A rare Buddhist Dharmachakra (Wheel of Life), belonging to the 9th century AD, has been unearthed from Manduka hillock under Barachana block of Jajpur district, nearly 90 km from here.

According to historian and Buddhist researcher Dr Harishchandra Prusty, some residents of Manduka stumbled upon the Dharmachakra while digging the hill to collect rocks for their traditional stone-carving activity.

The villagers have started worshipping the Dharmachakra there on the hill itself. Mahayana schools classify Buddhist teachings in sequential scheme of development. These phases are called "turnings" of the Dharmachakra or Dharmachakra Pravartana.

"All Buddhists agree that the original turning of the wheel occurred when Buddha taught the five ascetics who became his first disciples at Deer Park in Sarnath. The wheel is one of the most important Buddhist symbols as it represents the teachings of the Buddha," Dr Prusty observed.

Buddha was the one who "turned the wheel of the dharma," he added.

The Tibetan term for this symbol, chos kyi'khor lo, means "the wheel of transformation. The wheel's motion is a metaphor for the rapid spiritual change engendered by the teachings of Buddha.

"Buddha's first discourse at the Deer Park in Sarnath is known as the first turning of the wheel of dharma. His subsequent discourses at Rajgir and Shravasti are known as the second and third turnings of the wheel of dharma. The twelve spokes of the wheel symbolise the Noble Eight-fold Path set by Buddha in his teachings. The wheel also represents the endless cycle of samsara, or rebirth, which can only be escaped by means of the Buddha's teachings," he explained.

Some Buddhist scholars regard the wheel's three basic parts as symbols of the three trainings in Buddhist practice: the hub symbolises moral discipline that stabilizes the mind; the spokes (usually there are eight) represent wisdom that is applied to defeat ignorance; and the rim represents training in concentration that holds everything else together.

"The wheel was a common symbol in early Buddhist art, before the introduction of Buddha images. In those days, the Dharmachakra symbolised not only the Buddha's teachings but the Buddha himself. On top of the pillars built by Emperor Ashoka, four carved lions and four wheels face four directions to proclaim the Buddhist Dharma throughout India," added Dr Prusty.

- The Indus Valley Times, 1st February 2013

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday issued an order restraining all individuals, companies as well as public authorities from throwing any debris or solid waste on the Yamuna river bank or water bodies near it. It also ordered the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and their agencies to immediately start removing the debris and dumping it at appropriate sites.

"We hereby issue an injunction restraining anybody, any person, authority from throwing any debris of any kind including solid wastes on the river bank of Yamuna or the water body near the river. State of UP, DDA, Government of NCT Delhi and East Delhi Municipal Corporation shall forthwith start removing debris from the river bank of Yamuna and the water body," NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The green panel directed the authorities to communicate this order to all, "primarily the builders who are involved in huge construction in and around NCT of Delhi".

According to the order, all municipal solid wastes will have to be taken to the MCD's dumping site in Ghazipur while construction material and similar waste shall be removed to other identified sites.

"In the event no sites (for debris apart from municipal solid waste) have been identified by any authority, we hereby direct all the corporations and the DDA, states of UP and Delhi to notify within two weeks from today the sites for dumping of debris," it said while passing the order on a plea by environmentalist Manoj Mishra.

The tribunal said as a temporary measure, public authorities and UP government shall start removing debris and bring it to the end of the 'highest flood level' of the Yamuna and that "the stored debris shall be converted into a wall at that end-point".

"In our considered opinion, it would prevent unauthorised entry, flood and prevent pollution of river Yamuna. The lifting of debris shall start forthwith and all these authorities shall co-operate and work in tandem with each other to achieve the above object and ensure compliance," the tribunal said.

The NGT also gave liberty to authorities to make private parties cough up the money spent on removing debris thrown by them, in accordance with the principle of 'polluter pays'.

"All these authorities should exercise their statutory powers and not only prevent all persons throwing debris on the river bank but even require them to pay for the purposes of removal of debris which are thrown by them," it stated.

The tribunal has ordered the DDA vice-chairman to hold a meeting within one week after inviting all the authorities concerned and ensure complete implementation of the directions.

- The Indian Express, 1st February 2013

Students from 24 public and government schools across the Capital will participate in FilmIt!, a film festival on the heritage of Delhi, to be organised next week.

Around 400 short films of 2-3 minutes' duration have been prepared by the student participants for FilmIt! that would be held on February 6, jointly organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)'s Heritage and Education Communication Service (HECS) and the India International Centre (IIC).

"Making films is an exciting way for children to understand the world in which they live, and the contributions made by different cultures and communities," said an INTACH official.

The project involved students from Classes 6 and 7 from 24 organisations, including six government schools. Apart from the filming equipment provided to them, each school was given the necessary training in filmmaking and also in editing and script writing.

"These films on culture and heritage of their city - Delhi- are then shared with students in the United Kingdom. The project is funded by the Helen Hamlyn Trust UK and is a part of Open Futures Filmit programme," said Purnima Datt from the HECS, INTACH.

The FilmIt! Film festival was initiated in 2008 and is into its fifth year.

- The Hindustan Times, 1st February 2013

Shamim Akhtar had the heart of a naturalist and he dreamt of being a famous fashion photographer in Paris. Instead he joined the civil services but never lost his love for the wilderness. He spoke to Shana Maria Verghis about his latest black and white photos of Ladakh

If it wasn't for his girlfriend — who is now his wife and publisher — Shamim Akhtar said he would have stuck to photography fulltime. Instead, he wrote the Civil Service exam and got a posting that would pay for a part of his life. Like social status etc. He said he gave it his best, and enjoyed it well.

But after disappearing briefly into the next room of the office and parlez-vousing with officials, between a chat with us, he returned looking somewhat dark and grumbled about bureacracy!

A few minutes before we had been flipping through several books of his published photos.

One on Kailas, which he visited twice. One on medieval Delhi, in black and white. An early, faded book on Lakshwadeep and two on Ladakh. The latest of the latter, will be exhibited at the Experimental Gallery, featuring large black and white, ghostly infra-red images.

Shamim, who got his first camera when he was a boy, said he was taking photos for pocket money during his college. He wanted to turn professional — he liked fashion photography, and remarked, "I've got a natural eye for glam and imagined I'd be a famous photographer in Paris one day!" Unfortunately there was that love-interest thing. So he chose a more 'respectable career', though he actually earned a lot, even with his side job taking photos. He was also into solo biking for a long time. He became quite proficient in the technical part of photography. He had his own dark room and ran his own studio in Hauz Khas, which he recently closed. But he still does free-lance work. He prefers analog, but says he's the victim of technology and has no choice but go digital.

Shamim ranks Guru Dutt the film-maker as one of his idols: "He brought the concept of light and shade." And he recalls waiting to ask Prabuddha Dasgupta to let him be his assistant one day — "But he never saw me. Incidentally, Prabuddha had great aesthetic sense, but not great technique."

A contemporary of Bharat Sikka, Shamim is as full-on with his Bullet, as he is with his camera.

He boasted, "I could redo it 100 per cent. I am true to whatever I do." He brings a bit of the road to work in his ability to connect with people, remarking, "Bureacrats should be bikers. What's the use of travelling on holiday in a Pajero and staying at a five-star, where you still throw your weight around. As a backpacker you connect."

He mused, "There are more good people on the planet. Poor people are helpful. I remember on the road to Ajmer Sharif, I got shade under a tree, where a man had a tea-stall. He told me he didn't have a caste certificate so he missed a job. I thought how one could get two lakh subsidised loans for the poor because I'd heard his story."

He went on, "Back in 1990, I was travelling in Sikkim. There were fierce battles between Bhutias and Nepalis. With me from Gangtok to Kalimpong was a footballer, who had a khukri to protect us with." It started to rain on the way. "We stopped, drenched by a kiosk and were received at the door by a man who cooked us food. We slept like dead bodies. Next day we woke up to find the bike clean. The guy with me said, 'thanks Shamim, you changed my life, now I'll think twice before I say anything about Bhutiyas'." Their host was one.

- The Pioneer, 4th February 2013

The forest department has taken measures for the safe and smooth nesting of the turtles.

Much to the delight of conservationists, over one lakh endangered Olive Ridley turtles have turned up at the serene Gahirmatha beach of Orissa for mass nesting in the last three days.

Their nesting near the Rushikulya river mouth off Ganjam coast started on Friday. An estimated 20,000 turtles climbed ashore to lay eggs in the 3-km-long stretch from Gokharakuda to Podampeta, the Divisional Forest Officer (Berhampur), Mr A.K. Jena, said.

The mass nesting of the Olive Ridley was followed by the sporadic nesting in the rookery, considered as the second largest after Gahiramatha in Kendrapara district. The forest department has taken measures for the safe and smooth nesting of the turtles in the rookery.

Besides the Rushikulya river mouth, the other two nesting sites— the Devi river mouth in Puri district and Gahiramatha — are the famous mass nesting sites for the Olive Ridley turtles in the State.

AT GAHIRMATHA

"The Nasi-1 Island, near Defence Research and Development Organisation's defence installation at Wheeler's Island, is witness to the laying of eggs by the marine visitors," Mr Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division, said.

The turtles' sojourn in unmanned island with idyllic environment has been a treat to watch, forest officials said.

As the territory where turtles have congregated to lay eggs is very close to the prohibited defence project, there are none to witness this unique natural phenomenon. Under DRDO directions, visitors and outsiders are stopped from making their way to the place. Only forest personnel on turtle protection duty have access to the nesting ground, said forest officials.

The 1-km stretch nesting ground is teeming with nesting Olive Ridley marine turtles who continue to enjoy threatened status equal to that of Bengal tigers in the country. The nesting that is expected to continue for a week would pick up in coming days, officials said.

The turtles loiter around the serene beach for quite a while before locating their preferred places to lay eggs.

They stay over an hour or so at the nesting ground before undertaking their seaward journey, officials said.

- The Hindu, 4th February 2013

It is a project that was sought to be initiated about five years ago but when work started on road widening between Andheria More and Mahipalpur recently, it caught residents of Vasant Kunj completely off guard. In the past week or so, PWD has felled several trees along the road outside blocks D-1, 2 and 3 and Sector A pockets A, B and C. Not only has no permission been given for tree felling for the project so far, residents are also questioning the need for an eight-lane road cutting through a densely populated colony.

"We initially thought some random digging was taking place. But in the past few days, a large number of trees have been cut, with the pace of work having been picked up over the weekend. The contractor told us it was for a PWD road widening project and permission for tree cutting has been applied for but not received. Since then, we started marking trees and realized that many of them have now disappeared. Not only is there no accountability for the trees cut but the wood has also been sold," said Neerja Jain, a resident.

An application for cutting 164 trees in the almost 6-km stretch "has almost been cleared" by the forest department, PWD officials say. However, residents who have counted trees say that at least 1,000 trees would have to be cut.

"We counted 120 trees in the first 200m itself. The contractor has felled over 50 trees, for which we have complained to the forest department and police. Several trees have been left standing with a patch of earth around them that makes them highly unstable. Why is PWD in such a tearing hurry?" said Anuradha Marwah.

Government sources say the first leg of the project would see road widening of 3km from Andheria Mod to Masoodpur Village. "The existing road is 4-lane and will be doubled to an 8-lane road with a width of 75m. It will connect the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road with NH-8," said an official.

Permission from apex planning body UTTIPEC has also not been received, a source added. A PWD official said all documents and plans for the project had been submitted to UTTIPEC and approval was awaited.

"But why do we need this kind of a road cutting through Vasant Kunj? It will carry a huge volume of high-speed traffic which would be a safety hazard for children and senior citizens. Also, it is not possible to get a width of 75m through the entire stretch and PWD will have to deviate from the norm stipulated by DDA and eat into the green buffer and pedestrian and cycle paths. In block D-2 they will cut right into the colony and the front row of flats will be practically on the road," said Abha Mahajan, a resident of D-2.

- The Times of India, 4th February 2013

There's bad news for the Okhla Bird sanctuary. Because of rising pollution, local disturbances and effects of climate change, nearly 3,200 less birds visited the sanctuary this winter.

The annual Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), done in January this year, has put the total number of birds sighted at 5,545. Last year, the count was 8,751. The 2013 report has been prepared by Wetlands International (South Asia).

TK Roy, Delhi state coordinator of AWC, told Hindustan Times, "The decline in the number of birds is because of climate change and several other local factors and threats. Yamuna is highly polluted. Something needs to be done urgently."

But the number of species that visited the sanctuary this winter has gone up from 57 to 63. Besides, nearly 35 species have registered an increase in the number of birds. These include resident, migratory and local migratory species.

The numbers of some bird species - such as Greylag Goose, Barheaded Goose, Com-mon Teal, Gadwal and Eurasian Wigeon - has gone up substantially. But about 20 species have registered a decline in their numbers. Some of them are: Northern Shoveler, Common Coot, Northern Pintail, Tufted duck and Common Pochar.

Moreover, three bird species - Pied Avocet, Little Stint and Little Ringed Plover - gave the sanctuary a miss this winter. What was heartening was that the Greater Flamingo (26 in all) made a comeback after 2010 and a lone Common Shelduck returned after 12 years.

"Coastal birds such as Greater Flamingo used to number around 500 at the sanctuary earlier but the number came down to 20 in 2010. These rosy-white, long legged birds gave the sanctuary a miss in 2011 winter, though in an unusual development, seven of them were found in the sanctuary this monsoon," Roy said.

Bird lovers are also optimistic from the fact that some threatened species - such as Oriental Darter, Oriental White Ibis, River Lapwing, Painted Stork and Black-tailed Godwit - were sighted this winter.

The sanctuary - spread over an area of 3.5 sqkm on the Yamuna - is a heaven for waterbirds and a favourite among birdwatchers with more than 300 species spotted so far. After the construction of a barrage and the resulting lake in 1986, birdwatching activity increased.

- The Hindustan Times, 4th February 2013

Can a person have more than two graves? R. V. SMITH finds out There's a mystery of sorts at Turkman Gate where the saint after whom Shah Jahan named one of the 14 gates of Shahjahanabad in 1648, lies buried. Researcher Surekha Narain, who led a heritage walk to the place last week, got confused as to which of the two graves in the area was the one in which Shams-ul-Arifin (sun of knowledge), Hazrat Turkman Bayabani was buried. According to Maulvi Zafar Hasan's famous compilation on Delhi monuments, quoted by INTACH, the saint is actually buried in Mohalla Qabaristan, also known as Dada Pir Wali Dargah. Close by, in Bulbuli Khana, are buried Razia Sultan and her sister Shazia, both daughters of Sultan Iltutmish, the great ruler of the Slave dynasty. They were both devotees of Shah Turkman Bayabani. According to Sadia Dehlvi, author of "The Dargahs of Delhi", the saint was a disciple of Sheikh Shahbuddin Suhrawardi of Multan and a contemporary of Hazrat Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, with whom he used to converse often.

While it is true that Shah Turkman Bayabani's grave is in Mohalla Qabaristan, the grave near Turkman Gate marked "Shah Bayabani" is puzzling. Was it of another person, probably a devotee? There are some other graves close by too. Prof Aslam Parvaiz, an authority on Delhi's history, whose family has been living in the area for several centuries, says the grave pointed out to tourists by guides as that of the saint is not the real one. "It's either that the tourist guides are ignorant or too lazy to go to Mohalla Qabaristan that they do so," opines Dr Khaliq Anjum, former head of the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind), New Delhi. Dr Anjum says for that matter even the shrine known as Matkewala Pir on Mathura Road is regarded by some as a creation of the British for political reasons. It is said to have come up overnight though it is true that the saint it is supposed to honour, Hazrat Azmat Sheikh, was a devout Pir from Tartous who had set up abode in medieval Delhi and was a contemporary of both Shah Bayabani and Hazrat Qutubuddin.

According to INTACH's account, Shah Bayabani's tomb is built of white marble and the entrance is "through a cusped arch below street level". On the south is a mosque and round about other graves too giving the locality its name, Mohalla Qabaristan, where goats are tethered in the winter sunshine. Sadia Dehlvi says that the saint died on Feb 19, 1240 during the reign of Muizuddin Bahram Shah, Razia's brother and also the one accused of being responsible for her death. Turkman Bayabani was a saint who did not mind interacting with people of all communities, especially those living on the outskirts of the capital of the Delhi Sultanate. He was fond of celebrating Basant, or so it seems, as in earlier times a Basant fair was held at Turkman Gate to herald spring. Among the later saints, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusrau where also fond of celebrating Basant— and so were the Mughal emperors, specially Mohammad Shah Rangila. People who migrated to Lahore after 1947 still celebrate Basant as the festival of kites, even though the police try to ban the celebration every year.Now to come back to the two — mazar controversy. Even the Taj Mahal has two sets of graves, one in the Cenotaph Chamber and the other set below. There is a belief that actually there are six graves in the Taj. The real ones of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal being kutcha (mud) ones below the Yamuna level, so that the last resting place of the emperor and empress was never desecrated by invaders or others. Babar's real grave is in Kabul but the original one is at Charbagh in Agra. Bahadur Shah Zafar is buried in Yangon, though the tomb he had planned is in Mehrauli. Yet another interesting example is that of Father Joseph Tieffentaller, an Austrian priest who died at Lucknow on June 5, 1785 but was buried at Agra, where he had first come in 1744. The late historical researcher 'T.S.' goes on to point out that surprisingly enough there are tombstones in Lucknow, Mathura and Ajmer also purporting to be the graves of the great mathematician and astronomer, who spoke German, Italian, Spanish, French and Latin and had also acquired a fair knowledge of Urdu, Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit. As a matter of fact, he compiled a Sanskrit—Persian dictionary too.

There are other examples also of people with more than one tombstone, like Gen. David Ochterlony, who is buried in Meerut, but built his "Makbara" in Delhi. And do you know that Akbar's grave at Sikandra could also be having a twin, re-discovered some 50 years ago by 'T.S.'? It's not at ground level but in a secluded top portion of the mausoleum. No wonder then that, in keeping with tradition, Shah Turkman Bayabani too should have an imitation grave or why would somebody be foolhardy enough to have "Turkman Bayabani" inscribed on a mazar on the roadside, near the gate, under a tree?

- The Hindu, 4th February 2013

They boarded a bus early winter morning, braving the biting chill, from their little village Bikna Silpadanga in Bankura district of West Bengal to reach Kolkata in time to collect awards and certificates of merit for their lesser known eye-arresting art. But unable to read English, they took hours to locate the actual venue of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) in the heart of the city.

They finally made it to the Rabindranath Tagore Centre to be awarded for their skilled line of art-specimens.

Dokra craftsmen Buddhadeb Karmakar and Bulu Karmakar looked dazed and wide-eyed surrounded by dignitaries, artists, critics and above all, the glaring media attention.

The husband-wife duo along with few other artists in tow, landed up at the culture-capital to be bestowed with honours at an ongoing exposition wherein their intricately designed dokra art is put on public display. Held under the prestigious banner of West Bengal State Akademi of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts, the annual art exhibition of 2013 is dedicated to the renowned Bengal master Jamini Roy on his 125th birth anniversary.

Living on their meagre incomes by selling deftly crafted fare, a cluster of 70 such families of a skeletal dokra community back home, is struggling hard to sustain its art.

"Our items were selected from the stalls at the monthlong handicraft fair hosted on the Milon Mela grounds in the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass area last year. We annually take part in the fair to exhibit our dokra paraphernalia," shares the adroit artist whose middle name is simplicity.

"We are poor and unlettered. But we want our art to thrive and continue the legacy through generations. We want to hand it down to our posterity so that it is preserved forever," said a soft-spoken, timid Bulu sneaking through her ghunghat. "This is our family vocation and we take immense pride in it. Yet, we want our children to pursue their studies first to manage their finances and comfortably flourish with this rare art form which is a God's blessing in our genes," says Buddhadeb.

Lamenting over the fact that there is no provision of insurance cover for this persevering perilous craft that involves intense physical labour taxing on the eyes and the body, he rues "it is quite a tough task as for hours from day till night we are clung onto shaping up the clay casts, heating, drying and colouring them to conjure patterns, floral designs and depict scenes from age-old legends, parables, war-epics and mythology. Heads lowered and backs bent in a stooping position for long, cause neck-sprain and backache. But beyond the demerits, we look forward to our creative gratification. After all, no risk no gain, we believe."

However, the irony lies elsewhere. When not engaged in art, the okra artists pull rickshaws or ride cycle-vans or worse still, dig earth for quarrying or road repair or just aid in construction activity as helping hands.

"We don't mind the injuries at the altar of our artwork. What hurts me most is when I'm forced to do masonry or other labour to fend for myself and my family. Now you are talking to me because I have been introduced as a dextrous dokra artist on this forum. I feel it's ignominious for an artist to be reduced to a contract-labourer for 90 days to feed mouths at home. I don't despise any kind of work but then our art is also never recognised by and large. Many people are not even aware of its existence and still consider it to be a vintage, period craft, fit to be only curated into museums," he laments.

From Krishnalila to Kargil War, from auspicious pots to paddy granaries, from bohemian bauls (folk artists) to the intrepid Jhansi Ki Rani or from the King Indra's chariot to idyllic rural landscapes — often it takes two-and-a-half months just to hatch the idea in head. And then the process to create begins.

The only solace is to get some government grants and incentives like a plot of land wherein they could build small huts to live and be preoccupied with their true calling. "But that's too little to bail us out from our perennial crisis. We have to procure and purchase the raw material for our indigenous craft by taking loans at a high rate of interest from money-lenders. And sadly enough, our modest earnings hardly leave any room for a decent profit to help sail us smoothly with our business. We have willingness to emerge as self-employed craftsmen but then there is a gaping deficit of means to lend fruition to our dreams," he says.

A pot of sand, clay, cultivable fertile soil rich with manure, sieved through a strainer to get some pure fine particles, surface of wax designs, glass, brass are all put together to an adept use to flower and foster this fine art. The mould is heated to harden the material as a solidified rock and then, the final output is chiselled out to form a human figurine or any objet d'art. The finished product is then polished.

"We are hoping against hope. We want more platforms like this to acknowledge and encourage our ignored art. Only then can an impoverished craft can survive a premature disaster," he says earnestly.

"The district cultural office near our village serves as the information centre about fairs, contests and exhibitions round the corner. That's how we get a wind of prospective avenues to pitchfork our craft," he signs off with the parting shot to re-embark on his return trip to the far-flung residing village.

- The Asian Age, 5th February 2013

The Kos Minars built by Emperor Akbar on the highway from Agra to Ajmer are struggling to retain their glory and existence. Rapid urbanisation resulted in encroachment upon the tall mile stones. A group of residents in Jaipur took legal course for preservation of the Kos Minars.

The state government assured that the Kos Minar will be protected. There is no question of neglecting the historical monuments, says Rajasthan art and culture minister Bina Kak.

'I drew attention to the sorry state of Kos Minars, says Mohammed Aslam Khan, who filed a PIL before the Rajasthan high court.

The archaeological department had listed over four dozen Kos Minars. but only half a dozen are marked as protected monuments while the rest are described as important. "We are seeking protection and preservation of all minars. The administration should ensure their proper maintenance, says Ram Kapil, advocate for Mr Khan. Since one Kos Minar is located in the walled city, the state government directed the local self government to protect it and remove encroachments.

Former chief secretary Salauddin Ahmed said the Kos Minar were built at every Kos. "The Kos Minars were markers on the highway for travellers, traders and devotees. They were not only simply markers, but also had a well and inn for travellers," Mr Ahmed said. Emperor Akbar was a frequent visitor to the Ajmer shrine. "He was devotee of mystic saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty. He travelled on foot from Agra to Ajmer when he was blessed with a son, says Syed Kalimuddin, vice president of Anjuman, a body representing the Khadims in Ajmer.

- The Asian Age, 5th February 2013

The calving season of the Nilgiri tahrs is under way at the park

The Eravikulam National Park, abode of the highly endangered , (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), will remain closed to visitors till April 4.

Chief Wildlife Warden V. Gopinathan said the two-month closure was an annual affair during the calving season of the tahrs.

The closure was ordered on the basis of a report submitted by K.V. Subramanian, Field Director (Project Tiger), that the calving season of these mountain goats had begun at the park. Mr. Subramanian told The Hindu that kids were seen from the later part of January. Many of the female tahrs were heavily pregnant.

The mating season of the tahrs is between June and August and the gestation period is nearly six months. Females give birth to a single calf, though occasionally a mother with two kids has been observed. Births peak during February, and the kids are instinctively wary of human presence.

Mr. Subramanian said the newly born calves were very vulnerable to disturbances and diseases. The kids followed their mothers for the first two months and were weaned in six months. He said the calves accompanied their mothers to the Rajamala tourism zone of the 97 sq km park. But the large number of visitors to the tourism zone made the calves vulnerable to contracting diseases.

Population stable

Mr. Subramanian said the tahr population at the park was stable at around 800. An estimate taken in 2010 showed the population as 776; in 2011 it was 831, and in 2012, 789. The number of kids during the calving season was estimated at 70. Wild dogs, leopards, and even tigers are the main predators of the Nilgiri Tahr. Disease and accidents also claim some of them.

The adult males are called saddlebacks since they develop a light grey area on their backs. The Nilgiri tahrs are the only species of Caprine ungulates found south of the Himalayas.

The tahr, the State animal of Tamil Nadu, which was driven to the brink of extinction during the second half of the 19th century made a spectacular comeback mainly owing to the early interventions of the Nilgiri Game Association and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. There are now plans to reintroduce the tahr in its original habitats of Glenmorgan Mountains in the Nilgiris and the Thirukurungudi mountain ranges of the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu from where it disappeared years ago. - The Hindu, 5th February 2013

The Andaman & Nicobar administration created a buffer zone to secure the fringes of Jarawa territory at the same time as it wilfully allowed its heart to be destroyed

On January 21, 2013, the Supreme Court issued an order banning tourists from using the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) as it passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve (The Hindu, "SC bans tourists in Jarawa land," January 22, 2013). Ironically, the order was a direction to the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Administration to implement its own notification of 2007.

The core idea of the initial notification (No.234/2007/F.No. 1-752/2007-TW) was to prevent "any person other than a member of an aboriginal tribe" from indulging in any commercial and/or tourism activities in a buffer zone (BZ) of five kilometres from the boundaries of the Jarawa Reserve. The turn of events, however, is best highlighted by the fact that during arguments in the court in July 2012, the SC was constrained to ask the A&N Administration why it should not be held in contempt for non-implementation of the BZ notification of its own creation. Something had obviously gone terribly wrong in the interim and a clue lies in trying to understand how the administration had sought to implement the notification.

There have been allegations that the BZ notification was brought in to target specific commercial entities, and circumstantial evidence too seems to point to this. Of the hundreds of big and small commercial enterprises in this buffer zone, for instance, only a handful were sent closure notices in the first three years after the notification came into force. In August 2009, the Calcutta High Court struck down the notification in response to an application filed by one of the resorts that was shut down. The administration went in appeal to the Supreme Court, which asked explicitly for the full implementation of this buffer zone. It is here that the story begins to turn because the real implications started to turn up.

Little, if any, thought had been put into the larger implications of the notification. There were a number of questions that the administration had not considered: what would it mean to restrict commercial activities in this five-kilometre buffer zone? How many villages of non-tribal settlers would this buffer zone include? How many people would be impacted? What would it mean for the livelihoods of thousands of these people if all commercial activities were to stop? Not surprisingly there was and still is huge opposition to the buffer zone notification from the local population. The situation was beginning to get out of hand and that is when the administration tried to first dilute the provisions of its notification and then ignore the need for its implementation.

The issue of the ATR that lies at the heart of the court's recent orders has to be understood in this context. A part of the ATR has been used for many years now by tourists for visiting the limestone caves and mud volcanoes on Baratang Island. Clearly, the use of ATR by tourists (a commercial activity) could not be permitted if the buffer zone notification was implemented in letter and spirit. The administration chose the "don't see, don't hear, don't implement" way out of the logjam it had crafted for itself.

Perverse tourism

Importantly the road has become, in recent years, the vector and the catalyst for a perverse kind of tourism with tourists taking a ride here in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Jarawa who traditionally don't wear clothes. This whole thing exploded in early 2012 when videos were circulated by a British media house showing Jarawa women dancing on the ATR, allegedly, to get some food items from tourists. While all have not been convinced of the allegations, there was no doubt that the Jarawa were being compromised in different ways. The huge national and international uproar notwithstanding, the administration took only what can be considered cosmetic steps.

It was repeatedly pointed out that the A&N administration was not just ignoring its own buffer zone notification, but that, it was in far more serious contempt of an earlier Supreme Court order as well. In 2002 the court had actually ordered that the ATR be shut down completely in those parts where it runs through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. Many commentators have noted that had the ATR been shut as per the 2002 order, the current sorry state of affairs would never have come to pass. There would have been no traffic on the ATR, there would be no tourists and a spectacle would not have been made of the Jarawas.

Ironically the A&N administration was creating a buffer zone to secure the fringes of Jarawa territory at the same time as it was wilfully allowing its heart to be eaten away and destroyed. As a matter of fact in an amendment brought in a few days ago on January 17, the Lt. Governor of the islands actually reduced the sea component of the Jarawa Reserve. The lip service being paid to the needs and the welfare of the Jarawa is just that.

Tourism traffic on the ATR has now reportedly been stopped, but the sentiment and cynicism of the local population was captured neatly in a Facebook post by a Port Blair resident a day after the orders were issued — "take it from me," it said "it would be business as usual."

(Pankaj Sekhsaria is editor of the Protected Area Update, a bimonthly newsletter on wildlife and conservation published by Kalpavriksh. E-mail: [email protected])

- The Hindu, 5th February 2013

Kamthana in Bidar district is one of the most inspiring places for a number of Jain ascetics and devotees. The annual three-day car festival held here from February 15 to 17 attracts hordes of devotees from neighbouring states, reports Srinivas Sirnoorkar

Jainism was the most vibrant religion in the ancient and medieval period of the Hyderabad Karnataka region's history. This is evident from a plethora of Jain monuments, historical and heritage sites, artefacts, nishidhis (memorial stones), basadis and inscriptions found extensively in several parts of the region, particularly in Gulbarga and Bidar districts. One such unique Jain centre is the Jain Mandir of Parshavanth Tirthankara at Kamthana in Bidar district.Situated at Kamthana village, 10 km south of the district headquarters of Bidar, it has a number of unique attributes. Like the Jain holy places of Shravanabelagola and Koppal, Kamthana was one of the most sought-after centres by Jain munis and shravaks who would choose this site to seek salvation through the practice of sallekhana, fasting unto death with traditional vows.

The place also reveals the influence of the Jain traditions prevalent in North India, evident from the presence of the 'Srivatsa' mark on the chest of the Parshvanath. 'Srivatsa' is a diamond-shaped mark on the chest of the Parshvanath usually found on sculptures in North India but not in South India. The mark is symbolic of the greatness of the soul, much like the diamond, known for its qualities of firmness, brightness and purity.

