Enter records

ID: 62380
Title: The case for hydrogen economy
Author: Ganapati D Yadav
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (6) 971-972 (2021)
Subject: The case for hydrogen economy
Keywords: case, hydrogen economy
Abstract: The hydrogen economy is opportune for India because it has great potential for boosting her energy security and alleviating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hydrogen can be employed as a fuel in a variety of applications, including fuel-cell power generation and fuel-cell vehicles. It combusts cleanly, producing only water and can be used as a fuel in conventional internal combustion engines (ICEs) to generate mechanical or electrical power. The overall energy efficiency is higher than that of conventional ICEs. The efficiency of hydrogen ICE is ~38%, 8% higher than that of petrol ICE. The hydrogen fuel cell is 2-3 times more efficient than an ICE.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:

ID: 62379
Title: Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants among the Thangal-Naga ethnic group of Manipur, India
Author: Babina Pampuinath and Maibam Dhanaraj Meitei
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 945-950 (2021)
Subject: Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants among the Thangal-Naga ethnic group of Manipur, India
Keywords: Ethnomedicianl plants, ethnic groups, photochemical analysis, Thangal –Naga, traditional knowledge
Abstract: With a population of 4475 individuals, the Thangal-Naga of Manipur is one of the vulnerable schedule tribe groups in India. During the study, oral traditional knowledge for the treatment of ailments using wild medicinal plants by the ethnic group was documented. Forty-one ethnomedicinal plants from 40 genera and 28 families were reported during the semi-structured interviews of 70 locals. In total, 29 different ailments were treated using medicinal plants. Further, phytochemical analysis of 11 common medicinal plants revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, steroids, anthraquinones, coumarins, glycosides and terpenoids.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Census of India, Census data, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Homme Affairs, Government of India (GoI) , 2011: https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-common/censusdata2011.html (assessed on 14 June 2020.) Maibam, M. Maibam, A. and Akoijam, B., Myths of Thangal origin from an anthropological perspective. Int. J. Hum. Soc. Scie., 2017, 11 (8), 2043-2046.
Literature cited 2: Forest Survey of India, State of Forest Report, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, GoI, 2011; https://www.fsi.nic.in/forest-report-2011 (accessed on 4 July 2020). Kanjilal, U.N., Kanjilal, P.C., De, R.N., Das, A. an Bor, N.L., Flora of Assam, Government of Assam, Shillong, 1934-1940, vols 1-5.

ID: 62378
Title: Biodegradation kinetics of acenaphthene by Sphingobacterium sp. Strain RTSB isolated from a petroleum –contaminated soil
Author: Somnath Mallick
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 926-931 (2021)
Subject: Biodegradation kinetics of acenaphthene by Sphingobacterium sp. Strain RTSB isolated from a petroleum –contaminated soil
Keywords: Acenaphthene, biodegradation, kinetic study, 1naphthoic acid, Sphingobacterium sp.
Abstract: Biodegradation metabolism was previously reported by a Gram-negative Sphingobacterium sp.strain RTSB. The degradation pathway was found to proceed involving the key intermediate 1-naphthoic acid and processed via trans-3-carboxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene-pyruvic acid to salicylic acid and catechol. The present article demonstrates the biodegradation kinetics of acenaphthene along with the fate of some of the major metabolites, 1-naphthoic acid, 1-acenaphthenol, 1—acenaphthenone, acenaphthenequinone, salicylic acid, and catechol; where, the maximum accumulated amount of 1-naphthoic acid measured was 302.1 mg1-1 during the mid-log stage of growth. The degradation of acenaphthene was observed to follow a first order kinetic model with a rate constant 0.528 d-1 and half-life of 1.31 days.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Marston, C.P., Pereira, C., Ferguson, J., Fischer, L., Hedstrom, O., Dashwood, W.M. and Barid, W.M., Effect of a complex environmental mixture from coal tar containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on tumor initiation, PAH-DNA binding and metabolic activation of carcinogenic PAH in mouse epidermis. Carcinogenesis, 2001, 22, 1077-1086. Mastrangelo, G., Fadda, E. and Marzia, V., Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and cancer in man. Environ. Health Perspect. 1996, 104, 1166-1170.
Literature cited 2: Xue, W. And Warshawsky, D., Metabolic activation of polycyclic and heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and DNA damage: a review. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 2005, 206, 73-93. Habe, H. and Omori, T., Genetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in diverse aerobic bacteria. Biosci. Biotechnol .Biochem, 2003, 67, 225-243

