PROCEEDINGS OF KERALA ENVIRONMENT CONGRESS 2017 FOCAL THEME SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 6th to 8th December, 2017 at Energy Management Centre - Kerala Thiruvananthapuram Organised by CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Thiruvananthapuram In Association with ENERGY MANAGEMENT CENTRE – KERALA Sponsored by Kerala State Council For Science, Technology & Environment Kerala State Biodiversity Board Agency For Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology GJ Nature Care & Energy Proceedings of the Kerala Environment Congress - 2017 Editors Dr Vinod T R Dr T Sabu Jayanthi T A Dr Babu Ambat Published by Centre for Environment and Development Thozhuvancode, Vattiyoorkavu Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India-695013 Design & Pre-press Godfrey’s Graphics Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram Printed at Newmulti Offset, Thiruvananthapuram Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Government of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram - 695001 Ph: (off) 0471-2742554, 0471-2742264 (fax) 0471-2742554 E-mail: [email protected] Padma Mahanti IFS Date: 28.11.2017 Director FOREWORD ebates on how best to promote sustainable and inclusive development are Dincomplete without a full consideration of issues of science, technology and innovation (STI). Access to new and appropriate technologies promote steady improvements in living conditions, which can be lifesaving for the most vulnerable populations, and drive productivity gains which ensure rising incomes. There are two essential science, technology and innovation issues that need to be tackled simultaneously in the post-2015 development agenda. Firstly, innovation driven growth is no longer the prerogative of high income countries alone, some developing countries have achieved significant economic growth through the creation and deployment of science, technology and innovation. Science, technology and innovation policy has often been pursued independently of the broader developmental agenda; it is important that STI be integrated into public policy goals, giving particular focus to the link between STI, culture, education and development. Secondly, in addressing these issues, science, technology and innovation will need to be made more participatory and inclusive so that there is public engagement in the scientific endeavor from the full spectrum of social actors, including women, young people and indigenous communities. A well-functioning STI ecosystem needs to include, inter alia, political stability, well-functioning institutions and educated workforce; sound research and education infrastructure and linkages between public and private innovation actors; enterprises committed to research and development, as well as balanced intellectual property rights (IPRs) framework. India is one of the major countries where we have excelled in many areas of science, technology and innovation. The space science and technology, nuclear sciences, biotechnology, medical sciences, information and communication technology are some of the areas where India has showcased its major achievements. India has also developed a mechanism in utilizing its achievements in the area of science and technology for the development of the society and also to find viable solutions to the upliftment of the toiling masses. Kerala has also many things to claim in the science, technology and innovation and also utilizing the science and technology for the development of the society. The efforts of many scientific movements and social organizations in Kerala have supported the policy decision makers to utilize the science and technology to solve the major issues affecting the society especially the poor and underprivileged people. The topic science, technology and innovation for environment and development is considered as very important in view of the sustainable development of the society. The innovations in science and technology can be utilized in a positive way leading to sustainable development. At times, it is used in a negative way also leading to unsustainable way of development. This has to be clearly understood and wise and informed decisions have to be taken by all concerned people. It is in this context that the 13th Kerala Environment Congress (KEC) organized by Centre for Environment and Development in association with Energy Management Centre from 6th to 8th December, 2017 on the focal theme ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for Environment and Development’ assumes great importance. The KEC seeks to spearhead the message of importance of scientific and technological innovations in various sectors of environment and development such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, energy management, health care services, transportation planning, marine and ocean management, education, information and communication technology, space science and technology, biodiversity, urban planning, etc. The presentations and panel discussions during the event and the papers published in this Proceedings Volume will go a long way to bring into focus the need for utilizing the benefits of science and technology for finding solutions for issues affecting the life of the people and also to suggest viable options for sustainable development of the society. We hope that, like the earlier Congresses, this year too this collection of research papers and articles will inspire scientists, academicians, policy-decision makers, environmentalists and the enlightened citizens contribute their might to the application and utilization of science and technology for environmental conservation and development in the country, particularly the State of Kerala. Padma Mahati KERALA ENVIRONMENT CONGRESS 2017 he Kerala Environment Congress(KEC) was initiated by the Centre for TEnvironment and Development (CED) with the objective of creating a platform for bringing together scientists and technologists, policy-decision makers, development managers and research students for sharing of knowledge, expertise and experience in subjects of high relevance to the sustainable development of the country. CED organized the Indian Environment Congress in 2004 and the success of this program and the request from several corners prompted us to initiate the Kerala Environment Congress (KEC) in 2005. CED initiated the Odisha Environment Congress jointly with Human Development Foundation and Regional Museum of Natural History in 2010 and has completed six Congresses. CED has initiated activities to organize Telangana Environment Congress(TEC) during February,2018 at Hyderabad The Centre for Environment and Development(CED) established in 1993 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is an autonomous R&D, Consultancy and Training institution recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(SIRO) by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. The Centre has now expanded its coverage into twelve states in the country and has wide network and collaboration with many state, national and international agencies. CED has been focusing both on environment and development related sectors bringing complementarities, leading to sustainable development. CED is working with 6 Program Areas viz., (i) Natural Resources and Environment Management, (ii) Water, Sanitation and Health,Climate Change Studies, (iv) Urban and Rural Studies, (v) Energy and Environment and (vi) Information and Knowledge Management. CED is the Centre of Excellence of Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Government of India on Solid Waste and Waste Water Management; National Key Resource Centre on Water and Sanitation of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India and Regional Resource Agency of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, Government of India. CED is also the Training Institute of Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Government of India. CED has its Eastern Regional Centre at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Regional Centre at Hyderabad and a new Regional Centre initiated at Jaipur. The Centre has at present its activities spread over the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan,Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Lakshadweep islands apart from Kerala. CED has been providing technical support to many local self government institutions in the country for Water Supply Engineering, Solid Waste Management, Wastewater Management, Preparation of GIS based Maps and GIS based Master Planning, Biodiversity Conservation, Urban Development, Energy and Environment Auditing, Policy studies and reforms,etc. During the last 24 years, CED has completed nearly 150 research, consultancy and training projects supported by different national and international agencies like the World Bank, UNDP, JICA, ADB, RNE, IDRC, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change,etc and many State governments agencies. All the twelve Congresses had been organized on different focal themes which had Kerala Environment Congress 2017 Thiruvananthapuram high relevance in the context of environmental conservation, management and sustainable development. The first Kerala Environment Congress was organised in 2005 at Kochi with the focal theme ‘Coastal and Marine Environment’. The second Congress was held at Kozhikode in 2006 with the focal theme ‘Forest Resources of Kerala’ and the third KEC was organized in 2007 with ‘Wetlands of Kerala’ as the focal theme. The fourth Congress focused on the theme ‘Environmental