Rourkela Steel Plant

Rourkela Steel Plant

There's a little bit of SAIL in everybody's life

View of RSP from New Suraksha Path bridge Near Indira Gandhi Park

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), in Rourkela, was set up with West German collaboration with an installed capacity of 1 million tonnes in the 1960s. It is operated by Steel Authority of India (SAIL), one of the Maharatna company.

Recently, a Rs 12,000-crore modernisation and expansion project at the RSP was dedicated to the Nation by Prime minister Narendra Modi on 1 April 2015. RSP presently has the capacity to produce 4.5 million tonnes of hot metal, 4.2 million tonnes of crude steel and 3.9 million tonnes of saleable steel.

It is the first plant in Asia to adopt the energy-efficient LD process of steel making and the first integrated steel plant of SAIL which adopted the cost-effective and quality-centered continuous casting route to process 100% of steel produced. The plant has also, for the first time in India, had adopted external de-sulphurisation of hot metal by calcium carbide injection process. RSP is one of the unique units under the SAIL umbrella with a wide variety of special purpose steels.

View of RSP from the Vaisnodevi temple

RSP’s Steel Township is the first Township of SAIL to be certified for both ISO 9001 QMS and ISO 14001 EMS. Entire RSP has been certified to internationally acclaimed Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001: 2007). n order to have synergy and synchronization in implementation of various management systems, concept of Integrated Management System (IMS) has been initiated in RSP. An IMS Policy covering Quality, Environment, Occupational Health & Safety and Social Accountability of RSP has been introduced. RSP is the first unit in SAIL to adopt IMS policy.

RSP is committed to improving the quality of life

Life thousands of workers and their families are dependent on this single plant. RSP brings prosperity and pride to Rourkela. Workers waiting to enter the plant on a typical morning.

Women empowerment is a fact in Rourkela. RSp directly and indirectly is responsible for providing employment to women and making them self sufficient. Rourkela is a city safe for woman. It is a city where women are actively participating in the development and more importantly treated with equality and earned respect. 

Location:

RSP is located in the north-western tip of Odisha and at the heart of a rich mineral belt. Being situated on the Howrah-Mumbai rail mainline, Rourkela is very well connected with most of the important cities of India. The nearby airports are Ranchi (173 km), Bhubaneswar (378 km) and Kolkata (413 km). Rourkela also has an airstrip maintained by RSP.

Reference:

http://www.sail.co.in/rourkela-steel-plant/about-rourkela-steel-plant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rourkela_Steel_Plant

Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar

RajaRani temple from Bhubaneshwar is perhaps the most beautiful temple to visit. The ancient architecture, peaceful atmosphere and absence of worshipers (since there is no god idol inside the temple) are some of the reasons for a must have visit.

Currently the temple is looked after by ASI and has categorized it as 'ticketed protected monuments of Odisha'. A five rupee ticket allows you to explore the temple for one whole day. Interestingly, the ticket is applicable for entry at one more ticketed place from Bhubaneshwar: Udayagiri and Khandgiri caves. It is possible to cover two historical places in one day, morning and evening  dedicated to temple and during day time the two buddhist caves - Udaygiri and Khandgiri. Photography charges are included in the ticket.

The first impression from the name of temple suggests, the idol might be a pair. In fact there is no idol inside the temple and thus no puja is offered in the temple.The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".

The temple is believed to have been known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as a "love temple" because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple.

Historical Details about the temple. Display boards by ASI.

Various historians place the original construction date between the 11th and 12th centuries, and have placed it roughly belonging to the same period as the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable ones being the Khajuraho temples and Totesvara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa.

Rajarani Temple is built in the pnahcratha style on a raised platform with two structures: a central shrine called the vimana (sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear spire) over its roof rising to a height of 18 m (59 ft), and a viewing hall called jagamohana with a pyramidal roof. 

The highlight of the temple is the fine sculptures of dikpalas or guardians of the eight directions carved around the shrine. Starting from East we encounter successively-

• Indra (lord of the East) holding a thunderbolt and an elephant goad, with the elephant below; the potbellied and 
• Agni (southeast), god of fire, with the Ram; 
• Yama (South) holding a staff and a noose, with his vehicle the buffalo; 
• Nirriti (southwest), the god of misery, holds a severed head and a sword above a prostrate figure; 
• Varuna (West) holding a noose in his left hand, his vehicle is makara or the crocodile; 
• Vayu (northwest) holding a banner and his vehicle is deer; 
• Kubera (North) placed above seven jars of gems, he has a horse and
• Isana (northeast) shown with an erect phallus by the side of an emaciated figure. 

