DECEMBER 16 - 31, 2015

DECEMBER 16

Leh and Kargil towns frozen at minus 12 degrees Celsius today, biting cold continues in Kashmir Valley: December 14
The minimum temperature in Srinagar city was two degrees Celsius on Monday. It was minus 4.1 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 10 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg.The 40-day long period of extreme cold known as 'Chillai Kalan' begins on December 21 and ends on January 31 each year.
Wildlife Census begins in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: December 16
Wild gaurs in the Munnar-Marayur area are falling victims to unusually heavy rainfall and mist: December 16

DECEMBER 17
Srinagar records season's coldest night at - 3.7 degrees celsius as J & K faces freezing cold wave: December 16
Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the state as the minimum temperature settled at minus 14.2 degrees last night. 
Forest Department has decided to replicate the successful models of Valparai and Kodagu to mitigate human - elephant conflict in Gudalur forest division: December 17
Nilgiris District Police have installed CCTV cameras in check-posts to prevent infiltration of Maoists into the State: December 17
Luxury diesel vehicles banned in Delhi, NCR upto March 31, 2016 to reduce air pollution: December 17

DECEMBER 18 
A flock of Lesser Whistling ducks and Purple Moorhen at Hahila beel in Nagaon on Thursday (Dec 17): December 18
Season's lowest temperature of 14.1 in Calcutta on Thursday: December 18
Wind from the north-west  has brought the temperature down since Wednesday. The day's minimum temperature is recorded around 5.30am. Some localities of Calcutta also received a faint drizzle on Thursday evening, the result of clouds building over the city. A cyclonic circulation developed over Bangladesh on Thursday and has started drawing moisture into the air over large parts of south Bengal. Light rainfall is likely in Calcutta and its surrounding areas," a senior IMD official said.
Temperatures across the Bihar, including Patna, have tumbled below the normal: December 18
On Thursday, Patna's minimum temperature touched 8.8ºC, Purnea 7.4 and Gaya 6.5. Weathermen attributed temperature drop to chilly northwesterly winds from north India. Temperatures started dipping in places such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh owing to snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh last week and cold northwesterly winds coming from the snowfall-laden places in north India. Weathermen have ruled out extreme cold conditions in Bihar, as the sea surface temperature in the south Bay of Bengal is around 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than the normal. The warm bay is obstructing severe winter conditions in eastern India, including Bihar.
Rohtang Pass closed after fresh snow: December18
Bharmour, Pangi areas of Chamba district receive heavy snow: December18
Baglihar HE project on the Chenab in Doda district a cause for concern: December18
Gene study throws light on features of Asian, African elephants: December 18
Male jumbo shot dead, another dies of injuries in Mysuru district: December 18
Srinagar-Leh road will be closed for vehicular traffic from Sunday: December 16
Three elephants raid Dhupguri town in Jalpaiguri district on Thursday morning: December 18
Bengaluru’s pollution as well as vehicle population were growing alarmingly: December 18
Madras HC bars construction on water bodies till January 8: December 18

DECEMBER 19   
Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day period of the harshest winter in Kashmir, begins on Dec 21: Dec 18
Jammu records coldest night of season at 5.5 degrees celsius: December 18
From Kashmir to UP, North shivers under cold wave: December 18
Rare discovery of eel on West Bengal coast: December 19
BBTC has moved the Madras HC Bench in Madurai against State G overnment’s move to declare as RF about 8,373.57 acres leased to the company in the KMTR: December 19

DECEMBER 20 (Sunday)
River Siang has turned muddy: December 19 River Siang has turned unusually muddy, triggering fear that it could be the outcome of the damming of Yarlung Tsangpo in China-controlled Tibet upstream. Earlier this year, China commissioned the Zangmu Hydropower Station in south-eastern Tibet’s Gyaca county of Lhoka (Shannan) prefecture. This has never happened before. The river remains crystal clear at this time of the year, but it has turned the colour of mud,” said lawyer and activist Vijay Taram from Pasighat.“The water of the river wasn’t so muddy even in 2001, when an earthen dam in Tibet gave way and caused flash flood,” said Taram, whose group – Forum for Siang Dialogue (FSD) – has been crusading against mega dams on Siang. There are similar reports from Yinkiong town, about 120 km upstream of Siang from Pasighat. China is scheduled to complete five other sections of the dam on the river next year. Siang runs 2,900 km from its source in Tibet to  Bay of Bengal.

