Salem is one of the largest cities in Tamil Nadu, India. More than 1 million people live here. Piyush Manush is the convener of the Salem Citizen's Forum (SCF). SCF is an informal group, involved in protecting Salem's environment. The lake was built by the British for irrigating nearby farmlands. The lake is spread across 58 acres and used to be a major water body of the city. But gradually it became a dumpsite for Salem's municipal solid waste. In 2010 SCF took over the work of cleaning the lake. But first, they had to get rid of the garbage and then desilt the waterbody.
What tigers eat and the space they occupy protects the health of their entire ecosystem.
Carrying water by trains could be an emergency measure. Chennai has a strong tradition of water harvesting. But the problem is that most of these structures are either defunct or poorly maintained. Chennai which had 19 major lakes covering an area of 1130 hectares. But these waterbodies have been heavily encroached upon reducing their spread to just about 645 hectares. Its time that we understand the importance of water harvesting.
Wetlands purify water through natural processes where aquatic plants act as bio-filters. Plants absorb phosphates and nitrates from the water and roots help to put back oxygen into the water.
Constructed wetlands are a cost-effective method of treating wastewater and polluted water bodies. These are low cost solutions and can be easily made or replicated.
Mr Rakesh Khatri has actively promoted sparrow conservation. Since 2007, he has been building nests for sparrows using natural material like bamboo, jute and coir. He trains young people to build these nests so that they could put them up around the city.
In an urbanized world, we have cut down trees and taken over the natural habitat of the birds.
Every monsoon the incidences of caving in increases. Nature or human activities–who is to blame?
D Suresh lives in Kilpauk in Chennai in his green and sustainable home. An IIT and IIM graduate, 71 year old Suresh has managed to set up a rooftop solar plant, biogas plant, rainwater harvesting, rooftop kitchen garden and a bamboo forest in front of his house. Solar Suresh as people call him today is the face of sustainable living in the new Urban India. Watch to know more!
