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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur//articleshow/17751067.cms?
Times of India, Kanpur, 25 Dec 2012
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Chambal Sanrakshan Pahal,(Chambal Conservation Initiatives) a society inspired for nature conservation services such as Biodiversity conservation, Rivers Restoration, Forest conservation and Community based Natural resources managements.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Dolphin watch centre comes up in Fatehpur
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Chambal ravines all set for 'wild' makeover
LUCKNOW: Once considered as a safe haven for dacoits and criminals, the ravines of Chambal are all set to shred their old tag. And if all goes well as per the plans of the Uttar Pradesh government, then the region may become the hub of wildlife tourism, which will have everything from river cruising to river safari.
The state government has made Uttar Pradesh Awas Vikas Parishad the executing agency for developing the sanctuary, while sanctioning Rs 4.5 crore for the sanctuary's makeover. Being home to the last of the ghariyals, along with eight rare species of turtles and Gangetic dolphins, the sanctuary never got its due share of recognition.
The project is to be completed within four years. "A proposal to start boat rides at Nadganwa has been submitted to the chief wildlife warden," said Sujoy Banerjee, DFO, National Chambal Sanctuary. Nadganwa is about 70 kilometres from Agra and offers a glimpse into Chambal's wildlife. Though boat rides at Nandganwa would be costly, officials are of the opinion that expensive ticket would bring only genuine bird-watchers to the place. The proposal has fixed Rs 750 as ticket price for foreigners for an hour-long boat ride, while for domestic tourists, it has been fixed at Rs 200. Besides, the cost of petrol which would go into running the boat would also have to be realized from the visitors.
Initially, the department would put to use the boats meant for patrolling the area. "We want to bring in lesser number of tourists and the ones who are actually interested in wildlife, as that will not disturb the ambience and the wildlife habitat," said the DFO.
The 425 kilometre stretch of Chambal river was declared a protected area in 1979. The river culminates at Bhare in Etawah, where is merges with the Yamuna. The sanctuary area runs along three states of UP, MP and Rajasthan. UP has 150-kilometre-long stretch of the river sanctuary running along Bah (Agra) and Etawah.
Interestingly, the sanctuary is approximately 77 kilometres away from the Taj Mahal. The plan is to attract the Taj-bound tourists to Chambal sanctuary, by offering river cruise and river safari. And, to do so forest department has identified spots along the river, which can be developed as tourism sites. These include four ghats of Sehson, Udi, Panchnada and Bhare, along Chambal, a forest official said.
Etawah already has a Lion Safari coming up, which will hardly be an hour-long drive from Agra. Developing Chambal sanctuary will build a tourism corridor between Agra and Etawah. The government is of the opinion that this will not only supplement the incomes of those associated with tourism industry, but also create additional employment opportunities for ancillary units.
The major advantage, which the sanctuary enjoys is its serene ambience, despite the fact that it's close to Agra. It has no industries along its banks and that makes it one of the cleanest rivers. Among the major wildlife attractions are ghariyals, which are critically endangered. Apart from 200-250 ghariyals found in Nepal, most of the remaining 1,500 are found in three Indian rivers - Son, Geruwa and Chambal. The Chambal sanctuary shelters close to 700. "This year around, since the monsoon was delayed, the new hatchlings haven't been washed away, and one can see them along the river," said the DFO.
Besides, eight of the rare turtle species, including the red crowned roof turtle, and critically threatened gangetic dolphins are found in the sanctuary area. The sanctuary is also one of the important bird areas and a proposed Ramsar site (identified as an important wetland for conservation). It's a famous spot for sighting birds like Indian Skimmers.
Two bird sanctuaries, Patna in Etah district and Saman in Mainpuri, are located very close to the sanctuary. The region has also the maximum population of Sarus crane and has hundreds of migratory birds visiting it in the winter season.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Yamuna a drain, not a drop of fresh water: CPCB
NEW DELHI: The Yamuna is a drain with not a drop of fresh
water in its 22-km stretch through Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) informed the Supreme Court
on Friday.
"River Yamuna ceases to exist downstream of Wazirabad barrage during a major part of the year and gets its flow due to Najafgarh drain at Wazirabad downstream," a two-member expert body appointed by the court said in its interim report.
