MARCH 1, 2015 (Sunday)
Yellow Rain mystery
solved: Biswabrata Goswami, March 1
Midnapore, 28
February: A rare phenomenon of yellow rainfall that occurred at Meshera village
near Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant in East Midnapore on Wednesday has been put
down to the mass defecation of honey-bees during their flight. A sample survey
conducted by the research workers of Vidyasagar University's Botany department
reveals the presence of pollens in the yellow droplets. The researchers, in
their report, asserted that what was called yellow rain was actually the faeces
of honeybees and not from the toxic emissions of Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant
(KTPP).
Dr Amal Kuamr
Mondol, professor of Botany department, VU said, the samples of yellow rain
were placed under the microscope in the lab, where the researchers found the
presence of pollens. At this time of the year, honeybees swallow pollens from
yellow flowers and undertake mass defecation flights in order to lower their
body temperature. This is done to lower the colony temperature and protect
developing larvae. It also provides a natural delivery mechanism for the
widespread deposit of predigested pollen. The rare phenomenon had created not
only curiosity but anxiety among the local residents, who wondered if it was
not acid rain.
Perhaps because it was an unexpected and brief happening, barely a few persons could make an attempt to collect samples for analysis. Some experts believed that such yellow droplets were caused by contamination of huge sulphur pollutant in the air emitted from the thermal plant. Since the emissions from KTPP are pollutants to the air which cause several hazards to the life of inhabitants of the locality and the plants as well, this kind of unnatural phenomenon could be the ill effect of massive air pollution, said Pallav Jana, a teacher in the locality. Several times the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (PCB) has slapped a fines on the KTPP for flouting its instructions on environment norms and threatened it with legal action if it continues to do so. Local residents were so naturally worried and pointed fingers at the KTPP authorities.
Perhaps because it was an unexpected and brief happening, barely a few persons could make an attempt to collect samples for analysis. Some experts believed that such yellow droplets were caused by contamination of huge sulphur pollutant in the air emitted from the thermal plant. Since the emissions from KTPP are pollutants to the air which cause several hazards to the life of inhabitants of the locality and the plants as well, this kind of unnatural phenomenon could be the ill effect of massive air pollution, said Pallav Jana, a teacher in the locality. Several times the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (PCB) has slapped a fines on the KTPP for flouting its instructions on environment norms and threatened it with legal action if it continues to do so. Local residents were so naturally worried and pointed fingers at the KTPP authorities.
Mr Tapas Patra,
General Manager, KTPP, however, refuted the charges of flouting of the PCB's
norms and said, we have taken several steps to upgrade the plant and at present
the sulphur emission level is very minimum. So yellow rain is not connected
with the pollutants emitted from our plant. Yellow rain was first noticed
in Southeast Asia in the 1970s. It was initially thought to be caused by a
chemical or biological weapon. In 1975 Hmong tribesmen came under attack by the
military forces of Laos and Vietnam. Refugee tribesmen reported that an oily,
yellow aerosol was being dispersed from low-flying aircraft. Those exposed to
it showed life-threatening physical and neurological symptoms. This unknown
substance became commonly referred to as yellow rain. Preponderance of evidence
now suggests that it was honeybee faeces, said Dr Mondol. (From Sunday
Statesman, Kolkata - epaper, page 2, Local)
Campaign to save the
Indian wolf: IANS |Mumbai, 01 March, 2015
MARCH 2
Sperm whale washed
ashore near Kalpakkam: March 2, 2015
http://www.marinemammals.in/database/sightings-a-strandings
Sightings and Strandings
Heavy snowfall cuts
off Kashmir Valley from rest of country: Srinagar, PTI, Mar 2
<http://www.deccanherald.com/content/462990/heavy-snowfall-cuts-off-valley.html>
Tree felling rampant
in Assam: March 2
Three endangered
species of butterflies found in Karimganj district in Assam's Barak Valley:
March 2
Rhino future in
danger - IUCN Report: March 2
Assam Governor
expresses displeasure at the state government's failure to prevent rhino
poaching: March 2
Jharkhand Chief
secretary, DGP tour Saranda to take stock of Rs 249-crore development plan
underway in the iron-ore rich,
forested area: March 2
Till 2011-12 the
area was a Naxalite stronghold. The Saranda Development Plan (SDP) was
conceptualised by then Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, and has
been operational since 2012.
