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.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
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?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Claim to Shame!!!!
They have already wrote it off claiming it to be a normal practice of journalists. But the conversations say it all. Now the question is that, do these self proclaimed larger than life journalists – Barkha Dutt and Vir Sanghvi – who do not miss a single opportunity to go overboard and 'cut the politicians to size' – really have a face to anchor talk shows and write full page articles on serious issues of national importance?
In my opinion, no. They do not have right to do that. While the entire nation is doubting their integrity as journalists – which in my opinion Ms Dutt lost long back when she aired the combat plan of Indian Army during Kargil War while working for Star News – should at once stop coming on screen or in print. Given their proximity with the power centre of the nation, no wonder they are honoured with the civil award such as Padmashree.
Surprisingly, when people on streets, buses and local trains of Mumbai were discussing the conversations, Ms Dutt was anchoring the talk show on the topic of huge money wasted as the opposition has stalled the Parliament over demand of constituting JPC to probe telecom scam.
Mr Roy, if you want to save whatever TRP NDTC has, please stop Ms Dutt from being even mentioned about on your channel.
The electronic media, especially self proclaimed elite English and the rowdy Hindi – should concentrate on better stories than wasting time and money on projecting how they are great and everyone else is stupid.
In my opinion, no. They do not have right to do that. While the entire nation is doubting their integrity as journalists – which in my opinion Ms Dutt lost long back when she aired the combat plan of Indian Army during Kargil War while working for Star News – should at once stop coming on screen or in print. Given their proximity with the power centre of the nation, no wonder they are honoured with the civil award such as Padmashree.
Surprisingly, when people on streets, buses and local trains of Mumbai were discussing the conversations, Ms Dutt was anchoring the talk show on the topic of huge money wasted as the opposition has stalled the Parliament over demand of constituting JPC to probe telecom scam.
Mr Roy, if you want to save whatever TRP NDTC has, please stop Ms Dutt from being even mentioned about on your channel.
The electronic media, especially self proclaimed elite English and the rowdy Hindi – should concentrate on better stories than wasting time and money on projecting how they are great and everyone else is stupid.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Forest department doing the job of mining department
Despite the clear indications from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL), about the adverse effects of mining project in Lohara forest, the state forest minister seems to be determined to overlook the letter and continue with the mining proposal of Adani Power Limited.
The high level of opposition from environmentalists to the project was evident during the first and probably the last meeting of 10-member study group formed to recommend measures to reduce effects of mining on the flora and fauna around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), held at Chandrapur on Friday. The meeting was convened at the office of conservator of forest, North Chandrapur forest circle.
Amidst strong protests, two of the 10-member study group resigned while another one walked out of the meeting questioning the basic motive behind constituting the committee.
"The methodology adopted by the study group is an eyewash, a mere formality to hush the voice of protesting conservationists. The basic question, which I pressed through hunger strike during last assembly winter session, of not allowing the project in Lohara near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) was not discussed at all," said Bandu Dhotre, president of Eco-Pro, a Chandrapur based NGO.
During the meeting, APL officials tried their level to convince how the mine and flora and fauna in Lohara jungles can co-exist, which is a streak contrast to his demand, Dhotre pointed out. "While the APL officers in the group are trying hard to convince their point, the forest officials, who should be expressing concern regarding the possible eco-disturbance that might occur due to the project, appeared to be mere spectators," Dhotre said.
He resigned from the study group and walked out of the meeting as a mark of protest. Eco-Pro has filed a PIL which is pending with Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court and hence taking up proceedings regarding government level clearance to the mine without intimating the judicial bench will be held as contempt of court, Dhotre claimed.
Suresh Chopne of Green Planet Society, who is member of the study group, submitted a letter saying how the mine would be destructive for the environmental balance and the flora and fauna in Lohara forest and walked out of the meeting.
"Hence forth, I will not participate in the proceedings of the study group. I have already voiced my opinion on the issue in writing before the CCF and nodal officer Shailendra Bahadur," Chopne declared adding that the struggle against the mine in Lohara jungle would continue.
