2 day energy mela on april 17th in gurgaon

April 15- A two day Energy Mela will begin at the Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Park (RGREP), City Centre,  Gurgaon from April 17 to create awareness about renewable energy and energy conservation related issues and facilitate an interface between the technical experts and general public.

While stating this here today, Smt.Sumita Misra, Director, Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) said that  the Mela would be inaugurated by Mr. Mahender Partap Singh, Power & Renewable Energy Minister, Haryana. 

 

This activity was being organized for the first time in the state to popularize Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation in a most innovative way. The Mela would give an opportunity to students to learn about these issues with fun and frolic, she added.

Giving details of the Mela, she said that puppet shows and street plays on the theme of the Mela, hands on workshops on solar cooking, waste recycling and energy efficiency in homes would be organized. In addition to this, short duration movies on renewable energy, energy conservation and related issues would  be screened to present an overview of these topics to the public in the simplest and interesting way.

She said that on this occasion, an exhibition on energy conservation technologies and on the spot sale of various energy saving and renewable energy devices like CFLs, LED lights, T-5 tubelights, solar cookers, solar water heating systems, solar lantern, solar homelighting systems, etc. on discounted rates would also be organized. A musical evening had also been planned in the evening on April 17. 

Smt Misra said that the Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Park had been set up at a cost of about Rs.2.5 crore by the Haryana Government to create awareness among the masses about the new technologies developed in the area of renewable energy,  demonstrate the working of these technologies through working models & educate students regarding application of various renewable energy sources, energy conservation technologies and their socio-environmental benefits.

The Park had working models of various renewable energy and energy generating devices. The most attractive feature of the Park was that its buildings had been constructed with solar passive design concepts and green roofs which will make the buildings cool in summer and warm in winter. The Park also had an energy information centre to provide advisory services to the public, she added. 

Smt. Misra said that elaborate arrangements had been made for the Mela. She appealed the general public to visit the Mela with their children and avail benefits provided by various companies in the exhibition. 

breeding of peafowl and Chinkara

April 09- Haryana Forest Department has a plan for
conservation breeding of peafowl and Chinkara  in their natural
habitat of village Manethi in district Rewari.

While stating this today, Forest and Wild Life Minister, Capt.Ajay
Singh said that the objective of this plan was to provide the
facilities of the conservation breeding of Peafowl and Chinkara in
enclosures in their natural and undisturbed habitat in Panchayat area
of village Manethi and thereby restocking of these diminishing species
by releasing the increased population from the breeding centre.
Necessary infrastructures for the breeding centre would be built in
the village.

The project of conservation breeding was envisaged twenty years ago, he added.
The Minister said that breeding of Peafowl would be facilitated in
three aviaries with close monitoring by CCTV, whereas the breeding of
Chinkara would be monitored in the enclosures.  Aviaries would be
covered from the top also.  Size of the aviaries would be 40 mx15mx6m

Enclosures and aviaries would be chain-link-wire mess of 12 gauge
with 2”x2” hole.  Height of enclosure would be 10 ft.  Proper record
of breeding, increased population and survival after release would be
maintained at the centre by the Staff.

Mr. Yadav said that one veterinary Doctor would be engaged on
contract basis to look after the health of the animals and giving
treatment to the diseased ones. Breeding centre would be provided with
a deep tubewell and sprinkler set for growing green fodder for the
animals.

The total expenditure of the project for 20 years would be over Rs.
19.85 crore, he added.
Peafowl(Pavo Cristatus), a Pheasant and Chinkara (Gazzella Gazzella)
a antelope live in same type of habitat in semi arid to arid areas in
south west Haryana.  Both likes secluded areas in dry deciduous and
thorn forests free from any type of interference.  These species have
been placed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for
the assured protection.  Once they were in abundance in Aravalis of
Haryana but in recent past their population felled drastically due to
increased infrastructure and biotic interference deep in their
habitat.

An area of about 60 acre of panchayat land will be fenced for the
breeding centre of both the species.  Other reasons of threat are the
changed cropping pattern in the semi-arid areas, conversion of
sandy-hills into plan cultivated land, excess use of chemical spray on
crops and sowing the chemically treated seeds.  Now they are rarely
seen and if the pattern of decrease in population continues, both
species will extinct from Haryana.  There is need for conservation of
these wild species by protecting their natural habitat in controlled
area for their breeding and assured protection.

state compensatory and afforestation fund

March 21- Haryana Government has set up State Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority for protection
and management of natural forests and wildlife sanctuaries,
compensatory afforestation, environmental services and research and
development.

While stating this on the occasion of World Forestry Day, Haryana
Forests and Environment Minister, Capt.Ajay Singh Yadav said that the
Government has decided to set up a conservation centre to preserve the
vanishing species of Chinkara in district Rewari at a cost of Rs 55
lakh. The work to set up conservation centre would commence soon, he
added.

