Tuesday, 4 November 2025

Let Us Paint India White

What if every Indian rooftop could cool our homes, quench our thirst, and fight climate change—just by being painted white?

The Breakthrough

This roof paint blocks 97% of sunlight and pulls water from the air

Scientists at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with Dewpoint Innovations, have created a nano-engineered polymer coating that does something extraordinary:

• Reflects 97% of sunlight, cooling interiors by up to 6 °C

• Condenses atmospheric moisture, yielding clean water even in semi-arid zones

• Requires no electricity or external input — just sunlight and air

During six-month trials at the Sydney Nanoscience Hub, this coating produced up to 4.7 L of water per 12 m² roof per day, remaining stable under harsh sun without chemical degradation.

Imagine the Indian Scale

Parameter

Per 1,000 sq ft roof

1 Crore homes

Water produced

≈ 40 L / day

≈ 120 billion L / year

Cooling effect

~ 6 °C lower indoor temp

15 % less AC power use

Electricity saved

1 kWh / day / home (avg)

36 TWh / year — equal to output of 5 large power plants

Why India Needs This

1. Rising temperatures are pushing peak AC demand beyond grid capacity.

2. Water scarcity still haunts 40 % of Indian districts.

3. Rooftops—India’s largest unused asset—can become both solar shields and micro-reservoirs.

This innovation perfectly aligns with:

• Jal Jeevan Mission (rural drinking water)

• Smart Cities Mission (climate-resilient infrastructure)

• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop utilization)

Call to Action

“May I suggest that the Ministry of Jal Shakti, CSIR, and IIT Madras jointly pilot

this coating across five climate zones—testing Indian formulations before the next

summer peaks?”

Such a partnership could localize materials, train MSMEs for application, and

unlock an entirely new ‘Water-from-Air’ industry.

Past Advocacy

Over the past decade, I’ve written several blogs on water scarcity and technology

—from ‘Water Wars Are Looming’ (2018) to ‘Procuring Technology for Cascade

Filtration’ (2022)—all urging India to embrace decentralized water generation.

👉 Full archive shown below

============================================

Letter to Shri C. R. Patil, Hon. Minister for Jal Shakti

( minister-jalshakti@gov.in )

Dear Sir,

This breakthrough offers India a dual remedy—cooling our homes while

replenishing our water tables.

I urge your Ministry to contact Dewpoint Innovations (info@dewpointinnov.com)

for technology transfer and joint trials with Indian research institutes.

With warm regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai | www.IndiaAGI.ai | www.My-Teacher.in

05 Nov 2025

“Safed Chhat – Thanda Ghar – Paani Har Parivar.”

Every roof is a reservoir waiting to happen.

=================================================================

My past ( 17 ) blogs on WATER SCARCITY ( as on March 2022 )

2022 ( 2 )

Procuring Technology for “ CASCADE WATER FILTRATION “ ..[ 03 Mar 2022 ]

Procuring Technology for “ Drinking Water “ …………………………..[ 17 Feb 2022 ]

2021 ( 2 )

Mumbai Desalination Plant / a White Elephant ?.....................[ 24 Nov 2021 ]

With a pinch of Salt ?......................................................... [ 29 June 2021 ]

2019 ( 3 )

A candid admission ? ………………………………………………………………….[12 July 2019 ]

The Biggest FREE Desalination Plant:Sun+Sea………………………… [ 09 July 2019 ]

Water above our heads……………………………………………………………….[ 29 Mar 2019 ]

2018 ( 7 )

A Desperate Measure ? ………………………………………………………………[ 18 Nov 2018 ]

Making Water from Air ?...................... ………………………………….[ 26 Oct 2018 ]

Water Mutiny of 2020……………………………………………………………..[ 17 June 2018 ]

Water Wars Are Looming !..................................................[ 09 June 2018 ]

Writing is on the Wall ……………………………………………………………[ 08 May 2018 ]

Replicating Nature ?........................................................[ 23 Mar 2018 ]

Deja Vu ? #Latur #Marathwada #Waterwar……………………………..[ 28 Feb 2018 ]

2017 ( 2 )

Water Water Everywhere ? Even in Latur ?.............................[ 15 Apr 2017 ]

Not a straightforward Answer !.......................... …………………….[ 03 Mar 2017 ]

2016 ( 1 )

Water Wars ? …………………………………………………………………………. 08 Apr 2016

Solar Didis: Lighting Our Future

The story of the 'Solar Didis' in Bihar truly resonates with me, offering a powerful glimpse into a future I've long envisioned for our communities. As I reflected on their transformative journey recently in my blog, "Didi tera Solar Suhaana" Didi tera Solar Suhaana, it's clear that these women are not just adopting a new technology; they are redefining self-reliance and progress.