Rain and
thundersquall alert for Jharkhand: March 2
Gahirmatha sanctuary
has emerged as the state's most congenial habitat for six species of dolphins:
March 2
Rain and high-speed
winds flatten crops in Moga district, Punjab: March 2
Rain, snow revive
cold wave in Uttarakhand: March 2
Winter unending as
snow, rain hit Himachal: March 2
Tribal Hamlets in
Silent Valley Area a Safe Haven for Maoists: 2nd March
Heavy rainfall
brings chill back to MP: Monday, 2 March
MARCH 3
World Wildlife Day: March 3
Light but widespread
rainfall in Jharkhand: March 3
Light rain, mostly
in central Bihar
Arvind Mishra, Bihar State co-ordinator of Indian Bird Conservation Network, takes initiative to
conserve the Greater Adjutant stork in Bhagalpur; nesting rises in diaras: March 3
A group of budding
photographers in Bhubaneswar have taken initiative for conserving and mapping
the butterfly population in the state: March 3
Incessant rains
lashes Uttarakhand: March 3
Heavy rainfall in
the hills of Uttarakhand and HP increases water level in the Yamuna in Haryana:
March 3
<http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/alert-sounded-in-haryana-villages-along-yamuna/49194.html>
Spring rain set a
new record in Himachal with excess rain in a single day in March: March 3
78 tigers died in
2014 - Prakash Javadekar: PTI | Mar 3
Painted storks start
building nests at Koonthankulam bird sanctuary: March 3
Hydel project in
Shalmala valley (Uttara Kannada district) opposed: March 3
<http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/hydel-project-in-shalmala-valley-opposed/article6953674.ece>
Lawkumar Khachar
dies: TNN | Mar 3
MARCH 4
Thirteen Assam
organizations call for scrapping of Hydro Power Projects in Arunachal: March 3
Thirteen Assam based
organizations in a letter to the Prime Minister of India have called for
scrapping of hydro power projects in Arunachal or replaced by sustainable
smaller dams. MoEF had admitted that the Hydro Power dams of Uttarakhand had a
great devastating impact on the June 2013 catastrophe inan Affidavit in the
Supreme Court in December 2014. It demanded that what the Ministry of
Environment Forest Climate Change (MoEFCC) is now advocating for
Uttarakhand – cumulative impact
assessment, longitudinal connectivity, aviral dhara (continuous flow), for all
Northeast dams as well. It further called for planning and construction of 24x7
true Run of the River (ROR) dams generating power in a sustainable way after a
basin wise cumulative impact assessment by an interdisciplinary expert group is
carried out in the four valleys, Lohit, Dibang, Siang, Subansiri. The Chinese must be
told directly by the GOI and through the International Community that at no
point of time ever, any scheme to divert any water from Yarlung Sangpo can be
constructed by the Chinese including big reservoir dams. They can only
construct true RoR sustainable Hydro Electric Projects where the river flow is
not obstructed.
From <http://www.arunachaltimes.in/#illustrious>
Several endangered vultures died of food poisoning at Kuwabari Beel near Hiloidari and Kuworgaon in Dhakuakhana on Tuesday, March 3 (Image)
Several endangered vultures died of food poisoning at Kuwabari Beel near Hiloidari and Kuworgaon in Dhakuakhana on Tuesday, March 3 (Image)
Farmers oppose mega
dams on Siang river: Itanagar, March 3
Rain pounds
Bengaluru/Unseasonal rains in parts of South Interior Karnataka: DHNS, March 3
Snow in Dhauladhars,
hail in Palampur: Mar 3
Srinagar-Jammu
NH remains shut after heavy rain and snowfall triggers landslides: March 3
Rain, snowfall in
Kumaon for second day: TNN | March 2
MARCH 5
Poachers killed a
rhino and took away its horn at Burapahar Range in Kaziranga NP on Tuesday:
March 5 (Image)
MARCH 11
Two arrested for
rhino horn smuggling/ another rhino killed at Kaziranga NP: March 4
<http://sentinelassam.com.bh-in-7.webhostbox.net/mainnews/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=219847&dtP=2015-03-05&ppr=1#219847>
Glaciers in
Brahmaputra basin may reduce alarmingly by the middle of the 21st century:
Mar 4
Kangra
district now has the highest population of Asian white-backed vulture in India:
March 4
The bird is listed
as a critically endangered species in the IUCN red list. It was estimated by
the Wildlife Department that the population would be around 1,100 in the
district
J&K National
Highway closed for fourth consecutive day: March 5
Kodanad: is situated
on the southern banks of the Periyar, amid the high ranges, near Perumbavoor,
and has
one of the largest
elephant training centres in Kerala. It is about 30 km from Ernakulam. Earlier
the animals captured from the Malayatoor forests used to be trained here.
