gem

1. E-Newsletter-7/2
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Relationship with Nature
Gyalwang Drukpa, toi, Speaking Tree
All the elements in nature and all living beings are our friends and our supporters if
we know how to interact with them positively and with understanding and
appreciation. This is also the same with our Self-nature. If we forget to connect
with ourselves, we lose touch and start feeling a little lost as we get into trouble.
Like those who love gardening, taking care of flowers and plants, creating beauty ,
we've to take care of our inner Self-nature so that we might radiate creative
beauty to benefit others.
I really think that gardening is a great thing to do, not only because I love trees and
plants, but also because we learn to appreciate the nature of earth. If we garden
selfishly only for the sake of beautifying our own garden, we might create something
superficially beautiful for the world, but those tiny beings'll experience a big
catastrophe; it is like an earthquake for them. If, however, we can garden in
harmony with nature, then it is so much more beautiful all round.
We see the consequence of our actions in nature, from our own gardens, to how the
world is doing right now. Racing ahead, thinking of our own desires and needs is
putting great pressure on nature's resources. If we can't respect nature, how can
we respect ourselves?

2. There is a strong connection between how we treat nature and how we treat
ourselves. As soon as you take that moment to stop and enjoy the view, you begin to
care about your own life and, in turn, everyone else's too.
How to segregate wet waste and save Mumbai’s
environment
Shaivi Shah, 04 May 2016
Following the recent fire at Deonar, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has
decided to make waste segregation compulsory. To familiarise this concept to our members,
Moneylife Foundation held a special session with Jyoti Mhapsekar of Stree Mukti Sanghatana
and Ashok Yamgar, Deputy Chief Engineer for Solid Waste Management (operations), of the
BMC. Ms Mhapsekar spoke on how we can dispose of wet waste. She explained the pyramid of
waste processing. At the bottom-most level of were the rag pickers. The point that she wanted to
drive home was that rag pickers needed to be eradicated from this pyramid and upgraded to
jobs that offered better working conditions and lifestyles. Not involving the rag pickers serves
two purposes at the same time: waste handling that benefits the environment and improving
their lives.
Instead of using incinerators, which make use of an extremely expensive technology,
composting of wet waste should be implemented, she suggested. Consequences of using
incinerators are excessive dioxide emissions, threat of large-scale fires, etc., while the only
consequence of composting is the creation of manure, which can either be sold or used to grow
plants. Waste segregation is the most responsible and productive way to dispose of our waste. It
reduces the amount of waste finally received by the BMC and can also further our progress in
renewable sources of energy. However, our society, despite having an educated majority, has
not taken a keen interest in segregating their waste. “If you can’t separate your one kilo waste at
home, how will the municipality segregate ten thousand tons of waste at the dumping ground?”,
was the question posed by Ms Mhapsekar to the audience.
Mr Yamgar from BMC explained steps being taken by the Municipal Corporation for enabling
waste segregation and solid waste deposition. He said waste could be segregated into three
main categories namely wet waste, dry waste and hazardous waste, which includes sanitary
napkins and diapers. He recommended citizens to transfer their hazardous waste to their
nearest hospital so they could dispose of it along with their biomedical waste. “We are planning
to introduce biogas plants in each ward office at 24 places and in the head office,” said Mr
Yamgar. He spoke about the biogas plant installed by the TB Hospital in Sewri. The hospital
runs only on the electricity obtained by the biogas plant. He further went on to speak about five
municipal gardens that had adopted composting their grass cuttings, as opposed to just
discarding the cuttings without any segregation or processing.

3. Mr Yamgar answered a number of queries and guided the audience through their problems by
recommending a number of NGOs that were working in the field related to the problems. The
session was extremely interactive with the members of the audience firing off questions every
chance they got and it is safe to say that by the end of the session everyone, including the
speakers, was better informed.
To make the implementation of wet waste composting easier, the Stree Mukti Sanghatana has
created the Nisargadoot, a waste basket that is extremely eco-friendly and pocket-friendly (Rs
450) that uses worm culture to compost the wet waste. At the talk, she showed us a
demonstration on how it could be used and also spoke more about its benefits.
Their collective efforts ensure your waste does not go
waste
WASTE MANAGEMENT NGO trains 1K women ragpickers to segregate,
recycle and compost biodegradable waste
MUMBAI: While the civic body struggles to dispose of 10,600 metric tonnes (MT) of waste
generated in the city every day, a cooperative of 1,000 women ragpickers has been collecting,
segregating and recycling 20 MT of wet waste every day for the past 12 years. In an attempt to
empower women to provide a better future for their children, Mumbai-based NGO Stree Mukti
Sanghatana launched Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangh (PBVS), a project for women ragpickers, in
2004.
As part of the project, 1,000 women from across Mumbai have been trained to segregate and
recycle dry waste. They have also been taught to convert biodegradable waste collected from
housing societies, hotels, restaurants, schools, colleges and corporate offices into compost.
Currently, the NGO is training another 1,500 women to carry out similar endeavours.
“After conducting a survey in 2003, we found that a large number of women ragpickers’
miserable working conditions were affecting their children’s education,” said Sushila Sable,
founder, PBVS and a former ragpicker who represented India at the 2012 Rio +20 United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. “We enrolled women who were willing to
learn under the leadership development programme and also told them about the benefits from
such a model,” said Sable.
Following the implementation of the training programme, women working over the last 10 years
have been earning a wage of Rs200 a day at housing complexes, Rs300 a day at educational
institutions, Rs400 a day at research facilities and hospitals and Rs500 a day at office complexes
and dumping grounds through individual efforts. “At each of these locations, all safety
equipment such as protective masks, gloves and head cover, have been provided,” said Nisha
Bandekar, coordinator, PBVS.

4. “The efforts of the NGO and the women employed are commendable. Their efforts have ensured
that fewer dumper trucks head to the landfills,” said Pallavi Darade, additional municipal
commissioner, solid waste management department, BMC. “Other NGOs should also carry out
similar efforts keeping in mind the safety and economic security of these women,” said Darade.
The disappearing ponds of Girangaon
Kunal Guha Kunal guha1 TWEETS @kunalguhaMIRROR
Picture : courtesy: Internet
A quaint biodiversityis ensconced in the heart of the city, but it is sadly on the verge of extinction
In the early 90s, noted archi tect Karan Grover photo graphed the water bodies nestled inside the textile
mills of Mumbai. When he presented them to the then Textile Minister Kamal Nath, he had a hard time
convincing the Union Minister that the pictures were of the city. “He thought I was showing him some
forest land near Matheran. He said, `You were going to show me Mumbai.This is not Mumbai, you're
wasting my time',“ says Grover, who persevered for eight years to convince the NTC and private mill
owners to repurpose the land occupied by mills, while keeping the biodiversity intact. “At the time, every
mill in Mumbai had at least one water body and a noteworthy flora and fauna surrounding it. But in the
city's terrible hurry to become a `world city', we lost out on this natural treasure,“ regrets Grover. It was
mandated for the mills to have a water body within the premises to put out fires. “While some of these
were natural ponds created by a depression in the ground, others were carved out,“ he adds.
The present state of these water bodies varies. While the one at Tata Mills could inspire a budding Claude
Monet; the one at Great Eastern Mills resembles a pond in a Japanese zen garden; the one shared by
United Mills num ber 2 and 3, which was handed over to the BMC, lies unattended with creepers lining
the edges like the Amazonian backwaters. The beauty of these ponds captured the imagination of painter
Meera Devidayal, whose 2014 exhibition A Terrible Beauty at Gallery Chemould documented a few of
the 11 freshwater lakes with natural springs that existed inside the textile mills of Mumbai. “Just the sheer
overgrown vegetation reminded me of the Tintern Abbey in England, which I had visited years ago,“ she
says, adding that she didn't get access to most mills, except the Great Eastern and Shakti Mills.
A video from the exhibition was aptly titled `Where is the Lake?' which Devidayal found to be an
instinctive question. “My whole project was about the disappearing stages and about things that are meant
to last forever, but don't. So, if one were to ask, `Where is the lake, today?' the answer would be, some
where under a high rise, which has come up over it.“ In March 1991, the state government passed the
Development Control regulations, which provided for development of lands of `sick' or closed cotton
textile mills. Of the 58 cotton textile mills in the city, 26 were deemed sick and were taken over by the
Government of India and the remaining 32 mills continued to be owned privately. The regulations
specified that a third of the land be allocated to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation for public open
spaces, a third for the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA) and the remaining
could be developed by the owners for residential or commercial purposes. Following the ruling, in 1994,

