This study examines the annual, seasonal and diurnal variations in the ambient concentrations of ozone at a suburban site of Varanasi, India, during 2002-2006. Prominent seasonal variations in ozone concentrations were recorded. Ozone concentrations were higher during the warmer months.

MUMBAI: Uranium content in well water in Varanasi is neither alarming nor abnormal and health effects attributed to such low levels are imaginary, a scientist has said. Traces of uranium are present in soil, water and rock. It is as abundant as tin, tungsten or molybdenum, former secretary of AERC Board K.R. Parthasarathy said here.

Varanasi: Groundwater in Varanasi and adjoining areas is contaminated with uranium, according to a study by a group of scientists. The study conducted by G.C. Chowdhary, former Professor at the Geology Department of Banaras Hindu University, and S.K. Agarwal, also a professor of Geology, has shown that the drinking water in the University premises and some other places in the city contains more radioactive uranium than the recommended limit. Samples for the study were collected from 11 tubewells tapping deep aquifers (more than 100 metre deep).

A sharp fall in the water level of the Ganga downstream from Narora in Bulandshahr district of western Uttar Pradesh has fuelled fears of the grand old river being reduced to a trickle at the holy Sangam in Allahabad. The fall in the level of the river, considered the lifeline of the State since ancient times, has set alarm bells ringing. The state of the river in Varanasi is no better than in Allahabad.

The present study deals with the evaluation of effects of ambient gaseous air pollution on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. HUW-234) growing in a suburban area situated in eastern Gangetic plain of India, using open top chambers. Eight hourly air monitoring was conducted for ambient concentrations of SO2, NO2 and O3 in filtered chambers (FCs), non-filtered chambers (NFCs) and open plots (OPs).

Shielding herself from the fierce afternoon sun with a bright dupatta, Urmila lowers her bucket deep into the heart of the well. As she draws out bucket after bucket of water, Urmila talks about how the water level has never been this low. "The colour and quality of the water has deteriorated over the last few years," she says. "But we are lucky.

Vinoba Bhave's demand for banning cow slaughter in Kerala & West Bental and his fast for gaining its acceptance raise three sets of issues; (a) the constitutional and legal basis of the demand, (b) its economic rationale and (c) the political implications and possible consequences. This note examines these issues.

Original Source

LUCKNOW: In a major step towards energy conservation, the North Eastern Railway (NER) has decided to run its three offices of divisional railway managers (DRMs) on solar power. General manager UCD Shreni announced here on Wednesday that DRM offices of Lucknow, Izzatnagar and Varanasi would switch over to solar power from March 2011 onwards.

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