Take Care Take Charge: Submit your Idea for Greener Cities

Take care Take Charge

Take Care | Take Charge, a Garnier Times of India Campaign with the Center for Environment Education as the Knowledge Partner invites ideas on green and sustainable solutions to environmental issues under various themes. These can include an innovative technology solution, a marketing solution, practice, or a way of impacting behaviour for positive change.

The ideas should be innovative and have the power to change the world:

Something you can do yourself,
Can be done in your community
Or you would want expert institutions/Govt. to pick up and implement to Make your city Green!

The campaign is primarily being run in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore but invites young people from across India to participate. The broad themes of the campaign under which ideas are invited are:

  • Water conservation & pollution
  • Energy generation & conservation
  • Recycling & waste management
  • Transportation & vehicular pollution
  • Heritage & conservation of culture, and
  • Biodiversity & Greening

Late Date to Receive Ideas: May 8, 2010. the Times of India will buy 10 kg of paper for recycling, for every idea received.

Aastha Kukreti

Aastha Kukreti holds a Master’s degree in Environment Management and her areas of expertise range from waste management, pollution ecology, green audits, ecofeminism, environmental equity and social justice.

40 thoughts on “Take Care Take Charge: Submit your Idea for Greener Cities

  1. Thank you for the wonderful suggestion Poonam. Its a pity that at present, plants requiring lot of water are planted along side roads. Delhi Greens will take up the issue and ensure that this Himalayan wastage of water is stopped and the authorities take note.

  2. the dividers on the roads should be planted with wild flowers like pittosporum, angel’s trumpet etc that are abundunt in delhi and need no watering and care.Flowers are flowers after all.

  3. in all temples of belgaum the dried flowers whereever they want they throw, plz recycle it so that there will be no wastage. plz bann the plastic covers

  4. Waste Management via Bio Gas

    Short Description:
    Waste management can be done by urban societies, restaurants, villages etc. via Biogas manufacturing. The enormous potential of biogas is estimated at 17,000 MW. The entire street lightning across urban areas and villages can be provided with electricity
    Highlight:
    Biogas technology is a particularly useful system in the Indian economy, and can fulfill several end uses which are as follows:1. Biogas could potentially help reduce global climate change. Normally, manure that is left to decompose releases two main gases that cause global climate change: nitrous dioxide and methane. Nitrous dioxide warms the atmosphere 310 times more than carbon dioxide and methane 21 times more than carbon dioxide2. The gas can also be used to power engines, in a dual fuel mix with petrol and diesel (KVIC, 1993), and can aid in pumped irrigation systems.Compressed biogas is becoming widely used in Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany. A biogas-powered train has been in service in Sweden since 2005.3. Fuel for cooking purposes and organic manure to households through family type biogas plants4. Improve sanitation in villages by linking sanitary toilets with biogas plants.5. The gas is useful as a fuel substitute for firewood, dung, agricultural residues, petrol, diesel, and electricity, depending on the nature of the task, and local supply conditions and constraints, thus supplying energy for cooking and lighting. 6. Biogas systems also provide a residue organic waste, after anaerobic digestion that has superior nutrient qualities over the usual organic fertilizer, cattle dung, as it is in the form of ammonia.7. Introduced on a significant scale, biogas may reduce pressure on forests and accentuate social benefits  
    Estimated Cost:
    For 1 cubic metre set up cost is 2700-11,700Rs
    Estimated time:
    Depends on size, quantity and technology implemented

