While, the nation is celebrating increase in the tiger population, the environmentalists and experts are not ready to buy the theory, claiming that the figures announced by the government can be challenged on various levels.
“The entire exercise is nothing but eyewash. The very procedure to estimate tiger population in the country is faulty. The estimated figure of 1706 which shows an increase of 295 tigers over last year, can be challenged on various levels,” said Nitin Desai, central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). He also challenged the extrapolation theory adopted by the officials to arrive to the conclusion. According to the extrapolation theory, the tiger population in a designated area with camera traps is used as base to determine the same in another near identical area. Tiger population in one area can not be the basis of calculating the same in other area, Desai says.
The another major issue in the entire exercise, according to Desai, is malfunctioning of around 300 out of 500 camera traps used across the country. “It is serious issue that these many camera traps malfunctioned during the process. Though they were replaced, one can not be sure about the results produced at the end,” Desai said.
Sources said that around 60 cameras installed in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) malfunctioned during the pre-monsoon camera trapping. Similarly, eight camera traps at Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolhapur district were not working for over a week. “If this was the state of affairs in celebrated tiger reserves like TATR, less is better for other areas. Even a considerable portion, where there is considerable tiger population, of TATR was not covered. We fail to understand that how the tiger population in Tadoba landscape went down to 60 this year from 92 during the last census,” Desai said. As far as Maharashtra is concerned, the ground level staff at the forest department is ill equipped to undertake such an exercise. There are all possibilities of wrong data having provided by them which was ultimately used as basis for the further estimation. The core issues such as protection and relocation of villages from forests remain neglected, he said.
According to Debi Goenka, executive trustee of Conservation Action Trust, “There are various short comings in the census methodology. Apart from camera trap malfunctioning, the basic issue remains that the state government data can not be considered authentic for such a massive exercise.” Above all, the estimation of tiger population in non protected areas remains a major concern.
“The total number of tigers has gone up obviously because the area covered during this census is more than double that was covered last year. Moreover, many areas like Sahyadri Tiger Reserve have been added recently,” Desai said. According to Bittu Sahgal, editor Sanctuary magazine and member, national board for wildlife, the new figure represents a course correction over the last enumeration when several large tiger landscapes could not be assessed. “The loss of 20,000 sq kms of tiger habitat is the real story and is more critical to the future of tiger than any periodic ups and downs in numbers. Also that many habitats that we had hoped tigers would move into using corridors we are working protect are being wiped out,” Sahgal said. Nevertheless, many source populations have indeed been well protected and for this due credit must go to the field staff for the rise in tiger numbers. But overall the future of even such populations is more threatened than ever before because lands surrounding natal areas are being rapidly converted to agriculture, mines, dams, roads and other uses that render the habitat unsuitable for tigers. We have less money to protect tigers against the wildlife trade, while budgets to exploit coal and iron ore from tiger habitats have gone up. This will have the effect of wiping even more tiger habitats out, which will inevitably push tiger numbers down permanently, Sahgal feels.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
After Great Indian Bustard (Maldhok), its Owl's turn......... long live human greed!!
Man is considered to be the most intelligent of all the species ever evolved on this planet. The human intelligence is proved by various researches and developments achieved till date. But at the same times, I feel that all the intellect and common sense of self proclaimed intelligence of man goes for a toss when people strive for flesh, bones, organs and even blood of other animals and birds. The so-called status symbol to have a wildlife trophy in the drawing room, consume flesh of birds as aphrodisiac and some birds as pets to ward off evil.
I always wonder, if sparrow had that great sexual abilities to enhance those in humans, why is it in danger today? Why the bird is not able to cope with dwindling numbers due to threat from other birds and animals? And people consume flesh of male sparrow to increase their sexual power!
