Latest news with #PrashantSingh
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt sanctions ₹62.4 cr tenders for legacy waste cleanup
Visakhapatnam: The state govt has finalised tenders worth 62.4 crore for legacy waste projects in the Chittoor, Tirupati, Anantapur, and Gudur clusters, as well as dumpsites under the Nellore and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporations. These projects involve legacy waste bioremediation, biomining, and land reclamation across Andhra Pradesh. The process includes pre-assessment, analysis, pre-stabilisation, processing, segregation, and the responsible disposal of aggregates, ultimately resulting in the reclamation of land currently occupied by solid waste dumpsites, in accordance with Central Pollution Control Board guidelines and the solid waste managementrules, 2016. Blue Planet Environmental Solutions Pvt Ltd (Blue Planet), through its wholly owned subsidiary Zigma Global Environ Solutions, has been awarded these contracts under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0. The six-month contract will be executed in collaboration with the Swachh Andhra Corporation and the municipal administration and urban development department. You Can Also Check: Vijayawada AQI | Weather in Vijayawada | Bank Holidays in Vijayawada | Public Holidays in Vijayawada The project aims to reclaim land for alternative uses, leading to significant improvements in groundwater and air quality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo It is expected to yield a range of environmental, economic, and social benefits, such as improved health and well-being for surrounding communities and a reduction in carbon emissions. Additionally, the initiative will create employment opportunities, particularly for semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the affected districts, contributing to inclusive economic growth. Prashant Singh, CEO of Blue Planet, said that this project is not just about clearing waste — it's about restoring land, uplifting communities, and laying the foundation for a circular economy. Ilangovan Thangavelu Kugalur, director at Blue Planet's Zigma Global Environ Solutions Pvt. Ltd., added that the project marks another step towards land restoration and community upliftment for a greener, better future. The project involves the segregation of unprocessed legacy mixed waste into segregated combustible fractions (SCF), inert materials, and recyclable fractions. The SCF will be converted into refuse-derived fuel and sent to cement plants to be used as an alternative to coal. Meanwhile, inert materials will replace virgin soil in applications such as road construction, embankments, and filling low-lying areas.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Meet Prashant Singh, Indian rugby's ‘Superman, Spiderman, Krish'
'Itnaa badaa andaa!' Like a dragon-egg. So big. The first sighting of a game of rugby at the Oval Maidaan, even if it's just 200 metres away from Mumbai's snobbish yet nurturing Bombay Gymkhana ruggers' paddock fenced on three sides, can evoke a hugely astonished response. Prashant Singh, back when he first watched elder brother Sushant play rugby, was still only a cricketer, who had seen nothing like that rucking, mauling, tackling and crucially, freely-running sport before. But he topped races and relays at his Guru Nanak school in Colaba's Navy Nagar. After his first hour spent running with that oblong, looking for excuses to play rugby, became an addiction. This last week, Prashant picked his first Man of the Match award for Bengaluru Bravehearts in the inaugural Rugby Premier League, albeit for his defensive rigour. He has 11 tackles for a city franchise that he was very happy to be picked for, as it was the same city as his favourite IPL side. It helped that he got to play alongside some fairly well known international names on the 7s circuit, Philip Wokorach, Pol Pla, Liam Poulton and Iowane Teba. But just a few years ago – he had been bogged down by a slew of other jobs that brought in some money, but were creatively never as liberating as running carefree with the 'andaa ball' (egg-ball). A fitness freak, Prashant earned money as a gym instructor, was a food delivery agent and feeling greatly stuck, was a salesman for banking products. Covid had wreaked havoc with his rugby, and his family's well-being. His father used to run a reasonably lucrative newspaper vendor service at Colaba, but the pandemic destroyed that business, and he had to settle for a job as a security supervisor in Navy Nagar. It's when the financial crunch got to the family, and his older brother, who loved rugby equally, quit the sport and took on financial responsibility of the home with two sisters, two brothers and parents. But even at school, the parents had insisted on academics, to help find a secure job and stable salary. 