Scientist warns the earth may be absorbing less gas

Carbon Dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere much faster than scientists expected; raising fears that humankind may have less time to tackle climate change than previously thought. New figures from dozens of measuring stations across the world reveal that CO2 the main green house gas ,rose at record levels during 2006- the fourth year in the last five to show a sharp increase At its more far reaching ,the finding could indicate that global temperature are making forests, soils  and oceans less able to absorb CO2 a shift that would make it harder to tackle global warming. At the moment around half of the human carbon emission is reabsorbed by the nature but the fear among the scientist is that temperatures will work to reduce this effect.

 

                        According to the latest figures, last year   saw a rise of 2.6ppm.. If the current trend continues, this Year's means the carbon dioxide level has risen by an average 2.2ppm each year since 2001. Above average annual rises in carbon dioxide levels have been explained by natural events such as the El Nino weather pattern, centered on the Pacific Ocean. But the last El Nino was on 1998, when it resulted  in a record annual increase in carbon dioxide of 2.9ppm. If the current trend continues, this year's predicted El Nino could see the annual rise in carbon dioxide of 2.9ppm. If the current trend continues, this year's predicted El Nino could see the annual rise in carbon dioxide pass the 3ppm level for the first time. The intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change is expected to announce more robust emissions data when it reports early next month.

   

(The Hindu,20/01/07)

Disaster management plan in limbo

Toug talk and muscle –flexing apart, the State Government has done next to nothing to frame a Comprehensive Disaster management Plan for the 112 year-old Mullaperiyar dam. That such a plan would be framed in three months was a promise made by revenue Minister K.P.Rajendran on November 16, when the dam and the inter-state dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over raising its water –level were hot news.

 

But two months after the promise, the Disaster Management Division of the School of Environment Studies,MG University which was the plan, is to receive a government order that effect.

 

The Diaster management Division had tabled a proposal for conducting potential loss mapping and hazard zonation mapping in the regions around the dam two months ago. The plan was to cover Idukki,Kottayam,Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, the four districts which would suffer the most if the dam break.

 

 

(The New Indian Express,20/01/07)

Habitat loss looms over Athirapally birds

As many as 125 species of birds. 90 species of butterflies and 20 species of amphibious creatures have been spotted in theh Athirapally – Vazhachal forest area during a bird and butterfly survey conducted in the first week of January by ornithologist C.Susanth and S.Anooj. The survey conducted with the assistance of the Forest Department. The team was able to spot 70 species of birds within a span of 30 minutes. Among the prized sightings were those of the Malabar pied Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Blue beared bea eater, Grean Imperial pigeon, Crested goshwk, Black napped oriole, Drongo Cuckoo, Wayanad laughing thrush, Forest eagle owl and the Eurasian black bird. Birds endemic to the Western ghats, the Malabar grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, White bellied blue fly catcher, Small sunbird, Nilgiri pipit, Nilhiri wood pigeon, Grey Headed bulbul, and the Nilgiri Fly catcher were also seen. The presence of two birds not previously seen in this rregion, the Lesser fish eagle and the Large hawk cuckoo, were also sighted in the region.  Among the butterflies, Malabar banded swallowtail, The Tawny rajah, Malabar banded peacock, Five bar Swordtail, Cruiser, Fluffy titt, Malabar raven, Red helan, Golder tree flitter, Lesser albatross, and Arbarent oak blur were also sighted in the area. The proposed Athirapally hydal project might case serious damage to the Vazhachal Athirapally reserve forest. The last remaining habitat of the Malabar pied hornbill, the rarest of birds in the state, would vanish forever. The biodiversity of the reserve forest particularly the avi-fauna would be adversely affected by the hydel project .

 

(The Hindu, 20^th January, 2007)

Karnataka gets its fourth Project Tiger Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife sanctuary and the adjoining Anshi National park have been granted the specials status of 'Project Tiger'. By this Karnataka got fourth of its kind, they already boasts three. The central and state government will implement this jointly. The Dandeli sanctuary and the Anshi national park together have around 40 tigers. The center gave the "in-principle clearance" for the fourth 'Project Tiger' I the state in 2006. The Dandeli Project Tiger is spread over 825sq.km, and along with the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa covers an area of over 2,000sq.km.

