Environment and Conservation News from India: AUGUST 1-15, 2015


AUGUST 1 (Saturday)
Circular halo seen around sun: July 31
A Circular halo or 22 degree halo, a rainbow like circle was seen around the sun in Dimapur on July 19. Halos are an optical phenomenon produced by light interacting with ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, resulting in a wide variety of colored or white rings, arcs and spots in the sky.

Rains resumed in several parts of Karnataka on Friday after a brief lull: August 1
Cyclonic storm 'KOMEN' weakens: PTI, July 31
Calcutta, south Bengal reel under the effect of cyclone Komen: August 1
After making landfall in Bangladesh on Thursday evening, Cyclone Komen (pronounced Goh-men in Thai) had started a west-northwest journey towards Bengal. The Cyclone after landfall  became a depression. Cyclone Komen's influence on high tide affected a south Calcutta neighbourhood, where roads in Kalighat neighbourhood were flooded due to Tolly's Nullah spilling over at Sadar Ghat, near the Kali temple. During high tide, the Hooghly rises to 18 feet on an average. It rose four feet more on Friday. A higher-than-usual high tide also occurred on Friday because of the full moon.
incessant rains have turned the flood situation quite grim as the rivers in spate are flooding large areas of the Hooghly district.Nearly ten thousand tribals from the tribal blocks in  have been rendered homeless. Over 29,000 people were affected in Amta of Howrah district following heavy rains, as two canals were swollen and inundated several villages.
Ponda receives highest rainfall so far in June/July in Goa: TNN | Jul 31
Indian scientists claim to have discovered two new Cycads species of plants in Odisha: August 1
Two-thirds of rural households still use firewood for cooking: August 1
A National Sample Survey in 2011-12 shows over two-thirds of households in rural India and 14 per cent of urban households  still rely on firewood for cooking. The use of firewood for cooking has declined only very slowly over the years in rural India, , going from 78.2 per cent of all rural households in 1993-94 to 67.3 per cent in 2011-12. LPG use in rural households has grown  from fewer than two per cent of rural households two decades ago to 15 per cent in 2011-12. Cow-dung cake remained one of the major fuels for cooking in North Indian States like Bihar, UP, Haryana and Punjab. The use of cooking fuel is sharply dictated by class —LPG use is highest among the richer classes, whereas the Scheduled Tribe and  Scheduled Caste households in rural India use mainly firewood. The majority of households in the country uses electricity as its primary source of lighting, but over a fourth of rural households still rely on kerosene, especially in Bihar and UP.

