Discovery Channel’s launches docu-series ‘Planet Healers’

Chandigarh: Bustling with more than 1.3 billion people, there is a huge pressure on resources and sustainable living that is in turn leading to India grappling with several environmental issues like air and water pollution, and those related to plastic and solid waste management. According to a WHO report, 9 of its top 10 polluted cities in the world are in India. The Ganges is amongst the 10 most polluted rivers in the world. Notably, India lost an average of 63 football fields worth of forest land every day between 2014 and 2017. The country produces almost 1,00,000 metric tonnes of waste every day. There is an urgent need for us to find long-term sustainable solutions. Recognizing the problem, Discovery Channel, India’s leading destination for factual entertainment, is set to air a four-part original docu-series ‘Planet Healers’ featuring eight of India’s most promising environment friendly start-ups, who are innovating ways to pave a path to a sustainable tomorrow. To be hosted by Bollywood actor, Jim Sarbh, the series will deep dive into the journey of how these start-ups are working out innovative technology led solutions to environmental hazards faced by our country. This first of its kind series will premiere at 7 pm on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD World. “Planet Healers is not just a TV show; it is an attempt by Discovery to create mass awareness about environmental hazards faced by our country which will have significant long-term impact,” said, Zulfia Waris, Vice President, Premium & Digital networks, Discovery Communications India. “We have focused this series on individuals who have dedicated themselves to create innovative technology led solutions for the conservation and preservation of our planet. They are common people with uncommon ambitions and incredible self-belief who are making a difference.” The selected startups are spread across India, one of them being from Ludhiana, Punjab. It claims to have found the solution to paddy stubble burning in Punjab by educating the farmers about it and collecting the stubble from their fields for free of cost and converting it into bio fuel. Founded by Sandeep Singh Shergill, Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal and Kamaljit Singh in 2016, it is a crop residue management company, which provides a robust and integrated biomass supply solution for the advanced bio-fuels & bio-power industries. This will not only save the environment by stopping stubble burning but also add to the farmers’ income as well. Sukhbir Dhaliwal, Co-Founder of Farm 2 Energy, said, “We are happy to be a part of Discovery Channel’s docuseries ‘Planet Healers’. This platform has given us an opportunity to showcase Farm 2 Energy and we hope it will sensitize people to start doing their bit for our planetEarth. Farmers need to clear every inch of their land before the next harvest, which costs them a lot of money. Hence, they take up stubble burning as a cheaper option because there is no other alternative. Realizing the environmental threats with the dangerously high levels of air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas, we founded Farm2Energy and have already covered more than 20,000 acres of land in 100 villages in Punjab in the last two years. According to a latest study by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partner institutes, Air pollution from stubble burning costs India US$30 billion annually. We hope to convey to highlight every effort in saving our planet will go a long way and we are positive this show on Discovery Channel will help to make people aware of doing their bit to conserve our environment.” Other startups featured in the series are Urban Kisaan- empowers people to grow their own safe, fresh and high quality food with the help of Hydroponic farming technique. Absolute Water converts 17 lakh liters of sewage water into drinking water every day while Saahas Zero Waste specializes in treating and recycling waste without disturbing the ecosystem. NaMo E Wasteis working towards not just recycling but also ensuring safe disposal of e-waste. Afforest creates natural, wild, maintenance free, native forests using Miyawaki technique. Rudra converts plastic into poly fuel on the other hand Chakr Innovation has created world’s first retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators which can capture over 90% of particulate matter emissions. Get ready to be inspired by eight environment friendly startups with Planet Healers, a Discovery Channel Original that will premiere on 8th March2019every Friday at 7 PM only on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD World.