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Solar insect-trap bags state prize

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Deccan Chronicle             09.01.2014

Solar insect-trap bags state prize

File photo of the the solar insect trap along with the students who designed it
File photo of the the solar insect trap along with the students who designed it

Karimnagar: The solar insect-trap designed by students of the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Gouravelli in Husnabad mandal bagged the first prize at the state-level science, environmental and mathematical fair held at Vijayawada from January 4-7.

T. Ravinder Reddy, the teacher who guided the students in designing the trap, said the exhibit was also chosen for the nation-level competitions.

Ch. Venkata Sai and M. Harikrishan of Gouravelli ZPHS created the insect trap which works using solar energy.

The model was adjudged as the best exhibit at the district-level fair held recently at SPR High School at Nagunoor near Karimangar on December 31 last year.

Vijayawada DEO Devananda Reddy handed over the prize to the duo and appreciated Ravinder Reddy for his assistance in creating the model

Staff members of the ZPHS expressed happiness over being chosen for the national-level contest.

A light fitted to the instrument automatically gets illuminated at 6 pm, everyday, with the help of solar energy trapped by the panels fixed to it once the sun sets.

The light remains glowing till 12 in the midnight to trap harmful bugs, which fall in a bowl filled with a detergent or diluted kerosene.  The trap is affordable and at the same time user-friendly.

 

Students, teachers unite to recycle plastic in Moira

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The Times of India                09.01.2014 

Students, teachers unite to recycle plastic in Moira

Mapusa: After devising a technology to converting used plastic into plastic sheets, students and teachers of St Xavier's high school in Moira organized a two-day science exhibition with the theme 'Shrushti - nurture nature' at the school complex recently. A cooking competition using solar energy was also held parallel to the exhibition.

Teachers and students devised a simple technology of recycling used plastic, using Teflon cloth and polythene thermo press (costing around 3,000), and converting it into 100m long plastic sheets.

"We used waste milk packets to prepare 100m long and 2 ft broad plastic sheets using this technology. Plastic with any amount of microns can be recycled using this technology," Vijaydatta Lotlikar, a teacher at the school said.

"We will send an application to be included in the Limca book of world records as we have made the longest sheet out of recycled milk packets," Lotlikar said. We wish to spread awareness that plastic is not a menace until we make it menace, claimed a student.

The procedure used to recycling the plastic bags involved boiling of the greasy bags and then washing them with soap solution. The dried plastic bags are then placed on a plain surface and thermo pressed with a heating device (polythene thermo press), which are then covered with a heat resident cloth (teflon cloth) placed over the bags. The polythene bags melt and form a sheet of plastic. This process, according to the teachers, is non-polluting as the polythene is not totally melted but due to the indirect heat energy, atoms of polythene loosen and combine with one another on cooling. Plastic sheets can be reshaped and used in making articles such as roofing sheets, doors, partitions, bags, lamp shades, etc.

Twenty-four residents of Moira participated in the solar cooking competition using solar energy. "As the food is cooked from all the sides, it is very nutritious and tasty," said Dr Pramod Pathak, a member secretary of Goa Energy Development Agency. With the assistance of their teachers, the students also made a solar hot air dryer, a solar fan and a solar water heater.

 

Rs. 50 lakh for road repairs in each ward

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The Hindu                  09.01.2014

Rs. 50 lakh for road repairs in each ward

Special Correspondent

Mayor Mohd. Majid Hussain on Wednesday directed the GHMC officials to complete nala desilting works before the onset of monsoon and said that a budget of Rs.50 lakh was sanctioned for each ward for taking up road repair works.

At a review meeting , GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said that nala desilting works have been scheduled to be completed by January 15. The tendering process and agreements would be completed by February 20 and desilting works by April 15.

Mr. Kumar said half of the budget would be spent on main roads and the other half on internal roads. An action plan for removal of debris, circle wise for seven days with five trips daily, had also been decided upon.On purchase of new sanitation vehicles, the Commissioner said the government was requested to sanction 48 vehicles including 25 tonner and dumper placers. He also agreed on hiring 25 to 30 bob carts for the entire GHMC and added that damaged dustbins would also be repaired.

Last Updated on Thursday, 09 January 2014 05:41
 

Neglected Kochi parks to turn ‘green spots’ thanks to Metro

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Deccan Chronicle              08.01.2014

Neglected Kochi parks to turn ‘green spots’ thanks to Metro

The Kunnara park near the Vytilla Mobility Hub.
The Kunnara park near the Vytilla Mobility Hub.

Kochi: Rusted slides, swings with grass and plastic wastes eating into walkways. This image of the small parks in the city will change soon. Thanks to the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, which is in the process of identifying and revamping such neglected parks across the city to turn them into green spots.

It has already got the nod of the Cochin Corporation to give a facelift to Kunnara Park near the Vytilla Hub. “A `2 crore project has been drawn up to set up community gardens, lawns and landscaping at the Kunnara Park.

We’re also mulling over constructing a walkway from the park to the Vytilla Mobility Hub. Simultaneously flowering plants and saplings will be planted along the SA Road,” metro sources said.
The idea of revamping parks into green spots was thought up after KMRL found it impractical to plant tree saplings in the city due to lack of space.

Hence, it is forming small green spots at various places to compensate for the loss of trees cut to facilitate the Kochi metro project. “We’re also in talks with the GCDA to give us sanction to revamp the various small parks like the one in Panampilly Nagar.

The redemption of the Subash Park at Menaka is also on our minds and so we’ve renewed talks with the corporation on the issue,” they said. Earlier,Metro authorities had announced that they would plant 5000 trees in various parts of the city.

Nearly 1500 trees were planted at the HMT Kalamassery premises. The metro authorities plan to grow another 1500 at Brahmapuram.
 

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation privatises its function halls

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Deccan Chronicle              08.01.2014

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation privatises its function halls

Picture for representational purpose only.

Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has decided to privatise community halls owned and maintained by it in the city.

The decision has been taken to generate more revenue from the about 15 halls located in different parts of the city built to serve the needs of the people.

The engineering department of the VMC maintains these halls and collects fee from the public for using them.

The VMC has appointed staff to run these halls and pays their salaries every month.

To implement its privatisation decision, the VMC will conduct open auctions where the highest bidders will be given the lease.

The minimum upset price will be fixed. The civic authorities will also fix the rent of the halls, based on their size and facilities available.

K. Sivaiah, estate officer of the VMC said that the corporation will keep a strict vigil on the lease holders to ensure that they do not charge the people more than the prescribed fee for using the community hall.

Responding to apprehensions raised by the people that there was a possibility of collecting fee in excess of that fixed by the VMC or that the community halls may be misused, Sivaiah said that the contract can be terminated if the people lodge a complaint with the civic body.

The VMC has built many offices, schools, parks, community halls, reading rooms etc in the city.

Earlier, proposals have been made for privatisation of parks, and even discussions had been going on, but no decision has been taken yet.

 


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