Mumbai: Left-wing extremism and insurgency are being cited as the major reason for rising number of tiger deaths reported across various reserves in the country

An assessment made by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a nodal body set up by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), reveals that tiger density has decreased in as many as six reserves.

''We found that in all these six tiger reserves, the respective states have been struggling with insurgency problems, be it left wing extremism or Naxalites,'' said a senior official at the NTCA.

It's estimated that there are barely 1,411 tigers left in the country. This year between January and March alone, 18 tigers have died as, against 85 who lost their lives last year. The NTCA made this assessment after studying tiger density and habitats of 39 tiger reserves across the country. ''We've got evidence based on tiger estimation data which shows that in Naxal-infested forest reserves, there has been poor tiger density,'' said the official. Tigers are poached or even killed in conflict as insurgents come in close contact with them deep inside forests, the official added.

According to the the NTCA report, tiger density has fallen in reserves such as Palamu (Jharkhand), Valmiki (Bihar), Simlipal (Orissa), Nagarjunsagar (Andhra Pradesh), Indaravati (Chattisgarh) and Nampdapha (Arunachal Pradesh).

- Times of India, June 1, 2010

JAINAD (ADILABAD DT.): It may not be in as bad a shape as the fallen Rajagopuram of Srikalahasti temple but the popular ancient Laxminarasimha Swamy temple at Jainad in Adilabad too requires repairs. Stones on the mandapam and gopuram of this 1700 year old temple have started exhibiting the wear and tear due to long exposure and many of these have even come loose at the joints which may pose danger in a few years. Built in Nagari style using locally available basaltic Deccan trap rock this temple is a marvel of mortarless stonework. Mortar containing some quantity of iron and lead is used only in the joints of the cornices.

"Erosion in stones was noticed about five years ago by washermen who had climbed the gopuram to light the akhanda jyoti during the kartika jatara as a tradition. More stones are showing the signs of wearing off since then", reveals priest Dapuri Venkataramanachari about the problem on hand.

U. Linganna, a guide appointed by the Tourism Department pointed out the several joints where the stones have come loose. He says, more and more loose joints are being discovered whenever workers take up the thrice a year cleaning of the gopuram.

"Rain water leaks into the garbhagudi or sanctum through these widening stone joints. Besides, the constant sprouting of peepul plants on these stones only help in widening the gaps at the joints", the guide points out stressing on the need for carrying out repairs.

Having been constructed around the 3rd century AD by the then Jain rulers, Jainad temple had presided over a vast sweep which consisted of 65 temples. While some of these are still functional, others are in ruins that are found within a radius of about 30 km around Adilabad town.

"It was in the 11th of 12th century that the Pallavas consecrated the present deity of Laxminarasimha Swamy. The structure of the gopuram here indicates the temple had been partially rebuilt perhaps around that time", points out Guruji Ravinder Sharma, founder of Adilabad's Kala Ashram and an expert in the field of ancient temple architecture.

He says. the ancient edifice may require only low cost repair work instead of costly restoration now. "The repairs however, should be carried out at the earliest to control further erosion of the stones", he cautions.

- Hindu, June 1, 2010

Eighteen families were removed from the area near Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin in an anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday.

With the space cleared out, the conservation body now plans to go ahead with its plans to develop the area.

ASI officials said around 18 families occupied the terrace of Hazrat Nizamuddin ki Baoli, next to the Dargah. They were asked to vacate the plot.

Officials said the affected families have been provided alternate accommodation. The rehabilitation project was a long-standing plan of the ASI, which had announced it in April last year.

"The encroachment removal project was part of a planned and coordinated effort by us. With this we can conserve the Baoli and the surrounding area of the Dargah conveniently," an ASI official said.

" As the affected families had been provided alternative accommodation, many had started vacating the premises on their own."

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture that is working towards an urban renewal project in the Nizamuddin Basti will rehabilitate the affected families and all charges for this will be borne by them.

The relocation process is being undertaken by the MCD.

Officials said that apprehending trouble, the police had been informed to take preventive measures and the area had been cordoned off before the commencement of the drive.

MCD to improve streets, toilet blocks

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi plans to improve streets and toilet blocks in the congested Hazrat Nizamuddin, which is expected to draw many visitors during the Commonwealth Games. The project involves upgrading lanes in the area, relaying of stormwater drains and improving community toilet complexes. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 10.67 crore and it is in consultation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

- Indian Express, June 2, 2010

The 18th-century Tripolia gateways in north Delhi is on the verge of collapse. The Mughal-era structure, which was already in a delicate state, was damaged further on Wednesday morning when a container truck forcibly passed under one of its arched gates, hitting against the sides and causing a massive crack on top of the building. The damage to the monument is so extensive that it has been barricaded from all sides and vehicular traffic under the structure temporarily diverted.

Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Tripolia Gateways, which was built in 1728 by Nasir Mahaldar Khan — the son of Emperor Shah Jahan, is the only three-arched gateway in the capital. The gateways have three arched openings and are covered by flat domes, but its location in the middle of Grand Trunk Road has caused several problems for ASI.

Officials said heavy vehicles has been a matter of serious concern for years as the road level under the gateways keeps increasing every year. This increases the chances of heavy vehicles scrapping the monument surface when they pass under it.

After Wednesday's incident, ASI is in damage control mode. Admitting that the monument has been battered, a senior ASI official said: ''There are huge cracks all over the monument surface and chances of the building collapsing are high. When we got to know about the incident, we barricaded the gateways and stopped movement of all vehicles through one lane of GT Karnal Road where the monument stands. All vehicles will have to use the other lane till we repair the structure as even the smallest of vibration can cause a structure collapse.'' There is also the risk of stone slabs falling on heavy vehicles if they attempt to go under the arched gateways.

Saurabh Gandhi, president of Maharana Pratap Bagh residents' welfare association (RWA) who in the past have filed several RTIs to salvage Tripolia Gateways, said: ''We came to know about the damage early in the morning. Morning walkers said a container truck attempted to go under through the arched gateway but it was so huge that it got stuck for some seconds. The vehicle then forcibly pushed through, damaging the building. Even though some people called the PCR, the container vehicle sped off.''

Residents said when ASI officials reached the spot, they barricaded one lane — from Najazgarh drain to Rana Pratap Bagh completely, causing traffic snarls in the peak morning hours. Gandhi alleged that Tripolia's foundation had been weakened already by MCD digging a stormwater drainage system several months back. ''We plan to file an RTI with ASI to know how much conservation they did on the gateways and just how much damage it has suffered,'' said Gandhi.

Another resident, Kunwar Ajay Singh, accused ASI of negligence and said the other Tipolia gateways — which on the other side of the road — was also in a bad shape.

ASI said it would take several days for the basic repairs to be completed. ''Lowering the road level is the only option. In the past too, the issue has been taken up with roadowning agencies but no concrete steps were taken.

After we start repair and conservation, we plan to start talks at a higher level with MCD and the traffic police to salvage the monument,'' said officials from ASI.

- Times City, Times of India, June 3, 2010

Using the universal language of music, a citizen's group here has made an effort to save the environment. A musical evening organised by the group on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Tuesday evening aimed at raising awareness on the drying up of the Neela Hauz lake.

The Neela Hauz started drying up following the construction of an over-bridge by the Public Welfare Department.

Since 2008, local residents and environmentalists have been protesting against the construction. Despite various promises by the authorities to restore the lake and remove debris left after the construction, the lake is still dry.

"We are using music and art to reach out to the people," said Nitya Jacob, one of the organisers at the event. "We as youth are concerned about our environment and need to persuade our peers to join in the movement," chipped in 17-year-old Nandini Mehrotra.

Along with musical performances by local residents, youngsters also showcased their talent through posters on environmental conservation. The audience was particularly enthralled by a performance by children from Nirmal Jyoti, a Vasant Kunj-based orphanage for mentally and physically challenged girls.

Prof Sudha Bhattacharya from the School of Environmental Sciences in JNU said, "I will try to initiate a research on the issue so that the movement gains more weight".

The citizen's group has been formed by residents of Vasant Kunj and Mehrauli as well as JNU students and faculty members.

- Indian Express, June 3, 2010

An ancient library housing holy manuscripts and thousands of precious books, including a version of the Quran penned by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, has reopened in Aurangabad after a gap of 40 years. The 17th-century library in the old part of the city is now emerging as a destination for tourists, students and research fellows.

A centuries-old panchakki or water mill, which is still operational, dominates the premises, with the library located behind it. In the library, which houses 3,500 books—in Urdu, Arabic and Persian—on history, law, medicine, sufism, religion and philosophy, the chief attraction is a version of the Quran penned by emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. The leather cover of the Quran has gold embossing on both sides and throughout the book, every full stop is marked with a golden dot.

The library, also home to a 500-page book on Islamic philosophy, handwritten in four languages by Mir Gulam Ali, and an Arabic-Urdu-Persian dictionary that runs into a thousand pages, is counted among the oldest in India. "Libraries are meant for sharing knowledge. There is no entry fee. We allow visitors to sit in the reading room and browse any book," says librarian and scholar Hafiz Abdul Jaleel, who wields an index of the books and is in charge of organising and maintaining the 10 wooden bookshelves.

Founded by Hazrat Babashah Musafir, who migrated to Aurangabad in the 17th century from Gazdwan village of Bukhara in Russia, the library, in its heyday, treasured over one lakh books, Jaleel says. Having left Russia in search of spiritual knowledge, Musafir met Hazrat Baba Shah Saeed Naqshbandi in Kashmir and became his disciple. In India, Musafir toured Bengal, Orissa and Hyderabad, before settling down in Aurangabad, where he started delivering spiritual discourses and subsequently built a madarsa with 24 classrooms and a hostel facility, a panchakki above it to ensure constant water supply, and a library to house books he brought from Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Afganistan, Russia and Egypt. Today the Maharashtra State Board of Wakf (MSBW) works out of the premises. Musafir's shrine, too, is located here, right next to the reading room.

The library, open for three centuries till Independence in 1947, ran into trouble during the rule of Nizams in Aurangabad till 1949, when 80,000-85,000 books were moved to Hyderabad and kept in a kitabkhana before being sent abroad. Some 15,000 books remained here, of which only 3,500 are in good condition. With no one to maintain the library, it was closed down in 1970 by the administration. Later, MSBW took charge of it and recently reopened it.

The library gets 25-30 visitors a day and three Ph.D. students now use references from here. Syed Sadiq Ali Quadri, CEO, MSBW, says the government should help run the library. "We do not have enough space to display books. Nor do we have any staff sanctioned to us—those who work here are working voluntarily. We want to restore, scan and laminate all the books. Although the librarian has completed computerisation of the index, we don't have the funds to convert the books to a digital format," he says.

- Indian Express, June 6, 2010

No country in the world has so many of these grand protective bastions that have withstood the whip-lashes of time, and served dynasties, holding within their walls the stories and secrets of a lost era. In India, forts are a heritage that speak of a rich culture and architecture," Vijai Vardhan asserts. An IAS officer, Vardhan has just completed the voice-over for one of Doordarshan's upcoming projects, a series on the forts of India, titled Forts of India, which will go on air next month. It has been produced and directed by Chandigarh-based GS Chani and his son Gyandev. "It was Prasar Bharti chief BS Lalli's idea," says GS Chani, talking of the five long years it took them to complete the series.

Sadly, there is no comprehensive study or archival material available on the forts of India. After extensive research, which included scouting the length and breadth of the country and visiting over 150 forts, the father-son duo shortlisted 26 and roped in Dr Pushpesh Pant to work on the content. "It was a discovery of sorts, getting to know our history while exploring some of the greatest forts that we have," he says.

Some of the forts to be featured in the series include Chittaurgarh and Bundi in Rajasthan, the fort in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, built by Baz Bahadur and Roopmati, and Seringapatam Fort in Mysore built by Tipu Sultan. "We've grown up focussing primarily on the Independence Movement, with passing references to forts and other monuments in medieval history. When you visit these places, you realise how much more there is to Indian history, and how things change over time. For instance, the Gingee Fort near Puducherry finds no mention in history or architecture books, but it is a great construction atop three steep hills," says Gyandev, who has also composed the music for the series.

The assignment has left them with several memorable experiences — from wandering through the Janjira Fort at Murud, built by Abyssinian slaves in the middle of the Arabian Sea, a mere 40-minute boat ride from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, to taking security cover along with them during their shoot at the Kalinjar Fort in Uttar Pradesh, known for being a hide-out for anti-social elements.

"Each fort was a unique experience. All of them are defence marvels, living proof of the diverse culture that has always flourished in India. The romanticism that envelops these walls is palpable," says Chani.

Coming up next is a coffee-table book and a blog on the same.

- Indian Express, June 6, 2010

CITY ANCHOR: WORLD HERITAGE SITES TO GET RS 1 CRORE FOR 50-KV PLANTS, OTHER SITES TO HAVE SMALLER UNITS, lesser budgets With the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy set to install solar power plants at the three World Heritage Sites and select monuments before the Commonwealth Games, monuments in the Capital will soon be lit up by the sun even during the night. The plants will be provided as part of a Special Area Demonstration Project covering 27 World Heritage Sites other selected monuments and tourist spots across the country.

Sources said the ministry has already got clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India for the World Heritage Sites of Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar, but an approval from the Delhi government for the Red Fort is awaited. These sites have been sanctioned Rs 1 crore each for setting up 50-KV solar power plants .

Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple and Old Fort have been sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for generating 25 KV, while Jantar Mantar and Safdarjung's Tomb have been allotted Rs 25 lakh each for 12.5-KV plants.

"We are taking up the project on priority basis because of the Commonwealth Games and should complete it by early September," said a ministry official. "Work on Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar will begin next week and the deadline for these two sites has been fixed for August 15."

"The renewable energy systems will illuminate these monuments and also supplement the energy requirement by way of providing green and clean energy as per the requirements of the individual sites. The amount of battery back-up will depend on the type of load which will be assessed while preparing the detailed project report," the ministry official said.

The expected daytime demand at the World Heritage Sites is of indoor lighting and fans, ventilation, Solar Photovoltaic pumps for irrigation, information kiosks and at the ticket counters. The night load will be for LED-based flood lights as well as garden and outdoor lights, the officials said. "Solar power will not only save on electricity, but also secure the monuments with additional lighting around the site for over four hours after sun down."

The financial assistance will be provided for meeting full cost of procurement and installation of the systems and devices and annual maintenance charges for five years. The implementation of the scheme will be carried out in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism.

- Indian Express, June 7, 2010

Cheetals found dead at Aravali hills sanctuary in South Delhi

About eight cheetals are suspected to have died under mysterious circumstances at a wildlife sanctuary in the Aravali hills in South Delhi over the weekend. While the remains of two were found by the police, local residents alleged that the Forest Department officials had not even bothered to pay a visit to the spot till Tuesday despite being informed about the deaths on Sunday evening.

A resident of Deoli village, Jagbir Singh, said he had spotted a dead cheetal during an evening walk on Sunday. "I then immediately called up the sanctuary staff," he added.

Alleging that the staff did not respond to the call, he said the residents spotted seven more cheetals lying dead in another area of the park on Monday. "Now we are not being allowed to go there, but the dead cheetals are all inside. While the Forest Department officials are saying that stray dogs could have killed them, there were no injury marks on their bodies. They were big antlers and the boundary fence of the sanctuary is about 10 feet high. So they must have died due to other causes," he claimed.

