Keeping track of seabirds

KANNUR: It was an exciting weekend for them, a group of birdwatchers from the region, who spent two days off the coast here on board a boat for the ‘first Pelagic seabird survey' in the State. The boat trip, up to 30 km from the coast, underlined the importance of organising more such trips to different places in different months for regular monitoring of seabirds.

On September 26, the expedition started from Azhikkal and concluded at Dharmadam.

The next day, the trip commenced again from Azhikkal. It took a different route.

“We had a wonderful first day and an average second day,” said J. Praveen, co-ordinator of the KeralaBirders, an Internet discussion group on the birds of Kerala, which joined the Malabar Natural History Society, in this initiative to survey the seabirds of the region.

According to Jafer Palot, co-ordinator of the survey, it was for the first time that wild species of seabirds were sighted in the sea in the State. All earlier surveys had recorded wind-blown and vagrant species of seabirds, he informed.

Sightings

Among the birds sighted during the trip included three Masked Booby birds including one juvenile which gave ample photo opportunity to the group which included Aralam Wildlife Warden K.V. Uthaman.

This also showed them that the juvenile of this bird was similar to that of Brown Booby, Mr. Praveen said. They also sighted a group of Arctic (Parasitic) Skuas as also Flesh-footed Shearwater, most numerous seabird sighted during the trip. The latter were common around fishing boats and schools of mackerel, the participants in the trip noted.

Birds were less common on the second day of the trip. “We were on the lookout for a Wedge-tailed Shearwater but none could be spotted,” said Dinesh Cheruvat, Deputy Director of Fisheries.

The other species spotted included Bridled Tern, which is known to migrate in large numbers across the West Coast; the Greater Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Whiskered Tern and White-bellied Sea Eagle, among others.
Also sighted were three butterfly species migrating in the sea, small groups of Wandering Glider, a type of dragon fly.

The team included Dipu Karuthedathu, Mike Prince, Sathyan Meppayur, Vinay Das, H. Sreekumar, Guruprasad Timmappur, K.G. Bimal Nath, Sachin Shurpali, Sandeep Das, Shashank Dalvi, Vijay Ramachandran, V.C. Ajay Shekar, Balakrishnan, P.C. Rajeevan, Jayan Thomas, Khaleel Chovva and A.K. Raju.

Source:The Hindu, 30-9-2010

Only 1 in 4 idol gets ‘green’ paint at Kumartuli, this year

The much-talked ‘green’ idols — free of lead paints — has turned out to be only a hype as artisans of Kumartuli say that only 25 per cent of their total creations will be adorned with environment-friendly paints.

Despite efforts made by West Bengal Pollution Control Board to supply lead-free colours to artisans and that too free of cost have not proved to be successful.

“It would take time to paint all the idols with lead-free paint . The artisans are using it for the first time and they would take some time to get familiar with it,” said Babu Pal, who has made 40 idols this time but have used the eco-friendly paints in only five. Another reason some cite is that only 150 of the total 340 idolmakers were provided with lead-free colour.

“This time, we can have about 1,000 idols, about 25 per cent of the total idols, which will be painted with the new paints,” said Mintu Pal, Secretary, Kumartuli Mritshilpa Sanskriti Samity. This number is, however, encouraging considering that last year only 32 idols were painted with the lead-free colours. The paint manufacturers have already entered into an agreement with the artisans to provide lead-free colours free of cost for three years.

Souce: Indian Express, 28-9-2010

Nurturing biodiversity for tourism

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: World Tourism Day is observed on Monday with focus on the continued loss of biodiversity and the need for exploring synergies between tourism, biodiversity and sustainable development.

The theme ‘tourism and biodiversity' is particularly pertinent as 2010 has been declared as International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations, concerned as it has been by the alarming situation on the biodiversity front.

With mangroves and ecosystems across the State increasingly targeted for developing tourism, the focal theme should help provide an opportunity for all concerned to raise public awareness about the importance of biodiversity to tourism and the role of sustainable tourism in conservation.

Tourism planners say more effort is needed to sustain biodiversity even while admitting that the State may have overtaken others in taking the initiative to implement Responsible Tourism practices. “Socially and economically beneficial tourism projects are there to list out but sadly none on the environment front despite the much publicised Responsible Tourism initiative,” says C. Jayakumar of Thanal.

Key asset

Biodiversity is a key tourism asset and fundamental to its sustained growth.

As tourism has emerged as a leading economic activity in generating employment, sustainable tourism has an important role and responsibility in managing and conserving biological natural resources.

Sustainable tourism can generate significant revenue for conservation and community development and also help raise awareness on biodiversity issues.

“Tourism has not been able to coexist along with biodiversity if one were to put the projects in forests, coasts and midlands under the scanner,” Mr. Jayakumar said.

“Tourism and biodiversity are mutually dependent,” says United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai in his message on World Tourism Day.
The UNWTO has called upon “stakeholders and travellers to contribute their part of the global responsibility to safeguard the intricate web of unique species and ecosystems that make up the planet.”

Source: The Hindu,27-9-2010

Green Building Week fete ends

KOCHI: World Green Building Week celebrations, organised under the aegis of Indian Green Building Council, Kerala Chapter, ended here on Sunday.

Dominic Presentation, MLA, presided at the concluding session where prizes for the winners of the painting competition for school children and debate competition for college students were distributed.

Lalichan Zacharias of the Indian Institute of Architects, Kerala Chapter and Architect Jai Gopal were among those who spoke at the concluding session.

A green book containing tips to save energy called the ‘Green Book' was distributed to the participants in the concluding session.

The Green Building Week celebrations were marked by a programme to plant one lakh saplings and to create awareness among the public regarding the importance of protecting the environment.

A discourse on the role of religion in promoting environmental consciousness and screening of the film “The Inconvenient Truth,” were the highlights of the celebrations.

A debate competition for college students and a seminar on carbon credit were also part of the week-long celebrations, which opened with a bicycle rally from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram.

SOurce:The HIndu,27-9-2010

Environmental campaign concludes successfully

THALASSERY: A 10-day environmental awareness campaign held on at the Government Brennen College here recently proved to be eventful for students, teachers and the general public.

The college witnessed activities aimed at creating awareness on environmental issues among school and college students, teachers and the local population during a campaign that started on September 16 to coincide with the observance of International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer. The campaign concluded on September 25.

