Monday, April 28, 2008
To be built over an area of 452 ha., it will help create awareness about the importance of mangrovesWith the state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute announcing the world’s largest mangrove wetland centre in the city on Saturday, environmentalists have reason to celebrate.The Conservation Action Trust will develop the centre in association with the state forest department.The centre, first in India, is the brainchild of the trust and a result of the efforts of Vivek Kulkarni of Conservation Action Trust. It will be developed over 452 hectares at Bhandup along Eastern Express Highway.“Mumbai cannot survive without mangroves. Despite their importance, mangrove forests are being neglected by a majority of the population. The centre aims to reach out to every resident of the city and increase awareness on the importance of mangroves,” said Debi Goenka of Conservation Action Trust. The centre would not just be an educational hub. It will have recreational value as well, Goenka added. The centre would be ready in next three years, he said.The project also aims at providing employment to local people. “The success of a project depends on the support and involvement of local people. We have decided to involve local fisher folk in activities related to the centre, such as being a guide to the visitors,” said Kulkarni.The key features of the centre include state-of-the-art visitor centre, orientation centre, information hubs, nature trails, bird ponds, boat rides, flamingo watch and curriculum based education modules and exhibits for children.“The idea was conceived in 2001 with the objectives of mangrove protection by involving locals and to provide recreational space to Mumbaikars,” Kulkarni said. In all, 22 ponds would be developed to attract different kinds of birds, he said.“Every year, around 1.5 million migratory birds visit the area. Over 200 species have been recorded from here,” Kulkarni said. Birds like flamingos, Ibis, Openbill Stork, Brahmani Duck, Teal, Steppe Eagle and Imperial Eagle visit the area.“The centre is being developed on the lines of the Hong Kong Wetland Centre,” Kulkarni said. There are two mangrove wetland centres in the world - one at Hong Kong and the other at Singapore. The area of these centres is 80 acres and 60 hectares respectively.Romulus Whitaker, the man who developed Crocodile Park in Chennai, will provide guidance on the species of reptiles found in the area, Kulkarni said. “We aim to include Thane creek under the Ramsal Convention for Wetlands, which was signed by 140 countries, including India, in 1971 to save wetlands all over the world,” he said.
Enviornmental awareness has grown over the years. But do enough people put it into practice in their daily lives? Do adults care enough to change their lifeforbiddens? Or is it up to our children to save the planet? Ashwin Aghor reports
MUMBAI: Preserving the environment has been a hotly discussed issue for some time now. The implications of global warming and climate change have taken centre stage on the agenda of every environmentalist. These environmentalists have been trying hard to create awareness among the general public about the dangers that our planet faces.
Rajesh Sachdev from Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation feels that though people are enthusiastic about environmental issues, they hardly know about the environment.
?People have the least idea about the environment, specially the coast and the forests around Mumbai,? says Sachdev. He feels that the only way to bring about a change is to keep reminding people about the importance of the environment.Abhijit Avaslekar, technical officer in the research and development wing of Asian Paints and a birder, feels that the situation has worsened in the past decade. ?Rampant tree cutting is causing irreparable damage to environment, which is a serious cause for concern,? says Avaslekar. ?Despite efforts by environmentalists and NGOs, awareness is not to the required level.?
The civic administration seems to be least bothered about the environment. That much is evident from the number of old trees that the city has lost, and is losing, to the rapid construction and developmental activities. Land sharks are eyeing land with thick green cover and have been getting the requisite approvals from the civic administration.
This has come as a major blow to the efforts of the environmentalists. To top it all, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is ready with its plan to ?modernise? the 150-year-old Jijamata Udyan, which, environmentalists say, will entail the destruction of several old trees.
The mindless development that has taken place, especially over the past five years, has severely affected the city?s green cover. Though there may be a quantitative increase in the green cover, the city has suffered hugely on the qualitative front.
All native trees have fallen prey to development and been replaced by exotic trees. ?The exotic trees that are planted all over the city for compensating the loss due to development are nothing but an eyewash,? says naturalist Sunjoy Monga. "These trees are of no use to the ecosystem and the city."
