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Tribune News Service
Katra, December 8
The Principal Scientific Adviser to the PM, Dr. R. Chidambaram today visited the mule-dung based bio-gas plant set up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Shrine Board at Banganga in Katra.
Dr Chidambaram took stock of this initiative by the board. He had been requested by the Governor, NN Vohra, also the Chairman of the board, to look into various initiatives by the board aimed at harnessing latest technologies for improvement of the yatra and to advise further improvements.
Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, who accompanied Dr Chidambaram briefed him about the efforts made by the board towards preserving the environment, including the initiative of large scale plantation of trees, setting up solar water heating systems and solar power plants, setting up of automated nurseries and vermin-compost units, use of bio-digester technology developed by DRDO for sewage treatment, implementation of rain water harvesting systems, among others.
Dr Chidambaram appreciated the efforts made by the board and stressed the need for carrying forward these initiatives, apart from bringing into play new scientific interventions for further improving the functional efficiencies in various fields.
Later, he interacted with the officers of the board and advised them on the need to make efforts for exploring possibilities of collecting mule dung at source in order to enable its better disposal. Various methods of non-biodegradable waste disposal, including poly-crack technology, use of Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) for improving scientific interventions etc. were discussed.
Dr. M. K. Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, B. Mohandaas, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Gopal Sharma, Deputy Divisional Manager of the board were present during the interaction.
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