Continuing their efforts for a clean Vizag Beach road, the dreamVizag team and the Civil Engineering students of GVP College of Engineering distributed dustbins to the road side vendors today. In their previous interactions with the beach lovers of Vizag, most of them expressed the view that it is the lack of dust bins which is forcing them to litter the footpath and the beach front. They urged the team to place dustbins at regular intervals such that public can dispose the trash in the right way. Many were even willing to donate for purchasing the dustbins.

Dust Bins distributed to vendors on Beach Road

The team distributed 20 dustbins to begin with and is planning to distribute more in the coming weeks from funds received from supporting public and agencies. The team also interacted with the vendors and educated them about the need to keep their stall’s surroundings clean. They also urged them to request their buyers to throw the trash in their bins only. The dreamVizag team expressed opinion that this is just a small initiative from their end and a permanent solution for this would be through providing fixed, metal bins at regular intervals along the entire beach road. The team is looking forward to the municipal authorities to establish the necessary infrastructure for a clean Beach road. A survey by the team revealed that there are nearly 110 vendors on the beach road and it urged corporates and good samaritans from Vizag to donate more dustbins. It also urged them to spread the awareness for a clean Visakhapatnam city. The dustbins distributed were funded by LIFE Engineers, Developers & Consultants and PVR Engineering Group, which are engineering consultancy firms from the city.

Hi Friends,

Based on the feedback and suggestions taken from our Beach lovers, our team is distributing some Dust/Trash bins on RK Beach road on the 25th of April on an experimental basis. We plan to distribute the bins to some corn/eateries sellers and educate them about keeping their surroundings clean. If this initiative is a success, we will distribute dustbins to all the vendors on Beach Road and also appeal to our GVMC to place fixed, durable, metal bins at every electric pole so that the public can dispose the trash at the right place.

We invite all the volunteers and patrons of our GreenVizag initiative to join us in this small attempt and make it a success.

Best Regards,

Raghavendra @ GreenVizag

New Delhi, March 19 – What a dump, and it is growing by the hour. Almost 40 per cent of the municipal and plastic waste generated in India is not collected, and half of the organic waste goes untreated. And then there is the growing problem of electronic waste.

By 2012, India will generate the most e-waste in the world, second only to China. Most cities do not have adequate infrastructure to manage the growing household and plastic rubbish, even though there are technologies available for treatment and reuse.

“There are only 110 facilities in the country for treating hardly 50 per cent of the organic waste generated,” says the environment ministry’s report on Road Map on Management of Waste in India A committee of the ministry has sought a law for waste-management with punitive action against defaulters.

The report call for higher penalty for those failing to properly dispose of municipal garbage. “Unless the city administrations get serious about waste management, the problem could become a major health risk,” an official, who didn’t wish to be identified, said. But, it’s the economic growth that poses the biggest challenge – managing e-waste, which can be a discarded refrigerator or end-of-life cellphone or a laptop.

By 2012, India will generate over 800,000 million tonne (mt) of e-waste every year. At present, Mumbai tops the e-waste chart followed by Delhi. Western countries are adding to this mound. The estimate is not known as the ministry believes much of the e-waste is brought in illegally. NGOs such as Toxic Link have raised health concern over US and Europe dumping e-waste in India.

Even though disposing e-waste is defined under Hazardous Waste Management Rules in 2008, most cities don’t have a system to collect and dispose of discarded gadgets. “Producers should be bound to take back their products after the life of the product is over and to get it recycled/disposed in. without health risks,” says the report released on Thursday.

Poor management of the industry-generated hazardous waste is another worry. Annually 6.2 mt of the waste is generated and 2.1 mt goes untreated. The report talks of 36,000 hazardous waste industries, which include those manufacturing chemicals and plastic. Indiscriminate disposal has left many places environmentally degraded, says the report.
Hindustan Times

It’s always been fashionable to throw out dire statistics about pollution and other end-of-the-world stuff; people want to “discuss” the problems and wish them away. We chat with like-minded people and ask rhetorical questions, like, do you think pollution is a problem?

Of course it’s a problem – everyone agrees it’s a problem (even our buddy, the owner of the big factory that’s polluting the city will agree, pollution is a problem). What’s being done is an entirely different beast.

In the land of the freedom for the mighty, if the solution is to wait until the power of the people defeats the greed of the corporations and bring about a change in government policy to ensure that the big guy will not shit on the little guy, the little guy can just keep dreaming (if he can ever sleep in the smog filled acidic dump he calls his hometown, that is).

According to the CII, Visakhapatnam is growing at a rate that’s better than the country’s growth. Isn’t the fact that Vizag is one of the most polluted cities a side-effect of the fact that it’s one the fastest growing cities?

Hindustan Zinc, HPCL, Steel Plant, Essar, the Port Authority have all contributed to this growth. NTPC ensures that these businesses have the power needed to keep running. These big-dogs along with the RCLs, the fertilizer firms and the hundreds of other businesses employ millions of little guys in smoke spewing factories and ensure their livelihood. All of these industries pump moolah in the millions and toxic waste in tons.