Carved in black mixed blue soft granite, the 115-cm tall and 55-cm wide monolith Parshvanath idol mesmerises not just because of its beautiful form but also because of its inner beauty. Qualities like self restraint, serenity, calmness, compassion, detachment, renunciation, austerity, meditation, all can be found and experienced in the sculpture.

The prabhamandala or radiance can be found at the back of the head of Parshvanath sitting in the paryankasana pose and sheltered under a seven-hooded serpent. Needless to say, Kamthana has remained one of the most inspiring places for a number of Jain ascetics for self realisation and salvation.

Many of them would come here to undertake sallekhana. A number of nishidhis, stone memorials recording the act of sallekhana, can also be found in and around Kamthana.

Anonymous sculptor

Though the sculptor who made such a marvellous piece of stone poetry remains anonymous, the inscription in Kannada found at the bottom of the sculpture states that it has been installed by Rechisetty of Sri Mollasangha tradition. This is the 18th Jain inscription found in Bidar district, according to history professor Appanna Hanje who has written a research article on the Kamthana Jain shrine. According to another amateur research scholar, D N Akki, the original meaning of Kamthana is 'a place of forgiveness', which is one of the greatest tenets of Jainism.

Made during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukyas in the 11th-12th century, due to fear of aggressors, the sculpture was installed at a safer place in the cellar of the temple. However, it was rediscovered by Acharya Shruta Sagar Muni in 1987 and the idol was brought out from the cellar and installed on a higher platform in the temple.

Though the temple has been renovated, the sculpture of Parshvanath Tirthankara has remained unaltered ever since its installation about 900 years ago.

Bidar Jain Milan Secretary Vijaykumar Jain maintains that Kamthana is one of the most inspirational Jain centres where three-day annual Rathyatra Mahotsava is held from February 15 to 17, attracting devotees from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. The temple committee wants to restore the glory of the temple through a number of religious and cultural activities.

- The Deccan Herald, 6th February 2013

One of the longest sewage drains in Delhi — the Najagfarh drain — has become a favoured destination for both migratory and resident birds with over 75 different species flocking there this January. The drain that passes through Najafgarh in South-West Delhi forms a huge wetland area along a 12-km stretch between Delhi's border with Jyotigarh village in Haryana and the Chhawla BSF Camp bridge.

On this stretch, the water in the drain remains clean and it is only after the water body crosses Najafgarh that it turns into one of the most polluted drains of the city. According to the 2013 report of Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), the largest and longest running internationally coordinated faunal monitoring programme in the world, nearly 75 species of birds have flocked to the drain this year despite it "not being properly maintained and mostly covered/chocked by water hyacinth".

AWC Delhi State coordinator and ecologist T.K. Roy says the birds which have made the Najafgarh drain surroundings their home this year include "both water birds and terrestrial birds". He said it is the presence of a large number of trees along the drain which attracts birds to this site.

"Many migratory species that have huge ecological value for maintaining a functional aquatic eco-system and natural food chain come here." But he is concerned about the heavy population in near this nesting ground and how it poses a major threat to their survival.

The AWC, he says, not only estimates the water bird population but also monitors changes in their numbers and distribution and seeks to improve knowledge about little-known water bird species and wetland sites. Besides, the exercise conducted by Wetlands International-South Asia in Delhi is also part of a larger effort to identify and monitor Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands so that information on the conservation status of water bird species and wetlands sites is collected and preserved. This winter the presence of a total of 15 species of resident water birds, 25 species of winter migratory water birds and about 30 species of terrestrial birds have been spotted at Najafgarh drain. "Due to good rain during the last monsoon the wetlands expanded and attracted a good number of migratory water bird species, including some which find mention in the 'threatened category'."

Among the endangered or threatened species, as many as 34 oriental white ibis or black-headed ibis, which are "near threatened", showed up while the number of migratory painted stork rose sharply to touch 121. Migratory birds which had came to the marshlands alongside the drain included the northern shovelers (numbering 90) and northern pintails (10) that breed in North Asia and migrate in winter to East, South-East and South Asia. Then around 98 gadwalls, which breed in Central Asia and migrate in winter to East and South Asia, 16 common coot that are residents of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar and migrate in winter to East, South-East and South Asia, 31 common teals and 10 Eurasian wigeons that breed in North Asia and migrate in winter to East, South-East and South Asia, 13 woolly-necked storks which are residents of South-East Asia and migrate to South Asia, 37 black ibis and 18 glossy ibis which are residents and migrants in South Asia, have been spotted.

The resident water bird species have also made it in huge numbers to the habitat. "This indicates that the drain is a good habitat with adequate availability of food for them." These birds are present in much larger numbers than the migratory ones. Cattle egrets have been clocked at 714, a huge jump over their previous spotting. Then 225 common moorhens, 66 great cormorants, 80 spotbill ducks and 110 purple swamphens have been sighted there too.

- The Hindu, 6th February 2013

The Capital will soon have a bird conservation programme for 30-40 species of birds. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) will monitor 40-50 common birds such as vultures and sparrows to know their population and area-specific distribution before it starts the conservation project.

The society is already running a conservation education centre at Asola Bhatti forest sanctuary in Tughlakabad in association with the Delhi government.

Sanjeev TK, manager of the Asola Bhatti centre said, "We have started training people for our new project. Unless we have data, we will keep groping in the dark. Since we're already associated with the Delhi government for one project, we hope we get their assistance for this one as well."

The Delhi government has already declared sparrow as the state bird. It is now working to sensitise people, especially children, about saving the bird and preserving its habitat.

"Rampant urbanisation has eroded the habitat for common bird species in metropolitan cities such as Delhi. In the food chain, birds are a bio-indicator. To be able to save them will also mean we have made the environs we live in better," Sanjeev said.

The conservation project becomes crucial as researchers from UK-based BirdLife International in association with BNHS and Durham University have highlighted the impact of climate change on birds. The study highlights the need for holistic conservation.

"According to the study, some of the threatened birds found in an around Delhi are: Painted Stork, White-rumped Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Sarus Crane, Greater Spotted Eagle, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Green Avadavat and Pallid Harrier," said Atul A Sathe, BNHS representative in Mumbai.

"In order to conserve the biodiversity and habitats, which is so vital for human survival, it is necessary to have a holistic development model, which ensures the survival of not just protected areas, but also the vast network of non-protected habitats," he said.

- The Times of India, 6th February 2013

Human-wildlife conflicts often present what may seem like intractable situations. But some out-of-the-box thinking coupled with an understanding that we need to tread gently, can go a long way in making the world a better place for both man and animal

Whatever experts may believe and scientists may prove, the behaviour of wild animals is still pretty much guesswork based only on what we know so far. Surprises or instances of 'unusual behaviour' are reported all the time. The reality is that we have barely scratched the surface and can only hope to truly understand and predict wild animal behaviour. So, how do we even begin to come up with solutions to counteract or at the very least reduce human-wildlife conflict?

In Africa, where conservation has succeeded at many levels, it may have failed in spirit. For instance, private game reserves and national parks not only use culling as a practice to control animal population but also encourage trophy hunting as a commercial venture with high-end clientele flying in from all over the world to hunt big game which includes lions, elephants, buffalos and rhinos. I remember seeing images of an entire family of elephants being gunned down. Then, to partly justify the culling, the meat was given away to the local community.

How far are we in India from a situation like this? Black bear conflict in Kashmir is frequent and cases of bears being killed and even being burnt alive are reported often. Ironically, the Himalayan Black Bear conservation in Kashmir has been a success, and the population has increased considerably. Expecting a rise in conflict, the Wildlife Department took steps to ensure the situation remained under control. A response team was setup to go in as soon as a conflict was reported. In case of any damage to property or livestock, compensation was given immediately. Over a period of time it is now being reported that, while the number of bear deaths have reduced, the conflict remains.

Studies by the World Wildlife Fund and Mr Raman Sukumar done in Namibia, Nepal and Indonesia have shown that one of the key steps in reducing human-wildlife conflict is to create distance between human habitation and wildlife habitat. The more wildlife and humans cross paths, the greater the incidence of a potential conflict.

The study in Nepal showed that over 90 per cent of the people living on the fringes of forests had faced problems with wildlife and suffered crop damage. While loss of life and injury to livestock were also reported, the economic losses due to crop damage were significantly larger. The maximum damage was done by elephants who raided crops for their higher protein levels. The report revealed that habitat fragmentation was a more important factor in determining levels of economic damage than the amount of actual forest cover itself.

In India, thankfully, we have realised this, and measures are being taken by the Government, NGOs and even individuals to mobilise and involve the local community in conflict management. The biggest conflict species in India are elephants. Kerala holds the largest population of Asian elephants in the world. The forests of Kerala are home to over 6,000 elephants. Combined with the reality of fragmented forests and a high density of human population and habitation, this State is ground zero with regard to elephant conflict. Conservationists have already taken the initiative and raised the money needed to re-settle villagers in the Tirunelli-Kudrakote corridor. What is promising is that now a fourth village in the corridor has agreed to be shifted out.

The State Government too is planning to connect the fragmented forests by buying out plantations and private land, and in the process, restoring elephant corridors. Also, efforts are being made to ensure elephants have enough water sources within the forest areas and do not need to stray out. Communities living on the fringes of the forest are discouraged from growing certain crops like jackfruit, maize, sugarcane, pineapples and plantain, which draw wild animals out of their forests to raid crops.

The local community has been involved and its members have been hired to form 'elephant scaring squads'. Innovative and creative methods are being experimented with in order to keep the animals away, and the people and agriculture safe. Similarly, people living on the periphery of the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary in Odisha have also joined forces with the Forest Department to protect wildlife as well as their crops.

Ropes dipped in chilly powder paste now encircle crop fields while drums, firecrackers and even the recorded audio of a roaring tiger are used to keep wildlife at bay. Even more innovative is the use of mobile technology by the Coimbatore Forest Department that is setting up an early warning and monitoring system. As part of this system, forest personnel and village headmen will be given mobile phones with which they can trigger a warning. All they have to do is send an SMS to a warning device which will then emit light and sound an alarm.

However, it will still be the connecting of fragmented forests and the expansion and creation of a healthy forest habitat that will be the biggest contributor to mitigating human-wildlife conflict. The Rajiv Gandhi Biosphere Reserve is one such ambitious and bold plan. It proposes to connect fragmented and isolated forest areas across Rajasthan in Sawai-Madhopur, Karauli, Bundi, Kota, Chittorgarh and Baran districts. The plan is to create boundary walls, fencing and under-passes for railway lines, and secure a 11,000 square kilometre area for wildlife to move across freely and without fear.

Wildlife crossings are not a new concept, and they were first used in France in the 50s. Simply put, they are structures — both large and small — which enable animals of all sizes to cross over or under man-made barriers. They include small tunnels going under roads for crabs, snakes and other smaller animals to large green over-passes with trees for larger mammals. Many countries in the West have taken to creating wildlife crossings and have reportedly reduced wildlife fatalities and encounters significantly.

Sharing information, creating awareness, data monitoring and early warning systems, empowering and enrolling the local people cannot just be the sugar coating on a terrible situation that nobody wants to deal with or worse still, knows how to deal with. We're forever in damage control mode.

Changes can be made, and have been made, at many levels. There is no time better than now to realise that, what is coming apart at the seams is already affecting all of us. Tolerance and understanding of the simple fact that we need to tread gently are needed. If the current situation is anything to go by as a hint of things to come, then the future is going to be rather empty and lonely for mankind.

(The writer is a wildlife film-maker)

- The Pioneer, 6th February 2013

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has recommended diverting over 500 hectares of forest land for an iron ore mining project in the Saranda forest division of Jharkhand, part of the core area of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, India's first reserve for elephants.

The FAC is a statutory body that advises the environment ministry on diverting forest land. Its recommendations are not binding.

The Singhbhum reserve, created in 2001, is spread across 13,440 sq km in six forest divisions including Saranda, where Jindal Steel & Power Ltd proposes to mine iron ore. The FAC has recommended the project with conditions that call for protection of flora and fauna, even as it notes "the conflict of interest between conservation of natural resources and the need for economic activity".

"Taking a view purely in the interest of conservation, or on the other hand in the interest of economic activity, will amount to taking an extreme side," says the record of the January 21-22 FAC meeting which took the decision. "The committee felt the need to take a view wherein economic activity may be permitted to the extent possible and at the same time conserve the natural resources and take sufficient effective mitigative measures."

It also expressed concern over the compensatory afforestation proposed in non-forest area by Jindal, as all the land for this has not been identified, and some of it is under Maoist control.

- The Indian Express, 7th February 2013

In its haste to honour the memory of the December 16 bus rape victim, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has lent her name to a museum that's in serious need of preservation itself. A day after the announcement, talk of transforming the museum at a cost of Rs 20 crore also turned out to be hot air, as no development plans have been made. And the March deadline, BJP leaders admit, is a "mistake".

On Wednesday, TOI surprised the curator of the 28-year-old museum in RK Puram, Dhruv Prasad Soni, by sharing with him the corporation's grand but doubtful redevelopment plans. "For three years, I have been asking for a few lakh rupees to carry out basic repairs. I didn't know the corporation is now planning to invest Rs 20 crore to revamp the museum."

The single-storey structure inaugurated on September 27, 1985 by the then education minister is part of a corporation school and there is no boundary wall separating them. There are classrooms above the museum and children come down to play during recess.

The museum amphitheatre was declared structurally unsafe three years ago and is not used. With deep cracks on the walls and roof, it can collapse any time. "We cannot carry out repair work on our own. We are aware that the roof can collapse but cannot keep a check on the students all the time," said the assistant.

There are six galleries in the museum with artefacts and posters based on primary school syllabus, and even those are gifts from NGOs. There are models of a Metro train, a human skeleton and bullock carts. "With no electricity most of the time, the galleries are nothing but dark rooms," said a student of the corporation school, who was playing with his friend near the amphitheatre.

Asked about the redevelopment plans, Anil Sharma, BJP councillor from the area, said the details have not been finalized the work cannot be completed before March 2014. "We are yet to decide on the plan. But the museum has been renamed," said Sharma. Senior BJP leader Subhash Arya said, "The museum came up in 1985 but we can name it now as well. There is nothing wrong in it", adding, "it will be developed on the lines of the National Science Centre, Bhairon Marg. We will get artefacts from China and Japan".

- The Times of India, 7th February 2013

Delhi Metro received an official order from National Monuments Authority granting it permission for its Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate heritage corridor.

With this order in their hands, DMRC officials said that work would now begin on the Phase III corridor that runs close to several ASI-protected monuments including Jantar Mantar, Delhi Gate, Sunehri Masjid, Red Fort and Kashmere Gate. The permission is valid for a period of three years.

The permission from NMA under Section 11 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 2011 comes with several terms and conditions. "The proposed alignment, especially the stretch between ITO and Red Fort, is a potentially rich area in archaeology, especially medieval archaeology, and needs careful monitoring. DMRC should establish a mechanism involving ASI and other stakeholders for regular monitoring. Even prior to any work, the area needs to be assessed by a joint team of DMRC and ASI to identify areas of potential archaeological importance," said an NMA official.

Another stipulation laid out for DMRC is a condition assessment of all protected monuments falling along the Metro route.

Installation of monitoring equipment on all protected monuments on the route capable of measuring vibrations/structural impacts when construction activities are on during Metro operations is another condition. According to officials, the conditions under which the NOC has been given have already been accepted by Delhi Metro. "We have incorporated the conditions that have been set down by the NMA," said the official.

DMRC has also been instructed to set up a separate fund for heritage promotion and campaigning for the cause of Delhi's heritage which should be used for interpretation centres, establishing small museums or display units for any salvaged/rescued archaeology and developing amenities around monuments.

Metro stations falling on the heritage corridor are to have special photo galleries, maps and information kiosks. NMA has also made it clear that heritage bylaws of the protected monuments of the locality will be complied once they are notified.

- The Times of India, 7th February 2013

Efforts for conservation of wetlands and waterbodies are set to get a big boost if the government clears a proposal tomorrow for rolling out a new scheme for preservation of the country's rich flora and fauna.

The Cabinet Committe on Economic Affairs is likely to consider the Environment Ministry's proposal for the launch of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) by merging existing National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation Programme. The principal objective of the project is holistic conservation and restoration of the water quality of lakes and wetlands, besides improvement in bio-diversity and ecosystem, sources said.

According to them, the scheme to be guided and governed under one umbrella scheme will also avoid duplication of efforts in enhancing water quality and conserving biodiversity.

The estimated cost of the proposed project, planned for 12th plan period, is Rs 900 crore on 70:30 cost sharing between the central government and respective state governments. It will be on 90:10 for North Eastern states. The proposal was earlier placed before the CCEA in its meeting held 1 March last year when the Water Resources Ministry had raised some objections and the CCEA had directed the Environment Ministry to bring it back after addressing the concerns. Wetlands are shallow water-bodies with high biodiversity and productivity. They play an important role in bio-geochemical cycles and have potential for wastewater treatment.

- The Hindustan Times, 7th February 2013

The government has finally stepped in to put a stop to the endless tinkering with the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Capital's Raisina Hill.

Over the years, successive presidents have made additions in the 350-acre Rashtrapati Bhavan campus in complete disregard to the architectural character of the heritage building.

Recently, during APJ Abdul Kalam's tenure, an auditorium and a musical fountain were built. And during Pratibha Patil's time, a heating system was installed in the swimming pool.

The move to protect the heritage building — built around 1929 — was finally triggered when Patil's office proposed a ceremonial hall on campus to accommodate about 1,000 guests in case of bad weather during outdoor ceremonies.

The prime minister's office shot down the proposal in September 2011 and asked the urban development ministry — under which the Central Public Works Department comes — to first prepare a conservation plan before deciding on new structures.

AK Khurana, CPWD director general, said with approval from the president's secretariat, "we have appointed the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (Intach) to prepare the first ever comprehensive conservation plan for Rashtrapati Bhawan".

Intach has already started the work and is expected to complete the plan by April. "Once ready, any new addition to the building and its precincts will have to be in sync with the conservation plan," said AGK Menon, convenor, Intach's Delhi chapter.

In the first phase, Intach will focus on restoring some of the heritage buildings in the campus and recommend the removal of some structures that disturb the aesthetics of the surroundings.

The second phase will involve restoration plans for the main building.

The campus houses about 10,000 people in about 60 structures. "Many of these have come up in complete disregard to the character of the place. We 'will have to look at the original layout and decide on what kind of structures will fit with the heritage of the site," Menon said.

- The Hindustan Times, 7th February 2013

A rare collection of pictures, letters and newspaper clippings chronicling Mahatma Gandhi's last fast unto death have been put on display at the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library. The exhibition titled —The Weapon of Ahimsa: Mahatama Gandhi's Last Fast gives a glimpse of Gandhi's last hunger strike to bring peace to a communally charged Delhi, days before he was assassinated.

It highlights his belief that fasting was a spiritual act and served both as a means of genuine self rule and a political tactic.

Divided into 20 panels of text and visual prints, the exhibition depicts the different phases of Gandhi's five-day fast that began on January 12, 1948.

Apart from the medical bulletins by the doctors attending on him, one photo shows a frail Gandhi being carried to the prayer ground after his fast.

The exhibition also has telegrams and letters written by different religious groups pledging peace and requesting Gandhi to break his fast.

At the extreme end is a small note written by Gandhi on a postcard to Jawaharlal Nehru asking him to end his sympathetic fast. "May you long remain Jawahar the jewel of India," he wrote.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to tell the public about the richness of our collections. Our objective was to showcase our vast collection to the scholars," Prof Mahesh Rangarajan, Director Nehru Memorial Museum and Library told HT.

- The Hindustan Times, 7th February 2013

With rising incidents of building collapse across the city, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has started looking into option of reconstructing dangerous structures.

Using a survey conducted by Disaster Management Authority on unsafe buildings in the capital, an expert team has zeroed in on five areas where dangerous buildings will be identified for either retrofitting or complete reconstruction. While the proposal has already got the in-principle approval in a DDA meeting headed by LG, the financial modalities are still being worked out.

The five areas where three-four houses will be taken up as the pilot project are Lalita Park, Gandhi Nagar, Kondli, Lal Kuan and Fatehpur Beri, many of which have witnessed building collapse in recent times. DDA will hire a consultant who will submit a detailed report on the status of the areas, condition of buildings and recommend measures, said sources. Tenders will soon be floated.

The expert team is headed by chief engineer (project) P K Vats and includes other senior officials like the chief engineer (quality control). The project will be launched soon, said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar. "We identified these areas with a number of listed dangerous buildings through a rapid visual survey but we will require more details as the project advances. As this is still a pilot project, we will identify three or four buildings in each area," said a senior official.

The houses will then be examined to determine if these require complete reconstruction because of structural weakness or if only retrofittings can strengthen the foundation.

DDA, however, requires the consent of the owners before choosing any building. "We need to obtain the building owner's consent before we can proceed with anything," said the official.

Many DDA officers are of the view that enhanced FAR can be used to finance the project. Enhanced floor area ratio (FAR) will facilitate building an additional floor which can be sold later to recover costs, they argue. Some have proposed for funding the project from DDA funds or urban development funds. A few others have suggested partial fundings by the building owners.

- The Times of India, 8th February 2013

As the Delhi forest department and various municipal corporations fight over procedural issues, the city's green cover is bearing the brunt.

Laws say the corporations have to seek permission from the forest department for pruning. But the differences between the two delay permission.

The corporations allege that the forest department delays permission under the pretext of "cumbersome" laws, while the latter claims physical inspections take time. Since pruning has to be done often in any case because of safety and practical issues involved, what happens due to this tug of war is that more wood than allowed is cut and it reaches the timber market. "Several such cases have come to light in the recent past," admitted a forest department official.

The forest department has now decided to make the process of grant of permission online.

The department has also initiated a process to put on its website pictorial descriptions of cases where pruning - light or heavy - can and cannot be done and specific ways to do so.

"This will make the entire process transparent and people will have fewer reasons to complain. Pruning should always be done in a judicious manner," he said. Pruning is needed when tree branches obstruct sunlight, are likely to fall or disrupt power supply. RWAs first apply to corporations concerned.

These applications are then forwarded to the forest department. The forest department has to decide on an application in 30 days, but it alleges the applications remain stuck with the offices of assistant and deputy directors of horticulture at the corporations.

"We want the wood to be used in cremation of abandoned bodies. But often the quantum of wood pruned is more than allowed by us. The wood reaches the timber market. We want to check all this," said a forest department official.

"The do's and don'ts that we're putting out will help remove much confusion. Like, for example, we will be telling people branches that touch the ground can be removed provided they are not more than half the diameter of the trunk. Dead branches may be removed using a saw," he said.

- The Hindustan Times, 8th February 2013

Spiritual dip in holy Ganga at Kumbh is not clean. The pollution level in the sacred river has increase since Kumbh started in Allahabad on January 14 and the water is no more fit for bathing purposes, according to the latest evaluation by the Central Pollution Control Board. The level of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels — used to measure of the level of organic pollution in the water — had increased to 7.4 milligram per litre at the main bathing place, known as Sangam, since the Kumbh started.

A day before the Kumbh, the pollution level was 4.4 milligram per litre slightly more than the national standard for bathing quality of water of 3 milligram per litre.

"Higher the BOD level worse it is for one's skin," said a CPCB expert. High exposure to dirty water can result in skin rashness and allergies. "One may not notice the side-effects immediately."

The official reason for the sudden rise of contaminants in the river was sudden increase in flow of human waste because of increased bathing during Kumbh.

Around 10 million people have already visited the Khumb and the UP government has employed around 10,000 sweepers to keep the city clean. "Still most of the dirt is going into the river," the CPCB official said.

Off the record officials admit that their drive to check sewage from industries in Ganga upstream of Allahabad has not worked as dirty sewage was still flowing into the river.

"We fear that untreated sewage especially from industries in Kanpur was still being discharged into the river illegally," he said.

But, the dirt in the river is not a deterrent for people to take a dip at Allahabad. Hindus believe that the Ganga water has ability to clean and purify itself, a claim not scientifically proven.

And, this belief has driven millions to the world biggest Hindu congregation and another 15 million are expected to visit in the 55-day long festival to end on March 10.

- The Hindustan Times, 8th February 2013

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has opposed the Forest Advisory Committee recommendation to divert over 500 hectares of land in Saranda forest division of Jharkhand for iron ore mining. He said this will negate all that has been done in the region in the last one year.

"Over the past year, I have been at great pains to counter Maoist propaganda that the Saranda Development Plan is a ploy to benefit private mining interests. This FAC decision is a huge setback and very retrograde. I am confident a larger and more sensitive political view will be taken on its recommendation," Ramesh said.

Sources in the minister's office hinted that Ramesh could take up the issue with the prime minister.

Saranda is part of the core area of Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, India's first elephant reserve. The forest, spread over 850 sq km, was for over a decade a stronghold of Maoists before it was cleared in 2011.

Ramesh, meanwhile, has been pushing for effective implementation of the Saranda Development Plan, a combination of security-oriented and development-focussed approach launched in January 2012. It covers around 7,000 households. Ramesh has consistently opposed giving fresh mining leases in Saranda, especially to private miners.

Public sector Steel Authority of India Limited is the only major firm mining in the area and was allowed to expand in 2009 by the Environment and Forests Ministry, then led by Ramesh. The Indian Express had reported Thursday that the FAC had recommended that Jindal Steel & Power be allowed to mine in Saranda with conditions that call for protection of flora and fauna.

- The Indian Express, 8th February 2013

The Baiga tribe in Kanha is dwindling fast, unnoticed by the heralders of development

After being removed from the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh without any alternate means of livelihood, the Baiga tribals seem a lost and confused lot.

"We don't know what to do, nobody told us why we cannot enter the forest anymore," says Juniya Bai who remembers being evicted as a child.

She looks towards her husband Bikram when asked for her age who takes a close look at her before hazarding a guess vaguely, "more than 50 must be."

With no rehabilitation or alternative means of livelihood provided to the evicted people, she settled with her family in the nearby village of Lagma at a relative's house. As she speaks to us flanked by her husband and other villagers, her young daughter-in-law stands in a corner balancing an infant and a child on each side of her. She has the ancient symbol of womanhood; a 'v' tattooed on her forehead like many other Baiga girls.

Before Kanha was declared a national park in 1955, tribals or the indigenous people, specifically the Baigas and Gonds, used to live in the forest that used to provide everything that they need. After eviction, their way of life has been turned on its head. They cannot collect firewood from the forests anymore and need to walk more than two kilometres to collect wood. The Baigas worship the earth as a mother and do not plough it. Some of them have become menial labourers in the area, some dig mud, some others dance and sing in the several resorts (more than 70) that dot the expanse of Kanha to entertain tourists.

All this helps them earn meagre sums of money, but clearly it is not enough. Their numbers have drastically dwindled, from a lakh to less than 40,000, according to a German researcher who is living amongst the Baigas in a bid to document their lives more closely.

"It has also become increasingly difficult to collect proper data on them anymore since they have been scattered all over the place. We dread the day when some of them might end up in one of the many slums of the cities as several other rural people across the country have done in search of livelihood," says the researcher.

The village leaders have heard about some of the government schemes such as MGNREGA but no one has heard of government's UID Aadhar number. Right to Education is yet to be implemented in Lagma or nearby village of Kohka, which has two primary schools and one Madhyamik school. The schools suffer from a lack of quality teachers.

"A government guest lecturer was to be appointed but we don't know what happened," says one of the teachers in Kohka.

The Kanha National Park is roughly spread over an area of less than 1000 square kilometres with a surrounding buffer zone of about the same size. The Park is known to be home to a significant population of the barasingha, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear and several species of birds and is said to be the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book'. But it is most famous for its Royal Bengal tiger, an animal fast on the brink of extinction. Both the tiger and the Baiga are in need of urgent saving.

- The Hindu, 8th February 2013

A comprehensive heritage conservation plan is being drawn up for the sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan complex here, which is also described as a "living monument". The two-fold plan is being drafted by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

A need for a comprehensive plan for the estate that includes the erstwhile Viceregal Lodge, which is now home to the President, offices, staff quarters, magnificent gardens and a nature's trail was felt after conservation experts raised concerns over safeguarding the heritage.

Plans to add buildings like a ceremonial hall and a new museum floated during the tenure of former President Pratibha Patil were stalled till a comprehensive heritage conservation plan was ready. A recent report on the deteriorating condition of the Grade-I heritage building, the Parliament House, has also set alarm bells ringing. "The comprehensive plan will be drawn up in two phases. In the first one we will look at the entire estate within the precincts and the second will focus entirely on the Rashtrapati Bhavan building," said INTACH Delhi chapter convenor A.G.K. Menon.

Referring to the need to draw up a conservation plan, Prof. Menon said: "The Rashtrapati Bhavan is a living monument, there are thousands of people living and working there, its needs are growing, and it is imperative to evaluate those needs." He said though the Rashtrapati Bhavan has been reasonably well conserved, it is a "good start" to draw up guidelines to ensure there is no violation and deviation from the original design.

"By and large it has been significantly preserved and all additions that have been made have been done carefully. But we need to consolidate formally a set of guidelines that can ensure that the integrity of the place is not marred."

"The plan will stick to the original design. Everything that was built or designed, even the kind and number of trees that were planted was done with a purpose, so that will remain an important consideration." The first phase of the plan will be ready in three months, after which it will be put up for peer review.

• a recent report on deteriorating condition of Parliament House set alarm bells ringing

• The comprehensive plan will be drawn up in two phases, says INTACH

- The Hindu, 8th February 2013

The Meherjirana Library in Gujarat is one of the most important centres in the world for the study of Zoroastrianism and Parsi history. Dinyar Patel takes a peek into its illustrious past and what it stands for today.

I never saw such a fine collection in a small town," declared the French orientalist James Darmesteter after surveying the First Dastoor Meherjirana Library in Navsari, Gujarat, in 1887. Nearly 140 years after it first opened its doors, the Meherjirana Library remains one of the most important centres in the world for the study of Zoroastrianism and Parsi history. And it continues to draw visitors from far and wide. Earlier this month, from January 12-15, the library hosted about a hundred people — including scholars from the US, Great Britain, Germany, and Japan — for a special conference to celebrate some very important changes here.

Unlike many other institutions in India, the Meherjirana Library has eagerly embraced a programme of modernisation and document conservation. In recent years, it has received funding and support from various trusts and organisations, including UNESCO, INTACH, and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, something that has in turn helped rekindle global academic interest in its collections. It has cooperated with a team from the University of Salamanca in Spain to digitise some of its most important Zoroastrian manuscripts. The conference built upon these international networks by bringing together both veteran researchers at the library, such as Dasturji Firoze M. Kotwal, the most learned scholar-priest in the Parsi community, and first-time visitors to Navsari like the novelist Amitav Ghosh.