Not finding any response from the Wildlife Department authorities, the residents informed former Saket MLA Vijay Jolly about the dead cheetals lying in the sanctuary. "When I reached there, I found two animals lying dead. From the condition of the body one could say they must have died a couple of days ago," said Mr Jolly, who called the police and the Wildlife Department officials to the sanctuary.

In the evening, the Neb Sarai police reached the spot and began investigations. Thereafter the Forest Department officials also reached there. The police are learnt to have directed the Forest Department officials to conduct post-mortem on the bodies of the two cheetals and submit a report to them. "There were some injury marks on the bodies. Only if something emerges in the post-mortem that a case would be registered," said a police officer.

The police are also watching if the Forest Department officials find more dead cheetals in the sanctuary. "The sanctuary is spread over nearly 125 acres and a body count of the cheetals would therefore take time," said the officer.

When contacted about the probe into the matter, Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden D.M. Shukla said, "Abhi pata kar rahen hain" (We are finding out).

Meanwhile, the tragic death of so many cheetals has also come as a setback to the wildlife protection programme in the area. According to the locals, the cheetals had been introduced in the area about five years ago to increase their population. And while it is learnt to have gone up to between 30 and 35, the mysterious deaths have dealt a severe blow to the plan.

- The Hindu, June 9, 2010

The famous 17th century Archduke Joseph diamond, which is in Europe for the past 200 years, is up for sale and stands a fair chance of being brought back to India if enough money can be raised to buy the 76-carat Golconda gem valued at Rs 250-300 crore.

The 140-year-old Bangalore-based jewellery house C Krishnaiah Chetty & Sons (CKC & Sons), is one of the three selected concessionaires (one is in the US, the second is in Europe) in the world who can sell it. "The response has been very encouraging. We have several interested parties. We are even working on shared ownerships, consortiums and trusts. I believe as a consortium we will be able to bring the country's legacy to be placed in some museum soon," CKC & Sons Managing Director Vinod Hayagriv said.

It is important that the Government of India encourages such initiatives since it is a matter of national pride and preservation of one's culture and heritage. In the US, private individuals acquire heritage pieces but place these in museums for general public viewing and future generations to cherish, he said.

The diamond takes its name from Archduke Joseph August (1872-1962), a prince of the Hungarian line of the Hapsburg dynasty. The Archduke was a descendant of Emperor Leopold II, son of empress Maria Teresa. The mention of Empress Maria Teresa may remind one of the famous Florentine diamond, one of the greatest gems of history and for many years an heirloom of the Hapsburgs. But while the Florentine was light yellow in colour, Archduke Joseph is a colourless gem.

- Tribune, June 9, 2010

Only major sections to be over by the Games, rest afterwards

Shoppers tired of walking through the dug-up streets and lanes of Connaught Place in the heart of the Capital will have to wait a little longer as major sections of the ambitious Rs.671-crore re-development project of the New Delhi Municipal Council would be completed only by this July/August.

The rest of the work will be undertaken after the Commonwealth Games in October. While facade restoration is being undertaken in 10 blocks of CP, simultaneous work is on for refurbishment and improvement of parking lots along with construction of four new subways on Barakhamba Road and Panchkuian Road.

As traffic clearance has been granted for only a section of the roads where these subways are being constructed, the civic body is undertaking work on only one-third portion of the subway at a time.

"The traffic police needed space to ensure traffic movement on the roads where we are constructing the subways, so we are working on only one-third portion at a time. We would be opening the first one-third portion of all four subways by June end providing relief to pedestrians. The rest would be taken up subsequently," says an NDMC official.

"The subways would be completed by August or September and the parking by August, while the façade restoration work would be finished by June-end or July. Parking improvements have been completed in Blocks C and D and work in Blocks E and F is going on at present. These improvements include laying of new flooring in the existing parking spaces due to which parking space may increase or decrease in some stretches," he added.

Commenting on reasons for the delay, the NDMC official said: "After chipping the plaster off several blocks for façade restoration we found that there was no concrete structure left on the pillars and columns to support the building, so we had to begin re-constructing entire columns and pillars. This retrofitting process would cause a delay of another 15 to 20 days. Other than that there are no stumbling blocks as of now."

Meanwhile, work for construction of the underground services tunnel in the Middle Circle, where ducting of all electricity and water lines would be done, is under way in Blocks A, B, E and F but would be completed only after the Games is over. Similarly, the setting up of a centralised air-conditioning plant in CP will also be taken up after the Games because of paucity of time.

"The services ducting work in Blocks C and D would be completed after the Games as we got official clearances for it at a later date and also because we thought it not fit to block all strategic points in CP at one time. The air-conditioning plant too will be taken up after the Games," the official said.

With massive road stretches dug up for the works and tedious traffic diversions in place for pedestrians and commuters alike, further problems of water-logging and traffic jams during the upcoming monsoon season are anticipated in the area. However, the civic body claims it has made arrangements to tackle any crisis.

"We are aware of the problems that might take place and have made arrangements for pumping machines to flush out excess water that might accumulate at strategic points. At other places care has been taken to keep the existing drainage pipelines intact to do their job when it rains. So we are not expecting any major problems in CP during the monsoon," the official added.

- The Hindu, June 10, 2010

FREEZE No construction near protected monuments, says Act, grounding infrastructure projects

A recent amendment in the archaeological-monu- ments-related act has put a question mark on the future of several infrastructure projects -- either under-construction or planned -- in Delhi.

Keeping in line with the pro- visions of the amended Act, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued notices to sev- eral government agencies as the projects taken up by them are within 100 metres or 300 metres of a centrally protected monu- ment.

These agencies include Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), among others, carrying out dif- ferent projects ranging from parking lots to bus terminus.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010, signed by the President on March 30, pro- vides for a total ban on any kind of construction within 100 metres -- called the protected area -- of a centrally protected monument. This protected area can be more than 100 metres for important/bigger monu- ments. There would be a fur- ther 200 metres of regulated area. Construction in the regu- lated area could be possible but strictly according to heritage bye-laws.

The Act clearly states that the government (too) should plan projects in such a way that none of them will fall within the prohibited area of any monu- ment.

"We have refused permission to several projects and issued notices to those agencies which have started work without our permission," said an ASI spokesperson.

While the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has not gone ahead full steam with the work for a multi-level park- ing project on Kasturba Gandhi Marg, several other agencies have started work in order to complete the projects before Commonwealth Games.

- Hindustan Times, June 10, 2010

The Archaeological Survey of India has stopped work on a new bridge across the Yamuna here as it is very close to a Mughal-era monument.

Superintending archaeologist A.R. Siddiqui said: "We asked the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Ltd to stop construction and seek clearance from ASI headquarters in New Delhi." New rules in force mandate that any construction within 300 metres of a protected monument could be done only with approval from the ASI headquarters.

The monument in question is Etmauddaula, built by Noor Jahan, the favourite wife of Mughal emperor Jehangir, as a mausoleum for her father Mirza Giyas Beg. The bridge was due to be completed before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October. It is now unlikely to be completed as the ASI headquarters is standing firm on enforcing the new norms.

Site workers and engineers said over half the work was already over. Conservationists in Agra are particularly happy, calling the ASI's action "long overdue". Said Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma: "They should not have allowed it in the first place — hardly 200 metres from the Etmauddaula."

Local conservationists are particularly angry as the bridge, in violation of the original design, suddenly turned right — blocking the view of the beautiful Etmauddaula, which is even older than the Taj Mahal.

- Asian Age, June 10, 2010

A two-member expert committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has started its investigation into the biggest ever poaching of elephants inside Orissa's famous Simlipal Tiger Reserve after two wildlife activists of Mayurbhanj district took off the lid on the incident.

Following petitions by wildlife activists to Forest and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, NTCA member secretary Rajesh Gopal last week constituted a two-member independent team comprising prominent wildlife activists Belinda Wright and Biswajit Mohanty who are now touring the reserve and assessing the ground situation vis-a-vis the elephant poaching cases. The team would submit its report within a fortnight. Since the deaths happened inside the tiger reserve, NTCA has the right to order such a probe.

The poaching of 12 elephants came to light in mid-April this year when Mayurbhanj wildlife activist Vanoo Mitra Acharya and honorary wildlife warden of Mayurbhanj Sanjukta Basa got to know of the elephant killings. A local forest staff reported the death of only one elephant in April. But subsequent visits and investigations by Basa and Acharya found that six more have been killed. The activist duo have information that five more have been killed.

An attempt by independent persons to enter the Park to verify the reports was frustrated by the Range Officer of Pithabata Range. He refused entry to Basa when she wanted to visit the core area on April 30 though she had an official order issued by a senior officer. The fact-finding team found remains of burnt bones of one elephant at Dudhurchampa. Similarly, remains of two carcasses including bones were found buried at Mondama hills under Kandadhanu section. Another burnt elephant carcass was discovered at Jodapal Chhak.

"During our field investigation inside the tiger reserve, we found bones and other evidence of the killed elephants. The carcasses were stinking. There were definite attempts to hide the bones as we found the same concealed under huge rocks," said Acharya. The fact-finding team also found remains of two carcasses, including bones, buried at Mondama hills under Kandadhanu section.

Officials at the Simlipal Tiger Reserve admitted the elephant deaths, but its director H S Upadhyay and Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Ajit Bhartuar refused to confirm whether the elephants have been killed by poachers. A team from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has also visited the reserve to inquire into the poaching cases. The State government also ordered an inquiry into the killing of elephants by poachers.

Simlipal has been classified by the NTCA as a Tiger Reserve in poor condition with low density of tigers. The camera trapping census of tiger carried out by WII, Dehradun, put the tiger numbers at 20. Elephants are gradually disappearing from the Park. Officials from the regional office of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau visited one of the spots in the Similipal tiger reserve to conduct an on-the-spot check of the reports of elephant killing.

Member of National Board of Wildlife, Biswajit Mohanty has written to Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh demanding a CBI investigation into mass killings of elephants in Simlipal Tiger Reserve. "A CBI investigation is required to uncover the role of field forest officers as to whether they connived with the poachers. In at least four cases, there was an effort to destroy evidence by burning or burying the bones ," he said.

Eminent wildlife conservationist Ashok Kumar of the Wildlife Trust of India said the incident had eerie similarities with that of tiger disappearance from Sariska.

- Asian Age, June 10, 2010

The Archaeological India (ASI) personnel are into an FIR overdrive against unauthorized construction within 100 metres of any centrally protected monument.

Thanks to a recent amendment in the archaeology Act, the ASI officials, not willing to face a jail term lest they are accused of being hand-in-glove with other agencies, have lodged FIRs in large numbers across Delhi. As against bare- ly 5-6 such FIRs in a month, the two months since the Amendment on March 30 have seen more than 50 FIRs being lodged at various police stations.

With as many as 174 monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi is the most affect- ed city in the country due to the recent amendment in the Act with hundreds of properties falling within 100 metres of the protected monument.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010, signed by the President on March 30, pro- vides for a ban on any kind of construction within 100 metres -- called the protected area -- of a centrally protected monument.

A major first for the amendment is the provision of a stringent punishment for a Central government officer. The culpable officer shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, as per the Act.

"We have lodged more than 50 FIRs and an equal number of police complaints across Delhi since the amendment, "said ASI spokesman Dr B R Mani.

The problem has started mainly due to absence of an authority, which will give per- mission to property owners to expand/construct on their plots/buildings. "There have been hundreds of oral inquiries and more than 25 written applications asking for permission to construct/repair houses.

But) as per the Act, there is no provision even for emergency repairs. Moreover, the ASI is no more the authority to sanction it," Dr Mani added. The new amendment envisages creation of a Competent Authority in each state, which will receive the revision proposals.

- Hindustan Times, June 11, 2010

In 1924, Azim Bagh, just a kilometre away from the capitol complex of Raisina Hill, housed the rarest plant species brought in from British colonies across the world. Then part of the historic Grand Trunk Road, this is where plants for all the open spaces and the boulevards of Lutyens' Delhi came from.

Sunder Nursery might no longer flaunt all those rare species, but the 67-acre plot, after lying in neglect for decades, is now part of an ambitious city park project launched by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in association with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The third phase of the Sunder Nursery Landscape Plan, which was drawn up in 2007, is now in implementation and has been carefully worked out to connect the ecology and culture of the space. Called the micro-habitat zone, this will showcase four distinct zones of Delhi's original landscape — Kohi (ridge), Bangar (alluvial), Khadar (riverine) and Dabar (marsh). The project is expected to be completed in four years.

AKTC officials working on the project said the landscaped plot will have a prominent ridge with lakes running around the nine heritage structures within the zone. Designated as a district park in the Delhi Masterplan, the nursery will include greenhouses, area for flower shows and visitor amenities such as cafes and an interpretation centre. By putting together all of this, the zone is expected to create a meaningful visitor experience and a space that will offer opportunities for recreation, education and discovery.

This will include the creation of nine large mounds with large stone blocks. The mounds are now being planted with species originally found in the ridge. All plant saplings have already been procured and are ready for plantation this season, officials said.

CPWD Deputy Director General R B Verma said, "Sunder Nursery will become a world-class nursery with significant educational, cultural and ecological facilities. With over 300 tree varieties, several thousand plant varieties, a bonsai collection, greenhouses and visitor facilities, we are hoping this will be a nature lover's dream destination."

Within the nursery stand nine monuments, including the ASI protected Sundarwala Burj, Sundarwala Mahal and Lakkarwala Burj. All these monuments are now undergoing careful conservation my master craftsmen using traditional building materials, tools and building techniques. A peripheral road has been constructed around the nursery that will ensure visitors move around systematically and not trample over the green cover.

"The park development and linkages with Humayun's Tomb Complex will lead to the creation of an ecological cultural zone and hopefully expansion of the World Heritage Site. This is in line with other AKTC projects in cities such as Cairo, Lahore, Zanzibar, Mali, Kabul and Alleppo," Ratish Nanda, Project Director, AKTC told Newsline.

Landscape consultant M Shaheer added: "The project provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the integration of environment, heritage and a working nursery through sensitive landscape design."

"While the timber section has plants that are over 50 or 60 years old, for the rest of the nursery we are looking for special species of plants that will survive in Delhi's climate. Delhi already has 256 species of trees and we are now in the process of bringing in over 100 more species from regions like Eastern Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Haryana and the sub-Himalayan tracts. The planting style is being designed to evoke the Mughal charbagh," said Pradip Krishen, consultant for the project and author of Trees of Delhi.

- Indian Express, June 11, 2010

It will house rare collections of Central Institute of Classical Tamil

The historic Assembly Chamber in Fort St. George is to be converted into the reference library of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT).

"Our plan is to make the library a comprehensive repository of all resources on classical Tamil. Not only palm leaf and paper manuscripts but also digital version of resources will be there," says K. Ramasamy, CICT officer-in-charge. It will have rare collections of Tamil literary works, which date back to 600 A.D.

At present, the Institute's library functions from a room at Palar Illam on Kamarajar Salai. It has 20,000 titles and 1,000 compact discs.

In view of inadequate space, the CICT last month had requested the State Tamil Development, Religious Endowment and Information Department to allot the old Chamber to it for running the library.

An order issued by Assembly Secretary M. Selvaraj a week ago stated that the Chamber was being handed over to the Tamil Development, Religious Endowment and Information Department with the consent of the Public Department for being converted into the library of the CICT. The ground floor of the old Assembly Chamber measures 4,000 sq. ft. with two balconies of 1,000 sq. ft. each.

