Uppalapadu tank works get forest clearance

P. SAMUEL JONATHAN

CC road will be laid from main road to bird sanctuary

Avian paradise: Pelicans soaring at the Uppalapadu bird
sanctuary in Guntur district.— Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

The Forest Department has given the nod for undertaking developmental works at Uppalapadu tank, the famed breeding place for migratory birds. District Forest Officer S.K Salaam told The Hindu that the Forest Department has given financial clearance to undertake works at a cost of Rs 17.28 lakh.

The works including laying of a CC road from the main road to the bird sanctuary, afforestation, strengthening of tank bund, removal of water hyacinth and appointment of watch and ward staff at the sanctuary.

The Eco Development Committee, which is yet to be constituted, would be undertaking the works.

The works would start once the department gets funding.

The action plan was part of a major scheme for development of the sanctuary at a cost of Rs.2 crore, with which the Department has plans to take up construction works, setting up of cafeteria and establishing an eco-tourism centre.

The nondescript village would soon get a face lift.

Water contamination

The district administration has already pledged to lay a pipe line at a cost of Rs.35 lakh and part of the funds would be drawn from MPLADS. For years, villagers have been voicing their concerns over the contamination of water in the village tank due to the presence of a large number of migratory birds. Signs of a conflict between human beings and the birds endangering peaceful co-existence had appeared recently when villagers began felling giant trees abutting the water tanks that provided refuge to birds.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/uppalapadu-tank-works-get-forest-clearance/article4311586.ece

Threat of forest fires looms large

R. KRISHNA KUMAR

High temperature, depleting water-levels have compounded situation

• ‘We have burnt 10-metre patch of vegetation along the fire lines in Nagarahole’
• Wildlife activists dismayed that some critical posts are yet to be filled

Preventive measure:Vegetation being cleared along
the fire lines at Chamundi Hills in Mysore on Tuesday.

The threat of forest fires looms large over Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks even as the Forest Department is gearing up to combat one of the worst droughts in recent decades.

The soaring mercury level coupled with depleting water-levels has compounded the situation, and the possibility of animals straying into human habitations in search of food and water is likely in the days ahead. The severity of the fodder crisis this year has been amplified by the devastation wreaked by the major fire that reduced a vast swathe of Nagarahole to cinders last March.

R. Gokul, Conservator of Forests, and Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, told The Hindu that the Mysore portion of Nagarahole was dry though there was moisture and greenery in the Kodagu portion. “But most of the watering holes in the national park have run dry while a few water bodies around Kalahalla and Nagarahole range can at best last for another 45 days.”

Water tanks constructed

The authorities constructed a water tank in the Metikuppe range as it was found that elephant herds were straying from their natural habitat in search of water. “It has helped arrest the elephants’ movement and they have returned to the core forest areas,” Mr. Gokul said.

A tank will also be constructed in the Antharsanthe range which has a large elephant population.

However, Mr. Gokul said that construction of the tank had been taken up on an experimental basis. He said that three to four tanks could be constructed in Veeranahosahalli and Antharsanthe.

“But, this will not help all animals because the prey density in Nagarahole is 50 animals per sq km and the requirement of all the animals cannot be met through artificial means,” Mr. Gokul said.

He said: “We have burnt 10-metre patch of vegetation along the fire lines on either side of the game (safari) roads. This works out to about 1,700 hectares out of a total area of 64,300 hectares or 2.65 per cent of the total forest area.”

Meanwhile, wildlife activists are dismayed that in spite of the possibility of a crisis, some critical posts are yet to be filled, which could affect forest fire protection. Sources said there was no range officer in Metikuppe range, which bore the brunt of last year’s fire. The situation is similar at Veeranahosahalli, while the post of Director at Bandipur National Park is vacant. Activists also sought a ban on tourism during the ‘forest fire season’ as this could augment available resources such as staff and vehicles to combat forest fires. Responding to the suggestion, Mr. Gokul said there was no such proposal at present though they may take a call on it later.

In Bandipur, BRT

The scenario in Bandipur and BRT sanctuaries is similar.

