THE EFFECTS OF  PLASTIC BAGS ON THE ENVIRONMENT 

   The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really quite devastating. While there are many objections to the banning of plastic bags based solely on their convenience, the damage to the environment needs to be controlled.

   There is no way to strictly limit the effects of plastic bags on the environment because there is no disposal method that will really help eliminate the problem. While reusing them is the first step, most people either don’t or can’t based on store policies. They are not durable enough to stand up to numerous trips to the store so often the best that citizens can do is reuse them when following pooper scooper laws.

     The biggest problem with this is that once they have been soiled the end up in the trash, which then ends up in the landfill or burned. Either solution is very poor for the environment. Burning emits toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of VOCs in the air while landfills hold them indefinitely as part of the plastic waste problem throughout the globe.

The Effects of Plastic Bags in Waterways

One of the greatest problems is that an estimated 300 million plastic bags end up in the Atlantic Ocean alone. These bags are very dangerous for sea life, especially those of the mammal variety. Any hunting mammal can easily mistake the size, shape, and texture of the plastic bag for a meal and find its airway is cut off. Needless deaths from plastic bags are increasing every year.

Porpoises are the most common victim. Because they eat sea nettles and jelly fish they are the most likely to mistake the plastic bag for food. If they survive the swallowing of the bag, it is unlikely that they are able to continue with normal digestion and thus eventually die a slow and painful death from toxicity or intestinal blockage.

The environmental balance of the waterways is being thrown off by the rate of plastic bags finding their way into the mouths and intestinal tracts of sea mammals. As one species begins to die off at an abnormal rate, every other living organism in the waterway is impacted. There are either too many or too few and changes within the environment continue to kill off yet more organisms.

The Effects of Plastic Bags on Land

The indefinite period of time that it takes for the average plastic bag to breakdown can be literally hundreds of years. Every bag that ends up in the woodlands of the country threatens the natural progression of wildlife. Because the break down rate is so slow the chances that the bag will harmlessly go away are extremely slim. Throughout the world plastic bags are responsible for suffocation deaths of woodland animals as well as inhibiting soil nutrients.

The land litter that is made up of plastic bags has the potential to kill over and over again. It has been estimated that one bag has the potential to unintentionally kill one animal per every three months due to unintentional digestion or inhalation. If you consider the number of littered plastic bags ranges from 1.5 million to 3 million depending on location, this equals a lot of ecosystem sustaining lives lost.

Without the balance of the ecosystem food sources dry up and starvation occurs. With an increase in plastic bag use throughout the world, the eventual effects could be literally devastating even to the human population.

      Education  in Idukki district

   Knowledge is something valuable for all human beings. Education refers to the systematic process of gaining knowledge and skills through study and instructions. The Deputy Director of Education, Idukki plays an eminent role in the physical and mental development of pupils studying in the schools of Idukki District. 

  The pillar stone of hope of any society is rooted in its growing young generation. There has been tremendous growth in educational facilities at all levels of education in the District. The roll of education department, in leading our young generation to the part of knowledge and making them perfect wealth for the society is quite commendable. School means and includes an institution imparting education from the level of pre-primary to higher secondary classes. Schools for General Education shall be as follows:-

1. Pre –Primary
2. Primary
3. Secondary
4. Higher Secondary (Includes Vocational Higher Secondary)

 

   The Department of General Education is always eager enough to make practice such un-paralleled method of education to transform our children to perfect human beings.

  The Deputy Director of Education shall have administrate and academic control over all types of Schools in the Revenue District from the level of Pre-Primary education to High School Education and other Institutes imparting special education and training.

  For the administrative convenience and for improving the efficiency of school administration, the revenue district is divided into two educational districts and further into seven educational sub-districts. Deputy Director is the implementing officer of various educational related projects by District Panchayath.
    There are 231 LP school,  107 UP school, 140 higher secondary/ High school,  5 engineering college,  2 nursing college,  19 art and science college and 8 training college (B.Ed) in idukki. anakhajoy1995blogspot .com

IDUKKI DAM

                       

  The idea of constructing a dam for power generation was first conceived in 1919. As per history, Sri.Kolumban, the head of Oorali race during 1992, showed the way to the Malankara estate superintendent and his friend Thomas, who were on hunting spree in the forest, the spot of present Arch Dam. Mr. Thomas was impressed by the sight of water flow between the mountains and it was his idea that has materialised in the form of Idukki Arch Dam.