The exotic trees, also known as avenue trees, have undoubtedly added to the beauty of the locality, but they neither attract birds nor insects. According to experts, these trees actually create problems for the ecosystem. Due to their speed of growth, they absorb huge nutrients from the soil, thereby degrading it. As they grow rapidly, their lifespan is shorter, but their rate of decomposition is slow. Moreover, these trees are of no use as wood.
?The Sanjay Gandhi National Park and government lands like Navy Nagar are the last hope for native trees in the city,? says Monga.
The city has also lost a considerable amount of mangrove cover to development. The mangroves, which serve as a barrier between the sea and land, are most vulnerable as they are difficult to replant.
Even the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is considered the city?s biggest lung, is facing the heat. With encroachments and habitat destruction, the forest has come under severe threat. Uncontrolled encroachment in areas like Malad, Goregaon, and Aarey Milk Colony have caused enormous loss of green cover.
Political interference in the removal of encroachments from Sanjay Gandhi National Park has worsened the situation. ?The state government lacks the political will to clear encroachments from the national park,? says Debi Goenka of the Conservation Action Trust. ?The future of the city is being ruined for short-term gains, that too for politicians and the land mafia.?
Rapid development over the past few years has definitely robbed the city of some of its finest endemic and old giant trees and several splendid exotic trees such as the baobab. ?Any species, be it flora or fauna, that vanishes from any region, including the city, is a permanent loss, which is almost impossible to repair,? says Monga.
?Though environmental awareness has increased over the past two decades, no significant justice has been served to the environment,? says Dr Anish Andheria, chief naturalist from Kids for Tigers.
The silver lining is that more and more youngsters are taking up environmental studies and playing a pivotal role in saving the future. Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have taken up the task and started roping in schoolchildren for various environmental activities. NGOs like Kids for Tigers, Young Rangers, and Young Environmentalists, have been successful in effectively involving children in activities to save the environment.
These NGOs conduct activities like nature trails, planting trees and saving existing ones, saving forests, and wildlife contests, which have become a regular feature at many schools in the city. Schools have also encouraged these activities. As a result, there has been a tremendous growth in environmental awareness among schoolchildren. ?Children not only understand the problem, but also adopt preventive measures quickly as compared to adults,? says Monga.
Andheria says youngsters are the only hope as adults are a lost cause. ?The city will be worst hit by climate change and the ever degrading environment,? he says
MUMBAI: Preserving the environment has been a hotly discussed issue for some time now. The implications of global warming and climate change have taken centre stage on the agenda of every environmentalist. These environmentalists have been trying hard to create awareness among the general public about the dangers that our planet faces.
Rajesh Sachdev from Wild Mumbai Nature Conservation feels that though people are enthusiastic about environmental issues, they hardly know about the environment.
?People have the least idea about the environment, specially the coast and the forests around Mumbai,? says Sachdev. He feels that the only way to bring about a change is to keep reminding people about the importance of the environment.Abhijit Avaslekar, technical officer in the research and development wing of Asian Paints and a birder, feels that the situation has worsened in the past decade. ?Rampant tree cutting is causing irreparable damage to environment, which is a serious cause for concern,? says Avaslekar. ?Despite efforts by environmentalists and NGOs, awareness is not to the required level.?
The civic administration seems to be least bothered about the environment. That much is evident from the number of old trees that the city has lost, and is losing, to the rapid construction and developmental activities. Land sharks are eyeing land with thick green cover and have been getting the requisite approvals from the civic administration.
This has come as a major blow to the efforts of the environmentalists. To top it all, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is ready with its plan to ?modernise? the 150-year-old Jijamata Udyan, which, environmentalists say, will entail the destruction of several old trees.
The mindless development that has taken place, especially over the past five years, has severely affected the city?s green cover. Though there may be a quantitative increase in the green cover, the city has suffered hugely on the qualitative front.