Prof. Ramasamy says though the Assembly Secretariat and the State government are keen that the Institute should take possession of the old Assembly Chamber immediately, the library cannot be housed there without a proper plan.

"We have approached an architect to draw up a plan." The Institute authorities are likely to move over to the old Chamber next month. It may take a year for carrying out their plans on the library, he says.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the order issued by the Assembly Secretary notes that there are chances of the winter session of the Assembly commencing during October-November. On expeditious completion of the works of the new Assembly complex, all sections and offices of the Assembly Secretariat will be shifted.

Mr. Selvaraj says the decision was taken after consultations with top officials of the government.

On March 13, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared open the new Assembly-Secretariat complex on Omandurar Government Estate. Six days later, the State budget was presented in the new Assembly Chamber. On January 11, the old Chamber witnessed, for the last time, the conduct of Assembly proceedings.

- Hindu, June 11, 2010

NO ONE HURT The building, a part of which fell, is located inside the Fort premises and 100 yrs old

A portion of an oldstyle terrace of a colonial era building inside the Red Fort premises fell apart after two pil- lars supporting the arch below the terrace gave away.

There were no casualties as the portion of terrace fell late at night on Monday. The build- ing lies north of the Naubat Khana inside the Red Fort com- plex, a World Heritage Site.

"The exact reason behind the break down of pillars has not been ascertained as yet," an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official said on conditions of anonymity. Workers at the site gave dif- ferent reasons for the collapse, ranging from a strong storm to slight tremor experienced on Monday night, but there was no official confirmation.

Scaffolding has now been put up on the outer side of the build- ing for a replacement. The part- ly dilapidated building, which shows traces of damage at sev- eral places, has already been undergoing repair for many months.

The ASI is carrying out var- ious repair activities inside the Red Fort. This building -- more than a hundred years old and named B4 -- is part of a row of four similar looking buildings.

Work at the first two buildings is almost complete while it continues at the remaining two .

The ASI is carrying out ren- ovation of the four buildings to accommodate its museums inside the Red Fort premises.

These buildings form impor- tant examples of colonial era architecture inside a Mughal era monument.

As part of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, the heritage agency plans to break down all modern struc- tures inside the Red Fort com- plex. That means all the build- ings that were built after 1947 till 2003, when the Army was vacated, would be demolished.

- Hindustan Times, June 11, 2010

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to declare Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district a holy town in view of its religious and historical significance.

A decision to this effect was taken by Badal at a meeting of the Sultanpur Lodhi Development Board. He directed the Revenue Department to finalise the modalities to declare Sultanpur Lodhi a holy town at the earliest. He also asked the Chairman of Punjab Powercom to provide 24-hour power supply to the town.

While reviewing the progress of various ongoing development projects in and around Sultanpur Lodhi, the Chief Minister asked the Secretary, PWD (B&R), to undertake the construction of roads in the town on top priority. He also asked the PIDB to release Rs 2 crore for the execution of sewerage and drinking water schemes in the town.

Responding to the other demands of sanctioning a fire engine and the release of Rs 5.83 crore towards flood protection works raised by Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, the Chief Minister asked the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, to release the requisite funds before the flood season and also sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the fire engine. The Chief Minister also directed the Revenue Department to sanction Rs 50 lakh for the renovation of the tehsil complex.

It was also decided at the meeting that the Mandi Board would construct roads, platforms and the parking area in the new grain market before the procurement of paddy during the current kharif season. The Chief Minister also assured Upinderjit Kaur that the bus stand would be soon modernised. He also asked the Principal Conservator of Forests to plant saplings along the main roads around the town within a radius of 5 km during this rainy season. The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary, PWD (B&R), to bring a separate proposal for the widening of Babe Nanki Marg linking Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi from 18 ft to 33 ft.

- Tribune, June 12, 2010

With the upcoming Commonwealth Games, while money may no longer be an overriding concern for heritage conservationists in the Capital, a fact which even the leading heritage NGOs and historians believe is that the current conservation outlook in the Capital is lopsided; the focus being only on popular monuments like Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort and a handful of others while scores of smaller monuments are given the go-by.

While the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is working on the restoration and lighting up of 46 monuments of national importance before the Commonwealth Games, experts say that many smaller monuments, havelis and tombs encroached upon across the city are simply neglected.

Speaking on the widespread problem of abandoned and encroached monuments in the city, Janaki Nair, professor, Social Sciences, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal University, said, "There are several places where the local communities have taken over heritage monuments. For instance, in GK-I, a dome of Sultanate period has been converted into a 'Pracheen Shiv Mandir' while a boutique operates from a Sultanate period dome in Adhchini."

Another expert Gurpreet Kaur said, "Tughlaqabad, the Khirki Masjid, Begumpur Masjid, Sultan-e-Ghari are being used as public toilets. No one seems to care for places like Rajon Ki Baoli and the tomb of Adham Khan, not to forget the inaccessible Sher Mandal; the list is endless. The ASI does not have enough resources to post guards at these monuments. No wonder, most of them have been taken over either by local ruffians or large parts of these monuments locked up permanently," she said.

However, historians agree that the situation could have been worse had the NGOs not been involved in the conservation process. Currently, the ASI is working in close coordination with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) that has helped in the restoration of many smaller monuments.

"INTACH took over the restoration work of 'Bhuli Bhatiyari Ka Mahal' along with the unnamed Lodhi period tomb at Lado Sarai, besides 24 other monuments in the Qutub complex. We have also been working with the state department for the restoration of 14 other smaller monuments, which are not in ASI's list. These monuments will also be lit up along with the main 46 monuments," said AK Menon, convener, Delhi chapter INTACH.

Added K K Muhammad, chief engineer, ASI, "We are doing our best. Every little detail cannot be taken care of before the Commonwealth Games. With encroached places, there are larger issues to be dealt with which involve the MCD, police and courts at times. Conservation requires meticulous planning and years of preparation in terms of archival research."

- Tribune, June 12, 2010

The dwelling of Swayambhunath Stupa (Self-Existent Lord), a world heritage site around which Kathmandu Val- ley emerged, got a makeover last month the first in 90 years and 15th in nearly 1,500 years. And it wasn't an easy task.

Seventy skilled artisans from Nepal worked tirelessly for two years to renovate the country's most ancient Buddhist monument. Since none involved with the previous restoration is alive, it was an arduous task that required painstaking attention to detail. But large volumes of documented work of previous renovations helped immensely.

"Unlike creating a new monument, we didn't take creative licence. Our aim was to restore Swayambhunath to its original glory," said Tsering Palmo Gellek, the project director.

Like solving a big jigsaw puzzle -- over 30,000 pieces were removed, repaired, cleaned and again put back into place using over 100,000 nails. All metal plates got a fresh coat of gold consuming 20 kg of the yellow metal in one of the largest gold restoration works anywhere.

"Re-gilding was done in traditional Nepali style. Gold mixed with mercury is put over cop- per plates and heat applied to burn off the mercury and leaving a layer of gold, "said Padma Dorje Maitland, associate director of the project. Every ounce of gold was measured and record and the cop- per plates covered with gold polished with agate stone for hours at a stretch to give them the shine. To aid future renovation projects, a detailed documentation system was developed to keep track of work and over 40,000 images of the stupa before, during and after the renovation was taken.

The project sponsored by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Centre at California, USA, started in June 2008 and got over on Buddha Jayanti last month.

While centuries-old practices and rituals were followed during the renovation, one important aspect associated with previous makeovers of the stupa was missing this time around.

"In the past permission for renovation was given by the king, but since monarchy as abolished in Nepal a month before the project started, the practice was not followed this time," said Alexander von Rospatt, Professor for Buddhist Studies at University of California.

- Hindustan Times, June 14, 2010

Uttarakhand Government is planning to set up an authority with the aim of conserving Himalayan glaciers in the hill State. The proposed Snow and Glaciers Authority (SGA) is expected to be headed by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and will study the impact of climate change on nearly 1,400 big and small glaciers, top official sources said.

Keeping in view the importance of glaciers, source of many rivers including Ganga, the Chief Minister had recently asked officials to take the initiative for setting up the Authority.

The SGA will exchange statistics and also ideas in close partnership with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for better management of water resources, ecology and environment conservation, Uttarakhand Science and Technology Secretary Rajiv Chandra told PTI.

The Authority will also share data and research related to glaciers with the countries working in the field of climate change at global level, Mr. Chandra added.

Renowned experts in the field, including those from Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment and Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, will be part of the proposed body that would coordinate with various government departments, he said.

It will also take help from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

There are several organisations working in this field at private-level globally, but the proposed authority will be a unique government initiative, M. M. Kimothi, Director of Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (U—SAC) said.

- Hindu, June 14, 2010

High court had set up panel to initiate restoration of water bodies; Bulk of work done by delhi govt; ASI, CPWD too chip in It has taken eight long years, but if all goes well, Delhi will have nearly 300 replenished water bodies by this monsoon. As per papers accessed by Newsline, reports filed by different agencies in the High Court say the water bodies have been deepened and re-dug.

From small lakes near Rajghat to the Baolis (step wells) within monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the water bodies are peppered all over the city. The CPWD has submitted that it has deepened four water bodies — including one each in Rajghat, Vijay Ghat and Shanti Van, while the ASI has done the same with the Raja ki Baoli in Mehrauli, Agrasen ki Baoli near Connaught Place and Nizamuddin ki Baoli.

Newsline found that years of silt at the bottom of Agrasen ki Baoli has been removed, even as a senior ASI officer said further dredging will be done at the heritage structure. At a water body behind Radisson Hotel in Mahipalpur, recharge pits and channels have been created at the bottom. At the water bodies in North Delhi's Burari, the challenge is to keep sewage out. The Public Works Department (PWD) has been held responsible for cleaning up the Neela Hauz lake on Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, which is now full of construction material for a bridge being built for the Commonwealth Games.

In all, the Delhi government has restored 178 water bodies, the ASI has worked on 13, DDA on 58, the CPWD on four and PWD on one.

"Many factors have resulted in old Baolis drying up. In Agrasen ki Baoli, nearby housing societies have adversely affected the ground watertable. We hope things will be different this monsoon and the Baoli will fill up," said K K Muhammad, Delhi's Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI.

Interestingly, most of these were never recognised as water bodies by the government, leading to indiscriminate development around them. In fact, the state appraisal committee which awards environment clearance for projects stalled a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) construction in Dhirpur which fell in the Yamuna flood plain. Construction will be permitted on the condition that the water body there is restored, but the government has been dragging its feet on the issue since 2003.

Following a Public Interest Litigation by environment activist Vinod Jain, the High Court had set up a committee to monitor restoration of water bodies in Delhi with an inspection committee under the Chief Secretary. Of 629 water bodies identified, the High Court was told that 158 could not be revived. Of these, as many as 56 were encroached while 20 are full of sewage.

WATERY SURPRISE

* Some of the biggest water bodies in Delhi are in unexpected areas
* Vijay Ghat has a 24,000 sq m water body
* Bhudanpur Majia in Northwest Delhi has one of 36,000 sq m
* Lambi Khurd in Burari has a 36,604 sq m water body 80,000 sqm

Hauz Khas Lake, Delhi's larges

- Indian Express, June 14, 2010

Iranian conservation experts will soon join hands with the Andhra Pradesh government in restoring the 400-year-old Qutub Shahi tombs, mausoleums of the rulers of Golconda, to their pristine glory.

Standing testimony to Indo-Persian architecture, the majestic monuments, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, are a major tourist attraction. However, as ravages of time have taken a toll on these heritage sites, the state government has sought the help of Iranian experts for their conservation.

The domed structures, the intricately carved stonework built on a square base and surrounded by pointed arches and landscaped gardens, form a large cluster and stand on a raised platform. They display a distinctive style, a mixture of Persian, Pathan and Hindu forms.

A set of three monuments - Qutub Shahi tombs and gardens, the Premamati mosque and the Badeshahi Ashurkhana - were built by Iranian engineers about 400 years ago during the rule of the Qutub Shahi dynasty.

They are dedicated to the memory of the seven Qutb Shahi kings who ruled Golconda for nearly 170 years. Prominent among these tombs is the one erected in the memory of Hayath Bakshi Begum, daughter of Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah, founder of Hyderabad city.

Iran's help has been sought to provide technical expertise in the study of structural details of monuments, gardens, stones, carvings, tile work and other aspects of maintenance. Besides, special tiles and other related materials would be procured from Iran as part of conservation efforts. "We will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran in September this year and works will start soon after," the state Tourism and Culture Minister, Dr J Geetha Reddy, said.

She said the protection of heritage monuments was essential to showcase the great civilizations of India and Iran and to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The MoU would also cover restoration of manuscripts in several languages, the minister said. The state Tourism and Culture Ministry will conduct the Festival of AP in Iran in September during which the agreement would be signed.

Meanwhile, the central government has also provided financial assistance of Rs 4 crore for taking up restoration works and agreed to include them in the preliminary listing for the status of a world heritage.

"From our side, the works include laying of rough granite stone flooring around the monuments, internal stone pathways, laying of pathways and entrance ways," the Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums Chinna Reddy said.

- Tribune, June 14, 2010

The Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Department has developed a website on the Taj Mahal, giving not just complete information about the world famous monument but also photographs, impressions and video clips shot by visitors. The website, says the department, is the first of its kind for any monument and has been planned keeping in mind the heavy inflow of tourists expected during the Commonwealth Games. The website, http://tajmahal.gov.in, has been designed by Prosix Softron for the UP State Tourism Department. One of the most exhaustive websites on the monument, the tourism department hopes that this will help the tourists get correct and detailed information on the monument.

Tourism Secretary Avanish Awasthi said, "The Taj Mahal fetches the largest number of visitors from all over the world. We have got this website designed so that if the tourist is planning to visit the Taj, he should have complete information about it. We do not want the tourist to go back with a bad experience."

The home page shows different views of the monument, including Taj on a full moon night. The website has been connected to Google and shows the landmark via Google Earth.

Other features include impressions of travellers from the 17th century to the modern day, exclusive video clips of the monument, meanings of the different Surahs calligraphed on the walls of the monument, photographs of visitors like Sir Ben Kingsley and his wife, Lady Diana, information on trains and flights, currency converter, prices of tickets not just of the Taj Mahal but also other monuments around Agra, accommodation facilities and information about certified guides, along with contact details of the UP Tourism offices in Lucknow and Agra.

- Indian Express, June 15, 2010

Old City Boundary Disrupting Vehicle Movement, ASI Told

The urbanisation of Delhi is taking a toll on Delhi's heritage structures. In a bid to decongest Old Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has widened Calcutta Bridge, turning the two lanes that used to pass under it into four to allow easy two-way movement of traffic. However, the Old City wall — which is partly protected — cutting through the area is preventing MCD from making use of all four lanes. To go ahead with its plan, the civic agency has written to Archeological Survey of India (ASI) asking for permission to demolish part of the wall.

Said an MCD official: ''In order to ease traffic movement in the area around Old Delhi Railway Station, we have widened Calcutta Bridge. Four lanes now pass under the bridge while there were only two lanes earlier, which inevitably led to traffic jams in the area. However, to make use of all four lanes, we will have to demolish a portion of the wall and have written to ASI, seeking permission for the same.''

