Monthly Archives: March 2018

E-waste industry comes together to streamline recycling process

Bengaluru generates around 1 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste annually. | Photo Credit: Handout_E_Mail
Bengaluru generates around 1 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste annually. | Photo Credit: Handout_E_Mail

Very little of the estimated 18 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste that India generates per annum is recycled

Of an estimated 18 lakh metric tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) that India generates per annum, less than 2 lakh tonnes reach licenced recyclers. The rest is either reaching the unorganised sector (such as scrap dealers), or ending up in landfills. Not only does this mean that potentially recyclable e-waste is being wasted, but also that unscientifically managed e-waste is a hazard that stands exposed.

Now, around 180 recyclers from across the country have joined hands to change the narrative and come together to form the All India e-Waste Recyclers’ Association. To be headquartered in Bengaluru, the association will look at streamlining the dismantling and recycling cycle of e-waste in the country.

Gururaj N., general secretary of the new association, told The Hindu that the dismantling and recycling industry is a nascent one, though e-waste itself is not.

“The e-waste quantum is calculated based on the sales that happened in the previous year, according to which the estimated e-waste generated is 18 lakh metric tonne per annum. Bengaluru generates around 1 lakh metric tonnes. The other big contributors are the National Capital Region, Mumbai, Chennai and now Hyderabad and Pune. Electronics is a component in many things — from laptops and air-conditioners to cars, which has 26% electronic component. The rate of progress in technology is a big key in e-waste,” he said.

In addition to what are called ‘white goods’, such as television, household e-waste that includes fans, lights and other essentials translates into 100 to 150 kg of electronic items in each house at any given point of time, which could eventually end up becoming e-waste. Despite all this, recyclers are running at 40 or 50% capacity as little waste is actually reaching them, said Mr. Gururaj.

Tackling the basics

The association is aiming at tackling the basics first: work with local municipal bodies to set up e-waste collection centres similar to the dry waste collection centres that are now being established in many cities. They also want to ensure that people find it convenient to make their e-waste reach recyclers. For this, they are planning to set up technology-driven drop boxes to enable people to put their waste and be paid back through e-wallets.

“It is not a business where people want to give away items for free. In addition, we want to ensure that the recycling process pushes urban mining, wherein dismantling and recycling brings out raw material such as gold, silver and copper (present in small units in many electronic items). There is already a scarcity of ore, and these metals have higher consumption, but the same production levels, which is why their prices have gone up,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by K.C. Deepika / March 30th, 2018

Suragi by U.R. Ananthmurthy review — the phenomenon called URA

AnanthamurthyBF31mar2018

An irrepressible spirit that cannot be contained within the material body of words

“‘Suragi’… this flower from the Malnad region, which takes me back to my childhood, grows more fragrant as it wilts. At a time when my health is failing, I wish to be like the suragi,” wrote URA in his preface to his autobiography in Kannada, published in 2012. S.R. Ramakrishna, who has distilled the essence of this suragi and made its delicate fragrance waft further beyond Kannada country, has ensured it an ‘afterlife’ through his sensitive translation of the text.

After Tagore, if there was one cultural icon at the national level with a similar kind of reach, it was URA. A master storyteller, URA authored many a modern classic such as Samskara, Bharathipura, and Avasthe, several short story collections, along with a prolific body of writing covering literary criticism and essays on culture and politics. While he had written and spoken about his life, his inspirations, and his politics all along at different venues, his autobiography brings together the varied skeins of his complex and colourful life, complementing his literary landscape.

Critical engagement

If URA was an engaging presence, it was because he was truly engaged with everything — little and big — that was happening around him. And his autobiography bears testimony to this unique feature of his personality.

Ananthamurthy02BF31mar2018

Spread over 10 chapters, the work covers crucial aspects of his life: childhood, student days, domestic life, teaching career, writing and creativity, and his experience as Vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Chairman of National Book Trust and Sahitya Akademi. Not to speak of the controversies that marked his journey as a ‘critical insider’ who kept a strict vigil on his social and cultural world and his side of the story.

While the contents page bravely attempts to arrange his life into these categories, the complexity of his lived experience and the even more complex understanding he has of that life do not allow for a linear, straightforward narrative. And all for the better. What we have is a richly textured narrative which combines experience and reflection, the lyrical and the discursive. The style was the man.

URA’s autobiography bears an organic relation to the intellectual and writer he was. A large part of his writing was already autobiographical, especially his stories and novels, which have drawn heavily from his childhood in Malnad region and his later years in Mysuru.