ID: 62377
Title: Inundation mapping of Kerala flood event in 2018 using ALOS-2 and temporal Sentinel-1 SAR images
Author: V.S.K. Vanama, Mohamed Musthafa, Unmesh Khati, R. Gowtham, Gulab Singh and Y.S. Rao
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 915-925 (2021)
Subject: Inundation mapping of Kerala flood event in 2018 using ALOS-2 and temporal Sentinel-1 SAR images
Keywords: Disaster management, floods, inundation mapping, remote sensing, rule-based classification
Abstract: In August 2018, the southern Indian state of Kerala received unusually heavy rainfall leading to large-scale flooding and destruction. Reliable flood inundation maps derived from remote sensing techniques help in flood disaster management activities. The freely available Sentinel-IA/B SAR data have the potential for flood inundation mapping due to its all-weather imaging capability. In this study, temporal dual-pol Sentinel-1 SAR data have been utilized. Single-date ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 commercial SAR data were also used to fill the gap between Sentinel-1 acquisitions during the peak flood-period. Two flood-mapping approaches, viz. rule-based classification in case of temporal SAR data and histogram-based thresholding approach in case of single-data imagery, were utilized in the study. Also, flood inundation mapping with different data constraints, i.e., availability of single-date and multi-date imagery has been analysed and discussed. The obtained results were validated with multiple data sources like survey data and secondary data from government agencies. An overall accuracy of 90.6 % and a critical success index of 81.6 % were achieved with the proposed rule-based classification approach. This study highlights the potential of the combination of Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data for flood inundation mapping.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Huang, X. et al., Flood hazard in human province of China: an economic loss analysis. Nat. Hazards, 2008, 47, 65-73. Rijal, S., Rimal, B. and Sloan, S., Flood hazard mapping of a rapidly urbanizing city in the foothills (Birendranagar, Surkhet) of Nepal. Land., 2018, 7, 60.
Literature cited 2: Ologunorisa, T. and Abawua, M., Flood risk assessment: a review .J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage., 2005, 9, 57-63. Panhalkar, S. and Jarag, A.P., Flood risk assessment of Panchganga River) Kolhapur district, Maharashtra) using GIS-based multicriteria decision technique. Curr. Sci., 2017, 112, 785-793.

ID: 62376
Title: Effect of alumina filler on spherulite growth and ionic conductivity of PE09 (LiClO4) solid polymer electrolyte
Author: B.A.Karunaratne, F.A.E.Nugera, M.A.K.L.Dissanayake, G.K.R.Senadeera and B.-E.Mellander
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 900-906 (2021)
Subject: Effect of alumina filler on spherulite growth and ionic conductivity of PE09 (LiClO4) solid polymer electrolyte
Keywords: Alumina filler, ionic conductivity polymer electrolyte, polyethylene oxide, spherulite
Abstract: The effect of incorporation of alumina on conductivity and in situ growth of spherulites in (PEO) 9LiCl04 solid polymer electrolyte was studied using polarized microscopy, impedance and infrared spectroscopy. Fourfold enhancement in ionic conductivity correlated with increase in the amorphous nature of the polymer electrolyte was observe with the addition of 15 wt% of alumina with pore size <10µm, increased the ionic conductivity by nearly 3%. Filler particles may act as nuclei for the spherulites, while preventing the recrystallization tendency of the polymer and hence increase its conductivity.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Fenton, D.E., Parker, J.M. and Wrighter, P.V., Complexes of alakali metal ions with poly (ethylene oxide) .Polymer, 1973, 14 (11), 589-590. Armand, M.B., The history of polymer electrolytes. Solid State Ionics, 1994, 69, 3-4.
Literature cited 2: Colombo, F. et al., Polymer-in-ceramic nano composite solid electrolyte for lithium metal batteries encompassing PEO-grafted TiO2 nanocrystals. J. Electrochem. Soc., 2020, 167 (7), 070535-070541. Yap, Y.L., You, A.H. and Teo, L.L., Preparation and characterization studies of PMMA-PEO-blend solid polymer electrolytes with SiO2 filler and plasticizer for lithium-ion battery. Ionics, 2019, 25 (7), 3087-3092.

