The South Mumbai residence of Lord Harris, who popularised cricket in India, is in a dilapidated condition. Given over to a municipal school, the building now puts the lives of its 196 students at risk. The many requests made for its repairs since 2009 have fallen on deaf ears.

George Robert Canning, known as Lord Harris, had been the Governor of Bombay from 1890 to 1895. The three-storey residence, constructed in the 19th Century, is now known as the Lord Harris Semi English Municipal School. After the municipal authorities declared it "dangerous" in 2008, classes were shifted to four outhouses. This heritage building is now a leaky, ramshackle structure supported by metal poles from outside at some places. The Mumbai municipality has closed the gates of the building.

"Last week, a wooden part fell from the top floor. Thankfully, no one was injured. But imagine if the entire structure collapses and falls on the outhouses where our children attend classes," said Mukesh Mahida, president of the school management committee, a joint body of parents and teachers. "If it is a dangerous structure, then it should be repaired."

School Principal Mohan Bhogade declined to comment on the issue. The chairman of Mumbai municipality's education committee, Vinod Shelar, said he would look into the matter. Vinod Shekhar, former corporator from South Mumbai, said: "I fail to understand why the corporation is not doing anything to save this historic building.

-The Hindu, September 9, 2014

The education that the youth is getting in India isn't skilling them enough to make them employable. As a result 90 per cent of engineers, MBAs and ordinary graduates are struggling to find that first job that meets their aspiration. Rajiv Mathur says the National Skills Policy is a step in the right direction The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India states that on an average approximately 2.4 crore students enter into the higher education space every year after finishing their schooling. Out of that, just 40 lakhs proceed to get the post graduate degree or a doctorate degree after completing their graduation. This means that approximately 2 crore graduates are getting into workspace scouting for their first job every year. For the last 67 years, this educated lot continues to struggle to get their first job matching their aspirations.

There are many who passed out from prestigious schools in Delhi with Commerce and Mathematics as core subjects. They score decently but their marks is not good enough to fetch them admission in B Com (Honours) at an university of their choice. What will such students do? Where do they go? Most of them settle for the second best option which they find very challenging and not scoring. Some of these students are compelled to appear for the civil services examination. Only a fraction gets through the reputed services while a majority of the students find themselves a temporary internship for Rs 8,000 pm in an MNC. This is a typical case of endless struggle in continuation. And this has been plaguing us for over a decade now. The other problem prevalent in the country is when poor people aspire to do something big but do not have the resources to realise their dream. They feel lost in such a scenario. Third and the most serious problem that the youth faces in this country is with the level of education and the standard of college degrees that is handed down to the students.

For the last 67 years, these and many similar problems are getting repeated and struggle of the youth is continuing to get the first job matching their aspirations. The clear reason is, as a nation we are focused on educating our youth more than what is required. But not attempting to skill them enough to get a job that meets their aspirations after completion of their studies. The education that the youth is getting in India isn't skilling them enough to make them employable. As a result 90 per cent of engineers or MBAs aren't employable— the plight of ordinary graduate is even higher.

On one side our youth is struggling to find a job matching their aspirations and on the other side Government estimates that by 2022, we will require 50 crore skilled youth if we have to sustain and grow our GDP at the current and planned rates. Therefore in 2009, the Government came up with National Skills Policy and gave the task of skilling 35 crore youth out of 50 crores to the State Governments and the 17 Central Ministries and 15 crores to the private sector. In addition, it put the onus on industry to lay the National Occupational Standards (NOS) on which the Indian education system would re-align to make the youth skilled enough to be employable. Since then lot has moved forward.

NSDC and Sector Skill Councils National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) came into existence not only to lead the private sector initiative in this direction but to also support the State Governments and Central Ministries in their skilling initiatives. NSDC has also formed 29 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), which are mandated to form NOS. Through this, academia could integrate with academics, train and certify trainers and assessors who would then conduct the training and finally get the assessors from the industry to conduct the assessment and then to certify. This initiative is expected to make the students employable as they would be trained on curriculum built on NOS and assessed and certified by the SSC representing the industry. Some 800 entry level job roles across 20 sectors have NOS defined and more are being added every month.

The progress is now seen all over school system under the aegis of MHRD was the first one to adopt the NOS built by their respective SSC in 2012. The four sectors were Automotive, Retail, IT/ITes and Security. The pilot was initiated in 40 schools of Haryana. Those who participated in this pilot in 2012 are passing out this year. All passouts who have decided not to take up higher education and enter the workspace are getting appropriately placed with the intervention and help of the SSCs. Out of 263 students desirous of placements, 150 are already placed and interviews for the rest are in progress. A segment which was hitherto exploited till recently, after being skilled is now being scrambled for offering jobs by the private sector companies likes of Marks and Spencer, Vishal Megamart, Maruti and Mahindra and many more, offering salary package from Rs 7,500 to Rs 14,000 per month.

Qualification Framework School segment is typically looking at job roles which are pegged at Level 4 of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). This level points to a skilled worker. These levels are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they were acquired through formal, non-formal or informal learning.

From this year, Higher Education is also getting ready for this alignment with SSCs and adoption of the NOS. Consequently, Delhi University will be benefitting over 4 lakh students, Pune University benefitting over 7 lakh students both at graduation and post-graduation levels and Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) benefitting over 6 lakh students, have signed a MoU with NSDC to introduce skill based courses aligned to NOS and assessment and certification jointly with SSCs.

In this arrangement, the consortium of Sector Skill Council and NSDC Training Partners are taking the responsibility of skilling the students and making them employable by the time they finish their academics. In addition the consortium is also taking the responsibility of providing on-the-job-training in the industry while students are at study and assuring facilitating placement for 70% of students desirous of getting placed.

The participating Sector Skill Councils are Automotive, Healthcare, IT-ITeS, Telecom, Media and Entertainment, Gems and Jewellery and BFSI. More sectors are joining in as we speak. The job roles identified for higher education are typically pegged at NSQF Levels 4, 5 or 6 and have corresponding National Occupational Standards.

It is important to note that hitherto, till recently the Graduates and Post Graduates in India without any skilling were offered job roles by the industry typically pegged at Level 1 or 2 on NSQF. The Level 1 on NSQF points to unskilled person and Level 2 on NSQF points to unskilled person with 5 to 6 months of work experience. NSDC solicits partnership with more Universities to make this silent revolution a big success.

The writer is principal, Standards and Quality Assurance, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

-The Pioneer, September 10, 2014

In yet another step to speed up green clearances, involving forest diversion proposals for infrastructure projects, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has asked the States to set up a land bank of degraded, non-degraded and non-forest land so that projects are not held up due to search for non-forest land for compensatory afforestation.

The Forest Survey of India has been asked to prepare a forest cover map, type, landscape and other parameters. According to sources, many projects get unnecessarily stalled as the States are not able to find non-forest land to carry out compensatory afforestation, which is a pre-condition for granting forest clearance to any infrastructure project that requires deforestation.

According to norms, the project proponents are required to deposit money with the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for plantation and transferring forest land for non-forest purposes. The money is then allotted to state forest departments to carry out compensatory afforestation.

The Ministry is also working on GIS-based decision support system to facilitate informed, speedy and transparent decision on forest clearance applications. The information prepared by Forest Survey of India related to any forest block can be found using the decision support system and this will expedite the decision-making process as it will remove the time consumed in field surveys," the official added. According to data, about 21 per cent of the country's geographical area is under forest cover, and every year nearly 35,000 hectares of forest land are diverted for non-forest purpose for construction of dams, mining, roads and other infrastructure projects.

In the process, nearly 11,89,294 hectares of forest land have been converted for use in non-forestry purposes after giving approvals to 23,511 proposals since 1980. Of these, maximum approvals have been given to Madhya Pradesh followed by Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

-The Pioneer, September 10, 2014

'It seems to have doubts on Gadgil, Kasturirangan reports'

Irked by the ambivalence of the Environment Ministry on Western Ghats conservation, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday ordered the Secretary in the Ministry to file a detailed affidavit within a week on whether States have been asked to conduct a fresh survey of areas to be included as eco-sensitive areas (ESAs).

Calling the Ministry "messy," Justice Swatanter Kumar who heads the NGT said it seemed to have doubts about the Dr. Madhav Gadgil report on the Western Ghats as well as the Kasturirangan report. Both draft notifications on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) issued by the Ministry contemplated States mapping out on the ground the extent of the ESAs, since the two reports had relied on satellite data. Justice Kumar said the Ministry was changing its stand every day. The Ministry's affidavit at the last hearing said the Gadgil report was not be processed.

In another affidavit [on Tuesday], it used vague language suggesting that the objections may be filed by any person on the proposals in the draft notification of the area to be brought under regulation. In addition, there was a press report that it proposed to conduct a fresh survey, on the premise that the two earlier panels relied on satellite data for no-development zones, but surveys would find out the actual situation on the ground and a decision would be taken on the basis of this. Physical verification

Tuesday's affidavit in response to an NGT order in August, said while responding to the proposals contained in the draft notification, some of the State governments of the Western Ghats region wanted to demarcate the ESA by physical verification. The Ministry wrote back in June 2014 asking the States, except Kerala [which had already undertaken such an exercise], to do so within their jurisdiction if they so desired, and submit their proposals within two months. The Ministry was yet to receive proposals. Goa had requested more time in view of the monsoons. The Ministry said it had decided to give more time to the governments of the Western Ghats region, except Kerala, to undertake physical verification, if they so desired, and submit their proposals latest by December 15.

-The Hindu, September 10, 2014

Following their course north, the Jhelum waters receding from Srinagar now pose their next threat to the low-lying district of Sopore, experts say. "Wular Lake is a delta for the Jhelum. Sopore, which is close to Wular, is a low-lying district and can be flooded by its water, which will now make its way north," said Saleem Beg, state convener for Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). "Baramulla and Uri are not expected to suffer much damage as they are on a higher plain," Beg told The Indian Express.

Srinagar itself is low-lying and all four of its major outflow outlets have been clogged by construction. Beg said, "Nallahmar was an outflow for Dal, but the government constructed a road on top of it. Nallah Amir Khan too was filled later. Bemina used to be a marsh, a wetland; today it's a fully inhabited colony. And Anchar Lake's outflow too is blocked. The passage between Dal and Anchar lakes is not even a fourth of its original width."

Beg cited increased horticultural activity on catchment areas as another factor that contributed to Srinagar's flooding. "The slopes have faced a lot of deforestation as people started using the catchments for horticultue and agriculture. Excessive ploughing to sow the fruit crops leads to loosening of soil, which erodes its top layer and adds to flooding," Beg said.

According to Beg, a Rs 2,200-crore flood control plan adopted by the Omar Abdullah government in 2010 was to implement various measures including afforestation, dredging of Jhelum and agricultural issues, but was dropped after having been sent to the Centre for approval.

-The Indian Express, September 10, 2014

The Delhi Jal Board has prepared and uploaded on its website the draft 'Sewage Master Plan (SMP) 2031', inviting suggestions and comments from various stakeholders before the plan is finalised.

"In an effort to provide enhanced waste water facilities in the city, the DJB has developed a draft integrated and sustainable SMP-31', to develop a comprehensive and technically viable plan for the implementation of sewerage works within the NCT of Delhi, with support from a waste water management information system. This will also reduce pollution in river Yamuna," a DJB spokesperson said.

The DJB had engaged international consultants to prepare the master plan in order to carry out an in-depth and exhaustive door-to-door survey of all areas with a sewer system as well as those which did not have any such facility. During the process, 36 existing sewage treatment plants with a design capacity of 604 million gallons per day at 23 locations were audited.