He said that Haryana was the first State where the areas falling in a
radius of five kms from all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
had been declared as eco-sensitive to protect the wildlife. He urged
the people to plant more trees and said that 1,700 Gram Van Samities
have been constituted for maintenance of forests. While seven per cent
of the total area of the State was under afforestation as per the
Forests Survey of India, the State Forests’ Policy has set a target to
increase it by 10 per cent by 2010 and thereafter, upto 20 per cent as
per the National Forests Policy.

mission green haryana

March 20 – Haryana Government has decided to launch
Mission Green Haryana in the state in which five crore seedlings would
be planted during 2010-11.

In a message issued on the World Forestry Day, Haryana Chief
Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that more than five crore
plants would be made available in the nurseries of the Forest
Department for plantation and free distribution to farmers, public and
institutions during the next financial year. The Forests and tree
cover in Haryana would be increased from seven to ten per cent and a
peacock Breeding Centre, the first of its kind would also be set up in
the state.

He said that the State had developed plantation forests on community
lands and agro-forests on farm lands. The State Forest Department was
making all out efforts in an endeavor to come closer to the National
Forest Policy goal of having at least 33 percent of the total
geographical area of the country under forest and tree cover. In the
current year about 2.7 crore seedlings had been distributed free of
cost to the public, farmers, schools and other institutions and about
2.3 crore plants had been planted by Forest Department, he added.
He said that a State Forest Policy 2006 aimed at increasing the forest
and tree cover in the State from present seven percent to 10 percent
by 2010 and 20 percent eventually in a phased manner. He said that as
many as 28 Herbal Parks, one in each district had been set up. To
bring people closer to nature, an Eco-Tourism project has been started
in the forests of Kalesar, Morni Hills and Sultanpur National Park.
Union Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned Rs. 6.48 crore for
Eco-Tourism activities in the first phase of the project for creation
of infrastructure like log huts, tented accommodation, nature trails
etc. The second phase of the project costing Rs. 1.80 crore had also
been submitted to the Government of India.

The Forest Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav said that the State
Government has set up the State Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (State CAMPA) in accordance with the
guidelines of the Government of India. This Fund would be utilized for
the protection and management of natural forests and wildlife
sanctuaries, compensatory afforestation, environmental services and
research and development. Under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, a
contribution of Rs.187.43 crore had already been made to this fund by
the User agencies against sanctioned proposals.

He said that about 116 ponds in different villages had been
rehabilitated. Tree plantations had also been carried out around the
ponds for their beautification and this work was being continued to
cover more villages during the current year. A new scheme under the
name Clonal Agro-forestry had been started to encourage the
agro-forestry practice on farmlands to bring an overall increase in
tree cover in the State. The main emphasis in the scheme was to raise
plants of commercial value of clonal Eucalyptus and Poplar and
planting them on farmlands of small and marginal farmers. Clonal
propagation facilities had been developed in the state at Seonthi in
district Kurukshetra to raise improved variety of eucalyptus for
increasing productivity. About 180 water harvesting structure had been
established in the Shivaliks to enrich water regime.

He said that on wildlife front, a Vulture Conservation and Breeding
Centre had been established at Bir Shikargaha, Pinjore where efforts
were being made to save the vultures fast getting extinct. Haryana
Forest Department and Bombay Natural History Society had signed a
Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in conservation and
breeding of vultures till 2019.

He said that an Elephant Rehabilitation and Research centre had been
set up at Bansantour forest in Yamunanagar. The centre would take up
the work of rehabilitation of the sick, injured and rescued elephants
to provide them their natural habitat. Central Government had
sanctioned Rs. 90 lakh for this project. A mini Zoo in Bhiwani had
been renovated and dedicated to Wildlife Conservation and Education.
Rohtak Zoo was also being expanded and renovated from existing area of
16 acres to 44 acres. The Zoo was being modernized and new animal
enclosures were being added to provide better habitat for the wild
animals. A bird Safari had been established in an area of 250 hectares
near Berwala village on Panchkula Morni Road

He said that 1607 Self Help Groups, particularly of the women was
created in rural areas for income generation of the people living
below the poverty line. These Self Help Groups were given proper
training to start their micro-enterprises for self-employment and
income generation. Over 1700 Village Forest Committees had been
constituted in the State for socio-economic empowerment in rural
areas.

He said that Management Information System and Geographical
Information System a significant tool for scientific planning and
management were being developed to improve efficiency in accounts,
administration, forest and wildlife management and personnel
management. Global Positioning Systems were being used for mapping of
forest boundaries, fire affected areas and plantation areas in the
State. Satellite imageries to monitor changes in forest and tree cover
in the State were proposed to be used. All relevant databases would be
generated and regularly updated. All forestry personnel would be
trained in use of these technologies and software in a phased manner.

consultants required in haryana

March 19- Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency
(HAREDA) has invited proposals from consultants/consultancy
organisations for preparing feasibility-cum-detailed project report
based on kitchen and other biodegradable waste for its utilisation in
generating bio gas/power.
While disclosing this here today, Mrs. Sumita Misra, Director,
Department of Renewable Energy and HAREDA , said that detailed tender
documents having scope of work and other terms and conditions could be
obtained from HAREDA office on any working day upto March 29, 2010 by
depositing tender fee of Rs. 1000 in the form of demand draft in
favour Director, HAREDA payable at Chandigarh.