5. the state government established a committee to draft an integrated plan for public housing and urban
space. “While access to the private mills were denied, only the 25 NTC mills were surveyed and each of
them has at least one pond in them. The ponds played an integral part in the workings of the mills,“ says
Anirudh Paul, project-in-charge for preparing the Correa Committee report. Paul frequented the NTC
mills and remembers the natural diversity housed within. “There were numerous ponds and most of them
were in excellent condition.“
The above ruling was amended in 2001, when the share for public open spaces was further reduced.“Most
developers declared the ponds as public open space.Piramal Mills, which now houses the residential
complex Marathon NextGen, has kept the pond and has declared it as part of public space, but is yet to
hand it over to the city,“ says architect and urban researcher Neera Adarkar, author of One Hundred
Years, One Hundred Voices: The Millworkers of Girangaon: An Oral History. She adds that city
authorities are responsible for ensuring that the open public spaces are made available to the city.
Today, of the 200 odd natural and manmade ponds and water bodies that once existed within the mills,
only a handful survive.A BMC official, on condition of anonymity, confirms that most of them will be
covered up sooner or later. “Many builders who've purchased the mills allege that the ponds are not
natural, and retaining them would mean maintaining them, which is reason enough to do away with
them,“ he says, adding that some of the ponds have been accredited by the heritage committee as natural
springs.Another reason for covering up the ponds was that builders didn't want them to be counted in the
FSI. “If it is maintained as a recreation area, they may keep them. But then, they have to get pest and
mosquito control done regularly which will be an added headache.“
But not everyone was keen to do away with the pristine water bodies and the owner of Great Eastern
Mills, Anurag Kanoria, was happy when the pond in his mill received a heritage stamp a decade ago. “I
remember frequenting the pond as a child to feed the fish, they were like my pets,“ remembers Kanoria,
who also credits it for being a vital source of water. “From the 195070s, when the mill was entirely
operational, we never had to pay for water.The pond had sufficient water to meet the needs of textile
processing,“ he says. But it is the idyllic setting that the pond in Great Eastern Mills offers, complete with
ducks and lush surroundings, that has attracted film units who've found a budgetfriendly alternative to
foreign locations. “A Hrithik Roshan film was recently filmed here,“ shares Kanoria.As we walk out the
compound, a resident caretaker offers, “They also shot an Ajay Devgn starrer here recently; they were
trying to recreate London.“
For a PowerPoint Presentation on
SAVE PONDS AND LAKES
Visit – www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
Go to GEM section and click GEM PPTs and
read PPT NO. 22, SAVE PONDS AND
LAKES
Go green with terrace gardens
Courtesy: Midday
FORMER mayor Shubha Raul’s mission to turn Mumbai greener might get the green light this
year — the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) is contemplating adding a provision to
allow terrace gardens in the draft Development Plan ( DP). On February 8, Raul had written a
letter to the BMC’s Tree Authority, suggesting that all city buildings should have terrace gardens.
The BMC is in the process of preparing a draft development plan ( DP), in which the provision of
terrace gardens gets a mention. This will be part of the Development Control Regulations (

6. DCR), 2034. By the end of this month, the DP will be released and open to public suggestions
and objections. By year end, terrace gardens may begin to mushroom.
Picture: courtesy - Internet
“ The provision will be applicable to people who are willing to do it. Developers must ensure that
newly- constructed buildings have terrace gardens. Existing housing societies and people who
have bungalows, and municipal and government properties can also have such green terraces.
They will be legally allowed to do so [ if the DP is cleared],” said a senior official working on the
DP. The erroneous DP The DP released last year received a lot of flak for allowing helipads on
rooftops. The backlash was so fierce that then municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had to
lose his chair. His successor, Ajoy Mehta, appointed IAS officer Ramanath Jha on special duty
to revise the DP. Jha and Mehta recently presented key highlights of the DP.
ECO QUIZ
Pope Francis in his encyclical on environment
‘Laudato Si’ exhorts us to think about the future
generations. To put into practice the teachings of
Pope, we need to prepare a large army of Soldiers
to protect the Mother Earth. Who are best suited
for this task, if not kids? Below is an ECO QUIZ
with answers that can be used for kids of your
parish or institution. Feel free to adapt, or use
this ECO QUIZ in any other creative ways.
(answers are given later).
MEGA ECO QUIZ
(Questions for this ECO QUIZ are chosen from the GEM PPTs 1 (twenty simple tips) to PPT no 10 (eco-friendly religions) from
the website – www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM section.
You have to simply tick (a,b or c) the correct answers in the answer sheet given separately).
1] When cleaning and rinsing your teeth__________ a] keep the tap slow b] close the tap c] keep tap running.
2] A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day and in standby mode for 21 hours uses about____ percentage ofits e nergy in
standby mode. a] 20 b] 40 c] 60
3] Pressure cookers and steamers can save around _____ percentenergy. a] 50 b] 60 c] 70
4] When you mix wetand dry waste, you lose _____ ‘M’s, besides causing pollution. a] 4 b] 5 c] 2
5] Due to lack of ________, India is still way behind in using this natural source ofenergy.
a] subsidies b] awareness c] resources
6] _____use the solar lightto make food. a] birds b] fishes c] plants
7] There are ___ methods to harness solar energy.
a] 2 b] 4 c] 6
8] In July ____, India unveiled a $19-billion plan to produce 20 GW of solar power by 2020.

