Latest news with #Saahas
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
First zero-waste tribal festival of Himachal to set sustainability benchmark in Keylong
CHANDIGARH: The first-ever Zero Waste Tribal Festival of Himachal Pradesh will be held from August 14 to 16 at Keylong. This landmark event will not only celebrate the vibrant tribal heritage of the region but also set a new benchmark for environmentally responsible festivities in the state. Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti Kiran Bhadana said that the 'Zero Waste' vision of the tribal festival will be brought to life through various initiatives, including a complete ban on plastic bottles and disposable cutlery; drinking water availability at multiple stations with regular water quality checks for safe and sustainable hydration; use of pattal (leaf plates) and biodegradable cutlery to ensure eco-friendly servings; banners made of sustainable materials like cloth bags and cloth-based banners replacing plastic; and clearly marked bins for waste segregation at multiple points for different waste types. Bhadana said that the Tribal Festival-2025 is not just a cultural celebration, but also a statement of commitment to sustainability and heritage preservation. 'As Himachal's first Zero Waste Tribal Fair, it will inspire communities across the state to celebrate responsibly while honouring our rich traditions,' he added. The Lahaul and Spiti district administration has partnered with the Healing Himalayas and Saahas NGOs for waste management, sustainability awareness and hands-on education on eco-friendly practices.
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Flower power meets history at Lalbagh's 218th show
Bengaluru: The 218th Lalbagh Flower Show on the weekend is blooming with visitors. The latest edition pays a floral tribute to regional freedom fighters Kittur Rani Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna, and Onake Obavva. The show, which runs until August 18, has already drawn massive crowds to the city's botanical highlight of the show is the replica of the Kittur Fort inside the Glass House, which took a team of 40 people over a month to construct, said Mahesh, a florist who worked on the model. The Horticulture Department has used over 36 lakh flowers of 105 varieties to create a visually stunning and educational experience, added M Jagadeesh, Joint Director of Parks and are soaking in every piece of history on display. It also features models of Lavani dancers and a depiction of Rayanna's execution, blending art and history together for the first time to give an infotainment experience, said Shashwath Koushik, a over 10 lakh people expected to attend, the organisers are doing everything they can to ensure the event remains clean. Sneha R, from the waste management organisation Saahas, told DH about their role in this sees increase in fruit and flower prices ahead of Varamahalakshmi festival .'The organisation engages around 100 volunteers daily to manage waste and raise awareness about littering. We create awareness among the moving crowd who are littering about why they must not litter,' Sneha said, highlighting their focus on high-traffic areas like the Glass House and vendor volunteers also actively participate in 'plogging,' a practice that not only keeps the grounds clean but also reinforces the message of responsibility to the public. 'The people who are eating and throwing will understand that they should not litter,' she added.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
You can buy a product instantly, then why is disposal difficult?
GREEN POWER: Radha Goenka talks of a future green corridor in Mumbai The climate and sustainability sessions threw up compelling questions that look ed at the progressive thinking and action on the ground. 'India's Waste to Energy success story is that every drop of petrol produced is blended with 20per cent ethanol, much of which comes from agri waste. This has saved us Rs 1.1 trillion on crude imports and helped mitigate 544 lakh metric tonnes of CO2,' said SSV Ramakumar of AM Green. Wilma Rodrigues, of Saahas zero waste said: '60per cent of dry waste is low-value plastic that ends up in landfills. When properly sorted, it can be sent to W2E plants (as feedstock).' Pranshu Singhal of Karo Sambhav said while schemes such as the extended producer responsibility were sound, the question of financing waste collection and recycling remained unresolved. 'You can buy a product instantly, why is disposal difficult?' Public policy can't be implemented without investment, said Srestha Banerjee of iFOREST. Policy support and financial resource mobilisation are both needed to develop capacity to scale sustainable solutions, she said. 'Philanthropy can fund experimental climate solutions. As innovative capital, it fills the space between govt and business,' said Radha Goenka of RPG Foundation, whose organisation supported the transformation of a public garden into an urban forest called The Nest in Mumbai, and plans to use it as a prototype to create a green corridor in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo While sustainable solutions need govt and corporate support, communities are no less capable of driving change, said Bipin Odhekar of Marico adding: 'What's important is to build conviction in stakeholder communities.' Aarti Khosla of Climate trends, said: 'There's a lopsided focus on mitigation. We need adaptive solutions to changing weather and to address declining agricultural production due to rising heat, for instance.' Conventional thinking around environment versus development needs to be challenged, insisted Geetanjoy Sahu, Dean of TISS. Shilpashree Muniswamappa of Colgate-Palmolive India, said, 'People don't necessarily buy to benefit the planet; they buy what saves them money.', adding that consumers shouldn't have to pay a premium for sustainable products.