All native trees have fallen prey to development and been replaced by exotic trees. ?The exotic trees that are planted all over the city for compensating the loss due to development are nothing but an eyewash,? says naturalist Sunjoy Monga. "These trees are of no use to the ecosystem and the city."
The exotic trees, also known as avenue trees, have undoubtedly added to the beauty of the locality, but they neither attract birds nor insects. According to experts, these trees actually create problems for the ecosystem. Due to their speed of growth, they absorb huge nutrients from the soil, thereby degrading it. As they grow rapidly, their lifespan is shorter, but their rate of decomposition is slow. Moreover, these trees are of no use as wood.
?The Sanjay Gandhi National Park and government lands like Navy Nagar are the last hope for native trees in the city,? says Monga.
The city has also lost a considerable amount of mangrove cover to development. The mangroves, which serve as a barrier between the sea and land, are most vulnerable as they are difficult to replant.
Even the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is considered the city?s biggest lung, is facing the heat. With encroachments and habitat destruction, the forest has come under severe threat. Uncontrolled encroachment in areas like Malad, Goregaon, and Aarey Milk Colony have caused enormous loss of green cover.
Political interference in the removal of encroachments from Sanjay Gandhi National Park has worsened the situation. ?The state government lacks the political will to clear encroachments from the national park,? says Debi Goenka of the Conservation Action Trust. ?The future of the city is being ruined for short-term gains, that too for politicians and the land mafia.?
Rapid development over the past few years has definitely robbed the city of some of its finest endemic and old giant trees and several splendid exotic trees such as the baobab. ?Any species, be it flora or fauna, that vanishes from any region, including the city, is a permanent loss, which is almost impossible to repair,? says Monga.
?Though environmental awareness has increased over the past two decades, no significant justice has been served to the environment,? says Dr Anish Andheria, chief naturalist from Kids for Tigers.
The silver lining is that more and more youngsters are taking up environmental studies and playing a pivotal role in saving the future. Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have taken up the task and started roping in schoolchildren for various environmental activities. NGOs like Kids for Tigers, Young Rangers, and Young Environmentalists, have been successful in effectively involving children in activities to save the environment.
These NGOs conduct activities like nature trails, planting trees and saving existing ones, saving forests, and wildlife contests, which have become a regular feature at many schools in the city. Schools have also encouraged these activities. As a result, there has been a tremendous growth in environmental awareness among schoolchildren. ?Children not only understand the problem, but also adopt preventive measures quickly as compared to adults,? says Monga.
Andheria says youngsters are the only hope as adults are a lost cause. ?The city will be worst hit by climate change and the ever degrading environment,? he says
At 7am, while Mumbai was still waking up to a lazy Sunday morning, about 300 kilometres away from the city, a lone man walked with determination along the sandy stretch of Velas beach in Ratnagiri district. Keeping a vigil on the shore, Bhau Katdare walked towards the water and gently placed a little turtle — the size of a clenched fist — on the sand. As if on cue, guided by the light reflecting from the sea waves, the hatchling made its way to the sea. “Twelve years later, the hatchling, which will become an adult female turtle, will reappear to nest and lay about 200 eggs in the exact spot where it was born,” said Katdare. Katdare, 45, has been saving the lives of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles for over six years now. Thanks to an enterprising initiative of the Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, a Chiplun-based NGO founded by Katdare and a few like-minded people, the Olive Ridley turtle, one of the most endangered species of turtles in India, will continue to make its annual trip to Velas for the next 100 years. What makes the Olive Ridley turtle unique is that unlike other reptiles, it nests and lays eggs at the exact spot where it was born. It all began in 2002, when Vijay Mahabal, a nature-lover and a member of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, on a visit to Velas village found a large number of broken egg shells on the seashore. Mahabal found out that Velas is the most preferred nesting place of the Olive Ridley. Of the 110 nests found on the 720-km coastline of the state, 32 are located at Velas. But Mahabal was shocked to know that for generations, some villagers had been illegally poaching and selling the eggs. “While the turtle eggs were sold in three neighbouring villages for a mere 75 paise per egg, the turtles were poached for their meat,” recalled Bal Upadhye, a resident of Velas. Mahabal rushed to Katdare, secretary of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, who came up with the idea of a turtle conservation project. The project is now a success story spread over 30 villages on the state’s entire coastline. The NGO chose a few locals to keep a round-the-clock vigil and collect eggs from the nests and shift them to specially-made hatcheries on the beach. When the eggs hatch about 45-50 days later, they are carefully released into the sea. “We decided to enlist local support by offering the locals a monthly remuneration, which was double the amount they earned by selling eggs,” recalled Katdare. The idea worked and today some of the biggest poachers of turtles in the village have become conservationists. The two-day annual turtle festival started by the NGO two years ago, in which information about the turtle’s ecological importance is conveyed, has become one of the most anticipated events by nature lovers. Over 500 people from places like Mumbai, Pune, Jalgaon, and Sangli attended the festival
Amidst much hue and cry created over probable disaster due to the proposed Sewri-Nhava sea link, Srushti Dnyan, a city based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has come forward with the solutions to the problem.