7. A] 1900 b] 2009 c] 2012
9] _____ gets a lot ofattention these days for its clean energy push, and for good reason. a] Italy b] China c] India
10] Petroleum Resource will existtill ____, Gas Resource till 2050 then What? a] 2040 b] 2030 c] 2020
11] If you consume just3 tsp ofsugar daily, imagine how much sugar you would have consumed by the time you are 50 years
of age; itwill be about______ kg !,
a] 150 b] 200 c] 275
12] A healthy lunch composed ofproteins,dairy products, grains, fruits and vegetables can increase a child's ____ and
positively affecther academic performance. a] Attention span b] health c] intelligence
13] Excessive saltis notgood for our body. However, sodium in moderate amount, along with potassium, maintains the
_______ in our body.
a] blood level b] water balance c] fat balance
14] Sitting down to regular meals ________ is a great way to opportunity to instill proper eating habits in your children at an
early age.
a] with friends b] as a family c] at a restaurant
15] Excessive TV watching leads to _____ and mindless munching. a] Sleepiness b] boredom c] inactivity
16] Every year about_____ billion pounds ofplastic is produced in the world and not even 5% ofit is recycled.
a] 300 b] 200 c] 100
17] In UP of India, in the stomach ofa dead cow, as much as ___ kg ofplastic was found because plastic does not
decompose/digest, and requires high energy ultra-violetlightto break down. a] 35 b] 25 c] 15
18] About____ animals such as dolphins, turtles, whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags.
a] 2 lacs b] 1 lac c] 5 lac
19] About25 children in the United States suffocate each year due to plastic bags, mostunder the age of____.
a] five b] two c] one
20] Some chemicals used to manufacture plastic are known to cause _____ in humans.
a] Cancer b] kidney deceases c] skin deceases.
21] Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by ________%. a] 20-25 b] 15-20 c] 10-15
22] When just ____% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds ofcarbon dioxide are keptoutofthe
atmosphere. a] 1 2] 10 3] 20
23] It takes ___ calories offossil fuel to produce 1 calorie ofpork. a] 78 b] 35 c] 22
24] Final statement of CBCI meeting 2012 says, “We are stewards of God’s Creation, and we must use our resources for the
good ofall, keeping in mind also our duty to ________”.
a] mother earth b] future generations c] all humanity
25] “If there is a Nobel prize for dirtand filth, India will win it hands down” who had said this?
a] PM Modi b] Rahul Gandhi c] Jairam Ramesh
26] Not only have quantities increased, butalso the constitution of the wastes - Quantities of plastic matter are ___ times higher
than in the 1960s.
a] 70 b] 50 c] 30
27] ____ is the most favoured option in handling the garbage. a] recycling b] prevention c] disposal
28] ____ in the following listis wet waste i.e. biodegradable.
a] wooden piece b] rubber c] battery cells
29] EM solution over the wet waste is used ____
a] to preventmosquitoes b] to avoid smell c] for speedier decomposition
30] Conversion ofwet garbage into manure results in nature’s wealth being ___. a] restored b] shared c] exploited
31] Soft drinks are today's trend or much better, you can call them _____ especially among the youth.
a] addiction b] fashion c] hobby
32] Alcohol content ofa soft drink must be less than ____ percentofthe total volume ifthe drink is to be considered non-
alcoholic. a] .05 b] 1 c] 2
33] Drinking a single 330 ml can a day of sugary drinks translates to more than 1 pound (0.45 kg) of weightgain every ____.
a] day b] year c] month
34] Brushing teeth right after drinking soft drinks _____. a] is good b] should be avoided c] is harmless
35] Scientists from ____found that people who drank a litre of fizzy drinks were five times more likely to develop fatty liver
disease. a] Canada b] Singapore c] Israel
36] Indian Renewable Energy DevelopmentAgency (IREDA) estimates indicate that India has so far realized only about _____
percentofits waste-to-energy potential. a] 2 b] 5 c] 10
37] As per the diagram given in the slide, outoftotal waste generated ____ percentwaste consists ofwet waste
a] 25 b] 54 c] 65

8. 38] The gas content comprises mainly methane ____ and carbon dioxide (30-45%). a] 55-70 b] 30-45 c] 15-25
39] In ____, seven million household and community biogas systems have been successfully installed.
a] France b] Japan c] China
40] The total estimated costofthe compactbiogas system for a typical household is aboutINR _____.
a] 10,000 b] 15,000 c] 20,000
41] Rainwater harvesting is the process ofaugmenting the natural filtration ofrainwater in to the underground formation by
some _____ methods. a] Scientific b] traditional c] artificial
42] Broadly there are ____ ways ofharvesting rainwater a] two b] three c] five
43] _____ is a simple, easiestand cheapestform filter, suitable for residential units.
a] Charcoal filter b] PVC pipe filter c] sponge filter
44] In the method of‘Recharge harvesting of wells’, the cleaning and desalting ofdug well should be done regularly to ____ a]
clean the water b] enhance the recharge rate c] deepen the well
45] Recharge ofTrenches can be ofsize 0.50 to 1.0 m wide and ______ m deep.
a] 1 to 1.5 b] 2 to 2.5 c] 3 to 3.5
46] For Hinduism, nature and the environmentare not outside us, notalien or hostile to us. They are an inseparable partof our
existence, and they constitute our very _____. a] souls b] bodies c] minds
47] “If you want to cultivate peace, protectcreation” - which recentPope said this?
a] Pope John Paul b] Pope Francis c] Pope Benedict
48] ProphetMuhammad urged kindness toward all living things. He recounted a case ofa women who was insensitive and
cruel to her ______. a] dog b] cat c] cow
49] According to Buddha’s teaching, excessive greed to possess everything for themselves, or for their own group, has make
men becoming ______. a] blind b] deaf c] mad
50] According to which religion - Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all.
a] Judaism b] Sikhism c] Jainism
HI ECO KIDS AND OTHERS! CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR
PARTCIPATION IN THIS ECO QUIZ
Your participation is like planting a sapling. A sapling planted takes some
years to grow as a big tree and give fruit. So also your participation in this
quiz. This quiz will help you to realise the importance of saving Mother Earth,
and preserving it for the future generations.
ANSWER SHEET - MEGA ECO QUIZ – 1 (GEM PPTs 1 to 10)
NAME (Cap. letters)
________________________________________________________________
Name of your KIDS ECO CLUB:
Marks obtained
out of 50
Answers
Simply mark √ or X on the correctanswer. After once ticking, ifyou want to change the answer, cancel the answer ticked, and
write the correct alphabet in the blank column (last column).
1 a b c
2 a b c
3 a b c
4 a b c
5 a b c
6 a b c
7 a b c
26 a b C
27 a b C
28 a b C
29 a b C
30 a b C
31 a b c
32 a b c

9. 8 a b c
9 a b c
10 a b c
11 a b c
12 a b c
13 a b c
14 a b c
15 a b c
16 a b c
17 a b c
18 a b c
19 a b c
20 a b c
21 a b c
22 a b c
23 a b c
24 a b c
25 a b c
33 a b c
34 a b c
35 a b c
36 a b c
37 a b c
38 a b c
39 a b c
40 a b c
41 a b c
42 a b c
43 a b c
44 a b c
45 a b c
46 a b c
47 a b c
48 a b c
49 a b c
50 a b c
GIVE YOUR GENUINE FEEDBACK
(Answer the following on the reverse of this page in good handwriting, at least 4/5 sentences. Best answers will be published in
the gem facebook along with your name)
1] How did you benefitfrom your participation in the MEGA ECO QUIZ 1?
2] Now onwards what concrete actions you will take to protectenvironment?
ANSWERS FOR MEGA QUIZ
1] b 2] b 3] c 4] c 5] b 6] c 7] a 8] b 9] b 10] c 11]c 12] a 13] b 14] b 15] c 16] a 17] a 18] b 19] c 20] a 21] c 22] a
23] b 24] b 25] c 26] a 27] b 28] a 29] c 30] a 31] b 32] a 33] c 34] b 35] c 36] a 37] b 38] a 39] c 40] a 41] c 42] a
43] c 44] b 45] a 46] b 47] c 48] b 49] a 50] b
An oasis in drought-hit Maharashtra, village sets
example
Radheshyam Jadhav | Apr 26, 2016

10. HIWARE BAZAR (Ahmednagar): Amid desperate denizens scrounging for water in
the drought-affected parts of Maharashtra stands a village which has not felt the need
to call a single water tanker for the last 21 years!
While other villages in the arid Ahmednagar district are digging borewells even up to 400 feet, the
underground water table in Hiware Bazar is so good that the precious commodity is available barely 20 to
40 feet below. Though the village has banned water-guzzling cash crops like sugarcane and banana,
farmers here are still far richer than their counterparts in the region. For the record, no family is below the
poverty line.
Hiware Bazar, now a byword for watershed management and water conservation, had found special
mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme on Sunday. "People in this village
have done exemplary work," Modi had said. Village sarpanch Popatrao Pawar, who has been specially
invited by Modi for a cup of tea, said, "We are glad that our efforts are being recognised."
The road to shaping the village to be self-sufficient has been a long and arduous one. Like any other
village in the region, Hiware Bazar used to face a major water crisis each year because of the measly 200-
300 mm rainfall it gets. "We kicked off our water conservation efforts in 1994-95. Various watershed
management programmes and water conservation initiatives were started. But we realised that this alone
was not going to help. So we decided to choose a cropping pattern," Pawar told TOI.
The village decided to shun water-intensive crops and opted for vegetables, fruits, flowers and pulses.
Dairy development was encouraged. "We resolved that no borewell would be dug in the village and that
every drop of water would be used cautiously. We have a water budget. The villagers meet on December
31 each year, during which a review of the rainfall and available water is taken. We then decide which
crops can be grown in the next season. In fact, we decided to take a break from farming this year as there
was no rain. The villagers reaped the last kharif crop and have stopped farming for the last four or five
months since then," he said.
Mohan Chattar, a villager, said taking a break from farming did not affect earnings. "The daily collection
of milk in the village is itself about 4,000 litres. Dairy farming brings in good money. There is also
enough fodder here," he said. The village has a rule that no resident can sell his or her land to an outsider.
"People from other villages migrate in search of jobs, particularly during tough times like these. However,
the case is quite the opposite here. Around 40 families have returned to the village from cities over the last
few years," another villager said.
The villagers are not resting on their laurels and are already chalking out a ten-year plan. "Water scarcity
is going to worsen. As part of our ten-year plan, we will opt for growing pulses and oilseed crops and
brand them. This will not only boost our earnings but also help save water," Pawar said.
Pawar is unwilling to blame the poor monsoon for water scarcity. "It is lack of vision and discipline that
brings about scarcity and drought," he said. Politics is a strict no-no in Hiware Bazar. "There is neither
politics nor liquor shops in the village. Both intoxicate and destroy development," said Chattar.
What a way to save water
Ismat Tahseen, toi
With the state reeling under a water crisis, Mumbaikars are doing
their bit to save the natural resource

