Naidunia Gwalior 8 October 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.
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
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Plan to restore Pachnada health
Faiz Rahman Siddiqui, TNN | Aug 27, 2012, 05.50AM IST
KANPUR: Yamuna, the largest tributary of the Ganga river, is all set to get an "eco health"
revamp in the region, courtesy UK-based Thames River Restoration Trust (TRRT) and a
number of local organizations working in the field of eco-restoration of waterbodies.
Spearheading the idea is a Delhi-based organization, the Peace Institute Charitable Trust
(PICT), that has launched an extensive restoration programme at Pachnada, the confluence
of five rivers -- Yamuna, Chambal, Kunwari, Pahuj and Sindh -- in Bhareh town of Etawah to
develop community river restoration techniques with support from local groups, especially
the 'Nadi Mitra Mandali' (Friends of the River).
"The project, known as 'river twinning', covers 10 grids (group of villages located on either
side of the river), including the Panchnada Yamuna Nadi Mitra Mandali near Bhareh, on a
1,400-km-long stretch of the Yamuna in regions falling in Uttarakhand, Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh," said PICT director Manoj Mishra.
The other grids across Yamuna are Kharadi, Katapathar, Kanalsi, Ramra, Ovah, Gadaya, Batesar, Hamirpur and Ekdara, he added.
The project has been supported by the Thames River Restoration Trust (TRRT), winner of the Theiss International Riverprize fund, on
behalf of a number of organisations involved in restoration work on the Thames in the UK. The TRRT has committed to using the Riverprize
funds to develop new and better techniques for river restoration which could be used by local community groups on rivers all around the
world.
"The activities include plantation, promotion of natural farming, eco-sanitation, river health and village health monitoring and proper
management of solid waste," said Sita Ram Taigor, who is working with PICT and presently handling five grids of the Yamuna, from
Mathura to Fatehpur, and monitoring and providing technical support to the 'Nadi Mitra Mandali' of the grids.
The project has support and participation of many government and non-government organizations, including the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF). WWF India has also been working to help restore the lower Yamuna to benefit the people and wildlife as part of the
"Thames and Ganges Twinning Partnership". "The project will benefit some of the world's most endangered freshwater wildlife, including
gharial, crocodile, Ganges river dolphin and Ganges river turtle," Taigor added."Pachnada presents an extensive view of sylvan beauty
during the rainy season and also in the winters. The region is a home to a number of exotic species of flora and fauna that need to be
protected," he added.
"An outcome of PICT's partnership with local groups at 14 sites has been the development and testing of a People's River Health Index that
has not only determined the state of the river at different sites, but also identified the actions needed for river restoration," Taigor
elaborated.
Elaborating on the activities, Taigor said: "The actions include training local people in basic river and catchment monitoring techniques,
environmental education of school children and providing sustainable energy use techniques at the local level."
"A massive plantation drive is underway at Pachnada Yamuna Nadi Mitra Mandali grid these days and we are getting a very good response
from the local community, besides schoolchildren who are actively assisting us in fulfilling our mission of restoring the Yamuna," Taigor told
TOI.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-27/kanpur/33424159_1_river-restoration-ganges-river-yamuna
KANPUR: Yamuna, the largest tributary of the Ganga river, is all set to get an "eco health"
revamp in the region, courtesy UK-based Thames River Restoration Trust (TRRT) and a
number of local organizations working in the field of eco-restoration of waterbodies.
Spearheading the idea is a Delhi-based organization, the Peace Institute Charitable Trust
(PICT), that has launched an extensive restoration programme at Pachnada, the confluence
of five rivers -- Yamuna, Chambal, Kunwari, Pahuj and Sindh -- in Bhareh town of Etawah to
develop community river restoration techniques with support from local groups, especially
the 'Nadi Mitra Mandali' (Friends of the River).
"The project, known as 'river twinning', covers 10 grids (group of villages located on either
side of the river), including the Panchnada Yamuna Nadi Mitra Mandali near Bhareh, on a
1,400-km-long stretch of the Yamuna in regions falling in Uttarakhand, Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh," said PICT director Manoj Mishra.
The other grids across Yamuna are Kharadi, Katapathar, Kanalsi, Ramra, Ovah, Gadaya, Batesar, Hamirpur and Ekdara, he added.
