haryana and rainwater harvesting

Feb 23– The Haryana Environment Minister, Capt. Ajay Singh
Yadav said that Haryana Government was contemplating to set up a Nodal
Centre at Chandigarh and Sub Nodal Centres at district levels so that
the concept of rain harvesting system could be encouraged in the State
for the optimum use of rain water.

These views were expressed by Capt. Yadav while addressing a seminar
organised by Environment Department and Search Foundation on the
concept of green buildings at Gurgaon today.

Capt. Yadav said that with a view to maintain clean and pollution
free environment, the concept of green buildings should be encouraged
so that the problem of water and energy could be overcome in the near
future. He gave a clarion call to the architects and builders that
they should help in a big way to fulfill the dream of green buildings.

While expressing his concern on the increasing pollution, he
maintained that efforts should be made for the permanent solution of
this problem by constructing green buildings which conserve more
resources. He said that it should be ensured that the clearance of
Environment Department should be seek while constructing buildings
over an area of 20,000 sq.mts.
The Environment Minister said that a number of activities were going
on in the State, especially at Gurgaon as it was near the National
Capital Delhi. He stressed the need for optimum conservation of rain
water. He said that the green buildings help us in saving 35 to 40 per
cent energy. Similarly, 30 to 40 per cent water could also be saved by
constructing green buildings.

The Chairman of Haryana State Environment Impact Evaluation
Authority, Mr K.S. Bhoria said that Haryana Government was using green
techniques and efforts were on to promote green buildings so that
environment could be protected.

The President of Search Foundation, Dr Dhiraj Kumar said that during
next 20 years the population of the country would be doubled and in
the same ratio warming and green gas houses would be developed which
were against the environment. He said that Search Foundation would
construct a nodal centre for the use of rain water.

Chairman of Indian Green Buildings Council, Dr Prem Chand Jain
apprised in the seminar about the brief history rating system of green
buildings.

On the occasion, a number of architects, engineers and builders
expressed their views.

vulture and peacock in haryana

February 21– The Haryana Forests Minister, Capt. Ajay
Singh Yadav said that State Government has taken up conservation
breeding programme of vultures and this work was being done in
collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society.
Capt.Yadav said that three species of vultures belonging to Gyps
genus were being bread in the state of the Art aviaries near Pinjore.
He said that this was an international project where Haryana
government had in collaboration with an NGO and successfully doing
breeding work of endangered birds that have a role in keeping rural
areas clean.

The Forests Minister expressed concern on reducing the population of
vultures throughout the country and said that the number of Indian
vultures had reduced upto 99 per cent. The use of diclofenac had
already been banned for veterinary purpose and efforts should be made
to ban it for other purposes also. He said that special thrust was
also being given for conservation of breeding of Red Junglefowl at
Morni. This species was progenitor of poultry throughout the World.

Capt.Yadav said that with a view to protect the national bird
peacock, the Haryana Government has envisaged a plan to set up
breeding centre over 70 acres of land for preservation of antelopes
and peacocks in district Rewari. He said that it has come to the
notice of the Government that some peacocks were killed in the State
due to electrocution.

The Minister said that to save the national bird peacock, Haryana
Government had chalked out a plan for setting up of a sanctuary and
the proposal for the same had been forwarded to the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests for its approval. He said that there were
already three small zoos in the state which included Bhiwani, Rohtak
and Kurukshetra.

environment NOC

February 7 - The Haryana Environment Minister, Capt.AjaySingh Yadav said that the State Pollution Control Board was contemplating to set up its offices at all district headquarters besides the online processing of application for providing NoObjection Certificate to the industries for environment clearance.

Capt.Yadav said that four new laboratories would also be set atPanipat, Yamunanagar, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh. It has also beendecided to strengthen and upgrade the existing laboratories in theState, he added.

The Environment Minister said that with a view to provide morefacilities to the entrepreneurs in the State. He maintained if thisprocess of online of No Objection Certificate remained successfulthan other services, namely consent to operate, grant of authorisationand cess collection would also be included in the ambit of onlineservices in due course of time. Mr.Yadav expressed concerned that there was a major threat to theenvironment due to menace of plastic carry bags besides this effortswere on to motivate the farmers against the harmful affects of paddystraw and wheat stubble burning and plastic carry bags. He said thatState Government had also issued revised notification in respect ofplastic carry bags by increase thickness from 30 microns to 40microns. The provision of fine had also been made by giving the powerto the officers of other departments to take cognizance of plasticcarry bags.

state policy on renewable energy sources

Feb 4- Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship ofChief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today approved theamendments in the State Policy for Promoting Generation of Electricitythrough Renewable Energy Sources.

The amendment will facilitate in considering the proposals of theinvestors who have land & has identified sites for setting up of therenewable energy based power projects. Now, the grid connectivity willbe undertaken as per the orders of the Haryana Electricity RegulatoryCommission / Central Electricity Regulatory Commission or AppellateTribunal for Electricity as modified from time to time. The siteswhich have been identified by the HAREDA, proposals from the investorsshall be considered through competitive bidding route. To ensure thatthe private investor takes effective steps for completion of theprojects, the clause relating to the completion of the project havealso been amended. Now, the investor have to follow the time scheduleas mentioned in the MoU.