Similarly, if owl had abilities to ward off evil, it would have never fallen prey to poachers. The recent investigation by TRAFFIC the NGO working to eliminate wildlife trade, the bird is sold for as high as Rs 80,000 to Rs 3 lakh. Ironically, Nagpur, the tiger capital of India has become the hub of illicit trade. According to WPSI Nagpur and Raipur, being close to Satpura range, are the main centres of owl trade. Mominpura is the centre of trade in Nagpur, which attracts several buyers and sellers of the bird. Majority of the sellers are tribals who have made it their main source of earning. The bird is in really high demand for the powers it never had. The black magicians – the main culprits have been taking undue advantages of hidden fear among people to fill their coffers and the poor, helpless bird is at the receiving end. The situation has come to a point of almost no return with inclusion of the bird in the list of endangered species including tiger.
I am really looking forward to the day when one of these animals will evolve to the capacity to teach humans a lesson for their deeds. Amen!
I always wonder, if sparrow had that great sexual abilities to enhance those in humans, why is it in danger today? Why the bird is not able to cope with dwindling numbers due to threat from other birds and animals? And people consume flesh of male sparrow to increase their sexual power!
Similarly, if owl had abilities to ward off evil, it would have never fallen prey to poachers. The recent investigation by TRAFFIC the NGO working to eliminate wildlife trade, the bird is sold for as high as Rs 80,000 to Rs 3 lakh. Ironically, Nagpur, the tiger capital of India has become the hub of illicit trade. According to WPSI Nagpur and Raipur, being close to Satpura range, are the main centres of owl trade. Mominpura is the centre of trade in Nagpur, which attracts several buyers and sellers of the bird. Majority of the sellers are tribals who have made it their main source of earning. The bird is in really high demand for the powers it never had. The black magicians – the main culprits have been taking undue advantages of hidden fear among people to fill their coffers and the poor, helpless bird is at the receiving end. The situation has come to a point of almost no return with inclusion of the bird in the list of endangered species including tiger.
I am really looking forward to the day when one of these animals will evolve to the capacity to teach humans a lesson for their deeds. Amen!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tribute to Great Indian Bustard!!!
The inevitable has happened. Man has hit the last nail in the coffin of yet another species. After enormous species of plants, animals, birds and insects, human greed has pushed Great Indian Bustard to the point of no return. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and BirdLife International has listed the bird as critically endangered. It will also feature in September 2011 issue of Red List, the book of critically endangered species.
The bird found in India and Pakistan only had very few places it could call home. Unlike other animals and birds, the GIB had only six places in entire India as his ‘official’ home, always under threat. The places included few protected areas in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The number of the bird had been drastically declining since 1980, from 1500-2000, it came down to 300 in 2010.
Let’s hope that the ‘up-gradation’ of the status of GIB prompts the policy makers to take steps to protect the bird! This is high time that government acted to protect the bird and started a conservation programme for it on the lines of Project Tiger. Unfortunately, one can not expect any such decision from the policy makers who cut down the funds allocated to Project Tiger, leaving the national animal to the mercy of God!
Till the end of 2010, the GIB was listed as endangered because of its fragmented population. As is the case of extinction of all the species, except humans, hunting and habitat destruction have played a pivotal role in threat to very existence of the bird. The bird has lost its territory to cultivation, use of pesticide to a dangerous level.
The experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), after thorough study of the habitat proposed that the GIB should be upgraded to critically endangered category.
The population of the adult birds has drastically declined from 21 in 2009 to mere nine in 2010 in the bustard sanctuary at Nannaj in Solapur district of Maharashtra. Hunting remains one of the major reasons for the decline in numbers as people take pride in boasting of hunting the bird. The breeding of the bird completely stopped in the sanctuary due to habitat destruction.
The bird found in India and Pakistan only had very few places it could call home. Unlike other animals and birds, the GIB had only six places in entire India as his ‘official’ home, always under threat. The places included few protected areas in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The number of the bird had been drastically declining since 1980, from 1500-2000, it came down to 300 in 2010.
Let’s hope that the ‘up-gradation’ of the status of GIB prompts the policy makers to take steps to protect the bird! This is high time that government acted to protect the bird and started a conservation programme for it on the lines of Project Tiger. Unfortunately, one can not expect any such decision from the policy makers who cut down the funds allocated to Project Tiger, leaving the national animal to the mercy of God!
