Environment and Conservation News from India: AUG. 16 - 31, 2015


AUGUST 16 (Sunday)
Karnataka government In a report to the MoEF has said that “all reserve forests or protected forests located in the 40 taluks of the Western Ghats region in Karnataka may only be included in the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).”: August 16
Measuring a mere 0.16 mm, 'Kikiki huna' is a multicellular organism that is smaller than single-celled organisms. Kikiki huna has been found in Chidambaram as well. Kikiki was first discovered in Trinidad around 20 years ago and later in Hawaii. It has also been found in Australia and Argentina. It derives its name from Hawaiian which means ‘tiny bit’.                                             


AUGUST 17
Balipara Foundation, Assam has signed an MoU with the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Bengaluru to study the migratory behaviour of Asian elephants in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape: August 16
Carcass of a tiger found at Dhanbari in Agoratoli range of the KNP yesterday by patrolling park personnel:August  17          
It is suspected to have been killed by another tiger. Assam has 167 tigers as per the latest report.                  
Bhitarkanika breeds 1800 crocs artificially: August 16
Notification banning diesel, petrol vehicles in Rohtang Pass issued: PTI | August 16
Giant Reef Manta Ray seasonally migrating to Machilipatnam coast, A.P from Indian Ocean: August 17
Anti-poaching camps  put on high alert in  Bandipur forests after the Edamalayar elephant poaching case in Kerala: August 17

AUGUST 18
'India drifting towards Tibet, making it a seismic zone': August 17
Prof. Somnath Dasgupta, VC of Assam University, and an eminent geologist in a lecture in Silchar said that “Barak Valley is very close to that area of tectonic movement and that makes it prone to tremors”. Tiddin in Arunachal Pradesh is near the spot where Asia and Europe collided, he pointed out. He revealed how India continues to move towards Tibet at the rate of 18 mm every year.
Otter Conservation Reserve demarcated in a 36-km stretch of the Tungabhadra river in Karnataka: August 18
The number of drought-hit taluks had gone up to 114 in Karnataka, said the Revenue and District In-charge Minister: August17
The minister said that the State was facing severe drought this time, and even Virajpet taluk in Kodagu district was affected by drought whereas HD Kote, T Narasipura and Nanjangud taluks in Mysuru district, were also drought-hit.
New species of scorpion  identified from the surrounding areas of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: August 18
Ranbir Canal - Farmers’ lifeline in Jammu district: August 17
Ranbir Canal, completed in 1905, has the total length 60 km, excluding its tributaries. It takes off from the left of the Chenab upstream Akhnoor Bridge, 30 km north-east of Jammu city, and passes through various tehsils of Jammu district. It flows up to Nekowal village on the Sialkote border of Pakistan and en route covers 489 villages of the district with cultivable command area of 38,600 hectares.
Forest department in Jharkhand has decided to raise chilly fences in vulnerable zones, to stop raiding elephant herds: August17
Godavari rising at an alarming rate at Bhadrachalam due to heavy rains in upper catchments and floods in Pranahitha and Indravathi rivers: August 17
Crocodile attacks farmer in Sangli: TNN | Aug 18
Just before entering Sangli, the Krishna gets a huge supply of water from Koyna near Karad. The stretch between Audumbar to Sangil is known as a habitat for crocodiles, which are frequently spotted on the river bank.

AUGUST 19
Incessant rain over the past 24 hours causes flooding and landslides in different parts of Meghalaya: August 18
Incessant rains since last night - flood waters of Aie river and its tributaries inundate crop and residential lands in several villages in Bongaigaon and Chirang districts, Assam: August 18
Floods hit lower Assam
Parliamentary panel endorses Assam government’s recommendation for declaring nine rivers of Assam as national waterways: August 18
 Indian Wildlife experts disagree with the National Tiger Survey of Bhutan report on tiger migration: August 18
Contempt petition filed against the govt. for not implementing the Supreme Court’s CEC directives - National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has been cautioned against taking a decision on the A.P State Board for Wildlife resolution on resizing of the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary: August19
Deficit monsoon hits hydel power output in Karnataka: IANS | August 19
Poachers steal trap cameras in Satkosia TR: TNN | August 19
Incessant rain in the past couple of days has caused many rivers in Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh: August 19
Drought-like situation in Kalahandi due to failure of monsoon: SNS, August 19
Ban on sand quarrying in all riverbeds in Kancheepuram district has been extended for 3 years from Nov.13, 2015: August 19