The campaign had begun with a rally of 125 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, which was flagged off by college Principal Alphonsa Xavier. The cadets carried placards with messages highlighting issues such as ozone layer protection, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, improvement of local environment, and energy management for better future.

According to the organisers, the rally attracted public attention as it marched to a nearby school and the Thalassery Campus of the Kannur University at Palayad. Students on the university campus also organised a popular lecture series in which experts in different fields spoke. The National Service Society unit in the college coordinated a cleaning campaign on the campus and started to grow a garden of medicinal plants belonging to over 100 species. The NCC cadets constructed a green house for collection, maintenance and distribution of ornamental plants in the college and the Dharmadam panchayat, the organisers said.

The environmental quiz programme was attended by 19 teams representing schools and colleges .

SOurce:The HIndu,27-9-2010

Four-phase campaign against plastic-waste

Kozhikode: A project to make Kozhikode a plastic-waste-free district will be carried out in four phases, District Collector P.B. Salim said here on Saturday.

Addressing a press meet at the Collectorate conference hall here, Dr. Salim said the project, named Mass Action for Plastic-waste-free Kozhikode (MAP), would be launched at a massive public function on the beach here on the Gandhi Jayanti day, on October 2.

“One lakh people will participate in the function,” said Dr. Salim. He said an action plan had been prepared by the authorities for the project to be completed in four months. “We are planning to make the declaration by January 26 next year,” he said.

The first phase comprises large scale awareness and sensitisation programme, mainly aimed at students of various educational institutions, including 1,500 schools and nearly 50 colleges in the district. Resource Recovery Centres to collect plastic waste will also be set up in all schools in the first phase. Plastic waste will be collected from the schools in a vehicle on a weekly basis.
Measures to cut down on the demand for plastic carry-bags and other plastic items will be the main thrust of the second phase. Specific target groups, including traders in products such as disposable glasses and plates, publicity materials like flex boards and festoons besides commercial institutions using carry bags, will be addressed. The third phase will focus on enforcing the ban and taking strict measures against violators of the law. A mechanism for effectively collecting, recycling and ensuring the reuse of the plastic waste will be given prominence in the fourth and final phase.
The Collector said that the project would be carried out with the help and cooperation of educational institutes, local bodies, Kudumbasree units, local libraries, cultural organisations, clubs and NGOs working in the district. “It has to be a mass movement with active participation of diverse groups,” he said. A large-scale sensitisation programme among the public will also be held as part of the project. According to the Collector, tens of thousands of pamphlets and other campaign materials had been printed to be distributed among the public as part of this.

As a run-up to the launching ceremony on October 2, a painting competition for as many as 2,000 school students will be held at Jubilee Hall here on September 28. “This will be held as a promotional event prior to the launch of the campaign,” said Dr. Salim, who added that as many as 101 drawing teachers from different parts of the district would also be participating in a mass painting programme on a canvas to spread the message on October 1.

A core committee with the District Collector as chairman has been formed to monitor the progress of the project.

Environmentalists A. Achuthan, T. Sobeendran, M.A. Johnson and Deputy Director of Education K.V. Vinod Babu, among others, were present on the occasion.

Source:The Hindu, 27-9-2010

Study reveals cause of rot in cardamom

KATTAPPANA: A study conducted by the scientists of Indian Cardamom Research Institute (ICRI), Myladumpara, has revealed the cause of fungal diseases affecting cardamom beans, resulting in their decaying before the maturity period.

It attributes the fungal diseases to a considerable fall in the proportion of living organisms like trichoderma, which is an effective bio-control agent against foliar diseases, as a result of excess use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and unscientific agricultural practices.

The mobile spice clinic of the ICRI has been visiting cardamom plantations, conducting studies and advising farmers on the means to increase living organisms in the soil as cardamom plants are highly sensitive to climatic changes and soil condition. “We found widespread decay of leaves and beans during the survey in the cardamom cultivated areas of the high ranges. Five years ago, the stumps were found to be affected. This year, leaves too were decaying,” senior scientist A.K. Vijayan, who led the study, said.

The new fungus attacked more during rainfall and an erratic monsoon added to the problems.The ICRI scientists collected samples of soils and affected plants from Vandanmedu, Kattappana, Anakkara, Adimaly, Rajakkad, Kumaly and Puttady. The studies also revealed the positive impact of ‘pseudomonas fluorescens,' a bacterial bio-agent used against rot diseases.

Source:The Hindu,23-9-2010

Cloth banners surge ahead in plastic-free polls

Thrissur: Cloth banners and paper posters which had lost out to modern publicity materials have bounced back as the favourite media of communication for political parties in Thrissur district in the coming local body elections.

Campaign materials made of paper and cloth are in high demand now with the State Election Commission imposing a ban on the use of plastic-made banners, posters and flyers. The commission has made it clear that the local body elections should be plastic-free.

Campaign managers of political parties were racking their brains to find alternative campaign materials. The District Collector, who supervises the electoral arrangements in the district, has asked the parties to say ‘no' to vinyl and flex boards for electioneering. Plastic was banned during the campaign for the last Lok Sabha elections also.

Firms making banners and posters, about a dozen in Thrissur city, have started working overtime to meet the huge demand.

Raju Edathala, who runs an adverting firm, says it is a tough task to produce sufficient number of cloth banners ahead of the civic body elections. “Making cloth banners consumes a lot of time,” says Mr. Raju. A skilled banner-maker needs at least an hour to make a standard-size cloth banner. The Thrissur Corporation alone has 55 divisions with a minimum of four candidates expected in each. “Most of the candidates this time will have to satisfy with paper posters,'' he says.

Moreover, the dearth of professional banner writers is another worry for the parties.Anil, an artist with an advertising firm in the city, says that most of the professional cloth banner makers had switched over to other businesses as venyl and flex boards almost replaced paper and cloth posters in recent times. The cost-effectiveness and clarity of photographs made flex boards popular. A cloth banner costs almost double that of a flex board. Refuting the charge that flex boards will create environmental pollution, Mr. Raju says that flex boards are reusable and biodegradable.

Meanwhile, flex board makers have urged the State Election Commission to review the decision to ban the material for polls. Instead of banning flex boards, the commission should impose restrictions on the number of flex boards being used by each candidate, they contend.Sand-mining puts bridges in peril

Source:The Hindu,23-9-2010

Sand-mining hits aquatic life in Achencoil: study

PATHANAMTHITTA: A study conducted on the benthic fauna (animals living on the bottom of a water body) of the Achencoil river shows that sand-mining over the past few decades has caused notable changes in the eco-biology of benthic communities in the river, D. Padmalal, a senior scientist attached to the Centre for Earth Science Studies, has said.

