EBI 2012

2nd National Conference on

ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA 29-30 December 2012, New Delhi

www.ebiconference.com

EBI 2012

ABSTRACT BOOK

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North East Centre for Environmental Education and Research, Imphal www.neceer.org.in

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2nd National Conference on Environment and Biodiversity of India 29-30 December 2012, New Delhi

1 Any part of the book cannot be produced in any form without prior permission of NECEER, Imphal

ABSTRACTS OF REGISTERED DELEGATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE FINAL VERSION

Checklist of Aquatic and Marshland Plants of Tripura, India with Some New Records.

Somnath Bhowmik and B. K. Datta

Plant Taxonomy & Biodiversity Lab, Department of Botany, Tripura University

Suryamaninagar -799022, Tripura

E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The present paper deals with an account on floristic composition of aquatic and marsh land plants of Tripura.

A total 160 angiosperm species belonging to 100 genera under 48 families were collected and recorded. In the

biological spectrum, The Monocotyledons are most divergent on the basis of number of species and genera.

The ratio of families of Pteridophytes, Dicots and Monocot is 5: 28:15 and for the generic and species level these

ratio is 5:46:49 and 5:75:80 respectively. Among the 160 species Cyperaceae is the most diversified family with

29 species followed by Poaceae and Scrophulariaceae with 13 and 11 species respectively. Regarding the

growth form the Helophytes with 76 (47.5 %) species is the most diversified group followed by Tenagophyte with

26 species (16.25 %). The other growth forms are Epihydate (21 species , 13.25 %), Hyperhydate (16 species ,

10.00 %) , Pleustophyte (9 species , 5.625%), Vitate (6 species , 3.75%) , Rosulate (5 species ,3.125%) and

Plankton( 0.625% ). In the biological spectrum, the trend of Raunkiaer’s (1934) life-forms present were

Therophyte (54.375%) > Cryptophytes (33.125%) > Hemicryptophytes (7.5%) > Chamaephytes (4.375%) >

Phanerophytes (0.625%). Besides, each aquatic habitat has different species composition belonging to

different ecological classes. Wetland helophytes are 98 (61.25 %) species represents the most diversified species

composition followed by Emergent anchored hydrophytes 18 (11.25%) species. The other ecological classes

comprise of Submerged Anchored Hydrophytes, Floating Leaved Anchored Hydrophytes, Floating

Hydrophytes, Floating Shoot Anchored Hydrophytes and Suspended Hydrophytes. In case of Ecophase study it

is found that the Terrestrial Ecophase is most divergent with 84 species (52.5%) followed by Hydrophase (22.5%)

>Littoral Ecophase (18.125% ) > Limosal Ecophase ( 6.875%). During the extensive field survey 6 new species of

aquatic and marsh land plants were recorded for the first time in Tripura, viz. Alternanthera paronychiodes

A.St.Hall (Amaranthaceae), Dopatrium junceum (Roxburgh) Buch.Ham (Scrophulariaceae), Limnocharis flava

(L.)Buch-Ham.(Alismatacaeae), Oenanthe benghalensis (Roxburgh) Kurz. (Apiaceae), Potemogeton natans L.

(Potemogetonaceae) and Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxburgh) Koehne (Lythraceae).The benevolent

aspect including medicinal uses of 23species could be recorded from primary sources through interaction with

local people during field work. Conservation of the wetlands is the need of the hour to protect the biota as well

as quality of drinking water.




Distribution and conservation of Fungal diversity in India

Saba Hasan, Garima Gupta, Harpreet Kaur, Zakariya Tayyab, Durgesh Singh

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Viraj Khand-5, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow (U.P.) – India 226010

Email : [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Biodiversity is a degree of variation of life forms within a given species, eco system, biome or entire planet, is a

measure of the health of eco system. Biodiversity is not evenly distributed; rather it varies greatly across the

globe as well as within regions. Fungi were recognized as a Kingdom, distinct from plants and animals only after

Whittaker (1969). Presently, the "fungi" as a mega-diverse group span three kingdoms, most belonging to the

Fungi (Eumycota), while others are classified in the Protozoa and Chromista (Straminipila). The issue of fungal

diversity, it’s extent and conservation, has attracted more attention in the last 10-15 years than in any period of

history. One third of fungal diversity of the globe exists in India. Out of 1.5 million of fungi, only 50% are

characterized until now. Unfortunately, only around 5–10% of fungi can be cultured artificially. The number of

fungi recorded in India exceeds 27,000 species, the largest biotic community after insects. The true fungi belong

to kingdom Eukaryota which has four phyla, 103 orders, 484 families and 4979 genera. Fungi are known to

colonize, multiply and survive in diversified habitats, viz. water, soil, air, litter, dung, foam etc. Fungi are

ubiquitous and cosmopolitan in distribution covering tropics to poles and mountain tops to the deep oceans.

Fungi play a significant role in the daily life of human beings besides their utilization in industry, agriculture,

medicine, food industry, textiles, bioremediation, natural cycling, as biofertilizers and many other ways. Three

steps were suggested by Moore et al. (2001) for fungal conservation: (1) conservation of habitats; (2) in situ

conservation of non-mycological reserves/ecological niches; and (3) ex situ conservation especially for

saprobic species growing in culture. To help collections of fungal cultures to maintain appropriate standards,

the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) has formulated guidelines which outline the necessary

requirements. There are 573 microbial culture collections in 68 countries registered in the World Directory of

Collections of Microorganisms (DCM). Fungal biotechnology has become an integral part of the human

welfare. The world of fungi provides a fascinating and almost endless source of biological diversity, which is a

rich source for exploitation.

Keywords : Eumycota, Ex situ Conservation, In situ Conservation, Biodiversity, mycological

Role of tribal women in combating climate change by using traditional forest knowledge

and fulfilling family care

Hemant Prakash Minj

Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi-835204

Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the role of tribal women of Jharkhand through a case study of village Buchaopa of Ranchi

District on the usage of traditional forest knowledge to supplement household needs and taking care of family.

Tribal women are particularly the most severely vulnerable to the changes posed by climate as they are the

prime water and forest produce collector. In most of the forest ecosystem, all the water sources have gone

down. Agricultural production is unable to meet their household needs. Crop loss has increased due to the less

rain fall, extreme hot and storm. In this situation, women are virtually loaded with lots of responsibilities to

manage and take care of family. Most of the crisis situation arises during the month of March to

October. Water shortage, delay in paddy cultivation, crop damage and health problem aggravate their

existing problem of financial crisis and food shortage. Tribal women at their own capacity level try to fulfill

household needs by collecting and selling NTFPs like, mahuwa flower, mahuwa seed, chaar seed, tamarind,

saal leaf, etc from forest and meet household needs like rice, medicine, school fees, etc. It is also seen that

extra money is spent of water pumping and labour for paddy field during the drought period. Women try to

keep some cash in hand before the cultivation of paddy by selling forest produce. Major NTFPs which are

collected and sold by women just before the cultivation of paddy are tamarind and mahuwa flower. During

the stress period (March-October), generally male member moves out of the village to find labour job. This

movement virtually increases the physical and mental pressure on women. This paper further tries to analyze

the despite physical and mental pressure posed by climate change, how tribal women are nurturing and

binding family.

Keywords: forest, tribal, family, drought, crisis, NTFP




Molecular Identification of Vibrio sp. from marine water samples using

16S rDNA sequence analysis

Sreenath Pillai* and Leena Murlidharan**

*Jacob School of Biotechnology & Bio-engineering

*Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (SHIATS), Allahabad, U.P

ABSTRACT

Today, Marine water is broadly suffering from different types of aquatic bacterial species (Aqua technological

organisms). One of the major risks involves the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood that may be

naturally contaminated by food borne pathogens present in the marine environment. Such risk is further

increased if the food is mishandled during processing where pathogens could multiply exponentially under

favourable conditions. In contrast to most other food borne pathogens, Vibrio sp. has the aquatic habitat as

their natural niche. As a result, Vibrios are most commonly associated with seafood as natural contaminants.

Food borne infections with Vibrio sp. are common in Asia. Vibrio infections usually occur in fish from marine and

estuarine environments, and have been reported throughout the world. Occasionally, Vibriosis is reported in

freshwater fish. The disease can cause significant mortality in fish culture facilities once an outbreak is in

progress. Vibrios are highly abundant in aquatic environments, including estuaries, marine coastal waters and

sediments, and aquaculture settings worldwide. This paper discusses that several Vibrio species appear at

particularly high densities in marine organisms, e.g., corals, fishes, molluscs, sea-grasses, sponges, shrimps and

zooplanktons.

A study of avifaunal diversity in Rani Ban Forest and its adjacent areas in

Kaski District of Nepal

Sandeep Shrestha and Nikky Shrestha

Department of Environmental science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal


ABSTRACT

A total of 867 species of birds have been recorded in Nepal, which are about 8% of the total bird species found

worldwide. The main objective of the study is to assess the avifaunal diversity in Rani baan and its adjacent

areas. The study was conducted using point count method on each vantage point along the transect lines.

Three diversity indexes such as Shannon diversity index (H), Sorenson’s Index of Similarity and Simpson’s Index of

Dominance was used to characterize species diversity in a community. A total of 124 species belonging to 13

orders and 37 families were observed from the study area, of which Passeriformes forms the largest order with 23

families. The diversity curve tend to be increasing rapidly and then slowly with 57 species (46%) found to be

frequent, 27 species (22%) common and 40 species (32%) abundant, categorized by the abundance scale. Of

124 species 88 species were observed in forest, 67 species in agriculture area near forest and 69 species in

wetland area. About 36 species were found in all three habitats. Similarly Sorenson index of similarity was 0.4464

that indicate 44% of similarity and Simpson Index of dominance was 0.03459 representing higher diversity. The

study showed that the area supports a fine number of forest birds in all habitats. Higher species diversity was

found in all three habitats with more possibility of evenness, with highest species diversity in forest followed by

agricultural area near forest and wetland. Based on study findings, it is needed for periodic monitoring of

diversity and population status of birds for the assessment of the environmental conservation and

management.




Study of nutrients around western offshore area of Arabian Sea - A long term trend analysis report

Prashant B Shrirame and G. L. Das

ONGC, IPSHEM, Goa


ABSTRACT

Marine ecosystems cover approximately 71% of the Earth's surface and contain approximately 97% of the

planet's water. Coastal and estuarine waters are increasingly subject to anthropogenic input and high-quality

measurement of nutrients is required to assess the marine ecosystems. The input of the major biologically active

nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and silicon) to the ocean plays an important role in regulating global oceanic

production. In surface waters of the open ocean, uptake of nutrients by organisms usually results in one or more

of those nutrients becoming limiting to their growth. As a commitment to protect environment, ONGC IPSHEM

Goa is regularly conducting environment monitoring around ONGC’s Platforms and Installations in western

continental shelf of Arabian Sea. The paper includes the output of monitoring activities of ONGC considering

variation of concentrations of nutrients i.e. phosphate-phosphorous, Nitrite-Nitrogen, Nitrate –Nitrogen and

silicates for assessing study area to examine long term trend in western offshore area of Arabian Sea from the

year 1994 to 2009. It has been observed from the study that values of nutrients are well within range of

oceanographic range over the years and no particular trend is observed which indicates primary production is

not disturbed by exploration and production activities of ONGC’s offshore operations.

Keywords: Marine ecosystem, nutrient analysis, primary production (PP), trend analysis, environment monitoring,

Arabian Sea.

Health risk estimation of pesticides exposure from Ganges Water

Sruthi Ravindran, Ranjusha V Pariyarath, Arun Kumar*, and Arvind K. Nema

Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016


ABSTRACT

This study assessed health risks due to pesticides exposure from the Ganges river water in a structured manner

to understand risks to population using the river water for drinking purpose without any further treatment. Risk

estimation was conducted for exposures of persistent organochlorine compounds - such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT,

DDD, 2, 4-D, endosulfan and endrin- and organophosphorous compounds- such as methyl parathion,

dimethioate and malathion from the Ganges water. Concentrations of these pesticides were obtained from

literature-reported monitoring data for four locations in Uttar Pradesh along the Ganges river (i.e., Narora,

Kachla, Fatehgarh and Kannuaj). Dose-response data (i.e., potency factor and reference dose values) of

different pesticides were obtained from the USEPA IRIS database and used to estimate hazard quotient (HQ) for

non-cancer causing pesticides. Pesticides with HQ values greater than 1 are identified for future actions.

Further, hazard index (HI) (i.e., summation of HQ values of different pesticides) was also estimated for each

station, assuming no interaction among pesticides and validity of dose-addition methodology. Analyses of HQ

values indicated that aldrin poses health concern (HQ>1). The order of risk of sites based on HI values is as

following: Fatehgarh> Kachla>Kannuaj> Narora, indicating difference in risk estimates among location, which

could be attributed to the effect of levels of pesticides usage in agricultural activities at different locations. Risk

estimation findings indicated the need for monitoring aldrin in river water and proper communication should be

made to people using the river water for drinking purposes. Frequent monitoring of pesticides and updating risk

assessment estimates are recommended, and measures should be taken to bring the pesticide concentrations

in water to a safe level.

Keywords: Cancer; Ganges water; Human health risk assessment; Pesticides




Pesticides are environmental as well genetic pollutants: A genotoxic evaluation on Culex quinquefasciatus by

applying dominant lethal test

Mamta Bansal, Bhupinder Barna and Asha Chaudhry

School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research,

Chandigarh - 160012.

Mosquito Cytogenetics Unit, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India


ABSTRACT

The use of pesticides to control weeds, insects, and other pests has resulted in a range of benefits, including

increased food production and reduction of insect-borne disease, but has posed challenge to maintain

human health and safe environment. Exposure to the pesticide may cause genotoxic effects on the target as

well as nontarget organisms including man. Therefore, the genotoxic evaluation of such pesticides has become

a priority area of research. In the present investigation, the genotoxic effect of imidacloprid and acetamiprid

was studied, which belong to a new class of neonicotenoids pesticides. For this purpose, dominant lethal test

(DLT) was adopted to evaluate the genotoxicity of both the insecticides on the reproductive potential of using

Culex quinquefasciatus as an ideal test system. Dominant lethal test (DLT) is used to evaluate the mutagenic

effect of pesticides on the progenies of treated parents. In this experiment, the males hatched from larvae

treated with LD20 were cross mated with normal females and the results were based on the number of hatched

and unhatched eggs laid by these females. The statistical analysis of the results for imidacloprid gave the

values of 31.56 ± 3.28 and that of acetamiprid gave the value 23.76 ± 1.84. The results obtained from both the

insecticides indicated significant dominant lethality of p<0.01. These results indicate the risk of mutation by of

imidacloprid and acetamiprid even at lower doses.

Climate change vis-à-vis biodiversity

Anju Puri1, Gopal Shukla2, C P Suresh3 and Sumit Chakravarty*3 1Barring Union Christian College, Batala, Punjab 2ICAR, Research Complex for Eastern Region, Plandu Ranchi 3Department of Pomology and Post Harvest Technology, 4*Department of Forestry

Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari-736165 Cooch Behar, WB


ABSTRACT

The World Resource Institute reports that there is a link between biodiversity and climate change. Climate is the

major factor controlling the global patterns of vegetation structure, productivity, plant and animal species

composition. Climate change is likely to have a number of impacts on biodiversity from species to ecosystem

levels and it is already affecting biodiversity as is demonstrated by changes in range of species, ecosystem

boundaries, shifts in reproductive cycles, growing season and changes in species interaction. It is also a

significant driving force behind the loss of genes, species, and critical ecosystem services. Rapid global

warming can affect ecosystems chances to adapt naturally. The paper discusses the cause and the general

effect of climate change on ecosystem and thereafter advocates Global Biodiversity Strategy’s view of direct

and indirect mechanisms, nearly all of which have significant human components that can affect current level

of biodiversity. Thus the human component needs to be incorporated when dealing with the impacts of

climate change on biodiversity that is activities aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change in which

biodiversity considerations are essential. Unfortunately, in the international policy arena, biodiversity loss and

climate change have often moved in wholly unconnected domains which needs to be addressed urgently.

Keywords: Climate change, Biodiversity, Global Biodiversity Strategy




Use of Agrowaste as substrate for production of fungal pectinase enzyme

Sarvesh Raghav and Sunita Singh

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida

ABSTRACT

Agro waste is an attractive alternative as substrate for the production of microbial enzymes due to its vast

availability and low cost. Value addition of such waste can result in extraction of important byproducts such as

pectin, pectinases, peel oil and dietary fibers. Pectin and pectinases are of wide importance especially in food

industry. Various types of fungal species are used for the production of pectinases. As extracellular pectinases

are easier to harvest and thus the scale up is cheaper and simpler, in the present study, combination of orange

peel and sweet lime peel waste was used to produce extracellular fungal pectinase. Firstly, potential fungal

isolates from various sources were screened on the basis of qualitative estimation of their pectinolytic activity

on selective media containing congo red dye (pectin as only carbon source). Further morphological

examination of screened isolates revealed that potential Isolate could be of Aspergillus genus. After isolation,

effect of different substrates as well as substrate concentration on pectinase enzyme was studied. Total of three

substrates viz. orange peel, sweet Lime peel, combination of orange and sweet lime peel were used in the

concentration of 1% to 3%. It was found that enzyme activity increased with the increase in substrate

concentration i.e. from 1% to 2.5% (p<0.05) after that it decreased. Highest activity was seen in 2.5% of substrate

concentration irrespective of the substrate used. Further, Combination of orange and sweet lime peel at 2.5%

concentraton showed the maximum pectinase enzyme activity. Thus, in conclusion potential pectinolytic strain

of Aspergillus niger was isolated on the substrate comprising of combination of sweet lime peel and orange

peel waste.

Keywords: Pectinase, Agrowaste, A. niger

Study on relationship of Phytoplaktonic community with ionic regime of water

in a pond in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Shivani Sharma and Leena Sharan

Environmental biology Laboratory, P.G.Department of Zoology, Govt. Dungar College, Bikaner


ABSTRACT

Phytoplankton, the principal and primary producer of the aquatic environment undergoes continuous change

over time with respect to their dominance and diversity, and the alterations solely depend upon prevailed

environmental variables. The present study on Kolayat pond, located 55km south-west from Bikaner district of

Rajasthan, was undertaken from January, 2009 to March, 2010 to study various limnological parameters

including phytoplankton’s. Desert water are often concentrated to an extent in terms of electrolytes, salinity

and ionic composition of water are most striking key factors regulating the plankton’s community. During

present investigation various limnological parameters were studied for temperature, pH, EC, dissolved oxygen,

free CO2, hardness and alkalinity. Among cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and anions (CO32- , HCO3

-, Cl-, SO42-,

PO42-, SIO2

2-, NO32-) were observed. They were within tolerable range. A total of 31 genera of phytoplanktons

belonging to Chlorophyceae (23 genera), Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophyceae (4 genera for both) were

recorded. Chlorophyceae was found to be the most dominant group both in diversity and density at the

selected site.




Generation of electricity from the audible sound

Priyanka Sajwan and Sarita Uniyal

Department Of Biotechnology,Graphic Era University,Dehradun,Uttarakhand-248002

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

As we know ‘Sound energy' is the prime source of energy, as well as, it is present in abundant form, so, using this

sound energy to generate electricity by the use of piezoelectric crystals. The electric property of the

piezoelectric crystal is the ability to generate electric signals when crystal dis-orient and re-orient. Our process

work on the basic principle of conversion of sound energy into electrical energy. When mic receives voice, mic

converts the voice into electrical signals, here mic is working as a transducer. The mic is connected to a circuit

which contains piezoelectric crystal used to produce signal of a same constant frequency. The circuit is then

connected to an assembly of capacitor, which is used to store the electric energy. As this assembly stores less

amount of energy so , it is further connected to 555 Timer which amplify the voltage . The whole circuit is then

connected to a switch. Further the flywheel is attached with the switch, for providing initial energy. Once the

initial energy is provided by the flywheel the whole circuit will work automatically. This device is a prime source

of renewable sources.

Keywords: Piezoelectric Crystals, Transducer, Sound Energy, Renewable Energy, 555 Timer.

Environmental protection policy of India

B.Vinay Kumar and G. Kamalakar

Dept of Political Science Osmania University Hyderabad


ABSTRACT

Environmental policy in India has longer history most detailed and prescriptive of these are provisions found in

Kautilya’s “ARTHASHSTRA” written between 320 bc and 300 bc It divided into fourteen Books that discusses a

wide range of subjects. The king ASHOKA also prohibited cutting the trees and killing wields animals. The year

1972 proved a turning point in the Indian perspective of environmental protection as the UN Conference on

Human Environment held at STOCKHOLM drew the attention of the world community towards degradation and

despoliation of the environment and its protection 42nd constitutional amendment Act 1976 incorporated

Article 48 (A) and 51 (1) (g) in the body of the constitution. the ministry of environment and forest established in

the year 1985 to plan , implement and coordinate the environmental protection measures in the country .water

(prevention and control of pollution )Act 1974 .water is life there is no life without water we cannot imagine the

life without water . . Most of the environmental problems are not confined to the boundaries.

Major sources of water pollution are:

Domestic or commercial waste (water) sewage.

Industrial effluents.

Environmental policy has to integrate with other policy sector such as energy, agriculture, industry and

transportation. The environmental protection involves a multiplicity of approach to tackle it effectively, like

social, political, economic and technological approaches and the legal approach has also its own role to

play. Adaptation of the improved policy instruments (environmental impact assessment, environmental

auditing) for achieving the environmental policy objectives. Future trends in environmental protection we

cannot predict if prudently managed or planned or may further deteriorate if the economic policies

committed to expansion, increased use of non-renewable resources and without taking into account of the

sustainability and environmental protection.

Keywords: India, Environment. Protection, policy, water, degradation.




Effect of environmental factors on chilli fruit rot infection caused by Colletotrichum capsici

G Darvin, K V M Krishna Murthy, P Anil Kumar and K L Narasimha Rao

Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural College, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh - 522 101


ABSTRACT

Environmental factors like temperature, relative humidity and light must be favourable for the infection to takes

place. The optimal requirements of these factors vary with different species of plant pathogens. To find out the

effect of environmental factors on chilli fruit rot infection, the surface sterilized, healthy chilli fruits artificially

inoculated with conidial suspension (concentration of 106 conidia/ml) of Colletotrichum capsici and incubated

at different temperatures (includes 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 400C), relative humidity levels (includes 75, 80, 85, 90,

95 and 100%) and light regimes (includes continuous light, continuous darkness, 18 h darkness followed by 6 h

light period and18 h light followed by 6 h darkness period), respectively. Ten days after inoculation recorded

the data on lesion size and per cent disease index (PDI). The highest lesion size (15.10 mm) and PDI (38.50) were

recorded when the inoculated chilli fruits were incubated at temperature of 250C. Temperature beyond and

below 250C caused significant reduction in both lesion size and per cent disease index (PDI). Among the four

light regimes, 18 h light followed by 6 h dark period was optimum (recorded the highest lesion size (8.96 mm)

and PDI (61.05)) for chilli fruit rot development. The inoculated chilli fruits incubated at relative humidity of 95

per cent reported the highest infection (lesion size (21.00 mm) and PDI (59.90)). When the relative humidity was

decreased to 75%, the lesion size and per cent disease index showed a sharp decrease.

Conservation of Plant Bio-Diversity by Van Mahotsavs in Gujarat

Dhiren Vandra

College of Rural Studies, Mangrol, Dist. Junagadh, Gujarat


ABSTRACT

Biodiversity on earth is the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution. Biodiversity supports a number of natural eco system

processes and services are air purifier, water purifier, climate maintenance, pollution control and prevention of soil

erosion. Biodiversity produces food of about 80% of our food supply comes from just 20 plants. Human uses at least

40000 species of plants and animals a day. Due to economic and environmental changes in world, government of

India laid down a new forest policy in 1988 to conserving the natural heritage of Flora & Fauna. Forest Management

also emphasized on conservation of biodiversity by network of national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere, reserves and

protected areas. Gujarat have more than 19000 Sq. Kms. of forests with rich biodiversity. Based on revised

classification 22 forest sub types have been recognized in Gujarat. The secondary data collected from annual reports

, the posters of different van mahotsavas published by forest department and presented here in original form to draw

the results. In Gujarat, Vanmahotsav is organized in State, District and Taluka level with the help of governmental forest

department and non-governmental organizations and people participation in tree plantation. Vanmahotsav have

been held at Gandhinagar, Ambaji, Taranga, Somnath , Chotila and Shamalaji, Pavagadh and Palitana. Main

objectives of these vanmahotsavs are to create mass awareness about trees, educate people about need of

conservation and tree plantation in wide area. Punitvan is prepared in Gandhinagar as per description given in

purans each planet, constellation and zodiacs has its own favorite tree, Nakshatravan, Rashivan and Navgrahvatika

were prepared with its favourite tree. Panchvati was also prepared with Bili, Vad, Ashok, Amla and pipal.

Mangalyavan was prepared at Ambaji where 6000 trees of different pieces were planted in 2005 by department of

forest in Gujarat. Shyamalvan located near Shamalaji, Dashavatarvan, Devvan, Smritivan, Modern Nursery,

Agroforestry, Demo Area, Interpretation Center, Heritage Corner are prepared with the help of various plant species.

Hariharvan situated at somnath, the components are shiv panchayatvan, Shrikrishnagokuldhamvan,

Shriharishankarvan, Rudrakshavan, Jyotirlingvan, Saptarshivan, Panchvalkalvan, Panchvati, Nakshatravan, Rashivan,

Nav-grahvan, Shriparnivan, and Shritivan with favorite plants of religious value and medicinal value. Bhaktivan was

prepared near Chotila with Ayurvedic herbs and trees. Tirthankarvan is situated at Taranga with the help of 24 Jain

Tirthankar’s Kevalitrees represents 24 Tirthankars. The Forest Department of Gujarat State and GEER Foundation are

trying to conserve the floral biodiversity at various places of Gujarat by Vanmahotsav and Vans. They tried to

conserve about 80 plant species. Even though 104 species comes under near threatened, 16 species comes under

vulnerable, 10 species comes under endangered and 8 species comes under critically endangered. Thus they

worked to conserve biodiversity especially for floras and fauna.




Status of Drinking Water Quality in the vicinity of railway stations from Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Panvel;

Harbour Line, Maharashtra

J.G. Koliyar and N.N. Kothari

SIES (Nerul) College of Arts, Science and Commerce,

IIEM, P -1C, Sector V, Nerul, NaviMumbai, Maharashtra: 400706


ABSTRACT

This paper attempts presents the results of a survey of quality of drinking water samples collected from Mumbai

Suburban Railway. The Harbour Line is a division of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. It is operated by Central

Railways. It covers most of NaviMumbai and the eastern areas of Mumbai. The Line has 5 routes and 6 termini

stations CST, Andheri and Panvel. It also has Thane, Nerul, Vashi and Panvel. The services operated are slow

services in harbour line and there are no fast trains as it has double line. In NaviMumbai there are newly

designed train stations which are different from the old, congested and overcrowded stations within the

Mumbai city limits. The present work is focused on drinking water samples collected for three months and

analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters like pH, conductivity, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solid,

Dissolved Oxygen, Most Probable Number, Alkalinity, Residual Chlorine, Iron, Nitrate, Sulfate, and Phosphate

from in total 11 stations named Mumbai CST, Masjid, Wadala, Kurla, Chembur, Govandi, Vashi, Nerul, CBD

Belapur, Kharghar, and Panvel. The present paper would describe the results of the study done and the

purpose of the study was to collect information concerning use and value of water quality improvements at

Harbour line railway stations. In order to make the study more informative statistical tools like averages, tables,

graphs and photographs will be applied.

Keywords: Harbour Line, Mumbai Suburban Railway, Drinking water quality, physico-chemical parameters,

Assessment of drinking water quality from Ground Water Source from different villages of Koregaon Tehsil of

Satara District, Maharashtra, India

A. N. Yadav

Department of Chemistry, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara-415001, Maharashtra, India


ABSTRACT

The quality of drinking water sources from different villages of Koregaon tehsil of Satara District, Maharashtra

has been assessed and results are presented in the paper. Total 20 samples of drinking water from dug wells

and bore wells were collected. Physicochemical parameters pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, total

dissolved solids were assessed. The present study indicates that samples collected found to have values of total

hardness ranging from 162 ppm to 518 ppm. Except samples SB7 ,SD3 had lower values of 298 and162 ppm

within desirable limit. All other 18 samples were found to have higher values of total hardness. The samples SB1,

SB9, SD2, SD6 and SD7 were found to have higher values of electrical conductivity.pH of collected samples were

between range 6.82 to 7.5 within desirable limit.

Keywords : Ground water,Physico-chemical parameters, Koregaon Tehsil




Sewerage system for Port Blair

Nitika Gupta

WAPCOS Ltd., 76-C, Sector 18, Gurgaon-122015, Haryana, INDIA


ABSTRACT

Port Blair is capital of Andaman & Nicobar Island and the only town in these 572 islands. Port Blair is the principal

entry & exit point for all visitors. Portblair is renowned tourist place. Area of the municipal council is 1799 ha and

is divided into eighteen wards. The terrain of Port Blair is hilly; rising from sea level to almost 120 m, so generally

no water table should be encountered except on the circular coastal Road where at places it is up to 1.5 m

below ground level. In these islands it rains for almost 6 to 8 months in a year, averaging 3500 mm annually,

and the availability of drinking water during the early part of the year say February to May is not satisfactory.

Most of the rain water flows into the sea, as run-off owing to terrain, leaving with whatever water is stored in

various reservoirs. Presently the main supply is from the sources namely Dhanikhari Dam and Jawhar Sarover.

Presently there is no existing sewerage system in the city. Majority of the households are having their own septic

tanks and effluent from these is flowing in the open drains creating unhygienic conditions and ruins the

aesthetic view. Emphasis was given on to design centralized sewerage system for the city to enhance the

lifestyle of the residents. Also recycling or utilization of treated waste water for non-domestic purposes.

Considering various constraints and involvement of huge cost, it is recommended to follow integrated water

resource management approach for holistic development and management of available water resources. In

this context, it is suggested that construction of STP and sewerage network is mandatory.

Keywords: Centralized Sewerage, Septic tanks, Sequential Batch Reactor

Environmental law: the evolution and the need for revolution

Shalini Singh

Gujarat national law University

ABSTRACT

With such a varied and intriguing environmental infrastructure, India doesn’t need introduction. From the times

of manusmriti and kautilya, the ecosystem, the environment has been worshipped, appreciated and exploited.

In the 21st century where the need of a stable combination of traditional and modern legislation is a must, the

Indian government has not yet touched the problem of vanishing trees, hurt biodiversity and extinct greenery.

The paper tries to decipher the various problems and policies-their aims, ideals, the real picture and the TODAY

of the environmental law with respect to international environmental law and prospective, various Indian acts-

their impact and failure, The current corpus of case law studies of various landmark judgements, the sudden

awareness amongst people and the parliament, etc. Policy and law-making is not always an open and

transparent process. Micro-planning, Piece-meal approach to environmental problems, predominate

legislative effort, the involvement of NGO’s, stakeholders, officials, interested groups, coordination amongst

various sectors, the delay and coming of bills relating to immediate effective law processing are some of the

minor factors which govern environmental law upgrading. The author has discussed the green and brown

areas of Indian environmental law through the history and evolution of it and the need to provide a better law

body then the existing ministry of Environment and Forests. Criticism and appreciation of environmental law

enforcement agencies and the environment cell is not the aim here, the aim is to provide solutions and to

make the laymen on street see what more can be/could be/would be done. The paper tries to answer

questions and ask for the same.

Keywords: policies, environmental law, environmental problems, history, case law studies, Indian acts




Looking beyond the present - Sustainable Energy, a necessity

Priyanka Karnatak, Aayushi Gupta and Vidushi Uniyal

College of Technology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar

Pantnagar, Uttrakhand, India- 263145


ABSTRACT

Digging oil well after oil well, stealing 80to85 million oil barrels per day, we slowly rowed into the dark usurping

devilish tides that slap our environment over and over again and we the crazy statues still continue to scrape

away the fossil-fuels as if trying to fossilize all the traces of existence of non-renewable sources on this planet. A

stupendous attempt to deprive the coming generation from these oil well diggings, mine scrapings, tree felling,

etc. While cycling endlessly in a fuel-less world, like water bottles and Tiffin, kids would carry oxygen masks too

and so would the fluttering thirsty birds do... From nuclear power plants, we're adding radium to potable water

of rivers maybe to let them glitter like tears on cheeks of loved ones of sick...Wait, lets continue to gorge on

these non-renewable sources like opulent gorillas so that even this land refuses to carry our fat bottoms and

sinks into dirty seas and poisoned oceans to house the fish left, if any. Strange, we still don't want to weave

engineering skills to trap sunlight in solar-cookers, cells and heaters, build hydroelectric power-plants that use

polluted waste water to produce electricity. The incipient windmills, shattered and torn are silently mulling,

craving for wind farms, big and wide... Begging us to adopt sustainable energy, nature's been shrieking amidst

shadows of a dingy future, its echoes clouding suffocated smoggy sky... Slipping out of cloak of indifference, it’s

time we hear it. This paper focuses on the burning issues and the possible solutions at the grass root level. Since

it is said charity begins at home and so is the fight against the never ending cycle of self-destruction which we

ourselves have chosen to ride for our greed.

Keywords: renewable sources, sustainable energy resources, wind farms, solar- powered equipments,

hydroelectric power plant

Ecofriendly disposal of used Agar

Pooja Desai and Aksheta Sampath

Department of Environmental Science, SIES (Nerul) College of Arts,

Science & Commerce, Nerul, Navi Mumbai


ABSTRACT

Composting, often described as nature’s way of recycling, it is the biological process of breaking up of organic

waste such as food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, worms, and coffee grounds, etc., into an

extremely useful humus-like substance by various micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes

in the presence of oxygen. Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is

expanding rapidly in many countries, as landfill space becomes scarce and expensive, and as people

become more aware of the impact they have on the environment. Agar once used for various experimental

purposes is auto-claved to prevent spread of contamination and then sent for incineration as its method of

disposal. Incineration leads to generation of fly ash and various flue gases. Fly ash disposal is a major problem

and flue gases too need to be cleaned of particulate and gaseous pollutants before they are let in the

atmosphere. This paper attempts to check the feasibility of Composting of Used Agar. This approach aims at

applying lesser pressure on the environment as it is eco-friendly and establish a method for the production of

compost as a preferred technique of disposal for used agar against the traditional approach of incineration /

land filling. This suggested use of discarded agar focuses mainly on the agar used for academic purposes

(schools & colleges) only, as the type of microorganisms used in the educational institutions can be easily

eliminated by simple auto-claving unlike the hospitals and the pathological laboratories which deal with the

disease causing microorganisms and their spores.

Keywords: feasibility, Agar, incineration, composting, eco- friendly, land filling




Ecosystem: the missing links

Sanjay Dosaj

206, Daru Bhondela, Jhansi, U.P. India. 284002

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The fundamental principle for smooth functioning of an ecosystem is that whatever is extracted from the

ecosystem should be returned to be recycled again and again. Animals honestly return to the system whatever

they eat but we humans lock the most of it into the sewage systems and underground tanks of flush latrines, this

has great implications on the health of the ecosystem. In return to this, probably the ecosystem gives us a gift of

new viruses every now and then. We very well know that microorganisms present just below the surface of the

soil are very important to the health of the soil. In fact they ensure that everything returned to the soil is

converted to such forms so that it can be utilized by the plants for recycling. If these microorganisms are

deprived of food it may have serious implications. There is a big controversy on the origin of virus, the three

theories currently acceptable are the theory of regressive evolution, theory of cell origin and the theory of

independent or parallel evolution. In all the acceptable theories the penultimate step is common and there

are more than one ways in which we might be contributing in achieving this penultimate stage of virus

formation. This review research is an amalgamation of ecology and biology raising new questions to science

and in the lookout for replies to these we may reach to shocking disclosures regarding human behavior in

context with the ecosystem, formation of virus and cancers.

Keywords: Ecosystem, microorganisms, virus formation, ecology, biology.

Composition and abundance of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) of the Ganges River Estuary, West Bengal, India

Dibyendu Rakshit1, N.Godhantaraman2, S. K. Sarkar1 and B. Bhattacharya1

1Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road,

Calcutta-700019, India 2Centre for Ocean and Coastal Studies (COCS), University of Madras, Chepauk Campus,

Chennai-600 005, Tamil Nadu, India

E-mail: <[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Seasonal variations of the loricate ciliate tintinnid (ciliophora: Tintinnida) were investigated in different stations

at Ganges river estuary, Eastern coastal part of India. The variations were analysed in relation to different

hydrological parameters such as surface temperature, salinity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen,

biological oxygen demand, Chl-a and inorganic nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, silicate). In addition, a short

term study was also carried out during two religious festivals i.e.; Durga idol immersion (September 2011) in

several sites of Hooghly river & Gangasagar mela (January 2012) at Sagar island, mouth of the estuary. Total 10

species of tintinnids under 4 genera have been identified during the study period. In general, Tintinnopsis

dominates the community comprising of 7 species followed by Tintinnidium (1 sp), Leprotintinnus (1 sp) and

Favella (1 sp). Sharp increase of tintinnid abundance was recorded during those religious events in

comparison to other months. The total abundance, biomass and production rate of tintinnids ranged from

1537500 ind. m-3 - 10,22,294 ind. m-3 , 0.12 μgcl-1-2.48 μgcl-1 and 0.62 μgcl-1 - 4.52 μgcl-1 respectively. The species

diversity indices (H’) was ranged from 0.2 to 1.64 with the maximum value during Gangasagar mela. Tintinnid

diversity appeared to be positively correlated with nitrate concentrations (r = 0.597 ; P<0.05). The dominance

indices varied from 0.07 to 2.46 where the community was predominated by Tintinnopsis beroidea. The work is

being carried out to get substantial data on tintinnid community structure along with the water quality

characteristics which would be helpful for adopting future management strategies of this highly productive

wetland ecosystem.

Keywords: Planktonic ciliates, Ganges river estuary, Durga idol immersion, Gangasagar mela, religious events,

wetland ecosystem




Antagonistic potential of Trichoderma spp. against plant pathogenic fungi

Saba Hasan, Nausheen Khan, Faizuddin Sagar, Saransh Shukla, Rishi Kundan, Abhinav Purwar, Keshav Dwivedi,

Payal Jain, Meenakshi Khanna, Swati Prakash Gupta and Saumya Mishra

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Viraj Khand-5, Gomti Nagar,

Lucknow (U.P.) – India 226010


ABSTRACT

The fungal pathogens play a major role in the development of diseases on many important field and

horticulture crops; resulting in severe plant yield losses. Intensified use of fungicides has resulted in

accumulation of toxic compounds potentially hazardous to humans and environment and also in the buildup

of resistance of the pathogens. In order to tackle these national and global problems, effective alternatives to

chemical control are being employed. Biological control is a nature friendly approach that uses specific

microorganisms, which interfere with plant pathogens and pests to overcome the problems caused by

chemical methods of plant protection. Fungi in the genus Trichoderma are among the most frequently isolated

soil fungi and promising biocontrol agents against plant pathogenic fungi. It has been known for many years

that they produce a wide range of antibiotic substances and that they parasitize other fungi. Among the

action mechanisms proposed is mycoparasitism, with concomitant production of enzymes that degrade cell

walls. In the present investigation, selected isolate of Trichoderma harzianum was analyzed for it’s potential

against eleven isolates of plant pathogenic fungi (SRA-01 to SRA-11) isolated and purified from infected leaves

of Mango, Aloe Vera, Lemon grass, Dahlia, Rose and Marigold. The efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum against

soil borne plant pathogens revealed that Trichoderma showed highest percentage inhibition (91.4%) against

SRA-01, followed by SRA-05 (86.8%) and SRA-02 (83.6%). Also, good inhibition was seen against SRA-07 (81.4%)

and SRA-09 (77.5%) while poor growth inhibition was observed with SRA-06 (58.7%) and SRA-04 (48.1%). The

lowest percentage inhibition (30.7%), was shown against SRA- 03. It was concluded that Trichoderma spp.

significantly reduced the growth of plant pathogenic fungi. Thus the Trichoderma species offers much scope for

its effectiveness against fungal diseases of a number of crop plants.

Keywords : Trichoderma, Antagonism, Mycoparasitism, Fungicides, Inhibition

Climate Change

Tanu Sonkar

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow.


ABSTRACT

Climate change refers to a statistically significant variation in the mean state of the climate. It may be due to

natural internal process or external forcing or persistent anthropogenic activities. Since the beginning of

Industrial revolution, there had been increase in the level of Green House Gases (GHG) which resulted in the

climatic change. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an International

treaty produced at Earth Summit, in Rio-de-janeiro from June 3-14, 1992 to establish National GHG Inventories

for GHG level reduction. The treaty itself set no mandatory limits on GHG emission for individual countries and

contains no enforcement mechanism, thus it is considered as legally non-binding. Thus Kyoto Protocol was

formed in 1997 which established binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions.

