A Gujarat Forest Department brochure however says that the GIZ has been
closed down due to its effects on the lions and the staff. However this appears
to be untrue as during the recent Navratri- Diwali vacation, thousands of
visitors virtually clogged the road to Devalia. During this period the GIZ was
also kept open on the weekly holiday of Wednesday to cater to the holiday rush,
earning the facility a substantial sum of revenue.
There are also reports
that the heavy rush of visitors has affected the behaviour of the lions and they
have become disoriented and
irritable.
Source: Sanjay Sharma. 'Tourists
prey on, paralyse lions in Gir', The Times of India, 23/11/99.
Oil spill affects Marine National Park
An oil spill from the Vadinar-Kandla
pipeline of the Indian Oil Company (IOC) has badly affected parts of the Marine
National Park in the Gulf of Kutch. The incident happened on the 23rd
of November when oil was being pumped from a tanker to the IOC's Single Buoy
Mooring (SBM). The IOC has denied the charges, but preliminary investigations by
the Forest Department and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) too have
suggested that the company is responsible.
Experts also fear that such
regular small and big leaks will eventually lead to irreperable damage to the
fragile ecology of the area which fosters many rare species of coral and
hundreds of other marine species and mangrove forests. They also point out that
crucial mangrove forests are the worst hit and that this will also adversely
affect the fishing industry in the area. The State Fisheries minister Babubhai
Bokhiria has claimed that the fish catch in the last few years has already gone
down by 2 lakh tons along the Saurashtra coast and particularly off the Jamnagar
and Veraval coasts. The fishing industry, including direct and ancillary,
between Okha and Jakhau is reportedly worth Rs. 700 crore per year at the
present.
There has been a move in the recent past to denotify parts of the park
for some of the proposed industrial projects in the area (See PA Updates
21 and 22). Recently the Sultan of Oman too has brought pressure on the Gujarat
Government for the clearance of the Bharat Oman Refinery Ltd. (BORL) which is to
carry crude from Oman to Binain Madhya Pradesh. The Gujarat government is
reportedly sitting on the environmental clearance of the project for two
reasons. First, the pipeline passes through the Marine National Park and;
second, it sees the BORL as a leverage for bargaining hard with Madhya Pradesh
on the Narmada project.
Source: 'Gujarat
govt. asked not to delay oil pipeline project', The Times of India,
14/10/99.
Shyam Parekh. 'Experts foresee a park of doom',
The Times of India, 29/11/99.
Bittu Sahgal on email dated
25/11/99 to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
Janyala
Srinivas. 'Spills can kill', Indian Express,
10/12/99.
Contact: Harshad Kumari, INTACH-Gujarat,
Pratap Vilas Palace, Palace Road, Jamnagar- 361008, Gujarat.Tel:
0288-558746.
Chief Wildlife Warden,
Gujarat, Block 14, Dr, Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Old Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat. Tel: 02712-30007. Fax: 21097.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
Directory of protected areas
As a follow up to the all India surveys on protected
areas started by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) New Delhi,
work has now begun on a Directory of PAs in J&K. The project is sponsored by
the Ministry of Environment and Forests through the WWF- India.It aims to build
up baseline information on the legal, socio-economic and biological components
of the PAs in the state and highlight key management issues. Readers with
relevant information can contact either of the following.
Contact: Pratibha Pande, D
112 Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi 110 003. Tel:
011-4692903
Neelu Sharma, 31 B/D, Gandhinagar, Jammu
(Tawi) - 180 004, J&K.
HC stops
construction inside City NP
The J&K
High Court ordered in October the stoppage of construction on the Golf Course
inside the City National Park in Srinagar. This order was passed in a public
interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Wildlife Protection Society of India
(WPSI). In their counter the respondents made an admission that the Government
has already approached the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL) for denotification
of part of the National Park. (Also see PA Updates 19 & 21).
Source: 'HC stops construction of
Srinagar Golf Course', Daily Excelsior, 03/10/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - J&K, T.R.C.,
Srinagar - 190001, J&K. Tel: 0191 - 544575, 0194 - 452469.
Neelu Sharma, as
above.
KARNATAKA
Livestock/ Wildlife study in Bhadra
The Nature Conservation Foundation
(NCF), has undertaken the study, ' a preliminary assessment of livestock
-wildlife interactions in tropical deciduous forests' in the Bhadra Tiger
reserve. This project funded by the Chicago Zoological Society, 'attempts to
evaluate the effect of plant biomass and community composition, which influence
wildlife use of the area. The related issue of human - wildlife conflict
generated by livestock killing by leopards and tigers is also being studied. It
is hoped that the information generated will assist management of the park and
resolve such conflicts.
Source: 'Livestock/
wildlife study' Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December
1999.
Contact: NCF, 3076/5 IV Cross, Gokulam Park,
Mysore - 570002, Karnataka. Tel: 0821-510335. Email: mdm@vsnl.com
Tribal resettlement from Nagarhole
The Minister of State for
Planning and Institutional Finance, Ms. Suma Vasant has said that efforts would
be made to relocate the tribals living in and around Nagarhole National Park in
the Virajpet taluk of the district. She also refuted the charges that some of
the tribal people from the park range in Kodagu were forcibly sent to
Veeranahosalli in Hunsur taluk as part of the relocation plan of the World Bank
sponsored eco-development project. She added that those who were opposed to the
idea of shifting from Kodagu would be provided lands in Kodagu in areas such as
Majjigehalla, Thithimathi, Sulugodu, Chennangi and Devamachi in Virajpet taluk
and the rehabilitation would be done in association with the scheme of the Union
Government.
On
another occasion in December, the State Social Welfare Minister, Mr. Kagodu
Thimmappa said that the tribals inside the park should move out and accept the
rehabilitation provided to them by the government. He was speaking after an
inspection of the Veeranahosalli rehabilitation camp in Hunsur taluk where 50
tribal families from the Nagarhole National Park (from Kodagu) were reportedly
rehabilitated recently. (For the controversy related to this please see
'Controversies in Nagarhole NP, PA Update 22)
Source: 'No forcible eviction of tribal
people', The Hindu, 07/11/99.
