ONE YEAR COMPLETION OF ROSHINI PROJECT - A REPORT
ONE YEAR COMPLETION OF ROSHINI PROJECT - A REPORT(HINDI VERSION)
... a Light for Ecofriendly Township
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi
Roshini is an initiative taken on the directions of the President to make the President's Estate a green, energy efficient and a zero waste model township. To achieve this, the following programmes are envisaged:
Solid Waste Management
Traditional system of waste disposal is presently followed in the President's Estate wherein all the waste generated is collected and transported to the NDMC land fill sites. A new Waste Segregation and Recycling Programme - RRR (Recycling, Reuse and Reduce) will now be introduced in the President's Estate with the active support of NDMC.
Under this programme, the residents would be trained in segregating the bio-degradable (organic) and non-biodegradable waste generated in each house and a system of door to door collection of this waste is being put in place. The biodegradable waste would then be composted in the President's Estate and the organic manure generated would be used in the President's Gardens. A workshop-cum-training programme of the residents of President's Estate was held in collaboration with NDMC on 21.6.08 on waste segregation.
In the first phase of the programme, on 25.7.08, residents of 106 houses in Zone-1 Schedule 'B' would be given two specially designed waste bins for segregation of household waste.
The waste generated in the President's Gardens would be composted into Vermi compost. For this purpose, 96 vermi-compost pits covering 3840 sq.ft. would be made in the Dalikhana area. Training of the staff has been conducted with the help of National Centre of Organic Farming Institute, Ghaziabad.
Liquid Waste Management - Sewage Treatment Plant
The fresh water once used by the residents of the President's Estate flows into the NDMC drain. Water being a precious and non-renewable resource, water recycling as a reliable alternative for conserving the highly treated expensive drinking water becomes necessary.
President's Estate requires on an average of above 15 lakhs litres of water for its residents and in addition 5 lakhs litres of water per day for maintaining the Gardens and Greens. This water supply is being met by NDMC and CPWD. The remaining deficiency is met through pumping from bore wells in the President's Estate.
It is now planned to treat the domestic waste water in a Sewage Treatment Plant to be installed in the President's Estate. This Sewage Treatment Plant would have designed capacity to treat 2 million litres of water per day. This Plant would adopt the latest ultra modern and ecofriendly Membrane Bio Reactor (MBR) Technology without using any chemicals and this treated water would be utilized for the 14 gardens of vermi-compost Rashtrapati Bhavan. The total cost of installation of the Plant would be Rs.8.69 crores and the work would be completed in approximately 6 months' time.
Rain Water Harvesting
A concept of zero wastage of water is our focus. All the waste water will be recycled and the rain water will be harvested in the President's Estate. Rain Water Harvesting in the Rashtrapati Bhavan has been taken up since 1998. An advisory committee was set up by the Centre for Science and Environment which developed a plan of water harvesting in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The CPWD and the Central Ground Water Board undertook the implementation of this scheme.
The President's Estate spreads out in approximately 360 acres of Raisina Hills which receives an average of 700 mm of annual rainfall. This rain water is captured from roof tops and storm water drain besides surface run off from non-paved areas and used for recharging the existing dry dug wells. In addition one injection well, one recharge shaft and two recharge trenches with borewells and allied structures were constructed. Piezo Meter readings were taken. In the first year of the project, there was a 97 cm net increase in the ground water level. As a result of these rain water harvesting structures, the rate of diminution of ground water levels has been checked.
It has been decided to further augment this process in collaboration with the Central Ground Water Board by collecting the run off from the areas which were earlier not covered in the Ist phase of the programme and by diverting the rain water from these new areas into specially constructed recharge structures. Recharging of 2 dug-wells and 4 dry borewells in the resident's Estate would also be taken up in the second phase, thereby utilizing 100% run off in the President's Estate.
Increase in green cover, tree census, protection of flora and
fauna in the President's Estate.
The President's Estate has a sizeable green cover. In the Roshini Programme, efforts would be made not only to increase this green cover but also to protect the ridge area in the President's Estate and to mend and replace dry and dead trees. A 'Van-Mahotsav' programme will be celebrated in the President's Estate right through the year. To mark the beginning about 1000 fruit bearing and flower trees have been planted.
A Tree Census consisting of a survey and inventorization of trees of Rashtrapati Bhavan and preparation of a status report is being taken up with the help of the Department of Forest, Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Horticulture Wing of NDMC. This exercise would be completed by 31 August 2008.
A field study on the National Bird in the Estate and their habitat conditions is being studied for ensuring their better protection and conservation is being taken up with the help of the World Pheasant Association, India Chapter.