(The Hindu, 17th January, 2007)

Move to save EDGE species

 
Scientist launched a bid to save some of the world's rarest and most neglected creatures from extinction. The EDGE species means they are Evolutionary distinct and Globally Endangered. Scientist from Zoological Society of London is behind the venture. They are listed 10 such species now, including a venomous shrew like creature, an egg laying mammal, Yangtze River Dolphin, Elephant, Panda and the world's smallest bat.  Jonathan Bailliie, A scientist from Zoological Society of London told, " These are one of a kind species. If they are lost there is nothing similar to them left on the planet". The project also involves awareness through the Internet on highlighting threatened creatures and encourages public to sponsor conservation. Global warming and human depredations on habitat are cited as root causes of the problem. In the future they are aiming to save so more far small specieces.

(The Bussinessline, 17th January 2007)

Sarovaram project to be launches on February 6th

The long awaited Saraovaram tourism project, (recently known Swapna nagari project) is ready to launch at Wayanad. Chief minister V.S.Achuthananadan would lay the stone for the project on February 6. Programmes aimed at the development of Wayanad as a major tourism destination were also in the pipeline. Wayand would be developed as a major tourism destination like Idukky.

 

(The Hindu, 14^th January, 2007)

Project to market tender coconut as soft drink

A project that aims to make available packaged and chilled tender coconut as soft drink, direct from the farmer to the consumer, is to be implemented in the district shortly. The drink under the brand name 'Coconector' would come in two labels. The green label would have only the water while the orange-labeled one would have both water and pulp. The shelf life of Coconector is said to be 20 days. The progrmamme would be implemented through the kudumbasree Kozhicode district Mission and the Agriculture Wholesale Market(AWM), Vengari with the support from The Coconut Development Board.

 

(The Hindu, 14^th January, 2007)

Lineage of the Rafflesia flower discovered

Genetic analysis of the Rafflesia paves way to the new findings. A plant biologist, Charles Davis, at Harvard University, led the research and find that it comes from an ancient family of plants known for tiny ones. Many of its botanical cousins boast flowers just a few millimeters wide. The family is Euphorbiacea, includes the poinsettia, Irish bells and crops such as the rubber tree, castor oil plant and cassava shrub. Rafflesia lives inside the tissue of a tropical vine related to the grapevine, with only its flower visible. It is devoid of leaves, shoots, roots, and does not engage in photosynthesis. The flower can weigh 7 kg. They are blotchy blood red. They smell like decaying flesh. And they can emit heat, perhaps mimicking a newly killed animal in order to entice the carrion flies that pollinate it.

 

(the Bussiness Line , 14^th January, 2007)

Centre to declare 2007 ‘WaterYear’

The Centre has decided to declare 2007 'Water Year' to focus on water-related issues and launch a massive awareness programme in the country.

 

         Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz said the Cabinet has cleared the Ministry's proposal last week. "Food security and growth in agriculture are linked to irrigation and development of water resources and the 11^th Plan would prioritise this." Centre had identified 31 districts in four States that needed focused attention in Irrigation to prevent farmers from committing suicides.

 

         During the Water Year, the Ministry would hold a national water congress on ground water, a farmers participatory action research programme in 5,000 villages to promote 'more crop and income per drop' of Water, training of water masters in each pani panchayat and institution of an award for the best pani panchayat.

 

(The Hindu,10^th January,2007)

Rare Asian vulture bred in captivity

An endangered species of vulture has been bred in captivity for the first time cheering those trying to rescue the South Asian bird from the brink of extinction. Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that the Oriental white-backed vulture chick hatched at a breeding center last week at pijore in Haryana.

         Numbers of South Asia's Oriental white-backed, long-billed and slender-billed vultures have plummeted by more than 97 per cent in the last 15 years. Scientist say the decline is largely due to farmers dosing their cattle with diclofenac, a drug used to treat inflammation, poisoning the scavenging birds one step up the food chain. India banned the production and sale of diclofenac in May last year, but implementation of the ban has been slow.

         India has also been successfully breeding in captivity the slender-billed vulture- another of the three threatened species- since 2005

 

 (The Business Line,10^th January 2007)

Project to make Ponmudi eco-tourism destination

An eco-tourism project being commissioned at Ponmudi on Tuesday is aimed at turning the hill resort into an eco-friendly destination,ensuring security to visitors and protecting the forest grassland ecosystem. The project will also help the authorities eliminate garbage from the hill resort and create employment opportunities for the people living near the forestland. The forest authorities also hope to find a permanent solution to forest fires at Ponmudi during the summer months.