After Kyoto Protocol, some countries have shown the responsibility and have reduced their emission rates. It

provides flexible mechanism to achieve reduction in emission level. It includes Emission Trading, Joint Implement

program, clean development mechanism, through which member countries may join together to adjust the

level of carbon emission, so that it may not extend beyond a certain limit and affect the environment. The

adoption of Distributive Justice, so that developed nations could not accumulate wealth at the cost of

developing nations. 84% of Scientist believes that humans are responsible for Global Warming. According to the

Per-Capita Record, Qatar tops the list, and India comes at 78th rank for carbon emission. The aim of the paper is

to discuss the phenomenon of ‘Climate Change’ with the developmental history to limit the emission rate to an

extent, not to cause environmental harm, causes of climate change, anthropogenic role and impact of the

climate change on the present scenario.

Keywords: UNFCCC, Distributive Justice, Kyoto Protocol, Anthropogenic activity, Industrial revolution, Carbon

trading.




Environment Sustainability to Social Sustainability: A case for linking Poverty Reduction and Environment

Protection under Climate Change Laws and Policies

Stellina Jolly

South Asian University, New Delhi


ABSTRACT

Climate Change (CC) is the defining problem of the century. Scientific certainty and consensus has now

accepted that anthropogenic activities dictated by the pursuit of development have led to the present

looming crisis threatening environment sustainability. Sea level rise, coastal erosion, decrease in agricultural

production, accessibility to clean water and impact on health, are some of the consequences of CC well

documented and accepted. Vulnerability of poor in CC is also gaining attention nationally and internationally.

This paper attempts to bring the inextricably intertwined relationship between CC and poverty. The

consequence of this linkage is a vicious cycle in which climate change impact the vulnerable poverty ridden

people exacerbating their poverty and degradation of the environment, and such degradation in turn

perpetuates and prolongs more poverty. This scenario also points to the increasing role ’Environmental law

based on equity’ should play in the wider agendas for sustainable development and social inclusion. The links

between sustainability and environmental equity are becoming clearer and more widely understood to the

policy makers and it is the possible co-operation between these two which is the focus of this paper. Paper

tries to argue that the concept of equitable sustainability provides a basis for policymakers to converge and

integrate the key dimensions of both environmental and social sustainability. Paper particularly looks at whether

international and national legal response to climate change has taken in to account the poverty dimension

and brought in practice the concept of equity

Keywords: Climate Change, Environment Equity, Sustainability, Poverty reduction, Environmental law

Analysis of polarimetric sar data for landcover discrimination

A. Bernito

Anna University of Technology Tirunelveli


ABSTRACT

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is widely used for monitoring and imaging the Earth’s surface. Recent fully

polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) systems provide a more complete description of the backscatter behaviour of the

target surface, with the potential to improve the discriminating power for remote sensing purposes. Agricultural

targets are very dynamic throughout the growing season, and thus remote sensing is an attractive approach to

mapping and monitoring applications. Research has demonstrated that the additional polarizations will

increase the information content in a SAR dataset similar to using multispectral approaches in the optical

region. The value of the phase information and the polarimetric parameters that can be derived from these

data help in understanding the scattering mechanisms and target interactions that are occurring, leading to a

better approach to data processing and information extraction. In this research paper i have used fully

polarimetric Quad-Pol data obtained fro RADARSAT-2 for the landcover discriination of Mandya district in

Karnataka. The polarimetric response of crops is studied and their polarimetric signatures are analysed to

determine the various parameters that may affect the radar backscatter using PolSARPro and ENVI Sarscape.

The entire study area is classified into 5 classes: Built-up land, Sugarcane, Paddy, Water, Wasteland. The results

obtained from SAR data are compared with LISS IV 5.8m resolution data obtained from Resources at -2. Results

show that SAR imagery is ore advantageous than optical data.

Keywords: SAR, Polarimetry, landcover classification, RADARSAT-2, Radar backscatter




Water-deficit impact on the seed germination and growth of Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan Sindhur’

Arti Jamwal and S. Puri

Shoolini University, Department of Botany, Solan, Himachal Pradesh-173229, India


ABSTRACT

Among the environmental stresses, water-deficit stress is one of the most adverse factors to plant growth and

development. Drought is worldwide problem, constraining global crop production and quality seriously and

recent global climate change has made this situation more serious. The present study was undertaken to

evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan

Sindhur’ to water-deficit stress under laboratory conditions. Osmotic stress was generated using PEG-6000

(Polyethylene glycol 6000) and the seed germination, seedling growth, proline, lipid and chlorophyll (a, b and

total) content were evaluated. The increase in osmotic potential showed significant decrease in germination

percentage. Seedling growth parameters increased with an increase in PEG concentration, except the root

length which decreased at 10% and 15% PEG PEG concentration. The content of proline and malondialdehyde

(MDA) increased according to severity of water-deficit stress in hydroponically grown plants. Proline content in

roots was more as compared to leaf proline; whereas leaf MDA content was high to root. Chlorophyll (a, b and

total) content decreased as PEG concentration increased except at 1% PEG. Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan

Sindhur’ would be classified as a species susceptible to severe drought conditions but it can tolerate and

flourish well at mild drought condition.

Keywords: Water-deficit, polyethylene glycol 6000, osmotic potential, germination percentage, hydroponically

grown plants, proline.

Sustainable development through knowledge of geography

Kalpana Sharma

Training And Development department

Hindustan college Of Science And Technology Farah Mathura.

ABSTRACT

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: he concept of

needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the

idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to

meet present and future needs." A major portion of India falls above the age of 25. India has the largest

illiterate population in the world. And this illiterate population avails all the natural resources. Therefore a major

portion of resources which can be utilized and saved for future concerns is wasted not just in rural but in urban

areas too. A house in newly developed colony will plant a pump first than anything else. It is important that

steps should be taken where people are educated regarding the upcoming hazards of scarcity in water level.

Keywords: essential needs, limitations imposed, illiterate, resources




Comet assay for the measurement of DNA damage in marine gastropods

exposed to genobiotic pollutants

Jacky Bhagat, B Ingole, A Sarkar and D P Rao

Marine Pollution Assessment & Ecotoxicology Laboratory

National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India


ABSTRACT

In this study, measurement of DNA damage in Nerita chameleon was used as a biomarker of genotoxicants

along the coast of Goa. It is based on the principle that genotoxicants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

(PAH), polychlorobiphenyl (PCB), heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr etc.) interacts with specific sites present in DNA

strands and forms DNA adducts. These DNA adducts eventually causes breaks in DNA strands resulting in loss of

DNA integrity. In order to assess the genotoxic effects of contaminants on marine gastropods, Nerita

chameleon was collected from different sites (viz. Anjuna, Sinquerim, Dona Paula, Velsao, Betul and Palolem)

along the Goa coast. The DNA damage was measured using comet assay (also called single cell gel

electrophoresis assay). Three parameters namely tail DNA, olive tail moment (OTM) and tail length (TL) was

used. All these three parameters showed a significant variation along these sites with respect to the reference

sites (Betul). The highest tail DNA was found in samples from Sinquerim (55.8%). The tail DNA was in the order

Palolem (49.6%) > Dona Paula (40.7%) > Velsao (36.5%) > Anjuna (32.2%) compared with reference site, Betul

(26.9%). Similar trend was observed with OTM, Sinquerim (10.8) > Palolem (10.5) > Dona Paula (9.5) > Velsao

(9.2) > Anjuna (6.6) > Betul (6.2). The highest TL was measured in samples from Velsao (49.1µm), while those from

Sinquerim, Palolem, Dona Paula, Anjuna and Betul were in the range of 32.5-36.9 µm. The low DNA integrities in

marine gastropods at these sites can be attributed to genotoxic contaminants exposed to Nerita chameleon

inhabiting different sites along the Goa coast. The contaminant-induced DNA strand breaks in marine

gastropods increased considerably at Palolem, Arambol, Anjuna and clearly indicating the levels of

contamination of the site by genotoxic compounds.

Keywords: DNA damage, Nerita chameleon, comet assay, gastropods, genotoxicity, Goa coast

Fungal diversity: an important food source to meet the challenges of nutritional security

M. K. Bag, T. V. Prasad, R. Bharadwaj and A. Roy

National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India


ABSTRACT

Today, there is wider acceptance to diversify our food basket with new sources of food to attain nutritional

security. Thus it is important to explore the wild biota like uncultivated edible mushrooms, tubers, vascular and

non-vascular epiphytes to identify future food. Several species of fungi are used as food stuffs by the tribal

communities in different parts of the world. They are ideal food, incomparable to any other conventional

vegetables because of its richness in protein, minerals, dietary fibre, vitamins and almost free of fatty acid and

cholesterol. Out of 1097 species of edible fungi 820 used as pure food. Fungi used as food in our diet are mostly

mushrooms, morels and truffels. Popularly known mushrooms are ‘meadow mushroom’ (Agaricus bisporus,

Calocybe indica), ‘inky-cap mushroom’ (Lentinus edodes), ‘oyster mushroom’ (Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-

caju), ‘termite mushroom’ (Termitomyces sp.), ‘paddy straw mushroom’ (Volvariella volvacia), ‘sponge

mushroom’ (Morchella esculenta, M. rotunda) also known as ‘morel’. Besides these ascomycetous fungi

‘Tuber’ commonly known as ‘truffels’ (T. melanosporum), ‘puff-ball fungus’ (Lycoperdon spp.), ‘giant puff-ball

fungi’ (Calvatia spp.), ‘gelly fungus’ (Auricularia auricular-judae) and Ramaria apiculata grown on conifers are

other edible macro fungi. Besides mushroom, fungal mycelium of Fusarium used as meat substitute after

processing. ‘Quorn’ a commercial product of Fusarium sold as low-fat, low-calorie, cholesterol-free health food

to consumers. Being used directly as food, fungi are also used in processing of various food products like soy-

sauce using Aspergillus oryzae and A. sojae, Indonesian ‘temph’ using Rhizopus oligosporus. In India particularly

in northeastern region fungi are highly coveted food. Study revealed more than 12 ethnic groups of Nagaland

use 13 species and ethnic tribes in Assam use at least 7 species of mushroom for their livelihood. Climate of NE

region is suitable for diverse group of edible fungi as evidenced by huge diversity available in the region.

However, most of the edible fungi are collected from forest. There exist a good sign for commercial cultivation

following GAP guidelines for export and domestic consumption.

Keywords: Fungal diversity, edible mushroom, tribal communities, NE region, GAP.




Comparative study on adverse effects of PEG induced water and salinity stress on germination and early

seedling growth of Capsicum annuum ‘Solan Bharpur’ under laboratory conditions

Sikha Sharma and S. Puri

Department of Botany, Shoolini University, Bajhol, Solan, H.P.


ABSTRACT

In both natural and agricultural conditions plants are frequently exposed to environmental stresses. Abiotic

stresses including drought and salinity are currently the major factors which reduce plants distribution and

productivity worldwide. Water and salinity stress also affect the quality seriously and recent global climate

change has made this situation more serious. The aim of present study is to investigate the morphological,

physiological and biochemical responses of Capsicum annuum ‘Solan Bharpur’ when exposed to polyethylene

glycol (PEG-6000) induced water deficit and salinity (NaCl) stress under laboratory conditions. The adverse

effects of water and salinity stress on the growth of Capsicum annuum ‘Solan Bharpur’ were assessed at the

germination and seedling growth stage using solutions of polyethylene glycol (5% PEG and 10% PEG) and NaCl

(50 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl) respectively. Effects of PEG induced water and salinity stress were also studied

on proline content, lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll content. Seed

germination decreased with increase in concentration of treatments. Seedling growth measured in terms of

root length, shoot length and seedlings fresh weight also reduced with increasing concentrations of treatments

either due to PEG or NaCl. However, PEG induced water stress caused more growth inhibition compared to

NaCl induced salinity stress. Water and salinity stress caused increase in the level of proline and MDA, an

important index of lipid peroxidation of both shoot and roots tissues with increase in concentrations of

treatments. However, increase in the level of proline and MDA of leaves was more than the roots. The total

chlorophyll content of leaves decreased with increase in concentrations of both PEG and NaCl treatments.

However, chlorophyll a content was higher in leaves as compared to chlorophyll b.

Keywords: Germination, growth, PEG, NaCl, MDA, proline

The effects of vehicular air pollution on the health, economy and the environment of New Delhi, India

Inem Chahal

University of Toronto, Department of Economics, 6391 Alderwood Trail,

Mississauga ON L5N 6W9, Canada


ABSTRACT

The growing number of automobiles in the recent decades has resulted in high levels of vehicle emissions. Toxic

chemicals released from these motor vehicles become suspended into the atmosphere, affecting the air

quality negatively. This can be defined as ‘vehicular air pollution’. Many metropolitan cities around the world

have begun to face this problem. One such example is New Delhi, the capital city of India. The roads of New

Delhi are constructed to hold up to eight- thousand vehicles, however at least twice that amount are on the

roads daily. It is home to about twenty percent of the total number of vehicles in the country. This has become

a serious issue because the city is only made up of about fifteen hundred square kilometres, leading to the

problem of traffic congestion, in addition to soaring pollution levels. This paper will argue that vehicular air

pollution has negative effects on the health, economy and the environment of New Delhi. The second section

will provide background information and discuss the contributions of various scholars to this study. The third,

fourth and fifth sections will examine the effects on the health, economy and the environment, respectively.

The sixth section will talk about whether government policies have aided in resolving this problem or not. These

policies include the introduction of compressed natural gas, removing old vehicles off the roads and

mandatory pollution checks. Finally, the seventh section will discuss possible solutions to vehicular air pollution

which the government can adapt in the future, these possibilities include improving the existing infrastructure to

make it more efficient and reliable, having a tax system in place which requires drivers of private vehicles to

pay a certain amount and finally having a policy in place which limits each household to one vehicle.

Keywords: Vehicles, Pollutants, CNG, Emissions, Transport Policy, New Delhi




Impact of Buildings on Climate Change

Pratima Singh

Department of Resource Management, Institute of Home Economics,

University of Delhi, New Delhi- 110016


ABSTRACT

It is a widely accepted fact that human activities are contributing to climate change at a very rapid pace.

Scientific evidence suggests climate change to be causal factor in rising sea levels, increased occurrence of

severe weather events, food shortages, changing patterns of disease, severe water shortages and the loss of

tropical forests significantly impacting almost every aspect of our environment, economies and societies. This

paper discusses the potential impact of buildings on climate leading to irreversible damage to environment

and ecosystem. Solution to the problem in the form of untapped potential of sustainable/green buildings is also

discussed to support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) & non-CO2 GHG emissions reduction.

Keywords: climate change, building, green buildings, greenhouse gas

Profiling of inhabitant bacterial diversity in molasses-mass of sugarcane distillery effluent

Anupama Chaudhary1, A.K. Sharma1 and Birbal Singh3

1Department of Biotechnology, M.M. (P.G.) C. Modinagar, UP-201204 2Dept. of Biotechnology, M.M. (P.G.) C. Modinagar, UP-201204 3Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur. HP- 176001


ABSTRACT

In the sugarcane producing area of western Uttar-Pradesh, effluent from molasses based distilleries leads to a

high risk of environmental pollution due to discharge of large volume water pollutant. In present report, we

intended to analyses inhabitant bacterial diversity, in order to optimize in-situ degradation of pollutant

molasses-mass collected from Modi Distillery, Modinagar. At an initial step, morphological identification and

evaluation of growth characteristics of different molasses isolates enriched of microbial diversity was carried

out. In the process of optimization of growth of isolated microbial agents; we examine effect of different media

compositions, time duration, temperature, aeration and pH. Molecular characterization of these bacterial

isolates through 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that the agents of bacterial consortium which showed highest

decomposing activity under aerobic conditions consisted of Pseudomonas grimontii, Staphylococcus sp. CSA7,

Bacillus cereus and Bacillus sp. MH-I6. Facilitated inoculation of individual bacterial agent or their consortium to

pollutant mollasses-mass led to a significant decrease in the dark-colour of molasses-substrate and its COD

levels. Conclusively, identification and characterizaion of the bacterial agents significes advantage of such

bacterial consortium and demonstrate their future implication in in-situ degradation of mollasses-mass at large-

scale.

Keywords: Molasses-mass, Diversity, Modi Distillery, Effluent, Consortium, In-situ degradation.




Spider diversity of IISc., Bangalore, India

Nalini Bai G.1 and Ravindranatha B.P.2

1Associate professor, Dept. of zoology, M.E.S. Degree College, Bangalore. 2 Industrial & Production Engineer, Bangalore.


ABSTRACT

Spiders are 7th largest group of animals. A survey of the spider fauna of Indian Institute of Science (IISc),

Bangalore, was carried out from August 2009 to December 2010. Spider species were observed on various

trees, shrubs, bushes, grasses, leaves, flowers, under stones and logs. A total of 40 species of spiders belonging

to 33 genera under 14 families viz. Araneidae, Ctenidae, Dienopidae, Erasidae, Hersilidae, Lycosidae,

Nephilidae, Oxyopidae, Pholcidae, Salticidae, Tetragnathidae, Therididae, Thomosidae, Uloboridae were

recorded within the premises of IISc. Amongst these families the most dominated family reported was orb

weavers, the Araneidae represented by 5 Genera & 10 species. Occurrence of high number of Araneids could

be due to thick vegetation, which provides enough space to build webs of different sizes and protection from

their predators. The second dominated family was salticidae represented by 9 genera & 9 species. Six families

were represented by single species. Out of the recorded spiders Cyclosa spirifera, Zosis geniculatus, Argyrodes

flavescens, Amyciaea forticeps, Runcinia acuminta are rare species. Practically no one has tried to explore

spider fauna of this region. The survey result shows that, the spider diversity is much higher and further studies

may yield more information about the diverse Araneae fauna of this area. One can undertake research work

on individual species, because the climatic conditions support the spider fauna to multiply.

Keywords: Indian Institute of Science, orb weavers, Araneidae, spider.

Climate change

S.P. Tayal

M.M.University, Mullana- 133203, Dist. Ambala (Haryana)


ABSTRACT

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods

ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the

distribution of weather around the average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate

change is caused by factors that include oceanic processes (such as oceanic circulation), variations in solar

radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions, and human-induced alterations of the

natural world; these latter effects are currently causing global warming, and "climate change" is often used to

describe human-specific impacts. Scientists actively work to understand past and future climate by using

observations and theoretical models. Borehole temperature profiles, ice cores, floral and faunal records, glacial

and per glacial processes, stable isotope and other sediment analyses, and sea level records serve to provide

a climate record that spans the geologic past. More recent data are provided by the instrumental record.

Physically-based general circulation models are often used in theoretical approaches to match past climate

data, make future projections, and link causes and effects in climate change.The most general definition of

climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system when considered over long

periods of time, regardless of cause. Accordingly, fluctuations over periods shorter than a few decades, such

as El Nino, do not represent climate change. The term sometimes is used to refer specifically to climate change

caused by human activity, as opposed to changes in climate that may have resulted as part of Earth's natural

processes

Keywords: Climate change, global warming, oceanic processes, solar radiation, plate tectonics, volcanic

eruptions




Impact of pollution on lake water located in thane city of Maharashtra with special reference to heavy metal

content

Kalpana Rathod

Department of chemistry, Dnyansadhana college, Thane-400606, University of Mumbai


ABSTRACT

Lakes are very important constituents of the urban environment. Thane city is known as “city of lakes”. Most of

the lakes located in Thane city of Maharashtra state getting polluted as these water bodies situated right next

to the roads. Lakes receives heavy flux of sewage domestic waste , agricultural waste ,industrial waste. The

increasing trends in concentration of heavy metals in the environment has created lot of awareness about

environmental pollution . hence regular monitoring is crucial therefore systematic study is carried out to

estimate the physical –chemical parameters like ph , conductivity , alkalinity, hardness, chemical oxygen

demand(COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand and level of toxic heavy metals content

like Cu,Zn,Ni, Cd, Hg,As and Fe in the Makhamali ,Upvan,Rewale,Masunda and Kalwa lake of Thane city of

Maharashtra state. The toxic heavy metal content were found to very much above the permissible limit .These

heavy metals have a marked effect on the aquatic flora and fauna which through bio magnification enter the

food chain thereby affecting the human being.

Keywords: Lakes, Environmental pollution, Toxic heavy metal content, physico-chemical parameters, flame

atomic absorption spectrophotometer, toxicity, lake water, Thane, Maharashtra.

Optimization of different Carbon and Nitrogen source for pectinase production by A. niger fungal strain

Sunita Singh and Sarvesh Raghav

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida

ABSTRACT

Pectinases account for 10% of global industrial enzymes produced and their market is increasing day by day.

These are the group of enzymes, which cause degradation of pectin that are chain molecules with a

rhamnogalacturonan backbone, associated with other polymers and carbohydrates. Pectinases are widely

used in biotechnological applications viz. in food industry , textile ,paper and pulp industries and in waste-water

treatment. For the production of pectinases, A. niger strain is commonly used due to their ubiquitous nature.

However, there is a dire need of improvement in media formulation and media cost to meet the demand of

this enzyme in various industries. Alternative carbon and nitrogen source in media can be used to lower the

media cost. In the present study different carbon sources such as Glucose, Starch, Carboxy methyl cellulose,

Galactose,and Sucrose in pectinase producing media were used. Among the carbon sources used, sucrose

promoted maximum enzyme yield as compare to others. In addition, different nitrogen sources such as urea,

yeast extract + ammonium sulpfate, peptone + ammonium sulfate,yeast extract and sodium nitrate,peptone +

sodium nitrate ,urea+sodium nitrate were also used to study their effect on enzyme production. Present study

showed that addition of combination of yeast extract and ammonium sulphate enhanced pectinase

production. Thus, sucrose and combination of yeast extract and ammonium sulphate can be used as

alternative carbon and nitrogen source respectively.




An analysis of marine traditional ecological knowledge: The Indo- Fijian perspective of marine resource

conservation and management

Mohseen Riaz Ud Dean

Department of Productivity and Quality, National Training and Productivity Centre, Fiji National University, Fiji


ABSTRACT

Contemporary and traditional understanding of the ocean provides the basis for sustainable use of the ocean

and its resources, for the reduction of marine pollution and harmful practices and or the prediction of weather,

climate and ocean variability. The research focusses on the status of Marine Traditional Ecological Knowledge

possessed and utilized by the Indo-Fijian fishermen of the Nausori Town, Fiji for marine resource conservation

and management. The analysis exhibited a significant inheritance, borrowing, sharing, blending and use of

indigenous marine knowledge from the local Fijians commonly known as I Taukei into the cultures and ethos of

the descendants of the displaced populous of the Indentured Labourers brought from India in the late 1800’s

and in early 1900’s, branded as Kai India in Fiji. The information, which is thus derived, can be very useful in the

coastal ecosystem management, which is greatly required for the sustainable use, development, and

protection of the coastal and marine areas and resources in a fast developing Island state of Fiji where the two

cultures (I Taukei and the Kai India) has been seen living together for generations. Therefore, the research

recommends that I Taukei and Kai India Marine Ecological Knowledge be blended together with modern

policies and approaches concerning marine ecosystem. This will definitely require active and effective

management of the two different communities in order to eliminate the possibilities of compromising the major

conservation initiatives underway in the country.

Keywords: Contemporary, Marine Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Fiji, Ecosystem, Fishermen, Resource

Conservation and Management

Study of diurnal variation of Total Oxidants at kerb site - Tarnaka, Hyderabad

in summer season 2011

Pratyusha Adepu1 and M.K. Reddy2

1Institute of Science &Technology, JNTU, Hyderabad, 2NEERI Zonal Laboratory, Hyderabad.

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the project was to ascertain air quality with respect to oxidant (O3) concentration levels.

For this study, Neutral Buffered Potassium Iodide (NBKI) method was employed. The principle involved is micro

amounts of ozone and other oxidants liberate iodine when absorbed in 1% solution of potassium iodide

buffered at pH 6.8±0.2. The iodine is determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorption of

triiodide ion at 352nm. Air samples were collected in an absorbing medium using a high volume sampler fixed in

IICT campus, Tarnaka from 10am to 5:30pm. A sampling period of half an hour was maintained with a regular

interval of 1 ½ hour to collect 5 samples each day. A total of 100 samples were collected during the study

period of April-June 2011. These samples were then analyzed in a spectrophotometer for its ozone

concentration at a wavelength of 352nm i.e., in the UV region. It was observed that the O3 concentration for 1

hour duration in April varied between minimum value of 28µg/m3 and maximum value of 119µg/m3 whereas in

May, oxidants varied between 41.7µg/m3 and 103µg/m3.In the case of June, the oxidants varied between

28µg/m3 and 74.7µg/m3. The variation in concentration of oxidants is attributed to variation in intensity of

sunlight and NOx. Hence, the highest values were obtained during the peak hours of day and traffic. However,

oxidant concentration in the study area during the study period was found to be below the prescribed

standards of CPCB for residential area.

Keywords: Oxidants (Ozone), Kerb site – Tarnaka, Sunlight, NBKI method, High Volume Sampler




Heavy metals analysis and Assessment of Genotoxicity of Industrial Effluents by Allium cepa test

Sunil Bhavsa and M.N. Reddy

Department of Bioscience, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat

ABSTRACT

Surat is a major textile industry hub situated on the golden corridor of industry from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

Textile dying and printing industry in Surat is a well-developed small and medium industry and most of them do

not have effluent treatment plants of their own. However there are few common effluent treatment plants in

the industrial region but their proper functioning is questionable. This present study is focused on the assessing

the genotoxicity of textile effluents of two different sites using Allium cepa assay method. Chromosomal

abnormalities and mitotic index was studied with different dilutions of the effluent. Chromosomal abnormality

was noticed even at 40% diluted samples. Since dying industry uses several heavy metals, these were analysed

in the effluent. The result indicates that all effluent samples were highly mutagenic. Concentration of heavy

metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ar, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Zn) was also determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

(AAS). Arsenic which is a toxic element is also detected both in the sediments and effluents.

Keywords: Genotoxicity, Chromosomal abnormalities, Mitotic index, AAS

Nanoparticles in Indian water: An emerging contaminant needing regulatory considerations

Baranidharan S and Arun Kumar

Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016


ABSTRACT

The prime objective of this study was to know the occurrence of Nanoparticles in Indian waters which is of

significant interest to both health and regulatory authorities. Because of its increased presence in commercial

products, a growing public debate is emerging on whether the environmental costs of nanotechnology

outweigh its benefits. Commercial nanoparticles may find their way into aqueous environments from point

sources such as production facilities, landfills or wastewater treatment plants or from nonpoint sources such as

wear from materials containing NPs and it had been reported that nanoparticles will remain in natural streams

because they escape from the treatment plants. A detailed literature review on nanoparticle pathways, their

concentration in water, and their effect will be dealt in order to frame a policy. A recent study had reported

that the modeled surface water concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles varying from 0.012 - 0.057 μg/L in Europe,

0.002 - 0.010 μg/L in the U.S., and 0.016 - 0.085 μg/L in Switzerland, but there are still no such data available for

Indian scenario. Further, there are no regulatory agencies present in India as compared to other countries

which focus its efforts on nanoparticles presence in environment. The knowledge on occurrence of

nanoparticles in Indian waters and the associated risk management lags far behind when compared to the

developed countries. In conclusion, it has become imperative for Indian regulatory bodies to initiate a

comprehensive research programme to focus on nanoparticles occurrence in Indian water sources and efforts

to estimate risks associated with nanoparticles, important for Indian population.

Keywords: Nanoparticle; Regulatory Policy; Health risk.





Assessment of floral biodiversity in rehabilitated limestone mined area of Sahastradhara

Dhupper. R

Amity Institute of Environmental Science, Amity University (Noida)


ABSTRACT

Mining is the process of extraction of minerals from the earth’s crust. Doon – Mussoorie region which comes in

Western Himalayas is no exception to the problem of environmental degradation of mining activities in different

parts. The Dun’s is a characteristic geomorphologic entity of Himalayas which is know for its natural resources

like minerals, soil , forest and water. Unscientific extraction of these minerals had threatened the healthy climate

and scenic beauty of this region. The limestone mining, in areas of Mussoorie and Sahastradhara near

Dehradun is done totally by surface mining process. In the past mining in this region was being carried out

without taking into considerations the environmental impacts to ecology and environment. The situation

required land rehabilitation with utmost priority and concern. The species of plants which can grow in such

harsh environments (arisen due to mining) provide a basis for ecological restoration have to be selected only

after thoroughly investigating the ecology, growth behaviors and socio-economic values of the various plants.

Three sizes of quadrats 1x1m, 5x5m and 10x10m were laid randomly for recording herbs and grasses, shrubs and

tree vegetation. Results showed that after 12 year of rehabilitation efforts starting from zero level there was high

species richness (no. of species) in case of shrubs, herbs and grasses as compared to tree species in

rehabilitated site. Assessing overall dominance of planted species Acacia catechu was found to be most

dominant (I.V.I 47.78) among trees, Eriophorum comosum (I.V.I 66.90) and Dodonea viscose (I.V.I 17.25) among

grasses and shrubs. Comparing the overall diversity index among the trees, shrubs and herbs and grasses, the

highest diversity index (2.32) was recorded in case of herbs and grasses and minimum in case of trees (1.93).

Vegetation analysis of rehabilitated mined sites indicated that rehabilitation efforts have greatly helped in

increasing the species diversity of shrubs, herbs and grasses and trees and site condition has improved through

their rooting and incorporation of organic matter.

Keywords: Mining, Impact, Harsh, Rehabilitation,, Diversity and Organic matter.

The Role of WRF Land Surface Schemes on Weather Simulations in Delhi Region

Sarika Jain1, Rupender Singh2 and Ramesh Raghava3

1, 3 Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, Delhi 2Netaji Subash Institute of Technology, Dwarka, Delhi


ABSTRACT

In this paper we are analysing the effect of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) land surface schemes

(LSMs) on weather simulation in Delhi region. The widely used WRF model provides a few land surface schemes

(LSMs) to compute heat and moisture fluxes over land surface. The LSMs differ in complexity and approaches

used. In order to assess their role on weather simulations in the Delhi region, we performed WRF simulations for

30 km resolution domains over the Delhi region. We used the four LSMs provided with WRF: 6-layer Rapid

Update Cycle (RUC), 5-layer thermal diffusion, 2-layer Pleim-Xiu scheme (together with the Pleim-Xiu surface

layer and the ACM boundary layer models), and 4-layer Noah scheme. We focused on summers of 2009. The

RUC scheme showed stronger-wind, warmer, and drier biases. The Pleim-Xiu scheme is giving best result for the

temperature and Wind Speed. Thermal Scheme is giving best results for Relative humidity. So we can say that if

we compare only LSP’s by keeping other schemes same then Pleim is the scheme which is giving best results for

Temperature (Cumulative PDF - Pleim Xiu Scheme error < 3 degree is approx. 60%) and Wind Speed. Thermal

Scheme is giving good results for Relative Humidity.

Weather Underground provides local & long range Weather Forecast, weather reports, maps & tropical

weather conditions for locations worldwide. The simulation results are compared to the Weather Underground

measurement data.

Keywords: LSMs, NOAH, PX, RUC, Thermal, WRF




Reduction of bod level of distillery effluent using Artemia

S.Sujatha devi1, V.Sugumar2, S.Santhoshi3, N.Munuswamy4

1Anna University, Chennai

2Alagappa University, Karaikudi. 4University of Madras, Chennai

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution is one of the most important problems in this century and it’s mainly due to the

increased industrialization. Industrial wastewater contains heavy pollutant and it should be treated before it is

discharge into the environment. However, nowadays industries were not carrying out the treatment process

properly due to the heavy cost of the treatment process. Improperly treated effluent contains the pollutant,

which is higher than the permissible limit, and creates an environmental pollution. Nowadays, improperly

treated effluent are rich in high BOD level and it causes the aquatic pollution and it is also responsible for the

eutrophication problem. The present study evaluates the feasibility of using Artemia as a bio accumulator in

reducing the BOD level of the distillery effluent collected from industrial area, near Chennai. Generally, the

distillery effluent contains very high BOD, causes depletion of dissolved oxygen and proves very harmful to

aquatic life. Biological organisms such as nauplii as well as adult Artemia have been used as bio accumulators

to reduce the BOD of the effluent. BOD was reduced from 6054.32 mg/l to 10074.08 mg/l using Artemia nauplii.

In the present study, Artemia nauplii were very effective in reducing the BOD level of the distillery effluent.

Artemia nauplii (72 hrs) was capable of reducing the BOD in the distillery effluent to 75.5% and the adult was

found to reduce the BOD to 18.11%.Easy culturing of Artemia and the significant reduction of BOD levels proves

this biological treatment to be an alternative for the various microbial treatments.

Keywords: Artemia, Bioaccumulation, BOD removal, Distillery treatment, Biological treatment

Effect of dust exposure on pulmonary function of construction workers

Samipa Banerjee (Dutta) and Prasun Banerjee

George College of Management & Science, Budge Budge Trunk Road, Chakmir,

Maheshtala, Kolkata 700 141, West Bengal

ABSTRACT

Exposure to dust for prolonged time is associated with accelerated loss of lung function and is a major public

threat to the construction workers. The present study is planned to assess the pulmonary functions of the

construction workers. These workers were constantly exposed to dusts of concrete and other rock materials

throughout the day. Lung function was measured on 76 exposed and 58 “unexposed” constructional workers.

Respirable dust concentrations were measured individually on all the exposed and the unexposed workers.

Information on respiratory signs and symptoms was also collected in form of questionnaire from the subjects.

The smokers were excluded from this study. The pulmonary function tests were done by using computerized

JAGER flow screen pro spirometer. Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1),

Forced expiratory ratio (FEV1%), Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Mid expiratory flow (MEF50) were measured. The

study revealed that exposed group (construction workers) has a significantly negative correlation (P<0.001)

between years of exposure and FVC, FEV1%, PEF than that of the "unexposed" workers. But it is surprising that

whenever FEV1 correlates with the years of exposure (working experiences), both workers and "unexposed"

workers show a significant correlation (P<0.05). The mean exposure to respirable dust and α-quartz in

construction workers varied from 0.86-11.8 mg/m3 (respirable dust), with a mean SD of 5.3 ± 1.14 mg/m3 and

0.037-3.48 mg/m3 (α-quartz), with a mean SD of 1.37 ± 1.06 mg/m3 respectively, depending on job task

performed. Decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was associated with cumulative exposure

to respirable dust (p<0.05) and α-quartz (p<0.02). The present study indicates that exposure to the organic dust

in the work environment of constructional workers accelerated decline in lung function. Dust exposure should

be controlled by adequate engineering measures, complemented by effective personal respiratory protection.

Keywords: Dust, Construction workers, lung function, FEV1.




Persistent Organic Pollutants in environment and their impacts: A Review

Shivani P Banerjee

Chemistry Department, Dnyanasadhana College, University of Mumbai


ABSTRACT

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the

environment around the world. As chemical compounds, POPs are very stable and consequently can last in

the environment for years or decades. POPs fall into three broad categories: Pesticides like dichloro diphenyl

tricholoroethane (DDT), hexachorobenzene (HCB), aldrin, etc.Industrial chemical products like polychlorinated

biphenyls (PCBs) and hexa bromo biphenyl. Combustion by-products like dioxins and furans. Tracing the

movement of most POPs in the environment is complex because these compounds can exist in different phases

(e.g., as a gas or attached to airborne particles) and can be exchanged among environmental media. Studies

have linked POPs exposures to declines, diseases, or abnormalities in a number of wildlife species, including

certain kinds of fish, birds, and mammals. In people, reproductive, developmental, behavioural, neurologic,

endocrine, and immunologic adverse health effects have been linked to POPs. Less common exposure routes

include drinking contaminated water and direct contact with the chemicals. A number of populations are at

particular risk of POPs exposure, including people whose diets include large amounts of fish, shellfish, or wild

foods that are high in fat and locally obtained. In addition, sensitive populations, such as children, the elderly,

and those with suppressed immune systems, are typically more susceptible to many kinds of pollutants. The

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a major achievement. It started by immediately

targeting 12 particularly toxic POPs for reduction and eventual elimination. More importantly, it has set up a

system for tackling additional chemicals identified as unacceptably hazardous. The paper finally envisages

that, to deal with POPs, the nations of the world really will have to work together as a team for eliminating the

use of these dangerous chemicals and if such cooperation becomes a habit, it could be good for facing up to

many other global problems as well.

Keywords: Pesticides, Industrial Chemical products ,Combustion by products, The Stockholm Convention,

reduction and elimination

Composition and abundance of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) of the Ganges River Estuary, West Bengal, India

Dibyendu Rakshit 1 ,N.Godhantaraman 2,S. K. Sarkar 1 and B. Bhattacharya1 aDepartment of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road,

Calcutta-700019, India bCentre for Ocean and Coastal Studies (COCS), University of Madras, Chepauk Campus, Chennai-600 005,

Tamil Nadu, India


ABSTRACT

Seasonal variations of the loricate ciliate tintinnid (ciliophora: Tintinnida) were investigated in different stations

at Ganges river estuary, Eastern coastal part of India. The variations were analysed in relation to different

hydrological parameters such as surface temperature, salinity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen,

biological oxygen demand, Chl-a and inorganic nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, silicate). In addition, a short

term study was also carried out during two religious festivals i.e.; Durga idol immersion (September 2011) in

several sites of Hooghly river & Gangasagar mela (January 2012) at Sagar island, mouth of the estuary. Total 10

species of tintinnids under 4 genera have been identified during the study period. In general, Tintinnopsis

dominates the community comprising of 7 species followed by Tintinnidium (1 sp), Leprotintinnus (1 sp) and

Favella (1 sp). Sharp increase of tintinnid abundance was recorded during those religious events in

comparison to other months. The total abundance, biomass and production rate of tintinnids ranged from

1537500 ind. m-3 - 10,22,294 ind. m-3 , 0.12 μgcl-1-2.48 μgcl-1 and 0.62 μgcl-1 - 4.52 μgcl-1 respectively. The species

diversity indices (H’) was ranged from 0.2 to 1.64 with the maximum value during Gangasagar mela. Tintinnid

diversity appeared to be positively correlated with nitrate concentrations (r = 0.597 ; P<0.05). The dominance

indices varied from 0.07 to 2.46 where the community was predominated by Tintinnopsis beroidea. The work is

being carried out to get substantial data on tintinnid community structure along with the water quality

characteristics which would be helpful for adopting future management strategies of this highly productive

wetland ecosystem.

Keywords: Planktonic ciliates, Durga idol immersion, Gangasagar mela, Coastal




Mimosa diplotricha C. Wright ex Sauvalle, a potential invasive species in Kaziranga National Park landscapes,

a UNESCO World heritage site

Praveen Kumar Verma, Dhruba Jyoti Das, Papori Gogoi and P. K. Kaushik

Rain Forest Research Institute, Deovan, Sotai Ali, Post Box # 136

Jorhat (Assam) - 785 001


ABSTRACT

Kaziranga National Park (KNP) of Assam is a one of 126 Natural World Heritage site under UNESCO. KNP is

famous for its complex diverse unique ecosystems. This park is the residence of about 60% of the world

population of the one horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). This natural world heritage site is parallel

facing with three major types of problems, viz. Human Interferences, Human-animal conflict and lastly but most

serious threat ‘Invasive species’ like Mimosa diplotricha, Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha. In

which Mimosa diplotricha, a potent Nitrogen Fixation plant which establish in almost unique Savanna

Grassland ecosystem, by threatening the native biodiversity as well for toxin content ‘Mimosin’. Genus Mimosa

is represented by more than 400 herbaceous and perennial species around the world. Mimosa diplotricha C.

Wright ex Sauvalle is tropical in origin (Latin America) and invades in India as guest of Tea Gardens in upper

Assam and then running through flow of mighty Brahmaputra and other small rivers it enters in protected areas

like Kaziranga National park, as silent straggler. In series of experiments are done on seed ecology, dormancy

as well as the effect of environmental factors on germination and emergence of species in nursery conditions.

The results have been shown more than 90% seed viability which make it’s serious noxious weed. It also enters in

Agriculture field through same manner in Brahmaputra. The question of concern is that why this potential

Nitrogen Fixation plant most serious threat of KNP? The answer hidden in the plant itself which contains Mimosin,

a non-water soluble amino acid which is toxic in nature and when consumed by herbivores it causes

endothelial damages and heart problems. In park area two biotype is presented with thornless form, Mimosa

diplotricha var. inermis and most dangerous one is Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha. The species can

germinate round the year if the soil is moist and conditions are open (but not flooded). However, most

germination takes place at the start of the March to end of the wet season. Growth of seedlings is very fast and

covers native vegetation, while flowering occurs between Septembers to January as peak and after

sporadically up to end of March or 1st week of April. Some reports stated due to impermeable coating of fat

on seed especially in inner wall allow seeds remain viable in soil (especially in sandy soil) for over 50 years. The

paper also discussed about their reproductive behavior in new home which almost naturalize, and control

majors to prevent unique KNP ecosystem.

