Eco-Scope Bihar Harvesting water, the answer to looming water crisis  By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh   Demand for water is growing worldwide including India, as everybody on earth   now requires almost double the amount of water needed five years back.With urban India growing by leaps and bounds and rural India trying to increase agricultural productivity, we are expected to experience a severe water crisis by 2020, and the per capita availability of water is projected to be less than 1,000 cubic meters.The shortage of water points to a grim situation as it is bound to adversely affect... 

Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar Spices for Healthy Life: a ‘Masala’ for good health!   By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh Spices and aromatics constitute integral part of Indian cooking process. They have been used since ancient times. They were mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures called the Vedas, ancient Egyptian Papyruses and the Old Testament. Cinnamon, listed biblically as cinnamon, was part of Moses’ sacred anointing oil for the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony, the holy objects, and the high priests.The history of the spice trade dates back many centuries.... 

Prof. Ashok K Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar Explosive Population Growth – The Time Bomb By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh It is estimated that the human population will cross seven billion this year—more than double what it was just 50 years ago. It is further projected that the world population will be around 10.1 billion at the end of this century,out of which approximately 8.2 billion will be living in less developed countries. It is also estimated that in next 39 years there will be some big shifts among the biggest countries. By 2050, India will surpass China as the world’s largest population,... 

Eco-Scope Bihar Regulation of Ground Water Resource – Need of the hour! By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh I participated in ‘Consultation meeting on the draft model bill for the protection, conservation, management and regulation of Groundwater Resources’ last Friday convened by Planning Commission of India,New Delhi. The objective of the proposed bill is to safeguard the ground water for our future generations. The bill is the need of the hour and without implementation of such bill for water governance, we are going to face severe water scarcity in near future.One of the main preambles... 

Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar Deoghar – a green destination in the month of Shravan By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh I am back home after spending three days at Deoghar. Deoghar is one of the main towns of Santhal Parganas in the state of Jharkhand. Deoghar literally means – the abode of GODS. It is a serene place with a picturesque, natural scenic location. Lush green forests of Data Jungle form the northern outskirts of this beautiful little town. Nandan Pahar and Trikutaparbata are two low hills with forest cover which lie to the north-east and west of Deoghar respectively. Many... 

Prof Ashok K. Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar Climate Change knows no national boundaries: the need to change how we behave towards earth by Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh With ocean temperature hitting record highs, Arctic sea ice dwindling, and glaciers melting faster than ever, it seems that climate change is knocking on our doors.The urgency is suddenly hitting home for people all around the planet.The problems associated with the climate crisis seem to be far from being solved – in spite of intense International debate that have spurred by scientific studies of the International Panel on Climate Change... 

Prof. Ashok K Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar Biomass Energy – Ideal alternative energy source for rural Bihar By Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh Biomass materials have been in use since man’s cave-dwelling days for meeting various human needs including energy. The main sources of biomass energy are trees, agricultural products and animal waste. Until the middle of 19th century, biomass dominated the global energy supply with about seventy percent share. Biomass remains the primary energy source in the developing countries in Asia even today. Share of biomass in energy varies – from a very high... 

Prof Ashok K Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar The Kosi confusion: First, understand how Kosi behaves and then look for solution! By Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh River Kosi often described as the “Sorrow of Bihar” exhibits many unique characteristics. During the past few hundred years Kosi has shifted its course from east to west to a distanceof 300kms, leaving behind massive devastation and vast tracts of uncultivable land.The Kosi river system is the only Indian River whose hydrology is deeply influenced both by the regional geological complexities and inputs of annual precipitation and Himalayan glacier... 

Prof Ashok K Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar   26th JUNE, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking By Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh The United Nations General Assembly in 1987 decided to observe the 26 June as “The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking” as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and co–operation to achieve an international society free of drug abuse. Drug abuse is the use of a drug or other substance for a non-medical use, with the aim of producing some type of ‘mind-altering’ effect in the user. This... 

Prof Ashok Ghosh Eco-Scope Bihar World Environment Day – 5th June, 2011: save forests and save our future By Prof Ashok Kumar Ghosh Editor’s note: Since today is the World Environment Day, Prof Ashok Ghosh’s column is appearing today instead of Monday. Today is The World Environment Day. I started my day with newspapers and a cup of tea .Almost all the newspapers were splashed with substantive coverage of world environment day (WED)-2011.It is good to seethat thelevel of awareness towards our responsibility to mother earth, and proactive role of media is increasing. The theme for this...