ID: 62375
Title: Climate change impacts on glacier-fed and non-glacier –fed ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan Region: People’s perception and adaptive strategies
Author: Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal, Nidhi Kanwar, Ajay Singh Bhoj, Kuldeep Singh Rautela, Pramod Joshi, Kireet Kumar, Mohd Sharjeet Sofi, Sami Ullah Bhat, Irfan Rashid, Mahindra Singh Lodhi, Ch.Anniebesant Devi and Huirom Birkumar Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 888-899 (2021)
Subject: Climate change impacts on glacier-fed and non-glacier –fed ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan Region: People’s perception and adaptive strategies
Keywords: Adaptive strategies, climate change, glacier-fed and non-fed ecosystems, people’s perception
Abstract: Mountains are considered as the early indicators of climate change. The study aims to understand how the Himalayan communities perceive climate change, and how this change has impacted the livelihood and sustenance of local people particularly in the remote and rural areas of the region. In view of this, 994 households of 25 villages were interviewed from five basins (five villages per basin) of the Indian Himalayan region. The perceptions mainly of climate change were validated/compared with the available climatic indices. People perceived rainfall pattern to be less predictable, greater change in land- use pattern, adverse impacts on forest and human health and overall reduction in their harvests. Seasonal increase in temperature was also reported. Capacity-building programmes for the inhabitants, including the most vulnerable communities in the wake of climate change would be significantly fruitful by way of mitigation and adaptations strategies.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Singh, S.P., Singh, V. and Skutsch, M., Rapid warming in the Himalayas: ecosystem responses and development options. Climate Dev., 2010, 2, 221-232. IPCC, Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects, Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2014.
Literature cited 2: Devkota, R.P., Climate Change: trends and people’s perception in Nepal. J. Environ. Prot., 014, 5, 255-265. Aggarwal, P.K., Impact of climate change on Indian agriculture. Plant Biol., 2003, 30, 189-198.

ID: 62374
Title: Preliminary assessment and conservation of insect pollinators through community participation in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India
Author: Mona Chauhan, V.P. Uniyal, Agni Chandra, Pooja Thakur and Vandana Mehrwar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 883-887 (2021)
Subject: Preliminary assessment and conservation of insect pollinators through community participation in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India
Keywords: Climate change, community participation, ecosystem services, insect pollinators, land use
Abstract: Pollination contributes an enormous economic value to the reproduction of the flowering plants, in the wild and the managed ecosystems of the world. Biotic pollination, particularly from insects is vital to sexual reproduction and genetic diversity of cultivated and wild plants. Disorder in the pollination system and the decline of pollinators are identified as potential consequences of anthropogenic land use change. Land clearance, habitat fragmentation, changing agricultural practices, herbicides, pesticides and the introduction of non-native exotic plants and a pollinator species have resulted in pollination crises. Considering the above facts, this study was conducted in the Indian Trans-Himalayan Region (THR). Major Insect pollinators taxa have been selected to identify the important contributors in the pollination services. Conservation awareness programmes, hands on training and knowledge publicity materials were used for sensitization of different stakeholders.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Goulson, D., Lye, G.C. and Darvill, B., Decline and conservation of bumble bees. Annu .Rev. Entomol., 2008, 53 (1), 191-208; http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.53.1031106.093454. Yoshihara, Y., Chimedorj, B., Buuveibaatar, B., Lhagvasuren, B. and Takatsuki, S., Effects of livestock grazing on pollination on a steppe in eastern Mongolia. Biol. Conserv., 2008, 141 (9), 2376-2386; http://doi.org/101016/j.biocon.2008.07.004
Literature cited 2: Potts, S.G., Biesmeijer, J.C., Kremen, C., Neumann, P., Schweiger, O. And Kunin, W.E., Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers. Trends Ecol. Evol., 2010, 25 (6), 345-353; http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2020.01.007. Allen-Wardell, G., Bernhardt, P., Bitne, R., Burquez, A., Consequences of pollinator declines on the conservation of biodiversity and stability of fruit crop yields. Conservation Biology, 1998, 12 (1) , 8-17; http://doi.org/10.2307/2387457.