Keywords: Kaziranga National Park, UNESCO, World Heritage Site, Invasive Species

Distribution and possible source of trace elements in the sediment cores of a tropical macrotidal

estuary

Santosh Kumar Sarkar, M. Chatterjee and B.D. Bhattacharya

Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta-700019, India


ABSTRACT

The paper presents the first document regarding concentration, distribution and possible sources of

selected trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, Al, B and Ba) in core sediments (<63 μ particle

size) from the lower stretch of Hugli (Ganges) estuary, northeast coast of Bay of Bengal to evaluate

geochemical processes influencing their distribution and possible environmental consequences. The

levels of elements showed a wide range of variations in different core depths, in upper and lower

intertidal zones as well as among three sampling stations. The most interesting feature of the study is the

downward increase of concentrations of majority of the elements reaching overall maximum values at a

depth of 20–28 cm in upper littoral zone of the site located in the extreme downstream stretch of the

estuary. Values of organic carbon showed very strong positive correlations with most of the elements as

revealed by correlation matrix (r) values. The interelemental relationship revealed the identical behavior

of element during its transport in the estuarine environment. The overall variation in concentration can

be attributed to differential discharge of untreated effluents originating from industrial, agricultural, and

aquacultural sources as well as from domestic sewage along with the fishing and boating activities. The





resulting compositional dataset was tested by principal component analyses and cluster analyses.

Pollution load index (PLI) and index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo) revealed overall low values but the

enrichment factors (EFs) for Pb were typically high for all the stations. The mean concentrations of Zn and

to some extent Cu exceeded the Effects Range-Low (ER-L) values in the majority of the cases indicating

that there may be some ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments.

Keywords: Sediment; Heavy metals; Ecotoxicology; Hugli estuary; Sundarban

Recycling of medical waste: A new challenge to environment

Jyotsna Shekhawat* and Fateh Singh**

*Department of Zoology & Environmental Science

Lachoo Memorial College of Science & Technology, Jodhpur

**Manidhari Hospital and Moloo Neuro Centre, Jodhpur


ABSTRACT

Human health and environment are two sides of coin. Due to increase in population and degradation of

environment normal person needs medical facility for surviving in ecosystem. Along with its positive impact, in

the form of medical waste it plays a negative role for environment. Some wastes associated with biological

materials must be disposed of in special way because they may have been contaminated with infectious

organisms or agents. These potentially infectious or biohazardous materials are defined by NJ regulations as

Regulated Medical Waste. All sharps, e.g. glass implements, needles, syringes, blades, etc. coming from

facilities using infectious materials. Patient care waste generated at other sites on campus by medical response

personnel (i.e. Public Safety) are placed in biohazard bags polluted the environment. Developing countries,

whose supplies are limited, are dealing with challenges of sorting and disposing of all types of medical waste, in

a sanitary manner Scientists are now starting to look at another form of medical waste, inhaled anesthetics,

whose presence in the atmosphere might be linked to global warming the worldwide rise in temperatures that

has been blamed for severe weather in many parts of the world.. The three major inhaled anesthetics

(sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane) undergo very little change once exhaled by patients. These three

gases are considered greenhouse gases that help trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global

warming and most hospitals vent them out of the building as waste gases. According to a study published in

Anesthesia & Analgesia, a busy hospital could emit annually as much gas as 100 -1,200 cars (depending on the

type of anesthetic used). Reducing the use nitrous oxide, decreasing the anesthetic flow rate, and recapturing

the anesthetic gases for reuse would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Human-induced climate changes

may lead to irreversible impacts on physical, biological, and social systems of environment.

Keywords: environment, ecosystem, biohazardous, NJ regulations, global warming, greenhouse gases




Microbial Diversity of Cave Ecosystems: A study of the iron mats of the Borra Caves, Andhra Pradesh, India

Sushmitha Baskar1 and Ramanathan Baskar2

1 School of Agriculture, Chair for Sustainable Development

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi - 110068 2 Department of Environmental Science and Engineering

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar - 125001, Haryana


ABSTRACT

DNA sequencing analyses and electron microscopy of an Fe-rich organic mat associated with a neutrophilic

spring at the Borra caves ecosystem, Vishakapatanam, Andhra Pradesh, India were studied with an aim to

understand the cave microbial diversity, as these ecosystems are relatively less studied compared to many

other ecosystems. SEM imaging of the organic mat confirmed a high abundance of Leptothrix-like bacterial

sheaths (1µm diameter), poorly crystalline Fe-precipitates, a large number of hollow tubes and broken

dissociated sheaths embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). TEM/EDS indicate that the bacterial

sheaths and EPS sequestered some Si and P together with the large amounts of iron. The DNA sequencing

analyses of the 16S rRNA gene diversity revealed microorganisms assigned to eight different phyla. They include

Proteobacteria (62%), Chloroflexi (8%), Bacteroidetes (7%), Planctomycetes (1%), Actinobacteria (5%),

Acidobacteria (6%), Nitrospira (1%) and Firmicutes (5%). The dominant class was the Betaproteobacteria that

accounted for 28% of the sequences. Further, sequences affiliated with Leptothrix, Siderooxidans, Crenothrix,

Comamonadaceae, Dechloromonas were also present. The results also allow us to infer a possible relationship

of the microbial community diversity in the Borra cave springs to the microbial sheaths, EPS, and the iron

precipitates. Understanding these microbial associations with biogenic iron oxides in cave ecosystem has

important applications in the discovery of novel microbes, as it could provide a potential tool for the many

bioremedial, medicinal and biotechnological applications.

Keywords: Microbial diversity, Geomicrobiology, Caves, Biogeochemistry.

Gross and biometrical studies on Sesamoid bones of Chital (Axis axis)

Choudhary, O.P., Mathur, R., Joshi, S., Beniwal, G. and Dangi, A.

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Science,

Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner (Rajasthan), India 334001


ABSTRACT

India has been blessed by wide range of biodiversity. There are several wild animals including lion, tiger,

elephant, deer, rhinoceros, bear and black panther etc. constitute a huge area of anatomical teaching and

research. Chital (Axis axis), also known as Spotted Deer or Axis Deer, is an antelope which is an endemic

species of south Asia, occurring in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. The present study has been done

on the sesamoids bones of chital. Four proximal sesamoid bones (ossa sesamoidea proximalia), two for each

digit were present. These bones were placed palmar to the metacarpo-phalangeal joint (fetlock joint). Two

distal sesamoid bones were present one for each digit, placed palmarly in between the second and third

phalanx (Coffin joint). Proximal sesamoid bones (ossa sesamoidea proximalia) were small, crescent shaped,

short bones arranged in pairs as medial and lateral. The average Greatest Length and Maximum breadth of

abaxial proximal sesamoids were 1.23±0.00 cm and 0.73±0.00 cm, respectively. The average Greatest Length

and Maximum breadth of axial proximal sesamoids were 1.58±0.07 cm and 0.75±0.00 cm, respectively. The

distal sesamoids bones (ossa sesamoidea distalia) were short bones rounded in outline and offered two

surfaces and two borders for description. The average Greatest Length and Maximum breadth of distal

sesamoids were 0.56±0.00 cm and 0.87±0.00 cm, respectively.

Keywords: Chital, Proximal sesamoid, distal sesamoid, crescent shaped.




The sources of pollution of hydroecosystems with nutrients and the load of pastures in the catchment areas of

the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers, Armenia

Karen Grigoryan1 and Gor Gevorgyan2 1Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogyan St., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia 2Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthiology of NAS RA, 7 Parujr Sevak, 0014 Yerevan, Armenia,


ABSTRACT

The catchment basins of the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers are located in the south of the Republic of Armenia.

The catchment basins of the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers cover the areas of 933 square km (in the borders of

Armenia) and 340 square km respectively, and the population is 62300 and 12200 respectively. In the

catchment areas of the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers, the main occupation of population was cattle

breeding, and now it is one of the dominating sphere of economy. Agriculture and other spheres of human

activity including human domestic activity have its impact on the environment. Canalization and sewerage

systems are in very bad condition, biological water cleaning stations don’t work in these areas by which

wastewaters without sufficient cleaning flow directly to wetlands of abovementioned catchment areas

polluting them. The objective of study was to explore the content of nitrogen and phosphorus penetrating into

the environment due to human domestic and agricultural (cattle breeding) activity as well as to determine the

load of pastures in the catchment areas of the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers. The study was performed in 2006-

2010 using the methodology of Vollenweider. The study shown that about 1462 (2006), 1507 (2007), 1526 (2008),

1558 (2009), 1506 (2010) tons of nitrogen and 156, 161, 164, 167, 161 tons of phosphorus penetrated into the

environment in the catchment areas of the Voghchi and Meghriget rivers as a result of human domestic and

agricultural activity. It was also revealed that the load of pastures was very low, and there was the high

potential for cattle breeding development in this territory.

Keywords: Catchment area, domestic and agricultural activity, cattle breeding, nutrients, pastures

Underutilized crops potential to combat food security in India

Monika Thakur and S. C. Jain

Amity Institute of Food Technology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Sector – 125, Noida, U.P. (India)

ABSTRACT

Agriculture in today’s context is one of the important sources of renewable wealth in the world. But still there

are many plant species still lying unexplored and underexploited in India. With the increasing human

population and fast depletion of natural resources, it became necessary to explore the possibilities of using

newer indigenous plant resources. Therefore, there has been focused attention by the researchers on

exploiting these neglected or underutilized indigenous plant species for multifarious use. Underutilized crops

(UUC’s) are plant species that are used traditionally for their food, fibre, fodder, oil or medicinal properties, but

have yet to be adopted on large-scale. Staple food crops face major challenges in the near future and over-

dependency on these will be important as part of the progress towards the goal of achieving food security.

From past, UUCs continue to play a persistent role in the subsistence and economy of poor people throughout

the developing countries. Despite their potential for dietary diversification and valuable source of micro-

nutrients, they continue to attract little research and development attention. There should be research,

potential strategies and action plans which we hope would be helpful in strategic development of

underutilized crops for sustainable food security and poverty alleviation. By corroborating the ethnobotanical

data on UUC’s, they shall provide indispensable for food and nutrition security, provide greater potential for

income generation and environmental services in India.

Keywords: Underutilized crops, under-exploited, ethnobotanical data, food security




Promoting Environmentally Benign Coal Mining

Amarjeet Singh

Central Mine planning and Design Institute Limited, RI-II, Dhanbad, Jharkhand-826005


ABSTRACT

India is among the top three fastest growing economies of the world. India's energy needs are also fast

expanding due to population growth and increased industrialization for improved quality of life. In India, coal is

the critical input for major infrastructure industries like Power, Steel and Cement. Coal meets around 52% of

primary commercial energy needs in India. Around 66% of India's power generation is coal based. Due to

limitation on other sources of energy e.g. hydel, nuclear etc. there is greater thrust on coal mining. The coal

mining and coal fired power plants are considered to be polluting industry. There are two types of mining

methods namely opencast and underground mining. However, with adequate pollution control and eco-

restoration measures, sustainable coal mining is possible. Air pollution in coal mines is mainly due to the fugitive

emission of particulate matter and gases including methane (CH4), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen

(NOx). Different mining operations are the major sources of such emissions. For reducing air pollution, some of

the measures employed are water spraying and sprinkling on the haul/transport roads to suppress the dust

generation and plantation. Water pollution due to coal mining can be minimised by use of effluent treatment /

sewage treatment plants. Wastewater from coal preparation plant or coal washeries can be reused by

adopting zero discharge technique after effluent treatment. In case of opencast mining overburden, i.e. the

rock or soil overlaid the coal seam, are removed before extraction of coal. This can be taken care of by

technical and biological reclamation. Internal backfilling is carried out to reclaim the mine voids created. In

case of underground coal mining, subsidence management of land is required. Social aspects are being taken

care of by adequate rehabilitation and resettlement measures. Thrust is now on to promote inclusive growth of

mining areas by adequate CSR activities. The land use form is rendered into productive land usage for

sustenance of local community by implementation of mine closure guidelines of Government of India.

Keywords: Coal Mining, Opencast & Underground Mining, Environmental Pollution, reclamation.

Water-deficit impact on the seed germination and growth of Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan Sindhur’

Arti Jamwal and S. Puri

Shoolini University, Department of Botany, Solan, Himachal Pradesh-173229, India


ABSTRACT

Among the environmental stresses, water-deficit stress is one of the most adverse factors to plant growth and

development. Drought is worldwide problem, constraining global crop production and quality seriously and

recent global climate change has made this situation more serious. The present study was undertaken to

evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan

Sindhur’ to water-deficit stress under laboratory conditions. Osmotic stress was generated using PEG-6000

(Polyethylene glycol 6000) and the seed germination, seedling growth, proline, lipid and chlorophyll (a, b and

total) content were evaluated. The increase in osmotic potential showed significant decrease in germination

percentage. Seedling growth parameters increased with an increase in PEG concentration, except the root

length which decreased at 10% and 15% PEG PEG concentration. The content of proline and malondialdehyde

(MDA) increased according to severity of water-deficit stress in hydroponically grown plants. Proline content in

roots was more as compared to leaf proline; whereas leaf MDA content was high to root. Chlorophyll (a, b and

total) content decreased as PEG concentration increased except at 1% PEG. Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Solan

Sindhur’ would be classified as a species susceptible to severe drought conditions but it can tolerate and

flourish well at mild drought condition.

Keywords: Water-deficit, polyethylene glycol 6000, osmotic potential, germination percentage, hydroponically

grown plants,




Waste Water Treatment: A step towards Pollution Control

Mohini Gupta

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab (141004)


ABSTRACT

Water is a base of life. It is not only needful for human beings; needful for plants and animal as well. The textile

industry is considered as the most ecologically harmful industry in the world. The eco problems in textile industry

occur during some production processes and are carried forward and cause pollution. Pollution is the

discharge of unwanted material, residue and energy into environment. The textile industry is one of the major

contributors to water pollution in India because it involves wide range of effluents. The main cause of

generation of this effluent is the huge volume of water either in the actual chemical processing or during re-

processing in sizing, desizing, scouring, bleaching, mercerization, dyeing, printing and finishing. Each process

uses various chemical that are getting out into the effluents. Thus, by dumping chemical effluents the Eco

balance of nature has been gradually disturbed.In the recent year there has been a growing need for

controlling pollution through industrial effluents. The present article to examine the effect of coagulation on

industrial waste water; the coagulation process for treatment of effluent of textile waste water is effective.

Keywords: Coagulants, Industrial waste water, Treatment process, Textile processing, Pollution control, effluents

Biodegradation of textile waste by bacterial strains

Garima Awasthi, Jyoti Prakash, Aseem Kulshreshtha

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Lucknow- 226010

ABSTRACT

Now a day’s environmental pollution has been recognized as one of the burning problem. The textile

industry is one of the industries that generate a high volume of waste. COD, BOD, sulphate and strong

colour of the textile wastewater is the most serious problem. The removal of waste from the textile effluent

has been carried out by physical, chemical and biological methods such as flocculation, membrane

filtration, electrochemical techniques, ozonation, coagulation, adsorption and fungal discolouration. The

increasing demand for water and decrease in supply has made the treatment and reuse of industrial

waste as an attractive option. Textile wastes are of concern because they contaminate the water

bodies and this way they affect the water quality. The ability of microorganisms to degrade and

metabolize a wide variety of compounds has been recognized and exploited in various biotreatment

processes. This study investigated the potential of bacterial strains for biodegradation of textile industries

waste and drains. Present study on biodegradation of textile waste uses species of Acinetobacter, Bacillus

for colour removal, Bacillus and Pseudomonas with chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal activities.

Keywords: Biodegradation, textile waste, bacteria




Biogeography and its Importance in Population Ecology

Jyotsna Shekhawat, Ranjeeta Mathur, Abhishek Rajpurohit

Department of Zoology & Environmental Science

Lachoo Memorial College of Science & Technology, Jodhpur


ABSTRACT

Biogeography is a subtopic in both biology and geography. Chiefly, it is concerned with the distribution of

species based on geography and history. Biogeography has strong ties to biology, ecology, evolution studies,

climatology, and soil science. It is usually considered to be a part of physical geography as it often relates to

the examination of the physical environment and how it affects species and shaped their distribution.

Biogeography is important as a branch of geography that sheds light on the natural habitats around the world.

Today, biogeography is broken into three main fields of study. The three fields are historical biogeography,

ecological biogeography, and conservation biogeography. It is also essential in understanding why species are

in their present locations and in developing protecting the world's natural habitats. A Population is a group of

organisms (i.e. bacteria, plants, animals, etc.) capable of holding constant physical interaction. Since one of

the main characteristics of a population is its ability to reproduce, a population can only be defined within a

single species. All living organisms, including us, have to deal with environmental factors whether it is to find our

source of food, coexist with other species, or adapt to natural elements such as weather or landscape.

Population ecology exists to provide us with information on how a particular species reacts to an environmental

event.

Keywords: Biogeography, Ecology, Environment, species, population.

Blood Physiology Studies in Cyprinus carpio Induced by chronic Exposure to ‘Fenthion’

Leena Muralidharan1, Sreenath Pillai2

1Department of Zoology, V. K. Krishna Menon College, Bhandup (E), Mumbai 2Department of Microbiology & Fermentation Technology, Jacob School of Biotechnology & Bio- engineering,

Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Email: [email protected], 2 [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The present work has been conducted to find out if there are any alterations in glucose, lactic acid, protein,

haemoglobin and clotting time in the blood of fish Cyprinus carpio exposed to the three different sub- lethal

doses (0.38 mg/l, 0.193 mg/l & 0.096 mg/l) of fenthion for 60 days. Whole blood of exposed and unexposed C.

carpio was analysed to determine glucose (Folin- wu method), lactic acid (Berker & Summerson method),

protein (Lowry method) and haemoglobin contents (Acid haematin method) as well as coagulation time (Lee

& White method) after 60 days test period. Significant increase in glucose and lactic acid levels and reduced

protein contents, haemoglobin content and clotting time were observed in the exposed fish. In the present

investigation, it was observed that stressed C. carpio exhibited gill damage that led to tissue hypoxia and

stimulated the increase in blood glucose and lactic acid levels providing anaerobic energy source during

fenthion stress. Decrease in protein level was due to degradation and the product fed to TCA cycle through

amino- transferase system to cope with the fenthion- related high energy demand as well as due to histo-

pathological damage to kidney due to its impaired functioning. Decrease in haemoglobin content and

clotting time is due to histo- pathological damages caused to liver. Reduction in protein, haemoglobin content

and clotting time with elevation of glucose and lactic acid levels in blood of fenthion- induced fish ‘C. carpio’

relate the changes in metabolism to compensate the toxicity stress.

Keywords: Cyprinus carpio, Glucose, Protein, Lactic acid, Haemoglobin, Fenthion, Clotting time, Hypoxia.




The Doctrine of Public Trust in India: Tracing the Development and Marking out Future Requirements

Ivan and Vivek Mathur

National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata


ABSTRACT

This paper traces the development of the Public Trust Doctrine, from its humble origins in ancient Rome to the

‘force’ it has come to be reckoned with in present-day legal systems, with special emphasis on the Indian legal

regime. It further extends to the manner in which the Indian judiciary, of its own accord, adopted this principle

in the Indian legal system and used it for environmental protection; and how with the expansion of judicial

activism, this doctrine assumed Constitutional significance and a mandate backed by Part III of the Indian

Constitution that contains the Fundamental Rights. An attempt has also been made to throw some light on the

paradoxical rulings by the apex court of India that have dealt a severe blow to pro-environmental activism in

India. The paper ends with a call to the legislature to ensure the legislative recognition of ‘tools’ such as the

Public Trust Doctrine for ensuring sustainable development.

Keywords: Public Trust Doctrine, Environmental law, Constitution of India, Fundamental rights, Constitutional

mandate

Changing Cropping Pattern and Decline in Ground Water Table Level in Panipat District of Haryana

Seema Rani

Department of Education, Central Institute of Education,

University of Delhi, New Delhi-110007, India


ABSTRACT

Since the advent of green revolution in India, traditional agriculture system in the green belts regions have

been replaced by modern agriculture system with the introduction of high yielding variety of seeds (HYVs),

increase in irrigational facilities, increase in use of fertilizers and pesticides and use of modern agricultural

implements. It eventually results in environmental problems. Panipat district of Haryana that forms the part of

this region has been also facing such critical situation. Thus the aims of the paper are to examine the changing

cropping pattern, its effect on the ground water table and the farmers’ perceptions towards these changes in

the district. Important government documents and research papers have studied to collect preliminary data.

Field survey has been done in the study area. Semi structured interviews and informal discussions have been

done in the area. Both small and large farmers are randomly selected from the five villages of the district in

order to understand their perceptions towards these changes. The collected data has been analyzed using

simple statistical techniques and various graphical methods. Maps had prepared to represent the data. The

findings showed that cropping pattern has changed from multiple cropping systems to monoculture cropping

system. Area under cereal crops (rice and wheat) has increased and other crops (fodder crops, cash crops,

pulses and vegetables) are no longer farmers’ attraction due to several reasons. Thus, Rice Wheat Cropping

system has emerged and as a result ground water table depth has also increased from 3.18 meters to 21.2

meters since 1970. On the bases of farmers’ perception, it is find out that this cropping pattern leads to ground

water table depletion in the district. This is now become a concern for planners. There is need of appropriate

actions for sustainability in the district before the emergence of any crisis in the agricultural system.

Keywords: Cropping Pattern, Green Revolution, Rice Wheat Cropping system, Ground Water Table Level,

Sustainability.




Climate Change: The Need for Reflexive Legal Framework

V. J. Jithin

Centre for Environmental Law, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001


ABSTRACT

The anthropogenic approach towards the utilisation of natural resources causing severe damage to the

environment. The change in the global climate is one of the major outcomes of this. Various studies were held

regarding the causes and effects of climate change, and now the entire concerns of environment is focused

on climate change. There are legal instruments and obligations at the international level. These international

instruments especially the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) explicitly

points out the relevancy of policy and regulations at domestic level as well as the cooperation at international

level. The diplomatic relations in the regime of globalization and the lack of proper implementation of the

policies are threat to the environmental governance. Inter alia the steps taken by the judiciary is alsos

significant for enhancing the effective environmental governance. Since the commitment period under Kyoto

Protocol expires this year the international community is focusing on the upcoming COP18/MOP8 of UNFCCC,

at Doha (Dec-2012) for the restrictions upon the violators as well as the countries which are causing more threat

to climate change. In this context this research paper intends to analyse the legal framework, its implications

and the future of climate change governance.

Keywords: Climate Change, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Obligations, Environmental Governance, Legal

Framework

Assessing Climate Variability in Ganga Basin, India

Uzma Parveen

Centre for the Study of Regional Development, J.N.U., New Delhi

ABSTRACT

Climate Change has become a burning issue at present. However, the phenomena of Climate Change is not

new to the world as the geological evidences reveal that the global climate has undergone several changes

from time to time. It is because of the fact that Climate is a dynamic phenomenon rather than static. There is

also an ongoing debate regarding the major cause of Climate Change, whether it is naturally induced or

anthropogenic causes are responsible for it. However, the main objective of this paper is to assess the trends in

temperature and precipitation variability in order to analyze the impact of climate change in Ganga Basin.

Temperature and precipitation being the essential components of climate are likely to get more affected due

to changes in Climatic pattern and in turn they influence the biodiversity as well as the socio- economic set up

of the region. Another intensively argued fact in various literatures is that the higher altitude areas i.e.

Himalayas, are more sensitive to climatic changes and the findings of present study also correspond to this fact.

Thus the variation in the pattern of temperature and precipitation is more in high elevated areas as compared

to the low lying regions of the Ganga Basin. Along with this, several micro- climatic regions can also be

identified, for example- Delhi, Kanpur and Varanasi etc. have emerged as major urban heat islands in the study

area. Therefore, in this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the Spatio- Temporal variation in

temperature and Precipitation in order to assess the impact of climate change in Ganga basin.

Keywords: Climate Variability, heat island, micro- climate, Ganga basin, anthropogenic, spatio-temporal.




Degradation of Polycarbonates by Halobacterium sp. DL1

T.Revathe and Shree Chaitanjali Yadla

Department of biotechnology,Rajalakshmi engineering college,Chennai 602 105


ABSTRACT

Polycarbonates are a group of thermoplastic polymers that are formed from bisphenol A and phosgene. The

monomers are linked together by ester bonds. Polycarbonate is a non-bio degradable thermoplastic.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen, which alters our

body’s natural pattern. Because of its estrogenic activity its poses threat not only to humans but also to the

aquatic life and environment. Polycarbonates could effectively be degraded by a bacterium called

Halobacterium sp. DL1 (halophilic archaeon) containing two important enzymes carboxyl esterase and

laccase (E.C 1.10.3.2 p-diphenol oxidase). It is the only known archaebacteria to contain these two broad

specificity enzymes. Esterase can cleave the ester bond between the monomers and the subsequent release

of the toxic bisphenolic component can be degraded by laccase. Hence this organism can greatly help in the

removal of the polycarbonates from the environment.

Keywords: Polycarbonates, ester bond, Bisphenol A, Halobacterium DL1, Carboxyl esterase, Laccase

New Records of Hemiptera (Insecta) from Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh India

Kailash Chandra1 and Sandeep Kushwaha2 1Zoological Survey of India, ‘M’ Block New Alipore Kolkata, West Bengal 2Zoological Survey of India, Central Zone Regional Centre, Scheme No. 5,

Plot No. 168-169, Vijay Nagar, Jabalpur-482 002 Madhya Pradesh


ABSTRACT

Tawang district is located in western part of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Bhutan and China covering

approximately 2085 sq. km. area, having the forest covers of 1230 sq. km. The district is divided into 3

subdivisions viz. Tawang, Lumla and Jang. While working on faunal diversity of the district by the first author, the

specimens of true bugs were also collected. The identification yielded the record of 10 species of order

Hemiptera belonging to 9 genera representing 5 families. All these species are new addition to the fauna of

Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Keywords: True bugs, Hemiptera, Tawang and Arunachal Pradesh.

Diversity of Orchids from Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.

Ravi Upadhyay

Department of Botany, Government P.G. College, Pipariya, Madhya Pradesh , India.


ABSTRACT

Hoshangabad is situated in the central region of India in Madhya Pradesh. It lies between the parallels of 22º

15’ and 22º 44’ N and 77°15 and 77°55’.The district Hoshangabad is divided into two natural regions, the hills

and the valley. The southern part has Satpura range, rising upto 1200 m in the continuous chain of forest clad

hills of sandstone. The valley region has rich black soil. There are four rivers namely Narmada, Tawa., Dudhi and

the Denwa flowing in this district. The climate of the district is moderate with an average rainfall of 134 cm and

maximum and minimum temperatures are 32º C and 19ºC respectively.Orchids comprise a unique group of

plants with beautiful flowers. Taxonomically they belong to the monocot family, Orchidaceae. The family

Orchidaceae includes 600-800 genera and 25,000-35,000 species. It is estimated that orchids in India are

represented by about 1,300 species belonging to140 genera. About 41 genera are known to occur in Central

India. (Singh et al, 2001). Hoshangabad district has a rich orchid diversity. The moist tropical climate in the forest

supports several orchid species. The present paper reports twenty two species of orchids viz. Aerides sps.,

Dendrobium sps.,Epipactis sps.,Eulophia sps., Geodorum sps., Goodyera sps., Habenaria sps., Malaxis sps.,

Nervilia sps.,Peristylus sps., Rhyncostylis sps.,Vanda sps., and Zeuxine found in Hoshangabad, with their

distribution, ecology, and ethno-botanical uses.

Keywords: Diversity, Orchids, Hoshangabad.




Allelopathic impact of Cassia occidentalis on chlorophyll content of wheat

Komal Arora

Department of Botany, DAV College, Jalandhar, Punjab 144008


ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to determine allelopathic effects of leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis, a

major wasteland weed. Emergence and growth experiments were conducted using wheat as a model plant.

Leaf extracts reduced wheat emergence percentage insignificantly but radicle and plumule lengths reduced

by 53 and 60%, respectively. An appreciable increase in chlorophyll content was observed at low

concentrations of treatment whereas the reduction was only 8.5%, at highest concentration of extracts i.e. 5%

(w/v). Our results clearly showed the allelopathic stress imposed by Cassia on wheat depicted in terms of

altered growth and chlorophyll content of treated wheat seedlings.

Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, allelopathy, chlorophyll, growth, wheat.

Mushrooms diversity and their consumption in J&K, India

Sanjeev Kumar and Yash Pal Sharma

Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, 180006 India


ABSTRACT

Mushrooms are among the most popular members of non-conventional food accepted world over. They are

good source of delicious food with high nutritional and medicinal attributes and are referred to as low calorie

nutraceuticals. The protein content of fresh mushrooms is about 3.7% as stated by Food and Agricultural

Organization (FAO). It is twice as high as in most vegetables and is much lower than meat, egg, fish and

cheese. Being low in calories, these constitute an ideal food for diabetics. Due to their high nutritive potential,

even FAO has recommended their use as food supplement for protein deficient populations of developing and

under-developed countries. Explorations were undertaken over a period of six years (2006-2011) to collect and

document the wild edible mushroom diversity occurring in the north-west Himalayan forests of Jammu and

Kashmir State. Resulting upon these forays, Fifty five species of wild mushrooms belonging to Ascomycetes,

Basidiomycetes and Gasteromycetes are described and illustrated in the present communication. Our

observations indicate that the region represents a mycophilic society and gathering of wild mushrooms is a

traditional activity among the inhabitants of the area. The paper examines the macro and microscopic details,

habitat description, edibility status and consumption modes of the commonly collected mushroom species.

Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Elaeocapus venustus Bedd. In Agasthiyamalai Biosphere

Reserve, Western Ghats, India

S. Saravanan and K. Muthuchelian

Centre for Biodiversity and forest Studies, School of Energy Environment and Natural Resources, Madurai

Kamaraj University, Madurai – 625 021. Tamilnadu, India.


ABSTRACT

Elaeocarpus, the largest genus of the family Elaeocarpaceae has about 360 species distributed in temperate,

sub-tropical and tropical zones throughout Southeast Asia. E. venustus is an endemic, vulnerable tree species of

the Southern Western Ghats in peninsular India. An analysis of population structure is prerequisite and influential

role for conservation of endangered species. The population structure, regeneration potential and

reintroduction of E. venustus, were studied at three sampling sites viz., namely Upper Kodayar (Site I),

Muthukuzhivoyal (Site II) and Kakkachi (Site III) of Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR). The population of E.

venustus was higher in Upper Kodayar (83 individuals) followed by Muthukuzhivoyal (45 individuals) and least

was recorded in Kakachi (27 individuals). Among the four patches studied viz., first, second, third and fourth




recorded in Muthukuzhivoyal, the individuals of E. venustus were distributed as 3, 1, 24 and 17 respectively. The

seedling survival of E. venustus was 38%, 22% and 14% in Upper Kodayar (Site I), Muthukuzhivoyal (Site II) and

Kakkachi (Site III) respectively during the study period. The percentage of mortality per month was gradually

increased. In addition, the established seedlings recorded in all the three sites were showed retard growth. The

seedlings of E. venustus did not grow further to attain sapling stage. Based on our observations, the highest

seedling mortality was noticed in Kakkachi (72%) followed by Upper Kodayar (62%) and Muthukuzhivoyal (56

%). Only a few sustainable populations of the species have been reported so far from very narrow tract of

distribution in ABR. Also discontinuous population structure has been reported from our study. Hence,

reintroduction of this species to the original habitats was imperative for the conservation.

Keywords: Population dynamics, Regeneration, Seedling survival, Endangered, Elaeocarpus venustus.

Intensifying the desulfurization of liquid Fuels using ionic liquids

S.A. Dharaskar, K.L. Wasewar, M.N.Varma, D.Z.Shende

Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur (M.S)

440012.INDIA


ABSTRACT

Sulfur present in transportation fuels leads to sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions into the air and inhibits the

performance of pollution control equipment on vehicles. Therefore to minimize the negative health and

environmental effects from automobile exhaust many countries recently have mandated a reduction in the

sulfur content in motor fuel. For example in 2012, the maximum sulfur content will be limited to 10-50 ppm,

compared to today’s permitted value of 500 ppm in most western countries1. The European Union has stringent

fuel quality rules that require maximum diesel sulfur content of 50 ppm in 2005 (350 ppm in 2000), and maximum

petrol (gasoline) sulfur content of 50 ppm in 2005 (150 ppm in 2000)2. In India as per the MPCB norms the current

value of total sulfur content in liquid fuels is upto 350 ppm which has to be lower down into it possible extent.

Consequently, the deep desulfurization of liquid fuels has attracted increased attention in the research

community worldwide. Use of green technology is the demand of time in view of environmental concerns. The

potential of ionic liquids have been recognized worldwide. Scientists and engineers have been working in the

advancement of preparation and applications of ionic liquid so that it can provide a range of options to

industrialists looking to minimize the environmental impact of their chemical processes and processing cost. In

petroleum and hydrocarbon industries, various solvents have been used such as ethers, amines, alcohols and

other volatile organic compounds for the processes like extraction, absorption, azeotropic distillation etc. These

solvents have their own limitations as environmental issue, recycle ability etc. These limitations can be

overcome by the use of ionic liquids. In view of this present work on deep desulfurization process the synthesis of

ionic liquids and its application in the desulfurization process is going on under CSIR project. Few ionic liquids

which are best suited for the use as an extractant for the sulfur removal have been synthesis and its

characterization has been done at our laboratory. The effect of ionic liquid loading, extraction temperature

and extraction time in the removal of sulfur from liquid fuels were investigated. This work is very useful in view of

the environmental concerns. So in the present paper possibility of various ionic liquids was explored for sulfur

removal from liquid fuel. Their characteristics along with effect of various parameters on desulfurization were

also presented.

Keywords: Desulfurization, Ionic liquid, Extraction, Green technology, Industrial application




National Green Tribunal: Need, Feature and Viability

Swaraangi Shukla

Gujarat National Law University (2011- 2016)


ABSTRACT

Environmental issues and grievances are assuming great importance in the present scenario. Consequently, a

balance is sought to be struck between environment and development which promotes sustainability. National

Green Tribunal or NGT has emerged as a model concept in India for the purpose of exclusively dealing with

cases pertaining to environment. After Australia and New Zealand, India has become 3rd country in the world

to have an exclusive environment court. It has been a year since the formation of this Green Tribunal and it has

been in limelight perpetually for numerous reasons. This paper looks into the concept of NGT and presents an in-

depth outlook on the said subject. The loopholes and anomalies present in the existing environmental

legislation which called for the provisions of a separate environmental court, the need and demand of NGT

due to impending circumstances and the provisions of the NGT Act and its discrepancies are some of the issues

dealt with in this paper. Certain landmark judgments given by the NGT have also been discussed so as to

highlight its role and functionality. The revolution ushered by NGT in the field of Green Adjudication forms the

crux and backbone of this paper. In the end, the author has tried to put all the views together after analyzing

the pros and cons of this Act and has tried to portray a clear picture of the role of NGT and its viability in the

Indian society. The amendments which should be included in the Act have also been encorporated so as to

enhance its effectiveness in addressing the sorrows of the common people and resolving their pitiable

condition.

Keywords: Environment laws, National Green Tribunal, Acts, India, sustainability, redressal.

Biodiversity of natural enemies of aphid pests (Insecta: Homoptera) in vegetable ecosystems of Kashmir with

some new records

Deen Mohd. Bhat1 and R. C. Bhagat2 1Department of Zoology, Govt. College for Women, M. A. Road Srinagar, J&K-190006 2P. G. Deptt. of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal Srinagar, J&K – 190006


ABSTRACT

The aphids or ‘plant lice’ are found to damage different types of vegetation, including important species by

sucking host plant sap. In the recent years, biological control of aphids by utilizing natural enemies-parasitoids

and predatory insects, has shown promising results in different parts of the world. An extensive field survey was

conducted to determine the natural enemies-parasitoids and predators of major aphid pests infesting

vegetable crops in the prevailing agro-climatic conditions in 10 districts of Kashmir Valley during 2004-2007.

About 20 wild and cultivated varieties of vegetables, distributed over 8 plant families, were found to be infested

by a number of aphid pests, of which 8 most injurious species were Aphis gossypii, A. fabae, A. craccivora,

Acyrthosiphon pisum, Brevicoryne brassicae, Lipaphis erysimi, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae. A

total of 32 species of natural enemies-parasitoids and predators, including 25 predators and 7 parasitoids,

belonging to 5 insect orders, viz. Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Neuroptera, and

distributed over 6 insect families were recorded on these aphid pests. The insect predators recorded comprised

of 2 Anthocorids, 1 cecidomyid, 2 Chrysopids, 11 coccinellids and 9 syrphids. Apart from this, more than 25 new

host prey/aphid-predator couples are being recorded for the first time from Kashmir and 6 species of predators

were observed feeding on some unidentified aphid species. Observations have also been made on the

distribution, host range and seasonal occurrence of the afore-mentioned natural enemies. A note on the

effectiveness of these natural enemies in suppressing the aphid populations in the field has been added.

Keywords: aphids, Kashmir, Natural enemies, pest, predator, vegetable




Environmental impact assessment and its current scenario in India

Achal Garg

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies


ABSTRACT

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been prepared to address the potential environmental impacts

that could arise from the construction and operation of a project. The main sections of the EIA include

definition of the legal and institutional frameworks, description of the project and the environment, impacts

assessment, identification of mitigation measures, and presentation of an environmental management plan

(EMP). Additionally, the EIA evaluates various alternative treatment technologies and presents technical criteria

on which to base the selection of most suitable site and technology. It is desirable to have an idea of possible

impact of any development plan on our environment. In order to have sustainable development it is necessary

that before we embark on a project, we have to assess the effects of its development on the environment. It

presents a clear & concise picture of all benefits & cost associated with alternative courses of action and

provides a mechanism for merging the concerns for environment & economics in the process of decision-

making. This paper discusses the accountability of responsible institutions in enforcing environmental

assessments & procedures and challenges in enforcing laws for EIA.

Keywords: Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan, Sustainable Development,

Institutional Framework.

Environmental pollution and impacts on public health

Savitha H.S.Kiran T,Choodamani V

SJBIT, Bangalore

Email: [email protected].,[email protected]

ABSTRACT

This study has linked environmental pollution to public health. Soil samples analyzed from locations adjacent

and within the dumpsite show high levels of heavy metals emanating from the site in particular lead, mercury,

cadmium, copper and chromium. At the same time, a medical evaluation of the children and adolescents

living and schooling near the dumpsite indicates a high incidence of diseases that are associated with high

exposure levels to these metal pollutants. For example, about 50% of children examined who live and school

near the dumpsite had respiratory ailments and blood lead levels equal to or exceeding internationally

accepted toxic levels (10 µg/dl of blood), while 30% had size and staining abnormalities of their red blood cells,

confirming high exposure to heavy metal poisoning. Over the last three decades there has been increasing

global concern over the public health impacts attributed to environmental pollution, in particular, the global

burden of disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about a quarter of the diseases facing

mankind today occur due to prolonged exposure to environmental pollution. Most of these environment-

related diseases are however not easily detected and may be acquired during childhood and manifested

later in madulthood. Improper management of solid waste is one of the main causes of environmental

pollution and degradation in many cities, especially in developing countries. Many of these cities lack solid

waste regulations and proper disposal facilities, including for harmful waste. Such waste may be infectious,

toxic or radioactive. Municipal waste dumping sites are designated places set aside for waste disposal.

Depending on a city’s level of waste management, such waste may be dumped in an uncontrolled manner,

segregated for recycling purposes, or simply burnt. Poor waste management poses a great challenge to the

well-being of city residents, particularly those living adjacent the dumpsites due to the potential of the waste to

pollute water, food sources, land, air and vegetation. The poor disposal and handling of waste thus leads to

environmental degradation, destruction of the ecosystem and poses great risks to public health.




Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Kailash Chandra* and Devanshu Gupta**

*Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India **Zoological Survey of India, Jabalpur-482002, Madhya Pradesh, India


ABSTRACT

Tawang district is situated in Arunachal Pradesh state (India) which is also a part of Eastern Himalayan global

biodiversity hotspot. A faunistic survey was conducted by the scientific team of Zoological Survey of India,

under the leadership of senior author of the paper in two different locations (Lumla and Zemmethang)

in Tawang during 27th September-2009 to 15th October-2009 for the assessment of insect diversity. During the

survey, 54 specimens of dung beetles were collected which resulted in the identification of 11 species

belonging to 4 genera of subfamily Scarabaeinae. Previous study on dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) by Sewak

(2006) recorded 73 species under 14 genera from the state, of which, 10 species were included from Tawang.

Currently, twenty dung beetle species belonging to five genera under three major tribes viz. Coprini,

Onthophagini, and Oniticellini, are recorded from Tawang namely; Catharsius (Catharsius) molossus (Linnaeus),

C. (C.) pithecius (Fabricius), Copris (Copris) indicus Gillet, C. (C.) sacontala Redtenbacher, C. (C.) magicus

Harold, C. (C.) numa Lansberge, C. (C.) punctulatus Wiedemann, Onthophagus (Colobonthophagus) bison

Boucomont, O. (Digitonthophagus) kuluensis Bates, O. (Onthophagus) laevis Harold, O. (O.) tibetanus Arrow, O.