AUGUST 2 (Sunday)
Incessant rain over a week caused massive flash floods in Chandel, Thoubal and Imphal Valley in Manipur: August 2
A massive landslide swept away almost the entire Joumol village. Large tracts of agricultural fields were inundated and  several roads and bridges washed away across the state. The Asian Highway No 1 which connects Imphal and border town of Moreh has been cut off.
Shivamogga & Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka receive moderate rains: August 2
Dipak Mitra's snake farm in Madhyamgram - running  October 1977: August 2
Bengal rains:- 12 districts affected due to the flood-like situation: IANS, August 2
Heavy overnight rains across the state. Death toll 47; nearly two lakh houses damaged while over a lakh residents are in relief camps and crops spread over 2.10 lakh hectares of farmland were destroyed. Several parts of Kolkata were waterlogged. The Met Office recorded 117.4 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am on Saturday. The water level of the Ganga stood at a high of 6.64 m at around 1.41 pm on Saturday during high tide, said a River Traffic Police official. SER cancels 19 suburban trains.
Calcutta goes under water as the city receives 173mm of rain in 15 hours: August 1
The water level in the Hooghly rose from 5.6ft to 23.3ft,  under the combined impact of the spring tide and Cyclone Komen.The Hooghly water flowed over the lock gate in Kidderpore and entered Tolly's Nullah during high tide on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, raising the water level of the canal. The water blocked underground sewerage channels and innundated Kalighat Road and other thoroughfares.
Translocated rhino has given birth to two calves within two years - rhino population in Manas NP is now  32: August 1
Moderate to heavy rain across Jharkhand today: August 1
Major rivers in Odisha are flowing below the danger mark, but the massive inflow of rainwater from Bengal has inundated  several villages in Balasore and other north Odisha districts: August1
Two Red sanders smugglers arrested at MumbaI & Chennai: August 2
Compulsions of coalition politics and the clout of religious denominations force political parties to compromise on their commitment to the environment in Kerala - ESAs in Western Ghats: August 2
Increase in elephant attacks in Kodagu linked to construction of 400 KV transmission power line: August 2
Rainfall occurred at several places across J & K on Saturday- Met department says rainy weather was likely to continue till the end of the monsoon in September: August 2
Rainfall recorded in the month of July this year was 163.5 millimeters which is highest in decades. In the past three months Srinagar received around 337.7 millimeters of rain which is a record rainfall in past many years.
Heavy rain in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir caused flash floods, affecting four villages last night: August 3
Cyclone Komen, which lashed Ranchi with 103mm rain has weakened into a depression centred northeast of Ranchi: August 2
Nand Kishore, a Bihar-cadre IFS officer bestowed with the Bagh Mitra award: August 3
He got this award for saving a tiger's life during a human-tiger conflict near Valmiki TR in April 2013.
Heavy rain in Odisha - 15 villages of north Balasore continue to be marooned: August 3
Nepali smuggler  arrested in Delhi reveals modus operandi of red sanders smuggling: August 3
Crocodile-Human conflict on the rise in Bhitarkanika: TNN | Aug 3
Kadapa police seize around 1.2 tonnes of red sanders logs: August 3
In Nagarahole NP, tourists seen visiting 2 elephant camps in core area: August 3
Farmers from Srikakulam district leaving for Chennai, Hyderabad and other places — in search of livelihood, due to the drought-like situation in 38 mandals of the district: August 3
India set to be most populous nation: August 3
According to U.N.’s World Population Projections 2015, India will surpass China to become the world’s most populous country in seven years and will have 1.7 billion residents by 2050. China’s population will start declining by the 2030s, and its population is projected to be only 1.3 billion by 2050.
<http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-set-to-be-most-populous-nation/article7492947.ece>
Glowing forests in night - bioluminescence seen in  Bhimshankar Wildlife Reserve, Maharashtra: August 3
During monsoon season, from June through October, these rain-drenched tropical forests can give off an otherworldly glow, caused by a bioluminescent fungus that grows on rotting bark and twigs on the forest floor. this phenomenon has only been seen in a few patches of the Western Ghats, particularly in regions within the states of Maharashtra and Goa. The fungi in the Western Ghats, on the other hand, belong to the Mycena genus, a group of tiny mushrooms that almost look like moss. However the faint glow from the ground occurs in places under exactly the right conditions - the right mix of moisture and humidity for the bioluminescent fungi to thrive.


 AUGUST 4
The report titled ‘District Disaster Management Plan, South 24 Parganas, 2015 has revealed that at least 8 lakh people in eight blocks in the Sunderbans area are vulnerable to cyclones and floods: August 4
Forests vs. people conflict emerges at Western Ghats review meeting;: August 4
Of the six States falling under the W. Ghats only Kerala and Goa have submitted their reports with recommendations for demarcating eco-sensitive zones.
Senior Forest Officer, SS Negi elevated as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Himachal: August 3
Heavy to moderate rains for the past 24 hours in the Terai region: August 3
The region witnessed 300 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. The water level in the Kali river  flowing at 889.5 m touched the danger mark last evening, creating panic among people living near the river.
Surplus rain in 21 out of its 24 districts of Jharkhand for the first time in seven years: August 3
222 blocks have been affected by the rise in water in rivers, but Bengal is not 'flood-affected': August 3
222 of the 341 blocks in the 12 districts of the state have been affected by the rise in water. This occurred because DVC released 90,000 cusecs of water due to the capacity of the barrage to withhold water from upstream reduced from around 2.5 lakh cusecs to a little over 1 lakh cusecs because of silting," a government official said.
An elephant was run over by a passenger train near Rangapara police station in Sonitpur district: August 3
A herd of at least 3 elephants from Sonai Rupai WLSin the central Assam district were seen crossing the railway track at Nagapathar area, about 25km away, when the New Jalpaiguri-Dekargaon passenger train (that travels via Ranagapara) mowed down the animal around 3am. Elephants from the wildlife sanctuary regularly cross the tracks, particularly during the night and early morning. There are several elephant corridors near the railway tracks, from Pachnoi river bordering Sonitpur district to Dekargaon railway station. Only last week, forest officials pushed back a herd crossing the tracks near Dekargaon railway station. Railway tracks continue to be death traps for elephants in Assam. In 2014, three elephants were killed in the state by speeding trains. In 2013, one elephant was killed, while in 2012, as many as seven were mowed down.
Two elephants died due to anthrax in Similipal TR in the buffer zone in April and June: August 3
12 Gates of Hirakud Dam opened due to heavy inflow of water into the  reservoir from the upper catchment areas:  August 4
A herd of 30 elephants enters West Midnapore's Jhargram from Jharkhand's Dalma: August 4
Low pressure builds up in North Chhattisgarh - heavy rain forecast till Thursday: August 4
Sawan', rainy month of Hindi calendar began on an auspicious note in the state on Monday, as most regions were drenched by a strong drizzle during the last 24 hours.