Muthanga in Wayanad district and Konni in Pathanamthitta district are two other
centres. In Punnathur kotta, in neighbouring Thrissur district, 40 elephants of
the Guruvayoor temple are groomed. The DFO, Malayattur Forest Division,
Kodanad, Eranakulam Dist is in charge of the centre.
Blackbuck population
increases in Odisha's Ganjam district: IANS | March 5
Wild tusker returns
to Nepal after trampling six to death: PTI | March 5
Elephants strike
terror near Koundinya sanctuary: March 5
Upcoming Tropical
Butterfly Conservatory at Srirangam gets additional funds: March 5
NHAI under scanner
for neglecting afforestation work along NH-66: March 5
MARCH 6
Ruskin, March 5:
Heavy shower followed by turbulent winds lashed Siang valley and adjoining
areas of neighbouring Assam. The intermittent heavy downpour lasted for the
last two days and today turned to heavy hailstorm and created havoc at
Pasighat, Ruksin, Nari, Mebo of East Siang besides Jonai, Laimekuri, Telam and
Silapathar in Assam.
The hailstorm lasted
for several hours today halting movement of passenger vehicles along the NH-52.
<http://www.arunachaltimes.in/#Heavy>
March 6
Papu Valley: in East
Kameng district is 35 kilometers off Seppa town.
The meandering river
is suitable for boating, especially in the 10 km stretch between Seba and
Sede. <http://www.arunachaltimes.in/#Papu> March 6
Heavy snowfall at
Khajjiar: March 5
Dalhousie: The
famous hill resort of 'Khajjiar' in Chamba district has been experiencing
snowfall since morning, officials of the HPTDC said here on Thursday. The
officials said Khajjiar recorded 10 cm of snowfall till noon and was still
continuing till the filing of the report. The lower areas of the district were
in the grip of cold winds as the entire region was having rain.
Vishwamitri river
that flows through Vadodara brimming with 260 crocodiles: TNN | March 6
MARCH 7
Turtle nesting in
Chennai shore: March 7
According to Akila
Balu, Coordinator of SSTCN, there are only 80 Olive Ridley nests at present,
which are much lower than normal due to their high mortality rate because of
destructive fishing practices. About 276 turtles were found dead in Jan-Feb this year. Though there has been
no incidence of turtle poaching off
Chennai coast since 2012, there has been an increase in death of this species.
(Adyar Talk, March 7-13, 2015/ http://sstcn.org/)
Mudumalai, Anamalai
tiger reserves rated 'very good' in MEE: March 7
Karnataka, Kerala
and TN: 11 Tiger reserves; Mean score range 61-91 (mean score 76.69)
Tamil Nadu: Very
good 75 % and above - Anamalai, Mudumalai & KMTR; Good (60-74 %) -
Sathyamangalam
Heavy Rain lashes
Coonoor on Thursday night: March 7
Jammu-Srinagar NH remained closed for the
fifth consecutive day: Jammu, March 6
The highway was
thrown open for one-way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar on Saturday.