As Ja. Naa. Tejashree — his collaborator who collated and organised the material — notes, while his experience shapes a particular structure of thought in his creative works, the socio-political world that shaped his experience is foregrounded in the autobiography. Thus the text is best read as a political and cultural biography of his times — its hopes and fears, utopias and dystopias.

Ramakrishna, well-known for his creative translations, has provided a fitting ‘saath’ to URA and his collaborator. Based on his intimate knowledge of URA’s milieu, he plays around with English, using his discretion to leave certain words untranslated.

He has followed the shifting contours of the narrative, comfortably moving from the lyrical to the discursive. However, some rigorous copy-editing, especially of the starting chapters, would have made for better readability.

It is surprising that the translation does not carry the name of the collaborator on the cover page, a feature that marks the original text. The original carries a foreword by URA and another by Tejashree which describe the intent and processes involved in the making of this text, which is crucial to reading it as a mediated text.

Charismatic persona

Also, the Kannada original carries at the end a detailed list of URA’s writings, speeches, papers and presentations, as well as awards and honours, along with dates. Including these features of the original would have made the text an even more useful resource for URA scholars.

Despite the candid effort at capturing his life, one wonders if URA remains outside of his text. Could it be that the narrative is so largely social and outward that his inward, creative self has been subdued?

Or is it that URA’s towering achievements and his charismatic persona are hard to contain in words — like the quote from Eliot that URA uses, “Trying to use words… each venture… is a raid on the inarticulate”?

The man had donned so many hats and combined so many spaces and times in one lifetime that his irrepressible spirit cannot be contained within the material body of words. Perhaps this is why Girish Kasaravalli’s film on him was also titled Ananthamurthy: Not a Biography, but a Hypothesis.

To say that a large part of URA still lies outside of his autobiography is to pay homage to the élan vital of the man who engaged with his cultural and political world with exemplary commitment till his last day. Suragi is successful in gesturing towards this phenomenon called URA.

The writer is a teacher and a translator who works with Kannada and English.

Suragi; U.R. Ananthamurthy, trs S.R. Ramakrishna, Oxford University Press,₹650

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books> Translation / by Venamala Vishwanatha / March 17th, 2018

‘Daggers’ drawn at seventeen

This teenage author, who hails from Belgaum talks about her debut novel and her love for murder mysteries.

Malvika Misra
Malvika Misra

“I started writing The Seven Daggers when I was 12 years old. I have always been very fond of reading and writing, and once I had the story in my head, it evolved as I kept writing,” says the 17-year old author, Malvika Misra who was born in Belgaum, and now lives in New Delhi.

Malvika has always enjoyed adventure and mystery stories, so she was very keen on writing an adventure novel ever since she was a little girl, which is the reason why she based the main characters in her books around that age group too. “It helped me understand how to create characters and their respective behaviour, actions and reactions,” she says.

But apart from her own book, this voracious reader can’t make up her mind about her favourite list! She says her favourites are, The Book Thief, Murder On The Orient Express, Malory Towers and To Kill a Mockingbird. “One thing they all have in common is that they are all fiction, whether it is adventure, crime, or comedy. Fiction gives the writer the power to do anything,” explains Malvika.

The Seven Daggers -Book Cover
The Seven Daggers -Book Cover

Most of all, she adores Agatha Christie! She says, “I love her style of writing. If I met her, I would have loved to ask her, ‘What do you think are the ingredients to make the perfect plot for a mystery novel?’ Because there is nothing more exciting than gripping suspense and mystery in a great novel.”

Her father’s transferrable job was quite overwhelming as they hopped from one city to another but she feels, “Each place offered me new experiences but the best part was making more friends along the way.” She has lived in numerous cities, and just moved to Delhi a couple of years ago, and it has been a good experience.

The 17-year-old also is quite good at golf and likes to play the sport whenever she gets the time. Asking her about what she has been up to lately, she adds, “I’m learning Kuchipudi at the moment. Although, nowadays, I don’t have much time to pursue it as I’ve been busy studying for my board exams.” Studies have got her more than occupied these days!

Back to her book, she describes why Peter Thomas is her favourite character, “I find him very humorous and mysterious. He becomes someone who the other characters can depend on and trust. Another fictional character that I like would be Mary Poppins. She has always been a favourite as she is fun and peculiar!”

