Scientists told to come up with solutions for eco problems

The Times of India , Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Correspondent : Payal Gwalani

NAGPUR: The luxurious life of modern times has cost human beings environmental balance. This imbalance is caused by increasing dependence on chlorofluorocarbons which has led to depletion of ozone layer, crisis of essential resources and decreasing forest cover. This makes institutions like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) that use science and technology to address environmental concerns more important, believes Padmabhushan SK Joshi.

As the institute celebrated its 57th foundation day on Tuesday, Joshi spoke on 'Science, Technology and Our Common Concern for Environment'. Neeri had also thrown its doors open to the public and a science model competition-cum-exhibition was organized for students from various schools and colleges.

"Forty percent of our population today depends on biomass and fossil fuels. One in every eight deaths in India is related to air pollution, according to the World Health Organisation. Indoor air pollution is a major health threat in the country. Despite there being several sewage treatment plants, their management is not proper and so provision of safe drinking water is another big challenge which will become too grim to deal by 2035 if we don't act soon," Joshi warned.

He pointed out that the scientists at Neeri were among the youngest in the country with the average age being 41. Joshi exhorted them to come up with solutions for these and other environmental concerns that the world was facing.

Neeri director Satish Wate assured Joshi his institute would carry on doing this task. He also said the very motto of the organization was to provide people centric, low cost, effective and advanced technology to deal with environmental problems.

Some students who visited Neeri were overwhelmed with what they saw. Tenth class students Krishna Sambhare, Prajwal Malame and Sai Nihal liked the laboratories, campus and the fact that they interacted with so many scientists who also suggested improvements in their model of a hydraulic crane.

Some staffers were also felicitated on the occasion. NN Rao was awarded the 'Outstanding Senior Scientist', DP Choudhury got 'Outstanding Office Personnel', SK Lokhande was named 'Outstanding Technical Officer', YJ Baseshankar 'Outstanding Technician', Ravi More as "Outstanding Project Assistant" and Priti Mangrulkar as "Outstanding Young Researcher".

Air Quality display unit inaugurated

On its foundation day, an LED screen for displaying environmental data was inaugurated by Neeri. It will be used to display the air quality parameters of the city based on continuous monitoring. It will also be used to display public awareness messages on special occasions.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Nagpur/Scientists-told-to-come-up-with-solutions-for-eco-problems/articleshow/33464686.cms
 


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