The project has been supported by the Thames River Restoration Trust (TRRT), winner of the Theiss International Riverprize fund, on
behalf of a number of organisations involved in restoration work on the Thames in the UK. The TRRT has committed to using the Riverprize
funds to develop new and better techniques for river restoration which could be used by local community groups on rivers all around the
world.
"The activities include plantation, promotion of natural farming, eco-sanitation, river health and village health monitoring and proper
management of solid waste," said Sita Ram Taigor, who is working with PICT and presently handling five grids of the Yamuna, from
Mathura to Fatehpur, and monitoring and providing technical support to the 'Nadi Mitra Mandali' of the grids.
The project has support and participation of many government and non-government organizations, including the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MoEF). WWF India has also been working to help restore the lower Yamuna to benefit the people and wildlife as part of the
"Thames and Ganges Twinning Partnership". "The project will benefit some of the world's most endangered freshwater wildlife, including
gharial, crocodile, Ganges river dolphin and Ganges river turtle," Taigor added."Pachnada presents an extensive view of sylvan beauty
during the rainy season and also in the winters. The region is a home to a number of exotic species of flora and fauna that need to be
protected," he added.
"An outcome of PICT's partnership with local groups at 14 sites has been the development and testing of a People's River Health Index that
has not only determined the state of the river at different sites, but also identified the actions needed for river restoration," Taigor
elaborated.
Elaborating on the activities, Taigor said: "The actions include training local people in basic river and catchment monitoring techniques,
environmental education of school children and providing sustainable energy use techniques at the local level."
"A massive plantation drive is underway at Pachnada Yamuna Nadi Mitra Mandali grid these days and we are getting a very good response
from the local community, besides schoolchildren who are actively assisting us in fulfilling our mission of restoring the Yamuna," Taigor told
TOI.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-27/kanpur/33424159_1_river-restoration-ganges-river-yamuna
Friday, August 24, 2012
Gharial found dead in Chambal river in Etawah dist
KANPUR: A gharial was found dead on Wednsday in Chambal river near Udi bridge in Etawah district.
The death of gharial came barely three days after the recovery of a dead Gangetic dolphin in the Sahson area in the upstream of Chambal river in the district on August 5.
The death of gharial came barely three days after the recovery of a dead Gangetic dolphin in the Sahson area in the upstream of Chambal river in the district on August 5.
The dead gharial, which was in a highly decomposed state, was about 3.5 ft in size.
The dead gharial was found to be wearing a yellow colour tag with a serial number 41 inscribed on it, which according to the environmentalists only suggests that the gharial was released by some gharial conservation agency in the river in order to track the movement of critically endangered species.The tracking is expected to help assess the reptile's survival rate and the status of its preferred habitat in rivers across the region.
In 2007, gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus) was listed as "Critically Endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The recovery of a dead gharial with a number tag, however, has left the UP forest department officials perturbed. "As such kind of tagging has not been done by us, we therefore contacted officials of Deori Gharial breeding centre of MP (Madhya Pradesh) and apprised them about the dead gharial, but they also feigned ignorance about any such tagging activity being carried by them in recent time," said Mahaveer Prasad, range officer, National Chambal sanctuary.
Gharials are only released in their habitat after they attains the age of three years and grew upto 120 cm in size.
Prasad further said that as the carcass was in highly decomposed state it was difficult to ascertain the exact cause of death at this point of time. "We would try to find out the immediate cause by conducting its post-mortem," he added. Sources, however, informed that the body of gharial was found to be entangled in a fishing net, which suggested that the fishermen might have killed the reptile when it apparently got entangled in fishing net.
Currently, besides Chambal, gharials are found only in the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi river systems in India and Nepal.
From November, 2007 till March, 2008, more than 112 gharials have died in the Chambal river from an unknown disease with gout-like symptoms. This recent death toll is expected to have decreased the number of breeding pairs. In 2007-2008, most of the gharials were found dead near the Sahson, the same spot where a female gangetic dolphin and a gharial have been found dead in past couple of days.
The World Wide Fund for Nature-India estimates that more than 100 gharials have died in the sanctuary since December 2007. Most of the dead gharials were spotted at the confluence of the rivers Chambal and Yamuna. The river Chambal is the largest of only three remaining breeding populations of gharial left in the world.