MCD is also removing encroachments from the area.

ASI officials confirmed they had received such a request from MCD. Said an ASI official, ''We received a letter from MCD seeking permission to demolish a part of the wall near Calcutta Bridge. The wall is of historical significance and we have asked the civic agency to take permission from the director general of ASI. The part of the wall which MCD wants to break down is most likely protected, since it is near Nigam Bodh Gate and runs along Ring Road — which is the protected portion of the wall. Even if it is not, the wall is historically important and cannot just be torn down.''

According to conservationists, since part of the wall is under central protection, MCD cannot break down even the unprotected part without permission from ASI since it falls within 100 metres of a protected monument.

MCD officials claim the decongestion is essential since the area faces heavy traffic inflow from the Ring Road side and from north Delhi, which is currently being directed towards Daryaganj, Old Delhi Railway Station and the Walled City.

Said an MCD official: ''with the ongoing construction on the Ring Road bypass, only one-way traffic is being allowed under the bridge for the time being. But once that work is complete, there will again be traffic chaos in the area. Hence, the four-lane plan is essential for decongestion of the area.''

The wall encloses the city of Shahjahanabad and was built by the Mughals. Part of the wall was rebuilt by the British. The wall is in serious disrepair and is also broken in a number of places.

- Times City, Times of India, June 15, 2010

At a time when the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010 has stricter rules for renovation and construction within the prohibited and regulated areas of Centrally protected monuments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been at loggerheads with the Railways over illegal construction near Humayun's Tomb, a World Heritage Site. After the ASI filed an FIR to protest against the ongoing work, the residents' welfare association (RWA) of Nizamuddin East is now up in arms against the constant flouting of rules.

The RWA, in letters to the Union Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee; Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Jawhar Sircar and Director General of ASI, Gautam Sengupta, has enquired why residents of areas adjoining the monument are not being allowed to renovate or construct due to the existing law when the Railways is being allowed to construct without due permissions.

Asha Kohli, president of Nizamuddin East RWA told Newsline, "The ASI has not given permission to the residents either for fresh construction or for renovation of structures in the vicinity of the monument. The Railways, however, is constructing a multi-storied building within the prohibited area of the World Heritage Site. A government agency is flouting a rule made by the government and the ASI has not been able to stall it."

Railway officials maintained that the multi-storied building is urgently required and will be a 'running room', to be used as a restroom for train drivers. The foundation for the multi-storied building was laid in December last year, after which the ASI had filed an FIR. Work had been stalled briefly, but was resumed later. Two storeys of the building have already come up and construction is still in progress.

Senior Railway officials alleged the building is barely within the prohibited zone and stopping construction is not possible. ASI officials maintain that the building falls at a distance of 100.6 m from the Humayun's Tomb, which is within the prohibited zone of the protected monument.

- Indian Express, June 15, 2010

To develop ISBTs in the national Capital, the Delhi Government has decided to create a special purpose vehicle or a company to develop and manage Kashmeri Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan, Dwarka and Narela inter-state bus terminals into multi-modal transit centre across the city. The company would be headed by Commissioner (Transport) as its executive chairman and special commissioner (transport) as managing director.

According to cabinet note, the share capital of the company will be Rs 10 crore divided into equal share of Rs 100. The Company will also have five more Directors. The Company will be registered under the Company's Act 1956.

Presently, the ISBT Kashmeri Gate is being renovated and the ones at Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan are going to be completely rebuilt. The ISBT management has sought loans from HUDCO and NCR planning board and has already got approvals of Rs 100.22 crore for Kashmeri Gate, Rs 196.28 crore for Anand Vihar and Rs 202.17 crore for Sarai Kale Khan.

Since the loans are to be repaid, therefore very close monitoring of the revenue and the expenditure would be required to be enforced for timely repayment as per fixed schedule and terms and conditions.

It would be pertinent to mention that CAG has criticized the functioning of ISBTs.

- Pioneer, June 15, 2010

On the one hand it was a major shot in the arm for the Kamala Nehru Zoo in Madhya Pradesh, with the hatching of 16 baby crocodiles of the endangered reptile species; on the other hand there were reports of "reptile-animal conflict" in Odisha's Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.

Crocodiles recently killed two persons and have been causing rampage in the nearby villages in Bhitarkanika.

"A total of 18 baby crocodiles came out of the eggs and among them 16 are alive while two others were eaten by the adult crocodiles themselves," informed the Kamla Nehru Zoo officials. This was a part of the crocodile (gharial) breeding programme in the zoo. There are presently five adult crocodiles in the zoo and four among them are females, he said.

The zoo is planning to develop Crocodile Breeding Centre within the campus itself, with the proposed cooperation of Morena-based Crocodile Breeding Centre in the State, for conservation of the endangered species.

Meanwhile, crocodiles in Odisha's Bhitarkanika sanctuary turned violent recently, killing two persons including a seven-year-old boy. Forest personnel have taken measures to ensure the safety of locals in the riverside villages. The breeding season of saltwater crocodiles is now picking up. "Disturbed over human interference in water bodies, the crocodiles have turned violent," said officials.

"We have cautioned the riverside villagers not to venture into water. Alert has been sounded in a number of villages in and around Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary," said PK Behera, Wildlife DFO.

Besides engaging a service group of skilled fishermen, the department has pressed into service three country boats in the crocodile-infested river to keep the animals at bay.

The fishermen have been divided into four groups and each group has been provided with a country-made boat, bamboo sticks and nets. They chase away the straying crocodiles to their original habitat in the Bhitarkanika river system. They have driven away about half-a-dozen crocodiles already, the officials said.

After locating the rogue reptiles, they chase the crocodiles with boats and bamboo sticks. However, if they fail, the errant reptile is caged in nets. Later the caged animal is brought back to the river course and released. The crocodiles mostly stray into villages either during the rainy season or during floods. High tides during low-pressure formation also prompt them to stray.

The officials of the sanctuary informed that the census figure of crocodiles is on the rise.

However, the habitation corridor of estuarine crocodiles has been squeezed over the years, following which they often stray into water bodies and rivers connected to water channels of Bhitarkanika.

- Pioneer, June 15, 2010

Contrary to the allegations by locals and environment activists that the lake in Sultanpur National Park is being dried out to get rid of the Magur (Black African fish), which has been eating smaller fish, Haryana officials claimed the water body had dried up on its own over the last few months. They also said the end of the predator fish could be a blessing in disguise with more migratory birds coming next season. ''I have been told that a major portion of the lake often dries up during summer. We have spotted a decent number of the predator fish, which had been eating most of the fresh fish seeds — released every year for the migratory birds to feed on. If the Magur exists, there won't be enough food to attract these birds,'' said Keshni Anand Arora, commissioner and principal secretary of forests in Haryana.

Wildlife inspector at the bird sanctuary, Shahid Khan, said the breeding of Magur fish in Haryana has been banned and there was no option of rehabilitating them.

Other senior forest and wildlife officials also claimed that the lake did not dry up by design. Chief wildlife warden, Parvez Ahmed, told Times City that the lake gets water supply for about five months from Gurgaon canal, which is the only source of raw water for the growing city.

Ahmed said the irrigation department supplies water when migratory birds arrive. The domestic water demand has been growing due to which getting additional water for the lake was difficult.

''The groundwater here is dirty and can't be pumped into the lake. There is no way we can take the dying fish out of the park since it's a protected sanctuary,'' Ahmed added.

Some officials also said there were indications of something wrong last year, as the migratory birds had started flying back in December itself. ''Why would birds stay here for longer when they don't get enough food? We did not know the predator fish were eating smaller fish. Now, we expect the lake's soil composition to change, with fish bones and flesh degenerating. This might attract more birds,'' said an official.

However, avid bird-watcher and environmental activist Anand Arya claimed many birds breed in the months of June and July every year, but were now forced to fly away.

- Times City Times of India, June 16, 2010

As Haryana Forest Department Tries To Get Rid Of Predatory Fish, Sultanpur National Park Is Fighting For Survival

Walk down a Sultanpur National Park trail and the dead fish you see are a terrifying sight. Tread farther and you can't help but cover your nose. It looks like a massacre, caused by a shortage of water in the national park 15 km from Gurgaon.

The lake in Sultanpur National Park has completely dried up, leaving behind dead fish and a massive stink. Once spread over an area of 195 acres, the five-anda-half-foot deep lake no longer exists because there has been no supply of water by the Haryana irrigation department since January this year and because there was no substantial rainfall during the winter season. Wildlife department officials said the state irrigation department supplies water to the lake from September to January.

Locals however alleged that the lake has been dried out ''on purpose'', to let the magur (Black African fish) die because they were eating the smaller fish and leaving nothing for the birds to feed on. But Haryana's chief wildlife warden and principal and chief conservator of forests Parvez Ahmed said, ''Besides canal water, the lake is largely fed by rainwater. The situation has worsened in recent years because of construction in the rainwater catchment around the park.'' It seems the department's alleged purpose has been served. The magur died but so did the carp and other smaller fish. Tiny frogs and snails took refuge in the damp mud. When a Times City team visited the now-dry lake on Tuesday, a few live fish fought for space in the few puddles of water left. Some jumped out of their puddles, dying on the banks after a few desperate gasps.

''We do not have any plan to rehabilitate the fish. It is not only black fish but all other types of fish that are dying because of the shortage of water. Since it's a national park for birds, our aim is to ensure that it attracts a maximum number of migratory birds rather than protecting fish in the lake,'' Ahmed said.

But if there are no fish, what will the birds come for?

''It's supposed to be a national park. How can the lake just vanish? There may be many theories but no policy pertaining to a national park allows authorities to let fish die,'' said Anand Arya, an avid bird-watcher and an environmental activist, who visited Sultanpur National Park every month till April. ''There was enough water and many birds could be spotted. I have spotted many migratory birds in the park during June-July in the last five years. But there are hardly any now,'' Arya said.

The drying up of the lake has also resulted in the death of a blue bull. Shockingly, the cows here seem to have taken to the taste of fish. Even as the dead fish glistened, cows chewed on them before moving on to grass. A park official, who did not wish to be named, said, ''There are so many dead fish that even the cows tried eating them. The blue bull died because it got stuck in quick sand. As a policy, no animal can be taken out of the park. So we had to leave it there.'' He cautioned us before leaving, ''Don't stay here for long. You could get sick.''

THEY ARE MISSING

Nearly 250 species of birds, some of them migratory, could be spotted at Sultanpur National Park in the past. This year none of them are there

Eurasian spoonbill
Cormorant
Great egret
Little/Indian cormorant
Purple heron
Grey heron
Darter

a) These birds usually start coming to the park from October
b) Lakhs of fish seeds are released in the lake in June-July every year for these birds to feed on
c) Haryana irrigation department says it supplies water to the lake from September to January to prepare habitat

Current Situation

a) The lake has dried up with only small deposits of water left
b) Carcasses of fish scattered in mud
c) Few alive fish can be seen scrambling for space in the leftover water
d) Hardly any migratory bird spotted in the last month

Possible reasons

a) Not enough rain during winter
b) No supply from irrigation department through Gurgaon canal since January
c) Locals claimed lake was deliberately left to dry to kill Black African Fish that eat smaller fish

- Times City Times of India, June 16, 2010

Next time you visit Red Fort, you will have to follow a preplanned route through the complex. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has framed a visitor circulation pattern which will shortly be implemented.

Senior officials said the move would help avoid congestion. ''Most visitors, when they enter Red Fort, roam around aimlessly because there is no one to tell them where they should go first. Now, under the new plan, visitors will be guided along a pre-planned route from which they will get to see all the Mughal and British - period structures located here,'' said a senior official. New signages and information boards will also be put up. An estimate of the plan has been prepared by the ASI and implementation is to begin shortly.

According to sources, entry and exit for visitors will be through Lahore Gate but arrow boards will be put up at important points so visitors will know where they have to go. Visitors will first enter from Lahore Gate, go to Naubad Khana, then Diwan-e-am, then move to the left of Diwan-e-am, go to the hamam, then diwane-khas, Rang Mahal, then the Mumtaz Mahal museum and then exit from where they came in. ''Once the estimates are approved, the circulation plan will include putting up railings and reconstructing pathways, which are in need of urgent repair,'' said officials.

The practice of a fixed route through heritage sites is followed at many sites. At Delhi's Red Fort, the visitor circulation plan is part of the monument's comprehensive conservation management plan (CCMP). ''Red Fort receives the most number of visitors in Delhi after Qutub Minar. In recent years, the footfalls here have shot up drastically. More so, after Red Fort was awarded world heritage status a few years ago. The circulation plan is essential to ease visitor movement inside the complex,'' said officials.

ASI has also almost completed restoration of the historic Chatta Bazaar inside the Fort. The market is unique because not only is it located within the premises of a protected monument but also because it is a covered bazaar.

Like several monuments in the capital, Chatta Bazaar was in poor shape because its original form had been changed by the shopkeepers who had encroached on space and put up ugly signboards. The slanted roofcovering above the shops had also developed leaks in several places. Plus, several alterations made by the military also had to be removed.

''The external cover over the market had become very brittle with time. The top layer of the roof cover is being removed and a fresh one is being relaid,'' said a senior official. ASI officials are using traditional materials, such as lime surkhi and urad ki daal, for the revamp.

- Times of India, June 17, 2010

This month Delhi Metro is reaching Mehrauli. Do not imagine that this south Delhi locality is all about Qutub Minar (Why bother when the tower is visible from far?) To make a good use of the Mehrauli Metro stop, HT City suggests you to discover Mehrauli's other temptations, such as; the fantastic Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

Delhi would still do fine if it had no monuments, except those in this complex. Spread over 100 acres, this hilly green space has 70 monuments covering almost everything — tombs, mosques, caravanserais, gardens, gateways, 'follies' — and from almost every period. There are the Lal Kot walls of the pre-Islamic times, Qutub Minar (right next door) of the Slave Dynasty, tombs of the Lodhi period, pavilions of the Mughal period and 'follies' of the British.

The Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb — the park's principal attraction — mixes up two dynasties. A poet, both in Sikander Lodhi's and Humayun's courts, Sheikh Fazlullah, aka Jamali Kamali, built his own tomb in 1528. A rare Delhi monument having retained almost perfectly-preserved interior decorations, it is kept locked. If you insist, the chowkidar may open it for you.

The lovely Lodhi-era Rajon ki Baoli, Delhi's oldest step-well, has cool arched corridors where you may lounge for hours with a book. Otherwise climb down the steep stairs to reach the lowest level where once heat-stricken Delhiites would go for refuge. The roof of the adjacent tomb offers cinemascope views of the Mehrauli countryside with ruins emerging from under a sea of thick green vegetation.

Even if you don't want to run and touch all the ruins, you must climb the slope facing Jamali Kamali, to reach a structure called Metcalfe's Folly. It is a kind of lighthouse offering a spectacular view of the park, which in its entirety, like an instant 2-minute noodle, equivalent of Delhi sightseeing.

- Hindustan Times, June 17, 2010

"To preserve your brocades and silk-saris, avoid naphthalene balls -- they give out a noxious gas. Use dried neem leaves instead," says Smita Singh, senior conservator of the India Council of Conservation Institutes (ICCI), at the the spanking new wing of the INTACH office on Lodhi Road. For the first time in the history of museum studies and conservation, INTACH will dedicate a whole wing to the task of reviving and restoring some of the great textiles of India at their Specialised Textile Conservation Unit (STCU).