      
     Sri.W.J John of Malankara estate submitted a report to the government of Travancore in 1932 on the possibility of constructing a dam at Idukki for power generation. Later in 1937 at the instance of the government two Italian engineers Mr. Angelo Omedeo and Mr.Claudeo Marcelle studied the scheme from the record. They suggested in addition to the dam across Periyar at Idukki a second dam across the Cheruthony, beyond the ridge dividing Periyar and Cheruthony at Idukki.

            
   Sir.P Joseph John, former electrical engineer of the Travancore state made a preliminary study of the scheme put forward by W.J.John. He submitted a preliminary investigation report to the government in 1947. The detailed investigation of the project was entrusted with the central water and power commission. The work started in 1957.

     
       The planning commission has sanction in January 1963 for the implementation of the project was envisaged in central water and power commission. In 1963 the primary works were started. The Canadian high commission expressed the desire to finance Idukki project to undertake this under the auspices of the Canadian engineers, Surveyer, Nenniger and Chenvert came here on behalf of the Canadian government.  

   The construction of this Dam    commenced on April 1961 under the guidance of several       engineers like Sri. C.V Mathew. Storage of water in Idukki reservoir commenced in February, 1973. The inauguration of trial run of the first machine was celebrated on 4 October 1975. Commercial operation of the power station was commissioned on 12 February 1976 by the then the Hon. Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Role of Spices in Economic Sphere:Idukki

Role of Spices in Economic Sphere: Idukki

Kerala history linked with its commerce, which in turn was wholly dependent until recent times on its spice trade Kerala. Kerala was known for its spice and travellers around the world journeyed here to trade and to gain control over the rich land. It is believed that the spice trade dates back to three thousand years. Pepper still remains the kings of Kerala’s spice but Idukki also has a very rich produce in Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger. As in the part, Idukki contains to be the spice capital of the world.

Over twelve varieties of spice including Ginger, Garlic, Cardamom, Vanilla, Pepper, Cinnamon, Coffee, Tea, Clove, Nutmeg, are cultivated in Idukki and the surrounding areas.Major contribution of spices and condiments is from Idukki district in all the years and is 31.05% during 2016-2017

Pepper

Idukki and Wynad is the two major pepper producing district in Kerala. Pepper is grown is virtually in every farm holding or homestead garden and hence is deeply associated with income and livelihood of majority farmers. Pepper is estimated to contribute about 20% of the agricultural income of the district. Pepper produced in Idukki has better quality and productivity is higher when compared to other district suitable for investing on programmes for increasing the yield. Varieties widely grown in the district are local land races such as Karimunda, Neelamundi, Kuthiravali, Chengannoran etc. Idukki district stands first position with an area of 43,790 Ha and the contribution to the state total is 51.39%.

Cardamom

A high range of Kerala is famous for its variety of spices. Cardamom is one of the main spices producing there. It contributes a major portion of the foreign revenue of the country. Elevation, cool climate, and high rainfall are essential for good growth and economically viable yield of cardamom. However it grows profusely under shade with irrigation in low ranges also.

In Idukki district, Udumbanchola Taluk alone has 28306 hectares of cardamom plantation. The cardamom is cultivated mainly in Udumbanchola Taluk. On an average, Kerala contribute to 70%of the national production of Cardamom in which also Idukki contributes the maximum share in 1990-91, the district had 55,174 hectares under cardamom. In the production processed cardamom, the district is first with 7232 tones. There was only 32,723 hectares of area under this crop during 2010-2011. It was about 79.34%of total area under this crop in the state. It was about 79.34% of the total area under this crop in the state.

