Harithatheeram launch tomorrow

The State Government's Harithatheeram programme for developing a green belt along the 590-km Kerala coastline will be inaugurated on Thursday.The Rs. 25.56-crore programme, part of the rehabilitation projects for tsunami victims, will be implemented by the Forest and the Fisheries departments. the programme would be implemented in collaboration with local self-government institutions. There would be no middlemen, and works would be carried out by Theera Samrakshana, Vriksha Samrakshana (coast and tree protection) committees to be formed in every ward. The local body members would head the committees in their respective wards and forest officials would be the secretaries. Representatives of socio-political organisations, including those of fish workers' groups, would be the members of the committees, apart from fisheries and revenue officials.

 

(The Hindu, 15^th   August 2007)

Njavara rice holds hope for cancer patients

Molecular studies conducted by a team of scientists from the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) on 'njavara' rice have indicated the presence of a gene fragment encoding a protein which is reported to have anti-carcinogenic (chemo-preventive) property, especially against breast cancer.This protein, christened Bowman-Birk Trypsin Inhibitor protein, is also known to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties in animals and is reported to be capable of imparting resistance to fungal pathogens and pests in crops.There are reports that the protein had earlier been isolated from a few other crops like soybean, barley and sunflower. But it has not been identified so far in any other rice variety of the country.The study was undertaken at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics and the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, of the KAU as a part of the post-graduate research programme of Shareesh Nalpadi under the guidance of C.R. Elsy and D. Girija.

 

The KAU scientists pointed out that traditionally njavara was used in the ayurveda system of medicine for treatment of neurological disorders, rheumatism, arthritis and emaciation of limbs. Porridge of njavara grains in milk was traditionally being given as special food for invalids and infants.

 

(The Hindu, 15^th   August 2007)

Cancel clearance for Athirappilly project: environmentalists

Environmentalists have demanded the cancellation of the clearance given by the Union Government to implement the Athirappilly hydel project.In a joint statement here on Tuesday, they said there was strong public opinion against the hearing held at Chalakudy in June last on the directions of the High Court and the Vapcos report. The report was believed to be unscientific and incomplete.There was a steady flow of tourists from the State and outside to see the waterfall. The Government should not destroy it, they said.

Vested interests

They alleged that vested interests were behind the project. It would cause financial loss and adversely affect the biodiversity of the region.Non-traditional sources should be tapped for the generation of power, they said.

(The Hindu, 8th August, 2007)

Green belt to beat back waves in coastal areas

The Forest Department has identified 29.5 hectares of land in the coastal areas of the district for the Theeravanam project aimed at creating a natural barrier against tidal surges and heightened wave action. The sites were identified on the basis of a survey. The study found that some parts of the Kottukal, Kadhinamkulam, Chirayinkeezh, Anchuthengu, Vettoor and Idava panchayats and the wards of Panathura, Poonthura, Beemapally, Manikyavilakam, Sanghumukham, Valiathura, Kannanthura, Pallithura and Vettukad were ideal for planting trees.The barrier will also protect the coast from erosion and winds. Bamboo, mangroves, almond, casuarina, 'punna' and 'poovarasu' are likely to be used for the project.

 

(The Hindu, 11^th   August 2007)

New species of bat, frogs found in Congo

Six new species, including a bat and two frogs, have been discovered in Democratic Republic of the Congo in an eastern area. The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society said researchers conducted a survey of a remote forested region just west of Lake Tanganyika between January and March. The new species discovered were a bat, a rodent, two shrews and two frogs. The statement said the forest was extremely rich in biodiversity, containing a large number of chimpanzees, buffalo, elephants, leopards and monkeys. Around 10 percent of the plant samples collected have yet to be identified.