(O.) vaulogeri Boucomont, O. (Strandius) gagates Hope, O. (S.) hingstoni Arrow, Liatongus (Liatongus) gagatinus

(Hope), L. (L.) phanaeoides (Westwood) and L. (L.) vertagus (Fabricius), L. (L.) mergacerus (Hope) and

Drepanocerus falsus (Sharp). Out of these twenty species, C. (C.) sacontala Redtenbacher, O. (S.) gagates

Hope and O. (S.) hingstoni Arrow, are additions to the fauna of Arunachal Pradesh.

Keywords: Dung beetles, Scarabaeinae, New Record, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Fly ash utilization: A sustainable and environmental-friendlys substitute to

its dumping issues

Manish Kumar Sharma1 and Ashish Kumar Kediya2

1Department of Environmental Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826004 2 Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826004


ABSTRACT

The gargantuan population of India creates an increasing demand for power supply, the majority being

derived from coal-based power plants. The combustion of coal releases a large amount of fly ash (FA). FA

mainly contains SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3 and minimal quantities of other oxides including CaO, MgO, MnO, Na2O,

K2O, SO3 as a chief constituents of minerals like Quartz, Haematite, Magnetite and unburnt carbon. According

to an estimate by World Bank, India would require 1000 square kilometers of land for FA disposal by the year

2015. FA generated at power plants are made into slurry or paste by mixing with water and dumped into ponds

or swamps. The poisonous metal along with water on seepage contaminates the water table. The dry material

of FA adulterates the atmospheric air which on exposure causes respiratory and skin diseases. However, FA also

contains significant metals rendering it sufficiency for its utilization. FA can be utilized for filling mines, building

embankments and also for constructing roads. FA also finds its utility in cement manufacturing where it is used

as a pozzolan in Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) production. FA utilization is most effective in agricultural

operations where it can be used to modify the moisture retaining capacity and fertility of soil. FA can also be

used to protect the plants from phyto-ailments and improve the yields of crops when mixed in optimum

proportions. It is used for biomass productions through phytomanagement and phytoremediation strategies. FA

utilization also helps in conservation of top soil, limestone, chemical fertilizers and water. In India, the

department of science & technology has taken initiatives for development of FA utilization through R&D by

various research institutes.

Keywords: disposal, phytomanagement, phytoremediation, agricultural, cement




Risk factors of pesticides and their contamination in human food stuff

Sachin Kumar1 and Devendra Kumar Jain2 1Entomology Laboratory, Division of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,

Izatnagar-243122 (UP) 2Department of Environment Science, Mewar University, Chittorgarh-312901 (Raj.)


ABSTRACT

Pesticides have been widely used throughout the world since the middle of the last century. The worldwide

consumption of pesticides is about two million tones per year. India having agriculture based economy is one

of largest insecticide consumer in the world. India is presently the second largest manufacturer of basic

pesticides in Asia while it ranks 12th position in the world. Pesticide contamination in agriculture results due to

their indiscriminate use / misuse and is manifested as adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Organochlorines, pyrethroids and organophosphate compounds are mostly persistent in the environment and

cause major health hazards. The problem becomes more serious due to bioaccumulation of these lipophilic

compounds. The advancement of technological intervention regarding livestock disease control and intensive

crop production system, the chances of residues in food of animal origin increased tremendously. Pesticides

have unique status in all food residues because these compounds are regularly used in agriculture field to meet

worldwide food demand. In India, 51% of food commodities are contaminated with pesticide residues and 20%

have pesticide residues above the maximum residue levels on a worldwide basis. The necessity for continuous

monitoring and surveillance of these substances in natural

surroundings has been recognized. The residual risk of individual chemical in food is essential to estimate the

type and magnitude of the public health problems posed by that particular chemical including the frequency

and dose at which the chemical is used. The World Health Organization estimates that 200,000 people are killed

worldwide every year as a direct result of pesticide poisoning. The aim of this paper was to focus on food safety

in relation to pesticides residues in food stuff.

Keywords: Organochlorine, pyrethroid, organophosphate, bioaccumulation.

Hair as a Diagnostic Tool to Detect Heavy Metal Pollutants in Human

Leena Muraleedharan

2V K Krishna Menon College of Commerce & Science (Affiliated to University of Mumbai)

Bhandup (E), Mumbai-42, Maharashtra

ABSTRACT

With increasing population we modern society demands improvement of health and living condition .In order

to fulfill these growing demands large quantities of chemicals must be manufactured and used. By one way or

other these chemical compounds come in contact with various segments of population. It is therefore essential

to detect the toxicity of a vast number of chemicals to make them more manageable. In the present

investigation, human head hair is used as a diagnostic tool to detect the toxic metal accumulated in it. Hair is

the second most metabolically active tissue in the body and it represents what is occurring inside the cells and

sub molecular tissues of the body. During growth phase metals are incorporated in the composition of hair. Hair

samples are collected from nape of neck of adult females of 20-30 years age group. Present study showed

high level of Fe, Pb, Cd and Cu. This clearly indicates the presence of high concentration of heavy metals in

the environment and their toxic nature.

Keywords: Hair, metal, toxicity.




Environmental Impact Assessment and Management: Protecting Ecological - Green Country; a Study on INDIA

Ajoy Debbarma

Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Assam, India

E-mail ID:[email protected]

ABSTRACT

In developing country has a huge impact on anthropogenic and natural ecosystems. Pollution sources,

material waste, electricity uses, increase with the expansion of campus and cause contamination of water, air

and soil. The absence of green environmental planning and management strategies has resulted in greater

concern for future college development. The main objective of this paper is to study initiative environmental

impact and management on rural area in India. Therefore Environmental Impact assessment and

Management Systems provides a framework for achieving this goal and would help firms integrate

environmental values into their business operations and reduce liabilities. India aims to establish a sustainable

country that demonstrates our corporate and community commitment to the environment and reflects our

responsibility to future generations.

Keywords: Environmental evaluations, Environmental impact assessment (EIA); Management strategies,

Auditing; Follow-up

Preliminary Observation on Butterflies of Dumna Nature Reserve, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

Sanjay Paunikar

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur

Forest Entomology Division Tropical Forest Research Institute, Campus, PO. RFRC, Mandla Road,

Jabalpur-482021 (Madhya Pradesh)

[email protected] [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The Dumna Nature Reserve (DNR) is situated on the way to Jabalpur Dumna Airport, some 10 km from the

center of Jabalpur. The Dumna Nature Reserve is spread over an area of 1058 hectare of land. The DNR is

surrounded by agricultural fields with rural habitation. The water reservoir, Khandari and the vegetation planted

around the DNR have created a very good habitat and source of attraction of number of insect fauna like

butterflies. India has rich butterfly diversity and harbored about 1,504 species of butterflies of which peninsular

India and the Western Ghats host 351 and 334 species respectively. In Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha of

central India 177 species of butterfly species have been documented (D’Abreu 1931). Several researcher have

studied the butterflies diversity of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Butterflies are an important aspect of

ecosystems for they interact with plants as pollinators and herbivores Butterflies are also good indicators of

environmental changes as they are sensitive to habitat degradation and climate changes (Kunte 2000). They

have great importance for the study of genetics, insect plant-interaction and co-evolution etc. However, some

species of butterflies are destructive insect pests to forest plants and agricultural crops at their larval stages. The

findings presented here are based on a weekly random survey carried out from June 2011 to May 2012 at the

Dumna Nature Reserve. The observations were made from morning 10.00 hr to until sunset 17.00hr, which is a

peak time for butterfly activity. Butterflies were identified mainly by taking photographs, and using field guides

for identification (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957; Haribal 1992;; Kunte 2000; Kehimkar 2008). A total of 52 species

of butterflies were recorded under five families. The family Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae were found dominant

with 22 species and 14 species, respectively, followed by Pieridae (9 species), Papilionidae (4 species) and 3

species from the family Hesperiidae. Observed species were grouped in five categories on basis of number of

sighting in the DNR. The butterflies were categorized as Very Common (VC) 40% (21 species), Common (C) 28%

(15 species), Uncommon (UC) 13% (7 species), Occasional (O) 9 % (5 species) and Rare (R) 7 % (4 species). Out

of 52 species, four species comes under the Wild Life Protection Act. (1972).The findings of the present study

underline the importance of Dumna Nature Reserve as a preferred habitat for butterflies.

Keywords: Dumna Nature Reserve, Butterfly, diversity, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India.




Screening of rhizosphere bacteria of pearl millet for their phosphate solubilizing capacity

Pratibha Prashar1, 2, Neera Kapoor2 and Sarita Sachdeva1

1 Department of Biotechnology, FET, MRIU Faridabad, India 2 School of Sciences IGNOU New Delhi, India

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Phosphate is an important mineral nutrient required for the growth and productivity of plants. Rhizosphere is a

rich pool of plant-friendly microbes having various plant-growth promoting activities. In the present

investigation, bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of pearl millet and screened for their in-vitro

phosphate solubilizing capacity. Twenty six bacterial isolates were tested positive for phosphate-solubilization

activity and they were identified as members of five different bacterial genera viz. Pseudomonas,

Flavobacterium, Streptococcus, Bacillus and Streptomyces. Average amount of inorganic phosphate (Pi)

released by these isolates at fifteen days after incubation (DAI) was 15.44 µg/ml. Maximum P-solubilization

activity was shown by the genus Pseudomonas while the genus Streptomyces showed least potential for the

same. Isolate PKB11 was identified as the most potential phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB); it released

22.3µg/ml of Pi at fifteen days after incubation and it was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A negative

co-relation was observed between the amount of Pi released and pH of the media i.e. Pikovskaya’s broth.

Average pH observed at fifteen DAI was 5.30 while for the isolate PKB11 it was 4.70 at fifteen DAI.

Keywords: Rhizosphere, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, Inorganic phosphate, Pseudomonas

Effect of anthropogenic pressures on the biodiversity conservation in core area of Manas Biosphere Reserve

Sandipan Das1#, Amrita Nigam1, Ramakanta Sharma2 & Abhijit Rabha 3

1# Research Scholar, School of Science, IGNOU, New Delhi, India. 1 Professor, School of Science, IGNOU, New Delhi, India. 2 Professor, Dept. of Rasa Kaya Shastra, Govt. Ayurvedic College, Guwahati, Assam, India. 3Council Head of the Department, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Diphu, Assam, India.

Address for Correspondence: School of Sciences IGNOU, Maidan Garhi New Delhi- 68

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The present study focuses on the anthropogenic threats of core zone of Manas Biosphere Reserve (MBR). There

are 78 fringe villages, 8,156 household and 44,669 populations, with a major local settlement of 92 households

and 506 populations inside MBR and an encroachment of 22.00 km². The major threats are human influx,

extraction of forest products, hunting and poaching.

Keywords: Anthropogenic, Manas Biosphere Reserve, fringe village, human influx, forest products, hunting and

poaching.




Bhat (black seeded soybean) - an ignored source of nutrition

Anupam Barh*1, Meenakshi Joshi 2 and Pushpendra3

G.B. Pant university of agriculture and tech pantnagar, College of Agriculture, Uttarakhand


ABSTRACT

The green revolution is one of the greatest achievements of the country. Major food grains with improved

varieties were so popular that Sonalika and IR-8, appeared as mega- varieties. Dominance of new gene-pool

ultimately put its shadow on the poor yielding indigenous varieties which ultimately become unseen and

unrecognized. These indigenous varieties were poor in yield but still having an enormous potential for nutritional

quality and disease resistance. Bhat is one of them. Black seeded soybean locally in Uttarakhand known as

Bhat. It is only staple diet for 10 districts of Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, Bhat has is used as pulse which is not a

common tendency. Recent studies show that black soybean help in reducing cholesterol and sugar level in

blood. For the study 20 lines collected from Uttarakhand hills were grown in similar environmental condition

along with 2 check variety. The studies were conducted on oil and protein quantity, Genetic Divergence

studies, correlation studies with respect to the quality parameters. It was found non – significant negative

correlation between protein and oil. The maximum oil content was found as 17.4% and highest protein reported

as 42.4%. The comparison with normal creamish soybean shows that these soybeans were lower in oil and

higher in protein. In divergence studies cluster analysis were done and 5 clusters were formed. Yield level was

not as good as normal soybean but still the lines with high protein and high oil are good for breeding for

improved quality.

Keywords: Bhat, Quality parameters, Genetic Divergence

Wound healing activities of a herbal formulation

Nikhil Kanungo

*Govt. Autnomous P.G. College, Chhindwara (M.P.)


ABSTRACT

The present study was aimed to collect the folklore information from the tribal peoples for wound healing

activities. Wound healing or repair is an intricate process in which the skin or another organ-tissue repairs itself

after injury. Acute wound healing occurs in four stages namely hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and

remodeling. Underlying metabolic disturbances may disrupt the regenerative process, causing delayed

healing. This has imposed a huge financial burden in both the developed and developing countries. As a result,

the possibility of derivative alternative, cost effective therapies from Traditional System of Medicine (TSM) based

on folklore information has been explored. In the present study, a survey of Sillevani valley of Chhindwara

district of Madhya Pradesh was done during the 2010-2011 and it was observed that the tribal peoples of this

area were used poultice prepared from herbal extracts for the healing of wounds. The combination of poultice

is made from Celastrus paniculatus, Ricinus communis, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Trachispermum ammi, Vitex

nigundo, Datura alba, Allium sativum and Brassica campestris. For experimental bioassay, 3 groups of Wister

albino rats (4 in each group) were used. I group were served as control. Then, in II & III group, excision wound

were created after anaesthetizing it by ketamine as per the OECD guidelines. Then plant material of all plants

were mixed in porcelain grinder and made a paste which when applied topically, two times a day, on II group,

it was noticed that within 4 days 80±1.45 % healing of wound has finished which was compared with the III

group of standard betadine treatment. Results was found significant at P< 0.05% level. Phytochemical

analyses of all plants were done as per the method of Harborne (1984). Hence, it can be concluded that the

healing of wound can be control by the herbal extract and its prepared paste which contain active principles.

The active principle present in the extract has to be patented for their wound healing activities.




Comparative studies on thermostable Superoxide dismutase enzyme isolated from peel and pulp of Zingiber

officinale: A therapeutically important spice

Nidhee Chaudhary*, Nameet Kaur, Neetu Jabalia, Hina Bansal

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Sector -125

Noida-201303, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA


ABSTRACT

Natural products play a very important role in our daily life. From ancient times they have worked as remedies

for our day to day health problems. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme has great potential to

fight against diseases related to oxidative stress and aging viz; Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease,

Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders and cancer. In the present study, biochemical properties

of SOD isolated from Zingiber officinale (Ginger) pulp and peel have been compared. The extracted SOD from

both the sources was partially purified into two fractions based on 0-40% and 40-80% saturation level of

ammonium sulphate. In both the cases, 40-80% fraction was found to have higher specific activity than the

other, the values being 37.45 Units/mg and 46.87 Units/mg for pulp and peel, respectively. SOD from both the

sources was found to be thermo stable upto 600C, showing its great potential for future research with economic

feasibility. All the tested detergents viz., Tween-80, Tween-20, Cween-60 and (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) SLS

inhibited the activity of pulp SOD whereas peel SOD was not affected by SLS. SLS and Tween-20 were found to

be the potential inhibitors for SOD from pulp and peel, respectively. Various metal ions in the form of their

respective salts inhibited SOD activity in the order of Na+>Mg2+>Ba2+>Ca2+>Cu2+>Zn2+>K+>Mn2+. The inhibition

constant (Ki) values for Na+ and Mg2+; the two potential inhibitors, was found to be 0.7 mM and 1.2 mM,

respectively, in pulp SOD and 2.4 mM and 1.6 mM, respectively, in case of peel SOD. The results obtained

suggest that Z. officinale, one of the medicinally important and commonly used spices in food, can also be

explored for antioxidants like SOD, which further has great importance in therapeutics. In addition, the thermo

stability of SOD enzyme makes it industry-friendly with high economical feasibility. It becomes imperative to

mention that Superoxide dismutase enzyme extracted from natural products like Zingiber officinale can

combat many pathological diseases related with oxidative stress and can be explored further in this direction.

Keywords: Zingiber officinale, Superoxide dismutase, Thermostability, Functional enzyme

Impact of water–deficit and salinity stress on the seed germination and seedling growth of Oenothera biennis

(Linnaeus) under laboratory conditions

Sikha Sharma1*, S. Puri1, A. Jamwal1 and S. Bhattacharya1

1Department of Botany, Shoolini University, Post Box-9, Solan, H.P.


ABSTRACT

In both natural and agricultural conditions plants are frequently exposed to environmental stresses. Himachal

Pradesh is a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants. Around 150 species of medicinal use recorded

from Himachal Pradesh. The increase in human population has put tremendous pressure on medicinal plants all

across the Himalaya. This has adversely affected the natural habitat of these plants. Furthermore, the

productivity of plant is greatly affected by various environmental stresses in terms of abnormal morphological,

physiological and biochemical changes that cause delayed germination, high seedling mortality, poor crop

stand, stunted growth and lower yields. The realization of this strategy requires an understanding of agronomic

requirements of the medicinal plant species including the responses to variations in growth conditions on

account of abiotic stresses. The aim of present study is to determine the adverse effects of abiotic stresses viz.

water and salinity stress on the growth of Oenothera biennis L. an important medicinal plant at the germination

and seedling growth stage using solutions of polyethylene glycol 6000 (1%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% PEG) and

NaCl (5 mM, 10mM, 25 mM, 50 mM, 75 mM and 100 mM NaCl) respectively. At lower concentrations water

deficit and salinity stress not affected the germination and seedling growth so much but at higher

concentrations the stresses applied adversely affected the seedling growth.

Keywords- Stress, abiotic, PEG, NaCl, germination, seedling growth.




Diversity of Drosophilid species (Drosophilidae: Diptera) in Darjeeling, West Bengal

Sushmika PRADHAN1, 3, Rajendra Singh FARTYAL2, and Rabindra Nath CHATTERJEE3

1P.G. Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling, West Bengal, 2UGC-SAP

Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India; 3

Genetics Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India.


ABSTRACT

A huge diversity of Drosophilid species exists in Darjeeling, West Bengal, which is located within the lesser Sub -

Himalayan belts of the Eastern Himalayas (considered as a global conservation hotspot). Although significant

progress has been made in the field of taxonomy and systematics of the family Drosophilidae (Diptera) in India,

the composition of Drosophila species diversity in West Bengal has never been thoroughly studied particularly

from Darjeeling areas. Therefore, the survey of Darjeeling hill region has been undertaken in order to know the

composition and abundance of the Drosophila species diversity. An account is given of the following species

representing the genera Drosophila, Hirtodrosophila, Scaptodrosophila, Lordiphosa, Leucophenga,

Dettopsomyia, Scaptomyza, & Stegana etc. of the Family Drosophilidae collected from the various habitats.

Keyword: Drosophila, Darjeeling region, diversity, checklist, Indian Drosophilids

Anthropogenic activities degrading the major source of fresh water to Karachi from river Indus to lake

Muhammad Yahya-SYED

Environmental Protection Agency, Government of Sindh, Karachi-PAKISTAN.


ABSTRACT

The water-bodies, canals and wetlands provide a wide range of goods and services that have an economic

value, not only to the local population living in its periphery but also to communities living in distant areas. Lack

of clear understanding about economic, ecological and socio-cultural values of water-bodies and wetlands

amongst the stakeholders is a significant factor contributing to their degradation. Since they are naturally

available assets providing most of the benefits at little or no cost to society, the benefits are realized only after

they have been degraded or destroyed by various anthropogenic disturbances. Kalri Baghar (K.B) Feeder

canal emanates from the right bank of Kotri Barrage on Indus River. It is 115 Kilometers long and joins Kinjhar

lake in Thatta district which is the major source of fresh water supply to 20 millions of people living in mega city

of Karachi. The canal is used to supply fresh water for drinking purposes to other cities, towns and villages

located along the bank of canal during its way towards lake. It has been estimated that about 04 cusecs of

untreated industrial effluents is being dumped into the K.B. feeder down stream of Kotri barrage, while 02

cusecs of domestic wastewater is being disposed into the canal by ten residential colonies located along the

K.B. feeder. It is also observed that due to anthropogenic activities and indiscriminate discharge of untreated

industrial and domestic effluents, the said canal has become degraded and poisonous and posing threat to

the health of millions of human beings. According to the study results, it was noted that various parameters like,

Temp:30C, pH:7.9, TDS:589, Hardness:235, Turbidity:38.6, DO:1.8, Cl:225mg/l, SO4:163, Total Heavy Metals

towards higher side, E.Coli:22/100ml, Faecal Coliform:45/100ml etc, indicated that this source of water is

continuously degrading in its water quality with the passage of time and the people living across the bank of

this canal using such water for washing, bathing or drinking purposes are at high risk due to presence of

chemical and biological contamination which renders the water quality unfit for human beings. The challenge

to policy makers today is whether these ecosystems can be sustained in presence of existing environmental

issues. The Ramsar Convention Bureau has stressed that wetland goods and services must be given a

quantitative value if their conservation is to be ensured over alternative uses of the land or the water which

feeds the wetlands.

Keywords; water supply source to Karachi, anthropogenic activities, Chemical & Biological contamination, unfit

for use by human, Health risk to consumers.




An NGO’s initiative for an ecologically sustainable future in Agra

Meenakshi Sinha Swami1 and Swami Prakash Srivastava2

Department of Economics, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI), Dayalbagh, Agra-282005, UP

ABSTRACT

Sustainable development is at stake in developing areas, as in Zone II of Agra Development Authority, which

comprises of the green environs of Dayalbagh and the surrounding areas where biodiversity is threatened. This

area has been rich in floral and faunal biodiversity but increasing number of unplanned residential colonies

mushrooming is a threat along with the consequential multiplying of vehicles on the road. NGO’s can go a long

way in terms of sustainable development initiatives as undertaken by SPHEEHA (Society for the Preservation of

Healthy Environment , Ecology and Heritage of Agra) to conserve the resources and sustain the biodiversity.

Voluntary organizations can also undertake such initiatives through citizens group. The initiatives embarked

upon by SPHEEHA in Dayalbagh and surrounding areas has been commendable weather involving students or

national personalities. Environmental protection initiatives by SPHEEHA towards developing and sustaining the

flora and fauna are essential for the area. Simple lifestyle of those associated with Dayalbagh and SPHEEHA’s

efforts in conserving resources has also resulted in setting a fine example for surrounding localities. Exhibitions,

seminars, workshops undertaken by SPHEEHA have resulted in generating awareness of result oriented planned

initiatives. SPHEEHA brings forth a fine example of sustainable initiatives and environmental changes which can

be undertaken by other local NGO’s with the participation of local residents. Other NGO’s can take a lesson

from SPHEEHA to undertake initiatives to protect biodiversity in their area with the cooperation of the residents

rather than by spending large sums of money.

Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Dayalbagh; NGO’s Environmental Initiatives; SPHEEHA;, SWOT Analysis of

SPHEEHA

A Model Approach and Policy Design for the Safe Handling, Treatment, Recycling and Disposal of E-Waste

Avdesh Bhardawaj1, Shubhra Singh*2 , Ramna Tripathi3, Parul Girdhar4 1International Institute of Technology & Business, Sonipat* 2Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

3HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand 4Delhi Institute of Technology & Management, Sonipat

Email: *[email protected]

ABSTRACT

E-waste or electronic waste is defined as electronic equipment, which have been discarded, become

obsolete, ceased to function or are no longer wanted. E- waste is growing at three times the rate of other

wastes. The total e-waste in India has been estimated to be 1,46,180 metric tons per year. The e-waste refuse

stream is growing at a rate of 3-5% per year, making it the fastest growing refuse problem in the world. The

average life expectancy of a new PC is now less than two years. At present, India has about 16 million

computers and the base is expected to grow to 75 million computers by 2010 end. Certain components of

some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous, depending on their condition and

density. An e-Waste Inventory Management system needs to be put into place. The process should be a

combination of manual and mechanical dismantling, size reduction, segregation, dust collection as well as

sending hazardous waste for final disposal and precious metal bearing components for refining or recycling.

Entire system should be based on the principles of clean environment and zero refuse to landfill. Hazardous

substances recovered during the process of recycling of e-waste should be disposed off through the Common

Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage & Disposal Facility, commonly known as CHWTSDF, authorized by the

Pollution Control Board in the prescribed manner. This paper is intended to offer a new scientific, safe and

environmentally sound model system for e-waste handling, treatment, recycling and disposal. Policy proposals

with common and differential roles have been suggested.

Keywords: CED, Recycling, Landfill, CHWTSDF, e-inventory, Hazard




Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Open Chain Complexes as Ionophore Used as Sensor

Monika Rangi, Avdesh Bhardawaj*

1International Institute of Technology & Business, Sonipat-131023, India*

Email: *[email protected]

ABSTRACT

A novel Ca2+-selective membrane sensor based on Pyrridine-2-aldehyde-thiosemicarbazide (PATSC) was

prepared. The plasticized membrane sensor based on pyridine-2-aldehyde-thiosemicarbazide (PATSC) exhibits

a Nerstian response for Ca2+ ions over a relatively wide concentration range with a limit of detection of 1.0 x 10 -

7 M. It has a fast response time of <10 s and can be used for at least weeks without observing any major

deviation. The sensor revealed very good selectivity with respect to diverse ions. The response of the proposed

sensor is independent of pH in the range 2.5 to 9.5. The effect of membrane composition on potential response

was studied. Potentiometric titrations were performed by using the proposed electrode as an indicator

electrode. The determination of metal levels especially the toxic ones both in the environment and in

biological materials are of paramount importance for a healthy sustainable society. Electrochemical sensors

holds foremost position in trace level determination of metal ions due to commercial viability and diverse

applications in the fields of clinical treatment, treatment of industrial waste, pollution monitoring,

environmental and agricultural analyses. On the basis of the present results discussed in this paper, Pyrridine-2-

aldehyde-thiosemicarbazide (PATSC) can be used as an electroactive ionophore to produce Ca2+ ISEs with

excellent electrode characteristics like linear response, selectivity and selectivity with a number of common

interfering ions. This is due to the good complexing ability of ligand for Ca2+ ions and consequently the potential

response of the electrode.

Keywords: Environmental sensor, Pollution monitoring, Ca2+ , Ion-selective electrode, PVC membrane,

Potentiometry

Bamboo-Fencing System in the Edges of Traffic Light Intersection as An Eco-Friendly Urban Areas Design in

Reducting CO Exposure to the Road Users

I Made Binar Andromeda1, Mochamad Aldis Ruslialdi2 1Department of Metallurgy and Material, Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia, 2Department of

Epidemiology, Public Health, University of Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Air pollution has become a global issue that gives impact on reducing health, psychosocial and economic. In

urban area like Jakarta, bad impact of air pollution so noticeably along with the increasing volume of air

pollution as the increase of motor vehicles reached annually 11% in a year, also compounded by the absence

of greening programs as CO2 absorbent and O2 provider. It is definitely affect the road users who pass through

the region every day, will get a bad quality of the air and will impact in long-term of their health condition and

productivity. The CO exposures experienced while drivers waited at the red lights at an intersection ranged

from 6.8 to 14.9, beyond existing standard. On the other hand, Indonesia is a tropical rainforest that is supposed

to be a contributor of oxygen for the earth, but Indonesia itself is still going on air pollution. This paper is written

to design an eco-friendly system in facing the air pollution in urban areas by using bamboo plants as CO2

absorbent and O2 provider. Bamboo can absorb more CO2 and produce O2 35% greater in the photosynthesis

process in spite of the width and the number of leaves. Also, bamboo can be planted anywhere, can grow

quickly, even in addition it has less efforts to take care of it. In the design, bamboo planted in the two sides

along 100 meters before the traffic light with dimension of 2 x 100 meters. The total 200 m2 of bamboo-fencing

designs at the edges need 24.3 kilograms of CO2 for photosynthesis in 12 hour, and at the same time will

produce 16.2 kilograms O2. It will affect the carbon cycle in that area. From the analysis, the bamboo-fencing

is a suitable eco-friendly design in reducing CO exposure in the intersection areas.

Keyword: bamboo, bamboo-fencing, eco-friendly, exposure, pollution.




Biodiversity in the occurrence of different species of phytoplankton along the Chennai coast.

P. HEMASANKARI, P. KALADHARAN*, A.AHAMED KAMAL BASHA**, VASANT KRIPA***, M. RAVINDRAN****,

S.GOMATHY***** and K.VINOD******

Scientist (sr.scale)(AS&PE),Madras Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, 75, Santhome

High Road, R.A. Puram, Chennai. *SIC, Calicut Research centre, Kerala, * Technical Officer,**HD, FEMD, ***Technical Assist****,Technical Officer*****

and Scientist Incharge, MRC of CMFRI, Chennai*****


ABSTRACT

Phytoplankton is the major food of zooplankton and small pelagic occurring along the Chennai coast. The

distribution of phytoplankton vary from place to place and the occurance of different species decides the

biodiversity of the ecosystem. This paper describes the occurance and the characteristics of most common

phyto organisms along the Chennai coast using primer 6.0 software. The phytoplankton distribution consists of

dissolved volume, ceratium species, navicula, bidulphia, nitzschia, gyrosigma and chlorella during the

year’2011. The occurance of the phyto-plankton, chaetocerus, 38.011%,followed by thelasirothrix is

11.952%,nitzschia is 8.946%, navicula, 8.194%, gyrosigma is 7.226%,bidulphia is 6.576%, coscinodiscus, 5.853%,

pleurosigma, 5.810%, ceratium species, 4.581%, chlor-ella is 2.746% and dissolved volume is 0.035% of the total

phytoplankton distribution. The primer graphs for eclidean distance of different months for different species of

phytoplankton were drawn. From the bray Curtis similarity graph it is evidenced that the distribution of

phytoplankton component. Chetocerus is far from the other species since its occurance is more during the

month of Jan’11. From the similarity graph, it is found that chaetocerus and coscinodiscus are closely related,

ceratium species and pleurosigma are closely related, navicula and bidulphia are closely related. The

occurance of chlorella is not closely related to any species. Bubble plots displays the individuals species

abundances in relation to the overall community pattern. Funnel graphs are drawn for the number of

phytoplankton. As the temperature increases during the summer month the phytoplankton decreases. The

environmental variables, temperature, pH , salinity, tss, tds, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, b and c, primary

productivity, gross and net, nutrients, phosphate and ammonia vary significantly with the phytoplankton

occurance. The correlation coefficient of occurance of ceratium-nitzschia(0.7835),ceratium-thelasirothrix-

0.9894, ceratium-pleurosigma(0.9074), navicula-bidulphia (0.5760), navicula-nitzscia (0.1085), navicula -

gyrosigma (0.9509), navicula-chaetocerus(0.9324),navicula-coscinodiscus (0.5695), navicula-pleurosigma

(0.1953), bidulphia-nitzschia(0.5013),bidulphia-gyrosigma (0.3108), bidulphia- chaetocerus 0.2495), bidulphia-

coscinodiscus(0.9428), nitzschia-thelasirothrix (0.8219),nitzschia-coscinodiscus (0.3399), nitzschia-

pleurosigma(0.6430),gyrosigma-chaetocerus (0.9959), gyrosigma-coscinodiscus (0.3315), gyrosigma-

pleurosigma(0.2649), chaetocerus-coscinodiscus(0.2664), chaetocerus –pleurosigma (0.3061), gyrosigma-

chlorella (0.0972), chaetocerus-chlorella(0.0504). The species richness,d is 2.404,pielous evenness, J‘ is

0.971,shannon’s index,H’ is 2.328,simpson’s index is 0.912. The species richness, species evenness, species

diversity and dominance index are all significant at p≤0.05. The correlation between the environmental

variables and the phytoplankton species distribution were worked out.

Keywords: environmental variables, phytoplankton, chennai coast, biodiversity, correlation, species evenness




Biodiversity of traditional vegetable in Andaman Islands: status of their conservation and utilization

Shrawan Singh *1 and D. R. Singh2

1Division of Horticulture and Forestry

Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair-744101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India


ABSTRACT

The rapid pace of construction activities, shift in crop pattern, increasing incidence of heavy rains and flooding

in low lands, excess use of chemicals and weedicide and prevalence of destructive methods of harvesting are

destroying the native biodiversity in fragile ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India). Biodiversity

source ‘traditional foods’ which have played key role in their health and nutrition but overemphasis on

commercial foods marginalized their significance. Little efforts were made to document and conserve the

traditional vegetables of islands which are counted as ‘protective foods’ major contributor of dietary element

in tribal and rural diets. The present study documented 57 traditional vegetables from islands and ex-situ

conserved 105 representative germplasm of 22 potential local vegetables. Their on farm conservation by

distributing improved germplasms and habitat enrichment programmes were undertaken. The health and

dietary perceptions were recorded by surveying eight random villages in all the three districts of union territory.

Nutritional profiles for micronutrients, phytochemicals, antioxidant activities were estimated and rich sources for

‘nutrients deficit in population’ (Fe, Ca) were identified. The identified sources were used in development of

household products like biscuits, Idli, Vada, Paratha, chutney etc for household nutritional security in islands. The

collected germplasm of preferred vegetables were undertaken for their genetic improvement. The efforts

through this study provided germplasm, nutritional profiles, and product processes for conservation and

utilization of biodiversity of vegetables in similar situation in tropical islands.

Key words: Traditional vegetables, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Nutrition source, Biodiversity.

Indian and Global aspects of Bt-Brinjal: A review study towards acceptance of GMOs

Aakriti, Singh Neetu, Kumar Ajay*

Department of Biotechnology, Mewar Institute of Management, Vasundhra, GZB, U.P-201012


ABSTRACT

Concerns over the commercial release of genetically modified Bt brinjal relate to biosafety. One major

concern is the potential for transgene flow from Bt brinjal to wild, weedy and cultivated relatives. As a

consequence, selective advantage gained by the Bt pest resistance gene could enable these relatives to

become aggressive weeds. The potential for disruption of ecological balance and plant biodiversity is therefore

considerable. Difficulties over identification and nomenclature of brinjal relatives have caused problems with

the interpretation of experimental data. There is thus a prime need to develop our understanding of the

systematics of this group. A brief summary of the taxonomy and characteristics of brinjal and its closest wild

relatives (part of the brinjal eggplant complex) is given, to help lessen the ongoing Confusion over the names,

distribution and agronomic features of these closely-related taxa. Successful hybridization between

untransformed brinjal and at least 10 species in Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum found in India and South-

East Asia can be demonstrated, as can hybridization between Bt brinjal and one wild species. Crossing Bt brinjal

and untransformed brinjal can also produce hybrids. There is a need to test several other species in subgenus

Leptostemonum for crossability with both untransformed and transformed brinjal. In such future studies,

standardization of experimental methodology would enable consistent interpretation of results. The breeding

system in brinjal is a combination of both inbreeding and outbreeding, with insect-pollination featuring strongly

in outbreeding. These factors should be re assessed when considering the outcrossing potential of Bt brinjal and

isolation distances in field trials. Studies of gene flow and weediness in Bt brinjal that have been performed to

date are limited, both in number and content. Ferality in brinjal is typical of the spiny group of solanums, and

the implications for increased weediness of both Bt brinjal itself, as well as hybrids carrying the Bt transgene are

significant. As these are crucial aspects of environmental risk assessment of the effects on plant biodiversity,

detailed, long-term studies are required to determine the extent to which these are likely to occur.

Keywords: GM, Bt-Brinjal and Out breeding.




Socio-economic Importance of Cow Dung & Cow urine

Roy Barkha, Kumar Ajay*, Singh Neetu and Sarma Parmita

Department of Biotechnology, Mewar Institute of Management, Vasundhra, GZB, U.P-201012


ABSTRACT

Among many animals domesticated in India, Cow holds a special place for its versatile use and off course as a

sacred icon. Cow dung and Cow urine are some amazing cow byproducts utilized in India for thousands of

years in various ways. Susruta Samhita Sutra in Ayurvedic text describes cowdung as follows; “cow urine is bitter,

pungent, hot, and easily digestible, strengthens the brain, and cures cough. It is a destroyer of colic, stomach

pain, constipation, itching pain, eczema, and mouth diseases. It cures Ameobiosis, dysentery, diarrhea, all

problems due to gas, cough, swelling and stomach diseases etc. Research survey showed that person who are

close to cow dung, have 5 times less cancer and HIV then the person who are away from this though it might

be a little early to conclusively prove its scientific basis. Different types of proteins found in cow urine increase

immune power of the human body; cow urine acts on cancer because cow urine contains various antioxidant

agents that destroy active iron free radicals from cancer affected body parts. Vitamin C, E, and A are major

antioxidants found in cow urine. "The first US patent is about a pharmaceutical composition comprising an

antibiotic and cow urine that has an enhanced anti-microbial effect," a TOI report on ‘Now cosmetics from

cow’. Cosmetics and toiletries produced from cow's excreta like dung and urine in a Kanpur factory are

becoming popular even in the national Capital. The products manufactured by the Kanpur Goshala Samiti are

detergents, shampoo, oil and medicines. Construction industry exploited it well too. Cow dung mixed with steel

and straw proves to be an excellent building material. Cow dung protects against U.V and other harmful rays. It

also warms up in winter and cooled in summer. In rural India it is the main ingredient for making a house (Hut).

From the roof to the floor and from the kitchen to the walls, Cow dung finds its place everywhere. Being a

wonderful insulator cow dung powder is used in the box of ice cream trolley too. Besides that its good source of

bio gas & electricity that can fulfill the requirement of the house. It is a good material for purification of water

similar to coal. It also used to clean-up ponds and to maintain the pH of pond water, it neutralized the acidic

medium into alkaline medium. Cow Dung cake can be used for cooking. Hindu religious rituals cannot be

completed without cow dung and urine. There are 16 religious rituals starting from birth to death and none of

these rituals can be performed without Cow dung. The place, where the religious ritual is to be performed, is

cleaned and made pure by coating it with a layer of cow dung. A fire is often lit with dung cakes, sandalwood,

gugal, etc to provide fragrance and cleanse the surrounding environment. "The ground becomes purified by

smearing with cow dung. Cow urine and cow dung are uncontaminated, and since the urine and dung of a

cow are important, we can just imagine how important this animal is for human civilization. The potential of a

vast number of beneficial products made from cow dung and urine is tremendous apart from the energy

generated from biogas obtained from cow manure. Cow dung and urine are beneficial to humans and plants!

Why slaughter the cow and bull when they cannot produce milk, but still produce dung and urine? Why not

make medicines, fertilizers, pesticides, and tonics or sell the dung and urine to those who are making these

products? So, as advocated by Lord Krishna, the Hindus let us the protection of ‘The Cow’.

Keywords: Cow dung and Cow Urine.




A review on important environmental catastrophes due to anthropogenic actions

Joshi Pallavi, Kumar Ajay1*, Tiwari Sukirti1, Singh Neetu1, Sharma Ankur, Singh Pradeep, Swaroop Kavita2,

Sharma Kritika2, Raghuvanshi Nirupma2

1Department of Biotechnology, Mewar Institute of Management, Vasundhra, GZB, U.P-201012 2Department of Biotechnology, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.


ABSTRACT

Background: Anthropogenic disasters are influenced by humans and they are often as a result of negligence

and human error. Aim: This study reviews the important environmental catastrophes due to anthropogenic

actions. Methods and Materials: Literature searches were done to identify relevant studies in the concerned

area. Results: This study explores health effects of Environmental disasters from published human studies and

discusses some of the clinical and experimental issues being debated. Conclusion: Because of the relative

paucity of information. Some of these studies have helped to highlight specific health problems from the

disaster and initiate more organized research to address these problems.

Keywords: Anthropogenic actions, Environmental disasters and Environmental catastrophes.

Alkaline unwinding assay for the assessment of DNA damage in Planaxis sulcatus from Goa coast

Jacky Bhagat, Kuntal Singh*, Priyamvada Rai, Geetika Raizada, A Sarkar

Marine Pollution Assessment & Ecotoxicology Laboratory

National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India


ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the development of molecular biomarker to measure the DNA damage in marine

gastropod, Planaxis sulcatus for biomonitoring of pollution due to genotoxic contaminants. Among the toxic

pollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), heavy metals etc. are of

prime importance. They are highly persistent in nature and interact with DNA of organisms to form DNA

adducts, ultimately leading to strand breaks in DNA. In order to study the genotoxic impact of pollutants,

alkaline unwinding assay was chosen as a biomarker of genotoxicity. Four sampling sites (viz. Arambol,

Sinquerim, Hollant and Bogmalo) were selected along the Goa coast based on discharge of industrial effluents,

shipping activities, municipal sewage and the availability of the sample organism. The DNA damage was

measured in terms of the loss of DNA integrity in P. sulcatus due to the occurrence of DNA strand breaks

following the technique of time dependent partially alkaline unwinding assay in a defined condition of pH and

temperature. The DNA integrities in P. sulcatus from different locations were compared with those at the

reference site (Arambol). The DNA integrity in control sample was found to be 0.88, whereas in the reference

site (Arambol) it was 0.61. The low F value obtained at Hollant (F, 0.31) and Bogmalo (F, 0.41) clearly indicates

the damage occurring due to interaction of various pollutants with DNA.