In areas without a sewerage system — nearly 2,200 colonies —an extensive topo-survey and geotechnical investigation was undertaken. A waste water management information system was developed, which included development of an geographic information system (GIS) framework, integration and close-coupling of sewerage information on the GIS database to carry out hydraulic modelling.

"The Master Plan envisages laying of sewer lines in a length of about 10,500 km, which is a lengthy process. Hence, the work is to be carried out in a phased manner, prioritising areas where sewer lines can be made functional, immediately after being laid, because of availability of outfall sewers and waste water treatment plants," the spokesperson said.

With the implementation of SMP 2031, sewerage facilities will be extended in the unplanned areas including the rural, the resettlement and the unauthorised colonies. The work of laying of sewer lines has already been completed in 135 unauthorised colonies and is in progress in 208 unauthorised colonies. "Tenders for taking up work in another 80 colonies have either been approved or are under process of award," the spokesperson said.

-The Indian Express, September 11, 2014

The massive calamity that has struck Jammu & Kashmir is a natural disaster. But it has come about because of the callousness of State authorities who allowed widespread deforestation and constructions that blocked drains

The insatiable desire for expansion is a natural human trait as it symbolises progress and prosperity. But a rationalisation of this desire is not as common, and that is the beginning of a problem. Nature has taught us numerous lessons but these tips fail to register on the human psyche, and the false sense of security coupled with the lure of prime real estate have blurred the lines between where human domain ends and the personal space of nature begins.

Frequent disasters such as floods are increasingly becoming indicative of the pressures building up between nature and mankind. The blind rush for more resources, especially land, has resulted in riverbanks transforming into residential and commercial centres and storm-water drains becoming parking lots. This intense greed has relegated all safety norms to the back seat.

The devastating flood in Jammu & Kashmir that have so far claimed 200 lives or more and displaced hundreds of thousands is yet another unfortunate example of collision of human interests with nature. The disaster is not an unforeseen one, if one were to go by the past records. According to the National Institute of Disaster Management's profile for Jammu & Kashmir, the State is prone to flash floods; the region has seen similar disasters in 1959 and 1992.

Clearly, no lessons have been learnt as illegal structures mushrooming on river banks and clogged channels ensured that the surge of water had nowhere to go. A history of perpetual conflict and a State Government that gives more importance to dialogue with Pakistan rather than to evolve a sophisticated disaster warning system have exposed the citizens to the vagaries of nature. As the State battles with nature, the Central Water Commission has remarked that "lack of pre-requisite requirements" is to be blamed for absence of flood forecasting system in the State. The situation is compounded by the fact that the State figures in the highly active seismic zones IV and V categories.

The inability of the State in preventing encroachment and illegal construction along the Jhelum river banks, especially in north and south Kashmir in Anantnag, Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla districts, has precipitated factors leading up to the natural calamity. The feeble attempt to rein in illegal constructions by enacting the J&K Water Resources Regulation and Management Act, 2010, has not paid any dividends. Land grab instances and encroachments have made the situation worse by systematically dismantling the natural drainage channels between lakes and wetlands, the heavily silted lakes reflecting the apathy of the State administration have ceased to discharge their natural function of absorbing the excess water in urban areas. The 2013 Uttarakhand flood disaster has not served as a lesson for the Jammu & Kashmir Government. It not only allowed the narrowing of river channels but also turned a blind eye to the increasing occupation of riverbanks and non-maintenance of the required 200 metre 'no construction zone' near the river banks.

The country, and especially Jammu & Kashmir, cannot afford to have another natural disaster on this scale occur again, and to ensure this, the key elements of the environment need to be secured and conserved. Keeping in view the increasing frequency and intensity of the natural disasters, the Union Government must see that the State Government's preparedness is periodically assessed and an elaborate action plan that strives to minimise population pressures on natural environment, is framed. As a first step towards disaster avoidance, it is critical to stem the rate of deforestation.

According to a research in the case of Jammu & Kashmir, the deforestation of the Jhelum river basin led to excessive siltation in most lakes and water bodies in Srinagar, thereby resulting in rising water levels. The research also states that since 1911, Srinagar has lost 55 per cent of its water bodies. Recent times have consumed prominent canals and wetlands such as Bemina and Batmalo, in the name of shopping malls and residential colonies. Canals such as the Doodh Ganga Nalla in particular used to accommodate floodwater and save areas from being inundated, but due to heavy encroachment, its channels are blocked now.

Similarly, Wullar, one of the largest freshwater lakes in South Asia, also poses a risk of flooding for Srinagar. According to the National Wetland Atlas, the lake has lost 88 per cent of its surface area due to unchecked encroachment over the past few decades. Wullar acts as a catchment lake for all rivers and drains of the valley, and due to its choked state, the lake can pose a major flood threat to Kashmir. The State Government has to get its act together before it's too late.

-The Pioneer, September 11, 2014

2,300 of them are being digitised as part of a Tamil Nadu government initiative to preserve the intellectual heritage of the State.

Thousands of rare and original palm-leaf and paper manuscripts at the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library here will soon be available to the public at the click of a mouse.

The 72,300 manuscripts, providing a deep insight into subjects as varied as the Vedas, the Agama Sastra, architecture and mathematics, are being digitised as part of a Tamil Nadu government initiative to preserve the intellectual heritage of the State. The digitised manuscripts will be hosted on the website of the Archaeology Department, which too is being modernised. Vintage value

Officials say most of the manuscripts at the 145-year-old library are 300-400 years old, while some date back to over 500 years. The palm-leaf manuscripts include those of the Tamil classics Tirukkural andTolkappiam. The digitisation project will cover 15,000 "estampages," impressions on paper of inscriptions on temple walls and pillars, boulders or stones, all of which are under the custody of the Epigraphy Wing of the department. Nearly 5,000 of them have been digitised by now, say officials. The project, cleared by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, has been sanctioned Rs. 2.84 crore — Rs. 2.34 crore for the work on the manuscripts and Rs. 50 lakh for that on the estampages. Expert monitoring

The project implemented by the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu is monitored by groups of experts, both internal and external. Officials have consulted institutions such as the Roja Muthiah Research Library here. The department is using overhead scanners to prevent any impact on the brittle manuscripts. Those not in Sanskrit are being covered first. In microfilms

The Sanskrit manuscripts, which constitute two-thirds the number, have been microfilmed with the help of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The data will be transferred to digital form using converter equipment. Officials are confident that half the work will be completed in a year. The basic idea is to make available the precious body of knowledge in the public domain so that more intensive research can be taken up by scholars anywhere in the world, the officials added.

-The Hindu, September 11, 2014

Aditya Mehta, a student of Class XII at Delhi Public School (DPS) RK Puram, has managed to convince his school to adopt an ancient stepwell or baoli in the area. Aditya had been working on a book about 10 baolis, with photographs and documentation of their current state. He believes baolis are not only historical but also important water harvesting structures.

Recently, inspired by Aditya's research, the school held an exhibition on baolis. Aditya's research project, which he published as a book called 'Baolis of Delhi' was released on Teachers' Day by his teachers. "It took me a year and half to write this book. I took photographs and studied ten out of around 60 baolis in Delhi. I sought information from ASI and Intach for my book," said Aditya.

He is a member of the school's architecture club, which is now working with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on how the school can raise awareness about the RK Puram baoli, also known as the Munirka baoli. "Baolis are important because of their heritage value and Aditya has highlighted how most of them are in a poor state. That is why we are now working on how the 8,000 children of our school can save the baoli in RK Puram. Children from each class can organize something, a performance or project, to highlight the baoli. That's what we will do once we adopt it after October," said D R Saini, principal of the school.

The RK Puram baoli was built in the Lodi era. It has an intricate design with three tombs and a mosque in same complex. The structure was used as a resting place for travelers, according to Aditya's research. "Our school will take on responsibility of keeping the monument clean and make several visits during the year. Many students were surprised when I exhibited photographs of this magnificent monument. Not many were aware of its presence; it's only a five-minute walk from school," writes Aditya in his book. He is aspiring to study architecture after school.

-The Times of India, September 11, 2014

The damage to Srinagar because of flooding could have been less severe if state authorities had opened up crucial embankments in uninhabited areas in southern Kashmir, a reconstruction of events and accounts from rescuers seem to suggest. The Jhelum flows through Srinagar, which is situated in a bowl-shaped Valley, from South Kashmir before flowing north into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

When torrential rains began on September 3, its surging waters began racing towards Srinagar from southern Kashmir stations like Anantnag and Avantipur that are at a considerably greater altitude than the rest of the Valley.

The state government could have moved flood control personnel and machinery to open the Pampore bund, a dyke about 30 km south of Srinagar, a senior official coordinating rescuing efforts said. Opening up segments of this embankment in areas devoid of human population would have safely drained off substantial quantities of water. This, in turn, would have had an effect downstream and Srinagar wouldn't have been as badly submerged as it is now, said the official. However, another official, requesting anonymity, said such options were never considered because state authorities widely believed that the rain would subside. HT could not independently verify with the Jammu and Kashmir government whether such a measure was an option, or even feasible.

The local office of the Indian Meteorological Department had forecast "heavy to extremely heavy rainfall" in the first week of September but it is not clear how state authorities handled that information.

Survivors rescued by the army said the state did sound a red alert as rainfall became heavier on September 6. The panicky authorities used mosques to warn people.

"The government did not tell us anything except that there is an alert," said Rahil Altaf, a resident of Jawahar Nagar. Sajad Qazi, a professor of medicine at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, added that the government reacted slowly and gave people no specific directions. On the morning of September 8, a Sunday, Srinagar was sinking.

-The Times of India, September 12, 2014

The government has handpicked three civil servants, a judge and a lawyer for a six-member committee that will review and draft amendments to the five key laws that protect India's environment, forest, wildlife, air and water. The "high level committee" has just two months to do this while the MoEF has given "stakeholders" a month and 1,000 characters each to send in their inputs.

The chairman of the panel is T S R Subramanian, former cabinet secretary who recently led a group of former civil servants at the Supreme Court seeking administrative reforms. A student of mathematics and economics, he will lend his administrative experience and expertise to the panel.

Of the two other IAS officers in the panel, one is Vishwanath N Anand, former MoEF secretary (1997-2000). His post-retirement tenure at the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) as vice chairman during 2002-2005 was described by the Delhi High Court as "a one-man show" in the absence of a chairman and three technical members of the authority.

Very few appeals were admitted by Anand during his three-and-a-half-year stint at NEAA. In the Lohardang Pala case, he drew sharp criticism from the Delhi High Court for "adopting a very hyper-technical approach in rejecting the petitions" and overlooking "that these petitioners deserve to be heard on merits". The court quashed Anand's order and reinstated the appeal. Anand studied economics, history and psychology and attended a two-week management course at IIM-Ahmedabad in 1970. He also did a four-month course on technology transfer at Sussex in 1976.

The other IAS member is an ex-officio secretary in the panel. Bishwajit Sinha, a joint secretary at the MoEF, is from the Kerala cadre and was the personal secretary of Dayanidhi Maran in the union textile ministry before serving as additional resident commissioner at Delhi's Kerala House. Sinha is a student of geography and has successfully completed two one-week courses on social policy and governance and urban development since 2011.

A second ex-officio secretary in the panel is from Gujarat. Hardik Shah, member-secretary of GPCB, is a Giorgio Ruffolo research fellow in the sustainability science program at Harvard. He is credited with bringing down the annual number of PILs over pollution from over 50 to a dozen since 2010 and reducing the time taken by GPCB to issue no-objection certificates to industries from 140 to 80 days. A case filed by slain RTI activist Amit Jethwa challenging his appointment as GPCB member-secretary was disposed of after Jethwa's death by the Gujarat High Court.

