Ground Water Management in Alluvial Areas

Alluvial formations are important sources of abundant and dependable ground water supplies. Because of large saturated thickness and high well yields, these formations have been extensively exploited for large-scale supplies of water for industrial, irrigation and urban use. Intensive use of ground water from these formations has led to several problems. Such is the case in Punjab also. Despite the fact that Punjab occupies only 1.57% geographical area of India, it contributes more than 50 % grain in the central grain pool. More than 83% of land in Punjab is under agriculture as compared to 40.38% of national average. The cropping pattern of wheat and paddy rotation has led to manifold increase in irrigation water demand. Injudicious surface water irrigation policies, indiscriminate / excessive ground water pumpage due to free electricity coupled with irrational irrigation and agricultural practices have led to situation wherein fresh ground water resources of the state have depleted at an alarming rate in most parts of the state. On the other hand, the south-western parts of Punjab are facing severe water logging problems. Thus the state has to have a twin pronged strategy to manage its ground water resources – 1) to arrest the declining trend of ground water and 2) to combat water logging. Punjab is occupied by Quaternary alluvial deposits of Indus river basin. In major part of the state, ground water levels are in the range of 10 to 20 meters. However around major cities like Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Sangrur, water levels are 20 to 40 meters deep. The long-term water level fluctuation data indicates that water levels in major parts of the state have declined drastically. As per the ground water assessment carried out, net dynamic ground water resources of Punjab State are 21.443 MCM (Million Cubic meters), whereas net draft is 31.162 MCM, leading to ground water deficit of 9.719 MCM. The stage of ground water development for the State as a whole is 145% and the State falls under “over- exploited†Category. Apart from several water management strategies, like better irrigation and on-farm management practices, change in cropping pattern, banning early plantation of paddy etc., the main emphasis in this paper has been laid on the utilization of non-committed surplus monsoon rainfall runoff. As per the Master Plan for artificial recharge to ground water prepared for Punjab state, about 1200 MCM of water is available from surplus monsoon runoff. By adopting rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water by utilizing this water, the negative impact on the ground water regime can be checked, to quite an extent. Central Ground Water Board has taken up several pilot demonstrative artificial recharge projects in Punjab that can be replicated in other parts of the state too. Some of these projects have also been discussed in this paper

“Smart Cane Indicating a Safe free Path to Blind People Using Ultrasonic Sensor”

Visually impaired people generally use the typical white cane. There are many electronic aids for blind people in both prototype and market state. The paper introduces the problem area that motivated the work and giving an alternative solution. In this paper we propose A Safe Free Path to Visually Impaired Person Using PIC16 and ultrasonic sensors to make the cane smart. The system we propose detects the nearest Obstacle and sends back vibro-tactile feedback to inform the user about its localization. The system aims at increasing the mobility of visually impaired people by offering new and low cost cane for indoor and outdoor use which can warn them at any time when any obstacle comes in his path

Twin pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting live fetus complicated with HELLP syndrome

Hydatidiform mole with a coexisting live twin is an extremely rare event. It poses a great challenge for the obstetrician to decide for or against continuation of such a pregnancy, especially if the conception is after infertility treatment. Continuation carries risk of medical complications and persistent trophoblastic disease. We report a case of 22 year old primigravida, with complete hydatidiform mole coexisting with a live fetus. Patient had conceived in her fourth cycle of ovulation induction and wanted to continue pregnancy. She developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. In this case report we highlight the importance of intense antenatal monitoring and the possibility of sudden deterioration of maternal condition forcing immediate termination

Effect of Piper nigrum (Linn.) seeds extract and second line anti-tuberculosis drugs on a few Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

Piper nigrum (Linn.) belonging to the family Piperaceae have been reported for its multitudinous medicinal values. The present study was undertaken to examine the direct effect of Ethionamide (ETH), Para amino salicylic acid (PAS), ethanolic extracts of P. nigrum on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strain H37Rv and Multi drug-resistant (MDR)-strains-12, 19 and 21. The proportion method was used to detect the anti-mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing for mycobacteria using Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium. It was found that P. nigrum does not interfere with single or in the combination of both ETH and PAS showing the bioenhancer activity. In vitro study of ethanolic extract of P. nigrum observed that the extract inhibited the growth of H37Rv strains and MDR strains-12, MDR strains 19, and MDR strains 21. The present results will pave new avenues to find a new medicine that possesses P. nigrum alone or in combination with drugs to combat MDR-strains controlling tuberculosis

Studies on Transport of Carbonate Ions through a Supported Liquid Membrane

The transport of carbonate ions through a supported liquid membrane in the presence and absence of carriers has been explored. The liquid membrane used was the combined liquid cation and anion exchangers in toluene immobilized in the porous polypropylene support. The permeability coefficient (P) of carbonate ions transport from the source to receiving through membrane phase has been estimated. The different experimental variables such as the concentration of carbonate ions in source phase, the concentration of Aliquat-336 (tricapryl(methyl)ammonium carbonate) and PC-88A (2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) in membrane phase, alkali metal hydroxide concentration in receiving phase, and the stirring speed of the source phase and receiving phase have been explored. The stability of liquid membrane phase during the transport of carbonate ions from source phase to receiving phase was tested for 50 h. The enrichment factor for carbonate ion transport from the source to receiving phase was found to be higher at lower concentrations of carbonate ions in comparison with that of at higher concentrations. A model has been developed for the effective transport of carbonate ions through the cross section area of liquid membrane phase from source to receiving phase

Laparoscopic resection of unruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy

A non communicating rudimentary horn is an uncommon site for ectopic pregnancy. Rudimentary horn pregnancy is a rare entity but associated with grave clinical consequences. Majority of these cases if not detected timely end up in uterine rupture and present as an obstetrical emergency. We present this case of a 32 years old, third gravida with a 12 weeks live gestation in the right rudimentary horn, which was successfully managed with laparoscopic resection. Early diagnosis is the key stone in the management of such cases. Laparoscopic resection is a safe and viable option in the surgical management of unruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome complicated with pyocolpos: an unusual cause of postabortal sepsis

Obstructive mullerian anomalies give rise to a spectrum of clinical presentations and are uncommon in routine gynecologic practice. The patient usually becomes symptomatic in early reproductive years. Recurrent pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, enlarging abdominopelvic mass and abnormal vaginal discharge are the common presenting symptoms. We describe a rare case of a mullerian anomaly getting diagnosed 13 years after attaining menarche during evaluation of postabortal sepsis. Patient presented two weeks following evacuation done for missed abortion, with acute abdominal pain, fever and foul smelling discharge per vaginum. The anomaly was identified as uterus didelphys with obstructed left hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis (Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome) complicated by pyocolpos. She was successfully managed by single stage transvaginal septum resection under laparoscopic control

Bromo-butyl Rubber for Face Piece of a Respiratory Mask

Respiratory mask contains a number of components made of materials like rubber, plastics, and metals. Out of all the components, face piece is the main component exposed to the external environment. This study aims to evaluate degradation of bromo-butyl rubber. The experiments were carried out for thermal exposure, swelling study, saline exposure, etc. It is observed that the elongation at break was increased by 10 per cent when these were exposed to 100 oC. However, the tensile strength has been observed to decrease by 50 per cent when exposed to 55 oC. It is decreased to around 63 per cent when exposed to 80 oC and 100 oC. The morphological appearance of unaged sample was intact. Only samples at 120 oC aged for 48 h appeared to have developed minor cracks of <0.01 µm. There were no significant changes observed when the samples were exposed to saline (3 % NaCl) and artificial sweat solution.Defence Science Journal, 2009, 59(5), pp.505-511, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.59.155