For the Parsi community, Navsari has long been a bastion of religious knowledge and training, a town known reverentially as the dharamni tekri ("summit of the religion"). According to tradition, one 16 century Parsi priest, Meherji Rana, so greatly impressed Akbar that the Mughal emperor invited him back to his court in Fatehpur Sikri. From him sprang a priestly line (currently in its 17 generation) that both produced and collected a vast trove of knowledge on Zoroastrianism and other religions — a collection that was finally put into a formal library in 1874. The oldest manuscript in this collection dates from 1323 AD; there are also several Mughal sanads and firmans.

Many of these treasures were on display at the conference. Reza Huseini, an Afghan national and MA candidate in history at Jawaharlal Nehru University, pored over firmans from Akbar's court, pointing out a note written by the vizier Abu'l Fazl. "It is so exciting to hold in my own hands actual documents from the Mughal era," he commented. "These firmans show that the Parsis enjoyed special relations with the Mughals from the time of Akbar down through Aurangzeb."

The conference also provided scholars an opportunity to survey the rich Parsi heritage of Navsari that exists beyond the library's walls. "Navsari was a revelation," stated Amitav Ghosh, who visited the birthplace of the industrialist Jamsetji N. Tata and the family house of Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the 19 century opium baron and philanthropist. "It was amazing to see how this small town has played such an important part in the life of Indian Parsis — and how, through them, it became a crucible also of trade and industry." On the conference's last evening, attendees were invited into the ancestral homes of several local Parsis, where they examined family heirlooms and portraits and listened to family stories.

One of the conference's chief goals was to promote such interaction between scholars and the Navsari community. "A number of famous scholars have been through the Meherjirana Library and generations of scholarship have been produced as a result," commented Dan Sheffield, a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton and one of the conference's organisers. "However, very little awareness of that scholarship exists in Navsari." Sheffield first thought of ways to bridge this gap while spending five months at the library in 2008 for his dissertation research.

An equally important challenge — something openly acknowledged by library officials, visiting scholars, and Navsari residents alike — is sustaining future restoration work and facility improvement. Many manuscripts and rare volumes are still badly damaged and are awaiting conservation. There is still no constant climate control at the library, something rendered even more difficult by Navsari's spotty power supply. Monique Vajifdar, a paper conservator based in South Africa, stressed that the Meherjirana Library needed to build up its own in-house talent for conservation and repair rather than relying on outside or foreign expertise. "The library is at a crossroads, with wonderful resources which we have to preserve for the future," she remarked. "What has been achieved here is truly remarkable but there is a long way to go."

Dinyar Patel is a Ph.D. candidate in history at Harvard University.

Meherjirana Library website: http://www.meherjiranalibrary.com/

- The Hindu, 10th February 2013

A recent survey at man-made Pong wetland in the Himalayan foothills threw up a pleasant surprise. Experts found 34,000 bar-headed goose spending the winter here — making up what ornithologists say were almost a third of the species.

At the dawn-to-dusk census, around 123,000 waterfowl of 113 species were recorded at Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary spread over 307 square km in the picturesque Kangra Valley -- most of which had flown in from Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia.

Assistant Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) DS Dadwal said that the largest influx was of bar-headed goose, a regular visitor from Central Asia, including Tibet and Ladakh.

The number of the world's highest-altitude migrant bird species at the wetlands was around 34,000, he said.

The other main species found were northern pintail (21,000), common pochard (12,000) and little cormorant (7,700), besides common coot, red-crested pochard, great cormorant, pintail duck, river tern and great-crested grebe.

The 307-square km wetlands, some 250 km from Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla, is one of the important winter grounds for local and migratory bird species.

Ornithologists say every year, millions of migratory birds of several species, mainly ducks and geese, descend on various water bodies across India to avoid the extreme chill of their native habitats.

Bombay Natural History Society assistant director S Balachandran told IANS that Pong has been attracting a good population of the gregarious bar-headed goose.

"Most of the water bodies and lakes across the country have been getting bar-headed geese every winter. Their number is between 3,000 and 4,000 in each water body. But Pong is only place which is getting the largest influx of bar-headed geese," he said.

Balachandran, who has been tracking migratory routes of the goose and some duck species through satellite in Pong, said the total global population of the goose was believed to be around 100,000. "This simply indicates Pong is home to 34 percent of the total population of bar-headed goose," he said.

Records of the state wildlife department say the largest influx of bar-beaded goose in Pong was recorded in 2010. That time, their number crossed 40,000.

Barring 2001, when only 5,500 birds were recorded, their numbers have ranged between 28,000 and 23,000 in the past few years.

Balachandran and his team chased three bar-headed geese through satellite from their native habitat to their winter sojourn in Pong in 2010 and 2011.

- The Pioneer, 11th February 2013

The endangered must get immediate attention

While it is heartening that India has made great strides in tiger conservation and provided a legal framework to protect wildlife, the effort to conserve lesser known species remains an area of concern. This is not to undermine the efforts that have gone into making Project Tiger, into its 40th year now, a roaring success. At the last count in 2011, the tiger population stood at 1,704, as against the 2008 census figures of 1,411. Inspiring as this is, the fact remains that the tiger is only a part of biodiversity that stands threatened by the relentless march of development. That we are still a far cry from making our wildlife adequately secure can be gleaned from the fact that some 132 species of flora and fauna from India are tagged as critically endangered in the Red List of threatened species drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Significantly, while the tiger finds no mention on this list, more than 15 critically endangered bird species and a host of lesser known animals do. In 1972, when the tiger was notified as the country's national animal, replacing the Asiatic Lion, the Great Indian Bustard was all set to be nominated the national bird, but it lost out to the peacock. Today, less than 250 bustards survive and the species is on the verge of extinction. Except for the Asiatic Lion, which is found in a small pocket in Gujarat, there is hardly any population data on other carnivores, including the snow leopard. Things have come to such a pass that even the most ubiquitous sparrow is vanishing from our lives. The near extinction of vultures is well-documented, as is their impact as nature's most efficient scavenger. Over the years, serious concerns have been voiced by wildlife lovers and conservationists about the declining number of vital fauna and flora in the country. They have rued the lavish allocation for tiger conservation efforts — a whopping `167.7 crore, and `22.58 crore for Project Elephant, for the year 2012-13, to the exclusion of all other species. Experts argue that while focussing entirely on the tiger other species, including tiger prey such as the Hog Deer and the Barasingha have been neglected. And the less said about the fate of the brown bear the better it is. Although India is home to four of the eight species of bears, there are no scientific papers or studies on bear ecology in the country. If reports are anything to go by, there are only two sanctuaries for bears one each in Gujarat and Karnataka.

The plight of the gravely endangered species, paucity of funds and an ineffective implementation of the Special Programme for Recovery of Critically Endangered Species have all conspired to stump the feeble conservation efforts. This bodes ill for our future as every species plays a crucial role in the proper functioning of the ecosystem. It's time the Government and the wildlife activists got together to take a holistic look and not limit themselves to a few species.

- The Pioneer, 11th February 2013

Adopting a stern outlook on wastage of groundwater by packaged water companies, the National Green Tribunal has sought details of all such factories operating in the Noida-Greater Noida region. A clarification has been sought as to whether such industries have the consent of the authorities of the twin cities and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to operate. The tribunal has also sought details about the 'sources' from which these factories collect water.

The tribunal has directed the Central Ground Water Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to furnish guidelines regarding conservation of groundwater and provide data pertaining to groundwater levels from 2006.

NGT raised these issues while hearing a petition on February 8 by an environmentalist, Vikrant Tongad, for violation of the ban on extraction of groundwater by developers. The Noida Authority on Friday submitted before the tribunal that it had halted construction of eight real estate companies for not having environmental clearances. A copy of the letter is with TOI.

After the hearing, the NGT issued show-cause notices to three Noida developers for flouting the order banning use of groundwater asking them as to why they should not be punished for violating the stay. On Sunday, three other developers were asked to appear before the tribunal for allegedly violating its order banning groundwater extraction.

The tribunal had earlier highlighted the lack of records with the state authorities about developers with projects above 20,000 sqm having environmental clearances. The tribunal's bench, which had imposed a ban on groundwater extraction for construction purposes in Noida and Greater Noida on January 11, has extended the ban till February 28. At the same time, the tribunal has also ordered Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority to implead itself in the case.

Developers, whose projects have been hit following Noida Authority's order stopping construction, have claimed that they are yet to receive formal communication. They claimed that future course of action would be decided after receiving the formal orders. "We have not been communicated till now to halt construction work. We will abide by the orders as and when we receive them," said a spokesperson of Gulshan Homz, one of the eight developers whose project has been ordered to stop. Even Logix City Developers, whose housing project in Sector 143 has also been halted, denied having received any communication from the Authority. "We have the information about notices to stop extraction of groundwater and we are abiding by that. There has been no communication about halting construction work," said Shakti Nath, CMD, Logix Group. Other builders told TOI they had to go ahead with construction as permissions for green clearance have not been forthcoming for long.

Of the projects named by Noida Authority, Sunworld Developers claimed it already has EC from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority. "The environmental clearance was granted to us in March 2012 and we have submitted it to Noida Authority," Sanjiv Gupta, director, Sunworld Developers, said.

- The Times of India, 11th February 2013

I got the golden opportunity to visit National Museum of Natural History. The trip was fascinating. The museum is divided into four floors. The first floor exhibited fossils of ammonites and a 160-million-year-old remains of a dinosaur. We get to know about pteridophytes who were the first leaf bearers. There were many interesting diorama and invertebrate trees. Then we moved to second floor where we got to know about the relation between nature and energy and, in addition, information about tribes who are engaged in conserving the nature . For example, the Bhishnoi tribe which has made a tradition out of nature conservation. The part which I liked the most was the intangible natural heritage which conveyed that all intangible forms of communications highlight some issues of cultural or natural heritage significance. After this trip I realised and wanted to share that the thought the Nature is glory of world, we should do our best to save it.

n Vishu Mishra, VIII A

The Indian Express gave me a golden chance to visit the National Museum of Natural History, which was established in 1949. It houses a variety of articles ranging from pre-historic era artefacts, fossils remains to modern works of art. The museum helped me learn more about what our life, Earth and Nature hold within it. The experience was truly enriching as the museum gives knowledge about life through the ages. It has been divided into four knowledge sectors — evolution of life, nature's network, conservation of nature and intangible natural heritage. It helps us understand about formation of mountains , oceans , inter-connection of animals , plants, protection for different plants and animals and the things which does not have any physical presence such as values, culture, customs of India. The museum is a library of knowledge for those who love to explore.

n Deepshikha, VIII B

The most educative tour of my life began when I visited National Museum of Natural Heritage. It was a complete blend of science and social science. The museum is divided into four galleries and each gallery contains systematic and categorized equipment. It was really memorable as it had visual illusions created in an artistic way. The thing I liked the most was that I finally got chance to spend some time in knowing my country's heritage and tradition when I entered 'intangible natural heritage'. From dinosaur fossils to the magical mantra ''Om', I got a lot of information there. By knowing more about India's culture, customs and tradition, I became even more proud to be an Indian.

n Rishabh Pandey, VIII B

I recently had the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Natural History. I have always been in awe of Nature. It was fascinating to learn about the formation of continents, oceans, and mountains, and the evolution of mankind. The life-like models of ecology of the desert, ponds and forest were interesting. The knowledge I gained about propagation of plants and animals, their survival techniques and pre-historic animals was phenomenal. I learn about our tangible and intangible nature heritage. I was concerned and worried to know how man was destroying Nature to further his selfish needs. The visit has opened my eyes and made me realise that each one of us should contribute in saving our planet or soon we will have no Nature to enjoy.

Shivani Mittal, VIII C

On January 30, I visited the National Museum of Natural History. There, I got a chance to better my knowledge about natural resources. I got to know how we can conserve Nature — by putting an end to deforestation, reducing the level of noise pollution, and not throwing industrial waste into the water bodies. We should follow the policy of "Each one plant one" to make our planet more greener. As we know wildlife is essential to maintain ecological balance. The government has taken some steps to preserve it. Firstly, hunting of wild animals has been banned and, secondly, poachers and hunters are penalised.

If we follow the above steps toward the welfare of the planet, it can be a greener and healthier one.

n Mansi Rawat, VIII C

On January 30, I visited the National Museum of Natural History. It was a very exciting experience. The museum has four floors. The first floor was about the different rocks and wildlife of India. We saw the structure of cells which were magnified about 200,000 times of its original size. We have seen different birds and their eggs and different wild animals and endangered species on first floor, and then we move to second floor which was about the forests of India and different people living in different regions of India. There were models of Indian villages, the sea world and the life cycle of nature. Handicrafts made from different body parts of different animals were also exhibited. Then we moved to the last floor where it was all about intangible natural heritage of India. There were models on different types of people and their cultures. The visit was a great experience and I would like to visit the museum again.

Parvesh Yadav, VIII C

The Indian Express gave me a great opportunity to visit The National Museum of Natural History. The museum has over 2,00,000 artworks of Indian and foreign origin. The artifacts on display represent a blend of various artistic traditions and disciplines thus being the perfect example of unity amidst diversity. How life evolved was beautifully explained through pictures. I got to learn so many biological and geographical concepts like the food chain, the food web, formation of oceans, deserts, polar regions, tropical rain forests, etc. The portion showing the practices related to conservation of nature like Chipko Movement, Ganga Action Plan, saving Ghariyals and Project Tiger influenced me a lot. I came to know about our intangible natural heritage like folk tales, legends and social practices. It was a great experience for me to know India so much better.

n Yogita Singh, VIII D

I got the opportunity of going to the National Museum of Natural History, thanks to The Indian Express. The visit enhanced my knowledge to a great extent. There are many historical and natural things housed here. The journey started with two fossils — one of ammonite, over a 100 million years old and another of a thigh bone of a Dinosaur, about 160 million years old. There were also the Green life bearers — the Petridophytes and Dicotydleons.

It continued with sculptures of animals and their habitats. I learned that a fur coat is made after killing 30 fishing cats found in the Himalayas, Bengal, etc. I got to know that 45,000 species are of plants of which nearly 15,000 are endangered. The museum also shows the different dances of Indian states. And also associate flowers and animals with Gods and Goddesses. It was all based on Nature, intangible things and Nature conservation.

n Sahil Singh, VIII D

I got an opportunity to visit The National Museum of National History recently. I have a keen interest in natural history and, so, I was very excited. I saw two fossils there — one of an Ammonite and another of a thigh bone of a Sauropod Dinosaur. Evolution of human beings and dinosaurs were depicted nicely and in a clear manner. I saw endangered plants, fungi, lichen, bacteria, among others. Also showcased were the models of food chain, food web, etc. I came to know about many animals and plants and learned how and why we need to conserve them.The best part of the tour was the exhibition of intangible natural heritage of India which included India's traditions, dance, songs, festivals, rituals and Gods of different states. It was a good trip and I learnt there a lot.

n Vivek, VIII D

I visited the National Museum of Natural History recently. It was an amazing experience. When I entered the museum, I saw an Indian one-horned rhinoceros. On the first floor there was an exhibition showcasing the evolution of life. The highlight of the museum was the thigh bone of a dinosaur and an Ammonite fossil. As we moved on, we saw mud-balls in which there were seeds of different vegetables. On the second floor, we saw Nature's connection with humans. The need for conservation of Nature was highlighted on the third floor. On the fourth floor, the intangible heritage of India was showcased. The visit was a wonderful experience.

Varad, VIII E

I got an opportunity to visit the National Museum of Natural History recently. The museum has four theme-based galleries. The first gallery provides us with a lot of information about how life evolved on Earth, its flora and fauna, and their natural habitats and the threats they face, which could lead to their extinction. There was also a 100-million-year-old fossil of an Ammonite. The second gallery was about the ecosystems of the world. The role of plants and animals, food webs and food charts were displayed here. The third gallery revolves around the endangered species of birds and animals. The exhibits gave a beautiful illustration highlighting the need for conserving soil and also about conserving natural vegetation such as forests, deserts, oceans, mangrove forests, etc. The fourth gallery showcased the intangible natural heritage of India like folk dances, cultural dresses, rituals, festivals, myths, folk tales, etc. Overall,it was a memorable experience.

n Meheli, IX B

I and my group of 40 to 50 students visited the National Museum of Natural History. It was all about nature and all things natural. The museum is dividing into four parts. The first part and second tell about the various plants and animal species. The third one is about the need for Nature conservation and how to go about it. The fourth part depicts the intangible heritage of India like cultures, folk dances, dresses, etc. The museum also creates awareness about endangered species.

n K.Soumya, VIII E

The Indian Express gave me a golden opportunity to visit the National Museum of Natural History. It is an amazing place. It depicts our country's flora and fauna with its interlink to mankind. The museum is divided into four galleries. First gallery gives us an introduction to natural heritage. It portrayed the origin and evolution of life and diversification of flora and fauna in our country. Then we moved to second gallery, which is about Nature's networking. It describes the major ecosystems of the world. Crisis made by humans was also shown in this gallery. Next gallery is about conservation of Nature and deals with many aspects of conservation. It showcases the importance of trees in human life. The concept of forestation and deforestation and its importance was the theme of this gallery. The fourth and last stage is about rich Indian heritage. Visiting this museum gives an in depth knowledge of our vegetation, animals, natural resources and effect of pollution on these.

n Manil, IX B

- The Indian Express, 11th February 2013

Resident Welfare Association (RWA) representatives, residents of Mahipalpur and environmental activists on Sunday decided to join hands to "reclaim" the gram sabha land (commons) and save the plunder of the south-central Aravali ridge by different government agencies.

Stressing on the need to conserve the ridge and proper utilisation of gram sabha land, the RWA and villagers , with the help of environment activists, will safeguard the environment of Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj and its surrounding areas.

"Tree plantation drives will begin from February 17 on the land, which has seen rampant digging activity by government agencies in violation of the Supreme Court orders," said a statement issued after the meeting.

- The Hindustan Times, 11th February 2013

They are on a par with the world's best when it comes to grandeur, history and charm but Delhi's monuments lag far behind when it comes to tourist experience.

By virtue of being the Capital of the Mughals, British and an Independent India, history lives in every nook and cranny of Delhi. The city boasts of 174 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments — three of them UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

But when it comes to facilities, tourists are offered a raw deal.

The three world heritage sites — Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutab Minar — are better maintained and offer certain services for the tourists. But, at best, they can be described as 'basic'. Of the 174, only 10 monuments are ticketed.

HT visited the ticketed monuments for a reality check on problems ranging from parking, approach road, missing public conveniences and the unavailability of drinking water, etc.

The three world heritage sites receive thousands of visitors daily but something as simple as a first-aid box is unavailable there.

The parking lot at Red Fort is located at least half a kilometre away from the ticket window. "We can walk in this season, but what about summer?" asked Meenakshi Gupta, who brought relatives from Agra to visit the fort. A proposal to start a shuttle service between the parking lot and the ticket window is gathering dust.

The parking area at Humayun's Tomb is very small. "We are waiting for re-tendering the parking lots at the three world heritage sites. The proposal is pending at the headquarters," said an official. Another problem is unavailability of trained tourist guides.

Charlotta, a tourist from England, said: "I would learn a lot more with a guide. But then there is not a right person around. Plus, I don't know how it will be even if I pay for one."

"Despite tourism ministry's guidelines to allow only trained guides, either the ASI staff chip in as guides or the travel agencies bring in unauthorised persons," said Sushil Tiwari, vice-president of the government-Approved Tourist Guide Association.

Daljeet Singh, head of ASI's Delhi circle, promised to look into the problem.

"We will take up the issue with the guide association and ensure boards are put up with approved rates at the world heritage sites."

ASI, DG, Pravin Srivastava admitted there were no first-aid boxes at any of the monuments.

"We will make first-aid boxes available at the three World Heritage Sites in a week's time," he said.

- The Hindustan Times, 11th February 2013

Last week marked two years since the Government of India brought out the rules related to how plastic bags and multi-layered packaging-the kind chips come in- should be disposed off, and by whom.

These were the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, a result of massive public campaigns. But you think of it- what's changed?

In some cities, they'll charge you for a bag. That's the best. To me, the part that is shameful is that the producers-the giants who make the stuff-who are also responsible for investing in systems under these rules-have done precious little.

The shameful part is not that they have done little but that they have not put the innovation they show in their business to the environment. That's why the status of the packaging waste everywhere is nearly unchanged.

The rules, most simplistically put, required them to invest money, ensure the waste was collected and send it to a safe place to recycle.

Two years on, you can still see such trash in pristine seas and urban drains-as if the rules were never made. Worse, policy makers will avoid regulating other kinds of plastics unless there is some progress on already regulated ones.

By now, we should have been reducing nylon fishing nets strangling turtles and highly toxic plastics whose additives poison our children. But instead, we are simply stuck. The Ministry for Forests and Environment must press the accelerator on the rules, and reign in everyone obligated to follow them.

Last week's extraordinary news, as far as birds go, was about the Whooper Swans, at Himachal's Pong Dam. They were seen in India after 113 years.

- The Hindustan Times, 11th February 2013

When he set out to build New Delhi, Edwin Lutyens had in mind tree-lined avenues and gardens. So he turned to horticulturist William Robert Mustoe to push his plans. They also worked closely to create the Mughal gardens of the Viceroy's House, which later became the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A century later, a conservation plan, faithful to the original plan of the Viceroy's House, has been unrolled. The Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been asked by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to use the original plan to carry out landscaping and urban design work on President Estate.

The INTACH, which has already started work, is consulting the detailed description of Mustoe's landscaping in the original plan.

"We will keep to the true spirit of the plan. Over the years, planting has been done around the estate without much planning. For instance, Ashoka trees have been planted in huge numbers. We will have to see if some of them need to be uprooted. The best landscape artists have been hired as consultants for this project,'' INTACH convenor A G K Menon said.

According to Menon, the conservation plan for Rashtrapati Bhavan will be implemented in two phases. Phase-I will include the landscape and urban designing aspect.

"This work will be over in three months. The second phase will include taking on work to restore the original building. A detailed 3D laser scanning of the building will be carried out and another consultant will be involved for this work,'' Menon said.

Work on conservation of the main building will be over in six months and a third-party review will be done thereafter. Fire safety measures will be part of the plan.

The estate houses about 10,000 people. "Many of the structures have come up in complete disregard to the character of the place. We will have to look at the original layout and decide what kind of structures fit the heritage character of the estate," Menon said.

The CPWD, which maintains the building, is also planning a ceremonial hall and the INTACH will look where this can be created.

For a museum on the estate, another consultant will be hired. "We are also looking at developing a museum, which will tell people about the history of all the presidents of India. A ceremonial hall will be developed to receive foreign dignitaries who are currently being received in the courtyard area,'' a senior CPWD official said.

- The Indian Express, 11th February 2013

Unprecedented level of deaths reported this season

Sea turtles or green turtles are facing extinction to an unprecedented level at the peak of the breeding season in Tamil Nadu.

In the past two months several hundred carcasses of the adult green turtles have been found littered along the coastline in the State. That this endangered has found a place in the Red List speaks volumes about its inevitable role in preserving ecology, according to S. Murugan of the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology of Annamalai University.

Mr. Murugan told this correspondent that though outwardly the sporadic findings of the turtle carcasses on the shore might look insignificant to the uninitiated their mass extinction would have a long-term impact on marine environment.

He said that these turtles used to migrate thousands of kilometres from Australia to Indian coast — particularly Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha — in search of salubrious climate during the breeding season that extended from December to February.

The female turtle would lay about 70 to 130 eggs at a time and hide them in a sand pit.While the adult turtles were hanging around in the shallow waters they would get entangled in the fishing nets. The turtle would have to emerge from under the sea once in every 40 minutes to take in lung full of fresh air. If the turtles were caught in the gill nets of the fishermen they would have to stay under water for a fairly long time, thus, causing their death due to aspiration.

Since, the fishermen were fully aware of the consequences of netting an endangered species their instant reaction would be to throw the turtles caught in the fishing nets overboard. Mostly, such of those abandoned turtles or their carcasses would be washed ashore.

At times, the nesting turtles would become an easy prey to the marauding dogs and jackals that found the species a delicacy. He also attributed excessive pollution caused by indiscriminate discharge of untreated industrial effluents into the sea as one of the causes for the death of the green turtles. Only when these variables were taken proper care of the turtles could be saved from extinction.

The turtles had a fairly long life expectancy, stretching to 300-350 years the ecological damage caused by their untimely death could be well gauged.

Mr. Murugan also noted that the hatchlings would stay on in the Indian coast for about eight — 10 years and following their natural instinct would later migrate to Australia. If their life was cut short even this migratory cycle would get affected.

Therefore, he said that all out measures, including sensitising the fishermen, should be created to safeguard the green turtles so as to preserve the fragile ecological balance.

- The Hindu, 11th February 2013

The Porumamilla police seized 915 silver coins dating back to the 19th Century that surfaced during the demolition of a dilapidated 150-year-old house at Vaddemanu village in Porumamilla mandal.

The house was constructed by Duggireddi Gurivi Reddy, who had worked as a District Board member in the British regime. The police intervened when a dispute arose between Ramasubba Reddy, great grandson of Gurivi Reddy, and his relatives on finding the silver coins, which bore the insignia of Queen Victoria and the East India Company, Porumamilla Circle Inspector Murali Naik said on Monday.

-The Hindu, 12th February 2013

Centuries ago, the enlightened Buddha and his family visited several places across the country spreading the message revealed under a peepal tree. In modern times, a few places still bear the mark of the Buddha, and it is these places that form an entire photo exhibition, "Footprint of Lord Buddha", inaugurated at the All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society here on Monday.

"In India, there are 11 monuments that bear testimony to the visit of Buddha and his family," says J. P. Sharma, a retired Uttar Pradesh Government official who spent his free time over the last 25 years travelling across the country and taking photographs.

Some of the monuments were difficult to capture as Mr. Sharma had to wait around for the perfect light. "The best photographs are those that happen by chance, like this picture where the Buddha sits in meditation and there is a pigeon resting on his head. A pigeon is also symbolically meant to meant enlightenment or peace."

Sometimes Mr. Sharma would take the train but most of the time he travelled the country on a two-wheeler with his heavy camera and film rolls. "Only three of the pictures here have been taken by digital camera, my favourite picture is the one of the Sanchi Stupa which was visited by Buddha's son Mahindra. I like it because of the intricate carvings over the entrance, it contains the teachings of the Buddha," he says, adding that he was a History student and passion for this subject coupled with his hobby of photography had compelled him to put together this exhibition.

Nepal also features in the exhibition, and Mr. Sharma has captured "Lumbini" where Buddha was supposed to be born.

The exhibition has 70 photographs of Buddhist sites and was inaugurated by Indian Council for Cultural Relations president Karan Singh.

The exhibition is open up to February 17.

"In India there are 11 monuments that bear testimony to the visit of Buddha and his family"

- The Hindu, 12th February 2013

In the age of Google and Wikipedia, tourists can access general information about a historical monument that they are visiting from the internet, but a guide can tell you a lot more. And this is why trained, professional guides are an integral part of the tourist experience.

An information board at the entrance to the Tughlaqabad Fort, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument on the southern fringes of Delhi, tells you that Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq built it during 1321-1323.

The board offers some more information and another warns tourists of dos and don'ts.

But nowhere can you find information about the legend associated with the fort.

"Ya rahe ujar, ya base gujar (either it remains uninhabited or only Gujars will stay here)", thus went the curse by Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, 800-odd years ago as Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq banned labourers to help the Auliya with the construction of the baoli (step well) near Nizamuddin dargah.

Tughlaq was killed soon after and the fort was never inhabited.

There is neither any authorised guide nor any booklet/brochure giving such information about the place. Monument attendants often offer to take the tourists around. Another fort from another era, the Purana Qila, is located in the heart of the city.

The ramparts enclose sprawling premises, which has a number of structures, including the Qila-e-Kohna Masjid.

But none of the signboard tells you about the purpose of the arches and the rooms below the mosque or that the fort was the site of coronation of Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly known as Hemu, after defeating Akbar's forces at Agra and Delhi on October 7, 1556.

Jangchub Shakya from Tibet faced a similar problem at the Jantar Matar - the early 18thcentury astronomical observatory.

"A lady at the entrance asked me for R100 over above the ticket price. (Then) I was asked if I needed a guide, I said no. A board with rates for authorised guides could help. I am afraid, I can't trust people," said Shakya.

Safdarjung Tomb, the tomb of Mirza Muqim Mansur Khan (1739-54), entitled Safdar Jung, has few information boards, but none that would give details about the beautiful architecture.

"The ministry (tourism) has fixed rates for guides for a group of 1-4 persons, 5-14 persons and 15-25 persons. We offered ASI to deploy our members at designated spots and started a trial at Safdarjung in 2012. A board was installed announcing it, but it was removed in three days," pointed out Sushil Tiwari, vice-president of the Government Approved Tourist Guide Association (GAGTA).

AGK Menon from Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) agreed, "There are no interpretation centres at the monuments. It is a hassle for tourists to find a proper guide. But now facilities such as audio guides, guide books, hop-on hop-off buses are being planned."

- The Hindustan Times, 12th February 2013

If you stand across Vasant Kunj C-8 block to reach the 13th-century-built Sultan Ghari tomb, you will struggle to locate the entry.

You will have to cross a proposed road, which is full of garbage and debris. A kutcha road leads to the monument but no boards have been put up either by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the monument, or the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the agency owning land around the monument.

"Only the monument up to plinth area is notified as protected and the rest of the land belongs to DDA, which has designated the area as an archaeological park. We will take up the matter with the DDA again," said Daljeet Singh, ASI's Delhi circle chief.

The DDA claimed that the project for conservation of ruins around Sultan Ghari had started in 2002 but it was discontinued due to litigation.

"Further, as per revised the Archaeological Act, permission is required from the National Monument Authority to carry out works around monuments. DDA is currently forming a project appraisal committee to review the works to be undertaken afresh in a time-bound manner," said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar.

KT Ravindran, former Delhi Urban Arts Commission chairperson, said, "There is no connectivity for sewage, so you cannot have a toilet there. It has to be a close-circuit system of septic tank. A well worked out design and autonomous system is needed as stone monuments are very sensitive to water."

Several kilometres away, the Rahim Khan-e-Khanan tomb is definitely in a better shape with neat manicured lawns. But it hardly finds any visitors. Its back faces the Mathura Road, opposite Nizamuddin (west) colony.

"On the main road is a board telling just the name, but none showing direction. The actual entry is from inside the Nizamuddin east colony. How does ASI expect tourists to reach this place?" said Ananya Dasgupta, a resident of Bhogal.

An exception in terms of a clear board indicating direction on the main road, availability of parking and good approach road is Firoz Shah Kotla. A good board with directions could be seen at the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

After the ample parking, the entry looks a little cluttered with trucks parked haphazardly and a broken road right in front of it.

Insides, the lawns are well maintained amid the grandeur of the ruins of the fifth city. There are enough signages but no guide to explain beyond the boards. The monument is visited by devotees on Thursday and Friday which, claimed an officer, adds to the garbage and litter.