Severe Cold wave in Manipur with the mercury level plunging to 4.8 degree Celsius in the capital Imphal today: Dec 19 Besides the State capital, the severe cold wave conditions also prevailed in other hill district headquarters of the State. The hilly Ukhrul, around 84 km north from Imphal, has been experiencing unusual cold in the last few days with cold winds both during the day and at night.   This year’s month of January, with a minimum temperature of 2-3 degree Celsius, witnessed the coldest days of the year.                                                                                                                              
Kashmir  Valley freezes with severe cold: December 19  
The cold wave across the valley intensified on Friday with several places including Srinagar recording night temperatures several degrees below freezing point. Srinagar recorded the lowest temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius (coldest of the season). The dip in mercury resulted freezing of peripheries of several water bodies in city including Dal Lake.
The minimum temperature recorded in Kupwara in north Kashmir was minus 4.6 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in South Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7.9 degrees while as the minimum temperature recorded in Kokernag was minus 3.1 degrees Celsius,” Met officials revealed. They said the Qazigund area along Srinagar Jammu highway recorded a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius. Ahead of Chillai Kalaan the harsh period of winters in valley cold wave has tightened its noose over Kashmir valley with met department predicting dry weather in coming days. In Ladakh several places continue to shiver below freezing point with Leh recording a minimum of minus 13.7 degrees Celsius while as Kargil town recorded a minimum temperature of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius.
Yellow Eyed Babbler spotted near Kanakapura: December 20  

Greater Flamingos sight at backwaters of Tunga Bhadra reservoir in Hospet Taluk on Tuesday:

Blackbucks fall prey to illegal electric fencing in Chamarajanagar: December 19
White Paper on Bauxite Mining, Public Opinion Elicited: December 20
The white paper released on November 24, by the state government on bauxite mining had already been uploaded on the website of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (APMDC) www.apmdc.ap.gov.in on November 7, states a release from the APMDC. The APMDC has a dedicated toll free number-180059906699 for the public to raise their opinion/suggestions/reviews regarding the white paper or any other relevant issues.
Cold wave conditions revived in Rajasthan on Sunday; Mount Abu was recorded at -1degree Celsius: December 20
India’s waterman, Rajendra Singh says U.S. won in Paris summit: December 20
Urban greening drive yields rich dividends in Coimbatore: December 20
Role of tropical forests in reducing global warming: December 20
NGT orders MoEF to map the Sunderbans: December 20 

