Environment and Conservation News from India: SEP. 16 - 30, 2015


SEPTEMBER 16
A herd of wild elephants near Deepor Beel in Guwahati on Tuesday (Photo): September 16

A herd of wild elephants in search of food came down from nearby Rani forest to Tetalia on the outskirts of Guwahati on Tuesday (photo): September 16

 Heavy rains continue  to lash the North Karnataka districts of Bagalkot and Raichur for the second day; rains lash Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district for more than 14 hours; moderate rainfall in Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts: September 16
September temperature in Calcutta highest in the last five years: September 16
MoEF has denied clearance to the 3,097MW Etalin HE project, proposed to be built on Dibang river basin: September 15
Intermittent rain in Jharkhand - attributed to a well-marked low pressure zone over the Bay: September 15
Rains continue to heavily lash Coastal Andhra Pradesh: September 16
Trees get identity cards in Kolkata suburb, Konnagar: PTI | September 16,
Andhra Pradesh government is reportedly examining a proposal to keep open a 12-km road that cuts through the Sri Lankamalleshwar Sanctuary, the only habitat in the world for the Jerdon’s Courser: September 16
The road between Sidhavatam and Badvel in YSR Kadapa district passes through this sanctuary, which is known for its rich diversity of plant species, particularly red sanders. The sanctuary once used to be a major tiger corridor between the Seshachalam and Nallamala hills ranges but got disturbed due to anthropogenic activities.
Nambor and Nambor-Doigrung WLS in Karbi Anglong/Golaghat distrits, Assam - development leading to deforestation and shrinkage of the forest: September 16


SEPTEMBER 17
Earthquake, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, rocked Kashmir valley, including  Srinagar, early this morning; its epicenter was located at 153 kms North-East of Leh and 232 km North East of Kargil on Kashmir-Xinjiang border: September 16
Rains continue in some districts of North Karnataka for the third day on Wednesday: Sep 17
MoEF has asked the WII to commission a study for taking a final decision on the Nyamjang Chu hydel project: Sep 17
The EAC for river valley and hydroelectric projects stated in its report that a separate study for protection and conservation of the habitat of black-necked crane would be commissioned by the MoEFC as the proposed barrage site is close to the wintering habitat of the threatened crane.
Low-pressure belt in Bay moves to Odisha and is moving southwards: September 17
No possibility of significant rain in Bihar over the next week and the state is faced with 28 per cent monsoon deficiency this year. Heavy rain triggered by low pressure in the past 48 hours in Odisha
Low Pressure triggers flash floods in South Odisha:  September 17
Low pressure over the Bay which has been causing wide-spread rains in North Coastal Andhra has developed into a depression on Wednesday: September 17
Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai  has topped the list of premature deaths in Indiadue to harmful particles like PM2.5 and O3 in the air; Delhi will record the world's largest number of premature deaths due to air pollution by 2025: September 17
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Delhi-will-record-worlds-largest-number-of-premature-deaths-due-to-air-pollution/articleshow/49000678.cms>

SEPTEMBER 18
Thousands marooned in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts of Odisha by the depression-induced flash floods:
September 18
22 districts in Odisha have received normal rainfall, whereas eight others received deficient rainfall leading to drought-like situation there. The districts of Dhenkanal, Khurda, Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Kondhamal and Keonjhar have registered less than normal rainfall.
Two days of heavy downpour across Chhattisgarh: September 18
Chhattisgarh has received 924mm rain so far since the onset of monsoon in the first week of July which is 15% deficit from normal (1091mm) rain.
Pug marks of tiger seen near Dongapalli and Kawal villages in Kawal Tiger Reserve: Sept 17
This is the first sign of the presence of tiger in Kawal Tiger Reserve since its inception in 2012.

Devastation of Land and Forests- a iron ore mine at Ramandurga Hills in Sandur in Bellary District, Karnataka: September 17
 
The Centre will conduct auction of mines bearing minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and limestone on behalf of States for the first phase, comprising 80-90 mines starting November this year. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, passed in March this year stipulates auction as the only means to allow extraction of iron ore and other minerals. The Centre’s three agencies — MECON, MECL and MSTC — will aid the Centre in the auction process. Only Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will conduct their own auctions. Phase-II will have around 96 blocks. The Mines Ministry has identified 199  mines that can be allocated through the auction route. They are located in mineral-rich States such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Odisha.

