Chhattisgarh school first in Volvo contest

Raipur, Apr 26 (UNI) A students' team from a school in Chhattisgarh has won the first prize in the Volvo Adventure Competition, 2007 for a 'Dissolution of Traffic Chaos' project to streamline traffic through simple and coordinated planning.

Announcing the prize at a function here today, Volvo India Managing Director Eric LeBlanc said, ''the team -- comprising Nidin Saji, Job K Simon, Akansha Agrawal, Nidhi Singh and Rishbah Tah from Bilaspur's Bharat Mata School -- topped in a close contest among 55 school across the country.'' The team undertook a study to find a solution to the everyday chaos, in front of the school, creating problems not only for students but also commuters using the road to reach the nearby railway station and bus stand.

After considerable analysis, the team provided a solution. Even without deploying police, the group prevented unwanted crossing and motivated cyclerickshaw and autorickshaw drivers to park their vehicles in a regulated manner. The team would represent India at the global finals in Sweden. There were two runners-up -- Waves from Cheriazheekal, Kerala, and Chennai's Boston Matric School.

Waves carried out a project involving water-auditing of the area, an awareness campaign, setting up a model, holding of children's parliament for water, lobbying with the local self-government and revival of the traditional vessel. The Chennai team's project related to inexpensive technology and methods utilised to recycle waste water discharged from places such as hotels, canteens and slums.

Volvo initiated this global environmental award to encourage youngsters to proactively participate in environmental education programmes and gain international recognition through local initiatives.

''The winners would get an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the Volvo Adventure Conference to present their project and practical action to a jury of international experts, show their project to the world by publishing it on the Volvo website and win cash prises to fund the project,'' said Mr LeBlanc.

UNI