In a meeting with senior forest department officials to discuss conservation activities in the area, the NGO has proposed to declare the three square km Sewri-Mahul coastal wetland area as Protected Area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “The coastal wetland of Sewri is an important habitat for flamingos, other migratory and local bird species due to the availability of blue-green algae and crustacean animals as food,” said Prashant Shinde, executive director of Srushti Dnyan.
“Flamingos and other migratory birds are precious and they must be protected. It is high time that any concrete step was taken to protect the avian fauna,” said SA Thorat, chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Mumbai. “The proposed trans-harbour sea link will destroy the food chain on which all the birds depend. The disaster can very well be averted if the sea link is realigned around 800 meters to south from its current location,” said Shinde. The NGO has also proposed creation of permanent conservation and education centre, developing educational literature and teaching aid, mangrove trail, field study visit, bird watching for conservation of avian fauna.
The NGO is actively involved in conservation of birds in Sewri and has recorded presence of 131 species of birds including Indian cormorant, grey heron, greater and lesser flamingos, black-headed, godwits, plovers, sandpipers, red shanks, green shanks, gulls, terns, curlew, kite shikra, osprey, eagle. Wetlands are considered as one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the world. The coast of Sewri and Mahul is known as one of the important coastal wetland areas, Shinde said. “The suggestions by the NGO are excellent and would be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest after minor changes,” Thorat said.
In a meeting with senior forest department officials to discuss conservation activities in the area, the NGO has proposed to declare the three square km Sewri-Mahul coastal wetland area as Protected Area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “The coastal wetland of Sewri is an important habitat for flamingos, other migratory and local bird species due to the availability of blue-green algae and crustacean animals as food,” said Prashant Shinde, executive director of Srushti Dnyan.
“Flamingos and other migratory birds are precious and they must be protected. It is high time that any concrete step was taken to protect the avian fauna,” said SA Thorat, chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Mumbai. “The proposed trans-harbour sea link will destroy the food chain on which all the birds depend. The disaster can very well be averted if the sea link is realigned around 800 meters to south from its current location,” said Shinde. The NGO has also proposed creation of permanent conservation and education centre, developing educational literature and teaching aid, mangrove trail, field study visit, bird watching for conservation of avian fauna.
The NGO is actively involved in conservation of birds in Sewri and has recorded presence of 131 species of birds including Indian cormorant, grey heron, greater and lesser flamingos, black-headed, godwits, plovers, sandpipers, red shanks, green shanks, gulls, terns, curlew, kite shikra, osprey, eagle. Wetlands are considered as one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the world. The coast of Sewri and Mahul is known as one of the important coastal wetland areas, Shinde said. “The suggestions by the NGO are excellent and would be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest after minor changes,” Thorat said.
The principal chief conservators of forests, senior police officials of various states, parliamentary force officers and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) met in New Delhi last week to discuss the formation of a force to check poaching. While there was near unanimous decision that locals should be recruited in the force, the policy makers completely ignored the core issue of empowering existing ground staff.