AUGUST 5
An overnight cloudburst occurred in a forest area of Shangus in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and led to flash floods in Arpath stream: August 4
Corporate firms, trusts, NGOs and others have shown interest by donating around 500 acres to enhance the fragmented Kanyanpura corridor between Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Tamil Nadu: August 4
Uttar Kannada, Shivamogga and parts of Tumakuru districts receive good rains: August 4
Second wettest July in the past 10 years in Calcutta @ 60 cm: August 5
The Madras High Court Bench in Madurai  said that it has decided to give top priority to restoration of Shola forests: August 5
The bench in its interim order stated that the authorities concerned should take steps to annihilate exotic species such as wattle and eucalyptus that had invaded marshes, Shola forests and grasslands on the Western Ghats and formulate a comprehensive scheme for restoration of Shola forests.
Chittoor SP makes a short film on the criminal aspects as well as the environmental damage caused by red sanders smuggling -
being screened prior to all shows in  56 theatres in Rayalaseema districts: August 5
Sandalwood to be planted in  Anthiyur forest area. Sandalwood is very popular in Erode district as it was grown abundantly in the Sathyamangalam and Anthiyur forest area. The Forset Department is having more than two lakh acres of land in Anthiyur forest area covering Anthiyur, Burgur, Thattakarai, Thamaraikarai, Chennampatty and Ennamangalam areas, where  rich revenue yielding trees like Teak and  other trees are grown.
Heavy rains lash Himachal Pradesh: PTI | Aug 4
 <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/Heavy-rains-lash-Himachal-Pradesh/articleshow/48344756.cms?>
 
AUGUST 6
Farmers in eight villages in Sakleshpur taluk  have given consent letters to part with 2,261 acres of their land to be included in the elephant corridor - demand rehabilitation with proper compensation: August 6
Scanty rain in the catchment areas cuts power production in Supa and 4 other Uttara Kannada dams: August 6
Central Calcutta records more than 100 mm of rainfall in 2.5 hours on Wednesday afternoon in a cloudburst: August 6
Vandalur zoo, Chennai successfully breeds red-eared slider turtles: P Oppili, TNN | Aug 5


AUGUST 7
'Wrougton’s free-tailed bats', one of the world’s rarest bat species “thriving” in caves in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district: August 6
 16 hydropower projects under construction in Northeast: August 6
 <http://sentinelassam.com.bh-in-7.webhostbox.net/northeast/story.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=236098&dtP=2015-08-07&ppr=1#236098>                                                                                                           
Rains continue in the Malnad region of Shivamogga district: August 7
Whale sharks found dead on the Kakinada Beach since 2013 touches 71: August 7
Whale sharks travel from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and reach the east coast in search of feed. Due to climate change, these species might have been finding good food here and coming over to the Kakinada coast in large numbers after 2007. Fishermen kill them after they get caught in fishing nets and sell their meat. The Kakinada coast is next only to Gujarat in the population of the rare species.

<http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/whale-shark-carcass-found-beached/article7509923.ece?homepage=true>
Hamsaladeevi beach at the confluence of river Krishna and the Bay of Bengal  in Krishna district is the ideal place to observe mobbing behaviour of seagulls: August 6
Kolleru lake - a repository of avifauna under threat: August 7
Assam has received "below normal" rainfall so far this monsoon: August 6
76 turtles and tortoises seized in Calcutta - two of the 4 species seized are 'threatened' species: August 7
Citizens’ report compiled by organisation, Jhatkaa exposes the sham in the name of public consultations organised by the State governments on ESAs in W.Ghats: August 7

AUGUST 8
Flood threatens Ladakh: August 8
Incessant rains have flooded the rivers, nullahs and rivulets in entire Ladakh region. After five days of continuous downpour, all major rivers like Indus, Nubra, Shyok and their tributaries in Ladakh region were flowing above danger mark. The flood waters have inundated the low lying areas and a situation akin to the flash floods of 2010 is fast developing. Road and telephone communications were cut off. During the past five years , there have been two floods in Ladakh.
Heavy rain in Udhampur district (J& K), cloudburst in Himachal's Mandi district: August 8
35 out of the 101 coal blocks that are up for auction this year are in in wildlife habitats - Greenpeace India: August 8
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary notified as a WLS: August 8
The 1,690-hectare bird haven — 896 hectares of mangrove forests and 794 hectares of a waterbody, is on the western bank of the creek, between the Airoli and the Vashi bridges connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