AUGUST 20
Incessant rainfall in Lohit - the water level of all major rivers of the district including  Lohit, Kalikhola, Digaru, Lasapani, Denning, Tezukhola, Duranala flowing above danger level. Road communication via Alubari Ghat has been totally cut off.
Several roads in East Siang have been disrupted due to heavy rain. Pasighat-Pangin road, Pasighat-Mariyang road, NH 52
between Pasighat and Mebo have been affected. Dambuk, Hunli ns several villages cut off due to overflowing rivers.
Flood situation in Assam turned grim today following incessant rains in the past few days: August 19
Almost two lakh people are affected in 282 villages across Dhemaji, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. Brahmaputra is flowing above danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dibrugarh town and Jia Bharali , Puthimari and Beki rivers are in spate in stretches.
Flood situation improves in Kokrajhar, continues to be grim in Chirang
Heavy torrential rains during the past two days in Meghalaya; Cherrapunjee breaks 10-year-old rain record: August 19
Cherrapunjee in Meghalaya on Wednesday received 471.7 mm of rain on a single day. Till 8.30 a.m. this morning (Wednesday), Cherrapunjee (which has been renamed Sohra) recorded 471.7 mm of rain during a span of 24 hours, thus breaking its previous record of 407.7 mm which it received on August 21, 2005," Vijay Kumar Singh, the meteorological official at Sohra, told IANS. All major rivers in Garo Hills – the Simsang, Ganol and Jinjiram – have been flowing above the danger mark in many areas. Heavy rains in Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
NGT today extended till November 30 the deadline for phasing out petrol and diesel taxis plying between Manali and Rohtang Pass: August 19
Herd of 30 elephants halt traffic on a tea estate near Banarhat, 83km from Alipurduar town and 65km from Jalpaiguri on a state highway that leads to NH31 for nearly two hours: August 19
  
SW monsoon practically dead over the peninsula and is now confined to fringes of East and NE and North India: August 19
During the past two days, the winds have been southerlies to south-easterlies originating from the Indian Ocean/Bay of Bengal against the normal the south-westerly winds  from the Arabian Sea.
SW Monsoon has picked up strength, with the Met Department issuing a heavy rainfall warning for Kerala: August 20
Against a normal rainfall of 166.3 cm from June 1 till date, Kerala has received only 117.2 cm of rain.  Widespread rain was recorded on Wednesday with Minicoy in Lakshadweep receiving 11 cm. While Perumkadavila in Thiruvananthapuram recorded 9 cm of rain, Vellanikkara in Thrissur and Kozha in Kottayam district received 8 cm of rain each.
Red sander mafia have free Run; Vellore a transit point: August 20
Tiger tracking to get smarter in mangroves - An mobile app will be installed in smartphones used by patrolling staff to enable real-time tracking and record data: TNN | August 20

AUGUST 21
Flash flood submerged the low lands of Jairampur sub-division this evening: August 20
Following the torrential rain, Namchick River has crossed the danger level and the flood entered nearly all the houses on its banks. This is for the first time that Jairampur sub-division has been hit by flash flood after the massive flood of 1995.