  5. hi,i am Pranali. I am an environmental science and biology teacher for IB diploma at Bombay International school. the idea i have is simple & used successfully in other country but will require lots of co-operation from the citizens of India…. USING FUEL WHICH IS A MIXTURE OF HYDROUS ETHANOL AND DIESEL/GASOLINE TO RUN OUR VEHICLES.. 
    2 major issues in making this idea a success are:1. Production of EthanolPRODUCTION OF ETHANOL FROM FODDER, SUGAR CANE, SUGAR BEET, MAIZE etc. starts a debate on FOOD v/s FUEL (‘cos India still has not been able to feed all its citizen & since fuel crops will fetch more income farmers will prefer growing those crops instead of food crops)
    2. Car engine design needs very minor tweaking/ change to use a mixture of 15%-22% ethanol gasoline mixture and people need to get their car fixed… & A COMPLETE MAKE-OVER FOR USING 60-90% ethanol gasoline mixture….
    SOLUTION
    1. PRODUCTION OF ETHANOLethanol can be produced from KITCHEN ORGANIC WASTE, BANANA PEELS, OLD NEWSPAPERS, GRASS, ANIMAL WASTE, DISTILLER’S GRAIN LEFT OVER FROM ETHANOL PRODUCTION ETC.. at no extra cost.. (3-5 Kg of kitchen waste old newspaper mixture yields approx. 1 litre ethanol)the citizens need to separate kitchen waste from other waste at their homes and a new garbage collection system needs to be developed for collecting wet waste and sending it for ethanol production… on one’s part this is no big deal each home just needs 2 dustbins instead of one and a little awareness. 
    2. CAR DESIGN CHANGE:A. all new cars should be designed to use ethanol fuel (60-90%)… The Brazilian car manufacturing industry developed flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on any proportion of gasoline (using 20-25% ethanol) and hydrous ethanol (90%). Introduced in the market in 2003, flex vehicles became a commercial success, reaching a record 92.3% share of all new cars and light vehicle sales for 2009. can be done in INDIA TOO.B. old car engines can be converted to use ethanol fuel (15-22%) at no extra cost OR minimum extra cost for owners & requires minor changes ( the subsidy should be given by the govt) when they get their cars for servicing, P.U.C checks, repairs, tyre changes etc… C. The government should make it mandatory to blend anhydrous ethanol with gasoline, fluctuating between 10% to 22%.and since it requires just a minor adjustment on regular engines it can be done.
    ADVANTAGES1. ETHANOL IS AN ADVANCED BIO-FUEL WHICH REDUCES TOTAL LIFE CYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 60%… CLEANER AIR!! JUST ADDING 10% ETHANOL TO PETROL/ DIESEL REDUCES CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM PETROL/DEISEL AND IMPROVES FUEL OCTANE. 

    2. SOLID WASTE IS CONVERTED TO FUEL!! NO MORE OVER FLOWING LAND FILLS, DISEASES DUE TO GARBAGE… GARBAGE MANAGEMENT BECOMES EASIER & PROFITABLE!!
    3. PRICE OF FUEL REDUCES DRASTICALLY AS ETHANOL IS VERY CHEAP COMPARED TO PETROL, DIESEL…
    4. BY 2010 MANUFACTURERS THAT BUILD FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLES INCLUDE CHEVROLET, FIAT, FORD, PEUGEOT, RENAULT, VOLKSWAGEN, HONDA, MITSUBISHI, TOYOTA, CITRÖEN, NISSAN… ALL THESE CARS RUN ON OUR ROAD SO IT WILL NOT BE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THEIR ENGINES… & MANUFACTURING NEW CARS WHICH USE ETHANOL AS FUEL.
    5. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS BRAZIL & U.S.A… SO ITS VERY POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT IT IN INDIA… 
    6. ETHANOL IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMYETHANOL PRODUCTION CREATES DOMESTIC JOBS. AND BECAUSE ETHANOL IS PRODUCED DOMESTICALLY, FROM WASTE , IT REDUCES INDIAN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL AND INCREASES THE NATION’S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
    7.ETHANOL IS A RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY.
    8. ETHANOL, RICHER IN OCTANE, PROMOTES MORE COMPLETE COMBUSTION OF PETROL/DIESEL THUS REDUCING EXHAUST EMISSIONS & GIVING MORE MILEAGE..  THE IDEA CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN STAGES…STAGE ZEROINCREASE AWARENESS ON ETHANOL AS FUEL, CHANGE THE WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEMS OF THE CITY, TIE UP WITH GAS STATIONS & CAR MANUFACTURERS TO USE ETHANOL AS FUELS, SET UP REFINERIES TO PRODUCE ETHANOL FROM WASTE..
    STAGE ONEINCREASE PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL FROM WASTE & CHANGE NEW CAR DESIGNS
    STAGE 2 MAKE LAWS & GIVE INCENTIVES TO USE & BUY FLEXI CARS
    STAGE THREEMAKE IT COMPULSORY FOR PUBLIC VEHICLES & HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES TO RUN ON ETHANOL

  6. as we knoe gyues that global warming is now a days a great economical and geographical problem.people should think of it and act accordingly.due to the sudden increase in temprature the ice glaciers are melting and many species of seals polar bears etc had lost there home and some of tere species are also getting endangered.and many areas are also flooded due to this increase in water level in the sea.guywe an iland near antartica where people used to live is now submerjed inside sea water.this is not an old story this happened in just 4 years ago in 2007.so to avoid me loss of life and treasourious antartic animals we should plant more trees and avoid global warming.so guyes pleze co operate and do plant more plants and help my dreem come true….