Presenting the report to a bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and S J Mukhopadhaya, CPCB counsel Vijay Panjwani said, "Yamuna is a drain. Fresh water does not flow in the river except during monsoon. The entire flow of fresh water is harnessed at Wazirabad to provide drinking water to residents of Delhi."
Amicus curiae and senior advocate Ranjit Kumar supported the expert body's interim findings and said what flowed into Yamuna within Delhi was treated and untreated waste and sewage water. "So, it is nothing but a drain," he added.
The expert committee's interim report said, "The total installed sewage treatment capacity in Delhi is 2,460 million litres per day (MLD) as against the sewage generation of about 3,800 MLD. It is pertinent to mention that installed capacity is only 63% utilized in the absence of adequate coverage area."
The report found that 1,360 MLD of sewage water flowed into the river untreated and got mixed with treated sewage, bringing to naught the entire effort to reduce pollution in the river.
The apex court had taken suo motu notice of a news item 'And quiet flows maili Yamuna" in 1994 and, since then, has been making efforts to reduce pollution level in the river, which has remained unsuccessful in the absence of comprehensive and joint efforts from authorities.
The bench did not take kindly the state of affairs relating to Yamuna and virtually pleaded with the authorities to make "some collective efforts to make the river clean".
It gave three more weeks to the expert body to present its final report relating to closure of drains which discharged untreated waste water into the river. It also asked the expert body to suggest remedial measures to make Yamuna clean.
The interim report said, "Najafgarh drain discharges about 2,064 MLD of waste water into Yamuna. Of this, only 629 MLD (30%) of waste water is treated through the installed capacity in the Najafgarh drain basin. It clearly indicates that there is large gap of 1,435 MLD of waste water which remains untreated. Even the treated sewage from sewage treatment plants is discharged with the Najafgarh drain where it is mixed with the untreated sewage, thereby defeating the very purpose of waste water treatment."
Panjwani also informed the court the expert body found that many areas of the national capital did not have a drainage system at all. The report said, "As a result, large quantity of sewage is diverted to storm water drains while the STPs are underutilized by 37%. Besides, 45% of the population in villages/unapproved colonies (recently regularized) are not covered by sewerage system."
dhananjay.mahapatra@timesgroup.com
"River Yamuna ceases to exist downstream of Wazirabad barrage during a major part of the year and gets its flow due to Najafgarh drain at Wazirabad downstream," a two-member expert body appointed by the court said in its interim report.
Presenting the report to a bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and S J Mukhopadhaya, CPCB counsel Vijay Panjwani said, "Yamuna is a drain. Fresh water does not flow in the river except during monsoon. The entire flow of fresh water is harnessed at Wazirabad to provide drinking water to residents of Delhi."
Amicus curiae and senior advocate Ranjit Kumar supported the expert body's interim findings and said what flowed into Yamuna within Delhi was treated and untreated waste and sewage water. "So, it is nothing but a drain," he added.
The expert committee's interim report said, "The total installed sewage treatment capacity in Delhi is 2,460 million litres per day (MLD) as against the sewage generation of about 3,800 MLD. It is pertinent to mention that installed capacity is only 63% utilized in the absence of adequate coverage area."
The report found that 1,360 MLD of sewage water flowed into the river untreated and got mixed with treated sewage, bringing to naught the entire effort to reduce pollution in the river.
The apex court had taken suo motu notice of a news item 'And quiet flows maili Yamuna" in 1994 and, since then, has been making efforts to reduce pollution level in the river, which has remained unsuccessful in the absence of comprehensive and joint efforts from authorities.
The bench did not take kindly the state of affairs relating to Yamuna and virtually pleaded with the authorities to make "some collective efforts to make the river clean".
It gave three more weeks to the expert body to present its final report relating to closure of drains which discharged untreated waste water into the river. It also asked the expert body to suggest remedial measures to make Yamuna clean.
The interim report said, "Najafgarh drain discharges about 2,064 MLD of waste water into Yamuna. Of this, only 629 MLD (30%) of waste water is treated through the installed capacity in the Najafgarh drain basin. It clearly indicates that there is large gap of 1,435 MLD of waste water which remains untreated. Even the treated sewage from sewage treatment plants is discharged with the Najafgarh drain where it is mixed with the untreated sewage, thereby defeating the very purpose of waste water treatment."
