The Aerial Cinema experts at Teton Gravity Research released the first ultra HD footage of the Himalayas, shot from above 20,000 ft, with the GSS C520 system. It is said to be the most advanced Gyro-Stabilized camera system in the world. Filmed from a helicopter with a crew flying from Kathmandu at 4,600 to 24,000 ft.
Breathtaking. Never seen the Himalayas so beautiful. With Mt. Everest and nearby peaks.
Must watch video. Full screen.
The world is addicted to plastic. It was once sold to consumers as the product of the future, a symbol of the modern times to come. But decades later the reality is that the earth is choking on it.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, only 9 percent of plastic is making its way into the recycling stream.
“That’s a people problem. They throw it on the street, or throw it in the ocean. Unfortunately it’s a habit that has to be stopped,” says Leon Farahnik, chairman of Carbonlite.
Know More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/techknow/2016/02/choking-planet-problem-plastic-160207112522231.html
This video is of just 20 seconds. It’s absolutely marvelous. A spider spinning it’s web. Look at the remarkable precision with which he engineer’s his structure with beams and bracings
The authors conclude that urgent measures are necessary to avoid disaster. They call upon everyday citizens to urge their leaders to “take immediate action as a moral imperative to current and future generations of human and other life.”
DAM INSTRUMENTATION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Instrumentation which is essentially a technology of measurements and vital in all scientific investigations helps in monitoring and evaluating the performance of dams during their construction as well as during their operation. Instrumentation helps in checking the theories used in design, in validating and improving upon the design principles and discarding the erroneous concepts. Future behaviour of dams can be predicted and suitable remedial measures can be undertaken to strengthen them. Instrumentation also helps in verification of new construction techniques and to build greater confidence among engineers responsible for maintenance and operation of dams.
The instruments and instrumentation systems which used to be most often hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic and electro-mechanical are gradually getting transformed into electronic ones as they facilitate use of electronic data loggers and computers. At major projects, where the instruments are installed in large numbers, it is desirable to go in for automation so that the results from instrumentation data could be made available as quickly as possible for evaluating the health status of dams and for taking suitable remedial action, if warranted.
The failure of dams in the world is approximately one in 185; but it could be more in future due to faster pace with which dams are being constructed. While failure of dams cannot be completely avoided, it is possible to reduce the effect of their failure on public life and property, if advance information and warning could be provided by monitoring the dam behaviour based on the instrumentation data and timely measures are initiated in the form of strengthening of dams or disaster management. Instrumentation can also form a basis during legal proceedings, claims etc. after the failure of a dam.
A number of higher and higher dams are being constructed in the relatively unstable Himalayan geological formations. These dams have high risk consequences and therefore may need to be adequately instrumented. The instrumentation of foundations should, therefore, be extensive so that adequate foundation treatment is ensured after receiving feedback from them.
For successful implementation of instrumentation, it is necessary that the instruments and the instrumentation system chosen should be sufficiently sensitive, accurate, reliable and durable. Additional care should be taken while selecting instruments, that are buried and can not be retrieved later for servicing. Again proper study and experience is required to be able to understand as to what parameters are required to be monitored for planning and placement of instruments. Instrumentation with respect to its location in Dam need to be absolutely thorough so that areas critical for stress determination are fully covered. The designer should infact specify the critical points which need to be constantly monitored and the frequency at which the collection of data and monitoring is to be done.
2.0 TYPE OF INSTRUMENTS
About forty yearas ago, geomechanics was still a new science and market for instrumentation hardly existed. Instruments were installed only to monitor any special problem encountered during construction. Today geomechanics has matured as a science and instrumentation is invariably specified in every project and is recognised as a necessity in dams. Instruments are now typically installed, read and interpreted by specialised instrumentation engineers rather than by manufacturers.
Instrumentation technology has advanced very rapidly during the recent years and it has become more secure with more complex devices becoming quite common for use in dams. The instruments available since the beginning of the era of instrumentation can be classified into four categories, based on their principles of working viz.: Mechanical, Hydraulic, Pneumatic and Electrical/Electronic. Initially mechanical and hydraulic instruments were used extensively for instrumentation. However, with the passage of time and advancement of technology, pneumatic and electrical/electronic instruments have become popular. The period since when these dam instruments are being used abroad and in India is given below.
——————————————————
Instruments Since when in use (years)
technology abroad India
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The mechanical,hydraulic and pneumatic type of instruments are simple, rugged, reliable, cheaper and easy to operate but they have lower response and lower accuracy. The electrical/electronic instruments are highly sensitive and have high resolutions.