The other two members of the panel bring the legal perspective. Justice A K Srivastava retired from Delhi High Court in 1999. An MA from Lucknow University, he is secretary general of the Association of Retired Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts of India. He is a regular speaker on environmental issues at Lucknow's City Montessori School. There is also K N Bhat, senior SC lawyer and former additional solicitor general of India, who has been in the news all through the Lokpal controversy. He represented "Ram Lalla" as senior counsel in the Ayodhya litigation in Allahabad High Court.

"You have to ask the ministry about the composition (of the committee) because I was not consulted," T S R Subramanian told The Indian Express. "But I think the ministry was very careful in its selection as this is a contentious issue that is bound to stoke passions one way or the other. While I agree that the time limit is quite short, we don't need to review entire laws but the relevant areas and it should be doable."

-The Indian Express, September 12, 2014

The NDA government has planned to dredge sections of the Ganga from Allahabad to Haldia (some 1,600 km) to deepen its bed and to turn it navigable for cargo-laden ships. The substantial amounts of sand and silt recovered from the river bed is expected to be used in the construction sector.

Prima facie this is an attractive plan. But dig deep and it becomes clear why the plan is wrong. Dredging is like disemboweling and it can impact the natural functioning of the river ecosystem. It is also not a one-off event. Most nations that have dredged their rivers keep spending a fortune to maintain them. Countries like the Netherlands, Britain and the US have dredged their rivers for varying reasons, like navigation, removing pollutants and flood control.

Monsoonal rivers like the Ganga are distinctive in their load, the morphology and biodiversity and hence should not be considered automatically suitable for dredging purposes. Originating from the fragile Himalayas and discharging high to very high sediment-laden flows the Ganga annually carries a great load of water and sediments, and hence it would require almost annual dredging to ensure its continued navigability, making it cost intensive.

The Ganga, when compared to other rivers, has a unique biodiversity with animals like the Gangetic dolphins, the crocodiles or a wide variety of turtles. Dredging would put these species at risk. This, coupled with hardly any scientific data available to assess the adverse impact of large-scale dredging, could prove catastrophic. Rivers, when used for commercial navigation, are at a risk of different kinds of pollutions. The Ganga — already struggling from very high levels of domestic and industrial pollutants — can certainly do without an additional source of pollution.

For a river to be navigable it requires a constant level of water at all times. This is doubtful in the case of the Ganga, especially during the lean non-monsoon season.

Given this, the least our decision-makers must do is to ensure that a credible risk impact assessment of its dredging plan is done before starting the project. If the idea is to dredge for sand and silt, the focus should be on the reservoirs of dams and barrages where the sand and silt has compromised the productivity of the said structures. Manoj Misra is convener, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan The views expressed by the author are personal

-The Hindustan Times, September 12, 2014

The National Green Tribunal has issued a stay order on three real estate companies' attempts to change the land use pattern in parts of Mangar Bani, a sacred grove off the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway. The firms had filed 90 applications with the Haryana revenue department to change use of several patches from 'gair mumkin pahar' (uncultivable) to agricultural land.

The NGT on Thursday issued notices to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change; several departments of the Haryana government such as town and country planning, forests and revenue; the real estate firm Kenwood Mercantile; and the deputy commissioner and the assistant collector of Faridabad.

Col Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi, a resident of Gurgaon who has been campaigning for protection of the Aravali stretch across Faridabad and Gurgaon, has pleaded that any such change be considered "illegal, null and void" as it will lead to fragmentation of the Aravalis. He also sought that the hilly areas of Mangar village be declared "deemed forest" under Section 2 of Forest Conservation Act and all non-forest activities be barred there. MoEF and the Haryana government should also commission an independent study, including a tree survey in the forested area, it added.

Oberoi has cited several Supreme Court cases to reason that the Mangar stretch is indeed forest and must be officially considered so. The Aravali stretch in Mangar is an important water recharge zone for Faridabad, Gurgaon and Delhi. On April 1, 2014 NGT had directed that the forest area be identified in Mangar jointly by MoEF and the Haryana forest department, and they stay any activity that fragments the 'gair mumkin pahar' area.

In another case, NGT expressed regret for not involving the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in finalizing the national policy for controlling and preventing pollution resulting from burning of agricultural remnants in open fields.

A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the additional secretary of ministry of agriculture to call a meeting comprising members of MoEF and Central Pollution Control Board within one week and finalise the draft national policy. The tribunal has listed the matter for hearing on September 25.

-The Hindustan Times, September 12, 2014

The Centre, in order to ensure that Delhi does not suffer due to lack of an elected government, has drawn up a comprehensive plan to beautify the national capital. Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday held a meeting with various stakeholders to discuss and work out the modalities of the beautification plan.

According to a senior official, the Delhi government has been asked to launch a cleanliness and beautification drive and monitor the work being done by the municipal corporations.

The official stated that Naidu emphasised on the need for concerted efforts to ensure a 'clean and green' Delhi to enhance the quality of life of residents. "In the meeting, the minister pointed out that the general public perception of management of public places and utilities is very poor. That thought needs to be changed through a special drive," said a ministry official. Right from sprucing up the city, to cleaning of roads, to demolition, construction waste and encroachments being removed to drains being cleaned, the city will witness a major beautification drive. Officials further said that a Clean India Week will also be launched from September 25 and October 2.

In the meeting it was also discussed that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will undertake a tree plantation drive and improve streetscape through improved signages, street lighting, street furniture and public conveniences, besides revival of 59 water bodies and building of toilets on BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis in parks and public areas. "The minister has also asked the Delhi government to evolve a strategy to address the issues relating to beggars, rag pickers, homeless and the migrants," added the official.

Sources said that the lieutenant governor held a meeting on Tuesday, asking all the corporations and departments to draw up a plan of action and involve public representatives too. "Two committees will be constituted - one under the chairmanship of the chief secretary and another one at the legislative level. It will also involve the area councillors and the MLAs. A major publicity awareness campaign will also be launched to sensitise people about keeping the city clean," said a senior Delhi government official.

Sources further said that apart from creating awareness, Delhi government has also been asked to notify sanitation bylaws to penalise people who litter in public spaces.

-The Hindustan Times, September 12, 2014

A study by the Wildlife Institute of India provides the basis on which the Centre has redrawn the contours of the eco-sensitive zone around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

In a reply to an RTI application, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has disclosed the report, which points out that "migrant birds flock to the sanctuary from the northern side and the Yamuna, too, flows into the sanctuary from the northern side".

Emphasizing the need to clean up the Yamuna, the report suggests the river be desilted regularly to maintain the ecological health of the sanctuary. "The Okhla Bird Sanctuary was established on a manmade water reservoir which is bound on three sides except in the north from where the Yamuna enters," the report says. "Water quality of the Yamuna has deteriorated and it is necessary to ensure no discharge of untreated waste water be made into the river," it adds.

Keeping these suggestions in mind, the MoEF has marked extended the eco-sensitive 1.27km from the park's boundaries to the north but restricted it to a radius of 100 metres to the west, east and south, as the UP government had proposed.

The Wildlife Institute of India report recommends extending the eco-sensitive zone to the north along the Yamuna all the way up to the Wazirpur barrage. "Emphasis should be given to protect the floodplains lying to the north of the sanctuary. The northern zone needs to be extended up to the Wazirpur barrage," the report says.

The RTI application was filed by a group of environmentalists and reveals the recommendations of the Wildlife Institute of India along with the responses of the chief wildlife warden of Haryana and the UP government.

The response from Haryana has explained that since the state is beyond 5,000 metres on both sides of the sanctuary, there is no logic for the eco zone to be extended to Haryana as it is "too far" to affect the sanctuary.

With the logic and need for the protection of the northern end of the sanctuary reinforced by the report, the UP government has said the onus of cleaning the Yamuna lies with Delhi since the northern region is a part of its territory.

-The Times of India, September 13, 2014

As part of its ambitious 'Namami Gange' programme, the government plans to free all villages along the banks of the river from open defecation by 2022 and extend incentives to states to expand sewerage infrastructure in all 118 urban habitations along the river.

Both the schemes will cost the government around Rs 52,700 crore. While Rs 51,000 crore has been earmarked for expanding the sewerage infrastructure, the remaining Rs 1,700 crore will be given as central share to make villages free from open defecation.

Villages to be covered under the scheme fall under 1,632 gram panchayats along the river bank in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Besides, the government has also proposed to set up a National Ganga Monitoring Centre and bring out a comprehensive plan to deal with industrial pollution in Kanpur. All these schemes, along with others relating to tourism, 'ghat' (river front) development and shipping network, will be implemented by different ministries including water resources, drinking water and sanitation, tourism, shipping and urban development.

The ministry of water resources made these additional schemes public on its specially designed website for the river Ganga, which was launched on Friday. The new website will provide a digital platform to people to extend their suggestions and tips on good practices to keep the country's national river clean. Idea of this launch is to involve people in implementing all these schemes of the government's Ganga rejuvenation programme.

Launching the website, water resources minister Uma Bharati said it was an important tool to connect the public with the gigantic task of Ganga rejuvenation. She also reiterated the resolve of the Narendra Modi government to rejuvenate the Ganga "within the shortest possible time".

The website (nmcg.nic.in) contains a wide rage of information on clean Ganga mission which includes Ganga Manthan, Namami Gange, conservation of pollution project, status of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), Ganga action plan, water quality monitoring, Industrial pollution monitoring, waste water management and comprehensive details of Ganga basin.

The bilingual website has a provision to receive feedback from the public where suggestions can be given about Ganga rejuvenation plan. The portal has a separate link -- Gangepedia -- which has all the basic information on the river. "Members of the public can also upload file up to the size of 4 MB along with their suggestions," the water resources ministry said in a statement.

This web portal will be the second digital platform for the general public and experts to extend their suggestions on the river Ganga. The PM had in July launched MyGov portal which also carries a separate section on the river Ganga for getting public suggestions.

All the schemes to rejuvenate Ganga were suggested by a group of secretaries (GoS) that had submitted its final report on August 20.

"While the report is being examined in the ministry, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been working in parallel on a draft strategy taking into account all these developments," the water resources ministry said.

It said, "As already identified in the report of the GoS, the long-term vision will emanate from the Ganga River Basin Management Plan being prepared by the Consortium of 7 IITs, first version of which is likely to be available by the end of this year".

-The Times of India, September 13, 2014

The plan to revive a forgotten city seems to have become just another chapter in the pages of history. The redevelopment of the Walled City or Shahjahanabad was first proposed and cleared by the government in 2007.

The project has been inaugurated twice, but so far there has been no concrete effort to restore the area to its glorious past. A multiplicity of agencies and confused decision-making has left the Walled City in neglect. "Shahjahanabad," says the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) through its website, "is today a neglected city. In fact, it is officially designated a 'slum' by the Municipality".

In 2007, the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi was tasked with drafting a redevelopment proposal. However, the Congress Government led by the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit decided to take over the project. The Shahajanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRC) was created by the government and the first phase of the plan was inaugurated by the then Chandni Chowk MP Kapil Sibal in 2011.

"Our job is to conceptualise the plans and monitor the progress," said Nitin Panigrahi, the SRC's deputy general manager for projects and administration. Years have gone by and the plan has only become more entangled in the multiple authorities involved. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has been asked to take over portions of the project. The DUAC also has a task force that spearheads the new initiatives in the area. More recently, the State Government has set up the Delhi Heritage Management Secretariat to coordinate conservation efforts. On September 2, the North Corporation started the process of hiring a consultant to draft a detailed project report for the redevelopment of the Jama Masjid precinct. According to Mr. Panigrahi, there are 554 notified havelis in the area which will be restored and renovated.