The forest department officials who are actually working on grass root level to take on the poachers are reeling under severe problems. The irony is that the range forest officers are allotted fire arms but can not use them after 6 pm. Moreover, they are liable to be prosecuted under section 302 of the IPC which is for murder, if someone is killed during any operation. “I got the weapon around five years back and opened fire, that too in air, only once that too in self defence. No one wants to land in serious trouble by using the weapon,” said a range forest officer attached to wildlife wing of the department.
“The policy makers should first decide whether the force would act post-poaching or pre-poaching. The parameters of a sensitive tiger reserve must be identified well in advance for smooth operation of the force to obtained desired results,” said Kishor Rithe of Satpuda Foundation. Ideally the force should be stationed permanently in sensitive tiger reserves.
It is now proven beyond doubt that poachers are far more advanced than the forest department and it is virtually impossible for the department to take them on with the available infrastructure. “The forest department is no where even in picture when it comes to taking on the poachers. For us it is like fighting a loosing battle,” confessed a senior forest department official. He said that local staff must be strengthened to discharge their duties. “The government expects us to perform in all adverse conditions with virtually no support. We are under severe risks like threat to life if we fight poachers and risk of being prosecuted if a poacher is killed,” the official said.
Central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Nitin Desai opined that wildlife crime needs to be tackled with a holistic view and policy makers must formulate ways to empower ground staff to take on poachers.
The forest department officials who are actually working on grass root level to take on the poachers are reeling under severe problems. The irony is that the range forest officers are allotted fire arms but can not use them after 6 pm. Moreover, they are liable to be prosecuted under section 302 of the IPC which is for murder, if someone is killed during any operation. “I got the weapon around five years back and opened fire, that too in air, only once that too in self defence. No one wants to land in serious trouble by using the weapon,” said a range forest officer attached to wildlife wing of the department.
“The policy makers should first decide whether the force would act post-poaching or pre-poaching. The parameters of a sensitive tiger reserve must be identified well in advance for smooth operation of the force to obtained desired results,” said Kishor Rithe of Satpuda Foundation. Ideally the force should be stationed permanently in sensitive tiger reserves.
It is now proven beyond doubt that poachers are far more advanced than the forest department and it is virtually impossible for the department to take them on with the available infrastructure. “The forest department is no where even in picture when it comes to taking on the poachers. For us it is like fighting a loosing battle,” confessed a senior forest department official. He said that local staff must be strengthened to discharge their duties. “The government expects us to perform in all adverse conditions with virtually no support. We are under severe risks like threat to life if we fight poachers and risk of being prosecuted if a poacher is killed,” the official said.
Central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Nitin Desai opined that wildlife crime needs to be tackled with a holistic view and policy makers must formulate ways to empower ground staff to take on poachers.
private forest land in mumbai........
The builders and residents of the buildings on private forest land, suffered a blow on Monday when the state government failed to submit the affidavit in the Supreme Court and at the same time, all the Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) filed against the interim order of the Bombay High Court on the private forest land issue were dismissed.
However, the court has given 12 week’s time to the residents to challenge the Bombay High Court order. The Hillside Residents Welfare Association (HIRWA) has decided to file a fresh SLP challenging the Bombay High Court order in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The next hearing is scheduled on May 5. “The dismissal of the SLPs would not affect our movement against the high court decision. The SLPs were bound to be dismissed as they were filed to challenge an interim order by the Bombay High Court and would not stand once a final order is passed,” said Prakash Padikkal, president of HIRWA. The association will file a fresh SLP to continue its fight against the decision, he added.
In all six SLPs were filed against the interim order by the HC in 2006. In its interim order passed on a petition filed by Runwal Constructions against the state of Maharashtra on July 25, 2006, the Bombay High Court had granted interim relief subject to the final orders in the petition. The court had also made it clear that the petitioners or persons claiming through them will claim no equity.