  7. hey guys to make our city more greenier than ever why cant we form an organisation and work to make our city green.i think youths or school students are the best competitors who can help out in thiss matter of concern.awareness programs can be given in the public places like in malls parks etc.this organisation can be supported by government and our scientists should find a good way to make papper without cutting any trees.or cutting also should become a good crime so that no body will be involved in this kind of activities.we are the ones who can save earth so please some body come forward and help me in this concern gyues…………

  8. Recycling Used Batteries.

    Used batteries do not provide the required voltage and current; but they contain depleted metals and chemicals like Lithium, Cadmium, Nickel, Zinc, carbon rods, Ammonium Chloride, etc, which if recycled will reduce pressure from mines for new metal components/ chemicals. These batteries find their way into landfills through garbage, where hazardous chemicals leech into the soil and pollute ground water. Mercury is particularly dangerous.

    It should be compulsory to return used batteries before buying new batteries, and the reverse supply chain can be used (packing material as well as transport) for returning used batteries to recovery centres. Incentives will help agencies to start-up and get involved in this recycling; and it could soon be profitable and not just self- sustaining.

  9. Spittoons.
    It is impossible to stop people from spitting, however harsh you make the rules or place images of various gods at places. If we try to understand why people spit on walls, we find it is because they want to avoid it splashing back on them.
    It would be practical to design spittoons with waist high vertical sides preferably with an aiming mark in the centre. There should be sufficient coverage to catch the occasional inaccurate shot. Let’s first make it fun for the monkeys, and then penalize the defaulters.

  10. Increased deforestation along with increased consumption of fossil fuels exacerbates global warming. Growing more trees is the only way to reduce global warming and sequester carbon dioxide.
    I have seen it rain one evening on the 500-meters-wide tree plantation on both sides of Indira Gandhi Canal passing through the Thar Desert; while not a drop fell over the barren sand dunes a few km away. Trees require a little support for the first two or three years to grow to full height; most notably protection from grazing livestock. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, help water percolate to underground aquifers, reduce suspended particulate matter (SPM in the air) by ionization, lower temperature, give shade, food and shelter to birds and animals, and also fruits, timber and other produce to man.
    Windmill Electric Farms have taken over vast tracts of land on windswept hills to set up windmill turbines. These barren hills can be forested with hardy local trees to support the local fauna. The trees will be inherently protected by tall lightening conductors of the windmills. After a few years we will see an increase in rain, increase in topsoil and lowering of temperature in the region.
    It would be worthwhile to make it compulsory for Windmill companies to plant trees in areas taken over by them. Short term incentives will help till benefits are visible.

  11. TAKE CARE TAKE CHARGE:
    To make a decision and take action on climate change with a motive of think globally and Act locally, it is really a good effort by Garnier and Times of India. Being a student of Environment and Sustainabe Development, I came closer to the environment related issues and started thinking in a different way for such problems. The East-west difference or carbon market may be big terms for a large population, who really can take care of environmental issues. A right direction, inspiration and process to be developed to make them involved in to the process by their own interest. Their immediate need may be different, to be addressed in a wayso that, it takes a journey to the ultimate objective of addressing climate change. Human beings are the most selfish creatures. Enforcing the word Social responsibility needs to be imbibed into actions at the right step to fetch the definitive result that we plan today.
    There is no substitute to plantation. But what to plant, where to plant, post plantation care and support, survival rate of plantation are some of the major questions comes to our mind. I have a solution to this. If not more, I can plan it for at least 1 lakh trees per district. Gochar/ Pasture lands can have plantation of Banyan tree and Neem tree can help human being to fight the danger of climate degradation as they are draught resistant and natural purification properties. Babul and bamboo to some extent may be added. Plants like teak, sheasam may take a back step as their timber in later stage becomes the enemy of their lives. Temples, if have some place may also explored to add greenery and peaceful atmosphere. Avenue plantation in today’s rapid development process is a wastage of money. However, to some extent, we may think of neem trees for rural roads keeping future expansion in mind, if the community involves for such an activitiy. In the name of highway or road expansion, huge number of old trees are just swept away. rural avenue plantation sometimes falls in to some one or the other’s personal land, they too disappears during expansion of roads or so.
    Plantation of Jackfruit, drumstick, guava, blackberry like trees not only add food security of people but also will increase eco-friendly atmosphere in the world. Indian rural households need to have a compulsion of protecting a minimum of five such trees depending on the surplus backyard they have. The support can be extended to supply plant seedlings and some award for survived plant on the fifth year. After that, family will not destroy them at all as they will start getting the immediate returns from those plants. Even every school campus can be made green. Likewise the public places can be chosen to increase more trees on the earth surface.
    Agro entrepreneurs can be motivated, who have minimum size of land holding to get benefits from National horticulture mission to increase export oriented fruit production. On increasing this number, we can even increase the number of plants in a district.
    For other cause and effects, we can create awareness through communication and insist environmental analysis with industries. Promote green trades for young people and think of alternatives to polluting devices. N.B.: My views are based on the context of rural Indian back ward districts and to involve the community in greening the country.

