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Water crisis forces forest officials to set up artificial ponds

May 4, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Haridwar (Uttarakhand), May 4 (ANI): Authorities in Uttarakhand”s Rajaji National Park have created artificial lakes and ponds to make water available to animals during the scorching summer.

The shortage of water is so severe that the national park”s water bodies have dried up, and some animals have died.

According to M S Negi, Range Officer of Rajaji National Park, acute water shortage is posing a serious threat to animals, as they have to walk long distances for it.

“Less rainfall during the monsoon and no rainfall during the winters have caused this shortage of water. Water sources are on the verge of drying. Due to this, there is a huge problem of water for the animals and if there is no rainfall in the next few weeks then it will be a big problem for them,” said Negi.

“We have made arrangements (for the animals). We have dug ponds with JCP machines and made water available for the animals, so that they don”t have to go out of the forest,” he added.

The Rajaji National Park is spread over an area of 820 square kilometers and is home to 23 species of mammals and 315 species of birds, which include Asian elephants, tiger, king cobra, panther, Bear, Chital, Sambar, Wild Boar, Kakar, Python, Monitor Lizard, Wild Cats and many more. (ANI)

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Rajasthan”s cattle facing water shortage

April 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Jaipur (Rajasthan), Apr 24 (ANI): The cattle owners in Rajasthan are facing acute shortage of water, as the water bodies have dried up here.

The problem has been aggravated because of a drought like situation in 26 out of 32 districts of Rajasthan.

They have to carry water from far off places because of the water scarcity.

“We have to travel two kilometres away to get water for them. We are facing lots of problem because of water scarcity. Water is not even there in the tube wells all of them are totally dry,” said Jagannath, a cattle owner.

“We have to pass this 3-months time and we are finding it very tough to quench the thirst of our animals,” he added.

It is reported that the scanty and extremely poor rainfall has created a tough situation for all the cattle owners of Rajasthan during this summer.

“Earlier, we used to get water from nearby tube wells, rivers and animals used to drink water on their own but now we are facing lot of problems. We have to travel long distance of about two kilometres to get water for them now and because of the poor rainfall during the last few years, we are facing lot of problems,” said Abdul Jabbar, a cattle owner.

The situation is worst in the districts of Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer, where most of the farmers are totally dependant on animal husbandry to earn their livelihood. (ANI)

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Rajasthan villagers appoint security guards to prevent water theft

April 1, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Bikaner, Apr. 1 (ANI): Acute water shortage in Rajasthan is forcing residents of a village near Bikaner to maintain a tight vigil on village water bodies to prevent water theft.

Four security guards have been appointed to protect the pond round the clock from both outsiders and animals.

“There are 8000-9000 villagers in our village, and, they depend on the water for their needs. So, four security guards protect the pond by turns,” said Ram Lal, a villager.

Guards distribute water to villagers according to the number of members in each family.

“We guard the water from outsiders. The villagers have appointed us,” said Hari Singh, a security guard.

For five years, the area has not received any rainfall.

The state government has declared a drought in twenty-seven districts of Rajasthan. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: acute water shortage, animals, clock, drought, Hari Singh, lal, Outsiders, rainfall, security guard, security guards, state government, Tight, vigil, Village Water, villager, water bodies, Water Theft

High court stays Nirma cement plant construction

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Gandhinagar, March 16 (IANS) The farmers’ agitation against the cement plant being set up by Nirma in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district received a shot in the arm Tuesday when the Gujarat High Court restrained the company from carrying out any further construction work at the proposed site.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay and Akil Qureshi, however, permitted the company to complete construction of a concrete raft by Wednesday.

The court’s orders came on a petition filed by Shree Mahuva Khetiwadi Pariyavaran Bandhara Bachav Samitee consisting of farmers who are opposing the cement plant, which is being set up by the corporate giant at Mahuva in the district.

The petitioners had pleaded that 222 hectares of the 268 hectare land allotted to the company by the government comprised a water-body and produced satellite images, obtained from Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), showing the water bodies near Samadhiyada village where the cement plant is coming up.