"We have a hoary tradition of textiles in India from Lucknow's Chikan to Bengal's Kantha, from Punjab's Phulkari to Kashmir's Pashmina, but somehow the awareness about conservation and restoration of textiles is lesser than it is for painting. Which is why we at ICCI want to change that with outreach and actual restoration work," says Dr O P Aggarwal, ICCI director general.

"To preserve your brocades and silk-saris, avoid naphthalene balls -- they give out a noxious gas. Use dried neem leaves instead," says Smita Singh, senior conservator of the India Council of Conservation Institutes (ICCI), at the the spanking new wing of the INTACH office on Lodhi Road. For the first time in the history of museum studies and conservation, INTACH will dedicate a whole wing to the task of reviving and restoring some of the great textiles of India at their Specialized Textile Conservation Unit (STCU).

"We have a hoary tradition of textiles in India from Lucknow's Chikan to Bengal's Kantha, from Punjab's Phulkari to Kashmir's Pashmina, but somehow the awareness about conservation and restoration of textiles is lesser than it is for painting. Which is why we at ICCI want to change that with outreach and actual restoration work," says Dr O P Aggarwal, ICCI director general.

The Nebulizer, usually used for asthma patients, is innovatively used in this instance to spray a fine mist of adhesive onto the restored painting to consolidate the colours. Singh says silks should not be displayed without a padded hanger and the display cabinets should not be padded with foam since that too releases a noxious gas. Pashmina should not be sunned for a whole day since ultraviolet rays will bleach the delicate threads of silk and wool and decolourise the garment.

These are just some of the tips that one can pick up by just visiting the STCU. For a more serious talk on conservation of India's textiles, one can always attend one of the intensive workshops that will be held by Aggarwal and Singh as part of their awareness and training programmes. "Since we have a no-profit-no-loss policy at INTACH, we will be taking up private work to generate funds for the smooth running of the department but our work with museums across the country will continue," says Aggarwal.

- Indian Express, June 19, 2010

The sooner Agrasen ki Baoli is refurbished, the better for New Delhi

Amidst the tall skyscrapers and residential buildings of Hailey Road, Connaught Place, lies Agrasen ki Baoli, a 14th Century marvel. Said to have been built during the Mahabharat era, this place used to serve as a destination for people to rest and rejuvenate during summer. Located at a just a few steps from Connaught Place, which is being spruced up for the Commonwealth Games, it is, relatively speaking, in a neglected state.

The baoli is flanked by chambers and passageways on both sides. The baoli or step well once acted as a reservoir for water. People used to come and swim too. They used to jump from the topmost floor straight into the heart of the baoli. The 103 steps at one time used to be submerged in water, which was a sight to behold. That was then. The water dried up some 15 to 20 years ago, and now people can walk down to the deepest point of the baoli. A popular belief sees people throwing in coins (silver and bronze), in the belief their wishes will be fulfilled, even today, says the caretaker. A 140-year-old neem tree which stands tall till date is one of the lesser known features of the place.

The Baoli is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is free, and students and tourists, both Indian and foreign, do frequent this unusual landmark. It is also a favourite hangout for couples seeking solitude. Gurgles of hundreds of pigeons can be heard while bats are seen in the darkest of chambers. Once this place was a hub for the anti-social elements, but stricter action, it seems, has ensured their removal, and a guard is on duty day and night.

Unfortunately, the monument has been reduced to ruins. Rickety steps, dirt and debris mark the place today. The entrance, originally built to showcase the marvellous architecture of the Lodhis, is in a shambles. The opening of the reservoir which connects the well to the baoli is clogged with debris.

Restoration work

However, all is not lost yet. Restoration activities have been undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) with active support from the Aggarwal Samaj. Some of the dirt and debris have been cleared and the place looks better. Vikas Kumar Singh, the caretaker, says, "Staff working in Jantar Mantar come and clean the place regularly."

They have also installed lights to improve the structure's presentation. Hopefully the baoli will soon regain its lost glory.

- Hindu, June 19, 2010

Wildlife SOS in India (WSOS), a non-governmental organization specializing in animal rescue, has offered to "relocate" the surviving African black fish from Sultanpur Lake.

The lake, once the lifeline to the facility's avian and aquatic species is currently dry as chalk, barring a few fast-shrink- ing puddles where the black fish are staring at certain death.

"We will be happy to help in relocating the African black fish away from the Sultanpur National Park," WSOS's co- founder Kartick Satyanarayan told HT.

Sultanpur Park's Wildlife Inspector Shahid Khan said, "No fish can be relocated from a national park. It is banned."

But Satyanarayan said, "If there is a scientific reasons advocating the relocation, then the chief warden can pass an order in writing."

- Hindustan Times, June 20, 2010

Apex court-appointed committee seals illegal structures at Purana Qila, Humayun's Tomb

The popular canteen-cum-restaurant inside the Purana Qila premises was empty on Saturday. No sign of inhabitation, except for the brick structure, which too was being pulled down.

This is what greeted Bhure Lal and K J Rao, members of the Supreme Court monitoring committee on sealing, when they reached the Purana Qila to remove any illegal structures on the premises.

The owner of the canteen had decided to abandon the shop and protect his belongings before the committee arrived to check "blatant violation" of existing norms for protected heritage monuments. Rao ordered the canteen's demolition.

"You cannot change the existing facade of a monument by adding even a single brick. Here they have raised a new structure inside the monument. That is a major violation," Bhure Lal told Newsline, about the canteen. "Besides, nobody is permitted to carry out any commercial activity from within the monument," he added.

The committee also sealed a Himachal government operated kiosk outside the main entrance of the Fort, as it was in violation of the Masterplan 2021.

Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Police accompanied the committee members.

Near the lake at the Fort, employee's of an eatery were in the process of hastily removing its goods, alerted by Rao's presence at the Fort. Rao ordered the employees to move all the material back inside the wood and tin eatery.

"Seal this eatery right away, and lodge an FIR at the closest police station about the violations. Also, ensure that a guard is posted here till further notice to ensure that these people don't sneak in to remove their things later," Rao told the accompanying officials.

Most of the illegal structures at the Humayun's Tomb were found empty too. A popular eatery was sealed here.

"Many of these joints are facing sealing for the first time. They mushroomed almost 15 years ago so it is difficult to assign responsibility. Now that they are being sealed, if they open again, we will know where to place blame," an ASI official told Newsline.

The committee also sealed a cigarette kiosk and a mechanic shop at the Dargah Fatambi, next to the Oberoi Flyover.

"This is government land, you cannot encroach on it for commercial purposes," KJ Rao told an agitated Mohammad Khalil, proprietor of the shop.

"This dargah was leased to my family by the Wakf Board half a century ago. What government land are these people talking about? The government hasn't invested a penny towards this dargah," Khalil protested.

There was a brief tussle as the owners of the kiosk tried to smuggle snacks and soft drinks into the dargah, aware that the officials would not take custody of anything inside the dargah.

The drive is likely to continue at other locations across the Capital from Monday.

- Indian Express, June 20, 2010

There might be hope, at last, for the hundreds of African black fish clamouring for life inside fast-shrinking muddy puddles of what used to be Gurgaon's brimming Sultanpur jheel (lake).

From Natasha Leite De Moura in Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) and Carin Zellerman in New York (US) to Paola Ghidotti in Milan (Italy) and Indonesia's Yrna Miryana, 200 individuals from across the globe have joined a campaign to save the dark-scaled nocturnal predators at Sultanpur wildlife park.

Responding to HT's report on the park management's virtually criminal negligence that has led to the death of a water body, an international animal rights NGO has begun an online campaign to "relocate" the African black fish and "fill up the lake".

It is not merely the drying up of the lake that endangers the fish in the park. The park management's lack of empathy is more worrisome. On June 16, HT reported Haryana's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr. Parvez Ahmed, under whose jurisdiction the Park lies, as saying, "It's dryness gives us a good opportunity to do away with the African black fish that we definitely don't want ... It is a bird sanctuary and not a fish sanctuary."

Using the HT reports, the NGO, The International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) that is headquartered in Milan, Italy, has posted a petition on a website related to animal welfare and rescue: http://animals.change.org/ petitions.

The petition is attracting many signatories, including its international co-coordinator Ghidotti. OIPA's India representative Naresh Kadyan said: "Support for the African black fish's rescue is pouring in from all over the world. People from all walks of life, from 28 countries, have signed the petition and enlisted for the cause."

Every time some body signs the petition, Haryana's Governor Jagannath Pahadiya receives it in his inbox.

- Hindustan Times, June 20, 2010

Sea cucumbers are a sea slug that cleans the floor of the oceans and helps maintain the ecosystem under the water. But they are a delicacy in the South-East Asian countries that can fetch the Indian sellers around Rs 5,000 a kg or more.

To preserve and protect these sea creatures, the Indian Government banned sea cucumber fishing under Schedule I of Amendment (2002) to the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Yet, sea cucumber trade continues to thrive, depleting the resources of Indian seas, especially in the Gulf of Mannar, along the south Tamil Nadu coast, thanks to smugglers in these areas.

Sea cucumber fishing had provided a successful alternative for Tamil Nadu fishermen. But following the ban, the trade has slipped into the hands of smugglers. They, with the help of Forest department officials, are minting money and causing a huge loss to the country.

"The ban has not helped protect the species. The smugglers along the Rameswaram-Tuticorin coast are depleting the resources; they get away by bribing forest officials," said former sea cucumber fisherman BG Sekhar.

Smugglers have enough subordinates to handle the pouching of holothurians, processing them and selling them across the sea. So, when someone is caught, it is not the real smugglers. Sources say the smugglers operate with strong political support.

"You will often read that sea cucumbers are seized by forest officials. These are nothing but a cover-up to show they are doing their job. The real business goes unnoticed," said a journalist.

The fact that neither Sri Lanka, nor Mauritius has a ban on catching sea creature – sold in the processed form known as Beche-de-mar – helps in the smuggling. These sea creatures are traded at sea along the International Maritime Boundary Line to traders from these countries. They are in turn sold to South-East Asian countries, with Singapore being a major hub where a kilogram of these processed animals cost about $150-200.

When the war with the LTTE was on, the sea cucumbers used to be smuggled out in refugee boats. They are also sometimes exported clandestinely by air or ship by naming the containers as 'dried fish'.

Along with sea cucumber, the endangered mammal sea cow (Dugon dugon), sea horse and pipe fish, all coming under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Act, are also sold across the sea. While harvesting the sea cucumbers, which nestle to the sea corals, the corals are destroyed. Sea cow meat is known to be delicious and even in Keelakarai market it sells for around Rs 500 or more.

The ban on sea cucumber fishing was initiated by then Union Environment and Forests Minister TR Baalu in 2001 and the Amendment to the Wild Life Act was passed in December 2002. India was the first country to ban sea cucumber fishing. Ironically, it is the same Minister who was bent on carrying out the Sethusamudram Ship Canal project in the same area that would endanger the fragile eco-system.

But not all are happy with the ban. Scientists believe it only sent the trade underground, instead of replenishing the stock. They say that the Government should not have been in a hurry to ban the sea cucumber fishing. Instead, there should have been ranching facility to farm these slow mild creatures and let them into the sea for augmenting their population. Instead restrictions should have been on the size of the sea cucumber allowed to fish and export. This way both livelihood of fishermen and population of the sea slugs could have been maintained.

"There should have been a scientific study before imposing the ban so suddenly," observed a fisheries official. The stretch between Rameswaram and Tuticorin is the fragile national marine park called the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and there is a Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust to ensure protection to this park.

An expert in sea cucumbers and the retired scientist from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) DB James had written in his paper for a 2004 Expo on Ocean-Life, Food & Medicine: "Instead of introducing a blanket ban, the Government should have stepped in to rehabilitate the fishermen from fishing to farming. They should be trained for a mass scale breeding and sea ranching programme to keep up the natural stock in the sea. Rational exploitation can be allowed subject to size regulations and catch quota systems for sea cucumber fishing and trade as done in other countries."

Sea cucumbers or holothurians are also known as sea urchins or scavengers of sea. Since the Chinese invented the Beche-de-mar around 1000 years ago, this has become a thriving industry. Not only is it a delicacy, the slugs are also harvested for medicinal values – treating diabetes, there are claims of it being anti-HIV virus, joint pain reliever and blood pressure. It is also used in the manufacture of cosmetics. The animal in some countries are also considered an aphrodisiac. It is rich in proteins, polysaccharides, Omega-3 fatty acid and marine trace minerals.

It was the Chinese who taught the Tamil Nadu fishermen how to process the slugs or attai as they say in Tamil. Though Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a gold mine of sea cucumbers, it is the poachers from Thailand who exploit the sea around it. Similarly, the Mauritian poachers thrive near Lakshadweep, where quality slug is found.

A lot of middlemen are involved in the pouching of the animal. However, fishermen who are forced to do it get only miniscule amount. There are 17 varieties of sea cucumbers in the Gulf of Mannar and of them the fast moving and costliest is Holothuria scabra - sand fish (vella (white) attai in Tamil). Others include Holothuria atra or Lolly fish (karuppu (black) attai) and Stichopus hermanni – a warty sea cucumber known as pavaikya (bitter gourd) attai.

- Pioneer, June 21, 2010

All those national and international tourists who come to Nainital, attracted by the enchanting beauty of Naini Lake, would be least aware of the fact that it is facing threat from some harmful species of fish.

The Lake Development Authority of Nainital is again gearing up to remove these harmful aquatic species from the lake and conserve those which are good for its bio diversity . The LDA is making a Detailed Project Report (DPR) which would be sent to the Centre for approval and which has been providing funds for the cleaning of this famous Naini Lake.

"In the second phase the harmful species from the lake would be removed and replaced by the useful ones like Mahasheer, Common Carp, Silver Carp," said the Project Director of the Authority, Mr CM Shah, who stressed the need to conserve these species to have a rich bio diversity of the lake. Harmful for the dissolved oxygen of the lake and also to several aquatic plants and useful species of fish, species like Gambooshia, Big head, Mangoore and Puntish are posing great danger to the Naini Lake. Gambooshia is the main reason for pollution in the lake. It feeds on the larvae of the mosquitoes. There are still hundreds of them in the lake while 1400 were removed in the first phase. About 40 Mongoores were removed which are again posing a threat to the bio diversity of the lake as it eats up the fish of higher species.

The Chinese species, Big head, is however in lakhs and is a fast multiplying fish. Since it feeds on the aquatic plants in the lake it cuts the oxygen supply and hence poses the greatest threat to other species in the lake.

"No one knows from where these species were introduced in the lake which over the years have taken its toll on this beautiful Naini Lake," said Mr Shah adding that now the biggest challenge before them is to make the lake totally free of these harmful species of fish so that the Naini Lake survives."For this we are seeking help from the Pant Nagar University and carrying out the project under their expert guidance," he said adding that the project for the second phase is ready and is being sent to the Union government for approval so that the work of removing the harmful species could be carried out before monsoon. It may be noted that the work of cleaning the Naini Lake has been going on here for the past few years.

The Centre has released several crores of money for the cleaning of this beautiful lake which was on the verge of extinction due to pollution, mainly caused by these unmatched harmful species of fish.

- The Statesman, June 21, 2010

The Delhi government finds itself in a piquant situation over the implementation of the Tribals and Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.