D. Rajkumar of Wildlife Conservation Foundation expressed the fear that watering holes could go dry after 15 to 20 days. However, vegetation along the fire lines had been burnt and fire spotters had been hired, he said.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Mysore began clearing of vegetation along the fire lines at Chamundi Hills on Tuesday.


Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/threat-of-forest-fires-looms-large/article4311531.ece

Wildlife Memoirs: Traffic or Tigers? Versus in Deccan Chronicle

Let forest officials escort vehicles at night

I.C.Balakrishnan, MLA, Sulthan Bathery, Kerala

It has been four years since night traffic was banned in Bandipur. Initially, Karnataka agreed to lift the bank during the talks with Kerala government, but then some environmentalists went to court and had the ban enforced again. But it is affecting tourism as people have trouble planning their schedules to avoid going through Bandipur at night. Many, who want to start their journey to Bandipur Friday night and return Monday morning, cannot do so on account of the ban. Students and businessmen from areas on the Karnataka-Kerala border, who study or do business in Bengaluru are also inconvenienced as they need to plan their trips a day in advance now. 

The alternate route suggested through Gundalpet, Hunsur, Kutta and Mananthavadi, is a lot longer and unpleasant as the roads are not in good condition. The government should instead increase the number of forest officials and use them to escort convoys of vehicles through the forest at night.

There have been no proper studies to support the ban on night traffic through Bandipur. In fact, when it was allowed, there were only a few cases of animal road-kills. The issue needs to be studied in depth by a combined team of Kerala and Karnataka.

Wild animals do not understand convoy system

Sanjay Gubbi

The welcome benefits of economic development have come with serious costs to wildlife through loss and fragmentation of habitats, especially for rare and endangered animals. The backbone of country’s infrastructure growth has necessitated the expansion of road network. Coupled with high speed vehicles, roads have turned out to be an important linear fragmentation threat to wildlife. Mortality due to speeding vehicles and acting as barriers for animal movement are the two important impacts of highways.

The closure of highways for night traffic through Bandipur Tiger Reserve is one vital step to minimise the impacts of highways on tigers and other species. An alternate road that is 35 km longer acts as a mode of transport for night travel and the state has recently taken up repairs of this road. This rare 48 crore investment for infrastructure to save tigers, is a unique highly laudable gesture.

The state of Kerala has proposed alternatives such as allowing vehicles in convoy system under close supervision, building flyover and barriers along the highways. Wild animals clearly do not understand convoy system and their movements are based on their biological and ecological needs. Any supervision cannot dictate the movement patterns of wild animals. The other civil engineering solutions are neither economically or ecologically viable.  A flyover through Bandipur would cost a horrendous 4,000 crore not to forget the enormous disturbance during the construction phase, and barriers such as walls will wholly stop the movement of wildlife.

As the country moves forward with its ambition of 8% economic growth, more land is taken for the rapid expansion of its infrastructure. Places like Bandipur are one of the last strongholds for tigers and we need to support alternatives rather than continue to pursue ecologically destructive options that are largely driven by deceitful economic interests.

Source: Wildlife Memoirs: Traffic or Tigers? Versus in Deccan Chronicle

HC tells Himachal govt to ban cookies, chips in polythene packs

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to ban sale of ‘junk food’ in non bio-degradable packs from April 1 but exempted essential items like edible oil and milk from the ban.

A Division Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjay Karool directed that the list of non-essential items (junk food), identified by committee set up by the High Court, are not to be sold in non-biodegradable packing. The items included chips, wafers, biscuits, namkeen, candy, chewing gum, ice cream, chocolates, noodles, sugary cereals, among other items.

“We are not in any manner issuing directions that such items are banned because that is not within the purview of the court but if we follow the law enacted by the state (Himachal) Pradesh Non-Biodegradable (Control) Act, 1995, the least we can do is to direct that these harmful items, which are classified as junk foods, if sold in the state in packing condition should be sold only in bio-degradable packing,” the judges said.

The Bench proposed use of options such as tetra packs, tin packing or biodegradable plastic of 20 micro metre thickness is proposed.

The Bench, however, said the list of food items identified for the ban is not final.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/HC-tells-Himachal-govt-to-ban-cookies--chips-in-polythene-packs/1059361/

NGT asks Centre to fix noise norms for public vehicles

Vehicles with multi-tone horns and sirens are found to be violating noise pollution rules
Premal Balan / Ahmedabad

The National Green Tribunal ( NGT) has directed the Union government to notify standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used by vehicles including those of Government, police or ambulance  within three months.