The heritage structures will house hotels, art galleries and theatres. Also a part of the plan is to take all the existing overhead wires underground, apart from laying footpaths and creating parking space.

Till the redevelopment plan gets out of files and onto the narrow gallis of the Walled City, these proposals are just distant dreams for locals and visitors. Currently, wires hang over the littered by-lanes and parking is a nightmare. In fact, there are no dustbins in the area as they were removed owing to security threats a few years ago.

-The Hindu, September 14, 2014

Kashmir, it used to be said, is prone to three kinds of disasters — famines, fires and floods. The government can now prevent famines, and fires are quickly controlled, but floods are a catastrophe.

Srinagar is located at the pinched waist of the Kashmir valley. All the heavy rain and snow melt of south Kashmir must flow through a narrow stretch of about 10 km of flat land between the plateau of Srinagar airport to the west and the spurs of the Zabarwan range to the east.

It is on this natural swamp that the kings of Kashmir built their capital. Its central location and potential for river trade made it useful to traders and boatmen but it was always unsuited for living. Lalitaditya, a Kashmir king, did try shifting the capital to Parihaspura, an elevated plateau a few miles downstream, but the city's residents wouldn't move. Which is perhaps why one night in a drunken stupor, he ordered Srinagar set on fire. To placate him, his prime minister burned some dummy structures at a distance to give the impression that his orders had been carried out. Of course he was remorseful the next morning and glad to find the city intact.

That Srinagar is unsuitable for living became evident, yet again, in the recent deluge. But the penchant for building on swamps continues till today. Now some people have begun to build on elevations around Nishat. Perhaps access to water made the risk of being flooded worthwhile but it cannot be a plausible reason any more. People have been filling in the wetlands around Srinagar for construction just as they have been filling in the Dal. These unauthorized constructions have no drainage or a functional sewerage system. Back in 1988, the chief secretary had ordered that no unauthorized colonies be given water and power connections, but he was soon gone and the constructions continued.

When the snows melt in spring and through summer, many parts of Srinagar lie below Jhelum's water-line. After the great flood of 1903, the bund between Sonwar and Ram Munshi Bagh was strengthened, and after the 1912 flood, a flood protection channel was built to bypass Srinagar. These measures fostered an illusion of safety and the city expanded well beyond this channel, without any plan. Much of it now sits at the centre of the wetlands constituting the old flood plain of the Jhelum. This is the area starting from Pantha Chowk all the way to Narbal including Bemina and the colonies along the bypass.

The Dal was nearly five times its present size in Akbar's time. It linked up with Anchar Lake in the north and had waterways that led through the city that drained and channelled water. The Nallah Mar, one such waterway, was filled up and made into a four-lane road in the 1970s. The Dal itself also became a vast and surreptitious landfill site for housing; this continues even today as satellite pictures show. Landfills also enabled conversion of the wetlands around Hokersar on Srinagar's outskirts into residential colonies. The complex hydrology of the water systems of Srinagar has been well studied, but the flood control department's warnings were shrugged off. The urban development department and its field agencies lacked a vision of their own, but with a wink and a nod, allowed private developers free play.

Srinagar is a disaster zone because for more than a generation knowledgeable engineers were overruled. It was always known that Srinagar should not expand into the flood plain of the Jhelum, but construction is relentless. Raw sewage may pour out of overflowing septic tanks but houses will be built in the swamp. The government seems incapable of creating planned residential areas or stopping the operation of unscrupulous land mafias. But it does manage to create an artificial shortage of urban housing and, thus, allowing private builders to exploit a corrupted system.

The urban development department has failed to plan the spread of the city in the right direction and along the right axis. The Srinagar Development Authority, in marked contrast to the one in Jammu, has little to show for the money it spends. The master plans remain on paper, and the municipality ensures that compliance is impossible. These floods are a reminder of how politicians, administrators and government engineers create conditions for disaster in their pursuit of immediate pecuniary or career advantage.

Then there is governmental failure in the face of the flood. The bunds should have been patrolled, sandbags should have been ready to plug breaches and the government should have called upon its resources in other districts. If communications failed, police wireless from districts such as Kulgam, Baramulla and Budgam should have been located in flooded areas.

The state government could have and should have used its resources in Delhi to charter boats and fly in supplies to Srinagar. And where was the State Disaster Management Authority? The next big flood may come next year or after a century but one thing is certain; no lessons will have been learnt.

More dykes may come up now but construction in the swamps will continue. The plans now made should work with nature and not in opposition to it. Kashmir may be successful with Venice as a model which tries to work with nature, not in opposition to it. The author is a retired IAS officer who spent his career in Jammu & Kashmir.

-The Times of India, September 14, 2014

The over 20,000 nullahs crisscrossing Delhi — if cleaned and beautified — will not only rejuvenate the Yamuna but also provide a 350 km stretch of eco-friendly commute and recreational options to its people. Urban planner Manit Rastogi has been advocating this since 2009

After a spell of rain, the walk down a few feet from the concrete road becomes a tad tricky. Mud and wet blades of grass are easy to negotiate compared to the stink raised by puddles of human droppings scattered all around the path. Leading the trail — near Panchsheel Park in South Delhi — is Manit Rastogi, commenting with a chuckle in between, "This is one of the open-air shit pots of Delhi."

Along the path is a canal, better known as the Green Park nullah, linked to River Yamuna in East Delhi, its grey water carrying with it plastic bags at a pretty good pace. "If you continue to go further ahead, you will reach Sainik Farms through the Jahanpanah forest and the other way will take you to Siri Fort, JNU, Defence Colony, Sarai Kale Khan and finally to the Yamuna bank," says Manit.

Manit would know better. Since 2009, after studying the interconnect of 18 major nullahs and 20,000 tertiary ones across the National Capital, he and his Delhi-based architecture firm Morphogenesis have been propagating an idea to clean and beautify them which would in turn rejuvenate the nearly dead Yamuna, as these nullahs ultimately fall into the river. The initiative is also geared towards creating an eco-corridor across Delhi that would also provide last minute connectivity from bus and Metro stations and an option for children to go to school by walking or cycling down, besides providing opportunities for recreational activities. It can also provide a walking network to tourists to all the important monuments, museums and stadia of Delhi.

Morphogenesis' proposal was in news in the run-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi but, like many projects, this one too had been pushed to the backburner after initial interest shown by the authorities. The neglected nullah network — the older part of it dates back to the Tughlaqabad era — therefore, has continued to be so.

Though filth-filled, walking along the Green Park nullah can still offer you a glimpse of the fact that the nullah network is literally the underbelly of Delhi. Pivoted on these nullahs are bridges that connect one part to another and thereby complete the roadways lining the city. Despite the dirt, the areas along the nullahs are still the greener parts of Delhi. Manit points it out, "Most nullahs have a natural tree line."

At his office in Panchsheel Park, Manit shows this reporter a Power Point presentation he had shown various Delhi authorities. He zooms in on a satellite image illustrating the mess of nullahs that encompass Delhi. "Till 2005 when Google Earth came, Delhi didn't have readily available satellite imagery; so no government realised the full extent of these nullahs across the city. This imagery shows that no place in Delhi is more than one km from a nullah. Though most of this network dates back to 700 years — Yamuna water was channelled through them to irrigate different places — they degenerated to being filth carriers of the city due to lack of knowledge about their potential," says Manit. Running the cursor over a satellite image of a wide patch dotted with houses, he says, "This is from East Delhi. The snaky green line that you see meandering through it is the Barapullah nullah, the only green area that survived around this patch. Unfortunately, we have a flyover on top of it now, the construction of which has further damaged its water."

A personal experience led Manit to the discovery of the nullah network. "In 2008, my 12-year-old son wanted to cycle down from Panchsheel Park to the Hauz Khas Village market. I didn't allow him, saying it was unsafe. He asked me, 'Do I then have to always lead my life in a closed environment?' That set me thinking and I tried finding out what Delhi used to be," relates Manit, an alumnus of the School of Planning and Architecture.

His findings led him to similar world examples. "Such networks are working in China, Spain, South Korea. Interestingly in Seoul, an elevated highway over a historic stream was razed in 2003 as the authorities realised that it would kill it. After its removal, the area not only became a popular spot for recreation but its temperature also lessened by two degrees."

So how does one clean these nullahs? "It is simple. Use a system of organic reed beds and aerators to clean the sewage entering the nullahs. This is a well established system and it is both environment-friendly and cheap. This will dramatically improve public health in Delhi by getting rid of mosquitoes, etc., and also help replenish the aquifers. This will also reduce the need to spend large sums on building sewage plants at the Yamuna."

Morphogenesis submitted the proposal to Delhi Government in 2009. The Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre cleared a pilot project. "But there are other agencies at play — the MCD, the Delhi Cantonment Board, DDA, the ASI — which have jurisdiction over places through which many nullahs flow. I feel the plan failed to take off because of lack of a common mechanism between these agencies to work together," states Manit. He underlines, "Morphogenesis is not seeing business here; we only want the idea to be implemented and help restore a valuable asset of common people."

With the Narendra Modi Government stressing on the concept of smart cities across India, this urban planner hopes its definition includes creation of a liveable city not devoid of its character. "The brief that Nehru gave to Le Corbusier for Chandigarh was, create a city unfettered by India's past. Chandigarh became a model for a lot of our cities. But where is social equity in it? Because Chandigarh was designed to become an elite city, the townships of Mohali, etc. came up around it. Smart cities should not end up having only luxury homes for few, many of which will remain locked up. One should concentrate on making affordable homes which would increase density and therefore the need for better transport, better water and electricity supply, leading to a liveable city," states the co-founder of Morphogenesis whose 'green' designs have won the firm 54 awards.

It is shocking when Manit highlights the funds spent on cleaning the river through Yamuna Action Plan. While Phase I and II cost the Government over Rs.1500 crores, there is a plan for another phase worth Rs.5300 crore. "And yet Yamuna is dying. To make the nullah network work and save the river from death, it needs only between Rs. 750 and 1000 crores."

Manit signs off the conversation with both hope and despair. "The idea is not new, it has worked elsewhere but I think it is too cheap to get the attention of our authorities." Its result is for everyone to see — historic nullahs turning into shit pots of the city.

-The Hindu, September 14, 2014

After offering people a peep into the history of the iconic Mandi House, Delhi Metro is now working on extending the heritage ride to the upcoming ITO Metro station, which will tell the story of the making of post-colonial India. The new Mandi House metro station opened in late June with a permanent exhibition depicting the transition of the area from a colonial brick kiln zone to a modern cultural hub. Encouraged by the good public response, the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) now wants the next stop in the extended Violet line, billed as the 'heritage line of the metro', to reflect the history of the area it falls under.

After laborious efforts to put up two panels at Mandi House station, the New Delhi-based Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) is now busy digging into the archives again to portray the city panorama between "the Supreme Court and the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla".

"Coinciding with the building of the eponymous station, Metro has now asked us to bring alive the history of the area which is today famous as ITO. We have marked the zone starting from Supreme Court and will stop once we hit Feroz Shah Kotla. "We will go a few kilometres on either side of this reference line and try and tell the story of the buildings, institutions and the landmarks that came up in this zone," Gopinath Ravindran, Member-Secretary, ICHR, told PTI.