11. There can't be a bigger alarm for citizens than what is being currently witnessed in Mumbai and
parts of Maharashtra. The city and state is reeling under a severe water crisis, leading to
widespread cuts across all areas. With the issue being uppermost on everyone's minds, citizens,
restaurant own ers and students are finding ways to conserve water.
CITIZENS, PLUG IT
One of the biggest culprits sits right in your home and office -a leaky faucet or tap that you have
been ignoring so far. “Did you know 40 per cent of water is lost via leakage every day?“ asks
citybased water conservationist, Aabid Surti. The 80-year-old Mira Road resident has been
repairing taps and plumbing issues in Mumbai for free. He adds, “Just cutting the quota is a
quick solution, but if you plug the leak, you save millions of litres each day .This has been a
growing problem as people are too lazy to fix leaking taps. As plumbers charge money per visit
and are sometimes not available, this problem goes unattended.“ The daily tank overflow in
societies is also a major concern. “As watchmen leave the taps open, there is a huge wastage of
water. I wrote to the Municipal Commissioner that we should have two-member flying squads to
check for overflows, and fine the guilty parties after issuing a warning,“ he adds.
RESTAURANTS TO SERVE HALF A GLASS OF WATER
One of the biggest wastages comes from asking for water at restaurants and simply taking a sip
or two while leaving the rest.Mumbai citizen Prajakta Samant recently highlighted the need to
take action about the half-drunk glass by starting the hashtag movement,
`JitniPyaasUtnaGlass'.Santosh Shetty (General Secretary , Indian Hotel And Restaurant
Association) says, “This is a huge problem and people don't realise it. We have asked waiters and
staff not to fill the glass up to the brim, but just a little more than half, each time they serve
it.This will help to curtail waste. We will also been putting up posters with messages in
restaurants soon.“
RAILWAYS RESPOND TO THE CRISIS
According to a report, Central and Western Railways have cut down the amount of water used to
clean rakes by 50 per cent. Both lines will wash trains after a fortnight, instead of 8-10 days.
CRICKET vs WATER
A brouhaha also kicked up recently over watering grounds that would host cricket league
matches in Maharashtra. The Bombay High Court came down heavily on the BCCI and cricket
associations and apparently asked the cricket body counsel whether “matches were more
important than people or preserving water.“ Hence, the court ruled that all matches scheduled in
Maharashtra after April 30 must be moved out of the state. This impacts 13 matches, including
the final, which was to be held in Mumbai on May 29.
DON'T HAVE YOUR TEA WITH SUGAR?
Meanwhile, a report talked of how tea without sugar can help save water. A site revealed that
Mumbai can save 150 per cent more water by drinking tea without sugar for a day .Agriculture

12. consumes almost 85 per cent of water consumed in India, according to the India Infrastructure
Report 2011. And sugar is said to have 15 million litres of water embedded -meaning, it has cost
us 15 million litres of water to produce this much sugar. That is said to be 2.5 times the water
which would be used in the three cricket match ven ues in Maharashtra.
WORST HIT: MARATHWADA
The Marathwada district in Maharashtra is one of the worst affected areas. As per a news report,
the dams in the region are left with just five per cent of water. In drought-hit Latur, which has
been battling severe drought for the last three years, there has been a significant rise in cases of
kidney stone and urinary tract infection due to consumption of borewell water.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ON A DAILY BASIS
Use just one bucket of water for bath and try and avoid an overheadhand shower facility Turn
taps off while brushing Fix a dripping tap, which wastes almost 10 litres of water every day Train
your domestic help to turn off taps while washing clothes vessels Have `designated laundry days'
thrice a week Wash your car with a single bucket of water, not a hose If you have a two-wheeler,
just wipe it with a damp cloth every alternate day Don't leave the hose running in a garden If you
have to take up a beauty treat ment, opt for something like a `waterless mani-pedi', which is a
trend now.
Brick kilns a threat to environment, claim activists
Mangroves under threat | Fast expansion of brick kilns and illegal
activity in the mangrove area is leading to loss of green cover in Navi
Mumbai
Padmja Sinha padmja.sinha@dnaindia.net
Picture courtesy: internet
Kamothe: Green activists from the city are worried about the fast expansion of brick kilns in mangrove
areas and they allege their complaints are falling on deaf ears. Apart from being a danger to the city’s
green belt it is adversely affecting health of the locals as the smoke emitted is dangerous for people
having a history of breathing problems. Satish Mane an activist shares, “Though the complaint cell meant
for the same at Cidco responds to the complaints, they never take any action and the worst part is that they
are expanding their area of activity and claiming the whole mangrove.”
“The mangroves across Kamothe and Kharghar are dying a slow death and officials as usual don’t
respond to the complaints,” adds Subha Choudhary, another local. “City’s greenery is taken for granted
and many trees are cut during road expansion and town planning activity .We have written a letter in this
regard to Cidco and if no action is taken we will soon plan a protest,” adds activist. “The authorities have
not been able to take action against illegal activity which is destroying city’s greenery and to add to the
existing problem the government has decided to amend laws to unlock land in agricultural and no

13. development zone which would lead to construction of many homes in green belt and would further
destroy the green belt of the city,” alleges residents from the area.
A worried resident shares “In past two years brick kiln activity in and around Kharghar has increased. I
have been suffering from breathing problems which have aggravated and doctors suggest a shift to some
other place for good,” says Vaishali Patil a senior resident. “Though brick kilns are not very hazardous,
they affect your health if exposed for a long time and become chronic for those who suffer from
respiratory disease. The unburned carbon mono oxide released in the process is harmful. The brick kilns
should be set up away from residential area so, that the nature absorbs unburned carbon dioxide and
converts it into oxygen.
Such kilns in city should be monitored regularly as long exposure leads to Asthma, Chronic Pulmonary
disease (CPD) leading to higher chances of tuberculosis. Though there are no harmful chemicals which
are burnt but unregulated activity and continuous exposure is not advisable,” adds Dr. Alok Modi,
Environmentalist and activist ND Stalin from Vanashakti shares, “We have taken up the cause of
mangroves, various Government Resolutions (GRs) and other policies to protect the precious wetland
have also been taken, yet we are loosing on these life saving mangroves and they have shrunk further to
15-20% since 2010 in and around Navi Mumbai and Konkan areas and if measures are not taken on time,
we loose more mangroves and the area would shrink further.”
The activists alleged authorities indifference and says it seems that they are waiting for a bigger tragedy
when we would loose all green cover. Measures should be taken to immediately stop these kilns and
restore mangroves. An official from Cidco shares “We have received complaints regarding the issue and
the matter is due for discussion, accordingly action would be taken.
The mangrove complaint cell too has received many complaints and the concerned department will take
action.” Residents allege authorities are giving lip service and have done nothing till date.
Don’t touch the saltpans, the natural ecology of
Mumbai
ZoomBookmarkSharePrintListenTranslate, HT
The battle for preserving Mumbai’s urban ecology gets tougher by the day. Around this time, last
year, the controversial draft Development Plan (2014-34) was sent back for a revision by chief
minister Devendra Fadnavis after he was barraged by objections from citizens. No one is quite
sure if the revised DP will be a reviewed and improved version of the old plan. If reports are to
be believed, the revised draft could be just as worrying given that it proposes a network of roads
in the city’s saltpan lands as well as in other hitherto no- development zones. Mumbai’s saltpan
lands spread across nearly 5,500 acres, along with large green pockets such as the Aarey
forest, are the lungs of the city. The last decade saw a number of attempts to introduce