‘We are happy with the directions of the court since the plant would ruin the entire agricultural scenario of the area built on the sweat and blood of the farmers,’ said local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Kanu Kalsaria, who has been leading the agitation against the cement plant.

The problem arose after the state government decision to allot over 250 hectares land in Mahuva taluka to Nirma for a Rs.1,400 crore cement plant which will use the abundant limestone in the area as raw material.

The farmers were agitated over this move since the limestone mining will lead to salinity ingress, which has been successfully fought off through tidal regulators constructed during the previous Keshubhai Patel government.

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Good response to auction of ornaments offered at Ganesha Puja

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Sep 9 (ANI): The organising committee of the famed ‘Lalbag ka Raja’ community Ganesha Puja pandal commenced the auctioning of various ornaments which were offered by devotees during the ten-day festival of Ganesha Chaturthi.

Ornaments worth rupees 26,94,155 lakh were bought by the bidding buyers.

Devotees from across the country had offered precious stones, gold and silver jewelleries.he Treasurer of the organising committee said that the response from the buyers who happen to be ardent devotees was overwhelming.

“We received a very good response. We sold 78 different ornaments worth rupees 26,94,155 lakh in the auction,” said Sanjay Vijay Ghadekar, Treasurer, ‘Lalbag Ka Raja’ Puja Committee.

Buyers considered themselves fortunate enough to own the auspicious ornaments.

“I bought this necklace for rupees 1,72,000. My belief is that if we buy gold from here then the rest of year goes well and brings blessings to our family,” said Dilip Sardesai, a buyer.

At the end of the 10-day long festival, the idols of Lord Ganesha were taken in grand processions and immersed in water bodies such as wells, ponds, rivers and the sea. (ANI)

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Devotees throng famous Lalbag Ganesha shrine in Mumbai

September 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Sep 7 (ANI): After the conclusion of the ten-day Ganesha Chaturthi, devotees on Sunday made a beeline to the famous ‘Lalbag ka Raja’ shrine in Mumbai.

Devotees came to seek blessings from the reverent deity, Lord Ganesha, during the Ganesha Chaturthi festival and offered coconuts.

“This year a lot many devotees visited ‘Lalbag ka Raja’ and sought blessings from Lord Ganesha. As a result plenty of coconuts were offered by devotees to the god,” said Satish Khankar, President of the shrine.

“Those of our friends and relatives who cannot visit Lalbag during the festival, we are buying coconuts for them and will distribute it to all those who need it,” said Shailesh, a devotee.

The Ganesh Chaturthi festival began August 23. At the end of the 10-day long festival, the idols of Lord Ganesha were taken in grand processions and immersed in water bodies.

Ganesh Chaturthi, the most important festival in Maharashtra is also celebrated in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

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Cash offerings reach 10 million rupees on fifth day of Ganesha festival

August 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 28 (ANI): On the fifth day of the ten-day Ganesha Chaturthi festival, the organisers of a community Puja pandal in Mumbai confirmed that they have already received donations over 10 million rupees.

Members of the organising committee of the famed ‘Lalbaug Ka Raja’ who have erected 23-feet Lord Ganpati idol in Mumbai said that this year the devotees have been more generous to their beloved lord.

“We have just done a rough counting of the donations, it is not yet finalised. Till now we have received donations over one million rupees and the counting is still on,” said Dilip Joshi, a member of Lalbaug Ka Raja community Puja Pandal Committee.

The members said they usually begin counting after the end of the festival, but this time they have taken the decision to begin the process early to save the currency notes from getting spoiled.

“To save the currency notes from getting damaged when it gets mingled with flowers and sweet donations, we began the counting on second day itself,” Joshi added.

At the end of the 10-day long festival, the idol of Lord Ganesha would be taken in grand processions and immersed in water bodies.

