Savitha Nagabushan gets Vijaya Dabbe Literary Award
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The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Tiruchi Corporation outsources upkeep of Karumandapam crematorium
The Tiruchi Corporation has roped in a private agency for the maintenance and operation of the crematorium at Karumandapam. A Tiruchi-based agency has been awarded the contract of the maintenance and operation of the crematorium, and has been permitted to collect ₹2,500 per cremation and pay ₹100 from this to the Corporation. Under the initiative, the private agency would be responsible for the maintenance and repair of machinery, including cremation chambers, furnace, pollution control device, and chimney. The agency would appoint four persons to run the facility. A senior official said that the civic body would regularly inspect the crematoriums to ensure that they were maintained properly. The crematorium at Karumandapam serves the residents of Viswas Nagar and other neighbourhoods in the city. At least five bodies are cremated daily at the facility, which was opened in 2009. Officials said shortage of manpower at the crematoriums had led to the idea of privatising them. Following complaints that the workers demanded an additional ₹1,000 from the public, the operators had been warned against such a practice. At present, gas-fired crematoriums function at Oyamari, Konakkarai, Ambedkar, Panjapur, Karumandapam, and Ariyamangalam. The maintenance of crematoriums at Konakkarai, Ambedkar, Panjapur, and Ariyamangalam had been outsourced and ₹2,500 was charged per cremation. Similarly, a private agency had been awarded the maintenance and operation contract for the crematorium at Oyamari. However, following opposition from the councillors, the contract had been put on hold. According to sources, on an average, between 12 and 15 bodies are cremated at the facility in Oyamari daily.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
How young Delhiites are fighting plastic, bagging the right habit
Whether it's getting food delivered at your doorstep or carrying home groceries from the local market, plastic bags are a convenience that have continued to stay even after several attempts to make our lives plastic free. On International Plastic Bag Free Day, today, beating plastic pollution one bag at a time are some youngsters from Delhi-NCR. Overcoming challenges of growing plastic footprint on the environmental while coming up with sustainable options, here's how they are making continuous efforts to keep eco-friendly initiatives strong. Some environmentally-conscious residents of Delhi-NCR are stepping up to tackle the plastic problem at hand. From college campuses to community corners, a growing number of environmentally conscious souls are stepping up to tackle the plastic problem, not just through awareness drives but through real, hands-on action. At Delhi University(DU)'s Sri Venkateswara College, the Enactus team is targeting one of the most plastic-heavy industries: food. 'Through Project Fankaari, we're working to eliminate plastic bags used in food packaging and delivery,' shares Ujjwal Jain, a member, adding, 'We've teamed up with traditional potters to design food-grade terracotta packaging that's not only biodegradable but preserves food quality. These alternatives are about 95% recyclable. Apart from bags, eco-friendly salad and dip bowls, their product line is growing and so is their impact. As students, we believe we have the energy and creativity to imagine new ideas and innovative solutions,' says Ujjwal. 'And being part of the Enactus, we also feel a responsibility to lead by example and push our friends and other students on campus toward more conscious consumption.' Students of Sri Venkateswara College are working towards recycling plastic bags, used in food packaging, with the help of local potters. The sense of purpose is echoed by young volunteers who are busy making Eco Brick on educational campuses across NCR. 'Over the years, people have tried many ways to cut down on plastic bag use — charging for them, encouraging cloth bags — but most of those efforts fade quickly,' says Madhuri Varshney from a Dwarka-based NGO, Rise Foundation, adding, 'What we've realised is that real change happens when you make the solution interactive and fun. So we conduct drives at several colleges across Delhi University as well as schools. After each awareness session, the youngsters are given a task to collect plastic waste from their surroundings and tightly stuff plastic bottles with plastic bags and other often discarded plastics. These bottles are then used to make Eco Bricks. It's an activity that transforms waste into something useful. More importantly, it makes students more mindful of the plastic they use every day. When they submit these eco bricks to us, we use these to build benches and stools for communities, parks, schools, etc.' The Eco Bricks made out of plastic waste are being used to build benches and stools for community spaces. Meanwhile, Recycle Mela has been regularly popping up at College of Vocational Studies (CVS) and the Faculty of Law in DU. 'We also offer a chance to the city locals at various community centres to drop off plastic bags and single-use plastic items in exchange for eco-friendly products,' informs Ruby Makhija, from Why Waste Wednesday Foundation, which organises this mela to make plastic recycling more accessible and rewarding. She adds, 'Plastic bags are a big threat, not just because they clog landfills, but because animals chew on them and marine life ingests them. Through Recycle Mela, we make disposal easy and rewarding. We visit campuses where students hand in their plastic waste, and in return, we give them notebooks made from recycled paper, reusable cloth bags, even copier paper and more. Such a reward-based exchange not only motivates participation but also shows the hidden value of what one usually throw away. Our drive has now expanded to schools, corporate offices, and local communities, with support from MCD and NDMC. We want to make recycling feel accessible and cool, especially for the youth. Plus we update about upcoming mela on our social media, so anyone can find us and join in the initiative.' For more, follow @
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
UK's Stranded F-35B Jet To Be Dismantled, British Navy To Send Bigger Aircraft To Airlift: Sources
The UK's F-35B fighter jet stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport cannot be repaired on-site, and the British Navy will deploy a larger aircraft to transport the jet. The UK's F-35B aircraft, which remains stranded at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, cannot be repaired at the location, top government sources told CNN-News18, adding that the aircraft would be dismantled. Sources also said the British Navy will now bring a bigger aircraft to shift the jet, and that they would pay all dues to India, including the parking and hangar charges. The F-35B aircraft has been awaiting repairs after it experienced an engineering issue and made an emergency landing in Kerala on the night of June 14. Last week, news agency ANI quoted an official as saying that the 'UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility at the airport." 'The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft," he said. In a statement, the British High Commission had said ground teams were closely working with the Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed while the jet's necessary repairs and safety checks were being planned. The British authorities had also expressed gratitude to India following the emergency landing of the jet. The UK aircraft was unable to return to the UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, where it landed safely. While on the ground, the aircraft developed an engineering issue that precluded its return to the Carrier. Engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the situation and determined that assistance from a UK-based engineering team was required.