Dr. Padmalal was making a presentation at the consultative workshop on ‘Biodiversity of River Pampa' at Environmental Resource Centre of the Pampa Parirakshana Samiti at Poovathoor near Aranmula on Sunday.

The workshop was jointly organised by Kerala State Bio-Diversity Board and the Post-Graduate and Research Department of Zoology at NSS Hindu College, Changanacherry.

Dr. Padmalal said the impact was not restricted to the aquatic environment alone but may extend even to the terrestrial environment. Insects like May fly, Dragon fly, Chironomids, Caddis fly and other insects of the order Diptera were declining fast due to indiscriminate mining of sand from river basins and related aquatic environments.

According to him, it is a fact that the initial life history of these organisms begins in aquatic environments. Scooping of sand, along with the larval forms of aquatic animals, could adversely affect the population of beneficial fauna in the system that formed food to higher order animals like fish and amphibians, he added.

Riparian vegetation was an integral environmental component of river ecosystems as it played an important role in maintaining the river health, stabilising riverbanks, providing habitat for wild life, storing carbon and thereby regulating the level of green house gases in the atmosphere, he added.

Inaugurating the workshop, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis, Metropolitan of Thumpamon diocese of Malankara Orthodox Church, said a people's participatory conservation strategy was needed for the effective conservation of Pampa.

K.V. Sambadevan, retired Divisional Forest Officer, N. Unnikrishnan of Kottayam Nature Society, C.P. Robert, programme coordinator of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Thelliyoor, K.N.P. Kurup, programme coordinator of People's Biodiversiry, P.S. Gopakumar of post-graduate and research department of Zoology at NSS Hindu College, Changanacherry and N.K. Sukumaran Nair, PPS general secretary, also addressed the workshop.

Source:The Hindu,20-9-2010

CRZ guidelines to have wide ramifications

On the safe side:Vembanad Lake has been included in the new category of Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas as per the draft CRZ notification issued by the Centre.

KOCHI: The enforcement of the Coastal Regulation Zone guidelines, as envisaged by the Central government, is expected to have widespread ramifications in the State.

A large number of constructions, both commercial and residential, have come up on the banks of rivers and water bodies across the State in violation of the guidelines. According to the CRZ provisions, all water bodies which are influenced by tidal action and have five parts per thousand salinity in the summer months will come under the purview of the CRZ.

Vembanad Lake has been declared as one of the Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas of the country in the notification.

Almost all water bodies in the State are connected to the sea and influenced by tidal action. In these cases, the CRZ limit will be 100 metres or width of the water body towards the landward side, whichever will be less on either bank of the water body. No development activity, except the ones prescribed by the guideline, is permitted in the CRZ areas.

In the case of seafronts, the no-development zone will be 200 metres towards the landward side and in the remaining part up to 500 metres, regulated activities are permitted from the High Tide Line.

The High Tide Line is defined as the line on the land up to which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide. According to the CRZ notification, the distance up to which the tidal effects are experienced in water bodies shall be clearly identified and demarcated accordingly in the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs).

In Kerala, the CZMP, prepared by the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, was approved by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest in 1996.

The final draft stated that the State governments shall prepare the CZMP within six months and obtain approval from the Ministry.

On its part, the Ministry shall consider and approve the plans within three months from the date of receipt of the final plan.

The CZMP of the State will have to be revised in the light of the new notification, it is pointed out.

Coastal zone management experts pointed out that the draft notification explicitly spelt out the enforcement mechanism regarding the violations.

It will be the responsibility of all State Coastal Zone Management Authorities to “identify the violations of CRZ notification, 1991, within a period of three months from date of issue of this notification and take necessary action in accordance with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, within a period of six months from the date of issue of this notification.”

The new notification has empowered the State authorities to issue directives to any person, authority or officer to comply with its directives regarding CRZ guidelines.

Source:The Hindu,20-9-2010

Land cave-in puzzle solved

KOCHI: The land subsidence that occurred in some parts of Idukki district recently is a consequence of soil piping or tunnel erosion — the erosion of sub-soil.

Experts who studied the process said soil piping had been taking place in the Udayagiri and Udumbanchola areas in the district since 2000.

The erosion, which takes place beneath the surface of the earth, often goes unnoticed. However, the indications of soil piping, besides the caving in or subsidence of land and the formation of craters, were noticed during August. A scientific assessment was also carried out in the areas after the reported incidents.

At present, a few subsidence craters can be seen in the areas. Two wells have also collapsed owing to the phenomenon, the experts said.

During soil piping, large quantities of sand and clay in the sub-surface are carried away by water, resulting in the formation of tunnel-like cavities beneath the earth's surface. The sand and clay are deposited in fields or stream channels in the valley portion. Large quantities of sub-surface soil are lost in the process, resulting in the formation of long funnel-shaped tunnels beneath the surface.

This process often goes unnoticed and when the eroded tunnel roof is not able to hold the burden, it collapses forming large cavities, G. Sankar, scientist of the Geo Science Division of the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, said. A similar incident had occurred at Velliyanimala earlier. It stabilised later.

Dr. Sankar and Eldhose, a technical officer at the centre, had carried out a preliminary assessment in the areas on September 16 and 17.

The inhabitants of a house in Thankamani village had stated that they could hear the sound of water flowing beneath the earth. It was later found that soil piping was taking place beneath the house. The district administration was alerted and asked to relocate the family immediately, he said.

Dr. Sankar, who studied the incidents in the district following a request from the district administration, said one of the visible signs of soil piping was the stable water level in wells despite copious rain. This indicated that the water was getting lost somewhere in the earth, he said.

Another indication was the mismatch between the quantity of rain received and the availability of water in the earth. If the difference was huge, one could reach the conclusion that water was getting lost in the earth. In such cases, a large volume of water is lost through the conduits in the earth, he said.

One of the major threats from soil piping is that the cavity formed can grow in size and result in more land subsidence. Arresting soil piping is an expensive process and in many cases, experts have expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the remedial measures.

One method employed in some foreign countries is the installation of filters that allow the flow of water while holding back sand.

A scientific report on the process will be submitted to the Idukki district administration next week, Dr. Sankar said.

Source:The HIndu,20-9-2010

Rare butterfly sighted in Ponmudi forests

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A team of nature lovers from Thiruvananthapuram have spotted the life cycle of the ‘Blue Nawab' butterfly in the forests of Ponmudi-Kallar region.