ID: 62373
Title: Studies on subalpine forests of Hamta Pass area in Himachal Pradesh, India with a focus on Betula utilis populations
Author: Khashti Dasila, S.S.Samant and Anita Pandey
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 872-882 (2021)
Subject: Studies on subalpine forests of Hamta Pass area in Himachal Pradesh, India with a focus on Betula utilis populations
Keywords: Betula utilis, regeneration , species diversity, species richness, subalpine forests, total basal area
Abstract: The present study was conducted in Hamta Pass area of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, India with a focus on Betula utilis populations. Totally 16 populations of B.utilis representing four habitats and three aspects were studied. The maximum sites were represented by moist and moist, shaded habitats with northwestern aspect. Totally 188 plant species representing trees, shrubs and herbs were recorded. Acer acuminatum, Abies pindrow, Prunus cornuta and Quercus semecarpifolia were the major associated species of B.utilis-P.Cornuta mixed were identified. Among the communities, total density of trees, shrubs and herbs were recorded from 160 to 270, 300 to 515 and 21 to 33 individuals m-2 respectively. The total basal area recorded was 6.94 - 42.10 m2 ha-1, species richness 15-127, and species diversity for trees 0.4-0.9, shrubs 0.0-2.1 and herbs 1.7-4.2. The density and regeneration (i.e., seedlings and saplings) of B.Utilis in most of the populations revealed that this species will continue to grow in the area. However, continued anthropogenic activities, climate change and other factors may cause population depletion in the study area.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Myers, N. Mittermeier, R.A., Mitermeier, C.G., da Fonseca,G., A.B. and Kent, J., Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities .Nature, 2000, 403, 853-858. Gentry, A.H.Patterns of diversity and floristic composition in neotropical montane forests. In proceedings of the Neotropical Montane Forests .In Proceedings of the Neotropical Montane Forests Biodiversity and Conservation Symposium, New York Botanical Garden, 21-26 June 1993.
Literature cited 2: Hajra, P.K. and Rao, R.R., Distribution of vegetation types in northwest Himalaya with brief remarks on phytogeography and floral resource conservation. Proc. Plant Sci., 1990, 100 (4) , 263-277. Samant, S.S., Assessment, evaluation and conservation prioritization of floristic diversity in the Trans, Northwest and Western Himalaya. D.Sc. thesis, Kumaon University, Nainital, 2015.

ID: 62372
Title: Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone in response to climate change-initial findings
Author: S.P.Singh, A.Bhattaharyya,Amit Mittal,Aseesh Pandey,Ashish Tewari,Avantika Latwal,Beency David,Bhupendra S.Adhikari,Devendra Kumar,G.C.S.Negi,Ishfaq Ahmad Mir, Krishna Kumar Tamta, Kumar Sambhav, Mayank Shekhar, Mohit Phulara, Munisa Manzoor, Nandan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 859-871 (2021)
Subject: Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone in response to climate change-initial findings
Keywords: Climate change, temperature lapse rate, timberline ecotone and elevation, tree water relation, tree-line genera
Abstract: This article enumerates the findings of a team research 0n the Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone, with focus on three sites (located in Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim). Timberline elevation increased from west-to east, was higher in the warmer south aspect than the cooler north aspect and was generally depressed. Betula, Abies, Rhododendron and Juniperus were important tree lines (Juniperus tibetica, at 4900m) but also the widest elevational range (>1700m).Remotely sensed data revealed that the timber line is a long, twisting and turning ecotone, traversing a length of 8-10 km per km horizontal distance. Surface temperature lapse rate in the monsoonal regions lower (-0.53°/100 m elevation) than generally perceived and varied considerably with season, being the lowest in December. The Himalayan tree line species are not water-stressed at least in monsoonal regions, predawn tree water potential seldom getting below-1MPa.The upward advance of Rhododendron campanulatum (a krummholz species) may deplete alpine meadows with climatic warming. Three-ring chronology indicated that winter warming may be favouring Abies spectabilis. Early snowmelt increased growth period and species richness. Tree lines generally are stable in spite of decades of warming. Dependence of people on timberline was still high; so economic interventions are required to reduce the same.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Singh, S.P., Khadka, I.B., Karky B. and Sharma, E., Climate change in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan: the state of current knowledge. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2011. Yao, T. et al., Different glacier status with atmospheric circulations in Tibetan Plateau and surroundings .Nature Climate Change, 2012, 2012, 2, 663-667; doi:101038/NCLIMATE1580.
Literature cited 2: Wester,P., Mishra, A., Mukherji, A. and Shrestha, A.B. (eds), The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment –Mountains, Climate Change, Sustainability and People, Springer Nature, Switzerland AG, Cham, 2019.