"There is no point in blaming just the ASI. The civic agencies and the tourism department too need to be involved," observed AGK Menon of Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage.

- The Hindustan Times, 13th February 2013

Underneath this pristine Sal forest lies one of the country's richest repositories of iron ore. But existing mines have already damaged swathes of Saranda as well as led to the extensive silting and pollution of River Koina

On January 21 and 22, the Forest Advisory Committee under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests recommended clearing over 1,500 hectares by JSW Steel and Jindal Power and Steel for mining iron and manganese ore in Saranda, Jharkhand. While JSW Steel Limited had proposed to mine iron and manganese ore in 998 hectares, Jindal Steel and Power applied for an iron ore mining lease for over 512 hectares.

According to the minutes of the FAC meet, about 87,000 trees will be felled for mining. The Committee also notes the presence of elephant, sloth bear, barking bears (whatever they be) and reptiles. But the mere headcount of trees or a sample of fauna fails to capture the spirit of Saranda — 'the forest of seven hundred hills' — which occupies a significant place in ecological history as the finest, largest Sal forest in the world. Saranda has been the training school for generations of foresters for over a century and is a prime elephant habitat. It forms the core of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve with an estimated 150 elephants in about 820 sq km of the forest.

Interestingly, it once hosted the now extinct cheetah, which India is currently scrambling to re-introduce from stocks abroad. A Mervyn Smith, an officer stationed in Chotta Nagpur, records shooting cheetah in Saranda. He writes inSport and Adventure in the Indian Jungle (1904): "It is generally believed that the cheetah is now only found in the scrub jungle of Central India, but I have killed them in the dense forest of Saranda in Chotta Nagpur."

The fecund forests of Saranda also supported the very rare Central Indian wild buffalo and the tiger. Once. Smith has recorded tiger hunting in these forests too. The last record is of the legendary forest officer SP Shahi who shot a tiger here in 1966. Saranda still sees the odd tiger — in fact, in late 2011, forest officers following reports of buffalo kills found conclusive tiger evidences such as pugmarks and scat. It was probably a male — and its presence was noted not a kilometre away from the mining township of Gua.

But the return of the tiger here was not a cause célèbre unlike the hoopla over the reintroduction of tigers in a reserve next to Delhi in Sariska. Instead, its presence was shrouded with apprehension, lest it be a hurdle to mining prospects. The forests of Singhbhum traditionally met the needs of Indian Railways for making wooden sleepers. But while such extraction extensively degraded the forests, natural regeneration of Sal healed and rejuvenated Saranda.

It is mining that is killing the soul of Saranda. Underneath this pristine Sal forest lies one of the richest repositories of iron ore. Existing mines have already destroyed extensive swathes of Saranda. It is estimated that over 1,100 hectares of virgin forest with over 80 per cent canopy cover has been devastated by ongoing mining in many parts, such as Gua, Noamundi, Kiriburu or 'Elephant Hill'.

It gets worse: A slew of big-ticket companies besides Jindal, like Arcelor, Tata Steel, Essar and others have reportedly already signed MoUs with the State Government in anticipation of getting the green flag and are eying Saranda, not unlike vultures-in-waiting... waiting for the forest to die.

In February 2011, Mr Jairam Ramesh, then the Minister of Environment and Forests dealt the first major blow. He overturned the recommendation of his Forest Advisory Committee and gave Steel Authority of India Limited the green signal for the Chiria iron ore mine in Saranda. The permission was for a period of 20 years, for the diversion of 595 hectares, which covered about a fourth of the Chiria mines area. The pressure — we understood — was from where it usually is: 'Above'.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had written in 2007 to the then Chief Minister of Jharkhand for renewal of leases in SAIL's favour "in the broader national interest". Besides, Mr Ramesh explained in his permission note, "Over the next 50 years, around 40 per cent of iron ore requirement of the SAIL will be met from Chiria mines. Chiria is essential for the future of SAIL ." Now, it appears that the future of Jindal & Co is also dependent on Saranda as well. But isn't the future of Saranda a national concern too? And what about the future of the elephant, our National Heritage Animal?

Mining in Saranda has led to extensive silting and pollution of River Koina, which feeds the villages downstream. It is also an essential water source for elephants during the summer. But as the river (and forest) dry and wither, the elephants are pushed into neighbouring Chhattisgarh causing severe conflict, and loss of life and livelihood. This is only going to worsen as we ravage and fragment the forests further.

There has been a strong case to notify Saranda as a protected area, and though this has been proposed, it never gained currency given the mineral interests. The Sal forests of Saranda are part of a large tiger landscape that includes the Sundargarh and Keonjhar forest divisions of Odisha — also devastated by mines — providing immense potential for tiger conservation. This landscape is connected to tiger habitats in northern Chhattisgarh and Odisha's Similipal Tiger Reserve, which is a potential source population to augment the relict tiger populations that continue to persist against odds in the few undisturbed pockets that remain here.

The Gajah Report authored by the MoEF constituted Elephant Task Force clearly states that mining in elephant reserves should be subject to approval from the National Elephant Conservation Authority whose constitution was mooted by the Prime Minister's Office.

A report in Down to Earth notes that the "the recommendation of FAC, the principal chief conservator of forests, and the State Government, had not given a clear recommendation and had left the decision to the Central Government". It also points out that Saranda is home to tribal people who have been opposing mining projects in the area. The tragedy of Saranda is not that of the rich minerals that lie underneath, but the fact that we define the value of a forest by the narrow vision of the economist, that growth and GDP are calculated in the destruction and not the preservation of a natural heritage. Yes, we need economic growth, but at what cost?

(The author is a member, National Board of Wildlife.)

- The Pioneer, 13th February 2013

A bit of cereal, the right kind of garden hedge or even just a nesting box are all that it will take to protect a bird that lives alongside humans but is fast disappearing In the midst of much informed and universal concern about the future of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), one of man's oldest living commensals, there is a ray of hope yet. For, returning home on the first sun-drenched mid-morning of January 2013, I experienced the heart-stopping moment of seeing 23 house sparrows, basking in the warmth of the sun! Given a conducive habitat, all other side effects of modern day life-styles notwithstanding, the house sparrow should be the last of all to wander off the living planet.

The house sparrow is a sober-looking bird with a ubiquitous spread — from Leh in the North to Cape Comorin in the South and from the Somnath Temple in the West to the Camorta Island in the East. With that kind of a presence, we should be able to spot them anywhere. Ornithologist Salim Ali had labelled them as "man's hanger-on" for they are known to enter homes nonchalantly, chattering non-stop as they set about arranging their personal living comfort by adding heaps of straw to any potential nest-site, quite unmindful of the householder's presence.

New lifestyles to blame

But today, most Indians would perhaps know this bird only through photographs. Not even two out of 10 may be able to lay claim to having seen the bird in the outdoors. So why do so few of us encounter the bird despite its worldwide spread? As the bird lives only among humans, it's not about disappearing forests, but about the pollution around us, including from communication towers, the use of steel and glass in our buildings that has reduced the availability of nesting sites and food, and, where there are gardens, the partiality for exotic rather than indigenous vegetation. This shift to new lifestyles, even in rural communities, is at severe conflict with the house sparrow's basic existential needs. In China, the house sparrow was exterminated by about the end of the 1960s after being declared the number one crop pest. On the other hand, that very "pest number one" became the angel of progress in America and Australia where it was not native but consciously introduced for pest control in agriculture, to cut down the reliance on chemical alternatives. With time, the house sparrow came to be equivocally feted in both continents. Today, the bird figures high in their avian literature and is much cherished.

Coming back to the large number of resident house sparrows at our home in Chandigarh, there are two contributing factors. One is that my wife has always spread abundant food on the rooftop, every morning. Coupled with that is the availability of secure roosting and nesting niches by way of thick, tall hedges on two sides of the house. Of course, there is natural predation of fledglings by crows and by an odd Shikra (a hawk sub-species) but the house sparrow is a sturdy breeder raising three broods of two to five chicks, thrice each year. So the population does not merely "hold" at the optimum survival figure for the given area at our home but also feeds the neighbourhood. As simple as that!

No description of the bird will be complete without a mention of the strong streak of tenacity in its character. And here I can do no better than quote the master, Edward Hamilton Aitken (born in Satara, Maharashtra, in the mid-19th century to Scottish parents) from his book "Common Birds of Bombay" (1900): "And when a Sparrow makes up its mind nothing will unmake it except the annihilation of that Sparrow. Its faithful spouse is always, and very strongly, of the same mind. So they set to work to make a hole in the corner of the ceiling-cloth and they tear and tug with an energy which leaves no room for failure. Then they begin to fetch hay and the quantities which a couple will carry in a day is miraculous…. I declare solemnly that you might have fed a horse on the hay which I removed daily as most of it tumbled down…."

Much like most bird species the house sparrow is highly adaptable. Even though its traditional wilderness has been usurped and its living niche inside man's once mud-and-thatch dwelling replaced with glass and concrete, the house sparrow could well be the last on this living-planet if mankind were to spare just one hundredth of its cereal intake for the bird and make space for it around homes, where possible by planting indigenous hedges, and if there is no garden, by simply providing a nesting box. That's not too much to ask.

(Baljit Singh is a retired Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.)

- The Hindu, 13th February 2013

Delhiites would soon be able to visit a crocodile park at the Yamuna biodiversity park located near Wazirabad.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which has developed the Yamuna biodiversity park near Wazirabad village, is now working on Phase II of the park, where the crocodile park is envisioned. The park is spread over an area of 457 acres and the Phase II would encompass an area of 300 acres more.

The project, which is being funded by DDA and coordinated by its landscape and horticulture department, is being developed by the Delhi University's Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Systems (CEMDE).

The Yamuna Biodiversity Park is located along the floodplains in the upstream of river Yamuna near Wazirabad village. This project is being developed in two phases. Phase I was initiated in the year 2002 and today it has fully functional wetland ecosystems and well developed forest ecosystems.

DDA believes that the development of the wetland would help in attracting birds, which might help in developing a bird sanctuary similar to the one in Okhla or even Bharatpur.

The project would also include food courts and an amphitheatre. In future, a nature trail along the bank is planned, which would enable enthusiasts to cycle the distance between Wazirabad and Okhla.

- The Hindustan Times, 13th February 2013

How many times have you felt the need for a detailed map and information booklet about Delhi's monuments? Your wishes have been answered.

'Delhi: 20 Heritage Walks' and 'Delhi Explorer: Heritage & Tourism Guide Map', two publications from Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), are aiming to fill this gap. They have been brought out just ahead of Delhi's final nomination as the World Heritage City by UNESCO.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will release the 20 heritage walk booklets on Wednesday. Dikshit had already released the Delhi Explorer map, created by the Heritage Society in collaboration with INTACH, on Saturday.

With these booklets, INTACH is looking at not just facilitating, but also empowering tourists. "This is all about making monuments more attractive to tourists," said AGK Menon, INTACH's Delhi chapter chief.

The government of India's ministry of tourism has given R250 crore for improving tourism infrastructure in the city in the 2012-17 plan period. INTACH has planned several projects, one of which includes an interpretation centre at Qutab Minar. "Right now, most tourists stay in Delhi only for one day, or at most overnight. The all-out effort is to make Delhi a tourist destination," said an official explaining the plan to spend the R250 crore.

The guide map marks prominent monuments of the city and gives out its details. It also has a Delhi Metro map to help you get there. The book on heritage walks, to be released on Wednesday, has details about the historic and heritage places from a particular area and also a detailed map on the stops in the heritage walk.

- The Hindustan Times, 13th February 2013

Despite strict directions from the Supreme Court in December last year, the ministry of environment is yet to hold a meeting of 10-member committee to examine some of the difficulties involved in reducing pollution in the Yamuna river.

The government was supposed to inform the court about the action and status on February 8. But the court was told that the committee had formed a sub-committee, which could not manage to meet. Earlier in December, the Supreme Court, while hearing the 'And Quiet Flows the Mailee Yamuna' case, prompted by an HT report, had directed the government to form a 10-member committee to project the proposal that could be adopted by the court regarding possibility of construction of a master drain, into which waste water from all drains in the city could be discharged.

The committee was directed to consider the recommendations of the director, IIT Roorkee, and submit a status report regarding the works being initiated and carried out for controlling and removal of pollution from the Yamuna.

"Let the meeting of the sub-committee be duly held and the sub-committee shall submit its report to the convenor, so that he may submit the same to us on the next date without fail," the court said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed that the copies of these reports should be made available to the amicus curiae on at least three days before the next date of hearing, which has been fixed for March 11.

"Welcoming the court's emphasis on a drain to collect all the sewage, Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said, "We welcome the Supreme Court's focus on a drain parallel to the river to prevent city sewage polluting the river. We think that as a principle no waste water in any form should fall into the river."

14 February 2013, The Hindustan Times

The Centre is all set to redesign Shakti Sthal, Indira Gandhi’s memorial in Delhi, on the lines of Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

A government-appointed committee has asked the family to select a few quotations by the late Mrs Gandhi, which will be put up on the mural wall behind her samadhi. For the first time a photograph of the former prime minister will also be engraved in the wall encircling the big-rock like pillar, signifying strength and power, at the samadhi.

The Rajghat Samadhi Committee, which works under the Ministry of Urban Development, is planning to bring Kanakapura granite stone from Karnataka to modify the pillar — the same stone as used in Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial.

Officials admitted a conscious bid to have a common identity and link between the two memorials. While the plan to revamp Shakti Sthal was mooted two years ago, it is only now that things have started moving. The project is expected to be completed within four months and the government is likely to spend around Rs 77 lakh on it.

Currently, there is a brick wall behind the rock pillar, which will now have mural art. “On the redesigned mural wall, there will be a photograph of Indira Gandhi. This photograph will be engraved on the wall with the granite stones as its frame,” a senior official of the Urban Development Ministry said. “After a discussion with family members and close friends, it was decided that the samadhi will be given a complete makeover. The photograph and quotations will be chosen by the Gandhi family and a formal request went to them a month back.”

The move comes at a time when the government is planning a common samadhi complex for leaders, citing paucity of space at Rajghat in Delhi where several top leaders have their memorials. While four large samadhis are dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi, there is a common memorial for K R Narayanan, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Zail Singh and Chandrashekhar at Ekta Sthal, carved out of Shakti Sthal.

“There were a lot of meetings with conservationists and heritage experts to decide the changes that will ultimately be brought to Indira Gandhi’s samadhi. There were normal repair works in the past, but this is for the first time that such visible changes would be made,” the official said.

-The Asian Age, 10th March 2013

The 16th-century Jahaz Mahal, so named for its ship-like reflection on the adjacent lake, might get a new lease of life.

Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage Delhi Chapter has moved a proposal with Archaeological Survey of India to restore the missing portions of the monument, including a chhatri and the south wall. ASI, however, is yet to approve the proposal as its policy does not support restoration on the principle that relics should, as far as possible, be retained as they are.

Structurally, experts say, Jahaz Mahal is in a fairly good condition with a strong foundation. Some portions of the Lodhi-era structure collapsed several years ago. The monument is surrounded by several small mosques and ruins which are not ASI-protected and are encroached upon.

"There were originally six chhatris on the terrace but today there are only five. The chhatri in the south-east corner collapsed decades ago. The south wall enclosing the courtyard also collapsed. There is intricate tile work in the chhatris which have gone missing through the decades," said a senior official of Intach.

Officials said the monument has undergone several changes through the years. "There is still evidence of the tile work which can be restored following the original pattern. While one chhatri is missing, another is structurally so weak it is supported by stone pillars on each side. Even the flooring is not original... the monument never had stone flooring, it was always lime concrete," added an official.

ASI follows the John Marshall conservation manual of 1920s under which monuments are kept in the condition they were in when notified. "Restoration should take place only when there is ample evidence. We have reservations with Intach's proposal. If you do not have evidence of exactly how the missing chhatri was like, how can you reconstruct it?" said a senior ASI official.

ASI officials said they were more interested in repairing the plaster and tile work. Intach convener A G K Menon, however, said more discussions were in order. "There is an ideological difference. If you restore a building, it has more meaning to people and society. If you keep it as ruins, it holds interest only to historians. This is a building an architect can understand," he said. Intach officials added that they have old photos of Jahaz Mahal to aid the restoration.

ASI has asked Intach to submit a "workable proposal". "There are several unprotected monuments in the vicinity of Jahaz Mahal which are encroached upon. Why not conserve those first?" said an official.

In sites like Humayun's Tomb where Aga Khan Trust for Culture has been working for the past several years, a lot of restoration work has taken place. But, ASI officials said, there was ample evidence and documentation in this case.

Conservationists say restoration can be applied on a case-to-case basis.

"Reconstruction is an acceptable process as part of a larger conservation strategy the world over. Medieval buildings require to be treated differently from the archaeological remains of ancient times where 'preserve as found' is appropriate," said Ratish Nanda, project director of AKTC.

14 February 2013, The Indian Express

The lines read as “Muu-na-ka-ra” and “Muu-ca-ka-ti”

Young archaeologists M. Prasanna and R. Ramesh like to climb the hills around Madurai, which have pre-historic rock art, Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions on the brow of natural caverns, beautiful bas-reliefs of Jaina “tirthankaras” and beds cut on the flat rock surface for the Jaina monks to sleep on. These hills include Mankulam, Keezhavalavu, Tiruvadavur, Varichiyur, Mettupatti, Anaimalai, Kongar Puliyankulam and Muthupatti.

The duo aspired to discover a Tamil-Brahmi script on the hills. While Prasanna is an assistant archaeologist in the Archaeological Survey of India, Ramesh works in the University Grants Commission-Special Assistance Programme under Professor K. Rajan of the Department of History, Pondicherry University.

On January 20, 2013, they climbed the Tirupparankundram hill, where three Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, datable to the first century BCE, were discovered many decades ago. As they climbed the several hundred steps leading to the Kasi Viswanathar temple, they wondered whether they would be lucky this time. Behind this temple are bas-reliefs of Jaina tirthankaras on the rock surface. There are also recently carved images of Ganesa, Muruga, Bhairava and others. Near the temple, there is a pond and a shrine dedicated to Machchamuni (matsya muni), meaning fish god. The pond is full of fish. There are steps cut on the rock, leading to the pond.

As they were scanning the rock surface, their eyes fell on the steps leading to the pond and they saw what looked like a Tamil-Brahmi script in two lines. Excited, they turned the pages of the book titled “Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions,” published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department in 2006. They read the pages on the earlier discoveries of the Tamil-Brahmi script at Tirupparankundram and found that this was a new discovery. They rang up Dr. Rajan who confirmed that it had not been documented earlier.

The lines, each having four letters, read as, “Muu-na-ka-ra” and “Muu-ca-ka-ti.” The first line has a trishul-like symbol as a graffiti mark at its end. The first letter “muu” can mean “three” or being ancient or old. “In the present context, the meaning of ancient is more probable,” Ramesh and Prasanna said. The na-ka-ra/na-kar-r represents a town or city. So the first line could be read as “ancient town,” probably meaning Madurai, they suggested. In the second line, the first letter “muu” again stands for “ancient or old.” The remaining three letters, ca-ka-ti/ca-k-ti may represent a “yakshi,” they said. (Yakshis are women attendants of the 24 Jaina tirthankaras). “So the inscription can be read as goddess of the ancient city. But it is open to different interpretations,” they said.

V. Vedachalam, retired senior epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, said the first line stood for an elderly Jaina monk and the second one could mean “motcha/moksha gadhi.” So the script could stand for a Jaina monk who, facing north, went on a fast unto death there. That is, he attained nirvana. This is the first time that a Tamil-Brahmi script, referring to a Jaina monk who fasted unto death, had been discovered. Other Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions referred to donors who cut beds on rocks for Jaina monks or sculpted rock-shelters for them.

A. Karthikeyan, Professor, Department of Tamil Studies in Tamil University at Thanjavur, suggested that the inscription could be read as “the attainment of liberation or salvation (moksha) of a female monk (saadhvi), namely elderly naakaraa. “Moksha gadhi” could be changed into muccakati. “It is difficult to assign a date to this inscription but it can be dated prior to the first century BCE,” said Dr. Rajan.

14 February 2013, The Hindu

"For me, Delhi's heritage value are its tombs. These tombs are indeed priceless. I hope they remain forever," said Sudeepti Selvam. The class 6 student of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya just echoed the sentiments of scores of students from 35 schools across Delhi, as part of a heritage awareness campaign at a function on Wednesday, where chief minister Sheila Dikshit released a set of tourism literature.

The tourism literature, has been prepared by the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), ahead of Delhi's nomination as a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The students also took a pledge to preserve the heritage of the city.

It comprises books on heritage walks, maps with details about heritage and places of tourist interest. The posters and paintings prepared by students of these 35 schools were converted into greeting cards and printed posters.

14 February 2013, The Hindustan Times

The central carriageway underMangey Bridge, which was closed for restoration, is likely to be opened in April. The road was lowered by one metre on ASI's request as heavy vehicles had hit and damaged the arches of the British-era bridge.

"By mid-December 2012, the civil work was completed but the carriageway could not be opened due to restoration work being undertaken by ASI on the damaged arch portion. However, the work is likely to be completed by end of March after which we will open the carriageway," said Rajkumar Chauhan,PWD minister.

There are three arches with a lane under each arch. The PWD officials said the heavy vehicles like trucks and buses will be restricted to the central lane once it's reopened while the other two lanes will be for light motor vehicles.

In the last few years, Mangey bridge, which connects Red Fort with Salimgarh Fort, saw substantial damage due to heavy vehicles passing under it. Large portions of the bridge had fallen off and the arches were also damaged. Following this, ASI requested PWD to lower the road under the bridge and paid Rs one crore for it. PWD started the work in May 2012.

Officials said the road level under the bridge had risen considerably in recent years due to constant relaying. The bridge is located on a highway that is used by a large number of heavy vehicles regularly. Earlier, ASI had requested the traffic police to change the route taken by heavy vehicles, but that didn't happen.

In 2010, a British firm was roped in by ASI to help in conservation and repair of the bridge. A team of 15 engineers from UK-based firm Cintec, known for its patented anchoring system, had been brought in from Newport along with four expert drillers.

14 February 2013, The Times of India

The Signature Bridge is not likely to be completed before mid-2014 despite claims that it may be commissioned this year. The eastern and western approaches, however, are set to be ready in coming months.

Officials of Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation have said they were faced with several challenges in executing the project. "This is one of the most challenging projects in the world. Aesthetics aside, it will be an architectural marvel. Once we complete the bridge, the area around it will be developed in Phase II as a tourist spot," chief engineer Jose Kurian said. The bridge will have a viewing gallery accommodating up to 30 people at the top giving visitors a bird's eye view of the city. There will be special elevators to this gallery.

The first consignment of pylon from China is due in April. The base is expected to reach Kandla port by mid-April after which it will be transported to Delhi via 32 special hydraulic trailers. As each component will vary in size, ranging from 6.8 metres width to one metre length and weighing over 376 tonnes, transportation will be another challenge. "Normal carriageway width is about 7m. The entire carriageway will have to be blocked for the trailers to pass through," an official said.

Four more consignments are expected to follow. "Erection work of the 154m pylon is expected to start by June-July. German-constructed bearings which will bear the weight of the pylon (6,500 tonnes) have already arrived. We hope to finish half the work by year-end," the official said.

DTTDC engineers said most of the foundation work for the bridge is close to done. "We lost 20 months when a large portion of land earmarked for the project was suddenly declared a forest area following a recent Supreme Court judgment.

When we earmarked the land, it was not a forest area but the definition changed thereafter. So clearances had to be sought from the union ministry of %environment and forest," the official said.

A joint venture between three companies led by Gammon India, the Wazirabad bridge will have four lanes in each of the two carriageways. The unsymmetrical cable-stayed bridge will have a main span of 251 metres and a steel pylon rising to 154 metres. It will connect the marginal bund road near Khajuri Khas intersection to the east with Outer Ring Road to the west. There will be a western approach main flyover, western approach loops, eastern approach main flyover, eastern approach embankment and the main bridge.

14 February 2013, The Times of India

A unique festival paying tribute to poet Hazrat Amir Khusrau Dehlavi, Nizamuddin Auliya's favourite disciple, will be held in the city for two weeks starting February 15. Sixteen artistes from Pakistan will be part of Jashn-e-Khusrau 2013-to be simultaneously held at IHC, Chausath Khambha and Sundar Nursery-that will feature soirees, seminars, film screenings, heritage walks and never-seen-before exhibits.

It will be inaugurated by union culture minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch at India Habitat Centre on Friday with an opening performance by the Pakistan-based Ustad Nasiruddin Saami.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture will host the annual festival with co-funding from Ford Foundation as part of AKTC's Urban Renewal Project in the Humayun's Tomb-Nizamuddin area. The ministry of culture this time has nominated Qawwali traditions created by Khusrau to the Intangible World Heritage list.

Visitors may take part in seminars, film screenings and lectures on the Khusrau legacy at IHC where Rehana and Parween Mirza, Saira Begum and Gulshan Ara will perform on February 16, Vidushi Kankana Banerjee on February 17 and Ustad Ghulam Muhammad Saaznawaz, of Kashmiri Sufiana renown, on February 18. Classical singer Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan will perform at IHC on February 19. Film screenings will include Girish Karnad's The Lamp in the Niche.

Other events include a Khusrau-inspired contemporary fusion by the Pakistani Mekal Hazan Band as the inaugural event of the new Garden Amphitheatre in CPWD Sundar Nursery. Tahira Syed, also from Pakistan, will recite ghazals on February 21 in presence of Salman Khushid, union external affairs minister.

Starting February 22, an exhibition at National Museum will showcase artifacts, paintings and musical instruments associated with Khusrau's legacy.

Also on February 22, a sitar recital by Ustad Shahid Perwez Khan will take place near Khusrau's dargah in Nizamuddin Basti in the forecourts of the 16{+t}{+h} century Chausath Khambha. Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan will sing at Chausath Khambha on February 23. The final performance of the festival is on February 24 at Chausath Khambha by Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan. It will be attended by chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

Starting March 1, an exhibition at National Archives will feature rare manuscripts of Khusrau from its own collection as well from Rampur Raza Library and Khuda Baksh Library. "The exhibition will introduce the contributions of and attributions to Khusrau to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted genius and the continuity of his legacy into the present day," festival curator Shakeel Hossain said.

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14 February 2013, The Times of India

The extension of the elevated Barapullah road will pioneer several environmentally sustainable engineering concepts. The PWD has finalized an elaborate plan modeling it on the lines of an environmentally sustainable project. The plan comes from project manager Shishir Bansal who, sources said, is a research scholar on the subject at the Delhi Technological University.

One of the most important measures includes proper utilization of concrete waste during the construction work. Instead of dumping concrete waste, around 3,000 metric tones of it will be recycled to be used in city projects like pavement tiles etc. "The one metre of concrete on top of the pile foundation is considered poor concrete and is chopped off. Also, when the loops will be added to the existing elevated structure, the concrete from the crash barriers will be removed. We will then send this waste to the recycling plant at Burari that is run by the corporations" said a senior PWD official.

Meanwhile, fly ash — natural hazard and difficult to dispose — will be used in earth filling and in concrete to enhance its strength. PWD will take this fly ash from the NTPC thermal plant. "NTPC faces difficulty in disposing this fly ash as it is constantly being produced. We will take it from them and mix it in the earthen filling and concrete," the official added.

In a first, high-grade concrete (M-75) will be used as part of this project leading to a lesser overall consumption of cement due to slimmer structures, said officials. The project will also ensure that there is minimum waste of land as the extension road will be aligned over the nullah, said officials.

The Rs 355-crore project will have six additional loops connecting Ashram, INA market, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg and the DND flyway to the corridor. There will be both an exit and entry to the elevated road from INA market side on the Aurobindo road carriageway from Sarojini Nagar towards AIIMS. There will also be an additional elevated loop to exit the elevated road to the opposite side carriageway of Aurobindo Marg.

A loop will be provided to access the elevated road from Thyagaraj stadium for commuters going towards Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and Sarai Kale Khan, said an official.

14 February 2013, The Times of India

GRIHA LD, a new rating system for green large area developments, which will provide planning practices and guidelines to reduce the environmental impact of large-scale developments, was launched on Thursday.

The ministry of new and renewable energy in collaboration with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitats (ADARSH) launched GRIHA LD at the 4th edition of the ministry’s flagship event ‘National Conference on Green Design’.

Calling for adoption of GRIHA LD, president Pranab Mukherjee said, “It’s adoption should give a fillip to both the public and private sector to construct environmental friendly buildings in a big way.”

15 February 2013, The Indian Express

It's an idyllic backdrop, with the valley and the greens. But a despondent Sita seated under a tree is lost in thought. She seems oblivious to her surroundings. Raja Ravi Varma paints her in the way words describe her in epics — dressed in saffron, plain, with sparse jewels. Years later, the vintage zardozi on her saree might have lost its sheen but the print is precious, says Anubhav Nath, director of Ojas Art. "It's a rare print. Raja Ravi Varma prints of Lakshmi and Saraswati are relatively easier to find because many of them were produced due to high demand," says Nath. The gallerist who has been collecting Varma's prints for over a decade, has now curated an exhibition from his collection. Comprising over 70 frames, each of the oleographs is embellished with zardozi done in Burma and south India.

The walls are resplendent with Varma's depiction of episodes from mythology and the deities who once graced calenders. There is Lakshmi standing on a lotus flower, with the river flowing under her feet. Krishna is Sri Venu Gopal with a flute, mesmerising the gopis. Vishnu appears on the mythical bird Garuda, flanked by his two wives Rudra and Sukeerthi. Shiv is on the Kailash mountains with Parvati and Ganesha on his lap, and the bull Nandi completes the picture. "The works are of historical significance. He is one of the first Indian contemporary artists who was responsible for taking art to homes through his oleographs. Aesthetically too, Varma defined how Indian gods and goddesses were pictured," says Nath.

Procured from collections world over, Nath is particular about the prints he acquires. "The print strip at the bottom is a must, it has its own charm," he says. None of the prints have been under a restorer's brush. "One tends to lose the patina during restoration," he reasons. The collection is not complete yet though, Nath notes that there are several other rare Ravi Varma works he hopes to get hold of.

The exhibition at Ojas Art, 1A, Qutab Minar, Mehrauli Road, is on till February 28. Contact: 23413136

Varma in the Auction Circuit

In August 2012, an untitled lithograph sold at Pundole's auction for Rs 3,80,000.

At the Sotheby's New York September 2011 auction an Untitled (Himalayan Beauty) oil on canvas sold for US $2,66,500.

A 1904 oil on canvas "Full length portrait of a boy" came under the hammer at the Gorringes auction for £10,000 pounds in March 2011.

Varma's untitled portrait of a Parsee lady sold for US $1,04,500 at Sotheby's New York 2008 auction.

In October 2007, Bonhams sold a Raja Ravi Varma oil on canvas for £6,02,400.