 

(Business line, 9^th   August 2007)

Climate change may cause India loss of 125 million tonnes of cereals

Climate change can cause India a loss of 125 million tonnes of cereals, equivalent to 18 per cent of the country's rain-fed production, Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations. Talking of the possible adverse impact of climate change on agriculture worldwide, Dr. Diouf, in a lecture at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, said the crop yield potential was likely to rise at higher latitudes for global average temperature increases of up to 1-3 degree Celsius, depending on the crop, and then decrease beyond that. On the contrary, at lower latitudes, especially in the seasonally dry tropics, the potential was likely to decline for even a small global temperature increase.

 

A greater frequency of droughts and floods would affect local production negatively, especially in subsistence sectors, at low latitudes. "Rain-fed agriculture in marginal areas in the semi-arid and sub-humid regions is mostly at risk," Dr. Diouf said. Industrialised nations could gain in production potential, while developing countries might lose, he said.

 

The effect of climate change on forests and on forest-dependent people, and environmental conditions, was already evident.

 

(The Hindu, 8^th   August 2007)

Pollution Control Board to take action against houseboats

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) is preparing to take action against houseboats that lack arrangements to check pollution and are operating without PCB clearance in the wake of increase in pollution in the lake and the spread of diseases in Alappuzha district. It has come to the PCB's notice that several houseboats and other passenger boats fitted with two-stroke outboard engines are operating in violation of norms.

 

The Lok Ayukta had issued orders directing that a waste treatment plant be set up for treating the waste in the bio-tanks of the houseboats. But the houseboat owners were reluctant to implement the order. There was a proposal to set up such a plant at Punnamada in Alappuzha district. The PCB had extended the deadline for setting up the plant several times. Even though the Tourism Department had undertaken to set it before the final deadline of March 31, 2007, nothing came of it. The PCB feels any demand for further extension of the deadline is unjustifiable. It is convinced that because of the present situation, the houseboats continue to pollute Vembanad Lake and the inland waterways. This has forced the PCB to take steps to protect the lake and the waterways. The lake already faces the problem of pollution. The operation of houseboats without any machinery to control pollution will only aggravate the situation.Hence, the PCB has decided to take action as per law without further notice against houseboats that are functioning without their own or a common machinery for the treatment of waste in the biotanks.

(The Hindu, 2^nd  August 2007)

Pampa pollution to blame for epidemic outbreak: ecologists

The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti (PPS), a Kozhencherry-based eco group, has attributed the viral fever outbreak in Pathanamthitta and adjoining districts since mid-January to the scant disregard for safe waste disposal that has resulted in pollution of the Pampa river, especially during the Sabarimala pilgrim season. ccording to PPS leaders N.K. Sukumaran Nair and Benzy Mathew, the viral fever that spread across Central Travancore soon after the pilgrim season reflected the criminal negligence on the part of the Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board in effectively checking the flow of filth into the Pampa.

Mr. Sukumaran Nair says the viral fever, with symptoms akin to chikungunya, was first reported from Ranni taluk that houses Sabarimala. The first viral fever case was reported from Chittar late January. A Central medical team that visited the fever-hit areas had said that the virus spreading the fever in the district was of the same kind detected in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, supporting the apprehension that the polluted Pampa could be the origin of the epidemic, he says. People residing in the river basin, especially those using the Pampa waters for domestic purposes have been afflicted with various water-borne diseases during the past few years. The PPS leaders allege that the Government has failed in utilising the Central funds allotted four years ago for implementing the first phase of the much sought-after Pampa Action Plan aimed at pollution abatement of the Pampa.

 

The Union Environment Ministry had allotted Rs.18.45 crore for implementing 11 pollution abatement schemes in Pampa on the foothills of Sabarimala in the first phase way back in May, 2003.The Pampa Action Plan also proposes pollution abatement schemes in 27 panchayats in Pathanamthitta district, seven panchayats in Alappuzha district and in Chengannur municipality, all situated on the banks of the Pampa in a time-bound manner.

But, the lethargic attitude of the official machinery and the TDB has inordinately delayed the implementation of even the first phase, Mr. Sukumaran Nair says.

(The Hindu, 31^st July 2007)