APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT FOR RESEARCH PROJECT

1.Title of the project: Impect of Atmospheric Electricity on Eco system

around Nainital

2. Project prepared and submitted by: Birla Institute of Applied Sciences

Bhimtal, Distt Nainital, Uttrakhand
PIN 263 136
Ph. 05942-247032/ 247094

3. Name of the Principal Investigator: Mr Alok Sharma, Faculty, Birla Institute of Applied
Sciences, Bhimtal (Nainital) PIN- 263 136

4. Name of the Co-investigator: Mr. Deven Mishra, Faculty, Birla Institute of Applied
Sciences, Bhimtal (Nainital) PIN- 263 136

5.Postal Address of the institute: Birla Institute of Applied Sciences

Bhimtal, Distt Nainital, Uttrakhand
PIN 263 136
Ph. 05942-247032/ 247094

6.Duration of the Project: 3 and half years

7. Total Amount of assistance sought:

Background: Uttrakhand is comprised of the hilly, tarai and bhavar regions. Tarai and Bhavar
are fertile agricultural land and responsible for the most of the production of
grains in Uttrakhand. Where as hilly regions are famous for fruits and timber.

Since the time immemorial Tarai and Bhavar are the lands of dence forests and
long conifer grass. Human habitation during those days, was limited to the hills
only. Family groups from the hills used to arrive in Tarai region during winters .
They cultivate one crop here, sow the new one and left the region to move back
to hills before the beginning of the summer. Because these regions are
considered as home for various diseases like malaria, typhoid and other viral
diseases.

Inspite of these drawbacks, tarai-bhavar region, in whole of the Uttrakhand, is

considered as the most fertile land. It is true even today.

Availability of fertile agricultural land, and the growth of the deciduous and
evergreen trees in foothills and lower Himalayas vary significantly with lattitude,
longitude and altitude.

This variation of cultivity of the land according to the location, is highly

dependant upon the pattern of the distribution of natural Nitrates, produced
during the atmospheric lightening and reaching to the earth with the rains. It is
considered that quanta of nitrates available with the rain are dependent upon the
altitude of the locaton.

Study of distribution of natural Nitrates produced by the lightening, will be

helpful to understand the ecosystem. These issues affect the local flora and fauna
and overall ecological pattern in hills and foothills or tarai bhavar regions.

Since the danger of lightening, hailstroms, cloud brusts, are the most devastating
in hills, the above comprehensive study of fair weather and cloudy sky will
simultaneously, provide requisite data to fabricate a system to counter the risks
involved in these hevenly events.

A typical area in Uttrakhand near Bhimtal towards Haldwani and Nainital is

selected, due to logistics involved and ease of operation.

Objectives: Continuous monitoring of the water quality in most of the rivers, rivulets, nalah,
lakes, and underground oozing water, is required for the regions near Bhimtal
and Haldwani .It will be done in fair and cloudy weather, including thunder,
lightening, hails, cloud brust, snowfall. The traditional devices used in homes to
ward off the atmospheric lightening, will be tested in view of changing electric
field, em radiation, thundering sound, spread of very low frequency signals..
Impact of nitrates produced by the lightening, will be studied on the flora and
fauna or on complete eco system.

Methodology: 1. All necessary appratus and equipments necessary for preliminary studies, on
various static and dynamic aspects of the atmospheric electricity and thunder will
be assembled at the Institute.
2. Procurement of some new apparatus and instruments such as picoammeter,
field sensors, digital oscilloscope will be procured.
 3. Systemetic year round analysis for the concentration of nitrate in flowing
water and seeped water in soil will be done partly at the chemistry lab of the
institute and/ or at pollution control board laboratory at Haldwani.
4. Above data after the field trials will be maintained digitally using suitable
personal computer procured for the purpose and will be disseminated through
Journals, periodicals and relevant publications.

Budget:
Yearwise budgeted Amount in Lakh Rupees
Particulars Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 and half Line total
1. Salaries & wages 4.03 4.16 5.02