Ganesha Chaturthi, the most important festival in Maharashtra, is also celebrated with religious fervour in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

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Export of Lord Ganesha idols increases in Nagpur

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Nagpur (Maharashtra), Aug 24(ANI): The export of Lord Ganesha idols from Maharashtra’s Nagpur district has registered an increase, as demand has been spurred by Ganesh Utsav.

“We have exported idols to New York, Dubai, Canada. Idols were exported to China for an exhibition,” said Rajesh Churasia, a businessman dealing in idols.

“We get orders through relatives of Indians staying overseas, who are regular clients. Our customers who have gone abroad because of some work also place orders,” he added.

Sculpting of idols begins months before the festival.

The festival will continue for 10 days and then the idols would be taken out in grand processions and immersed in various water bodies. By Sunil Dighe (ANI)

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Bollywood stars celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Aug 24 (ANI): Bollywood stars commenced the celebration of the ten-day-long Ganesha Chaturthi festival here.

Actor Jeetendra celebrated the festival with his daughter Ekta Kapoor.

“For the last 32 years, that was when my daughter Ekta Kapoor was born, I brought Ganapati to my house for the first time and since then we have been praying in front of the Ganapati idol,” said Jeetendra.

“I wish everyone happy Ganesha Chaturthi and would advise everyone to look after oneself because one is precious for one’s family and one’s country,” said Nana Patekar.ctor Govinda also celebrated the festival with his family.

Ganapati festival is a ten-day long event at the end of which the idol of Lord Ganesha is taken in a grand processions and immersed in water bodies such as rivers, tanks, ponds and wells. In Mumbai the idol is immersed in the sea.

Lord Ganesha, is one of the most revered Gods of Hindus, and is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion.

Ganesha, as the God of knowledge is described as “Vinayaka”and as remover of obstacles he is called “Vighanharta”. He is worshipped at the beginning of every auspicious occasion for blessings of luck and success. (ANI)

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Industrial waste generated poisonous crops in Aurangabad

July 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Aurangabad, July 2 (ANI): Lack of incinerating industrial units in Aurangabad has led to dumping of industrial waste into water bodies, poisoning the crops.

The industrial units especially the textile, paper and the distillaries are major sources of these pollutants which directly affects the soil.

The inorganic toxic pollutants make the soil totally unfit for cultivation.

Farmers complained of the inaction of the pollution control board and the Government to curb the practice.

“The pollution control board and the Government bodies are not able to control the poisonous chemicals being discharged into the water bodies. This leads to the farmers using this polluted water to irrigate the fields which in turn leads to poisonous crops which affects the health of the common man,” said Hitendu a farmer.

Ranjan Garg, pollution expert said that the sewage which is discharged directly into the water stream, pollutes the soil so much that it becomes unfit for cultivation.

“The sewage which is discharged directly into the water stream pollutes the water stream and when the farmers use this water to irrigate the fields the soil gets polluted. It gets so much polluted that you get the greenish yellow water from the borewell once it is fixed. You don’t feel that the soil is being degraded for first one or two years and you get the good crop but slowly the farmer starts crying when the yeild drops,” said Garg.

There have been many court orders, which forbid the emptying of industrial waste into the rivers. By Abdul Hadi (ANI)

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JKP to host 8th All India Police Water Sports Championship from June 2

May 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 19 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Police is hosting the prestigious 5-day long 8th All India Police Water Sports Championship-2009 from June 2, in which police sports personnel from across the country will compete in the disciplines like Kayaking, Canoeing and Rowing.

This is for the second time that Jammu and Kashmir Police has the privilege to host the event being held under the aegis of All India Police Water Sports Control Board.

This was stated at a high level meeting held here today at CID Headquarters to finalize the arrangements for holding the championship.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has always been in the forefront of promoting adventure sports, especially, water sports because of the natural advantages in the State , has in terms of its mountains, beautiful river valleys and vast expanses of water bodies.

