Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Dolphin chokes to death on plastic off Gujarat coast.....
The pollution in the sea is taking a heavy toll on the marine life along the coast. Latest in the series of tragedies is death of the 14-foot-long dolphin that choked to death after swallowing plastic.
Prakruti Nature Club's Jignesh Gohil, who was present in the rescue attempt, said, "During the postmortem we found that the dolphin, which was about 20 years old, had died because of chocking. In autopsy, we found four thick plastic bags.
The dolphin was 14.4 feet in size and was about one ton in weight. It was found dead along the Sutrapada coast. Senior officials said this was the first incident where plastic bags were recovered from the stomach of a dolphin. In the past there have been incidents where dolphins or dugongs were found dead on the Gujarat coast, but in no plastic was found inside the bodies.
The official said that the presence of plastic in the stomach was an indication of the increasing level of pollution along the coast. Recently a dolphin in the Narmada estuary was spotted which according to the fishermen was nothing new. The fishermen in south Gujarat and Saurashtra and mostly in Kutch have reported the presence of this aquatic mammal.
The population of this large marine mammal is touted to be rising in Gujarat, but there is no specialized force to guide them to freedom in such exigencies, a forest department official said.
Dolphins in Gujarat are frequently spotted in Gulf of Kutch, off Jamanagar coast, and their numbers is growing, he added. It is estimated that Gujarat is home to around 50 to 100 dolphins, though no official census has been conducted so far.
Don't believe in 'environment versus development': Prakash Javadekar
Union minister for environment and information & broadcasting Prakash Javadekar today said the new government believed in coexistence of environment and development, and not in "environment versus development".
Addressing a press conference here this evening, the minister said the proposals for a coastal road and a bridge across Mithi river in the city will be taken up on a priority by his ministry.
Facility of online submission of applications for environmental clearances will be introduced to promote transparency and to expedite the process, he said.
The new I&B minister said the issue of news on FM channels was close to his heart and it will be examined before the third phase of FM auction.
Speaking on cable TV digitisation, he said the government may relax the deadlines if necessary, and put a stress on indigenous manufacture of Set Top Boxes.
During his first visit here after taking charge as the minister, Javadekar met senior officials of All India Radio, Doordarshan, Press Information Bureau, Films Division, etc.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, the minister said the proposals for a coastal road and a bridge across Mithi river in the city will be taken up on a priority by his ministry.
Facility of online submission of applications for environmental clearances will be introduced to promote transparency and to expedite the process, he said.
The new I&B minister said the issue of news on FM channels was close to his heart and it will be examined before the third phase of FM auction.
Speaking on cable TV digitisation, he said the government may relax the deadlines if necessary, and put a stress on indigenous manufacture of Set Top Boxes.
During his first visit here after taking charge as the minister, Javadekar met senior officials of All India Radio, Doordarshan, Press Information Bureau, Films Division, etc.
Source by : times of india
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
No headway in Gir lion cub's poaching case............
The state forest department seems to be groping in the dark while searching for the bones and chopped legs of the lion cub that is suspected to have been killed by poachers in Amreli. The department has formed special teams to inspect the area around Liliya where the incident took place and has launched a combing operation in the nearby villages to nab the poachers.
On Friday night, a five-month-old lion cub was found dead on the outskirts of Gir sanctuary in Chandgadh village near Liliya in Amreli district. The cub's carcass was found in mutilated condition. Forest officials suspect that the poachers may have cut off its feet after trapping and killing the animal.
An official involved in the search operation said that in the last 36 hours of intensive search, they could only get some pieces of bones which might have been eaten by other animals after the poaching.
Since they have failed to find the bones, the officials' suspicion that a gang of professional poachers having killed the cub has only grown stronger. However, initial reports which have been received by the department indicate that all the lions in their respective beats were spotted and found to be safe. However, in the revenue area in Liliya and Savarkundla, even the officials themselves were not aware of the exact count and number.
The officials are keeping their fingers crossed, fearing that more carcass may not tumble out. Officials said that they have even rounded up some local labourers who they suspect to be involvement in the poaching. Officials said that based on their intelligences, these labourers have been rounded up and investigations are going on.
An official involved in the search operation said that in the last 36 hours of intensive search, they could only get some pieces of bones which might have been eaten by other animals after the poaching.