Registering strong protest against the mine another member of the study group Swananad Soni, of Srushti, a Nagpur based NGO said, "I have already raised questions over the wildlife conservation plan presented by APL officials and sought some explanations. I will be resigning from the study group." Another NGO member Arvind Sovani too questioned the motive behind constituting the study group and lodged protest against the mining project in Lohara forest.
When contacted, Bahadur, who is convener of the study group, claimed that proceedings of the meeting were running smoothly but admitted to the fact that a member had resignation. "Dhotre needs to forward his resignation from the group to the government, as I have no power of accepting such resignation. Jayant Kulkarni of NGO Envirosearch has presented the Adani's wildlife conservation plan and suggestions, queries raised by all the members are being recorded," said Bahadur.
The forest department officials, apparently appear to be in a great hurry to rush Adani coal mine project in Lohara jungle. According to social activist Rajendra Vaidya, the study group was to proceed on field visit only after the APL officials had finished with their complete presentation of wildlife conservation report. However, while only one phase of the report was presented before lunch, other members led by convener Shailendra Bahadur rushed to the field visit skipping the second phase of the meeting where the second part of the report was to be presented. Vaidya returned for post lunch sessions of the meeting as per the schedule only to find that the group had left for the field visit skipping. "Bahadur did not even have the courtesy of informing me about their decision of calling off the meeting," Vaidya protested.
The first meeting of the study group turned out to be the last one as no more meetings of the group will be held in future. CCF and convener of study group Shailendra Bahadur said, "Nearly 90% work of the group is accomplished. The suggestions and objection of the members of the group have been recorded. The phase of field visit and interaction with local people, different forest committees and officers will be accomplished on Saturday. Later the five days long formality of detailed study of wildlife conservation plan will be accomplished before tabling the final report of the study group entailed with the suggestions and objections from the members before PCCF (wildlife)," said Bahadur adding that no more meeting of the study group would be held any further.
The high level of opposition from environmentalists to the project was evident during the first and probably the last meeting of 10-member study group formed to recommend measures to reduce effects of mining on the flora and fauna around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), held at Chandrapur on Friday. The meeting was convened at the office of conservator of forest, North Chandrapur forest circle.
Amidst strong protests, two of the 10-member study group resigned while another one walked out of the meeting questioning the basic motive behind constituting the committee.
"The methodology adopted by the study group is an eyewash, a mere formality to hush the voice of protesting conservationists. The basic question, which I pressed through hunger strike during last assembly winter session, of not allowing the project in Lohara near Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) was not discussed at all," said Bandu Dhotre, president of Eco-Pro, a Chandrapur based NGO.
During the meeting, APL officials tried their level to convince how the mine and flora and fauna in Lohara jungles can co-exist, which is a streak contrast to his demand, Dhotre pointed out. "While the APL officers in the group are trying hard to convince their point, the forest officials, who should be expressing concern regarding the possible eco-disturbance that might occur due to the project, appeared to be mere spectators," Dhotre said.
He resigned from the study group and walked out of the meeting as a mark of protest. Eco-Pro has filed a PIL which is pending with Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court and hence taking up proceedings regarding government level clearance to the mine without intimating the judicial bench will be held as contempt of court, Dhotre claimed.
Suresh Chopne of Green Planet Society, who is member of the study group, submitted a letter saying how the mine would be destructive for the environmental balance and the flora and fauna in Lohara forest and walked out of the meeting.
"Hence forth, I will not participate in the proceedings of the study group. I have already voiced my opinion on the issue in writing before the CCF and nodal officer Shailendra Bahadur," Chopne declared adding that the struggle against the mine in Lohara jungle would continue.
Registering strong protest against the mine another member of the study group Swananad Soni, of Srushti, a Nagpur based NGO said, "I have already raised questions over the wildlife conservation plan presented by APL officials and sought some explanations. I will be resigning from the study group." Another NGO member Arvind Sovani too questioned the motive behind constituting the study group and lodged protest against the mining project in Lohara forest.