August 20: Incessant rain for the last one week has paralyzed the life in Siang  valley, particularly Likabali, Nari-Seren, Ruksin, Koyu-Korang, Pasighat and Mebo area and adjoining parts of Dhemaji district in Assam, causing water logging in several places, damaging roads and bridges and paddy fields. Surging water of the hilly rivers and streams due to heavy rainfall in the upper reaches has also caused erosion and has breached road links at several places. Poglek (Pagla) river, Siku River, Taro-Tamak river are overflowing and have and have disrupted road communication at several places.
Arunachal rivers in spate: August 20
Bongaigaon and Chirang districts continue to reel under the impact of flash flood: August 20 
The number of villages affected by the flood in Chirang district was 50 on Wednesday and 17,628 people were affected. In Bongaigaon district officials said that out of 1,35,325 people were affected in 76 villages under four revenue circles.
Floods inundate villages in Kokrajhar: August 20
Flood situation in Assam has turned grim following incessant rains in the catchment areas of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam since August 16: August 20 
With the rising water of Brahmaputra crossing the danger-level, the Jorhat district administration today suspended the ferry services to and from Majuli, which cut off the river island from the mainland for the day. The water-level crossed 86.61 metre this morning at Neamatighat area which is more than the danger-level of 85.04 metre. Incessant rainfall here as well as in the catchment areas of the neighbouring State of Arunachal Pradesh since the last several days has caused a flood-like situation in Tinsukia district. The rising Na Dehing river is posing a threat and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has been flooded.
Assam battling floods with breached embankments: August 20
Record rainfall of over 745 mm at Mawsynram on August 19: August20
Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji)  received 471.7 mm of rainfall yesterday, the highest in the last 10 years.
Mawsynram perched on the edge of a ridge in the southern slopes of Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, has received record highest rainfall in a single day. With over 745 mm of rains yesterday, the town has received over 1,500 mm of rainfall within the last three days.
Umiam reservoir in Meghalaya has risen to 3204.28 feet against maximum height of 3,220 feet. The water level has risen by 21 feet in the past couple of days. Flood waters entered eight villages and a portion of a town of Lunglei district in Mizoram. The Khawthlangtluipui river along the Mizoram-Bangladesh border is in spate due to incessant rains for the last three days (August 20).
A Royal Bengal tiger inside a water body on the outskirts of the Kaziranga NP (Photo 1): August21
                                       Photo 1                                                               Photo 2                                        
A wild elephant on the highway at Beharbari area in Guwahati on Thursday. The elephant came down from Gorbhanga forest, apparently in search of food. Later, forest officials forced the hungry elephant to retreat to the forest (Photo2, 3): August 21
 Photo 3
Photo3
Swirling Sone river in Rohtas district, around 165km southwest of Patna: August 21

 
Exotic turtle, the 'red-eared slider'  found in Rajarhat waterbody: TNN | Aug 21
A fisherman tries to remove a snake from his fishing net, during monsoon season villagers put their fishing nets to catch migrating fishes; at time snakes too get trapped (Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar)

A Wild Catch
807 families to be relocated from human habitations in Mudumalai TR under a ‘Golden Handshake’ scheme: August 21
The families will be relocated in 3 phases to places near Pandalur once funds come in from NTCA.
Mudumalai TR have commenced the plan to increase the area by annexing 367 sq. km from Nilgiris North Division: August 21
Forest Department to take over TTDC dormitory and seven rooms in Mudumalai TR: August 21

AUGUST 22
Flood situation in Lohit and Namsai remains grim. Lohit, Kamlang, Berreng, Tengapani and Jenghtu are under the grip of flood water and communication in between Alubari and Tezu has been disrupted. Noa-Dehing River is reported to be flowing at danger level. In Namsai area, the river course of Noa-Dehing has diverted towards Deobeel side (right bank): August 21
Rising Brahmaputra river and its tributaries have flooded 19 districts in Assam: August 21
Over six lakh people hit by the floods. Flood waters have inundated 27 anti-poaching camps inside Kaziranga NP. Flood hits several new villages in Bongaigaon and Chirang districts last night. Ten thousand heads of cattle have been affected in the flood which has breached four embankments, 11 rural roads, five bridges and four buildings in Chirang district during the past three days. Flood has created havoc in Barpeta district with 112 villages affected. The floodwaters of the Beki river have entered the Manas National Park and Tiger Project.
Inmates of Kaziranga battle nature's fury as flood waters continued to inundate large tracts of the national park: August 22