'Nagarhole tribals should
accept package', The Hindu, 13/12/99.
Contact:
CORD, 119 / 1, 4th Block, Kushalnagar - 571234, Karnataka. Tel:
08276-74487/73287. Fax: 74091. Email: david@giasbl01.vsnl.net.in
LIFT,
Kabbinagade Girijana Colony, Rangasamudra Village & PO via Kushalnagar -
571234, Karnataka. Email: lift_nhole@hotmail.com
DCF
(WL) Hunsur, Wildlife Preservation Division, Hunsur - 571105, Dist.Mysore,
Karnataka.
Projects threaten Anshi/Dandeli
The Kalyani Coke and Cogeneration plant
and the revival of the Mahadei Diversion Project in the Khanapur taluka of
Belgaum district are seriously threatening forests of Anshi National Park,
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and the proposed Bhimgad
Sanctuary 800 acres of land is to be acquired at Ramnagar in the midst of the
Dandeli Sanctuary-Supa Dam-Londe-Nagargali-Khanapur-Castle Rock Reserved Forests
for the 300MW power project of the Kalyanis at Ramnagar.
The Mahadei project is
expected to submerge another 5000 acres of the prime, evergreen forests in the
area.These projects will make a mockery of the Karnataka Forest Department's
public announcement of the formation of the ecologically sensitive zone
comprising these areas of the Western Ghats.
Source: Report
from Nature Lover's Club Belgaum on email from Bittu Sahgal dated 01/12/99 to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
Contact:
Nature Lover's Club - Belgaum, Environment Protection Cell, Biology Dept.
GSS College, Belgaum, Karnataka .
No commercial filming inside Bandipur
Wildlife conservation groups have
lauded the move of the state forest minister Mr. HK Ranganath to cancel the
permit issued by the Forest Department for the shooting of a commercial film
inside the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. In a joint statement, the Nature Conservation
Guild, Green Watchers, Wildlife First and Wilpeg, urged the State Government to
issue orders to the Forest Department that they should not entertain any
proposal in the future for commercial film shooting inside any national park,
wildlife sanctuary or reserve forest.
Source:
'Wildlife groups hail forest minister's move', Deccan Herald,
08/12/99.
Contact: Wildlife First! 248, 4th
Main Road, Chanarajapet, Bangalore - 560018, Karnataka. Email:
pbsolus@blr.vnl.net.in
Railway inside Periyar
A
project proposing to connect the famous religious site of Sabrimala to the
national railway network has been approved by the Central government.The line
that will pass through parts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve is being opposed by
environmental groups who have come together under the auspices of the Society
for Environmental Concern (SEC) at Kochi. The group has however decided to
exercise caution as any opposition to the project could generate a religious
backlash. To start with, the SEC will launch a mass awareness programme about
the environmental impact of the project and also try to elicit the support of
the people who will be affected by this project. Commitees are also to be set up
which will study the cost-benefit ratio of the project, conduct an environmental
impact assessment and explore possible alternatives.
Source: D Jose and Santhosh
Perumal. 'Environmentalists tick Sabrimala rail link', Rediff on the net,
05/11/99.
Eco-development project in Periyar
The International Development Authority
(IDA) project of eco-development in the Periyar Tiger Reserve is a success
according to Forest officials here. 252 families in Mannakudy and 119 families
in Paliyakudi tribal settlements have been organised into four eco-development
committees (EDCs. These have been helping the tribals here to make a living out
of farming, without being overly dependant on forest resources. Under the EDC
scheme, each tribal family is given an interest free loan of Rs. 5000.
The success of the of the scheme is evident from the increase in the
savings bank accounts in the nearby Kumily town. where 204families from the
tribal settlements have opened accounts in the Idukki District Co-Op Bank.
Source: Joe A Scaria. 'Periyar tribals
welcome eco-development plan', Economic Times, 25/09/99.
Contact: Field Director - Periyar TR,
Aranya Bhavan, Forest Complex, SH Mount, PO Kottayam - 686006, Kerala. Tel /
Fax: 0481-565940. Email: root@trperiy.ren.nic.in
Chief
Wildlife Warden - Kerala, Vazhudacaud, Trivandrum - 695014, Kerala. Tel:
0471-322217 / 204896. Fax: 325804.
MADHYA PRADESH
Eupatorium overuns Kanger Ghati
There are reports that the weed known
as Eupatorium Cromolina odorata is spreading widely in the Kanger Ghati
National Park in Bastar district. The problem is reported to have started about
two years ago and is reaching serious proportions.
Kanger Ghati has seen a
lot of tree felling in the last few years, and this has aided the rapid spread
of the weed. Incidently the tribals here do not yet have a local name for this
plant. The Forest Department too is trying hard to eradicate this weed and
special financial allocations too have been made for the purpose.
Source: 'Kanger ghati ko nigal
raha hai videshi paudha', Deshbandhu, 04/10/99.
New society in MP
A group of
businessmen and agriculturists based in and around Katni in Madhya Pradesh have
formed a new society called Vunraksha for the preservation and conservation of
forests and wildlife. Their main area of work is the districts of Katni, Shadol,
Satna, the adjoining areas of Jabalpur,and Bandavgarh National Park.
Source: 'New Society formed',
Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December 1999.
Contact: Aqeel
Farooqi, Hon. Sec., Vunraksha, PO Box 65, Mission Chowk, Katni - 483501,
Madhya Pradesh. Fax: 07622-54772. Email: vunraksha@hotmail.com; aqeelfarooqi@hotmail.com
Eco-tourism promotion by limited hunting?
The Chief Minister of Madhya
Pradesh, Mr. Digvijay Singh has recently suggested plans to promote eco-tourism
to national parks and sanctuaries by offering tourists the options of controlled
hunting and mahaseer fishing in the Ken river.He also announced that a task
force to be headed by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state, would be created
to suggest steps to link tourists visiting Khajuraho and the Panna National
Park.
