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Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
World Turtle Day today: Sarnath breeding centre boosting conservation efforts
The Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre, which was renovated and redeveloped in 2017, has conserved 3,298 turtles from 2017 to 2025 and released them into the Ganga to keep the ecosystem of the river healthy in Varanasi. The Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre, an important centre of aquatic biodiversity, has emerged as an example of success of conservation in the Ganga River Basin. The inclusion of the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Namami Gange since 2017 has also reduced smuggling of turtles. Chief forest conservator, Varanasi Division, Dr Ravi Kumar Singh, said that in the last eight years, 3,231 eggs were hatched at the Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre and were released in different rivers, including Ganga. He explained that the Centre was established in 1978 under the Ganga Action Plan and later the turtle sanctuary was declared in Varanasi in 1989. In the early 2000s, the centre faced several operational and infrastructure problems. But the change came in 2017 when the government included it in Component IV-Rescue and Rehabilitation of the Namami Gange programme, a joint effort of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The centre is currently playing a vital role in the conservation, rehabilitation and release of thousands of freshwater turtles. At the centre, since 2017, the turtle ponds were redesigned, advanced bio-filtration and aeration systems were installed. Natural materials like logs, aquatic vegetation, haul-out mats and sunbathing platforms were installed. Separate ponds were created for juvenile turtles, while larger turtles (up to 50 kg) were kept in newly renovated ponds, he added. Keeping in mind the turtle's preferred diet, the diet now includes live fish for carnivore turtles, plant material for herbivore turtles and a mixed diet for omnivores. Turtles are now released into the Ganga only after rigorous medical and behavioural evaluation, to ensure long-term survival and ecosystem integration. As a result, the Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre is becoming a national model for turtle conservation and a centre that is playing a role in keeping the ecosystem of rivers healthy.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Sarang Integrated Command Center inaugurated in Varanasi for forest monitoring and grievance redressal
Representative Image VARANASI: Chief conservator of Forests , Prayagraj, Shesh Narayan Mishra, inaugurated the Sarang Integrated Command Center in Varanasi on Wednesday. The center has been established for the efficient operation and information exchange of Forest Helpline-1926. It is designed to receive and promptly address complaints and suggestions related to forest crimes such as illegal tree felling, unauthorised timber storage and transportation, illegal sawmills, charcoal kilns, and wildlife poaching and trade. Ravi Kumar Singh , Conservator of Forests, Varanasi Division; Tulsi Das, Conservator of Forests, Prayagraj Division; and all district forest officers — including Swati (Varanasi), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jaunpur), Jagdambika Prasad (Pratapgarh), Ramanuj Tripathi (Fatehpur), and Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Divisional Forest Officer, Varanasi — were present on the occasion. Singh stated that each year, a target of planting 3.5 billion saplings is set under the Tree Plantation Mega Campaign. Coordination and monitoring at the divisional level, involving all 27 departments, will be carried out through the PMS (Plantation Monitoring System) and NMS (Nursery Management System) portals via the Command Center . The use of new technologies in plantation activities — such as the preparation of action plans by departments and the submission of online sapling demand forms — will be reviewed, and the progress of geo-tagging after plantation will be assessed. He added that the Sarang Command Center is also equipped to promptly address public complaints received via the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal. Additionally, the center will monitor forest fire incidents and track the patrolling activities of forest personnel in forest areas. Instructions for organised action against human-wildlife conflict and illegal logging have been issued to all district forest officers by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Southern Region, Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj, and the Conservator of Forests, Varanasi Circle. Historically, Varanasi — located along the holy Ganga — was rich in deer populations, with several deer parks mentioned in ancient records. The term Sarang means "deer." Lord Buddha chose the deer park in Sarnath for meditation during his stay, at the site where the Dhamek Stupa stands today. This ancient deer park is currently maintained by the Forest Department. Lord Shiva is also referred to as Sarang Nath, and the name Sarnath is believed to be derived from this title. 'Considering the significance of deer in our ecological and cultural heritage, the Integrated Command Center has been named Sarang,' Singh explained.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Varanasi Division Boosts Energy Conservation with 2253 kW Rooftop Solar Panel Installation
VARANASI: The Varanasi Division of the North Eastern Railway is achieving expected results in the field of energy conservation. Ashok Kumar, PRO of the Varanasi Division of NER, said that by April 2025, a total of 2253 kW capacity rooftop solar panels were installed in the Varanasi Division. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These panels produced 394,000 units of solar energy by April of the current fiscal year, which is 2.59% more than the solar energy produced during the same period in 2024. This solar energy production resulted in savings of approximately Rs. 2,130,561 in railway revenue. He said that this has led to the large-scale use of solar energy, a non-conventional energy source, in the Varanasi Division, along with ensuring the use of energy-efficient equipment to save on energy consumption . Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of railway station buildings, office buildings, service buildings, hospitals, training centres, coaching complexes, factories, guest houses, rest houses, auditoriums, and level crossings. He further said that by April of the fiscal year 2025-26, the Varanasi Division installed solar power plants with a total capacity of 519 kW. This includes 141 kW at Banaras station, 71 kW at Mau station, 60 kW at Varanasi City Coaching Depot, 146 kW at Ballia station, 40 kW at Masrakh station, 35 kW at Gopalganj station, and 26 kW at Thawe station. In accordance with NGT standards, the process of installing rooftop solar panels at other stations in the Varanasi Division for the year 2025-26 is ongoing.