Since they have failed to find the bones, the officials' suspicion that a gang of professional poachers having killed the cub has only grown stronger. However, initial reports which have been received by the department indicate that all the lions in their respective beats were spotted and found to be safe. However, in the revenue area in Liliya and Savarkundla, even the officials themselves were not aware of the exact count and number.
The officials are keeping their fingers crossed, fearing that more carcass may not tumble out. Officials said that they have even rounded up some local labourers who they suspect to be involvement in the poaching. Officials said that based on their intelligences, these labourers have been rounded up and investigations are going on.
Source by : Times of india
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Palitana to junk plastic..............
Palitana to junk plastic..............
Counted among the holiest shrines of Jainism in the world, Palitana's Shetrunjay Hill will soon be a plastic-free zone.
Sources in Anandji Kalyanji Trust that manages the Jain temples in Palitana said the trust functionaries have already started the process of making the religious destination free of plastic menace. The project is to be implemented in a phased manner.
Sources said over 400 volunteers came to Palitana from Mumbai last month and collected plastic from all over Shetrunjay Hill, where a large numbers of Jain temples are located. They picked up plastic pouches, water bottles, wafer packets among other plastic waste.
"We were shocked to find that the waste collected by volunteers amounted to over 900 bags each containing about 15kg of plastic. So we decided to prevent carriage of plastic material atop the hill to reduce the plastic menace," a representative of the trust said.
"We have also written to Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board of the government to issue a notification in this regard and ban plastics at this religious place," one of the trustees said. Devotees are asked to dump plastic before they start climbing the hill for prayers.
"Every Saturday and Sunday, our volunteers stay at the entrance of the hill at Samvasharan Derasar and request devotees not to carry any plastic material. Our volunteers give them jute bags free of cost to dump platics," a trustee said.
On an average over 10 lakh people visits the Jain temples every year in Palitana. Besides being a religious place, Shetrunjay Hill is close to the forest where Asiatic Lion has its abode. There are about 15 lions are in Palitana area in Bhavnagar.
Counted among the holiest shrines of Jainism in the world, Palitana's Shetrunjay Hill will soon be a plastic-free zone.
Sources in Anandji Kalyanji Trust that manages the Jain temples in Palitana said the trust functionaries have already started the process of making the religious destination free of plastic menace. The project is to be implemented in a phased manner.
Sources said over 400 volunteers came to Palitana from Mumbai last month and collected plastic from all over Shetrunjay Hill, where a large numbers of Jain temples are located. They picked up plastic pouches, water bottles, wafer packets among other plastic waste.
"We were shocked to find that the waste collected by volunteers amounted to over 900 bags each containing about 15kg of plastic. So we decided to prevent carriage of plastic material atop the hill to reduce the plastic menace," a representative of the trust said.
"We have also written to Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board of the government to issue a notification in this regard and ban plastics at this religious place," one of the trustees said. Devotees are asked to dump plastic before they start climbing the hill for prayers.
"Every Saturday and Sunday, our volunteers stay at the entrance of the hill at Samvasharan Derasar and request devotees not to carry any plastic material. Our volunteers give them jute bags free of cost to dump platics," a trustee said.
On an average over 10 lakh people visits the Jain temples every year in Palitana. Besides being a religious place, Shetrunjay Hill is close to the forest where Asiatic Lion has its abode. There are about 15 lions are in Palitana area in Bhavnagar.
15 bird species in India critically endangered: International report..............
Fifteen species of birds seen in India have been declared critically endangered by theInternational Union for Conversation of Nature(IUCN) for 2013. The endangered birds, including the Great Indian Bustard, Siberian Crane, White backed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture, are on the decline, said a report ofIUCN updated till December 2013.
The major reasons for the decline in the population of these birds include loss, modification, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, environmental contaminants, poaching and land use changes, particularly conversion of large areas for crop cultivation. Also, changes in cropping pattern due to various reasons, including implementation of irrigation schemes, increased pesticide usage, livestock-grazing, high levels of disturbance and developmental activities like mining and hydel projects resulted in marginal fall in their population, said the report.
Threats posed by infrastructure development, such as collisions with vehicles, power-lines and wind turbines pose danger to the birds.
The other birds in the revised list are Baer's Pochard, Forest Owlet, Bengal Florican, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Sociable Lapwing, Jerdon's Courser, Whitebellied Heron, Slender-billed Vulture, Indian Vulture, Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck.
Studies by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and similar organisations on what contributes most to the decline of several bird species revealed that just like wetlands, most other habitats such as grasslands and forests also faced severe threat due to development pressures. Destruction of deciduous forests in central India has led to the decline in Forest Owlet numbers.