 

The Thiruvananthapuram Forest Development Agency has joined hands with the Forests and Kerala Tourism departments to implement the project. Ponmudi is the third eco-tourism project being implemented by the forest development agency in the district after Kallar and Mankayam

(The Hindu,9^th January,2007)

New bat species discovered in Madagascar

 


Zoologists have discovered a new species of bats, Myzopoda schielmani, with large flat adhesive organs or suckers attached to its thumbs and hint feet. According to the research team, it is a remarkable find as the one that was previously considered to include only one rare species. According to Steven M.Godman, field biologist the species occurs only in the dry western forest of Madagascar. The previously known species, Myzopoda aurita, occurs only in the humid eastern forests of Madagascar. They are often found in association  with broad –leaf plants, most notably Ravenala madagascariensis or Traveler's palm ,because they can use their suckers to climb and adhere to the leaves flat, slick surface. Mr Goodman said the new findings have also changed the earlier belief that Myzopoda was endangered and included only one species.

(The Hindu, 8th January 2007)

Mangrove research center planned

 

The fisheries department has taken the initiative to start a mangrove ecosystem research center at Ayiramthengu in Kollam. If the project materializes, it will be the first mangrove research center in the country. The 50-acre mangrove forest owned by the fisheries department at Ayiramthengu is an environmental hotspot, with many species of animals breed and feed there. It provide habitat for many marine species, otters, migratory birds etc. The forest was also threatened with extinction. In 1996 the fisheries department stepped in with a programme to preserve it. The success of the programme has now prompted the department to put forth the proposal to start a mangrove research center.


(The Hindu, 8th January 2007)

Project to improve tourism facilities

 
The city corporation is working on a major project to improve tourism infrastructure in the capital region. Prepare in technical collaboration with the Kerala Industrial and Technical consultancy Organization (KITCO), the Rs.197 crore project seeks to added the lack of basic facilities and improve connectivity to important tourist destinations.

The first phase of the project, estimated at Rs.62.6 crore, was cleared by the corporation council in December. It is scheduled to be submitted to the Union Government for assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). This phase is expected to be taken up by February and the second phase by April. The project include accessibility to Poovar, Akkulam, Neyyra dam and Ponmudi, sufficient accommodation facilities, recreational facilities, solid and liquid waste management facility in the major destinations, development of helicopter/seaplane terminals at Kovalam and Akkulam. The project envisages overall improvement and beautification of tourist destinations like, Akkulam, Ponmudi, Kochuveli, Kovalam, Vizhinjam etc.


(The Hindu, 6th  January 2007)

Call to focus on tapping green fuels

 
In the two-day national symposium on chemical engineering, conducted at the Andhra University, rouse a call to focus on tapping green fuels like bio-diesal and bio- ethanol.  In which Mr.M.Ganapathy, president of reliance group of Manufacturing industries, said that India should focus on bio-fuels to meet the energy needs of the country, as the fossil fuels are getting fast depleted the world over and there is an imperative need to evolve appropriate strategies to promote jatropha cultivation in the country. He said, "that Jatropha curacas is our best bet and we want to promote contract farming on marginal lands".

(The Business Line, 6th January  2007)

Project for a transparent earth

 
This "Transparent Earth" project is part of the science initiatives of the United Nations' International Year of the Planet Earth in 2008. Speaking on the sidelines of the Indian Science Congress, Ed De Mulder, the chair of the Commission on Planet Earth, explained that the project seeks to put together the geological surveys of all the world's nations. (In fact, an alternative name for the project is 'One Geology'). It will stitch together a seamless map of the first few layers of the earth, offering a scale of 1:1 million. Unlike the Google Earth, this will not be a photographic image, but rather a pictorial representation.

Initially, only a few metres depth will be available for some areas, going down to 25m in others. Only the continents are being mapped, leaving out the oceans. This translation of the earth's crust into digital form will use Geological Information System (GIS) technology and could cost "tens of millions of dollars". The project is being co-ordinated in London, since the British Geological Survey is taking a lead role.