14. “development” in these areas by chang ing their no-development zone (NDZ) status and
challenging the restrictions imposed by Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.
Such attempts by the government and/or the real estate lobby were thwarted by determined
action of environmental and citizens’ groups, and intervention of the courts. When it seem ed
that the battle ha d been won, those who seek to transform Mumbai by more construction and
reclamation have another crack at removing restrictions in their path. There should be a
compulsory course on Mumbai’s geography for bureaucrats, politicians, real estate developers
and all those who are in charge of transforming Mumbai into an international city. It would be
worthwhile to refresh their knowledge of the city’s topography, its natural layout, and to show
them maps and satellite images that so disturb the rest of us with the growing construction on
open spaces.
Here’s what “development “in Mumbai looks like. Of the total area of nearly 633 square
kilometres (sq km), the total built up area in 1970 was 195.01 sq km, in the next two decades it
had increased to 338.38 sq km, and in 2011 it stood at 385.67 sq km, leading to an
unprecedented 50% loss of the city’s open spaces and natural ecosystems, according to a study
by the state government-supported think tank, Mumbai Transformation Support Unit. It added
that most of this loss was in the northern and eastern regions of the city – roughly where Aarey
forest and the saltpan lands are located and where construction has already crept close to their
borders.
The common sense understanding that the city is an island jutting out into the Arabian Sea is a
limited, even a flawed, one. This either ignores or glosses over Mumbai’s geography and natural
ecosystems, the changed contours when the archipelago of seven islands was turned into one
landmass, the extensive reclamations over centuries that continue unabated, the natural flow of
its rivers and lakes, the changing coastline of the city, and most of all Mumbai’s relationship with
the sea. The flood in 2005 suddenly awakened citizens and the government to the city’s four
rivers – Mithi, Oshiwara, Poinsur and Dahisar – which till then were treated as sewers. But 10
years later, they are just as filthy, filled with sewage and effluents, and requiring a planned River
March with Rajendra Singh, India’s internationally famous water evangelist, joining the clean-up
effort.
But the prevailing indifference and disrespect to Mumbai’s geography comes from not
understanding the city’s primary ecology. It is not that of an island with reclaimed landmass;
instead, it is that of an estuary with natural water systems all along its length that empty out into
the sea, an ecology in which the sea swamps the land and recedes in a natural rhythm, as
demonstrated so vividly 10 years ago by architects-planners Anuradha Mathur and Dilip da
Cunha in their landmark work ‘Soak’.
Hotel waste may power canteen in Sewri hospital
Richa Pinto, toi
If the civic corporation has its way , then the food leftovers from hotels in Dadar,
Parel and Lalbaug will no longer reach the dumping grounds of Mumbai. Instead the
wet waste will be processed and used as fuel in the canteen of Sewri's TB Hospital.
Some methane produced will be used for electricity generation. With the frequent
fires at the dumps of Mumbai the civic body is trying to make attempts to reduce
the quantum of waste, which is reaching the wasteland. One of its plans is to instal
two bio-methanization plants at Sewri's TB Hospital.

15. A civic official said that the waste generated in F South ward hotels is approximately
four tonnes, which can be utilized for bio-methanization plant. A joint site visit of
civic officials, including the assistant commissioner of F South ward and medical
superintendent of the TB Hospital, was conducted a few weeks ago and it has been
agreed to run a bio-methanization plant in the campus. The TB Hospital requires
about four tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas eve ry month and for the same they
spend approximately Rs. 1.5 crore annually .
BMC officials said that due to the plant the said expenses can be saved by
processing hotel waste. It has also been decided that if there is any shortage of
hotel waste in F South ward, then the same will be procured from the adjacent
ward. Bio-methanization is the process of methane gas generation from kitchen
waste. Udaykumar Shiroorkar from BMC's solid waste management department
said, “ A similar kind of plant is already set up at the BMC's F South ward office.“
TIMES VIEW:
The BMC must prioritise this project to reduce the quantum of waste, which has
reached saturation point. However, this is a very small step because the plant has a
treatment capacity of just 2,000 kg per day when the city generates 10,000 metric
tons daily. These treatment plants must be installed in other wards and civic bodies
as well to bring around a change.
It is Malad residents vs navy in a fight over pond
Chaitanya Marpakwar TWEETS @chaitanya_pm
Residents blame INS Hamla for debris in the pond, the navy says it has no idea about
such a situation

16. Malad (West) residents have taken it upon themselves to save a pond from becoming a
dumping ground, after unloading of debris at the waterbody continued, allegedly at the behest of
the navy, despite a police complaint and repeated pleas to authorities. The residents scored a
big victory on Sunday when they helped the collector's office confiscate four dumpers and an
excavator that were being used to fill the pond near INS Hamla with construction waste. While
revenue department officials have asked the Malwani police to take action against the people
behind the illegal act, residents allege it is being done at the orders of naval officials who
consider the spot a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Naval officials said the two-acre pond, which is on the Madh-Marve road and located next to a
swathe of mangroves, does fall under their jurisdiction, but asserted they had not asked anyone
to level it. A Kendriya Vidyalaya sits in the vicinity. “Dumping of debris happens at this spot
every weekend. This time, we had alerted the collector's office in advance,“ said local Congress
MLA Aslam Shaikh, who is leading the efforts to save the waterbody. He has demanded action
against INS Hamla officials. “If the dumping doesn't stop, we will take up the matter with top
naval officials.“ Pradip Mario D'Lima, who had complained to the navy about the illegal dumping,
sees a systematic approach to destroy the pond. “A sewage drain has been constructed into the
pond. The navy replied to us saying it is adding to the mosquito menace and should be covered
as per BMC guidelines.“
According to the reply (Mirror has a copy) from Commanding Officer Vinay Kumar's office, “As
per municipal guidelines, such water bodies have to be covered to prevent spreading of
mosquito-borne diseases. A survey has revealed that there is no fauna at the pond. The health
hazards far outweigh the environmental considerations. The presence of this pond is an
impending health issue in this heavily populated area.“ D'Lima said they engaged a pest control
firm to inspect the pond, but it didn't find mosquito breeding spots. His father, Brig (Retd) F J
D'Lima termed the reply bizarre. The 84-yearold, who has stayed in a cottage at the southern
end of the pond for decades, added, “The pond is also home to natural fauna and flora.There
are hundreds of wild ducks in the pond. With the dumping, all this will be destroyed.“
Revenue department officials said the Malwani police had in January registered a case against
a contractor, Angad Chaurasia, under the Environment Protection Act. Some vehicles were
seized at the time too.
“However, the vehicles were released later after a court order. We have managed to stop the
dumping for now and asked the police to seize the vehicles again,“ said Dr Navnath Jare, sub
divisional officer (western suburbs). Senior Inspector Milind Khetle from Malwani police station
said they have written to various government departments. “After we get a response from them,
we will take legal action.“
`WE DO DEVELOPMENTAL WORK'
Vinay Kumar, commanding officer of INS Hamla, said he was not aware of any illegal dumping
in the pond.“We are only undertaking developmental work in the area. We don't know anything
about the pond being filled with waste material.“
Citizens remove 3,000kg waste from Dahisar
river
Stepping up | Led by ‘Waterman of India’ Rajendra Singh, masked
activists under banner of River March clean riverbed using gloves and
sticks