Ravindran says that most of the structures and buildings here came up in the first few decades after Independence and reflected the post-colonial Nehruvian aspirations of "building the new Republic" and the "free press". "All buildings and institutions have stories and anecdotes to tell. The Supreme Court building erected in the 1950s was shaped to project an image of the scales of justice. Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, the Fleet Street of Delhi with the offices of major national dailies located on it, has the story of the national press after Independence," Ravindran too. "Even the famous Tilak Bridge, previously known as Hardinge Bridge, has a story of its own," he added. Top officials of DMRC said that the upcoming exhibition at ITO metro station is part of the "organisation's continuous bid to beautify" its premises and "educate the masses" as they make their daily commute using the service.

"The civil work at ITO metro is over and we are now working on electrical connections and wiring, among others. As we seek to complete our work at the station, the exhibition, the work for which has started, would be ready just in time for the inauguration," a senior official of the DMRC's Corporate Communications department, told PTI.

ICHR, which received a letter on September 1 from DMRC to helm the project, has kept a tentative deadline of November to finish the work, but Ravindran said that "the speed of execution would also depend upon how much of the required information we are able to collect and how soon".

"After Supreme Court, we have the historic Link/Patriot building, followed by National Herald, the Dolls Museum, then Tej daily and the Indian Express House and the Times House. We will be approaching the institutions to access their archives for early images and their history in the area," he said.

Since most of the area was jungle till the 1950s, Ravindran said they would "also be approaching the CPWD and their archives to see change of land use for constructing these buildings, many of which are now city landmarks, like the Income Tax Office (ITO), which lends the area its name".

He said that in the interest of promoting history among the people, the idea also is to allow both short-term engagement while triggering a desire for undertaking long-term research. "And, therefore, we would also be providing printed web addresses to individual names and places mentioned, which can be used to access detailed descriptions about, say a building of institution. Since, we cannot accommodate all our research material, like old maps and sketches, on the panel, they can be seen online for those who are interested," he said.

A senior official of ICHR, part of the project team, said, "We want visitors to have a long-term and interesting engagement. Therefore, the plan also is to make the visuals QR code-enabled." Ravindran said that although it is not official yet, "the ICHR has suggested to DMRC that a thin, running marquee above the seats may be put up inside Metro carriages, on the lines of a feature in the London Underground system, which would depict labelled sketches of sites, landmarks and heritage buildings that are situated in the vicinity of the corresponding stations."

DMRC said that artists have also been commissioned to work on beautification of the ITO station premises. DMRC already has a Metro Museum at Patel Chowk station, a full-fledged permanent exhibition on textiles and artworks of India at INA station and illustrated panels depicting the history of nearby monuments and landmarks at Jangpura, Udyog Bhawan and Lajpat Nagar stations, among others.

-The Indian Express, September 15, 2014

Tourists will soon have more time to spend at monuments. The monuments, which now close at 5 pm or 6 pm, would remain open till 11 pm. This was announced by Rajasthan principal secretary tourism Shailendra Agarwal at the 49th FHRAI Annual Convention on Sunday.

Mr Agarwal said that the electrification and flood-lighting work on the monuments had begun and by November, tourists would be able to enjoy the monuments in the night as well. "The idea is that night tourism will attract tourists to the state even during the summer months," he said. The government had earlier mooted the plan for a night bazaar in Jaipur's Walled City.

Mr Agarwal also said that to woo frequent tourists, activity-based circuits were being planned in Rajasthan. There would be a handicraft circuit, birding circuit and a spirituality circuit. In the handicraft circuit, tourists and visitors would get to see first-hand how artisans make crafts in the villages and will also be exposed to their lives in the rural hinterland. The birding circuit will take bird-watchers to Keoladeo National Park, Sambhar Lake, Tal Chhapar etc. The spiritual circuit will take tourists to various temples for which the state is well known.

The principal secretary also offered 35 forts in the state to the private sector to develop them on lease basis or in a joint venture. They are also available for an outright sale. There are other state assets which could be taken over by the private sector for maintenance.

-The Asian Age, September 15, 2014

An and Vihar in trans- Yamuna area has emerged as a major healthrisk zone in Delhi with the pollution level having shot up to much higher than the safe limit.

The average level of PM 10 or fine particles - smaller than 10 micrometres in diameter - in 2013 has been found to be more than 9 times the safe limit.

The level of other key pollutants (see graphic) is also excessive. Officials admit the overall pollution level - figures not released yet - remains excessive in 2014 as well.

The levels of tiny particles that carry toxins and go deep inside lungs continue to be three-four times more than the acceptable limits in other spots of Delhi. Overall pollutant concentrations are excessive, but not like in Anand Vihar.

-The Hindustan Times, September 16, 2014

The proposed cargo ferry service will connect the two countries through Chennai and Yangon

The proposed ferry service between India and Myanmar will commence next month that will facilitate cargo and passenger movement between the two countries. Minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the service will begin in October this year.

The proposed cargo ferry service will connect the two countries through Chennai and Yangon (Myanmar). It will open a sea route and strengthen economic ties for land-based trade worth about billions of dollars.

State-run Shipping Corporation of India is likely to deploy a 1,200 TEU (twenty feet equivalent unit) vessel, which will connect the ports of Colombo, Chennai, Krishnapatnam and Yangon. Ministry of shipping has also formalised a coastal shipping arrangement in 2014 which would boost the coastal movement of vessels between the two countries.

Addressing media persons at a conference marking 100 days of the Narendra Modi led National Democratic of Alliance government in office, the minister said the shipping sector can increase the country's GDP by 2%. The sector can also create tourism and employment opportunities, he said. Special plan is in the works for the Mumbai Port Trust, the minister said but did not elaborate the proposed plan. "There will be a revolutionary change in the water transport sector in the next five years," Gadkari said.

The shipping ministry is planning to start a Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) service in the country for transportation of vehicles from factories, which will help in saving fuel used for the transportation of the goods through roads. RORO ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks etc that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle.

"We have planned the expansion of the Cochin Shipyard, we are working on different schemes for cargo and passengers at the shipyard, we are planning to build three LNG (liquefied natural gas) vessels at the Cochin Shipyard," Gadkari added. The vessels will be built at a cost of Rs.1,500 crore each. Cochin Shipyard will partner with a French company for building these vessels. The ministry is also working on a scheme for the promotion of ship breaking and building.

"We have prepared a Cabinet note on the matter. The states of Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have potential for this kind of industry. We want to facilitate ship breaking and building in our country," he added.

-The Mint, September 16, 2014

Yamuna Biodiversity Park scientists, along with the forest department and DU, are trying a unique method of restoring biodiversity in the Ridge. They will prune canopies of Prosopis juliflora or vilayati keekar, a highly invasive species that has usurped the Ridge.

These little gaps in the canopy cover will ensure that sunlight reaches the forest floor where the team is planting 15 native Aravali species. The project will first be implemented in the Northern Ridge, also called the Kamala Nehru Ridge.

Centre for Management of Degraded Ecosystems under DU had earlier developed the 'cut-root-stock' method for lantana, another invasive species, that is now used in many protected areas. "I'm certain that dry, deciduous forests and grasslands can be restored with the canopy gap method. This year we will plant about 5,000 saplings of native trees. We are working with the forest department on pruning the branches of Prosopis juliflora to make sure there is enough sunlight for native trees to grow fast. Now, the floor is very dark. The native grasses will be planted later," said C R Babu, DU professor emeritus, CEMDE.

The team has started the project with students from Hans Raj College and DDA staff. In the next six days, other Delhi University North Campus colleges will help. "We will support the native species by adding microbes to the soil," Babu said.

Faiyaz Khudsar, scientist in charge at Yamuna Biodiversity Park, said they must remove invasive pods. "The species are likely to increase relative humidity and ensure more precipitation. The ridge can provide a massive ecological service if Prosopis is fought off," added Babu.

Khudsar, who is fighting a case in Supreme Court for relocation of Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, its former geographical range, said Asiatic lions were in the Ridge during Mughal times. "During Mughal period, Asiatic lion and other wild animals used to roam the Ridge. During the British period, Prosopis juliflora was introduced. It has completely destroyed the native flora of Ridge," he said.

On Monday, 500 species were planted. Monika Kaul, assistant professor at Hans Raj, said students are eager to go back and see if their saplings have grown.

-The Times of India, September 16, 2014

Panels with info and web links to come up at stations

Revenue settlement documents, "tourist maps" of early 1900s, materials sourced from the National Archives and the wealth of information with the city's historians will all contribute towards showcasing the local history of areas to be connected by the Delhi Metro's Heritage Line.

The Indian Council of Historical Research, which is helping the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation source the information on panels, is also considering putting together a booklet at the end of the project which can be sold at metro stations or be made available online for commuters to download, said ICHR member-secretary Gopinath Ravindran.

For now, at the upcoming ITO station, plans are afoot to put up the URLs alongside snippets of information in the panels. "The Delhi Metro has been very generous with space but we realise that long sentences may not hold the viewer's attention so we have had to condense the information. Now, we are thinking of mentioning web links as well so they can read more about the area in their own time," said Mr. Ravindran.

The successful pilot project at the Mandi House metro station also displays QR Codes for commuters with smart phones to easily scan the code and learn more about the area. "We are mandated to popularise history and metro stations are a great way to do so. Stations that seem history-less will now be able to showcase what kind of people lived there over time and how the area evolved," said Mr. Ravindran.

He hopes the 'local history project' will also spread to other stations apart from the Heritage Line. "For instance, very few people know about the Raja of Patparganj and the Battle of Patparganj," he said. Patparganj is an East Delhi locality that can be accessed on the Delhi Metro's Blue Line.

The panels planned for the upcoming ITO station, for which the ICHR will hire a couple of interns to source the information, will throw more light on this "buffer zone" created between Lutyens' Delhi and the Old Quarters of the city.

"We will approach all institutions in the area, government agencies and the newspaper offices to get involved in this project," he said. "I remember seeing a picture of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reading the first issue of The Patriot newspaper so we will make efforts to source that photograph. The attempt is to tell the story of the buildings, institutions and the landmarks in this zone," he added.

Now tokens for onward journey available at Airport metro station Now passengers on the Airport Express Line can purchase tokens and smart cards for their onward journey on the metro network. An exclusive token counter has been set up at the Airport metro station for commuters who want to travel ahead of the the New Delhi station on the Yellow Line.

"This will help in saving time and smoothen travel experience for such passengers. Earlier, they had to queue up twice for purchasing tokens/cards: first at the Airport station and then again at the New Delhi station of the Yellow Line," said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson.

-The Hindu, September 16, 2014

The local bodies will be looking into the compliance of energy-efficient procedures in various buildings as part of processing of building permits within their jurisdiction.

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday directed the Delhi Development Authority to chart the draft regulations and layout plan for green buildings as proposed in the Master Plan, 2021. Various incentives like property tax rebate, increased floor area ratio are also being considered for such constructions. A meeting was held in this regard at Raj Niwas where DDA officials, all local bodies and departments concerned of the Delhi Government were present.

A presentation was made by The Energy and Resources Institute, highlighting provisions related to Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), and policies adopted by other State governments and local bodies.

The meeting also discussed providing incentives in the form of enhanced FAR, ground coverage and property tax rebate for encouraging the scheme. However, a monitoring system will be put in place to ensure continuous onsite compliance and performance and disincentives for non-compliance. The local bodies will be looking into the compliance of energy-efficient procedures in various buildings as part of processing of building permits within their jurisdiction.

The MPD, 2021, as a part of mid-term review, was amended vide Gazette Notification dated September 23, 2013, to incorporate green building concepts i.e., promoting optimal utilisation of resources such as water and energy on site, self-contained complexes in terms of on-site effluent treatment plants, waste management, etc., aimed towards zero discharge in layout plans of plots of the size of 3,000 sq. m. and above.