In the future, she plans to write a sequel to The Seven Daggers and also try her hand at other genres for different age groups. She also hopes to get recognition for her writing and would also like to trek around the country with her friends, “As there is a lot to explore, see and learn,” Malvika concludes.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Books and Art / by Cathline Chen, Deccan Chronicle / March 07th, 2018

Music festivals keep alive an old tradition in Mysuru

Bidaram Krishnappa’s Sri Prasanna Sitarama Mandira has a 102-year history of conducting music concerts.File Photo
Bidaram Krishnappa’s Sri Prasanna Sitarama Mandira has a 102-year history of conducting music concerts.File Photo

City sees many music concerts during Ramanavami season

The city’s cultural scene reaches a zenith during Dasara and it’s universally acknowledged, given its royal pedigree and government patronage since the 1970s.

But there is another facet to the cultural scene of Mysuru – of organisations and individuals keeping alive the musical heritage and it comes to the fore during the Ramanavami season.

A purely voluntary initiative with individual contributions and devoid of any government patronage, the city plays host to scores of classical music concerts.

The princely state of Mysuru under the Wadiyars was a patron of classical music and great composers and artistes thrived and flourished here thanks to their encouragement.

A majority of them were court musicians of whom Mysore Sadashivarao, a composter who lived during the rein of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (1831 to 1868), started the Ramothsava celebrations in Mysuru, according to the Mysore Gazetteer.

Among the cultural organisations, Bidaram Krishnappa’s Sri Prasanna Sitarama Mandira has a 102-year history and tradition of conducting music concerts and hence is a heritage site given its association with cultural personalities. The venue is also an important repository of classical paintings and has a rich collection of 45 works of art in the traditional Mysuru stule, Thanjavur style among others.

Its hallowed precincts has played host to legendary musicians who constitute the who’s who of Indian classical music. Built by Bidaram Krishnappa, (1866-1931), a great exponent of Carnatic music and who adorned the court of Krishnaraja Wadiyar 1V, the festival this year features 11 concerts including by Mysore M Nagaraj and Mysore M Manjunath, Malladi Brothers, R.K.Padmanabhan, Pandit Hafiz Khan among others. The Aralikatte Sri Ramamandira on the Jayalakshmi Vilas Road too has a similar pedigree but over the years, the classical music concert has paved the way for devotional singing by various bhajana mandalis of the city. This year, the cultural programmes, which began on Sunday, will be held till April 11.

Sree Ramabhyudaya Sanha, established in 1890, is one of the oldest institutions and has lined up a series of musicians for the Ramanavami music festival. To be held at the Allamma Choultry Srirampet, the line-up includes Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, Malladi Brotehrs, Ganesh and Kumaresh to name a few. The festival which commenced on Sunday, will conclude on April 4.

These apart, Sri Ramaseva Charitable Trust, whose concert series commenced on March 18 will conclude on March 27. The Krishnamurthypuram Sri Ramamandira is conducting the Ramanavami for the 89th year and its programme line-up includes both devotional renderings and classical music concerts – which commenced on March 18 – will conclude on March 29.

Sri Ramaseva Mandali established in 1954, Sri Sitarama Temple Trust at Railway Colony, Sri Rama temple, Jayanagar (52nd year) are among other places to which devotees and music aficionados will flock to satiate their appetite.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by R. Krishnakumar / Mysuru – March 28th, 2018

Mangalore University honours sports achievers at Darpana

MangaluruUnivMPOs30mar2018

Mangaluru :

Mangalore University honoured its sports achievers – individual, colleges and its team – at Darpana, a gala event at Mangalgangothri on Tuesday. Alva’s College, Moodbidri received the overall champions’ trophy for 2017-18 in inter-collegiate events with tally of 571 points. Sri Dharmasthala College, Ujire finished runners up with 430 points and Alva’s College of Education was placed third with 333 points. K Byrappa, vice-chancellor, handed over the trophies.
Alva’s College topped both men’s and women’s section to retain permanent trophy and took home cash prize of Rs 15,000 each. Athletes from SDM College, Ujire finished second in men’s and women’s section to take home Rs 10,000 each with permanent trophies. St Aloysius College and Alva’s College of Physical Education that was placed third in men’s and women’s section respectively received cash award of Rs 6000 and permanent trophies to boot.

The university honoured athletes who set new records in inter-collegiate athletic meet, weight lifting, and power lifting competitions. Likewise, members of men’s kho-kho team that won silver medal in South zone and bronze in all India inter-university championship, women’s Kabaddi team that finished runner-up in South-zone inter-university championship, kho-kho team that won silver in South zone inter-university championships received cash awards of Rs 3000 each.