The Act came into force in January 2008, but much searching and a special committee for Delhi later, it has been decided that there are "no traditional forest-dwelling tribals" in the city's forests. Instead, the Forest department found several encroachers living in Delhi Ridge.

Now, the Forest department has called for the dissolution of a committee set up to work out the rights of traditional forest dwellers. The committee has members from the Environment and Forest departments and also wildlife experts from across the city. The committee was also to identify critical wildlife habitats, along with recognising forest access for traditional and tribal inhabitants.

Neither holds for Delhi, says the Forest department. "There are simply no forest-dwelling tribals in the city. We wrote to the Law department on this. They recommended that the Act could not be applied in this case," he says.

"We are also not in a position to notify critical wildlife habitats as we don't have such conditions in the city. We have the Asola Sanctuary and there are no plans for creating any other wildlife sanctuaries. The Law department has advised us to state that this cannot be done in Delhi. We have written to the Ministry of Environment and Forests stating our position that there are no traditional and tribal forest dwellers or any critical wildlife zones," he says.

But there are encroachments. The High Court has handed over 13 acres of land in Mukhmailpur in Outer Delhi near Narela to the Forest department. The land, which was in the care of the Delhi Jal Board, was illegally encroached. This will now be developed into a city forest. Another new city forest is being planted on a 30 acre plot at the ITO Chungi near Laxmi Nagar.

While several new city forests have been created for the Commonwealth Games, most of them have still not been notified as protected, a process which the Department says it is "working on".

- Indian Express, June 21, 2010

Ironic it may sound, but over 80 years after Mahatma Gandhi undertook Dandi march, efforts to build a memorial to the famous milestone of Indian freedom struggle will seek inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur.

The members of the Dandi Memorial Committee will visit the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial this week to "draw some lessons" for the proposed national memorial at Dandi — more than five years after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the creation of a national memorial in this regard.

"There is a meeting of the Dandi Memorial Committee in Chennai on June 22. We hope to finalise the concept of the memorial, which is going to be inspiring, but not ostentatious. We hope the proposed memorial comes up very soon alongside the Dandi Destination Tourism Project of the Gujarat government," Gopalkrishna Gandhi, chairman of the Dandi Memorial Committee, told The Indian Express on the phone from Chennai.

"We are looking at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur, which has been set up with great simplicity and brilliant architectural standards. The members of the committee will visit the site to see if we can get some ideas about the architectural standards and procedure to set up the proposed national memorial at Dandi," Gopalkrishna said.

The plan to create the national memorial at Dandi is already running late as the committee has not decided on the design for the proposed memorial. Consequently, neither an architectural firm nor any budget has been finalised for the proposed memorial.

This, despite the work on the Gujarat government's Dandi Destination Tourism Project, which seeks to develop over 20 locations in six districts along the original Dandi march route, running on schedule, according to the members of the committee.

Sources say a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar has now taken the matter in its hands, with the Culture Secretary reportedly having visited the proposed site for the first time last month.

Gopalkrishna, too, hopes the work on the memorial won't take much time now. "We don't want to take much time in finalising the memorial now," he said. "We want to make the memorial a 'living memorial' by using solar power to illuminate it and developing the stretch of beach in such a way to make it a model for coastal management. We are striving for not only a structure of memorial but a living memorial."

- Indian Express, June 21, 2010

Jairam Ramesh to come on July 9

In an important development, following an exclusive series by The Tribune on 'Saving Sukhna' recently, the Centre has decided to intervene and contribute towards saving the dying beauty of the City Beautiful.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is scheduled to visit the lake on July 9, following which an action plan is an expected development.

Confirming this, Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said, "I have had a detailed dialogue with the Environment Minister on the issue and he has responded very positively. Back in New Delhi tomorrow, I will have the backgrounder prepared before the D-day. I expect that the Centre will definitely take up cudgels for the collapsing water body from the administration. The administration had initiated a praiseworthy plan, however, the exercise needs to be taken up on a larger scale."

"While the issue largely concerns environment, there are certain aspects in which my ministry, too, can assist. With The Tribune highlighting a disaster waiting to wipe out one of the biggest landmark on the city's map, the message has been taken up very seriously by all authorities concerned at the top," he added.

Bansal said, "The UT Administration has done a commendable job in clearing a chunk of approximately 95 lakh cubic feet silt from the lake bed. At the same time, the real issue in saving the lake is checking the silt inflow into the lake from the catchment area. The area includes the barren hills in Haryana. A team of experts will underline a common action plan needed for the cause."

UT also doubles efforts

Appreciating The Tribune's initiative, Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar said, "The UT's effort on saving the lake has doubled and its commitment strengthened, following The Tribune reports. The shape of the lake after the monsoons this year will show the results."

Certain portions have been completely de-silted, which could lead to a situation of portions towards the area under water, opposite the regulator end, drying up by next year. "This will happen because the area dug up for silt this year, will be on the lower gradient and when it rains the water will naturally flow down". Highlighting the benefit, he said, "Drying up of a major chunk of land, currently under water, will give us an opportunity to de-silt there, as well."

Sanjay said, "We are satisfied with the work of de-silting dams in the catchment area of the UT forest. Among those drying up, each year, at least 10-15 have been cleaned up. The results were visible from the abysmally low silt at the check dam on the regulator end, just before the water flowed into the lake. In case of extra inflow, new dams upstream is not a very big task".

- Tribune, June 22, 2010

While Qutub Minar is already the most visited monument in the capital, the opening of the new Gurgaon Metro line brings more hope to the 14th century world heritage site in terms of visitors. Footfalls at Qutub Minar and adjoining monuments are likely to see a sharp rise with the sites having become more accessible to the public now.

Eager to promote their sites to get more visitors, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is hopeful that Qutub Minar will now see visitors, who have previously chosen to not travel such a long distance. The nearest Metro station to Qutub complex is just a mile away. So, the Metro is the easiest way to get to the monument. At present, up to 10,000 people come to Qutub Minar daily. The number almost doubles on weekends. And with the new Metro connectivity to the main city, these numbers are likely to increase further.

Though Qutub Minar has adequate parking space for private vehicles and tourist buses, officials say that they expect more people to take the Metro to reach the monument. ''But we have to be more careful. With increased footfalls, stepping up security measures also becomes important,'' said an ASI official.

A large percentage of people who come to the Qutub complex are foreigners. Altogether, the site registers more visitors than the other two world heritage sites in the city — Humayun's Tomb and Red Fort.

Lately, however, footfalls in Red Fort have also witnessed an increase. Heritage experts point out that Qutub Minar has the advantage of better connectivity and parking space for visitors, something that Mughal ruler Shah Jahan's citadel is yet to offer.

- Times of India, June 22, 2010

Farmers, who have encroached upon dry bed of the Pong Dam Lake that is a part of international wetland area, are at logger heads with Wildlife Department authorities who are trying to dispose them of. They are not ready to give up the benefit of one crop they get during summer on the encroached river that they have divided into fields.

The Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary, spread in an area of about 300 sq km, is home to hundreds of birds and animals facing extinction.

Every year, over one lakh migratory birds are recorded in the wetland area. It also has the distinction of receiving the highest number of bar-headed geese in the entire country. Last year, about 30,000 bar-headed geese were recorded at the Pong wetland.

However, this nature's paradise is threatened by encroachments and killing of migratory birds.

According to sources, most of the farmers who have encroached upon large tracks of land along the wetland area are Pong Dam oustees.

A few of them, when contacted, justified encroachments. They alleged that they were allotted lands in Rajasthan in lieu of their lands acquired for Pong Dam lake. However, locals in Rajasthan, allegedly due to tacit support from their government, encroached upon the lands allotted to the oustees.

"We have not been given possession of lands despite the Supreme Court orders" they alleged.

Wildlife and Forest Department officials said the land was acquired by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The authority to get the land vacated lies with the BBMB, they said.

The area around the wetland is feeding ground to the migratory birds.

However, fields around the Pong Dam in some cases allegedly are being used to poison migratory birds. The migratory birds feed in the fields or areas around the wetland at night. This damages the crops in the encroached fields. Farmers, in order to save their crops, generally spread poison-laced seeds in fields. The birds die after consuming the poisoned seeds and farmers collect them early in the morning to escape wrath of local wildlife authorities.

The wildlife authorities recovered many dead bar-headed geese in the fields surrounding Pong Dam lake near Nagrota Surian area last winters. However, no arrests could be made as the fields were owned by none and nobody could be pin pointed for the crime.

Meanwhile, according to experts, tourism in the wetland area should be promoted. This could provide alternative employment opportunity to locals and they can be persuaded amicably to vacate the land.

- Tribune, June 23, 2010

If you love history and want to contribute in its preservation, then you can check out the courses run at the National Archives of India, New Delhi.

NAI's short-term courses are in records or archives management, reprography, care and conservation of books and others. The only full-fledged one-year programme is a postgraduate diploma in archives and records management.

The programme was earlier open only to MAs in history but now, a few non-humanities students are also entering this domain. "The trend has been seen in the last few years when even science graduates apply to study here," says Rajesh Verma, assistant director, National Archives.

Practical knowledge is the main thrust of the course. Students are trained to do the preservation and management of records. They work in laboratories and libraries where they observe, experience and perform the conservation work at a colossal archival centre, which has 1.75 lakh books and hundreds of thousands of maps and manuscripts.

On entering the main building of NAI, one can see the staff laminating several-centuries-old records. The smaller documents are preserved by hand-lamination while larger ones are passed through a machine where they are heated so that blotting paper sticks to both sides. Apart from these old methods, students are also taught about preserving archives through micro-film.

During the programme, students are also taken to the regional office in Bhopal, a repository of microfilms of archives stored at the headquarters in Delhi, and to record centres at Jaipur, Puducherry and Bhubaneswar.

"Such tours are very useful for two reasons. In Puducherry, we saw quite a few French records and we observed their heritage, history and records and also preservation techniques practised by the archivists at that centre," says Manish Tiwari, a student and a civil services aspirant.

There are around 10 sponsored students while others are "private" candidates, as they are called. Most of them have read modern Indian history. A few have diverse backgrounds. Sarath Pillai, an IAS aspirant, is a humanities graduate while Tiwari is a dentist by training. "I want to sit for the civil services exam and after BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), I studied for an MA in history and got interested in history and related subjects. This might help me in my preparation for the civil services," says Tiwari.

Talking about the need to make archival studies popular, Pillai said, "There is a lack of consciousness for archives. Most of us have a background in history, but we never read about archives in the course curriculum. This course imparts that important knowledge of archives."

There is Parmila (who uses only her first name), a student with a library background while another student, A Ahmed, has studied museology (museum studies).

"The ways and techniques to manage library and archives are quite similar. The only difference lies in the fact that archives are the primary source of knowledge while library books are the secondary," says Parmila.

To pursue archival studies, what better place could one get that NAI, "a temple of records" as Pillai calls it. He was awed by 40 km of linear space occupied by 40,00,000 records stored and preserved at NAI, one of the oldest buildings in Lutyens' Delhi.

Before completing the programme, students have to submit a dissertation on a chosen subject related to archives. Dilimaliya Nage, a candidate from Sri Lanka's Department of National Archives, is working on 'Lanka-India relationships' while Tiwari's subject is 'Urbanisation in Delhi'. Though the subjects don't necessarily talk about archives, they certainly touch upon history.

History needs to be preserved, lest it starts fading from our memories. That's what these students learn to do.

- Hindustan Times, June 23, 2010

A century-old haveli in Mumbai will become a living museum tribute to Indian cinema to mark the centenary of India's first feature film Raja Harish Chandra.

In 2013, the centenary of Dada Saheb Phalke's film, Gulshan Mahal in Mumbai will house the Museum of Moving Images (MOMI).

The project will showcase the history of Indian cinema even as India seeks to project Bollywood as a contemporary of world cinema rather than a localized industry.

The museum will include films in almost every Indian language, silent films, former blockbusters, film posters and memorabilia.

It will also have vintage equipment and costumes.

At a recent meeting of the information and broadcasting ministry's consultative committee, concerns were expressed about the loss of valuable film heritage. Of the 1,000 films produced in India during the silent era (that followed Raja Harish Chandra), only 10 are available. The rest are believed to be lost forever. There are also no copies of films like Alam Ara (1931), the first India talkie.

A senior ministry official told HT that about 8,000 films would be digitized and another 200 digitally restored. An ambitious project indeed, if one takes into account that it costs about Rs 13 lakh to restore a single film.

"Restoration involves cleaning, removing defects like pinholes and dust. Then the films have to be colour corrected… many have faded. Then the sound has to be restored and then transferred to a digital mode for perpetuity," said another official who was involved with the cost estimation of the project.

On the first list for restoration are films such as: G.V. Iyer's Adi Shankaracharya; Satyajit Ray's Agantuk, Ghare Baire, Suraj ka Saatvaan Ghoda; Kalpana Lajmi's Rudaali; Mrinal Sen's Padatik; Shyam Benegal's The Making of the Mahatma; Bimal Roy's Do Dooni Char; Basu Chatterjee's Triyacharitra and Tok Jhal Misti.

The National Film Archive of India has restored 48 films in the current financial year.

- Hindustan Times, June 24, 2010

Rs 50 L fine for encroachers, stiffer penalty for poachers, more powers to the forest dept. these are some of the changes proposed to protect the country's forest wealth

Illegal hunting in tiger reserves or any attempt to encroach on reserve land in the country could soon incur a jail term of not less than seven years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. Further, poachers having a second run-in with the law could be up for stiffer punishment, as a deterrent.

These are some of the clauses in the amendments proposed to the Wildlife Protection Act by the Union environment and forests ministry. The amendments, if cleared by Parliament, will raise penalties for all contraventions of the legislation, besides bringing in a slew of other key changes in wildlife management, aimed at empowering the forest department and channelizing wildlife research.

According to the amendments proposed, offences relating to animals listed endangered or critical could now incur a jail term of not less than five years, compared to the one-year jail term at present. The fine that can be imposed in such cases will be a minimum of Rs 5 lakh as compared to the upper ceiling of Rs 25,000 imposed earlier. Known poachers could be in for more trouble as a second offence will attract a jail term of not less than 7 years. They could also be fined upto Rs 25 lakh.

While some wildlife enthusiasts have been keen on such stiff penalties to deter criminals, the demand has been tempered by critiques pointing out the abysmally low conviction rate in such cases — roughly about 1%. To ensure more criminals are brought to book, the proposed legislation empowers the judge or magistrate to allow detention of the accused in the custody of the forest department for up to seven days to facilitate investigations.

Tribal rights advocacy groups, however, have warned of how stringent clauses of the forest and wildlife act and policing powers handed to the forest department have been disproportionately used against poor forest-dwellers and tribals as a form of intimidation. The new amendments do intend to reduce some pressure on forest-dwellers by allowing them access to drinking and other household water sources within sanctuaries and parks — a basic necessity that was not provided for earlier.

The proposed changes also seek to empower the forest department to take on criminals more effectively. Along with tightening the noose around poachers, it demands the same penalty for those abetting the crime. Anyone providing a room to an alleged poacher to carry the animal, for instance, will be prosecuted for the same penalties as the poacher himself. This proposal, again, holds strong potential of being misused against poorer tribals, forestdwellers and small-time poachers instead of cracking down on the organized poaching network that operates across borders.

The amendment bill also looks at wildlife research, attempting to systematize the process of granting rights to researchers. The ad-hoc mechanism prevailing at present, leaving research organizations at the mercy of officers in the field, could now possibly come to an end once the bill is approved.