The Wire
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Wire
Bengaluru Rains Have Returned the Garbage We Carelessly Dumped
JCB machines dredge solid waste in Bengaluru. Photo: Ranjan, Saahas Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now Pre-monsoon showers shook Bengaluru overnight last week, with boats taking over waterlogged roads and garbage heaps peeping out of the Rajakaluves, the city's major stormwater drains. Bengalureans woke up to social media notifications of alarming videos of vehicles wading through submerged roads, flooded neighbourhoods, and passengers falling off their two-wheelers. This has become a recurring exhibit whenever the sky weeps over the city. It reminds Bengaluru of its flawed urban planning and crumbling infrastructure. This year, the morning scene was further enriched by JCBs dredging garbage that choked the Rajakaluves. Bengaluru has a historic waterway system that interlinks lakes and diverts excess rainwater towards tanks or lakes through channels called Rajakaluves. These massive stormwater drains were designed to regulate the water flow between the lakes during dry and wet seasons. However, recent developments have disregarded and encroached upon these channels by obstructing water flow or discharging domestic and industrial sewage. When the city expanded and the residents no longer relied on these water channels, they became neglected, obsolete gutters where the city's solid and liquid waste is indiscriminately discarded. Last week, BBMP contractors dredged heaps of solid waste from the clogged drain near the Silk Board junction. This unusual sight appalled many passengers stuck there due to the slow-moving traffic. One might wonder how this hidden waste suddenly popped out and almost immediately put the blame entirely on the BBMP/BSWML, the entities responsible for the city's waste management. However, multiple stakeholders are involved in the management and maintenance of Rajakaluves, including BBMP, BSWML, KSPCB, KSNMDC, BWSSB and the citizens of Bengaluru. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is the civic body tasked with the construction, maintenance, and remodelling of raja kaluves, as well as preventing and monitoring encroachments. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) handles sewage management, network expansion, and treatment plants, coordinating closely with BBMP. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) is responsible for validating major drain plans, installing sensors to monitor rainfall, flooding, and choke points, and providing early warnings to the BBMP during heavy rainfall events. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) oversees regulatory compliance concerning water, air, and environmental laws, and monitors water quality in drains and lakes. Lastly, the Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) manages the city's solid waste, which includes preventing the dumping of waste and construction debris into Rajakaluves and their catchment areas. Bengaluru: Commuters wade through a waterlogged road after heavy rains, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo: PTI. Of course, there has been negligence on their part regarding the proper maintenance of these stormwater drains or any drains for that matter. Nevertheless, the city's residents are also partners in crime, and we are equally responsible for this crisis. Actions have consequences, as the saying goes: You reap what you sow. When you litter or covertly dump waste in public spaces – be it on the curbside, in vacant lots, inside drains, or near unfinished flyovers – it doesn't just vanish or evaporate into thin air. It comes back to haunt you when you least expect it, so there's no point in being shocked or blaming the administration. How often have we seen people constructing or renovating homes, with concrete and debris carelessly piled up on the roads next to their sites? A significant portion of this is left behind even after the completion of construction, with most ultimately accumulating in the stormwater drains. You sowed the seeds of wrongdoing, it is time to reap the consequences. Unfortunately, it manifests in its ugliest form, affecting the entire city. The solid waste management (SWM) issue in the city presents a classic chicken-or-egg dilemma. Residents attribute the problem to the inconsistency of the waste collection system, while the system blames the residents' lack of responsibility. The simple act of source-segregation can unlock the potential for resource recovery from solid waste. When that doesn't happen, the city's waste often ends up in inconspicuous landfills located near peripheral farmlands, if not in the more visible stormwater drains. People who dump their waste in public spaces often justify their actions by citing the irregularity of the waste collection system. However, this rationale is insufficient to legitimise the pollution of natural resources. Sometimes, people lack the patience to wait for another day if they miss the collection vehicle, and hence, they hastily dispose of their waste elsewhere, in their rush to remove the waste from their homes, even if it means polluting public spaces. Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam as roads got waterlogged due to heavy rains, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo: PTI. Segregated waste offers solutions even if you miss the collection vehicle or have limited access. Clean and segregated dry waste can be stored until collection because it neither stinks nor degrades. A big chunk of the sanitary waste can be reduced by switching to a sustainable alternative (cloth napkins, cloth pads, menstrual cups, reusable diapers, etc.). Meanwhile, the wet or biodegradable portion of the waste can be composted at any scale if you have the will. Even if you don't compost, segregating waste reduces the volume of the odorous fraction, allowing you to wait until the next collection day. Hence, the first step in taking responsibility for your waste is by segregating it. The operation of waste collection and transportation is financially intensive, even without considering the capital investment required for collection and processing systems. The SWM system of the city is currently grappling with a lack of accountability and insufficient infrastructure to cover the entire city. Consequently, it is unsurprising that waste collection in many areas is irregular and inadequate. However, instead of carelessly disposing of your waste, be responsible, ask questions and hold the SWM officials accountable. If the collection vehicle in your area is inconsistent or misses pickups, inform the Joint Health Inspector or supervisor responsible for monitoring the collection and urge them to take corrective action. Active citizens are essential for an accountable administration. Established protocols and authorised vendors exist for handling construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Citizens must connect the dots between their carelessly abandoned C&D waste and clogged drains. How often do we enquire the contractor hauling away our C&D waste in a tractor about the disposal location? This waste will likely be dumped in a lakebed or along the edges of a drain. Therefore, the next time you step out to dump your waste, think of the clogged stormwater drains and waterlogged roads that can complicate your life in the city during the monsoon. Archana Tripathi is the CEO of Saahas, a non-profit with 23 years of expertise in the solid waste management sector. Anjali V Raj works in the Knowledge Development and Dissemination vertical at Saahas.