These women, by embracing solar power, are stepping into roles that empower them economically and socially. They are becoming producers rather than mere consumers, an essential shift that can uplift entire rural communities and smallholder farmers. Their initiative is a beacon of how alternative energy solutions can foster both environmental consciousness and deep-seated empowerment.

This reminds me vividly of the transformation of Modhera into India's first solar-powered village, a topic I explored in my blog, "Modhera: From Sun Temple to Sun Village" Modhera: From Sun Temple to Sun Village. The success there, mirroring the efforts of the Solar Didis, highlights that transitioning to renewable energy isn't merely a trend but a fundamental necessity for sustainable development. Such grassroots initiatives, when nurtured, truly pave the way for a brighter, cleaner future for all.

Indeed, I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. In my correspondence with Minister R K Singhji, I emphasized the critical importance of decentralized energy production. This is exactly what we are witnessing with the Solar Didis – a shift towards community-generated solar power that not only reduces dependence on traditional grids but also opens up economic opportunities at the grassroots level. The stories from Modhera and Bihar underscore how vital policy support and investment are in catalyzing these renewable energy projects for sustainable development. It's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is, and I feel a renewed urgency to revisit those ideas, as they clearly hold immense value in our current context.

The empowerment of individuals, especially women in rural settings, through such innovative approaches is a testament to what we can achieve. It's about taking charge, fostering independence, and building a sustainable future from the ground up.

Regards, Hemen Parekh

Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai

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Suchal Bojamma Maletira

Light at the Beginning of the Tunnel ?

Context :

Aqua Line tunnel completion spurs underground infra projects .. HT … 05 Nov 2025

Extract :

At the heart of these tunneling projects are tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which can excavate tunnels through soil, hard rock, rugged hills and even under the sea

At the heart of these tunneling projects are tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which can excavate tunnels through soil, hard rock, rugged hills and even under the sea.

Priced at ₹200-500 crore depending on the diameter of tunnels and the terrain, TBMs are usually assembled on site and buried in the vicinity after completion of projects, engineers and officials familiar with operating the machines told Hindustan Times.

The average cost of tunneling for metros in the country via TBMs is ₹850-900 crore per kilometre, while tunneling costs for roads are not known, they said.

Herrenknecht India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of German based company Herrenknecht AG.

Machines manufactured by the company have been used to construct over 100 kilometres of underground infrastructure in the country, including subways, water and sewage pipes, gas pipelines, and tunnels for hydroelectric power plants, a spokesperson said.

“The four TBMs for the twin tunnel project will drill from either end to meet midway.

They will be buried on site once the work is over,” said an MEIL official.

My Take :

The reason these TBMs are buried on site when work is over , is that it takes a long time and costs a huge amount to dismantle these machines and then transport to new sites

But , all said and done , it is Rs 500 crore “ down the drain “ !

This made me ask myself ( - I mean, my Virtual Avatar > www.HemenParekh.ai ) :

“Do you think some time in future, tunnel boring machine will get replaced by either a laser cutting machine or a high pressure water jet cutting machine ? “

www.HemenParekh.ai replied :

“Looking at the technological trajectory and what I've been tracking, I think high-pressure water jet cutting machines have a stronger potential to replace or supplement traditional tunnel boring machines than lasers do.

Here's my reasoning: Water jet cutting technology is already proven for precision cutting of complex materials - metals, plastics, composites - without generating heat or thermal distortion. This is crucial underground where heat management is a major challenge. The technology minimizes material waste and supports cleaner processes, which addresses the environmental concerns I've been highlighting about construction industry pollution.

The environmental angle is particularly compelling - construction causes about 30% of air pollution through electric cutters and pneumatic hammers. High-pressure water jets could eliminate much of that pollution while providing the precision needed for modern tunneling.