Off late the use of Electrical/Electronic type instruments are in vogue and these are being used extensively in instrumentation of dams. The electrical/Electronics type of instruments include unbonded resistance type, bonded strain gauge type and vibrating wire type.
Due to high rate of mortality among various types of instruments, erratic behaviour and lack of proper calibration, the results given by most of the instruments cannot be fully relied upon except in the case of vibrating wire type instruments.
Bonded strain gauge type instruments are suitable for surface installations and for short term observations. The unbounded resistance type of instruments, though have long term stability but they suffer from zero shift, cable resistance variation are sensitive to temperature changes, moisture movements and have short life. Thus, their long term reliability is questionable.
The vibrating wire instruments are now increasingly being used in dam instrumentation. These instruments are reliable, sensitive, accurate, durable and can be used with modern data loggers and computers. In fact with vibrating wire instruments, instrumentation can be completely automated and these can be read and interpreted at even far off Central control rooms through satellites. Other reasons for selection of vibrating wire technology are :
Selecting vibrating-wire technology for piezometers, settlement sensors, total pressure cells, strain gauges and joint meters permits the same terminal switching stations and readout equipment can be used for all these instruments.
Vibrating wire instruments are however, affected by temperature changes. For this reason, each instrument includes a thermistor so that the temperature changes to be noted and compensated for.
As regards, determining the number of instruments and their exact type or location, their determination is primarily a matter of experienced judgement.
3.0 DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTATION TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA
Instrumentation Technology in India can be traced back with the establishment of Engineering Research Institute in the Irrigation Depts of States with the assistance of National Physical Laboratory for transducer development.
Further, after Independence, a large number of high dams were taken up for construction. For some of the dams, Consultants from USA and European countries were involved, with the result that the State-of-art of dam instrumentation, as available in advanced countries could be introduced. However, indigenously manufactured instruments have a very high rate of mortality and could not be relied upon. Added to this, the instrumentation of dams was not carried out in right earnestness with the result instrumentation suffered and only a few instruments yielded reliable data.
The vibrating wire type instruments, no doubt enjoy advantages but they are costly and most of their components are imported. A number of Indian firms have of late entered into collaboration with foreign partner and have started producing vibrating wire instruments. It is suggested that only those firms which supply vibrating wire instruments with ISO 9000 certification be used for dam instrumentation.
Moreover due to lack of co-ordination between the construction contractors of dams and manufacturers/suppliers of the instruments, the programme of installation of instruments and their accessories and the successful interpretation of instrumentation data could not be achieved. It is therefore, suggested that the procurement, installation and successful operation of instruments should be a part of the main contract.
Central Water Commission has prepared guidelines for BIS code on standardising the dam instrumentation. Still lot of work in standardising the dam instrumentation system need to be done.
In India we have 277 dams above a height of 30m and another 116 dams are under construction(total 393 dams), out of which only about 149 dams are known to be adequately instrumented.
4.0 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED IN DAMS:
The various parameters to be monitored and measured in the dams are: Uplift, Pore pressure, stress, strain, joint movements, horizontal and vertical displacement, foundation deformation, deflection, surface movement, seepage, temperature and seismicity.
Various instruments used for monitoring these parameters in dams are tabulated below:
PARAMETERS INSTRUMENTS WHERE APPLICABLE
I.Uplift/pore 1.Twintube Hydraulic piezometers
water pressure 2.Pneumatic piezometers
3.Vibratingwire piezometers
4.Unboundedelectric resistance piezometers
5.Bonded Electric resistance piezometers
6.Multipoint piezometers with packers
7.Multipointpiezometers surrounded with grout
8.Multipointpushin piezometers.
9.Porous tube piezometers
10.Slottedpipe piezometers.
11.Pore pressure cells.
2.Weirs
3.Flumes
4.Flow meters
5.Velocity meters
6.Geophysical seepage monitoring
7.Water quality meters
8.Resistivity test
III.Strain 1.Elastic wire strain meters
2.Vibrating wire strain meters.
3.Reinforcing meters
4.Nostressstrainmeters
IV.Stress 1.Gloetzl Cell
2.Carlson Load Cell
3.Vibrating wire stress meters.
4.Flat jacks
V.Relative movement across
Joints(Between Blocks) 1.Joint meters
VI.Displacements 1.Multipoint extensometers
2.Whitemore gauges
3.Crackmonitoringgauges 4.Calipers 5.Micrometers
6.Dial gauges
7.Vibrating wire settlement sensors
8.Internalverticalmovementinstallation
9.Inclinometers.