'The sports craze was always there. I mostly played cricket, but after running with the rugby ball, I couldn't stop playing the sport. Problem was we were a very middle class family. My parents said there is no scope in sports. They bitterly opposed cricket, and rugby they didn't even know. I used to fight routinely just to be allowed to play,' he recalls. Eventually after Class 10, he quit for a few years, leaving the Rhino Club run by former international Pritam Roy. But you can't live in South Bombay's nooks and crannies and not get pulled back into sport, rugby or cricket, with Oval and Cross maidaan closeby, watching them on every commute if you have once experienced how much fun they are. For Prashant, it was his former rivals from Magicians who invited him to restart. 'We used to be cross (rivals) earlier, but they said get a sports certificate and then that might help with a government job,' he laughs. Laughs, because a job, any job, was a painful, ponderous bind for Prashant, that he reckoned conspired to keep him away from rugby. 'I became a delivery agent because I could work on my own terms. At the bank job, they wouldn't allow me to go train or give me leave for rugby. I became a fitness master (instructor certification), and knew I had that option,' he recalls. But the rugby itch was too much. After playing for Magicians, run by the Sheikh brothers and Vijay Dange, Prashant, a hybrid player in 7s and a utility flanker (what he calls 'fast forward') in XVs got picked for Maharashtra 15s. With India's whimsical National Games scheduling, three editions happened in three years. And finishing silver medallists meant he earned cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each time. His family, still disdainful rugby, thought he was joking. 'They were convinced it was a lie till they saw the amount credited into my account. That day was very emotional,' he says. 'Till there is no respect, there is really no value of sport. Supporting family financially is the biggest pressure and greatest joy,' he says, recalling the relief he felt in putting food and remt money on the table. It eased his mind to enjoy the adrenaline that comes with scoring a try. 'But rugby is similar. The pressure when you run with the ball before scoring a try is enormous. If I score, the happiness that me, my team and screaming crowd feel – there's no feeling like that in the world.' Prashant is deservingly proud of his score in modern rugby's 'who's better?' Metric – the Bronco time. It's like cricket's yo-yo score, but obviously considerably higher in intensity given how much ruggers run. It consists of 5 sets of back to back shuttle runs over 20 metres, 40 metres and 60 metres. Gloucester's Seb Atkinson, an English Rugby Union player holds the world record of 4 minutes 8 seconds. Prashant claims he might be India's best with 4 minutes, 38 seconds. A former batsman in cricket, he took greater pride in fielding. 'Fielding was my best skill in cricket. But rugby is much tougher,' he says. He grew up with the nickname Shiv, which is what his teammates call him and is emblazoned on his jersey too. At his club, with the Bravehearts currently third, behind Hyderabad and Chennai, he looks up to Akuila Rokolisoa, but has picked a bunch of nicknames for his athleticism and flying runs. 'Superman, Spiderman and Krish,' he enumerates.
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
AP awards Rs 62.4 crore legacy waste clearance project to Blue Planet; targets garbage-free state by 2025
VIJAYAWADA: In a significant push toward a garbage-free Andhra, the Swachh Andhra Corporation, in coordination with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, has awarded legacy waste remediation contracts worth Rs 62.4 crore to Blue Planet Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The work will be executed by its subsidiary, Zigma Global Environ Solutions, under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) 2.0. The initiative targets the removal of over 9.2 lakh metric tons of legacy waste across major urban areas including Chittoor, Tirupati, Anantapur, Gudur, and two large dumpsites under Nellore and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporations. The six-month project involves bio-remediation, bio-mining, and land reclamation, adhering to Central Pollution Control Board guidelines and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Officials said the project will unlock valuable urban land, enhance air and groundwater quality, and reduce carbon emissions. It is also expected to create significant employment for semi-skilled and unskilled workers, contributing to local economic development. 'This is a crucial step in our goal to make the state free of legacy waste by October 2, 2025,' said a Swachh Andhra Corporation official. Prashant Singh, CEO of Blue Planet, stated, 'Sustainability begins with action. This project goes beyond waste removal—it's about restoring land, uplifting communities, and advancing a circular economy.' Zigma Global Director Ilangovan Thangavelu Kugalur added that the initiative aligns with India's broader vision of environmental restoration and community empowerment.