Apart from creating a colorful spectacle for the locals as well as the visiting sports persons and tourists, this prestigious event would also contribute to the promotion of water sports in the country. Sports and games have always been an integral part of police traditions. These activities promote positive competition and enhance national integration. The championship will provide an excellent opportunity to the participants to demonstrate their professional skills and also create brotherhood among different states and central police forces personnel.

During the meeting, it was disclosed that 5-day championship will be inaugurate on June 2 at Dal Lake and will conclude on June 6.

For smooth and successful conduct of the championship, different committees have been constituted to perform the assigned tasks during the event. The committees constituted are organizing committee, reception, accommodation, transport, souvenir, printing and publicity, jury of appeal, and opening and closing committees.

The organizing committee will have 14 members. They include DGP (CID), Dr. Ashok Bhan, IGP, Jammu, Mr. K. Rajendra, IGP, (Headquarters), Mr. P. L. Gupta, IGP (Personnel), Mr. Ram Lubhaya, IGP Crime, Mr. S. M. Sahai, IGP, Home Guards, Mr. Dilbagh Singh, Director SSG, Raja Aijaz Ali, IGP Security, Mr. A. K. Gupta, IGP Traffic, Mr. M. A. Shah, IGP (Mod), Mr. Z. H. Chisti, IGP, Kashmir, Dr. B. Srinivas, IGP Police Housing Corporation, Mr. Ravinder Kotwal, IGP, Raialways, Mr. M. A. Anjum, and IGP (CID) Mr. Farooq Ahmed. Besides, Inspector General of Police (Armed), Sheikh Owais will be the Organizing Secretary of the Committee.

The Jury of Appeal will have 6 members. They are DGP (CID), IGP (Armed), J and K, Join Director IB, Principal PTS, Manigam, one member each from Rowing Association and Kayaking and Canoeing Association.

IGP Jammu Zone Mr. K. Reajendra will be the Chairman of the reception/accommodation committee at Jammu and IGP Kashmir, Dr. B. Srinivas will be the Chairman of a similar committee at Srinagar. The committee at Jammu will have 12 members and at Srinagar 10 members.

IGP, Security, Mr. A. K. Gupta will head the transport and security committee which will have 10 members.

Media Relations and Publicity Committee will be headed by IGP (CID), Mr. Farooq Ahmed, which will have 6 members.

IGP (Armed), Sheikh Owais will head the Opening, Closing and Hospitality Committee, having 11 members and IGP Crime, Mr. S. M. Sahai will head the Invitation, Souvenir and Printing Committee having 6 members.

Among other, the meeting was attended by IGP, (CID Headquarters ) J and K Mr. Farooq Ahmed, DIG (Armed), Mr. A. G. Mir, SSP (CID) Headquarters, Mr. Asrar Khan, Dy:.SP. PCR, Mr. Manoj Kumar Pandita, PRO to IGP, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Hakak and other police officers. (ANI)

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Kashmir boat rally to create awareness on water pollution

May 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 15 (ANI): A boat rally was held in Kashmir to make people aware of river pollution on Thursday.

Organized by the Tourism Department of the State in collaboration with the Rafting Association of Kashmir, the rally sought to persuade the people not throw polythene and other such polluting stuff into water bodies.

“These water bodies are the pride of our state. It is our duty to take care of these water bodies. We need people’s support in doing this. Government departments like the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Tourism Department, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority are all trying to protect these water bodies from pollution. We are trying stop the usage of polythene in our state,” said Farooq Shah, director of the state’s tourism department.

The participants in the rally said we want to tell the people that they should not pollute the river by throwing stuff like polythene.

Jhelum River, which originates from Vernag, 80 kilometres of Srinagar, runs through the city and ultimately drains into the Indus River in Pakistan.

Encroachments, most of them going on for decades, are choking the river.

A swift-flowing and muddy-looking river, Jhelum supports scores of families living in houseboats.

Apart from the houseboats, Jhelum is surrounded by many old monuments and settlements, which have altered the river’s natural environs. (ANI)

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Court stays Delhi plan to turn marshland into housing site

April 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday stayed a state government plan to convert two water bodies into land for residential projects in Jahangirpuri here.