Proposed Amendments

Penalty of not less than 7 yrs and fine upto Rs 50 lakh for hunting in or encroaching on tiger reserves

Greater powers to forest dept, such as custody rights for up to 7 days

Ban on trade in peacock feathers

Management and regulation of trade in plants and animals not native to India

Rights to researchers to undertake studies in protected areas etc Land of

Land of THE TIGER

• 2,100
  Royal Bengal tigers alive, according to WWF
• 1,411
  aliv
• e in India
80
National parks
• 441
  Wildlife sanctuaries

Paintings on the walls of the mistail of St Peter, founded close to 800 AD, have been done and re-done over a period of time. Even the most recent date back to the 14th century

FILISUR is not a place that many are likely to have ordinarily heard about, even in Switzerland. But that little village, with a population of no more than 500 persons, is where dear friends of our family - Dorothee and Melchior Zumbach (Doro and Melk to us) — have recently bought their 'retreat in the mountains', and that is where we headed a few days back, to spend a quiet weekend.

The area, like much of the canton of Graubuenden, is mountainous, breathtakingly beautiful: vast green slopes, even greener pine forests, snow on peaks so close that one can almost touch it; limpid streams. And, of course, traditional little homes that once housed peasants and herders and workmen. There are no spectacular structures in the village, no great historic monuments even though nearly every second home proudly bears a date that goes back to the late 1500s or early 1600s. Not much traffic passes through the village; a quiet life is what one can lead here.

But we were not prepared for the level of quietness —`A0quietude is perhaps the right word —`A0we were to experience just the morning after we arrived. There is a little church close by that I am very fond of, Doro told us, and asked if we would like to see it. We drove up a few miles, and parked in an area reserved for visitors, for no vehicles were permitted to go right up to the church. It had begun to rain a bit but we began to walk through the forested area: a short but idyllic 15-minute walk along a path strewn with moist, fragrant pine needles.

One short turn at the end, and it swung into view, the church: in the midst of a small, emerald green meadow, a tall bell tower, all undressed stone; attached to it a relatively small, equally rough structure with a high ceiling and a gabled roof; and three semi-circular apses visible from the outside. There was nobody around, not a soul. Through a not very large door we softly entered, voices dropping as if so commended by the surroundings. It was a bit dark inside, but only a bit, light filtering through the three windows placed very high up on one wall, close to the ceiling. On either side of the short aisle, there were four rows of benches for the faithful to sit on, at this time all unoccupied. At the further end, in the apses, were three altars, not especially tall; atop one of them a lone candle burnt.

We began to look around and up, managing to speak only in whispers. As the eyes got used to the level of light inside, the walls began to reveal, slowly, what was on them: remains of paintings, some in the form of faint traces, others more discernible. A frieze with three panels stood on the wall to the north by the side of which was an enormously tall painted figure — St Christopher carrying the child Christ — some seven metres in height; in the vault-like space above the central apse was the figure of Christ in all his Majesty, surrounded by a rough circle in which, we were able to make out even from way below, were painted figures of the four Evangelists and their symbols: St Luke and the ox; St Matthew and the winged angel; St John and the eagle, and St Mark and the Lion. Below that, on either side of the window high up, were the 12 apostles, beginning with Peter carrying a key on the left, and on the right Paul wielding a sword. They seemed all to be looking down, eyes painted as if to drop and rest on the faithful. This is how they must have stood for close to 1000 years, we were able to sense.

But nothing rushed you here; things did not come at you from all directions. There were whole walls empty of images, large blank spaces. All you could see was rough-hewn surfaces. There was no sound except that of our softly shuffling feet; we did not even hear the lady — presumably the sexton's wife — who entered, while we were there, to leave freshly cut flowers on a bench for placing them, later, in front of an image.

The light was gentle, and it was all quiet, very quiet. The silence in the place was not mere absence of noise or of sound: it was palpable, had a velvety texture. This, I thought, must have been a place — for priest or laity — to sit or kneel in silence, surrounded by sacred presences.

It was deeply affecting, the serenity of the place. We left after a while. I took some photographs; outside there were a few graves marked with names carved on rough-hewn stones; remains of an ancient looking surrounding wall lay around. When we began walking back, I asked a few questions, and we shared thoughts.

Doro said how fond she had grown of the place. We spoke of the erosion of faith that has taken place everywhere: a gap in our minds and hearts filled only by faith in money perhaps.

Talking, I learnt a little about the place: named the mistail of St Peter – the word mistail (pronounced as 'miss-tyle') derived from a Latin word, meaning a monastery — it was founded close to 800 AD, and went back to the days of the great Carolingian empire; there was a nunnery here that was 'dissolved' in the 12th century; the place steadily declined mostly due to political reasons; the paintings on the walls were done and re-done over a period of time, but even the most recent went back to the 14th century.

But, with all the ups and downs of history, the place continued to retain its sacred status. It is still seen as a place of pilgrimage, I was told.`A0But this came as no surprise, for there is something about the place that is not easy to erase from the mind. We had all been affected by it, each in his or her own way. My bright little grandson, Madhav, communicates in ways different from yours and mine. No one had told him where we were, but all of us noticed that almost as soon as he went into the church, he quietly brought his little hands together, as if in prayer, and uttered just one word: "Jai". I found that very moving.

- The Tribune, June 27, 2010

Long before management gurus spoke volumes about the need for leaders of organisations to do their bit for social development as an obligation to "give back", kings in various parts of the country did their mite to contribute to charity thanks to an Indian tradition of revering hospitality as a virtue. Different kings have different track records. Among the better ones are the Maratha kings who ruled Thanjavur from 1676 to 1855. They established chathrams or rest houses in different parts of their territories. Interestingly these rest houses are mostly on the road that leads to the pilgrim spot of Rameswaram that was used by devotees across India.

Providing security

The chathrams were more than just rest houses. They became effective institutions in the local community to safeguard and promote the health, education and social welfare of the community around them in addition to their main purpose of offering shelter to the traveller. Serfoji II (1776 - 1832), the penultimate ruler said, "Although these charitable institutions did not originate with me, I considered these as attached to my house and essential to my reputation and happiness. The Thanjavur country is celebrated all over the world for its charities".

The social relevance of the chathrams have long gone and most of the buildings themselves crumbled, or were dismantled for their excellent wood work. The few that remain are in various stages of disrepair but hark back to halcyon days. Leafing through old records written in the Modi script that the court used, one can recreate the day-to-day life in these chathrams since the records have every miniscule administrative detail including provision supplies and grander events of mass-feeding.

Records list at least twenty chathrams with the oldest dating back to 1728. Many chathrams mentioned in records are not traceable but all extant chathrams have records stored in the Sarasvati Mahal Library, Thanjavur. The chathrams were always in the name of and administered by the queens of the palace. One theory is that chathrams, since they were endowed with land, became compensation that avoided succession disputes.

Chathrams were primarily for travellers, but being large buildings with permanent staff, they also offered free service to the community around them. For indigent families, they were venues for conducting all rituals from birth to death and for families which preferred to cook their own food, provisions with firewood were given. Chathram accounts mention detailed price lists of provisions. Prices were usually benchmarked against the staple food, rice. Significantly in one instance of a span of 80 years, the price of rice rose by just 50 per cent! Chathrams as a whole owned as much as 40,000 acres of land, according to a 19th century revenue survey.

A doorway at the Orathanad Chathram

Many records are correspondences from the chathram to the Dhanvantri Mahal, a hospital that Serfoji had established in Thanjavur. Chathrams, even before the time of this king dispensed free medical care. In some of the larger chathrams like those in Orathanad or Thanjavur (Raja's chathram), you could get options of Western and traditional medicine. At this time, medicine for animals such as cows and goats were also available. The palace records indicate detailed medicinal records for elephants, camels, ostriches and falcons as well, though it is unlikely they would have been maintained in the chathrams.

Architectural wonders

Among the remaining chathrams, three are superb examples of Maratha architecture, particularly stucco and wood craftsmanship. The Kalyana Mahal Chathram, that was renovated by Serfoji II after his Varanasi pilgrimage, is in a stunning location on the Kaveri river bank and is currently the premises of a music college. The balusters in the roof are remarkable stucco work, and mimic the gooseberry in the finial designs. Though rapidly degenerating, one can see faint traces of frescoes on some walls. These frescoes in their heyday must have been gorgeous sights since they are large and inset with mirror pieces that reflect the muted light that fall on them.

The Orathanad Chathram was constructed in 1802 and was called the Muktambal Chathram. This chathram also functions as an educational institution today. The chathram has the best extant stone work. The façade plinth is designed like a chariot and has wheels crafted in stone. The balustrades have minutely carved elephants and the front pillars have graceful ladies playing the veena. The roof of the chathram also has excellent plaster work of geometric design. The artistic marvel of this chathram is well hidden by sacks of salt, since one part of it functions as a godown. The inset bricks in the wall are carved to replicate the gopuram or temple towers. This was done with a special brick with minute tools over a long period. This craft of sculpting bricks, once popular in Thanjavur and Kumbakonam has now completely disappeared.

The chathram from Needamangalam dates from 1761 and has excellent examples of wood and plasterwork. The pillars in this chathram are similar to those in the Thanjavur palace today. The tragedy of the chatrams was their exclusive dependency on the palace for sustenance. The collapse of the rulers to the British government in 1855 and the assumption of control of chathrams by the government led them to become just buildings. Their relevance in society is today limited since other institutions provide their services, but the buildings are wonderful examples of days gone by. Despite unsuitable use and apathy, they still stand. In an age when many historic buildings have been sensitively and profitably converted into spaces for modern use, perhaps the time for chathrams will come. The question is though, when the time comes, will they still be worth saving?

- The Hindu, June 27, 2010

The home of endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis Nigriceps) — Adbassa grassland in Kutch, one of the last remaining habitats of the golden birds, is under threat following its gradual conversion to agricultural land.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to conserve the grassland that happens to be the natural habitat of the bird whose number has reduced to 500 in the world.

"I am writing to request you to immediately intervene and prevent the diversion of revenue gauchar land to agriculture and to ensure that the district officials support the Naliya conservation initiatives. If we do not intervene the possibility of the birds going extinct in Gujarat is very real and high," said Ramesh in his letter to Modi.

He has promised of all possible help in this direction, to the Gujarat CM.

Though covering only about 20 sq km of area, Adbassa grassland is considered very important for bird conservation as at least three species of bustard are found there. The endangered Great Indian Bustard is a resident, the endangered Lesser Florican breeds here during monsoon, and the near-threatened Macqueen's Bustard is a winter visitor.

The bird that was once proposed to be adopted as the national bird is listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is classified as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List 2002. IUCN has warned that the Great Indian Bustard could become extinct within a decade. Listed in Appendix-I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, international trade and killing of the bird is prohibited.

- The Pioneer, June 28, 2010

Conservation work on a Lodi-period monument in south Delhi's Gulmohar Park has not gone down well with a number of local residents who feel that the structure no longer looks "aesthetically appealing".

The monument, Darwesh Shah ki Masjid, has been given a makeover by Intach's Delhi chapter for the Commonwealth Games over the past several weeks and has recently been notified by the state archaeology department.

Before the structure was taken up for conservation, most parts of the mosque were partially hidden behind trees and wild vegetation. Officials said the stone masonry around the arches was damaged and one corner of the mosque was missing. The upper platform in that portion had caved in, allowing big trees to take root.

"People get used to seeing historical monuments in a shambles and appreciate them without realising that if they continue to stay that way, they will be reduced to a pile of stones," said a heritage conservationist.

But when Darwesh Shah ki Masjid was taken up for conservation, residents who lived nearby and frequently visited the site during their morning walks were unhappy with what they saw. Artist Arpana Caur who lives nearby said: "The mosque has been painted white which does not match the original colour. I was horrified to see this 600-year-old monument being turned into something ugly in the name of modernisation."

Architect Gautam Bhatia, who wrote to the state archaeology department in this regard and lives opposite the mosque, said though residents appreciated the attempt being made to restore Darwesh Shah to its past glory, they were critical about the manner in which it was being done. "In the name of makeover, the conservationists are changing the mosque's facade".

Heritage conservationists, however, said conservation of ancient buildings was something people won't understand easily. "Plaster acts as a protective coating on ancient structures and if done properly, oxidation will take place and patina will form within a few seasons of rain ," said conservationist Ratish Nanda.

Another conservationist said: "People usually only see aesthetics when they talk about ancient monuments and how it was originally. But what most people don't understand is that the plaster is not just for decoration but also meant to protect a structure. What is being perceived as white paint on the mosque is lime plaster (chuna)."

Intach's Delhi Chapter said they had conducted extensive historical research through records available with Zafar Hasan before starting conservation work here. "In the past, there have been several attempts to encroach upon this monument. Surprisingly, the residents here never protested. During conservation of the mosque, new portions were re-built based on existing evidence. They have being re-plastered and given a finishing coat to match the existing colour. No paint or white wash has been used insensitively," said a senior Intach official.

Officials said the fresh layer of plaster may look new and shiny now, but in due course of time, it will be undergoing carbonation and blend in with the rest of the monument.

- Times of India, June 28, 2010

Conservation work on a Lodi-period monument in south Delhi's Gulmohar Park has not gone down well with a number of local residents who feel that the structure no longer looks "aesthetically appealing".

The monument, Darwesh Shah ki Masjid, has been given a makeover by Intach's Delhi chapter for the Commonwealth Games over the past several weeks and has recently been notified by the state archaeology department.

Before the structure was taken up for conservation, most parts of the mosque were partially hidden behind trees and wild vegetation. Officials said the stone masonry around the arches was damaged and one corner of the mosque was missing. The upper platform in that portion had caved in, allowing big trees to take root.

"People get used to seeing historical monuments in a shambles and appreciate them without realising that if they continue to stay that way, they will be reduced to a pile of stones," said a heritage conservationist.

But when Darwesh Shah ki Masjid was taken up for conservation, residents who lived nearby and frequently visited the site during their morning walks were unhappy with what they saw. Artist Arpana Caur who lives nearby said: "The mosque has been painted white which does not match the original colour. I was horrified to see this 600-year-old monument being turned into something ugly in the name of modernisation."

Architect Gautam Bhatia, who wrote to the state archaeology department in this regard and lives opposite the mosque, said though residents appreciated the attempt being made to restore Darwesh Shah to its past glory, they were critical about the manner in which it was being done. "In the name of makeover, the conservationists are changing the mosque's facade".

Heritage conservationists, however, said conservation of ancient buildings was something people won't understand easily. "Plaster acts as a protective coating on ancient structures and if done properly, oxidation will take place and patina will form within a few seasons of rain ," said conservationist Ratish Nanda.

Another conservationist said: "People usually only see aesthetics when they talk about ancient monuments and how it was originally. But what most people don't understand is that the plaster is not just for decoration but also meant to protect a structure. What is being perceived as white paint on the mosque is lime plaster (chuna)."

Intach's Delhi Chapter said they had conducted extensive historical research through records available with Zafar Hasan before starting conservation work here. "In the past, there have been several attempts to encroach upon this monument. Surprisingly, the residents here never protested. During conservation of the mosque, new portions were re-built based on existing evidence. They have being re-plastered and given a finishing coat to match the existing colour. No paint or white wash has been used insensitively," said a senior Intach official.

