New Delhi: Keseto Thakro, a mechanical engineer in Nagaland, has helped set up a mini hydropower plant at the Mewoboke river near his village, Khuzama, to power street lights along a national highway.
The project, called Brighter Khuzama, is led by Thakro as part of the Khuzama Students’ Care Union (KSCU) and is run without any financial aid from the government or sponsors.
Stretches along the highway, which run through the heart of Khuzama, have always been prone to accidents because of inadequate lighting. “The area where the project is being carried out has less inhabitants with not a single street light,” Thakro said. An open narrow bridge, he added, with a sharp turning has caused many accidents and fatalities.
Around 90 per cent of the village’s population depend on the Mewoboke river as their main source of irrigation. But frequent incidents of trucks falling into a gorge beside the river cause major oil spillage that contaminates the water and affects farmers.
The initiative, however, isn’t just a lighting project. “This is an initiative towards harvesting not only water energy but also other sources of free energy available in the near future,” Thakro said.
KSCU, Thakro said, was given a “beyond repairable” hydroger (mini hydro generator) by the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development in Dimapur. The students then assembled it, renovated damaged parts and brought the machine to a running condition.
The union now aims to produce at least 1,000 KWH to light 50-60 streetlights along the national highway.
Assamese actor rejoins BJP 8 months after quitting it over CAA
Popular Assamese actor Jatin Bora, who had severed ties with the Assam BJP in December last year after protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has rejoined the party.
The actor, who is known for hits such as Ratnakar and Hiya Diya Niya, said he had become “emotional” during the anti-CAA stir and has now realised his “mistake”.
“The anti-CAA movement had caused extensive damage to the city. It was a horrific experience for many people including me as it claimed the lives of five youths,” he said at a press conference.
Bora also said he was not well-versed with politics and wanted to do something worthwhile for the cinema industry of Assam.
At the peak of the anti-CAA protests in the state last year, Bora had said, “…I cannot forget that I am an Assamese first. I am what I am for the love of the Assamese people. At this hour of crisis, I have decided to stand by my people and oppose CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) tooth and nail.”
Prior to his resignation from the party, the actor was appointed chairman of the Assam State Film Finance and Development Corporation by the BJP-led government.
Arunachal’s horticulture dept now has ‘plastic greenhouse’
In Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, a greenhouse constructed from discarded plastic bottles will be used by the state’s horticulture department. The initiative was undertaken as part of the state’s urban development and housing department’s plastic waste management programme.
Changlang DC Devansh Yadav, who inaugurated the greenhouse, took to Twitter to tell people about this unique initiative.
Patriotism has different meanings for different people…
On this #IndependenceDayIndia2020 launched 'Plastic Greenhouses' made from recycled plastic bottles & used for plant nursery!!
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat pic.twitter.com/AZ6f3zshdx
— Devansh Yadav (@Devansh_IAS) August 15, 2020
The project, which is being implemented on a pilot basis, is likely to also be taken up in other parts of the state.
Hyderabad-based firm Recykal has been involved in its planning and financing. The other financier is Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
Sikkim author Prajwal Parajuly’s debut novel nominated for French book award
The French translation of Sikkimese author Prajwal Parajuly’s debut novel Land Where I Flee (Fuir et revenir) has been long-listed for the Emile Guimet Prize for 2020.
Land Where I Flee narrates the story of three siblings who return to Gangtok from various parts of the world to celebrate their grandmother’s 84th birthday, their run-ins with a mischievous household staffer and an uninvited guest.
The Emile Guimet Prize is awarded annually to a book written by an Asian author and translated into French. The award is given by the Emile Guimet Museum in Paris.
Other writers on the 2020 long list are Fatima Bhutto (Pakistan), Shion Miura (Japan), Cho Nam-Joo (South Korea), Shiga Izumi (Japan), Tsering Dondrup (Tibet), Fang Fang (China), Hye-Young Pyun (South Korea), and Liu Zhenyun (China).
Besides this novel, Gangtok-born Parajuly, 34, has also written a short-story collection called The Gurkha’s Daughter.
Also read: Naga peace deal can be a feather in Modi’s cap, but watch out for China
Good work bro