SEPTEMBER 19
Monsoonal rain targets Western, Northern India through this weekend: September 19
The system which originated in the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday and slammed into the eastern coast of India, near Visakhapatnam. Throughout the week, the heavy rain shifted westward and is aiming for the city of Surat.
Moderate rains continue in parts of Shivamogga district on Friday: September 19
Water level in Linganamakki dam rose to 1790.50 feet against a maximum of 1819 feet.
Sultry morning leads to a rain-washed afternoon on Friday in Calcutta: September 19
The maximum temperature was 34.9 degrees Celsius on Friday and the minimum relative humidity, was 68 per cent.
The moisture-laden air and the low-pressure belt near the Bangladesh coast resulted in thunderclouds and rain. The
cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal near the Bangladesh coast intensified into a low-pressure area on Friday.
Asiatic lions from GIR sent to 53 zoos all over the world in 50 years: TNN | September 19
Poor rainfall in Nilgiri disrict  - yield of vegetable crops will be down, say farmers: TNN | September 19
Irai dam full after rains lash Chandrapur for three days: TNN | September 19
Madras HC upholds ban on shark fin export by a notification issued by the Central government: September 19

SEPTEMBER 20 (Sunday)
Dry weather over North Eastern region since September 16 - rise in day temperature by  5-6 degree C: September 19
Living in harmony - wildlife & the villagers of Rajasthan: September 20
LAC Lustre - three trees in India, kusum, ber and dhak — play host to a special insect,  laccifer lacca, commonly known as lac insect. The insects secrete a resinous and sticky pigment known as lac. The scarlet-hued material, harvested from the branches, goes through a series of processes to become free of impurities, following which it is  marketed as shellac. This refined version of lac is used in a number of industries — dyeing, wood polishing, varnishing, cosmetics, Jewellery, bangles and food industries. Lac is also importantly used as sealing wax. : September20
Yettinahole project is not feasible, agrees Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader: September 20
Poor rain, depleting reservoirs may take toll on winter crops: September 19
After the decline in foodgrain output in the  kharif season, the deficit monsoon, especially in the southern and western regions, could further affect the planting of winter crops (Rabi season) and add to farmers’ distress. As on September 17, the water storage availability in 91 major reservoirs of the country was  59% of the total storage capacity
Month-long dry spell ends in Ahmedabad - deep depression is expected to give heavy to very heavy rains across Gujarat: September 20
Moderate to heavy rains in the last leg of the south-west monsoon likely to delay in its withdrawal beyond the normal date of September 30 - the arrival of the north-east monsoon could get delayed over the southern peninsula: Sept 20

SEPTEMBER 21
The 'sinking ship' of the desert - The Indian camel: September 21
Despite legal strictures on the slaughter of camels for meat, police turn a blind eye as several animals are killed during the festival of Bakrid. The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Bill, 2015 bans the slaughter, trading, unauthorised transportation and causing injury to camels punishable. Camel slaughter is punishable with a five-year jail term and a fine.Camel was declared the State animal of Rajasthan last year.
Camels brought to Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu for slaughtering during Bakrid
Godavari in spate in East Godavari district as rain continued for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday: September 21
Heavy inflows into Godavari from upstream Khammam district; water level at the Dowleswaram barrage touches 8.40 feet; flood level at Bhadrachalam touched 38.2 feet by afternoon.
Heavy rain in Visakhapatnam district in the past few days: September 21
The low pressure area over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off south Odisha and north AP coast persists and heavy rain is expected over the coastal districts in next three days
Low pressure off south Odisha coast triggers showers across many parts of the State on Sunday:  September 21
Hirakud dam receives good inflow as Chhattisgarh receives heavy rain.
Blackbuck reserve proposed in Chamarajanagar district: September 21
 <http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/blackbuck-reserve-proposed-in-chamarajanagar/article7672181.ece> 
  
SEPTEMBER 22
 Low-pressure area brings rain to west Rajasthan,  Madhya Pradesh and  parts of North-West India: September 22

SEPTEMBER 23
Numaligarh Refinery ordered to be impleaded as a respondent  by NGT in the applications filed in connection with the issue of illegal boundary wall constructed by them  on the elephant corridor in the proposed Deopahar RF: September 18
Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) was awarded the ‘Most Eco-Friendly Public Sector Unit' in 2014. More than 10 elephants have died since 2011 as they try to cross over to and from the hilly terrain of the forest in the ‘trap’ constructed by the green company!
Season’s first snowfall in  upper reaches of Kashmir Valley; rains lash most places across the valley: September 22
Flood alert sounded in Kashmir Valley as Jhelum River crossed the danger mark: September 23
Jammu Srinagar National Highway was today closed for traffic following landslides triggered by the heavy rain. Gulmarg in the higher reaches of the Afarwat mountains receives rare autumn snow.
Weather in J & K: September 23
Jammu - Temp 23.4/20.5 C, Rain 48mm, RH 100%; Srinagar - 15.2/12.9 C, Rain 26mm, RH 96-98%; Leh - 21.5/12.8 C