15 February 2013, The Indian Express

India's flagship cultural centre in London - the Nehru Centre, is facing a severe cash crunch.

Budgetary allocation to the centre - the cultural arm of the Indian High Commission, with the responsibility of portraying India's cultural heritage has been steadily dipping over the past three years. In 2011, allocation by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) was nearly Rs 5 crores which dipped to Rs 3.6 crores the following year.

The allocation for 2012-13 ended up even lesser at around Rs 3.4 crores.

Minister (culture) at the Indian High Commission in London Sangeeta Bahadur said, "We have been told by the MEA to expect a further 40% cut in allocations this year."

According to Bahadur, several large festivals planned to showcase India's rich heritage on the Centre's 20th year celebratons - theatre and film festivals and a Jaipur literary festival prototype will take a beating "with most of it will have to be shelved."

She added, "We have asked for Rs 5.5 crores for this year from the MEA. The MEA however has told us that the allocation this year could actually be worse than last year. From doing one programme a day we will now have to cut it down to two programmes a week."

According to Bahadur, the London Nehru Centre is the oldest ICCR institution.

15 February 2013, The Times of India

This book presents an exhaustive review of the basis of the making of Indian Civilisation, and Nationhood from ancient to present times. Culled in eight chapters, it crafts the essence of India's civilisational nature rooted in its geographical history.

The ironical presentation of natural resources as basis of civilisation; the manner in which the people of India over centuries have either synergised, nurtured or callously treated these resources is reflected in different streams of trajectories and references — from rivers, fauna (horses, lions, tigers) migration, and importance of geo-politics in the creation of the nationhood of present day India.

The hydraulic and geological metaphor of comprehending this civilisation is brilliantly brought out, critically presenting both the circularity and linearity of specifics inherent to India. From symbols of pillars as imperial power (Ashoka pillar, coronation pillar, Jaipur column), creation of road networks from Uttar and Dakshin paths to National Highways, historical presences of traffic jams (bullock cart caravans of yesteryears to present day traffic blocks), worshipping and comprehending the importance of rivers and yet helplessly envisaging and contributing to their destruction (from Saraswati — Ghaghhar to Ganga).

The book begins with the making of the geological land mass recognised as India while referring to the Continental drift and initial patterns of habitation in the chapter titled 'Genetics and Tectonics' and ends with the chapter titled 'The Contours of Modern India'. In the last chapter Sanjeev Sanyal describes the creation of the new emerging India by providing an interesting take on several issues, one being the slums. Sanyal writes "out of this messy process of migration, social climbing and urban evolution a new India is emerging dominated by new middle class children of migrants..." In this chapter he concludes with the creation of a greater India in a globalised world represented in the community of the diaspora. Sanyal critically presents important themes of urbanisation and migration. From the grand municipal organisation of the Indus Valley civilisation to the fixed cubist city of Chandigarh planned by Le Corbusier. As he writes "development is ultimately about shifting people from subsistence farming to other activities, urbanization is merely the spatial manifestation of this process."

Various aspects of Geography remain the main theme of the book. Hence civilisational developments along rivers and mercantile heritage on the sea and science of cartography are important elements in the book.

In the presentation of mercantile heritage the author refers to not only different communities with whom Indians had trade relations (Arabs, Jews etc.), but also a complex understanding of monsoon patterns that determined voyages, the establishment of ports, indigenous skills of boat building and communities associated with the heritage of the sea in different ways.

Sanyal presents a convincing argument of the power of detailing mapping, monitoring and collating facts of and on geographical resources, especially geographical spaces marking boundaries and gaining political control. Before he presents the success of the European Imperial mission rooted in investing in military engineering and the science of cartography, he analyses the reverse of becoming insular by both China and India from the 13th century onwards until the 19th century.

There is a fascinating description of the Survey of India, personal journeys of various people such as Nain Singh (in mapping Tibet) George Everest and others juxtaposed with confused geopolitics of the post independence period in charting international boundaries especially with China. Referring to European success at the start of the modern age Sanyal writes that the Renaissance represents new ideas, innovation and vigour.

To present Indian history in a comprehensive and detailed manner, to be selective in the representation of the matter and to use simple language is admirable. Sanyal's huge canvas from ancient to contemporary times is complex but is executed in a distinguished manner. From the geological formation of the subcontinent, to the development of a "genetic cocktail" of various groups of people, to the creation of empires, to the trajectory of trade routes — the book is must-read for all who value factoring in a civilisational understanding in every field of engagement with present day India.

Navina Jafa is a heritage educationist

16 February 2013, The Indian Express

It is difficult to accept Jaina connection, says Krishnamurthy

The trisula symbol at the end of the first line of the Tamil-Brahmi inscription, which was found on the Tirupparankundram hill near Madurai, is a Saivite symbol, argues R. Krishnamurthy, Editor,Dinamalar, a Tamil daily.

The trisula symbol can be seen in a rectangular or square type of the Tamil Sangam age Pandya copper coins and the Sangam age Chera coins, says Dr. Krishnamurthy, a reputed numismatist with a knowledge of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions.

“In view of the fact that we find the trisula symbol in the inscription,” he argues, “it will be extremely difficult to accept the Jaina connection” as argued in the story, ‘Tamil-Brahmi script discovered on Tirupparankundram hill,’ which appeared in The Hindu, datedFebruary 14, 2013.

The inscription, discovered on January 20 this year, has two lines: Muu-na-ka-ra and Muu-ca-ka-ti.Quoting specialists in Tamil-Brahmi, the article said the inscription could refer to an elderly Jaina monk who attained salvation by fasting unto death.In the first line of the script, the second letter ‘na’ and the third letter ‘ra’ may have been inscribed in the Bhattiprolu script, Dr. Krishnamurthy says.

“We can read the legend as ‘mu-nakar,’ an ancient town. The Bhattiprolu script has been used in the Sangam age Pandya ‘Peruvaluthi’ coin. The word ‘Sakti’ in the second line refers to Goddess Meenakshi. This inscription may belong to circa second century BCE,” he argues.

17 February 2013, The Hindu

With cemetery space at a premium, people are making bulk bookings for graves.

Razi-uddin Ahmad lives in a two-bedroom flat in Jama Masjid in old Delhi with his wife and four children. Sky-high property rates have forced him to stay in the house he grew up in, but in death he has ensured he and his family have adequate space.

The 52-year-old businessman booked 12 graves for Rs 48,000 so that his family members wouldn't have trouble finding space when they die. "Who would want to be a buried next to a stranger? We will all be together," said Ahmad, who made the booking over a decade ago. So far, his family has used four of the twelve graves.

Booking flats, cars and marriage halls was commonplace, but people now book graves for their loved ones so that they can bag a premium spot for eternity. The trend, which was earlier prevalent in Gulf countries, is catching on among Muslims and Christians in India who want to make sure that they rest in peace.

Ahmad's cousin Shafeeq Rehman has booked 88 graves in his grandfather's name. "It is also a status symbol to have as many graves as possible," said Ahmad, who comes from a big family. Another walled city resident businessman Akhmal Jamal has booked 58 graves in Delhi's Mehendian graveyard.

Only privately run graveyards allow booking of graves. The rate starts from Rs 5,000 and run to lakhs, depending on the location, much like buying property. The earlier you book, the higher the discount.

"Every privately run graveyard has its own rate. In our graveyard, a plot next to the entrance costs Rs 8,000. The one next to a religious person costs more than a lakh as good neighbours matter. It is believed that being buried next to a holy person will transport you to heaven as the neighbour will ask God to forgive your sins," said Mansoor Khan, former caretaker of Mehendian graveyard, behind Maulana Azad Medical College. "The grave near the feet of Mohattis Dehlvi, a religious man, was sold for Rs 1.8 lakh," said Khan. The rates are higher for eunuchs. Khan said a grave can cost around Rs 1.75 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and only rich eunuchs and their 'gurus' are buried here.

The rates of graves at Christian cemeteries are also high, and the space crunch is fuelling demand . "A grave can cost about Rs 18,000 and the lack of space means the rates will go up in years to come. We were taking bookings earlier but have stopped," said a member of the Christian cemetery in Paharganj.

"One client booked seven graves for four family members. The graves cost him more than Rs 1.5 lakh," said Bhai Mian, former caretaker of Khwaja Baqibilla graveyard, Sadar Bazar.

Once a grave is booked, the name of the owner is inscribed on a gravestone and the plot reserved . Receipts are given at the time of sale and have to be presented when it is ready to be used. "When BJP leader Sikander Bakht died in 2004, he was buried in a grave that had been booked for Rs 75,000. The money was refunded to the original owner of the grave," said Mian.

As with all land deals, there are allegations of fraud here too: Syed Ali Akhtar, former principal of a government school, says he was cheated and never got his money back. "My father had booked graves but when he passed away, the burial ground said there was no plot for him. The caretaker had sold our grave to another party," he said. Akhtar had to arrange another grave, which delayed the funeral by a day.

"You get a slip of paper but it is not enough to prove that the grave is your property. There have been many instances of a grave being sold to several persons . Since most plots are booked, it is difficult to find a grave at short notice," he said.

Some graveyards no longer take bookings due to space crunch and don't allow concrete graves. "All concrete graves are demolished and used again. This is the only way the graveyard can meet the demand, otherwise within seven years there will be no space to bury the dead," said Mashkoor Rashid of Kotla Ferozshah graveyard.

17 February 2013, The Times of India

Traders of ChandniChowk have been deprived of basic maintenance, not to speak of development of new infrastructure, all in the name of redevelopment. Since the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan was conceived in 2006, no major works of repair of road infrastructure or electrical maintenance have received sanction. But, with the Delhi government deciding to give back the main Chandni Chowk road to PWD, there will be even more delay in execution of the project.

Already, the matter has become politicized, with assembly elections coming up in December. The Delhi government has transferred the project, citing delay in implementation by the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The BJP, however, is blaming the government for creating roadblocks.

A miffed BJP has demanded a CBI inquiry. "The road was taken away in March 2011. It was handed back in October. It was taken again when the North corporation was set to start work. The Delhi government is against development. They don't want us to do the work," said Yogender Chandolia, standing committee chairman, North corporation. In a letter to lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna, Chandolia has sought quashing of the government order.

"Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Board Corporation was set to provide funds but has not replied to our June 2011 request. In December 2009, we sanctioned Rs 18.94 crore but couldn't spend it as the project was first stuck in administrative delays and then the government decided to transfer the roads to PWD," Chandolia said.

But as political rivals battle, traders — the supposed beneficiaries — are a disappointed lot. "The footpaths are broken, streetlights not working and the central verge is in bad shape. Hightension wires are hanging loose and the traffic is a mess. We were told work will start by January 2013. With roads transferred to PWD, tenders have to be floated again. The project was inaugurated twice, but work is yet to start," said Sanjay Bhargava, secretary of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal.

Corporation officials said time was wasted in deciding whether to construct a tunnel as in Connaught Place or simply place cables in a trench "as we did in Daryaganj". "We can easily finish the work of laying cables underground in small trenches in three to four months. But now that the project is taken over by PWD, we have no idea what will happen," said a North corporation official.

17 February 2013, The Times of India

The environment ministry has been under fire for delay in clearances. But is approving projects without proper scrutiny the solution for fast-tracking development? Sunday Times looks at both sides of the debate.

Last week, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) expressed concern that environmental laws have led to a new license raj under the UPA. Too much green tape is their gripe. Instead, what this high office should be focussing on is the cynical way in which this government and its predecessors, to an extent, have steadily rendered the country's environmental laws toothless. In fact, they cannot safeguard either the environment or the rights of the poor, or ensure the right kind of growth.

The environment ministry is under fire at the moment. It is perceived to be dragging its feet and not funnelling projects through the maze of clearances fast enough, believe the PMO and the infrastructure ministries. Is speed the only problem? A look at what's wrong with green clearances...

Overworked and understaffed

The Union environment and forests ministry has only six regional offices across India. These offices have to monitor thousands of countrywide projects that have been accorded environment and forests clearance since the 1980s. They have to check the parameters, conditions and stipulations under which these projects were cleared. For six offices, it is a huge task, especially given the puny staff allocations. For instance, the regional office in Chandigarh has three officers. Their jurisdiction covers Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir. The other offices are equally overworked and understaffed.

In addition, the government is green-signaling infrastructure and industrial projects at a record speed. Out of the 262 hydel-power projects that the government has evaluated since 2007 almost none have been rejected. Now they await clearance from the regional offices. Between 2011 and 2012 alone, the central government gave forest and environment clearance to more than 1,000 projects. At the state level, clearances ran into several thousands since the Centre only handles 9 per cent of the forest clearance proposals. The six offices managed to do forest checks on 292 projects and environmental checks on 710. Thousands await attention, and could easily go through without scrutiny.

Bending the rules

Indeed, the capabilities of the regulatory regime to monitor and oversee projects has fallen woefully inadequate with the UPA focussing on two parallel tracks — 'streamlining government' and 'growing the industrial economy'. As the volume of work (read number of projects going through) has grown at unprecedented rates, the UPA government has let the clearance process become opaque. Even when the government has ostensibly taken a step forward to balance industrial development and the rights of tribals and their forests, it has not blinked once before 'tweaking' the rules and decisions to find a 'route out' for the projects it wants to push through. In fact, most of its green gestures are just that, gestures. Take coal, for instance. The government started out mapping 'go' and 'no go' areas. Once it was seen as ecofriendly, it went on to clear dozens of coal projects. For one Vedanta it has made a case of, thousands of other projects have been cleared.

A cycle of cynicism

Every now and then industry makes a noise about how projects are not being cleared in time. The environment ministry notes that many of them are stuck for want of complete paperwork and information or pending with the state. Other arms of the government step in to say the logjam should be eased and soon enough either the rules are relaxed or exceptional reasons found to clear these projects.

This cycle was played out recently when the PMO and other infrastructure ministries berated the environment ministry for its slowness. As a result, a spate of relaxations were made to clear projects and in some cases the rules just plain ignored.

State governments, too, participate actively in this game. After all, the environment is on the concurrent list of the Constitution. While state governments rarely complain about environmental violations, they constantly demand the rights to clear projects instead of the Centre.

At the Centre, the UPA leadership is involved in what appears to be a duplicitous game. The environment ministry is projected as the sole guardian of the environment, and is always being asked to tread lightly on the corns of investors. This attitude has encouraged the other government departments of commerce and industry to treat the environment ministry like an outsider, instead of one of its own arms.

17 February 2013, The Times of India

Supporting communities for centuries, the area of irrigation under Dhamapur tank in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurga district is now steadily declining

Dhamapur Tank, nestled snugly amidst lush forests in the Malvan taluka of Sindhudurga district in Maharashtra is a glowing example of how an intelligent and sustainable local system can support communities and wildlife. What makes it more special is that it is a tank formed by perhaps one of the oldest earthen dams in Maharashtra built in 1600.

Initially built to irrigate lands in two villages, today it supplies drinking water to a population of more than 20,000. At a time when Maharashtra is witnessing a number of irrigation scams coming out of the closet, the Dhamapur tank stands as an example of the potential of community-managed small-scale structures.

According to the Central Water Commission’s National Register for Large Dams, the height of the Dhamapur dam above the lowest foundation is 11 metres; it is 271 meters long with a live storage of about 2.441 MCM, and reservoir area of 115 ha. Its created irrigation potential is 110 ha, of which 77 ha is utilised.

According to villagers, the dam was built entirely by local funds and shramadan (voluntary labour), the project was led by Nagesh Desai. Its canals and paats (branch canals and distributaries) were made in local laterite soil and can still be seen. These canals went on for kilometres, even in deep gorges, and irrigated every corner of the two villages. Till as late as the 1950s, the canals flowed 24X7 till the Panchmagha Nakshatra (third week of August) after which its outlet was sealed by villagers using wood and mud. This was then opened based on need for summer paddy, coconut and betel-nut gardens. The canal system was cleaned and repaired collectively on Akshay Tritiya (during summer). The entire system was based on participation and negotiations.

According to Jaiprakash Desai, descendant of Nagesh Desai, “Dhamapur tank accidentally came on record and control of the Minor Irrigation (MI) Department only in the 1950s. Earlier, it was entirely managed by villagers.” In 1980-81, the Department concretised parts of the dam wall to check leakages and then realised that Dhamapur Tank did not feature in any of its records. Immediately, it was brought under the control of the Revenue Department. From here, the communities were alienated from their talav (lake). Mr. Desai says, “Since the time the MI Department came in, irrigated area of Dhamapur has been decreasing.”

In 1999-2000, PVC pipes were laid inside the existing paat system at a huge expense to “increase the efficiency and reach of the paat system”. However, the system did not even work for a single year. According to the villagers, there was no capacity building or help for the water users’ association formed from MI Department, quality of pipes used was so bad that they started leaking and obstructed the flow through paats. Lack of water supply made many farmers in the area give up cultivation subsequently.

Now, the locals say that this scheme has been revived in 2011 with an increased cost estimate. The current plan is to concretise the existing paats and put two PVC pipes in place. Mr. Desai says, “Villagers are completely in dark about this scheme and no information is being shared with us.”

In the meantime, in 1997-2000, a drinking water supply scheme was set up by Malvan Municipal Corporation at Dhamapur Tank. Water is pumped and taken to Malvan city, 16 km away, and four more villages. While villagers are happy with the tank’s usefulness, they worried about the ever decreasing area under irrigation.

The catchment area of the tank is covered with dense and luxuriant forest, making desilting unnecessary; it has not been desilted in living memory. It has shoals of protected local fish which are fed by devotees. The MI Department has released exotic fish here and conducts bi-annual auctions in which the locals never participate. A villager says, “The population of local species has declined after introduction of exotics and auctions. Earlier, there were shoals of big fish.”

Dhamapur holds so many lessons about sustainable water management, distribution, catchment management, ecosystem approach and negotiations.

On the banks of Dhamapur lies an ancient temple of Bhagwati Devi. The history of temple tanks in Konkan and Sindhudurga is very rich. This region itself has four temple tanks in the vicinity, all of which supplied water for irrigation in the past and now for drinking also. Each of these tanks has a unique story; they have supported people, wildlife and forests of this region for centuries and are still going strong.

(The writer is a member of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People)

17 February 2013, The Hindu

To keep the Yamuna clean, builders found guilty of dumping construction and demolition debris on its riverbed will be fined R2,500. The nat-ional green tribunal, in its latest order, told government agencies to recover the money spent on removing debris from the river.

Officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), flood control and environment departments, and representatives from the Uttar Pradesh government held a meeting and decided to impose the fine. Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, on whose petition the tribunal's order came on January 31, was critical of the move. "How do you know who has done it (the dumping)? The idea should be to prevent and punish potential polluters. The sum is so small that it might as well encourage polluters."

"I have urged the Lt Governor to let the punishment be of a truly deterrent nature so that no polluter could get away with a mere token fine. I have also requested him to empower officials to act," he said.

SD Singh, nodal officer for water bodies in the Capital, said, "We have estimated R2,500 is needed for the removal of debris in a truck." About government agencies, he said: "Government agencies will dump municipal waste at the landfill site in Ghazipur. Construction and other materials have to be shifted to other identified sites."

"The debris has to be taken to a factory in Bawana, set up by the DDA for reprocessing of construction material and tile manufacturing," he said.

Invoking the 'polluter pays' principle, the tribunal had said, "…even private parties are throwing debris. These authorities (the governments in Delhi and UP, besides DDA and East Delhi Municipal Corporation) are directed to recover amounts spent on removal of debris."

The authorities have installed notice boards along the river, forbidding people from throwing pollutants.

18 February 2013, The Hindustan Times

The proposed Lucknow Metro Rail Project faces a grave problem, literally.

Two nondescript British cemeteries in the state capital, listed as protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), are coming in the way of finalising the path of the tracks. "We are unable to take a call on deciding the alignment because the graves of some unknown foreigners (British soldiers) killed in the freedom struggle of 1857 are in close vicinity," an official on the panel for the metro project formed by CM Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday.

"You cannot see the graves from outside. They are tucked away in a corner inside a crumbling structure."

The ASI has declined to provide no objection certificate for metro tracks near the cemeteries in commercial hubs Kaiserbagh and Aminabad.

Lucknow has 18 such cemeteries and many of the graves are unmarked, without epitaphs.

"I have to discharge my duties within the framework of law," said PK Mishra, the superintending archaeologist of ASI's Lucknow circle.

The ASI does have a provision for de-notifying sites and structures that have lost historical relevance or can no longer be preserved due to fund crunch.

18 February 2013, The Hindustan Times

Days after Hindustan Times highlighted the state of tourist facilities at 10 ticketed monuments protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Delhi, the Union ministry of culture has asked the ASI director general to file a status report.

"Both the culture minister and the ministry of culture have sought a report about points raised by HT. The DG office has received letters from both the minister's office and that of culture ministry's office," sources in the ASI said. They said since Friday, the ASI staff at the Delhi circle has been busy compiling the status report. "Basically, a status report has been sought. We are not denying the lack or absence of facilities," said an official. In a three-part series that started on Monday, HT had highlighted how tourists get a raw deal at 10-ticketed monuments, including the three world heritage sites, in Delhi.

The issues highlighted included availability of parking, drinking water, public conveniences and first-aid among other facilities.

Of the 174 ASI-protected monuments, only 10 are ticketed but paint a not-so-satisfactory picture when it comes to facilities for tourists. When HT contacted Pravin Srivastava, DG ASI, he said: "We are going to file the report to the ministry soon."

Sources said Chandresh Kumari Katoch, minister for culture, is keen on improving the facilities for tourists. "Hence, after the HT report, she chose direct personal intervention," sources added. The monuments that were featured in the HT series were: the three World Heritage Sites, Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar and others such as Purana Qila, Tughlaqabad Fort, Safdarjung Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Sultan Ghari Tomb and Firoz Shah Kotla.

18 February 2013, The Hindustan Times

We go looking for a rock-cut Jaina temple in monument-rich Aihole

River Malaprabha trickles through a dry bed of rocks, parched by the rays of the sun. A black kite flies low, while a pied kingfisher hovers over the small puddles of water. It is well past dawn, and we leave the jagged cliffs behind us as we drive from Vatapi (Badami) to Aihole (or Aivalli), a town that has borne the Chalukyan legacy since the 5th Century. Aihole was not just a capital town of the dynasty, it was also a commercial centre and a cradle of temple architecture.

Architectural marvels

I look around Aihole, and I see a temple almost everywhere. There is hardly any house or market amidst the various monuments in different stages of ruin and restoration. The ASI board says there are more than 125 monuments, some of them are as old as 1,500 years old. The town is a veritable storehouse of heritage and architecture with temple complexes, step wells, rock-cut cave temples, pillars and inscriptions dotting the landscape. Busloads of school students in various uniforms eagerly jump out of the vehicles to wander around this ancient site. I leave the more famous monuments behind me as my interest lies in an ancient cave temple dedicated to the Jains

As I leave the town, its giant rocks look down at me. There is hardly anyone around as we make our way to one of the oldest rock-cut cave temples in Aihole. On a long craggy outcrop and perched on a rock is a Jaina cave, carved probably around the 6th or 7th Century. I climb a small rock and open the door of the cave to find it richly decorated with carvings, some of them not complete. You can see carvings of Parshvanatha and Bahubali with female consorts.

The cave opens into a porch that leads to a square hall with multiple small chambers. In the centre is a seated Teerthankara, flanked by guardians. The ceiling is ornate with relief patterns of lotus petals and other mythical creatures.

While some of the chambers are dark and empty, one can see women worshippers carved as well.

Dispelling darkness

The light from outside shines inside the cave, dispelling the darkness. I leave the cave and sit amidst the rocks, looking at the craggy cliffs above me. The dark crevices in the rocks seem to have secrets hidden beneath them. The road above takes you up to Meguti Hill, where the 7th Century Jain temple stands atop the hillock. I look down and see that there is not a soul below us — not even the occasional stray dog or cattle is around. Even the birds seem to have left us alone. I sit there and wonder why some of the most beautiful sculptures are locked inside such caves where very few people stop by to appreciate them.

18 February 2013, The Hindu

An elephant model made out of flowers at he 26th Garden Tourism Festival – 2013 in the Capital on Sunday.- Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar. The 26th Garden Tourism Festival at the Garden of Five Senses in South Delhi drew to a close on Sunday. A magic show, cultural programmes and a prize distribution ceremony were some of the events organised on the last day.

Gardening fun for kids

The festival, organised by Delhi Tourism in association with the Delhi Government and Incredible India, was themed “Special Gardening Fun for Children.” Seasonal plants, foliage, cacti, hanging baskets, tray garden, bonsai, theme gardens, dahlia, bougainvilleas, roses, aromatic plants, fruit, plants, vegetables, cut flowers (Aster, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Carnation and Gerbera), ‘rangoli’ decoration and flower arrangements were among the various kind of flora displayed during the annual event.

The winners of all the different competitive categories were awarded by General Manager of Delhi Tourism Binay Bhushan.

A number of government organisations like Northern Railway, HUDA, NDMC, DDA and participated in the garden festival. The NDMC bagged the first prize for its entries. Among the private players, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Masjid Nursery, Orient Craft and Manav Rachna University were awarded the first prize in different categories.

On all three days of the festival, a host of cultural activities were organised.

18 February 2013, The Hindu

Sambhar lake, India’s largest saline water body, would soon emerge as a new tourist destination in Rajasthan which attracts nearly one-third of total foreign tourist flow of the country.

Recently, Hindustan Salt Limited (HSL), a public sector company, has signed an MoU with the Indian Tourist Development Corporation (ITDC) to develop this lake as tourist spot to create a new golden triangle — Jaipur-Sambhar-Ajmer.

Other than known for producing salt, this saline water lake spread in area of about 190 square km in dry season and extended to about 230 square km during monsoon, is also a winter abode of thousands flamingos and other birds, which land here during the winter season from northern Asia in search of food and for breeding. During dry season, water level of the lake comes down sharply but after monsoon average water depth in the lake goes up to 10 feet.

During the winter season, it turns out to be a major bird sighting site for tourists and researchers.

According to RK Tandon, CMD of HSL, under the MoU a special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be created to develop the lake into a major tourist attraction. A detail masterplan, after surveying the available infrastructure, would be prepared.

To develop the infrastructure money would come from the Government, whereas SPV, with the help of private hospitality sector and expertise, would advertise it to attract tourists. About a dozen sub-plans would be made to take care of every aspect of tourism.

Sambhar Salts Ltd, a British company which was engaged in producing salt here before the Independence, had built several buildings for residential, office and storage purpose other than to have a circuit house and rail tracks. These are now heritage properties of the Sambhar Salts Ltd, a Government company which produces and deals in salt. These are heritage buildings. If properly restored, these could be major attraction for tourists, according to the officials of HSL and ITDC, directly involved in the project.

Way back in 1870, the rulers of Jaipur and Jodhpur, leased out salt pans of the Sambhar lake to Sambhar Salts Ltd, as part of the area of the lake was falling between these princely States.

The lake is the third largest producer of salt in the country. Annual salt production is nearly 196,000 tonnes which is nearly 9 per cent of the country’s total salt production.

18 February 2013, The Pioneer

North Delhi Municipal Corporationis finally ready with a redevelopment plan for special areas as directed by Master Plan 2021. But residents and local traders are complaining that it lacks a concrete agenda for redevelopment. North corporation had invited suggestions or objections to the proposed redevelopment plan for special areas last month but received no response.

According to the plan, Metropolitan City Centre in special areas will have three central business districts - Chandni Chowk-Sadar Bazaar, Karol Bagh and the rest of MCC. Land use in these areas will be completely commercial and no new residential use will be allowed. While traders are happy that the areas under MCC have been defined, they say the rules and regulations governing it are not favourable.

The main redevelopment proposal in the plan is to allow land pooling in Karol Bagh and Sadar Paharganj. Locals say it looks good on paper but is impractical. According to the plan, if owners can amalgamate their plots and get an area of 3,000 sqm or more, they can construct a building with a Floor Area Ratio of 225 and no height restriction.

"This is an absurd proposal. People here have small plots and it is impossible to convince so many people to do land pooling. Instead they should have allowed progressive amalgamation of small plots so that people can redevelop it as per new norms. Also, they should have stopped further construction in the area excepting redevelopment," Neeraj Gupta, a member of the Karol Bagh market association and a resident of Rajinder Nagar, said.

In Karol Bagh, nearly 38% of the area is commercial and just 8% residential. But the plan doesn't cater to growing needs of the area like parking and a good traffic circulation. It mentions several stretches which have to be widened to ease traffic congestion but locals say widening of roads is not feasible. "They can't demolish existing structures in the area. The corporation has not been able to enforce the law to stop encroachment by hawkers and parking mafia to open up space for pedestrian and vehicles. The land use of Shastri Park was changed 20 years back so that a multilevel parking can be constructed. But till date, nothing has happened," Shyam Budhiraja, president of Western Eastern Area of Karol Bagh RWA, said.

After working on the plan for six years, the civic agency has come up with a copy of MPD-2021 and zonal plan. There are just eight points where it deviates from MPD-2021 and zonal plan.

"This is just a copy. The reason why special areas were left out in master plan was so that the civic agency can prepare a detail redevelopment plan," Murli Mani, president of Karol Bagh traders association, said.

Narendra Gupta, president of Paharganj timber and plywood market body, concurs. "They should allow amalgamation of small plots. The proposal should mention what the civic agency will do to improve existing infrastructure. Also, it should give a list of things needed here to redevelop the area," Gupta.

In January, the North corporation placed the document in public domain for suggestion but has not received significant response. The last date for offering suggestions is February 11. "We didn't even know about it. It is difficult to look for the document on the website. If they were serious about asking for our opinion, they should have advertised it properly," Madhur Kumar, a Paharganj trader, said.

18 February 2013, The Times of India

Trams were much safer than buses during simpler days in the Capital, says R. V. Smith

Imagine a scion of the Mughal family like Prince Surayya Jah boarding a tram from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk in 1910 or the author of ‘Twilight in Delhi’, Ahmed Ali, doing so as a schoolboy after leaving his residence in Kutcha Pandit. “Trams were introduced in Delhi on March 6, 1908 at the behest of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge” who inaugurated the Tramway Company’s project at the Town Hall. Among those present was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Lord Marshal. The introduction of the Tramway was an achievement that caused more excitement than even the coming of the Delhi Metro 10 years ago. Lala Hanwant Sahai, who was arrested for the bomb attack on Lord Hardinge in 1912, had mixed memories of the advent of trams when one met him in 1966. He and his teacher (and later martyr) Master Amir Chand had taken part in an agitation in 1907 against the move to introduced trams a year later.

