact on the coastal State
A protest has emerged in Goa following the publication of a scientific paper, 'The water budget of the Mahadayi river and its implications for the inter-State dispute', by scientists and researchers from the CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Hyderabad. Also Read | Farmers in Karnataka condemn Centre's decision to extend term of Mahadayi tribunal The legal dispute between Karnataka and Goa over the water sharing agreement from the Mahadayi river has lasted over two decades. Despite the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal's (MWDT) order five years ago, the matter remains an emotional subject in both the States. The paper, published in the Journal of Earth System Sciences by scientists and researchers: K. Anilkumar, D. Shankar and K. Suprit — has assessed the water budget of the Mahadayi river, an inter-State basin on India's west coast, by using rainfall mapping and rainfall run-off model to allow them to simulate the discharge at any point along the Mahadayi. The river, called Mahadayi in Karnataka and Mhadei in Goa, arises in the Western Ghats and flows into the eastern Arabian Sea. This river basin is spread over three States — Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The paper says Karnataka's plans for diversion of the river as approved by the MWDT would not have much impact on Goa. The diversion from the Kalasa tributary could have 'significant impact' but its impact is restricted to the northern part of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. Scientists recommend that by creating check dams and storage facilities inside the wildlife sanctuary, the ecological impact of the river diversion could be minimised. The length of the Mahadayi in Karnataka is 36 km and its length in Goa is 74 km. The Mahadayi basin covers an area of 2,032 sq km of which 380 sq km (18%) is in Karnataka, 72 sq km (4%) in Maharashtra, and 1,580 sq km (78%) in Goa. The tribunal has permitted the Karnataka government to utilise 1.72 tmcft of water from Kalasa nala and 2.18 tmcft from Bhandura Nala (two of the main tributaries of Mahadayi). Tillari dam example The researchers suggest a solution in the paper that Goa and Karnataka can reach an agreement on similar lines to the one Goa has with Maharashtra for the Tillari dam, in which the dam is built upstream on the Maharashtra side, since Goa does not have the space nor the geography to host a large dam without a huge environmental and people cost — and both States have a share of the water. For the Kalasa nala, there is a significant impact of the permitted diversion — 1.72 tmcft (48.7 Mcum) by the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal in the northern part of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, but the impact on the Mahadayi discharge on the Mandovi estuary is less than the natural variability. Similarly, the diversion of 2.18 tmcft (61.73 Mcum) from the Bhandura nala as permitted by the tribunal will only have a minor impact on the (river's) discharge at the Goa–Karnataka border, the paper said. The MWDT was set up in 2010 following the failure of the States to reach an agreement. The tribunal passed the order in August 2018 and in its award granted Karnataka a total of 13.42 tmcft (380 Mcum) of water of which 8.02 tmcft (227 Mcum) was for the proposed Mhadei Hydroelectric project, 1.5 tmcft (42 Mcum) for in basin use and irrigation and allowed the diversion of 1.72 tmcft (48 Mcum) of water from the Kalasa stream and 2.18 tmcft (61 Mcum) at the proposed Bandura dam. In all, the tribunal permitted Karnataka to divert 110 Mcum of water from the Mhadei basin to the east flowing into Malaprabha basin. Both the States have challenged the tribunal's verdict before the Supreme Court. 'Though the tribunal upheld Goa's contention that the projects would jeopardise navigation in the Mandovi estuary, available information is sufficient to show that these projects have no impact on navigation in the Mandovi estuary or the Cumbarjua Canal. Indeed, navigation in the Mandovi, which is made possible by the tides, is possible even during the lean season, when the natural flow of the Mhadei is negligible,' the paper said. Demand explanation Following this report, members of the Mhadei Movement, dressed in blue T-shirt, staged a protest outside the NIO complex near Goa's Dona Paula, with placards displaying a red cross mark on the photographs of the scientists, shaming them, with words such as 'BJP sold Mahadayi', 'Mhadei deal by NIO', 'Anti-Goa NIO'... demanding an explanation from the hydrologists and the institutes for the reason behind publishing the report. Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) president Manoj Parab said, 'Why are the non-Goan scientists running research on this subject that does not concern them? We are questioning the timing of this report. We spoke to environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar who has done extensive research on Mhadei and he told us that the NIO scientists wrote the report sitting inside their air-conditioned office without having any ground understanding. The three scientists have manufactured this report to favour Karnataka which has gone ahead with the construction of dams on the river, despite the case being heard by the Supreme Court. This is a conspiracy by the BJP.' The party further demanded Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Congress leaders from the State to come out and speak on the matter and make their stand clear or are they too in favour of the report, Mr. Parab questioned. Viresh Mukesh Borkar, RGP's MLA, said, 'The report was published on September 11, 2024, quietly, and no one knew. It is surprising as the Chief Minister also did not say a word on this for so many months. This looks like a hidden agenda of the BJP government. When the case is already before the Supreme Court, publishing this report means the scientists want to favour the case of the Karnataka government. It is a known fact that Goa's groundwater is depleting, and this river serves the people and flora and fauna of north Goa, if they block its flow from the Western Ghats, Goa will face a man-made disaster.'