The directions were issued by principal bench of Justice A S Naidu and G K Pandey who felt an urgent need to have source specific noise standards, as there were no standards specified by the Union government with regard to use of horns and sirens in ambulances, government and police vehicles.
 
The bench was hearing an application filed by a senior citizen Dileep B Nevatia residing on the Worli Sea Face road in Mumbai. Nevatia had alleged there was gross violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by vehicles using multi-tone horns and sirens.

He had claimed that the vehicles fitted with multi-tone horns were emitting sounds in far excess of the levels prescribed and were causing noise pollution.

The applicant had demanded specifying standards for sirens and multi-tone horns wanted ban on vehicles that violate those stipulated standards.

"The controversy before us is pertaining to vehicular noise caused by unrestricted use of sirens and multi-tone horns having un-specified standards, being fitted in the ambulances, Government and police vehicles," the bench observed in its order of last week.

"Needless to say that there is urgent requirement to evolve source specific (noise) standards for sirens and multi-tone vehicles, constant use of sirens and multi-tone horns much above noise standard, causes immense hardship to common people and also poses serious affects on human health," it further observed.

So far no source specific standards have been evolved or specified for sirens and multi-tone horns by the Union Government.

"In order to control ambient noise pollution, it is essential to control emanating noise at the source itself for which source specific standards are required to be formulated. Source specific standards have already been evolved by the MoEF and CPCB for the D.G. Sets, Industries, etc. However, so far no source specific standards have been evolved or specified for sirens and multi-tone horns by the Union Government," the bench observed.

Hence it issued direction for Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, "to notify the standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used by different vehicles either under Government duty or otherwise within a period of 3 months."

Based on which, the Maharashtra government will have to issue specific notifications. The NGT also directed Maharashtra police to ensure that no private vehicle be allowed to use sirens or multi-tone horns in residential and silent zones and in the vicinity of educational institutions, hospitals and other sensitive areas and also during night except emergencies and under exceptional circumstances.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ngt-asks-centre-to-fix-noise-norms-for-public-vehicles/202774/on

Panel backs NHAI: ‘MoEF can’t insist on Forest Act’

Things may have come to a boil between the National Highways Authority of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests over green clearances to road projects last week with the former going to court in protest, but they have been simmering for long enough. The NHAI has for long been demanding exemption from the Forest Rights Act for its road projects and now derives strength from the recent recommendations made by a Committee of Secretaries on the issue.

Chaired by the Law Secretary, this committee — specifically examining the NHAI’s demand vis-a-vis the ministry’s contentions — gave an opinion in favour of the NHAI. The committee has opined that the FRA may not be insisted upon as far as road projects are concerned. Sources said the MoEF wrote to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for its views on the committee’s opinion. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in turn, passed the buck to the MoEF arguing that since the guidelines to FRA were issues by the latter, any changes will have to be effected by the same ministry.

The FRA to which the MoEF issued guidelines in 2009 require public hearings and consent of related gram sabhas before forest clearance for a project can be given. The process, a time consuming one, is said to delay projects. Under pressure over delays, the MoEF is of a view that forest clearance should not be delinked from environmental clearance.

The MoEF argues that it has already been sympathetic to the NHAI’s demands by relaxing its guidelines for linear projects, facilitating phased processing of these proposals, provided feasible alternate alignments are submitted for stretches in forest areas.

The Forest Ministry contends that its notifications, dated March 2012 and September 2011, on re-diversion of forest land for non forest purposes facilitated linear projects.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has been at loggerheads with the MoEF over alleged delays in granting of clearance and blames it for slow progress in projects worth over Rs 2,000 crore. They had even sought the PMO’s intervention to expedite linear projects like roads, railway tracks and transmission lines awaiting green clearances.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Panel-backs-NHAI---MoEF-can-t-insist-on-Forest-Act-/1059309/0

62 held for fishing near turtle nesting site

Bhubaneswar, Jan 13 (IANS)
At least 62 fishermen were arrested for fishing near a turtle nesting site in Odisha's Kendrapada district, an official said Sunday.

