Haryana

• 02 Jan 2025

Swachhata Pakhwada in Haryana

Why in News? 

Recently, The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) conducted a series of cleanliness drives in Karnal district of Haryana.  

• It aimed to raise awareness about cleanliness and environmental protection while promoting a cleaner and greener India.  

 Key Points 

• Activities Conducted: 
  • Awareness Programmes: 
    • Students were educated on maintaining cleanliness at individual, community, and institutional levels. 
    • Training was provided on converting waste into wealth and safely disposing of waste. 
  • Cleanliness Drives: 
    • Staff cleaned institute premises and reviewed old records and non-functional equipment for disposal. 
    • Special plantation drives were organized. 
  • Campaigns and Awareness: 
    • Campaigns were held to discourage single-use plastics. 
    • Initiatives focused on recycling wastewater and promoting water harvesting for agriculture, horticulture, and kitchen gardens in residential colonies. 
  • Village Involvement: 
    • Cleanliness and sanitation drives were carried out in villages adopted under the “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” programme. 
    • Nukkad Nataks (street plays) involving local celebrities were performed to encourage community participation. 
• Celebrating Kisan Diwas: 
  • Scientists and students celebrated Kisan Diwas in Dancher village. 
  • Farmers were invited to interactive workshops focusing on practical solutions for cleanliness in agricultural practices. 

 The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)  

• It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 
• It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. 
• It is headquartered at New Delhi. With 102 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world. 
• It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. 

 Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav 

• The scheme was launched in 2015, to promote the direct interface of scientists with the farmers to hasten the “lab to land” process. 
• It envisages scientists to select villages as per their convenience and remain in touch with the selected villages and provide information to the farmers on technical and other related aspects of agriculture in a time frame through personal visits or on telephone. 
• They may function with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA). 
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Biochemical Oxygen Demand Levels in Haryana

Why in News? 

Recently, the release of untreated waste has significantly raised the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels in the Yamuna river and irrigation canals in Faridabad and Palwal districts of Haryana. 

 Key Points 

• Alarming BOD Levels: 
  • According to the district administration BOD levels are 400-500% higher than permissible limits due to ineffective monitoring and insufficient preventive measures. 
  • As per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, the BOD standard for water is 10 milligrams per litre. Recent samples show levels between 35 and 40, with some locations in the Yamuna reaching 50 milligrams per litre. 
• Environmental Impact: 
  • Untreated waste not only raises BOD levels but also reduces dissolved oxygen (DO) levels to zero. This results in the destruction of aquatic life and a strong stench. 
  • High BOD levels indicate a failure in wastewater treatment and sewage management systems. 
• Challenges in Implementation: 
  • Poor enforcement of regulations and rising pollution levels have worsened the situation. 
  • Experts call for stricter monitoring, improved sewage management, and robust implementation of pollution control measures to mitigate the crisis. 

 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) 

• BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms in the biological process of metabolizing organic matter in water. 
• The more organic matter there is (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the greater the BOD; and the greater the BOD, the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for higher animals such as fishes. 
• The BOD is therefore a reliable gauge of the organic pollution of a body of water.