    Submitted by: Balakrushna Panda, call me at 07899274062, write me at bkpanda.india@gmail.com

  12. Problem- How to reduce use of plastic bags in the city.
    Suggestion- Arrangements may be made to make available, easily ,paper bags to all shopkeepers at nominal rates with the involvement of NGOs, Government,Corporates and individuals. 
    People may be encouraged to donate old news papers which may be collected by volunteers.They may even procure old newspapers / magazines from the market. With the help of NGOs,  Government sponsored schemes for poor people; envelopes may be prepared from the newspapers/magazines and sold to shopkeepers at very attractive price. 
    If due publicity is given to this effort, results are expected. 

  13. I need to tell you the effective way for carbonmonoxide pollution problem. we can fix the catalytic converters that will convert the compound to a thick bar ice that can be deeply buried into the sea.chemical compound we use will convert it so.actually this is an arrangement made to convert solidify (co). if this type of arrangement is provided in each streets and highways certainly definitely we can reduce (co)  as well as globalwarming. this is a progamme delivered by discovery channel a years ago. Thank you for having such cooperation.The above method is going to be a project.

  14. DO YOU KNOW? YOUR KITCHEN LPG EMITS 1.5 KG GREEN HOUSE GAS/DAY, THIS CAN BE CUT BY 31% BY USING ELECTRONIC LPG OPTIMUM BURNING SYSTEM.

  15. 1. delhi govt. ko elec. bharte wale ko 1/RS per unit deni chahiye jo costomer apne gar ke aage 1 tree lagaye ga .costomer ko tree ki 6 months tak us tree ki sewa karni hogi. agar costomer apna tree khud nahi lagata to mcd ko uske ghar ke aga tree lagana chahiye aur care bhi govt. ko hi karni hogi
    2. sabse bari probla hai popolation so therefire (hum do aur hamare do) family ko special protection or facilities govt. ko deni chahiye as/income tax rebate,govt job,elec. bill,tele, phone bill,house covered area,vehicle discountant,air ticket,school admitions,hospital etc.
    is typeke kuch suvidh dekar bhi delhi ko green banaya ja sakta is ke bavjood ye idea ak long term ke hai lekein ye idae 100% kagar hai,
    delhi ki public ko jab tak koi sale nahi lagti hai tab tak koi dukan pe jata nahi hai.

  16. Hi.
    This is Hitesh ,working as a project engineer in delhi nd belong from a town of rajasthan. i spent my life in a green place where no means of pollution.Bt as global warming increasing ,so even village and towns are no prevented from pollution.
    i just share my view through this wonderful campaign in which me also want to involve.
    in company where i m working there is trend to recycle rough pages for normal use print ,so its really paper saving plan through we can save plant and our planet from pollution.so as it can spread plz spread it out…..nd save our planet…..

    Save Paper and save Plants…….

  17. Hi,
    Yes this is a very small initiative where we must all begin with,I thing people have started to sensed the dangers arising out from global warming, but who are the ones who are respnsible for global warming, not the Poor people but the rich people, do you know how much electric is consumed to produce a 10 mm nut or bolt, just find out how, and the amount of energy needed to produce a brand new car, and this is going on every 2 years for the rich and 5 to 10 years for little bellow these,for new car, well the people who travell to work also need travel cost to reach its detination,to make that piece of nut and bolt, well every thing matters, for this Government must prolong cars usage then force them go for new ones, Yes Polution matters but there are solution to overcome,then burn fuel which we need for the future, Its is this which is causing global warming, The rich people must use common public transports then use their money power and destroy environment,every piece of any metal needs heavy energy to produce it goods,we all must repect the future rather misuse,

  18. Hello
    By reading some of the above stuff, I really find interesting about the greener thoughts and also I have some plans which can make difference from big electricity consumption to a smaller consumption.Actually I am a B.Tech student from NIT Durgapur and I live in hostel.I see many students or i must say almost every student doesn’t care to switch off the lights and fans when they r leaving the room which results in much wastage of electricity which can be utilised any where else at the same time. So what I wanna say is that we can apply a small and very cheap electronic circuit in the doors of every room so that when a student locks his/her room, the applied circuit will be activated and the electric supply to the room will be disconnected which will result in much saving of electricity. When a student unlock his/her room then our circuit will be deactivated and the electricity to room will be automatically switched on.

    This can really make a great difference in the electricity conservation.I would like to implement this idea in my college and expect you to implement this idea in other colleges.

