Tag Archives: entertainment
Dubai doctor’s bid to solve Kerala’s water problem
Dubai doctor’s bid to solve Kerala’s water problem T K Devasia (news@khaleejtimes.com) / 10 June 2013 The acute drinking water crisis faced by the South Indian state of Kerala during summer this year came as a surprise to many. It is surprising because Kerala, with 50,000 million cubic metres of fresh water in 44 rivulets, 19 lakes, more than 900 ponds, and 300cm rainfall for 120 days in a year in normal conditions, is considered as the wettest state in the country. While most people have been indulging in a blame game, the paradox has spurred a Non-resident Keralite (NRK) based in Dubai into action. Dr Azad Moopen, who heads the DM Healthcare — a leading healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East — is trying to show how the natural gift can be preserved. He believes that the current water shortage can easily be solved even if a small section of the population preserves the rain water that goes into the Arabian Sea due to the peculiar slanting topography of the state. Moopen has decided to test it out in his home village of Kalpakanchery, where the wells and ponds dry by January every year. The people in the village have been sourcing water from far off places in tankers paying Rs600 for 2,000 litres. He looked for a solution that can easily be adapted by the people. Moopen didn’t have to go far. He could find a cheaper indigenous rain harvesting device in the village itself. Developed by Perumalparampil Jaleel, the device seeks to harvest rain water from roof tops. Under the system, rain water from the roof is sourced to a plastic drum through PVC pipes. The plastic drum acts as a filter as it is filled with pure river sand, charcoal and baby metal. There is also a nylon net placed on the top of all these so that leaves and other similar particles are prevented from going inside. After filtering, the harvested rain water is driven to the well through another PVC pipe. In most cases, the water stored in the well is enough to meet the dry season demand. Moopen Institute for Local Empowerment (Miles), an initiate launched by Moopen to strengthen the villages, has launched a campaign to propagate the device with the help of Central Ground Water Board. They explained the conservation measures through a two-day workshop. This was followed by meetings at the ward level. Miles also got devices for rain harvesting with the help of Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Calicut. Irfan Habib, coordinator of the programme, said the efforts evoked massive response from the villagers, who are now queuing up to install the device in their homes. He told Khaleej Times that four to five well recharging filters were being installed on a daily basis now. A group of plumbers are racing against time to install the filters in a maximum number of houses before the monsoon advances. Miles plans to install the rainwater harvesting filter in at least 500 houses at Kalpakancherry, which they hope would bring a permanent solution to the drinking water crisis plaguing the village for more than a decade now. Experts believe that Kerala may not need piped water at all if it taps the wells available in the state. The state has as many as seven million wells as against 7.6 million ‘occupied houses’, according to CWRDM. Continue reading
Kuwait lauds UAE report on human rights
Kuwait lauds UAE report on human rights (Wam) / 8 June 2013 Kuwait has lauded a report submitted by the UAE to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), deeming the document as an important step within the development of human rights in the GCC member-state. Kuwait News Agency quoted Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Dherar Razouqi on Friday as saying that the UAE made some huge leaps concerning human rights, indicating that this was evident in the Emirates topping the Arab ranking within the UN index for human development. Continue reading
Media role vital: Shaikh Mohammed
Media role vital: Shaikh Mohammed (Wam) / 8 June 2013 His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met a host of professionals representing international media establishments operating in the UAE. Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed and Sami Al Qamzi during the Media Majlis at the Government of Dubai Media Office headquarters. — Wam The meeting, at the headquarters of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), was held in the presence of Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI); Mona Ghanim Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO); and Sami Al Qamzi, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of DMI The second meeting, held as part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Media Majlis, tackled several important local issues, the most prominent achievements made by the UAE as well as other issues targetted during the next phase in order to achieve glory to Emirati citizens and progress to society aimed at taking the country to No1 position in various fields. Delegates representing foreign newspapers and international news agencies operating in the country participated in the meeting which stems from Shaikh Mohammed’s keenness to broaden the circle of constructive communication between the leadership and the media and to create a platform of open and direct discussion and communication between members of the media and Shaikh Mohammed in a friendly atmosphere. During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammed listened to opinions put forward regarding a number of issues, stressing the important role of media as a prime and positive partner of the society and as a channel that reflects and resonates the aspirations of society and highlights the views of its members. Shaikh Mohammed acknowledged the contribution of the media as an important driver of progress of civilised societies, noting the significant role played by the international media institutions in building bridges of communication between peoples through their achievements in print, audio or visual media. Shaikh Mohammed assured media professionals of the cooperation of government institutions. In this context, he said that he had given explicit and clear directives to all officials at the federal government as well as the Dubai government levels to strengthen bridges of constructive and positive cooperation with various media entities, thus recognising the principle of full transparency and informing people about developments within the various sectors, affirming his approval with any effort that seeks to publish the truth, while inviting all the media, via the various media channels, to always seek to adopt the highest professional standards and to exercise best practices, particularly in terms of full accuracy when reporting any news story. The meeting also touched upon the UAE’s bid to host “Expo 2020” in Dubai. In this regard, Shaikh Mohammed confirmed that the essentials the UAE possesses and included in the UAE file submitted to the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris, the organiser of the EXPO — enhance our confidence and increase our opportunities to win this global event which will have its great economic and cultural impact on the UAE and the Arab region as a whole. Continue reading
