Newsletter - June 2017

An Ode to the IC Engine

By Dr.Ramaratnam,
Basil Energetics,Chennai
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The IC (Internal Combustion) Engines, particularly Diesel engines used to be the workhorse alternative in many parts of the world with limited or no access to electricity. Along with the more silent Petrol Engine, it is the workhorse for many applications - mainly automobile, railways, ships, engine driven equipment and standby or standalone electricity generation systems. IC Engine has ruled the roost for nearly 100 plus years in powering many of our transportation and other needs. It was literally the ‘Growth Engine’ for the industry since the early decades of the last millennium.Automobile and auto component industries have spanned a huge swath of manufacturing industries and created millions and millions of jobs for a long time. For many decades the health and size of auto industry used to determine the overall development of a nation. Packing a good energy & power density, the IC engine was the invariable choice of engineers to power any equipment mechanically. Emergence of electric motor along with the Alternating Current distribution system, replaced the IC engine in most stationary equipment for delivery mechanical energy output. But the engines were still the first choice for mobile equipment including the cars, trucks, tractors, railways, etc.One main advantage of diesel engine driven equipment is their mobility and ease of operation. India, which has the largest number of people without access to electricity and Africa where 2 out of 3 people do not have such access, are prime markets for such engine driven equipment. The diesel engine is used as prime mover in electricity generation systems, for a variety of applications, some of which are listed below:

One main advantage of diesel engine driven equipment is their mobility and ease of operation. India, which has the largest number of people without access to electricity and Africa where 2 out of 3 people do not have such access, are prime markets for such engine driven equipment. The diesel engine is used as prime mover in electricity generation systems, for a variety of applications, some of which are listed below:

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Nakshatra Vanam

By C.P.R. Environmental Education Center, Chennai

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Culms from a thick stoloniferous rhizome, erect, 10-20 cm across; culm sheaths broadly triangular, densely brownish-hairy within, and scattered hairy without. Leaves 20 cm long; sheaths 12 x .2 cm, linear, glabrous; ligule short, entire; petiole short. Inflorescence a compound panicle with the spikelets in heads. Spikelets 1-many-flowered, 0.8-2 cm long, oblong, terete. Bracts glume-like. Glumes 1-3, to 5.5 mm, broadly ovate, mucronate. Lemmas to 6.5 mm, lanceolate, mucronate, coriaceous, glabrous. Paleas to 7 mm, 2-keeled, ciliate. Stamens 6. Style 1; stigmas 3. Caryopsis linearly cylindric (India Biodiversity Portal).

Religious Association

The tree is sacred to Shiva and Vishnu. According to Stutley (1985), it is an emblem of Venugopala, Krishna and Rajagopala. The bamboo tree has been depicted in the bas-reliefs of the stupas and in some Buddhist sculptures (Birdwood, 1979). The tree has also been associated with the subject of astrology under the constellation Punarpusam.

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Solid Waste Management

By Hand in Hand, Chennai

1.World Environmental Day programme

World environmental Day programme celebrated at Anna Nagar on June 5th 2017. Wherein 126 members participated. Commissioner, Sanitary Inspector, Rameswaram Municipality gave brief explanation about the source segregation and demonstration of source segregation was done by our green friends.Rangoli competition conducted on the occasion of World environmental Day on June 6th 2017 at Sambhai Village. Where 100 participants participated.

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Arjuna Teertham

By Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep
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 Revival and Renovation of Traditional Water bodies (Teertham) which we started in the year 2013 is going on even after 4 years. We have yet to complete about 18 more water bodies in the coming years. This month, we are giving the photo gallery of the “Arjuna Teertham” which we renovated in the year 2014. The Teertham is located on the main road leading to Ramar Padam This Teertham was not knowing even to the local people as it was in a very dilapidated condition, was fully covered with Odai (Juliflora) trees and thus not noticed even by the regular pilgrims visiting the Ramar Padam.

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Social Capital

Vivekananda Kendra - Nardep

1. Yoga:  
 
Regular Yoga classes conducted every morning from 5.30 a.m. for about 30 Children participants.  
 
2.  International Yoga Day Celebration
 
 Indian Navy invited Vivekananda Kendra to conduct International Yoga Day at their Navy base office at Mandapam, Rameswaram on 21/07/2017. Yoga master Shri.Hegdeji along with two students conducted the session. Around 150 cadets participated

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