Wildlife experts however expressed concern at this move of the state
government and were extremely critical of the plans to allow fishing in the Ken
river. They have also pointed out that the concept of the African Safari cannot
be emulated in Madhya Pradesh since the character of the forests is different in
these two different parts of the world, the forests here being of the tropical
kind whereas the vegetation there is largely of the savanah type.
Source: Bittu Sahgal on email dated
26/11/99 to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
Contact:
Bittu Sahgal, Sanctuary, 602, Maker Chambers V, Nariman Point, Mumbai -
400021. Ph: 022-2830061 / 81. Fax: 2874380. Email: bittusahgal@vsnl.com
Lalit
Shastri, CREW, E 3/8, Arera Colony, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Threats to Panna
The Panna
National Park located in the Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh is
reported to be threatened by excessive grazing, illicit felling, tendu leaf
collection and forest fires. The State government has recently allowed the
collection of tendu leaf in the PA and this has further compounded the problem
by increasingman animal conflicts and threats of forest
fires.
Source: 'Excessive grazing poses
problem to Panna National Park', The Hindu,
16/12/99
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - MP, Van
Bhavan, Tulsi Nagar, Bhopal - 462003, MP. Tel: 0755-57371 / 550942. Fax:
573762.
MAHARASHTRA
Ecological assessment of Nawegaon
People's apathy, a failure of the
administration, poaching and illegal tree felling have ruined the Nawegaon
National Park. This has been reported by the Nagpur-based Vidarbha Nature
Conservation Society (VNCS) which has just completed an ecological assessment of
the park.
The Society has also launched an environmental
education programme for the youth staying in and around three major protected
areas of Vidarbha: Nawegaon National Park, Pench Tiger Reserve, and
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Source: Letter from VNCS to PA Update dated
28/10/99.
Contact: Dilip Gode, VNCS, Tidke Ashram,
Ganeshpeth, Nagpur - 440018, Maharashtra. Tel: 0712-728942 / 722748 / 727363.
Fax: 722748. Email: vncs@nagpur.dot.net.in
Call to cancel denotification of Melghat
Conservationists have urged the
Maharashtra and the Union government to cancel the 1994 denotification of 500
sq. kms of Melghat Tiger Reserve. In 1994, the government denotified these 500
sq. kms., supposedly to allow the tribals continued access to their livelihood
rightsand to avoid displacement. A large amount of money has also been spent for
the construction of roads in the area for the benefit of the tribals. These have
however reportedly damaged the hydrology of the area and have instead provided
easy access to the timber mafia and poachers.
Source: 'Call to cancel
denotification order on Melghat tiger reserve', The Times of India,
02/11/99.
Meet on Settlement of Rights in Melghat
A joint meeting of Government
officials, NGOs and villagers was organised at Bori village in the Chikaldhara
block of the Melghat Tiger Reserve to discuss the issue of the settlement of
rights of the 22 villages presently located inside this protected area. Some of
the major points that were agreed upon were that none of the villages would be
forcibly displaced and a resettlement and rehabilitation plan for the village of
Bori would be given to the village in writing. It was also decided that the
gramsabha of Bori would discuss the plan and only after they give their
final assent to it will a time bound programme be agreed upon.
In the first phase only Bori would be considered for rehabilitation,
while the villages of Koha and Kund would be considered only after the
rehabilitation of Bori is successful and the other two villages are convinced
about it. A joint committee comprising the government, NGOs and the villagers
themselves will be set up to discuss and monitor this process in Bori.
In November, however, settlement notices were issued to three villages,
Kund, Koha and Bori, admitting claims only over agricultural land, cattle sheds
and houses. Kalpavriksh has sent a letter to the concerned authorities pointing
to the decisions taken in the meeting in Bori and the fact all other customary
rights to the forests like those for grazing, fuelwood, medicinal plants,
leaves, fruits, bamboo and other non-timber forest produce etc. were being
ignored.
In another meeting held at Chikaldhara in December, the Chief Minister
of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh discusseda number of developmental schemes for
the Melghat region. These included the widening of roads, desilatation of 150
ponds and lakes in Melghat, the establishment of a power generating station at
Chikaldhara and, reportedly, the rehabilitation of six villages from the Tiger
reserve area.
Source: 'Resettlement of
Melghat evacuees discussed', Indian Express, 06/11/99.
'Melghatatil rikamya hatana rojgar', Lokmat, 19/12/99.
Letter from Kalpavriksh
to the Chief Secretary, Maharashtra dated 11/12/99.
Contact:
Purnima Upadhayay, KHOJ, C/o Sri PM Khandelwal, Near Govind Lodge, Gujari
Bazar, Paratwada - 444805, Maharashtra
Datta Patil,
YUVA, Kamgar Bhavan, 2nd Floor, Baidnath Square, Rambag, Nagpur -
440009,Maharashtra. Tel: 0712 - 740024 / 231169.
Neeraj
Vagholikar at the editorial address below
Plastic clean
up drive in
Bhimashankar
Nisargavedh, a Pune
based NGO has launched a plastic clean up and awareness drive in the
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. The campaign which was started in June 1998 has
also been regularly followed up by the group. Recently a 17 member team of the
organisation collected more than 15 gunny bags , containing a total of 150 kgs
of plastic and other non-biodegradables from the area of the stream near the
main temple in the sanctuary.
Nisargavedh has also prepared a
plan for the promotion of jute bags and their volunteers have been trying to
convince the local shopkeepers of the benefits of these bags over those of
plastic and have even distributed about two dozen of these among the locals.
They are presently looking for funds to extend this project of theirs.
Source: Aishwarya Mavinkurve. 'Diary
of an environmentalist', Indian Express, 11/11/99.
Aishwarya
Mavinkurve. 'Follow-up at Bhimashankar', Indian Express, 16/12/99.
Contact: Kiran Purandare, Nisargavedh, 62-A,
Prashant, Erandwane Gaothan, Pune-411004, Maharashtra. Tel: 020-5437344.
SC stay on demolitions in the
Sanjay Gandhi National Park
The Forest
Department (FD) had to stall the demolition of the 500 encroachments at the
Thane end of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, following an order of the SC in a
petition which claimed that the land under survey No. 520 on which they were
located is classified as the collector's land and does not fall under the FD.
