Veer Bhadra Mishra
Encyclopedia
Veer Bhadra Mishra is the founding president of the Sankat Mochan Foundation
.
He is a former professor of Hydraulic engineering
and former Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the ITBHU Varanasi
. He is also the Mahant (High Priest) of the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, Varanasi at Varanasi
founded by poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas
. Dr Mishra was recognized on the United Nations Environment Programme
's (UNEP) "Global 500 Roll of Honour
" in 1992, and was a TIME
Magazines "Hero of the Planet" recipient in 1999 for his work related to cleaning of Ganga through the Sankat Mochan Foundation. He is one of the members of the National Ganga River Basin Authority
(NGRBA) under Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India, which was set up in 2009, by the Government of India
as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga River, in exercise of the powers conferred under the Environment (Protection) Act,1986. .
His education has helped him understand threats to the Ganges, and since 1982 he has struggled to open the eyes of bureaucrats and the public. Supported in part by aid from the various individuals and some Government agencies of the United States and Sweden, Mishra juggles his roles as priest and activist.
Motivated most of all by "respect and love for the river," Mishra, working with William Oswald, an engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, proposed what is called an Advanced Integrated Wastewater oxidation Pond System (AIWPS). It would store sewage for 45 days, using bacteria and algae to eliminate waste and purify the water. Mishra expects the plan to be adopted but recalls past defeats. "My campaign has been like a game of snakes and ladders. When it has gained speed, a snake has swallowed it up," he says. "But one day I'll dodge all the snakes. Mother Ganges will help me to save her." That's another chant the followers of this modern mahant can truly believe in.
Recently appeared in a Spanish tv report explaining his work with the Swatcha Ganga Campaign.http://www.tv3.cat/60minuts/
Sankat Mochan Foundation
Sankat Mochan Foundation is a non-governmental organization devoted to cleaning the pollution of the Ganges and protecting the Ganges river in India...
.
He is a former professor of Hydraulic engineering
Hydraulic engineering
This article is about civil engineering. For the mechanical engineering discipline see Hydraulic machineryHydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. One feature of these systems is the extensive...
and former Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the ITBHU Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. He is also the Mahant (High Priest) of the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, Varanasi at Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
founded by poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas
Tulsidas
Tulsidas , was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for the god Rama...
. Dr Mishra was recognized on the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
's (UNEP) "Global 500 Roll of Honour
Global 500 Roll of Honour
The United Nations Environment Programme established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world.The last Global 500 Roll of Honour awards were made in 2003...
" in 1992, and was a TIME
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
Magazines "Hero of the Planet" recipient in 1999 for his work related to cleaning of Ganga through the Sankat Mochan Foundation. He is one of the members of the National Ganga River Basin Authority
National Ganga River Basin Authority
National Ganga River Basin Authority is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Ministry of Environment of India...
(NGRBA) under Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India, which was set up in 2009, by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga River, in exercise of the powers conferred under the Environment (Protection) Act,1986. .
His education has helped him understand threats to the Ganges, and since 1982 he has struggled to open the eyes of bureaucrats and the public. Supported in part by aid from the various individuals and some Government agencies of the United States and Sweden, Mishra juggles his roles as priest and activist.
Motivated most of all by "respect and love for the river," Mishra, working with William Oswald, an engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, proposed what is called an Advanced Integrated Wastewater oxidation Pond System (AIWPS). It would store sewage for 45 days, using bacteria and algae to eliminate waste and purify the water. Mishra expects the plan to be adopted but recalls past defeats. "My campaign has been like a game of snakes and ladders. When it has gained speed, a snake has swallowed it up," he says. "But one day I'll dodge all the snakes. Mother Ganges will help me to save her." That's another chant the followers of this modern mahant can truly believe in.
Recently appeared in a Spanish tv report explaining his work with the Swatcha Ganga Campaign.http://www.tv3.cat/60minuts/