DECEMBER 21
Migratory birds  have started flocking Maguri Motapung Beel in Tinsukia district with the advent of the winter season: December 20
Chill grips Shillong: December 20
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as per the data recorded on Sunday the maximum temperature during the past 24 hours was 12.5 degree celsius and the minimum temperature  was 4.9 degree celsius. 
Cold wave across Jharkhand: December 21
Ranchi & Daltonganj record minimum of 6.5°C; Bokaro 6.1°C. RMC in Alipore, Calcutta, attributed the "abrupt fall in minimum temperatures" to the "clearing of a cyclonic circulation over northwest Bay of Bengal". Weathermen at the IMD office in Ranchi maintained that the chill may take a break after the next 24 hours owing to the impact of a Western Disturbance passing through northern parts of the country. The impact of the Western Disturbance may affect minimum temperatures between December 21 and 23. But, the mercury will once again dip on Christmas-eve."
Wildlife Institute of India in a report on the MEE of NPs  has asked the KNP authorities to pay greater attention to the conservation of tigers and other species in addition to rhinos: December 20
Cold desert in Ladakh getting warmer: December 20
Jogimatti reserve forest in Chitradurga district to be notified a a Wildlife Sanctuary: Dec 21
Tamil Nadu rain ‘highly localised’ event, no link with global warming: Javadekar tells RS: December 21
Extreme rainfall that occurred over coastal districts of Tamil Nadu is highly localised and is part of the natural variability of the Indian monsoon system. “Although some studies have reported an increase in frequency and intensity of extremes in rainfall during the past 40-50 years, their attribution to global warming is not established,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. He said that during November, three large scale weather systems affected both TN & Puducherrycausing extensive rainfall activity over the region. “The Earth System Science Organisation — IMD has predicted above normal rainfall in excess of 111 per cent of the long period average in its forecast outlook for 2015 Northeast Monsoon season rainfall over the South Peninsula,” the minister said.
Salvaging of the felled red sanders tree branches and thin logs left behind by illegal woodcutters in Seshachalam hills an uphill task: December 21
Madhav Gadgil to record his findings and present his solutions in Wikipedia, after MoEF announces that it was ‘not processing’ the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report: December 21

DECEMBER 22
Assam feeling the heat of global warming: December 20
Meteorological data analysis forecasts more intense flood and drought cycles in the State by 2050
Kashmir’s harshest winter period, Chillai Kalaan begins today: December 21
High-altitude tribal areas in Himachal experience arctic conditions with the minimum temperature between minus 12 and minus 18 degree C : December 22
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district records minus 11.5 degree C; Manali - 4  degree C.
2015 is one of the worst for human-animal conflict in Karnataka: December 22
A group of 45 elephants go on rampage near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur district: December 22

DECEMBER 23
Bulbuli fights of Hajo to continue Gauhati HC: December 22
On January 13, 2015, the ADC of Kamrup district, following instructions from the deputy commissioner, sent a letter to Hajo Haigrib Madhab Mandir, asking them to stop the practice of Bulbuli fights. A organisation of Assam working on wildlife conservation, included the name of Bulbuli fight hosted by the temple in Hajo on the occasion of Magh Bihu
In a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board. A member of the management committee of the temple, approached the Supreme Court who advised him to move the Gauhati HC in this regard. Following this, a writ petition was filed by the member at the Gauhati High Court, and hearing his petition, the High Court on Tuesday said that the centuries old traditional Bulbuli fight of Hajo will continue.
More than six lakh migratory birds have arrived in various wetlands of the Kashmir valley: December 22
The migratory birds have arrived in the major wetlands of Kashmir valley, Hokersar, Haigam and Shalibugh and the number is expected to increase in the coming days.
Thousands of bar-headed geese have been landing in the lakes in Chamarajanagar taluk for the past one month: December 23
Due to good rains this year, all the water bodies have filled up, and the birds can be spotted in the water bodies at Hondarabalu, Nagavalli, Nalluru, Honganuru and Hirikere.
Anshi-Dandeli reserve now Kali tiger reserve: December 23
Cold wave sweeps Kangra valley: December 22
 The maximum temperature touched 4° Celsius at McLeodganj and minus 1°C the minimum. Kangra had the maximum 12° C and minimum 4°C.
Continue reading »

DECEMBER 1 - 15, 2015

DECEMBER 1 (Tuesday)
Rain lashes southern Andhra districts of Nellore and Chittoor on Monday after respite of a few days: December 1
Nellore received thunderstorm at many places under the influence of a trough of LP over SW Bay. Nellore recorded only 23mm rain compared to 110cm in the previous 15 days. Rains casused floods in Yerpedu,  Chandragiri and Srikalahasti mandals after heavy inflows into Kalingi reservoir, whose gates were opened. Tirumala received heavy rain accompanied by cold weather.