Intermittent showers in lower reaches and snowfall at higher reaches of Kullu. Rohtang Pass receives its first snowfall: Sept 22
Odisha is likely to receive heavy rainfall with gusty surface wind due to the low pressure area over Jharkhand and adjoining areas of the Gangetic W. Bengal, an IMD bulletin said on Tuesday. The associated upper air cyclonic circulation has extended up to mid-tropospheric level: September 22                                                                                     http://www.thestatesman.com/                                                         
Adyar estuary in Chennai is slowly coming back to life: TNN | September 23
US offers technology to track and protect Indian tigers: PTI | September 23
Faltering monsoon cause severe damage to India’s sugar crop: September 22
After a string of bumper harvests created an Indian sugar glut, drought could cut supply in the marketing year starting in October and there is a risk production will drop below consumption for the first time in seven years in the following 2016-17 season. After a good start in June, monsoon rainfall weakened in July and August and had badly affected the crop. Industry officials say thousands of hectares of cane have been damaged after India’s first back-to-back drought in three decades, as farmers also refrain from planting cane for the next season due to water scarcity. Farmers in the top sugar-producing State of Maharashtra are feeding the dwarf and withered cane to cattle, as Sugar mills will not buy cane with small shoots. India’s production of sugar next season is expected to fall to 25 to 28 million tonnes in 2016-17. That compares with a near record 28.3 million tonnes this year and expectations of annual consumption of 25.2 million tonnes in the upcoming season. Since India will start the new crop year with more than 10 million tonnes of stocks, it has room to sustain exports in the upcoming season to cut stockpiles, but this picture could swiftly turn around with a shortfall in output likely to bolster global sugar prices languishing at seven-year lows. Water intensive cane can take 10 to 18 months from planting to harvest so cultivation of a new crop needs to be completed in the next four months for harvesting in 2016-17.  http://www.thehindu.com/

SEPTEMBER 24
Incessant rains from Tuesday night flooded Guwahati on Wednesday - the second time within a week: September 24
Heavy rainfall in adjoining Meghalaya compounded the deluge in the city. Since Tuesday night, there was around 100 mm rainfall in the city and an equal amount of rainfall in the neighbouring hills of Meghalaya. Last Sunday, there was heavy rainfall for two hours or so.
Jhelum crosses flood mark; rains stop: September 23
Eight low pressures formed over the Bay of Bengal or originated from near the Indian Ocean from June 1, 2015 - only two of them intensified into depression: September 24
Ameenpur Lake near BHEL in Hyderabad is emerging as a popular bird-watchers' paradise: September 24
Nine new species of wild mushrooms discovered in India: September 24
Wild elephants in Karnataka to get unique identification code: September 24
Indian Purple Frog, endemic to the southern Western Ghats  facing threat to its existence from tribals: September 24

SEPTEMBER 25
MoEFCC has cancelled the CRZ clearance for the Rajakkamangalam Thurai private fishing harbour project: September 25
The CRZ clearance awarded to the private fishing harbour in July 2011, had been cancelled based on a representation from INTACH. The private company had obtained CRZ clearance by submitting a “false statement” of DFO, Nagercoil, stating that there were no sand dunes in the Rajakkamangalam coast. Officials from the Regional Office of MoEFCC inspected the site on January 17, 2015, and found the presence of sand dunes and hatchlings of sea turtles in the project area. In a major portion of sand dunes, casuarina plantations had been raised but they were reportedly felled by the developers.




SEPTEMBER 26
Poaching rampant at Kulik Bird Sanctuary in the outskirts of Raiganj: September 25
Interpretation Centre opened near the Eagle nest WLS, where all information related to the sanctuary are on display: September 25
Minor irrigation tanks in in north Telangana districts of Adilabad,  Karimnagar and Khammam are brimming with water this season: September 26
However, minor irrigation tanks in Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy and Medak districts and Yellareddy and Kamareddy mandals in Nizamabad, which are adjacent to Hyderabad did not receive any water due to dry spell.