The DDA has now been directed to provide in its layout plan recycling of treated waste water with separate lines for potable water and recycled water and introduction of dual piping system; rainwater harvesting system; recycling of sewage effluent for non-potable uses like gardening, washing of vehicles, cooling towers, etc., providing underground water storage tank, dustbins within the plot, solar heating system, provision of cavity walls and shading devices.

-The Hindu, September 17, 2014

The government is planning to strengthen regulation mechanism for diesel vehicles to check vehicular pollution and toying with an idea to regulate "river beds" through an institution to prevent the kind of disaster that struck Jammu & Kashmir.

Union environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday referred to the idea of "river regulation board" while expressing his views on causes behind the current disaster in Jammu & Kashmir.

"River beds in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed lot of constructions over the years. It was certainly a recipe for disaster if you had constructed hotels and homes on river beds. Such activities need to be regulated and we may explore the possibility of setting up river regulation board not only in J&K but also in other states to keep eye on vulnerable zones along the river beds and natural routes", said Javadekar.

Asked for a timeline, he told reporters that the concept of river regulation board was just an idea and he needed to discuss it with stakeholders. "At present, relief and rehabilitation is the prime concern", he said. Amid criticism of showing too much rush to grant green clearances, Javadekar said his ministry was doing due diligence before taking any decision and it would, in fact, make environmental norms "more stringent and practical" keeping in mind enormity of the problem and issues involved.

Besides bringing out strict green norms for industries, the ministry, he said, would also strengthen regulations for diesel vehicles.

Noting that vehicular pollution has more than doubled in the past two decades, he said the government was making "additional norms" for vehicles to bring down carbon emission. "Why are diesel norms lower than the petrol norms?" he asked, observing that the price difference between diesel and petrol has come down in the market-based mechanism.

"Now we can also prepare the higher stringent norms for diesel vehicles also. We can do ... we must do. I think that is the model for ensuring growth with sustainability," he said.

Earlier during the day, the minister sought to dispel the impression that the government was taking decision without caring for green norms and emphasised that his ministry would "go ahead with the rules and ensure 100 per cent compliance". "The stakeholders would be consulted in the process so as to ensure complete compliance once the norms are laid down", said the minister while delivering his address at the ninth 'Sustainable and Inclusive solutions Summit', organized by CII.

His remarks may be seen in the context of the ministry's recent decision to set up a panel to review all environmental laws. The mandate of this panel is to suggest necessary changes in the green laws, keeping in mind the developmental goal of the new government.

Referring to the revision of norms related to the cement industry undertaken recently, he said that these norms were implemented taking into account the concerns of the industry.

Elaborating on it further, Javadekar said that the cooperation of the industry stakeholders was critical in the context of monitoring, evaluation and implementation of environmental norms. This would enable the government to implement "eco friendly and growth friendly" policies, he added.

He also insisted that his ministry has taken a number of measures in the past three months to not only ensure speedy clearances of crucial infrastructure and defence-related projects but also to bring transparency by launching online mechanism in the decision making processes.

Lamenting that "we contaminate everything", he said 80 per cent of the sewage treatment plants set up in various industrial units were "non-functional". He also pulled up certain industrial houses for making operational their sewage treatment plants only when government officials go to inspect them.

-The Times of India, September 17, 2014

India Gate is likely to come alive with short 3D clips showcasing the culture and heritage of India by the year-end, according to the Ministry of Urban Development.

With a proposal for screening short 3D clips on India Gate having received clearance from the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has started processing tenders for the project. According to a release issued by the Ministry of Tourism earlier, it has sanctioned a project for 3D projection of various Indian monuments from different states and Union territories on India Gate.

"The project is likely to be implemented by December this year. The Tourism ministry had approached us for technical support, but they will decide the content of the clips, its duration, timing etc.," an official said. To avoid traffic congestion around India Gate, it has been proposed that the show will start at 8.30 pm. There will be no audio and the clippings will be kept short.

According to CPWD, the project was meant to "showcase the culture and heritage of India at India Gate, which is visited by thousands of people on a daily basis. For instance on festive occasions, clips of that particular festival would be projected on India Gate. While on other days, clips of different monuments would be shown".

DUAC had earlier asked CPWD "to explore other alternative sites in this matter for comparison". But in the minutes issued in August, it has stated: "Since India Gate is an iconic memorial to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the First World War and is also the site of the Eternal Flame in honour of unknown soldiers, therefore the necessary clearance/NOC of Ministry of Defence and other stakeholders/authorities should also be obtained by the proponents." DUAC has emphasised the need to take clearances from the point of view of likely congestion in the area because of more number of pedestrians, vehicular and traffic movement.

No permanent or semi-permanent structure will be set up for the project and it will be ensured that no harm is done to the monument or its surrounding area. In the past also, 3D lighting shows have been carried out at India Gate to showcase 'Japanese handicrafts' and 'Clean India Campaign'.

-The Indian Express, September 17, 2014

Developmental gains will crumble if India follows a model of growth that is resource-and-energy-intensive. As it is, rivers are degraded, pollution is growing, forest cover's thinning. Overhaul of green governance is the need of the hour

Here is a fact that should alarm you: Of 180 cities monitored for air pollutants SO2, NO2 and PM10 in 2010, only two towns Malapuram and Pathanamthitta in Kerala met the criteria of low pollution (50% below the standard) for all pollutants, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). SO2 and NO2 are noxious gases while PM10 is particulate matter such as dust and smoke particles. The number of critically polluted cities (1.5 times the standard) increased from 49 to 89 between 2005 and 2010.

This is only one dimension of multiple environmental challenges that India must address. India is home to 18% of world population, 15% livestock population and 7-8% of all recorded species.But we have only 2.4% of land area in the world. This puts an immense pressure on all natural features: air, land, water, animals, vegetation.

"India cannot afford to follow the West's development model of resourceand energy-intensive growth and lifestyle. The country's natural resource base cannot sustain such a growth model for all and there will be huge inequalities and social conflicts. We need a developmental model that puts premium on social welfare and not on resourceintensive growth," stresses Chandra Bhushan of CSE. Take water, for instance. Raw sewage and industrial waste has rendered water in more than half of India's 445 rivers unfit for drinking, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.Water from at least a quarter of the rivers surveyed can't even be used for bathing. Why is this so? Of the 38 billion litres municipal waste water generated every day in India, only 29% is treated.By 2050, 100 billion litres may come from Indian cities each day, it said.

Another aspect of water mismanagement is the fall in India's per capita freshwater resources from 6,042 cubic metres in 1947 to 1,845 cubic metres in 2007. Indian cities are using 50 billion litres of municipal water a day .

While forest cover -estimated at 24% of geographical area -is not de pleting, it is still short of the target of 33% set in 1988.But there are clear warning signs: moderately dense moderately dense forests, which hold the future growth of forests, declined by 1991 sq km between 2011 and 2013, according to the most recent Forest Survey of India report.In 24% of forests there is `inadequate' regeneration; in 10% none at all. A dangerous 73% of forest area is affected by light to heavy grazing by animals.

Environmental governance -from local to the national level -needs an overhaul, feels Chandra Bhushan. Our laws, regulations, regulatory institutions etc are not suitable to deliver environmentally sound development in the 21st century, he says. "The present governance system is top heavy, piecemeal, unaccountable and opaque. It has failed to involve people, communities, local governments and companies in solving the environmental problems," he added.

Environmental degradation is often directly a cause for severe economic loss, and perpetuation of poverty . In India, more than 147 million hectares soil has become degraded, eroded and thus unproductive. About 5334 million tons of topsoil is lost annually . According to G Mythili, professor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, production loss due to land degradation t is, 13.4 million tons. in 2010 was 16%, that is, 13.4 million tons.That works out to about Rs 162 billion. Essential cereals make up 66% of this loss.

All these environmental challenges are going to get aggravated in the coming decades because of climate change.It will make the poor poorer and wipe out whatever development has taken place, argues Bhushan.

"Indians will have to start adapting to climate change. Simultaneously , we have to start reducing greenhouse gas emissions and work with the global community to limit the rise in the global temperature below 1.5 degrees C," he added.

-The Times of India, September 17, 2014

In a bid to move two municipal wards out of the ecologically sensitive Yamuna river zone and include them in an urban zone, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday decided to file a plea with the National Green Tribunal. It will move an internal order from the LG to allow construction, repair or maintenance work in unauthorized colonies.

Last year, the tribunal had put a stay on any move to redefine the Yamuna zone. According to DDA officials, residents of certain wards have been complaining that they aren't able to conduct maintenance work on their properties due to the ban on constructions in the ?O' zone. "A stay on re-zoning of these areas is causing problems for residents. We will appeal to the NGT to get the stay revoked. We will also try to ensure that there are no curbs on construction activities," said a DDA official.

The DDA had issued a public notice in September last year seeking to reduce the zone 'O' by as much as 40% to pave way for regularization of illegal settlements and constructions in the river belt. The river zone covers about 9,700 ha area from the northern boundary near Palla to southern boundary near Jaitpur. Following the DDA's notice to re-zone a large part of the floodplains to regularize not just colonies but constructions such as Akshardham temple and CWG Village, a person filed an application in the NGT seeking a stay on re-zoning. The NGT bench had ordered: "DDA shall not act on its notification dated September 28, 2013, without order of the tribunal." The bench was displeased with DDA's plans saying that such a move could "finish" the river bank.

Environmentalists are also worried. "Even if they are talking of excising two wards, it sets a bad precedent. It will mean that other parts of the river zone can also be opened for construction. There is no moratorium on house repair work. DDA is trying to project new constructions as repair work. Any such re-zoning move should be stopped," said Manoj Misra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA).

YJA also wrote to the LG raising environmental impacts of rezoning. "In the light of what has been experienced in Srinagar, where human misery and loss of life and property from the floods got severely compounded due to colonies having come up in river Jhelum's flood plains, we find the current move to excise areas away from river Yamuna flood plains (Zone O) as being totally inappropriate," the letter read.

-The Times of India, September 18, 2014

In a few years, Delhi may have two new arterial roads, complete with underground and elevated stretches, that will make commutes through the most congested parts of the city a breeze.

After a prod from the Centre to urgently take up infrastructure projects in the city, PWD has revived the east-west and north-south corridors. Both stretches will work as arterial connections within the city and will include underpasses, flyovers and elevated corridors. Both projects are likely to be ready earliest by 2018. Stretching from Anand Vihar in the east to NH-10, the east-west corridor will be approximately 30-35km long. Large parts of it are likely to be underground, especially those that pass through congested areas such as New Delhi Railway Station.

The north-south corridor, stretching about 16-km between the Signature Bridge in Wazirabad and Dhaula Kuan, may extend up to NH-8. The road will go underground through crowded stretches such as Rani Jhansi Marg and Vande Mataram Marg. The projects were mooted before the Commonwealth Games but shelved around 2008 due to objections from town planners and conservationists. Originally, the east-west corridor started at Akshardham Temple and went up to Punjabi Bagh. In the revised proposal, both sides of the corridor have been extended.

"The corridor will start at Anand Vihar, move along the railway line till the Yamuna on which a new bridge will be constructed. From behind Pragati Maidan, the corridor will turn towards ITO. It will bypass the ITO crossing but join DDU Marg and go up till the railway station as an elevated stretch," said a senior official.

He said the corridor will not only give high speed access from the Uttar Pradesh border in the east to the Haryana border in the west, but also help decongest of the busy ITO intersection and Vikas Marg. "The elevated road over DDU Marg, where a new court complex is coming up, will further help in reduction of traffic congestion," said the official.