Till the end of 2010, the GIB was listed as endangered because of its fragmented population. As is the case of extinction of all the species, except humans, hunting and habitat destruction have played a pivotal role in threat to very existence of the bird. The bird has lost its territory to cultivation, use of pesticide to a dangerous level.
The experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), after thorough study of the habitat proposed that the GIB should be upgraded to critically endangered category.
The population of the adult birds has drastically declined from 21 in 2009 to mere nine in 2010 in the bustard sanctuary at Nannaj in Solapur district of Maharashtra. Hunting remains one of the major reasons for the decline in numbers as people take pride in boasting of hunting the bird. The breeding of the bird completely stopped in the sanctuary due to habitat destruction.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sand Mafia in MMR
After the brutal murder of Yashvant Sonavane, additional district collector, by oil mafia, the illicit trade and heinous political nexus hit the head lines. Though the government cracked down on the mafia and arrested hundreds of people involved in the trade, senior officials and environmentalists feel that it’s just a tip of iceberg.
Like oil mafia, the sand mafia operational in Thane district is yet another major issue which needs to be strictly dealt with. Every creek in Thane district is today controlled by sand mafia and the administration has turned a blind eye to the blatant violation for obvious reasons. Dozens of dredgers are operating in the creeks in the district and several thousand truck loads of sand is being excavated illegally every day. According to an estimate around 50,000 tones of sand is being illegally excavated in Thane district daily which is supplied to several construction projects going on in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai including Raigad. Thane district has emerged as a major hub of illegal sand dredging as all the major construction activities are centred in the region. The Vasai creek along Ghodbunder Road in Thane is the centre of illegal sand dredging which is going on unabated due to the political patronage.
The sand dredging has become illegal especially after the recent amendment in CRZ notification which has banned excavation up to 12 nautical miles seawards. Even the Bombay High Court had completely banned large scale mechanised sand excavation. The sand excavation has only become worst in the name of shortage. It is just a gimmick to earn more money since it is a highly lucrative business. Mechanised sand dredging is going on uncontrolled in the areas like Vasai, Virar, Thane,Thakurli Bunder in Kalyan, Mumbra creek, Navi Mumbai and Raigad district. The cases of threatening and assaulting people who oppose them are reported regularly. Hundreds of truck loads of sand illegally excavated from the creeks and rivers in the district is being sent to various construction sites in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai everyday, the official said. Though officials take action against the culprits regularly, it is not sufficient. Nothing can be done without adequate support from the government. More than 600 sand trucks could be doing daily trip from the creeks in Palghar, Vasai, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Thane talukas to various construction sites.
As far as sand business in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is considered, daily income of a handful of locally influential leaders runs into several lakhs of rupees everyday. The anti social elements have grown larger than life with the political patronage they enjoy. The sand mafia in the state are directly connected to the political leaders. All the political leaders having influence in their areas, irrespective of their parties, support sand mafia. The sand mafia is hardly scared of police since their business is controlled by revenue department. Even in revenue department, officials on the posts of circle inspector and above are in their direct contact. As far as Mumbai Metropolitan Region is concerned, influential leaders in respective areas support the illegal sand excavation business. Those in the business have even become strong political leaders.
According to sources, the current rates of sand are in the range of Rs 8000 to Rs 12000 per brass. One brass comprises four ton. Going by the calculation the cost of a truck load of sand costs in the range of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 if considered that a truck carries 20 ton sand.
One in every five sand trucks entering Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane is unloaded at the sand depots owned by locally influential political leader. The scale of the benefit these leaders are getting can be gauged by the fact that around 15000 truck loads of sand is the daily requirement of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Some political leaders influential in sand rich areas of Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Raigad district are earning in the range of Rs 150,00,000 everyday. Even if we consider at least one political leader from five sand rich areas in MMR, each leader is earning a whooping Rs 30,000 lakh per day.
The sand mafia in the state is confident of all the protection for their political bosses. Several Congress and NCP leaders are shielding these people.