The project was only started six months ago, and is unlikely to be available online till 2011. Following  Google Earth's example, a mixture of high and low resolution images will be used.

(The Hindu,6th January 2007)

Rope youth into farm sector: Swaminathan

 
Agricultural scientist M.S.Swaminathan on Thursday gave a call for attracting youth to the farm sector by identifying promising children and nurturing their talents. For their, farm schools, and farm and industrial training centers might be set up, he said in a power point presentation on 'sustainable agricultural development in India' at the 94th Indian Science Congress at Annamalai University here.

Universities could think of starting short-term farm-related courses in subjects such as commodity exchanges and futures, and conservation farming. These programmes would benefit over a million women living in villages. The path to the second green revolution would be through raising oil seeds and pulses for which he advocated creation of "pulses villages" and facilitating self-help groups to produce seeds. 

(The Hindu, 5th January 2007)

Plan to produce bio-diesel

 
Eco-friendly bio-diesel could soon become chapter. A pilot plant using a cost-effective new technique developed by the National Chemical Laboratory(NCL) in Pune will start production in India by 2008. According to NCL scietist Darbha Srinivas, a U.S.based start-up firm New Century Lubricants is in talks with atleast five Indian petroleum firms, which have expressed interest in running the onetonne a day plant. It is simeltaniously-holding discussions with U.S oil companies to begin large-scale production in other parts of the world.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Indian Science Congress, Dr.Srinivas said the cost of producing bio-diesel would "fall substantially" by using his technique, which uses solid fuel catalysts called 'double metal components" rather than the hydroxide based catalysts used so far. The technique was patented by the NCL one and half years ago, and licensed to New Century in November 2006.

The current cost of producing bio-diesel is about Rs.27 a litre, which is then sold at Rs. 40 a litre, according to Dr.Srinivas. The new method cuts the cost by shortening the process of converting used and unrefined oils such as jatropha, rubber seed and pinnai into biodiesel.  The NCL has successfully tested the process using 13 edible and inedible oils. The pilot plant will further optimize the technique.

(The Hindu, 5th January 2007)

New avian flu vaccine for poultry developed

 
The first in ovo or egg injected avian flu vaccine ha developed by veterinary professorsin Auburn University in collabration with researchers at Vaxin Inc. of Birmingham. The researchers inserted a gene from a low pathogenic avisn flu virus strain (H5N9) into a non-replicating human virus, a Vaxin proprietary technology, which was then injected into developing chicken embryos still in the egg.
Mass vaccination programs around the perimeter region would help to reduce the risk of further dissemination of the field virus to neighbouring areas. Because this vaccine also allows easy differentiation between naturally infected birds and vaccinated birds, this new vaccine could also be used to prevent outbreaks of disease in case of immediate risk from a known strain affecting, for example, neighbouring countries.

(The Hindu, 4th January 2007)

Biotech management center coming

 
Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday announced proposals to establish a national biotechnology management center, with 10 regional technologies transfer cells, and a biotechnology industry and development assessment council. These would promote commercialization of the scientific and technological outputs of public funded R&D institutions, particularly in the emerging area of biotechnology.

They would complement the two projects in the pipeline, an institute of transactional research in health to seamlessly dovetail outputs in genomic research to clinical trial stages, and research industry clusters as join ventures with major industry players. The first cluster with the focus on agri-food industry was coming up in Punjab.

(The Hindu, 4th January 2007)

Real hotspot of biodiversity mapped

 
The scientists at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) have identified and mapped a unique Myristics swamp, believed to be the first of its kind, in a small area of around two sq.km, a home for 30-50 percent of the tree, plants and a number of living creatures. It is a very charecteristic eco system, found in the Kulathupuzha forests in Kollam district.


The study to map the biodiversity of Myristica swamps in Southern Kerala, sponsored by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, has been undertaken by a team led by Dr.P.Vijayakumaran Nair,Principal Investigator,of the KFRI,Peechi. It has mapped the area and the final report would be made available soon. About 50 percent of the State's amphibian species and more than 20 percent of the reptilian species have been found here. Many of these are either endemic and or red listed. The data is significant because the myristica swamps in Kerala hardly make up 0.01 percent of the total area of Kerala.

(The Business Line 2 January 2007)

The Glaciers Melt

 
The melting of the world's glaciers is bringing new attention to the threat of global climate change.