The team from nature group ‘Warblers and Waders', comprising C. Susanth, K.A. Kishore, Baiju and P.B. Biju saw the larvae of this rare butterfly amidst rock formations on either side of a stream deep in the forests. “Sighting this butterfly itself is a very rare thing. Still rarer it is to see its life cycle. We could not find the eggs. After we spotted the larvae, we returned to the location and kept watch as the butterfly finally emerged,” Mr. Susanth told The Hindu.

The study team, in July 2010, also observed the larave feeding on Scarlet Bauhinia( ‘Kaattu Mandaaram'). “The Nawab is a medium-sized butterfly with black wings. It can be easily identified from its white band laced with blue. The males can be found basking on chosen trees among rocky peaks during the hottest part of the day,” Mr. Susanth said.

The earlier studies of the life cycle of this butterfly were conducted by British lepidopterists J. Davidson, T.R. Bell and E.H. Aitken in 1896 at Coorg. “This is the first life cycle record of this butterfly in Kerala, The Kaattu Mandaram has not been previously recorded as a host plant for this butterfly,” Mr. Susanth said.

The team plans to report the sighting to the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society and to other International Journals.

Californian Lepidopterist Keith V. Wolfe, who conducted studies on host plant utilisation of butterflies and Kishen Das, US-based lepidopterist, provided the literature to Warblers and Waders on the life cycle of Blue Nawab, Mr. Susanth added.

Source:The HIndu,20-9-2010

Eco group demand

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti (PPS) has called upon the government to launch an integrated water resource development action plan for the four major river systems of Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachil that empty out into Vembanad Lake.

In a memorandum to the government, PPS general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair said these rivers constituted the lifeline of Central Travancore. All these rivers had been facing threat of pollution, it would also affect the environment.

He said degradation of virgin forests in catchment areas, unscientific sand-mining, degradation of tributaries, pollution during pilgrim seasons, waste from hospitals, rubber factories, markets, houses along the river banks and illegal fishing methods using poison, dynamites were the major causes of degradation of these rivers.

Extensive deforestation in the catchments had resulted in the drying up of many tributaries of the river systems.

The condition of many bridges across the rivers and water pumping stations is precarious due to the drastic decline of the riverbed.

Mr. Nair said Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh had agreed to include Vembanad Lake in the National Wetland Conservation Plan which provided 100 per cent Central assistance.

He had also agreed in principle for including these rivers in the National River Conservation Plan.

Source: The Hindu,13-9-2010

Panel to assess impact of towers on birds and bees

KOCHI: What are communication towers doing to bees and birds?

While some argue that the population of bees have been affected by the electro magnetic radiation from towers, some others pointed out that the setting up of the towers was detrimental to the bird population. The dwindling number of birds in the city regions including house sparrows was also cited in this regard. The decline of bee population, experts feared, would even affect the vegetable production in the country.

As the scientific community is yet to firm up its views on the issue, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has come forward to assess the impact of the towers on the bee and bird population of the country.

The Ministry has constituted an expert group to assess the level of possible impacts of growth of mobile towers in urban, sub-urban and even rural and forest areas on the population of birds and bees and to suggest mitigation measures.

The panel headed by Asad Rahmani, director of the Bombay Natural History Association, has been asked to submit its report within six months.

Jairam Ramesh, the Union Minister for Forest and Environment, had stated recently in Parliament that preliminary findings of certain ongoing studies have indicated negative impact of electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phone towers on birds, especially house sparrows, and insects including bees. The Minister also said that no long-term nationwide studies have so far been conducted which could show conclusively the adverse impacts of mobile towers on birds and insects.

Questions have been raised in Parliament on the issue for nearly a decade and yet no studies have been commissioned so far. Hence the latest move, said an official of the Ministry.

Source: The Hindu,13-9-2010

Panel: take over defunct estates in tiger reserve

KOCHI: The Elephant Task Force has recommended the acquisition of defunct estates in the heart of the elephant habitat in the Periyar-Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) for the conservation and protection of the elephant population.

The task force, which has Mahesh Rangarajan, Ajay Desai, R. Sukumar, P.S. Easa, Vivek Menon, S. Vincent, Suparna Ganguly, B.K. Talukdar, Brijendra Singh, Divya Mudappa, Sushant Chowdhary and A.N. Prasad as members, had recently submitted its report to the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest.

Suggestions

The panel in its report ‘securing the future for elephants in India' also suggested establishing Kulathupuzha Conservation Reserve and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary as part of the protection measures.

It also recommended connecting the elephant population of the Agasthyamalai hills and Periyar through the Kottavasal corridor.

The Nilambur- Silent Valley- Coimbatore elephant population is connected to the Nilgiris through the high altitude mountainous portions of the Silent Valley and Mukurthi national parks.
The Mukurthi- Mudumalai corridor, the most important connectivity, includes the forests of the Naduvattam range (Nilgiri South Forest Division) and the Gudalur forest range (Gudalur Forest Division).

It is also distributed within the forests of the Nilambur South and North divisions, Mannarkad Division and the Silent Valley National Park.

Though a large stretch of forest is found in the area, a portion is subjected to forestry operations, cash crop cultivation and pressures from the surrounding human habitations. There are a few corridors through which elephants move either throughout the year or in certain seasons.

Maintenance of these corridors through appropriate measures, relocation of select private holdings and stringent protection measures will ensure long-term survival of this population, it is suggested.

The Periyar- Srivilliputhur elephant population is spread over Kerala and a small portion of Tamil Nadu. The Periyar Tiger Reserve with the adjoining Ranni, Konni, Achankovil, Punalur and parts of Thenmala forest divisions form the elephant habitats in Kerala where as portions of the Theni, Madurai and Tirunelveli forest divisions and the Meghamala Wildlife Sanctuary and the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary form the habitat in Tamil Nadu.A vast stretch of evergreen forests is the uniqueness of the area. The dry deciduous forest along the eastern slopes of this landscape is also crucial for the long-term conservation of elephants, the panel said.

Source: The Hindu,13-9-2010

On Salim Ali's path… finding the fall of birds: New survey records shrinking avian habitats

KOCHI: Seventy-five years after Salim Ali conducted his famous Travancore-Cochin bird survey, researchers who did a similar count, following the same route and corresponding dates, identified 337 bird species. The latest survey reveals the “extent of ecological damage that took place over a period of seven decades since 1933,” says the draft report.

