Press on Environment and Wildlife
Water at 75 locations in major rivers not fit for drinking: Govt (September Week #1 (2013))
Water at 75 locations of major rivers, such as Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Sone and Wainaganga are not fit for drinking, the Government said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Water Resources Ministry, which monitors water quality at 396 stations located in all the major river basins, published a report Water Quality Hot Spots in Rivers of India in 2011, Water Resources Minister Harish
Rawat said while replying to a question in the Lok Sabha..........

Maharashtra topped the list of having the maximum number of rivers having 28 polluted stretches, namely Bhima, Godavari, Mula and Mutha, Pawana, Panchganga, Patalganga, Indrayani, Koyna, Kundalika, Kalu, Kanhan, Kolar, Mithi, Tapi, Girna, Nira, Weinganga,
Wardha, Krishna, Purna, Nira, Chandrabhaga, Venna, Ulhas, Rangavali and Bhatsa.

The Minister told the House that 19 such polluted stretches were found in Gujarat by CPCB..

Read More at

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/water-at-75-locations-in-major-rivers-not-fit-for-drinking-govt/article5072187.ece
Birds take flight as realty boom jolts Okhla sanctuary (September Week #1 (2013))
Okhla Bird Sanctuary is in danger . At least 10 realty projects within a kilometre radius of its Noida boundary might just sound its death knell. High rises , flyovers , malls and heavy traffic on roads on both sides of the ailing sanctuary have not just
driven away the winged visitors , but also destroyed the microhabitat that could have been an excellent groundwater recharge system as well as the city's lung . 

The projects have come up on the potential eco-sensitive zone (ESZ ) of the sanctuary without environmental clearance or the wildlife board's permission , exposing the collusion between realty giants and the government . When TOI visited the sanctuary
, it found a strip of small trees on the Noida side, which could hardly protect the fragile habitat of the sanctuary from the pollution caused by the projects that have encroached upon the eco-sensitive zone occupying 10km radius , as defined by the Supreme
Court . The Delhi side is absolutely bare . The boundary wall towards the Jamia Nagar side in Delhi has been broken up in places to dump waste . Uttar Pradesh is one of the many states that have not notified the ESZ around its national parks and sanctuaries
, leading to degradation of the Okhla sanctuary's rich wetland ecosystem . Data with the Noida Authority shows there are 53 projects in various stages of construction within the ESZ .

Read More at

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/developmental-issues/birds-take-flight-as-realty-boom-jolts-okhla-sanctuary/articleshow/22244042.cms
Shifting lions from Gujarat: MP govt seeks Rs 7cr from Centre (Issue of the week, August Week #5 (2013))

"... the Supreme Court has passed final orders on the shifting of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh directing the ministry of environment and forests to take urgent steps for their reintroduction,"
former Madhya Pradesh principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) PK Shukla has said in a letter to enviroment ministry (MoEF).


Shukla had sought grant of Rs 737.42 lakh for various works, including transportation of animals, strengthening of protection infrastructure and 


habitat development among others at the sanctuary, located about 300 kms from here.





Read More at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-18/flora-fauna/41421923_1_palpur-kuno-sanctuary-asiatic-lions-madhya-pradesh
Kaziranga reels from twin blows (August Week #5 (2013))

Kaziranga National Park suffered a double blow today with poachers killing two rhinos in the wee hours of the morning and the Union defence ministry turning down a proposal of deploying unmanned aircraft at
the world heritage site.


The rhinos were killed at the Burapahar range of Kaziranga National Park around 3am. The poachers managed to remove the horn of the female rhino before fleeing.


Forest guards responded and there was a shootout with the poachers after which four cartridges of AK-47 rifles were recovered. Today's incident takes the number of rhinos killed in the park this year already
to 18. Last year, the park had lost 17 rhinos.


Read more at http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130822/jsp/frontpage/story_17258440.jsp#.UhWtWSLixIg
Villagers say won’t ever leave sanctuary (August Week #5 (2013))
And one approaches the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern ridge, one would hope to leave behind all this and enjoy exotic plants, rare animals amid dense forests and water bodies. What comes
across, however, is totally unexpected.

Welcome to Sanjay Colony, a village of 25,000 people living illegally in the sanctuary without access to proper housing, toilets, drinking water 

and other similar amenities.....

The villagers — artisans in stone-cutting and quarrying — migrated from Pakistan via Rajasthan.  They mined quartzite rocks, which yielded 

high quality silica sand — locally known as ‘Badarpur’ or ‘Bajri’.  Mining continues in Haryana across the border and in some parts of Delhi.

Read more at http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Villagers-say-won-t-ever-leave-sanctuary/Article1-1110272.aspx
Wind-solar energy projects best for Melghat (August Week #5 (2013))

Even if hilly Melghat has good potential for solar energy, heavy rain during monsoon makes solar energy projects ineffective.  


To tide over the crisis wind-solar energy projects can be the best solution for tribal-dominated region in Amravati district. ..............


Rithe explained about the projects being implemented by NCSA in Melghat villages. Banthia was highly impressed by the man-made lake 


developed by the society at Muthwa. He called to promote ecotourism in the tribal belt with the help of locals.





Read more at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-19/nagpur/41424499_1_ncsa-melghat-semadoh
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