When contacted, Bahadur, who is convener of the study group, claimed that proceedings of the meeting were running smoothly but admitted to the fact that a member had resignation. "Dhotre needs to forward his resignation from the group to the government, as I have no power of accepting such resignation. Jayant Kulkarni of NGO Envirosearch has presented the Adani's wildlife conservation plan and suggestions, queries raised by all the members are being recorded," said Bahadur.
The forest department officials, apparently appear to be in a great hurry to rush Adani coal mine project in Lohara jungle. According to social activist Rajendra Vaidya, the study group was to proceed on field visit only after the APL officials had finished with their complete presentation of wildlife conservation report. However, while only one phase of the report was presented before lunch, other members led by convener Shailendra Bahadur rushed to the field visit skipping the second phase of the meeting where the second part of the report was to be presented. Vaidya returned for post lunch sessions of the meeting as per the schedule only to find that the group had left for the field visit skipping. "Bahadur did not even have the courtesy of informing me about their decision of calling off the meeting," Vaidya protested.
The first meeting of the study group turned out to be the last one as no more meetings of the group will be held in future. CCF and convener of study group Shailendra Bahadur said, "Nearly 90% work of the group is accomplished. The suggestions and objection of the members of the group have been recorded. The phase of field visit and interaction with local people, different forest committees and officers will be accomplished on Saturday. Later the five days long formality of detailed study of wildlife conservation plan will be accomplished before tabling the final report of the study group entailed with the suggestions and objections from the members before PCCF (wildlife)," said Bahadur adding that no more meeting of the study group would be held any further.
E Waste recycling facility for Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Ashwin Aghor
The Mumbai metropolitan region will soon be relieved of the ever growing problem of e-waste. The state government will start a first of its kind plant for scientific recycling of e-waste generated in the region.
“E-waste has become a serious cause of concern for the society and the problem needs to be addressed effectively on priority,” said environment secretary Valsa Nair. The environment department of the state government along with MMRDA will soon start a formal e-waste recycling facility in the region through public private partnership. “The pre-feasibility study conducted by IRG Systems has given highly encouraging results. The report submitted two weeks back, shows that such facility, if created in the MMR, would be highly feasible,” Nair said.
According to research conducted by Greenpeace, Mumbai tops the country with around 50,000 tones of e-waste every year, projected to increase to three lakh tones per annum by the year 2011. The entire e-waste is recycled in un-organised sector under highly hazardous conditions. “The manner in which e-waste is presently recycled, is highly harmful for environment and human health as well,” Nair said. At present total e-waste generation in Mumbai and Pune is to the tune of five lakh metric tones per annum.
Nair said that currently, e-waste is recycled by only two steps like dismentaling and segregating, while recovery of valuable metals and resource recovery are not at all happening. “The major reason for this is that resource recovery facility is available only in Belgium, which proves to be very costly for the recyclers,” Nair said.
The state environment department has completed the study and now MMRDA will invite tenders to set up the facility. “MPCB and the department of environment provided technical support while MMRDA will take care of inviting tenders and providing land for the plant,” Nair said. Tenders will be invited by the end of July and the plant is expected to be completely functional by next year. The plant has become one of the urgent needs of the region as e-waste generation in MMR is expected to be doubled by the year 2050, Nair said.
“The project will be implemented in phased manner. In the first phase, the capacity of the plant would be 7500 tones per annum, which would be increased later. We have plans to start resource recovery facility at the plant in future,” Nair said.
Once the plant is functional, the contractor will establish e-waste collection channel in the region.
Box:
What is E-waste
Electronic waste, e-waste is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Some define electronic waste to include all secondary computers, entertainment devices electronics, mobile phones and other items, whether they have been sold, donated, or discarded by their original owner. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal.
How and why is e-waste hazardous?
If treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in electronic waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Up to thirty-eight separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items. The un-sustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to recycle – or perhaps more practically, reuse – electronic waste. Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, and Delhi and Bangalore in India, all have electronic waste processing areas. Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.
The Mumbai metropolitan region will soon be relieved of the ever growing problem of e-waste. The state government will start a first of its kind plant for scientific recycling of e-waste generated in the region.