Likewise, members of women’s hockey team that bagged gold in South Zone inter-university meet received Rs 5000 each, six members of men’s cross country team that won gold in All India inter-university championship Rs 7000 each, women’s team that finished runner up in the same meet Rs 5000 each. Members of women’s ball badminton team that bagged gold for a record 14th time in All India inter-university championship received cash awards of Rs 7000 each.

The men’s netball team that bagged gold in All India inter-university meet received Rs 7000 each. Medalists in all India inter-university weight lifting – Shubham P and Usha B N and best physique championships – Vingesh received cash awards of Rs 20000, Rs 25000 and Rs 25000 respectively. Sooraj Kumar Singh, Usha and Haishnam Merina Devi who won medals in all-India inter-university power lifting meet received cash of Rs 20000, 20000 and Rs 10000 respectively.

Vaishnav Hegde who secured two gold and a silver in all India inter-university swimming meet took home Rs 70000. A total of 23 athletes including 14 men took home prize money ranging from Rs 1.10-lakh by Elakkiya Dasan to Rs 15000 for team and individual events for their performances in all-India inter-university athletics championships for men and women. Women’s netball team that won gold in all-India inter-university tournament received Rs 70000 each.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mangalore News / Jaideep Shenoy / TNN / March 28th, 2018

‘Pesticide-free’ poly-houses are catching on

A farmer in Karnataka grows sensitive broccoli using biotechnologies for the first time in country

At a time when all things “organic” is the buzzword, poly-houses are becoming a cause for concern due to high pesticide residues in the produce following indiscriminate use of chemicals.

In fact, the sustainability of poly-house cultivation is facing a threat as a sizeable number of them have closed due to soil degradation and attack by nematodes — harmful soil bacteria — and fungi, which have resulted in massive devastation of crops.

The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has now come out with a series of technologies and practices to reduce the use of chemicals in poly-house cultivation.

“The main focus is to turn the high-end poly-house cultivation into a sustainable farm and economic activity,” said M.S. Rao, head of IIHR’s Division of Entomology and Nematology.

“This will result in not only production of pesticide-free produce, but it will go a long way in improving the financial health of poly-houses,” he said, while indicating that closing down poly-houses would result in a loss of ₹900 crore.

What has come as a shot in the arm for the IIHR is that a 24-year-old farmer Raju in Doddaballapur taluk near Bengaluru has used this technology showing it is possible to grow broccoli, a crop highly susceptible to various pests and diseases, without pesticides.

It is the first time in the country that broccoli has been grown in a chemical-free manner in a poly-house.

Of course, the experiment is not completely organic as the farmer has used a certain amount of fertilizers. But, the produce has been selling like hot cakes to exporters at a premium price since it is pesticide-free.

Mr. Raju, who migrated to Karnataka from Andhra Pradesh, took up poly-house cultivation on about one acre of land in Doddaballapur, of which broccoli is grown on half an acre.

What has enthused scientists is that he has trounced the general perception that chemical-free farming and reduction in fertilizers would lead to drop in yield. The farmer’s yield has not only increased by about 30% by using the natural plant growth promoters as well as bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides of IIHR, but the cost of cultivation too has dropped by about 30% as he has not used chemicals and pesticides. He was able to earn about ₹4.18 lakh in 90 days.

Dr. Rao said the farmer used bio fungicide, bio nematicide, bio bactericide, bio fertilizers, neem and pongamia soaps as well as plant growth promoters developed by the IIHR.

It has helped improve soil fertility and reduce soil-borne pathogens.

If a farmer uses these chemical-free and cost-effective applications for two to three years, there is no need for soil enrichment for the next five years, he said.

Biotechnologist-turned entrepreneur J. Gavaskar, who has taken licences from the IIHR to mass produce and also sell some of its biotechnologies, says the awareness among farmers is slowly increasing about such bioapplications. “Big farmers and some Farmer Producers’ Organisations from Pune, some cities in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are trying out these chemical-free applications,” he said.

Other successes

Dr. Rao said ICAR-IIHR has demonstrated similar success stories in capsicum, European cucumber, tomato, gerbera, carnations grown under protected conditions in various poly-houses and guava, pomegranate, tomato, okra, brinjal, tuberose grown under open field conditions in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Bengal.