According to Rajiv Chauhan, secretary society for conservation of nature, who was actively involved with the conservation of gharial in the region said, "If measures of protection are not intensively taken then gharials would be wiped out from the region."
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-09/kanpur/33118267_1_gharials-national-chambal-sanctuary-nature-india-estimates
The dead gharial was found to be wearing a yellow colour tag with a serial number 41 inscribed on it, which according to the environmentalists only suggests that the gharial was released by some gharial conservation agency in the river in order to track the movement of critically endangered species.The tracking is expected to help assess the reptile's survival rate and the status of its preferred habitat in rivers across the region.
In 2007, gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus) was listed as "Critically Endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The recovery of a dead gharial with a number tag, however, has left the UP forest department officials perturbed. "As such kind of tagging has not been done by us, we therefore contacted officials of Deori Gharial breeding centre of MP (Madhya Pradesh) and apprised them about the dead gharial, but they also feigned ignorance about any such tagging activity being carried by them in recent time," said Mahaveer Prasad, range officer, National Chambal sanctuary.
Gharials are only released in their habitat after they attains the age of three years and grew upto 120 cm in size.
Prasad further said that as the carcass was in highly decomposed state it was difficult to ascertain the exact cause of death at this point of time. "We would try to find out the immediate cause by conducting its post-mortem," he added. Sources, however, informed that the body of gharial was found to be entangled in a fishing net, which suggested that the fishermen might have killed the reptile when it apparently got entangled in fishing net.
Currently, besides Chambal, gharials are found only in the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi river systems in India and Nepal.
From November, 2007 till March, 2008, more than 112 gharials have died in the Chambal river from an unknown disease with gout-like symptoms. This recent death toll is expected to have decreased the number of breeding pairs. In 2007-2008, most of the gharials were found dead near the Sahson, the same spot where a female gangetic dolphin and a gharial have been found dead in past couple of days.
The World Wide Fund for Nature-India estimates that more than 100 gharials have died in the sanctuary since December 2007. Most of the dead gharials were spotted at the confluence of the rivers Chambal and Yamuna. The river Chambal is the largest of only three remaining breeding populations of gharial left in the world.
According to Rajiv Chauhan, secretary society for conservation of nature, who was actively involved with the conservation of gharial in the region said, "If measures of protection are not intensively taken then gharials would be wiped out from the region."
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-09/kanpur/33118267_1_gharials-national-chambal-sanctuary-nature-india-estimates
Friday, August 17, 2012
Chambal dry, gharials on high
- Tuesday, 31 July 2012 13:12 Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
An unprecedented number of 2,340 eggs have hatched in about 68 nests this year which is the highest ever since the commencement of gharial conservation efforts in 1975. The Chambal sanctuary spreads across the States of MP, Rajasthan and UP and accounts for the majority of gharial population in the country.
According to Sujoy Banerjee, Deputy Conservator National Chambal Wildlife Division, Agra, mortality is usually higher in the gharial hatchlings, as they get washed away in floods, which is a common phenomenon in the Chambal River. But scanty and delayed rains this year, seem to be auguring well for their conservation. While there has been an exceptionally high hatching of gharials, the relatively dry spell has provided enough time for the hatchlings to grow up and survive in the Chambal stream.
“This was coupled with round the clock vigil of the forest staff on the banks of Chambal River during the nesting season which stretch from March-May. After the female gharials lay eggs and leave, the nests are identified. They are then enclosed with square wire mesh to ward off dogs, jackals and other animals, which dig and destroy the eggs”, he added.
Meanwhile, the species faced a major threat in 2007 when about 150 adult gharials died because of reasons still not known. “But the crisis now appears to have been overcome. The number of nests protected this year has gone up to 68 from 15 in 2007-08”, said Bannerjee.
Record hatchlings
In 2007-08, 359 offsprings had hatched in about 15 nests. The count increased to 1,000 in double the number of nests during the following year. In 2009-10, 1,131 juveniles emerged out of 32 nests. In 2010-11, 1,009 offsprings had hatched from the same number of nests. Though the numbers may appear impressive, the average survival rate of the juveniles is low. Studies estimate the total number of breeding adult gharials in the country to be less than 200.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/84658-chambal-dry-gharials-on-high.html
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