“E-waste has become a serious cause of concern for the society and the problem needs to be addressed effectively on priority,” said environment secretary Valsa Nair. The environment department of the state government along with MMRDA will soon start a formal e-waste recycling facility in the region through public private partnership. “The pre-feasibility study conducted by IRG Systems has given highly encouraging results. The report submitted two weeks back, shows that such facility, if created in the MMR, would be highly feasible,” Nair said.
According to research conducted by Greenpeace, Mumbai tops the country with around 50,000 tones of e-waste every year, projected to increase to three lakh tones per annum by the year 2011. The entire e-waste is recycled in un-organised sector under highly hazardous conditions. “The manner in which e-waste is presently recycled, is highly harmful for environment and human health as well,” Nair said. At present total e-waste generation in Mumbai and Pune is to the tune of five lakh metric tones per annum.
Nair said that currently, e-waste is recycled by only two steps like dismentaling and segregating, while recovery of valuable metals and resource recovery are not at all happening. “The major reason for this is that resource recovery facility is available only in Belgium, which proves to be very costly for the recyclers,” Nair said.
The state environment department has completed the study and now MMRDA will invite tenders to set up the facility. “MPCB and the department of environment provided technical support while MMRDA will take care of inviting tenders and providing land for the plant,” Nair said. Tenders will be invited by the end of July and the plant is expected to be completely functional by next year. The plant has become one of the urgent needs of the region as e-waste generation in MMR is expected to be doubled by the year 2050, Nair said.
“The project will be implemented in phased manner. In the first phase, the capacity of the plant would be 7500 tones per annum, which would be increased later. We have plans to start resource recovery facility at the plant in future,” Nair said.
Once the plant is functional, the contractor will establish e-waste collection channel in the region.
Box:
What is E-waste
Electronic waste, e-waste is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Some define electronic waste to include all secondary computers, entertainment devices electronics, mobile phones and other items, whether they have been sold, donated, or discarded by their original owner. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal.
How and why is e-waste hazardous?
If treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Toxic substances in electronic waste may include lead, mercury, and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in electronic waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Up to thirty-eight separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items. The un-sustainability of discarding electronics and computer technology is another reason for the need to recycle – or perhaps more practically, reuse – electronic waste. Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, and Delhi and Bangalore in India, all have electronic waste processing areas. Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are causing environmental and health problems, including occupational safety and health effects among those directly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Snow leopard at Kargil!!!!
After the first photographic evidence of black leopard near Kolhapur, its cousin snow leopard has been photographed for the first time in Kargil. The WWF-India researcher Aishwarya Maheshwari encountered the elusive cat on June 13.
“This is the first photographic evidence of snow leopard in Kargil and Drass sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Though locals claim to have seen the animal, there was no evidence of presence of the big cat,” said Ameen Ahmed, senior communications manager, WWF-India. According to him, till date, there was no study of wildlife in the area. “WWF-India has undertaken the base line study of wildlife in Kargil and Drass sector for the first time,” Ahmed said.
“I was on the frontier of India’s remotest wildness, to study wildlife. Kargil, among largest districts of India, is best known in recent history for the major military conflict that occurred here in 1999. This unfortunately overshadowed the region’s rich wildlife. For, it is here that one of world’s most elusive creatures- the snow leopard, roams wild and free,” said Maheshwari. During his interaction with locals, Maheshwari learnt about the tremendous decline in wildlife sightings, post-1999 Kargil war. So much so that even the common resident birds had disappeared.
“It was on June 13, I was observing Kargil’s hills like any other day. This day, started at 7:30 am from the village Kanji, located 3850 meter above sea level and some 70 km from Kargil town. I was on my way up field assistants - three local youth, one of whom was a forest guard.” Maheshwari said. Four km into the trek they came across a herd of Asiatic Ibex, a species of mountain goat. As they moved along the dusty, rocky path, indirect evidences of the presence of carnivores like pug marks and scat of snow leopard and Tibetan wolf like started coming up.
“At around 4:40pm, a huge cloud of dust rose from where the Ibex were grazing. The view through my binoculars suddenly became hazy. All I could see was the wild goats running helter-skelter, in almost every direction. I wanted to find the reason and desperately panned my binoculars in all directions. But, the dust that arose made it difficult to find the cause of this commotion,” Maheshwari said.
