India's richest shrine goes green

India is one of the world's largest producers of carbon credits. The clean development mechanism is offering an incentive of companies to innovate and find low cost green technologies.

Shilpa Kannan gets an exclusive look at how one temple in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is going green.

See the video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16798580

Pest problems?

Some farmers in India are adopting eco-friendly methods to get rid of pests by using insect trappers instead of chemical pesticides.

The insect trapper has not only reduced their pesticide and labour expenditure, but also the use of strong chemicals in cultivation. The main advantage of this trapper is that it is more effective at night, as the light sliders attached to it attracts the insects, which cause them to fall into a bucket of water and diesel and subsequently die (even though they are insects, I somehow still feel their pain). It is a plus point using these trappers.

Your mind would be at ease that at least the farmed goods will be free of pesticides so you or your loved ones won't consume it but they can go one step farther by using natural fertilizers, example dung, instead of the chemically processed ones.. It will save them more money as well, as they have an abundance of cows grazing around :) If all farmers were to adopt eco-friendly methods of farming like this insect trapper, it will lessen the pollution and contamination of the Earth's soil and water..

Tips of the day: You can make your own fertilizers by using egg shells (dry it and crush them into powder, then sprinkle it on the soil) or you can sprinkle lime juice in the soil. Rabbit droppings work great as well! :)

Eco-Consciousness spreading in Delhi

One of the most difficult tasks in achieving a greener and more resource efficient life on planet Earth is changing inherent patterns or attitudes in each and everyone of us. Because it is the direct grand collective impact of our actions in regards to resource usage and consumption that will determine the future of Earth’s environment. Creating awareness and eco-consciousness is a critical first step in this. The Bhagidari of Delhi (India) Government, a citizen-government partnership initiative, has been making serious attempts at creating awareness amongst the citizens of Delhi regarding environment and pushing them towards more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

The Bhagidari (rooted in sharing and meaning partnership) was launched in December 1998 by Delhi government for citizens’ partnership in Governance. Though initially it started as a mechanism for allowing citizens and citizen bodies to voice their grievances, it has overtime it has evolved into a process with multiple stakeholder in Delhi’s governance including citizen groups, NGOs and the Government itself. It is the manner in which the Bhagidari, the partnership, is being leveraged to hone the eco-consciousness of the citizens, which is impressively striking. The school children in association with NGO’s have been spearheading the ‘Save Water’ campaign. Spreading the message and distributing pamphlets, educating people about the importance of conserving water to the numerous lanes and by-lanes of the city. And as they have canvassed through the streets of Delhi, the student volunteers also screened for simple water wastage incidents such as overflowing tanks, leaking water coolers and pleaded with the dwellers to get the leaks plugged.

Included in partnership, in Bhagidari, are the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) from different regions of Delhi. RWAs are playing increasingly significant role in water conservation as well. In partnership with Delhi Jal (Water) Board (DJB), RWAs are getting involved in installation of Rain Water-Harvesting, replacing old water distribution pipes and de-silting of sewers. Just like the school children, RWA’s have also been instrumental in the impressing upon the citizens the need for conserving water as well as in providing simple tips for water conservation, like turning off the tap while shaving or using bucket for taking a bath instead of using a shower. Similarly under the “Save Energy” campaign, RWA’s have been helping out with finding faulty meters to avoid energy pilferage or help with replacement of low tension wires. Critically, also, educating people about benefits of using CFL bulbs instead of regular bulbs.

At the same time the Delhi government is advertising heavily to sharpen the people’s conciousness in a particular direction. Bill-boards that had always been an instrument of commercial advertising were serving as vehicles for greater social awareness. I have been wondering about the tremendous expense certain political parties must have incurred for their bill-board campaigns in recent parliamentary elections in India. But I am wondering more about the recent public awareness initiatives. On bill-boards – big or small, prominent roadside ones or tucked inside the bus-stops – Delhi government’s campaign for environment and planet’s precious resources looks valiant. I am sure it will provide much fodder to those minds that otherwise would not even have wandered in that direction: “I will not use the shower but bathe using bucket and mug” (Save Water campaign); “I will use CFLs” (Save Electricity campaign); “If I don’t use plastic bags, drains won’t get clogged and Delhi will be a cleaner city” (Save Our Environment campaign).

It is very hard to know how much of a dividend these awareness campaigns will yield and whether it will justify the outlay towards such advertising. But in a more fundamental sense, creation of awareness and change of behavior are really hard to achieve. Even limited success of these campaigns by changing inherent patterns or attitudes (in even a few people) could be a useful contribution. Hopefully these small steps will build towards a big march for improvements in our environment.

India awards Leela Palace best eco-friendly hotel in country...

