Good Morning Thought - 1st August 2015!

Do you know when 1 minus 99 = Zero? I am sure you have come across situations when you felt a close one forgot about all the 99 times you helped him/her just because you couldn't help on one occasion. You need not worry about it nor should stop helping people. Be what you are...

Good Morning!

Have a Great Weekend!!

Good Morning Thought - 31st July 2015!

यह बादल से ना पूछो, के वोह किस मौसम में खुश है !

जहाँ धूप ना हो, वहां उसका वजूद नहीं, और जब न बरसे तो उसकी कोई पेहेचान नहीं...

गर पूछना है तो धरती से पूछो, और पूछो उस मोर से !

बिन बादल के बरस जाये, तो सब खुश है...

सुप्रभात !

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Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance)

Mob: +91-94370-50103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Speaking today on 'Water Rights and Role of Governments' to govt officers at Bhubaneswar!

Hi Friends:

Today I shall be speaking at the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration, Bhubaneswar on "Water Rights and the Role of Governments" in a special programme for Administrative, Mining and Forest Officers of the state.

Thanks!

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Sunday Morning Thought - 25th July 2015!

Observe the monsoons closely and you will realise how Rain and Earth are in an affaire de coeur to bring happiness and prosperity to you and me...

Good Morning!

Have a Lovely Weekend!!

Farmer suicides haunt Odisha!

In Odisha: a farmer ends life each 3 and half days, a daily wage labour commits suicide each one and half days, and an unemployed youth takes self life each day.

This is figure for 2014 by the National Crime Records Bureau. This is only statistics, the reality may be more shameful to learn. However it doesn't fail to show us the fact that the current development model has failed the poor and needy...

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The stats: Suicides in 2014 (for state of Odisha)

Total number of suicides: 4160 (1832 F, 2328 M)

Farmer suicides: 102 (4 Females) (5 land owners, 97 sharecroppers and agricultural labours)

Daily wage labours: 205

Unemployed Youths: 360

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Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Mob: +91-94370-50103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Going live on Zee Kalinga TV tonite to discus Drinking Water Issues!

Dear Friends:

Tonite (23rd July) @ 9 PM, I shall go live on Zee Kalinga TV for a discussion on drinking water problems in Odisha.

Time permitting, please watch. Thanks!

Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha
Mahanadi River Waterkeeper(Member, Global Water Keeper Alliance, New York)
Mob: +91-94370-50103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Going Live on Prameya New 7 TV to talk about Cyclone Affected Districts of Odisha!

Dear Friends: 

In a few minutes from now at about 11 am, I shall go live (over phone) on Prameya News7 TV to discuss on cyclone prone districts of Odisha! 

Thanks...

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Mob: +91-94370-50103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Going live on Prameya TV to discuss Odisha's Green Energy Policy!

Friends: Will go live (over phone) @11.30 AM today, on Prameya News TV, to discuss about Odisha govt.'s Green Energy Policy...Thanks!

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper(Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance)

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

6 farmers end life in six and half months: Bargarh district’s telling woes…

Farm distress takes another farmer's life in Bargarh. Failure in paddy procurement system and lack of a supportive govt forced debt ridden Haripal Budhia (45) to end life. The total toll of farmers heads reaches to 6 just in six and half months.

They marketed Hirakud canals as carriers of prosperity. Yes they are true, the Hirakud reservoir now brings prosperity to Aluminium industries, Coal fired Power Plants and other factories. The farmers are left to suffer!

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

WIO's Mahanadi River Basin Initiative: Pollution of River Jira at Bargarh city - citizen's survey today!

Today we will have our second round of Citizen's Survey in Bargarh to understand pollution of River Jira due to urban wastes...

It is as part of our 'Healthy Rivers Happy Cities' campaign under Mahanadi River Basin Initiative!

Look forward to a learning experience...

Thanks & regards,

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper(Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Fishermen out, Industries in: The Hirakud Reservoir case!

Thousands of fishermen families can go to hell: A few Industries have the right over Hirakud Reservoir -

Privatization of Hirakud Reservoir is killing local fishermen. Take for example the case of two industries, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. and Bhusan Steels & Power Ltd.  

They are drawing water through intake wells from deep inside the reservoir.  However, they have illegally cordoned a bigger stretch of the reservoir with their security forces.  

This has restricted the entry of local fishermen into the reservoir from that area.  Ironically these fishermen had been displaced by the Dam 67 years ago and have been depending on fishery from the reservoir for their livelihood. 

The industries have proved to be bane in another aspect as well.  The reservoir is highly polluted due to them and that has reduced the fish population drastically already.  Repeated plea before authorities by the poor folks have gone unheard.

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

A bore well per three seconds. Odisha is all set for a miraculous record this monsoon!

Realizing that the monsoon has been deficit in several districts, the govt. of Odisha is planning to dig 13000 bore wells for farmers just in a month's time!

It is not only an impossible task but also a wrong time for that. Ask any layman in the state and they would never prefer to invest in a bore well during monsoon. A bore well is best dug during summer.

Again, going by the speed in which our authorities work, it is all destined to be in papers only. We understand the drought action plan was drawn so late but please don't make it a failure by design. Or may be the authorities are in possession of some miraculous machines which I am unaware of.

I can only ask you to be realistic!!