Panjwani also informed the court the expert body found that many areas of the national capital did not have a drainage system at all. The report said, "As a result, large quantity of sewage is diverted to storm water drains while the STPs are underutilized by 37%. Besides, 45% of the population in villages/unapproved colonies (recently regularized) are not covered by sewerage system."
dhananjay.mahapatra@timesgroup.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Yamuna-a-drain-not-a-drop-of-fresh-water-CPCB/articleshow/17164180.cms
Campaign to save Gangetic dolphins
Faiz Rahman Siddiqui, TNN | Nov 10, 2012, 05.36AM IST
KANPUR: Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society has initiated Wildlife awareness campaign
for people in villages located within the catchment areas of Yamuna.
The campaign at present is underway at Hanuman temple, fairs, besides ghats along the
banks of Yamuna, where devotees throng in large numbers for a holy dip.
"Keeping in mind the upcoming festivals, fairs and holy bathing, we would garner support for
protection of Gangetic dolphins and other endangered aquatic animals, including gharial and
turtle," said Sitaram Taigor of PEACE Institute Charitable Trust Delhi.
Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society, is running eco-club activities in Yamuna, revival
techniques and development programme of the PEACE Institute Charitable Trust, Delhi.
The PEACE Institute Charitable Trust (PICT) has been extensively carrying out restoration programme to conserve Yamuna.
"On Friday, we organised a dolphin conservation exhibition at Bateshwarnath temple situated on the banks of the holy river in Agra. It
attracts a major crowd during the annual cattle fair, which is almost four centuries old and the biggest and the most spectacular fairs of
north India. "We organised dolphin conservation exhibition. The activities at the cattle fair also include plantation, developing
polythene-free zones, promotion of natural farming, eco-sanitation, river health, village health monitoring and proper management of solid
waste," said Taigor.
On October 30, an exhibition was organised at Shri Falgun Giri Temple in Kishanpur Town of Vijayapur block in Fatehpur district.
"Shri Falgun Giri is a famous God of Yamuna river catchment area in Fatehpur. Every year during Kartik month (October-November), a
traditional fair is organise in Kishanpur. Religious exhibitions, `Ramlila', `Kavi sammelan', are also held. People living in nearby districts
such as Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kaushambi and Allahabad come to seek blessings of God Shri Falgun Giri. Panchdev Yamuna Nadi
Mitra Society, in co-ordination with local `Hanuman-Gadhi' group organised a dolphin conservation exhibition in the 'chowki' for the first
time," informed Devendra Singh, member of the society.
Dolphin conservation message was also given through loudspeakers such as 'poaching is prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act 1972',
'dolphin is a national aquatic animal', 'it is critically endangered', 'it is not a fish' and others.
For the promotion of solar energy in rural pockets, solar torches were also put on display in the `chowki' and eco-friendly products were used
to organise the exhibition.
Majority of the population in the catchment area of Yamuna carries out farming, besides other major source of livelihood is animal
husbandry. These people depend on the forest cover for fuel and for the purpose of grazing the cattle, putting immense pressure on the
green-belt.
Through the medium of painting, singing and drama, environmental education has been imparted to children who joined hands to save the
future of world's natural treasures," said Jayant Singh, another member of Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society.
KANPUR: Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society has initiated Wildlife awareness campaign
for people in villages located within the catchment areas of Yamuna.
The campaign at present is underway at Hanuman temple, fairs, besides ghats along the
banks of Yamuna, where devotees throng in large numbers for a holy dip.
"Keeping in mind the upcoming festivals, fairs and holy bathing, we would garner support for
protection of Gangetic dolphins and other endangered aquatic animals, including gharial and
turtle," said Sitaram Taigor of PEACE Institute Charitable Trust Delhi.
Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society, is running eco-club activities in Yamuna, revival
techniques and development programme of the PEACE Institute Charitable Trust, Delhi.
The PEACE Institute Charitable Trust (PICT) has been extensively carrying out restoration programme to conserve Yamuna.
"On Friday, we organised a dolphin conservation exhibition at Bateshwarnath temple situated on the banks of the holy river in Agra. It
attracts a major crowd during the annual cattle fair, which is almost four centuries old and the biggest and the most spectacular fairs of
north India. "We organised dolphin conservation exhibition. The activities at the cattle fair also include plantation, developing
polythene-free zones, promotion of natural farming, eco-sanitation, river health, village health monitoring and proper management of solid
waste," said Taigor.