One remembers travelling by tram in 1960, three years before trams ceased plying, while buying pilau from Khan Sahib’s shop below the steps of the Jama Masjid, close to the Hare- Bhare shrine, for the family living in Ludlow Castle Road. It was so easy to board it and just as easy to get down, not as difficult and risky as doing so on a bus. Talking of buses in those days, the longest route was No. 9 from Kingsway Camp to Mandir Marg, later extended to Shadipur Depot. The tram tickets were priced at half an anna, one anna, two annas and four annas (the ticket for the longest route). In four annas, which was one-fourth of a rupee, in those days, one could buy the best parantha in Parantheywali Gali made of desi ghee, along with the sabzi of one’s choice-not just potato curry or aloo rassa. Now even the cheapest parantha costs Rs. 30. Incidentally, it was from a tram that one first saw the dancing girl’s mosque in Hauz Kazi.

There were few women and girls travelling in trams (much cheaper than a tonga or even the humble ekka), but once there were a whole lot of purdah ladies seen in burqas, singing their way to a wedding reception from Ballimaran to Sadar Bazar. The passengers were seated in three compartments, the lowest (which was the most popular), the second one and the high-priced first compartment. The ladies were in the second though some old male members of the family were seated in the higher class. As for marriage guests, it is no secret that some of those (poor cousins?) who attended the wedding of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamla Kaul in Bazar Sitaram travelled by tram in 1916. For that matter, even a famous hakim like Ajmal Khan occasionally caught a tram to reach his house in Ballimaran, discarding his doli or palanquin. A young woman teaching in St Thomas’ School, Reading Road, once went shopping for a sari in Chandni Chowk by tram and enjoyed the experience as the ride was a smooth and comfortable one, though slow-paced with hardly any chance of the fair sex being harassed or molested-something so common in DTC buses.

In 1921 the popularity of trams was said to be at its highest but soon after there was a general strike in which the tramways were also badly affected. The 1921-22 strike probably led to rethinking and introduction of city buses for an expanding Delhi a decade or so later, initially run by the Scindia Gwalior bus transport company (if one is not mistaken). At its best the tramway company had 24 trams that linked important parts of Old and New Delhi. In 1947, when the refugees from Punjab and Sindh flooded Delhi, trams ran jam-packed as many of them were eager to pay obeisance at Gauri Shankar Mandir and at Gurdwara Sis Ganj, opposite the Fawarra (fountain), named after Lord Northbrook. Obviously there were many Sikhs among them, carrying swords, spears and shields, something the local populace found intimidating, until their fears were calmed by the tram conductors who welcomed the opportunity as heaven-sent for good profits.

Dr. Ausaf Ali, who had come to Delhi from Allahabad in 1954 to join Maulana Azad’s Message weekly and later Hamdard, recalls that as a bachelor he would often travel by tram to Rui Mandi and eat kaleji (liver) and roomali roti at the shop of a man with only one eye. He had lost the other one probably in smallpox.

At a function attended by the U.K. High Commissioner, Sir Michael Arthur, at Nicholson Cemetery some years ago, O. P. Jain of INTACH, disclosed that as a young man living in the Walled City he frequently travelled by tram. But to go to Rouse Avenue, then considered a lovers’ lane by young people, he had to use a bicycle, which also came in handy for carrying a friend on the front or back of it, depending on his or her closeness with the biker.

That was the era when motorcycles were so few that they could be counted on the fingertips-and cars too were scarce.

Ahmed Ali in “Twilight in Delhi” devotes some space to the tramway which linked Lutyens’ Delhi with “the old world charm of Shahjahanabad and the lush greens of the Town Hall”. In those days the Town Hall was the focal point, for after the tramway was launched from there it was to the Queen’s Garden (now it has reverted to its original name Roshanara Garden) behind it that many went for picnics on balmy winter afternoons, cool summer evenings or rainy monsoon days. But came December 1963 and the tramway stopped operating, much to the regret of many. The girl Marion, who went to buy a sari in it, was perhaps the most disappointed, along with her companion, who had braved the crowd with her near Fatehpuri, (the starting point of the trams) one memorable Diwali day.

18 February 2013, The Hindu

The dusty hamlets of Delhi, overlooked ruins and stony, isolated streets might have been of no concern to its inhabitants. But father-son duo Charles and Karoki Lewis present a visual romance of the villages of the Capital with a comprehensively concise flashback in history and a spread of photographs. The two have captured eight villages in the book such as Begumpur, Khirki, Chiragh Delhi, Shahpur Jat, Masjid Moth and Hauz Khas with detail. Those who do not know, this book is actually a reissue and was first published in 1997.

The photographic evocation has now got two new additions with Nizamuddin and Mehrauli in the list as well along with the initial six in the very first edition. The language is poetic — it blends into the Lewis' visible love for the unexplored side of these places in the Capital. The research is immaculate — it includes details that you were oblivious to or never bothered knowing. On top of that, the presentation is irresistibly enticing — you can't stop yourself from flipping through it until you are done. The book presents a slice of life from these eight pockets of the rapidly urbanising metropolis. It artistically captures in black and white, and colour the calm and gleam of innate happiness that cloaks the life of those, who still reside in these areas keeping their roots intact. A perfect coffee table book, this one is for keeps and a must have if you are as fond of your city as the authors.

- The Hindustan Times, 19th February 2013

Are you interested in knowing what you as a citizen should do with the archaeological monuments spread around the city? Do you want to know how conservation and management practice for a particular monument will affect the landscape and town planning around it? Then, the National Monument Authority (NMA)-India International Centre (IIC) series of lectures is the event you must attend.

Starting Tuesday at 6.30pm (the lectures are free of cost for all), a monthly event would see experts talking about heritage, archaeology and related issues. Nalini Thakur from the School of Planning and Architecture would be delivering the first lecture.

"The idea is to start a discussion, a debate as to what we are striving to achieve in terms of categorisation of monuments and gradation," said Himanshu Prabha Ray, NMA chairperson.The audio-video tapes of all the lectures will be uploaded on the NMA website.

- The Hindustan Times, 19th February 2013

India's first wildlife skywalk will come up in Maenam wildlife sanctuary in Sikkim.

The state government had proposed to build a 22 kilometer rope-way from Maenam sanctuary to the skywalk to be built beyond on the edge of Bhalleydhunga steep face with rain shelter and public conveniences.

The sanctuary, about 65 kms south from the capital city of Gangtok, is a popular tourist destination.

The environment ministry has approved the Sikkim government proposal for Rs.500 crore skywalk — similar to one in Grand Canyon in north America, which attracts over 3,00,000 visitors a year —despite opposition from wild-lifers.

MK Ranjisinh, member of national board for wildlife, said that the state instead of allowing encroachment of a wildlife area should allow people to take a walk in the wilderness areas.

Another member Prerna Singh Bindra, while opposing the project, said the project would have more deleterious effect on the wildlife.

-The Hindustan Times, 19th February 2013

The good news is that the fall of vultures in South Asia, particularly India, has stopped and is even reversing in the case of some species such as the white-backed vulture.

A research paper in journal Science , titled "Pollution, politics and vultures," says the 2006 ban on manufacture, import and sale of painkiller diclofenac for veterinary use, a cause for vulture mortality, and the timely response of the governments in India have helped.

But the increase in the number of birds has been miniscule, after almost 99 per cent of them in the wild dying. The situation remains precarious, and vulture conservationists say the increase is too little to mean much.

As against a population of 40 million vultures of different species in the 1980s, a rough estimate by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in 2011 put the count at fewer than a lakh in India. This is up from the 40,000 or so documented by it in 2007. Oriental white-backed vulture, long-billed vulture and slender-billed vulture, all resident varieties, have been the most affected.

The research paper by Andrew Balmford of Cambridge University, while giving a perspective on the progress of vulture conservation in South Asia, documents the turnaround story of vultures and praises India for timely action in saving the species from extinction. It goes on to say that in comparison, the response of western governments was much slower in banning pesticide organochlorides and DDT 40 years ago. The pesticide effect in the West continues to cause grave damage to non-target organisms. But in South Asia, the fact that the decline has significantly slowed and possibly even reversed has been directly attributed to prompt action over the past decade.

Dr. Balmford says, "The vulture collapse is an immense problem — in its sheer extent as well as in its significance for people. So news that the declines are beginning to slow and even reverse is extremely welcome and a testament both to the tremendous hard work of all the NGOs in the SAVE consortium and to the responsiveness of governments in the region."

Though diclofenac, which is said to be as fatal for vultures as cyanide is for humans — just one meal on a contaminated carcass is enough to kill a bird — has been banned for veterinary use, the emerging challenge is the misuse by vets of multi-dose vials meant for human use. Vibhu Prakash, Head of the BNHS's vulture conservation programme, says, "We have been pressing the Union Health Ministry to ban the production of multi-dose vials of diclofenac sodium, which are generally of 10 ml to 30 ml, and enough for one cattle dose. The other problem is that other veterinary drugs like acyclofenac and ketoprocin, which are also fatal for vultures, are still in use."

Since even the 2006 ban on diclofenac took about three years to be effective, he reckons that it will take another five years or so before significant numbers of this scavenger bird can be seen in the wild. The alternate pain killer, meloxicam, is expensive and not as effective, which is why veterinarians sometimes use the ones meant for humans. Just 0.05 per cent of diclofenac in a carcass is enough to kill a vulture, which dies of kidney failure, within days of ingesting the contaminated meat The lack of vulture safe zones where diclofenac does not linger in the food chain, in the country is also the reason why the BNHS is unable to release its captive bred vultures into the wild as yet. Some 300 birds, including 46 chicks, have been bred in the three BNHS breeding centres, Pinjore in Haryana, Rani in Assam and in West Bengal.

The BNHS has set 2016 as the target year to begin releasing its captive vultures subject to the availability of vulture safe zones till then.

Some States like Punjab, Maharashtra and West Bengal also set up vulture restaurants in the last few years, to provide diclofenac free carcasses but the experiment has not been very successful. Says Dr. Prakash, "This concept does not work in India because here there is no dearth of food for vultures. It will work only if the authorities can ensure that for at least a 100 kilometre radius no carcass is available, so that the vultures eat only at the 'restaurant.' Only 5 per cent of the Indian cattle bear traces of the drug, but even this has proved enough to decimate the vulture population.

The SAVE (Save Asia's Vultures from Extinction) consortium for efforts across borders was set up in 2011 and subsequently a new Regional Steering Committee was set up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Indian government. The thrust is on vulture breeding, advocacy and carcass sampling.

-The Hindu, 19th February 2013

A must visit during the winter months, Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary in Chennai is any ornithologist's paradise.

Birds of a feather flock together. This is just an idiom till you actually see this phenomenon and it becomes a reality at the Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary in Chennai. White birds belonging to different families and countries make this place their home. One look and this place is sure to remind you of what it would look like if it snowed here. One of the smallest (29.56 hectares) and oldest in India, the sanctuary is known more for its use of natural fertilizer. The local people have been protecting the sanctuary for ages now as the bird droppings increase nitrogen content in the water which in turn increases the yield and saves them the cost of fertilizer.

FLYING FROM AFAR

"Hamlet of the hunter" is what Vedanthangal means and, true to its name, it houses as many as 40,000 birds from across the globe. The migratory birds include Garganey Teals from Canada, Snake Bird and Glossy Ibis from Sri Lanka, Grey Pelican from Australia, Grey Heron and Open-billed Stork from Bangladesh, Painted Stork from Siberia, and Spoonbill from Burma. One of the first birds to arrive at Vedanthangal is the Open-billed Stork which breeds twice during the same season before leaving the sanctuary. Egrets, Painted Stork, Great Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis, and Grey Heron are also seen in large numbers.

The Vedanthangal lake Bird Sanctuary is a visual spectacle of nesting birds at close range.

-The Hindu, 19th February 2013

If the Haryana government had illusions about Mangar Bani being anything but a rich Aravali ecosystem, a visit to the area will easily dispel such doubts. Despite being a largely pure forest of the dhau tree surrounded by a vast expanse of the vilayati kikar, the green area is home to several mammals and provides an excellent platform for birdwatching.

Recently, a pair of birdwatchers saw a black eagle soaring above the forest. The bird has been spotted just once before in Delhi in the past hundred years. The other exciting sighting was that of the red-headed vulture, critically endangered.

The Mangar forest, along with Asola in Delhi, is more or less a continuous stretch of the Aravali forest, fractured by roads and strips of development projects. The two forests also serve as an important corridor for the movement of animals like leopards, Neelgai and civets. The leopard rescued from Chattarpur recently is believed to have ventured into Delhi from the Haryana forests as was another leopard spotted in Asola Wildlife Sanctuary in 2012. "In the past 10 years, we have had reports of eight leopard sightings in Haryana and adjoining parts of Delhi. There might have been more sightings which were not reported," Geeta Seshamani, co-founder, Wildlife SOS, says.

Seshamani says there might be a much larger population of the cat in the forest which we are not even aware of. "People are not aware of the high biodiversity of the area, including presence of leopards, civets, hyenas, jackals, hedgehogs and porcupines, not to mention a large number of reptiles like snakes and monitor lizards," she adds. Reports of Neelgai getting injured or dying as they attempt to cross a busy road between the two green belts is not uncommon either.

Abhijit Sen Menon, a birder, says, unlike Asola, Mangar is a much less disturbed area and hence supports a larger variety of fauna. Close to 60 species of birds have been sighted there on a single day. "Asola was mined and is hence being redeveloped. It is also closer to grazing grounds. Mangar is much less touched by human activity and there are still areas where people don't go. Some of the birds that can be seen there are Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Grey Francolin, Green Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Greater Coucal, Long-tailed Shrike, Brooks's Leaf-Warbler and Hume's Warbler," Menon said.

He added that the Brooks's Warbler, a winter migrant to the area, is quite uncommon, reported from only a few sites. Environmentalist Pradip Krishen says that the Mangar forest has an extremely fragile ecosystem as it cannot support too many trees, and once lost, it would be almost impossible to replace the green cover. "Mangar is an undisturbed primary forest. The landscape is rocky and does not allow water to stand. Hence, it can support only very hardy trees of which the dhau is one," he said.

-The Times of India, 20th February 2013

Sitting beside a well in Pimpri village, a metal pot at his feet, 70-year-old Vaman Bidbaug hopes he will meet a passerby willing to climb down the well's 110 steps and fetch him a potful of water. Bidbaug, a farmer, owns about four acres, but hasn't sown for two seasons.

Nearly 1,500 villagers of Pimpri, 18 km from Osmanabad city, climb down the steep steps along the walls every morning and evening to fill two pots. With two consecutively poor monsoons, it is the only well in the village still left with any water. Villagers often trip on the steps and injure themselves, but that is a small price to pay.

"We don't expect good rainfall here, but through my life I have never seen rivers and wells going dry as they are now. We had water in the other wells even when it did not rain in 2002, and earlier," says Bidbaug.

The drought across the state has hit 7,064 villages, with 11 of 35 districts having received less than 75 per cent of normal rainfall.

Bidbaug's two sons gave up on farming years ago and migrated to cities, a trend in the perenially parched Osmanabad, Beed and Jalna regions. In Gandhora of Osmanabad district, Dasu Parshuram Ade, 23, is preparing to move to Pune or Satara, having sold his two bullocks at Rs 30,000 each. He had bought each at Rs 1 lakh in 2009, after a good sugarcane crop.

"I could not have borne to see them die, so I sold them. Now I'm free to go," he says. "I hope to earn enough there so that my family can buy water from tankers here."

Water is disappearing from the rivers, wells and reservoirs of Maharashtra's heartland, 13 districts across Marathwada, parts of Western Maharashtra and Khandesh. Jayakwadi, the largest dam in Maharashtra, has no live storage. Put together, reservoirs in Maharashtra are just 40 per cent full now with levels expected to keep falling.

The state has drawn extreme plans for the extreme crisis, including transporting water through rail wagons or shifting entire villages in Jalna, the district worst hit with rainfall less than 25 per cent of normal. The crisis there extends beyond the rural interiors and up to Jalna city. The city has 45 water supply zones, and one, two or three of these (depending on size) are supplied municipal council water on any day. "This effectively means that people get water in their taps once every 20 days, for not more than an hour. People hoard up as much water as they can and, once that runs out, turn to private tankers," says Rajesh More, engineer in the Jalna Municipal Council's water supply department. He too depends on private tankers at home.

Tankers provided by the government visit Walki and Gunavadi villages in Ahmadnagar, the state's largest district, once every four days and pour water into the village wells. Valmik Nagavade, sarpanch of Gunavdi, says the allotment is based on the 2001 census. "We get 20 litres per person based on the 2001 census but our families have grown in those 12 years," he says. "We bathe on alternate days with just two litres."

TOMORROW: AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

Rain check

7,064 of 43,722 villages declared drought-hit

Less than 25% rainfall: 5 talukas out of 355, including those in Jalna district

25-50%: 50 talukas

50-75%: 136 talukas, including those in Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahmadnagar, Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Aurangabad, Beed, Osmanabad, Nanded districts

5-year low: Storage levels in reservoirs

- The Indian Express, 20th February 2013

Environmentalists will make a fresh attempt to save the ecologically sensitive marshes — a mix of wetland and grassland — in north Delhi's Jahangirpuri from what they term "a concrete onslaught". As part of its ongoing review of the Capital's master plan, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will on Friday listen to the objections to its proposed residential project at Dheerpur near Jahangirpuri.

The DDA has issued a public notice for change in land use of the 19.33 acres from 'recreational' (16.63 acres) and 'river and water body' (2.70 acres) to 'residential' to build houses for Delhi Police personnel. Environmentalists have been saying that the site is actually part of Jahangirpuri marshes.

When HT visited the site it was apparent that the marshes had shrunk a lot due to gradual, but relentless, dumping of fly ash and construction debris. In one of their reports, Asit Nema of Foundation for Greentech Environmental Systems and Dr Lalit Agrawal of Tokyo Engineering Consultants have put the Jahangirpuri marsh area at 300 hectares. But according to the Master Plan, marshes exist only in 74 hectares.

"There has been a systemic encroachment of marshes. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is building its network near Jahangirpuri, has admitted on record that before the area was allotted to them, it had been filled with fly ash by local authorities," said Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. "We will present our case with help from Google earth images and expert reports," he added.

Nema and Agrawal had said the marsh area should be developed into a sustainable wetland. "This site can provide sewage treatment facility, recharge groundwater and attract migratory birds," they had said.

"The government is committed to protecting the marshes. We will encourage plantation in the area after the Metro construction is over," said a Delhi environment department official. "Our project is away from wild vegetation growth of Jahangirpuri marshes. The area where we are carrying out construction is not a marshland but a barren land of insignificant ecological importance," said a DMRC official.

"The area looks insignificant to some as the marsh has shrunk due to its systematic conversion," said Mishra.

-The Hindustan Times, 20th January 2013

With the Kasturba Gandhi Marg multilevel parking project stuck with the National Monument Authority for nearly one-and-half-years, the New Delhi Municipal Council is deliberating over scrapping the project. According to sources in the NDMC, if the project is not given approval from the heritage body, then the process to scrap it would be initiated. The project will be tabled in NMA's February 22 meet.

"We have been awaiting clearance from the heritage authority for the past three years. In February 2010, we had applied to ASI but after the formation of NMA, the matter was referred to it. If NMA doesn't give approval soon, we will have no other option but to scrap it. At least, we should provide surface parking to people,'' said a source.

NDMC officials say that people are facing a serious parking problem in the area as the site, which has over 300 offices, has been dug up. Earlier, NDMC used to run a surface parking at the site which had space for over 700 cars. "The project has been on hold for a long time now. This parking site was proposed in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021. NDMC and the private concessionaire have incorporated all the suggestion made by NMA and ASI. Despite being a public project, it is taking so long to get permission,'' said a senior official.

In September 2012, NMA had asked the private concessionaire and NDMC to commission a heritage impact assessment report due to the site's proximity to the13th-century Agrasen ki Baoli, and recommended Intach Delhi Chapter for the task. The private concessionaire — DS Construction — is hopeful that the project will get a go-ahead from the NMA. "We are keen to progress on this project as the automated parking lot would be extremely beneficial to the people commuting to Connaught Place. We believe an independent body has done an impact assessment study of the site and presented its report to the NMA. The authority is expected to take a decision shortly. We are hopeful that we can start soon,'' said a spokesperson, DS Construction.

The NDMC had awarded the contract to DS Construction in December 2007. The project was to be completed by 2010. NDMC officials say the private concessionaire has to pay a license fee of Rs 1 crore a year — increasing 5% each year thereafter — from this financial year.

-The Times of India, 22nd February 2013

The Centre is all set to tell the Supreme Court that the report of the R K Pachauri committee, which has suggested an alternative route to the mythological Ram Sethu for the Sethusamudram project, is not feasible. In doing so, the Centre will junk the report of the Pachauri-led committee on the project. However, the Centre is likely to inform the court about its intention to appoint another committee to look at other options, including another route.

An affidavit is this regard is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court Registry on Friday after the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) gives its nod to the stand finalised by the Shipping Ministry.

The affidavit is also likely to talk of the amount that the Centre has spent on the project so far and the loss that would be caused if it is given up.

Sources told The Indian Express that the short affidavit will only say that the Centre is of the view that the viability of other possible alignments need to be explored thoroughly. Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran could be asked to argue for the Centre at the next hearing, slated to be held on Monday. Ever since it was announced, the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, aimed at creating a shipping channel linking the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka to allow large ships to get to India's east coast from the west without navigating around Sri Lanka, has been attracting controversy. Key UPA constituent DMK, which was ruling Tamil Nadu till May 2011, has been opposing any move to shelve the project, while opposition BJP has been opposing the project as conceptualised in 2005. The BJP is opposed to the project being completed through the current route since that would result in dredging Ram Sethu, a stretch of limestone shoals that runs from Rameshwaram to Mannar Island, something that is seen as the mythological bridge that Lord Ram and his army built to reach Ravana's Lanka.

-The Indian Express, 22nd February 2013

Height of existing structure along Ennore Expressway to be increased; will benefit fishing hamlets

Fishing hamlets that face a constant threat of being washed away every time the sea gets rough, may soon be saved.

The shoreline along the Ennore Expressway, which runs the risk of sea erosion, will be protected by a seawall.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) is awaiting a government order to start the Rs. 26.58-crore project to repair the existing seawall along the 5.5-m stretch of the Ennore Expressway between Tollgate and Ennore and construct groynes between Ennore and Ernavoorkuppam. The height of the seawall would also be raised up to four metres.

Once the government order is obtained, the department would seek the assistance of IIT-Madras and Anna University to construct groynes worth Rs. 31.82 crore. The institutions would have to study the behaviour of waves and provide detailed design for the groynes, which is a collection of boulders laid perpendicular to the shoreline at regular intervals, to control wave action.

Sources in the WRD said that the seawall would protect the shoreline from incursion of sea water into the fishing hamlets and the groynes would further reduce the intensity of wave action. The experts of these institutions would have to specify the location and intervals at which the 10 groynes need to be constructed to reclaim the shoreline.

An environment impact study will also be carried out, through a consultant, to obtain environmental clearance. Of the 19-km long stretch of Ennore Expressway, a large part of the shoreline from Kasimedu has been protected by the seawall. The stretch between Bharathiyar Nagar, Nettukuppam and Ernavoorkuppam would now be protected with groynes.

Recently, the WRD had completed a seawall worth Rs. 1.6 crore along nearly 240 metres at Nettukuppam, which was severely affected by seawater incursion last year. In about six months, about a 70 to 100 metre-long stretch of the shoreline has been reclaimed in the locality.

J. Vanitha, a resident of Nettukuppam, said the seawall had to be raised more to prevent seawater intrusion into the hamlets with a population of about 7,000. The construction of groynes would help residents of hamlets such as Chinna kuppam, Kasikoilkuppam and Burma Nagar to avoid the possibility of them being washed away.

"Many people have started visiting the beach that has been newly formed during weekends," she said.

Officials of the WRD said that the project would be implemented with funds from National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development.

-The Hindu, 22nd February 2013

Climate change has altered the population and migratory habits of water birds at Harike, according to a census finding

Global effects of climate change coupled with local factors have had a serious bearing on the population, migratory patterns and habits of water birds. In a recent census conducted at Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, an international Ramsar wetland site located on the confluence of River Satluj and Beas with surrounding wetland areas in the state of Punjab, it was found that the total number of water birds have decreased as compared to last year. However, at the same time, the diversity in water bird species has increased, says TK Roy, ecologist and Delhi State Coordinator for AWC.

In all, this winter, a total of 72,488 water birds of 76 species including 29 species of resident water birds and 47 species of winter migratory water bird's arrival has been recorded by the combined efforts of Harike Bird Census 2013 and Asian Water bird Census (AWC).

Of the total number of water bird species counted, six species from the Birdlife International's red-listed threatened category have also been recorded — the 'near threatened' species of resident Oriental Darter (55), migratory Black-tailed Godwit (3), migratory Ferruginous Pochard (33), migratory Black-headed Ibis (6), migratory Painted Stork (9) and the 'vulnerable species' of migratory Lesser Adjutant (2). Of these, in the last count conducted in 2011, the Lesser Adjutant and Black-tailed Godwit had not been spotted at all while the others numbers have significantly increased. The Greater Flamingo, a resident of south Asia, that is, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and coastal parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha, has for the first time flown to Harike and 26 of them were seen to be flocking here this winter.

Of the 11 species of winter migratory water birds that are found in dominating numbers, the numbers of Common Coot (50,000 to 36,632), Gadwal (8,194 to 4,992), Northern Shoveler (11,339 to 6,224), Bar-headed Geese (4,123 to 3,001), Northern pintail (7,509 to 1,375) and Eurasian Wigeon (2,042 to 1,031) have decreased since the last count conducted in 2011.

At the same time, the Graylag Geese (1,428 to 4,883), Common Pochard (2,160 to 3,613), Red Crested Pochard (1,404 to 1,556) and the Common Teal (427 to 1,317) were seen in greater numbers compared to 2011.

Among the resident water bird species, the dominant species with good population recorded during the census were the Great Cormorant (1,212), Little Cormorant (591), Purple Swamp hen (461), Common Moorhen (256), Spotbill Duck (291), Little Grebe (223) and Indian River Tern (165).

So far 21 species of mammals, 384 species of birds, seven species of turtles, four species of snakes, six taxa of amphibians, 16 taxa of fishes, 189 taxa of invertebrates and 38 taxa of plants have been recorded at Harike. The wetland spreads over an area of about 86 sq km was declared a bird sanctuary in 1982. It is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in northern India. It was included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of international importance in 1990. It is a man-made, riverine, lacustrine wetland formed due to construction of barrage on the confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas and attracts thousands of migratory water birds from different parts of the Asian continent like North, Central and East Asia during the non-breeding period in winter.

The Harike Bird Census was organized by Ferojpur Forest Division of Punjab Forest & Wildlife Department with participation of BNHS, WWF-India, Chandigarh Bird Club, PSCST, team of experienced birder volunteers and co-sponsored by Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion.

- The Hindu, 24th February 2013

The lofty, majestic, ice-capped Himalayas continue to inspire seekers of knowledge and natural beauty into documenting its various attributes

Aptly named Himalaya, meaning "abode of snow", this majestic mountain range is akin to the crown of India with the world's top 10 highest peaks. Towering more than five miles above sea level, the snow-capped mountains form a massive border between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia. In fact, the Himalayan abode has 14 peaks more than 8,000 meters high and some 200 peaks more than 6,000 meters. They have for centuries inspired sadhus to soothsayers, painters to photographers, botanists to zoologists; all have walked the mountains for inner salvation. Some have even conquered them by trekking, climbing and risking their lives to understand the mighty Himalayas.

Reams of documents have been written, rewritten and compiled with comprehensive and complex maps about the Himalayas. Innumerable drawings, paintings, photographs have been doodled, captured and composed to study the altitudes, crevices, elevations and contours of the mountains. Yet there is ample scope for the intrepid explorers to add to the already gathered mountains of information.

Two such tomes have been released recently containing fascinating facts and figures and some never-seen-before photographs. The first is titled Nicholas Roerich / Ashok Dilwali: Inspired By The Himalayas by Ashok Dilwali with 174 pages. The second is Himalaya: Mountains Of Life which is a voluminous 308 pages by ARTEE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Education and the Environment). Both publications are hardbound coffee table books.

Ace lens man Ashok Dilwali is modest and known world over for his spectacular mountain landscape shots taken diligently for over 40 years by crisscrossing the Himalayas. His photographs recapture the magic and majesty of Roerich's genius. A prominent painter of Russian origin, Roerich fell in love with the Himalayas and refused to go back home. For nearly 25 years, he marvelled at the mountains and it got reflected on his colourful canvas. He passed away in 1947 in India leaving a rich legacy.

Roerich's masterpieces triggered Mr. Diwali's lifelong passion to capture the beauty of the mountains and he went about shooting in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Tibet.

Mr. Dilwali says, "Mountains have a life of their own; they are not just white and bright but are extremely colourful creatures if one has the inclination." He goes on to explain, "A photograph in any form conveys only five per cent of the beauty. I say so for two reasons. In the first place, a thing of three dimensions is reduced to two, the whole charm is gone. Secondly, what you experienced while taking a photograph is the 'real charm'. Can that 'charm' be attached in the photograph? It is a feeling of utter happiness, an inner thing. How can you explain the happiness at a beautiful composition springing up suddenly? A viewer can only see a photograph but never ever be a part of it fully. Only and only a photographer knows the thrill of the moment."

The research and writing of Himalaya: Mountains Of Life was funded by ATREE and according to the authors, "the Himalaya — land of gods, of ancient mountain kingdoms, of icy peaks and alpine meadows — is like no other on earth".

"The life and landscapes of the region are as diverse, spectacular and fragile as the mountains themselves," says Bawa, who has been working in the Himalayas for nearly five decades. "Even today, these mountains hold many mysteries: undiscovered species, primeval cultures and the promise of magical cures," adds Sandesh Kadur, who handles still and video shooting with ease.

"The Himalayan mountain system extends some 2,500 km from east to west and covers about 595,000 sq km. The range acts as a climatic divide with a massive storehouse of snow and glaciers that are a source of 19 major rivers, including the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. For thousands of years, the Himalayas have had a profound impact on Indian culture and agriculture. But today it is the prerogative of the scientists to document the myriad mysteries of the mountains and understand its biodiversity for the benefit of mankind," says Professor P.S. Ramakrishnan, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

The catastrophic decline in the vulture population in India has slowed, stopped or even reversed in some areas, thanks to a ban on a veterinary drug, according to a recently released paper in the journal Science. The scavengers' population declined largely because farmers had started giving their cattle an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac, which the birds ingested when they ate the dead cattle, said Andrew Balmford, paper author and professor of conservation biology at the University of Cambridge.

Although problem of drug pollution have been particularly difficult to address, recent developments in south Asia offer some positive news.Scientists and politicians are at last making progress in reversing the accidental but catastrophic poisoning of the region's vultures by a widespread veterinary drug, said paper titled — Pollution, Politics and Vulture.

Twenty years ago, vulture population across Indian subcontinent witnessed downfall."A carefully targeted research — combined with political commitment and government-NGO cooperation — is making a real difference," Balmford wrote.