Tidal flooding likely to occur along the Kerala coast from September 25 to 30 during Perigean Spring Tide, says INCOIS: September 26

SEPTEMBER 27
Heavy rains, coupled with thunder and lightning, pounded Kunigal and Madhugiri taluks and several parts of Tumakuru district since Friday night: September 27
Hornbill hunting impacts spread of forests: Study by IISc and NCF in Namdapha TR & Miao RF: PTI | September 27
Hejje, an android-based app for mobile smart phones has made it easier and more effective to monitor the field staff, retrieve real-time data on the habitat, animal sightings etc. in tiger reserves in Karnataka: September 27
Environmental activist, Kallen Pokkudan, also known as Kandal Pokkudan, passed away in Kannur on Sunday: Sept 27
Kallen Pokkudan had been working for the protection of mangrove forests since 1989, and authored several books on mangroves. He proposed new lessons in nature conservation by incorporating mangrove forests. His contributions have won the mention of UNESCO. He had won the state government's Vanamithra and Haritha Vyakthi awards. 
Heavy inflow from Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs into BiligunduluHogenakkal.
Bauxite mining could spur a Maoist revival in tribal areas: September 27 

SEPTEMBER 28
Heavy rains in Kodagu, Haveri distrcits: September 28
Supermoon in the Calcutta sky on Sunday evening (Photo): September 28
A Supermoon is a full moon that is a shade brighter and bigger than the average full moon. It happens if the moon is full when it is closest to the Earth on its elliptical orbit around the planet. ‘The moon will be at a rough distance of 3,56,800km from the Earth. The average earth-moon distance is 3,84,000km,’ said Debiprosad Duari, of MP Birla Planetarium. 
                                                                                       
Supermoon seen in Calcutta
          
Supermoon seen in Winnipeg, Manitoba (USA)

                                             
Supermoon in Paris










Hope floats for pygmy hog: September 27
Currently, the pygmy hog is restricted to a single viable population in the wild - at Manas Tiger Reserve. These animals are not found in the wild anywhere else on earth. Dr Goutam Narayan, who recently received an international award for conservation of the animal said "the pygmy hog as a species is certainly more secure now with two reintroduced populations and two captive populations in Assam compared to just one original population before 1996".
Seven tourists visiting Malpe beach were injured after being stung by Sting Rays on Sunday: September 28
The beach will remain closed for the next 20 days till the fish move away. The sting is poisonous, but not fatal. Pain will be severe for a day and there will be muscle cramps. Life guards, said that a week ago, many sting rays were caught in fishing nets. They added that sting rays come near the beach when there is a dip in the water temperature. 8USting rays, however, use their barbs only for self-defence, they said.
Wild elephants making north Chhattisgarh districts their home: TNN | September 28
Fourth tremor recorded in Dhenkanal in the last three days: September29
a micro earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter Scale hit Dhenkanal on Monday evening. On Saturday, two tremors reading 2.8 and 3.2 on the Richter Scale were reported. On Sunday, another micro earthquake measuring 1.8 on the seismic scale was reported. Dhenkanal is located on the Moderate damage seismic risk zone.
Two environmental organisations, WTI and the Elephant Family, , have engaged young volunteers from nearby villages to monitor the movement of animals, especially elephants, along the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong corridor during floods: September 29
Indian Grey Wolf making a comeback in Karnataka: September 28

SEPTEMBER 29

SEPTEMBER 30
Conviction rate of arrested rhino poachers poor in Assam: September 29
Rare medicinal tree, the Maravattai (Chaulmugra) tree recorded in Karandhamalai hill range of Eastern ghats: September 30

Egyptian vulture back in Delhi: September 30

N.M. Naveen Kumar appointed by the State Government for the second term as Hon. Wildlife Warden of Chamarajanagar district: September 30
He who holds a M.Sc degree in Public Policy and Management from University of London. Chamarajanagar District Wildlife Division consists of six ranges in Bandipur National Park, complete BRT Tiger Reserve, M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and a major portion of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. An Hon. Wildlife Warden is a gazetted public servant, appointed under Section 4, Sub Section BB of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. It is a statutory post that is created by an Act of Parliament. The notification issued by the MoEF has  stipulated the duties and responsibilities of the Hon. W.W. The primary duties according to the Act are of enforcement in nature, namely, control of poaching and clandestine trade in wild animals and products; detection and prosecution of offences under the aforementioned Act; preventing damage to the habitat of wildlife; Initiating measures for dealing with man-animal conflicts including the assessment and payment of compensation, etc.; carrying the message of conservation to the people and enlisting public support for nature and wildlife conservation




                        

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