Keywords: Genotoxicity, gastropods, Goa coast, DNA integrity




Quantitative Estimation of wide range of pesticides in drinking water samples using solvent free Solid Phase

Micro Extraction (SPME) technique

Rupender Kumari, Prashant Chaturvedi, Devendra K. Patel*, Nasreen G. Ansari, Ramesh C. Murthy

Analytical Chemistry Section, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR)

M. G. Marg, P. O. Box – 80, Lucknow – 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.


ABSTRACT

An efficient, easy, cost-effective and solvent free/environment friendly headspace solid-phase micro-extraction

(HS-SPME) method followed by a gas chromatography-electron-capture detector (GC-ECD) for the estimation

of wide range of pesticides in drinking water samples is proposed to check the quality of water. The sensitivity

and trueness of the SPME method was proved by the low detection limits and high recovery percentages

which was found to be varying between 0.05 - 0.20 μg/L and 87.1- 95.3% respectively. More than 147 drinking

water samples collected in and around Lucknow city were analysed to evaluate the presence of pesticides.

After analysis of pesticides in water samples within the city, the average amount of organochlorine and

organophosphorus pesticides were found to be ranged between 0.258 – 0.829 μg/L and 0.143–0.294 μg/L

respectively. However, in highway water samples organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides were

found in the range of 0.26–2.80 μg/L and 0.129–0.53 μg/L correspondingly. Surprisingly, pyrethroid pesticides

have not been detected in any of the drinking water samples. The levels of pesticide residues in drinking water

were compared with the MRL values recommended by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA),

Government of India (1954). Overall, it has been proved that HS-SPME is one of the potential sample

preparation techniques with high throughput and reduced resource utilization.

Ecological Services of the State Tree of Punjab

M.S Dhanya

Centre for Environmental Science and Technology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001

Email:[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.), a member of Fabaceae is an internationally valued timber species that

ranked second in India after teak. The Indian rosewood has great economic and ecological importance. Its

durability because of its resistance to termite attack increased its use for furnitures, ply woods, ship floors and

musical instruments. The fuel wood value is due to high energy content of its sapwood and heartwood which is

4,908 kcal/kg and 5,181 kcal/kg respectively. It act as green belt that filters the pollutants from atmosphere and

hence improve the environmental quality. The carbon sequestration of 3.7 ton and oxygen supply of 2.5 ton per

hectare has been reported from Shisham woodland. It is capable of nitrogen fixation with the help of nodules

makes it a good soil reclamation agent. The litter decomposition may also enhance the nutrient status of the

soil through nutrient cycling and improve its fertility. It is an avenue tree with its whitish pink flowers and greenery

increases the aesthetic value of the urban area. It has been used in traditional medicines against skin diseases,

blood purification, eye diseases, jaundice, cholera, etc. Its medicinal properties as aphrodisiac, abortifacient,

expectorant, anthelmintic and antipyretic have been explored completely. These medicinal properties are due

to the presence of several compounds like flavones, isoflavones, quinines and coumarins. This hardy tree also

acts as wind break, shelter belts, provides shade and fodder. The awareness about this multipurpose tree

species made it as the state tree of Punjab. There is a need for great focus on this native species in afforestation

and agro-forestry programmes.

Keywords: green belt, reclamation agent, avenue tree, hardy tree, multipurpose tree




Regenerative Competence in root explants of Rhynchostylis retusa : a study in vitro

VISHAL SHARMA

P.G. Govt. College for Girls- 11, Chandigarh – India

ABSTRACT

Beechey(1970) suggested possibility of using aerial roots in micro-propagating orchids.The utility of roots as

explant source is being increasingly realized due to their easy availability,low oxidation rate &ease with which

they can be planted. Keeping this in view, presently we report the possibility of using root explants from in vivo

grown plants of Rhyncostylis retusa, an important stem herb and favourite among the herbalists as ‘Rasna’

and used as expectorant for curing rheumatic diseases(cf.Lawler,1984). Besides being victim of Besides being

victim of its own beauty &utility R. retusa is progressively using its natural habitat and heading towards extinction

in SriLanka (Wikramasinghe, 1992).It is expected to meet a similar fate in India as well , in absence of suitable

remedial measures. The regenerative potential in the root explants of in vivo grown Rhynchostylis retusa plants

largely depend on the location of isolated explants from the main root and on the level &type of the growth

regulators. Regeneration is affected by polarity all along the root axis of root.The regeneration is of basipetal

gradient .The proximal explants responded to the presence of cytokinins (BAP/KN) in Mitra et al.,1976 medium.

The benign effect of Kinetin was accentuated in the additional presence of NAA in accord with earlier reports

in Cattleya hybrid(Kerbauy,1994)and R.retusa(Sood&Vij.,1986).The efficacy of BAP was obligatory to the

presence of NAA ,and it was required at 1 mg/l to elicit response in the explants. A similar BAP related

autonomy was reported in Cymbidium(Yasugi et al.,1994) , Cryptomedium(Guo et al.,2010) & R. retusa (Sood

and Vij.,1986). The dark green color of regenerants in cytokinin (BAP/Kn) supplemented media is in accord with

similar earlier reports( cf. Kerbauy,1984)The effect of cytokinins(BAP/Kn) on chloroplast development as already

indicated by Stelter and Laetsh(1965). The high survival rate of acclimatized plants is due to the fact that the

root raised plantlets are more stable than plantlets derived from other parts. (Zelcer et al , 1983). The

regenerated plantlets were accilimatized & transfered to pots filled with moss, pine bark, brick &charcoal

pieces (2:4:1:1) with 90% survival.

Keywords: Orchid, Rhynchostylis retusa, in vitro culture, Regeneration

Access and benefit sharing: international regime and Indian experience

Kiran Bhargava

ABSTRACT

Being a mega diverse country, India is endowed with not only biological diversity but has various Traditional

Knowledge systems and indigenous knowledge associated with the potential and multiple use of biodiversity.

This knowledge is widely available in the public domain or with the communities as well as with the traditional

practitioners and in old texts and treaties. However, in views of developments in modern biotechnology,

governmental efforts have been made for documentation of this widely available knowledge, the traditional

knowledge and Indigenous Knowledge through creation of Biodiversity Registers. Yet, India is witness to cases

of biopiracy and claims have been made to patent products out of this indigenous and traditional knowledge.

In order to balance the need for conservation and further research and development of this knowledge and

the needs of the market, particularly the pharmaceutical industry, international efforts have been made to

arrive at arrangements to reward the communities for sharing of this knowledge for developmental and

commercial purposes. Being a party to Convention on Biological Diversity, India enacted the Biological Diversity

Act, 2002 with an aim to conserve biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable

sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources. Creation of institutional mechanism for

benefit sharing may act as a potent instrument to control biopiracy and bioprospecting. Internationally,

adoption of Nagoya Protocol has intensified efforts to institutionalize the benefit sharing arrangements and

agreements and laid specific compliance obligations for the contracting parties.

The paper attempts to study the linkages between the international efforts and the Indian efforts and the

institutional arrangements for the implementation of the provisions related to access and benefit sharing.




Eco-friendly Vegetable production techniques: For sustaining biodiversity

Nirmal Singh* and Sanjeev Ahuja

Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab)


ABSTRACT

Agricultural production systems need to focus more on the effective conservation and management of

biodiversity in order to address the twin objectives of environmental sustainability and food security. A basic

challenge to improving food security by capitalizing on agricultural biodiversity is to balance relevance and

pragmatism. Successful approaches are likely to bring together positive aspects of sustainable intensification, to

reflect the realities of small-scale farmers and to be supported by appropriate policy and economic

frameworks. Horticulture: vegetable cultivation is one of the future thrust areas for the nutritional and food

security. The small-scale farmers can survive on vegetable cultivation by adopting modern production

techniques for higher returns. However, the use of chemicals, fertilizers, artificial products are leading to adverse

impact on the environment and biodiversity. The vegetable production techniques which conserve natural

resources with minimal impact on ecosystem can prevent the loss of biodiversity. Use of bed planting,

mulching, cover/live crops can help to prevent overuse of water and herbicides. Use of trickle/drip, sprinkler

irrigation along with fertigation can save both water and chemical fertilizers. Use of crop rotations techniques,

use of yellow traps, pheromone traps, bird nets etc., Utilization of biopesticides such as Tricogramma spp.

Trichoderma spp., Baveria basiana, Bacillus thuriengenesis and Pernospora spp. etc.. Biofertilizers such as

Rhizobium spp., Azosprillum, Azotobacter, VAM culture, neem cake and mahua cake etc. can help to reduce

the use of chemicals. Protected structure for growing of vegetables such as Net house, low tunnels, poly house

etc. helps to sustain natural resources and protects biodiversity. The strategy to popularize these farm friendly

technologies for the sustainability of the biodiversity beginning at the level from small-scale farmers to the

stakeholders of agriculture is the immediate need.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Food security, Vegetable production, Biopesticides and Biofertilizers.

Ethno-medicinal studies on aquatic biodiversity in water bodies of BITS pilani (Raj.) India

Sunita Verma and J.B. Khan

Department of Botany, Govt. Lohia (PG) College, Churu 331001(Raj.), India


ABSTRACT

The present investigation is an attempt to enumerate the ethno-medicinal plants distributed in Water bodies of

BITS Pilani of district Jhunjhunu(Raj.). Pilani is located between 28°21'21"N latitude and 75°35'18"E longitude. It is a

part of the sub arid regions of the Thar Desert. It experiences an extreme climate, with intensely hot summers

and chilly winters, highly scanty and irregular rainfall. The area is susceptible to continuous droughts for

consecutive years. The field survey is based on the exhaustive interviews with local physicians practicing

indigenous system of medicine, village head men, priests and tribal folks. During the study 20 species belonging

to 18 families were recorded. A field survey of the study area was carried out to describe for the utility of these

plants. Different parts of plants (root, stem, leaves, fruits etc.) or the whole plant is used as medicinal purpose for

various ailments. Short diagnostic description, systematic position and local/tribal names of plants are

described. A slight alteration or degradation of the water bodies may result in the disappearance or the

extinction of these plants. This will ultimately result in large-scale economic loss in terms of the medicinal

products synthesized from these plants. Many of them have become rare, threatened and endangered.

Conservation strategies to protect and conserve aquatic life are necessary to maintain the balance of nature

and support the availability of resources for future generations.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Fresh water ecosystem, Medicinal properties, Physico-chemical Parameters,

Conservation strategies




Evidenced based climate change induced impacts on biodiversity

Surendra Kumar Yadav

SCRIET, CCS University, Meerut-250004 (UP).


ABSTRACT

India has about 27% of earth's bird species along with 1.2 Billion people in just over 3 million km2. Due to climate

change, there shall be increased supply & demand for food, forest product and water will decrease

biodiversity directly or indirectly. Habitat loss and fragmentation are other consequences of climate change.

Increased atmospheric CO2, CH4 and global warming have an additional deleterious environmental effect i.e.

change towards lower ocean pH. Carbon dioxide dissolves in sea water to generate carbonic acid (H2CO3);

with global warming, warmer oceans also have a lower capacity for CO2 buffering; calcifers

(coccolithophores, corals, foraminifera, echinoderms, crustaceans and molluscs) have calcium carbonate

shells and skeletons that are sensitive to dissolving with lower pHs. Combined effects of lower pH and higher

temperature are diastrous to coral ecosystems that results into coral bleaching and finally die-offs. The golden

toad (Bufo periglenes) was a small toad that was once abundant in a small restricted region of high-altitude

cloud-covered tropical forests, about 30 square kilometers in area, above the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica,

went extinct by 1989. Rising temperatures are changing boreal species ranges therefore dependent species

also decreasing. The climate change affects biological processes such as metabolism, nutrient requirements

and biochemical activities quickly react to them; the behavioural response like migration and geographic

distribution are changed; reproductive physiology and breeding behaviour of animals are directly affected by

photoperiods, temperature and precipitation. The entire food web is affected and those animal species which

cannot adapt to these changes may be extirpated by genetic drift.

Keywords: CO2, global warming, species, physiology, biodiversity.

Distribution and Habitat Ecology of Partridges and Francolins in Uttarakhand"

Dinesh Kumar Sharma and Anand Kumar

Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University Campus, Badshahithaul, Tehri Garhwal. 249199


ABSTRACT

Galliformes are ground dwelling Phasianids and considered as indicator species. Currently recognized species

are 281 and divided among 81 genera (Sibley and Monroe, 1990). They are economically and aesthetically

important. Unfortunately scientific data on current status and distribution, habitat requirement is still lacking for

most of the species and effective conservation and management can only be possible if we have strong data

base on their ecology, distribution, genetic diversity. Present paper provides extensive studies conducted on

partridges and francolins in different forest types at different altitudes in Garhwal Himalaya. Eleven extensive

study sites at different altitudes were selected covering agricultural fields, Pine pur, Pine mixed, Temperate Oak

mixed, Temperate coniferous evergreen, subalpine and alpine. Fifteen transects of variable lengths of 1.5 to 2

kms were walked in early morning 6:00 to 9:00 AM and 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Eleven Vantage points at different study

sites were selected and visited 6:00 to 9:00 AM for behavioral and microhabitat studies. At different study

sites in Uttarakhand we have observed that Partridges and Francolins shares altitudinal gradient (1500-2500m)

but the habitat preference and micro-components of the habitats is different. Francolins prefer open, grassy,

cultivated edges of the habitats where as partridges were seen in dense temperate oak forest and temperate

mixed evergreen forest types. Habitat degradation and various anthropogenic pressures we presume are the

cause for population decrease. Besides, we also feel that extensive use of pesticides in crop field also affecting

francolin populations drastically. For the development of effective conservation and management plans and

to understand the exact causes for their population decline our studies on the Phylogeography, genetic

diversity and structure are in progress.

Key words: Distribution, Population, Transects, Vantage points, Conservation, Genetic diversity,




A short review on the diversity of fruits grown in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir, India)

Jigmet Disket1* and Nishtha Lukhmana1

University School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India


ABSTRACT

Ladakh, located in Jammu and Kashmir, India, experiences prolonged and extreme cold winters due to which

the agriculture season is very short. Specific adaptation is the most significant feature of high altitude plant

species in order to survive the harsh ecological conditions. Major plants that bear fruits are apricots,

seabuckthorn, somlata and mulberry. Halmann, Narmo (sweet) and Khantey (bitter) are the major varieties

among the existing cultivars of apricots. Apricots are a tremendous source of b-carotene, vitamin C, iron,

potassium, fiber and have a high calorific value. Seabuckthorn is also known as cold desert gold or wonder

plant because of its multiple benefits to the high altitude communities. It is a multipurpose, nitrogen-fixing

deciduous shrub with orange, red or yellow berries. It grows well in various regions from the cold desert parts of

Ladakh to greener regions of Himalayas. Some characteristics of seabuckthorn such as wide ecological

adaptation, fast growth, strong coppicing and suckering habit coupled with efficient nitrogen fixation makes

this plant well suited for soil conservation, water conservation, soil improvement and marginal lands

reclamation. Ephedra gerardiana is one of the raw edible species found in Ladakh, considered as a source of

food and fuel during the prolonged cold winters and harsh climate of Ladakh. In Ladakh, mulberry is known

mainly for its fruits rather than sericulture and used as fresh fruit in summers and dried ones in winters by the local

people. Morus alba is a fast growing, small to medium sized tree commonly known as white mulberry and as

‘Oshe’ in Ladakh. In Ladakh, mulberry is known mainly for its fruits rather than sericulture and used as fresh fruit in

summers and dried ones in winters by the local people.

Keywords: Ladakh, diversity, apricots, somlata, seabuckthorn, mulberry

Fluctuation Characteristics of Hydrological Wet Season across India and its Impact on Environmental Processes

H. N. Singh* and Nityanand Singh

RS-GIS Group,Climatology and Hydrometeorology Division Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India) Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, NCL Post, Pashan, Pune - 411008 (INDIA) Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Characteristics of wet spells (WSs) and intervening dry spells (DSs) are the most useful information in water

related sectors like agriculture, ecology, biodiversity, hydrology, water resources and terrestrial and freshwater

aquatic ecosystems. Rainfall spatio-temporal variability over India, which is the main source for water, is quite

complex compared to other meteorological parameters that affects the environmental processes. Spatial

variability of annual rainfall has been studied by examining expansion and contraction of the moisture regions

and that of seasonal and monthly rainfall from expansion and contraction of dry and wet zones of the

respective period. Though the spatio-temporal variability of wet and dry spells is quite large, occurrence of

rainfall gives rise to a pattern of wet and dry spells in the time domain. Understanding climatic and

hydroclimatic features of wet and dry spell is essential for effective agricultural and hydrological operations.

Being given due significance to this issue in the wake of global climate change background and climate

change scenario projections, a comprehensive study of the wet and dry spells including their extremes across

India have been studied. An elaborate analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of annual, seasonal and

monthly rainfall over and across India have also been carried out using highly-quality controlled rainfall data

from well-spread network of 316 raingauge stations obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Pune. The intensity and variability of the monsoon rain depends upon several parameters of atmospheric

circulation, which interlinked with the impact of global climate change as well as on extreme rain events across

the country. The country as a whole gets more than 6 wet spells (WSs) during 31 May through 8 October each

of duration 8.8 days and rainfall amount 152.8mm. The duration of the intervening DS is 14 days and the rainfall

amount 45.3mm. The total rainfall and the total duration of the WSs (DSs) and the respective annual rainfall are

highly correlated; the CC between total rainfall and total duration is ~0.91 (~0.77), and between total duration

and annual rainfall ~0.84 (~0.70). The WSs contribute ~68% and the DSs ~17% to the respective annual rainfall.

The number, total rainfall and total duration of the WSs and the DSs show increasing tendency in recent

years/decades over most parts of the country. In the tropical monsoon environment of India seasonally




occurring rainfall with relatively shorter WSs (~9 days) and longer DSs (~14 days) is more favourable for

agricultural and ecological activities than hydrological and water resources purposes. The detailed fluctuation

characteristics of the wet season, dry/wet spells along with their extremes and rainfall across India are

expected to provide vital information to water resource management for a long term survival of water systems

under changing environmental conditions as well as to combat twin problems of flood and drought.

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) & the Mullukkuruma and Kattunaikan tribal colonies at Muthanga Wildlife

Sanctuary

Rashiba. A.P*, Pathumol chenganakkattil, Muhammad Azad.K.S ,Jalala Najath.K ,Abida Mol.K.P, Fathima

Dilna.C.E.V, Mufeeda.T, Muhammad Shameem. K,

Department of Zoology, Farook college, Kozhikode-32.

Email ID: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Species are more prone to extinction when they exposed to conflict. Tribal colonies especially inside and

around protected areas are believed to be the platform where both animals and tribes face extinction. In

order to get a clear picture of the conflict between tribes and wild animals inside protected areas, a random

sampling survey study were done at Ponkuzhi and Thakarappadi parts of Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. The

objectives where, to study the life of Mullukkurumas &kattunaikans at the study area, to understand how their

life, values &beliefs help wildlife conservation, to study the HWC –its cause, consequences & control measures

practiced by the tribes , and to create an awareness among the tribes. HWC is common in Muthanga Wildlife

Sanctuary. Surprisingly it is found to be less in study area than the rest of wildlife sanctuary. Here crop damage is

the dominated form of conflict. Cattle lifting also reported but human injury is very rare. Zoonotic diseases

where also found practically absent in the area during the study period. Among the animals, elephant is the

major one creating problems. Monkey, deer and pigs were also found problem creators. The study revealed

the less HWC in the study area is because of the intelligent precautions practiced by the tribes. They include:

use of solar and electric fences, construction of trenches around the colony and agricultural land, production

of sound using old metallic objects, use of stray dogs, construction of cracker assembly to deter raiding

elephants. It is also found that they use recorded sounds such as Lion Roaring. In spite of all the above, their

respect and worship towards wild animals is to be commended against the utilitarian approach of common

people in and around WLS. The areas outside the tribal colonies where found to be not practicing all this

control measures strictly. Govt.officials and common people are lazy comparing the hardworking tribes. Tourists

also create and face problems as they do not consider and treat wild animals in the true spirit of a living one.

Hence the recommendation includes a change in agricultural practice to the behavioral change towards the

wild animals.

Key words: Mullukkuruma, Kattunaikan, HWC, Wildlife Sanctuary




Impacts of acid rain on biodiversity


SCRIET, CCS University, Meerut-250004 (UP). Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Acid rain caused by release of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide into atmosphere from volcanic eruptions,

automobiles & transportation and burning fossil fuels (especially high sulfur coal) reacts in atmosphere to

produce sulfuric and nitric acids can damage ecosystem either by dry deposition (soot) or rainwater. Normally

rainwater is slightly acidic ~ pH 5.5. Acid rain has pH<4. In soil systems, acid rain mobilizes and leaches away

important nutrients and increases aluminum concentration (toxic to plant and tree roots) and therefore

increases plant stress that leads to death of tree or decreased disease resistance. In watersheds, acid rain

acidifies ponds, lakes and streams with poor buffering capacity. Aquatic organisms are differentially sensitive to

low pH (due to acid rain) that results in reduced biodiversity, disruption of trophic food chains, reduced growth

and reproduction, as below pH 5 no fish eggs will hatch; and there is elimination of brook trout and lake trout.

For evidenced based observation, it is important to note that 14,000 lakes in Canada are non-productive due

to acid rain. Biodiversity supports ecosystem services including air quality, climate (e.g., CO2 sequestration),

water purification, pollination, and prevention of erosion. Biodiversity's relevance to human health is becoming

an international political issue, as scientific evidence builds on the global health implications of biodiversity loss.

Healthy freshwater ecosystems have a diverse number of species, such as zooplankton, fish, and aquatic birds

like loons that depend on the freshwater environment for life. As the pH falls below 6, these ecosystems will

begin to see a decline in the number of aquatic species, and their populations.

Keyword: Acid rain, pH, acidic, water, biodiversity.

Implications of Human Settlement Patterns on Human Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka

A.M.N.P Abeyratne

Department of Town and Country Planning

Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

According to IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG), the broad definition of Human elephant

conflict (HEC) is "Any human-elephant interaction which results in negative effects on human social, economic

or cultural life, on elephant conservation or on the environment". Connection between human & elephant in Sri

Lanka is ancient. Elephants are the largest mammal in the forest & they need large area & diversified

environment. Because of the increasing population density & human settlements the elephant habitats are

rapidly decreasing. This causes to crop raiding by elephants. Because of this increasing crop damage novel

methods to protect crops have been decided. But most of these methods are viable only in the short term &

tend to fail in the long run. Currently in Sri Lanka Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) causes deaths to around 160

elephant and 50 of human annually. Now days it a major problem in Dry zone in Sri Lanka. Also it’s a problem

for wildlife managers, local communities and Elephants. There is a trend for human settlements expand even in

elephant habitats. This research is supposed to spatially identify “Effects of different human settlement patterns

on Human Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka”. Also it’s intended to find out different settlement patterns which

cause to increase this problem.

Keywords: Elephant Movement Pattern & Different Human Settlement patterns

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_sequestration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosion




Effect of environmental conditions on I.Q

Tiwari Sukirti1, Singh Neetu1, Kumar Ajay1*, Joshi Pallavi1, Swaroop Kavita2

1Department of Biotechnology, Mewar Institute of Management, Vasundhra, GZB, U.P-201012 2Department of Biotechnology, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Background: Large environmentally induced Intelligence Quotient (I.Q) gains between generations suggest an

important role for environment in shaping IQ. Aim: This study reviews the effect of environmental conditions on

I.Q. Methods and Materials: Literature searches were done to identify relevant studies in the concerned area.

Results: Well-constructed IQ tests are generally accepted as an accurate measure of intelligence by the

scientific community. The many different kinds of IQ tests use a wide variety of methods. Some tests are visual,

some are verbal, some tests only use abstract-reasoning problems, and some tests concentrate on arithmetic,

spatial imagery, reading, vocabulary, memory or general knowledge. The “epigenetic” model proposes that

an interaction of both environment and heredity is necessary for an individual to achieve their full potential.

However, Twin Studies do support the hypothesis that intelligence is a genetic characteristic. Fraternal twins

raised together tend to show similarity in intelligence scores. Identical twins raised apart show slightly less

similarity in their intelligence scores. Intelligence development in children was affected by a lot of factors, and

good acquired environmental factors, especially their early nutrition, family background and education would

benefit for their intelligent development. Environmental factors that affect IQ include modern media,

education, breast feeding, womb conditions, nutrition, pollution, nurture and parenting, prejudices and self

belief, national culture, head injuries, sleep problems, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illnesses, stress and

diseases. Conclusion: Both Environment & Heredity are important in the development of intelligence. Variations

in intelligence and brain structure are heritable, but are also influenced by factors such as education, family

environment and environmental hazards.

Keywords: IQ, Intelligence, Environment and Hereditary.

Mycoremediation: Restoration and Reclamation of contaminated sites using fungal strains

Kumar Ajay1*, Singh Neetu1, Swaroop Kavita2, Tiwari Sukirti1, Joshi Pallavi1, Sharma Kritika2, Raghuvanshi

Nirupma2, Gaurav S.S3

1Department of Biotechnology, Mewar Institute of Management, Vasundhra, GZB, U.P-201012 2Department of Biotechnology, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. 3Department of Biotechnology, CCS University, Meerut, U.P.


ABSTRACT

Disposal of wastewater sludge from domestic and industrial sources is a problem of every treatment plant

throughout the world. Mycoremediation is a bioremediation process involves reclamation of polluted sites using

fungal strains. A/c to Sasek, 2003, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge within the field which has

translated to slow advancement of the science. Mycoremediation has a wide range of applications. So far

successful treatments have been conducted on Petroleum hydrocarbons, Pulp and Paper mill effluent, Distillery

and Brewery wastes and Industrial wastewaters etc.

Keywords: Mycoremediation, Wastewater and Fungal.

mailto:*Corresponding%20Author:%[email protected]




Estimation of genetic diversity in some tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum Mill. Wettsd.) genotypes for some

important quantitative characters and yield

Rita Nongthombam1, Diana Sagolsem2, E.Lamalakshmi Devi3*, Telem Ratan Singh2, Sonika Yumnam2 and

N.B.Singh4

1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Basar, Distt. West Siang -790051, Arunachal Pradesh, India 2 BCKV, Mohanpur-741252, West Bengal, India 3 GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttaranchal, India 4 Central Agricultural University, Imphal-795004, Manipur, India


ABSTRACT

Genetic divergence was studied at Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur in twenty (20) genotypes of

tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum Mill. Wettsd.) using Mahalanobis’ D2 statistic and canonical analysis which

revealed a great genetic diversity existing among the genotypes. The genotypes were grouped into four (4)

clusters, where Cluster II was the largest with eleven (11) genotypes and contributed 44.33 % towards total

divergence, followed by Cluster I with five (5) genotypes contributing 29.70% towards total divergence and

cluster III with three (3) genotypes contributing 15.60% towardsdivergence.Cluster IV was unique having only

one (1) genotype and contributing 10.37% towards total divergence. The inter-cluster distance was maximum

between Cluster I and Cluster IV and minimum was between Cluster I and Cluster III with distances of 11.18 and

5.39, respectively. Canonical analysis reconfirmed the grouping pattern based on D2 statistic. It was observed

that there was no parallelism between the geographic distribution and genetic diversity. Among the

genotypes, CAU-TS-9 (10.37%), TWC-1 (7.87%) and Money Maker (6.57%) were the highest contributors towards

the total divergence. Out of the characters under study, number of fruits per plant (37.1%) and number of

flowers per inflorescence (32.39%) contributed much towards divergence. Based on inter-cluster distance, high

cluster mean values and per se performance of the individual cultivars, twelve (12) cross combinations were

suggested to give better heterosis and higher variability in the segregates.

Key words: Genetic divergence, Solanum Lycopersicum Mill. Wettsd. , D2 statistic, canonical analysis

Potential of Silver Nanoparticles and their anti-bacterial properties in controlling water pollution.

Saumya Bhatnagar

Amity Institute of nanotechnology

Email [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Silver nanoparticles can be coated on common polyurethane (PU) foams by overnight exposure of the foams

to nanoparticle solutions. Repeated washing and air-drying yields uniformly coated PU foam, which can

be used as a drinking water filter where bacterial contamination of the surface water is a health risk.

Nanoparticles are stable on the foam and are not washed away by water. Morphology of the foam was

retained after coating. The nanoparticle binding is due to its interaction with the nitrogen atom of the

PU. Online tests were conducted with a prototypical water filter. At a flow rate of 0.5 L/min, in which contact

time was of the order of a second, the output count of Escherichia coli was nil when the input water had

a bacterial load of 105 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL. Combined with the low cost and effectiveness in

its applications, the technology may have large implications to developing countries.




Environmental protection: the nation’s new frontier

Shashank Dixit and Udita Malviya

Symbiosis Law School, Noida (U.P.)

ABSTRACT

Environment is not a Single Subject; it is an integration of several subjects that include both Scientific and social

subject and it should well protected by the realms of law. The initiatives started should be by one and all. Either

by imparting environmental education, developing efficient techniques, creating social standards or by

making law each should try and initiate processes for environmental protection. There has been a recent

development cutting greenhouse gases by imposing a generic term of ‘carbon credit’. Several legislations

have also been passed in various countries either developing or developed e.g. in India the Environment

(protection) Act, Forest Conservation Act etc. have been passed likewise in United States Clean Air Act, Oil

Pollution Act were legislated. United Nations through UNEP and non-profit organizations like ‘iiSBE’ are working

hard for environment protection initiatives.The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the

worldwide confederation of 135 national standards organizations. Its purpose is to develop voluntary technical

standards of products and services to make their manufacture and supply more efficient, safe and clean and

to facilitate their international trading process. It is a major example of initiative taken for protection of

environment.

This paper runs a comparative analysis on initiatives taken in various countries and will also highlight key points

over which national and international agencies and Non-Profit companies are working. It compares a countries

participation in environmental conventions and its implications over itself. The paper would be divided into five

parts in which the first part gives a brief introduction of Environment, Environmental laws, Environment

protection and explains the Environmental Jurisprudence. Second part would deal with all the Environmental

treaties, conventions and protocols. In the third part all the legislation by the nations and initiatives taken up by

the NGOs and nonprofit making agencies would be covered. In fourth part, all the issues affecting the

environment, problems acting as hindrances for the implementation of laws and the scope of their

implementation will be discussed. The author would conclude the paper in the final part with certain new

methods and suggestion for environmental protection.

Keywords: Environmental jurisprudence, Carbon credit, UNEP, iiSBE, ISO,

Environmental justice in India

Shrutee Aradhana

School Of Law , KIIT University, Patia, BBSR, Odisha- 751024


ABSTRACT

Indian constitution is considered to be a living constitution which changes itself according to time. The

objective of this article is to gain an insight into how the judiciary has been performing its task of delivering

"justice" towards environment by showing their concerns towards the environment and giving judgments

keeping in mind the environmental needs. It has the power to look beyond the law and deliver judgments so

that the spirit of the Constitution may not be maligned. Since it is the Supreme interpreter, it may refuse to follow

a precedent with an erroneous judgment. We know that it is the function of the Legislature to make laws; but

the Supreme Court may frame policies and doctrines from time to time in order to ensure that the Legislature

does not make a law that does not conform to the provisions of the Constitution. It has taken interest in welfare

of society and conservation environment. The introduction of public interest litigation by the judges was the first

milestone step taken towards it. The Supreme Court looking beyond the parameters of black letter law and

passing the order banning smoking in public places in Murali Deora v. Union of India is one of the things done

right. Thus, judicial activism has set right a number of wrongs committed by the States. There is, however,

another aspect, the decision may depend upon the prejudices, sentiments and personality of a judge. This is

clearly reflected in M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, where Justice Bhagwati dismissed the case despite large

public support and dynamism.




Threats for animal species of glacier lakes in Himalayan region due to climate change


SCRIET, CCS University, Meerut-250004 (UP). Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The melting down of the Himalayan glaciers due to climate change has a devastating effect on animal and

human lives in the long run. Species composition of glacial lakes is likely to reflect the life span of the lakes and

the debris condition around the lake; and numbers and distribution of each lake type might have changed

with the debris formation. The relationship of the diversity and quantity of organisms to the physical process

acting on the glacier surface, in particular the role of debris depending on its thickness. Forty lakes with

practical access from 2 to 100 m in diameter were chosen for investigation. Living animals (organisms) found in

glacial lakes include Stonefly larva (family-Capniidae, with size 12 - 8 mm in length & 1.8 - 2.0 mm in width),

Midge larva which appear black to yellow in colour (family- Chironomidae, with size 7 - 9 mm in length & 0.7 -

0.9 mm in width), Copepod which appears in red colour (family- Diaptomidae, with size 1.2-1.5 mm in length &

0.4 mm in width), Branchiopod/ Daphnia sp. (family- Daphniadae, with size 1.0-2.3 mm in length & 0.8-1.0 mm in

width) etc. remote sensing/ satellite data can be extremely useful for monitoring and study of glacial lakes and

formation/ changes in glaciations. An initiative is needed to develop regional co-operation to quantify effects,

assess vulnerability and tackle climate change impacts on glacial ecosystems to evolve mitigation and

adaptation measures.

Keywords: Glacier, animals, climate change, debris, mitigation.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Seed Extracts of Crotalaria Pallida Seeds

Rabia Hamid*, Ishfak. H. Wani, Shaista Rafiq, Showkat Ganie and Akbar Masood

Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar- 190006, India


ABSTRACT

Introduction: The species Crotalaria pallida belongs to the Fabaceae familiy (Sub-family Faboideae), the

members of which are herbs, shrubs and trees and are found in both temperate and tropical areas.

Antioxidants play an important role in protecting cellular damage by reactive oxygen species. Phenolic

compounds from plants have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties. Materials and Methods:

Crotalaria pallida seeds were tested for various phytochemicals and yielded the tannins, flavonoids, tepenoids,

phenol and saponins from ethanol extract. The antioxidant potential of ethanol extract was assessed by

employing different in vitro assays such as DPPH free radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging

assay and reducing power assay. The preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed by using standard

phytochemical methods for the most potent ethanol extract.Results: The extract exerted significant antioxidant

potential. The extract at 700 µg/ml produced 65.40 ± 2.32 % DPPH free radical inhibition with IC50 value of 295

μg/ml. Hydroxyl radical inhibition and reducing power capacity was found to be 54.35 ± 1.52 % and 45 ± 2.00 %

respectively at 500 µg/ml. The results were compared with standard antioxidants (α-tocopherol and BHT). The

preliminary phytochemical screening of the most active ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of

alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenes and reducing sugars.

Conclusions: The antioxidant potential may be directly linked to the phenolic compounds present in the seeds

of Crotalaria pallida. The outcome of the present investigation clearly indicates that the plant shows potential

phytochemicals that can be used as antioxidants.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Crotalaria pallid, DPPH, Phenol




Biosorption: A sustainable scheme to combat the heavy metal toxicity

Santosh Kumar and Anand Nagpure

Green Biology Research Centre, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, INDIA.

Email ID: [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Sewage and waste from industrial belt pollute more than 60% of usable water in India which is an alarming

situation and invites quick attention. Heavy metals from these industrial wastes enter into our food chain and

interrupt the normal metabolism of an individual (aquatic or terrestrial). Arsenic, lead, cobalt, cadmium,

chromium, zinc, mercury, selenium etc. are major contaminants, maximum of which are readily soluble in the

drinking water leading to health issues some of which end up into grave disease. Cancer being one of such

grave disease caused by heavy metal ingestion, has a vast number of death toll as diagnosed at late stage

where several treatment can’t alter the rapidly worsening condition. Arsenicosis, a condition raised due to

arsenic toxicity have several dimensions of epidemiological manifestation and is global concern due to its

severeness. Various sustainable techniques have been devised to address the issues related to toxicity,

however, use of biological agents (microbes, certain plant species, algal biomass etc.) have worked wonder

and have potential to minimize the mortality caused by heavy metal poisoning. In recent years, many species

of algae and their products were used for ‘biosorption’ of heavy metals from its dissolved and ionized state in

usable water, bringing a ray of hope for sustainable life. Awareness programs for industries showing the health

hazard caused by its waste, eco-friendly and economic techniques to absorb the dissolved toxic metal ions

etc. should be encouraged by the intellectuals so that this problem can be addressed and implemented.

Ecology and population dynamics of oriental white-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in himachal pradesh,

india

M.L. Thakur and Ramesh Chand Kataria*

Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171 005, India

* Govt. Post Graduate College, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India


ABSTRACT

Present study represents an attempt to document the current status of Oriental White-backed Vulture in

Himachal Pradesh. It revealed the presence of 24 breeding colonies of Oriental White-backed Vulture,

supporting 102 nests, of which 81 pairs bred successfully during breeding season 2011-2012. A slight increase has

been observed in breeding/fledgling success from 56.10% in 2009-2010 to 79.41% in 2011-2012. Most of the

nesting areas have been mainly confined to Shahpur, Nurpur and Kangra belts of Kangra District. All the nests

of Oriental White-backed Vulture have been recorded on pine trees (Pinus roxburghii), indicating a nesting tree

preference of 100%, towards pine. Average height of nests from the ground was 15.40 m. Human activity and

motor interference was the major cause of the concern to most of the breeding sites of Oriental White-backed

Vultures in Himachal Pradesh. Around 65% of the nests in 2011-2012 were newly built, showing a very high

percentage of intra-colony movements (nest building activity). Nesting sites of Oriental White-backed Vulture

can be divided into two types on the basis of ratio of immatures/adults which ranged from 0.34% to 2.25%.

Analyses of population data during different months of a breeding season showed that there were no

significant fluctuations in the ratio of immatures/adults, but the overall data of three years of study pointed

towards a small increase in the ratio from 0.44 to 0.98%. Frequency of sighting of carcasses in the Kangra valley

supporting most of population of Oriental White-backed Vulture was normally high, however, counts of vultures

around two cowsheds in Kangra valley, points towards the attraction of vultures towards easily available

sources of food. Information on socio-cultural practices of disposal of carcasses and accessibility of Diclofenac

to the vultures revealed that only 5% of the chemists in surroundings of nesting sites indicated the use of human

diclofenac to the cattle.




Diversity and distribution of the chiropteran fauna of Himachal Pradesh, northwest India

Uttam Saikia1 and M.L.Thakur2 1 Zoological Survey of India, Fruit Garden, Risa Colony, Shillong-793003, Meghalaya 2 Department of Biosciences, H.P. University, Shimla-171 005 (Himachal Pradesh), India

Email: Email: [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The western Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh is situated in the transition zone of two zoogeographical

realms, the Palearctic and the Oriental realms. Because of this remarkable zoogeographic milieu and

tremendous altitudinal gradients (247-6975m), the state exhibits a rich assortment of mammalian fauna.

However, in spite of this impressive diversity, the small mammalian fauna of the state especially Chiroptera is

little explored and documented. In this backdrop, the present study was initiated to generate diversity and

distributional information on the chiropteran fauna of Himachal Pradesh. The study is mainly based on field

surveys in various parts of the state and supplemented by study of museum specimens and review of published

literature. The study affirms the occurrence of 28 bat species within 14 genera and five families in Himachal

Pradesh which constitutes an impressive 25% of the Indian Chiropteran species. Species diversity was found to

be the highest in Shiwalik Himalayan zone with 19 species, closely followed by the Lesser Himalayan zone i.e. 18

species. The Greater Himalaya harbours four species and the trans-Himalaya is found to be the least speciose

zone with only two recorded bat species. The distribution exhibits a distinct elevation pattern; species diversity

increases with elevation and reaches a maximum (21 spp.) in the 1001–1500 m zone and decreases thereafter.

This is in accordance with a distribution trend having a mid-elevation peak. Cumulative species richness

increases sharply with elevation up to 1500m and thereafter increases moderately. Interestingly, the

percentages of unique species in all the zones excepting the highest zone are relatively low and are fairly

comparable. This, in general, implies a broad distribution of fauna throughout the elevation ranges. This study

also extends the distribution range of three species, namely Rhinolophus affinis, Hipposideros armiger, and

Myotis siligorensis to Himachal Pradesh which constitutes the westernmost point of their distribution. Probably,

these Oriental species invaded from the Indo-Chinese subregion through northeastern India and headed

towards the northwestern parts of the narrow, wooded sub-Himalayan belt. Their failure to progress further west

and south may have been caused by the prevailing drier conditions in those directions. Intensive surveys will

through more light on the zoogeography of these little known creatures in this region.