Safe and responsible disposal of waste takes money and will cut into the profits of the businesses, and that will mean loss of jobs. Can we persuade the big guy to do that? Heck, for that matter, can we even persuade the little guy to root for our cause?

I know, the survival of humans on this planet is at stake. Because of pollution, life on earth will change dramatically for our children. Personally, I’d gladly lose my job if only it means my employer will be more environmentally responsible. I wonder how many others will take that moral high-ground though. Show-of-hands?

I think the question that we need to ask ourselves is, “what all can the little guy do for himself”.

Planting trees is generally acknowledged to be a solution to the pollution problem. Anybody can do this – individually and as groups. Plant trees in your homes, along the roads, near the factories, you name it. We all can do it. With a promise of advertisement and good publicity, the big guy might chip in too. It won’t solve our problem completely – just the CO2 and acid rains and some such, but hey, that’s a start.

We can all protest in front of the big corporations and ask for the government policies that make the world a safer place. Is there a rule that says we cant plant trees on the side? Here is a crazy idea – how about, adding “Making Vizag Green – Plant Trees” to this group’s charter? It’s harder than just talking to people on the streets about the pollution problem; so, show-of-hands, who is up for it?

If this were a brainstorming session, apart from the “bringing awareness to the masses” and “changing government policy”, what other solutions come to your mind?

The ill-effects of pollution caused by various industries under the sheen of the city as tourism and film-shooting destination were highlighted at a one-day photo exhibition conducted by 100 Months Climate Protection Movement at the Youth Hostel on the Beach Road on Sunday.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in its report has listed the city as one of the 24 most polluted places and the most polluted in the State. The debilitating effects of the zinc industry, the port’s pollution, the industrial pollution at Gajuwaka and the threat posed by the recently launched pharma units allegedly dumping effluents are some of the causes for worry, according to J. Ratnam, member of the movement.

Ramana, a victim of pollution from Chukkavanipalem was present at the exhibition as a stark reminder of its debilitating effect.

The frail, 25-year-old Ramana looks like he is 10 years old and can not walk.

Mr. Ratnam was also critical of the pollution caused by thermal power plants and ash ponds there and the chemical effluents finding their way into the sea affecting the marine life. Mr.Ratnam said even the dumping of the solid waste and disposing it in an unhealthy manner was leading to respiratory ailments, TB and other diseases.

Courtesy : The Hindu, Monday, March 08, 2010

I take immense pleasure to see college students taking part in such activities rather than our politicians. But u people are doing a great job. One thing i would like to bring to the notice of the people is though the city is fastest growing city in asia even its pollution is also growing at alarmed rate, areas like gajuwaka, near Essar compary the rate of pollution is over the limit. So i need u people to work on it. And as always i am ever ready for my city and country.
Jai Hind Jai Vizag
Love u Vizag…

With regards
Noushad

Agenda for 28th February 2010-
Venue- Beach Road
Time- 4pm to 7pm
Activities-
1) Green Walk from Victory at Sea to RK Beach.
2) Spreading awareness among public about Going Green.
3) Donating dustbins to chat vendors, corn sellers, etc on beachside.
4) Funds collection from beach lovers for setting more dustbins.
5) Signature collection for requesting GVMC to setup more dustbins.
Organized by www.dreamvizag.com & GoGreen Team(Civil Engineering students of GVP College of Engineering).

1: It seems like everyone’s ” going green” we’re glad you want to take action too luckily, many of the seps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. our grand childrens and there children will thank us for living more sustainably. lets starts now.
2: Take shorter showers to reduce water use. this will lower your water consumption.
3: Please don’t use your vehicles for short distance it will save fuel , money and help for good health
4: Use water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. not only bottle water expensive, but it generates large amount of container wastage.
5: “Borrow instead of buying” borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and papers, this saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes in to printing new books.
If you follow these small small things we can do our part in going green. 9703218121.

why don’t you guys promote education for poor, I was fascinated with this site…

http://www.ekalindia.org/ekal_new/index.php

To Keep the Vizag Beach clean and green, is to introduce the mobile Dustbin, it means a man carrying a dustbin on his back and keeps moving allover the beach picking up the rubbish thrown by visitors,

Since we Indians doesn’t have the habit of going to the dustbin, so it’s better that, let the dustbin come to us. At least we’ll feel shame for what we are doing.

Hi friends,
Recently i visted Kailashagiri in Vizag and i have Taken Circular Train to admire the beauty of Vizag City.

But Unfourtanely i have admired the Ugly face of kailashgiri which was Fully Filled with Plastic water Bottels,Plastic Covers Etc Etc.

Necessary Steps to advice the People about the Waste Management.
That all the waste should be thrown into Dust BIns.
It should be taken care of the Sanitation Dept.

As Govt says “Clean and Green”.
But from last few years.
They are doing “Clean the Green” Project by destroying greenary in and around Vizag.