The Government of India recently recognized The Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore as the "best eco-friendly, five star deluxe hotel" in the country. The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram and Minister of Tourism, Ambika Soni, presented the National Tourism Award (2007-08) to Rajiv Kaul, Leela's Senior Vice President, at a ceremony in New Delhi in late February.

Located in the "Silicon Valley" of India, The Leela's flagship property is ISO14001 certified and set amidst nine acres of lush tropical gardens. For the last two decades, the visionary chairman of The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts, Capt. C. P. Krishnan Nair, has made it his personal passion to focus on beautifying the environment. His inspiration has made him a leading figure in the movement to conserve and protect the environment within the international hotel industry.

"This prestigious recognition from the government of my country is a
very special honor, which I will always cherish," Capt. Nair says. "When India recognizes my crusade to green mother earth, my wife Leela and I feel fulfilled, he says.

Capt. Nair was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences for his contribution as a visionary environmentalist. The Emperor of Japan bestowed on him the world's highest award for his environmental initiatives, the Global 500 Roll of Honor Award from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP.)

Leading by example, the Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts has a corporate philosophy of responsibility towards the environment in its operation and new development. The group is committed toward the prevention of pollution and the use of environmentally-friendly technologies including: eco-friendly herbal pesticides, recycling old flowers and leaves for compost and watering the gardens using treated waste water.

The Leela group has received many environmental awards including: The Green Hotelier Award from the International Hotel & Restaurant Association, Paris; the PATA Gold Award for excellence in Corporate Environmental Programme; the V.P. Menon award for environmental initiatives; Maharana Udai Singh Award for distinguished services in the field of environment, and the Corporate Environmental Achievement Award from the 6th World Wilderness Congress.

Drawing inspiration from the architectural style of the Royal Palace of Mysore and the palaces of the Vijayanagara empire, the award-winning Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore has 357 rooms and suites. The property boasts the largest rooms in the city, with the average room measuring 575 square feet and Royal Club Suites measuring over 1,000 square feet. The palace hotel has four restaurants, Asia's premier urban spa, a fitness center and a swimming pool. With a total 16,360 square feet of meeting space, The Leela is popular with the many IT, software, aerospace and telecommunications companies that are based in Bangalore.

"God's own country" to rework State plan....

The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Kerala chapter, has called for revision of the State master plan prepared two decades back.

In view of certain serious land development issues facing the State at present and considering the minimum land available for development, especially in towns and cities, we have no other option but to go for vertical development, says the IIA in a representation to the State’s ministers and the departmental heads concerned.

In the representation, the the IIA Chairman, Mr Jose K. Mathew, points out that it is time the State emulated cities such as New York, Singapore and Tokyo, where the situation is very similar. Like in Kerala, the land for development is scarce and the density of population is high.

The representation was made in the backdrop of the State Government’s move to amend the Kerala building regulations and FAR (floor area ratio) calculations. It is pointed out that unlike its neighbouring States, Kerala is very different.

“Considering the topography of the land, we have to protect and conserve our backwaters, our forestland, our coastlines, our paddy fields, our wetlands and marshy land, which makes Kerala unique and God’s Own Country,” the representation said, adding that the land available for the development after protecting Kerala’s unique features is comparatively low compared to other neighbouring States where there is vast expanse of land for development.

Besides, the density of population in the State is very high.
It is hard to find 100 acres of land in one stretch. Meanwhile the State cannot afford to ignore and abandon the existing road network and its width, and design new roads to match the road widths of the neighbouring States, notwithstanding the fact that there is need to improve the quality and width of the existing roads and, the infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the market demand and the market forces cannot be ignored, says the representation, adding that “if we make a policy decision to develop horizontally, what we need to protect and conserve will be covered by buildings before long, irrespective of whatever rules or regulations or amendments we make.”

In view of these facts, the representation urges the Government to increase FAR in Kerala similar to Singapore and New York, but with adequate infrastructure development, both physical (roads, communication, sewage, drainage, electricity, etc.) and social (schools, hospitals, public facilities, etc). “Otherwise, going vertical will be disaster,” the IIA cautions.

Regarding road widths, the representation suggests additional setbacks, in addition to the mandatory setback of land abutting the streets if the roads do not meet the required width, so that these can be used to widen the existing roads.

Some of the factors that should be considered while making changes in building regulations include the rapid advancement in building technology, scarcity of natural and man-made building materials, spiralling fuel and power supply costs which warrant accommodation in close proximity to workplaces, effective waste management, and eco-friendly, green buildings and towns.

The representation says that it is time the Government constituted an expert committee consisting of town planners, practising architects, sociologists, environmentalists, etc., and brought out a relevant master plan of Kerala, which will be in tune with the times.