The remarkable journey of Sakshi Malik, the first Indian female Olympic medalist, is a tale of grit, determination, and extraordinary skill. Competing in the 58 kg category freestyle wrestling at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Malik secured a bronze medal, forever etching her name in the annals of Indian sports history. Not only did she become the first Indian female wrestler to clinch an Olympic medal, but she also joined the elite club of being the fourth female Olympic medalist from India.
Sakshi Malik’s Milestone Achievement
The prestigious Olympic Games, an international sporting event that takes place every four years under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was the platform where Malik showcased her exemplary talent. The most recent edition of this world-renowned sports festival was held in Beijing, China in 2022. Looking ahead, the following games are scheduled for Paris, France in 2024.
Phytorid Technology for Waste Treatment
In a significant leap towards effective waste management, the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) in Andhra Pradesh is ready to inaugurate what is touted as the country’s largest liquid waste treatment plant employing phytorid technology. The technology, developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), is witnessing widespread use across India for the treatment of diverse types of biodegradable wastewater.
Representing a constructed wetland uniquely engineered for treating municipal, urban, agricultural, and industrial wastewater, this technology operates without the need for electricity. In addition, it requires minimal maintenance, less manpower, making it self-sustainable.
Endangered Asian Elephants Losing Optimal Habitat
Nilgiri, characterized by its diverse climate and vegetation, is recognized for its wealth in biodiversity. It is home to the largest single population of the endangered Asian elephant. A disturbing finding from a recent study suggests that these elephants are rapidly losing their optimal habitat in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Human encroachment and crop cultivation have negatively impacted the elephant’s mobility, restricting them to the hilly areas deemed sub-optimal habitats. These landscapes pose survival threats to the elephants due to the hazardous terrain not suited to animals of their size. The study further reveals the implications of constructing barriers, notably in sloping areas, which not only obstruct the elephants’ movement but also lead to reduced gene flow, heightening the extinction risk for this endangered species.
Newly Inaugurated Manohar International Airport, Goa
Marking another significant achievement in India’s infrastructure development, the Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa was recently inaugurated and made operational. The Prime Minister laid the airport’s foundation stone in November 2016. The new airport carries an underlying theme of sustainable infrastructure, incorporating features such as a solar power plant, green buildings, LED lights on the runway, rainwater harvesting facilities, and a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant with recycling facilities.