Change in bird species composition along the altitudinal gradient in western Himalaya, India

M.L. Thakur, Sanjay Kumar Narang* and Jaswant Singh*

Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-5 (HP), India

* Govt. Post Graduate College, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India


ABSTRACT

Historical influx of fauna from adjacent biogeographical regions and subsequent speciation in relation to local

environment has greatly enriched the animal resources of the Himalayan region. There is a pronounced

dominance of Palaearctic and endemic animals above timber line (3000 m), and largely Oriental and some

Palaearctic and some Ethiopian elements at lower and middle altitudes (Mehta & Julka 2002). Bird

communities separated by 1000 m altitude are different from one other mainly due to change in precipitation

(Price et al. 2003). Richness of bird diversity has been correlated with topography, precipitation and an

interaction between topography and latitude (Rabhek & Graves 2001). Present avian studies were conducted

in seven selected study sites viz., Nalagarh (350 m, Solan), Pong Wetland (430 m, Kangra), Balh Valley (800 m,

Mandi), Dev Nagar (1530 m, Shimla), Shimla (2100 m, Shimla), Kalatop-Khajjiar (2300 m, Chamba) and Kaza

(3500 m, Lahaul & Spiti) of Himachal Pradesh, during different seasons of the years 2002 to 2007 in various

habitat types. Quantification of bird species composition along an elevational gradient in the western

Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh revealed that of a total of 322 species recorded during present

investigations, maximum avifauna was observed in Pong Wetland (73.60% of the total), followed by Balh valley

(59.32%) and Nalagarh areas (51.86%) of the Shiwalik zone, whereas, minimum diversity was seen in Kaza area

(19.25%) of Trans-Himalayan region. Change in bird species composition along altitudinal gradient showed that

there was a decrease in their diversity with increase in elevation. The avifaunal investigations further revealed a

turnover of 93.48% from lower most to highest zone along the elevational gradient. Analysis of residential status

showed that there was an overall decreasing trend in percentage of resident birds between localities along




the altitudinal gradient. Moreover, it was very interesting to note that there was a significant increase in the

percent composition of summer visitors from 7% in Pong Wetland to 68% in Kaza area. The explorations showed

that there was a decrease in percentage of very common species across the Himalaya. However, percentage

of uncommon showed an opposite trend. It increased from around 11% in Nalagarh (Shiwalik zone) to 32% in

Kaza area (Trans-Himalayan zone).

Birds of Shimla area (Himachal Pradesh), India

M.L. Thakur, Jaswant Singh* and Neelam Sharma^

Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171 005, INDIA

* Govt. Post Graduate College, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India

^ Govt. Post Graduate College, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India


ABSTRACT

The Himalayas due to its multifold attractions such as scenic beauty, forested hilly terrains, variety of plant and

animal life, coupled with a healthy climate have always attracted man. There are a number of hill stations

throughout the Himalayan range and Shimla is one of them. Shimla is situated on hilly terrain at 31 6 N latitude,

77 10 E longitude and 2150 m altitude. This area falls in the northwest sector of the Himalayas, has a typical

hilly tract, supports moist temperate forests and has some lush green spurs surrounded by tall deodars, pines,

rhododendrons and oaks, warmly looking snow clad mountain ranges (Mattu and Thakur, 2006). The forests of

the area can broadly be divided into two subtypes, viz., open Oak-Rhododendron and Conifer forests. Flora is

dominated by trees like Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii, P. wallichiana, Quercus spp., Aesculus indica,

Rhododendron arboreum, and shrubs like Berberis aristata, B. lycium, Prinsepia utilis, Urtica dioca, Geradiana

heterophylla, Desmodium floridundun, Hedera nepalensis, Ricinus communis etc. Some small seasonal and

perennial streams flowing in the area support some of the stream loving birds. In addition, good vegetation in

and around the human settlements is a characteristic feature of the study area. Specific sampling strategies

based upon the principle of exploration of a portion of the individuals in the whole population were employed

for exploration of avifauna of Shimla area. Thus, stratified random sampling technique (Snedecore and

Cochran, 1993) was followed for studying the birds of the area, which involved the division of the present study

area into different strata, based upon habitat type. Various habitat types like forests, streams, human

settlements etc., spread over different parts of Shimla area were selected for the present studies. Explorations of

avifauna in Shimla area revealed the presence of 134 species of resident and migrant birds belonging to 92

genera spread over 36 families and 11 orders. Analyses of data on residential status revealed that of the 134

species reported from Shimla area of Himachal Pradesh, 10 species were resident, 64 were seasonal-local

migrants, 19 showed summer influx, population of 6 species was augmented during winters, 28 were purely

summer visitors and 7 were winter migrants to the area. It was further analyzed that 48 species each came in

the categories of common and uncommon, 34 were very common and only 4 species were rare. In addition, 3

species of globally threatened species viz., Indian White-backed Vulture and Red-head Vulture (Critically

threatened) and Egyptian Vulture (Endangered) were also reported from Shimla area.

Prediction of water quality and alum dose using artificial neural network-case study of Surat

Hinal H. Jariwala

Civil Engineering Department, S.V.National Institute of Technology, Surat


ABSTRACT

To improve drinking water quality while reducing operating costs, many drinking water utilities are investing in

advanced process control and automation technologies. The use of artificial intelligence technologies,

specifically artificial neural networks, is increasing in the drinking water treatment industry as they allow for the

development of robust nonlinear models of complex unit processes. This paper highlights the utility of artificial

neural networks in water quality modeling as well as drinking water treatment process modeling and control

through the presentation of a large-scale water treatment plants in Surat, Gujarat. The detailed objectives of

this paper is to develop ANN models that are capable of predicting treated water quality parameters given

raw water quality parameters and alum dose and to develop an ANN model that is capable of predicting the

optimal alum dose given raw and treated water quality parameters.

Keywords: Water treatment, Coagulation Control, Artificial Neural Network, Regression analysis, Neurosolutions,

Statistical Analysis.




Impact assessment of agricultural management practices on water quality using SWAT

Shashank Singh and Chetan Maringanti

Graduate of Department, Agricultural Engineering, Marathwada Institute of Technology, Bulandshahr

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907


ABSTRACT

Upper White River Basin (UWRB) located in central Indiana, like many other regions in Midwest US is subjected to

increased corn productions to meet the growing biofuel demand. Corn is a nutrient and pesticide intensive

crop and an increase in its production has a direct impact on the receiving water bodies that get impaired by

these nonpoint source pollutants. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was calibrated (1991-2000) and

validated (2001-2006) for streamflow and water quality parameters to evaluate the effect of change in

agricultural management practices such as crop-rotation from corn-soybean (CS) to corn-corn (CC) and three

year corn-soybean rotations on total phosphorous (TP) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). IDEM station # 2434, the

NSE for calibrated model was 0.5 for NO3-N whereas NSE was 0.41 for the validation period. Similarly, for the

total phosphorous the NSE for calibrated model was 0.6 for NO3-N whereas NSE was 0.75 for validation period.

Keywords: SWAT model, corn stover, crop rotation, biofuel crop, water quality

Water Harvesting in Goverment Educational Institutions of H.P

Neelam Sharma, Anju Bala Sharma and Sunita Ahlawat

Department Of Zoology, Govt Post Graduate College, Bilaspur ( H.P)-174001

As per instructions given by Govt of Himachal, all commercial and institutional buildings, tourist and industrial

complexes, hotels etc, existing or coming up and having a plinth area of more than 1000 square meters will

have rain water storage facilities commensurate with the size of roof area. No objection certificates, required

under different status will not be issued to the owners of the buildings-unless they produce satisfactory proof of

compliance of the new law. District Bilaspur lacks landscapes as there is always scarcity of drinking water in all

seasons except for monsoon. College campus always gave a dry look for the lack of water for irrigational to

seasonal flowers if grown. Keeping the instructions of Govt in view and with a purpose to beautify the campus

with flowers, Govt College , Bilaspur (H.P) took a lead to construct rain water harvesting system of 1,00,000 litres

capacity with the aid of funds delivered by district administration Bilaspur costing Rs 347289.00. The system ran

successfully to make college campus beautiful with seasonal flowering plants and also fulfilled the need of

toilets of the students. Recently, with the construction of arts and administrative block, this system has got one

more water tank of 50,000 litres capacity. Govt. College, Bilaspur (H.P) is the first one in the educational

institutions of Himachal to avail this opportunity of establishing this system with government aid. An add-on

course in floriculture was started in college and a polyhouse was established for this course. This rain water

harvesting system also caters to the need of roses being grown in polyhouse.

Prediction of water quality and alum dose using artificial neural network-case study of Surat

Hinal H. Jariwala

Civil Engineering Department, S.V.National Institute of Technology, Surat


ABSTRACT

To improve drinking water quality while reducing operating costs, many drinking water utilities are investing in

advanced process control and automation technologies. The use of artificial intelligence technologies,

specifically artificial neural networks, is increasing in the drinking water treatment industry as they allow for the

development of robust nonlinear models of complex unit processes. This paper highlights the utility of artificial

neural networks in water quality modeling as well as drinking water treatment process modeling and control

through the presentation of a large-scale water treatment plants in Surat, Gujarat. The detailed objectives of

this paper is to develop ANN models that are capable of predicting treated water quality parameters given

raw water quality parameters and alum dose and to develop an ANN model that is capable of predicting the

optimal alum dose given raw and treated water quality parameters.

Keywords: Water treatment, Coagulation Control, Artificial Neural Network, Regression analysis, Neurosolutions,

Statistical Analysis.




Environmental Impact of Paint

Nikunj M. Gohil

PG Student, Civil Engineering Department

Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute Of Technolog., Surat-395007,


ABSTRACT

Set is a temporary set up which is constructed specially for the shooting for films, advertisements, television

serials, events and shows. A set creates the background in look and style that reinforces the mood of television

programmes or a big screen film production. Waste management is a growing public concern in India. This

study examined the patterns and determinants of waste disposal practices adopted while designing,

construction and dismantling of sets of television, films and advertisement. The descriptive results revealed that

throwing remaining materials into the dustbin, reusing and storing into the warehouse are the three most

important kinds of waste disposal practices. Estimation result suggest that disposal practices for set design and

construction are determined by its workability, quality, reusability, easy handling, durability, aesthetic

appearance of various materials used in set design. E.g. Paper, paint, wood, laminates, glass, linoleum and

vinyl, screen-cloth, metals etc. The methods of disposal of these materials were also different depending on

their condition and application. The most common method adopted was storing them in a warehouse for

reuse. Other than this, the materials were either given back to shop from where they were bought, given it to

NGOs, shares it in each other and using in parks and streets. Environment friendly approach can be

incorporated during the design, construction, and maintenance and dismantling of sets. This paper outlines the

ways that are available during construction and after construction. They include the selection of by-product

materials, reusing the materials and reducing the wastage. Opportunities during se construction focus on the

use of locally available materials and means to complete the construction sooner. While dismantling of sets

many materials are thrown into the dustbins which lead to increase the wastage. In- place recycling can save

time, money and reduce the environment impact. This paper will provide useful insights into sustainable waste

management practices in set design and construction.

Conservation genetics and EIA - Two very differently purposed tool to prepare a common base line, thus to

save ecological diversity

Mohamadzahir.G.Shaikh

Faculty of Sustainable Development and Climate Change,

Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT University), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009

ABSTRACT

Every species living on this planet has been controllably developed by the genes they are carrying from the

moment they mutated from their parent species as well as from the surrounding environment interactions. The

developing tools like EIA, which is almost becoming mandatory for any project to have a clearance when

establishing in a natural setting with ecologically sensitive diversity, it emerges an innovative thought to

incorporate conservation genetics to prepare a baseline monitoring for the same. This can be done by again

incorporating two sub-methods of EIA and conservation genetics, which are, contingent valuation method and

Bioinformatics respectively. Bioinformatics methods have been developed to compile the experiment data of

lab work inform of software information. Thus, if applied together, contingent valuation method and

bioinformatics, can generate a base line with DNA analysis of the present species which could be damaged by

the proposed project. This is very useful in case of species which has been identified in the IUCN red list and a

project is coming near to its habitat. The gene sequencing information data base could lead to purified

information of the area as well as its diversity. Good gene diversity is the best indicator for the health of that

particular area, which is again required for any highly endangered species. This database can also lead the

researchers and regulatory bodies to see the changing interaction of environment to the expression of

important ecological function of the endangered species. For example, if Gir Sanctuary hasn’t been identified

as the prime area to conserve Asiatic lions, the development could have wiped out the entire species. A micro

level database with gene sequencing information along with changing functional change can definitely give

a decision to go with the project or not?

Keywords: Conservation Genetics, Endangered species, Bioinformatics, EIA




Change in Temperature Profile with City Size: Study on Major Indian Cities

Hemant Bherwani*1, R. S. Patil2 and Rakesh Kumar3 1Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, Mumbai-400076 2Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, Mumbai-400076 3National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Mumbai-400018


ABSTRACT

Urbanization is generally accounted by the increase in the population, change in land use pattern and

industrialization. It has adverse effects on various aspects of environment like climate, water quality and air

quality. This paper demonstrates the relationship between size of city, measured in terms of population, and the

change in average surface temperature profile of the city over the decades. The study is carried out on some

of the major cities of India like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi. Detailed analysis of relationship

between population and temperature profile of the city suggest that all the major Indian cities follow a similar

positive trend. This model is used to predict the temperature in the future with the growth rate of the city.

Further, time series analysis on temperature profile of Mumbai city is carried out and triple exponential

smoothed curve is fitted in order to demonstrate the trend of temperature profile of the city. The equation

obtained from time series is used to predict the temperature in the future so to validate the model.

Keywords: Urbanization, Temperature Change, Urban Heat Island.

Impact of Glass Façade Buildings on Environment in Mumbai Metro Region

Prashant Adsul1*, R.S. Patil2, Rakesh Kumar3 1* Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay 2 Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay 3 National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Mumbai

Emai: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Full glass facade system has been increasingly used in urban areas intending to keep buildings more energy

efficient and as sustainable as possible. However, high energy consumption, thermal discomfort and fire

problems which are associated with glass facades are generally overlooked while designing glass facade

system. Living and working in permanently enclosed spaces leads to “sick building syndrome. In Mumbai,

almost all new commercial buildings are coming up with glass facades e.g. Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.

The problem with glass structures is that it absorbs and radiates heat. Unlike concrete or brick walls, which

absorb heat, glass facades on buildings reflect heat back into the atmosphere, which results in a rise in

temperature in the area around the buildings. The study was conducted to measure surface temperatures for

different types of façade materials using IR Thermoview camera. Results indicate that glass heats more

compared to traditional facades. Surface temperatures for different types of glass façades were recorded and

results were compared. Results revealed that use double skin façade perform better compared to single skin

also granite facades heats more compared to glass. Glass façade surface temperatures were recorded for

indoor to investigate effect of glass façade on internal environment. It was found temperature near glass was

9.3 o C than room temperature. Orientation of the building, type of glass and climate play important role in the

performance of glass facades. Integration of photovoltaic cells in the façade is a good option for tropical

climates.

Keywords: Glass façade, Temperature




An analysis of marine traditional ecological knowledge: The Indo-Fijian perspective of marine resource

conservation and management

Mohseen Riaz Ud Dean

Department of Productivity and Quality, National Training and Productivity Centre,

Fiji National University, Fiji


ABSTRACT

Contemporary and traditional understanding of the ocean provides the basis for sustainable use of the ocean

and its resources, for the reduction of marine pollution and harmful practices and or the prediction of weather,

climate and ocean variability. The research focusses on the status of Marine Traditional Ecological Knowledge

possessed and utilized by the Indo-Fijian fishermen of the Nausori Town, Fiji for marine resource conservation

and management. The analysis exhibited a significant inheritance, borrowing, sharing, blending and use of

indigenous marine knowledge from the local Fijians commonly known as I Taukei into the cultures and ethos of

the descendants of the displaced populous of the Indentured Labourers brought from India in the late 1800’s

and in early 1900’s, branded as Kai India in Fiji. The information, which is thus derived, can be very useful in the

coastal ecosystem management, which is greatly required for the sustainable use, development, and

protection of the coastal and marine areas and resources in a fast developing Island state of Fiji where the two

cultures (I Taukei and the Kai India) has been seen living together for generations. Therefore, the research

recommends that I Taukei and Kai India Marine Ecological Knowledge be blended together with modern

policies and approaches concerning marine ecosystem. This will definitely require active and effective

management of the two different communities in order to eliminate the possibilities of compromising the major

conservation initiatives underway in the country.

Keywords: Contemporary, Marine Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Fiji, Ecosystem, Fishermen, Resource

Conservation and Management

Loss of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Central Bihar, India: A Case Study

Mohseen Riaz Ud Dean*1, Dr Satish Chandra Garkoti2, Vidhaata Vimal Jeet3 1Department of Productivity and Quality, National Training and Productivity Centre, Fiji National University, Fiji 2School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India 3Department of Academic Services, Office of the Registrar, Fiji National University, Fiji

*Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Traditional ecological knowledge alongside western science is receiving global attention, but unfortunately

fading worldwide. The research analysed the transmission of traditional knowledge among rural local people in

communities linked to traditional lands in Central Bihar, India. We studied changes in knowledge related to

local practices in the terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem among three villages consisting of 60 individuals and

covering a period of three subsequent generations in which the area transited from an economy strongly

dependent on local ecosystem services to a developing market economy with intensified production systems.

Our results suggest a severe loss of traditional ecological knowledge due to rapid modernization and

development, loss and migration of individuals together with intensification of the agricultural systems.

However, the results also stipulates maintenance of folk knowledge in relation to traditional livestock farming,

the use of traditional herbal medicine and preservation of sacred groves for resource management, an activity

persisting in the traditional areas that maintains strong links with the local cultural identity. Our results

demonstrate the potential of protected areas in safeguarding remaining bodies of traditional ecological

knowledge in a fast developing country setting.

Keywords: Modernization, Western Science, Ecosystem Services, Resource Management, Central Bihar,

Traditional Ecological Knowledge




Ground water pollution by arsenic – a case study of West Bengal

Chaitali D. Solanki

Civil Engineering Department, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat-395007


ABSTRACT

Arsenic contamination of shallow groundwater is among the biggest health threats in the developing world.

The serious arsenic contamination of groundwater has come out recently as the biggest natural calamity in the

world. With every new survey, more arsenic affected villages and people suffering from arsenic related diseases

are being reported, and the problem resolving issues are getting complicated by a number of unknown

factors. The magnitude is considered highest in five Asian countries and the severity is in order of

Bangladesh>India>Mangolia>China>Taiwan. Approximately 20 incidents of groundwater arsenic

contamination have been reported from all over the world. Of these, four major incidents were in Asia, South

America. There are also many locations in the world where the groundwater contains arsenic concentrations in

excess of the standard of 10 parts per billion adopted in 2001. A 2007 study found that over 137 million people

in more than 70 countries are probably affected by arsenic poisoning of drinking water. This paper highlights

the causes and mechanisms of arsenic contamination in groundwater. The effects of arsenic contamination on

human health have been revealed. It also presents several measures to remedy the arsenic Contamination in

groundwater.

Keywords: Arsenic pollution, Ground water, minerals and ores

A Preliminary Observation on Butterflies of Dumna Nature Reserve, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

Sanjay Paunikar

Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur

Forest Entomology Division Tropical Forest Research Institute, Campus, PO. RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur-

482021 (Madhya Pradesh)


ABSTRACT

The Dumna Nature Reserve (DNR) is situated on the way to Jabalpur Dumna Airport, some 10 km from the

center of Jabalpur. The Dumna Nature Reserve is spread over an area of 1058 hectare of land. The DNR is

surrounded by agricultural fields with rural habitation. The water reservoir, Khandari and the vegetation planted

around the DNR have created a very good habitat and source of attraction of number of insect fauna like

butterflies. India has rich butterfly diversity and harbored about 1,504 species of butterflies of which peninsular

India and the Western Ghats host 351 and 334 species respectively. In Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha of

central India 177 species of butterfly species have been documented (D’Abreu 1931).Several researcher have

studied the butterflies diversity of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Butterflies are an important aspect of

ecosystems for they interact with plants as pollinators and herbivores Butterflies are also good indicators of

environmental changes as they are sensitive to habitat degradation and climate changes (Kunte 2000). They

have great importance for the study of genetics, insect plant-interaction and co-evolution etc. However, some

species of butterflies are destructive insect pests to forest plants and agricultural crops at their larval stages. The

findings presented here are based on a weekly random survey carried out from June 2011 to May 2012 at the

Dumna Nature Reserve. The observations were made from morning 10.00 hr to until sunset 17.00hr, which is a

peak time for butterfly activity. Butterflies were identified mainly by taking photographs, and using field guides

for identification (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957; Haribal 1992;; Kunte 2000; Kehimkar 2008). A total of 52 species

of butterflies were recorded under five families. The family Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae were found dominant

with 22 species and 14 species, respectively, followed by Pieridae (9 species), Papilionidae (4 species) and 3

species from the family Hesperiidae. Observed species were grouped in five categories on basis of number of

sighting in the DNR. The butterflies were categorized as Very Common (VC) 40% (21 species), Common (C) 28%

(15 species), Uncommon (UC) 13% (7 species), Occasional (O) 9 % (5 species) and Rare (R) 7 % (4 species). Out

of 52 species, four species comes under the Wild Life Protection Act. (1972).The findings of the present study

underline the importance of Dumna Nature Reserve as a preferred habitat for butterflies.

Keywords: Dumna Nature Reserve, Butterfly, diversity, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India.




Wastewater Quality Index for three Seasons at Vapi CETP- Gujarat, India

Abhishek Shah1 and A K Khambete2

1SVNIT, Surat, Gujarat, India 2CED, SVNIT, Surat

ABSTRACT

CETP at Vapi, Gujarat, India is among the oldest CETPs operated in India as well as Asia having capacity of 55

MLD. Parameters for the effluent are examined by the authorities as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

guidelines in order to check the effectiveness of the treatment. The Wastewater Quality Index (WWQI) was

calculated considering all the parameters described by CPCB. CCME method was used for the development

of WWQI. Among all, 16 crucial and most significant parameters were used to develop WWQI. WWQI for each

season i.e. summer, monsoon and winter was developed independently and compared. It was found to be in

range of 50 – 60 indicating marginal quality of effluent. The WWQI was found to be nearly consistent with very

slight or almost no large deviation throughout all three seasons.

Keywords: Wastewater Quality Index (WWQI), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen

Demand (BOD), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Canadian Council for Ministry for Env. (CCME)

Carbon capture & storage: A Technology for Sustainable Environment

Kamble Jitisha S.

Civil Engineering Department, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat.


ABSTRACT

Carbon dioxide is regarded as one of the main greenhouse gases causing global warming and forcing climate

change which is being increased year by year. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered as one of the

options for reducing atmospheric emissions of CO2 from human activities. It is considered as a good option for

those countries that have significant source of CO2 & have access storage site & experience with oil or gas

operations. CO2 releases in atmosphere by burning fuels, burning of forest for land clearance, & certain

industrial processes. This report includes the methodologies of Carbon capture and storage. The whole process

is preceding under three steps which include capture, transportation and storage of carbon dioxide. The

method of capturing such as Post-combustion Capture, Pre-combustion Capture, Oxyfuel combustion Capture

is discussed. The safe storage of CO2 in environment efficient way is also being discussed under the methods

named as Geological storage, Ocean storage, and Mineral storage. While discussing the storage, monitoring &

verification are the considerable points to be considered to quantify the injected CO2 that has been stored by

various mechanisms, to detect leakage and provide an early warning of any seepage or leakage that might

require mitigating action. Downhole pressure, Pressure sensors, Surface pressure gauges, Fiber-optic pressure &

temperature sensors are some methods of monitoring & verification. The paper also includes the different

standards which are being established for monitoring. The document not only contains advantages &

disadvantages of CCS but also a view to the projects running around the world about CCS.

Keywords: Carbon Capture, Post Combustion Capture, Oxyfuel Combustion Capture, Geological storage,

Downhole pressure, Pressure sensors.

River Bank Filtration Technique - a concept to reduce load on water treatment plant

Somesh MU

Manipal University

ABSTRACT

River Bank Filtration reduces the choking and load on water treatment plant system as observed by various

parameters especially turbidity of TK Halli water treatment plant, under BWSSB, Bangalore analyzed on raw

water inlet of WTP on various parameters. All parameters are found to be much stabilized before treatment,

reduce the choking and load on treatment systems.

Keywords: RBF=River bank filtration, WTP= Water treatment plant, Turbidity.

http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/abc/carbon-dioxide.htm






The effect of cement air pollution exposure on human health in Madhepur village, near Jaypee cement Plant,

Rewa (M.P.)

Priyanka Rai* and R.M.Mishra

School of Environmental Biology, A.P.S.University, Rewa (M.P.)


ABSTRACT

Air pollution is rapidly becoming an environmental problem of public concern worldwide. It can influence

public health and local or regional weather and climate. Cement plants are one of the major emission sources

of particulate matter, Sulphure dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOX), Carbon monoxide (CO).Ozone (O3) and

other toxic substances. This study was conducted around JAPEE cement plant of Rewa city to assess cement air

pollution and its effect on human health. In a village Madhepur situated about 2.75 Km towards SW direction

from the JAYPEE cement plant of Rewa city. Result revealed seasonal variation in the concentration of SPM,

RSPM, SO2 and NOX. There were higher concentrations of these pollutants in the ambient air of the village

during winter months to be followed by summer and monsoon months. The SPM concentrations exceeded the

standard value prescribed for residential and rural uses by CPCB, New Delhi. However, the concentrations of

other pollutants were well below the standard value. A Questionnaire based survey was conducted to collect

the data for incidence of air pollution linked diseases among the people of Madhepur village. Result showed

higher incidence of respiratory diseases among the people of this village to be followed by skin diseases, eye

diseases, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases etc.

Keywords: SPM, RSPM, SO2, NOX, JAYPEE cement plant and Human health diseases.

An approach to Conserve Podophyllum hexandrum : A anticancerous plant of India

Dharmendra Singh Mehta*, Yati Mishra

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow-226010


ABSTRACT

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle syn P. Emodi Wall. Ex Hook.f. & Thoms (Berberidaceae), a moisture and shade

loving erect, glabrous, succulent herb, bearing the common name Himalayan Mayapple known as Aindri (a

divine drug) in ancient time is native to the lower elevation in and surrounding the Himalaya at altitudes

ranging from 2000-4000m above MSL. This rhizomatous perennial plant has been reported to be used through

the ages and in modern times as an intestinal purgative and emetic, salve for infected and necrotic wounds, in

the treatment of diabetes, chronic fever, genital warts and inhibitor of tumour growth. Its rhizomes and root

contain about 8% of podophylloresin from which several lignans were isolated. Amongst the most important

being podophyllotoxin (4% on a dry weight basis) which is used in the preparation of semi-synthetic drugs

namely etopside (FDA approved), etopophos phosphate and teniposide, well known anti-tumour agents used

to treat testicular cancer as well as lung cancer by inhibiting replication of cancer cells. Podophyllotoxin finds

use as a precursor for the semi-synthetic topoisomerase inhibitors in the treatment of leukaemia’s, lung and

testicular cancers, dermatological disorders like warts, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Indian Podophyllum

contain more percentage of Podophyllotoxin in the resin (up to 40%) than the American Podophyllum (P.

peltatum) that contained only about 0.25%. Thus the Podophyllum hexandrum has an increasing demand in

national and international market because of more than double amount of podophyllotoxin content found in

it, than American Podophyllum, an considered as endangered species to meet pharmaceutical industry

demand. It needs immediate attention for conservation, in depth studies for improving propagation techniques

and podophyllotoxin production, encouraging its cultivation and a detailed study of its phytochemical

diversity.

Keywords: Podophyllum hexandrum, Podophyllotoxin, Etopside, Teniposide




Towards Biotechnological Endeavors for treating Pulp & Paper industrial waste waters

Anil Kumar*1 and Rita Kumar2 1National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi -110067 2 Environmental Biotechnology, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi- 110007


ABSTRACT

Looking into the serious nature of pollution, the pulp and paper industry in India has been brought under the 17

categories of highly polluting industries. Most of the pulp and paper mills use conventional processes and old

technologies which reflect into the less production margin and environmentally unsafe. Biotechnology can play

a major role in establishing the new, technologically advanced, effective and economic processes in this

industry. The uptake of biotechnology can rejuvenate this sector. In general, biotechnology offers process-

integrated routes for enhancing industrial environmental performance. Conventional chemical or thermal

processes can often employ the use of high temperatures, extreme pH and organic solvents. On the other

hand, the biotechnological processes, i.e. biocatalysts, generally work under mild circumstances, are highly

selective and use little additional chemicals. So far, this promising potential seems to have been undervalued

and the pulp-and-paper sector may be a case in point. Biotechnology does more than reduce pollution

associated with paper production. Environmental biotechnology has tremendous potential for use in pulp and

paper mills seeking low- cost solutions to environmental problems and establishing technically advanced

processes, such as bio-bleaching, waste water treatment, detoxifying the dioxin like pollutants, decolorizing,

deinking and cleanup of polluted areas.

Keywords: pulp, waste, biotechnology

Antioxidant defence response and phytoremediation potential in Brassica juncea L. under chelate mediated

Copper (II) stress.

Resham Sharma*, Renu Bhardwaj and A.K. Thukral

*Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab-143005, India


ABSTRACT

Copper (II) is both an essential cofactor at optimum levels and a toxic element at high concentrations. It

catalyses the formation of free radicals, disrupts membrane properties and inhibits plant growth.

Phytoremediation is an eco friendly and reliable approach involving the use of hyperaccumulator plants for

removal of such toxic metals from soil and water. Brassica juncea has been selected for its enhanced ability to

extract and accumulate metals such as Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn. Use of soil amendments such as chelating/

reducing agents enhances the phytoextraction potential of hyperaccumulators. LMWOA(s) or Low Molecular

Weight Organic Acids as biodegradable chelating agents is at present the most explored area of

phytoextraction research. Antioxidant contents (Glutathione, Ascorbate and Tocopherol), protein content, lipid

peroxidation and metal uptake were analysed in 7 d old seedlings of Brassica juncea L. (var. RLC 1) under four

copper treatments in combination with chelates such as, citric acid and tartaric acid concentrations with

spectrophotometer analysis. In lieu of exposure to facilitated metal uptake, the hyper accumulator responds to

toxicity with a heightened antioxidant defence response. With an increase in metal and chelate exposure,

metal accumulation showed an escalating trend, indicating the enhanced hyperaccumulative potential of B.

juncea plants.

Keywords: Brassica juncea, chelating agents, copper, hyperaccumulators, phytoremediation.




Cloud-aerosol interaction and climate change over the Indo-Gangetic region, India

S. D. Patil, D. M. Lal and H. N. Singh

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune


ABSTRACT

The environment and biodiversity is largely affected by the changes in the weather and climate in and around

the region. The atmospheric aerosol influences the Earth energy budget and its associated climate forcing by

absorbing and scattering of the radiative energy which in turn changes the manifestation of the complex earth

system sciences. Although the microphysics clouds are strongly affected by varying concentrations of aerosol

particles, they are driven by atmospheric moisture and stability. However, we have focused the indirect aerosol

effect on clouds in the present study over the Indo-Gangetic (IG) region in India where massive aerosol loading

has been observed due to rapid growth of industries, high population density and meteorological condition.

Using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Aerosol Index (AI) and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis clouds data

during the period 1979-2010, the influence of aerosol on the clouds has been brought out. Increasing tendency

of AI observed during the study period suggest that aerosol loading over the IG region significantly increased

due to anthropogenic activities. High Cloud Cover (HCC) shows increasing tendency whereas Low Cloud

Cover (LCC) shows decreasing tendency during the period 1979 to 2010 over the region. During pre-monsoon

season, when aerosol loading is more, HCC shows increasing trend and found to be positively correlated with

AI. On the other hand, LCC shows decreasing trend and found to be anti-correlated with AI. During summer

monsoon season, aerosol shows increasing trend but their effect do not seen significantly; which may be

attributed to the change in the ratio of condensation and evaporation of cloud droplet in high humid area

over the region. Moreover, humidity as well as marine aerosol effect from the coastal region of Bay of Bengal

may also be responsible. We strongly argue that increasing aerosol loading enhances the Cloud Condensation

Nuclei (CCN) over the region and in turn forced to alter the microphysical properties of the clouds by reducing

the size of the cloud droplets. This reduction in the cloud droplet size delays the conversion from cloud drops to

raindrops due to the weaker collision efficiency of the smaller droplets and provides enough time for the cloud

droplets to reach at higher altitudes.

Keywords: Aerosol index, Low cloud cover, High cloud cover, Cloud condensation nuclei, Cloud droplet size,

Indo-Gangetic region

Biogas Generation from a Secondary sludge of Common Effluent Treatment Plant

1Komal.D.Bhojwani, 2 Anjali. A. Khambeteand 3 Dilip. M. Singh 1Engineering College, Tuwa 2 SVNIT, Surat 3Environment Research Cell, United Phosphorous Limited, Vapi)

ABSTRACT

Rapid increase of urbanization, over past many years is resulting in the generation of increasing quantities of

municipal solid waste and industrial waste .To treat industrial wastewater CETP is provided. For adjusting pH of

wastewater huge quantities of chemical are added which results in generation of very massive quantity of

sludge. This study was carried out at Vapi, Industrial Area, CETP facility. First time in this study an attempt was

made to generate biogas by digesting the sludge in anaerobic condition. A sludge digester was fabricated in

size of a pilot plant which was of 48 m3 capacity and the study was carried out on secondary sludge in

anaerobic condition. Initially study was performed for 30 days HRT, 15 days HRT, 8 Days HRT for 6.5 – 7.8 pH and

observations were carried out. With study 5 Days HRT was considered to be optimum where the pH was 6.5- 7.8

and COD was 20,000 – 40,000 mg/l with a 60 to 65 % COD reduction. With average 110 l/hour of biogas was

generated.

Keywords: Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas, Hydraulic Retention Time, Secondary Sludge, Digester, pH.




Climate change

Smruti Mohanty, Ipsita Mohanty

KIIT school of law, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha ,751024


ABSTRACT

Environment is mainly responsible for creation of forest, sea, wind, cloud, climate, rain, animal, human being,

and ultimately human civilization. Climate change is one of the most global environmental challenges facing

humanity with implications with food production, natural ecosystem, fresh water supply, health, etc. Many

factors are contributing to climate change, from fossil fuel use to the burning and clearing of tropical forests.

According to the latest scientific assessment the earth’s climate system has demonstrably changed on both

global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era. Further evidence shows that most of the warming (of

0.10c per decade) observed over the last 50 years, is attributable to human activities. In particular, the socio-

economic and technological, characteristics of different development path will strongly affect emissions, the

rate and magnitude of climate change, climate change impacts, the capability to adapt, and the capacity

to mitigate. The UN conference on environment and development (UNCED) in 1992 and Rio De Jenerio led to

FCCC (Framework Convection on Climate change) which laid the framework for the eventual stabilizations of

green house gases in the atmosphere recognizing the common but differentiated responsibilities and

respective capability and social and economic condition. Global climate change has already had

observable climate change on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lake are breaking up

earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner. According to IPCC (The

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5-100 F over the next century.

There are many environmental factors which lead to climate change such as solid waste, e-waste, air pollution

etc.

Keywords: environment, FCCC, IPCC

Observations on the rare alga Trochiscia obtusa (Reinsch) Hansgirg (Chlorococcales: Chlorophyceae) from

eastern India

Jai Pakash Keshri* and Subhabrata Ghosh

Phycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, UGC Centre for Advanced Studies,

The University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal, India

* Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Trochiscia Kützing is a very rare taxon of Oocystaceae (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae), very restricted in

occurrence and normally encountered in the phytoplankton flora of acidified lentic and lotic water bodies.

Very few species of this genus have been reported from this country. During the systematic investigations on the

freshwater algae of Eastern India the authors recorded this rare genus from West Bengal. An uncommon

species Trochiscia obtusa (Reinsch) Hansgirg has been recorded from a fresh water habitat of Udaynarayanpur

block division of Howrah district of West Bengal. This appears to be the first representation of this rare species

from Eastern India.

Keywords: Chlorococcales, New record, Northern India, Trochiscia obtusa.




Indian vultures circling towards extinction

Kalpana Sharma and Abhishek Rajput

Hindustan College of Science & Tech. Mathura (U.P.)


ABSTRACT

Vultures—massive and clumsy, their naked faces buried in rotting flesh along the roadside, on the banks of the

Ganges, lining the high walls and spires of every temple and tower—were once so ubiquitous in India as to be

taken for granted, invisible. And something in us didn't want to see them. Vultures are cross-culturally

uncharismatic—with their featherless gray heads, their pronounced brows that make for permanent scowls,

their oversized blunt beaks capable of splintering bones. They vomit when threatened and reek of death.

But for all of human history, vultures served India faithfully. They scoured the countryside, clearing fields of dead

cows and goats. They soared over the cities in search of road kill and picked at the scattered refuse of the

region's ever-expanding populace. For a subcontinent where religious and cultural mores restrict the handling

of the dead, human and animal alike—Muslims won't eat an animal that hasn't been killed according to halal;

Hindus won't consume cows under any circumstances—vultures were a natural and efficient disposal system. In

Mumbai, they covered the Towers of Silence where Parsis, a small but ancient religious group that doesn't

believe in cremation or burial, lay out their dead for the vultures to consume in a ritual known as a "sky burial".

Vulture numbers in the region had plummeted by 97 percent—the most catastrophic avian population decline

.Just fifteen years ago, there were at least fifty million vultures on the Indian subcontinent; today, less than sixty

thousand individuals of the three species survive in the wild(Gyps indicus). Several hundred long-bills still fly over

the cliffs of Ranthambhore in Rajasthan, some perch high on the domed pavilions of Orchha's cenotaphs in

Madhya Pradesh, and seen a colony of twenty white-backs on stick nests in the crooks of trees along a hidden

riverbank in Bandhavgarh, but some scientists have started calling these species "functionally extinct" and refer

to their own research as "monitoring to extinction."

Keywords: ubiquitous, scoured, natural and efficient disposal system, plummeted, Gyps indicus

Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water In Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Pragya Singh, Surbhi Shukla and Govind Pandey

Department of civil engineering Madan Mohan Malaviya Engineering College,

Gorakhpur Uttar Pradesh -273010

ABSTRACT

From several studies it has been concluded that the presence of Arsenic in ground water is worrisome and it is

one of the world’s largest contaminant of ground water. The source or Arsenic contamination is geogenic.The

two main routes from where Arsenic is being exposed are dietary and drinking water injection. As ground water

gets contaminated Arsenic gets injected into the food chain which in turn have several adverse health effects

on human health. It is one of the major contaminant which causes human cancer from exposure through

drinking water. It causes several harmful diseases like skin and bladder cancer, diarrhea, constipation,

dermatitis, loss of appetite and weight and many more. In this paper an attempt has been made to summarize

the status of Arsenic in ground water and the growing problem of Arsenic in eastern Uttar Pradesh and the

related strategies and remedial measures that can be adopted.




e-BioConserve: A social networking approach to biodiversity conservation

Saurabh Dewan, Anand Kumar, Manisha Sarswat, Pradeep Chandra Sati and Shurveer Singh

UGC-SAP Department of Zoology & Biotechnology, HNB Garhwal University

Srinagar Garhwal-246174, Uttarakhand, India


ABSTRACT

e-BioConserve, a local approach to global concern, is a virtual platform aimed to conglomerate people from

all strata of society towards biodiversity conservation. Still in its preliminary conceptual stage, being developed

by research scholars of the department, working in different arenas of life science, it is foreseen as a vibrant tool

to address the issue of conservation by active participation of local mass. A open source network whole solely

dedicated to biodiversity conservation – where anyone can contribute to biodiversity databasing of this region

(especially Central Himalaya), through species photos or descriptions, can use the on-site available basic

tutorials to assess local population of a species, thus report their status and local threats, can create forums,

blogs & discussion panels, where everyone has an equal say and can come up with their own idea of

conservation, free to unravel the atrocities being committed to nature by uploading real site pictures, identify

the lacunae in local policies and suggest ways to rectify them, can volunteer to form physical groups & come

up with concrete recommendations which could be forwarded to policy makers. Such platform will not only

help in strengthening the species database but will also help in identifying the local threats and observe

population decline if any, all through reporting and subsequent discussions on this virtual platform, which in long

run can be followed up by actual field visits and scientific investigation, with full credit to that reporting

commoner.

Keywords: e-BioConserve, biodiversity conservation, open source, social network, species

database, Central Himalaya

Preliminary study of butterflies of district Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir State.

Aijaz Ahmad Qureshi*1, and R.C. Bhagat*2 * P. G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar- 190006

1Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Pulwama. 2 Sarai Bala, Hari Singh High Street, Srinagar, Kashmir


ABSTRACT

Kupwara district is situated at an altitude of 5300 feet above sea level and located at 34.3 to 35.5 degree

latitude in the north and 73.4 to 74.9 degree longitude in the east. The district is surrounded by thick forests;

mountain slopes & snow clad peaks and possess rich floral and faunal wealth, minerals, forest products,

medicinal plants, wild life, unique tourist spots, etc. The area is a socio-economically backward with many

areas located on the Line of Control (LoC) of this border district whose backbone of economy is agriculture. In

spite of being rich and diverse in biodiversity, the floral & faunal part of this area is still fully unexplored. In order

to document its biological wealth, for the first time baseline field study was conducted from 2004-2007 to know

the butterfly fauna of the area, highlighting their month wise distribution, seasonal distribution, and flight period

and other bio-ecological components. The present preliminary field observations conducted in various

areas/places in different habitats revealed 36 species of butterflies distributed under 8 families and 30 genera.

They include Danaidae (1 genus and 1 species), Hesperiidae (1 genus and 1 species), Libytheidae (1 genus

and 1 species), Lycaenidae (4 genera, 4 species), Nymphalidae (11 genera, 13 species), Papilionidae (1 genus

and 2 species) and Pieridae (6 genera, 8 species) and Satyridae (5 genera, 6 species). The butterfly activity was

observed from March to November. The highest abundance was in summer season (June-August) whereas

there was no butterfly activity in winter (December-February). The most dominant family was Nymphalidae

followed by Pieridae, Satyridae and Lycaenidae. Highest distribution was observed in areas like Batpora

(Magam), Drugmulla, Langate, Lolab Valley, Mawar, Panzgam, Karnah, Rajwar, Trehgam, and Vilgam.