Farmers can get details on such microbial applications and bio-pesticides from the IIHR by contacting its director or Prof. M. S. Rao Ph: 9480607571; email: msraobio45 @gmail.com s

ource: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bengaluru – March 28th, 2018

BHEL gets ISRO tech to make Li-ion cells

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a technology transfer agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. for the manufacture of space grade lithium ion (Li-ion) cells for the space programme and other national requirements.

BHEL said it would set up a facility at its Bengaluru unit to make the cells. It would use the technology developed by ISRO’s rocketry node, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, based in Thiruvananthapuram.

Li-ion batteries power various applications on satellites and launch vehicles. An ISRO spokesman said the requirement would go up as the number of space missions is increasing.

Currently, BHEL assembles Li-ion batteries using imported cells. “The technology can also be extended for use in the emerging areas of energy storage and e-mobility,” the public sector major said.

The agreement was signed by S. Somanath, VSSC Director, and S. Biswas, BHEL’s Director (Engg., R&D), at the headquarters of ISRO in Bengaluru last Thursday in the presence of ISRO Chairman K. Sivan and BHEL CMD Atul Sobti.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / March 27th, 2018

Winkle Mathias, the apostle of plants

Winkle Mathias : The green warrior at work
Winkle Mathias : The green warrior at work

Meet Winkle Mathias who goes that extra mile to give your home a green make over

Winkle Mathias always nurtured a soft spot for trees and plants. Originally, hailing from Mangaluru, the tree lover was brought up in Mumbai and took to carpentry for a living. It was a chance visit to Bengaluru 19 years ago that swept the man off his feet and he continued to stay on here. “I fell in love with this city at first glance. It was brimming with greenery. Today, it looks more like concrete jungle,” laments the man.

“People are selfish, they don’t realise the pain they are causing for themselves and the next generation. They are collecting logs by destroying nature and it gets burnt by somebody with a match stick. Unfortunately, it is not they who will suffer, but the next generation,” observes Winkle, who gives complete credit to his grandparents for instilling the love of nature in him at a very young age.

Winkle02BF28mar2018

“They would go into the forest foraging for food and collect mushrooms and greens. I would accompany them and would be in total awe of the greenery around me. It was fun to collect wild flowers. Little did I know those memories would trigger such passion in me one day,” recalls Winkle. He then started the Down To Earth company, in HBR Layout, Kalyan Nagar, which aims at using eco-friendly material that is easily available and is into landscaping and terrariums using plants and moss of every kind.

“Did you know that if we don’t protect the touch-me-not-plants they may soon go extinct? They are considered weeds and people are weeding them out,” states Winkle, who now cultivates these plants and talks to children about them and their benefits. “I talk to them about plants having feelings too and this plant expresses it the best. It closes its leaves and bows down when touched. What pains me most is when children and adults just pluck out a branch while playing or walking. I would love to give them a touch-me-not and tell them that it hurts the plant. None of us would like our hair to be pulled, right?”

Winkle believes we can sensitise children by exposing them to nature. “It is better to get them addicted to nature rather than gadgets,” he says. To propagate his love for nature he bought some barren land in Nelamangala 16 years ago and set out to create a green space on a two-and-half acre of rocky patch. “I picked up a few chickens and ducks and started visiting gujaris to buy a bath tub for the ducks. It was placed it in such a way that they could enter it easily. The land turned greener by the day and slowly I added a shed and planted a few trees following the sun’s patterns, so that the movement of the sun would create enough shade for the animals through the day,” beams the green warrior.

Winkle03BF28mar2018

Earthy office

Even his office is earthy. It is made from natural material such as bamboos, cane, earthen pots and jute to name a few. The terrace is dotted with terrariums of every size and even miniature landscaping. “I blend with nature and most of the projects I undertake are done with natural materials. The only problem is that these are so easily available that we have taken them for granted,” observes the man, who adds he can create anything green even if you give him stones, sand, moss or even waste.

Winkle loves to travel and observe nature, “especially the way a rock hangs out of a mountain or the manner in which water flows between rocks. These are the images that are captured in my heart and recreated in bottles and miniature landscaping in pots and bowls.”

Winkle04BF28mar2018

Landscaping is a huge part of his achievement. When he started it, he noticed that people “build their homes more for their neighbours than themselves. I want to change that notion. We will give you easy plants that will not shed leaves nor die out. And, even if it dies out, I will take it and nurture it back to life and give you a healthy plant,” assures Winkle, who has given quite a few gardens and balconies a facelift using natural light, plenty of plants and trees. “I believe a home can look gorgeous with greenery and natural material.”

