Tree felling at TN's Srirangam aided school sparks outcry amid Environment day observance
Defending the decision, headmistress S. Shanthi said the trees posed safety risks: 'Some trees were large and leaning towards the compound wall of a nearby apartment. We feared they might fall during strong winds. With the management's approval, we removed them. As part of World Environment Day, students planted new saplings in the same area.'
A member of the school management added that the decision was not premeditated: 'It wasn't intentional. The trees hadn't been properly maintained. It was a lapse on our part. We've now planted saplings and plan to take better care of them.'
However, environmentalists argue that the damage is already done and worry about the message being sent to children. 'You cannot preach conservation while axing trees in your own backyard,' said S.N. Mohan Ram of the Srirangam People's Welfare Association.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Susla Recipe: Karnataka's Puffed Rice Upma That Locals Love As Much As Poha
Indian cuisine is a treasure trove of flavours, textures, and techniques. And just when you think you have seen it all, a humble dish from a small town surprises you. From millet-based breakfasts in Tamil Nadu to fermented rice in Odisha, every region has its own culinary quirks. What makes Indian food truly special is how it transforms everyday ingredients into something comforting, nourishing, and full of character. One such hidden gem is susla, a puffed rice upma from Karnataka that is as light as it is flavourful. Often overshadowed by poha or rava upma, susla is a local favourite that deserves more attention. It is quick to make, easy on the stomach, and packed with crunch, spice, and warmth. If you are looking to switch up your breakfast routine or want a fuss-free evening snack, susla might just be your new go-to. What Is Susla And Why Is It Loved In Karnataka? Susla, also known as Mandakki Usli or Uggani, is a traditional upma made using puffed rice, or murmura. Unlike the more familiar poha or rava upma, susla uses soaked puffed rice as its base, giving it a unique texture that is soft yet airy. It is typically tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and onions, and finished with lemon juice and coriander. What sets it apart is a generous sprinkle of putani powder, or roasted gram dal powder, which adds depth and helps absorb excess moisture. This small addition transforms the dish from basic to brilliant. Susla In Everyday North Karnataka Kitchens: In towns across North Karnataka, susla has long been a staple for farmers and morning workers, thanks to its speed and simplicity. Often made in large batches at home or sold at roadside stalls, it is one of those dishes that quietly powers the everyday. In many households, it is served with mirchi bajji and hot tea - an effortlessly satisfying pairing. "We grew up eating susla before school with mirchi bajji and tea," says Shanthi, a home cook from Hubballi. "It was fast and filling - my mother made it every other day." Why Susla Works: Simple, Light, and Customisable Here is why this humble dish continues to be a breakfast favourite across Karnataka: 1. Quick And Easy To Make: Susla is a lifesaver on rushed mornings or lazy evenings. There is no need to chop multiple vegetables, soak dals, or roast ingredients in advance. Just rinse the puffed rice, temper a few basics, and it is ready in under 15 minutes. It slots easily into busy routines without skimping on taste. 2. Budget-Friendly And Fuss-Free: Made using ingredients like puffed rice, onions, green chillies, and roasted gram dal powder, susla is easy on the wallet. There is no need to rely on expensive or pre-packaged mixes. It is a dish that proves flavour does not need a big price tag. 3. Customisable To Suit The Season: While the traditional version is minimalist, susla works well as a base for seasonal tweaks. Add grated carrots for colour, chopped capsicum for crunch, or raw mango for a tangy note during summer. Some versions even include coconut or a sprinkle of sev for extra texture. Whether you prefer spicy, mild, or tangy, susla adapts to your palate. 4. Light, Nourishing, And Satisfying: The puffed rice gives susla a light, airy bite that feels easy on the stomach but still keeps you full for hours. It is especially suited for warmer days or monsoon mornings when heavy food can feel too much. Pair it with a cup of tea and you have a meal that hits the right balance of comfort and ease. Puffed rice is also naturally low in calories and fat, making susla a smart choice for those looking for a light but wholesome breakfast. Nutritional Breakdown of Susla (per serving - approx. 180gms): Nutritional Highlights: Low in calories: Thanks to puffed rice, which is naturally light and low in fat. Decent protein: Comes from the roasted gram dal powder (putani) and peanuts (if added). Low-fat: Especially if made with minimal oil and no coconut or sev. Vegan and gluten-free: Ideal for people with dietary restrictions. Customisable fibre: You can boost fibre by adding vegetables like carrots, peas, or spinach. Small Additions: Add peanuts or cashews for extra protein and healthy fats (+40-60 kcal per tablespoon). Use ghee instead of oil if you want to make it richer (+20-30 kcal). Toss in vegetables like carrots, capsicum, or beans to boost vitamins and fibre. How Susla Compares To Poha And Upma | Susla vs Poha vs Upma: A Quick Comparison How to Make Susla: Step-by-Step Puffed Rice Upma Recipe Ingredients: 3 cups puffed rice (murmura) 2 tablespoons oil 2 tablespoons peanuts (optional) A pinch of mustard seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds A pinch of hing A few curry leaves 1 onion, finely chopped 2 green chillies, finely chopped Half teaspoon turmeric powder 1 teaspoon sugar (optional) Salt to taste 2 tablespoons putani powder 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons coriander leaves, chopped Method: Rinse the puffed rice in water for 2-3 minutes. Gently squeeze out the excess water and set aside. Heat oil in a kadhai and roast the peanuts until golden and crunchy. Add mustard seeds, cumin, hing, and curry leaves. Let them splutter. Add the chopped onions and green chillies. Sauté until the onions turn translucent. Add turmeric powder, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Add the soaked puffed rice and putani powder. Mix gently. Cover and cook on a low flame for 2-3 minutes. Finish with lemon juice and coriander. Serve hot. Note: To enjoy the dish to the fullest, have it hot and fresh. Storing or reheating it can turn the dish bland and unappetising. Whether you are a working professional looking for a quick weekday breakfast or someone interested in regional Indian dishes, susla offers warmth, flavour, and familiarity in every bite. So the next time you are tempted to make poha or rava upma, try this instead. You might find your new breakfast favourite.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Launched by Minister Pankaja Munde 3 months ago, cloth bag vending machine at Pune temple remains non-functional
