Water Pollution In India: An Overview

Most ancient civilizations grew along the banks of rivers. Even today, millions of people all over the world live on the banks of rivers and depend on them for their survival. All of us have seen a river large or small either flowing through our town or somewhere else. Rivers are nothing more than surface water flowing down from a higher altitude to a lower altitude due to the pull of gravity. One river might have its source in a glacier another in a spring or a lake. Rivers carry dissolved minerals organic compounds, small grains of sand gravel and other material as they flow downstream. Rivers begin as small streams which grow wider as smaller streams and rivers join them along their course across the land. Eventually they flow into seas or oceans. Unfortunately most of the world’s major rivers are heavily polluted. The pollution of environment is the gift of the Industrial revolution prior to this the agrarian cultures created significant environment deforestation and overgrazing. The Environmental degradation is a byproduct of modern civilization. Water Pollution is a major global problem which requires on going evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels. It has been suggested that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. An estimated 580 people in India die of water pollution related illness every day

Empowerment of Women through Microfinance in Chikmagalur District of Karnataka

The present study was carried out to analyse the indicators of women empowerment and evaluate the effectiveness of microfinance on women empowerment. Empowerment indicators were identified and analysed based on the responses of 60 SHG (Self-Help Group) women in Mudigere Taluk of Chikmagalur District of Karnataka state. The findings pointed the impact of microfinance on women empowerment based on women empowerment indicators using five-point Likert scale. It was concluded that women’s participation in microfinance empowers them in family, social and economic security in terms of decision making, mobility, ownership of assets and independent savings

A Fuzzy Logic Based Novel Signature Verification System on Bank Cheque with Fractal Dimensions and Connected Components

Signature plays its authorization role in almost every document. Proper care should be taken for the verification of the genuineness of the signature in legal documents. Signature verification scheme can be online or offline based on the acquisition type. A novel method for offline signature verification in bank cheques is proposed. It is found out that using fractal dimensions for verification purpose improves the accuracy rate. Also the fundamentals of offline signature verification process are discussed. The proposed system uses connected Components Labeling, Fractal Dimensions and Fuzzy Logic for signature verification. The signature is scanned and preprocessed. Using connected components labeling, the signature is split into regions and each region is labeled uniquely. Feature values for each labeled regions are extracted and normalised. Fractal dimensions of signature images are calculated. Extracted feature values and fractal dimensions are compared with the feature values of the sample signatures for its genuineness. Fuzzy classifies the genuine and forged signatures correctly to its fullest extent. Some signatures may have more noise or it may be complex for the system to identify or classify. Those signatures may need some manual intervention. The proposed verification system shows very good results with good sensitivity and specificity. It has an accuracy of maximum 50%

Neo-liberal capitalistic policies in modern conservation and the ultimate commodification of nature

The recent changes in global politics and the advancement of science and technology, have paved way for the modification and commodification of nature. The development of capitalism, and changes in modern conservation ideologies occurred at the same period, which is more than just a co-incidence. The capitalistic policies in conservation are shaping a new perspective of global environmentalism, which is presented as a spectacle. Whether these capitalistic policies stand the purpose is often questionable. In this work, I am going to discuss two main neo liberal practices in modern conservation, namely protected areas with reference to eco-tourism, and the Payment for Ecosystem Services with reference to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Forest Degradation and Deforestation), which shape modern environmentalism. These policies in modern environmentalism have made it easier to commodify nature, failing to understand that indigenous people living in forests do not have economic conditions, they have livelihood issues. So, The neo-liberal capitalistic policies has led to the loss of intrinsic value of nature, affecting the indigenous lifestyles and serves as an instrument of modern imperialism, acting as a boon to the ‘Transnational capital class’ and a curse to the indigenous people

Are secondary forests second-rate? Comparing peatland greenhouse gas emissions, chemical and microbial community properties between primary and secondary forests in Peninsular Malaysia

Tropical peatlands are globally important ecosystems with high C storage and are endangered by anthropogenic disturbances. Microbes in peatlands play an important role in sustaining the functions of peatlands as a C sink, yet their characteristics in these habitats are poorly understood. This research aimed to elucidate the responses of these complex ecosystems to disturbance by exploring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nutrient contents, soil microbial communities and the functional interactions between these components in a primary and secondary peat swamp forest in Peninsular Malaysia. GHG measurements using closed chambers, and peat sampling were carried out in both wet and dry seasons. Microbial community phenotypes and nutrient content were determined using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses respectively. CO2 emissions in the secondary peat swamp forest were > 50% higher than in the primary forest. CH4 emission rates were ca. 2 mg m−2 h−1 in the primary forest but the secondary forest was a CH4 sink, showing no seasonal variations in GHG emissions. Almost all the nutrient concentrations were significantly lower in the secondary forest, postulated to be due to nutrient leaching via drainage and higher rates of decomposition. Cu and Mo concentrations were negatively correlated with CO2 and CH4 emissions respectively. Microbial community structure was overwhelmingly dominated by bacteria in both forest types, however it was highly sensitive to land-use change and season. Gram-positive and Gram-negative relative abundance were positively correlated with CO2 and CH4 emissions respectively. Drainage related disturbances increased CO2 emissions, by reducing the nutrient content including some with known antimicrobial properties (Cu & Na) and by favouring Gram-positive bacteria over Gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that the biogeochemistry of secondary peat swamp forest is fundamentally different from that of primary peat swamp forest, and these differences have significant functional impacts on their respective environments

Environmental impacts as affected by different oil palm cropping systems in tropical peatlands