The Department of Tourism of the Government of Odisha organises a Rajarani music festival at the temple every year from January. The temple focuses on classical music, and all three styles of classical music – Hindustani,Carnatic and Odissi – are given equal importance. Musicians from different parts of the country perform during the three-day festival. The festival was started in 2003 with the help of the Bhubaneswar Music Circle (BMC)

Temple is a favorite among photographers. Morning time is excellent to shoot the amber-colored beauty due to the light direction and angle. Temple is surrounded by bungalows. Thus choosing n angle to avoid them from appearing in the frame is tricky. Ultra-wide angle lens perhaps be better than kit lens at minimum focal length.

Early in the morning the temple premises is used by the locals to have morning walk or light exercise. Visitors come bit late, somewhere around and after 10 AM. 

Timing and Entry Fees:

• The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset. 
• Entry fee for each Indian citizen is Rs. 5.00, 
• Foreign visitor has to pay Rs. 100.00/ $ 2.00 
• Children below the age of 15 years are not charged any entry fee.

Location:

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajarani_Temple
• http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_orissa_rajarani.asp
• http://www.orissatourism.org/travel-to-orissa/bhubaneshwar/rajarani-temple-bhubaneshwar.html
• http://www.odisha.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/143Rajarani_Music_Festival.pdf
• http://www.asibbsrcircle.in/Ticketed-Monuments-Rajarani.html

इच्छा

इच्छा  

माझी  कविता  तशी गुणगुणण्यासारखी !
आज तुला का म्हणायचीय ?
शब्दांमधल्या दडलेल्या अर्थाला ,
का वेगळाच सुर लावायचाय ?

अर्थ नाही खिशात माझ्या ,
पण अर्थहीन उधळले नाही ,
शब्द जपुन वापरलेत मी 
त्याची किंमत मोजतोय अशी !

ऐकायला मी नसणारे ,
हे गीत गाणारेस कुणासाठी ?
दोघं बसले असताना ,
एकांतात दूरच्या तळ्याकाठी !

गाण्याची सवय लावु नकोस ,
एकांतात कदाचित मी आठवेन ,
अंगा अंगाला होणाऱ्या स्पर्शात ,
फक्त मी आणि मीच असेन !

सर्व काही विसरून जा ,
माझे नवे गित घेऊन जा ,
आनंदाने जगण्यासाठी ,
ही एकतरी भेट ठेवुन जा!  

A glimpse of Solar cell technology : Current and future

Need  of New Solar cell technology 

Food, shelter and cloths are the primary needs of the man-kind. Industrial and agricultural revolutions, occurred at regular intervals, made human race fulfill its basic needs. These revolutions were backed by a solid thought process of intelligent minds. Minds those were freedom-lovers, knowledge persuasive and hungry for development. Most of the nations got their freedom in 20th century and soon became developing or developed nation. Their goal was to achieve prosperity, stability and sustainability. 

To accomplish this socio-economic revolution, technology played a crucial part. Developments in technology, either analog or digital, transformed the nations from underdeveloped stage to developed ones. Transfer of labor, brain-drain, and emergence of new markets changed the course of economy and history. Each activity in every development sector was supported with strong sources of energy like oil and coal. Energy was the real boost of whole system and access to energy became the mantra of 21st century. However, soon the system realized that it is resting on the support of non-renewable conventional energy sources, which are depleting at an alarming rate. The damage done by these polluting energy sources in terms of global warming, added to the urgency of discovery of alternative energy sources.

The requirements from the new source of energy were obvious – clean, continuous and renewable. It was realized that such sources are readily available and are naturally occuring. Phenomenon occurring in Mother Nature was the answer for virtually infinite sources of energy. It was realized that solar radiation, forces of winds and thermal gradients has the potential to fulfill all the requirements to become natural and prolific sources of energy. Efficient technologies were needed to tap this potential and convert them to useful form of energy. Intensive research and development program carried all over the world invented technologies like wind-mills, geothermal generation, tidal generation, bio-fuels, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV). Solar PV soon becomes a technology to look for as an alternative source of energy supply. This was possible because of following reasons:

• Availability of sun’s energy, virtually infinite,
• Discovery of PV effect, showing the way to convert solar energy to flexible electrical energy,
• Realization of solar cells for using it for a wide capacity of electricity production,
• Continuous developments in PV technology, aiming to increase efficiency while reducing the per-unit cost of electricity, and
• Established Silicon (Si) IC technology – makes enable to transfer knowledge from IC manufacturing industry to solar PV production industry.