-The Hindustan Times, 24th February 2013

Walking down the busy Lal Kuan bazaar road from Chawri Bazar side, one might just miss a large imposing gateway of a dilapidated structure, with modern signboards atop portions of what was once the Zeenat Mahal. And, behind the chaiwalah, the paanwala and other sundry kiosks occupying space near the façade right below the arched gateway, lies an interesting piece of history. 'Zeenat Mahal', now a name for a small area, was originally the palatial haveli of Zeenat Mahal, one of the wives of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

The gateway built of lakhori bricks still has tall wooden doors with recessed iron-studded design. It leads to haphazardly-built houses on the same plot. Deep inside is a girls' school, Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, number 2, Zeenat Mahal.

Anil Kumar Pandey, a resident of nearby Durga Mandir Gali, informs: "Our elders used to tell us that there was a tunnel starting from the mahal which went up to the Red Fort."

Adds Firoz Bakht Ahmed, a heritage activist, "According to Basheeruddin Ahmed's 'Waqueat-e-Darul Hukumat-e-Delhi', it used to be a massive haveli spread over almost four acres when Zeenat Mahal resided here. There was a huge marble fountain with a few hujras (cabins). Besides, there was a huge cellar." Things started declining after the Revolt of 1857. The school building came up sometime in the 1970s.

"Zeenat Mahal was known to be a domineering, formidable and tenacious woman with Rock of Gibraltar-like determination," he added. Something the girl students might draw inspiration from.

-The Times of India, 24th February 2013

Conservationist Hemendra Singh Panwar recollects his days of building up the Kanha Tiger Reserve

An ace conservationist, Hemendra Singh Panwar has spent a decade in developing the Kanha National Park cum tiger reserve. He also headed the Wildlife Institute of India and served as a director of Project Tiger. Recently awarded the Padma Bhushan for his works, he speaks to The Hindu about his passion to research on wildlife issues in a free-wheeling interview.

How did you go about building the national park and tiger reserve at Kanha? How was your experience?

I was posted in Mandla in 1963. Initially, I was in a division of which Kanha was not a part, but later on in 1969, I was put in charge of South Mandla which covered Kanha. I will begin by talking about the famous biologist G.B. Schaller who had spent about 14 months in Kanha. Kanha was known for its tigers as well as the Indian Barasingha (swamp deer). The habitat of the Indian Barasingha was initially spread all over the Central highlands. When Schaller was conducting his research in the 1960s, the number of Barasinghas in Kanha had come down to a mere 100.

In early 1965, he reached the conclusion that excessive predation by the tiger had led to the sharp decline of the Barasingha. The mating season of the Barasingha was from early November to mid-February. However, to my ecological mind it did not appeal that a predator will eliminate its prey and I was not entirely convinced of the research findings. I found out that the concentration of tigers in certain parts of Kanha had increased because of the practice of baiting by people who wanted to showcase tigers to the visiting tourists. This kind of baiting had got them confined to a particular area. So there was a baiting induced extra-normal congregation of tigers in some parts of the grasslands. I stopped the practice. Yet people were very keen to see the tigers. We initiated systematic tracking of pugmarks, drag marks, using which we were able to trace the natural kills of the animals.

After my concerted efforts, only three Barasinghas were killed in 2.5 years. We had a conservation friendly Collector which helped.

A lot of grasslands were released as a result of the rehabilitation of villages in 1968 / 69 where the Barasinghas could thrive. The predation levels by tigers came down to levels which the species could take. Later on, Kanha was made an independent management unit of which I was put in charge.

How was Project Tiger conceptualised and how has it worked so far?

Project Tiger was conceptualised in 1973 with the aim of constituting special tiger reserves in nine areas across the country with core and buffer zones. Kanha was one of the sites selected. There was an existing size norm prescribed of a minimum of 300 sq km. The Madhya Pradesh government was already quite impressed with the way the Kanha tiger reserve had shaped up. We had a core area of 1,295 sq km. We needed a fund of Rs. 65 lakh over five years. However, the Government of India had placed a cap of Rs. 40 to 45 lakh per reserve. As a result, we had to scale down the core area to 940 sq km and 1,005 sq km of buffer zone. This plan was sanctioned around 1974. We also had the mammoth task of relocation of 17 villages which was a more or less participatory and smooth process from the beginning. The relocated villagers received support for building their homes. We also helped them out with manure, fertiliser and seeds for pursuing agricultural activities. In this way, the number of animals in the park was visibly increasing.

How was the shift from Kanha to Delhi?

After my stint in Kanha, I was posted as national director of Project Tiger from 1981to 1985. I did a lot of research on tiger conservation during this time. I studied pug mark techniques and also their population dynamics. The area in Kanha was also considerably enlarged as a result of good protection and habitat development and the tiger population. I also presented a paper at an international symposium on tiger conservation based on my research on spacing patterns in tiger populations. About 1982– 83, the Smithsonian institute confirmed my research findings. As the director of Project Tiger, I have helped in envisaging seven reserves during my time.

Your experience as the director of the Wildlife Institute of India…

The institute was at the forefront in conceptualising the kind of training that can help conservation in the country. A detailed scheme was prepared and sanctioned. The faculty specialised in wildlife biology, management, and extension. We talked about threats to habitats including those from development projects. Some of the members also undertook environmental impact assessments. We started research on all the three disciplines and recruited fellows at the institute. The institution has been recognised as one of the six best conservation research institutions by the World Conservation Union. The institute has also won the Rajiv Gandhi conservation award.

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

More than half-way through this year's debut art event, where is the Kochi-Muziris Biennale headed and what has it achieved so far, asks Rajni George.

A large amount of the funds allotted to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) was invested in Durbar Hall, an impressively refurbished public building which now houses a climate-controlled museum, in central Kochi. When I visited, there was no sign of the climate control — the doors were open, to save on the air-conditioning I conjectured when a guard could not tell me why the rooms were not sealed — but the project is a symbol of the kind of change the biennale aims for, at its more visible locations around Aspinwall House in Fort Kochi. "Now you can even show Van Gogh here," says Riyas Komu, artist and KMB director of programmes. "The biennale is a gift from Kochi to the world, it's wonderfully mixed. You don't see this kind of a crowd walking in to see art, even abroad."

With one month to go, the highly publicised but beleaguered Kochi-Muziris Biennale may finally get the much-needed funding that the Ministry for Cultural Affairs withdrew, prior to its opening. Just a month ago, it was rumoured that they might have to close early. Now they are planning a grand finale, with two final weeks featuring a full cultural programme: symposiums in heritage, Asian arts, medicine, daily music and theatre performances. Why the green light now? A combination of critical approval and popular demand, it would seem.

"The Tate Modern told me this was the best biennale they'd seen," states artist and KMB artistic director Bose Krishnamachari, listing a host of other important visitors who have lauded the biennale's efforts. Halfway through its run, KMB (on till March 13) is establishing itself as a major art event, as some foresaw and some perhaps doubted. Democratic and accretive in ethos, it continues to attract visitors from around the world: the biennale accrued 1.5 lakh visitors in its first month and 2.5 lakh visitors in its second, averaging a thousand visitors a day (as high as 5,000 daily and 10,000 on weekends, early January).

In a visit to the biennale on January 28, Minister of Cultural Affairs K.C. Joseph told the foundation that the next meeting of the State Cabinet would decide funding. "It is under the consideration of the Council of Ministers," said a spokesperson for the Ministry recently, refusing to comment further. "We are expecting further funding from the government," said a spokesperson for the KMB team, implying that the situation had grown more hopeful. How has the public, in and out of Cochin, reacted to the biennale and how will they continue to interact with it?

Unlike the India Art Fair or other premier art events with VIP enclosures and look-but-don't touch vibes, KMB invites every kind of visitor and asks them to play. Like the sound installation of Australian artist Dylan Martorell, which has to be activated by each viewer. It was being partially de-installed mid-January when I met Martorell, who has been working for 10 years in this field and spent five weeks in Kochi recording the range of noises afforded by his new environs. Even the de-installation is part of the process; people gathered around to watch him take some of his equipment back home for another show. "This biennale is more about cultural regeneration," he says. "About getting in touch with the public."

Part of the show is watching some of the artists in studio. Malayali artist Valson Koorma Kolleri, for example, is painting his subject and calling an audience around him, when I visit.

As the biennale runs, work is still being constructed: one artist, Jyoti Basu, part of an unofficial Ahmedabad school of Malayali artists, visits daily and chooses to sometimes add to his painting. "I am finishing all the time," he says, smiling beatifically. "The vibrations here are different."

Until December 23, entry was free; at that point ticketed entry at Rs.50 began to help pay for daily running costs, says the foundation. As well as to place value in art, which Kerala's public takes seriously. Lawyers, labourers, students and housewives, some of them on their second or third visit, were in evidence and seriously engaging with the work on show, it would seem, when I spoke with them.

"What we don't understand, we ask someone about," said Remya M.R., a young office worker who has just climbed up a steep ladder to a space under the roof of Pepper House, which shows Anita Dube's work. "But most things we can enjoy."

Local people are now stepping up, on an individual level, realising what the biennale has done for them, socio-economically and culturally, and in terms of putting Kochi on the international culture map, something that does not go unappreciated in this State. "Malayalis are artsy people, generally speaking: art, cinema, drama all find a natural audience here. An event like the biennale, at an international standard, can get people to invest in warehouses; right now, people buying them do not always preserve them," says Latha Pottenkulam, owner of Sthayi, a boutique in Kochi. "People must invest in art. It is important also to help sustain what the biennale is doing; the stairs of Pepper House were so rickety for example, people complain that it is hard to see everything, as a result."

"The city should take responsibility, should feel ownership," says Krishnamachari. "People should learn from Brazil; we too should have two percent tax put aside for this. Crowd-funding is part of the long-term plan, for 2014." Support has come in many forms, according to Krishnamachari. Shalini and Sanjay Kasi recently held a 25,000-per-head dinner in the capital to raise funds, raising five and a half lakhs. Google met with the foundation and has offered help with the website, which received 7.5 million hits in the first month. The Jindals of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, the late Kerala Congress leader T.M. Jacob, R.K. Krishna Kumar of Tata group, Jayanta Matthews of Malayala Manorama and the businessman Shibu Mathai have all donated recently.

"McKinsey and companies like to do studies on biennales. We should study the economic effect of the biennale," says Krishnamachari. "The manager of Hotel Seagull says 80 per cent of business has gone up in Kochi."

That Fort Kochi is the site of an international event, we would not have conceived of even a decade ago, is remarkable. It's still that tourist-friendly fusion of East and West we are celebrating, only the agenda has expanded to include the idea of more ancient India in the form of the one-time prosperous financial centre that is the seaport of Muziris, located 30 km from Kochi and currently under the aegis of the Muziris Heritage Project.

The connection? "I liked the ironic juxtapositions: conceptual art and Muziris," says biennale visitor Dilip Menon, Mellon Chair in Indian Studies and Professor of History at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, who especially liked an installation by Vivan Sundaram made with broken potsherds excavated in the course of the archaeological digs at Muziris. "The premises of Aspinwall, now abandoned, redolent with memories of ancient wealth invoke the particular history of port cities in an age of maritime commerce past. There is something about Fort Kochi with the remains of European colonialism and the bustle of present-day commerce with the pungent smells of pepper and spices that is disorienting. The idea of locating the biennale in the former Aspinwall House was a masterstroke: crumbling facades, stagnant pools of water, the reek of damp and the installations that riffed on these."

Many artists exploited this to great advantage. "This lab is like an artist's studio," says renowned artist Atul Dodiya, of the laboratory space that exhibits his work, a collection of photographs from over 20 years within the "big Indian family" that is the Indian artistic community. "I told them to retain it, not to retouch it."

A special blue house whose first floor, spare and factory-like, displays videos by dissident Chinese artist Ai Wei-wei; a display of grains and parallel films around farmer suicides by the masterful Amar Kanwar; a beautiful carpeted room filled with long cylinders of light at Pepper House — there is much on offer at KMB. Some say all the artists haven't sent their best work; or question whether some of this is art. But they return, and promise to return in 2014.

"It is difficult to set up a project like this the minute you touch public funds," says Komu. "But this project was putting a seed in a fertile land."

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

In a first for any monument in India, the National Monument Authority (NMA) on Friday asked for revision of the draft heritage by-laws for Sher Shah Suri Gate and Khairul Manazil.

The competent authority for the by-laws appointed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had outsourced the job to the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). These are needed to regulate new construction/redevelopment in the prohibited area (0-100 metres) and regulated area (101-300 metres) of the ASI-protected monuments. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act passed in March 2010 had necessitated the byelaws.

The draft by-laws contain brief history of monuments, maps, photos, land use to be identified, archaeological ruins apart from the notified monument area and building-related parametres. "The language for the by-laws is not legalese but more of 'should be/would be' kind of suggestions not tenable under law," said a member, requesting anonymity.

He said, "Another missing point is the 'integration' of Purana Qila's prohibited and regulated areas, which sits bang opposite the fort and can't be ignored."

Sudhir Vohra, an architect and urban planner questioned how the draft restricts the height of High Court buildings in regulated area to 30 metres while that for government housing at Bapa Nagar and Kaka Nagar to 7.5 metres? Vohra was the only one to respond to NMA's appeal seeking suggestions/objections.

"If the government plans to redevelop housing eyeing vertical growth in future, why should it be restricted to only 7.5 metres? If more parts of Bapa Nagar are to be given over for High Court, as has happened in the past, would the restriction remain relevant?" Vohra asked.

AGK Menon from INTACH said, "I made a presentation on the rationale for the Sher Shah gate by- laws and left. I don't know what transpired in the meeting after that."

"The competent authority has been asked to revise the byelaws based in 15 days," Pravin Srivastava, NMA member secretary said.

-The Hindustan Times, 24th February 2013

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Mohammad Azam Khan, demanded the heirs of the former Nawabs to hand over the spacious and grand palace of the erstwhile rulers to Mohammad Ali Johar University, so that the same may be transformed into a medical college.

Interacting with media persons on Saturday evening, Khan offered to pay a reasonable cost for the palace and reminded of his parlays with late begum of heir apparent Nawab Murtaza Ali Khan, which proved fruitless.

"Now talks with late begum's daughter are being initiated with an assurance that the proposed medical college would carry the name of their fore-fathers," Khan said.

The minister also laid emphasis on affiliation of Asia's foremost Raza Library with Rampur-based Johar University so that library's literary cultural and historic treasure maybe utilised by scholars and researchers at the varsity.

Azam Khan announced that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has accepted Johar University's offer to hold the post of 'Visitor' of the institution.

"A Visitor is acknowledged as more important a person than the Chancellor of a university," Khan, who is also founder and life-time chancellor of the university, said on Saturday.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

HERITAGE Traditional healers were a revered lot with great curative powers, says R. V. SMITH

Eating hot, spicy halim from a cart vendor outside the Hindustani Dawakhana's old building in Ballimaran, one evening 50 years ago, was a most educative experience. The Dawakhana opened in 1910 by Raja Kishan Kumar, is a memorial to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose father, Hakim Mahmud Khan, was one of the sons of Hakim Sharif Ali, who died in 1790. There were other noted hakims also in Delhi then like Baqaullah, Talib Ahmad and Ghulam Najf Khan, but Mahmud Khan enjoyed a special reputation as he was attached to the Mughal court. His expertise was inherited by his three sons, of whom the eldest died in 1901, a year after his father. The second son, Hakim Abdul Majid passed away three years later, but Ajmal Khan, the youngest, born in 1863, a few months after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar and more than six years before Gandhiji, lived on till 1927. Like his father, he too was credited with almost miraculous cures, so much so that he came to be known as the messiah of the sick in pre-World War II years.

The family of Hakim Ajmal Khan, said an octogenarian, who was insistent that the halim seller give him a slice of tongue as a preferred piece of meat, considered soft and delicious, remembered seeing Ajmal Khan walking down to his haveli in Ballimaran or escorting him to a house where somebody was very ill and needed his expert attention. The old man was just a boy then and in between spoonfuls of halim he let his memory wonder to the 1920s when Hakim Sahib's popularity was at its zenith, both as a healer and nationalist leader and among whose close friends, besides the Mahatma, were the Reverend C.F. Andrews and the Nawab of Rampur, who regarded the hakim as a pir and guide. Those were the times when Ajmal Khan charged Rs. 1,000 a day whenever he was called upon to treat members of the princely families. Rs. 1,000 was equivalent to more than Rs. 1 lakh these days. He was regarded as a "Rais of Delhi" and also honoured by the poet Shahid Dehlavi.

His family is said to have come to India at the time of Babar and established itself in the vacuum left by the old hakims of the Sultanate period, which ended with the Lodis. Hospitals in those days were known as Bimaristans (place of the sick). The name Bimaristans, according to Iqtidar Husain Siddiqui, historian and teacher at Aligarh University, was replaced with Darul-Shifa (place of healing). As early as 1391, seven years before the sack of Delhi by Amir Taimur, the second book of medicine (after Tib-e-Shabbi), Tib-i-Shifa-al-Khani contained a list of tested prescriptions of Indian medicine then available in the country. In Sikandar Lodi's time (1488-1517), in an attempt to synthesize Ilm-ul-Tib and Ayurveda, appeared Madan-ul-Shifa-i-Sikandar Shahi. In that period skilled physicians were held in high esteem, observes Prof. Siddiqui in his book, "Composite Culture Under the Sultanate of Delhi".

He says, A sultan once decided to test the knowledge of his physician and sent three bottles, each containing the urine of a sick man, a monkey and a buffalo. When the bottles (whose contents were kept secret) were brought to the Chief Physician of Malwa, Malik-ul-Hukama, the hakim smiled and said that one of the patients (the sick man) should be given medicine with warm water, the other (the buffalo) was to be given boiled cotton seeds, while the third one (the monkey) should be set free. "All of them would be cured". According to the historian Ziauddin Barani, Maulana Badruddin Damshqi (of Damascus) "to whom the physicians of Delhi turned for guidance", was such a competent physician that he could diagnose the disease and its cause by merely glancing at the patient. He had no need to even feel the pulse. Muhammad bin Tughlak had the art of treating patients while his nephew, Feroze Shah Tughlak, built many hospitals for them. Much before him, Alauddin Khilji also devoted much time and resources in the propagation of the science of medicine. Besides the Arabic, Greek and Central Asian classics, a whole lot of Sanskrit works were also translated into Persian to enrich medical knowledge.

With such a heritage before it, the Sharifi family of Hakim Ajmal Khan continued to pursue and develop the art of healing. The Hakim Sahib was once tested by a nawab, who called him "to attend to a sick purdah woman" without seeing "the face of the patient", which was behind a curtain. The hakim felt the pulse and opined that the patient be given some luxurious grass to feed on. Ajmal Khan had seen through the bluff for the patient was not a woman but a goat. At another time he was given a bottle containing the urine of a baboon as that of a diabetic man. The hakim smelt the bottle and said feed bananas to the patient and leave it on a tree. These tales were related by the old mian while eating halim that evening in 1963 and when one reads Prof. Siddiqui's book one was immediately reminded of these latter-day incidents. Yet another one was of a woman with an incurable carbuncle cured with the bark of a tree and a special grass from Kasganj in an age when medical science had not made the tremendous progress of our times.

A lasting memorial to this great hakim is the Tibbia College in Karol Bagh, where both Unani and Ayurvedic medicine are taught to aspiring hakims. Its foundation stone was laid by Lord Hardinge in 1916 and it was opened by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Ballimaran is far away from it but the link with the college continues, as also with the park, market and road nearby named after Ajmal Khan. But one doesn't get to taste halim there. To eat it one has to come all the way to Ballimaran, where tales of Hakim Ajmal Khan's legendary cures are on the lips of old timers residing near his hereditary home, Sharif Manzil.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

Paintings so fine and detailed that you would mistake it for a photograph, and photographs of wild things so pretty that you would mistake it for a painting. All elements of the painting and photograph exhibition, "Scent Mark by Kazi Nasir", will be coming to the Capital on March 6.

There are the tigers with whiskers so fine that you can count it, there is a snow white owl with eyes so piercing as to make you squirm. The leopard looks ready to spring and the wild ducks in the water are so serene. A family of antelope leaving their watering hole at twilight and the whistling trees seem to have a mind of their own.

Kazi Nasir used to travel the jungles armed with his camera shooting the wild and the beautiful. He found the experience so enriching that it soon became a spiritual sojourn. He returned home, only to remember the sights of the jungle, so he started to paint. "Can I live a life without the smell of wetland? Without entering a grassland with its living creatures? Simply I can't… whenever possible I try to run away with my cameras and lenses to spend my time in a jungle," says the artist, who is also an atheist.

"Being an atheist, I find my spirituality in these sojourns. I cannot explain this spirituality to anyone who does not love the smell of shivering grasses, who can't follow the dialogue of a wetland on a foggy morning," he says, adding: "With these paintings and photographs I want to share my joy and feelings about wildlife."

The photographs, caught at different times in the day, mostly at dusk or twilight are diverse. The show has been organised by Niten Mehta from the TAD Arts Gallery and while describing each of these artworks a clever mix of the forest backdrop and wild animals, she says: "I am astonished and intrigued by the fact that more often than not, the viewer is forced to believe that these are photographs that he has recaptured on canvas -- but on a closer look, one realizes that all of them are created and visualised by this master of technique and simplicity. He chooses to be as natural and steer clear of fantasy."

The exhibits will be displayed at the Open Palm Court of India Habitat Centre.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

The presence of Kos Minar, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected (ASI) structure enclosed in a roundabout on a road inside the sprawling Delhi zoo, likely to affect its expansion plans.

According to the master layout, the authorities have planned a major re-hauling, that includes an aquarium, insectarium, a butterfly park along with different zones representing different geographical areas of India, apart from a new comprehensive visitor centre, automated parking, a fine dining facility just outside the ticketing area and reworking the visitor-circulation path.

Most of the new buildings and constructions have been planned to avoid the 0-100 metre off set (called the prohibited area) for ASI-protected monuments, such as the Kos Minar and the Purana Qila right next to it. For construction falling between 101-300 metres (regulated area), the proposal will need clearance first from the Competent Authority and then from the National Monument Authority (NMA). There are a few public conveniences shown in the master layout plan near the Kos Minar too.

"But right now, there is no construction planned around the Kos Minar. As and when in future we would need to construct toilets, we would try to build it beyond 100 metres," said Amitabh Agnihotri, Zoo Director.

The focus right now, Agnihotri emphasised, is on getting the visitor centre re-aligned. The proposal is being examined by the Competent Authority (for Delhi), which has conducted meetings/inspection in this connection. Once it is cleared by this authority, the proposal is due to go to the National Monument Authority.

-The Hindustan Times, 25th February 2013

It was a bumper day for birding enthusiasts in Delhi. Other than the annual Big Bird Day, where teams set out to specified areas and count the bird species they saw, a Bird Race was organized separately on Sunday where participants were free to travel all over the city to count birds. The icing on the cake was the weather that cleared up after a day of heavy rain and dark skies, making it the ideal day for bird-watching.

The growing popularity of the bird day was evident in the number of participants this year. About 270 teams across the country organized bird days in their cities in collaboration with Delhi Big Bird Day. Once again, Bhindawas recorded the highest number of species at 151. The total number of species recorded across the city was 222, two down from 2012 and, hence, not so worrying. However, numbers are still below 2011's count of 240 and the highest ever recorded in 2005 of 271.

From 115, the team that visited Sanjay Van, Bhati Mines and Shankar Vihar saw their tally come down to 103 though the members were happy with the birds they saw. "We managed to see practically all the raptors we were hoping for, including a group of red vultures in Bhati Mines, Egyptian vultures , Long-legged buzzard and the steppe eagle. The number of waders was less in south Delhi this time, especially with loss of habitat at Shankar Vihar ," said Surya Prakash who led the team.

However, other wetlands like Sultanpur, Bhindawas and Okhla are still doing quite well and threw up a large population of waders.

Bird Race, co-ordinated by K B Singh, had at least 15 teams that went across the city, of which at least six teams recorded over 140 species each. The maximum number of birds was spotted by a team led by Pankaj Gupta, who possibly covered the largest region. "We recorded 155 species across Sultanpur, Najafgarh and Basai. The bird condition seems to have improved after rain in the past month but in Basai numbers have come down," said Gupta.

The highlight of the trip was a Jack snipe, a migratory wader that was seen in Basai.

Singh, who led a team to Okhla, said that though the bird population was slightly disturbed at the park, there were still quite a huge number to be seen there. "There must have been 6,000-8 ,000 birds, of which the highlight was a flock of greater flamingoes," he said. Singh's team also saw a rare large-tailed nightjar at Okhla, the last-known official record of which in Delhi was in 1961.

The result of having two different birding expeditions set out on the same day was that a large number of firsttimers joined the veterans, resulting in 200 people out bird hunting on Sunday morning. "The seniors got divided among the two activities but that helped to spread the word and several youngsters, many of them first-timers , joined in for the bird count," said Singh.

Missing wetland

About two years ago, Shankar Vihar in southwest Delhi was bustling with hundreds of waders. It was incorporated as a Big Bird Day site for the first time in 2011 but this year, over two-thirds of the wetland is missing and only a handful of birds can be seen. The remaining land has been cut off from the existing water body and is being used as a dumping ground for debris. A painted stork, some ruffs and a pair of pied avocets were the highlights of the place.

Extended park

Compared to previous years, the team that counted birds at Yamuna Biodiversity Park had three times the area to cover with the inclusion of the newly developed Phase II. The group was divided into two teams that recorded 100 species in two hours from two phases. The new phase is coming up on the active Yamuna flood zone and is being visited by painted storks. The near-threatened ferruginous pochard was recorded in Phase I of the park.

'Poor' Sanjay Van

The flow of untreated sewage into Sanjay Van has been a cause for concern for the past few years and order upon order has been issued to several agencies to stop this. However, no action has been taken and the stench of the filth permeates the air as one walks towards the 'water body' . When most other wetlands are flush with birds, this particular wetland has a dominant population of the black-winged stilt which survives best in filthy water.

-The Times of India, 25th February 2013

Sitting beside a well in Pimpri village, a metal pot at his feet, 70-year-old Vaman Bidbaug hopes he will meet a passerby willing to climb down the well's 110 steps and fetch him a potful of water. Bidbaug, a farmer, owns about four acres, but hasn't sown for two seasons.

Nearly 1,500 villagers of Pimpri, 18 km from Osmanabad city, climb down the steep steps along the walls every morning and evening to fill two pots. With two consecutively poor monsoons, it is the only well in the village still left with any water. Villagers often trip on the steps and injure themselves, but that is a small price to pay.

"We don't expect good rainfall here, but through my life I have never seen rivers and wells going dry as they are now. We had water in the other wells even when it did not rain in 2002, and earlier," says Bidbaug.

The drought across the state has hit 7,064 villages, with 11 of 35 districts having received less than 75 per cent of normal rainfall.

Bidbaug's two sons gave up on farming years ago and migrated to cities, a trend in the perenially parched Osmanabad, Beed and Jalna regions. In Gandhora of Osmanabad district, Dasu Parshuram Ade, 23, is preparing to move to Pune or Satara, having sold his two bullocks at Rs 30,000 each. He had bought each at Rs 1 lakh in 2009, after a good sugarcane crop.

"I could not have borne to see them die, so I sold them. Now I'm free to go," he says. "I hope to earn enough there so that my family can buy water from tankers here."

Water is disappearing from the rivers, wells and reservoirs of Maharashtra's heartland, 13 districts across Marathwada, parts of Western Maharashtra and Khandesh. Jayakwadi, the largest dam in Maharashtra, has no live storage. Put together, reservoirs in Maharashtra are just 40 per cent full now with levels expected to keep falling.

The state has drawn extreme plans for the extreme crisis, including transporting water through rail wagons or shifting entire villages in Jalna, the district worst hit with rainfall less than 25 per cent of normal. The crisis there extends beyond the rural interiors and up to Jalna city. The city has 45 water supply zones, and one, two or three of these (depending on size) are supplied municipal council water on any day. "This effectively means that people get water in their taps once every 20 days, for not more than an hour. People hoard up as much water as they can and, once that runs out, turn to private tankers," says Rajesh More, engineer in the Jalna Municipal Council's water supply department. He too depends on private tankers at home.

Tankers provided by the government visit Walki and Gunavadi villages in Ahmadnagar, the state's largest district, once every four days and pour water into the village wells. Valmik Nagavade, sarpanch of Gunavdi, says the allotment is based on the 2001 census. "We get 20 litres per person based on the 2001 census but our families have grown in those 12 years," he says. "We bathe on alternate days with just two litres."

TOMORROW: AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

Rain check

7,064 of 43,722 villages declared drought-hit

Less than 25% rainfall: 5 talukas out of 355, including those in Jalna district

25-50%: 50 talukas

50-75%: 136 talukas, including those in Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahmadnagar, Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Aurangabad, Beed, Osmanabad, Nanded districts

5-year low: Storage levels in reservoirs

- The Indian Express, 20th February 2013

Environmentalists will make a fresh attempt to save the ecologically sensitive marshes — a mix of wetland and grassland — in north Delhi's Jahangirpuri from what they term "a concrete onslaught". As part of its ongoing review of the Capital's master plan, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will on Friday listen to the objections to its proposed residential project at Dheerpur near Jahangirpuri.

The DDA has issued a public notice for change in land use of the 19.33 acres from 'recreational' (16.63 acres) and 'river and water body' (2.70 acres) to 'residential' to build houses for Delhi Police personnel. Environmentalists have been saying that the site is actually part of Jahangirpuri marshes.

When HT visited the site it was apparent that the marshes had shrunk a lot due to gradual, but relentless, dumping of fly ash and construction debris. In one of their reports, Asit Nema of Foundation for Greentech Environmental Systems and Dr Lalit Agrawal of Tokyo Engineering Consultants have put the Jahangirpuri marsh area at 300 hectares. But according to the Master Plan, marshes exist only in 74 hectares.

"There has been a systemic encroachment of marshes. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is building its network near Jahangirpuri, has admitted on record that before the area was allotted to them, it had been filled with fly ash by local authorities," said Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. "We will present our case with help from Google earth images and expert reports," he added.

Nema and Agrawal had said the marsh area should be developed into a sustainable wetland. "This site can provide sewage treatment facility, recharge groundwater and attract migratory birds," they had said.

"The government is committed to protecting the marshes. We will encourage plantation in the area after the Metro construction is over," said a Delhi environment department official. "Our project is away from wild vegetation growth of Jahangirpuri marshes. The area where we are carrying out construction is not a marshland but a barren land of insignificant ecological importance," said a DMRC official.

"The area looks insignificant to some as the marsh has shrunk due to its systematic conversion," said Mishra.

-The Hindustan Times, 20th January 2013

With the Kasturba Gandhi Marg multilevel parking project stuck with the National Monument Authority for nearly one-and-half-years, the New Delhi Municipal Council is deliberating over scrapping the project. According to sources in the NDMC, if the project is not given approval from the heritage body, then the process to scrap it would be initiated. The project will be tabled in NMA's February 22 meet.