Residents want MCC
to cut trees: Mysuru, March 4
Dalma elephants
begin their journey home to Dalma from
Bengal: March 7
Bar-headed geese
prepare to land at the Pobitora WLS, Assam (Image). The birds will be in the
sanctuary for two more months before they leave on their long migration route
back to Tibet: March 7
MARCH 8 (Sunday)
Glaciers in
Brahmaputra basin may reduce alarmingly: IANS | 4 March
Windmills spell doom
for Great Indian Bustard: March 8
Elephant herd back
in Dalma from Bengal: Jamshedpur, March 7
49,000 tonne wood
burnt during Holika Dahan: Ranchi, March 7
The forest
department estimates that 49,000 tonne wood was reduced to ashes during 'Holika
Dahan' - a pyre burning ritual that marks the beginning of the festival of
colours - across Jharkhand on March 5 even though officials maintained strict
vigil in forests to prevent felling of trees. Holi revellers bought wood from
sawmills or from trees on private land. Though the forest department is claimed
to have prevented tree felling during the Holi, it could do little to curb
pollution caused by the burning.
Heavy snowfall in
tribal areas of Himachal over the last few days, avalanche threat in Chamba:
March 7
Srinagar-Jammu NH
which was reopened for one-way traffic on Saturday has been closed today (Sunday)
following fresh landslides: March 8
Some parts of
Punjab, Haryana and Himachal continue to be lashed by rains and hailstorm:March 8
Intense cold
wave disturbs Gairwa river alligator’s
reproduction cycle: TNN | March 7
MARCH 9
Sunderbans losing
green cover and land mass, says ISRO study: March 9
Animal-keeper was
attacked by safari lions at Bannerghatta Biological Park: March 9
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/keeper-mauled-by-lion-at-bannerghatta-national-park/article6976301.ece?homepage=true&ref=tpnews The animal-keeper
who was mauled by two lions received over 40 bites on his body and is
recuperating at the Apollo Hospital (March
11).
Kashmir receives
season's heaviest snowfall: Srinagar, Mar 9, 2015
Nor'wester alert in
Jharkhand: March 9
Cold wave sweeps
Himachal: Shimla, March 8
Assam turns into
vulture graveyard - More than 100 birds poisoned this year: March 9
Endangered Indian
Skimmer finds new home in Satpura NP: TNN | Mar 9
Significant rise in
Maharashtra's tiger population: PTI | Mar 9
Pilibhit forest a
safe haven for poachers: TNN | Mar 9
Coonoor records
heavy rain in the early hours of Sunday: March 9
Within about three
hours from 1 a.m. Coonoor recorded 88 mm of rainfall. The torrential rain had
been accompanied by thunder and lightning. UPASI-KVK said the rainfall recorded
at Coonoor during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday was 125 mm. A
waterway known for long as the Krishnapuram stream overflowed.
MARCH 10
Meet
on conservation of temple turtles in Assam: Guwahati, March 9
NCMC reviews latest
situation on Phuktal river blockade: Jammu, March 9
The latest imagery
shows the width of the river as 150 meters with surface are of 270 ha and water
accumulation (backward from the site) upto 15 Km. Following the devised action
plan, one of the advance teams sent to the site successfully set up camps with
all the logistics and despite inclement weather during the previous week, the
layout team was successful in preparing 1.16 Km track and completing the roping
process between the camp site and the landslide site.
Humpback Dolphins
enter backwaters of Masula in Krishna district: March 10
No let-up in intense
cold in Himachal: Shimla, March 9
Kashmir Valley gets
heaviest snowfall of season, highway remains closed: March 10
Jammu Srinagar NH
was reopened today for one way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar, after remaining
closed for two consecutive days.