  

Need for new solar cell technology

The shift of the solar cell market from a supply-restricted to a demand-driven market has altered the economics of the trend. To maintain enormous sensation in worldwide PV production to meet future demands, different path ways have to be pursued. Few promising pathways are:

• expanding solar grade Si production capacities
• reduction in material consumption
• accelerated thin-film solar cell manufacturing

The concept of ‘third generation PV’ is to significantly enhance device efficiency (more than single junction cell efficiency) using thin film processes and by using abundant non-toxic materials. Conversion efficiency is one of the influential parameter for implementing PV cells on a truly large scale. High conversion efficiency can significantly bring down the solar PV energy conversion cost. The maximum thermodynamic efficiency for the conversion of non-concentrated solar irradiance into electrical energy for single junction was calculated by Shockley and Queissar to be about 31%. General approaches to achieve efficiency higher than Shockley-Queissar limit consists of exploiting entire solar spectrum, modification in solar spectrum and reduction in thermal losses. As single junction or classical approach cannot overcome this limit, several new approaches to outwit the Shockley–Queissar limit under active investigation includes tandem cells, hot carrier solar cells, multiband and impurity solar cells.

(to be continued....)

Image source: http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/solar-panels.jpg

तुझाच

Image Source:

http://saimg-a.akamaihd.net/saatchi/7835/art/1567391/780285-7.jpg

तुझाच

मी आहे फक्त तुझाच
तू समजून घे. 
प्रेम कधी आटणार नाही
तू उमजून घे.

साद घाल जिवाला कधीही
तू पारखून घे.
विश्वास ठेव,  फिरणार नाही
आजमावून घे.

Innocence Amplified

Innocence Amplified

Name: Pranisha

Location: Gudguda waterfall (Odisha)
Earlier post : Innocence

Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar

The 10th century Sidheshwar Temple, situated northwest of Mukteswar temple, houses an attractive standing figure of Lord Ganesh. 

The sanctum of the temple, built in pancha ratha style is surrounded with five-divisional walls which is further sub-divided into two parts. These walls are decorated with Khakhara and Pidha styles ornamental motifs and consist of seven mouldings. The temple tower or shikhara is grouped by a row of miniature turrets, which is surmounted by four rampant lions on the central ratha.

The temple is located in the premises of Mukteswara temple.

Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Evening view of symmetric placements of main temple among the other shrines in the campus

Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneshwar is a city of temples and one of the best temple is undoubtedly Mukteshwar temple. Although there are iconic temples like Lingaraj and RajaRani, Mukteshwar has several characteristics which make it stand out. Mukteshwar - meaning lord of freedom - is a millennium old Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva.

Mukteshwar for its architecture built in pithdeula style is rightly called as " Gem of Odisha Architecture". The structure can be divided into fur major parts: Torana (porch acting as gateway to compound), Vimana and Mukhasala.  Although the temple is small compared to others in Bhubaneshwar, along with other small temples the cluster covers well maintained premise of over half an acre. Architecture introduced many new forms not known to the previously built temples of Odisha and thus called as "Harbinger of new culture".

Mukteshwar Temple complex as seen from the entrance. A small well, locally known as Marichi Kund, lies immediately beyond the sinister of the enclosure, the water of which is believed to cure infertility of women.

The temple walls and the octagonal compound both carries carvings of female dancers, Hindu deities (Saraswati, Ganesha) , animals (monkeys, peacocks) and geometric patterns (lines, squares).

The Department of Tourism of the state government organises a three-day yearly dance function called Mukteswar Dance Festival in the temple premises. This festival celebrates the features of Odissi, the classical dance form of Odisha.

Evening time, when sun sets opposite to the entrance, is the best time to visit. After a long day travel visiting plenty of other places in Bhubaneshwar, Mukteshwar is delightful to watch. Sitting in the lawns one can relish the golden rays illuminating the charming brownish sand stones of the temple. The architecture of temple and peaceful evening must be experienced.