ID: 62371
Title: Screening and molecular identification of hyper cellulose and xylanase–producing microorganisms for bio ethanol production
Author: Nivedita Sharma and Nisha Sharma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 846-849 (2021)
Subject: Screening and molecular identification of hyper cellulose and xylanase–producing microorganisms for bio ethanol production
Keywords: Bioethanol, cellulose, solid-state fermentation, submerged fermentation, xylanase
Abstract: The present study projects the baseline work for bioconversion of pine needles to second generation biofuel, which deals mainly with screening, molecular identification and optimization of process parameters for cellulose and sylanase production. In total, 89 hydrolytic enzymes producing isolates were isolated from the soils and ten potential enzyme producers (seven for cellulose and three for xylanase) were subjected to secondary screening by inducing physical and chemical mutation. The wild and mutant strains of hypercellulase producers N12 and Kd1 were identified as Bacillus stratophericus N12 and Bacillus altitudinis Kd1 using 16S rRNA technique. The fungal isolates RF1 and F2 were identified as Rhizopus oryzae, RF1 and Rhizopus delemar, F2 respectively. The mutant strains B.stratosphericus N12 (M) and B.altitudinis Kd 1 (M) are highly stable till 10 generations. Cellulase activity increased from 3.230 to 51.32 to 95.25 IU with 85.60% increase in production. Solid-state fermentation was also performed by potential fungal strains, i.e., R.delemar F2 and R.oryzae RF1 using pine needles as the substrate.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Keshwani, D.R., Modeling changes in biomass composition during microwave based alakali pre-treatment of switchgrass.Biotechnol.Bioeng., 2010, 105, 88-97. Lynd, L.R., Weimer, P.J., van Zyl, W.H. and Pretorius, I.S., Microbial cellulose utilization: fundamentals and biotechnology Microbiol.Mol.Biol.Rev., 2002, 66, 506-577.
Literature cited 2: Alam, M.Z., Manchur, M.A., and Anwar, M.N., Isolation, purification, characterization of cellulolytic enzymes produced by the isolate Streptomyces omiyaensis. Pak. J. Biol. Si., 2004, 7, 1647-1653. Sharma, V. and Singh, P.K., Strain improvement of Baillusoagulans and Geobaillus stearothermophilus for enhanced thermostable cellulose production and the effect of different metal ions on cellulose activity. Int. J. Eng. Sci. Technol., 2012, 4, 4704-4709.

ID: 62370
Title: Efficient fuelwood consumption with innovative solar water-heating system for forest conservation and mitigation of household carbon emission
Author: Lal Singh, Maninder Jeet Kaur and D.K. Thakur
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 835-840 (2021)
Subject: Efficient fuelwood consumption with innovative solar water-heating system for forest conservation and mitigation of household carbon emission
Keywords: Carbon emission, fuelwood consumption, solar water-heating system, temperate forests
Abstract: The mountain population living in rural areas depends heavily on forests for daily needs of fuel, fodder, food and livelihood support activities. Regular collection of fuelwoods for domestic needs of cooking, water and room heating, cattle-feed preparation, bathing, cleaning and washing is considered one of the major reasons for forest degradation, women drudgery and household carbon emissions. Alternative commercial sources of energy like LPG, electricity and kerosene oil fail to address the requirement of households in the temperate zone due to harsh winter conditions for 6-8 months in a year for demand of water and space heating. Therefore, the present study was initiated to install locally designed, cost-effective solar water-heating systems with the aim of providing immediate clean energy solutions to the mountain households for water heating to achieve forest conservation, mitigate household carbon emission and women drudgery in fuel wood collection .Installation of these systems on an average achieved saving of 31.47% and 45.41% fuel wood at selected villages of Kullu and Mandi sites respectively. Maximum fuel wood saving through solar water heating was observed in the winter season. This resulted in timesaving for women, and visible improvement in their health and hygiene through availability of hot water. Fabrication of solar water-heating systems provided new skills and avenues to the rural artisans. This initiative of solar energy use in water heating has resulted in significant environmental, social and economic benefits.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dhanai, R. et al. Fuel wood and fodder consumption pattern in Uttarakhand Himalayan Watershed. Int. J. Environ., Biol., 2014, 4(1), 35-40. Sood, R. et al., Estimation of domestic energy consumption and carbon emission in mid-Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India, J. Agric. Environ. Sci., 2014, 3, 141-147.
Literature cited 2: FSI, India State of Forest Report. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, 2015. UNDP, Gender Mainstreaming, A key Driver of Development in Environment and Energy, United Nations Development Programme, New York, USA, 2007.