The project will also help in the revival of the New Delhi railway station development plan. Sources said that transit oriented development had been the focal point of the station's redevelopment, especially as the Airport Metro line also starts there and footfall in the area is expected to rise significantly in the next few years. "The east-west corridor is a compulsory prerequisite for work to start on the station," a source said.

The terms of reference for both projects have been forwarded to UTTIPEC. As soon as they are cleared, PWD will apply for permissions from various concerned agencies.

"A lot of work has already been done on the east-west corridor and we will have to hand over the old data to the new consultant, when appointed. In fact, a study has already been commissioned for the stretch from Peeragarhi along NH-10," said Sarvagya Srivastava, chief engineer, flyovers, PWD.

Srivastava said the north-south corridor will require a lot of work. "The earliest when work can start is 2016 and will accordingly finish by 2018. Since acquisition of land will be both difficult and expensive and road widening may not be an option in several areas, we have been advised to make the corridors as elevated stretches or underground wherever possible," he said.

-The Times of India, September 18, 2014

No agency provided any prior warning about the massive floods in Jammu and Kashmir

"What suddenly caused Jammu and Kashmir to be ravaged by floods?" is now the raging question. As families of victims struggle to come to terms with the large-scale impact of the tragedy and as people all over the country attempt to understand the reasons for it, it remains to be seen how deep this concern really is and if it can translate into affirmative action that will prevent such disasters from recurring.

The immediate and recognisable cause of the Jammu and Kashmir floods was heavy rainfall. According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in the week ending on September 3, 2014, Jammu and Kashmir received 55 per cent of rainfall above the normal level. In the following three days, average rainfall in the State was 250 mm, of which 106 mm lashed the State on September 6 alone.

State-level averages mask the location and time-specific intensity of rainfall. For example, in the week ending on September 10, Udhampur, Reasi and Kulgam districts received much higher rainfall than the State average rainfall for the week (268mm), which was evidently going to have disastrous implications. Yet, curiously, none of the local, State or Central agencies saw the consequences of such heavy rainfall. There was sufficient time before the water from the rainfall reached Srinagar or other upstream areas of the Jhelum basin, and Jammu and other areas of the Chenab basin, but no agency provided any warning to these vulnerable areas. Thus the first institutional failure was of the IMD. Second, the Central Water Commission, India's premier technical body in water resources, which is supposed to provide forecasts of floods in all flood-prone areas, failed miserably in giving any information on river flow that would have warned the people in the downstream areas.

Third, the State Department of Irrigation and Flood Control which manages State water resources and the flood control system did not monitor and maintain embankments or provide any warnings when they were breached. This means even in the State capital, people had absolutely no idea of the impending disaster till the waters entered their houses and colonies. Further, this department's website (www.jkirfc.com), except the tender section, has not been updated since 2011.

India is supposed to have elaborate disaster management institutions starting from the National Disaster Management Authority to the State Disaster Management Authority to the Divisional (in the case of Jammu and Kashmir) and District Disaster Management Authorities. However, except the National Disaster Response Force, which in any case is manned by paramilitary personnel, we see no impact made by these institutions in this disaster. The local administration and disaster management apparatus seemed to be generally absent during the floods. This means that even if information was available with the State and local administration before the deluge, (as was the case in Uttarakhand in June 2013, where in spite of specific forecasts from the Dehradun office of the IMD, the State failed to use the information to take necessary action), it may not have helped manage the disaster in a significantly better manner.

Increasing interventions It is also apparent that the encroachment of riverbeds and flood plains and the destruction of the once-abundant lakes, wetlands, marshes, flood channels and other water bodies and areas exacerbated the disaster. Jammu and Kashmir has such remarkable flood management structures that it seems that the people of the 11th century had better management wisdom than the engineers of today with their straitjacketed mindset. Even government agencies (local, State and Central) have been found guilty of constructing buildings in such areas, which have not only made these buildings vulnerable but also reduced the flood absorption capacity of these areas, thus making other areas vulnerable too.

Major interventions are expected to take place in the Chenab and Jhelum basins including about 40 hydropower projects in each basin of various sizes and in various stages of development. Each of these projects involve the construction of dams, water storage, tunnels, blasting, diversion of rivers, deforestation, construction of roads and colonies, and mining of materials on a large scale, and dumping of millions of cubic metres of muck from each large project. The Chenab basin is, in fact, home to the largest capacity of hydropower projects under construction in India compared to any other basin.

Each of these projects will increase the disaster potential of the basins, but we do not have credible Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Appraisal, Environmental Management Plan or credible monitoring and compliance mechanisms, not to speak of the lack of Cumulative Impact Assessment or Disaster Risk Assessment. This is not to say that such projects should not be undertaken, but we are only inviting greater disasters given the manner in which we are going about these major interventions. Repeated representations on these issues to the Ministry of Environment and Forests have fallen on deaf ears.

Climate change footprint Scientists are telling us that in the case of such extreme weather events, whose frequency is already on the rise in the Himalayas at a greater rate than global averages, there is an undeniable climate change footprint. Although we hear a lot about climate change issues in general, there is little action taken. The least the government can do is to recognise the link between climate change and disasters and demand justice for the victims. It also needs to identify populations vulnerable to disasters arising from climate change and change its development plans and policies accordingly. We see little progress in any of these directions.

Fifteen months after the devastating Uttarakhand floods, we still do not have a report that tells us what happened there, who played (or did not play) what role and what lessons are to be learnt from that experience. For example, several of us wrote to the MoEF in July 2013, asking it to institute an enquiry into the role played by hydropower projects in increasing the proportions of the disaster. In the absence of any government action, it was left to the Supreme Court to order such an enquiry through its order of August 13, 2013.

A subsequent report by the Ravi Chopra Committee showed how the existing and under-construction hydropower projects had increased the scale of the disaster. The way the government is pushing ahead with the massive Lakhwar and Vyasi hydropower projects on the Yamuna river in Uttarakhand, without even proper environment and social impact assessment and public consultation, it is clear that it has not learnt any lessons from the Uttarakhand tragedy. In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court has already sought a report from the Central government. We hope that the court will order an elaborate enquiry into the reasons for and management of the current disaster.

In the meantime, the dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir floods are still unfolding before us. We hope there is greater urgency in rescuing people and providing relief and rehabilitation — efforts that will give the people of the State and elsewhere a glimmer of hope. (Himanshu Thakkar is coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People. E-mail:[email protected])

-The Hindu, September 18, 2014

Following up on the massive ground truthing exercise to demarcate the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the State, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has embarked on a project to fine-tune the cadastral- level ESA maps of the 123 villages identified by the K. Kasturirangan committee.

The block- level cadastral maps demarcating the ESAs are being electronically stitched together to prepare village- level maps. The maps, along with a report on the ground truthing exercise, are sought by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for inclusion in the revised draft notification expected to be issued on the basis of feedback from other States.

KSBB chairman .Oommen V. Oommen said the report would indicate the ESA and non- ESA areas within each survey number. The work, he said, was expected to be over by the end of the month. The cadastral-level maps, with different colour codes to indicate forests, residential areas, waterbodies and rocks, were prepared following a draft notification issued by MoEF in March redefining the territorial extent of the ESAs in Kerala.

Earlier, the Kasturirangan committee had earmarked 13,108 sq km across 123 villages in Kerala as ESA. Following widespread protests and political turmoil, the State government, on the basis of a ground- level verification, had proposed the exclusion of 3,117 sq km from the ESAs.

-The Hindu, September 18, 2014

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday submitted an affidavit to the Bombay High Court, stating that the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) has said the "bungalow Meherangir does not warrant listing as a heritage structure on account of its association with Dr Homi Bhabha."

The Centre had earlier, put the onus of declaring Dr Bhabha's bungalow a protected monument on the state government. The state government told the court it has now sought the views of the Municipal Commissioner. Citing the "factual position" on seven points raised by petitioner Prashant Worlikar, an employee of Atomic Energy Department, who sought protection of Meherangir by inclusion in the heritage list, the MHCC said the bungalow was not acquired by Bhabha, but by his parents in 1937 when he was pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK. Bhabha returned in 1939 and obtained formal ownership of only one-third share of the property for 11 years, from 1955 till his death. Bhabha spent major part of his life at 'Kenilworth' on Peddar Road, and later in Bangalore, the MHCC said.

"There is no evidence to suggest Dr Homi Bhabha had anything to do with designing or constructing the building," the MHCC's letter to the state Urban Development Department stated. It added it is incorrect to state Bhabha ran his office from Meherangir, as his substantive work was carried out at TIFR and BARC, Trombay. In due course, headquarters of the Atomic Energy Commission was established at (Old) Yacht Club, Apollo Bunder.

The MHCC added that Meherangir is located at the lower end of a private road ending in a cul-de-sac, and its location is not suitable and easily accessible for a museum. It also said previous exercises of listing of heritage structures in the city have not included Meherangir.

On the other hand, petitioner Prashant Worlikar on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that they had procured documents showing that the structure was more than 100 years old. Sources said the petitioner is likely to rely on the records of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Worlikar sought the court's permission to make a fresh plea to the Centre to consider declaring Meherangir a protected structure.

-The Indian Express, September 18, 2014

Legend says Mysore's golden throne belonged to the Pandavas

The golden throne at Mysore Palace, the cynosure of all eyes during Dasara celebrations here, was reassembled on Thursday.

The throne is an integral part of the Mysore royal family's festivities. Maharajas used to sit on the throne and conduct durbar during the days of the monarchy. But since the abolition of principalities, the symbolic act of ascending the throne and holding the durbar was continued by Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the scion of the royal family, till his death last December. In his absence, the royal sword will be placed on the throne, described by many as a work of art, and worshipped by priests. In the run up to the festivities, the priests conduct specific rituals associated with it and it is then assembled.

Jaganmohan Palace's curator Mr.Narasimha told The Hindu: "After the completion of the rituals and chanting of the vedic hymns, the priests sanctified the throne and by sprinkling holy water and the golden umbrella studded with precious stones, steps leading to the main seat, arms rest etc. were assembled part by part." The origin of the golden throne is shrouded in mystery, with a number of legends telling us different stories about how it came to be. Many theories According to one, the throne belonged to the Pandavas. But as per other, the throne belonged to the rulers of Vijayanagara Empire and was retrieved by Harihara I, one of the empire's founders, in the 14 Century and passed on to Srirangaraya, their governor in Srirangapatana.

Raja Wadiyar, who was one of the feudatories of the Vijaynagara empire, came to power in Srirangapatana in 1610 and the throne has remained with the Wadiyars since then. However, according to another theory, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb gifted the throne to Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar around 1700. The throne is displayed for the public during Dasara, and is dismantled afterwards.

-The Hindu, September 19, 2014

Almost a year after the National Green Tribunal ordered demolition of all illegal construction over the Yamuna and Hindon flood plains in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Environment & Forests is still "seriously considering" finalising a notification on River Regulation Zone. On May 20, 2013, the NGT had ordered the demolition on a plea filed by environmentalist Akash Vashishtha and Rajendra Tyagi against concretisation of the flood plains.

Mr. Vashishtha had brought to the Tribunal's notice how construction of concrete farm houses, plots, colonies, etc., and deposition of silt on the river bed was damaging the natural environment posing a grave threat to all life forms. On Thursday, his counsel Amit Khemka submitted before the NGT Bench headed by its Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar that while the MoEF is still only considering coming out with a River Regulation Zone, calamities like floods in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand were creating havoc.