The Forest Department had commissioned the survey, titled “Along the trail of Salim Ali, a study of avifauna, their habitat and ecological history: Travancore-Cochin ornithological survey 2009.”
19 locations a year.The survey team began its journey from Marayur on January 3, 2009 as Dr. Ali did in 1933. The study concluded at Karupadanna, near Kodungalloor, on December 31, after covering 19 locations a year. The team walked 282.35 km through various habitats.
C. Sashikumar, principal investigator, and C.K. Vishnudas, S. Raju, S. Kannan and P.A. Vinayan, research associates, found evidence of large-scale destruction of habitats and identified threats faced by the birds.

Migratory birds
“There is a tremendous change in the pattern of migratory birds. More dry land/open area species started wintering in various parts of Kerala. Resident low country birds started moving up to the highlands causing severe competition for endemic forms. The future is bleak … ,” the report cautions comparing the status of various species.
The researchers counted 77,547 individual birds from 131 line transect surveys in terrestrial habitats and direct counts in 33 locations in the wetlands. They recorded 15 species endemic to the Western Ghats, 21 globally threatened ones and 38 others belonging to Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
“The draft survey report is being circulated among ornithologists for expert comments,” says T.M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest. The department plans to bring out the report in book form considering its significance, he adds.
The blue-winged parakeet, the small sunbird, the Indian rufuos babbler and the white-bellied treepie have a healthy population. However, the habitats of the grey-breasted laughing thrush, the black-and-orange flycatcher, the white-bellied shortwing and the Nilgiri flycatcher found in high-altitude shola forests are under threat. The large-scale decline of the Nilgiri wood pigeon, an IUCN Red List category bird, causes concern, the report says.
Twenty-five species were found to be either very low in number or showing tendencies of decline. Tourism in high-altitude areas is a major threat to endemic species. The number of crows in such areas has been going up with the increasing human presence, posing a major threat to small birds.

Forest fires
The annual forest fires in the higher altitude grasslands threaten the ecosystem and birds such as the Nilgiri and the brown rock pipit and the broad-tailed grass warbler. The lesser fish eagle, a globally threatened species, is a significant addition to the avian fauna of the State. A DNA analysis should be conducted on the species found in Kerala, as published literature says its distribution range is in the lower Himalayas, the researchers suggest.
The Hindu, 13 September 2010

Council studies proposals to improve waste management

Kozhikode: The City Corporation has initiated steps to improve its solid waste management programme following the merger of the Elathur, Beypore and Cheruvannur-Nallalam grama panchayats with it.

At least two agencies with international expertise have approached the Corporation authorities to revamp the current waste management programme. This includes overhauling the door-to-door collection of garbage, segregation of biodegradable and non degradable waste, and setting up a new plant at Njelianparamba, which is located in the Cheruvannur-Nallalam grama panchayat.

One of the proposals has been put forth by the Aluva-based Loro Group, in association with the Kozhikode-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Oleena Mahila Samajam. The Loro Group has proposed setting up a waste management system using technology developed by scientist Tom Wilson for Ireland.

The Wilson System adopts the steam treatment process for waste, using autoclaving and steam boiler technologies. It has the capacity to reduce the waste to up to 80 per cent of its original volume. The system sanitises all materials and de-labels metals, extracts plastics and breaks down biodegradable waste into homogenous cellulose fibre, Manoj Pillai, director, Loro Group, who made a special presentation for councillors at the council hall here on Wednesday, said.

He said the technology had several advantages, including reducing landfill and lower capital cost for incineration. The plant would be energy efficient and self-sufficient in heat and power. A plant at Limerick in Ireland that employed the Wilson System had the capacity to treat 440 tonnes of waste daily. Nearly 10 acres of land would be needed to set up the system. The total cost would come to Rs.300 crore, Mr. Pillai said.

Mayor M. Bhaskaran, who chaired the meeting, said the company had promised that the plant machinery could be redesigned to suit the city's requirements.

At present, only biodegradable waste is treated at the plant on the 18-acre Njelianparamba trenching ground. This comes to less than 100 tonnes daily.

Oleena chairperson T. Sujatha said the company would take steps to involve investors in setting up the system and would sell the electricity generated through the gasification process to the Kerala State Electricity Board. Nearly 90 per cent of the waste would be converted into energy and fertilizers and the remaining sludge would be utilised for ceramic applications, she said.

Second proposal

Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef said the Chennai-based Harita-NTI Ltd., which has a 50 per cent joint partnership with Northern Technologies International Corporation Ltd., U.S., had also approached the Corporation to set up a plant which uses technology that converts plastic to fuel. The company had operational units of polymer energy in Chennai in the country and in Thailand to convert waste plastic into a range of crude oil products.

He said the Kochi Corporation had passed a proposal to set up a waste treatment plant based on the plastic-to-fuel technology. The technology used in polymer energy is transverse flow catalytic conversion.

Mr. Bhaskaran said one of these proposals, if found feasible, would be forwarded to the State Pollution Control Board and the State government for approval.

Source:The Hindu 9-9-2010

Korba coal making it to black market?

KORBA: A vast grey moon-like crater lies where there was once lush green forest. In this corner of north Chhattisgarh's Korba district, seven years ago, a company acquired rights to extract coal as raw material for the expansion of its sponge iron plant. The company emptied out coal from one sq km in Chotia block, but did not expand its plant. So where did the coal go?

As CBI probes allegations that the company, Prakash Industries Ltd, sold in black coal worth hundreds of crores of rupees, TOI has accessed documents that reveal not just a series of violations by the company, but also raise concern over the lack of government scrutiny in the allocation of coal blocks.

In fact, what Prakash Industries has done could well be the modus operandi for a number of other such units that have brazenly violated rules and mined coal which could be worth crores of rupees in the market.

All attempts to contact the company's corporate office in New Delhi, even emailed queries, did not get a response. What makes Prakash Industries' case significant is that the Chotia block is the only operational mine in Hasdeo Arand, a dense forest recently classified by the ministry of environment and forest as a 'no go' area, putting it out of bounds for mining, triggering an inter-ministerial war in New Delhi.

Long before the current clampdown, Prakash Industries was the first company to acquire a mining lease in the forest. In 2003, it was allocated Chotia block to extract coal exclusively for use in its proposed 8 lakh tonne sponge iron plant in the neighbouring district of Janjgir Champa. The company's plant, which then had a capacity of 4 lakh tonnes, was to be doubled by 2004.
But, over the next five years, the capacity stayed stagnant. As per the records at the district industry office, the company added 2 lakh tonnes as late as December 2009, still short of the required 8 lakh tonnes. While it failed to expand capacity, the company rapidly accelerated coal extraction.