Short history about the temple displayed at the entrance

Mukteshwara Temple

Torana, entrance of the temple

Geometric patterns on windows of main temple: diamond shaped latticed windows  around which one can see images of monkeys engrossed in several jovial and humorous scenes that are imbibed from the Panchatantra tales.

Pillars with intricate and skillfully rich carvings

Closeup of beheaded female dancers on the pillars

Ceilings of the temple

Right side view of the complex

Lawns in front of the main temple (right side), Siddheswara temple (Left side)

Other small temples in the premises

Important things:

• Temple is open from morning till evening (5 AM till 8 PM)
• Best time to visit during day is evening time
• Temple looks beautiful in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year
• No entry fee or camera fee
• Drinking water facility is available

How to reach:

Temple is located at walking distance from Raja-Rani Temple. Kedar-Gauri and Mukteshwar temple shares the compound wall. Complex also holds an unfinished temple - Siddheswara  temple.

Gudguda waterfall (Odisha)

Gudguda waterfall (Odisha)

This is one of the small but beautiful waterfalls of Sambalpur district, Odisha. It is a Cascade waterfall meaning two waterfalls back to back. Waterfall sprinkles out from the Gudguda mountain, however streams doesn't turns into any river.

It is one of the perfect family picnic spot, approachable from any part of Odisha. After October, when Monsoon recedes, limited waterflow allows visitors to enjoy cold water streams. A small stream flows through the forest and in later parts support vegetation and farming in near by villages. Fruits like Mango, Litchi, Oranges are grown around the place.

Waterfall lies on the brink of Bamra-Gangpur forest full of densely grown trees reaching about 75 feet. Surrounding jungle is a serene and ecologically diverse making it a spot for photographing most of wild species occurring in Odisha. when I visited in October, the place was full of butterflies and dragonflies. Major insect predators were the frogs in large number.

How to reach:

From Rourkela, there are two routes to approach Gudguda waterfall. Although the time taken to travel remains same, conditions (road, landscape, accessibility etc) are totally different. On both roads, road signs / milestones are totally missing. The few present are in Odiya.

1. Rourkela - Bargaon - Bamra - Kuchunda - Kusumi - GudGuda

This road is absolutely superb to drive. Outof 167 Km drive, first 72 Km falls on state highway 10 , which will soon become a four lane highway connecting Rourkela- Jharsuguda-Sambalpur, from Rourkela to Bargaon. In some patches work is going on either to widen or make bridges. The work is expected to complete by May 2016. Food can be founf at all the major places mentioned.

2. Rourkela - Gurundia - Kusumi Gudguda

This is a shorter (107 Km), however more scenic compared to route 1. Most of the road passes through 'Bamra-Gangpur forest range'. Patch between Gurundia to Kusumi is too bad for car. However, road can be enjoyed a lot on bike specially during rainy season. Food may be available only at Gurundia, so always carry some packed food.

Precautions:

1. Drinking alcohol is prohibited, but as usual, some tourists tend to enjoy it near the streams.
2. Do not cross the safety wires put around the waterfall.
3. Unless you are a good swimmer, swimming in deep water is not advisable. Many incidents of mishaps are reported from the place.
4. If you are cooking, take care not to be a reason to destroy the place with fire.

Facilities:

• No fees for the visit
• It's primarily developed as picnic location. Cooking food is allowed. Special concrete platforms are constructed for the same.
• Changing rooms are available with the care-taker.
• Place is approachable with any kind of vehicle. Lot of parking space is available. 

Best time to visit

October to February

Approaching road to the parking area at Gudguda

List of Butterflies spotted 

• Common Mormon
• Blue Mormon
• Baronet
• Chocolate Pansy
• Grey Pansy
• Peacock Pansy
• Leopard
• Common Grass Yellow
• Lime
• Common Emigrant
• Common Nawab
• Common Lineblue
• Common Hedgeblue
• Common Crow
• Glassy tiger
• Common Lascar
• Common Evening Brown
• Orange Oakleaf
• Golden Angle
• Great Egg fly
• Grass Dart
• Water snow flat
• Oakblue species
• Sailor species
• Silverline species

Prof Bala and his family enjoying a dip at the waterfall

Small water streams and dense jungles make it perfect combination for photography