17. Mansi Goda correspondent@dnaindia.net
Citizen activists under the banner of River March organised a massive clean-up drive at the
Dahisar river on Sunday morning. Titled ‘Swachh Nadi Abhiyan’, the drive saw the participation
of around 400 participants, who included Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers,
elected officials, activists and citizens with various occupations and of different economic
classes. The event was spearheaded by the ‘Waterman of India’, Dr. Rajendra Singh. The
organisers reported that over 3000kg of waste — including plastic bags, plastic fragments, glass
bottles and other miscellaneous items — was collected from the riverbed. The volunteers were
provided with masks, gloves and a stick to pick up the trash.
The Dahisar river is fraught with problems since household sewage is being continually emptied
into its bed, which is now almost completely dry and filled with construction waste or pollutants
disposed of by the dhobis and other people living around it. The river, which has water only till
the borders of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and not beyond, is now referred to as a sewer by
many people. Large machines operate on the riverbed to build walls on both banks of the river,
a preventive measure for floods, which, according to Singh, lacks foresight. “A river is
characterised by its freely-flowing water. The Dahisar river requires banks and a catchment
area, so, essentially, building walls would amount to interfering with nature,” said the water
conservationist who transformed Alwar district in Rajasthan from its erstwhile barren condition.
“We require separation of a river and a sewer, and a sewer and the sea,” he added, saying that
desalination and river-linking would not solve the water crisis. Citing solutions to the problem, he
said,” The government should focus on either treating or diverting the sewage being poured into
this freshwater body, while the community can take up initiatives to create awareness about the
river. A community-led effort is the way to go.”
Advocate Bhagyashree Mahale, who volunteered for the cause, said: “What I really loved about
this movement was that some of the volunteers were as young as seven years old and some
were as aged as 85, and all belonged to different socio-economic classes. River March is an
active group that actually creates an impact, unlike many others in this field.”
Thane road widening: 1,000 trees get new life
Opposition from residents forces civic body to spare them.
Naveeta Singh s_naveeta@dnaindia.net
On World Earth Day last week, over 1,000 trees were saved from being hacked. There was a proposal to
cut these trees for the road widening of Pokharan road numbers 1 and 2 and other roads in Thane, but after
strong opposition from residents, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) decided to spare them from the
axe. The aggressive TMC has been sparing no one when it comes to road widening in various parts of
Thane. More than 1,000 structures have been demolished by the civic body and over 800 vacated to
undertake the road widening work since a month. Continuing with its ambitious drive the civic body has
taken up the road widening work at Pokharan road numbers 1 and 2 this month.

18. Over 1,400 trees were to be cut for the work as well as for construction by builders across the city. The
proposal was raised in the tree authority meeting last week. The proposal was initially passed the same
day. i.e. on World Earth Day, but a few residents got to know about it and raised objections. “It was a
shame that on Earth Day, on April 22, they decided to cut trees,” said Chandrahas Tawde, an activist. He
alleges that he immediately contacted Sunil Chavan, the additional commissioner of the corporation, and
raised the issue. “We condemn the action of tree authority and demanded resignation of its chairman,” he
added.
Subsequently, the proposal was called off and only 400 trees, which are to be cut by the builders and
developers, was passed. In addition, civic chief Sanjeev Jaiswal said no trees will be cut for widening of
Pokharan road No2, which is set to become 40 feet from the current 25 feet.
“The road will be widened without cutting any trees and a service road will be built adjacent to the current
footpath,” said Jaiswal.
Post plastic ban, almost half of city
consumers carry own shopping bags
TNN | May 9, 2016, 06.28 AM IST
Bangaluru: Grocery stores have seen a surge in the number of customers bringing their own
carry bags, following the ban on plastic bags in Karnataka. Other kinds of stores have also seen
an increase, but less so. Grocery outlets of Reliance, Nilgiri's and More said that 40-50% of their
consumers now carry their own cloth bags, compared to about 5-10% prior to the ban. A random
survey conducted by TOI among 115 households found that 51.3% of them now carry their own
bags on a regular basis for all their shopping, up from 16% before the ban.

19. There are two big reasons for this. The first is that cloth and paper bags are expensive. Nilgiri's
and More said they used to procure plastic bags for Rs 2 to Rs 4, but now pay Rs 12 to Rs 15 for
cloth bags. Itsy Bitsy ,a craft and stationery store, used to procure its plastic bags for Rs 4, but
now gets paper bags at R 10. Most grocery and stationery stores pass on the cost of the bags to
the customers. In TOI's survey , only 1.8% said that they would take a bag if it was priced over Rs
10.
The second reason is that paper bags are not durable and carry the risk of tearing. A sales staff at
a Max fashion store, which has shifted from its signature blue and white plastic bag to a paper
bag, said the paper bags are not as strong as the previous plastic bags and so are very
inconvenient for customers. The manager of Asma, a store that deals in ethnic wear, said their
new paper bags could not hold many clothes as they tore easily. TOI's survey too found that an
overwhelming majority, 92.9%, objected to paper bags on the grounds that they tear easily and
are not water proof. Some disapproved of them because they involve cutting trees.
There is also growing awareness regarding the environmental damage caused by plastic. At a
Reliance store, TOI met a lady shopper who was carrying her own bag. She said this was a habit
with her even before the plastic ban. She said she is a counsellor in a school and she teaches
children to minimize their use of plastic.
The number of those bringing their owns bags to garment stores, stationery stores and food
joints too has risen, but not as much as in grocery . Big brands like Max, Westside, Health &
Glow and Sapna Book House said around 20-30% of their customers now bring their own bags,
as against 5% earlier. Niveditha, who was purchasing books at Landmark, was carrying her own
cloth bag. She said she started the practice when the plastic ban came into effect.
For a PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) on
PLASTIC – A BOON OR BANE?
Visit – www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
Go to GEM section and click GEM PPTs and read
PPT NO. 4, Plastic – A Boon or Bane?
Prelate joins Kumbh Mela to spread green message
(UCANEWS via CNUA)
A Catholic bishop in Madhya Pradesh teamed up with leaders of other religions May 3 to promote
environmental awareness and better hygiene at a monthlong Hindu festival held every 12 years that
attracts millions of people. Bishop Sebastian Vadakkel of Ujjain, along with senior Hindu and Sikh

20. Bishop Vadakkel tells festival crowd about need for water conservation,
better hygiene
leaders were looking to educate those attending the Kumbh Mela festival about water conservation, proper
hygiene and the use of toilets. Authorities estimate some 50 million people will flock to the banks of the
Kshipra River in Ujjain to take a dip during the 30-day festival that ends May 22. The Kumbh Mela
(pitcher festival) takes place every 12 years in four cities — Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain that
are situated on the Ganges River or one of its tributaries. Hindus consider the river as sacred.
Hindus believe taking a dip in the river will wash away their sins. The Kumbh Mela festival is "a great
occasion for me to share the concerns of many about the need to protect rivers, other bodies of water and
the need for improved hygiene, such as the use of toilets and better waste management." Bishop Vadakkel
told the crowd. Many households in India do not have proper toilets, if any, and open defecation is a
common problem that spreads disease, according to health experts and the bishop, who called for a greater
effort from the public and authorities to ensure that all households have proper toilets installed.
Addressing the drought crisis gripping many parts of India, Bishop Vadakkel told the crowd that it was
important to conserve water and keep water sources clean, which meant not dumping domestic and
industrial waste into rivers and streams, another common problem in India. He said his diocese works
with villagers on water conservation projects such as constructing ponds and installing systems to harvest
rainwater.
Hindu and Sikh leaders also stressedthe need to conserve water. "Water is the basic element of human
life," Swami Avdeshanand Giri Maharaj, a leading Hindu seer said. "Water is the first principle of life in
the world," he said, quoting Hindu scriptures. He told the crowd that water conservation was a spiritually
enriching activity that helps protect lives. Only "2 percent of available water is good for drinking," Jatedar
Gyani Gurucharan Singh, the Sikh spiritual leader in Ujjain told the festival. "If mindless pollution of
waterways continues the very survival of living beings will be seriously affected," he said.
Aurangabad will be first to use recycled sewage in
industries
Dhaval Kulkarni dhaval.kulkarni@dnaindia.net
While water has become a flashpoint in Maharashtra, especially in the drought-prone
Marathwada region, the Greenfield Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) will be the first
agglomeration to use recycled sewage water for industrial purposes. The planned industrial
township is coming up at Shendra and Bidkin near Aurangabad as part of the Delhi Mumbai
Industrial Corridor (DMIC). It is expected to bring in investment worth Rs3 lakh crore and create
employment for 1 lakh people.