One recent study published in the journal Science found that 87 percent of the 244 marine glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula have retreated over the last 50 years.

As atmospheric temperatures rose along the peninsula, glaciers moved south toward mainland Antarctica.

Now, scientists may have the valuable ocean temperature data -- or "smoking gun" -- they say will help them predict climate change.

According to the Associated Press, the study showed that the Earth is absorbing more energy than it is releasing.

The data were largely collected by ocean-monitoring technology and satellite images.

While glacial melting is a sign of global temperature change, there's still a debate over whether to blame natural fluctuations or human activity.

"Are humans responsible? We can't say for sure, but we are one step closer to answering this important question," said David Vaughan, the scientist who authored the Antarctic Peninsula study.

According to the advocacy group World View of Global Warming, Antarctic glaciers join a long list of retreating glaciers.

Before and after photographs of shrinking glaciers around the world can be seen on the group's Web site.

The amount of melting is often dramatic.

--According to a June 2004 NASA report, researchers estimate that Montana's Glacier National Park's 37 remaining glaciers may be gone in the next 25 years.

--An article published by the Union of Concerned Scientists reports, "Since 1850 the glaciers of the European Alps have lost about 30 to 40 percent of their surface area and about half of their volume."

--The BBC reports that in the last three decades, Peruvian glaciers have lost almost a quarter of their area.

The melting is a threat to fresh water supplies there: Normally glaciers retreat during the dry season and replenish during the winter, but excessive melting has disrupted this cycle.

A satellite photo series from Jet Propulsion Laboratory shows dramatic changes in the glacier above Lake Palcacocha.

According to an April 2003 NASA report, Peruvian government officials and geologists are monitoring a large crack in the glacier that feeds the lake, located high above the city of Huaraz, 168 miles north of Lima.

If the glacier falls into the lake it would send a flood into the Rio Santa valley below, reaching the city of Huaraz and its population of 100,000 in less than 15 minutes.

Over half of the world's population lives within 100 miles of the sea -- and the effects of natural disasters on those areas would be greater when sea levels are higher.

National Geographic reported in its September 2004 "Global Warning" issue that the average temperature in Alaska has risen two to four degrees in the past 30 years, causing local sea levels to rise.

Time magazine reported that the Republic of Maldives, a series of islands off the coast of India, is threatened by rising sea levels.

For millennia the low-lying islands have depended on growing coral reefs to remain above water.

Now there are doubts that the coral can keep up with the rising sea.

Patrick Michaels, research professor of environmental studies at the University of Virginia, wrote an article on techcentralstation.com criticizing the decision to publish Science's Antarctic study on Earth Day.

He questioned why the media was ignoring the fact, according to NASA, that Antarctica's overall ice area had increased while the melting was localized to the northern Antarctic Peninsula.

A White House press release said that Bush administration has included $5.8 billion for climate change and energy tax incentive programs.

This figure includes nearly $3 billion for the Climate Change Technology Program, which focuses on hydrogen and zero emissions energy, and nearly $2 billion for the Climate Change Science Program, which focuses on research and global observation.

Such programs are not without controversy.

Other nations, activist groups, and scientific organizations such as the American Institute of Physics, say that technological and market-based solutions may not move quickly enough to prevent climate change and related natural disasters.


    Martin Leatherman, Newsdesk.org

Eco groups seek action against encroachers

 
Environmental organizations here have demanded the State Government to take immediate steps to evict encroachers from Anthimahakalankadu vested forest in Ottapalam forest range, one of the main watershed areas of the Bharathapuzha.

The statement here on Tuesday, the Bharathapuzha Samrakshana  Samithi( protection association) general secretary Indanur Gopi said the Government, in a counter affidavit filed before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on a public interest petition, had said that the area would be protected under the ecologically fragile land Act,2006.

The association filed the petition in 2004.  The court recorded the assurance of the Government on November 25,2006 and disposed it of. As part of the implementation of the court order, the forest area was surveyed and 2.9 hectares of forestland found encroached, the statement said.

Anthimahakalankadu, an ecological hotspot spanning 190 hectares, were taken over from an erstwhile landlord under the Kerala Private  Forests(Vesting and Assignment) Act 1971. It was notified as vested forest item no.74 in 1974.