Hearing a petition filed by voluntary organisation Tapas, Justices Mukul Mudgal and Vipin Sanghi stayed the order of Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta that said ‘the marshland in Jahangirpuri cannot be termed as a water body and the same shall be considered as per the land use plan of Master Plan Delhi 2021′.

The petition alleged that the state government wanted to convert one of the largest water bodies in north Delhi into a concrete jungle for residential purposes.

The state committee on water bodies headed by Mehta last year maintained that in the government’s revenue record nearly 100 of the 300 acre marshland in Jahangirpuri was ‘never a water body but ‘banjar kadim’ (land not fit for cultivation)’.

Taking exception, the court said, ‘The scope of authority vested in the chief secretary, as part of the nodal agency, is to make efforts for revival of water bodies. Prima facie, the scope of his authority did not include determining whether a particular water body exists or not.’

The court also issued a notice to the Delhi government to respond by the first week of May.

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A drive to rid Srinagar of polythene

April 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr 21 (ANI): The municipal corporation of Srinagar, in association with the Trader’s Federation, has launched a massive cleaning drive to make the city free of polythene.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) joined the people in the city in their endeavor to rid the city of the rampant menace of polythene and started their campaign from Dal Lake and collected polythene bags from the lake.

“We have taken this initiative to clean the area surrounding Nehru Park and Dal lake and other places so as to clean the environment,” said Sunil Kumar, a CRPF personnel.

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the survival of the lake where visitors from across the world once enjoyed the idyllic stillness of fresh waters surrounded by mountains.

The initiative has been appreciated by the residents.

“The effort CRPF has taken is well appreciated and polythene is a menace, which should be banned all over the world,” said Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

Mohammad Sadiq Bakal, President, Traders And Manufacturers Federation, said that they would ban the second grade polythene bags as they are more hazardous.

“We have decided to ban the second grade polythene bags with Municipal Corporation,” said Bakal.

Kashmir water bodies have been under a tremendous threat due to the growing pollution and some experts say that nothing is bigger than the polythene alone.

There are increasing concerns about the unabated use of polythene in the state, particularly among young generation but hitherto government particularly the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has failed to ban the polythene use in the state.

Environmentalists are worried over high growth of polythene waste among the garbage. Use of cheap polythene bags has picked up momentum in recent years in India. But polythene bags, which are not biologically degradable, pose aanger to the environment. By Afzal Butt (ANI)

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Anti-polythene drive in Srinagar

April 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr. 20 (ANI): The municipal corporation of Srinagar has launched a massive cleaning drive in association with the Trader’s Federation in a bid to make the city polythene free.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has joined the anti-polythene drive, and started their campaign from world famous Dal Lake by collecting polythene bags from the lake.

“We have taken this initiative to clean the area surrounding Nehru Park and Dal Lake and other places so as to clean the environment,” said Sunil Kumar, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the survival of the Dal Lake where visitors from across the world once enjoyed the idyllic stillness of fresh waters surrounded by cedar-laden Himalayan mountains.

The initiative is much appreciated by the locals, who say that such drive is a must.

“The effort they (CRPF) have taken is well appreciated and polythene is a menace, which should be banned all over the world,” said Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

Mohammad Sadiq Bakal, President, Traders And Manufacturers Federation, said that they would ban the second grade polythene bags, as they are more hazardous.

“We have decided to ban the second grade polythene bags with Municipal Corporation,” said Bakal.

Kashmir water bodies have been under a tremendous threat due to the growing pollution and some experts say that nothing is bigger than the polythene alone.

There are increasing concerns about the unabated use of polythene in the state, but Srinagar Municipal Corporation has failed to ban the polythene use in the state. (ANI)

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Lucknow zoo welcome kittens of rare fishing cat

April 14, 2009 By admin 1 Comment

Lucknow, Apr 14 (ANI): The zoological park at Lucknow welcomed with great ecstasy kittens of rare fishing cat and cares for them with utmost attention.