21. The actual physical work on the site is expected to begin soon at the node, which will have
around 10,000 acre land for purposes such as industries, business and real estate.
Industrial development in Marathwada is under intense stress due to the drought and drinking
water crisis. The district administration has already cut water supply from the Jaikwadi dam for
industries, breweries and distilleries in Aurangabad, which is seen as the state’s beer capital,
due to the presence of seven beer manufacturing units.
“We will float a request for proposal (RFP) to appoint consultants for sewage water recycling,”
said a senior state industries department official. He added this would be for the first time in
Maharashtra that treated liquid waste would be used on a mass scale. “The Maharashtra
Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) already has reservation on water in the Jaikwadi
reservoir. Considering the recent developments and the water cut, however, investors will
question if this can be imposed and brought into use,” the official said. This is already being
done in countries such as Singapore.
Aurangabad generates around 163 MLD of sewage water, which is otherwise discharged into
the river. Work on a sewage treatment plant is underway through the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). “Even if we get around 100 MLD of this water, it will take
care of the entire AURIC,” the official stressed. AURIC is being promoted by the Aurangabad
Industrial Township Ltd (AITL), which is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) between Delhi-
Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) and the MIDC. It is envisaged
to be developed on smart city basis.
The state government is finalising a new policy that will enable the use of treated sewage water
from cities for bulk users, such as industries, power plants and MIDC areas. This will help divert
potable water, which was earmarked for these units for urban areas, to meet their needs while
also helping overcome water pollution due to the liquid waste discharge. These projects will be
funded through public-private partnership (PPP) and gap financing models. The Maharashtra
State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) has also inked an understanding with
the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to use 130 MLD sewage water for the Koradi thermal
power project in first such experiment in Maharashtra.
Thermal power plants are huge water guzzlers and a deficient monsoon may affect power
generation. MahaGenco is also planning to use sewage water for other thermal power stations
like Parli, Paras and Chandrapur.

22. For a PowerPoint Presentation on Waste Water Treatment.
Visit – www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
Go to GEM section and click GEM PPTs and read
PPT NO. 15 – WASTE WATER TREATMENT
Indian bishops seek to mend fences with Hindus
Meeting with Modi sends positive message of friendship to those who orchestrate violence
against Christians.
By Christopher Joseph, ucannews
New Delhi:Catholic Church leaders in India, including bishops' conference president Cardinal
Baselios Cleemis recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and made two requests — invite
Pope Francis to India as a state guest and for Modi to personally lead an Indian delegation to the
Vatican for the canonization of Mother Teresa on Sept. 4. Modi in his own suave way did the
predictable thing. He made no commitment. Modi just promised to seriously look into the
matter, consult with his colleagues and do what is necessary. That is what a press release from
the bishops conference said after the meeting.
Why did the bishops' conference send a representation to Modi asking him to invite the pope?
The answer could come from early March news reports that said Pope Francis accepted an
invitation from Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit.
In early March, when media spoke of this invitation, bishops of India's 171 dioceses were at their
biennial plenary. There was some discussion on Muslim Pakistan with just 1 million Catholics
inviting the pope, and secular India of 17 million Catholics failing to extend an official invitation.
Some bishops portrayed this as inefficiency by the Indian church leadership. If church leaders
were to meet with Modi, he will certainly invite the pope, they concluded.
The pope accepting a written invitation given to him does not mean he has agreed to visit a
country. Although media reports said the pope will visit Pakistan before the end of this year, we

23. are yet to see an official Vatican directive on this. Considering the problem Pakistan faces with
militants and that a papal visit needs months of preparation, it is safe to say that a visit may not
take place this year, if at all.
Although India and Pakistan are neighbors, no one expects a papal visit to these archrivals on a
single papal literary. Diplomatically, neither India nor Pakistan will accept the pope visiting
their rival and then coming as a state guest to their nation. This would mean the pope will have
to travel twice to South Asia this year, if he were to visit the two countries. Possible but not
probable. The Indian bishops know all that. And that is why they wanted Modi to invite the pope
"at a time convenient" to both India and the Vatican.
But more than a convenient time, Modi if he were to think of inviting the pope, must first
prepare and convince his nationalist Hindu party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, with its countless
right-wing groups that work to make India a Hindu nation. Modi's party and its affiliates have
long been clamoring against Catholic missionaries, saying that they are implementing a Vatican
plan to destroy India's Hindu culture. Modi, must require a nod from the rank and file of his
party before inviting and shaking hands with the pope.
The same goes with extoling Mother Teresa. During her lifetime and even after her death, the
Bharatiya Janata Party has never accepted her work for the poorest of the poor. They have
always projected it as ploy for conversion and objected to it whenever possible. True to its policy,
neither Modi or any of his party leaders have so far publically uttered a word of appreciation for
Mother Teresa and her work. Hence, Modi leading a delegation to the Vatican for her
canonization is highly improbable.
His shaking hands with the pope and hobnobbing with Vatican officials cannot be done without
inviting criticism at home simply because in the past the Bharatiya Janata Party has been a
staunch opponent of the pope and of missionaries for being agents for religious conversions.
Opposition to Christian missionary work is emotionally close to the heart of every Bharatiya
Janata Party supporter. The Indian states where the party has come to power, went ahead with
introducing anti-conversion laws or sharpening existing ones that could interpret the church's
social service work as a fraudulent means for conversion and therefore a criminal act.
When the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Delhi two years ago, one of the first
discussions by its leaders in the media were ways to introduce a national law against conversion,
despite the Indian Constitution giving citizens the right to profess, preach and propagate a
religion of their choice. That is why the bishops meeting with Modi assumes significance. It is
important for Christians in India, who make up about 2 percent of the population, that their
church leaders maintain friendly relations with a democratically elected government. All the
more so because the party that leads the present government does not accept or support the
basic concept of Christianity — evangelization.
More images of Modi and bishops shaking hands in the media will help spread an idea of
cooperation than of confrontation between Christians and right-wing Hindu groups. If nothing,
that should at least help a re-think among those who orchestrate violence against Christians. The
meeting may not result in bringing the pope to India this year, or sending Modi to the Vatican
for the canonization. But it has a positive message of invitation for cooperation and friendship.
So although nothing may come of the meeting and the atmosphere of intolerance against
Christians continues unabated, it is important that Catholic leaders are seen to keep close
contact with the top political leadership. Only time will tell if Modi and his party have accepted

