Karnataka to launch floating solar energy parks on its lakes

Karnataka to launch 'water surface solar energy parks' on its lakes

Three government departments of Karnataka, namely the minor irrigation, water resources and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) have come together to create the first-ever ‘water surface solar energy parks’ in southern India.

Forty lakes exceeding 100 acres and maintained under the Lift Irrigation Scheme have have been selected as a part of this initiative. These lakes cover approximately 10,000 acres, maintain water levels of 50 to 60 percent throughout the year, which makes them suitable for installing floating solar power units that have the potential to generate around 2,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity. 

The aim of this initiative is to reduce the electricity costs incurred by the irrigation department for irrigation projects. Nationally, only 1 gigawatt of electricity is currently generated through floating solar panels. There is significant potential for installing these panels both across the country and within Karnataka.

A significant advantage of floating solar panels is that they do not require additional land, making them an optimal method for solar power generation. While implementation costs could be higher, the long term benefits are high and the cost recovery can be made within the first five years of operation (Down To Earth).

IIT Madras, Tel Aviv University, Israel and KMCH-Research Foundation launch a water quality course

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Tel Aviv University, Israel, and KMCH-Research Foundation (KMCH-RF), Coimbatore, to start a water quality course aimed at creating water-literate citizens.

The four-month-long course will be offered in hybrid mode through the NPTEL online-platform, and accept final-year science and engineering students, and anyone with a technical background interested in water quality.

The course will focus on developing a comprehensive understanding of important aspects of water quality, analysis of key parameters, and their impact on human health. It will also establish a database of water quality from diverse sources such as households, rivers, borewells, groundwater, and pipeline networks. 

 After a detailed introduction to fundamental aspects of water quality, students will conduct practical tests, including surveys. They will receive a certificate upon completion which may be credited as part of their degree programme via their institution (India Today).

Technology helps cotton farmers deal with pink bollworm disease

A groundbreaking pilot project by the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time pest monitoring. The project uses AI-powered pheromone traps, and aims to empower farmers with the information needed to make timely pest management decisions. This is the first kind of initiative that has  pioneered the use of AI for pest control in crops.

Pheromone traps contain the pheromone gossyplure, which is a chemical emitted by female moths to attract male moths, which has long been used to reduce crop pests. Farmers need to install five pheromone traps per hectare and monitor the activity of male moths to determine whether it exceeds the economic threshold level, or ETL.

The pilot programme focuses on three major cotton-growing districts in Punjab namely, Muktsar, Bhatinda and Mansa and has the potential to significantly reduce economic losses for farmers tackling PBW infestations. This project will further be implemented in Rajasthan and Haryana (Down To Earth).

Houselifting helps Kuttanad residents in Kerala combat floods

Kuttanad’s topography combined with incomplete and unplanned development initiatives are leading to  frequent flooding in the region. leave the region vulnerable to frequent flooding. The 900 sq. km. delta region is located 2.2 to 3 metres below sea level and spread across three districts — Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta. Things have changed dramatically after the floods in 2018 and 2019 that forced many in Kuttanad to take shelter in relief camps and faraway houses of relatives.

A potential remedy to the fear of displacement for residents has come in the form of an architectural design solution - raising their houses by three to six feet above the above flood water levels. This is a form of Western technology used to raise the height of wooden houses and translocate them if needed. In India, this technique was initiated and perfected on RCC (cement and concrete) structures in Haryana, particularly in the Yamunanagar district.

Houses are raised using hydraulic jacks and sliding steel I-beams under the ground floor. Strong timber pieces are then cross-stacked beneath the raised floor with every lift, often in increments of six to 10 inches, until the desired height is reached. The jacks are then removed gradually, allowing the building to rest on the cross-stacked timbers (Mongabay, India).

Chashi bandhus (farmer's friends) help communities restore their forests in West Bengal 

Bankura district in West Bengal was completely barren with its hill tracts lacked sufficient vegetative cover, leading to soil erosion and water running off from the high slopes to the valleys.  The community suffered from a severe lack of trees and plantations and water availability despite receiving heavy rainfall. Scarcity of water and the rocky grounds made it challenging to cultivate any food crops. The absence of grasslands also forced animals to graze elsewhere, compelling people to sell their precious cattle. As a result, migration was common in the region.

The barren terrain has now been converted into a lush landscape with the participation of the community in planning and implementing the Evergreen in East programme initiated by Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), a development organisation, and Hindustan Unilever Foundation, the corporate social responsibility wing of Hindustan Unilever company.

The Evergreen in East programme of PRADAN and Hindustan Unilever Foundation was launched to establish an alternative agricultural system that focuses on restorative and regenerative principles. This programme aims to be the pathway for this region to address its poverty and food insecurity. 

An integral part of the programme was to ensure a behavioural shift in the community through a base of frontline workers called chashi bandhus – which translates as farmers’ friends. The chashi bandhus were trained in how to engage with communities and plan for water resources and sensitised to the vital connection between reforestation in upland areas and soil health improvement in the lowlands, where the communities could cultivate crops. They also raised awareness about the advantages of conserving and caring for communal forest land in the villages.  

The chashi bandhus were also involved in constructing trenches along with the villagers on the slopes to absorb water, which helped in preventing rainwater runoff, allowing it to seep into the soil and trickle down the hill to seepage wells in the lowlands facilitating the growth of planted trees and also growth of crops.

The efforts gradually led to the regeneration of a lush green forest thus bringing back birds and animals and enhancing the ecology and biodiversity of the region reducing runoff, increasing availability of water, reduced leaching and enhanced soil moisture (Village Square). 

This is a roundup of important news updates from July 1 to July 15, 2024. Read our policy updates here.