The forest and wildlife department nabbed the men Saturday near the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, 170 km from here, Divisional Forest Officer Manoj Mohapatra told IANS.

Three mechanized trawlers and 16 fishing boats were also seized.

With the latest arrests, the number of fishermen held since November for fishing near Gahirmatha has risen to 200, Mohapatra said.

Gahirmatha is one of the world's largest turtle nesting sites and where 700,000-800,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles congregate in the sea waters between October and November and nest between December and March.

Thousands of turtles get killed every year mostly by mechanized trawlers and fishing boats.

The government has imposed a seven-month fishing ban along 120 km of the state's 480 km coastline -- valid from Nov 1 to May 31.

Carcasses of about 200 Olive ridley turtles have been sighted along the Gahirmatha coast this season, Mohapatra added.

Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/01/13/107--62-held-for-fishing-near-turtle-nesting-site-.html

Trekkers provoke bees, get stung

Bengaluru: Throwing a stone at a bee hive had painful consequences for a group of trekkers from Bengaluru, six of whom are from Banaswadi in city, after they became the target of a severe bee attack in Kolar district on Sunday.

The incident occurred atop Bheemana Garadi in Malur after the group of eight trekkers reached the hilltop. Two of the trekkers were critically injured in the bee attack and are currently being treated at Jalappsa Hospital in Bangarapet.

It all began when the group started their trek up the Tekal hill in Kolar district at 10 am on Sunday. After they reached the top, some of the group members took a breather while one of them threw a stone at a bee hive. The disturbed bees poured out in large numbers and attacked them, inflicting innumerable stings.

Shocked at the unexpected onslaught, the group scattered in different directions and some ran into the forest to escape. But Ravi and Girish who could not flee, bore the brunt of the stings and are fighting for their lives now, police said.

The police learned about the bee attack in the afternoon and rushed to the hill station accompanied by about 30 locals. They had to use fogging devices to control the aggressive bees. After almost two-and-a-half hours, the cops managed to rescue the trekkers. Three of the eight escaped injuries while five were seriously injured.

“Even though there were 10 policemen, aided by 30 locals, we found it difficult to get them out from the swarm of bees since they were attacking us too,” the Tekal police said.

Tekal is located 60 km from Bengaluru and is a popular trekking destination. Many tourists visit the picturesque Tekal hills every year and this was the first such incident reported till now. Tekal is open to all trekkers as it is on gomala land.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130114/news-current-affairs/article/trekkers-provoke-bees-get-stung

Tiger found dead in Nagarahole National Park

A tiger, estimated to be five years old, was found dead in the Kakanakote forests in the D.B. Kuppe range of the Nagarahole National Park on Monday.

The carcass was spotted by the Forest Department staff. The animal could have died four days ago, said Hunsur Wildlife Assistant Conservator of Forests K.D. Belliappa.

Cause unknown

The cause of death could not be ascertained immediately by the veterinarian who conducted the post mortem. Only laboratory examination would reveal the cause of death, he said.

Lab report

As the animal’s carcass did not bear any injury marks, it was unlikely that it was killed by another tiger, Mr. Belliappa said.

If it died of natural causes or any other reason, it would be known in about three days when the laboratory report comes, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tiger-found-dead-in-nagarahole-national-park/article4308553.ece

Monkey business

MANEKA GANDHI

If you see a langur tied up in a temple, factory, educational institution or mela, call the police and the wildlife authorities and make sure that arrests are made.

How can you do this to me?

Last month, as I passed by the Defence Ministry, I saw people clustered on a sidewalk and I caught a glimpse of a monkey. I stopped and saw three people making two langurs fight with each other. As soon as they saw me, two of the men ran and so did the government employees who were watching this illegal tamasha.

The langurs climbed a tree. The third man had his pockets searched and, not surprisingly, had a card saying that he was employed by the Defence Ministry to keep rhesus monkeys away. His personal ID card said that his name was Aftab Langurvala.

