The aim behind the project was to demonstrate to citizens that garbage segregation can reap rich benefits. Besides, the ward office employees now have a garden where they can spend a few moments during their hectic day. The rooftop garden was inaugurated by MLA Girish Bapat on Thursday, who lauded the initiative and said that similar projects should be taken up at all ward offices. 

Ward officer Madhav Jagtap said the wet waste collected from some 100 households in the ward was used in the garden. “Wet waste was used as manure for the potted plants. Besides flowering and medicinal plants, we have also grown vegetables like pumpkin and bitter gourd,” Jagtap said. 

He added that the terrace garden will now be opened to the public to show them that they can grow their own plants using the wet waste generated at their homes. 

“We are planning to have 20-minute tours for citizens. They will be taken around the terrace garden and explained how it has been grown. We have put up informative boards about the medicinal plants,” Jagtap stated. “Ultimately, we want all the wet waste generated in the ward to be used within it for productive purposes such as this,” he added.

[source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/Ward-office-uses-wet-waste-to-develop-garden/articleshow/4197852.cms]

Speaking to TOI, municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said that a detailed project report on water recycling has already been prepared. This report will soon be submitted to the Union government so that the corporation can implement the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

According to Sharma, the corporation is looking at providing 120 MLD treated sewage water for industrial use from its various sewage treatment plants including the one at Kasarwadi. “We will be able to provide water at competitive rates. The location of the STP at Kasarwadi is convenient for providing water in the industrial belt of Bhosari and Pimpri,” he said.

The PCMC is also looking at power generation from sewage treatment plants, though the plan is in the initial stage, Sharma said.

As part of the works to be completed under JNNURM, the PCMC has completed the work of construction of four sewage treatment plants at Pimpale Nilakh, Chinchwad, Ravet and Kasarwadi. At Kasarwadi, the corporation already has one plant of 40 MLD capacity which is functional. Another plant of the same capacity is being built there. The other STPs that are functional include Chinchwad (30 MLD), Pimpale Nilakh (20 MLD), and Chikhli (32 MLD). The PCMC proposes to start more STPs at Akurdi (30 MLD), Ravet (20 MLD), Chinchwad (30 MLD) and Charholi (21 MLD).

Incidentally, district guardian minister Ajit Pawar had asked the PCMC to undertake water recycling projects on a large scale. His suggestion had come at a function in May last year when he laid the foundation stone for the Rs 400-crore ambitious project of laying a direct pipeline from Pavana dam to Ravet to meet the water supply needs of the twin township. He had pointed out that the Pavana river, from where PCMC draws nearly 340 MLD water for drinking purposes, gets highly polluted from Chinchwad onwards, due to release of domestic and industrial effluents from the twin township.

Meanwhile, welcoming the increased allocation for JNNURM projects in the interim Union budget, Sharma said that the municipal corporation wants to focus on the Pavana river improvement project. Similarly, development of two temples along the Pavana river banks the Moraya Gosavi Samadhi temple in Chinchwadgaon and the Jhulelal temple in Pimpri, as heritage structures, is top priority. The PCMC also wants to start work on stormwater drainage and nullahs, he said.

Regarding works related to BRTS which are to be funded under JNNURM, Sharma said the PCMC has received sanction for four routes. The PCMC, he said, wants to complete the Nashik phata flyover on top priority. The work, which is funded under JNNURM, is estimated to incur an expenditure of over Rs 90 crore. The corporation has already floated tenders for the work, he added.

[source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/PCMC-planning-to-step-up-water-recycling/articleshow/4152204.cms]

10 February, 2009, Pune: Praj Industries, the globally leading biofuels technology & solutions Company announced break-through in cellulosic biomass to ethanol technology at Pilot Scale. Praj formally inaugurated its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant at its R & D Centre called Praj Matrix – The Innovation Centre near Pune.

The Laboratory facility at Praj Matrix was put into operation in April 2008 with the objective of promoting basic research and its scale up for non-food biofuels and industrial biotech processes. The first phase of the scaled up program has now been achieved with this break-through wherein the pilot plant has successfully demonstrated production of ethanol from corn cob and sugarcane bagasse under varying operating conditions. This follows proven bench scale process development for which Praj has already filed for patents.

“We are proud to say that Praj Matrix facilities can now be counted as the best-in-class advanced biofuels research facilities across the globe. It is perhaps also the only one of its kind on this side of the hemisphere. In fact, the break-through puts us right on top of the league with advanced nations”, said Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman, Praj.

As production of ethanol is expected to double by 2012, feedstock expansion has become a top agenda, fostering intensive R & D activities in this field. Most of the R & D has been promoted in USA and some in Europe, mainly assisted through government grants. Praj Matrix advanced biofuels pilot plant will propel India into a different league of countries pursuing sustainable and secure energy resources.