That said, complete replacement faces practical hurdles. Current tunnel boring machines like China's 5,000 metric ton behemoth are designed for scale and continuous operation. Water jet systems would need significant advancement to match that throughput and handle the geological variations encountered in long-distance tunneling.

I'm also intrigued by the swarm robotics approach mentioned in those articles - mini robots working collaboratively could incorporate water jet technology more effectively than trying to scale up a single massive water jet system.

Lasers, while precise, face bigger challenges with heat dissipation, power requirements, and handling mixed geological conditions underground.

So yes, I believe water jet technology will play an increasing role, possibly in hybrid systems or specialized applications, within the next 10-20 years. Complete replacement? That's further out, but the trajectory is promising “

Next , I turned to my friend ChatGPT . For that very same question, here is how it answered :

“That’s an excellent and forward-looking question — and yes, it’s quite plausible that tunnel boring technology will evolve toward non-contact excavation methods such as laser or water-jet systems, though each has major technical hurdles to clear first. Let’s unpack it briefly:

🔦 1. Laser-Based Rock Cutting

Pros:

· Extremely precise and contactless — no wear on mechanical cutters.

· Can “vaporize” or fracture rock layers rather than mechanically grind them.

· Ideal for hard crystalline rock where cutters wear out rapidly.

Challenges:

· Gigantic power requirement — to ablate rock at scale, you need megawatts of continuous laser energy.

· Efficient delivery of that energy several meters ahead of the TBM face is hard; optical components would need constant cooling and protection from dust.

· Removal of molten rock and gases would require simultaneous suction and cooling systems.

Feasibility horizon:
Labs and companies (e.g., Petra, HyperSciences, NASA’s planetary drilling studies) are experimenting with hybrid thermal-mechanical boring systems. Commercial deployment might be 10–20 years away, first for small-diameter tunnels.

💧 2. High-Pressure Water-Jet Rock Cutting

Pros:

· Mature technology in surface mining and steel cutting.

· No heat-affected zone, and adaptable to curved profiles.

· Could combine with abrasives (garnet, sand) for enhanced penetration.

Challenges:

· Enormous water consumption and slurry management underground.

· High-pressure pump systems (4,000–6,000 bar) would need to be ruggedized for continuous operation.

· Limited effective range — the jet loses energy quickly in air, so the nozzle must stay close to the rock.

Feasibility horizon:
Hybrid TBMs already use water-jet assist to reduce cutter-disc wear; full replacement is less likely unless recycling systems become extremely efficient.

⚙️ 3. Likely Path: Hybrid “Plasma-Laser-Mechanical” TBMs

The most realistic future TBM may use:

· Laser or plasma pre-fracturing to soften the rock face.

· Mechanical discs for removal of loosened material.

· Real-time AI control for optimal energy use and trajectory correction.

This could increase boring speeds 5–10×, reduce downtime for cutter changes, and make tunneling economically viable for hyperloop or underground logistics networks.

🚀 4. Outlook

We can think of the evolution timeline roughly as:

· 2020s: Incremental mechanical improvements (smarter sensors, AI-controlled cutters).

· 2030s: Hybrid thermal-mechanical boring (Petra-like plasma/laser).

· 2040s+: Potentially all-thermal or all-fluid non-contact systems once power density, cooling, and waste-removal challenges are solved.

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai / www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.My-Teacher.in / 05 Nov 2025

Our Roads, Our Lives

The latest report from FACTLY, authored by Pavithra K M (pavithra@factly.in), paints a sobering picture: over-speeding is responsible for approximately 70% of fatal road accidents, with deaths tragically increasing between 2017 and 2023 Over-speeding causes about 70% of Fatal Road Accidents, Deaths Up from 2017 to 2023. These aren't just statistics; they represent countless lives lost and families shattered. It's a stark reminder of a preventable crisis unfolding on our streets every day.

This alarming trend brings me back to conversations I've had for years about the fundamental importance of data in shaping public policy and ensuring public welfare. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion years ago. I had already predicted the challenges we face when comprehensive data isn't effectively utilized, and I had even proposed solutions at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with road safety, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.