Meanwhile, People’s Power of Nation (PPN), a city based NGO which is fighting for the cause jointly convened a meeting of residents of affected buildings on Sunday and unanimously rejected the chief minister’s formula of levying penalty on them. “We are not encroachers and accepting to pay the penalty will amount to accept that it is actually forest land,” said Anmol Bhushan, president of PPN. The NGO will file a special leave petition challenging the HC order on April 30, Bhushan added. “Our sole intention is to protect the residents at any cost. The state government is cheating people. It even failed to file the affidavit as per the assurance of chief minister and forest minister,” said former BJP member of Parliament Kirit Somaya. The formula suggested by the chief minister is baseless and will only add to the miseries of people. “As per the formula, ownership of the land will remain with the forest department and it will be a way to regularise encroachments. The state government must take a clear stand on the entire issue,” Somaya said. Referring to the issue of penalty, Padikkal said it was pre-mature to comment on who will pay the penalty.
The SLPs filed in the Supreme Court in 2006:-
1. SLP (C) No.: 17967 of 2006 - Oberoi Constructions vs State of Maha
2. SLP (C) No.: 18134 of 2006 - Godrej and Boyce vs State of Maha
3. SLP (C) No.: 20542 of 2006 - Nanabhoy - Jeejeebhoy Pvt. Ltd. vs State of Maha
4. SLP (C) No.: 14068 of 2006 - State of Maha vs Runwal Constructions
5. SLP (C) No.: 14072 of 2006 - State of Maha vs Atithi Builders
6. SLP (C) No.: 14073 of 2006 - State of Maha vs HIRWA
However, the court has given 12 week’s time to the residents to challenge the Bombay High Court order. The Hillside Residents Welfare Association (HIRWA) has decided to file a fresh SLP challenging the Bombay High Court order in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The next hearing is scheduled on May 5. “The dismissal of the SLPs would not affect our movement against the high court decision. The SLPs were bound to be dismissed as they were filed to challenge an interim order by the Bombay High Court and would not stand once a final order is passed,” said Prakash Padikkal, president of HIRWA. The association will file a fresh SLP to continue its fight against the decision, he added.
In all six SLPs were filed against the interim order by the HC in 2006. In its interim order passed on a petition filed by Runwal Constructions against the state of Maharashtra on July 25, 2006, the Bombay High Court had granted interim relief subject to the final orders in the petition. The court had also made it clear that the petitioners or persons claiming through them will claim no equity.
Meanwhile, People’s Power of Nation (PPN), a city based NGO which is fighting for the cause jointly convened a meeting of residents of affected buildings on Sunday and unanimously rejected the chief minister’s formula of levying penalty on them. “We are not encroachers and accepting to pay the penalty will amount to accept that it is actually forest land,” said Anmol Bhushan, president of PPN. The NGO will file a special leave petition challenging the HC order on April 30, Bhushan added. “Our sole intention is to protect the residents at any cost. The state government is cheating people. It even failed to file the affidavit as per the assurance of chief minister and forest minister,” said former BJP member of Parliament Kirit Somaya. The formula suggested by the chief minister is baseless and will only add to the miseries of people. “As per the formula, ownership of the land will remain with the forest department and it will be a way to regularise encroachments. The state government must take a clear stand on the entire issue,” Somaya said. Referring to the issue of penalty, Padikkal said it was pre-mature to comment on who will pay the penalty.
The SLPs filed in the Supreme Court in 2006:-
1. SLP (C) No.: 17967 of 2006 - Oberoi Constructions vs State of Maha
2. SLP (C) No.: 18134 of 2006 - Godrej and Boyce vs State of Maha
3. SLP (C) No.: 20542 of 2006 - Nanabhoy - Jeejeebhoy Pvt. Ltd. vs State of Maha
4. SLP (C) No.: 14068 of 2006 - State of Maha vs Runwal Constructions
5. SLP (C) No.: 14072 of 2006 - State of Maha vs Atithi Builders
6. SLP (C) No.: 14073 of 2006 - State of Maha vs HIRWA
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