“On the occasion of our silver jubilee year celebrations, we dedicate Praj Matrix Pilot Plant to all Prajiites, employees and stakeholders, who have demonstrated unstinting support towards this dream which has now come much closer to realization”, added Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman Praj.

“Further work would also involve scaling up to the next level of ‘commercial demo plant’ where the Company plans to add on the cellulosic module to an existing conventional distillery where the basic feedstock is easily available. We are already in discussions with a few distilleries and have received encouraging responses from them. Very soon we will start execution of the commercial demo plant”, added Shashank Inamdar, CEO & MD, Praj Industries.

These breakthroughs are expected to present a new set of opportunities for Praj.

“We are also working on technologies where the approach of cellulosic ethanol production process can be made widely applicable to other industrial chemicals/products. This will enable Praj to gain foot-prints in the domain of Industrial Biotech.” Said Balu Sarma, Chief Technology Officer, Praj-Matrix.

The strength of scientists and technologists at R & D has gone up to seventy five in a span of a year comprising of doctoral and post graduates in different fields.

Vinod Khosla, one of the investors in Praj, shared his appreciation by saying, “On the occasion of Silver Jubilee celebrations of Praj, I am glad to note of the achievement of Praj Matrix to bring about a break-through technology in cellulosic biomass to ethanol. The Pilot Plant indeed is a milestone and will certainly put Praj in the big league of advanced biofuels. I foresee renewable fuels to sustain challenges through innovation, such as these. Pramod and his team have indeed done well.”

“People like Vinod and many other shareholders have given us faith that we are pursuing the right path. We see a promise of greater magnitude and possibilities in this break-through and will continue to lead in renewable, green energy solutions”, said Pramod Chaudhari.

About Praj Industries Limited:

Praj is a global Indian company that offers innovative solutions to significantly add value in bio-ethanol, bio-diesel and brewery plants and related wastewater treatment systems as well as process plant & equipment for customers, worldwide. Praj is a knowledge based company with expertise and experience in Bioprocesses and engineering. It delivers know how, License, engineering design, plant & equipment. Project management, commissioning and customer care and turnkey projects. Led by an accomplished and caring leadership, Praj is a socially responsible corporate citizen. Praj is listed on the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges of India. BioCnergy Europa B.V., The Netherlands, Praj Jaragua Bioenergia S.A., Brazil are JV Companies of Praj, while Praj Schneider, USA is a wholly owned subsidiary.

About Praj Matrix-the innovation centre:

Spread across 5 acres of land near Pune, Praj’s state-of-the-art R & D facilities, Matrix – The Innovation Center spearheads technological research and development. The facility houses 14 laboratories including clean room facilities, and Pilot Plants for cellulosic and conventional ethanol, and biodiesel. It also houses a brewery laboratory as per European Brewing Convention standards. Praj invested in R & D way back in 1989 wherein it concentrated upon employing biotechnology for developing cutting edge processes for ethanol production based on various feed stocks. Praj Matrix employs highly qualified professionals from different technical disciplines including fermentation and microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetic engineering, chemical sciences, algal sciences, analytical chemistry, and process technology and engineering. Praj Matrix has nine patents to its credit and has six patent pending applications. Focused on biotech related R & D, Praj Matrix – The Innovation Center is concurrently working on other industrial biotech programs focused on biochemicals and health and wellness products. 

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) sustainable transport project was taken up by the Union government last year, for which the city was selected as a demonstration city, along with Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Hyderabad, Indore, Jalandhar, Mysore, Naya Raipur and Thiruvananthapuram to be implemented over a four-year period.

The aim of the project is to achieve a paradigm shift in India’s transport systems and to assist states and cities in preparing and implementing demonstration “Green transport” projects. Pune has been chosen to implement non-motorised transport and pedestrian facilities on the roads connecting two pilot routes of the bus rapid transit system (BRTS). The other GEF projects are integrated land use and transport facilities project, intelligent transport system and city centre traffic and environment improvement.

The report released by the Union urban development ministry observes that in Pune 34% daily emission of Carbon monoxide (CO) is contributed by the increasing number of two-wheelers. It further states that the population of the city has increased four times whereas vehicular population has increased 87 times and the road length has increased by only five times in the last four decades.

“The vehicular composition indicates that 75% of total vehicles are two-wheelers, 13% four-wheelers and 6%. 53% of work trips by city population are performed by two-wheelers and bicycles. The existing public transportation system falls short while catering to the rising demand. Only 15% of the vehicle kilometres travelled in the city is accounted for by public transportation,” the report, which is posted on PMC’s website, notes.