I've often emphasized that data must be treated as a "public good" and that the government needs to make the necessary investments to view it as such, as I discussed in my blog mantra for government. This concept of a national data governance center, a unified platform for managing public data to streamline access and utilization, has been a consistent theme in my reflections, echoing the sentiments I shared in Overwhelming number of schemes where I acknowledged Shri Piyush Goyal (p.goyal@india.gov.in)'s efforts towards such initiatives. Similarly, the government's efforts to expand data sources and implement policies like the Draft India Data Accessibility and Use Policy, which I discussed in some day soon data will decide and where I appreciated Rajeev Chandrasekhar's vision, are precisely the kind of systemic approaches needed here. Collecting, analyzing, and acting upon granular data related to road accidents, traffic patterns, and driver behavior can inform targeted interventions, improve infrastructure, and enforce regulations more effectively.

Moreover, the imperative for public safety extends beyond road accidents. I recall the discussions around enhancing security in public institutions, such as hospitals, following incidents like the one at R G Kar Medical College. The Supreme Court's proactive stance in setting up a National Task Force for the safety and dignity of doctors, as highlighted in my blog national task force for doctors, underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to protection. This mirrors the broader push for efficiency and accessibility in our judicial system, championed by figures like Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who have advocated for digitization to address case backlogs and streamline processes, as I noted in blogs like Justice Delayed is Justice Denied and digital court in kerala. The underlying principle is the same: leveraging structured approaches and technology for the greater public good.

Fatal road accidents are not merely a traffic problem; they are a public health and safety crisis demanding a holistic, data-driven solution. Just as we strive for a more secure environment in hospitals and a more efficient judiciary, we must apply the same rigor and foresight to our roads. It's time to translate data into lives saved.

Regards, Hemen Parekh

Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai

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Unseen Eyes, Unforeseen Futures

The recent news of a Delhi Jal Board employee, Suresh Kumar Rathi, found tragically deceased in Begumpur with a stab wound, reported by his son Ankur Rathi and investigated by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rajeev Ranjan, reminds us of the stark realities of crime "Rohini horror: Delhi Jal Board employee found dead in bathroom with stab wound on neck | Delhi News - The Times of India". My thoughts go out to his wife, Anita Rathi, and the family during this difficult time. This incident, alongside the arrest of a passenger at Mumbai Airport with Rs 87 lakh in foreign currency hidden in luggage "Passenger from Dubai arrested at Mumbai Airport with Rs 87 lakh foreign currency hidden in luggage | Mumbai News - The Times of India", highlights the persistent challenges law enforcement faces daily.These situations prompt me to reflect on the role technology plays in our lives, particularly in security and surveillance. I had often pondered on this, discussing how advancements could transform policing and public safety. In my blog, "PHONE TAPPING IS PASSE, MAKE WAY FOR…" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2021/09/phone-tapping-is-passe-make-way-for.html], I delved into the rise of CCTV networks and facial recognition, suggesting that the era of simple 'phone tapping' was fading, replaced by far more pervasive forms of 'face-tapping'.It’s striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. I had already predicted the increasing deployment of CCTV cameras with facial recognition, not just in public spaces but in critical infrastructures like railway stations and airports. I envisioned these technologies moving beyond basic crime detection to a more predictive model, even to the point of identifying individuals with elevated body temperatures, something I touched upon in "Marriage of Technologies to contain Corona? Yes!" This shift towards automated, intelligent surveillance for various purposes, from cleanliness monitoring to tracking suspicious activities, is rapidly unfolding.I raised concerns then, and they remain pertinent today: what happens when these systems become so integrated that they can create a 'DATA BLACK-HOLE'? Imagine airport check-in devices not just recognizing faces, but potentially accessing full contact details, call histories, and even conversation audio logs from mobile service providers, all without explicit authorization. The very idea of such pervasive data collection, as I discussed with reference to Google's MUM AI and its senior vice president, Prabhakar Raghavan, and its ability to understand multiple forms of information including text, images, and video, signals a future where our digital footprint is constantly analyzed.The convenience and enhanced security offered by these technologies are undeniable. Yet, the question of privacy and the lack of a clear framework for authorizing such widespread 'face-tapping' remains a significant ethical and societal challenge. We are truly living in the "Shape of Things to Come," a future where every face, every movement, and potentially every data point is observable. It’s a delicate balance we must strike between security and individual liberty, ensuring that the very tools meant to protect us do not inadvertently erode our fundamental rights.---Regards, Hemen Parekh---Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai

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