The bids could be submitted by March 30, 2010.

projects in renewable energy

March 7- Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Renewable Energy, Mr S.S.Prasad said that a six MW small hydro project was nearing completion and would be commissioned by the end of this month whereas work on three other small hydro projects of 4.6 MW was in progress and these were expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Mr Prasad said this during his visit to Chakli village in Morni near here today where he inspected the State’s first 10 kW wind-solar demonstration project.

He interacted with villagers about this project and found that wind-solar hybrid power plants are ideal solution for energy needs of high hilly and wind prone areas. He expressed pleasure on performance and maintenance of the system.

The wind-solar project had been installed by the Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency(HAREDA) in November 2008 at a cost of Rs 34 lakh with financial assistance from the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE). The power plant has 6.6 kW power generation from wind energy and 3.4 kW power generation from solar. The power so generated is being supplied to 24 houses of Chakli and Ramsar villages for two lights, one fan and six street lights.

The project has an unique feature that the State Government had not to incur any cost on the system. The developer of the project, M/s Ananda Solar Technologies, has invested Rs14 lakh for the project to demonstrate their technology. The project had an inbuilt five years maintenance contract. To maintain the system through local village level management, a Village Energy Committee (VEC) has been formed. Every house connected with the system is paying Rs.50 per month to the VEC, which is deposited in a bank account of the committee. The amount so deposited till five years would be used to maintain the system after five years. Mr Shayam Sunder, Chairman of the VEC informed that about Rs.16,000 have been deposited. The villagers informed that they are now getting electricity round-the-clock.

Mr Prasad said that the State Government is committed for harnessing all possible renewable energy potential in the State. He said that work on three other small hydro projects of 4.6 MW on augmentation canal at Musapur, Khukni and Gogripur in Karnal was in progress and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Mr Prasad said that the government is monitoring the progress of the 21 biomass projects of 189 MW and 6 solar power projects of 12 MW capacity. He also inspected the Solar Energy Shop at Main Market Morni being run by Mr Baldev Singh. He said that for success of renewable energy programmes, after sales services are very important. He appreciated the services being provided by the shop.

Earlier Mr Surender Singh, Sarpanch, Morni welcomed Mr Prasad at Chakli. Officers from HAREDA and district administration were also present.

State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority

Chandigarh, March 3 - The Haryana Government has constituted the State
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(STATE CAMPA), Haryana for the purpose of management of funds.

It will be registered as a Society by the State Government under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860 having its registered office at the
office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Van Bhawan, sector
6, Panchkula.

State Campa, Haryana will have three bodies, namely - a Governing
Body, a Steering Committee and an Executive Committee.

Chief Minister, Haryana will be the Chairperson of the Governing Body
of the State Campa, Haryana and Minister of Forests, Minister of
Finance, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Finance), Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden will be its
Members. Principal Secretary, Forests will be Member Secretary of the
Governing Body. Chief Secretary, Haryana will be the Chairperson of
the Steering Committee and Principal Secretary (Finance), Principal
Secretary (Forests), Chief Wildlife Warden, Conservator of Forests
(FC) and Nodal Officer(FCA), Haryana, representative of Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India, two eminent NGOs
nominated by the State Government for a period of two years will be
its Members. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests will be its Member
Secretary.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Haryana will be the
Chiarperson of the Executive Committee and Additional PCCF (Forestry),
Chief Wildlife Warden, Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection-I),
Chief Conservator of Forests(Protection-II), Conservator of Forests
(Planning), representative of Finance Department not below the rank of
Additional Secretary and two eminent NGOs nominated by the State
Government for a period of two years will be its Members. Conservator
of Forests(FC) and Nodal Officer(FCA) will be its Member Secretary.

State Campa, Haryana will work as an instrument to accelerate
activities relating to conservation of forests and wildlife,
development of infrastructure in these sectors and other allied works,
it will promote conservation, protection,regeneration and management
of forests ; conservation, protection and management of wildlife and
its habitat within and outside Protected Areas including the
consolidation of Protected Areas ; Compensatory Afforestation,
Acquisition of suitable non-forest lands for
afforestation/regeneration to compensate the net loss in forest area,
environmental services, plantation activities outside the forests
including agro-forestry and farm-forestry to enhance the green cover
of the State and forestry research, training and capacity building of
forest officials including other stakeholders involved in the
protection of forests and wildlife.