Bioengineered slopes save Nog village in Himachal from floods

An innovative bioengineering technology implemented under the PMGSY has saved Nog village in Himachal from floods

When heavy rainfall led to floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, one village stood out. This is the village of Nog where landslides and floods did not have an impact because of the innovative soil bioengineering approach implemented in the area. 

Concrete retaining walls 10 feet high are traditionally used to protect roads from hillside slopes. However, these structures leave exposed slopes vulnerable to erosion during intense rains, exacerbating the risk of landslides. Bioengineering techniques were used for the first time in Nog village in Himachal Pradesh to stabilise exposed slopes at two locations on the new link road to Nog, as part of the the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). 

The exposed surface of the potential landslide area near Nog was covered with a wire-mesh netting, planted shrubs and grasses within the grid. Brush hedges and hardwood cuttings were planted to bind the soil in landslides areas that were triggered by erosion from a local river. The green infrastructure took root and gradually fortified the slopes, which were able to withstand the effects of floods that happened in 2023.

This ecological engineering technique harnesses the natural properties of plants and their root systems, and can offer a sustainable and cost-effective approach to mitigate environmental hazards and promote landscape restoration. This method is particularly effective in fragile ecosystems and areas prone to natural disasters such as landslides and floods.

In Himachal Pradesh, soil bioengineering to stabilise slopes alongside roads has also used both living and dead plants, such as bamboo, in conjunction with simple civil engineering structural elements such as catch drains, gabion walls and others.  (Dialogue.earth).

Purulia village in West Bengal transforms from a barren land to a green oasis 

Purulia village, situated on the westernmost fringes of the Rarh Bengal region was once covered with dense forests and was inhabited by tribal communities. However, the construction of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway led to clearing of forests, paving the way for urban settlements and displacing indigenous people. The land soon became desolate and barren due to lack of trees and water scarcity. Villagers started to migrate in search of better livelihood opportunities. 

However, it was in the midst of this desolation that Abhijeet Kundu and Debashish Chakraborty started the Sirjan farms in the sterile expanses of the Purulia-Bankura border, now known as Ushardihi village. Their vision was to implement indigenous agricultural practices and establish an organic farm. The Sirjan Farm was born and registered in 2017, which collaborated with tribal villagers employed as share-croppers and worked on improving soil quality and began cultivating native varieties of rice, mustard and jowar (sorghum). 

The farm predominantly features indigenous tree species such as palash (Butea monosperma), mahua (Madhuca longifolia) and segun (teak) as well as a selection of sal, neem, banyan and peepal scattered across the area. It has fruit trees, including mango, java plum and jackfruit. The farm also engages in fish farming and livestock rearing.

After nearly seven years of dedicated effort, the team made significant strides in improving the agricultural output from the farm and reigniting interest in farming and soil cultivation among the local populace. Farmers have now returned to their land and practice farming enabling them to sustainably reside in their ancestral village (Village Square).

Researchers from IIT Madras develop sensors to detect low concentrations of arsenic in water

Researchers from IIT Madres have developed nano-sized copper balls that emit red luminescence that can be used as sensors to detect very low concentrations of arsenic pollution in water. They plan to further work and develop this into a device that can instantly detect arsenic contamination at lower concentrations.

Small spheres of molecular copper have a characteristic property to emit red light. The balls of coppor break and emit red light when they come in contact with arsenate and arsenite. This helps detect presence and quantity of arsenic in water. The scientists are planning a mobile phone like device that can read fluorescence and analytics built on the cloud will indicate the concentration of arsenic in water. The sensor can also selectively identify arsenic in the presence of other common metal ions like cadmium, mercury, iron, lead, copper and chromium (Times of India).

Women led initiative in Chittoor provides hope for women diary farmers battling heat stress

Dairy farmers in Chittoor, known for its high milk production, are facing challenges due to extreme heat, which reduces milk output due to scarcity of green fodder and water. Andhra Pradesh ranks fifth in total milk production in India, and Chittoor is one of the state’s main dairy farming districts.

One of the major challenges Chittoor faces is its location in the Rayalaseema region, a drought-prone area with significant water scarcity. Farmers in the region continue to face heat-related challenges. The El Niño effect and shifting wind patterns have led to harsher summers. Chittoor is experiencing above-normal temperatures, contributing to increased heat stress on dairy animals.

As heat stress exacerbates, dairy farmers are finding relief through support from the Shreeja Mahila Milk Producer Company Limited (SMMPCL), the world’s largest women-owned and women-managed dairy company. Shreeja purchases milk at fair prices, and supplies high-quality fodder and access to veterinary doctors which support the dairy farmers in times of drought. Starting with 27 members in 2014 in Chittoor, Shreeja has expanded to 1.25 lakh members across twelve districts. 

Shreeja also maintains a women-centric supply chain— from milk pooling to the sale of by-products — granting the women members shareholding and ownership in the company. Its two-tier governance structure comprises village contact groups, each representing seven members and member relations groups based on individual villages (Mongabay, India).

Changes in Indian Ocean temperatures linked to dengue outbreaks: Study

Researchers have found a potential link between anomalies in sea-surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean and the intensity of dengue epidemics globally, offering hope for improved prediction of dengue outbreaks. 

The study has developed the Indian Ocean basin-wide (IOBW) index, which represents the average sea-surface temperature variations across the tropical Indian Ocean and exhibits a close association with dengue outbreaks in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 

The link between the Indian Ocean’s temperature and dengue incidence is likely due to its influence on regional temperatures through teleconnections, large-scale atmospheric patterns that can transfer heat and moisture across vast distances.

Improved prediction will greatly help in devising early warning systems that can help public health authorities anticipate and prepare for dengue outbreaks.  Temperature and rainfall have previously been linked to epidemics, but they provide a lead time of only around two weeks to three months, finds the study (Down To Earth).

This is a roundup of important policy updates from 1st May to 15th May, 2024. Read our policy updates here.