The encroachers occupy five acres on a plot at the foot of the Yeoor
hills. Apart from 100 odd commercial establishments, there are three illegal
four-storey buildings and 340 pucca hutments.
The High Court order allowing the
Forest Dept to demolish the encroachments had been passed on July 11, 1999
following a petition filed by the Bombay Environmental Action Group in 1995
(See PA Update 22).
Source: Kishore
Rathod. 'SC stays demolition of Thane encroachments', Indian Express,
22/11/99.
Contact: Debi Goenka, BEAG, Kalbadevi
Municipal School, No. 54, 2nd Floor, Mumbai - 400002, Maharashtra.
Tel: 022-2423126. Fax: 2426385. Email:
debi.beag@softhome.net
Satpura Foundation set up.
The Nature Conservation Society,
Amravati (NCSA), has set up the Satpura Foundation in an attempt to protect the
biodiversity and tigers in the Satpuras. The first training programme of the
foundation was held in the Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary from December 24 -26,
1999.
Source: Kishore Rithe on email dated
28/12/99.
Contact: Kishore Rithe, NCSA, Pratishtha,
Bharat Nagar, Akoli Road, Near Sainagar, Amravati- 444605, Maharashtra. Tel:
0721-670308. Fax: 672359. Email: ncsa@bom3.vsnl.net.in
ORISSA
Cyclone devastates Chandka but mangroves save Bhitarkanika
The 189 sq. kms Chandka Wildlife
Sanctuary near Bhubaneshwar has been devastated by the cyclone that recently hit
Orissa. A large number of trees and bamboo groves have been destroyed. The
trenches, water holes, culverts and check dams constructed inside the sanctuary
too have been badly damaged. As a result elephants in the forest here too have
been badly affected and are now roaming the fringes of the city in search of
food. According to Mr. SK Patnaik, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife),
there is the likelyhood of increased man-wildlife conflict in the days to
come.
While
there was widescale destruction along the coast, the area around Dangmal in
Bhitarkanika sanctuary was one of the few areas to have survived the fury of the
Orissa cyclone. The reason is that it was protected by the extensive mangrove
forests of the area.
It is also being suggested that
mangrovere-forestation should be taken up along the coastal belt and the state
government is reported drawing up a plan for the same.
Meanwhile the sea turtle
conservation program, Operation Kachhapa has been assisting in carrying out
emergency relief work in the cyclone devastated areas.
Source: 'With homes devastated,
elephants abandon forest', The Indian Express, 13/11/99.
Belinda Wright on email
dated 11/11/99
Contact: Biswajit Mohanty, Wildlife
Society of Orissa, Shantikunj, Link Road, Cuttack-753012, Orissa. Tel:
0671-611513 / 610980
Floating restaurant in Chilka?
The Orissa Tourism Development
Corporation (OTDC) has proposed to build a floating restaurant on the waters of
the Chilka lake at an estimated cost of Rs. one crore. It has also been proposed
to create heritage hotels and island resorts inside the lake.The Wildlife
Society of Orissa (WSO), which has opposed this move fears that the effluents
discharged from the restaurant and the noise generated would adversely affect
the environment. Since the restaurant falls under the CRZ, permission will first
have to be taken from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The WSO is also
ready to go to the court in the eventuality that the project gets clearance from
the Ministry.
Source: Bibhuti Mishra.
'Proposed restaurant threatens Chilka lake's bio-diversity', Rediff on the
Net News, 03/12/99.
SN Agragami. 'Float hotel, sink Chilka:
Greens', Indian Express, 25/10/99.
Contact: Biswajit
Mohanty, as above
Siltation poses threat to Chilka
A survey, conducted by the Central
Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute, has reported that about thirteen
million tons of silt gets drained into Chilka lake every year.
Regulated inflow of fresh water
through rivers and nallahs and reduced ingress of sea-water from the Bay of
Bengal have been changing the character of the lake. Salinity, the main factor
facilitating growth in the productivity of fish and prawn, has reduced in the
lagoon due to the restricted flow of sea water even during high tide.
The study revealed that
the lagoon is under severe physical, chemical and biological strain due to
natural and human interventions. The indiscriminate tampering of river courses
has markedly reduced the monsoon discharge into the lake, and deposition of silt
has increased. Accumulation of silt has elevated the bed of the lagoon by22% in
the past six years, thus reducing the water-holding capacity.
Source: 'Siltation poses threat to Chilka:
study', Statesman,
13/07/99.
Attacks on forest officials in
Satkosia
Attacks on forest officals by
the timber mafia are on the rise in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. A mobile
forest ranger - Mr. Subrat Patra was recently abducted in the Tuluka Reserve
Forest. A few forest officials, including Mr. Patra, had rushed to the area, ,
when they learnt that hundreds of smugglers had entered the forest. Mr. Patra
has been allegedly abducted after a night long chase and the subsequent seizure
of timber.
In
April, a forest guard, Bhagaban Majhi, was killed by the mafia members in the
same forest when he refused to release seized timber and buffaloes. Another
forest guard had been killed in Nayagarh this year.
Lack of fire arms and vehicles
and shortage of staffhas crippled the forest administration thereby encouraging
smugglers to enter the forest and smuggle out timber worth crores ofrupees.
Source: 'Attacks on forest officials increasing', Statesman,
16/10/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden - Orissa,
Plot No. 8, Shahid Nagar, Bhubaneshwar - 751007, Orissa. Tel: 0674-513134 /
515840. Fax: 512502.
RAJASTHAN
Tiger Reserves to be extended
Aspart of a move to extend tiger
reserves in Rajasthan, it is proposed to increase the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
from 1,334.6 sq. kms. to 2,438.05 sq. kms by including the Ramgarh Vishhari
Sanctuary, the reserve forest of Bundi and Tonk divisions to the south west as
well as connecting areas of the Dholpur and Karauli divisions in the north
east.