The approved mining plan mandated the company to extract 10 lakh tonnes of coal per annum, starting with 5.5 lakh in the first year, gradually scaling it up, to reach the 10-lakh mark in 20 years. But the company's own despatch statements show it exceeded approved targets, mining nine lakh tonnes in the second year, violating the plan.

As the company over-extracted coal and under-produced sponge iron, a lucrative market opened up. On average, 1.2 tonnes of grade D coal is needed to produce one tonne of sponge iron. A four lakh tonne plant is likely to use 4.8 lakh tonnes of coal a year. Minus this from the nine lakh tonnes of coal the company mined every year, and it leaves at least 12-15 lakh tonnes of coal that went unused till 2009. The price of one tonne of coal is Rs 1,500. A back-of-the-envelope calculation shows this unused coal was worth at least Rs 200 crore, a conservative estimate, based on the production figures declared by the company.

Where did the unused coal go? It's evident the company sold it in black," said Mohammad Akbar, opposition MLA, who raised the case during the last assembly session, questioning why the state government was supporting the company's bid for more coal blocks.

Since last year, the circle of investigations against the company has expanded, drawing in diverse agencies including the CBI, the state excise and even the ministry of steel. But this has not impeded the acquisition of more coal blocks by the company, one in MP, three in Chhattisgarh.

Recently, in a letter to Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, environment minister Jairam Ramesh called Hasdeo Arand "an unfragmented forest of great biodiversity, one of its only kind left in the country".

In May, Union environment ministry marked Hasdeo Arand as a 'no go' area, to protect it from being shaved off for coal mining. This upset not just Chhattisgarh government, but three Union ministries of coal, steel and power sought the PM's intervention to reverse MoEF's embargo. Their argument: companies need urgent access to coal to produce power and steel.

While industry's need for coal can't be disputed, the case of Chotia illustrates that giving a company access to mines is no guarantee of production, especially in absence of government scrutiny. This, perhaps, should introduce caution in the rush to allot coal blocks in prime forest areas.
Source: Times Of India, 8-9-2010

Greens win as BMC razes godown on mangrove land

MUMBAI: The city's small but determined team of eco-warriors tasted victory on Tuesday when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) heeded their demands and demolished a 2,000-sq ft gala (godown) at Ganpat Patil Nagar in Dahisar. Illegal shops and commercial establishments have mushroomed in the area and are slowly encroaching upon huge swathes of mangrove adjoining Gorai creek in Dahisar.

Assistant civic commissioner Parag Masurkar said that 22 commercial structures, that have come up illegally on land that falls in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ), on the Link Road had been served notices.

However, the owners of these structures got a stay from the civil court. "As soon we get the stay vacated, we will commence demolition," said Rajesh Akhre, sub engineer (building and factory). "Most of the structures came up as recently as 2007," said Akhre, who was in charge of the demolition on Tuesday.

Harish Pandey, member of the I C Colony New Link Road Residents' Association, said, "All the structures here are illegal and have come up using forged documents." The association members filed an RTI query and found out that documents submitted by owners of some of the structures show that their buildings came up as early as 1977. "How can this be possible when the entire area was a verdant mangrove jungle in 1977," he asked. Ganpat Patil Nagar has as many as 8,000 illegal tenements.

Source: Times Of India, 8-9-2010

From next year, bonus for green states

NEW DELHI: Beginning next financial year, the Planning Commission will include performance on environmental concerns as one of the criteria for determining Central assistance to states.

In what takes green concerns several rungs higher in the ladder of governance priorities, around Rs 1,900 crore will be disbursed to states in 2010-11 based on environmental performance.

Environmental measures have now been accepted as one of the 'nationally important targets' apart from population control, elimination of illiteracy, land reforms and timely completion of externally-aided projects.

The Plan panel, in consultation with the Union environment and forests ministry, has prepared the blueprint for the disbursal of funds. The panel is also ready with an index for measuring the "green" performance of each state and ranking them.

As per this index, the hill states of Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Arunachal and Himachal along with UT Chandigarh fare the best. The index is based on review of the air and water quality in these states. Forest cover, size of national parks, along with changes in greenery pattern have all been factored in.

Climate change concerns are also being integrated, and states will be assessed on the basis of their use of non-conventional energy and volume of methane emissions.

At present, the Planning Commission ranks states according to fiscal performance, income levels, tax collection and certain nationally important targets besides special considerations while deciding on the allocation of Central plan funds.

The index automatically pitches for those states that have seen little economic and industrial development but maintain a high green cover.

In that sense, the hill states gain by default. Earlier, too, the finance commission had pointed out that the states maintaining a higher forest cover do so at the cost of their economic development, and consequently should be provided more funds for the eco-system services that they render to the rest of the country.

Source: Times Of India, 8-9-2010

Willingdon, the greenest area in Kochi

Willingdon Island is the greenest area in the city.

The North and South divisions of the Island together have 413 trees. It is followed by Ernakulam South (291), Thamannam (235), and Gandhi Nagar (229).

The status of the green cover for Kochi was revealed in a tree census that was carried out recently.

The Kochi city region has 6,443 trees located in public places, according to the census carried out by the Rajagiri outREACH of the Rajagiri School of Social Sciences, Kalamassery, for the Kochi Corporation.

Trees located in private holdings were not counted.

The other greenest divisions in the city are Panampilly Nagar (213), Fort Kochi (211), Elamkulam (194), Karukapally (183) and Padivattom (179).

Concrete jungle has invaded Ponekkara the most. It is the division with the least tree cover in the city with just 15 trees followed by Kaloor North (18 trees).

“The Town Planning Standing committee of the corporation decided to carry out the census as part of its green campaign. Studies had revealed that the green cover of Kochi was quite inadequate,” said E.M. Sunilkumar, chairman of the committee.

The census will serve as the basis for future greening programmes to be implemented in the city. The committee has initiated a campaign to plant around 1 lakh saplings to improve the green cover of Kochi, Mr. Sunilkumar said.

Predictably, coconut trees formed the major chunk of the trees in the city and the surveys have located 538 of them. Surveyors counted 235 banyan trees and 203 Indian Badam trees.