AUGUST 9 (Sunday)
India's first e-flora database developed by BSI: IANS, August 8
The open-access online database of India's floral diversity documents over 18,000 flowering plant species. The 'eFlora India' test site was launched by BSI in July 2015.
Healing Wounds: by Bittu Sahgal | August 8
East Khasi Hills district administration in Meghalaya has issued a notification on August 7 banning keeping or selling of caged birds: August 8
The order has become the ‘wind beneath the wings’ of birds and now they have their ‘fundamental right’ to fly. The district has become one of the few places where keeping or selling of caged birds is an offense, after Friday's notification.
Rain intensified in Kodagu district on Saturday: August 9
Tribal activists are on the warpath against the move to resume bauxite mining in agency tracts of A.P: August 9
Heavy rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh since Friday night: August 8
Heavy rainfall has increased the  water level in the Pong Dam on Beas river in Kangra district: August 9
All seasonal rivulets and khuds are in spate  in lower Kangra following incessant rain. The water level in the Pong dam stood at 1,379 feet on Sunday against the maximum capacity of 1,393 feet.
Key link to Indo-China pangolin smuggling nabbed from Mizoram: TNN | August 9
Ukai dam in Tapi river, the levels at Ukai dam has crossed 330 feet: August 9
Surat city gets a regular water supply from Tapi river to the tune of 1000 MLD on daily basis. The whole region of Surat, Tapi, Parts of Bharuch and Navsari district are supplied water for irrigation from Tapi river.  <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Ukai-dam-level-crosses-330-feet/articleshow/48410563.cms>
Protective green belt/eco-zone proposed around Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary in Gumla: August 8
Palkot is home to sloth bears, which are protected under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Around 14 unmanned islands in Bhitarkanika National Park identified for comprehensive conservation plans under the Centre's holistic development of coastal islands project: August 8
More migratory birds now flock to Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary near Kakinada: August 9

AUGUST 10
‘Karuvelam trees removed from Vaigai riverbed’: August 6
Bangladesh Police kill 6 tiger poachers in Sundarbans : August 10
Heavy rains in coastal Uttara Kannada : August 10
Heavy rains in the Kumaon region: August 9
Rain continue in various parts of Una district, Himachal for the third consecutive day today: August 9
Heavy inflow of water at Bhakra Dam in Punjab :August 9
Water level at the dam was 1661.10 ft against maximum storage capacity of 1,680 feet. Heavy flow in the Swan river floods several  villages near Anandpur Sahib.
Bengal slow lorises abandoned by smugglers rescued and sent to Birsa zoo in Ormanjhi near Ranchi: August 10

Deficient rainfall in at  least 16 districts in Odisha between July 1 and August 7- kharif crops transplanting may be affected: August 10
Nag Panchami - Telengana Forest Department to stop hunting of Snakes:  August 10
Rare worm snake rescued in Kanyakumari district: August 10
The worm snake was found in a plantation near Vettikode village in Kalkulaam taluk.The snake was about 10-cm long and 5mm thick. The body was covered with minute scales. It fed on ants, worms and termites. The peculiar character of the snake was it jumps and does not creep
The 'Save Western Ghats Federation' of Tamil Nadu formed in Coimbatore recently with 40 organisations  has resolved to urge the State government to enact a legislation to save the fragile eco-system: August 10
  
August 11
Oil India's role in protection of hoolock gibbon hailed: August 10
60,000 trees were felled in Bangalore in 15 years for the City's Metro & other road-widening projects according to an estimate by an NGO: August 11
<http://www.deccanherald.com/content/494544/road-widening-metro-cost-city.html>                                                             
Heavy rain lashes several parts of Himachal - Triggers cloudbursts, flash floods, landslips: August 10
Moderate-intensity earthquake of 6.2 Richter hit the Kashmir  region this afternoon: August 10 
The epicentre of the earthquake was 210-km-deep in the Hindukush region of Afghanistan. The Kashmir region lies in the seismic zone five and is vulnerable to earthquakes.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/world/quake-hits-afghanistan-tremors-felt-in-north-india-pakistan-163750.html  MoEF panel gives green signal for Athirapally hydropower project: August 11
'Society to Save Rocks', Hyderabad completes 20 years: August 10
What a temple can do to a forest - Adi-amavasai festival in  Mundanthurai, KMTR: August 11
Vembanad estuary is shrinking every year: August 11
Vembanad estuary is shrinking by 0.288 sq km every year. Over the last four decades, the Kochi estuary has also shrunk by over 12 per cent of its area.