Honest officials are harassed by sand mafia and their political fathers to such an extent that one has to even face fabricated charges even like molestation. When some official shows courage to take action against sand mafia, there is no support from the government. Such officials are systematically thrown out and transferred to remote areas and non-executive postings.
Like oil mafia, the sand mafia operational in Thane district is yet another major issue which needs to be strictly dealt with. Every creek in Thane district is today controlled by sand mafia and the administration has turned a blind eye to the blatant violation for obvious reasons. Dozens of dredgers are operating in the creeks in the district and several thousand truck loads of sand is being excavated illegally every day. According to an estimate around 50,000 tones of sand is being illegally excavated in Thane district daily which is supplied to several construction projects going on in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai including Raigad. Thane district has emerged as a major hub of illegal sand dredging as all the major construction activities are centred in the region. The Vasai creek along Ghodbunder Road in Thane is the centre of illegal sand dredging which is going on unabated due to the political patronage.
The sand dredging has become illegal especially after the recent amendment in CRZ notification which has banned excavation up to 12 nautical miles seawards. Even the Bombay High Court had completely banned large scale mechanised sand excavation. The sand excavation has only become worst in the name of shortage. It is just a gimmick to earn more money since it is a highly lucrative business. Mechanised sand dredging is going on uncontrolled in the areas like Vasai, Virar, Thane,Thakurli Bunder in Kalyan, Mumbra creek, Navi Mumbai and Raigad district. The cases of threatening and assaulting people who oppose them are reported regularly. Hundreds of truck loads of sand illegally excavated from the creeks and rivers in the district is being sent to various construction sites in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai everyday, the official said. Though officials take action against the culprits regularly, it is not sufficient. Nothing can be done without adequate support from the government. More than 600 sand trucks could be doing daily trip from the creeks in Palghar, Vasai, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Thane talukas to various construction sites.
As far as sand business in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is considered, daily income of a handful of locally influential leaders runs into several lakhs of rupees everyday. The anti social elements have grown larger than life with the political patronage they enjoy. The sand mafia in the state are directly connected to the political leaders. All the political leaders having influence in their areas, irrespective of their parties, support sand mafia. The sand mafia is hardly scared of police since their business is controlled by revenue department. Even in revenue department, officials on the posts of circle inspector and above are in their direct contact. As far as Mumbai Metropolitan Region is concerned, influential leaders in respective areas support the illegal sand excavation business. Those in the business have even become strong political leaders.
According to sources, the current rates of sand are in the range of Rs 8000 to Rs 12000 per brass. One brass comprises four ton. Going by the calculation the cost of a truck load of sand costs in the range of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 if considered that a truck carries 20 ton sand.
One in every five sand trucks entering Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane is unloaded at the sand depots owned by locally influential political leader. The scale of the benefit these leaders are getting can be gauged by the fact that around 15000 truck loads of sand is the daily requirement of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Some political leaders influential in sand rich areas of Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Raigad district are earning in the range of Rs 150,00,000 everyday. Even if we consider at least one political leader from five sand rich areas in MMR, each leader is earning a whooping Rs 30,000 lakh per day.
The sand mafia in the state is confident of all the protection for their political bosses. Several Congress and NCP leaders are shielding these people.
Honest officials are harassed by sand mafia and their political fathers to such an extent that one has to even face fabricated charges even like molestation. When some official shows courage to take action against sand mafia, there is no support from the government. Such officials are systematically thrown out and transferred to remote areas and non-executive postings.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Aurangabad police or Afghanistan police (Read Taliban)
The inspector general, Aurangabad Range finally submitted the preliminary report on Harshawardhan Jadhav thrashing, sought more time for further investigations and final report. And once again it is proved that police officials are shielding their clan and honourable Home minister RR Patil who claims to punish the guilty has found himself helpless as ever.
Ironically, the media has completed the investigations and has even reported that PI Kokne who had old revelry with Jadhav was instrumental in the brutal thrashing which can only be compared to Taliban.
The honourable, self proclaimed clean, honest and upright Home minister of the state, made tall assurances as usual after the incident. And as usual, nothing concrete will come out. Not a single officer will ever be punished. This is the track record of beloved RR Aaba.