-The Hindu, September 19, 2014

Unrestricted night viewing of 17 century monument Taj Mahal may be allowed, minister of state (independent charge) for tourism and culture Shripad Naik said on Friday. "We have asked the archaeological survey of India (ASI) to develop facilities at the adjoining Mehtab Bagh to allow more tourists for allowing them for unrestricted view of the Taj Mahal," he said.

The tourist federations in the city have been long demanding the district administration to allow night viewing of one of the Wonders of the World from the Mehtab Bagh, stating that it was reputedly Shah Jahan's favourite spot to watch the Taj at night, and will be an added attraction for visitors. Following which the minister asked the ASI to approach the local police and state government regarding the security issues linked to night viewing of Taj from Mehtabh Bagh.

According to ASI officials, the night viewing of Taj Mahal was started in November, 2004 for five nights in a month including the Full Moon night. However, it is not allowed on Fridays and during the month of Ramzan in accordance with Supreme Court orders. Raising a slew of security concerns, earlier the city police had also not given a go ahead to the night viewing of Taj Mahal from the picturesque Mughal garden, Mehtab Bagh.

However, in its report the ASI and the UP tourism department had forwarded a Rs 2 crore proposal, which includes a cafeteria, a large parking space and a modern toilet near the spot. The minister on Friday said that the report is under discussion and the unrestricted viewing of the Taj Mahal may be allowed. Significantly, the Centre is also planning to renovate Jawaharlal Nehru memorial and publish books to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of the country's first Prime Minister.

-The Asian Age, September 20, 2014

Union Tourism ministry is in the process of bringing out a "cleanliness index" that will list the top five cleanest cities in the country, a step aimed at encouraging their dirty counterparts to "clean up".

"We are preparing a cleanliness index. The methodology has been finalised. We will not tell you which are the five dirtiest cities. We will certainly tell which are the five cleanest cities," Tourism Secretary Parvez Dewan said.

To revive tourism in the flood-ravaged J&K, the Centre has asked state officials to bring out an inventory of rooms and infrastructure which can be used without major overhauling. After interacting with state officials, the Centre has learnt that there are many hotels whose upper floors could be put back in business in a short time. A majority of the houseboats, too, could be ready for business. The tourism ministry has told the state to try and restart tourism activities by October 15.

The government also plans to carry out a "culinary survey" across the country. The recipes would be standardised by the Chef Society of India and will be placed in the public domain. The aim is to cover all the 600 districts and the estimated number of recipes to be surveyed could touch a lakh. The ministry said the project for the development of Varanasi ghats, a pet scheme of the PM, was on schedule. UP government will carry out the drive which could take up to four years.

-The Indian Express, September 20, 2014

Delhi may face a civic and health disaster if remedial measures are not taken immediately to manage its waste water, Delhi's first sewerage master plan has warned.

The plan, uploaded on Delhi Jal Board's website for suggestions, states that because of ground water contamination, water-borne diseases (such as typhoid fever, cholera and hepatitis) may take the form of an epidemic, resulting in a disaster. "The water quality in the Yamuna is two notches below even the normal bathing standards," says the draft report that aims to fix Delhi's failing wastewater management system and reduce pollution in the Yamuna by building pipe networks and clean-up centres.

The Rs. 19,500-crore report plan promises to tackle contamination of surface and groundwater as well as soil — all of which are major public health risks. The city's 35 wastewater treatment plants can at best deal with only 40% of the total sewage generated every day because of their inadequate number, blocked trunk sewer lines and half the city — mostly unauthorised colonies — lacking a sewerage system. The rest of the discharge flows directly into the Yamuna through rainwater drains, killing both natural systems. Damage to stormwater drains causes urban flooding during monsoon and reduces groundwater recharge. An IIT-Delhi team, led by professor AK Gosain, is working on a separate master plan for stormwater drains, which should only carry rainwater. "The river is suffering not just from untreated sewer from unauthorised and unsewered areas but also from raw sewer entering illegally the storm water system from already areas where sewer lines already exist. This needs to be fixed," said environmentalist Manoj Misra.

"The Yamuna enters Delhi near village Palla in the north. Further, there's a barrage at Wazirabad where water is taken out by Delhi Jal Board for treatment and supply to households, meeting 70% of Delhi's water needs. In dry season, no water is allowed to flow beyond Wazirabad. Whatever flows, is waste water," the report says. The plan admits that Delhi's population has grown by more than 300% since 1971, up from 4 million then to 18 million now. But sewerage network augmentation, like in other infrastructure areas, has not kept pace. The blueprint proposes integration of various ongoing sewerage projects.

"But this cannot wait for 2031. It must be done at most in another 5 years to meet the Prime Minister's 2019 deadline for a Nirmal (clean and healthy) Bharat. For this to actually happen, the city will need to provide Delhi Jal Board with powers and resources like those of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation," said Misra. "Unsewered areas, mostly unauthorised colonies, of Delhi face congestion and have inadequate space for laying pipelines. An interceptor project will be a short-term measure before the problem is addressed with modern technologies," said a DJB official. The Rs. 1962-crore interceptor project involves laying parallel channels along the three major drains.

These will intercept sewage from several smaller drains that flow into these three drains. The sewage will be treated and released back into the main drains before they meet the Yamuna. "The project will be complete by the middle of next year and reduce 70%of the sewage pollution in the river," said the official.

-The Hindustan Times, September 21, 2014

Unknown to many visitors, the grand old Hanuman Mandir in New Delhi's Connaught Place is said to have a Mughal connection

Myths and half-truths surround some places of devotion. Some of these claims, even though not supported by history, thrive through generations because they help strengthen our belief in certain times, certain things. Some such claims ring around the popular Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place too. It also happens to be a temple popularly said to be in existence since "the Mahabharata times".

One such myth of the temple – as cited in its Wikipedia page and www.hanumantempledelhi.com website -- is a 'Guinness World record' for non-stop chanting of the shloka "Sri Ram Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram" since 1964. Apparently, priests have been taking turns to keep the tradition going.

A visit to the temple – my first ever – hinged on the high hope of finding a new element of the city, turns out to be, well, a hoax. One of its senior priests, Srikant Sharma, however tells this reporter, "It did start but fizzled out after some time." No. he is not aware of the act awarded any world record. "I have been in this temple for the last 42 years, I have no news of it," he responds.

Interestingly, Sharma has "no clue" about who runs the temple's "official" website launched in 2010. Yet another old priest, Mangal Das, thinks, "It is the NDMC." With trepidation, I enquire about the other claim. Both the sites on the Internet state that the façade of the mandir bears a crescent. They surprise me when they say yes. One of them offers to show me "where exactly it is." High up, on the spire of the white structure, is indeed engraved a half-moon-like crescent. Both Sharma and Mangal Das belong to the same family root, a family that has been running the temple affairs "for the last 42 generations." They have been hearing about the existence of the crescent since childhood.

"Earlier, there was only one priest who came from Galta, near Jaipur in Rajasthan. This was the jagir of Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber, the powerful general of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Man Singh brought the priest from his region. The family grew and two sons were born to the priest and then three sons each to the two sons, making it six original families that have claims on the temple. Today, we are a big family, most of us stay in the quarters just behind the temple," relates Mangal Das, perched on a settee meant for the head priest in a prominent corner of the temple.

However, don't expect to find Das on the seat every time of the year. "We rotate the family members' claim on the temple through the year. The days are divided according to the size of the family of each of the six initial families. So while some might get a month or more, some others get just a week or two in a year," Sharma tries explaining the family spiral to me.

He calls himself lucky as, from his great grandfather onwards, there has been only one son in every generation on his part of the family. "I was my father's only son. I have just one son and so does my son. So we have claim over the temple two months a year," he adds. The temple offerings go to whoever the claimant is for that period. Coming back to 'the crescent story', both claim it to be an example of Mughal Emperor Akbar's religious tolerance. "Badshah Akbar gave grants to the temple; he then put a crescent on it. It was his greatness. Because of it, the subsequent Muslim invaders didn't touch the temple," state both.

There is no place for this claim in historicity. Eminent historian and professor of Aligarh Muslim University Shireen Moosvi points out, "I find it difficult to believe it as the crescent was not the sign of Islam during Akbar's time.

It became one during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, you will not find any crescent engraved anywhere on the Jama Masjid in Delhi." Former secretary of Indian History Congress, Moosvi, a scholar on Akbar's period, says, "Unlike Jehangir, Akbar never visited a temple, was against idol worship but he didn't stop anyone from it." The author of the critically acclaimed book "Episodes in the Life of Akbar" relates an interesting story about the Mughal king. "Once some qazis protested after he gave a grant to a Hindu temple. He told them, everyone is equally entitled to pray to God. Later, after giving a huge grant to a Jain temple, some Hindu priests objected. He gave them the same answer."

Moosvi calls attention to a pertinent point here, "Certain myths are good. Sometimes, a popular story is better for the society than those based only on historicity. The story about the crescent of the Hanuman Mandir is one such example."

Meanwhile, priests Das, Sharma and his son Durgesh state, "Hanuman Ji has a great heart, it goes across communities. Because of the crescent, you will find the Muslim churriwallahs (glass bangle sellers) sitting outside the Hanuman Mandir visiting it as devotees every Tuesday." Well, some myths are indeed good, this one particularly so for the fragile secular fabric of the society.

-The Hindu, September 22, 2014

In order to encourage fish culture in the water bodies and village ponds of Delhi, the Delhi Fisheries Unit of the Delhi government has decided to auction 24 water bodies in Northwest district for fishing activities, said a senior official of the development department.

"The Fisheries Unit has decided to auction these water bodies. This will also overcome the problem of encroachment of such water bodies situated on gramsabha land," said the official.

The unit has produced 18.25 lakhs fish seeds and 680 MT fish this year. The unit has 15 nursery ponds covering about two acres, wherein the unit produces fish seed, rear them to fry and fingerling size and stock in public and private waters. The unit issues fishing license on daily and annual basis for rod and line and nets. The unit also leases out specific water portions for fishing every year under rules and regulations laid down in the Indian Fisheries Act, 1897, and the Fisheries Act, 1914.

Under the provision of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954, gram panchayat has to develop activities such as poultry farming and fishery.

-The Tribune, September 22, 2014

Four Indian cities — Agra, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Panaji — feature among the Asian Top 10 list of a global survey, when it comes to last-minute bookings for luxury destinations, which are also affordable. Among the Asian Top 10 luxurious but affordable destinations, four Indian cities have been listed, according to a survey by global online hotel search site Trivago.

The data was compiled by Europe, North and Central America, South America, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Asia and Africa. Agra in Uttar Pradesh is second on the list, with an average price of Rs 5,220 per night, followed by Ahmedabad in Gujarat securing the third position with Rs 5,275 per night, the survey revealed. Kochi is in the seventh position in the list, with Rs 5,660 per night, on an average, while Panaji in Goa is on the eighth position, at an average of Rs 5,673 per night, it said.

"Recent price wars between airline companies should give a good combination for Indian travellers, who are still looking to vacation abroad or within India. Prices for top star hotels in Panaji and Kochi are quite favourable right now to enjoy high quality at better price," Trivago India's representative Abhinav Kumar said. China's Zhuhai city topped the list at Rs 4,169 per night, the survey revealed.

Three other Chinese cities namely Guangzhou (4), Dongguan (5) and Shenzhen (6) featured in the list, with an average room price at Rs 5,454, Rs 5,480 and Rs 5,500, respectively. Taiwan's Kaohusiung city secured the ninth position at Rs 6,603 per night and Taichung city is at the tenth position, at Rs 6,694 per night among the Asian Top 10, luxurious but affordable destinations.

-The Times of India, September 22, 2014