DECEMBER 2
Thousands of migratory birds are thronging Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in the last few days: December 2
Heavy rain returned to Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, battering the  coastal areas and bringing life to a grinding halt in Chennai and Puducherry: December 2
Heavy rain in the catchment areas of the Chembarambakkam reservoir (25 centimetres between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday) forced the authorities to discharge water at the rate of 20,000 cubic feet per second into the Adyar river.Water release from the reservoirs and the breaching of over 60 tanks in south Chennai contributed to the extensive damage in the city. Boats had to be called out once again to rescue residents caught in their workplaces and homes, after floodwaters entered the buildings. Puducherry received 19 cm of rain until 4 p.m. since Monday night, the highest in recent years. Roads connecting Villupuram and Cuddalore were inundated. Most lakes and ponds reached the full level. The Sankaraparani and 'Then Pennaiyar' rivers were in spate.

  
Satellite image recorded by INSAT 3D at 1600 hours on Tuesday
North T.N. bears the brunt of unrelenting rain: December 2
Kattupakkam near Chengalpattu received 22 cm of rain on Tuesday, which resulted in lakes in the region overflowing, cutting off traffic on the Grand Southern Trunk between Chengalpattu and Chennai for the first time in 40 years. In Chennai’s suburbs, Kolapakkam and Poonamallee received 15 cm of rainfall each, Puzhal 13 cm, while Avadi and Guindy received 12 cm each.The average rainfall recorded in Cuddalore in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday is as follows: Parangipettai recorded a maximum of 159 mm followed by Chidambaram with 99 mm, Cuddalore 97.40 mm.
Will Madurai withstand flood havoc? December 2
Fresh spell of rain floods Nellore district: December 2
Under the influence of another depression in the Bay of Bengal, another spell of heavy rain lashed Gudur and Nayudupeta division in Nellore district.  Kalangi, Kaivalya and Kandaleru streams rising again in the past two days. All tanks and reservoirs in the district continued to receive significant inflows with the Somasila reservoir receiving nearly 35,000 cusecs. It storage crossed 66 tmcft on Tuesday. Officials said 6-12 cm of rainfall was recorded in Gudur and Nayudupeta divisions and several villages were cut off due to overflowing culverts.
Eastern mandals in Chittoor marooned: December 2
Leopard caught after 7-hour high drama in Kulcharam mandal of Medak district, Telangana: December 2

DECEMBER 3
Record rainfall combined with the increased discharge of water from reservoirs paralyses Chennai: Dec 3
The record rainfall — 29.4 cm in the city and 49 cm in Tambaram in 24 hours from 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday (previous highest rainfall in the city on a single day in December was recorded in 1901) swelled rivers and submerged bridges and lakes in the suburbs which overflowing their banks, left several thousands of people homeless or stranded in their own homes without food, water and electricity. Suburban train services cancelled as girders shifted on the railway bridge across the Adyar.
Rains pound Puducherry: December 3
The region has received heavy to very heavy rainfall of 461.40 mm over the past 48 hours. The unprecedented downpour that has been lashing the region over the past few days has uprooted normal life in Puducherry. The incessant rainfall brought heavy flooding in several streets and roads which hitherto had not experienced any flooding during rainy season.
In November alone, Puducherry region received 834.8 mm rainfall as against the seasonal average of 767.8mm.
Rains caused by the depression in the Bay of Bengal moved north to Prakasam district on Wednesday: December 3
The devastated Nellore district and Chittoor gets a respite.

