CFTRI Scientist Dr. Alok Kumar Srivastava calls for sustainable agriculture
SURF - 19 International conference in BEADS and BIT, Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Dr. Alok Kumar Srivastava, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) Scientist on Friday said that with sustainable crops the soil fertility and nutrition in crops will increase. He was addressing the inaugural session of International Conference on “Sustainable Urban Development, Resource Conservation and Food Security” ‘Surf- 19’ organised by Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT) and Bearys Enviro-Architecture Design School (BEADS) at Bearys Knowledge Campus here in Mangaluru.
The two-day international conference was inaugurated on Friday morning and will conclude on Saturday April 27. The conference also holds the significance of being the first carbon neutral conference.
“India accounts for 18.7% of world population with just 2.7% of total land area of the world. After the independence Green (Agriculture), Blue (fish production) and White (Milk) revolutions in the country has resulted in increase of food production but due to the use of chemicals fertility of the soil is damaged. This is also the reason for various diseases found today. More than 30% of children in our country are suffering from nutritional deficiency ” Dr. Alok Kumar said while calling for sustainable agriculture as a counter.
Bearys Group Chairman Syed Mohammed Beary, in his presidential address added that the greed and pride of humans have led to the destruction of natural resources. “If this continues, the scenario will soon change and in next few years people of metro cities like Bengaluru and others will have to migrate during summer to other places” he said while adding that India was leader in sustainable developing till a century ago. “Some of the examples for this are Taj Mahal and the architecture of temples in Tamil Nadu. We are accountable for the protection of environmental resources” he added.
Renowned Researcher and Professor of IIUM, Malaysia, Dr. S. A Khan, Writer and Environmental Activist from Mumbai Bharat Mansata, Ecological Architect, Harvard University Deepa Vedavyas, Entrepreneur, Sustainable Farming from Madhurai Amarnadh Adusumali, BEADS Principal Ashok LP Mendonca, Director, BIT Polytechnic Dr. Aziz Musthafa, Trustee, Bearys Academy of Learning Mazha S Beary and Surf-19 convener Dr. Mustafa Bastikodi were present on the dias during the inaugural event of the conference.
BIT Principal Dr. P Mahabaleswarappa welcomed the guests and audience.
The two-day conference is scheduled to conclude on Saturday evening with several events, panel discussions and paper presentation ceremonies regarding Sustainable Urban Development, Resource Conservation and Food Security, being part of the conference during the course of two days.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