Similarly the Sariska Tiger Reserve is to be extended
from 866.13 sq. kms to 1,298.94 sq. kms by including the Jamwa Ramgarh Sanctuary
of Jaipur west division and some areas from the Alwar division.
Source: 'Tiger Reserve
extensions' Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December
1999.
Contact: Field Director, Ranthambhore TR, Sawai
Madhopur - 322001, Rajasthan. Tel: 07462- 21142.
Field Director, Sariska
TR, Dist. Alwar, Rajasthan.
Mining in Jamwa Ramgarh
Marble mining has seriously
affected large parts of the Jamwa Ramgarh Sanctuary. In report submitted by
Valmik Thapar, member of the committee examining the rationalisation of PA
boundaries, he says that, ' large areas of the sanctuary are completely
devastated by mining. At least 12 sq. kms is wiped out and another 10 sq. kms
serioulsy affected. At least Rs. 500 crores worth of minerals are plundered and
sold each year. In the Andhi mining area, 675 hectares are being mined and
further up around the Rayanwala water body mining has pillaged the beauty of
this area. Mining has been done even inside the water body and .soapstone leases
have blocked vital migratory routes of wildlife
.'
The lease inside the sanctuary
expired on the 18th of December 1999, and it is hoped that it will
not be renewed further. Indeed the Addl.IGF (Wildlife), Mr. SC Sharma has
already written to the Secretary (Forests), Rajasthan confirming that all mining
must cease on the expiry of the lease.
A public hearing on the issue of
mining here had also been organised in December 1998 by the Tarun Bharat
Sangh.(See 'Public Hearing at Jamwa Ramgarh Sanctuary and Sariska Tiger
Reserve', JPAM Update 19)
Source: 'Shocking violations of a
sanctuary', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December
1999.
Contact: SC Sharma, Addl.IGF, MoEF, Paryavaran
Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110003. Tel: 011- 4362285.
SIKKIM
Biodivesity workshop
in Sikkim
Centre for
Environment Education (CEE) North East in collaboration with the 'Kanchendzonga
Conservation Committee (KCC) organised a one day workshop on December 9, 1999 at
Yuksam in West Sikkim. The workshop was attended by 53 porters local
businessmen, hotel owners, town committee members, office bearers of the KCC and
representatives from Field Studies Council (FSC), UK and CEE. The workshop was
organised under the Darwin initiative project of CEE and
FSC.
KCC has implemented a successful small-scale biodiversity conservation
project with financial support from Darwin initiative and facilitation from CEE
and FSC. The project was to promote community based ecotourism in the
Kanchendzonga National Park (KNP) and one of the main target groups of the
project were the porters who are critical for the tourism industry here. A
booklet for the porters containing information about the park and various do's
and don'ts has also been produced. The draft booklet was released at the
workshop and is to be field tested. It is also going to be sent to all important
organisations in India and Nepal for comments.
Source: 'Biodiversity workshop
conducted by CEE NE, KCC', Sentinel, 20/12/99.
Contact: Pema Bhutia, KCC, PO Yuksam, West Sikkim
- 737113, Sikkim.
CEE - NE, Chenikuthi, KK Bhatta Road,
Guwahati - 781003, Assam. Tel: 0361-516382 / 515722. Fax: 514914.
Email:ceene@gw1.vsnl.net.in
TAMIL NADU
Forest Policy for Tamil Nadu
A draft of a State Forest Policy
for Tamil Nadu is being circulated, the acceptance of which could make TN the
first to have its own full-fledged policy on forests. The draft policy is
fashioned within the overall framework of the National Forest Policy (1998) and
is expected to be placed before the state cabinet soon.
The main objectives of
the proposed policy are ensuring environmental stability, preserving natural
forests, conserving genetic resources, ensuring better water harnessing,
promoting agro-forestry and meeting the basic needs of local people on a
sustainable basis. The draft declares that 'forests should not be looked upon as
a source of revenue' and that no forest land should be used for the production
of industrial raw material.
It is proposed that all
encroachers inside the forests will be evicted and that no encroachments will be
regularised. It also calls for the establishment of a separate directorate with
a specific mandate to determine forest settlement claims with a period of five
years.
The policy also calls for bringing in ecologically sensitive areas of
the Eastern Ghats under the Protected Areas System of Management and for
detailed investigation and inventorisation of the flora and fauna in catchment
areas such as the Nilgiris Biosphere region, the Theni - Meghamalai region
(catchment area of the Valpai) and the Agasthiamalai
region.
Source: 'Forest policy for state on
the anvil', The Hindu, 02/12/99.
Threat to Pulicat Lake eco-system
The North Chennai Thermal
Power Station, the Ennore Satellite Port project and the proposed Petro-Chemical
Park could threaten the eco-system of Pulicat Lake and its neighbourhood.
The
port project results in sand erosion along fishing villages, posing a danger to
the livelihood of the people in the area. The expert committee of Coastal Action
Network (CAN) found the difference in temperature of water at the outlets of the
thermal unit exceeded by five degrees. Further, adjacent to the port, effluent
water was directly let into the sea.
The committee contended that the
site of the Ennore port fell within CRZ I classification and that the Pulicat
lake had been designated a no development zone. The sand dunes between the sea
and the lake were slowly getting eroded and the water flow of the Ennore Creek
had been 'restricted' due to the port.
The team also said that the
proposed Petro Park would require over 45 million litres of water a day and that
the coastal aquifers that yielded potable water and the wetland in Kattupalli
and nearby areas, would become saline once the park was established. Soluble
material from fly ash could seep into the ground and affect the water table and
dust particles could affect the ambient air quality. The fly ash settling on
leaves of plants and trees would affect photosynthesis.
Source: 'Threat to Pulicat
lake eco-system:report', The Hindu, 19/08/99.
Speeding cars kill animals in Point
Calimere
A number of cases of animals
like spotted deer and jackal being killed by speeding cars have been reported
from the Point Calimere Sanctuary. The Forest Department (FD) is planning to
enforce the provisions of Section 33 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1992 to
check the hit-and-run cases. A speed limit not exceeding 20 km is to be imposed
within the sanctuary. Besides this, speed breakers would also be created.