Barely a week old, the kittens were brought just two days ago to the zoo after their mother, reportedly, abandoned them in a jungle in the Terai belt.

And now the pretty tiny felines are being taken care of by the zoo staff members.

The diet happens to be goat’s milk.

According to Renu Singh, director of the zoo, in her decade long career, this is the first ever instance that she has seen the fishing cats and indeed she is elated at the rare addition.

“It’s a very rare variety and belongs to schedule I category. It’s an endangered species. The distributions of these cats are very less and are not found in many places. They are found in wet lands in the Terai belt,” said Renu.

Found mainly around the water bodies, marshy land, mangroves, fish is the main prey of this feline and hence named the fishing cat.

These cats have partial webs in its claws, which helps them to scoop out fish from the water easily. Interestingly, unlike the other cats which are allergic to water the fishing cats swim similar to the tigers.

The fishing cat is placed under schedule (I) of the Wildlife Protection Act, which makes them an endangered species. By Kamna athur (ANI)

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Battling the boom

April 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

A GROUP of anxious women peers down a 40-feet-deep well. It’s bone dry, just like the other one built nearby.

A steel company built the wells in Deojhar village last year as compensation for taking over the community water bodies for an iron ore plant. “We haven’t seen water in these wells all year,” says 30-something Kanika Naik, shading her face from the scorching sun.

“We have to fetch water from three kilometres away.” About 290 kilometres north of the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Deojhar in Keonjhar district is in the centre of the great mining rush that has fired India’s economic engine over the past five years.

India’s iron ore exports have surged to an all-time high of over 100 million tones a year, most of it feeding China’s steel plants, which in turn have kept world prices for minerals high. India also tripled its imports of steel, visible in the sleek facades of malls and apartment blocks across cities.

But while China has begun a national debate on the ecological costs of their economic growth, India isn’t there yet. The great boom in mining – companies pay a royalty to the state of Rs 26 per tonne of iron ore, selling it for over 100 times that, or an average of Rs 3,000 – means profits run into the crores.

And there is every incentive to ensure the rules don’t get in the way. The disregard is apparent in the 4-kilometre long queue of trucks headed out of the district via National Highway 215.

As they inch towards the state’s ports with their cargo of ore, they cause traffic jams that can last for days, freezing all other movement. But they continue to ply, despite a local administrative ban on their movement during the March school exams.

“It’s a classic loot-and-scoot scenario,” says chartered accountant-turned-environmentalist Biswajit Mohanty of the Wildlife Society of Orissa. “There is a mad rush for profit without any debate about the consequences.

” Keonjhar, for instance, is an overwhelmingly tribal district with several dense sal forests that are reserved and protected on paper. But officials have opened up close to 4,000 hectares of forest land for mining since 2000.

That’s more than the 3,200 hectares opened up in the previous 20 years. In a shabby Forest Department office, whose tables are piled high with more applications by mining companies, languid officials decline comment.

Using the Right to Information Act, Mohanty found that mining companies had bought vehicles for the Forest Department, ostensibly to be used to check on compensatory afforestation programmes. Only, the vehicles have never left the state capital.

“If you ride around in vehicles purchased by the mining companies, you have compromised your independence,” says Mohanty. As regulations fail, on the ground, individuals are left to fight a losing battle.

In a spare office at the district bar association, lawyer Sudhanshu Panda brings down files outlining alleged violations by mining companies – everything from plagiarised environmental impact reports to burning of forests to polluting of local rivers. Panda has filed over 100 cases, including several against rash driving that caused 645 road deaths in 2006.

“The mining boom has resulted in a total disregard for the rules,” he says. “There is money flying around and everyone wants a share.

” Back in Deojhar, farmer Sridhar Naik’s life typifies the mixed fallout of mining. His son works as a driver at a plant being set up in the area.

But Naik’s 2-acre farm has been rendered infertile because of the open dust from the mining around him. “Three years ago, the paddy crop just stopped growing,” he says, watching an army of JCBs eat into the hill above his fields.