So much waste & trash like eaten corn, paper, etc is littered on the sand side by people sitting on the divider wall along RK Beach. If they throw this waste on the foot path itself it can be cleaned and the sand could be kept cleaner. Simple yet an effective way to keep the beach clean.
By following these simple things we can keep our beach beautiful & enjoyable for visitors.
Regards,
Narasinga Rao
Vizag Beach Lover

On the occasion of Valentine’s day, most of the city lovers proposed its Valentine, i.e., Vizag as one of the most beautiful, peaceful and a cool city. Many felt that the city is slowly losing its grace owing to increase in pollution, vanishing ecosystems and degrading beauty of the beach.  This event was conducted with the aim to create awareness among the people and to know their views on the same. Here are some suggestions and proposals given by Vizag lovers:

Mr. Om Prakash felt that there should be dustbins on the beach road at regular intervals so that people use dustbins to throw waste instead of throwing it in the beach. Mr. G.V.A.V. Prasad came up with a brilliant idea of using mobile dustbins.

Mrs.  Sree Lakshmi was unhappy by the way people stuck posters wherever they felt like without any permissions. She suggested that the concerned authorities take over their responsibility.

Mr. A. Rajeswara Rao suggested to put halogen lights near statues so that they can be seen in the dark. He also urged the young generation to promote greenery.

Many of the families were unhappy by the way youth drives rashly near the beach road. They felt there should be a check on the speed of the vehicles while driving.

Mrs. Gayatri & Mrs Radhika suggested that these kind of awareness activities be performed at regular intervals.

Most of them urged to promote greenery and were very happy when we distributed seeds to them.

The success of this event can be observed in this statement:

“Best Valentine’s day i have ever had” – Mr. Vijay Anand

Valentine’s day is becoming very popular among the youth nowadays. Generally this day is considered as lover’s day. Lovers are busy buying gifts for their partners. Valentine’s day is not just for lovers but it can be love between any relation and also love towards one’s own city and their country. On this day We, GoGreen team, have taken a oath to make Vizag as our “Valentine”. In this attempt to make Vizag as our Valentine we will be spreading this message by interacting with Vizag lovers starting from YMCA to RK Beach to make Vizag a much more beautiful, cleaner and safer place to live.

Our Team:

IIIrd year Civil Engg., Gayatri College of Engineering
G. V. Vijaykanth Reddy

IInd year Civil Engg., Gayatri College of Engineering
K. Chandrashekhar, K. Tarakeshwar Rao, G. Manohar

Ist year Civil Engg., Gayatri College of Engineering
V. Sandeep , Sheik Khadeer, Sri Charan, Surendra, Peter, Revanth, Pavan

Arun(Marketing Manager, OK Packaged drinking water).

We would wish to grow this team. All those who share similar feelings towards their city can mail at info@dreamvizag.com.

There has been a big hue and cry on the recent hike in bus fares by APSRTC. Dharnas were staged, people went vocal on this issue, many alternatives were proposed. APSRTC had hiked the minimum bus fares by Rs.2, but after the vociferous protests, it reduced the hike to Rs.1, a minor solace to the already burning pockets of the “Common man”. Ticket fares which seemed nominal till last month, now seem obnoxious. Many of my friends had a rude shock when they had to shell out an amount of Rs.7 for a distance which was hardly 5-6 km.

I visited Chennai last month and I was pleasantly surprised seeing the bus fares there. The minimum fare was Rs.2, buses were well maintained, frequency of service comfortable and connectivity was excellent. How was it possible? Was it possible without the Government subsidizing the rates for the benefit of the common man? The rates were the same about 6 years back when I was a resident of Chennai. As a school going student I enjoyed a free bus pass which is a distant dream in our City of Destiny.  Why is our State government not taking Pro-Public measures?

I travel about 40 km a day, to & fro from home to office. I stopped using my personal vehicle, thanks to the rising petrol rates and increasing traffic. I found APSRTC buses a better bet than my own vehicle. Now the situation seems to have taken a flip flop again. A simple calculation shows the severity of the present situation.

Daily km travelled = 40km

Assuming my 2 wheeler gives a mileage of 60 kmpl, I need to spend Rs.50 x 40/60 = Rs.33.33 per day. My bus fare is Rs.24 to and fro. So if I share my vehicle with my colleague, we both will together be saving Rs.15 per day if we travel by 2 wheeler. The younger generation would definitely prefer this compared to public transport owing to the comfort of a personal vehicle. If all the college and office goers in Vizag follow this trend, then imagine the situation on Vizag roads. Imagine how much more green house gases we will be pumping into the atmosphere. Other than this there would be increased accidents, making our roads less safer than they previously were.

Price rise is not a solution for bringing the APSRTC out of losses. Increase the bus frequency, in order to increase the occupancy ratio of buses. Embrace technology to make people use buses more than private transport. Provide SMS alerts to public on bus positions by making every bus GPS/RFID enabled. This way people will save precious time wasted at the bus stop. As recommended by some groups, let the RTC earn revenues from cargo transport. When private operators are reaping rich harvests from cargo transport, why is the RTC keeping mum and not following suit? Why burden the common man when there are alternate means? It is not just causing injustice to public, but also doing irreversible damage to our environment.

Let us take a vow on putting a check to this in whatever possible ways we can. Please post your views and ideas on this burning issue. Let us strive for a Greener Vizag.