In
another development within the sanctuary, a check dam has been constructed near
the Adivasi Colony. Two more such structures will be createdprimarily to stop
sea water intrusion into the sanctuary and salt infiltrationinto the potable
water sources. A memorandum signed by more than 100 people was submitted to the
government for the eviction of the nearby salt chemical factory. The effluents
from the factory have caused considerable damage to the animal habitat in the
sanctuary. The memorandum also urged the government to check all attempts to
encroach upon the vast stretches of the Great Vedaranyam Swamp for setting up
salt and chemical industries.
The FD has also prepared an
ambitious plan to artificially regenerate mangrove forests in some of these
areas, subject to approval of the revenue department and their cooperation in
the eviction of encroachments. There is also a plan for a survey and demarcation
of the entire Great Vedaranyam Swamp, once considered as one of the best bird
habitats in the area.
Source: Gladwin
Immanuel. 'Speeding cars kill endangered animals in park', Indian
Express, 26/07/99.
Threats to
Mudumalai
The exponential growth in the
population of both people and cattle in the eastern fringes of the Mudumalai
Wildlife Sanctuary has begun to pose a serious biotic threat to this protected
area. The population influx is most visible in Masanagudi. Wildlife officials
and environmentalists are also worried about the impact of the development along
the two routes east of the sanctuary - between Moyar and Singara and beyond
Masanagudi and Mavanallah on the road towards Ooty and the impacts of this on
the critical Moyar-Singara elephant corridor.
The Singara Power Project and the
Pykara Ultimate Stage Hydro Electric Project have also resulted in a lot of
disturbance here.
The Forest Department has identified some areas on the eastern part of
the sanctuary for transfer to the sanctuary, but the state government is known
to be considering the establishment of a 'Samathuvapuram' (casteless village)
near Mavanallah.
Source: Mukund Padmanabhan.
'The threats to Mudumalai Sanctuary', The Hindu, 12/11/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife Warden-TN, 6D, Panagal
Building, Jeenis Road, Saidapet, Chennai -600022, Tamil Nadu. Tel: 044 -
4321738.
UTTAR PRADESH
3 forest
staff killed in Dehradun
3 forest staff,
Aftab Hussain, Asghar Ali and Udai Singh Pawar were found murdered in the Mohand
area near the Delhi Dehradun Highway in the first week of November last year. It
is alleged that they were done to death by an active forest mafia that is
engaged in the clandestine felling of trees and the smuggling of animal parts
from the Rajaji National Park. The local staff were in a state of agitation and
had struck work protesting that not enough support and protection was being
given to them. A memorandum was also submitted to the state government in the
matter. The latest situation is not known.
On several occasions in the past, forest officials and the field staff
have raised the problem of their being 'totally helpless', against the well
armed and established mafia. A number of cases of brutal attacks on forest staff
have been reported in the last few years from the Dehradun and the Hardwar
regions.
Source: 'Forest staff intensify
agitation over 'killing' of guards', The Times of India, 15/11/99.
Nirmal Ghosh on email dated 15/11/99 to nathistory-india@lists.princeton.edu
Contact:
Director, Rajaji National Park, Shivalik House, Dehradun- 248001, Uttar
Pradesh.
Nirmal Ghosh. Email:tigerfire@yahoo.com
Green
bridge for Rajaji elephants
A
Ghaziabad-based Sub Divisional Officer (SDO ) with the State Irrigation
Department, Mr. Ajay Pal Singh, has designed a 'green bridge' to save elephants
of Rajaji National Park from thekiller railway track (See PA Updates 20
and 21). According to him, one way to save the Rajaji elephants, is to build a
bridge over the critical section of the railway track. The bridge would have to
be wide and camouflaged with trees and shrubs to facilitate risk-free movement
of elephants from the forest to the Ganga River along the Motichur-Chilla
corridor. In his proposal submitted to the Railway Minister, Mr. Singh, said
that it should be mandatory for train drivers in the Haridwar-Dehradun sector
not to accelerate beyond 20 kmph at night. He also sought a ban on honking by
the locomotive and vehicle drivers within this critical stretch and that the
locomotives should be fitted with two powerful headlamps.
Source: Rahul Karmarkar, 'Green
bridge to save Rajaji Park elephants', Hindustan Times, 06/09/99.
Illegal grass cutting affecting Hastinapur
The time bound scheme of the Forest
Department (FD) to issue permits to villagers for the cutting of typha grass for
their domestic use in the Hastinapur Sanctuary has failed to halt the activities
of the mafia here. The mafia continues, in connivance with the field staff of
the FD to cut the grass and supply it to the nearby paper mills. The grass grows
on swampy land which is the most suitable habitat for the endangered swamp deer.
The Divisional Forest Office has recently suspended one forest guard for his
alleged involvement in these illegal activities. The role of the FD has become
difficult because the sanctuary is spread over the three districts of
Muzzafarnagar, Ghaziabad and Meerut. The mafia reportedly has some politicians
and bureaucrats supporting them besides the paper mills who benefit from their
activities.
Source: 'Mafia role in cutting of
typha grass hits sanctuary's fauna', Hindustan Times, 01/12/99.
Contact: Chief Wildlife
Warden-UP, 17, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow --226001, Uttar Pradesh. Tel:
0522-283864. Fax:
283868.
NATIONAL NEWS
National Wildlife
Action Plan
The National Wildlife Action
Plan (see PA Update 19), being drafted by a Union Ministry of Environment
and Forests committee chaired by Shri B.G. Deshmukh, has nearly finalised its
draft. Shri H.S. Panwar, former Director of Wildlife Institute of India, was
commissioned to consolidate and edit the draft plan, and it is expected to be
finalised in January 2000.
Contact: S.C.
Sharma, Addl. IGF (WL), See Mining in Jamwa Ramgarh,
above
National Forestry Action
Plan
The Union Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF) has come out with a National Forestry Action Plan (NFAP), the
preparation of which was funded by the UNDP and other agencies. The NFAP
envisages reaching the much-coveted figure of 33% forest cover in India, by a
mix of strategies, and seeks a whopping $32 billion for this. MoEF hopes to get
external funding for its implementation. However, NGOs have already raised
concerns about how participatory the process of making the NFAP was, and whether
indeed money is the critical missing element in saving India's forests.