(The Hindu, 3rd January,2007) 

Science Congress focus on protecting Earth

 
The stage is set for the 94th edition of the Indian Science Congress beginning on Wednesday. The congregation of leading scientists from across the country and abroad will deliberate on how to safeguard the Earth from natural and manmade disasters.

The venue,Annamalai University ay Chidambaram,is appropriate. In the past few, years, it had witnessed a series of natural disasters such as drought and tsunami followed by unprecedented floods. The theme is 'Planet Earth'. The scientists will delve deep into the causes of the disasters and find remedies to make the Earth a better place. The world is facing major problems of population growth on the hand and the depleting resources on the other. And humanity has to cope up with disasters.

(The Hindu, 3rd  January 2007)

In 100 years, rain forest may turn into grassy savannah

 
Global warming could spell the end of the world's largest remaining tropical rain forest, transforming the Amazon into a grassy savanna before the end of the century, researchers said.
Global warming if left unchecked would reduce rainfall and raise temperatures substantially in the ecologically rich region. According to Jose Antonio Marengo, a meteorologist with Brazil's National Space Research Institute, the temperature would rise by 5 to 8 degree Celsius until 2100, while rainfall will decrease between 15 and 20 percent. This setting will transform the Amazon rainforest into a savanna-like landscape.

The scenario supposes no major steps are taken toward halting global warming and that deforestation continues at its current rate. The more optimistic scenario supposes Governments taking more aggressive actions to halt global warming. It would still have temperatures rising in the Amazon region by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius and rainfall dropping by 5 to 15 percent.
(The Hindu, 31 December 2006)

PCB directive for zero-effluent system

 
The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has directed 20 industries on the banks of the Periyar to set up zero-discharge systems in two years.

Industries which could not achieve zero discharge were asked to reduce the quantum of effluents discharged by them by 80 percent. Besides, 31 industries were asked to raise their discharge pipes above the water level for better monitoring.

The Health Minister, P.K.Sreemathy  said the Board had taken steps for continous monitoring and recording of water quality of the Periyar. Industries were asked to set up online monitoring systems and delay ponds. The blue print for a common waste processing plant for small industries was ready.

The Board had issued notice to 62 steel industries in Palakkad district to put in place pollution-control measures. Of them, 44 units had been given four months to set up the facilities on the basis of bank guarantees while six units had been asked to close down.

(The Hindu, 2 January 2007)

Decks cleared for Kerala Tourism’s eco-initiative

The decks have been cleared for the implementation of Kerala Tourism's 'Eco-Kerala' ecocertification scheme. Orders have been issued for constituting district-level committees to carry out the inspections required to implement the scheme.

The committees in each district will inspect properties and send their report to the State-level committee for awarding the certification based on a property's adherence to various guidelines.

Managed by Kerala's Ecotourism Department, the voluntary Eco-Kerala certification scheme is intended to grade hotels, resorts and home stays based on their adherence to various eco-friendly systems and practices. The certification scheme will grade applicants based on their compliance with three set of conditions-essential, necessary and desirable.

(The Business Line, 29 December 2006)

Head-banging snakes to predict quakes

China has come up with an earthquake prediction system, which relies on the behavior of snakes, two days after two quakes struck off neighboring Taiwan.

The earthquake bureau in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi autonomous region in southern China, had developed its system using a combination of natural instinct and modern technology. According to Jiang Weisong the Bureau Director, snakes are the most sensitive to earthquakes than any other creature on the earth. It can sense an earthquake from 120 km away, three to five days before it happens. They respond by behaving strangely.

Experts at the bureau monitor snakes at local snake farms via video cameras linked to a broadband Internet connection. The video feed runs 24 hours per day.

(The Business Line, 29 December 2006)

Narmada dam reaches its desired height

The Sardar Sarovar dam over the Narmada will reach its crest level of 121.92 meters on Friday. After reaching this maximum height, radial gates will be installed over it, putting an end to the civil work on the country's most controversial dam considered to be the lifeline of future Gujarat.

The permission for raising the height of the dam from 110.64m to 121.92m was granted by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) in March 8,2006. After the NCA's green signal, activists who argued that there were several gaps in relief and rehabilitation made an effort to block further work on the dam. Their pleas were rejected by the court which allowed the work to continue. And asked the Centre to review the status of relief and rehab with the respective state governments.

(The New Indian Express,29 December 2006)