  19. Sir,
    May be perhaps I am sticking my neck way beyond the risk scale but then I am complled to note that the views and ideas mentioned here are too very childish and devoid of practical engineering sense. I had submitted the proposal back in 1998 for solid waste managment and to increase water supply substantially to Bangalore and other places. I got no hearing and lost a lot of money during the process.

    A decade and more there is yet nothing that can come close to my projects and I have not listed any thing here because I do not beleive that you can do much, honestly speaking.

    Chandra shekar.

  20. Use the water used for washing vegetables and pulses and mopping the floor in watering the plants.
    Collect the rainwater in buckets and tubs and use them for domestic purposes.
    This way we will be able to cut short our demands and thereby reducing the load on our resources as well.
    Money also gets saved automatically!!

  21. Whenever you brush your teeth or wash your face, make sure that you carry water in a jar instead of using water straight out of the tap.
    As we end up wasting huge amount of water while performing our day to day simple activities! If we require two glass of water to wash our face but we waste around half bucket of water in that simple activity.
    We must take charge of our own families first before taking charge of awaring others.
    The first step begins with us.
    Take charge of yourselves first.

  22. Pingback: :: Delhi Greens :: » Install a Bird Bath – A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
  23. Sir,
    Climate change is the biggest problem in the world. No eny forest in India as well as in the other country is unthreatened. I everyday read in news paper that this sq.km. area of this forest will use for Industrialisation, Urbanisation or for eny other human work & this number of trees cutted in this forest etc. I feel very sad to hearing this. Sir, now the current Indian popullation is more than 110crore and about 66crore families. If each family plant one tree then we can grow the 66crore trees. We know this is very difficult to convence every people/family for plantation but we can convence half of the families or at least less than half family. If we success then we can grow at least 30 to 25crore trees and these become the huge success for us. We know this is also difficult but if we try with great confidence we will definatly doen this. This programme will doen successfully if all the environment organisations in India as well as in all country come together and work with together and this will doen only uniquely not individually. In our country many nature lovers are present they may be childrens, youngers or adults. This all nature lowers will glad to get them eny apportunity of nature conservation through volunteering, environment, climate change campaign etc. Through this they will help us to convence more and more people for environment, climate change problames, for plantation etc. I think in our country many such volunteering and campaigning apportunity finders are present. We can also organised this type organisations in schools, colleges and institutions this can also help to find the important peoples/students. In India 38 states are present in each state number of districts are present and in each distict there are many environmental organisations are present. If this all organisations are bring together and work together then we would surely doen a great job. If this doen successfuly then our climate change problem would decline rapiedly.
    Sir, I only want to become a part of your organisation through which I will get apportunity to meet other organisations by which I will try to convencing all the organisations to work together and not individually. And I know I will success to bring them together and convence to work together. I will definatly try my best.
    THANK YOU!

  24. Stop polluting lakes

    Hi I am Srinath living in Hosur a border town i Tamilnadu and very near the over growing city Bengaluru. i came to know that there is a separate ministry which take care of lakes (Lake Authority of India) but I never seen maintaining a lake in towns like Hosur, lakes are the main source for the ground water, but many dump wastes into lakes, please save the lakes because that is the only source for ground water.

    In Raja’s period (long back from history) many kings have constructed Lakes for the betterment of pupils, but now they convert them into layouts for betterment of living, I have not seen any one created a lake after India Independence, if government is not creating a lake atleast government can stop converting lakes to layouts instead they can convert it to green park…

    Don’t pollute living lakes, dont make them die by putting grabage and waste……
    Don’t pollute living lakes, dont make them die by putting grabage and waste……
    Don’t pollute living lakes, dont make them die by putting grabage and waste……

  25. As individuals lets try and not use gift wrapping paper unless absolutely imperative. And when we have to then we can ask the shop-keeper for “paper-based” wrapping paper and not those hideous plastic and shiny ones which are flooding the market. For those of us who are good with our hands we could take newspaper, paint or draw something on it and then use it as gift paper. Its enviromentally-friendly, tree-friendly, supports recycling apart from lending a very personal touch to you present! Its a great way to make a statement about your attitude towards the environment and may start a new trend amongst your group or circle 🙂

  26. Leaving a little bowl of water outside your homes can go a long way in quenching the thirst of the birds in this harsh summer. Its not so difficult to do but can mean so much for our little feathered friends.

  27. Those piercing horns that many people put on their cars which activate when they are reversing should be banned. It is sound pollution of a very offensive and completely avoidable nature. The noise is very disturbing and can alarm the sick and elderly as well as the resting birds at night. Didnt we hear something about silence being golden . . . . .