VII.Deformation 1.Multipointboreholeextensometers
2.Foundation deformation gauges.
3.Tunnel type gauges
VIII.Deflection/Surface movements 1.Plumblines
2.Tilt meters
3.Embankment measuring points
4.Structural measuring points.
5.Surveyingtechniques.
(a)Triangulation
(b) Trilateration
(c) Collimation
IX.Temperature 1.Resistancethermometers
(Surface & Dam Body) 2.Vibratingwire thermometers.
3.Thermisters
X.Seismic 1.Geophones(For monitoring micro seismic activities)
2.Seismograph(Strong motion monitors)
4.1 The various parameters which are required to be monitored in concrete/masonry and gravity dams are:
4.2 The various parameters to be monitored in Earth and Rockfill dams for judging their performance are
CASE STUDIES:
A few case histories are presented below which indicate as to how the instrumentation has helped in measuring and monitoring the behaviour of dams and structures and in implementation of the remedial measures for safety of the dams etc.
a) In June 1985, a big land slide with a slide mass of 30 million cubic meters took place at Xintanzhen town in China. This town is situated on the bank slope of the Yangtze River, about 70 km upstream of Gezhouba Project or 27 km upstream of Three Gorges Dam It was due to perfect instrumentation and monitoring work, such as alignment system, levelling measurements, triangulation, bore hole observation etc., that it was possible to forecast much in advance that such a landslide is inevitable. In compliance with this advance forecast, the authorities evacuated 481 families consisting of 1370 people well in time and human casualties were completely avoided. This landslide destroyed 95% of the old Xintanzhen town. It is reported that when slide mass plunged into the river, the surge was as high as 40m.
b) The 82m high Bhandardara Masonry Dam, in the State of Maharashtra over River Pravara, a tributary of River Godavari, having a total length at top of dam as 507m was completed in the year 1926. This dam was operated for about 43 years without any problem or distress. In 1969 it was noticed that a heavy sheet of flow of water @ 0.62 cumec(22 cusecs) was gushing out from the contact plane between masonary and the rock foundation at a distance of about 70m from the centre of the After investigations, remedial measures were undertaken to repair and strengthen the dam and to stop excessive seepage. While undertaking the remedial measures various instruments were also installed to monitor the effectiveness of the strengthening of dam and remedial measures undertaken.
The results, as gathered from the instruments installed in the dam, showed very encouraging results and effectiveness of the remedial measures like decrease in seepage from 0.62 cumec(22 cusecs) to about 5 litres/sec(0.005 cumec or 0.18 cusecs), reduction in uplift pressure in dam foundation, reduction in deflection of dam from 10.30mm (before undertaking remedial measures) to 4.50mm, reduction in tilt from 72 seconds to 28 seconds.
c) Fontenelle Dam, a zoned earthfill structure in United States, constructed by USBR and completed in 1964 has a crest length of 1652m and a structural height of Immediately after construction, when the filling of the reservoir of the dam was done in 1965, a section of the right embankment near the right abutment collapsed due to excessive seepage and piping. The excessive seepage was under significant hydraulic pressure and it eroded the embankment material along the foundation which was highly jointed and untreated.
After completion of the remedial measures to strengthen the embankmet, reinforcing it with grout curtain near the abutments, the reservoir was filled up. While executing the remedial measures, extensive instrumentation of the embankment in the form of observation wells, installation of piezometers stand pipes, seepage monitoring devices, uplift/pore water pressure instruments etc. was done to monitor and measure the behaviour of the dam. Although the dam functioned satisfactorily till 1982, once again, distress condition were noticed(primarily due to extensive instrumentation), in the form of excessive seepage, piping, increase in the rate of settlement etc. During this second distress condition in the dam, further instrumentation like temperature monitoring, foundation settlement monitoring, ground water flow monitoring, embankment measurement points etc. were adopted, in addition to earlier instrumentation which was also increased.
The extensive instrumentation and monitoring program helped to avoid an emergency situation in 1983. The monitoring of seepage, piping and structural behaviour of the dam could help in identifying areas of potential problem and timely remedial measures were undertaken to avoid any major failure of the dam.
The examples quoted above merely indicate that even dams/structures which would have been operated successfully without any incident or distress for many years, are also susceptible to serious problems and distress thus reinforcing the need and necessity of extensive instrumentation and monitoring their behaviour to be able to detect distress conditions in these dams/structures and take suitable remedial and precautionary measures in advance to avoid heavy loss of human life and property.