The survey was carried out simultaneously in all the divisions of the corporation on a single day. The team members were guided by a team of experts. The students of the Rajagiri institutions, who carried out the survey, were also given a picture catalogue for identifying the trees.

During the survey, it was found that there were 2,086 large trees, 1,953 medium-sized ones and 1,761 small trees. The surveyors also spotted 542 saplings in public places.

Nearly half of the number of trees in Kochi are naturally grown ones. The greening efforts have succeeded in growing up 2,777 trees. The tree count has also identified the threats faced by the city trees. The report will be released on Thursday.

Source: The Hindu, 8-9-2010

Call to protect threatened medicinal plants of Western Ghats

KATTAPPANA: An effective strategy to conserve the threatened species of medicinal plants and an active monitoring of their population are needed in the Western Ghats, which is a highly-sensitive hot spot in terms of diversity of plants, C. Kunhikannan, scientist, biodiversity division,Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, has said.Delivering the keynote address on ‘Conservation of threatened medicinal plants—challenges and strategies,' at a two-day national seminar on biodiversity protection at Newman's College, Thodupuzha, on Thursday, Mr. Kunhikannan said that the Red Data Book provided the national, regional and local lists of threatened plants.He said that these plants were either localised within the restricted geographical areas or were thinly scattered over a more extensive range. The country, he said, is gifted with a great bio-diversity of herbal plants and more than 8,000 species of plants are used in nearly 10,000 herbal formulations. About 90 percent of the crude drug requirement for these formulations is obtained from forests. However, he said, due to overexploitation, most of the life-saving medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction.“Though extinction of species is a component of evolution, the rate at which the extinction occurs due to man-made threats and avoidable factors is alarming,'' he said.In the overexploited category, medicinal plant species like podophyllum, coptis, aconitum, saraca, rauvolfia, cloriosa and horticultural plants like orchids and rhododendrons are top on the list, he said.According to Mr. Kunhikannan, the Red Data Book has categorised the plants in the Western Ghats in Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable lists. He said that for conservation of plants in the Western Ghats, the lists of endemic species—both State-wise and region-wise—should be prepared along with the map of their geographical distribution. The list of narrowly endemic and the extent of their occurrence are to be collected before preparing an effective strategy for preservation.He said that thousands of species of medicinal plants in the country were facing various degrees of threat. According to Mr. Kunhikannan, the gene bank for plants is quite expensive to create and maintain. The keynote address was followed by presentation of papers on ‘Bio-diversity and medicinal plants protection,' by Prathipal Singh of the Delhi University and the ‘Planting and protection of medicinal plants that face extinction threat,' by Gracy Mathew of Medicinal Plants Research Centre, Odakkali, Ernakulam district.The research papers submitted by Subramanya Prasad K. of Kannur University; Mercy Sachin R. of St. Xavier's College, Palayamkotta; and Bincy M.P. of Kerala Ayurveda Ltd, Aluva; were selected the best three papers, said a release here.

Source :The Hindu, 4-9-2010

Worms harmless, says PCB

KOCHI: Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) seems to be clueless about the exact reason behind the presence of thousands of worms near the Sivarathri manapuram along the banks of the Periyar River in Aluva near here.

Despite making it clear that the worms were harmless, the board authorities have not been able to ascertain the source and the reason behind the incident, which had triggered panic among the public during the last two days. The worms were found near the water treatment plant at Aluva that pumps about 250 million litres of water to the Greater Cochin areas and nearby panchayats daily.

According to the board sources, the aquatic worm is Neries and it belongs to the class Polychaeta. Mostly found in stagnant waters having high content of nutrients, the worms are harmless, they said.

M. S. Mythili, Chief Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Ernakulam said that certain favourable conditions would have led to the presence of the worms in the river. She said that the non-availability of fish, which consume the worms, in the waters might be another reason for the huge presence of the organism. Ms. Mythili said the board has no plans to investigate the case further but would take it up, if the incident occurs again.

Stating that the quality of water being pumped from the treatment plant at Aluva has not been affected by the presence of the worms, Jolly Thomas, executive engineer of the quality control wing, said that the worms were found nearly 200 metres away from the intake point of the plant. She said that the worms were located opposite the treatment well. Ms. Thomas said that there was no reason to panic, as the water quality was found safe.

Environmentalists have alleged that indiscriminate sand mining combined with unchecked dumping of solid waste in to the river seem to have resulted in the presence of worms in such huge quantities. S. Sitaraman, secretary of the Association for Environment Protection at Aluva, alleged that huge quantities of silt had piled up in the river thanks to the indiscriminate and illegal sand mining in the area, he said.

Pointing out that the biological oxygen demand level had gone up in the river considerably, Prof. Sitaraman said that huge quantities of slaughter waste from the municipality and panchayat regions in Aluva were dumped in to the river regularly. He said that the ecology of the river had changed considerably following the indiscriminate human interference on the biodiversity of the region.

Source :The Hindu, 4-9-2010

PCB team inspects waste flow into Pampa

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has taken serious notice of the alarming pollution of the Pampa river due to large-scale discharge of liquid waste from the temple complex at Aranmula, according to K. Sajeevan, Chief Environmental Engineer of the board.

Mr. Sajeevan, accompanied by Paulus Eapen, PCB District Environmental Engineer, P.G. James and A.M. Harris, assistant environmental engineers, was talking to reporters at Aranmula while inspecting the waste discharge points on the banks of the Pampa on Friday.He said the PCB team had noticed discharge of waste from the toilets as well as kitchens attached to the temple complex into the river. Though the PCB had directed the temple authorities to check flow of filth into the river, the situation continued to be alarming, he said.

Waste discharge

He said discharge of waste into the Pampa could not be allowed as it was the main drinking water source of majority of the population of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. Mr. Sajeevan said the Administrative Officer attached to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Aranmula too was summoned to the discharge site during the inspection. The TDB official said he would take up the matter with the TDB works department immediately.

Mr. Sajeevan said he would submit a detailed report to the PCB chairman recommending immediate action against the violation of pollution control norms at Aranmula.

Source :The Hindu, 4-9-2010

Formula milk puts babies' health at risk: Study

LONDON: In one more reason why mothers should breastfeed their babies as long as possible, scientists in UK have found that formula milk contain 40 times more aluminium than breast milk, potentially putting the toddlers' health at risk.

Researchers at the Keele University, Staffordshire, who examined 16 of the UK's leading formula milk brands meant for children up to the age of one, found that traces of the metal in those products are much higher than is legally allowed in water.