In Pune, the project aims at reconstruction of footpaths, taking pedestrian privatisation measures through traffic signals, pelican lights and road markings, construction of cycle lanes and delineating areas as pedestrian-friendly precincts.

Through the plans in all the cities, including Pune, the Union ministry aims to reduce the CO2 emissions and particulate matter emissions in the project cities. “The greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits thus achieved could be sold to countries with reduction commitments as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Thus, these projects are potential clean development mechanisms,” the report said.

Speaking to TOI, additional city engineer (roads) Vivek Kharvadkar said as the project has been approved in principle, the Pune Municipal Corporation has sent a final draft of the detailed project report for final approval from funding agencies. “We will then seek approval of local authorities and go ahead with implementing the project,” Kharvadkar said. He added that the Union report has been put up on PMC’s website as a policy started by municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi to keep citizens informed about upcoming projects.

Pune can cheer about its growing green cover but faces rising noise pollution, huge disparity in water supply and worsening traffic and transportation situation.

The Environment Survey Report (ESR) 2008 for Pune city tabled by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration has found noise levels to have reached unacceptable levels, half the city receiving an excessive water supply and the other reeling under a severe shortage. The report finds the city growing in green cover (2,500 acres of land available for plantation) but concludes that increasing vehicular traffic, improper water and solid waste management was undoing the ecological balance the growing number of trees were trying to restore.

The 74th amendment of the Constitution requires all civic bodies to table their ESR before the general body latest by July 31 of every year. The ESR had listed eight parameters – development, demography, water, wastewater, traffic and transportation, environment, garden and solid water – to survey the city but the 53-page report miserably fails in giving any face to the huge pile of data that it collected on these parameters throughout the last one year.

Some of the findings on development, demography, water supply, traffic and transport and environment are as follows:

1. Development: The report evaluates development on the indices of electricity, tax dues, storm line and household density. Bhavanipeth and Vishrambaugh have been found to be overdeveloped, while Warje, Sangamwadi and Dhankawadi were found to be comparatively lesser developed. The report recommends urgent need to out-migrate resources to the lesser developed areas.
2. Demography: Population density and ward population ratio were the two criteria on which the ESR evaluated the demography of the wards.Most densely populated areas are Bhavanipeth and Sahakar Nagar. In Bhavanipeth, the slums are contributing most to high density, a problem that the PMC will need to address immediately, the report says.
3. Water: Water distribution is not uniform. Fifty per cent of the wards are oversupplied. Fifty per cent short supplied. Eastern side over supplied. Over supply of water supply is in Dhankawadi, Dhole Patil, Yerwada, Bibvewadi and Sahakarnagar Moderate water supply is in Sangamwadi, Warje, Karve Road, Hadapsar. Intervention needed to improve supply in Aundh, Tilak Road, Ghole Road. Water supply situation cause of concern in Vishrambaugh.
4. Traffic and Transportation: Indicators – a) Vehicle to road length, b) footpath to road ratio. The criteria adopted to evaluate traffic and transportation is that more the vehicles per km, worse is the resulting traffic chaos in the area. Better-placed wards are those that have a good footpath to road ratio. So, Bhavani Peth, Karve Road, Dhankawadi are the better ones with more than adequate footpaths and comparatively lesser vehicles.Hadapsar, Ghole Road and Vishrambaugh have about 60 per cent of footpath in comparision to road length that cross their area. Dhole Patil, Bibewadi and Tilak road are the worst with less than 20 per cent area covered by footpath. The report recommends immediate investments in these areas for construction of footpath.
5. Environment: The quality of environment in each of the wards has been evaluated on the basis of (a) air quality, (b) noise levels and (c) gardens in the area.
6. Air quality: Measured in respirable particulate matter (RPM), it is three times of acceptable levels. While the standard recommended RPM is 50 Ug/m3, it was recorded to be consistently around 150 or more throughout the previous year, the only exception being the monsoon when it came down to 55 Ug/m3.
7. Noise levels: Major cause for concern in all the wards. On an average, 70,000 vehicles pass around each ward every day.Noise levels in all the wards are unacceptably high, except in Sangamwadi, but the report states it is unable to pinpoint any particular reason why Sangawadi has been lucky in this aspect.
8. Gardens: Most deficit area: Warje Asamgamwadi, wards covered with rich green cover is Sahakar Nagar which has double than the recommended green cover of 0.2 ha/1000 individuals. The report estimates that PMC has about 2,500 acres of land available for plantation.

[source: http://20twentytwo.blogspot.com/2008/08/punes-environment-survey-report-2008.html]

[image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/joezach/66497895/sizes/m/]