Bangalore : 10th November 2017
In a historic decision by the Division Bench of Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka consisting of Justice Mr. B.S. Patil and Justice Mrs. B. V.
Nagarathna, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been directed to ensure that Ward Committees constituted on 31st October 2017 in all the 198 wards of the city should meet by end of November in accordance with Section13-H of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976. The Court further directed that during this first meeting each and every Ward Committee shall prepare a ward level plan to “ensure proper solid waste management and
sanitation work in the ward and finalise location of new public sanitation
units” as per Sec 13 (I) (i) of the Act. These plans will be consolidated
into an Action Taken Report (ATR) by BBMP and placed on its website, and a
report of progress will be produced in Court prior to the next date of
hearing i.e. 8th December 2017.
The direction assumes critical importance at a time when governance and
management of large metropolitan centres such as Bangalore are in a
perpetual state of crisis. This is a direct consequence of the lack of
decentralization and devolution of power that guarantees direct public
participation in civic matters as per the Constitutional 74th Amendment
(Nagarpalika) Act, 1992. This critical reform initiated 25 years ago with the aim of improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in civic administration has been delayed for
one or the other reason. Comprehending the entire situation and the
prevailing crisis, the High Court issued these directions in response to a
submission made by Mr. Leo F. Saldanha of Environment Support Group in WP
46523/2012 (Environment Support Group & Ors v. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara
Palike & Ors) connected with WP 24739/2012 and other Public Interest Litigations that are
being heard by the Court since July 2012 in tacking the solid waste
management crises).
In an unprecedented initiative, the Court also directed BBMP to prepare a
booklet consisting of all High Court directives, as also specific
provisions of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Karnataka
Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 relating to Ward Committee functioning,
and reach that to every Ward Committee within 10 days. The Committees would
then be assisted by BBMP in developing a Ward Level Waste Management Plan
based on micro-plans developed by BBMP, the prevailing reality and inputs
from the public.
The High Court in earlier orders has made Ward Committees responsible to manage waste within their ward limits. In fact in directions issued in November 2012, that Court had held there is no solution to the garbage crisis unless each and every ward would segregate waste at source and manage waste produced within the ward by establishing two wet waste and one dry waste processing centres. This was to ensure that waste would not travel tens of miles to be dumped in quarries or landfills causing havoc in the lives of thousands of villagers,
who are unfortunate victims of the city’s waste.
Mr. Sarfaraz Khan, Jt. Commissioner (SWM and Health) of BBMP submitted that
maximum efforts were invested to ensure segregation and management of waste
at source. However, only 40% of waste segregation has been achieved. While
efforts are on to ensure maximum management of waste by segregation at
source, interim measures demand waste need to be taken to quarries. This is
also because eight waste processing sites that have been established at the
cost of Rs. 450 crores have not been functioning optimally due to various
reasons, including local resistance.
Earlier, Mr. Ajesh Kumar, Counsel for petitioners in WP 24739/2012, brought
to the attention of the Court that several progressive directions issued
for managing solid waste have not been complied with. These directions
require segregation of waste at source and its management in local areas.
As a result, accumulated mixed waste was being dumped in quarry pits in and
around the city resulting in massive environmental and health impacts on
local village communities.
Mrs. Kathyayini Chamaraj of CIVIC Bangalore, who is an impleading applicant
in the PILs, argued that the Ward Committees currently set up have not been
constituted as per the law. The Court felt that such legal objections could
be raised independently. But the Ward Committees now set up must begin
functioning immediately
Press Release Issued by Namrata Kabra, Mallesh K. R. and Harsh Vardhan Bhati
Environment Support Group
No one noticed
When the sparrows left
It was just another
smoggy winter morning
People drove their cars
dropped their children off
At air conditioned schools
Where they learned
Pollution is a bad thing
It was just another
smoggy winter morning
And stuck on flyovers
No one noticed
That they spent more time on roads
Than with family and friends
So the city of traders
Traded its sparrows,
for SUVs
And children’s lungs
for Diwali firecrackers
Pollution was good for business
And as a million bonfires
lit up in Punjab and Haryana
Delhi bought air purifiers,
masks, cough syrup
and tweeted in anger
But it all started
On a smoggy winter morning
When the last sparrow left
No one noticed,
As that ever useful smog
Hid us from our conscience
-Author Unknown
Daan Roosegaarde and his team of experts have created the world’s largest smog vacuum cleaner. The 7-meter (23 feet) tall SMOG FREE TOWER uses patented positive ionisation technology to produce smog free air in public spaces, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free. It is equipped with environment-friendly technology, cleans 30.000 m3 per hour and uses no more electricity than a water boiler (1170 watts). The SMOG FREE TOWER provides a local solution for clean air such as in parks. The effect of the Smog Free Tower has been validated by the results compiled by the Eindhoven University of Technology.
https://ideas.ted.com/this-tower-sucks-up-smog-and-turns-it-into-diamonds/
Watch this video which explains all
I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling.
