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Polythene is now degradable; Kulgam girl has formula for it S F Ahmed
Kulgam, July 08: Government’s failure in implementing ban on the excessive use of polythene
which forms the bulk of Kashmir non-biodegradable waste
notwithstanding, a local village girl here has finally come up with a
formula to deal with the problem.
Nasira
Akhtar, a 30-years-old girl of Kanipora Kulgam has mastered a herbal
treatment which can be used to convert polythene directly into
ashes.
Interestingly, Nasira, who has had almost no formal education, has
discovered a herb which after being dried in sunlight and grounded into
powder can decompose polythene to ashes.
"I collected a
specific type of herb and dried it in open sunlight for a few days.
After drying this herb, I crushed it to powder, which when mixed with
water is kept in a closed glass container for almost 24 hours, which
changes it into a kind of pulpy paste,” informed Nasira.
“This
paste is applied on mounds of polythene, following which if the
polythene is burnt, it will, instead of melting as usual, be reduced to
ashes, which then can be safely disposed off without any fear of it
causing any kind of environtal pollution,” adds Nasira.
Nasira says
the paste she developed, if marketed, will come very cheap in the
market and will certainly help in dealing with the environmental
hazards of polythene.
Not having much faith in the state government
or the Kashmir University’s Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) that
they would help in projecting her “invention”, Nasira says she wants
her product patented in her name first “then only will I disclose the
name of the herb that is used in making it.”
"I visited USIC
several times but unfortunately instead of encouraging me they
discouraged me,” alleges Nasira, adding that her hopes are pinned with
National Innovation Foundation (NIF), “who will help me in
commercializing my product after initial tests."
When ‘Kashmir
Images’ contacted USIC Director and chairman of Kashmir University’s
GIAN cell, Dr. G M Bhat about this Nasira’s “invention”, he said, "Yes
this girl has come up with the idea of how to decompose polythene to
ash and in fact we have sent the ashes to many different laboratories
across India and we are very optimistic about this invention and I am
sure the results will be in favour of the invention.”
If this
happens, Dr. Bhat says, Nasira “will be the first person in the world
who will solve a big problem (of dealing with polythene
waste)."
When contacted, Prof. Anil K. Gupta, Vice-chairperson National
Innovation Foundation (NIF) Ahmedabad and senior Professor at IIM
Ahmedabad, told ‘Kashmir Images’: "It is of course a wonderful idea.
Let Nasira sign the PIC form so that we can share her idea in order to
test her innovation.”
He said in order to commercialize her product
and to help her in getting patent, “we can help her only if she is
ready to share her innovation with us.”
Prof. Gupta said NIF is
meant only for these grassroots innovators. “She (Nasira) is always
welcome at NIF. Let she sent us a sample of that herb, and we will test
that at our SRISTI lab or at Jammu. Let us see how she can solve a
technological problem.”
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Editorial
What next
Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has resigned and the state of Jammu
and Kashmir is all set to be governed by the Governor for next few
months before the conduct of fresh elections. National Conference (NC),
the single largest party in the House was given an option to stake
claim for formation of government but the party declined as it is now
more eager for elections where it sees itself more comfortable than
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress. Thus the options for the
Governor, N N Vohra have narrowed down and promulgation of Governor’s
rule seems inevitable.
Opinion
The Ups and Downs of Pakistani Politics
As
soon as the people of Pakistan got a chance, they gave their verdict
against dictatorship on 18 February, 2008. It was, therefore, the
proper time to end the military role once for all, but it couldn’t be
done and the result is that sword of Damocles in shape of ‘general
shahi’ is still hanging on the head of the people of Pakistan
By Arif Shahid
The
politics of Pakistan has been revolving around its military so far, for
it ruled the country for most of the time in its 60 years history. If a
civil govt. ever got a chance to rule,
Response
Inculcate Values
“In order to inculcate a sense of duty in our youth we need to provide
them value based education. This is what will sensitize them to social
issues and would help them become good citizens.”
Zahoor Ahmad
Srinagar, via e-mail
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