Keeping in view the requirements for setting up of rooftop based gridinteractive solar power projects under recently launched JawaharlalNehru National Solar Mission, now there shall be no restriction ongeneration capacity of the project.

ban on polythene bags in haryana

February 2 – The Haryana Government has imposed a complete ban on the use of polythene bags made of virgin or recycled plasticwith a thickness of less than 40 microns and size less than 12 x 18inches in the state.While giving this information here today, Haryana Forests Minister,Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav said that no person would manufacture, stock,distribute, sell or use carry bags made of virgin or recycled plasticof thickness less than 40 microns and size less than 12 x 18 inches inthe state. Besides this, a complete ban had been imposed on use of alltypes of plastic articles such as carry bags (irrespective ofthickness and size), plates, cups, tumblers, spoons, forks and strawwithin the municipal limits of Thanesar/Kurukshetra and Pehowa towns,precincts of Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula and Sheetla Mata Temple,Gurgaon and Public Parks, Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks ofHaryana and Gram Panchayats, Morni as these areas have specialhistorical, religious and ecological significance. The Minister said that a penalty of Rs.25,000 to Rs. 50,000 could beimposed on manufacturing unit if found violating the rules for thefirst offence and if it continues to violate rules, its license can becancelled in addition to confiscating the machinery used. Allmanufacturers should print on each market packet of carry bags as towhether these carry bags are made of ‘recycled material’ and shouldbear clear printing regarding thickness of 40 microns. Similarly, the retailer, vendor and other establishments found to beviolating these directions, could be fined from Rs. 2500 to Rs.5000for use of polythene or plastic carry bags of banned categories forthe first offence and if found violating subsequently their tradelicence can be cancelled. Apart from this, an individual found to belittering public places with plastic bags could be fined ranging inbetween from Rs.250 to Rs.500 per offence, he added.Capt. Yadav said that Haryana State Pollution Control Board would bethe Prescribed Authority for enforcement of these directions. Besidesthis, the concerned Municipal Commissioner, Executive Officer ofMunicipal Corporations/Municipal Committees would also ensure theenforcement of these directions. The Divisional Forest Officerconcerned would be prescribed authority for enforcement of theprovision of these directions in Wild Life Sanctuaries and NationalParks in the state of Haryana falling under their jurisdiction.He said that similarly, District Magistrate, Additional DistrictMagistrate, District Development and Panchayat Officer,Sub-Divisional Magistrate, City Magistrate, Executive Engineer, PublicHealth Engineering department, District Food and Supplies Controller,District Town Planner, Estate Officer, HUDA, Block Development andPanchayat Officer, Tehsildar and Naib-Tehsildar, Revenue department,Scientist-B, HSPCB, Assistant Environmental Engineer, HSPCB andExecutive Officer/Secretary of Municipal Council/Committee are madeprescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of thesedirections.Capt. Yadav said that the Plastic Industry Associations, through theirmember units shall undertake self-regulatory measures. Religiousworship places, health care centres, hotels/restaurants, educationalinstitutions and other concerned agencies shall ensure strictimplementation of the ban on the use of carry bags made of recycledplastics for storing, carrying, dispensing or packing or foodstuffs.He said that Municipal Corporations and other concerned agencies shallensure necessary measures to create wide publicity of the impacts ofusing plastic carry bags of thickness less than 40 microns and sizeless than 12 x 18 and littering of public places which adverselyaffect the environment and health of human beings, and also thepenalty provisions of these rules, through cinema exhibit slides,electronic/print media etc. The other provisions of the Recycled Plastic Manufacture and UsageRules, 1999 (as amended in 2003) and as amended from time to time bythe Government of India shall remain in force.

LED based street lighting in kalka town

Februrary 1- Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency(HAREDA) has prepared a special and first of its kind project forinstalling the light emitting diode (LED) based street lighting fixtures in the entire municipal area of the Kalka town of Panchkuladistrict.

While disclosing this today, the Power and Renewable Energy Minister,Mr. Mahender Pratap Singh said that the LED project would be completedwithin next four-five months. With the implementation of this project,Kalka town would become India’s first fully LED lit township. The project had already been approved by the Bureau of EnergyEfficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India. The full projectcost of Rs. 70.16 lakh had been released by the Ministry of Power, headded.

The Minister said that under the project, 50 high pressure sodiumvapor lamps of 250 watts would be replaced with 72 watt LED basedstreet lighting, 60 high pressure sodium vapor lamps of 150 watt wouldbe replaced with 55 watt LED based street lighting and 900conventional 40 W tubelights with 14 W LED based street lights.Besides this, microprocessor based On-Off timer to switch the streetlights at pre-determined time would be installed on all the eightswitching panels. The installed equipments would be warranted forfive years.

As per pre-installation study conducted by the independentconsultant, M/s Dyna spede Integrated System Pvt.Ltd., Banglore,implementation of this project would result in estimated annual savingof two lakhs units of electricity and Rs. 9.25 lakh in energy billsannually. Mrs.Sumita Misra, Director, Renewable Energy Department, Haryana andHAREDA, said that the State Government had made mandatory that all thestreet lighting in all existing and new colonies and town areasnotified by the Urban Local Bodies Department, HUDA Sectors, HSIIDCindustrial estates, housing complexes. colonies and townshipsdeveloped by private/semi-government/autonomous institutions would useenergy efficient street lighting fixtures using T-5 tubelights/lightemitting diode (LED)/ low pressure sodium vapor/high pressure sodiumvapor/induction Arc Lamps.