Several endangered serows (goat-antelopes) found dead in two villages in Mizoram: August 21
Around 20 serows died in the forest near Serhmun village (in western Mizoram) in past two weeks. Death of eight serows were also reported from Darlawn village (northeastern Mizoram) along Manipur border. Mizoram’s forest and environment department has initiated a probe into the deaths.
Monsoon gathers momentum in Karnataka - Uttara Kannada, Raichur, Shivamogga districts receive moderate to heavy rain: August 22
Record rain in Bhagalpur district, Bihar in the last 4 days; Ganga, Kosi and other tributaries in spate: August 22
After drought, Bihar facing flood threat: August 22
Nilgiri Tahr at Rajamala(Eravikulam NP) - Photos by P.R.Ratheesh: August 22

AUGUST 23 (Sunday)
Ethnicity & Wildlife-I by Kisor Chaudhuri: August 23
Forest springs back to life in Mellacheruvu mandal of Nalgonda district: August 23
F.D has planted over 1.5 lakh saplings in the forest area near Mellachervu spread over 184 hectares by fencing it to prevent the entry of domestic animals which had given excellent results as the greenery attracted huge number of spotted deers, black bucks, peacocks and various other birds within an year. 
Brahmaputra crosses danger mark in Guwahati: August 22
Former rhino poacher turned rhino protector killed in Mayong near Pobitora WLS: August 22
A rhino wades through the flooded Pobitora WLS in Morigaon district, on Saturday: August 22 
 
Uttarakhand has recorded a 15 per cent increase in the population of elephants: August 22
 The 2015 census has put the population  of elephants in Uttarakhand at 1,797, while according to the 2012 census the count was 1,559.

AUGUST 24
Flood situation in Barpeta district remained critical on Sunday with several rivers in spate: August 23 
The flood waters of Tihu, Burhadia and Kaldia rivers have inundated about a hundred villages in Barpeta district. Flood situation in south Kamrup  worsened today with the water level of the Brahmaputra river flowing above the danger level and inundating several villages: August 23
The flood situation across Assam continued to be grim: August 23
A total of 1,291 villages in 18 districts have been submerged so far, affecting 6.16 lakh people.
Floods affect Kaziranga NP: August 23
The Brahmaputra has inundated nearly 33 forest camps of Kaziranga NP. Burhapahar, Bagori, Kohora and Agaratoli forest range of KNP have been adversely affected by flood. The department is ready to rescue flood-affected animals with four manual boats, four machine boats, six speed boats and three ships, said Swapan S Sharma, the DFO, Eastern Range. Moreover, manual boats in every forest camp are ready for use by forest guards. Special Guards have been deployed to look after the animals while crossing the NH-37.
Moderate to heavy rains along with winds lashed several parts across the Kashmir valley on Saturday: August 23
Only light rains or drizzle was recorded in North Kashmir. Met office has predicted that rainy weather was likely to continue till 1st September. The valley witnessed a heat wave during this month with the highest temperature this month being 32.5 degrees Celsius on August 9
Taxonomists reclassify Indian bird species: August 24
Verdant Vellarada in the grip of quarrying: August 24
Vellarada grama panchayat, in Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu, has come under the threat of quarrying.
It is dotted with several hill ranges such as the 7-km-long Koonichy-Kondaketty range, which form part of Western Ghats, and is rich in 700 plant species. The area is hardly three kilometers away from the Neyyar WLS, the Neyyar dam and the Chittar dam in Tamil Nadu.
Wild ass, known as ghudkhar in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, has been classified as an endangered animal: August 23
Maharashtra's 'Mountain Man', Rajaram Bhapkar built 40km roads in 57 years: PTI | August 24
The original mountain man was Dashrath Manjhi of Gehlaur village, Gaya district, Bihar who singlehandedly cut through a hill to make a road for his village. He died in 2007 in his early 80's.
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtras-Mountain-Man-built-40km-roads-in-57-years/articleshow/48652628.cms> 
Kadar tribal council, Vazhachal to sue experts who furnished “false information” on tribal settlements for clearing the Athirappilly power project: August 24
Elephant calf, which fell into farm well in a hamlet in Ramakuppam mandal, 30km from Kuppam rescued: August 24
Kawal WLS in Telengana declared in 2012 as a tiger reserve yet to function as per guidelines of NTCA: August 24