The police brutality to this extent is new to the state and shocking for common man. If people’s representatives are not safe in the state, are we – common men of the state – really safe?? The answer is no. Jadhav thrashing is just a tip of ice berg. Similar incidents are taking place every day across the state. Inebriated police constables abused and thrashed three youths who were eating at a road side eatery in Navi Mumbai last week. The youths lodged complaints with the CP, DGP and beloved RR Aaba. Nothing has been done till date.
If the recent incidents are any indications, it is clear as sun light that beloved RR Aaba has completely lost control on the police department. A senior inspector dares to break open a flat sealed by Bombay High Court to rape a minor and then remains untraceable for considerable period of time till he is found dead near railway track, a PSI illegally detains a lady abetting her suicide in custody and remains untraceable for over five days, five to six police officers including lady officers brutally thrash a MLA and still no offence against them. Beloved RR Aaba, if you happen to read can I hope for some action from you? It is altogether a different case to expect strict action from a Home minister who was terrified to the core when Kasab and Co was on rampage in the city. I want to ask you a question Aaba. Did your self proclaimed efficient and brave police officials even slap Kasab after he was arrested for killing thousands of innocent people and three really dare devil police officials? Do they have that much courage? But I am sure that your brave police officers dared to brutally thrash Jadhav because they know that you can not act against them.
Ironically, the media has completed the investigations and has even reported that PI Kokne who had old revelry with Jadhav was instrumental in the brutal thrashing which can only be compared to Taliban.
The honourable, self proclaimed clean, honest and upright Home minister of the state, made tall assurances as usual after the incident. And as usual, nothing concrete will come out. Not a single officer will ever be punished. This is the track record of beloved RR Aaba.
The police brutality to this extent is new to the state and shocking for common man. If people’s representatives are not safe in the state, are we – common men of the state – really safe?? The answer is no. Jadhav thrashing is just a tip of ice berg. Similar incidents are taking place every day across the state. Inebriated police constables abused and thrashed three youths who were eating at a road side eatery in Navi Mumbai last week. The youths lodged complaints with the CP, DGP and beloved RR Aaba. Nothing has been done till date.
If the recent incidents are any indications, it is clear as sun light that beloved RR Aaba has completely lost control on the police department. A senior inspector dares to break open a flat sealed by Bombay High Court to rape a minor and then remains untraceable for considerable period of time till he is found dead near railway track, a PSI illegally detains a lady abetting her suicide in custody and remains untraceable for over five days, five to six police officers including lady officers brutally thrash a MLA and still no offence against them. Beloved RR Aaba, if you happen to read can I hope for some action from you? It is altogether a different case to expect strict action from a Home minister who was terrified to the core when Kasab and Co was on rampage in the city. I want to ask you a question Aaba. Did your self proclaimed efficient and brave police officials even slap Kasab after he was arrested for killing thousands of innocent people and three really dare devil police officials? Do they have that much courage? But I am sure that your brave police officers dared to brutally thrash Jadhav because they know that you can not act against them.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
RTI - Right To Information or to get killed????
Anna Hajare should once again go on fast. Here is a classical reason for this. The near fatal assault on RTI activist from Lonawala Arun Mane and the murder of five others over last one year or so.
Though Mane later withdrew his complaint and filed an affidavit saying that it was a fake attack and he had lost mental balance, it does not end the matter. In my opinion, Mane must be under tremendous pressure from the people he was fighting against which forced him to withdraw the complaint. The reason, why I think so is that Mane and his friend Suresh Shetty, who was murdered some months back, had sought some information about land deals involving a corporate house close to Nationalist Congress Party leadership. So, it is quite possible that the party which holds the Home ministry and controls the police force of entire state must have found its friends in serious trouble due the information sought by the RTI activists.