  28. An environmentalist friend informs me that planting more of bougainvillea encourages sparrows to breed apart from adding colour, a dash of green and also acting as an effective hedge around parks. So I thought I should spread the work around so we can give the threatened sparrows a helping hand 🙂

  29. We have to STOP using cement and concrete where it is not needed. It harms the greenery, stops groundwater from percolating and also pushes up the temperature of the immediate surroundings and as a consequence contributes significantly to global warming. This is particularly true of the new trend of tiling up roads in front of newly consrtucted houses for cars to be parked! I dont think people realise the extent to which a “simple” act of tiling harms the entire environment.

  30. All of us experienced houses being constructed around us and I am sure been driven aroudn the bend by the shrill and bone piercing noise of those stone cutters. This goes on the whole day and the sound pollution harms the health of the residents who are mostly the elderly, children or students who would be home for the larger part of the day. I shudder to think of the impact of that noise on the poor labourers who are working on those cutters. Can there not be some guideline whereby builders are forced to use some silencing mechanism on those cutters so that this needless sound pollution can be stopped?

  31. Mankind has come on the verge of extinction. We have to deal with the major problem of enviornment and global warming. The simplest way is to grow plants and trees on very large scale and each and every available place which will regulate all the bad effects of industry and fossil fuel burning. We have to start living with zero energy consumption and we have to disintegrate our town,cities and mega cities into sustainable, eco friendly and zero energy consuming abode and lifestyles. We have to totally change our lifestyles physically, mentally, politically and economically.

  32. sir,
    I wont’t say too much about environment conservation because we are and have been saying too much about it. Now it’s time to action. we can’t blame others for environmental degradation. Every humanbeing who lives in this world is responsible for it.At least what can we do is, we need to change our living pattern.If every one will feel his own responsibility then gradually the scenario will change.So it is my request to every human being not to talk too much about environment, but to do necessary action. Only action done in individual level can bring change.

  33. To,
    Times of India/ takecaretakecharge.in
    The Ideas from Tannistha Rudra
    of 2/P, Kailash Ghosh Road, Kolkata- 700 008, Ph.2494-4091.

    1. Whenever anything is cooked, another water filled up container with lid to be placed on it as the heat won’t be lost and would be used to make the water hot enabling for next item of cooking. Thus the whole population of India can save enormous amount of energy everyday.

    2. The exhaust gas from cars should pass through clean water thus the hazardous contents like CO, CO2 and carbon dust would be arrested by water. You have to change the water regularly and thus we can protect our environment around us.

    3. It looks fabulous – the glowing billboards but it is wasting precious electricity. So the lights should be off legally after 11PM everyday. Thereby we can save huge electricity.

    4. The street lights on high-way may be put off after 11pm and every lamppost and blind corner of the road should be provided with reflectors. Thereby we can save huge electricity.

  34. Sir,
    In response to initiative for green Delhi by www. takecare. takecharge.in, I may like to share my views at your esteemed platform, which are as under:

    (1) FOR GREEN DELHI, THE JOB SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOLS. ALONG WITH RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATION .FOR THIS EACH STUDENT SHOULD GROW AT LEAST ONE PLANT EVERY YEAR. IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN HIS PRACTICAL SYLLABUS AND SOME MARKS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED FOR THE JOB.AND THE STUDENT WHO HAS TAKEN CARE OF HIS PLANTS SHOULD BE SUITABLY AWARDED. SCHOOL CAN CHARGE A NOMINAL FEE FROM THE STUDENT ON THIS ACCOUNT.EACH SHOOLS SHOULD BE EARMARKED SOME PATCH OF LANDS/PARKS FOR THIS PURPOSE. DUE CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN REGARDING CONTROL OF THE LAND/PARK. FOR THIS , PARK LAND SHOULD BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATION AND THE ROTATION OF THE PARKS SHOULD BE MADE AND 2-3 SCHOOL SHOULD BE ASSIGNED A PARK NOT THE SINGLE SCHOOL SO AS TO AVOID ANY GRABING BY THE SCHOOL. AT THE OF ROTATION OF THE LAND, SCHOOL SHOULD GET SOME FINANCIAL GAIN. NAME OF THE STUDENT SHOULD BE MARKED THE PLANTS GROWN BY HIM AND HE SHOULD ALSO GIVEN SOME ROYALITY TYPE PECUNIARY BENEFIT TILL THE PLANT LIFE. IF ALL WAS MANAGED PROPERLY THEN THERE WILL BE NO NEED OF REGULAR HUGE EXPENSES ON HORTICULTURE, AND IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY INVOLVE ALL PARENTS AS IN THE PRESENT ERA EACH PARENT IS READY TO DO ANY THING POSSIBLE FOR HIS CHILDREN AND THUS CREATE TOTAL AWARENESS AND REVOLUTION FOR GREEN EARTH AND I AM VERY SURE WE WOULD DO IT WITHIN 5-6 YEARS.