Launching of 'Nature Trail' in the Estate
A Nature Trail is being developed in the President's Estate with the help of Department of Environment and Forest, Govt. of NCT of Delhi which th would be inaugurated by 15 August. This trail would show-case the bio-diversity of the President's Estate displaying rare, old and important trees and the avian life in the Estate. It would include a butterfly park as well. This nature trail would be open for the visitors to the Rashtrapati Bhavan every Saturday, along with the trail experience the visitors would be given the opportunity to have a glimpse of the process of converting waste into compost/vermi-composting and the various energy efficient measures adopted in the Estate.
Ban on usage of Plastic bags and replacement by more eco-friendly products
Usage of plastic products specifically plastic bags, is discouraged in the President's Estate. However, total ban could not be imposed for the want of suitable alternatives. Now under the 'Roshini' programme, it is proposed to promote the usage of more eco-friendly products. Under this initiative self-help groups of women would be formed who would be trained in making paper bags in collaboration with an NGO, 'Literacy India'. The waste paper generated in the President's Secretariat would be used for making paper bags with a view to replace plastic bags. As a part of this programme these self-help groups would also be used to motivate residentsof President's Estate to use more eco-friendly products. The shops situated in the President's Estate would also be asked to replace plastic bags with paper bags.
Energy Audit and Conservation
Rashtrapati Bhavan was selected as one of the six buildings by the Ministry of Power for implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs). An energy audit in the main building was conducted in 2003 and a report on energy saving was prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. On the basis of this report Energy Efficiency Measures were carried out in the main building. From 1.8.06 to 31.6.07, about 1020650 KW hrs were saved.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been requested to carry out an energy audit of the entire President's Estate and submit a report for adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures in the President's Estate.
Usage of energy efficient electrical appliances would be promoted as a part of this programme. The residents of the President's Estate would also be co-opted in the energy efficiency programme. The students of the Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya located in the President's Estate would also be integrated in the implementation of this programme. Distribution of BEACON (Building Energy Awareness on Conservation) booklet to students is being taken up.
Usage and Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy
A committee has been constituted including officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy in the President's Estate. The following areas have been identified to be taken up:
(i) For demonstration purposes, a path from where general public approaches the Mughal Garden would be illuminated using solar panels.
(ii) Common lighting in blocks would be converted into solar lighting.
(iii) Operation of musical fountain by using solar energy.
(iv) Replacement of conventional pumps by solar pumps.
(iv) Installation of solar photovoltaic panels in the new Auditorium, Health Centre, Officers Institute, etc.
(vi) Installation of solar power based water heating devices.
In addition, a 25 CUM Bio-gas plant would be installed in collaboration with MNES and KVIC for the kitchen of the President's Bodyguard and the Army Guard kitchen situated in the President's Estate. These kitchens' currently use LPG cylinders for cooking purposes. There are about 40 cattle in the PBG Dairy. The cow dung generated would be used in the bio-gas plants and the methane gas generated would be used for kitchen purposes.
Replacement of LPG by Piped Natural Gas
The residents of President's Estate use LPG cylinders for cooking purposes. It was decided to promote the usage of CNG in the President's Estate. Accordingly, a project costing Rs.1.5 crores covering the whole President's Estate and quarters situated outside has been sanctioned, 1631 houses would be converted to PNG under this project. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has already started work on this project. This work would be completed in about 6 months' time. In the second phase of this project the main Rashtrapati Bhavan building would also be connected to this eco-friendly alternative.
Making the residents of the Estate more responsive, responsible & eco-friendly
The successful implementation of the Roshini Programme initiatives is not possible without the active participation and involvement of the residents of the President's Estate. The programme would endeavour to educate the residents and to make them more responsible and responsive in all identifiable areas viz: solid waste management, judicious use of water/electricity, promotion of recycling and recyclable products and discourage the use of plastic etc. This would be brought about through Information Education Communication (IEC) efforts. A President's Estate Residents Welfare Association (PERWA) has been formed. This Association consists of 11 nominated persons comprising of officers from the President's Secretariat, the Engineering Wing, Gardens, Sanitary Wing, President's Bodyguard and Army Guards. This executive committee in turn has selected about 129 block representatives on the principle of approximately one representative for 10 houses who would act as motivator's and promoter's of this Roshini initiative amongst all the residents of the President's Estate. Active involvement of housewives, youth and school going children is envisaged.
An Advisory Committee and a Project Implementation and Monitoring Group have been formed to oversee the planning and execution of this programme. These committees have been meeting regularly to deliberate and oversee the implementation of 'Roshini' rogramme.
These committees have been meeting regularly to deliberate and oversee the implementation of 'Roshini' Programme.
ONE YEAR COMPLETION OF ROSHINI PROJECT - A REPORT
ONE YEAR COMPLETION OF ROSHINI PROJECT - A REPORT(HINDI VERSION)
|