Keywords: District Kupwara, biological wealth, butterflies, abundance, distribution, flight period




Benign by Design-Alternative synthetic pathways for pollution

B.Rupini

School of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi-68

E-mail:[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Chiral amines have become an important part of the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. These are

important synthetic intermediates in the preparation of biologically and pharmacologically active compounds.

So far there are various methods reported in the literature to synthesize chiral amines by using ionic liquids

following direct as well as indirect methods. Asymmetric Reductive Amination is one of the promising methods

to synthesize structurally diverse secondary and tertiary chiral amines. Even though synthesis of ionic liquids and

their applications are not new since the discovery of first ionic liquid in 1914 but interest did not develop until the

discovery of Aluminum (III) Chloride and N-alkyl Pyridinium or 1, 3-dialkyl imidazolium chloride. Reactions in

neutral ionic liquids have been extensively studied as solvents for hydrogenation reactions. The present work is

mainly focused on the preparation of task specific ionic liquid for the synthesis of chiral amines. Virtually every

industry in the market is now trying to present itself as environmental friendly and eager to help to bring major

pollution problems under control. The search for alternative cleaner, safer, environmentally friendly, greener

technologies is the major priority in chemistry. Now it is not the interest but basic responsibility of a chemist to

develop and apply the green methods for chemical processes and long term environmental and economic

viability. Using room temperature ionic liquids in reactions are promising green and recyclable alternatives to

the toxic conventional volatile organic solvents. These are the important parameters to achieve sustainable

processes in chemistry. Present work is the synthesis and characterization of chiral amines by using task specific

3- (tributyl amino) – 2-hydroxy -3-propoxy borohydride chiral ionic liquid. It is microwave assisted synthesis. The

dual role of ionic liquid is as a solvent and a catalyst for effective conversion of aromatic /aliphatic ketones

and aldehydes into amines with significant atom economy.

Keywords: Asymmetric Reductive Amination, Chiral ionic liquid, task specific, green technology, atom

economy, sustainable alternative.

Application of GIS and RS in Agricultural pattern identification - a new dimension for the sustainable utilization of

land resources

Prashasti Ashok1*, Shakti Saxena1, Maneesh Saxena2 1Dept. of Geology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi-284128 2BARC-DAE, Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu- 603102


ABSTRACT

The study area cover a rain fed geographical region of granitic Bundelkhand plateau where river Sind is the

only source for irrigation. Farmers are growing crops during Rabi season even along the river that was earlier

covered with natural grasses, forest and scrubs. Geocoded FCC on 1/50,000 scale of IRS imageries for the years

1989, 1992, 2000 and 2005 were selected for the present study. Intensive field survey and ground truthing were

conducted for the rectification of analyzed satellite data. It is evident from the result that not only the forest

area has reduced but good and moderately degraded forest moving towards degradation especially in fringe

area. The gradual decrease in the forest area leads to the scope of expansion of agriculture land especially

after the construction of Mohini Dam on Sind River in 1992. During the past 11 years about 9835.79ha (13.50%) of

additional land brought under cultivation owing to increase in the irrigational facility in eastern part of the study

region. The area under Rabi crops has increased from 16.00% in 1989 to 29.50% in year 2000. The other face of

human interference in the nature, i.e. construction of Mohini Dam and creation of an artificial reservoir

(864.10ha), was destruction of about 2511.54ha good forest. During the same period the area under grassland

has increased by 2 per cent where as shrubs infested land has decreased. Unscientific Landuse or modification

in physical landscape will certainly create a hurdle in eco-friendly developmental plan. For the assessment of

sustainable development of the area a method of measuring the agricultural pattern has been introduced in

the study based on comparative measurement methodology. The present study is analyzing the data with two

advance technologies that is GIS and RS.

Keywords: agriculture, GIS, Remote Sensing, Sind catchment, change pattern, sustainable utilization




Population structure and relative growth of hillstream crab, Potamon koolooense (Rathbun, 1904) from

Uttarakhand Himalaya

Shurveer Singh1, S.N. Bahuguna1 and Anita Rawat Rana2 1Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, P.B.70,

HNB Garhwal University Srinagar Garhwal-246 174, Uttarakhand, India 2Department of Zoology, Govt. PG college, Rishikesh, Dehradun-249201


ABSTRACT

The present investigation carried out on the hillstream crab, Potamon koolooense to study the population structure

and relative growth, an endemic species inhabits the foothill streams of Uttarakhand Himalaya. The study area is

located between 25o 45’to 30o 15’ Latitude North and 78o 24’ to 79o 23’ Longitude East. Total 228 crabs were

collected from a hillstream Khoh river of Pauri Garhwal during April 2010 and separated into 122 males and 106

females by studying the shape of their abdomens. Crabs were generally collected by handpicking under the

stones during the day time and brought to the laboratory, preserved in 8% formalin for morphometric and meristic

study. The carapace length (CL) ranged from 1.2 cm to 4.9 cm, carapace width (CW) from 1.5cm to 5.9cm and

total weight (TW) from 1.08g to 65.62g. The sex ratio was 1: 1.15 (M: F) and differed statistically from the expected

1:1 at (p>0.05). Allometric growth pattern was observed in both the sexes as the slope value ‘b’ calculated from

the data was less than 3. There was higher correlation between width and weight than between length and weight

in both the sexes of the P. koolooense.

Keywords: Population structure, P. koolooense, decapod, relative growth, Uttarakhand

Nanoparticles in Indian Water: An Emerging Contaminant Needing Regulatory Considerations

Baranidharan S and Arun Kumar*

*Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016 *Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The prime objective of this study was to know the occurrence of Nanoparticles in Indian waters which is of

significant interest to both health and regulatory authorities. Because of its increased presence in commercial

products, a growing public debate is emerging on whether the environmental costs of nanotechnology

outweigh its benefits. Commercial nanoparticles may find their way into aqueous environments from point

sources such as production facilities, landfills or wastewater treatment plants or from nonpoint sources such as

wear from materials containing NPs and it had been reported that nanoparticles will remain in natural streams

because they escape from the treatment plants. A detailed literature review on nanoparticle pathways, their

concentration in water, and their effect will be dealt in order to frame a policy. A recent study had reported

that the modeled surface water concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles varying from 0.012 - 0.057 μg/L in Europe,

0.002 - 0.010 μg/L in the U.S., and 0.016 - 0.085 μg/L in Switzerland, but there are still no such data available for

Indian scenario. Further, there are no regulatory agencies present in India as compared to other countries

which focus its efforts on nanoparticles presence in environment. The knowledge on occurrence of

nanoparticles in Indian waters and the associated risk management lags far behind when compared to the

developed countries. In conclusion, it has become imperative for Indian regulatory bodies to initiate a

comprehensive research programme to focus on nanoparticles occurrence in Indian water sources and efforts

to estimate risks associated with nanoparticles, important for Indian population.

Keywords: Nanoparticle; Regulatory Policy; Health risk.




Population density and Preliminary Morphometric study of Drosophilids inhabiting Chamoli region of

Uttarakhand

Rajendra Singh Fartyal*, Pradeep Chandra Sati and Manisha Sarswat

UGC-SAP Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, UK, India


The order Diptera contains more than 100,000 known species of insects representing three suborders, the

Nematocera, Brachycera and Cyclorrhapha. The Brachycera containing the Drosophilidae, are considered to

be the most evolutionary advanced Diptera. Since, W.L. Castle (1906) reported the potential use of Drosophila

melanogaster in understanding genetics, Drosophila has remained one of the premier experimental organism

especially in systematic and evolutionary studies. Despite the impact of genus Drosophila in different scientific

studies, studies concerning Drosophilids species inhabiting in India have largely been neglected. Although

studies on the systematics of Indian Drosophilids species were initiated as early as in 1920, very little is known so

far of the Drosophilids inhabiting Uttarakhand & especially Garhwal region. As globally, with most researchers

focussing on genera being found in tropical regions there are still doubts that many more species remain to be

discovered or described from temperate and alpine ecosystems like this, all over the world. Thus, during the

present study Drosophilid population survey was undertaken in Chamoli district of Garhwal region. The area is

characterized by having dense evergreen coniferous forest with medium to very steep slopes and extremely

moist conditions due to heavy rain fall. A wide assortment of sampling techniques namely Trap Bait, Net

sweeping methods, direct collection through aspirator etc were employed so as to obtain maximum number of

individuals representing a wide spectrum of the species. The population density was assessed and external

morphology of adult flies was examined under a stereomicroscope and metric characters were measured with

an ocular micrometer. The study has revealed some tentative new records of species which are yet to be

confirmed.

Keywords: Drosophila, Systematics, Population density, Garhwal region, Uttarakhand

Treatment and Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in Third world Countries: A Critical Review

S.V.S.S. Vamsi Krishna1, E. Vaishnavi1, I.S. Sushma1, R. Sunil Kumar1,I. Sreedhar1, P. Sankar Ganesh2, S. Dinda1, R.B.

Adusumalli*1 1Department of Chemical Engineering, 2Department of Biological Sciences,

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar,

Shameerpet Mandal, Hyderabad 500078


ABSTRACT

In third world countries population growth is tremendous, especially in urban cities. As its direct impact, the

generation of solid waste is also increasing alarmingly. Composition of organics in the waste generated is

between 30 to 50%, which reflects the lifestyle. Due to improper collection and treatment, organic waste is

dumped in open dump yards along with non-degradable wastes. This makes both the types of waste unusable.

In third world countries source segregation is done very rarely. Poor segregation of paper and glass from the

waste is done by rag pickers but in extremely un-healthy environments. In this paper, need to improvise the

indigenous technologies available in third world countries is emphasized. Four main treatment and disposal

options are reviewed: composting, recycling, sanitary landfilling and incineration. In countries that have an

agriculture based economy, need huge volumes of organic fertilizer/soil amendments like compost that can

be manufactured from microbial decomposition of organic wastes. Though composting is an age-old process,

lots of technological advancements have happened in this bioprocess. Any waste management practice

would be incomplete without recycling as a component. Recycled paper is mixed with fresh pulp (5-10%) to

make news print grade paper. Metals are separated from solid waste using electric/magnetic/thermal and

gravity separation such as zigzag separator. Plastics such as PE, PVC and PET bottles are recycled to make low

grade products using extruders. In most of the developing countries, waste is just dumped in open yards and to

accommodate more, the dumped waste is also burnt. The process on a whole immensely adds to the pollution

load. There are almost no landfills to accommodate municipal solid waste. To handle the hazardous waste and

those with high calorific value, the best option is incineration, though high installment costs and air pollution are

the key challenges.

Keywords: Third World Countries, Solid Waste Management, Recycling, Composting, Sanitary landfill,

Incineration




Distribution of Drosophilid fauna along altitudinal gradient in Uttarakhand-A persuasive theme for future climate

change research

Rajendra Singh Fartyal*, Manisha Sarswat and Pradeep Chandra Sati

UGC-SAP Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, UK, India


ABSTRACT

Drosophila have since long contributed to our understanding of principles of genetics, molecular biology and

even evolution, as they are highly sensitive to slight environmental modifications that are reflected by

substantial variation in their natural population size & structure, morphology and even in their ecology. Despite

the prominent position which the members of the genus Drosophila have long occupied in scientific studies,

however, studies concerning Drosophilid species inhabiting biodiversity rich Uttarakhand region are still scanty.

As Central Himalaya boasts off, its varied ecological habitats ranging from near tropical temperatures to cool-

temperate regions; it is truly a Drosophilid biodiversity hotspot and a potential arena for evolutionary biology

and climate change research. Though, in past, some researchers have worked towards exploration of

Drosophilid diversity of this region especially in Kumaun, they have mostly concentrated their efforts on

taxonomic databasing. But, keeping in view varied ecological habitats present here, a large virgin field still

awaits exploration. Thus, several sampling surveys were carried out in past six months especially in Garhwal

region to assess Drosophilid biodiversity of the region along altitudinal gradient. Records in the earlier published

literature and data obtained through sampling was pooled to furnish a spatial distribution pattern of Drosophilid

species inhabiting Uttarakhand. Though some species were found be specialists occupying particular type of

habitats, few were cosmopolitan inhabiting highly varied ecological habitats at different altitudes with highly

varied temperature regimes and other climatic conditions, providing a persuasive tool for future research on

evolutionary biology and climate change as well.

Keywords: Drosophila, Uttarakhand, Altitudinal distribution, Climate change, Evolutionary biology

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction after Secondary treatment of Common Effluent Treatment Plant

wastewater streams by Advance Oxidation-Fenton process based on H2O2/Fe=2 salt

Abhishek R. Jain1 and A K Khambete2

1SVNIT, Surat, Gujarat, India 2CED, SVNIT, Surat

ABSTRACT

Small-scale industries (SSIs) have a very important role in overall industrial development in India and growth of

SSI units has been actively promoted by Government of India. It is estimated that more than 300,000 SSI units

are spread all over India, mainly in about 867 clusters/industrial estates of the country. It is difficult for each

industrial unit to provide and operate individual wastewater treatment plant because of the scale of

operations or lack of space or technical manpower. The concept of CETP was adopted as a way to achieve

end-of-pipe treatment of combined wastewater at lower unit cost to facilitate discharge of wastewater

effectively. The concept of CETP which was hyped as a solution to manage water pollution has failed because

of the heterogeneous nature of the effluent from different industries. It has only compounded the toxic content

to larger volumes. CETP concept has resulted in bypassing the treatment and directly discharging the

untreated effluent in water bodies. This untreated wastewater is high in COD and difficult to treat biologically. In

this study, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilizing H2O2/Fe+2, Fenton reactions were investigated in lab-

scale experiments at different concentration, at various time intervals, at different pH condition for the COD

degradation of wastewater, after Conventional Activated sludge process of Common Effluent Treatment Plant

located in VAPI, Gujarat. The experimental results showed that the Fenton process using H2O2/Fe+2 is effective

treatment process for waste water streams after Activated sludge process. With Fenton processes, COD

Reduction of wastewater can be achieved successfully up to 66.67% also in addition it reduces colour and NH3-

N. It was also found out that Fenton processes are viable techniques for the degradation of such

heterogeneous waste water stream with relatively acidic pH of 2 at 1:1 ratio of H2O2/Fe+2 for 120 min time

interval.

Keywords: Common Effluent treatment Plant, Advance Oxidation, Fenton Process, COD.




The doctrine of public trust and the conservation of biodiversity

Mrinalini Shinde

National Law School of India University, Bangalore- 560072

ABSTRACT

Conservation of biodiversity is currently faced with several legal and policy hurdles, with respect to

convergence of public interest, political will, and the overarching significance of the conservation process. The

Stockholm Declaration of 1972, inter alia states that man must fulfill the responsibility of protecting and

improving the environment for present and future generations. Several rationales regarding biodiversity

conservation come into play in the policy debate, and this paper is an exploration of one such rationale: the

doctrine of public trust. The doctrine of public trust is conceptually based on the principle that some interests

are important to the public in such an intrinsic manner, that, being nature’s bounty these interests translate into

the utmost need to conserve them for the public, and not private purpose. The doctrine establishes that natural

resources are a public good, under the trusteeship of the state. The Public Trust Doctrine has been used by

courts to refer to the failings of the democratic process, in instances when the citizen comes as a supplicant, to

ensure that the judiciary protects those environmental interests, from which the public benefit from; claiming an

entitlement. Although still in its nascent stage, judicial activism with regard to environmental protection, while

interpreting Article 21 of the Constitution, has relied on the public trust doctrine, in cases discussed in the paper.

Thus, in light of the doctrine of public trust, the paper tries to interpret biodiversity, as a natural resource, which

must be conserved, as a public interest, belonging to all citizens, which is merely under the trusteeship of the

state, and therefore, citizens must be able to seek redressal, in order to enforce their right to biodiversity under

this doctrine. The paper also offers a cohesive legislative model which can address conservation needs by the

application of the doctrine.

Keywords: public trust, Article 21, biodiversity conservation, legislative model

Morphometric and radiographic studies on radius and ulna of Chital (Axis axis)

O.P. Choudhary, R. Mathur, S. Joshi

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Science,

Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, India 334001


ABSTRACT

India has been blessed by wide range of biodiversity. There are several wild animals including lion, tiger,

elephant, deer, rhinoceros, bear and black panther etc. constitute a huge area of anatomical teaching and

research. The present study has been done on the Radius & ulna of chital. The radius was a long bone,

relatively shorter and broader as compared to ulna. Radiograph confirmed the presence of medullary cavity in

the shaft. Radius was fused to the ulna in the entire length except for two inter-osseous spaces, namely,

proximal inter-osseous and distal inter-osseous spaces. The average greatest length of the Radius of Chital was

18.73±0.04 cm. The average maximum Breadth of proximal extremity, shaft and distal extremity was 4.19±0.03

cm, 2.80±0.03 cm and 3.79± 0.01 cm, respectively. Ulna was an aborted long bone and was the longest bone

of the fore-limb. Radiograph confirmed the presence of medullary cavity only in the proximal part of the shaft.

The average greatest length of the ulna of Chital was 24.30± 0.05 cm. The average Maximum height of

olecranon and maximum breadth of olecranon at anconeal process was 5.84± 0.02 cm and 3.67± 0.02 cm,

respectively.




Turning My City to Green

Ninad Saraf

Padmabhushan Vasantdada Patil Pratishthan's College of Engineering,

University of Mumbai, Maharashtra 400022


ABSTRACT

Global warming and climate changes have become a major concern for mankind today. In order to ensure

that, development and environment conservation go hand in hand, major corporations around the world are

empowering projects to slow down depletion of natural resources. The natural environment and energy are

important components of our economy, community health and quality of life. Environmentally and

economically sound design and development techniques are critical to design buildings and infrastructure that

are sustainable, healthy and affordable. The economic, health and environmental impact of our homes is

apparent in our society. To meet the challenges of our built environment and Creating Sustainable

Environments, a new way of designing & construction has evolved. This paper is a try to focus on the ways in

which we can efficiently make use of the artificial as well as natural ways of turning our metropolitan cities of

India into green.

Keywords: Green buildings, scope of green building in metropolitan cities, zero energy buildings.

Conservation of Biodiversity

Gazi Md Mohiuddin

Clean Air & Sustainable Environment Project, Department of Environment, Dhaka. Bangladesh


ABSTRACT

Biodiversity –the variability within and among living organisms and the systems they inhabit –is the foundation

upon which human civilization has been built. In addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity provides goods and

services that underpin sustainable development in many important ways, thus contributing to poverty

alleviation. First, it supports the ecosystem functions essential for life on earth, such as the provision of fresh

water, soil conservation and climate stability. Second, it provides products such as food, medicines and

materials for industry. Conservation of biological diversity is essential for keeping agricultural and forestry

systems healthy, for maintaining the diversity of the sources of pharmaceutical products, for generating income

from tourism, for promoting an aesthetic ambience, for stabilizing different ecosystems, for widening the scope

of biological investigations and for protection of the overall environmental quality. All the properties and

potentials of each species, identified or unidentified, are yet to be known. Bio-diversity influences peoples

economic, social and cultural development and hence their quality of life. The knowledge, cultural traditions,

innovations, and management practices of indigenous communities, and the traditional practices of farmers

and rural communities concerning bio-diversity, are being threatened in Bangladesh by the destruction and

pollution of natural habitats due to our failure to recognize the social, economic, and cultural value of bio-

diversity. This threat and the concomitant destruction are likely to increase as population growth continues. It is

believed that the problem may be minimized through effective implementation of community based bio-

diversity conservation programmes. Biodiversity is at the heart of many cultural values.




Business initiatives for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity

Aditee Potdar*, Richa Gautam, Anju Singh, Seema Unnikrishnan and Neelima Naik

Centre for Environmental Studies (CES), National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE),

Vihar Lake, Mumbai – 87, India.


ABSTRACT

The total variety of life on our planet is referred to as biological diversity. Habitat fragmentation and chain

extinctions are common which eventually affects the ecological balance of the earth. Companies which

operate in close proximity to protected areas or areas rich in biodiversity are monitoring the potential impacts

their activities have on biodiversity and are working towards reducing the same. As a result, the companies

may generate fiscal returns as well as some real biodiversity benefits. The paper examines the initiatives for

biodiversity conservation in the Sustainability reports of 101 reputed companies which are based on Global

Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines using content analysis technique. It is observed that out of the 101

companies, 76.24% of the companies’ report the biodiversity initiatives in their Sustainability report while 23.76%

of the companies’ do not report on biodiversity initiatives in their Sustainability report. The companies have

been rated based on their reported initiatives. The paper highlights the initiatives taken by the multistakeholder

partnerships and various industries for biodiversity conservation. It can be concluded that biodiversity initiatives

reporting which are based on GRI guidelines have been adopted with success by a number of business

organizations but efforts are still required for businesses to understand the returns from taking initiatives towards

biodiversity conservation and reporting the same.

Keywords: Biodiversity, business, conservation, Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Reporting Initiative

(GRI), multistakeholder partnerships

Diversity of Allium species and their Ethnobotanical uses in India

Khosa JS1, Dhatt AS1 and Negi KS2

1 Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (India) 2 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Bhowali, Nanital (UK)


ABSTRACT

The genus Allium belongs to family Alliaceae has more than750 species and widely distributed in the Central

Asia, North America and Alpine regions of the world. In India, several Allium species are found as wild, semi-

domesticated or in domesticated forms. In present investigation, thirty five accessions of different Allium species

were characterized for foliage colour, density of leaves, foliage attitude, cross-section of leaf, degree of leaf

waxiness, storage organ, bulb skin colour, shape of mature dry bulbs, ability to flower, seed coat colour, leaf

length, leaf girth, number of leaves/plant and plant height. In present investigation high level of variability was

observed for bulb colour and shape of mature dry and least variability was observed for ability to flower. The

significant differences were observed in different Allium species for leaf length, leaf girth, number of

leaves/plant and plant height. In principal component analysis, first five principal components explained

74.533% of the total variation. The first component explained 22.925% of whole variability with highest positive

contribution from storage organ. Whereas in second component accounted for 16.660% of total variation with

greater positive contribution from shape of mature dry bulbs. This genus is of great economic importance due

to its use in daily life as vegetables, condiments, medicinal and ornaments. From present investigation it was

concluded that Allium species show complex morphological variability which must be conserved and used in

Allium breeding. In future, collaborative and multidisciplinary strategies for efficient management and utilization

of Allium germplasm should be followed.

Keywords: Allium, Variability and PCA




Utilizing biodiversity resources for livelihood enhancements and poverty reduction in the Central Himalaya

Vishwambhar Prasad Sati

Department of Geography and Resource Management, Mizoram University (Central), Aizawl -796004


ABSTRACT

Livelihood sustainability is a comprehensive term and a prime concern for the poverty reduction and well-being

of the people. In the Central Himalaya, livelihood is largely dependent either on the cultivation of traditional

subsistence cereal farming or on the biodiversity resources for fuel-wood and fodder requirement. The

environmental conditions are quite suitable for the cultivation of cereals and cash generating crops.

Meanwhile, the biodiversity resources are abundant in the forms of agro-biodiversity and diversity in faunal and

floral resources. In addition, geo-environmental conditions and landscape is quite suitable for hydroelectricity

generation and development of tourism activities, respectively. This study examines biodiversity resources

availability, levels of livelihoods and poverty in the Central Himalaya, and how can biodiversity resources

enhance livelihoods and reduce poverty, if utilize optimally. It is based upon the data gathered from the

primary and secondary sources. Qualitative analysis of data was carried out through the case studies of

seventeen villages and SPSS was used for quantitative analysis of data. This study reveals that the abundance

of biodiversity resources in this region can enhance the livelihoods and can reduce poverty in a due course of

time.

Keywords: Biodiversity resources, livelihood enhancements, poverty reduction, rural environment.

International ABS Law for Biodiversity Conservation: Implications of PIC and MAT in Nagoya Protocol

By Hasrat Arjjumend*1 and Sabiha Alam1 1 Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi – 110025

*Grassroots Institute, Banjar – 175 123 Distt. Kullu, Himachal

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

For over two decades of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into existence, the biodiversity rich

developing countries demanded of an International Regime which would ensure that access to genetic

resources or indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) associated with such resources has been subject to prior

informed consent (PIC). Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have negotiated since 1998 to evolve

an international regime called ABS or "access to fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of

genetic resources". At seventh meeting of Conference of Parties (COP 7), held in February 2004 at Kuala

Lumpur, the Parties engaged in extensive discussions about the mandate and terms of reference of ABS

Working Group that would "elaborate and negotiate an international regime on access to genetic resources

and benefit sharing with the aim of adopting an instrument/ instruments to effectively implement the provisions

of Article 15 and Article 8(j) of CBD". After prolonged deliberations lasting over 6 years, the access and benefit

sharing Nagoya Protocol with regard to genetic resources was adopted during the COP10 at Nagoya, Japan

by 180 countries. By promoting the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and by

strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use, the Nagoya Protocol will

create incentives to conserve biological diversity, sustainably use its components, and further enhance the

contribution of biological diversity to sustainable development and human well-being. Specific obligations to

support compliance with domestic legislation or regulatory requirements of the Party (country) providing

genetic resources and contractual obligations reflected in mutually agreed terms (MAT) are a significant

innovation of the Nagoya Protocol. Compliance provisions as well as provisions making PIC and MAT

mandatory before access to genetic resources or associated ITK will contribute to ensuring the sharing of

benefits. In addition, PIC and MAT instruments will strengthen the ability of indigenous and local communities

(ILCs) to benefit from the use of their knowledge, innovations and practices. Nagoya Protocol intends to create

incentives for conserving biological diversity and further enhancing the contribution of biological diversity to

sustainable development and human well-being.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Conservation; ABS Law; Genetic Resources; Benefit-Sharing; PIC; MAT; ITK




River Sand Mining in India: The Growing Menace

Nitin Krishnan

Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi


ABSTRACT

In modern India, at times a river might is revered for its mythological importance or used as tool of strategic

geo-political significance in international negotiations. However, neither mythology nor geo-strategic

importance could curb the decline of river systems in India due to human activities. The shrinking of Himalayan

Glaciers, which sustain majority of northern Indian River systems, is now an accepted truth and its cataclysmic

effect on irrigation, food and water security and ecosystem is duly noted and widely recognized. However, the

devil of illegal and uncontrolled River Sand mining should not be underestimated as it is a major threat to rivers

and riverine ecosystems. In the quest to create infrastructure and fulfill industrial requirements, human greed

and shortsightedness is stripping the rivers bare of the quintessential sand beds to supply sand and stones for

construction and other diverse industrial activities. The aim of this paper is the highlight the importance of sand

in stabilizing and maintaining the river ecosystem. We would also investigate how illegal, uncontrolled and

unscientific river sand mining is causing serious ecological imbalance across major rivers in India. Understanding

how uncontrolled river sand mining can cause flash-floods, drop in subterranean water level and threaten

traditional irrigation methods would help us gauge the seriousness of the problem. While the policy makers are

making efforts to control the problem, I shall bring forth the role of the Indian Judiciary in addressing the issue

and curbing the menace of illegal, uncontrolled and unscientific river sand mining. I shall also bring forth the

good practices of the river sand mining that are being followed across different countries. The objective of this

paper is to provide comprehensive overview of the problem of River Sand Mining in India because even if we

may protect ourselves from global warming and resulting glacial shrinkage, rivers stripped bare of sand will

serve as bare wounds and many generation will suffer while this wound heals.

Climate change and vector-borne diseases in India

Upasana Yadav

Department of Biotechnology, Amity University, Lucknow -226017, U.P., India


ABSTRACT

Current evidence suggests that inter-annual and inter-decadal climate variability have a direct influence on

the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. This evidence has been assessed at the continental level in order to

determine the possible consequences of the expected future climate change .By 2100 it is estimated that

average global temperatures will have risen by 1.0–3.5°C, increasing the likelihood of many vector-borne

diseases in new areas. The greatest effect of climate change on transmission is likely to be observed at the

extremes of the range of temperatures at which transmission occurs. For many diseases these lie in the range

14–18°C at the lower end and about 35–40°C at the upper end. Malaria and dengue fever are among the

most important vector-borne diseases in the tropics and subtropics. Encephalitis is also becoming a public

health concern. Health risks due to climatic changes will differ between countries that have developed health

infrastructures and those that do not .Human settlement patterns in the different regions will influence disease

trends .climate signals observed over India in the last 100 years .show an increasing trend in surface

temperature by 0.3°C, a change in the spatial pattern of rainfall with respect to normal and occurrence of

more intense and frequent extreme temperature, rainfall and cyclone events1. As a result, there is a growing

concern about the changing pattern of some of the diseases over the years, across India that is directly

influenced by the variable climate. It has been Climate change has far-reaching consequences and touches

on all life-support systems. It is therefore a factor that should be placed high among those that affect human

health and survival.




Assessment of endosulfan contamination in Manipur soil, India

Ningombam Linthoingambi Devi*1,2, Qi Shihua1,P Raha2 1State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, School of Environmental Studies, China

University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China 2Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences,

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India


ABSTRACT

Uses endosulfan was already banned in India, although the remote places of India such as Manipur soil was

found to be contaminated by α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate respectively. The endosulfan

metabolites were analyzed by GC-ECD (Gas chromatography electron capture detector).During winter season

total endosulfan was detected higher concentration at urban (58800 pg g-1), rural (63800 pg g-1) and

mountain (4700 pg g-sites than rainy season total endosulfan. Possibly, it was happened due to the

temperature variation during the sampling time. Because level of endosulfan in air was found to be lower level

during the winter season than rainy season. Additionally, pearson correlation demonstrated that total organic

carbon (TOC) present in soil shows significant correlation with endosulfan.

Key words: Urban, rural, mountain, endosulfan, Manipur

Environmental audit of Siachen Glacier: a necessity

Ruchi Bhandari

National Law University, Jodhpur

ABSTRACT

In the context of the increasing emphasis on protection of environment, environmental accounting and

auditing have assumed special importance in recent years. Environmental accounting aims at measuring the

impact of activities of an organization on the environment. The end-product is the environmental statement

containing an assessment of the significant environmental issue arising out of the activities carried out by the

organization, organization’s environment policy and management system, figure of pollutant emissions, waste

generation, and other significant environmental aspects, along with a comparison with legal norms and a

summary of costs incurred to protect he environment. Both India and Pakistan claim sovereignty over the entire

Siachen region. In 1984, India launched a successful military operation and has since maintained control over

all of the Siachen Glacier and its tributaries. Siachen is the world’s highest battleground on Earth, where India

and Pakistan have fought intermittently since April 1984. Both countries maintain a permanent military presence

in the region at a height of over 6,000 m. Siachen is the only Glacier of Karakorum range melting with

unprecedented rate, the cause of which is the military presence in the area. The satellite images of the Siachen

glacier present an alarming account of its shrinking; it is said to be retreating at the rate of 110 meters per year,

resultantly its size over the last 20 years has shrunk by 35 percent. The environmental degradation of the Siachen

is essentially man-made as is evident from the fact that the other glaciers in the vicinity, which are not

occupied and are clear of human activity are more stable and cooler. The aim of this paper is to study the

necessity of conducting an environmental audit of Siachen Glacier. The paper will examine the measures to

combat the environment pollution of Siachen and will also include the measures being taken by the Indian

Army to fight against the pollution in the region and will accordingly make the suggestions.




Environmental policies in India: Legal framework and inconsistencies within

Shivam Bajaj1 and Stella Job2 1School of Law, Christ University 2Justice Felix Frankfurter, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court

ABSTRACT

“We owe to posterity..clean air, clean water, greenery and open space. They ought to be elevated to the

status of birth right of every citizen.”

In the recent times, along with spreading environmental consciousness, there is a change in the traditionally-

held perception about an existent complementary relation between environmental quality and economic

growth. The increasing need for conservation of this planet and sustainable use of natural resources is of

concern to the entire humanity. Undoubtedly, the growing demand is reflected in the constitutional, legislative

and policy framework as also in the international commitments of the country. ‘Right to Life’ under Article 21 of

the Constitution extends its scope to include the ‘right to clean and pollution free environment’. The State

endeavours to protect and improve the environment through a mandate under Article 48-A, in a similar

fashion, it has been stated as a fundamental duty to every citizen under Article 51-A(g) of our Constitution to

protect and improve the natural In this paper we shall discuss how the world is witnessing a global crisis of

environmental degradation where The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 acts as an umbrella legislation that

provides a holistic framework for the protection and improvement to the environment. Even though based on

sound scientific principles and globally recognized norms, India’s environmental laws and policy are not

effectively implemented. The deterioration of city and environmental quality is utter denial of the state policies

totally. In the light of the above, we shall analyze the extent to which these laws and policies that are in place

are enacted or not. Unfortunately there is a huge gap to be bridged between the laws that are existent on

paper with the practical implementation of it. There is a policy shift required not on formulation of laws but on

the intent and em-phasis towards successful implementation.

Keywords: environment, sustainable development, environmental policy, environment protection, global crises.

National Action Plan On Climate Change – A Policy With High Standards To Reach

Praneetha B.S

School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka

ABSTRACT

“The government of Karnataka has proposed that subsidy would be continued on LPG gases for household use

for only 6 cylinders per year”. A welcome proposal which looks at the conservation of the limited resources but

what is the yardstick to decide. Will it be on the basis of the number of family members or per house? This is the

same problem that is faced at the international level where states are unable to come to a consensus on

levying of cap to pollute. The concept of carbon credit, carbon footprint is good in theory but what happens

to its practicability. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change. The States have not reached a consensus on the standards of emission that

each state can emit. The paper tries to focus on these various facets of problems faced by countries in

evolving a standard climate change regime giving emphasis to the National Action plan on Climate Change

(NAPCC) which was released by our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on June 30, 2008. The NAPCC consists

of several targets on climate change issues and addresses the urgent and critical concerns of the country

through a directional shift in the development pathway. The aim is to look into the feasibility of these targets

and its effect on the development of our nation. The research is basically doctrinal linking the facts to available

statistics thus trying to find a viable means to reach a point where we try to achieve sustainable development.




Ecofriendly Disposal of Used Agar

Pooja Desai*1, Aksheta Sampath2

Department of Environmental Science, SIES (Nerul) College of Arts, Science & Commerce,

Nerul, Navi Mumbai


ABSTRACT

Composting, often described as nature’s way of recycling, it is the biological process of breaking up of organic

waste such as food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, worms, and coffee grounds, etc., into an

extremely useful humus-like substance by various micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes

in the presence of oxygen. Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is

expanding rapidly in many countries, as landfill space becomes scarce and expensive, and as people

become more aware of the impact they have on the environment. Agar once used for various experimental

purposes is auto-claved to prevent spread of contamination and then sent for incineration as its method of

disposal. Incineration leads to generation of fly ash and various flue gases. Fly ash disposal is a major problem

and flue gases too need to be cleaned of particulate and gaseous pollutants before they are let in the

atmosphere. This paper attempts to check the feasibility of Composting of Used Agar. This approach aims at

applying lesser pressure on the environment as it is eco-friendly and establish a method for the production of

compost as a preferred technique of disposal for used agar against the traditional approach of incineration /

land filling. This suggested use of discarded agar focuses mainly on the agar used for academic purposes

(schools & colleges) only, as the type of microorganisms used in the educational institutions can be easily

eliminated by simple auto-claving unlike the hospitals and the pathological laboratories which deal with the

disease causing microorganisms and their spores.

Keywords: feasibility, Agar, incineration, composting, eco- friendly, land filling

Impact of Pollutants on Marine and Freshwater Ecosystem

Atul S. Shinde

Post Graduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, 440016, Nagpur (M.S.), India


ABSTRACT

The continued degradation of the environment has become a major contemporary problem in all parts of the

world. Aquatic ecosystem which has acquired two third of the total Earth’s surface is providing the healthy

environment for maintaining the fundamental biological and ecological balance. Due to the advanced

technologies and growing industrialization this ecosystems is getting polluted creating complexes in aquatic

life. Thus the out coming pollutants are thrown in the water system as it is the huge system on planet resulting

the compressing its capacity. Increase in pollution affects mortality rate of aquatic organisms, delay in hatching

of eggs, and their embryo. These effects pass through food chain and ultimately affect higher animals like

humans, birds, hawks, and eagles. Interactions of heavy pollutants are also changing the physical, chemical

and biological characteristics of water system. In this review effects of various pollutants which are highly

concentrated are discussed and their effects on marine and freshwater ecosystem and its surrounding are

discussed. Also their sources, mechanism of spreading and transfer through food chain is presented.

Keywords: Impact, Aquatic life, Industrialization, Pollutants, Food chain, Marine and freshwater ecosystem.




Evaluation of tourism carrying capacity of Panchgani and Mahableshwar region by developing

methodological framework

P.M. Raval and Kurhade Shweta Y.

College of engineering Pune, Shivaji nagar Pune.

The Plateau on which, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani hill stations are situated is a Unique one in many

aspects of biodiversity and ecology. Environment and Forest Dept. of Central Government of India, therefore,

established Mahabaleshwar - Panchgani area declared by the as a Eco-Sensitive Zone under the Environment

Protection Act, 1986. Of late, these popular hill stations viz. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani have witnessed a

great spurt in tourism, leading to terrific pressure on their natural resources including forests, water and land. if

unchecked, threaten to gravely damage the ecology and environment of the plateau. Therefore This plateau

is now under tremendous pressure of ever-increasing tourist flow, which has strained the resources, amenities,

and civic facilities of these two hill stations. It is often observed that tourism generates a negative impact on the

environment of destination places, among which the depletion of the natural capital is the most evident. To

avoid this, tourism development and management should be based on the identification of the limits

characterizing a destination. The indicator of Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) can be particularly relevant to

this purpose. In fact, it gives an idea of the threshold of tourists that can be accepted at a destination while

considering the capacities of some components of the local tourism system. In this work, we approach a

specific definition of TCC, and for its empirical measurement, we also develop a methodological framework in

the form of a quantitative and footprint approaches. Furthermore, we apply the methodology to eco sensitive

tourism destinations in the area of the Mahabaleshwar and Panchagani part of western ghtas (Maharashtra).

Keywords: Eco sensitive; tourism carrying capacity; footprints; Sustainable tourism;

Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation

T.I. Khan

Department of Environmenatl Sciences, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences,

Central University of Himachal Pradesh, HP


ABSTRACT

Climate change is a global phenomenon but its adverse effects can be observed even locally. Indiscriminate

felling of trees and shrubs, mining and other anthropogenic activities are responsible for depletion of

Biodiversity in Thar Desert. Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life on earth. The current knowledge of the

number of species inhabiting the earth is still incomplete; estimates vary from 8 to 14 million species. To date,

about 1.7 million species have been described while many more await discovery. India, a megabiodiversity

country with only 2.4% of the land area, accounts for 7 to 8% of the recorded species of the world spread over

45,000 species of plants and 91000 species of animals that have been documented so far. Prosopis cineraria,

Acacia nilotika, Acacia Senegal, Clligonum polygonoides, Tecomella undulate, Zizyphus nummularia,

Commiphera wightii, Withania somnifera, Urginia indica are some of the important species of Thar Desert.

Recently, it is observed that there is an adverse impact on Biodiversity of this region specifically on endemic

species. There is a necessity of providing different means of conservation for existing biodiversity in thar desert

and its sustainable development.

Keywords: Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation, Thar Desert




Recreation vs. Conservation in Wetlands: a study with special reference to the East Kolkata Wetlands

Supreet Kaur

East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority,

Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal.


ABSTRACT

Wetlands have been identified as the key life supporting system as they contribute to a healthy environment.

They also provide a natural habitat to a large number of endangered plants and animal species. The functions

that they serve (water storage, flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, etc.) and the services that they

provide (wildlife resources, agriculture, fisheries, recreation, etc.) to the humanity have made their conservation

a priority. The use of the term ‘recreation’ in this paper is restricted to development of tourism opportunities

within the wetlands. Wetlands provide an important source of recreation and tourist attractions. Development

of tourism within wetlands can benefit the local community by providing sustainable livelihoods, stronger

economies, etc. but it may also impact the wetlands in many ways for example, by causing habitat loss,

pollution, over-consumption of water, and visual or noise impacts. The East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar Site has

the potential to be an important tourist spot not just because it is probably the world's largest and perhaps

oldest integrated resource recovery system but also because despite being peri-urban wetlands which is highly

sensitive to urbanization pressures it still supports a large variety of floral and faunal diversity. There is ample

scope for promoting sustainable tourism opportunities within these wetlands but it should be done without

compromising on conservation and wise use of this wetlands. The Government, private-sector, non-

governmental sector as well as the stakeholders involved all can play an important role in promoting

sustainable tourism within the East Kolkata Wetlands. The paper discusses the interrelationship between the

need to conserve wetlands through wise use and the recreational services offered by it and how a balance

between the two can be achieved through a collective action.

Keywords: conservation, recreation, wetlands, tourism, East Kolkata Wetlands, Ramsar.