Destruction of forests in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas continues to endanger many other species, an official of BNHS said.
Replying to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Union environment minister Veerappa Moily said India was a signatory to several major international conventions relating to conservation and management of wildlife, including endangered species of birds. "Financial and technical assistance is provided to state/Union territory governments for protection and management of protected areas as well as other forests under centrally-sponsored schemes," he said.
by : times of india
The major reasons for the decline in the population of these birds include loss, modification, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, environmental contaminants, poaching and land use changes, particularly conversion of large areas for crop cultivation. Also, changes in cropping pattern due to various reasons, including implementation of irrigation schemes, increased pesticide usage, livestock-grazing, high levels of disturbance and developmental activities like mining and hydel projects resulted in marginal fall in their population, said the report.
Threats posed by infrastructure development, such as collisions with vehicles, power-lines and wind turbines pose danger to the birds.
The other birds in the revised list are Baer's Pochard, Forest Owlet, Bengal Florican, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Sociable Lapwing, Jerdon's Courser, Whitebellied Heron, Slender-billed Vulture, Indian Vulture, Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck.
Studies by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and similar organisations on what contributes most to the decline of several bird species revealed that just like wetlands, most other habitats such as grasslands and forests also faced severe threat due to development pressures. Destruction of deciduous forests in central India has led to the decline in Forest Owlet numbers.
Destruction of forests in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas continues to endanger many other species, an official of BNHS said.
Replying to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Union environment minister Veerappa Moily said India was a signatory to several major international conventions relating to conservation and management of wildlife, including endangered species of birds. "Financial and technical assistance is provided to state/Union territory governments for protection and management of protected areas as well as other forests under centrally-sponsored schemes," he said.
by : times of india
Friday, August 16, 2013
Gujarat launches awareness drive to protect Asiatic lions.....
With a view to inform people about legal provisions pertaining to protection of Asiatic lions, the forest department of Gujarat has launched a 'Sinha Rath' (lion chariot) from Sasan Gir in Junagadh to be taken across 130 villages to spread awareness about wildlife conservation.
The awareness drive was launched on Sunday amid reports of deaths of five Asiatic lions in last 15 days.
"It is a modified jeep with flax banners listing dos and don'ts with respect to lions. A loudspeaker has been mounted on the vehicle which plays a pre-recorded audio message asking villagers to support conservation of lions," Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gir (East Division) Anshuman Sharma told PTI.
The vehicle will pass through 130 odd villages located on the Gir East forest division border and create awareness about wildlife and legal provisions, he said.
Forest department staff members accompanying the vehicle have been interacting with villagers to emphasise the need to protect Asiatic lions, he said.
The Gir National Park and wildlife sanctuary which is spread over 1,412 square kilometres, is well known as the remaining habitat of Asiatic lions, which also has a large leopard population.
The sanctuary also has a thriving population of sambar and spotted deer, chinkara gazelle, neelgai and chowsingha, the world's only four-horned antelope.
Source By :Timesofindia
The awareness drive was launched on Sunday amid reports of deaths of five Asiatic lions in last 15 days.
"It is a modified jeep with flax banners listing dos and don'ts with respect to lions. A loudspeaker has been mounted on the vehicle which plays a pre-recorded audio message asking villagers to support conservation of lions," Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gir (East Division) Anshuman Sharma told PTI.
The vehicle will pass through 130 odd villages located on the Gir East forest division border and create awareness about wildlife and legal provisions, he said.
Forest department staff members accompanying the vehicle have been interacting with villagers to emphasise the need to protect Asiatic lions, he said.
The Gir National Park and wildlife sanctuary which is spread over 1,412 square kilometres, is well known as the remaining habitat of Asiatic lions, which also has a large leopard population.
The sanctuary also has a thriving population of sambar and spotted deer, chinkara gazelle, neelgai and chowsingha, the world's only four-horned antelope.
Source By :Timesofindia
Friday, April 12, 2013
Residents file PIL against Chandrabhaga pollution
Complaining about environmental pollution and difficulty faced due to the very dirty Chandrabhaga river, residents of Ranip area have moved Gujarat high court by filing a public interest litigation.
The PIL contends that solid waste is being dumped in the ravines of Chandrabhaga at Ranip and the river carries polluted water from upstream - from Tragad, Kaligam and Chainpur villages. The dumped waste and polluted stream have created a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The PIL contends that residents of Ninjaripunj Co-operative Housing Society have been suffering due to this environmental pollution for the last ten years and they have repeatedly made representations before various authorities. But the administration hasn't heeded to their requests.