He was excited at something rarely experienced. “Amidst confusion, I was trying to get a clear view with trembling hands and spotted a tail in the speaks of dust, and it was not a wolf,” he said. It was snow leopard, that had silently stalked the herd. But the goats actually outsmarted it and gave it a miss and reappeared on a nearby ridge. After the failed attempt, the snow leopard went to a cliff, looked down on a vast valley of stones and rocks. Soon everyone in the group wanted to have a glimpse of one of the world’s rarest cats. “Though they were locals, the field assistants, surprisingly, had never seen one before. The guard had seen it six years ago, but that was probably for just a second,” Maheshwari said.
The Snow Leopard stayed put in front of the group for seven minutes. “As it was barely 300-400 meter away, I was tempted to go closer and capture the animal in camera. At the end of the shortest seven minutes of my life, it got up and went to the other side of the hill out of our sight,” Maheshwari said. Still hopeful of seeing it, he followed the Ibex herd anticipating that the wild cat would comeback to hunt them. “Early next morning, fresh scat and unclear pug marks were found on the same path. I climbed the same hill, which I had ascended last evening, but there was no snow leopard,” he said.
“This is the first photographic evidence of snow leopard in Kargil and Drass sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Though locals claim to have seen the animal, there was no evidence of presence of the big cat,” said Ameen Ahmed, senior communications manager, WWF-India. According to him, till date, there was no study of wildlife in the area. “WWF-India has undertaken the base line study of wildlife in Kargil and Drass sector for the first time,” Ahmed said.
“I was on the frontier of India’s remotest wildness, to study wildlife. Kargil, among largest districts of India, is best known in recent history for the major military conflict that occurred here in 1999. This unfortunately overshadowed the region’s rich wildlife. For, it is here that one of world’s most elusive creatures- the snow leopard, roams wild and free,” said Maheshwari. During his interaction with locals, Maheshwari learnt about the tremendous decline in wildlife sightings, post-1999 Kargil war. So much so that even the common resident birds had disappeared.
“It was on June 13, I was observing Kargil’s hills like any other day. This day, started at 7:30 am from the village Kanji, located 3850 meter above sea level and some 70 km from Kargil town. I was on my way up field assistants - three local youth, one of whom was a forest guard.” Maheshwari said. Four km into the trek they came across a herd of Asiatic Ibex, a species of mountain goat. As they moved along the dusty, rocky path, indirect evidences of the presence of carnivores like pug marks and scat of snow leopard and Tibetan wolf like started coming up.
“At around 4:40pm, a huge cloud of dust rose from where the Ibex were grazing. The view through my binoculars suddenly became hazy. All I could see was the wild goats running helter-skelter, in almost every direction. I wanted to find the reason and desperately panned my binoculars in all directions. But, the dust that arose made it difficult to find the cause of this commotion,” Maheshwari said.
He was excited at something rarely experienced. “Amidst confusion, I was trying to get a clear view with trembling hands and spotted a tail in the speaks of dust, and it was not a wolf,” he said. It was snow leopard, that had silently stalked the herd. But the goats actually outsmarted it and gave it a miss and reappeared on a nearby ridge. After the failed attempt, the snow leopard went to a cliff, looked down on a vast valley of stones and rocks. Soon everyone in the group wanted to have a glimpse of one of the world’s rarest cats. “Though they were locals, the field assistants, surprisingly, had never seen one before. The guard had seen it six years ago, but that was probably for just a second,” Maheshwari said.
The Snow Leopard stayed put in front of the group for seven minutes. “As it was barely 300-400 meter away, I was tempted to go closer and capture the animal in camera. At the end of the shortest seven minutes of my life, it got up and went to the other side of the hill out of our sight,” Maheshwari said. Still hopeful of seeing it, he followed the Ibex herd anticipating that the wild cat would comeback to hunt them. “Early next morning, fresh scat and unclear pug marks were found on the same path. I climbed the same hill, which I had ascended last evening, but there was no snow leopard,” he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