AUGUST 25                           
 Trains passing through wildlife sanctuaries in east reduced:  IANS, August 24
The Indian Railways Monday told the Supreme Court that it has reduced the number of passenger trains passing at night through wildlife sanctuaries in Assam and West Bengal having large elephant populations by 76 percent. "As per data till May, only 23-24 percent trains are running in the wildlife section and 76-77 percent trains running in non-wildlife section," railways counsel told the SC bench.
Flood situation in the north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam continue to remain grim: August 24
 flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh’s two districts of Lohit and Namsai was particularly grave. Rivers Lohit, Noa-Dehing, Kamlang and others were flowing above danger level. It is also being reported that standing crops, road and communication infrastructure have been damaged.Communication between Alubari and Tezu in Lohit districts has been completely disrupted and most part of Mahadevpur, Piyong, Lathao, Chongkham and Wakro circle are inundated by flood waters.
Seven additional species in the Trichy forest division during its annual wildlife census: August 25

AUGUST 26
Calcutta receives widespread rain on Tuesday: August 26
Wetland sites in the Bhitarkanika NP have registered a marked rise in the number of monsoon birds: August 25
Tusker won’t leave Sigur village that fed and treated him: August 26
The 22-year-old tusker with a wounded trunk was first spotted in Sigur Range in Nilgiris. Since the elephant was unable to forage and feed itself,  Mark Davidar, who ran a private resort in Sigur began feeding the elephant and named him Rivaldo. After Mark passed away, Rivaldo continued to visit the area, and Pandan, a forest staffer, began leaving fodder mixed with medicines for the elephant and the wound gradually healed. 

Rivaldo,the friendly tusker of Sigur, Nilgiris
Drone to track tigers, encroachers in Sundarbans: IANS, August 25
<http://www.thestatesman.com/news/bengal/drone-to-track-tigers-encroachers-in-sundarbans/85023.html>
Overall rain deficit for the country touches 12 per cent; low-pressure area forms over west - central Bay: August 26
Opposing dry north-westerly winds dictating prevailing weak monsoon conditions may not allow the ‘low’ to settle and decide a track of its own to push rain deep into north or north-west India. Instead, it will be guided towards the South Odisha-North Coastal Andhra Pradesh coast from where it will be driven straight into the foothills of Eastern Himalayas.

AUGUST 27
NGT has directed that construction in and around the Kaziranga NP will not be allowed: August26
Moderate to heavy rains lash several parts of Karnataka: August 27
Wildlife Experts raise questions over recent tiger's death in Nagarhole: August 27
Nyamjang Chhu hydel project threatens rare black-necked  crane: TNN | August 27
IMD informed Bombay High Court that it will issue weather forecasts bulletin for Mumbai every six hours during the monsoon: August 26
IMD was responding to the court's direction if forecasts can be issued  every four hours.
Dera Mandi - A pristine forest in south Delhi is a birdwatchers’ paradise: TNN | August 27
Monsoon makes up ground in coastal Andhra; Good rains in Rayalaseema in the last fortnight reduce deficit: August 27

AUGUST 28
Three poachers  killed in an encounter with forest guards at Kaziranga NP: August 27

AUGUST 29
Central government gazette notification banning the use of multi-vial dose of Diclofenac comes as a shot in the arm for conservation of vulture population: August 29