The PIL has also highlighted that due to garbage dumping, the stream has been obstructed and with percolation of dirty water, the area now does not have potable drinking water. It further claims that the results of water quality assessment conducted by the civic body reflected that the water extracted from ground from nearby the stream was not potable.
The petitioners have also complained about the similar phenomenon at the Sabarmati river, of which the Chandrabhaga is a tributary. They have requested the court to direct authorities like the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, state government, health department, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and environment and forest department to take remedial measures to improve the situation.
The PIL is to come up for hearing on Friday.
Meanwhile, in connection with another PIL, the authorities have assured the high court that it would redress a similar issue near the Dandi bridge area over Chandrabhaga. The HC had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue after a fire damaged the historic structure last year. The civic body has placed its plan of laying down a drainage line and setting up two pumping stations in this area.
by : times of india
The PIL contends that solid waste is being dumped in the ravines of Chandrabhaga at Ranip and the river carries polluted water from upstream - from Tragad, Kaligam and Chainpur villages. The dumped waste and polluted stream have created a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The PIL contends that residents of Ninjaripunj Co-operative Housing Society have been suffering due to this environmental pollution for the last ten years and they have repeatedly made representations before various authorities. But the administration hasn't heeded to their requests.
The PIL has also highlighted that due to garbage dumping, the stream has been obstructed and with percolation of dirty water, the area now does not have potable drinking water. It further claims that the results of water quality assessment conducted by the civic body reflected that the water extracted from ground from nearby the stream was not potable.
The petitioners have also complained about the similar phenomenon at the Sabarmati river, of which the Chandrabhaga is a tributary. They have requested the court to direct authorities like the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, state government, health department, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and environment and forest department to take remedial measures to improve the situation.
The PIL is to come up for hearing on Friday.
Meanwhile, in connection with another PIL, the authorities have assured the high court that it would redress a similar issue near the Dandi bridge area over Chandrabhaga. The HC had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue after a fire damaged the historic structure last year. The civic body has placed its plan of laying down a drainage line and setting up two pumping stations in this area.
by : times of india
Rajasthan gets third tiger reserve
The Rajasthan government has notified the Mukundra hills sanctuary as the third tiger reserve in the state.The reserve area will be over 759 sq km spread between four districts of Kota, Bundi,Chittorgarh and Jhalawar near theRanthambore tiger reserve. "Nearly 417 sq km have been earmarked as the core tiger habitat, while 342.82 sq km has been notified as the buffer zone," senior a forest official. The other two tiger reserves of Ranthambore and Sariskahave a core area nearly thrice this size.
"With powers bestowed under Section 38 V of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, we have declared Mukundra hills national park as a tiger reserve. When the budget announcement was made last financial year, we had taken the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) into confidence. Now that we have declared it as a reserve, we will be forwarding the notification to them," said A S Brar, head of forest forces and chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan.
The Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act says that the state government shall, on the recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority, notify an area as a tiger reserve. The state government has received an in-principle nod from the NTCA.
According to Brar, a three-member expert committee had been constituted under the then chief wildlife warden A Choubey which included a member from the state wildlife board and the chief conservator of forests, Kota, which surveyed the area and consulted the gram sabha. Consultation with the gram sabha is necessary, as under the law, the core area of the reserve is to be an inviolate space and all villages have to be relocated. However, the law permits man and animal to co-exist with some restriction on commercial activities.
The core area of the Mukundra reserve currently has six villages, two of which are uninhabited. Eventually all these villages will have to be relocated funded by the NTCA. The sanctuary currently has wolves, sloth bear, chinkaras and leopards.
"After the declaration of the area as a tiger reserve, NTCA will also give funds for developing the forest area," said an official.
The Mukundra hill sanctuary was already declared as the satellite core area of Ranthambore reserve by the NTCA and Tigers often stray into the area. "The objective was always to link this to Ranthambore so as to let the tigers that stray from the park come and breed here. It was the next best forest after Ranthambore for rehabilitation of tigers. But we have went a step ahead and declared it as a reserve itself," said the official.
Officials added that at a later stage, tigers will be relocated from Ranthambore reserve so as to provide optimum space to the big cats. Before that the annual working plan for the development and management of the reserve will have to be approved by the NTCA.
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