Winkle plans to conduct classes with the “focus on how to use discarded pots, pans, ladles and even books to grow plants.” Winkle would also like to educate people on how to water plants. “We think we have to give a plant a head and a body bath. It is not necessary. You have to understand which plants need more water and which do not. Once you get your hands dirty, you sure are going to get hooked on to gardening.”

Call 40923565/ 9341247516 / www.d2e.ind.in

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Shilpa Sebastian R / March 27th, 2018

Made-in-India dialysis unit undergoes trials in Mysuru

Bengaluru:

A team of city-based researchers have come up with a made-in-India dialysis machine, which is expected to reduce cost of the medical procedure.
Designed by Renalyx Health Systems, the machine, RxT17, started undergoing clinical trials at JSS Medical College Hospital, Mysuru, from March 2. A 40-year-old renal disorder patient was the first to undergo dialysis on the new machine.

Dialysis machines are now imported from Germany, Sweden and China at a cost of 10-11 lakh a piece. A dialysis session costs between 2,500 and 4,000. The new machine is likely to be priced at Rs 4 lakh and it could reduce the cost of dialysis to 1,000.

The machine is cloud-enabled and can be connected to a mobile app, so that nephrologists can monitor its functioning and the patient’s response from anywhere.

” There are only 1,400 nephrologists in India and only 200 in Karnataka. There is a need to bridge the gap between patients and doctors through technological intervention. We can take the new dialysis machine to rural areas too, given its ability to connect seamlessly and its capacity to run on solar power.

Such features are not available in dialysis machines imported from Japan, the US and Germany,” says Shyam Vasudev Rao, an Indian Institute of Science (IISc) alumnus and founder-chairman of Renalyx.

Work on the machine began in 2013, driven by the vision to “create innovative and inclusive solutions for comprehensive renal care.”

Dr Lloyd Vincent, a nephrologist and co-founder of Renalyx, said the objective was to reduce the cost. “We have a project monitoring committee with alumni from Bombay and Delhi IITs as well as AIIMS, Delhi. The clinical trials are going on successfully. The product has been funded by the department of science and technology, New Delhi,” he said

 The company has patents and active collaborations with premier institutions, including IIT Kharagpur, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and PESIT in Bengaluru.

Given the rising cost of healthcare, any innovation which brings down expenses is a huge relief for patients and their families. The clinical trials of a new dialysis machine are currently under way and once available for wider use, they promise to bring down the cost of treatment by a big margin. Such innovative research should be encouraged by the government through subsidies and tax breaks so that these machines become available in smaller towns and cities too. Innovative low-cost medical equipment is the need of the hour.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News> Civic Issues / by Sunitha Rao R / TNN / March 11th, 2018

City-based innovator develops device to harness wave energy

InnovatorBF27mar2018

Acity-based ex-merchant navy captain and innovator has designed a device to harness energy from waves in the sea. The design of the device known as Wave Energy Converter (WEC) according to its innovator D Chandrasekar is a fresh approach to harness renewable energy from sea waves. “Ocean waves contain a lot of energy though not much work has been done to harness this energy,” said Chandrasekar.

According to Chandrasekar, the WEC has a seabed unit and a surface unit of floats. The floats move as per the waves and transmit the power to the seabed unit that converts it into usable forms of energy.

Chandrasekar who started working on the WEC in 2016 had first developed a test tank in Bengaluru to test the initial design. Subsequently, a model was developed to be tested under controlled conditions at the IIT Chennai wave basin last month. The device was also tested on land before wave basin testing. Chandrasekar said that the test results were satisfactory.

The base unit of the WEC is about six meters long and three meters wide with a height of 1.5 meters.

The WEC project has also been supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research with an R&D grant of Rs 8.7 lakh for realising prototype under Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSME (PRISM) scheme.

Chandrasekhar said that the WEC model which was tested can generate 5 kw electricity and that a patent application for this design is under process.
“We will soon be approaching port authorities that can use this technology to light break waters at the ports,” he said.

That apart, the WEC can also be used to power buoys at sea, light unmanned oil platforms and small islands.

Explaining WEC’s features, Chandrasekar said that the system has the flexibility to be placed at various depths and that the floats can be quickly disconnected in case of an impending cyclone.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Bangalore Mirror Bureau / March 27th, 2018