    (2) REGARDING DECONGESTION OF TRAFFIC, WE HAVE KEEP THE CARS AWAY FROM THE ROADS. FOR THIS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PSYCHE OF CARWALAS. THIS CAN BE DONE IF WE PROVIDE COMFORTABLE AND PREVILLAGED AND EASILY ACCESSABLE CONVEYANANCE FACILITY FOR THEM . IF ONE CAN SPEND Rs 150/- OR MORE ON GOING TO DESTINATION OF 50 KMS(BOTH SIDE) THEN HE CAN EASILY PAY Rs 80-100/- FOR THE COMFORTABLE AND PREVILLEGED JOURNEY BY AC BUS/ MINI BUS,. THIS WILL CERTAINLY KEEP MOST OF THE CARS AWAY FROM THE ROADS AND REMOVE THE TENSION OF DERIVING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE. . TO PROVIDE LUXURY CONVEYANACE OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES GOVT SHOULD ENROLL 4-5 REPUTED PRIVATE TRANSPORT COMPANIES.,WHICH WILL AUTOMATICALLY CREATE COMPETITION AMONGST THEM .AND GOVT WOULD HAVE NOT TO SPEND A PENNY FOR THE SAME RATHER IT WOULD GENERATE LOT OF EARNING.IT IS PERTINENT TO MENTION HERE MOST OF THE CHARTERED NON A/C BUS ARE CHARGING Rs15-20/- FOR THE JOURNEY UPTO 30/ KMS ( ON SIDE)
    FINALLY GOVT IS NOT GOING TO LOOSE ANY THING, IN STARTING THIS SCHEME.

    (II)SECONDLY TO DECONGEST THE TRAFFIC, GOVT SHOULD CHANGE/ BIFURCATE THE WORKING TIMES OF ALL OFFICES. SOME STAFF SHOULD COME AT 0830HRS, SOME AT 930HRS AND REMAING AT 1030 HRS AND ACCORDINGLY THE CLOSING HRS.IT WOULD ENHANCE THE WORKING TIME OF OFFICES AND NATURALLY HELP THE PUBLIC A LOT AND. IT WILL GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO STAFF ALSO SO THAT THEY COULD GET THEIR PERSON WORK IN THE OFFICES WHICH ARE NEAR TO THEIR RESIDENCE.KEEPING IN VIEW OF THIS ALL PVT OFFICES WILL ALSO CHANE THEIR TIMING ACCORDINGLY. THIS WILL DEFINATELY DECONGEST THE ROADS AND SAVE LOT OF PUBLIC TIME AND MONEY ON FUEL.

    (III) DURING TRAFFIC PEAK HOURS DUE CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO HAVE ANY BLOCKADE ON THE ROADS PARTICULARLY IN MARKET AREA. SUCH PLACES SHOULD BE DECLARED ZERO TOLERANCE AREA.
    (IV) ROAD DIVIDERS SHOULD BE MADE FLEXIBLE ON THE ROADS OF HEAVY CONGESTION SO THAT DURING PEAK HRS. ROAD OF ONE SIDE CAN BE WIDENED ACCORDINGLY.

    (3) REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION, ALL RESIDENT WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS SHOULD BE INVOLVED/ENCOURAGED TO GET RAIN HARVESTING PLANT INSTALLED IN THEIR AREA AND IT SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY IN ALL BIG BUILDINGS PARTICULARLY THE COOP. GROUP HOUSING SOCIETIES, HOSPITALS SCHOOLS, GOVT OFFICES ETC. .

    (4) COOP. GROUP HOUSING SOCIETIES, HOSPITAL, SCHOOLS, GOVT OFFICES ETC. SHOULD ALSO HAVE SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEM OR OTHER NON CONVENTIONAL ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THEIR PREMISES.THE BUILDING HAVING THE ABOVE TWO FACILITY SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME FINANCIAL HELP/LOAN AND THERE SHOULD A HANDSOME REBATE ON HOUSE TAX, WATER CHARGES, TUBE WELL CHARGES ETC.