“I have been a farmer all my life. Now I don’t know what to do.

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Nageen Lake to reclaim its glory soon

April 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr. 6 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir’s famed Nageen Lake is being cleaned under the conservation drive of Nageen Lake Conservation Organization, which is a forum of several voluntary bodies.

NLCO that started its cleaning drive on March 31 has reached in its sixth day.

“NLCO and others have started this drive here. It has been six days. And we have taken out a lot of polythene. It has been six days. Today people from NLCO and SMC were also here. We have done a lot of cleaning,” Jan Mohamed a volunteer in the drive said.

Kashmir has a number of lakes and water bodies, which are getting polluted due to constant dumping of non-degradable polythene and other waste materials.

Srinagar Municipality Corporation (SMC) is also participating in the campaign.

“The real motive was to make the people aware. Many of our water bodies are almost dead. Mansbal Lake, Pokribal and a few others are almost gone. So we started this programme to save Nageen. All of us have got together in this drive,” observed Manzoor Ahmad Wagnoo, President, NLCO, Srinagar.

Dal Lake and Nageen Lake are Kashmir valley’s main tourist attraction.

NLCO’s initiative will not only help these lakes to regain their past glory, but help make people aware of the need to keep the lakes clean.

A large number of school children and some locals also took part in the drive showing their spirit for conserving the water bodies.

Tourism is the major source of income and employment generation in Kashmir valley. By: Afzal Bhatt (ANI)

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Suspected virus kills a score of Peacock in Indore

March 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Navda Pandha (MP), Mar 25 (ANI): Around twenty peacocks have died at a village near Mhow in Indore following outbreak of suspected virus.

Ten peacocks were found dead at Navda Pandha village while ten more dead peacocks were located in other parts of Indore distrct.

However, the concerned authorities claimed to have saved the lives of two peacocks by rushing them to the Government Veterinary College, Mhow.

Reportedly, these two peacocks are now out of danger.

A post mortem is being conducted on all the birds to determine the exact cause of the peacocks death.

“We are conducting the post mortem and once it is done on all the birds, then only we can come to any conclusion,” said Dr. D K Garg, Professor of Pathology, Veterinary College, Mhow.

According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Indore Range, consequent to this mishap, a close eye is being kept on birds and the water bodies have been chemically treated to prevent any virus from spreading.

“I went to the same village again and another case of peacock death has been reported, which means that the virus is still among the birds. We then added certain antibiotics in the water to prevent the peacock from dying further,” said L Krishnamurthy, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Indore Range.

Meanwhile, it is believed that symptoms of Raniketh (an avian disease) have been found in some of the birds. (ANI)

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Uttarakhand forest rangers get trained to counter poachers

March 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Haldwani (Uttarakhand), Mar 11 (ANI): The Chief Conservator of Forests in Uttarakhand has equipped local rangers and other field staff with night vision cameras and other hi-tech security-cum-communication gadgets to save animals from poachers.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of incidents of poaching in recent times.

This has prompted the Government to protect priceless flora and fauna in the state.

The frontline forest staff headed by the Rangers are being taught how to use the latest gadgets to counter poaching. They have been given a first hand account of the tactics of the jungle mafia and the traps laid by poachers to catch tigers, leopards and elephants.

Parag Madhukar, Divisional Forest Officer of Terai Range said: “We are increasing the efficiency of the staff by training them to use the latest gadgets. Some of the techniques include patrolling the water bodies using motorboats. Forest staff has also been trained how to use the latest metal detectors.”

Uttarakhand has 13.42 percent of its land declared as protected areas wherein a variety of fascinating wildlife such as the golden mahseer, Himalayan monal, the Great Hornbill, Himalayan musk deer, elephants and the majestic felines like the tiger and the snow leopards reside.

Besides, numerous species of reptiles including the king cobra can be seen in the lush green forests here.

The step of updating the forest rangers and field staff with the latest technology is expected to go a long way in saving endangered species. By Vipul Goel (ANI)

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