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Blue Planet secures Rs 62.4 Cr legacy waste projects in AP
Vijayawada, June 23 (UNI) Blue Planet Environmental Solutions (Blue Planet), a global leader in sustainable waste management and circular economy solutions, through its wholly owned subsidiary Zigma Global Environ Solutions, has been awarded multiple cluster-based projects worth over Rs 62.4 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) 2.0. These series of projects involved legacy waste bio-remediation, bio-mining and land reclamation projects across Andhra Pradesh which involve Pre-assessment, Analysis, Pre-stabilisation, Processing, segregation and responsible disposal of aggregates and resulting in reclamation of land which are existing solid waste dumpsites, as per the CPCB Guidelines and SWM Rules 2016. The contract, with a duration of six months, will be executed in collaboration with the Swachh Andhra Corporation and the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Government of AP. The contracts were awarded through a competitive bidding process and span across four key clusters: Chittoor, Tirupati, Anantapur, and Gudur, as well as two additional major dumpsites under Nellore and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporations. The project will help reclaim land for alternate use, leading to significant improvements in groundwater and air quality. The initiative is expected to have a myriad of environmental, economic, and social impacts, such as benefiting the health and well-being of surrounding communities and reduction of carbon emissions. Additionally, the initiative will generate employment opportunities, particularly for semi-skilled and unskilled workers across the affected districts, contributing to inclusive economic growth. Prashant Singh, CEO of Blue Planet said, 'At Blue Planet, we are driven by the belief that sustainability must begin with action on the ground. This project in Andhra Pradesh is not just about clearing waste—it's about restoring land, uplifting communities, and building the foundation for a circular economy. We're proud to partner with the state in turning its waste challenge into an opportunity for innovation, employment, and long-term environmental impact.' Ilangovan Thangavelu Kugalur, Director at Blue Planet's Zigma Global Environ Solutions Pvt Ltd, stated, 'We are on a mission to scale India's vision of a circular economy. This project is another step towards restoring land, and uplifting communities for a greener and better future. We look forward to partnering with the state authority on the project and learning from their experience and insight.' The project involves the segregation of unprocessed legacy mixed waste into Segregated Combustible Fractions (SCF), Inert and recyclable fractions. While the SCF is converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and sent to cement plants to be used as alternate fuel to coal, the inerts are used replacing virgin soil in applications such as road construction, road embankments and filling up low lying areas. The project is already underway, with completion targeted by October 2, 2025, to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission and is expected to completely free the state of Andhra Pradesh from legacy waste as promised by the Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. UNI DP BM
United News of India
13-06-2025
- General
- United News of India
Prashant Singh wins Gentleman's Ride in Dehradun, Championing Mental Health and Environmental Consciousness
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 10: In a celebration of style, solidarity, and social responsibility, Prashant Singh stole the spotlight in this year's Distinguished Gentleman's Ride held in Dehradun. The annual event, renowned for its unique blend of elegance and advocacy, saw riders dressed in sharp suits, waistcoats, ties, and vintage attire riding through the city streets on classic motorcycles—all in support of a noble cause. This year's theme focused on raising awareness about mental health, a subject gaining much-needed attention across the globe. Prashant Singh, a familiar face in both adventure circuits and ecological campaigns, led the ride with poise and purpose, echoing the message that emotional well-being is just as vital as physical health. Participants rode through key parts of Dehradun, turning heads and starting conversations—not just because of their dapper appearance, but because of the powerful message they carried. Singh, ever the thoughtful leader, said, 'Mental health is not a private burden, it's a shared concern. This ride is about showing that we care—and we are here for one another.' Though this ride wasn't an extreme expedition, Singh's reputation as a daring adventurer precedes him. Earlier in February, he had braved the unforgiving winter conditions of the Lahaul and Spiti Valley, completing one of the most challenging solo rides in the Himalayas. His journey through snow-covered passes and remote high-altitude terrains had earned him accolades from biking communities across India. Yet, beyond the biker helmet lies a deeper identity—that of a passionate nature conservationist. Singh is also the founder of the Doon Litchie Campaign, a local ecological movement that has been revitalizing the Dehradun and Mussoorie landscape by planting hundreds of Doon Litchie tree saplings each year. This rare and indigenous tree species had once faced the threat of extinction, but Singh's consistent efforts have helped restore its presence, offering shelter to native birds, bees, and wildlife. 'Everything is connected—our environment, our mental health, our sense of purpose,' Singh remarked after the ride. 'Riding a bike in a suit today and planting a tree tomorrow are both acts of care—for ourselves, for our community, and for the future.' The event concluded with a gathering at a local café, where participants shared stories, discussed mental health challenges, and pledged to keep the conversation alive year-round. With his polished boots, vintage motorcycle, and unwavering commitment to both inner and outer well-being, Prashant Singh continues to redefine what it means to be a true gentleman rider—elegant, empathetic, and ever in service of a greater cause. If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.