    (5) AFTER GETTING THE IDEAS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE THE ISSUES., GOVT SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO IMPLEMENT THE IDEAS. BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THE IDEAS GOVT SHOULD START THE MOVEMENT THROUGH SCHOOLS BY INCLUDING THE TOPICS/SUBJECT IN THE SYLLABUS AND ENCOURAGING THE STUDENTS TO IMPLEMENTS THE ISSUES AT THEIR HOME AND SURROUNDINGS SO THAT THEIR PARENTS COULD BE INVOLVED INDIRECTLY. SECONDLY, GOVT SHOULD INVOLVE ALL TV CHANNELS TO GIVE SUFFICIENT TIME DURING PEAK HOURS FOR THE ISSUES ie; TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, WATER CONSERVATION, PLANTING OF TREES, SOLAR ENERGY, WASTE MANAGEMENT, MANAGEMENT OF PARKS, GENERAL CLEANLINESS OF THE SURROUNDING ETC.I AM VERY SURE IF WE INVOLVE THE PEOPLE, NOTHING WILL BE LEFT UNTURNED IN A VERY SHORT DURING.

    M K SINGLA
    76, PARMARTH APARTMENT VIKASPURI
    NEW DELHI–110018.
    09868826292.

  35. I live in Barrackpore & am studying in Std v in Army School Barrackpore. One day I was travelling with my parents in private bus. The driver was honking the horn in every 30 sec unnecessarily. The shrill noise was irritating me like anything. Now I got the answer- why the people quarrel so much in the buses & trains. Its due to the noise pollution. I’m quite sure that the driver has lost his hearing ability partially. So he is honking the horn so frequently. But we just can’t tolerate it. Noise pollution causes many Psychological & Physiological problems such as irritability, lack of concentration, speech interference etc.
    I would like to appeal to all school children to start people aware about the ill effects of noise pollution. So come, lets take action to beat noise pollution, lets start aware people through the times of India, lets stat campaign against unnecessary honking of horns.If late, almost entire population of the city of Kolkata will get hearing problem. So friends are you ready to take the challenge.

  36. Hi,

    This is Abhishek living in Karol bagh. Basically my native place is Palampur, Dist. Kangra (Himachal Pradesh.) I have spent most of the time in lap of real nature, like lush green valleys, snow caped mountain, rivers, caves and many more. I mean to say I am much closed to nature. But when I came to Delhi into 2004 and from then to now I have seen many changes, how people are destroying or vanishing the nature for their own profit. Even our Govt. is unable to solve the environmental problems, they can only make the rules and they don’t follow them properly. I usually read the news paper (TOI) I m really happy to see a new step taken from your side to protect the nature. Here I have some new ideas that could help for the betterment of the nature.
    1) Dustbin habit:-
    We usually see that most of the people offer some things to God when they pray inside the home. Like Dhoop, Agarwati, piece of cloth, coconut, phool mala and many more, after some time they spared all these things to outside the temples, road side even under the trees.
    Some extra ordinary people throw it in to the rivers. You can also see some God’s murti which has broken from the outside spread over the roadside or opposite the boundary walls or where ever they want. They are destroying the nature by the spiritual impact.

    Here we can make the difference:-

    Holy Dustbin- We can fix it around the temple side as per the temple priest. We can suggest the daily visitors to put these things in to that dustbin and however that offer the money which insists in this material, through this habit we can make a big difference.

    Car companies should make little boxes and which should be named as “My Dustbin” inside the car. I see most of the children throw the empty bottles and candy or chocolate wrappers whenever they travel, it causes many accidents for the people travel from the bikes or scooter.

    I have seen in delhi where there are so many small and big markets like sarojini nagar, lajpat nagar, karol bagh and old delhi area, shopkeepers or street hawkers spread the waistage like packing papers, tored plastic bags, packing ropes and many more unusual things which disturbs the daily visitors and it also causes delhi’s water drainage system so please make them learn to use a proper dustbin inside the shop areas. If they don’t follow this properly govt. would have to charge a penalty.

    For betterment of trees-
    Delhi has thousand of trees which is very good source for oxygen, greenery and also balances the atmosphere’s temperature but some of the trees are infected through many diseases and unwanted care like you can see the forest department who unable to release the protecting nets on right time that’s why tree get their growth stopped and finally it gets died.

    If the plants are not growing properly according to nature. Department should replace them on right time and also plant the fruit tree and bamboo trees because it produces the oxygen in a good quantity which helps people to regain their fresh atmosphere back.

    We see most of the shopkeepers hang their goods on tree’s branches also some people use its branches for the support of their cable wires and etc.

    Department should take some legal actions on those people.

    Some of the temples’s main divotees covered the trees inside the temple and tied it very badly through some kind of sutra(cotton thread) mostly on peepal trees. They make on that around 108 rounds to cover the tree from that thread and also lighting some candles and deepak under the tree.

    Finally it gets dried.

    Less use of red stones outside the house or buildings like developers or property infrastructures which increases the temperature and also heat up the envoirment and destroy the hills and natural beauty. Yes we can make everything, what we unable to make again hills valley or mountain, so please stop these activies who are changing the nature for forever.

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