AUGUST 30  (Sunday)
Why Manipur is flooded: August 30
As the rain intensified in the first week of August, people on either side of the Mapithel dam faced floods. About 60,000 hectares were inundated and 500,000 people displaced by 3 August, according to an estimate by the state revenue department. Most of the paddy crop has been destroyed. People in the region have opposed the Mapithel dam, also known as the Thoubal Multipurpose HE Power Project, since its inception in the 1980s. In December last year, the NGT stayed its construction after the displaced people challenged the clearance given to it for removing 600 hectares of lush green forest.  
Third wave of monsoon lashes East Siang and parts of West Siang, Siang and Dibang Valley districts besides parts of neighbouring Assam for the last 3 days: August 29
Rain flood inundated many portions of Pasighat town, Ruksin and Nari disrupting road communication. Overflowing water of Poglek River between Yagrung and Pasighat has snapped communication between the two places and  swallowed several hectares of Sali cultivation in paddy fields. Flood water is flowing on National Highway-52 between Sille and Rani.
With heavy downpour over the last couple of weeks, the Dibang River is flowing above the danger level affecting several villages in Dambuk Sub-Division of Lower Dibang Valley district. The deluge has also cut off Dambuk from the rest of the world as Sisar River is also reportedly flowing above the danger level. The turbulent Dibang river, which had diverted its course near Bomjir (main course  flows into Dotung River) last year has ravaged a 60 kilometers long stretch upto to Tara-Tamak and swept away paddy fields, horticulture farms, livestock and the houses including the forest on its course.
Thousands of house sparrows have made Bhitarkanika NP their home: August 29
Nearly 440 nesting sites have been spotted along the mangrove-infested meadows in the core area of the park.
The human habitations thriving on the fringes of the national park have turned out to be blessing for the house sparrows. They have built many straw thatched houses. Twigs from the straw come in handy for their nesting. They feed on the grains from the crop fields.

AUGUST 31
Flood situation in Lohit district still grim; Lumla, Mariyang, Dibang Valley cut off: August 30
1).All the rivers in and around Tezu and Sunpura Circles of Lohit District are  flowing above the danger mark due to inclement  heavy rainfall for last three days causing flood situation in the entire district. Road communication in between Lohit district and Tinsukia via Parsuram Kund and via Alubarighat has been snapped. Denning River Sukha Nallah levels are increasing alarmingly while Balijan river  overflowing. All the rivers of Chongkham and Wakro are reported to be flowing near danger level.
2).Continuous downpour has caused havoc in Lower Dibang Valley district yet again. The level of Deopani River has risen alarmingly, cutting off the Hunli-Desali block of the district and the whole of Dibang Valley district from the rest of the country. Heavy and unrelenting rain has wreaked havoc in Lumla, as the road at Mangnam village, linking Lumla to Tawang has been washed out.
Rains wreak havoc in East Siang: August 30
Torrential rain causes havoc in Dibrugarh; Incessant rains in Dhemaji; Flood threatens Tinsukia: August 30
Dibrugarh and its adjoining areas witnessed unprecedented flash floods on Sunday. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level here. Flood situationcritical in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts on Sunday following the incessant rains in Arunachal Pradesh during the last two days. All rivers are flowing above the danger level.
Yettinahole project will have catastrophic results for Dakshina Kannada, says former union minister: August 29
Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand: August 31
Nanda Devi NP loses 7 - 8 hectares forests in the last decade: August 31
Climate change is quietly creating serious threats in Uttarakhand: August 31
Deficit rainfall in Jharkhand till August: August 31
Jawadhu 'Red Hills': 31st August 2015
Shrinking Forests take toll on Elephant population in TN, reveals RTI Data: 31st August 29
Conservation project-hatchery at Walwan-Lonavla has enabled the return of Mahseer in Indrayani river: August 31
Lamas protest against hydel projects in Tawang: TNN | August 31




 

                                                                  

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