SREDA Director offers Solar City scheme to Sikkim

GANGTOK, 19 April: Director, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Arun K Tripathi met with the officers of Sikkim Renewable Energy Development Agency [SREDA] at its office here at SREDA Bhawan, Gangtok today. Mr Tripathi is here to participate in a meeting of the Central Electricity Regulation Commission, informs a press release.
Director, SREDA, Siporah Targain, welcomed Dr. Tripathi and outlined the various projects being implemented in Sikkim like the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission, National Biogas & Manure Management Programmme, Special Area Development Programme and Micro Hydro Projects.
Dr. Tripathi in his interaction expressed his satisfaction over the progress of SREDA and invited the Agency to implement new schemes of the Ministry like Solar City and Green Building Initiative, the release informs.
The objective of the Solar City programme is to enable and empower Urban Local Governments to address energy challenges at the city level and reduce Green-House Gas emission levels. Under this programme the Ministry is planning to support 60 towns and cities and has so far identified 52. Dr. Tripathi invited Sikkim to choose one of its towns under the scheme, the release mentions.
Under the Green Building Initiative, the Ministry is spreading awareness for construction of buildings which would use an optimum amount of energy, consume less water, conserve natural resources, generate less waste and create spaces for healthy and comfortable living, as compared to conventional buildings. Members of the Architects of Sikkim who were also present for the meeting mooted a proposal to hold a symposium in this regard in coordination with SREDA, the release adds.

National Science Day 2012 launched

THIS YEAR’S THEME IS “CLEAN ENERGY OPTIONS AND NUCLEAR SAFETY”
GANGTOK, 28 Feb: Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology launched The National Science Day 2012 programme on the theme “Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety”.  today. The launch saw the active participation of more than 250 students from Tashi Namgyal Academy, Greendale Senior Secondary School, West Point Sr. Sec. School, Tadong Senior Secondary School and Brihaspati Parsai Senior Secondary School, Ranipool, informs a press release.
Various programmes were held during the launching of NSD which included Thematic Presentation on clean energy and nuclear safety by Associate Professor, Sikkim Government College, Bhakta Kanwar, Short film screening based on clean energy, visit of various galleries of Sikkim Science Centre, Marchak and Demonstration on Fun with Science by PGT, Palzor Namgyal Girl’s Senior Secondary School, Gangtok, Ivan D. Lepcha. The programme was also attended by officials from Department of Science & Technology and Climate Change and Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology.
According to the release, the NSD programme will continue throughout the year. Various outreach programmes have been planned especially for school students. There will be events, such as, Interschool Quiz Competition at district and state level with participation from all senior secondary schools on different dates. The winners at State Level quiz competition will be given scholarship for one academic year as in previous years. There will be series of popular lectures based on this year’s theme. Other programmes include debate competition, painting competition and other interactive activities to make science more interesting for the students.
Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology and Climate Change, Dr AK Shrivastava, while speaking during the programme declared the launch of the NSD 2012 and stressed upon the need to draw inspiration from the life of Sir CV Raman and other eminent Indian scientists, the release informs.
He called upon the students to rededicate themselves towards the study of science with focussed scientific temper and spoke at length about benefits of clean energy like hydro power and its sustainability, the release adds.
National Council for Science & Technology Communication, Ministry of Science and Technology celebrates National Science Day (NSD) all over the country every year to commemorate the discovery of the “Raman Effect” by Sir C.V. Raman and to popularise the benefits of scientific knowledge and its practical appropriation.

Demonstration of biogas plants and improved chulhas impresses farmers at Samlik

GANGTOK, 24 May: The College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT) of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) Centre of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) conducted a one day awareness programme covering demonstration and maintenance of Biogas plants at Samlik village here in East Sikkim. The session was held at Roop Narayan Bhattarai’s house at Samlik on 04 May, informs a press communiqué received from Professor SK Rautaray, Head, FPM CAEPHT, Ranipool.
Research Engineer Dr. AK Mishra explained the generation of biogas from cow-dung and the operational parameters responsible for effective gas generation under low temperature conditions of Sikkim.
For effective biogas generation proper mixing of cow dung with water, heat treatment with hot water, regular stirring of plant slurry and regular checking of leakage from plant with soap water are important practices involved for high yield of biogas, the release adds. The climate here comes under “psychrophilic zone” (below20 0C) and mesophilic zone (24-45 0C).
The six-member family of Rinzing Bhutia of Samlik uses the biogas plant regularly for cooking, it is learnt. He informed the meeting that that he saved 2 LPG cylinders within 3 to 4 months using biogas. He was trained on maintenance of Biogas plant.