Given the track record of NCP leadership, there are all possibilities of involvement of top leaders in misappropriations in the deals on which Shetty and Mane had sought information about. The situation in the state during the regimen of RR Patil as home minister has been going from bad to worse. Every other crime is committed by NCP men. Let it be murder of Pavanraje Nimbalkar, where a NCP leader had allegedly reached the spot even before local police, or rape and subsequent murder of a married lady near Hinjwadi in Pune or the alleged rape and robbery of a class one lady officer on Pune – Ahmadnagar road. In all these cases, NCP has found its way to the culprits.
Are we heading the UP or Bihar way??
Though Mane later withdrew his complaint and filed an affidavit saying that it was a fake attack and he had lost mental balance, it does not end the matter. In my opinion, Mane must be under tremendous pressure from the people he was fighting against which forced him to withdraw the complaint. The reason, why I think so is that Mane and his friend Suresh Shetty, who was murdered some months back, had sought some information about land deals involving a corporate house close to Nationalist Congress Party leadership. So, it is quite possible that the party which holds the Home ministry and controls the police force of entire state must have found its friends in serious trouble due the information sought by the RTI activists.
Given the track record of NCP leadership, there are all possibilities of involvement of top leaders in misappropriations in the deals on which Shetty and Mane had sought information about. The situation in the state during the regimen of RR Patil as home minister has been going from bad to worse. Every other crime is committed by NCP men. Let it be murder of Pavanraje Nimbalkar, where a NCP leader had allegedly reached the spot even before local police, or rape and subsequent murder of a married lady near Hinjwadi in Pune or the alleged rape and robbery of a class one lady officer on Pune – Ahmadnagar road. In all these cases, NCP has found its way to the culprits.
Are we heading the UP or Bihar way??
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Navi Mumbai Airport!!!!
After approvals to Navi Mumbai International Airport and Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, the state has suddenly hit the international headlines. A welcome decision from congestion at Mumbai airport and acute power shortage in the state – point of view.
For both the projects, there is support and opposition, as it is in case of any such project. The government has finally had its way in both the projects but the policy makers seem to have ignored the long term effects of these projects. It is a fact that the state needs both the projects. But at what cost? As environmentalists say, both the projects will turn out to be death nails.
The city needs an airport that can carry 1 million passengers. The second airport at Navi Mumbai will meet the needs, as they say it. But the Prafull Patel and Co has completely ignored the possible environmental conditions by the time the airport is ready for actual take off and landing. Given the sea level rise and uninterrupted environmental degradation, there are all possibilities that the sea level will rise to the level of run way which will eventually gulp it. The experts feel that this will happen in next three decades and once it happens, the airport will be rendered useless. That means Rs 16,000 crore to be spent on the project will virtually go in water.
Another aspect of the airport is that the unavoidable effects on Matheran and Elephanta Caves. The flights landing and taking off from the airport will certainly have massive effect on these places. Matheran will lose its identity as hill station and Elephanta Caves face a threat to its very existence. Even if, we manage to save these places, what about the fact that the entire infrastructure would be rendered useless when it would really be needed by the country and state?
For both the projects, there is support and opposition, as it is in case of any such project. The government has finally had its way in both the projects but the policy makers seem to have ignored the long term effects of these projects. It is a fact that the state needs both the projects. But at what cost? As environmentalists say, both the projects will turn out to be death nails.
The city needs an airport that can carry 1 million passengers. The second airport at Navi Mumbai will meet the needs, as they say it. But the Prafull Patel and Co has completely ignored the possible environmental conditions by the time the airport is ready for actual take off and landing. Given the sea level rise and uninterrupted environmental degradation, there are all possibilities that the sea level will rise to the level of run way which will eventually gulp it. The experts feel that this will happen in next three decades and once it happens, the airport will be rendered useless. That means Rs 16,000 crore to be spent on the project will virtually go in water.
Another aspect of the airport is that the unavoidable effects on Matheran and Elephanta Caves. The flights landing and taking off from the airport will certainly have massive effect on these places. Matheran will lose its identity as hill station and Elephanta Caves face a threat to its very existence. Even if, we manage to save these places, what about the fact that the entire infrastructure would be rendered useless when it would really be needed by the country and state?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