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance)

Mob: +91-94370-50103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

UNFCCC calls for public input on CDM methodologies, revisions, information notes, standards and guidelines!

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Please find the following information that might be of use to some of you.  

Thanks and best regards,

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Mob: +91-9437050103

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com

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UNFCCC: Calls for public input on CDM methodologies, revisions, information notes, standards and guidelines

 The below calls for public input have been published to the UNFCCC website at https://cdm.unfccc.int/public_inputs/index.html.

+ Call for public input on the draft new methodology "AM00XX: Electric taxiing systems for airplanes" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the draft revision of "AM0058: Introduction of a new primary district heating system" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for public input on the draft new consolidated methodology "ACM00XX: Fossil fuel based cogeneration for identified recipient facility(ies)" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the draft revision of "ACM0001: Flaring or use of landfill gas" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the draft revision of "ACM0012: Waste energy recovery" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the draft revision of methodological tool "Tool to determine the baseline efficiency of thermal or electric energy generation systems" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the draft revision of methodological tools “Tool to calculate baseline, project and/or leakage emissions from electricity consumption” and “Tool to determine the mass flow of a greenhouse gas in a gaseous stream” (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

 + Call for public input on the information note: Analysis and proposals on the revision of "Tool to calculate emission factor of electricity system" (10 July to 24 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for input on the draft new top-down methodology "SSC_xx: Solar power for at-gate-aircraft" (11 to 25 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for input on the draft revision of the methodology "AMS-III.D: Methane recovery in animal manure management systems" (11 to 25 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for input on the draft revision of the methodology "AMS-III.H: Methane recovery in wastewater treatment" (11 to 25 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for input on the draft revision of the standard “Sampling and surveys for CDM project activities and programme of activities” (11 to 25 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

+ Call for input on the draft revision of the guideline “Sampling and surveys for CDM project activities and programmes of activities” (11 to 25 July 2015, 24:00 GMT)

'Forest rich' poor states vrs 'Forest poor' rich states!

Odisha' shows good compensatory afforestation records, Gujurat fails to compensate even a single tree it cut -

Statistics say it all. Believe a CAG report of 2014 and you would know that afforestation has happened in only 7 per cent of lands as against the target of 1,03,390 hectares where trees should have been planted since 2002 under the compensatory afforestation schemes.

The state of environment report of CSE finds out Gujurat and six other states (Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab and Rajasthan) did not plant a single tree against what they cut all these years. While many states lagged behind only Odisha and Assam showed high level of afforestation, this report says.

Well, while these are statistics only and the reality is surely different as we have seen in the grassroots. However, the so called rich and developed states have failed compensating forests even in statistics!

Die a holy death and get an insurance cover worth half a million!

Wondering if this Rath Yatra would be a good season to die in Puri. Insurance for accidental deaths including drowning has been increased from .1 million to half a million rupees. I am sure the incomplete drains, disastrous sewer network and other half way through infrastructure would be a good cause of drowning, more probable if it rains during the festival when millions will be crowding the city.

And well, death due to adulterated food and contaminated water should also be covered under this insurance scheme that is available to pilgrims between July 17 and July 30.

Then, the temple administration couldn't complete the Effluent Treatment Plant by June 30 deadline. Lord Jagannath may eat clean( I m not sure though) prashad but bhakts have to bear the brunt of untreated kitchen waste from his temple. Mind it, no small kitchen this. It generates 50 KL of waste water daily.

It is said a death can't be holier than when it happens it in the Dhams!

The Flood Gates Will Open, Mahanadi Will Flow:

Today in Hirakud;

monsoon will be respected…

Yet again, another year;

the rituals will be performed...

The flood gates will open!

The dam will give way;

River will flow…

Fishes will find their uninterrupted path;

fishermen will dance in joy…

The flood gates will open!

The dam will surrender, River will roar;

much to the farmer’s delight, the water will flow…

The flood gates will open, obstruction will go;

the River will flow…

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

13^th July 2015

The poor girl wanted a toilet for dignity, got death instead!

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

I am sharing a shocking news with you this morning.

It is alleged that a girl studying std 12 committed suicide because her parents did not construct a toilet.  She was ashamed of going for open defecation but the family was more worried about her marriage. Please read the link below for the details:

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/refused-toilet-at-home-class-12-student-allegedly-commits-suicide-778066

Marriages in India, especially that of the girl child, can be the greatest burden on Earth for the parents.

This sad news brings to the debate the complexity of issues and challenges that afflict our mission to make India open defecation free.  Mission mode, penalties for people who defecate in the open, etc. etc. many such drives may not actually work if such deep rooted socio-cultural and economic issues are not addressed.

Next time Vidya Balan comes on a TV ad and asks the girls to demand a toilet for their safety and dignity, I am sure reality will haunt her more than before!

Hope we will debate on the issues and prevent such incidents from happening in this country in future.

Look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Thanks and best regards,

Ranjan

-- 

Ranjan K Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)

Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Global Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Mobile: +919437050103
Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

Tweet @ranjanpanda

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/

Fighting water woes, combating climate change...25 years now!

http://planetark.org/wen/73383 Germany towards ending coal!

Aiming at curbing CO2 emission by 40 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, Germany plans to shut down coal-fired power plants with capacity of 2.7 gigawatts...

Good News!

http://planetark.org/wen/73383