DECEMBER 4
Forest cover in NE decreases by 628 sq. km:  December 4
Rains have stopped in Chennai, but many areas  still  under water: December 4
The water flow in the Adyar river has come down.  Suburban train services resume. Southern Railway & SCR running special trains to and from Chennai. Some private airlines flying out hundreds of people from the Arakkonam Naval Base to Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

DECEMBER 5
Javadekar, Union Environment Minister  blames developed nations for Chennai deluge: December 5
Delhi Government plans new vehicle rules for cleaner air: December 5

DECEMBER 6 (Sunday)

DECEMBER 7
Rain unrelenting in Cuddalore: December 7
Panruti in Cuddalore district recorded a maximum of 13 cm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. While Neyveli registered 11 cm, Cuddalore recorded 10 cm rainfall on Sunday. With the inflow in the Vellar river reaching nearly 60,000 cusecs, the administration has shifted people living in low-lying areas to safer places.
Periyar dam water level crosses 141.1 ft. and is inching towards 142 feet, maximum level permitted: December 7
Two more poachers held in the Nilgiris: December 7

DECEMBER 8
Cuddalore in distress as a thousand acres of paddy and sugarcane were now under eight to ten feet of water in Kurinjipadi after the flooding that occurred in the last three days: December 8
Places such as Bhuvanagiri, Panruti, Kurinjipadi and Viridhachalam have borne the brunt of incessant rains that lashed the district over the last one month. In the last three days, all approach roads to the village in Kurinjipadi  were cut off and houses washed away. Across Cuddalore, farmers reported heavy loss of cattle and poultry.
India to have 8 new ecological observatories to study climate change: December 8
Could Chennai be eligible for climate finance?: December 8
Vacate carbon space: India to West in Paris Climate Summit: December 8

DECEMBER 9

DECEMBER 10
A deadly war at the genetic level between Butterflies and parasitoids: December 10
Green cover battling for survival in Karnataka: December 10

DECEMBER 11
Chennai tops the list in emissions per capita among major metros of the country: December 11
The city releases nearly 4.79 tonnes of CO2 per person per year, while Kolkata comes a distant second at 3.29 tonnes per capita as per IISc researcher,  T.V. Ramachandra.  . The highest contributor is industrial emission, with 4.4 million tonnes of CO2 in the year studied.
Lammasingi, a tribal village in Vizag district has recorded 0 degree on 15 January 2012: December 11
Chennai paid the price for loss of wetlands and open spaces - study by CES & IISc: December 11

DECEMBER 12
NGT on Friday directed that no new or old diesel vehicle be registered in Delhi till Jan. 6 as an interim step: December 12
The Tribunal suggested -“We direct the government to take a conscientious decision in regard to not buying any diesel vehicle, whether by the Central or the State Government or their agencies.” We direct all the public authorities, Corporation, DDA, Police and other Public Departments to prepare an action plan for phasing out of diesel vehicles, particularly the trucks being used by all these bodies,” a Bench headed by NGT chairperson said.
Ambient air quality for PM 2.5 in Delhi on Nov 1 was 327 microgram/cubic metre and on Dec11 - 248 (standard 60)
The status of Mugger  population in Moyar river should be monitored, says  a wildlife biologist: December 12

DECEMBER 13 (Sunday)

DECEMBER 14
Leh in Ladakh region  experienced the coldest night of the season so far, as the mercury plunged to minus 12 degrees C.
In Kashmir Valley, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.8 degrees as against 0.6 degrees the previous night: December 14
Cold wave sweeps Rajasthan: December 14
Churu minus 0.4 degree Celsius; Mount Abu one-degree Celsius; Sikar 3.5 degrees Celsius,
RCE-Tirupati to focus on Eastern Ghats: December 13

DECEMBER 15 (Tuesday)
Two poachers were killed in a gunbattle with forest guards in Bagori range of KNP in the early hours today: December 14
Around 24 poachers have been gunned down in the Unesco World Heritage site this year.The poachers have killed at least 30 rhinos  in the State so far.
 A wild elephant was run over by a train in Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary near Siliguri this evening: December 14

ADDITIONS (December 1- 15, 2015)
Five critically endangered vulture spotted scavenging together at one location -near Mahuva in Bhavnagar district: December 1
India's forest cover goes up, UP, TN, J&K, Kerala, K'taka gain: December 5
Mangrove cover grows 20% in Maharashtra in 2 years: December 6
 






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