On October 30, an exhibition was organised at Shri Falgun Giri Temple in Kishanpur Town of Vijayapur block in Fatehpur district.
"Shri Falgun Giri is a famous God of Yamuna river catchment area in Fatehpur. Every year during Kartik month (October-November), a
traditional fair is organise in Kishanpur. Religious exhibitions, `Ramlila', `Kavi sammelan', are also held. People living in nearby districts
such as Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kaushambi and Allahabad come to seek blessings of God Shri Falgun Giri. Panchdev Yamuna Nadi
Mitra Society, in co-ordination with local `Hanuman-Gadhi' group organised a dolphin conservation exhibition in the 'chowki' for the first
time," informed Devendra Singh, member of the society.
Dolphin conservation message was also given through loudspeakers such as 'poaching is prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act 1972',
'dolphin is a national aquatic animal', 'it is critically endangered', 'it is not a fish' and others.
For the promotion of solar energy in rural pockets, solar torches were also put on display in the `chowki' and eco-friendly products were used
to organise the exhibition.
Majority of the population in the catchment area of Yamuna carries out farming, besides other major source of livelihood is animal
husbandry. These people depend on the forest cover for fuel and for the purpose of grazing the cattle, putting immense pressure on the
green-belt.
Through the medium of painting, singing and drama, environmental education has been imparted to children who joined hands to save the
future of world's natural treasures," said Jayant Singh, another member of Panchdev Yamuna Nadi Mitra Society.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Centre for Environment Education turns to kids to save dolphin
KANPUR: Young crusaders comprising school children have been roped in to spread awareness about the highly endangered Gangetic dolphins (Platenista Gangetica) through a 'Dolphin mela', being organised at the Vikas Bhawan auditorium of Etawah district on Friday.
Organised by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), North, in association with the Society for Conservation of Nature and Social Forestry division of Etawah, as part of the Union ministry of environment and forest's ongoing Gangetic River Dolphin Conservation Education Programme, the Dolphin mela will see participation of students and teachers from across 22 schools situated within the proximity of Chambal river in the district.
"The young conservationists will now be part of a programme that involves spreading awareness among people about the need to save this national aquatic animal from extinction. The mela will witness activities like poster-making, environmental quiz and slogan-writing, besides a film show for awareness among students and locals," informed District Forest Officer, Manik Chandra Yadav.
Dolphin Mela has been organised to highlight the need to conserve the Gangetic river dolphin, a rare specie found in Chambal, besides in the Brahmaputra and Ganga, Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems. "We have involved students and teachers of nearly 22 schools located in close proximity to the Chambal river," DFO, Yadav, added.
The students will also be taken to some popular dolhpin sites along the river Chambal. "There, we will spread awareness among students on how to increase the count of the aquatic animal," said Rajiv Chauhan, secretary, society for conservation of nature. The mela aims at sensitizing students towards exhorting their elders to help protect the endangered specie.
"We are hopeful that the mela will drew a huge crowd and will change young children's mindset making them proactive towards conservation of the rare specie. There have been instances when people have killed the animal when it got entangled in the fishing net or for procuring its oil for medicinal purposes," said DFO Manik Chandra Yadav further. On August 5, a 134 cm long Gangetic dolphin was found dead in the rivulet in Sahson area close to Chambal river in Etawah district.
Gangetic river dolphins fall under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and have been declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Gangetic river dolphins are one of the four freshwater dolphins in the world. The three others are found in Yangtze river in China, Indus in Pakistan and Amazon in South America.
The Gangetic river species, found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, is blind and finds its way and prey in the river waters through 'echoes'.
Research studies under the Ganga Action plan in the 1980s estimated presence of around 6,000 dolphins in its distribution range across the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli river systems. Sadly, now there are only 2,000 Gangetic river dolphins left in India.
The dolphins, known as platenista gangetica, aka 'susu', are rare. Earlier, these were found in the Ganga river basin and all linked rivers. But now, its habitat is limited to a few rivers. Brahmaputra, Ganga and Chambal rivers are their natural habitat.
The Gangetic dolphins have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India in the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in October 2009. A huge sum of Rs 900 crore has been spent for cleaning the river under the Ganga Action Plan in order to revive the dwindling population of Gangetic dolphin.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Centre-for-Environment-Education-turns-to-kids-to-save-dolphin/articleshow/16390309.cms
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