ID: 62369
Title: A sustainable approach for livelihood improvement and integrated natural resource management in Central Himalaya, India
Author: D.S.Chauhan, D.S.Bisht, Mukesh Deorai, D.S. Rawat and R.C. Sundriyal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 825-834 (2021)
Subject: A sustainable approach for livelihood improvement and integrated natural resource management in Central Himalaya, India
Keywords: Community empowerment, livelihood improvement, natural resource management, technology packages, sustainability
Abstract: The present study highlights augmentation of livelihood and natural resource management in the central Himalayan region by promoting community-specific strategies, adoption of appropriate technologies, diversification of on-farm and off-farm activities, cash-crop production, and supporting ecological restoration and natural resource management .A cluster of eight villages having 470 households was targeted and actions related to community mobilization, micro-planning , technology demonstration and dissemination , the establishment of market linkages, capacity –building and formation of self-help groups were were undertaken. Farmers adopted nine technology packages that diversified agriculture in waste/abandoned lands. Management of forests and use of Chir-pine needles for making by-products not only provided an additional source of livelihood but also helped in controlling forest fire. Facilitating linkages with line departments helped to acquire benefits of government schemes. It is recommended that region-specific approach, collective action, targeting weaker sections and women, efficient natural resource management, livelihood enhancement, and capacity–building and community empowerment will lead to a sustainable approach for community development in the Himalayan region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sundriyal, R.C., Rai, S.C., Sharma, E. an Rai, Y.K., Hill agro-forestry systems in south Sikkim, India. Agrofor. Syst., 1994, 26 (3), 215-235. Sundriyal, R.C., Negi, G.C.S., Maikhuri, R.K. Rawat, D.S., Rawal, R.S., and Dhyani,P.P., Family and smallholder farming in Himalayan communities.IN Deep Roots, FAO, Rome, Italy and Tudor Rose, UK, 2014, pp.105-108; 253.
Literature cited 2: Singh, S.P., Balancing the approaches of environmental conservation by considering ecosystem services as well biodiversity .curr. Sci., 2002, 82 (11), 1331-1335. Maikhuri, R.K., Sundriyal, R.C., Negi, G.C.S. and Dhyani, P.P., Smallholders and family farming in the Himalayan region of India: policy consideration. Policy Focus, 2015, 34, 21-23.

ID: 62368
Title: Enhancing the livelihood of Himalayan communities through research and transforming wild produce into high-value products
Author: Meenakshi Garg, Mahendra Singh Kunwar and Hema Kashyap
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 818-824 (2021)
Subject: Enhancing the livelihood of Himalayan communities through research and transforming wild produce into high-value products
Keywords: Action research, high-value products, livelihood enhancement. Mountain food systems, wild produce
Abstract: Deterioration in traditional mountain food systems with a decline agro-biodiversity has made the Himalayan communities more sensitive to environmental degradation. Wild edible varieties from marginal land have shown great characteristics and resistance to the adverse climate changes. This study was conducted to promote and transform the lesser-known wild edible produces of Uttarakhand, India into marketable high-value products through scientific technologies. On the basis of their availability and ethno-botanical properties, eight wild produces were selected. Demographically, 4097 households belonging to 36 villages of two selected districts of Uttarakhand were targeted as major beneficiaries’ .The complete scope study was carried out n four blocks of Chamoli and one block of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Thereafter, the procurement of wild produces was arrived out with complete involvement of stakeholders from 54 villages. The entire research and development was carried out in and Women’s Cooperative Centre equipped with modern machinery. Linkage with several research institutions related to product design, processing and preservation was also done to improvise the equality and presentation of the high-value products were successfully developed and launched by the Himalayan Action Research Centre, Alaknanada Women’s Cooperative. Thus, local relationship and linkage among the stakeholders were strengthened for sustainable development and intervention of a replicable model in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Tiwari, J.K., Ballabha, .and Tiwar, P., Some promising wild edible plants of Srinagarand its adjacent area in Alaknanda Valley of Garhwal Himalaya, India. J./Am. Sci., 2010, 6 (4) , 167-174. Meyers, K.J., Watkins, C.B., Pritts, M.P. and Liu, R.H., Anti-oxidant and anti proliferative activities of strawberries.J.Agric.Food Chem., 2003, 51 (23), 6887-6892.
Literature cited 2: Saklani, S., Chandra, S. and Mishra, A.P., Evaluation of nutriferent parts of Pyrus pashia, Ficus palmate and Pyracantha renulata.J.Gloabl Trends Pharm.Si., 2011, 2 (3) , 350 354. Uniyal, B. and Shiva., V., Traditional knowledge on medicinal plants among rural women of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal.Indian J.Trad.Knowl., 2005, 4 (3) , 259-266.