Contact: Inspector General of
Forests, MoEF (address as above); Tel: 91-11-4361509; Fax: 4363957.
National Biodiversity Strategy
& Action Plan
The Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests, GOI, has initiated the preparation of a comprehensive
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Funded by UNDP, the
two-year process is to be coordinated by the National Project Director at the
MoEF, a Steering Committee comprising of various relevant ministries and NGO
representatives, and a Technical and Policy Core Group (TPCG) headed by
Kalpavriksh. The TPCG hopes to reverse the usual process of making the action
plan, by starting with local/regional and state level action plans, prepared
through a series of public hearings, workshops, and commissioned reviews. This
process will attempt to involve all sectors of society that have a concern for,
or are affected by, the use and conservation of biodiversity (both wild and
agricultural).
Contact: R.H. Khwaja,
Jt. Sec., MoEF (address as above). Tel: 91-11-4362551; Fax: 4360678.
Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh (at editorial address)
Saving Wild Tigers
A new
volunteer effort, 'Saving Wild Tigers (SWT), affiliated with the Sierra Club,
has been set up in America by three non-resident Indians who aim to fund
projects 'by a user friendly mechanism which can provide a quick solution to
problems' SWT's primary goal is to work
with local governmental and non-governmental organisations in India to save the
tiger. They would like to be contacted by appropriate on-site organisations
involved in tiger conservationthat are able to accept foreign exchange.
Source: 'New funding
organisation', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December
1999.
Contact: Nina Rao, Sunil Somalwar, Sumati Prabhu,
SWT, 10 Waterside Plaza, No. 4K, New York, NY 10010-2610, USA. Tel:
1-212-6867411. Fax: 6862366. Email: tiger@wildindia.com Website: http://sierraactivist.org.tigers/
Wildlife
Trust of India.
Another new organisation,
the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has been set up with its express purpose being
rapid aid to wildlife in time of crisis. WTI works through its network of
conservation groups and individuals. Currently WTI has three main projects:
Wild Aid: Rapid Action for Indian Wildlife
Wild Rescue: Rehabilitation and reintroduction
programme for confiscated and stray wildlife.
Wild Lands:
Acquiring private lands for purposes of wildlife
conservation.
Contact: Programme
Coordinator, Wild Aid, Wildlife Trust of India, PO Box: 3150. New Delhi -
110003. Tel / Fax: 011-6451397. Email: indianwildlife@vsnl.com
Course
in Wildlife Management conducted
The
Smithsonian Institution, USA and the Aaranyak Nature Club, Assam, jointly
organised an International Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management (CBWM)
course in Assam from Nov. 24 to Dec. 22, 1999. The programme was held under the
Wildlife Conservation and Management Training Programme of the Smithsonian
Institution and was attended by 19 participants from nine countries. Field
exercises were conducted in Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park and
Pobitara Sanctuary.
Contact: Rudy
Rudran, Dept. of Zoological Research, National Zoological Park, Washington
DC 20008, USA. Email: rrudran@crc.si.edu
Bibhab
Talukdar, Aaranyak Nature Club, Samonway Path, Survey Beltola, Guwahati -
781028, Assam, India. Tel: / Fax: 0361-566087. Email: bibhab@gw1.vsnl.net.in
SOUTH ASIA
South Asia joint Initiative to save the tiger
An international seminar, 'Royal
Bengal Tiger in the 21st Century was recently organised in Calcutta.
The seminar which was attended by over 200 participants from India, Nepal and
Bangladesh was jointly organised by the West Bengal Forest Department and an
NGO, the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS). The seminar suggested
that India Nepal and Bangladesh should co-operate to ensure a secure future for
the tiger in the next century.
Source:'Plan
to conserve Royal Bengal Tiger', Indian Express, 21/11/99.
SRI LANKA
Poachers, stray
cattle threaten national parks:
Uda Walawe, Yala and Lunugamvehera National Parks are severely affected by
illegal activities. The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) is now
formulating laws and regulations to control unauthorised activities such as
extensive burning, poaching and entry of livestock in the national park.
Poachers have burned down almost two thirds of the grasslands of the
30,821 hectares Uda Walawe National Park, which has created a scarity of food
for the elephant population here. This devastation, if unabated, would lead to
the migration of elephants into the villages in search of food and further the
problems of man-elephant conflicts. The Director of the park also expressed a
need for at least another 50 wildlife staff members.
Source:
'Poachers, stray cattle pose major threat to national parks', Sunday
Observor, Sri Lanka. 01/08/99
UPCOMING
Forest and wildlife legal workshop
Legal Action for Wildlife and
Environment (LAW-E) along with the Ranthambhore Foundation is
organising a legal workshop in New Delhi on 15-16, January
2000. Subjects to be covered during the workshop include the
Wildlife (Protection) Act - 1972,the Environment Protection Act 1986, the
National Wildlife Action Plan, the National Forest Policy, the Panchayat
(Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, the impact of the World Bank sponsored
India Eco-development programme; centre-state conflicts and the problems
encountered in the enforcement of forest and wildlife
laws.
Source: 'Forest and wildlife legal
workshop', Tigerlink, Vol.5, No. 3, December
1999.
Contact: LAW-E, 409, Lawyers Chambers, Supreme
Court of India, Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi - 110001. Email: lawe@bol.net.in
4th
National Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People's Livelihood Rights,
April 15-17, 2000.
A series of national
consultations on wildlife conservation and people's livelihood rights(called
Building Bridges) was started in 1997. The 4th consultation is being
organised from April 15-17, 2000 and will be hosted by the Vivekananda Girijana
Kalyan Kendra (VGKK) in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Sanctuary, BR Hills,
Karnataka. The proposed agenda for the meeting includes reports from specific
PAs, settlements of rights in and displacement of people from PAs, commercial
threats to PAs in particular, mining), changes in laws and policies, and
ecodevelopment, the National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP), the National
Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP). The meeting is being jointly
organised by Kalpavriksh, VGKK, and the Ashoka Trust for Reasearch in Ecology
and the Environment, Bangalore
(ATREE).