A vending machine for cloth bags was installed at the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple in Maharashtra's Pune on the occasion of World Environment Day in May. Insert a Rs 10 coin into the slot and wait for the machine to send out a cloth bag. Instead of the bags, the coin pops out. In some cases, the coin remains stuck inside. The white cloth bags lie neatly stacked behind the glass of the machine, and the ambitious aim of helping reduce plastic pollution is unfulfilled. 'It does not work,' says a security guard outside the temple. Various shopkeepers and locals agree, 'Yeh band pada hai (This is not functional)'. The vending machine that was launched by Maharashtra Environment and Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde today stands quiet, not serving the purpose it was intended for, displaying images and punchlines, such as 'Say No to Plastic, Yes to Cloth Bags', amid the bustling crowd at the temple. Devotees buy sweets, coconuts, flowers, and other offerings from sellers and wrap them in plastic packets. 'There is a high use of plastic bags at religious sites. With options, such as cloth bag vending machines, we can contribute to environmental conservation,' Munde had said during the inauguration ceremony that was attended by Madhuri Misal, Minister of State for Urban Development of Maharashtra, and MLA Hemant Rasane. The initiative to install the machine was aligned with the Central Government's plan to ban single-use plastic. 'I have never seen the vending machine dispensing cloth bags. If the machine had functioned, it could have reduced plastic waste. A number of devotees are aware of the advantages of cloth bags over single-use plastic. People often come to my shop to buy cloth bags to carry prasad. Our stock of cloth bags runs out fast. I tell them to go to the machine, and they answer that it is not working,' says Ashwini Prasad Khadke, who runs the shop, Khadi Gramodyog Kendra, opposite the vending machine. Khadke adds that she has tried to use the vending machine two times because she had to pack things for her parents. 'It was not functioning,' she says. At the Donation Counter of the temple, an officer, who did not wish to be named, said that the monsoon rainwater might have entered the machine. 'It seems to have broken down 15-20 days ago,' he says. According to Prashant Golait, manager of Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple Trust, people do not know how to use the machine, causing breakdowns. He says that the machine functions at times. 'One must insert a coin and then press a button. Here, we see that people do the opposite, as a result of which the coin gets stuck. Many people who come to the temple have not seen a vending machine before.' Significantly, there is no awareness-building exercise to popularise the machine or help people use it. Many devotees either do not notice the machine or are ignorant of its operations. Golait says that he informs the company responsible for the upkeep of the machine every time it stops. The technicians come within two days to carry out repairs. 'For the last 15 days, the machine has not been working properly, though,' he says. Thousands of people come to the temple every day, with the number expected to reach one lakh during the Ganeshotsav festival. 'We cannot say how many people use plastic. Shopkeepers use plastic as their priority is to sell their goods. People carry things back home in plastic packets and discard them. The plastic bags end up blocking drains, affecting water flow, and impacting the environment. Cloth bags are environment-friendly,' says Golait. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Cleaner Cities Start At Home: 5 Simple Waste Segregation Habits That Matter
Last Updated: Like building wealth, sustainability thrives on small, consistent action. A single house using a three-bin system for a year can divert over half a tonne of waste from landfills. Every year, World Environment Day serves as a calendar nudge, like a Facebook birthday reminder, to momentarily reflect on our planet before slipping back into business as usual. But this year's theme, plastic pollution, isn't something we can afford to forget. Our landfills, much like unpaid credit card bills, are quietly collecting interest, now in the form of microplastics found in our water, food, and even air. According to the Scaling Our Waste Mountains Report (Godrej Consumer Products & Dasra, 2023), a staggering 70–80% of urban waste in India is unsegregated, meaning most of it can't be recycled and ends up in landfills. This also puts millions of waste workers at risk, exposing them to hazardous waste without protection. The good news? A major part of the solution begins right at home. 1. Use the Three-Bin Method 2. Compost Your Kitchen Waste Food waste makes up over half of an urban Indian dustbin. When dumped, it releases methane and pollutes groundwater. But composting transforms it into nutrient-rich fertiliser for your garden or terrace farm. 3. Rinse Before You Recycle Dry waste like paper and plastic holds value, but only if it's clean and uncontaminated. A quick rinse of plastic containers ensures higher resale and recovery rates. Dirty recyclables, on the other hand, end up in landfills. Consider it the environmental equivalent of pruning underperforming assets from your investment portfolio. 4. Don't Mix Your Waste Portfolio When you mix waste, you destroy its value. It disrupts processing, increases landfill load, and puts over three million informal workers, many without gloves or safety gear, at health risk. Mixed waste isn't just a processing issue; it's an ethical one. 5. Support the People Behind the Process India's informal waste-pickers recover up to 30% of all recyclables, yet lack formal recognition or resources. Cities like Pune, through the SWaCH model, have shown that integrating these workers improves both waste recovery and livelihoods. Supporting local collection drives and cooperative models is a direct investment in environmental and social equity. view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 12:43 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