Bioaccumulation patterns of Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni in palak and radish exposed to heavy metals through soil

drenching and foliar spray

R. K. Sharma1*, M. Agrawal2 and P. P. dhyani3

1G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED),

Himachal Unit, Mohal (Kullu)-175126 2Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005 3GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal (Almora)-263 243


ABSTRACT

Heavy metal contamination of food chain is one of growing environmental issues due to their potential

accumulation in biosystems through contaminated irrigation water, air and soil. Therefore, a better

understanding of heavy metal bioaccumulation patterns in crops commonly exposed to contaminated soil

and air needs to be developed to reduce heavy metal load in food chain. The present paper described

bioaccumulation patterns of heavy metals and response of palak (Beta vulgaris) and radish (Raphanus sativus)

exposed to a mixture of Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni (50 mg/L) through soil and foliar spray. The results showed that soil

contributes more heavy metals in roots and shoots of palak and roots of radish as compared to that of foliar

spray and control, whereas foliar spray contributed more heavy metal in shoots of radish. Translocation ratios

further indicated that Cd, Ni and Cu tend to accumulate in below and above ground parts in both crops

applied through soil and foliar spray, respectively. Similar, but opposite trend was observed for Zn. The heavy

metal load in roots and shoots of each tested vegetable had a negative and significant relationship with Fv/Fm

ratio, total chlorophyll content, protein contents, total plant biomass, plant height, economic yield, and also

had a positive and significant relationship with peroxidase activity, lipid peroxidation. From the study, It can be

concluded that soil contributes more heavy metals to both radish and palak, which tends to accumulate in

their below ground parts. The contaminated soil results to more yield loss, poses more risk to safety of food chain

as compared to those of contaminated air. Thus, present study suggests that radish and palak should not be

grown on contaminated air and soil, respectively.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Heavy metals; Food chain; Radish; Palak




Ethnobiology in Loktak lake

Devina Sikdar and Lakshmi Ramesh

Amity University, sec 125, Noida

ABSTRACT

Ethnobiology is the study of the dynamic relationships that exist between human, biota, and environment. It

studies how a human uses the environment in day to day life in his culture and existence. Loktak is the largest

freshwater lake in north east India. Loktak, the “Kohinoor of Manipur” is located in the southern part of the

Imphal valley of Manipur. Loktak is known as the only floating lake in the world due to the “floating

phoomodis”. The Lake is referred to as the “lifeline of Manipur” because many lives depend on it. It is the

location of the world’s only floating national park –Keibul Lamjao National Park. Loktak has population of nearly

18,000 people who depend on it in a socioeconomic way. The thick band of phoomodis toward north of the

lake maintains the water quality and also acts as a sink for important nutrients like N, P, K and carbon

sequestration. It stabilizes the local micro climatic condition of the hills and the valley. Loktak absorbed the

flood water as natural reservoir during the rains and utilize the same for irrigation, power, and domestic

purposes during the dry season. The lake provides renewable source of food crops, fisheries and energy. The

lake is provides food source in the form of various types of fishes and plants like. It is the largest source of water

in the state and provides irrigation to all the farming land. It also is the basis of Loktak Hydro electric project

which provides electricity not only across the state but also Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya. The lake is a

brilliant example of the interactions of humans and an ecosystem. The lake is a constant source of not only

livelihood but also of life.

Keywords: Ethnobiology, Biota, Lifeline of Manipur, Loktak Lake, carbon sequestration.

Remote Sensing and GIS: A potent tool for Biodiversity Conservation

Puneeta Pandey

Centre for Environmental Sciences and Technology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001


ABSTRACT

The life forms on earth in various capacities have been fulfilling man’s needs over several thousand years. It has

been estimated that 50,000 endemic plants out of global count occur in only 18 ‘hot spots’ in the world.

Countries which have a relatively large proportion of these hot spots of diversity are referred to as

‘megadiversity nations’, among which, India is one. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands alone have as many as

2200 species of flowering plants and 120 species of ferns. The Northeast States have 1,500 endemic plant

species and 85 genera of terrestrial mammals in India. Western Ghats are habitat for 1,500 endemic plant

species, various amphibian and reptile species. In the recent years, loss of species has been posing a great

threat to biodiversity due to the destruction of natural ecosystems, or by over-extraction of their resources, and

even through pollution of air, water and soil. Although various conservation measures have been taken to

minimize the loss of biodiversity, geospatial technology such as remote sensing and Geographic Information

system (GIS) has been emerging as an important means of assessing and conserving biodiversity. It is being

used greatly in carrying out biodiversity characterization studies at landscape level and validation of these

characterization studies.

The state of Punjab comprises of 104 species of algae, 560 fungi, 30 pteridophytes and 526 species of

angiosperms. Besides, Punjab has seven endangered and eight vulnerable species of fishes; one critical, one

endangered and three vulnerable species of freshwater turtles; and four threatened and two near threatened

species of birds. Since the state of Punjab is richly endowed with biodiversity, it becomes imperative to

understand the status of biodiversity in the state and take necessary actions for conservation of the same. The

present paper is an effort in this direction. It is aimed at assessing the status of biodiversity and exploring the

potential of remote sensing and GIS for conservation of biodiversity.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Remote sensing, GIS, Hot spots, conservation




The Phytodiversity in Jammu Province of Jammu and Kashmir

Deepu Pandita¹*, Anu Pandita², Shanu Pandita³

Government Education Department, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir¹*

Bee Enn College of Nursing, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir²

Govt. General Zorawar Singh Memorial Degree College Reasi, J& K.³


ABSTRACT

The state of Jammu & Kashmir is extended between 32 17 -37 03 N latitude and 72 03-80 20 E longitude, with a

middling yearly rainfall between 60-80cm.It is delimited to the north and east by the main Himalayan ranges

and to the South by means of Punjab plains. The state shows signs of diverse climatic and topographic

situations and is endowed with affable milieu for the lavish growth of various biotic categories. This is the first

ever authentic report on the phytodiversity of district Samba of Jammu and Kashmir state. The plants of all

groups’ angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, bryophytes, fungi and algae have been found. The present

study mainly focused on the flowering plants, within which both the monocots and dicots are reported. The

edible cereals of monocotyledonous poaceae family like rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize

(Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.); medicinal plants belonging to various dicotyledonous and

monocotyledonous families like, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), mint (Mentha arvensis), Mentha longifolia, amaltas

(Cassia fistula), kadipata (Murraya koenigii ), Indian Clammy Cherry (Cordia dichotoma), orange (Citrus

aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), Benghal dayflower (Commelina

benghalensis), khas-khas (Vetiveria zizanoides), Brassica campestris L. var. sarson, Brassica rapa L.

subsp. sarson; fruit and forest trees like, Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda

mimosifolia), mango (Mangifera indica), neem (Azadirachta indica), White Mulberry (Morus alba), Black

Mulberry (Morus nigra), kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba), Indian Orchid Tree or Camel Foot Tree -kachnar

(Bauhinia variegata), flame of forest (Butea monosperma), Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera), amaltas (Cassia

fistula), peepal (Ficus religiosa), banyan tree (F. benghalensis), banteak (Lagerstroemia speciosa), siris (Albizia

lebbek), babul (Acacia nilotica), khair (Acacia catechu), shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Chir (Pinus roxburghii),

papaya (Carica papaya), Pomegranate (Punica granatum ), guava(Psidium guajava); food plants like a lot

many varieties of beans (Phaseolus species), peas (Pisum sativum), chick peas (Cicer arietinum), egg plant

(Solanum melongena), Bottle gourd, (Lagenaria ), Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula), Carrot (Daucus carota ),

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), lady finger (Anthyllis vulneraria), tori (Luffa acutangula), Winter

Radish (Raphanus sativus), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), potato (Solanum tuberosum),onion (Allium

sativum), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), pumpkin, wild forage legumes and grasses Crotalaria, Vigna,

Melilotus, Medicago falcata, M. denticulata, Trigonella gracilis, Trifolium, fodder plants (Leucaena

leucocephala, Oxalis sp, Albizia amara,. A. procera, Cassia sturtii, Hardwickia binnata, Dichrostachys nutans,

Colophospermum mopane, Tradescantia, congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorous) , Ipomoea carnea, Sida

acuta, Momordica dioica, Millettia pinnata, Cassia obtusifolia, Portulaca oleracea, Parkinsonia aculeate,

Mallotus phillippensis, Diplocyclos palmatus, Dioscorea bulbifera, Digera muricata,Gloriosa superba, Calotropis

procera, Colebrookia oppositifolia, Celosia argentea, Sesamum indicum, Mirabilis jalapa, Solanum nigrum,

Achyranthes aspera, Triumfetta rhomboidea, Celosia, Amaranthus spinosus, Leucas capitata, Physalis minima,

Martynia annua, Trichosanthes cucumerina, Mirabilis jalapa, Rosa sinensis, Melochia chorchorifolia, Canna, and

some trees of apple(Malus domestica) are reported for the first time from this region of Jammu & Kashmir . The

energy plants like bamboos - Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa arundinacea, sugarcane (Saccharum

officinarum) , sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and hydrocarbon and industrial plants (guayule, jojoba,

Jatropha curcas,, Euphorbia royleana, Euphorbia hirta), shrubs like Lantana camara varieties and various

varieties of desert plants like Agave americana, cactus, pteridophytes like black maidenhair fern ( Adiantum

capillus-veneris), western maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum), Polypodium L., and bryophytes like

Marchantia polymorpha, cord moss (Funaria hygrometrica) have also been listed.




Influence of soil properties on the association of natural, rehabilitated and degraded forests

Ashish K. Mishra a, Soumit K. Behera a, R.M. Mishra b, Rashmi Arnoldb, L.B. Chaudhary a, Bajrang Singh a aCSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India b Awadesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa 486006, Madhya Pradesh, India


ABSTRACT

Plant community structure, species diversity and soil properties are described herewith for degraded,

rehabilitated and natural subtropical forests in north India. The influence of soil properties was collated on the

organization of vegetation structure in forest formation. We selected Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary (KWS) as

Natural forest, Banthara rehabilitated forest (BRF) and Kukrail degraded forest (KDF) as three distinct forest

types in the same subtropical region. The composition of species, population abundance and importance

value of the woody species were investigated in each forest type simultaneously, the representative soil

samples of each forest type was also analyzed for the soil properties, up to 30 cm depth. On the basis of

importance value index (IVI) Mallotus philippensis, Syzygium cumini and Shorea robusta were dominant tree

species of natural forest. Syzygium cumini and Terminalia arjuna were dominant species of rehabilitated forest

and Pongamia pinnata was dominant tree species in the degraded forest. The Shannon Wiener index of

general diversity ranged from 0.78 to 4.45 for degraded to natural forest respectively. Tree density (812.8 stem

ha-1) and basal area (62.32 m2 ha-1) both were highest and in KWS and lowest in degraded forest (655.9 stem

ha-1 and 19.27 m2 ha-1). Canonical corresponding analysis (CCA) was applied to observe the vegetation soil

interactions which reveal that soil parameters, especially organic carbon, pH and water soluble cations Na+, K+

play a significant role in species association as well as their population distribution pattern. Soil organic carbon

and MBC determine the vegetation structure in KWS, whereas pH, EC and exchangeable Na regulate plant

community organization in BRF. Forest vegetation in KDF indicated its major association with bulk density and

available phosphorus.

Keywords: Canonical corresponding analysis (CCA), degraded forest, importance value index (IVI), natural

forest, plant community, rehabilitated forest

Impact of anthropogenic pressure on the rate of forest cover change in part of Western Ghats from 1973 to 2009

Kuimi Tampeimi Vashum, N. Anandkumar, Satyam Verma and S. Jayakumar

Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences,

Pondicherry University, Puducherry


ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in Sathyamangalam forest, which links the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats,

allowing gene flow between diverse populations of the two habitats. The Sathyamangalam forest was

declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in December 2008, with 524.35 km2 area and increased to 887.26 km2 in

August 2011. The objectives of this study are (a) to assess the spatial and temporal extend, and the pattern of

forest cover change in the Sathyamangalam forest during the period 1973-2009 and (b) to relate these

changes to the socio-economic conditions of the people in the area. There are 29 tribal settlements with a

population of 63,652 in this forest and a detailed socio-economic survey was conducted to know the people’s

dependence and their movements on these forests. The survey from 102 villagers revealed that the tribal

people relied heavily on the forest resources for their livelihood and income such as fuel wood, non-timber

forest products, food and medicinal resources. The fuel wood consumption of the 29 settlements is about

18,459 T/yr. Moreover, most of their activities inside the forests are limited to about 2 kms around their village

boundaries. Thus, in this study, the forest cover change detection was limited only to the 2km forest area

present around the villages. Forest's cover density map was prepared for four periods (1973, 1992, 2001, 2009)

using NDVI. The results reveal that the very dense forest cover is decreasing with an annual rate of 1.88%

between 1973 and 2009. The population in the study area during the period (1973-2009) has increased by

27.25%. While the population increases, the forest's areas were decreasing as the degraded forests show a

359.32% increase which is highest for all the four classes – degraded, open, dense and very dense forest. From

the study, we conclude that the human population pressure is the main factor for any increase or decrease in

the forest area.

Keywords: Forest cover change, NDVI, Socio-Economic Survey, Sathyamangalam forest, Population expansion,

Livelihood, NTFP.




Karyomorphological studies in two species of Allium L. found in Manipur.

Harinita Toijam and S.P.Borah

Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, Assam.


ABSTRACT

A detail karyomorphological study was undertaken in Allium cepa var aggregatum G. Don. and Allium

tuberosum Rottle ex. Sprengel. The study included determination of somatic chromosome number, total

chromosome length, volume, arm ratio and centromeric position. The karyotypic study of Allium cepa var.

aggregatum G.Don. and Allium tuberosum Rottle ex. Sprengel. showed that, both of them have somatic

chromosome number 2n=16. Chromosome classification was done on the basis of the position of the

centromere. In case of Allium cepa var.aggregatum G.Don., the total chromosome length was found to be

144.71 µm while the relative chromosome length varied in between 4.09 µm - 8.61 µm . The arm ratio was varied

from 1.87 µm-1.46 µm .In Allium cepa var. aggregatum G. Don. out of 16 somatic chromosomes, 11 were of

metacentric, 4 were of sub-metacentric and 1 was of sub-telocentric type. For Allium tuberosum Rottle ex.

Sprengel. the total chromosome length was found to be 142.08 µm and the relative chromosome length was

varied in between 4.40 µm- 8.80 µm ; arm ratio was varied from 1.87 µm- 1.30 µm Of the 16 somatic

chromosomes, 12 chromosomes were of metacentric, 3 were of sub-metacentric and 1 was of sub-telocentric

type. Most of the chromosomes were of metacentric type in both the species. No satellite chromosomes were

found in any one of the two species. The karyotype formulae deduced for the two species of Allium may be

represented as: Allium cepa var. aggregatum G. Don.: m11 +sm4 +st1 +t0 = 2n = 16 and Allium tuberosum Rottle

ex. Sprengel.: m12 +sm3 +st1 +t0 = 2n = 16.

Keywords: Allium cepa var. aggregatum G. Don., Allium tuberosum Rottle ex. Sprengel., karyomorphology,

chromosome classification, karyotype formula, metacentric.

Pollution and its effect on environment & biodiversity in the city of the Taj

K.Vasanta

Dept. of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences,

Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Dayalbagh, Agra-282 005

ABSTRACT

Agra has a rich historical background which is amply evident from the numerous historical monuments in and

around the city. Though the heritage of Agra city is linked with the Mughal dynasty, numerous other rulers also

contributed to the rich past of the city. However, there has been constant deterioration in the quality of

environment of Agra in the last few decades which has been a matter of great concern. Haphazard growth of

urban area particularly in the last 20 years, developed several slum areas. Hygienic conditions and civic

facilities are so declining that the existence of such areas in the city presents a horrible and dirty view to the

tourists. Apart from this, water, air and noise pollution are playing evil role in the city. Due to this, number of

species is sharply declining and few are disappearing. Growing population, increasing pollution, decreasing

administrative willingness towards these problems is noticeable. There is a need to protect biodiversity in the

city. Otherwise, it does not take much time to the disappearance of biodiversity. Therefore, this paper tries to

analyze the real picture of Agra’s pollution and its effect on environment, biodiversity and also attempts to give

few suggestions to overcome these problems.

Keywords: Pollution, species, biodiversity, habitats, Keetham, Soorsarovar




Analysis of Trans Aquifer using Remote Sensing and GIS – A case study on Kota City

Neha Saxena1, Aditi Saxena2, Ankita Mishra3

Banasthali Vidyapith

Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Kota city is basically situated in Rajasthan near by huge River CHAMBAL. Inspite of this condition groundwater

level in the above region decreases gradually. In this region the persisting difficulty is loss of natural aquifer due

to the rocky and clayey nature of soil bed. Groundwater level is highly depends upon the nature of aquifer

Groundwater occupies the cracks and pore spaces between rocks and mineral grains below the land surface.

In the saturated zone, essentially all of the pores are filled with water. If a volume of saturated aquifer material is

completely dried, the water volume removed reflects the total porosity of the material, or the fraction of pore

space within the total volume of solids plus open spaces. This number can be surprisingly large; some minerals

and rock formations can have total porosities in excess of 50%. In the unsaturated zone there can be

significant amounts of water present, but the voids are not completely filled. Level of groundwater is highly

affected by critical climatic condition as its affects rate of evapotranspiration and recharging of aquifers.

Keywords: Groundwater Storage, Porosity, and Specific Yield, Evapotranspiration, Trans aquifer.

Dal Lake: A myth for the future generations

Humaira Qadri*, Altaf Hussain** and A. R. Yousuf

*Sri Pratap College, Srinagar


ABSTRACT

The Dal Lake of Kashmir (34°07′ N, 74°52′E, 1584m above MSL) has always been the centre of Kashmir civilization

and a source of livelihood for a considerable portion of the population of the valley. However, the encroaching

human settlements have not only reduced the size of the lake but also resulted in remarkable changes in the

water quality as well as biological community structure of the lake. Invasive species like Azolla cristata are

choking the lake, alongwith monospecific stands of Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum and

Hydrilla verticillata. The present ailing condition of the lake is an outcome of the no-coordination approach

adopted by the Govt. agencies, various developmental authorities, NGO’s, ecologists, economists and the

common people, particularly the Dal lake inhabitants. Rehabilitation problems coupled with the ignorance

among the lake dependents have played havoc with the lake. Lack of proper education about the

ecological and economical importance, as well as the proper conservation strategies has led to the failure of

all conservation efforts adopted to restore the lake. Rehabilitation problems coupled with the ignorance

among the lake dependents have played havoc with the lake. Dissemination of education regarding all the

aspects of the lake is the need of the hour. Therefore, a better understanding of the ecology and the problems

of the lake may save the water body from being a myth for the future generations.

Keywords: Water quality, invasive species, rehabilitation, water body, conservation, lake inhabitants.

Shankaracharya Forest Ecosystem: A physiographic Overview

Altaf Hussain*, Humaira Qadri and A. R. Yousuf


ABSTRACT

The paper presents an overview of different physiographic parameters of Shankaracharya forest ecosystem

located in Srinagar city, Kashmir. The important ones included are Elevation/Digital elevation model (DEM),

Slope, Land-use/Land-cover and aspect. Lithology of the area has been briefly dealt with. The ecosystem offers

mountainous, actively eroding slopes and scrap topography with a dissected terrain. Steep slopes,

escarpments and spurs are main physiographic units. The sensitive physiography calls for strict conservation

measures to protect this sacred forest ecosystem.

Keywords: DEM, aspect, slope, land-use/land-cover, lithology, terrain




Factors Affecting Seasonal occurrence of Fungi in pond ecosystem

Deo Sajal and K.L.Tiwari

Department of Biotechnology, K.D. Rungta College of Science & Technology, Atari, Raipur (C.G.), 492099,


ABSTRACT

During present survey on water fungi 63 fungal species (185 colonies) belongs to 34 fungal genera are isolated

from surface water of Naraharadeo Talab of Raipur city. Out of which 4 species (7 colonies) belongs to 4

genera of Zygomycotina, 4 species (7 colonies) belongs to 4 genera of Ascomycotina and 55 species (171

colonies) belongs to 26 genera of Anamorphic fungi are observed. The water samples are collected twice a

month (March 2006 to February 2007) for exploration of fungi. The physicochemical characteristics of the

collected water samples are analyzed to determine those factors which are affecting seasonal occurrence of

fungi in pond ecosystem. The fungal population showed marked monthly and seasonal variations during the

period of study. Maximum number of fungal species 36 fungal species (59 colonies) belongs to 21 fungal

genera are found in winter season. Out of which 4 species (4 colonies) of 4 genera belong to Zygomycotina, 1

species (1 colony) of 1 genus belongs to Ascomycotina and 31 species (54 colonies) of 16 genera belong to

Anamorphic fungi are observed. Maximum number of 18 fungal species (22 fungal colonies) belongs to 13

fungal genera are isolated in November month. Which are dispersed in 3 species (3 colony) of 3 fungal genera

belong to Zygomycotina, 1 species (1 colony) of 1 genus belongs to Ascomycotina and 14 species (18

colonies) of 9 fungal genera belongs to group of Anamorphic fungi. The concentration of Dissolve Oxygen is

10.5 ppm, B.O.D. is180.2 and C.O.D. is 294.3 in winter season.

Sustainable development

Shashank Pant1 and Aman Choudhary2 1University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun 2National law University, Jodhpur


ABSTRACT

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability

of future generations to meet their own needs. The sustainable development is one of the major concerns

around the globe and that of 21st century. In this fast moving world the development factors play an important

role in shaping the future of a country. Every country whether developed or developing has been engaged in

the race on being the number one whether it is a developing nation like India, Brazil or a developed nation like

that of U.S, Japan. In this highly competitive environment every nation is ignoring the future. The future of our

generations to come is in danger. It is because humans have been continuously using the essential non-

renewable resources very rapidly. This paper on sustainable development will focus Firstly on the growing

challenges of sustainable development and climate change as climate change is impacting the natural

ecosystems and is expected to have substantial adverse effects in India in coming years. Secondly this paper

will stress on sustainable development and the role of developing and developed nations in strengthening

sustainable development agendas and International policy developments on sustainable development in the

light of Rio and Rio+20 conferences. Thirdly authors will discuss various social and economic challenges which

governments face while implementing the tough sustainable development policies. Fourthly the authors will

also throw some light on the corporate challenges of sustainable development. Lastly this paper will be

concluded by providing the solutions for achieving sustainable development through the help of new

technologies and what steps can be taken to solve the disputes between developing and developed nations

in such a way that the industrial growth and sustainable development go hand in hand.




Changing Land Use Pattern and Its Impact on Biodiversity in Siyana Block District Bulandshahr U.P.

Mohammad Shah Nawaz Khan1, Gulnaz Bano2 and Mohd. Mazhar Ali Khan3

1Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Changing pattern of land use is one of the most important factors of causing biodiversity loss. Land use pattern

are recognised through the interpretation of geographical spatial data from temporal satellite images. The

land use change is largely driven by population growth, farm size and income. This paper attempts to find out

the land use land cover changes in Siyana block of district Bulandshahr U.P. and its impact on biodiversity loss

both flora and fauna. Siyana block lies in the north-eastern part of district Bulandshahr; it is also a part of Ganga

Yamuna doab and has fertile agricultural land. Due to the urbanisation and commercialisation, the fertile

agricultural land is giving way to non agricultural uses resulting in the reduction in the sizes of wetlands and

fertile agricultural land which consequently results in the loss of biodiversity. Many plant species which are the

houses of birds and animals are now reduced to critical limits. Consequently birds and animals populations are

reduced either through their deaths or out migration. Land use change is determined by the interpretation of

satellite images of Landsat TM March 1999 and March 2011 while the impacts of this change were analysed

from the collected field survey data obtained through interviews, discussions, observations and secondary

data.

Keywords: Siyana, land use pattern, biodiversity, remote sensing and GIS.

India vis-à-vis international perspective

Abhinav Kumar and Souvik Sinha 1

National Law University Delhi

ABSTARCT

The present article deals with the imposition of responsibility on the officials of the corporate for damaging the

environment. An attempt has been made in this article to analyse the existing legal framework which is

available for imposing the responsibility on the corporate officials in U.S, E.U and India. The article also analyses

the problem which can arise in imposing the environmental responsibility on the officials. In imposing the liability

on the corporate officials the paper also makes a study about the suitability of sanctions i.e. whether civil

sanctions are suitable or we should go for the criminal sanctions to impose responsibility on the officials of the

corporation. The paper advocates for the criminal sanctions for the corporate officials because of the lack of

deterring effect of the civil sanctions on the erring corporate officials as they treat the imposition of the penalty

as a sort of expense in their balance sheet. In criminal imposition of the responsibility the paper suggested for

proving of a low level mens rea as it is easy to prove and in the set up of the company it is very hard to prove

the general men rea or specific mens rea. The author compares in this article the legal framework which exists

in India and E.U regarding imposition of the environmental liability on the officials of the corporation.

Keywords: Corporate, Environmental Crimes, Officials, Corporate Veil.







GIS and Remote Sensing in Biodiversity Conservation

Mohammad Ameer and Lakshmi Ramesh

Amity University, Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh

ABSTARCT

GIS is an integral tool used in landscape ecology and conservation biology. Applications of this approach

include analysis of land-cover and land-use change; estimation of deforestation rates and rates of forest

fragmentation; examination of the spatial correlates of forest loss and the socioeconomic drivers of land-use

change; modelling of deforestation; analysis of the consequences of land-cover and land-use change in the

form of climate change and change in distribution of biodiversity; biomass estimation; gap analysis of the

effectiveness of the protected area network in conserving areas of importance for biodiversity conservation;

and conservation planning. .Remote-sensing systems typically produce imagery that averages information over

tens or even hundreds of square meters – far too coarse to detect most organisms – so the remote sensing of

biodiversity would appear to be a fool's errand. However, advances in the spatial and spectral resolutions of

sensors now available to ecologists are making the direct remote sensing of certain aspects of biodiversity

increasingly feasible; for example, distinguishing species assemblages or even identifying species of individual

trees. In cases where direct detection of individual organisms or assemblages is still beyond our grasp, indirect

approaches offer valuable information about diversity patterns. Such approaches derive meaningful

environmental parameters from biophysical characteristics that are revealed by remote sensing.

Developments in remote-sensing technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow the use of a

landscape ecology and spatial analysis approach to the problem of deforestation and biodiversity

conservation.

Keywords: GIS, remote sensing, biodiversity conservation, deforestation.

Fuel from micro-life

Anurag Vijay1, Tanu Kinra2 and Sarika Gupta3

Dr. B.Lal Institute of Biotechnology


ABSTRACT

Microbial fuel cell is an applied aspect of microbes, i.e., using bacteria to generate electricity. It uses carbon

source like sugars or any other organic waste. Bacteria like E. coli, Pseudomonas methanica, Pseudomonas

fluorescence, Pseudomonas putida, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis and many more are able to consume

sugars under partial anaerobic conditions. They then release protons while depositing electrons externally on

anode. Electrons and protons combine with an oxidant at cathode. In this process electricity is generated with

carbon dioxide and other useful by products. This electrical current is shown on multimeter keeping the visual

indication that microbes are healthy and happy. We have used the technology with E. coli bacteria and

received an output of 0.40 V and with Pseudomonas putida the voltage output noted was 0.32V and by

combining both the bacterial culture an output of 0.54 V was obtained. Recent research on microbial fuel cell

is based upon the increasing efficacy of microbes to produce electricity and simultaneously enhancing its

production at commercial scale. Since it is a rechargeable approach it can be recharged by changing

microbes feed. New researches are being carried on to using other feeds like organic waste, nuclear waste

which on one hand generate electricity with microbes as bio-catalyst and on the other hand gets degraded.

Since it does not have any moving mechanical part, it can be used in remote areas as power supplement with

no noise pollution as such.

Keywords: microbial fuel cell, electricity, organic waste, carbon technology, microbes, power supplement




Use of Ozone for the Treatment of Drinking Water and Municipal

Wastewater Effluent

Rajesh Seth

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Windsor,

ON N9B 3P4, CANADA

ABSTRACT

The occurrence and increasing frequency of detection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products

(PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in drinking water sources around the world is a growing

concern. Municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) effluent discharges have been established as a major

point source for these chemicals. The Detroit River is the source of drinking water for approximately 8 million

people living on the Canadian and the US sides of the river. It receives discharges from several point and non-

point sources, including municipal wastewater discharges from the cities of Detroit and Windsor. Ozone is a very

powerful oxidant and its efficacy for disinfection is well established. In recent years, ozone has also being shown

to be effective in the oxidation of several CECs both in water and wastewater matrices. There is therefore a

renewed interest in its application for both water and wastewater treatment to achieve the dual objective of

disinfection and chemical oxidation. The effectiveness of the process is however strongly influenced by matrix

and process variables. Findings from two recent projects, one related to drinking water treatment and the other

to municipal wastewater effluent, on the efficacy of ozone for disinfection and CEC oxidation and its

implications will be discussed.

Metallic Nanoparticles and their use in Pesticidal Environment Pollution Control

Dipak Kumar Hazra, Amit Saxena, S.K. Raza and P.K. Patanjali

Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology

Sector-20, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon-122016, Haryana, INDIA

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution is a serious problem faced by developing and developed nations in the world. Air,

water and solid waste pollution due to anthropogenic sources contribute a major share to overall imbalance of

ecosystem. The common pollutants include toxic compounds detergents and surfactants, agro wastes like

insecticides, pesticides and herbicides, disinfection byproducts. Residual pesticides pose significant threats to

human health and environmental quality, as they often end up in our food and water supplies. Hence, strict

environmental legislations on the use of these pollutants and their safe disposal drives the research community

to develop clean and green processes to degrade the pollutants before they are admitted into the

atmosphere and water bodies. Current treatment methods are either too expensive or ineffective. During the

last twenty years, scientists have been looking towards nanotechnology for the answer to problems in pollution

control. Nanoparticles, defined as particles 1-100nanometers hold enormous potential for pollution control.

Metallic nanoparticles represent a new generation of environmental remediation technologies that could

provide cost-effective solutions to some of the most challenging environmental cleanup as they have large

surface areas and high surface reactivity. Equally important, they provide enormous flexibility for in situ

applications. Research has shown that metallic nanoparticles are very effective for the transformation and

detoxification of a wide variety of pesticide environmental contaminants. Modified nanoparticles have been

synthesized to enhance efficiency of remediation. In this paper, recent developments in laboratory are

assessed including: (1) synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (10–100nm) from common precursors; (2) reactivity of

the nanoparticles towards contaminants; (3) field tests validation of nanoparticles into pesticide effluent

treatment.

Keywords: Environment, Pollution, Anthropogenic, Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Remediation




Impact of climate change on wheat production in north India.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nano Particle: A review and Prospect

Somnath Bhowmik and B.K.Datta

Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Botany

Tripura University, Suryamaninagar -799022, India

ABSTRACT

The synthesis, characterization and application of biologically synthesized nanomaterials have become an

important branch of nanotechnology. Metallic nanoparticles are traditionally synthesized by wet chemical

synthesis techniques where the chemicals used are quite often toxic and flammable. Development of reliable

and eco-friendly processes for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is an important step in the field of application

of nanotechnology. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles by plant extracts has been an exciting discovery in the

field of bionanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized from AgNo3 through a simple

green and natural route. These nanoparticles find extensive applications in a wide spectrum of scientific,

engineering and industrial areas. Synthesized particles are characterized by UV – Spectrophotometer, SEM, FTIR

and X- ray diffraction analysis. As nano particles have great application in medical world like gene therapy,

cancer therapy,drug delivery etc. So medical world also easily accept the plant world for nano particle

synthesis and welcome the angiosperms for their potentiality of synthesis of non polluted, environmentally

acceptable, safety for human health nanoparticles. In taxonomic view, this modern tool for synthesis of

ecofriendly, non toxic, not expensive nanoparticles help us to open a new vista for the classification of

angiosperms and detection of their phylogenetic relationships depend on plants- ability for the synthesis of

nano particles which are variable in size & concentration in case of different family, different genus even also in

the species level. So, the elucidation of exact mechanism of nanoparticles production using different plants

needs much more experimentations.

Keywords: Silver nanoparticle; Ecofriendly; Non toxic.

Sonia Goel1, Sapna Grewal2, Nisha Goel3 1,2National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, IARI, N. Delhi 3FICCI, Mandi House, New Delhi

ABSTRACT

Climate change and global warming poses a significant threat to agriculture and global food security. Climatic

change is in fact, nothing new in the history of life on Earth. Indians should be concerned about climate

change since this phenomenon might have substantial adverse impacts on them. Not all possible

consequences of climate change are yet fully understood, but the three main ‘categories’ of impacts are

those on agriculture, sea level rise leading to submergence of coastal areas, as well as increased frequency of

extreme events. Each of these pose serious threats to India. Agriculture is one of the concerned areas which

should be focused to avoid food crisis. Wheat is one of the best staple food, play a crucial role in the food

security of India. Increase in temperature, atmospheric greenhouse gases, and soil degradation and

competition for land and water resources will have multiple impacts on the wheat production of northwest

India. Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 has risen to 389.45 in October 2011 as compared to 388.05 μmol mol–1

in 2010 as a result of continuous anthropogenic activities; the CO2 concentration is expected to reach 600

μmol mol –1 sometime around 2050. Increase in temperature by 0.5-2°C decreases grain yield by 8- 40%. This

reduction in yield is due to shorter maturity period at high temperatures which affect the spikelet sterility and

hence reduces the grain yield. The results of the study revealed that adverse effect of change in the

parameters can be countered to a certain extent by adapting appropriate change in to management

practices such as planting date, planting density and irrigation threshold. One of the strategies to tackle this

situation is delayed sowing under rising temperature condition will give maximum benefits. Present paper is the

review of various studies related to the strategies associated with climate change and impact on wheat

production and various aspects of improvement in this area.




Mine reclamation-a biodiversity perspective

Vivek Shankar

Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School Of Mines Dhanbad-826004


ABSTRACT

The prosperity and development of a country is a function of its per-capita mineral production and

consumption. But mining the earth’s crust is associated with several repercussions both during the pre-and-post

production phases. The depletion in soil quality, groundwater table, agricultural/forest land and consequently

native flora and fauna of the region are some of the major problems. Reclamation is the returning of mine-land

back to nature. The various aspects of mine-reclamation are: 1. Returning the physical topography of the land,

2. Returning the soil, water and air quality, 3. Rehabilitating people associated directly or indirectly with the

mining industry, 4. The most important is returning the region its native flora and fauna. The paper deals with the

4th and the most important aspect of sustainable mine-reclamation.

Recharging the groundwater table: The loss in water table is the most important aspect of biological-

reclamation as the survival of all the forms of biodiversity. A new-found method is to convert the pit into a lake

(a diverse ecosystem). The impoundment will ultimately become a groundwater recharge zone. The paper

explains the exact procedure to be followed keeping in mind the problems of eutrophication and water

pollution. All in all the best impoundments are those where subsequent usage will ensure their survival, safety

and environmental acceptance.

Revegetation: Revegetation refers to the returning of the native and/or introduced permanent vegetative

cover in the disturbed area to minimize erosion and water pollution. Some of these methods have been

presented here. 1. Seeding and planting the disturbed areas, 2. Use of introduced species, 3. Mulching and

other stabilizing practices, 4. Grazing by livestock, 5. Tree and shrub stocking for forest land.

The paper deals with these methods in detail, emphasis has been given to the introduction of new species of

flora and fauna.

Keywords: impoundment, eutrophication, revegetation, biodiversity, sustainable mine reclamation.

Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in India

Hemlata Sharma

Department of Economics, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136119.

Email: [email protected].

ABSTRACT

Since the mid 1980s, Indian economy has undergone successive bouts of accelerated growth. Leaving behind

the jokingly so-called ‘Hindu rate of growth’ of 3.5 percent during the first three decades from 1950 to 1980, the

annual GDP growth hit the 5.6 per cent mark in the 1980s. It accelerated to 6.5 per cent in the 1990s before

touching an all time high of 9 per cent in the XIth plan. And now India is emerging as an economic

superpower. But typically, the reforms have more-or-less remained confined to industry and services, to the

exclusion of agriculture. But what is really disturbing however is that while the proportion of the population

dependent on agriculture remains more-or-less the same, the agriculture’s share has been sharply falling,

creating a situation where about 60 per cent of the population contributes only 21 per cent of the GDP. In India

on the one hand, there is low quality employment growth, concentration of poverty, lack of infrastructure,

lower levels of literacy inadequate development of women and children, unbalanced sex ratio and widening

economic and social disparity, which is a threat to sustainable development. On the other hand, the mania for

growth and the opportunities created for it with no or little environmental checks in pace, have intensified

abuse of nature. Growth to be sustainable must take into account environmental protection with economic

and social development (2005, United Nations). This paper attempts to analyse if the economic growth in India

has been sustainable. The objective of the Paper is threefold. Firstly, to analyse the relationship between

environment and economic growth in India. Secondly, to examine the various threats to sustainability of

development in terms of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and finally to suggest the different

strategies/approaches to make economic growth sustainable.

Keywords: Growth, Reforms, Sustainable Development, Environment Protection.




Environment Contamination and Food Quality

Sneha Ghai

Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University, Noida

ABSTRACT

With increasing Industrialization and Globalization there has been reported the food contamination by harmful

pesticides, heavy metals and synthetic preservatives and consumers are exposed to a greater risk of being

affected. Advanced and modern techniques of agriculture is giving a way to a higher level of pesticides and

fertilizers which are entering into the food chain and causing a lot of damage to the human body. These are

causing devastating health hazards potentially due to the soil-water- Food cycle. In Contrast there are other

alternative ways of Farming like Organic Agriculture, Natural Farming and Ecological agriculture which are

friendly to the Soil Matrix and the Human Body consuming the food. Presently it is also been observed a slow

and discretional acceptance and adoption of these farming methods. Chemicals contaminate the food

through different routes as per their chemical and physical properties, its use and the source or mechanism of

contamination. Since Security and Safety of Food is considered to be the vital pillar in Socio-Economic

Development of the Nation therefore there is a need to adapt these natural and eco-friendly ways of

practicing agriculture. The fact that plants (vegetables, crops, or trees) become contaminated with the

pollutants from the environment is based on the ability of plants to extract environmental pollutants along with

water and nutrients through their roots. This also paves the way to the processing of food grains which can also

be the potential sector which minimizes the quantum of these food contaminants while protecting the inherent

nutrient of the Food and to maintain the quality of food for human consumption. Since assured availability of

quality food in adequate quantities is one of the most important and key input to the growth and development

of human civilization, it becomes important to find a right solution in the transformation from current practices

to the alternative system of farming practices for sustainable development.

Keywords: Food contamination , Soil-Water-Food Cycle , Ecological agriculture , Food Quality , Socio-Economic

Development , environmental pollutants

An Assessment of Water Quality Index of Hindon River and its Impact on the Biomass and Physiological -

Behaviour of Oryza sativa

Riti Thapar Kapoor* and Kushagra Pathak

Plant Physiology Laboratory, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University,

Noida - 201 303, Uttar Pradesh, India

*E.mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Hindon River is a major source of water to the highly populated and predominantly rural population of western

Uttar Pradesh. Due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, mining and anthropogenic activities, contamination

of river water with hazardous waste is becoming a common phenomenon. Many industries have been

developed in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad area and they dispose their waste material directly or

indirectly into the Hindon river which affects the physico - chemical properties of river water. The present study

was conducted to find out the changes in germination and growth parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv.

Krishna) exposed to Hindon river water obtained from two different sites. Hindon river water obtained from

Nagla Chamroo at Dadri site was highly polluted and significantly decreased seed germination, radicle and

plumule length, vigour index and biomass of Oryza sativa in comparison to water obtained from Hindon river

bridge site at Ghaziabad. The degree of phytotoxicity of Hindon water was in the order: Nagla Chamroo >

Hindon river bridge at NH-24 bypass site of Ghaziabad. A significant reduction in biochemical constituents such

as chlorophyll and protein contents was also observed in rice seedlings with higher concentration of Hindon

river water obtained from Nagla Chamroo in comparison to Hindon river bridge at NH-24 bypass site at

Ghaziabad.

Keywords: Biomass; Germination; Hindon river; Oryza sativa; Water quality index.




Studies on the modified environmental impact on the action profile of defensins isolated from Murray keonigii

Sabiha Imran*,Neha Goswami, Rashan Ara and Priya

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Manav Rachna International University,

Faridabad, Haryana

ABSTRACT

Plants have developed complex defense systems to protect them against a multitude of plant pathogens.

These defense systems consists of an array of both chemical and biochemical substances that protect the

plant against colonization and subsequent spread of disease and can broadly be divided into innate and

active defense responses. Murray koenigii belongs to the family Rutaceae. It has many medicinal properties.

Defensins which are small, basic, heat stable peptides with a conserved tertiary structure that consists of a

single alpha helix and three anti parallel beta strand.These molecules are active against many gram positive

and gram negative bacteria. To understand the stability of defensins and various environmental factors stress

like soil properties and temperature and pH action on the antimicrobial properties of Murray plant .number of

experiments were performed. As the results show that defensins are very sensitive to temperature and pH

detailed will be discussed.




EBI 2013 : 5th and 6th October 2013

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EBI 2012