Clove

Clove is of the myrtacaea family and is a dried flower bud, which has a strong pungent smell. Clove is the type of plant which can be grown in any part of country except the coastal area where it is sandy but the best and most suitable areas is red soil in Kerala. In Kerala, Idukki has the highest production among all 14 districts so far, producing 46 tonnes in the year 2013-2014.

Coffee

Coffee plantation occupies 15,400 hectares in Devikulam, Peerumade, Thodupuzha and Udumbanchola taluk of Idukki. The average yield per hectare is 320 metric tonnes. In Idukki district coffee is grown in 9389 hectares. The cultivation of coffee provided an additional income to growers of other kind of crops. Coffee production of the district has second position with 8150 tonnes

Tea

 The main tea producing areas in Idukki district constitute about 24,000 hectares. The average yield of good estates is about 453,592 kg of prepared tea per 0.40 hectares. Today tea is cultivated on 24,000 hectares in Munnar, Peerumade, Devikulam areas with an annual yield of 47568 metric tons.  In Peerumade and Vandanmade areas, they are small tea estates. The Kannan Devan Tea Estates and factories are found at Devikulam district. Another important plantation called The Malayalam plantation is situated at Peerumade Taluk.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several spices of the genus. It was largely cultivated in Idukki. It was most important commercial spices. The first harvest of nutmeg trees take place seven to nine years after planting, and the trees reach full production after twenty years. The economies of scale seem to appear in nutmeg oil processing, meaning that in increasing production quantity, the cost decrease, while net profit and family income increase.

Agriculture

The district is characterized by large migration of people from Kerala’s main land and also labors from neighboring state of Tamilnadu. During 1890-1920 on account of plantation, people came to this place to work in plantation. While during 1920-30 the migration was on account of the poverty, due to after the effect of World Wars. In 1951 under grow more scheme 1500 acres of land was allotted to 1000 persons, which made more people migrate to this district. The migrated peoples cleared forest for agriculture. Most of the people follow a method of slash and burn or shifting cultivation. 

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. Dairy is the supplementary source of income of the farmers here. Cardamom, tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, pepper, tapioca, rice, sugarcane, ginger, and vegetables are the most important agricultural produces. The district stands second in the state in agriculture produces.  One third of the peoples of Idukki are engaged in agriculture. Agriculturist and agriculture laborers constitute the bulk of the population. More than 80% of cropped area is under cash crops.

Cardamom, tea, rubber, and coffee, account for more than 50% of total cropped areas and pepper occupies about 20%. A major portion of this district is unsuitable for cultivation because of undulating topography and non-availability of irrigational facilities.  Recently floriculture, mushroom cultivation, medicinal plants, vanilla cultivation, and the like are being taken up by some progressive farmers and women in the district.

Coconut, pepper and other crops cultivated in Thodupuzha Taluk and Peerumade Taluk of the District. Coconut plantation covers an area of 20830 hectares. Idukki stands first with larger area under sugarcane.

Idukki stands first cultivation with large area under jack cultivation and jack production is also highest with 50 million tonnes. In cocoa production Idukki stands first with 5397 tonnes. In the production of clove also district is first with 49 tonnes.

Garlic is cultivated only in Idukki district. The other crops cultivated in the District are tapioca, coffee, banana, arecanut, ginger, turmeric, etc. In ginger cultivation, the district had the area of 697 hectares during 2010-2011.

Animal husbandry activities are the major subsidiary occupation of farming community. Extensive pasture, grazing lands and favorable climate make the district suitable for rearing. Livestock wealth has great significance in the agricultural economy of the district.

Crop season:

In Kerala, the agricultural year is June- July. The period of sowing of different crops depend mainly on the rainy season. Sowing of pepper starts in May-July, Cardamom during November –January, arecanut in May-June, coffee in June and rubber in August-September.

Irrigation:

The main source of water for irrigation is rainfall and the tail waters of Hydro-Electric projects. The Malankara Irrigation Dam, meant to impound the tail waters of Idukki project, irrigate the western portion of Thodupuzha Taluk and some portion of Kottayam District. The ground water resources of the district as a whole is reported to be very poor except in certain localities. The irrigation in the district is mostly through innumerable streams and natural ponds.

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