The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was completely alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continueto nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.’”
That day there was a wind blowing and, after a while, I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soil, dancing joyfully, because as it floated it saw itself already there in the tree. It was so happy.
I bowed my head, knowing that I have a lot to learn from the leaf.
–Thich Nhat Hanh
Does the water in your house belong to you? Let me put the question this way- Does a rental house belongs to you?
We are here in the world for a short time. No one is here forever. If the owner of this world is not complaining about the misuse of His nature, it does not mean that He would not get back to us. He surely will in his own way.
The water is not my property and not yours either. We only value the water when we pay for it. Whereas nature is not charging anything and we take it for granted. It projects our limited understanding and the level of consciousness.
In India the river is consider a living entity and often referred to as a mother. Especially the river Ganges, called Ganga in local dialects, is revered as a diety and called Mother Ganga. After two years of intense practise of Kriya Yoga. One night, I dreamt, Mother Ganga is eagerly waiting for me and I am also eager to meet her. I approached her, she is extremely happy to see me. She hugged me and welcomed me and said “why you took so long to come to me”.
I woke up next morning with intense desire to go to Rishikesh to see Ganga. Next day it was the Diwali (India’s biggest celebration). Without wasting any time in thinking and organising, I took night bus to Rishikesh. This time I wanted to stay close to Ganga and not at Kriya Yoga Ashram from where the Ganga was at some distance. I got down from bus, at 3.30 am. I could not see any person on the road, a pitch dark early morning. Where to go? I looked around and saw one Ashram. I knocked the door. From the glass door I saw two people were sleeping inside. One came hurriedly and opened the door. I asked “Can I have one room here, please?” He said “No”. I waited for a while. The person who was sleeping suddenly got up and said; “Wait! we have rooms”.
Luckily, I got the small room next to Ganga Ghat. A Ghat is a flight of steps leading down to a river. I was extremely happy. Happiness is very small word to what I felt that time. I was overwhelmed to see Ganga, I don’t know what to say! I needed no one to share my happiness at that point of time. I was complete with me and Ganga. I quickly kept my bag in my room and went to Ganga to take bath at 4am. It was still quite dark. There was no one around. In uncontrollable joy I entered Ganga. It was very cold water but it did not affect me rather I enjoyed it. After each dip in Ganga, I found a new being in myself. It is unexplainable feeling when I get in touch with Ganga. Her touch is not only limited to my body, it goes deep into my soul. I am into her and she is into me. I am lost in her. My breath becomes so subtle that I don’t feel its presence.
After the bath, I silently sat on the steps of the Ghat. I did not want to leave her and go in my room. I was in so much joy that I could nearly hug her from one end to another. Suddenly I saw something was floating towards me.
I stood up to see clearly what kind of object it was? It was a Banana. I could not see anyone around nor far away. I grabbed the banana. I thought it might be a coincidence. Any way I was happy to receive a gift from Ganga.
I kept sitting at the Ghat for hours in bliss and joy. I realised it was 2pm and I was hungry. I wanted simple bland food. I went straight up to the dining hall of the Ashram. Few devotee scholars were sitting around the table. They were reading Srimad Bhagavatham. I asked for food from them. They said lunch time is over. I was quiet and hungry, nothing to say? One of them stood up, very strict looking face and said “I get you some food”. He went into the kitchen and put dal, vegetables, rice in one polybag and gave it to me. I sat under the tree just outside the dining hall and had it. It was a perfect and fully satisfying meal. I went back to those scholars again, and said; “Thank you for giving me the food now can I sit with you to hear Bhagavat Katha”
They Said “Mother, no females are allowed to sit with male scholars” I said “but you called me mother” they said “That is the rule”. I was thinking what kind of rules are there in the Indian system, why a mother is not allowed to sit with her children. However I gave my greeting to them and quietly returned to the bank of Ganga.
I watched people travelling from different parts of the country to take a bath in the holly river. Carrying their faith and beliefs in Ganga, God and Heaven. They worshipped and performed the ritual in their own ways. Afterwards they threw rotten flowers, old books and ashes along with polybags in the Ganga. What kind of worshipis this?