24. the bishops' invitation for friendship.
Caritas plants trees in Karachi to beat extreme heat
Thousands to be planted in urban and coastal areas of Pakistan's
largest city
Ayyaz Gulzar, Karachi , Pakistan
April 27, 2016
Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi (right, dressed in white) and Giyan Chand Essrani, Sindh
Minister for Wildlife and Forest (center, dressed in black) during the launch of the Trees for the
Earth campaign at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Karachi April 22. (Photo by Ayaz Gulzar)
Caritas is planting thousands of trees in Karachi to help combat deadly heat waves that affect
the Pakistani city each summer. As part of the Trees for the Earth campaign, Caritas will plant
5,000 trees in church areas and other parts of the city, said Mansha Noor, executive secretary of
the Catholic aid and development agency in Karachi. "Our planet Earth will no longer be able to
support life if we continue cutting down trees, and we all know about the heat wave disaster that
killed more than 2,000 in our city last year," Noor said.
The elderly and laborers were the main victims from last summer's deadly heat wave, which
also badly affected livestock and agricultural crops in surrounding areas. Caritas is also
assisting with the planting of mangrove trees in coastal areas near Karachi. "With the
collaboration of the Sindh Forest Department about 1,000 mangrove plants will likewise be
planted to protect the livelihoods of fishing communities," said Noor. Giyan Chand Essrani,
Minister for Forestry and Wildlife for the Sindh government, said that the state has donated
2,000 trees to be planted around Karachi as part of Caritas' two month-long campaign. "I
appreciate the efforts of the church in Karachi and Caritas for taking this initiative to protect our
humanity and city from high temperatures," Essrani said.
Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi blessed the first tree to be planted in the campaign at St.
Patrick's Cathedral on Earth Day, April 22. The campaign will also include activities and
promotions such as seminars and training workshops.
Asian bishops challenged to stand against dirty energy
Filipino archbishop reminds citizens to back candidates who support a clean
environment.
Courtesy: ucannews

25. Batangas City: A Catholic bishop in the Philippines called on Asian church leaders to stand
against the use of coal and other dirty and harmful energy at the launch of a globally coordinated
effort to escalate the fight against fossil fuels on May 4. "I call on all bishops in Asia ... We must
support the promotion of clean and renewable energy," said Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of
Lipa at a "Break Free from Fossil Fuels 2016" demonstration in Batangas City. The prelate said
that despite previous church statements against the use of fossil fuels many Catholic leaders in
the region remain silent.
"I challenge the bishops to publicly speak out and condemn coal. We have to do what God told
us to do, to protect the environment," said Archbishop Arguelles. "As shepherds, we must lead
the fight to break free from dirty energy," he added, saying that church leaders "need to show full
commitment" to Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment and climate change. In 2015, Pope
Francis issued the encyclical Laudato si' to call on Christians to act on climate change and
protect the Earth, urging solidarity for the poor and most vulnerable to the effects of global
warming.
Appeal to Filipinos
As the Philippines prepares for May 9 general elections, Archbishop Arguelles also appealed to
voters to elect "leaders who are pro-people and pro-environment, not pro-coal and pro-climate
change." The prelate said the country "deserve a government that will do everything to protect
Filipino families from the ravages of dirty energy and climate change." "It is immoral to burden
future generations with pollution and the cost of mistaken energy choices made today. It is time
to end the age of coal," he said. Thousands of people participated in the protest march in
Batangas City, which highlighted a campaign by activists against a proposed 600-megawatt coal
plant in the city.
"The proposed coal plant will only make it harder for us to breathe, much less fish," said
Reymond Mendoza, a 27-year old fisherman from Simlong village, where a petrochemical and
naphtha cracker feedstock plant is operating. Ian Rivera, national coordinator of the Philippine
Movement for Climate Justice, said the protest action is also demanding from the government
the phaseout of 19 existing coal plants in the country. "The next administration must review the
current one's commitment to reduce 70 percent of our country’s emissions by 2030," Rivera
said.
Ruel Cabile, national coordinator of environmental group Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, said the
Philippines should also demand "climate finance" from developed countries and implement a
"swift and just transition to clean and renewable energy." "Break Free from Fossil Fuels 2016" is
a worldwide movement of direct actions across 12 days and six continents to call on

26. governments around the world "to concretely respond to the climate crisis and the urgent need
to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius."
Different communities come together for 400-year-old
Kandivli church
The church is said to have been built in the year 1555. For further reading tap -
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Mumbai: Many people from other communities and parishioners from other areas of
the city came forward to support the members of a Kandivli church who held a
silent protest yesterday to save the 400-year-old church. The Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) had sent a notice to the parishioners of Our Lady of
Remedy Church in Kandivli West, saying 7 meters of the church's graveyard will be
demolished due to the proposed widening of the SV Road. The BMC demolition
noticehas been stayed today morning by the Bombay High Court, by way of interim
relief.A division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice MS Karnik directed the
corporation to file its reply by May 4 and posted the matter for further hearing.
The church had approached the court after the corporation issued notice in February
and gave evasive replies even after repeated representations. In its petition, the
church said parishioners had earlier suggested to BMC that the road could be
widened from the other side. The church and the cemetery are protected under the
Heritage list. The church has, on multiple occasions, given away its land to the BMC
for development. But the parishioners feel the latest notice amounts to exploitation
of a peace-loving minority community.
Further, the church says that there are several graves in the said heritage
cemetery, which have sentimental and religious value. The graves cannot be
reopened or have a road go over them, since this would create a law and order
situation in the locality and would also amount to degradation of human dignity due
to the exposure of non-decomposed corpses, which is against the rules of the
corporation. The petition also alleges that the corporation is acting on the behest of
a local politician who is a builder and his business prospects from a newly-
constructed building on the road have been affected, which is why he is pressuring
the civic body.

27. The portion under dispute includes 7m of the graveyard and a cross within the
compound wall of the 400-year-old church. The BMC issued notice to the church
under Section 299 (acquisition of open land or of land occupied by platforms within
the regular line of a street) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, which
the parishioners are challenging.
The church is said to have been built in the year 1555, while the heritage INRI cross
was in existence since 1932. In 1942, a Christ the King statute was placed there.
Source: DNA
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Baby Bala Anirudh (4 months) Nandis Apts 403,Agamaiah Nagar
Colony,Hyderabad
Friday, April 29, 2016
Baby Bala Anirudh(4 months), S/o Anthony Kumar, is suffering from a heart problem. He is
diagnosed to have CHD, Large Muscular VSD with L-R shunt, Dilated RA/RV, Good BVF, Severe
PAH and the plan of surgery is VSD Closure.He is undergoing treatment at Care Hospitals in
Hyderabad. The hospitalization and surgery on the infant will cost Rs. 3 lacs approximately.
The parents are poor and are in tension of gathering money from available sources. Anthony
Kumar, the father of the child is a daily labourer. Doctors have told the child may die if not
operated urgently. The child is becoming weak day by day. The family situation is in very
pathetic condition. They have pleaded for monetary help from kind hearted individuals and social
organizations so that they may save the baby.
Your kind remittances may please be sent to their following bank account:
Bank Account No. 62415061542
Name of the Account Holder: Madanu Lourdu Mary
Bank: State Bank of Hyderabad, Miriyalaguda,
Sagar Road Branch, Hyderabad
Bank IFSC Code: SBHY0021381
Telephone No.: 91 91006 86389 / 89780 12443
Baby Seema D'Souza (7 months),Kalanji Road House,Padangady
Post,Kannadikatte
Thursday, April 28, 2016

28. Baby Seema D'Souza (7 months),D/o Steevan D' Souza, is suffering from myelomenigocoele with
hydrocephalus. She is under treatment at Father Muller Medical College Hospital and will need
Neurosurgical procedure for CSF diversion. The total cost of her treatment will be approximately
Rs.2,00,000 (Rs Two lacs) excluding diet.
The parents of the child are poor and do not have that kind of money.Steevan is working as a
daily wage earner in a rice mill and Monthi is a house wife. Therefore they have requested for
monetary help from kind hearted individuals, philanthropic groups and institutions so that the
parents can save the life of the child.
Your kind remittances may please be sent to their following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 01832200150469
Name of the Account Holder: Monthi D' Souza
Bank: Syndicate Bank,
Guruvayanakere, Karthik Nilaya 574217
Bank IFSC Code: SYNB0000183
Telephone No.: 91 99809 47103
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o Infant Jesus Church, Jogeshwari
Mob. 9819688630, Email:frfelixrebello@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.infantjesusjogeshwari.in
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