ID: 62367
Title: Water purification and biomineralization using nanofibres-based membrane technology
Author: Manish Kumar, Siddhant Kumar, Samar Agnihotri, Bharat Singh Rajpurohit and Jaspreet Kaur Randhawa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 809-817 (2021)
Subject: Water purification and biomineralization using nanofibres-based membrane technology
Keywords: Hybrid membrane, electrospinning technique, nanomaterials, porous nanofibres
Abstract: Population of world and industrialization are increasing rapidly due to which the amount of fresh water is decreasing .There is a need to promote a novel cost-effective technique to purify the contaminated water. Nanotechnology provides extraordinary nanomaterials with unique properties which can be used to purify the water. In this article the use of polymeric hybrid membranes is discussed. A novel high flux filtration hybrid membrane system, consisting of a three-layer composite with hierarchical structures, i.e., highly porous hydrophilic material coated top layer, an electro spun nanofibrous barrier layer in the middle; for support the bottom layer is made of nonwoven fibrous web to provide high tensile strength up to 40 MPa, more durability and high retention ratio.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: World Health Organization, 2019;http://www.ho.int. Anon., Water treatment solution, Lenntech, 2011; http:www.lenntech.com accessed on 18 September 2018.
Literature cited 2: Gleick, P.H., Water sources. In Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather (ed.Schneider, S.H.,), Oxford University Press, New York, 1996, vol.2, pp.817-823. US Census Bureau, Population Division, International Data Base, December 2010 update; https: www.censius.gov (accessed on 5 September 2018).

ID: 62366
Title: Estimation of price and income elasticity of water: a case study of Darjeeling town, West Bengal, India
Author: Debi Prasad Bal, Ashish Chhetri, Barun Kumar Thakur and Kanish Debnath
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (5) 800-808 (2021)
Subject: Estimation of price and income elasticity of water: a case study of Darjeeling town, West Bengal, India
Keywords: Pipeline connection, price and income elasticity, simple random sampling, water demand, water tanker
Abstract: This study examines the price and income elasticity of water of Darjeeling town in West Bengal, India .We collected the primary data between 2017 and 2018 through the survey method. Here simple random sampling has been used for interviewing 100 households. We divided the households into groups of 25 each according to the mode of consumption of water, such as domestic pipeline, commercial water tanker. This study concludes that the price for domestic pipeline connection, commercial pipeline, domestic water tanker and commercial water tanker is elastic by using the midpoint formulae of elasticity. More specifically, the consumption of water from commercial tankers and households that have commercial pipeline connection have relatively high elasticity as compared to households depending on domestic pipeline connection and domestic water tanker. Further, the result shows that the income elasticity of water demand is relatively very high. Mainly, the income elasticity is less in households under domestic pipeline and domestic water tanker compared to those under commercial pipeline and commercial water tanker. The overall implication of the study is that rising water per litre price has compelled the residents to compromise on the quality of drinking water. Therefore, it is recommended that the government follows the objective of inter-generational equality for water in the long-run.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Josi, D., Feminist solidarity? Women, water and politics in the Darjeeling Himalaya .Mt. Res. Dev., 2014, 34, 243-255. Drew, G. and Rai, R.P., Water management in post-colonial Darjeeling: The Promise and limits of decentralised resource provision. Asian Stud. Rev., 2016, 40, 321-339.
Literature cited 2: Tambe, S., Kharel, G., Arrawatia, M.L., Kulkarni, H., Mahamuni, K. and Ganeriwala, A., Reviving dying springs: climate change adaptation experiments from the Sikkim Himalaya. Mt. Res. Dev., 2012, 32, 62-72. Department of Information Technology, Annual Report. Government of Sikkim, 2012.