Wild elephants
wreaking havoc in Koraput villages: PTI | Mar 10
Rs 82 lakh petrol
used for patrolling in Gir forest: TNN | Mar 10
Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta), has emerged as a threat to
birds of Satpura: March 10
Is rhino's poaching
a state sponsored crime? March 10
Biting cold wave in
high-altitude areas of Himachal: Shimla, March 10
Desilting and bush
clearance begins at S. Periyapalayam tank in Tirupur, amid dissent by bird watchers: March 10
Documentary titled
'Leopards 21st Century Cats' shot for BBC Natural World Special outlines how the great cats
survive far from protected areas, close to human settlements: March
10
US scientist from
Auburn University questions EIA and environmental clearances to Indian Hydel projects: Mar 12
Illegal sand boa
trade goes online: P Oppili, TNN | Mar 12
Rhino numbers rise
in West Bengal: March 12
<http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rhino-numbers-rise-in-west-bengal/article6987173.ece?utm_source=MostPopular&utm_medium=Other%20States&utm_campaign=WidgetPromo>
ZSI finds 3 new
records of coral reef on the Sindhudurg coast near Malvan: March 11
Endophytic algae
found in Indian Ocean: March 12
MARCH 13
330 camera traps
being installed in Anamalai Tiger Reserve: March 12
We are going to
exercise powers vested in us to clean the environment - NGT: March 13
Rhino killed in
Kaziranga, horn taken away: Guwahati, March 13
Olive ridley turtles
start mass nesting at Rushikulya river mouth: Berhampur, March 12
Forest fire in
Similipal TR: Baripada, March 12
Loktak among Earth’s
14 amazing waterbodies: Imphal, March 12
Poacher, STF
constable killed in Kaziranga shootout: Nagaon, March 12
Along with a rhino
poacher, a STF constable was gunned down in an encounter with a group of rhino
poachers at Burhapahar Forest Range of Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on
Wednesday night around 10.30 pm. In the cross gunfire, two other forest guards
were severely injured. Forest officials had information that poachers who had
taken shelter in the close side of Karbi Hills near Burhapahar Tea Garden under
Burhapahar range of Kaziranga NP. The group of poachers could have been members
of Karbi militant group KPLT, added sources.
<http://sentinelassam.com.bh-in-7.webhostbox.net/mainnews/story.php?sec=1&subsec=0&id=220667&dtP=2015-03-13&ppr=1#220667>
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150313/jsp/northeast/story_8381.jsp
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150313/jsp/northeast/story_8381.jsp
MARCH 14
Kollam, March 14:
Ashtamudi and Sasthamcotta lakes have been included in the National Wetland
Conservation Programme (NWCP). For Ashtamudi lake, Rs.97.19 lakh and for
Sasthamcotta lake Rs.53.08 lakh have been allocated under the first phase of
the NWCP to carry out a survey of the lakes, afforestation of the banks,
protection of catchment areas, conservation, augmentation of fish and other
biodiversity, pollution prevention and protection of the environment. <http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/lakes-in-nwcp/article6992823.ece>
Change in feeding
habit of Humpback dolphins reason for shift to backwaters of the Bay: Mar14
75 rhinos killed in
Assam since 2013- Minster for E&F: March 14
Forest area and
cover in Assam increasing: March 14
German
philosopher Immanuel Kant had once said - "We can judge the heart of a man
by his treatment of animals".
In
this picture, taken at Nijora Path, Kahilipara in Guwahati on Friday, a
gloating mob parade the carcass of a leopard found dead inside a cave in which
the big cat was trapped since Thursday. Human behaviour has often contradicted
claims about the superiority of man over all other animal life. This picture
too poses the same question yet again- Are humans better than other forms of
life? (Sentinel, March 14)
Almond trees in full
bloom at Badam Wari Park in Srinagar (Image): March 14
Water scarcity hits
Bandipur Tiger Reserve: Chamarajanagar, Mar 13
Around 70,000 olive
ridley turtles throng Gahirmatha:March 14
Himachal Forest
Department ready with an advisory on leopard encounters - play music to
keep leopards at bay: Mar14
Thirsty elephants
move towards ever-expanding human habitation in Uttarakhand: Mar 14
Webcast of turtles’
mass nesting near the Rushikulya river mouth:TNN | Mar 14
A western
disturbance may result in rain and thundershowers over Delhi: March 14
MARCH 15 (Sunday)
A fragile
co-existence: March 14
In light of a
man-eating tiger being shot dead in the Nilgiris, we need to address two
issues: human-animal conflict and human-human conflict in our forests.
New butterfly
species, 'Malayan Green Banded Peacock' spotted in West Bengal: March 15
Three new fish
species in Manimala river in Kerala: March 15
State joins hands
with BNHS to protect Great Indian Bustards of Karnataka from extinction:March 15
National Green India
Mission merged with MGNREGA to improve forest cover: March 15
Spotted redshank, a
rare migratory wader spotted at Pazhayangadi wetlands, Kerala: March 15
Tiger expert, Ullas
Karanth questions tiger count methodology: March 15
The future is grim, says Fali Nariman during
the International Conference on Global Environment Issues in Delhi: Mar 15
Feather plucking
sounding death knell for peacocks: PTI | 15 March, 2015
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