One formula made by Cow & Gate — specifically marketed for premature babies — had the highest level of all, with more than 800 micrograms per litre, the researchers said.

European law states water can contain no more than 200 micrograms of aluminium per litre, the Daily Mail reported.

Dr Chris Exley, who led the study, said: "We've known about the high aluminium content in infant formula for many years and there is evidence to show it is potentially quite dangerous.

"It has been linked to neurological diseases and bone defects in later life and there are even links with dementia.

"Everyone has aluminium in their bodies but infants are especially prone to absorbing it and are not so good at getting rid of it."

However, Dr Exley stressed that it is not the case that a child is not going to drop down dead if they drink it.

Manufacturers say they do not add aluminium to their products, but many formulas are often packaged in aluminium foil.

It also occurs naturally in soya plants due to the acidic soil they are grown in, so experts advise soya milk formulas should be used only on the advice of a GP.

The Food Standards Agency does not provide a 'safe' limit for aluminium in formula milk, but Dr Exley said manufacturers should lower the level dramatically or print it on the label so parents have an informed choice.

Dr Exley said: "It is concerning, especially when the product with the highest level of aluminium we found was aimed at premature babies, who are likely to be the most vulnerable of all. It is really shocking.

"Millions of parents have no choice but to feed their children this milk. I would advise if they are using ready-made milk to switch to powder as it contains lower levels."

Source: The Times Of India, 3-9-2010

Kochi vulnerable to chemical disaster: forum

KOCHI: The city and its suburbs are becoming highly vulnerable to chemical disasters becaue of the lackadaisical way in which hazardous chemicals, fuel etc., are stored and transported, the Association for Environmental Protection has said.

Careless handling of these substances has become the norm, especially since many crew members of lorries that carry them have not been trained in preventing and tackling accidents. Recent accidents like the one at Kundanoor on the NH 47 bypass after a tanker lorry carrying ammonia to the FACT hit another lorry and overturned, show that such chemicals must be transported through safer and economical waterways.

The bad condition of roads and heavy traffic makes the situation even more worrisome, said Prof. S. Sitaraman, the Association's secretary. A tanker lorry accident at Karunagapally had claimed nine lives a few months ago.

“People would not be able to come anywhere within a sq.km. of the accident site if ammonia leaks. Anyone who inhales it would begin to bleed from the nose. Still, Kochi alone has around 40 bullet tankers that transport ammonia. This is apart from the around 800 fuel tankers that criss-cross the city and the around 50 lorries that regularly transport acids, phenol, rubber chemicals, radio-active substances, benzene etc., through busy roads every day. Many of the lorries are ill-maintained. This apart, mandatory care is not taken when storing these chemicals and gases in locations around the city,” said C M Joy, president of the organisation.

Instead of importing ammonia and transporting it to FACT, it can be manufactured at the factory itself, said Prof Sitaraman. It is still a mystery why the waterways around Kochi are not being used to ferry such chemicals. The District Administration, the Motor Vehicles' Department and other agencies must ensure that provisions of the Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 are enforced, he said.

The activists pointed out that excess use of phenol and other chemicals have been contaminating ground water sources in the State.

Crisis-management teams must be stationed in different parts of the city, since traffic snarls delay their reaction time.

The Ernakulam RTO, C. G. Michael said that only drivers who have attended a three-day hazardous-goods training course organised by authorized firms must be permitted to steer lorries that carry chemicals and inflammable materials.

“The attendance certificate must be endorsed in their driving licence. This is in addition to the day-long course that they must attend each year. They must know how to neutralize the leak. Pouring of water might worsen the leak/fire. Many chemicals can be neutralized only using foam, sand etc.”

For this, each lorry must have fire extinguisher and the right foam.

Though rules say that they must not ferry goods through congested roads during office time/school hours, they are flouted very often, especially when transporting essential commodities like LPG.

Mr. Michael suggested that the safety valves that extend behind the cylinder (tanker) of lorries must be enclosed in a safe casing since the chemical would leak in case of any impact from behind.

The ‘spark arrest' at the front of fuel tankers too must be effective and checked frequently, he said.

Source: The Hindu, 1-9-2010

Supreme Court order gives PETS a breather

KANNUR: The Supreme Court order directing the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-controlled Pappinissery Eco Tourism Society (PETS) to stop all commercial activities at its mangrove theme park on the northern bank of the Valapattanam river here may be seen as a setback to those running the park and a victory for those opposing it.

But it also gives a breather to the society by offering a four-week time during which the controversial park will remain open with no commercial activities as directed by the court.While those opposing the park, including environmental activists, and the CPI(M) political adversaries view the Supreme Court directive as a victory of sorts, the CPI(M) and the society office-bearers are taking the apex court order as a fresh lease of life to the park riddled with controversy ever since it was opened on April 4. last.

“We are not going to close down the park in the wake of the Supreme Court order of August 31 because the order does not direct us to do so,” society president A.V. Ajayakumar told The Hindu when contacted on Wednesday.

The apex court said there should be no eco-tourism and commercial activities in the park, he said.

There had been no such activities since it was re-opened on August 22 following a decision of the High Court to grant a stay order against the Ministry of Environment and Forest's (MoEF) directive that the park be closed for breaching the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.He said the restaurant and the boating facilities in the park had already been closed as the park was now being used for education purpose. The society was only collecting Rs.10 as donation from those visiting the park, he said.

The society had already indicated, following the earlier High Court stay order against the MoEF, its willingness to re-brand the park as mangrove study and research centre as a way to deflect the criticism that the park had been established in an ecologically fragile area as a commercial eco-tourism project in violation of the CRZ rules. The park authorities take relief from the Supreme Court directive that asks the MoEF to issue notice to the society and allows PETS to file its reply.

UDF stand
Meanwhile, United Democratic Front (UDF) circles here say that the apex court order was a victory for the rule of law.

When contacted Congress leader Sunny Joseph said the apex court order, as he understood it, did not allow the park to remain open. The only consolation for the park authorities was that it allowed them to be heard in the matter by giving them time to reply to the notice to be issued by the MoEF, he said.

The park has been set up on a 4.85 hectare land close to the Valapattanam bridge on the National Highway.

The park established as part of the society's eco-tourism project has emerged as a major political issue here after the UDF parties took it over from the environmental groups that had initially raised objection to construction activities in the park in the fragile mangrove-rich area on the bank of the Valapattanam river.

Source: The Hindu, 2-9-2010