This is a large Muslim clan that lives in Rohini, Delhi. Their only job is to get langurs from the wild and rent them out to various organisations across Delhi — ministries, schools, hotels, malls. They have, at any given time, over 100 langurs. They are so arrogant that they have named themselves Langurvala as well, and they travel openly on motorbikes with langurs on their shoulders

I called the police. The security in-charge of that wing of the Defence Ministry was called. He clearly did not know the law and tried to defend his recruitment. He was severely reprimanded. The Langurvala was arrested and remanded to jail under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The langurs are with me and they will be rehabilitated soon, back in the forest.

You will rarely find a madari in the cities now. Most of them are behind bars or have switched professions ever since animal laws started being acted on. But in many cities you will find these langurvalas. You need to have the person arrested and his employer.

According to The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the langur is a protected species under Schedule II and under the IPC Sections 2, 8, 9, 11, 40, 41, 43, 48, 51, 61, and 62. According to these sections, langurs cannot be owned, traded, bought, sold or hired out. Any violation of this law is liable to a three-year jail term or fine or both.

But many government offices are openly breaking the law by hiring such people and even giving ID cards to the so called “owners” of langurs – who are actually poachers who have taken these langurs from forests. I am told that during the Commonwealth Games the civic agencies deployed 38 langurs .

They are badly fed and kept tied up to gates the entire day. They are starved and kept thirsty. They sit in the sun and rain and cold. Most of these langurs die within a year. The Langurwalas simply get more.

Not only is the langur a protected species, it is also becoming increasingly rare.

The langur is a silver grey monkey with a tail longer than its body, a conspicuous black face, long limbs with black hands and feet. It has a coughing alarm call.

Langurs live in troops that vary from 8 - 20 animals, and are led by a dominant male. All-male groups are also common.

They generally have a favourite roosting tree, to which they retire at the end of the day. The monkeys huddle together and prefer to squat on the extremities of high branches, as a precautionary measure against predators. They are extremely arboreal — which means, that unlike rhesus monkeys, they do not like to come down from the trees at all. They feed in the morning and late afternoon and groom each other in between. Morning is greeted with loud whooping calls and a display of high spirits.

Females attain sexual maturity (3-4 years) earlier than males (6-7 years). The young are born after a gestation period of six months. The mothers usually have one child, and the arrival of the early ones in a troop causes much excitement, with females of all age groups vying with each other to touch and handle the newborn. The mother readily allows this and the infant gets passed on from hand to hand. The young are carried upside down clasped to their mother's belly. By three months they start wandering around and that is when they get picked up by poachers. Any adult that intervenes, responding to the cries of the babies, is beaten with sticks or killed.

The species has suffered tremendously due to habitat degradation. They have to come down to the road and sometimes enter human habitation looking for food, making them vulnerable while crossing the road. They are eaten by leopards, dholes, wolves, jackals and pythons. Poaching and attacks by dogs are also on the rise.

Langurs eat leaves, flowers, fruits and berries. They obtain salt, mineral and trace elements by licking rocks, termite mounds and salt licks. This animal is now fed rotis and whatever rubbish passersby give it.

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau sent a letter on October 15 to all government departments saying that they cannot hire langurs and that any in service have to be removed immediately. The Bureau has written that “For any violation, besides the handler, the officer of the Ministry responsible for hiring the services of the animal, will be deemed to have contravened the provision of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and will be liable for prosecution under Section 52 of the Act.” The letter adds: “It is therefore requested that langurs, if hired by your Ministry, should be removed from their service immediately and the animals be handed over to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Government of NCT.”

Langurs are as protected as bears and tigers. Can anyone bring tigers or snakes and get “employment” by the government or private companies for domestic or security purposes?

The Wildlife Crime Bureau has now started raiding these Langurvala families. Many of them are now on the run as criminals and the animals have been confiscated. I have caught 8 langurvalas myself and the court has sent all of them to jail under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which means that the court is well aware, as are the police, that this is a crime under the Indian laws.

Now you know the law. If you see any langur tied up in a temple, factory, educational institution, mela or any government building, call the police and the wildlife authorities and make sure that arrests are made. Take the langur. Ask the langurvala where he got the animal from so that it can be returned to its forest — otherwise it will die.

The Hanuman langur is a representative of the god Hanuman. Is this the shameful way in which we use our gods?

To join the animal welfare movement,contact

gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/monkey-business/article4294052.ece