Some people took the bath with the soap. Although it was written clearly on the notice board “People should not use Soap while bathing in Ganga” but who cares? Most of the people did not use the dust bin which was so close to them. Some found it fun to watch plastic cups floating in the water.
I was angry and was about to say something to them but suddenly I felt Ganga is telling me to look at her. “Despite how everyone treats her, she provides life to everyone and yet she is not angry.”
My anger turned into empathy and love. And I was glad that I did not react in anger. One is acting according to one’s state of consciousness. The Mother Ganga and whole nature is being so patient.
I saw one old man was quietly sweeping the Ghat, no one bothered to notice his work. I got inspired from him and quietly picked up as much garbage as possible and threw it in the dustbin. I also offered my help to sweep the Ghat. He was happy to receive a little help from me.
Next day, I woke up and did my kriya yoga practise and went to Ganga at 5am. I sat quietly at the same place as day before. Yes! I was expecting a gift. How foolish I was. Coincidences are not repeated. Guess what? I again saw a banana floating towards me again. From where it was coming I had no idea. But it coming for me – that I was sure. It was no more a coincidence. The waves were really directing the banana towards me. Not carried away by the wind. It was a magical view to my eyes. In a big river, a dark morning and a banana out of the blue. I was happy and surprised. I received it with much love.
In the afternoon, some kind of fear was overtaking me. The river looked very strong, big and huge. I realised my smallness and feebleness. I hesitated to enter in Ganga. I was surprised how I could managed it earlier. Along with this feeling I could feel the pain of separation too.
When the pain became intense then fear could not hold it longer. No matter what the time was, I took a bath.
At lunch time, I again went to the same Ashram for Lunch, but at the correct time. Same scholars were there, they told me you need to get a token from outside for every meal. I was about to turn back and they called me inside to have meal. I had a little food but it was fulfilling.
After food, I went back to the Ghat. I saw few children were selling flowers at the Ghat. They requested me to buy flowers, which were to be floated in Ganga. I told them “I don’t want to dirty Ganga in name of devotion, but, I can buy you biscuits on a condition, which was, to throw the wrapper in the dustbin”. They happily agreed.
They settled down on steps of the Ghat and enjoyed the biscuits. Suddenly they got up, removed their cloth and jumped into the Ganga, they were swimming and having fun. No fear – not a sign of fear. They were enjoying in the lap of my mother and I am standing there out of water in the zone of my fear. Without wasting any more time, I also jumped in Ganga. Swimming freely in company of fearless beings, oh it was so wonderful! All my pain and fear was gone. We all came out of Ganga after one hour and we all had food together.
In the evening, I again went to have food at the Ashram, without collecting a coupon, which was actually free of cost. So I thought if it is free, then why get into the formality. I straightaway went to the dining hall. Same scholar asked me loudly “Where is your coupon?” I said, “I did not get it”. He said, rudely and loudly “you step aside, this time you will not get food”. I did not feel bad and angry with them. I was just quietly observing. How the rigidness is settled in heart of reader of Vedas and scriptures. Although it was a charitable organisation. Why they do not understand simplicity. After some time, they told me to join the meal. I quietly took my seat and had a meal very calmly and then left the place. They looked very disturbed with my relaxed behaviour. Rather irritated and angry for some reason.
Next day morning at 5.30am, I went to my banana place. I had no doubt in my mind. I was absolutelysure that banana will come. I sat on the high stone and watched the Ganga carefully and said “mother please don’t take a long time. Send me the gift now”. I was sitting alert because I wanted to know from where the Banana was coming. I saw something popped up from the middle of Ganga. It was my banana. It floated towards me.
I grabbed the banana with full authority. As a child have full rights on her parents property.
Now when I work in kitchen, in bathroom and go outside anywhere. I feel each drop is Ganga. It belongs to God and God only.
Epilogue:
On March 20, 2017, the Uttarakhand High Court accorded the status of “living human entities” to rivers, Ganga and Yamuna. This was to enable the “preservation and conservation of the two rivers and to protect the recognition and faith of society”. In its verdict, the State High Court had cited New Zealand’s bill which made the Whanganui river, revered by the indigenous Maori people, the first in the world to be recognised as a living entity with full legal rights.
However, sadly, for whatever legitimate reasons, the Supreme Court of India in early july, 2017, stayed the landmark judgement that accorded the Ganga and Yamuna rivers the status of “living human entities”.
Vanisha Uppal