Officials said the fresh layer of plaster may look new and shiny now, but in due course of time, it will be undergoing carbonation and blend in with the rest of the monument.

- Times of India, June 28, 2010

A fleet of vintage cars is being readied for ferrying VIPs during the Commonwealth Games.

Carrying the Commonwealth logos, these customised vintage cars including Bentley, Chevrolet, Auburn Speedster, Stutz, Cadillac, Triumph and Rolls-Royce will also be utilised for carrying visitors for "Dilli Darshan" tour around the city.

These high-end princely cars, reminder of the bygone era, will also be exhibited in a "Vintage Show" for a fortnight during the Games in October.

The exhibition will be held at Nehru Park as part of many events finalised by the government in consultation with the Heritage Motoring Club (HMC) and Games Organising Committee.

While there will be about 2,000 cars for ferrying VIPs during the Games, HMC has offered 25 vintage cars as part of the VIP fleet to be used during the Games.

"We have offered 25 vintage cars with trained drivers in their traditional dresses to carry a few selected VIPs to Games destinations and heritage sites around the city," said Diljit Titus, general secretary of the HMC.

- Asian Age, June 28, 2010

In an observation that has alarmed conservation activists and wildlife scientists, the near-extinct Indian White-backed Vulture, inhabiting Ringora village in Ramnagar, has been showing signs of a disturbing illness caused by heat stress, that experts warn will bode the death of the endangered species if not addressed immediately.

Researchers of Corbett-based Mahseer Conservancy, who have been undertaking the annual vulture monitoring exercise in the region, report that every evening, after the heat of the day, as many as 90 per cent of the vultures in the colony can be found perched on trees with their heads drooped forward and resting on their chests.

"This worrying behaviour has been noticed over the past two weeks. Given the length of time it has been occurring for, it is unlikely to be a result of diclofenac poisoning, as diclofenac kills the birds within two or three days of consumption. Experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the England-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and other vulture experts have indicated that the abnormal behaviour is being caused by heat stress and dehydration. Eventually, the already rare birds will die from this stress on their bodies," cautioned Sumantha Ghosh, founder of Mahseer Conservancy in an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer.

Given that there are only around ten birds left in the region, naturalists are trying hard to capture these birds when they fall on the ground so that they may be treated and saved.

Ghosh said, "As in humans, the sick vultures can be given rehydrating drips and kept in a controlled environment. Veterinarian Dr S Bhalla of Corbett Tiger Reserve has been helpful and has agreed to treat the birds in his safe hands. The only way to save vultures that have heat stress is to wait until they fall from the trees, capture them and quarantine them, with plenty of food and water easily accessible to them."

According to Dr Vibhu Prakash, director of Pinjore-based Vulture Breeding Centre of BNHS, the birds will fall (from their perches) within a month and require entrapment for anti-stress treatment.

The Indian White-backed Vulture is an endangered species that has witnessed a 99 per cent decline in its population in the last decade.

Among their rare colonies is Ringora, an "encroached" village with around 25 families on either side of NH-121, about three km north of Ramnagar in Nainital district.

With the help of local village children, volunteers of the NGO have been trying to capture these birds.

However, it is only a short span of about 5 minutes for which a vulture is on the ground before it hides away, and often it is too late by the time the volunteers reach the spot. Cognizant of the urgency to address the issue, Ghosh appealed through The Pioneer, "I request the State forest department and concerned citizens to help with providing bird trappers who can stay in the vicinity for immediate action. Otherwise, it will not be long before we lose the few endangered species that we have left in the State."

- The Pioneer, June 29, 2010

Come September and Delhi will have its very first hop-on-hop-off tourist bus service connecting many of its heritage spots. However, it will not be a double-decker bus as planned before.

Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said the service will be initially launched with around 20 low-floor air-conditioned buses. "The service will help tourists roam around the city and will ply on selected routes divided in three sectors. The routes will be based on access to monuments, markets and eateries," Mehta said, adding the buses will be run by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC).

The bus service will be available at regular intervals from different spots across the city and tourists will be able to take the bus at any of these spots after buying consolidated tickets priced between Rs 300 and Rs 400. INTACH has already charted out routes connecting major tourist attractions like the Qutab Minar, Mehrauli and Shahjahanabad.

- The Indian Express, June 29, 2010

The Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple in Nandi village near Chikballapur in the state is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka dating back to the ninth century. The temple hewn out of rock consists of two complexes. While the first complex houses three deities, the second complex consists of a huge and majestic kalyani (pond). The temple is said to be a masterpiece belonging to the Dravidian style of architecture. The foundation of the temple is said to have built by the Banas of ninth century. The Chola rulers of the 11th century are said to have constructed the roof of the temple. The marriage hall was built by the Hoysalas in the thirteenth century and a wall of the second complex is said to have been built by Vijayanagar kings. Each structure represents the architecture of the period concerned. Beautiful stone carvings enhance tourists' interest and are a large source for students of art and architecture.

The village is 60 kms from Bangalore, but very close to the international airport. However, it has not gained the same level of popularity as Belur and Halebid. It is also close to Bangalore's favourite hangout, the Nandi hills.

- Deccan Herald, June 29, 2010

Fishing camps along the Cauvery have helped safeguard the habitat of the mahseer. Also, most of the poachers have been rehabilitated and are employed as guides and guards to patrol the river stretch at the fishing camps

Hurtling from the high mountains of the Brahmagiri range in Kodagu district, the bountiful Cauvery river flows across Karnataka, snaking through forested hilly tracts and agricultural fields. Some stretches of the omnipresent Cauvery between the Shivanasamudram waterfalls and Mekedatu, shelter the giant mahseer, the legendary sport fish of India. On the banks of this stretch of the river are three fishing camps Doddamakali, six km upstream, and Galibore, 16 km downstream of Bheemeshwari and all run by the state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd (JLR). These camps are all within a few hours drive from Bangalore. Anglers from all over the world make their annual pilgrimage to these exclusively reserved stretches to pit their wits against the mahseer while non-anglers revel in nature's bounty.

Angling history can be traced back to the pre-independent days when the British used to 'catch-and-kill' the mahseer. With the construction of dams in the adjoining areas, the migration of the fish was restricted and even blocked in some places.

This contributed to the decline of the mahseer population. Moreover the villagers, mostly settlers indulged in netting, poisoning and using ordinary detonator with safety fuse thus destroying all aquatic life forms including fish fingerlings.

Explains Arun Srinivasan, President, WASI, "Realising the need to safeguard the habitat of the mahseer fish and the adjoining riverine stretches of forest, Wildlife Association of South India (WASI) set up temporary fishing camps in the mid-seventies. For the past thirty years, we have been involved in the protection of this stretch of the Cauvery river."

Catch-and-release practice

"In the light of decreasing sizes and number of good specimens, we adopted the 'catch-and-release' practice, thus giving a fresh lease of life to the mighty mahseer. We have been protecting mahseer fishing by adopting conservation, stocking and management measures so as to stem the decline of mahseer population," the WASI president adds. Subsequently JLR took over the river stretch by setting up a camp at Bheemeshwari in 1984.

The mahseer is the pride and joy of the Cauvery and Asia's premier sporting fish. It is believed that the name has been formed from the Hindi words maha (great) and sir (head). It could equally have been derived from the Persian mahi (fish) and sher (lion) but either way, the mahseer retains its status as king and the prize catch for all committed anglers.

In local parlance, it is known as bili meen. Catching the mahseer fish is easier said than done. The legendary fighting fish resists all attempts to catch it and there is a virtual tug-of-war between the angler and the fish for about 20-30 minutes. It can grow to over 100 lbs in weight, can easily swim upstream, against rapids, at over 20 knots, a truly spectacular sight amidst splendid scenery.

Every time a fish is caught, a camp attendant helps the angler remove it from the water, tie its mouth with a nylon rope, weigh it and pose for a photograph! And, immediately after, the rope is removed and the fish is let back into the river.

Situated on the banks of the river Cauvery, the Cauvery Fishing Camp (CFC) is an ideal picnic spot for nature enthusiasts, river lovers and a paradise for hardcore anglers. Every year, head guide of a fishing holidays company David Plummer escorts a limited number of anglers to these camps which combine the thrill of hooking one of the world's finest game fish, the mahseer, with the rugged existence of camp life. The camp activities revolve around the ubiquitous Cauvery river which flows sinuously through the varied terrain of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Birding, bonfire, coracle rides, camping one the sandy banks of the river, trekking, wildlife safaris, white water rafting and bird watching are all part of the wilderness escapade.

Conservation of the mahseer

According to N D Tiwari, IFS, Managing Director, JLR, "Besides contributing to the tourism coffers, angling tourism supports conservation of the mahseer.

"The setting up of anti-poaching camps along the river has curtailed poaching and helped in protection of the river and the aqua species. The size of the fish has grown over the years from 32 pounds to 106 pounds because of protection. Most of the poachers have been rehabilitated and are employed as gillies (guides) and guards to patrol the river stretch at the fishing camps." Since they are familiar with every tract of the forests, know every inch of the river, where each eddy and whirlpool lies, where the fish likes to school, they have proved themselves able guides. "We help anglers with our knowledge of the waters as we are experienced fishermen ourselves," said Bhola, a rehabilitated poacher-turned-river guide at Bheemeshwari.

Lured by the social acceptance, security and steady income and the fact that their future is intimately connected with the well-being of the endangered mahseer and its habitat, they are concerned and involved in the protection.

The Coorg Wildlife Society (CWS), another voluntary organisation engaged in protecting mahseer fishing in the Cauvery (i.e. Valnoor in Coorg district,) with a lease on 28 km of this river has been stocking young mahseer in this stretch since 1993. The CWS protects this stretch of the river, issues fishing licenses, organises sport fishing and maintains fish catch statistics.

According to AJT John Singh, eminent wildlife scientist, "If the grand old giant Tor mussullah still exists, it is only because of the farsighted conservation measures adopted by JLR and NGOs like WASI and CWS with their unique eco-tourism and catch-and-release programmes. This is an excellent model worth emulating throughout the different ranges of different species of mahseer in the country, which would mutually benefit the fish, the habitat and the local people."

- Deccan Herald, June 29, 2010

The topography of our state is an interesting combination of the plains, forested mountains and granite hills. The granite hills, said to be older than the Himalayas, are both numerous and well spread. And most of them were chosen for their sheer altitude and inaccessibility by the erstwhile kings and rulers to build formidable forts to live in peace from invasions.

The kings have come and gone. But the forts and fortresses remain, albeit ruining and crumbling. The Jamalabad hill fort in Dakshina Kannada district is one of them.

Situated close to the sleepy town of Belthangady, the Jamalabad hill, though part of the Kudremukh mountain range, stands alone like an inselberg. The steep drops on all its sides with an even plateau at the top not only give it an incredible appearance but also made it a suitable place to build a fort.

In ancient times, the hill was called Narasimhangudi, probably named after a governor, Narasimha, following the Kadambas. A fort was in existence here in the bygone days though it is not known who built it. Abandoned for a long time it was in a shambles.

When Tipu built a new fort...

It was not until 1794 that Tipu Sultan came here and built a fort on whatever remained of the earlier one. And the name was changed to Jamalabad as he dedicated it to his mother, Jamalbee. Tipu kept the fortress in his possession for the next five years till the British annexed it in 1799. Though a chieftain by name Thimmanayaka held the fort for a brief span, its possession was subsequently regained by the British.

Presently the key features of the fortress have bitten the dust except for a lone cannon, a magazine house at the top and a couple of bastions that still stand there defying time and elements.

Getting off a moffusil bus at the village of Nada, seven kms north of Belthangady, I began my approach to this hill from the north. Crossing a thin stream on the way while admiring its awesome look I passed through the stone entrance arches to reach the base of the hill. Its location within the limits of the Kudremukh national park makes it mandatory to follow the entry rules as in any national park.

The initial path goes up a smooth gradient with wide stone steps. The initiative of the forest department to create an awareness of wild life with placards that talk of wildlife along the way is appreciable. The paragola serves as a place for rest and interaction.

Once you get to the rocky slopes the path steepens with uneven steps, close to 2000, making it hard to climb. The route is exposed until a shady ledge is reached higher up. It is a place to rest and take in the views of the surroundings. The last stretch which is the crucial aspect of the climb is so steep that the path is protected with a wall right upto the top.

A rusting cannon, circular bastions

On the way is an old rusting cannon lying on the ground. A couple of circular bastions built with large stones are all that remain of the fort. The top of this 1788-ft high hill is a plateau with a profuse growth of the tall elephant grass. There used to be two ponds here but only one of them holds water though not potable.

The southern summit has an old structure believed to be the place to store arms. The Tipu drop here, from where the guilty were pushed down the precipice, reminded me of the one back in Nandi Hills.

The summit affords superb views of the vast plains immediately below and the distant chain of hills. The Kudremukh peak and its ranges in the north are a real treat to watch. As camping at the top is not allowed these days I reluctantly retraced my steps back before dusk.

- Deccan Herald, June 29, 2010

The grandeur of the historic Fort St George which housed the Tamil Nadu Assembly for decades has been stripped, just to spite a rival.

Having made a huge structure, shorn of any traditional Dravidian artistry, to house the Legislative Assembly of the State, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi wanted to initially preserve the old pad as a museum — a testimony to Tamil Nadu's history. History was so much in his heart that he even got replicas of the Speaker's and other chairs made for the new Assembly, while preserving the old rosewood and green set-up with huge decorative chandeliers, lamps, etc.

However, earlier this month, Leader of the Oppo-sition and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa criticised the look of the new Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex and announced that when her party returned to power, the Assembly would be shifted right back to its old moorings in the Fort St George. No sooner did she mention that than Karunanidhi announced that the old Assembly would be turned into a library. Then what happened to his idea to preserve a valuable heritage?

At the recently held World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore, Karunanidhi, driven by emotions, announced that the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) would be shifted to the hallowed hall at the Fort St George even before the conference ended and that his office chamber would become the office of the institute head.

Thus, all the rosewood furniture of antiquity disappeared and the green carpets and curtains were taken off. The CICT management was quickly asked to move the library, comprising 30,000 books, to the Fort St George, despite the fact that the institute was already allocated a 17-acre piece of land for expansion at another place. The CICT has already begun functioning from its new place.

The CICT has hitherto been functioning from the PWD-owned Palar Illam on the Marina and was in need of space. Perhaps the 17 acres provided for its expansion would have been ideal, rather than the space allocated in the Fort St George.

Karunanidhi, who returned from Coimbatore on Monday, visited the new set-up on Tuesday. But was he happy discarding a lovely Assembly hall to make an institute function in its place? When it comes to rivalry, nothing can match the intention.

When the Jayalalithaa Government was looking for a new place to come up with a new secretariat-Assembly complex, that would be grander than the Vidhana Saudha in Bangaluru, DMK had joined the public outcry against demolishing a heritage college — Queen Mary's College — to make her dream come true.

Later, when Jayalalithaa's focus shifted to a space in Kotturpuram beside the Anna University, various objections were raised as space and infrastructure were not enough to hold the capacity of people in the area. Even then, she went ahead with her plans, until these were cut short by the 2006 Assembly poll results. Later, the Karunanidhi Government used the same eight acres of land to build the Modern Tamil Nadu State Library to stop Jayalalithaa from building a new Assembly in this place.

- The Pioneer, June 30, 2010