Tropical peatlands are globally important for their high carbon storage and unique biodiversity, but are currently under severe threat in South East Asia from expansion of oil palm plantations. A large part of this expansion in Peninsular Malaysia arises from small-holder oil palm plantations that follow varied cropping practices, yet their impact on the environment is largely unexplored. This research aimed to study and evaluate the environmental and belowground microbial impacts of different smallholder cropping systems relative to forested peatlands in North Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Specifically, GHG measurements using closed chambers, and peat sampling were carried out in both wet and dry seasons. Microbial phenotypic community structure was determined using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Relative to forested peatlands, the agricultural plantations had increased pH, temperature and bulk density, decreased organic content, and peat moisture, with a pineapple intercropping site as the only exception. These effects were most pronounced in 2nd generation mono-cropping systems. Soil microbial community structure, dominated by Gram-positive bacteria under all land-use types, differed significantly between agricultural sites and forest, and also showed significant seasonal variation. There was a general increase in non-specific fatty acids and a decrease in Gram-positive fatty acids in agricultural sites from forest, however microbial community structure were similar in most agricultural sites. CO2 emissions were greatest at the forest site and showed no seasonal variations, however most of the forest CO2 emissions were most likely due to high autotrophic contribution from roots. CH4 emissions were under 1 mg m−2 h−1 for all the agricultural sites, while forest peat surface absorbed similar low quantity of CH4. Overall, the changes in peat properties and loss of C was greatest in the 2nd generation mono-cropping, while the intercropping systems ameliorated these effects by maintaining most of the forest peat organic content and causing relatively smaller changes in pH, moisture and bulk density. It is clear that oil palm intercropping have an ameliorating effect on environmental impacts caused by the expansion of oil palm plantations into peatlands

Interactions between labile carbon, temperature and land use regulate carbon dioxide and methane production in tropical peat

Tropical peatlands are a significant carbon store and contribute to global carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. Tropical peatlands are threatened by both land use and climate change, including the alteration of regional precipitation patterns, and the 3–4 °C predicted warming by 2100. Plant communities in tropical peatlands can regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes through labile carbon inputs, but the extent to which these inputs regulate the temperature response of CO2 and CH4 production in tropical peat remains unclear. We conducted an anoxic incubation experiment using three peat types of contrasting botanical origin to assess how carbon addition affects the temperature response (Q10) of CO2 and CH4 production. Peats from forested peatlands in Panama and Malaysia, and a converted oil palm and pineapple intercropping system in Malaysia, differed significantly in redox potential, total carbon and carbon: nitrogen ratio. The production of CO2 and CH4 varied significantly among peat types and increased with increasing temperature, with Q10s for both gases of 1.4. Carbon addition further increased gas fluxes, but did not influence the Q10 for CO2 or CH4 production or significantly affect the Q10 of either gas. These findings demonstrate that the production of CO2 and CH4 in tropical peat is sensitive to warming and varies among peat types, but that the effect of root inputs in altering Q10 appears to be limited. © 2019, The Author(s)

Is intercropping an environmentally-wise alternative to established oil palm monoculture in tropical peatlands?

Tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia are important ecosystems that play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles, with a potential for strong climate feedback loops. The degradation of tropical peatlands due to the expansion of oil palm plantations and their impact on biodiversity and the carbon balance is a global concern. The majority of conversion of Southeast Asian peatlands to agriculture has been by smallholder oil palm farmers, who follow more varied cropping systems compared to industrial plantations, and have better scope for expansion of other alternative varied cropping systems if supported and encouraged. Using previously-published data on peat physicochemical properties, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions from small-holder oil palm plantations, we determined that prolonged oil palm monocropping for two generations would result in loss of carbon and peat functional properties that may lead to potential declassification of peatlands. We propose intercropping during the early stages of oil palm as a wise alternative for already-existing plantations in tropical peatlands to ameliorate some of the negative environmental impacts of oil palm on the physio-chemical properties of peat. However, we emphasize the need to more fully explore the sustainability of intercropping systems throughout the life cycle of palm plantations on peatlands, and integrate with current management practices. We also emphasize the further need for research to fully assess the impacts of oil palm intercropping compared to widely-practiced oil palm monocropping. Finally, we suggest changes in government certification policies to encourage intercropping practices by smallholders

OPTIMIZATION STUDY ON EXTRACTION & PURIFICATION OF PHYCOERYTHRIN FROM RED ALGAE KAPPAPHYCUS ALVAREZII

Objective: The current study focuses on R-Phycoerythrin pigment production from Seaweed using different chemical and physical conditions. Methods: In the present study Seaweed was collected from Rameshwaram and identified by CS-MCRI Institute, Mandapam. The collected seaweed was then washed using distilled water for further processing. Using a sterile knife the seaweed was cut into small pieces. The chopped seaweeds were then weighed and subjected to different optimization procedures for pigment production. These equally weighed seaweeds were treated with three varying Buffers at different pH, the buffer showing better O.D value was subjected to different Cell disruption techniques and finally freeze thawed at different temperature stress.Results: The seaweeds were subjected to different chemical and physical stress conditions for R-phycoerythrin production. On optimizing the different buffer solutions for pigment production Sodium phosphate buffer showed maximum O.D of 0.215 when compared to other buffers whereas on providing different pH conditions the O.D value obtained was high at pH 7.2. Different cell disruption techniques were followed for pigment production using the sodium phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 and freeze thaw method was found suitable for the highest pigment production with O.D value of 0.441. Hence after optimization of different extraction procedures, cell disruption followed by freeze & thaw method (−20°C and 25°C) showed maximum R-phycoerythrin content. Conclusion: From the findings, it was also observed that the primary metabolites produced by these organisms may serve as potential bioactive compounds of interest in the Food industries as natural colourant and in cosmetic industries.Keywords: Seaweeds, Extraction, Phycoerythrin, Optimization, Cell disruption, Sonication