Contact: Dr. H Sudarshan,
VGKK, BR Hills, Chamrajnagar - 571441, Karnataka. Ph: 08226-44018.Fax: 44025.
Email: vgkk@vsnl.com
Neeraj
Vagholigar / Tejaswani Apte / Pankaj Sekhsaria, at the editorial address
below
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Narmada Rashmi
A fortnightly publication in Hindi from
Jabalpur which is dedicated to the environment and wildlife. Four pages full of
news from across the country.
Contact:
Navneet Maheshwari. Narmada Rashmi, Vallabhdas Mahal, Hanuman Taal,
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Tel: 0761-340174 / 340095 / 341774. Email: ppmt@bom4.vsnl.net.in
Twilight
A new journal of
the Calcutta based Pugmarks Nature Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Issue The latest issue
dated August 1999 has stories on the Wolf, the Chilka Lagoon, Phawanpui National
Park in Mizoram, Dudhwa National Park and the Serow. The journal is edited,
printed and published by Smaran
Ghosal.
Contact: Smaran Ghosal, 10
Meherali Road, Calcutta - 700 017. Ph: 033-2808917. Fax: 2407737. Email: pugmarks@vsnl.com Website: http://www.pugmarks.org/
Kothari, A., Pathak, N., and Vania F.
Where Communities Care: Community Based Wildlife and Ecosystem Management in
South Asia. IIED and Kalpavriksh; Evaluating Eden Series No. 3. In
press. Indian edition Rs. 100.
This book is
an outcome of a South Asian Regional Review of Community Involvement in Wildlife
Management, which was a part of a global series of regional reviews under the
project 'Evaluating Eden: Assessing the Impacts of Community Wildlife
Management', coordinated by the International Institute of Environment and
Development. The South Asian review was carried out by a group of individuals
affiliated to Kalpavriksh.
Contact: Ashish
Kothari, at the editorial address
below.
Eds. Seidensticker, J., Jackson, P., and
Christie, S. Riding the Tiger: Tiger Conservation in Human Dominated
Landscapes". Cambridge University Press (1999).
The book is a compilation of
proceedings of meeting on tiger science and conservation that was held in
January at the Zoological Society of London.in 1997
Contact: K. Ullas Karanth,
WCS-India Program
403, Seebo Apartments, 26-2, Aga Abbas Ali
Road, > Bangalore - 560042, Karnataka. Tel: 080-559 1747. Fax: 559 1990
.Email: ukaranth@vsnl.com
Cambridge University Press,
C-22, Jayanagar, Bangalore-560 082, Karnataka. Tel: 080-6644817/6552764.
Singh LAK. Tracking Tigers.. WWF - Tiger Conservation
Programme,(TCP) New Delhi, 1999
There are two
bookletsA pocket book for forest guards and Guidelines for estimating
wild tiger populations using the Pugmark Technique. Will be very useful in
the field.
Contact: .WWF- TCP, 172 B
Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110003. Tel: 011- 4698072 / 4697224 / 4627586 / 4616532
/ 4693744.Fax: 4698072.Email: mkr@wwfind.ernet.in
Tiger Conservation Programme; Three Years
and Beyond. WWF - Tiger Conservation Programme, New Delhi, 1999.
An interesting collection of
essays on various aspects of tiger and wildlife conservation by experts from
across the country. Published on the occasion of the completion of three years
of the WWF - TCP.
Contact: WWF-TCP,
see above
Rathore F.S., Thapar, V. Wild Tigers of
Ranthambhore, Oxford University Press, 2000.
Another excellent book on the tigers of
Ranthambhorefrom two of the country's best known tiger
men.
Contact: Valmik Thapar,
Ranthambhore Foundation, 19 Kautilya Marg,Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021. Tel:
011- 3016261. Fax: 3019457. Email: tiger@vsnl.com
The Rhino Foundation For Nature in NE
India
A regular newsletter of the
Foundation that has articles and reports on various issues of wildlife from the
North East.
Contact: Dr.Anwaruddin Choudhary, C/o The
Assam Co.Ltd., G Bordoloi Path, Bamunimaidan, Guwahati - 781021, Assa. Tel:
0361-550257 / 543339.Fas: 550902. Email:
badru@gw1.vsnl.net.in
Buceros. Envis Newsletter: Avian Ecology
and InlandWetlands
Buceros is an ENVIS
(Environmental Information System) newsletter published thrice yearly by the
ENVIS Centre at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), sponsored by the
Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The Centre collects, collates,
stores and disseminates information on Avian Ecology and Inland Wetlands.
Contact: ENVIS Centre, BNHS,
Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai - 400023. Tel: 022-2821811.
Fax: 2837615. Email: bnhs@bom4.vsnl.net.in
CORRESPONDENCE
With
reference to the news item 'Water shortage in Gir NP' in PA Update 22, we have
to understand that Gir falls in the semi- arid tract and will face fluctuations
in the availability of water. The system is tuned to deal with not just annual
variations but also seasonal variation in water availability. The problem with
most management decisions is that we tend to view it largely from a human
perspective. People form strong opinions which are stated repeatedly and
eventually this becomes a fact.
I am of the opinion that large
scale, widespread and indiscriminate provisioning of water will actually have
negative effects in the long run. Management actions are symptom driven. Animals
are observed outside the PA boundaries, possibly drinking water from
agricultural fields and this is taken as evidence for shortage of water within
the PA. If water and nutritious forage are available adjoining to the PA,
animals are bound to come out irrespective of water availability within the PA.
Only if there is a consistent and drastic decrease then we can claim that the
management action was needed and it has succeeded.
Disease and vaccination
should be a routine and continous management practice. All efforts should be
made to reduce the contact between domestic and wild animals and this should not
be done only during the drought.
Contact:
Ravi Chellam, Wildlife Institute of India, PO Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun
- 248001, Uttar Pradesh. Email: ravic@wii.gov.in