August 12 : International Elephant Day
Odisha: According to the 2014-15 elephant census, Odisha has 1,954 animals compared to 1,930 in 2012. The highest number of 337 elephants was reported from the Similipal Tiger Reserve. There are 14 traditional elephant corridors in the state - which are threatened by industries, railway tracks and big irrigation canals. While 51 elephants died during 2009-10, 83 died during 2010-11, 68 during 2011-12, 82 during 2012-13, 70 during 2013-14 and 54 during 2014-15.
98 taluks in 26 districts in Karnataka to be declared drought-hit following the failure of the southwest monsoon: August 12
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister said several parts of the State had witnessed a dry spell for more than one and a half months. Sixteen districts have received deficit rainfall and farmers have not been able to commence the kharif sowing operation in these places. Ten out of 16 affected districts are in North Karnataka. Yadgir, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Raichur and Vijayapura are the worst-affected districts. Water level in all the 13 important reservoirs, including Krishnarajasagar and Almatti, is low.
Reservoir levels:  Gross storage -the reservoir capacity (TMC) - Present storage as on Aug 11 (TMC)
Linganamakki 151.75  66.05; Supa 145.33  64.78; Varahi 31.13  17.67; Harangi 8.50   8.31; Hemavathi 37.10  28.62;
KRS 49.45    28.64; Kabini19.52    17.60; Bhadra 71.53    50.01; Tungabhadra 100.86    69.57; Ghataprabha  51.00    19.52; Malaprabha 37.73 12.43; Almatti 123.08    72.45; Narayanapura 33.31    26.47
A comprehensive biodiversity dossier of Bhitarkanika NP to be prepared by WII and Odisha FD in a move towards getting the world heritage site tag: August 11
Incessant rain and flash floods have triggered landslides and soil erosion, damaging 32 roads in Chamba district in the last 24 hours; Extensive damage to public and private property had been reported from Bharmour, Churah, Bhattiyat and Dalhousie: August 11
Nyamjang Chhu dam will inundate Zemithang Valley, the winter home of the black-necked crane - ongoing case in NGT: August 12
41 tigers died in India in 2015: August 12
New frog species identified in the Western Ghat region of Belgaum and Goa: August 12
347 flora, 242 fauna species discovered in 2013-14: PTI | August 11
A tiger reportedly killed two heads of cattle kept in an enclosure near Mavanatham forest settlement in Talamalai Range of Sathyamangalam TR early on Tuesday morning. Hearing noise in the cattle pen, the villagers who had assembled at the spot with fire balls found a tiger fleeing into the forest, the rearer Sivaraj had told a forest department team. The rearer was given compensation of Rs. 20,000 by the Forest Department: August 12
Forest dept. received a complaint of crocodile attack from a resident of Sujjilkuttai near Sathyamangalam. The croc had grabbed the leg of the person in a tank at Emmatampallam. The stretch of river till Boodikuppai near Bhavani Sagar has a lot of crocodiles, according to experts: August 12

AUGUST 13
Scorching heat and humid conditions prevalent for past one week Kashmir valley: August 12
maximum temperatures in valley have been around 32 and 33 degrees Celsius and almost touched 34 degrees Celsius on August 8
Monsoon has picked up pace in Uttara Kannada with Malnad and the coastal areas receiving moderate rainfall: August 13
Heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides: August 12
Deficient rain in Bihar with drought-like situation looming over the state, but transplantation of paddy is better than last year: August 13
24 out of 38 districts in the state received less than 80 per cent rain in June and July. Paddy is the main crop of the kharif or monsoon season in Bihar and Paddy transplantation, on the other hand, is feasible from beginning of July to mid-August.
 Low-pressure area located over south-east Madhya Pradesh, adjoining Vidarbha and south Chhattisgarh: August 13
Heavy rain forecast for parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat over the next two days.
Three more elephant carcasses found by Kerala FD in Edamalayar elephant poaching case: August 13
With this, the total number of elephants killed by the poachers has reached nine. The Forest department has so far arrested about 28 persons in connection with the case.

AUGUST 14
Assam government has constituted a Task Force Committee under PCCF, Wildlife for preparation of the Comprehensive Action Plan for the ‘No Development Zone’ of the Kaziranga NP: August 13
Bio-acoustics to ward off elephants in Cuttack’s Athagarh: 14th August

AUGUST 15
State Wildlife Board, A.P adopts a resolution to ‘downsize’ Kolleru WLS for agriculture & other development work: August 15
The board also approved moves to allow development in Coringa WLS and the Sri Penusila Narasimha WLS. The board’s resolutions will now go to the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL).

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