"We have been awaiting clearance from the heritage authority for the past three years. In February 2010, we had applied to ASI but after the formation of NMA, the matter was referred to it. If NMA doesn't give approval soon, we will have no other option but to scrap it. At least, we should provide surface parking to people,'' said a source.

NDMC officials say that people are facing a serious parking problem in the area as the site, which has over 300 offices, has been dug up. Earlier, NDMC used to run a surface parking at the site which had space for over 700 cars. "The project has been on hold for a long time now. This parking site was proposed in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021. NDMC and the private concessionaire have incorporated all the suggestion made by NMA and ASI. Despite being a public project, it is taking so long to get permission,'' said a senior official.

In September 2012, NMA had asked the private concessionaire and NDMC to commission a heritage impact assessment report due to the site's proximity to the13th-century Agrasen ki Baoli, and recommended Intach Delhi Chapter for the task. The private concessionaire — DS Construction — is hopeful that the project will get a go-ahead from the NMA. "We are keen to progress on this project as the automated parking lot would be extremely beneficial to the people commuting to Connaught Place. We believe an independent body has done an impact assessment study of the site and presented its report to the NMA. The authority is expected to take a decision shortly. We are hopeful that we can start soon,'' said a spokesperson, DS Construction.

The NDMC had awarded the contract to DS Construction in December 2007. The project was to be completed by 2010. NDMC officials say the private concessionaire has to pay a license fee of Rs 1 crore a year — increasing 5% each year thereafter — from this financial year.

-The Times of India, 22nd February 2013

The Centre is all set to tell the Supreme Court that the report of the R K Pachauri committee, which has suggested an alternative route to the mythological Ram Sethu for the Sethusamudram project, is not feasible. In doing so, the Centre will junk the report of the Pachauri-led committee on the project. However, the Centre is likely to inform the court about its intention to appoint another committee to look at other options, including another route.

An affidavit is this regard is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court Registry on Friday after the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) gives its nod to the stand finalised by the Shipping Ministry.

The affidavit is also likely to talk of the amount that the Centre has spent on the project so far and the loss that would be caused if it is given up.

Sources told The Indian Express that the short affidavit will only say that the Centre is of the view that the viability of other possible alignments need to be explored thoroughly. Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran could be asked to argue for the Centre at the next hearing, slated to be held on Monday. Ever since it was announced, the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, aimed at creating a shipping channel linking the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka to allow large ships to get to India's east coast from the west without navigating around Sri Lanka, has been attracting controversy. Key UPA constituent DMK, which was ruling Tamil Nadu till May 2011, has been opposing any move to shelve the project, while opposition BJP has been opposing the project as conceptualised in 2005. The BJP is opposed to the project being completed through the current route since that would result in dredging Ram Sethu, a stretch of limestone shoals that runs from Rameshwaram to Mannar Island, something that is seen as the mythological bridge that Lord Ram and his army built to reach Ravana's Lanka.

-The Indian Express, 22nd February 2013

Height of existing structure along Ennore Expressway to be increased; will benefit fishing hamlets

Fishing hamlets that face a constant threat of being washed away every time the sea gets rough, may soon be saved.

The shoreline along the Ennore Expressway, which runs the risk of sea erosion, will be protected by a seawall.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) is awaiting a government order to start the Rs. 26.58-crore project to repair the existing seawall along the 5.5-m stretch of the Ennore Expressway between Tollgate and Ennore and construct groynes between Ennore and Ernavoorkuppam. The height of the seawall would also be raised up to four metres.

Once the government order is obtained, the department would seek the assistance of IIT-Madras and Anna University to construct groynes worth Rs. 31.82 crore. The institutions would have to study the behaviour of waves and provide detailed design for the groynes, which is a collection of boulders laid perpendicular to the shoreline at regular intervals, to control wave action.

Sources in the WRD said that the seawall would protect the shoreline from incursion of sea water into the fishing hamlets and the groynes would further reduce the intensity of wave action. The experts of these institutions would have to specify the location and intervals at which the 10 groynes need to be constructed to reclaim the shoreline.

An environment impact study will also be carried out, through a consultant, to obtain environmental clearance. Of the 19-km long stretch of Ennore Expressway, a large part of the shoreline from Kasimedu has been protected by the seawall. The stretch between Bharathiyar Nagar, Nettukuppam and Ernavoorkuppam would now be protected with groynes.

Recently, the WRD had completed a seawall worth Rs. 1.6 crore along nearly 240 metres at Nettukuppam, which was severely affected by seawater incursion last year. In about six months, about a 70 to 100 metre-long stretch of the shoreline has been reclaimed in the locality.

J. Vanitha, a resident of Nettukuppam, said the seawall had to be raised more to prevent seawater intrusion into the hamlets with a population of about 7,000. The construction of groynes would help residents of hamlets such as Chinna kuppam, Kasikoilkuppam and Burma Nagar to avoid the possibility of them being washed away.

"Many people have started visiting the beach that has been newly formed during weekends," she said.

Officials of the WRD said that the project would be implemented with funds from National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development.

-The Hindu, 22nd February 2013

Climate change has altered the population and migratory habits of water birds at Harike, according to a census finding

Global effects of climate change coupled with local factors have had a serious bearing on the population, migratory patterns and habits of water birds. In a recent census conducted at Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, an international Ramsar wetland site located on the confluence of River Satluj and Beas with surrounding wetland areas in the state of Punjab, it was found that the total number of water birds have decreased as compared to last year. However, at the same time, the diversity in water bird species has increased, says TK Roy, ecologist and Delhi State Coordinator for AWC.

In all, this winter, a total of 72,488 water birds of 76 species including 29 species of resident water birds and 47 species of winter migratory water bird's arrival has been recorded by the combined efforts of Harike Bird Census 2013 and Asian Water bird Census (AWC).

Of the total number of water bird species counted, six species from the Birdlife International's red-listed threatened category have also been recorded — the 'near threatened' species of resident Oriental Darter (55), migratory Black-tailed Godwit (3), migratory Ferruginous Pochard (33), migratory Black-headed Ibis (6), migratory Painted Stork (9) and the 'vulnerable species' of migratory Lesser Adjutant (2). Of these, in the last count conducted in 2011, the Lesser Adjutant and Black-tailed Godwit had not been spotted at all while the others numbers have significantly increased. The Greater Flamingo, a resident of south Asia, that is, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and coastal parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha, has for the first time flown to Harike and 26 of them were seen to be flocking here this winter.

Of the 11 species of winter migratory water birds that are found in dominating numbers, the numbers of Common Coot (50,000 to 36,632), Gadwal (8,194 to 4,992), Northern Shoveler (11,339 to 6,224), Bar-headed Geese (4,123 to 3,001), Northern pintail (7,509 to 1,375) and Eurasian Wigeon (2,042 to 1,031) have decreased since the last count conducted in 2011.

At the same time, the Graylag Geese (1,428 to 4,883), Common Pochard (2,160 to 3,613), Red Crested Pochard (1,404 to 1,556) and the Common Teal (427 to 1,317) were seen in greater numbers compared to 2011.

Among the resident water bird species, the dominant species with good population recorded during the census were the Great Cormorant (1,212), Little Cormorant (591), Purple Swamp hen (461), Common Moorhen (256), Spotbill Duck (291), Little Grebe (223) and Indian River Tern (165).

So far 21 species of mammals, 384 species of birds, seven species of turtles, four species of snakes, six taxa of amphibians, 16 taxa of fishes, 189 taxa of invertebrates and 38 taxa of plants have been recorded at Harike. The wetland spreads over an area of about 86 sq km was declared a bird sanctuary in 1982. It is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in northern India. It was included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of international importance in 1990. It is a man-made, riverine, lacustrine wetland formed due to construction of barrage on the confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas and attracts thousands of migratory water birds from different parts of the Asian continent like North, Central and East Asia during the non-breeding period in winter.

The Harike Bird Census was organized by Ferojpur Forest Division of Punjab Forest & Wildlife Department with participation of BNHS, WWF-India, Chandigarh Bird Club, PSCST, team of experienced birder volunteers and co-sponsored by Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion.

- The Hindu, 24th February 2013

The lofty, majestic, ice-capped Himalayas continue to inspire seekers of knowledge and natural beauty into documenting its various attributes

Aptly named Himalaya, meaning "abode of snow", this majestic mountain range is akin to the crown of India with the world's top 10 highest peaks. Towering more than five miles above sea level, the snow-capped mountains form a massive border between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia. In fact, the Himalayan abode has 14 peaks more than 8,000 meters high and some 200 peaks more than 6,000 meters. They have for centuries inspired sadhus to soothsayers, painters to photographers, botanists to zoologists; all have walked the mountains for inner salvation. Some have even conquered them by trekking, climbing and risking their lives to understand the mighty Himalayas.

Reams of documents have been written, rewritten and compiled with comprehensive and complex maps about the Himalayas. Innumerable drawings, paintings, photographs have been doodled, captured and composed to study the altitudes, crevices, elevations and contours of the mountains. Yet there is ample scope for the intrepid explorers to add to the already gathered mountains of information.

Two such tomes have been released recently containing fascinating facts and figures and some never-seen-before photographs. The first is titled Nicholas Roerich / Ashok Dilwali: Inspired By The Himalayas by Ashok Dilwali with 174 pages. The second is Himalaya: Mountains Of Life which is a voluminous 308 pages by ARTEE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Education and the Environment). Both publications are hardbound coffee table books.

Ace lens man Ashok Dilwali is modest and known world over for his spectacular mountain landscape shots taken diligently for over 40 years by crisscrossing the Himalayas. His photographs recapture the magic and majesty of Roerich's genius. A prominent painter of Russian origin, Roerich fell in love with the Himalayas and refused to go back home. For nearly 25 years, he marvelled at the mountains and it got reflected on his colourful canvas. He passed away in 1947 in India leaving a rich legacy.

Roerich's masterpieces triggered Mr. Diwali's lifelong passion to capture the beauty of the mountains and he went about shooting in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Tibet.

Mr. Dilwali says, "Mountains have a life of their own; they are not just white and bright but are extremely colourful creatures if one has the inclination." He goes on to explain, "A photograph in any form conveys only five per cent of the beauty. I say so for two reasons. In the first place, a thing of three dimensions is reduced to two, the whole charm is gone. Secondly, what you experienced while taking a photograph is the 'real charm'. Can that 'charm' be attached in the photograph? It is a feeling of utter happiness, an inner thing. How can you explain the happiness at a beautiful composition springing up suddenly? A viewer can only see a photograph but never ever be a part of it fully. Only and only a photographer knows the thrill of the moment."

The research and writing of Himalaya: Mountains Of Life was funded by ATREE and according to the authors, "the Himalaya — land of gods, of ancient mountain kingdoms, of icy peaks and alpine meadows — is like no other on earth".

"The life and landscapes of the region are as diverse, spectacular and fragile as the mountains themselves," says Bawa, who has been working in the Himalayas for nearly five decades. "Even today, these mountains hold many mysteries: undiscovered species, primeval cultures and the promise of magical cures," adds Sandesh Kadur, who handles still and video shooting with ease.

"The Himalayan mountain system extends some 2,500 km from east to west and covers about 595,000 sq km. The range acts as a climatic divide with a massive storehouse of snow and glaciers that are a source of 19 major rivers, including the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. For thousands of years, the Himalayas have had a profound impact on Indian culture and agriculture. But today it is the prerogative of the scientists to document the myriad mysteries of the mountains and understand its biodiversity for the benefit of mankind," says Professor P.S. Ramakrishnan, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

The catastrophic decline in the vulture population in India has slowed, stopped or even reversed in some areas, thanks to a ban on a veterinary drug, according to a recently released paper in the journal Science. The scavengers' population declined largely because farmers had started giving their cattle an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac, which the birds ingested when they ate the dead cattle, said Andrew Balmford, paper author and professor of conservation biology at the University of Cambridge.

Although problem of drug pollution have been particularly difficult to address, recent developments in south Asia offer some positive news.Scientists and politicians are at last making progress in reversing the accidental but catastrophic poisoning of the region's vultures by a widespread veterinary drug, said paper titled — Pollution, Politics and Vulture.

Twenty years ago, vulture population across Indian subcontinent witnessed downfall."A carefully targeted research — combined with political commitment and government-NGO cooperation — is making a real difference," Balmford wrote.

-The Hindustan Times, 24th February 2013

Walking down the busy Lal Kuan bazaar road from Chawri Bazar side, one might just miss a large imposing gateway of a dilapidated structure, with modern signboards atop portions of what was once the Zeenat Mahal. And, behind the chaiwalah, the paanwala and other sundry kiosks occupying space near the façade right below the arched gateway, lies an interesting piece of history. 'Zeenat Mahal', now a name for a small area, was originally the palatial haveli of Zeenat Mahal, one of the wives of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

The gateway built of lakhori bricks still has tall wooden doors with recessed iron-studded design. It leads to haphazardly-built houses on the same plot. Deep inside is a girls' school, Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, number 2, Zeenat Mahal.

Anil Kumar Pandey, a resident of nearby Durga Mandir Gali, informs: "Our elders used to tell us that there was a tunnel starting from the mahal which went up to the Red Fort."

Adds Firoz Bakht Ahmed, a heritage activist, "According to Basheeruddin Ahmed's 'Waqueat-e-Darul Hukumat-e-Delhi', it used to be a massive haveli spread over almost four acres when Zeenat Mahal resided here. There was a huge marble fountain with a few hujras (cabins). Besides, there was a huge cellar." Things started declining after the Revolt of 1857. The school building came up sometime in the 1970s.

"Zeenat Mahal was known to be a domineering, formidable and tenacious woman with Rock of Gibraltar-like determination," he added. Something the girl students might draw inspiration from.

-The Times of India, 24th February 2013

Conservationist Hemendra Singh Panwar recollects his days of building up the Kanha Tiger Reserve

An ace conservationist, Hemendra Singh Panwar has spent a decade in developing the Kanha National Park cum tiger reserve. He also headed the Wildlife Institute of India and served as a director of Project Tiger. Recently awarded the Padma Bhushan for his works, he speaks to The Hindu about his passion to research on wildlife issues in a free-wheeling interview.

How did you go about building the national park and tiger reserve at Kanha? How was your experience?

I was posted in Mandla in 1963. Initially, I was in a division of which Kanha was not a part, but later on in 1969, I was put in charge of South Mandla which covered Kanha. I will begin by talking about the famous biologist G.B. Schaller who had spent about 14 months in Kanha. Kanha was known for its tigers as well as the Indian Barasingha (swamp deer). The habitat of the Indian Barasingha was initially spread all over the Central highlands. When Schaller was conducting his research in the 1960s, the number of Barasinghas in Kanha had come down to a mere 100.

In early 1965, he reached the conclusion that excessive predation by the tiger had led to the sharp decline of the Barasingha. The mating season of the Barasingha was from early November to mid-February. However, to my ecological mind it did not appeal that a predator will eliminate its prey and I was not entirely convinced of the research findings. I found out that the concentration of tigers in certain parts of Kanha had increased because of the practice of baiting by people who wanted to showcase tigers to the visiting tourists. This kind of baiting had got them confined to a particular area. So there was a baiting induced extra-normal congregation of tigers in some parts of the grasslands. I stopped the practice. Yet people were very keen to see the tigers. We initiated systematic tracking of pugmarks, drag marks, using which we were able to trace the natural kills of the animals.

After my concerted efforts, only three Barasinghas were killed in 2.5 years. We had a conservation friendly Collector which helped.

A lot of grasslands were released as a result of the rehabilitation of villages in 1968 / 69 where the Barasinghas could thrive. The predation levels by tigers came down to levels which the species could take. Later on, Kanha was made an independent management unit of which I was put in charge.

How was Project Tiger conceptualised and how has it worked so far?

Project Tiger was conceptualised in 1973 with the aim of constituting special tiger reserves in nine areas across the country with core and buffer zones. Kanha was one of the sites selected. There was an existing size norm prescribed of a minimum of 300 sq km. The Madhya Pradesh government was already quite impressed with the way the Kanha tiger reserve had shaped up. We had a core area of 1,295 sq km. We needed a fund of Rs. 65 lakh over five years. However, the Government of India had placed a cap of Rs. 40 to 45 lakh per reserve. As a result, we had to scale down the core area to 940 sq km and 1,005 sq km of buffer zone. This plan was sanctioned around 1974. We also had the mammoth task of relocation of 17 villages which was a more or less participatory and smooth process from the beginning. The relocated villagers received support for building their homes. We also helped them out with manure, fertiliser and seeds for pursuing agricultural activities. In this way, the number of animals in the park was visibly increasing.

How was the shift from Kanha to Delhi?

After my stint in Kanha, I was posted as national director of Project Tiger from 1981to 1985. I did a lot of research on tiger conservation during this time. I studied pug mark techniques and also their population dynamics. The area in Kanha was also considerably enlarged as a result of good protection and habitat development and the tiger population. I also presented a paper at an international symposium on tiger conservation based on my research on spacing patterns in tiger populations. About 1982– 83, the Smithsonian institute confirmed my research findings. As the director of Project Tiger, I have helped in envisaging seven reserves during my time.

Your experience as the director of the Wildlife Institute of India…

The institute was at the forefront in conceptualising the kind of training that can help conservation in the country. A detailed scheme was prepared and sanctioned. The faculty specialised in wildlife biology, management, and extension. We talked about threats to habitats including those from development projects. Some of the members also undertook environmental impact assessments. We started research on all the three disciplines and recruited fellows at the institute. The institution has been recognised as one of the six best conservation research institutions by the World Conservation Union. The institute has also won the Rajiv Gandhi conservation award.

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

More than half-way through this year's debut art event, where is the Kochi-Muziris Biennale headed and what has it achieved so far, asks Rajni George.

A large amount of the funds allotted to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) was invested in Durbar Hall, an impressively refurbished public building which now houses a climate-controlled museum, in central Kochi. When I visited, there was no sign of the climate control — the doors were open, to save on the air-conditioning I conjectured when a guard could not tell me why the rooms were not sealed — but the project is a symbol of the kind of change the biennale aims for, at its more visible locations around Aspinwall House in Fort Kochi. "Now you can even show Van Gogh here," says Riyas Komu, artist and KMB director of programmes. "The biennale is a gift from Kochi to the world, it's wonderfully mixed. You don't see this kind of a crowd walking in to see art, even abroad."

With one month to go, the highly publicised but beleaguered Kochi-Muziris Biennale may finally get the much-needed funding that the Ministry for Cultural Affairs withdrew, prior to its opening. Just a month ago, it was rumoured that they might have to close early. Now they are planning a grand finale, with two final weeks featuring a full cultural programme: symposiums in heritage, Asian arts, medicine, daily music and theatre performances. Why the green light now? A combination of critical approval and popular demand, it would seem.

"The Tate Modern told me this was the best biennale they'd seen," states artist and KMB artistic director Bose Krishnamachari, listing a host of other important visitors who have lauded the biennale's efforts. Halfway through its run, KMB (on till March 13) is establishing itself as a major art event, as some foresaw and some perhaps doubted. Democratic and accretive in ethos, it continues to attract visitors from around the world: the biennale accrued 1.5 lakh visitors in its first month and 2.5 lakh visitors in its second, averaging a thousand visitors a day (as high as 5,000 daily and 10,000 on weekends, early January).

In a visit to the biennale on January 28, Minister of Cultural Affairs K.C. Joseph told the foundation that the next meeting of the State Cabinet would decide funding. "It is under the consideration of the Council of Ministers," said a spokesperson for the Ministry recently, refusing to comment further. "We are expecting further funding from the government," said a spokesperson for the KMB team, implying that the situation had grown more hopeful. How has the public, in and out of Cochin, reacted to the biennale and how will they continue to interact with it?

Unlike the India Art Fair or other premier art events with VIP enclosures and look-but-don't touch vibes, KMB invites every kind of visitor and asks them to play. Like the sound installation of Australian artist Dylan Martorell, which has to be activated by each viewer. It was being partially de-installed mid-January when I met Martorell, who has been working for 10 years in this field and spent five weeks in Kochi recording the range of noises afforded by his new environs. Even the de-installation is part of the process; people gathered around to watch him take some of his equipment back home for another show. "This biennale is more about cultural regeneration," he says. "About getting in touch with the public."

Part of the show is watching some of the artists in studio. Malayali artist Valson Koorma Kolleri, for example, is painting his subject and calling an audience around him, when I visit.

As the biennale runs, work is still being constructed: one artist, Jyoti Basu, part of an unofficial Ahmedabad school of Malayali artists, visits daily and chooses to sometimes add to his painting. "I am finishing all the time," he says, smiling beatifically. "The vibrations here are different."

Until December 23, entry was free; at that point ticketed entry at Rs.50 began to help pay for daily running costs, says the foundation. As well as to place value in art, which Kerala's public takes seriously. Lawyers, labourers, students and housewives, some of them on their second or third visit, were in evidence and seriously engaging with the work on show, it would seem, when I spoke with them.

"What we don't understand, we ask someone about," said Remya M.R., a young office worker who has just climbed up a steep ladder to a space under the roof of Pepper House, which shows Anita Dube's work. "But most things we can enjoy."

Local people are now stepping up, on an individual level, realising what the biennale has done for them, socio-economically and culturally, and in terms of putting Kochi on the international culture map, something that does not go unappreciated in this State. "Malayalis are artsy people, generally speaking: art, cinema, drama all find a natural audience here. An event like the biennale, at an international standard, can get people to invest in warehouses; right now, people buying them do not always preserve them," says Latha Pottenkulam, owner of Sthayi, a boutique in Kochi. "People must invest in art. It is important also to help sustain what the biennale is doing; the stairs of Pepper House were so rickety for example, people complain that it is hard to see everything, as a result."

"The city should take responsibility, should feel ownership," says Krishnamachari. "People should learn from Brazil; we too should have two percent tax put aside for this. Crowd-funding is part of the long-term plan, for 2014." Support has come in many forms, according to Krishnamachari. Shalini and Sanjay Kasi recently held a 25,000-per-head dinner in the capital to raise funds, raising five and a half lakhs. Google met with the foundation and has offered help with the website, which received 7.5 million hits in the first month. The Jindals of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, the late Kerala Congress leader T.M. Jacob, R.K. Krishna Kumar of Tata group, Jayanta Matthews of Malayala Manorama and the businessman Shibu Mathai have all donated recently.

"McKinsey and companies like to do studies on biennales. We should study the economic effect of the biennale," says Krishnamachari. "The manager of Hotel Seagull says 80 per cent of business has gone up in Kochi."

That Fort Kochi is the site of an international event, we would not have conceived of even a decade ago, is remarkable. It's still that tourist-friendly fusion of East and West we are celebrating, only the agenda has expanded to include the idea of more ancient India in the form of the one-time prosperous financial centre that is the seaport of Muziris, located 30 km from Kochi and currently under the aegis of the Muziris Heritage Project.

The connection? "I liked the ironic juxtapositions: conceptual art and Muziris," says biennale visitor Dilip Menon, Mellon Chair in Indian Studies and Professor of History at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, who especially liked an installation by Vivan Sundaram made with broken potsherds excavated in the course of the archaeological digs at Muziris. "The premises of Aspinwall, now abandoned, redolent with memories of ancient wealth invoke the particular history of port cities in an age of maritime commerce past. There is something about Fort Kochi with the remains of European colonialism and the bustle of present-day commerce with the pungent smells of pepper and spices that is disorienting. The idea of locating the biennale in the former Aspinwall House was a masterstroke: crumbling facades, stagnant pools of water, the reek of damp and the installations that riffed on these."

Many artists exploited this to great advantage. "This lab is like an artist's studio," says renowned artist Atul Dodiya, of the laboratory space that exhibits his work, a collection of photographs from over 20 years within the "big Indian family" that is the Indian artistic community. "I told them to retain it, not to retouch it."

A special blue house whose first floor, spare and factory-like, displays videos by dissident Chinese artist Ai Wei-wei; a display of grains and parallel films around farmer suicides by the masterful Amar Kanwar; a beautiful carpeted room filled with long cylinders of light at Pepper House — there is much on offer at KMB. Some say all the artists haven't sent their best work; or question whether some of this is art. But they return, and promise to return in 2014.

"It is difficult to set up a project like this the minute you touch public funds," says Komu. "But this project was putting a seed in a fertile land."

-The Hindu, 24th February 2013

In a first for any monument in India, the National Monument Authority (NMA) on Friday asked for revision of the draft heritage by-laws for Sher Shah Suri Gate and Khairul Manazil.

The competent authority for the by-laws appointed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had outsourced the job to the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). These are needed to regulate new construction/redevelopment in the prohibited area (0-100 metres) and regulated area (101-300 metres) of the ASI-protected monuments. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act passed in March 2010 had necessitated the byelaws.

The draft by-laws contain brief history of monuments, maps, photos, land use to be identified, archaeological ruins apart from the notified monument area and building-related parametres. "The language for the by-laws is not legalese but more of 'should be/would be' kind of suggestions not tenable under law," said a member, requesting anonymity.

He said, "Another missing point is the 'integration' of Purana Qila's prohibited and regulated areas, which sits bang opposite the fort and can't be ignored."

Sudhir Vohra, an architect and urban planner questioned how the draft restricts the height of High Court buildings in regulated area to 30 metres while that for government housing at Bapa Nagar and Kaka Nagar to 7.5 metres? Vohra was the only one to respond to NMA's appeal seeking suggestions/objections.

"If the government plans to redevelop housing eyeing vertical growth in future, why should it be restricted to only 7.5 metres? If more parts of Bapa Nagar are to be given over for High Court, as has happened in the past, would the restriction remain relevant?" Vohra asked.

AGK Menon from INTACH said, "I made a presentation on the rationale for the Sher Shah gate by- laws and left. I don't know what transpired in the meeting after that."

"The competent authority has been asked to revise the byelaws based in 15 days," Pravin Srivastava, NMA member secretary said.

-The Hindustan Times, 24th February 2013

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Mohammad Azam Khan, demanded the heirs of the former Nawabs to hand over the spacious and grand palace of the erstwhile rulers to Mohammad Ali Johar University, so that the same may be transformed into a medical college.

Interacting with media persons on Saturday evening, Khan offered to pay a reasonable cost for the palace and reminded of his parlays with late begum of heir apparent Nawab Murtaza Ali Khan, which proved fruitless.

"Now talks with late begum's daughter are being initiated with an assurance that the proposed medical college would carry the name of their fore-fathers," Khan said.

The minister also laid emphasis on affiliation of Asia's foremost Raza Library with Rampur-based Johar University so that library's literary cultural and historic treasure maybe utilised by scholars and researchers at the varsity.

Azam Khan announced that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has accepted Johar University's offer to hold the post of 'Visitor' of the institution.

"A Visitor is acknowledged as more important a person than the Chancellor of a university," Khan, who is also founder and life-time chancellor of the university, said on Saturday.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

HERITAGE Traditional healers were a revered lot with great curative powers, says R. V. SMITH

Eating hot, spicy halim from a cart vendor outside the Hindustani Dawakhana's old building in Ballimaran, one evening 50 years ago, was a most educative experience. The Dawakhana opened in 1910 by Raja Kishan Kumar, is a memorial to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose father, Hakim Mahmud Khan, was one of the sons of Hakim Sharif Ali, who died in 1790. There were other noted hakims also in Delhi then like Baqaullah, Talib Ahmad and Ghulam Najf Khan, but Mahmud Khan enjoyed a special reputation as he was attached to the Mughal court. His expertise was inherited by his three sons, of whom the eldest died in 1901, a year after his father. The second son, Hakim Abdul Majid passed away three years later, but Ajmal Khan, the youngest, born in 1863, a few months after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar and more than six years before Gandhiji, lived on till 1927. Like his father, he too was credited with almost miraculous cures, so much so that he came to be known as the messiah of the sick in pre-World War II years.

The family of Hakim Ajmal Khan, said an octogenarian, who was insistent that the halim seller give him a slice of tongue as a preferred piece of meat, considered soft and delicious, remembered seeing Ajmal Khan walking down to his haveli in Ballimaran or escorting him to a house where somebody was very ill and needed his expert attention. The old man was just a boy then and in between spoonfuls of halim he let his memory wonder to the 1920s when Hakim Sahib's popularity was at its zenith, both as a healer and nationalist leader and among whose close friends, besides the Mahatma, were the Reverend C.F. Andrews and the Nawab of Rampur, who regarded the hakim as a pir and guide. Those were the times when Ajmal Khan charged Rs. 1,000 a day whenever he was called upon to treat members of the princely families. Rs. 1,000 was equivalent to more than Rs. 1 lakh these days. He was regarded as a "Rais of Delhi" and also honoured by the poet Shahid Dehlavi.

His family is said to have come to India at the time of Babar and established itself in the vacuum left by the old hakims of the Sultanate period, which ended with the Lodis. Hospitals in those days were known as Bimaristans (place of the sick). The name Bimaristans, according to Iqtidar Husain Siddiqui, historian and teacher at Aligarh University, was replaced with Darul-Shifa (place of healing). As early as 1391, seven years before the sack of Delhi by Amir Taimur, the second book of medicine (after Tib-e-Shabbi), Tib-i-Shifa-al-Khani contained a list of tested prescriptions of Indian medicine then available in the country. In Sikandar Lodi's time (1488-1517), in an attempt to synthesize Ilm-ul-Tib and Ayurveda, appeared Madan-ul-Shifa-i-Sikandar Shahi. In that period skilled physicians were held in high esteem, observes Prof. Siddiqui in his book, "Composite Culture Under the Sultanate of Delhi".

He says, A sultan once decided to test the knowledge of his physician and sent three bottles, each containing the urine of a sick man, a monkey and a buffalo. When the bottles (whose contents were kept secret) were brought to the Chief Physician of Malwa, Malik-ul-Hukama, the hakim smiled and said that one of the patients (the sick man) should be given medicine with warm water, the other (the buffalo) was to be given boiled cotton seeds, while the third one (the monkey) should be set free. "All of them would be cured". According to the historian Ziauddin Barani, Maulana Badruddin Damshqi (of Damascus) "to whom the physicians of Delhi turned for guidance", was such a competent physician that he could diagnose the disease and its cause by merely glancing at the patient. He had no need to even feel the pulse. Muhammad bin Tughlak had the art of treating patients while his nephew, Feroze Shah Tughlak, built many hospitals for them. Much before him, Alauddin Khilji also devoted much time and resources in the propagation of the science of medicine. Besides the Arabic, Greek and Central Asian classics, a whole lot of Sanskrit works were also translated into Persian to enrich medical knowledge.

With such a heritage before it, the Sharifi family of Hakim Ajmal Khan continued to pursue and develop the art of healing. The Hakim Sahib was once tested by a nawab, who called him "to attend to a sick purdah woman" without seeing "the face of the patient", which was behind a curtain. The hakim felt the pulse and opined that the patient be given some luxurious grass to feed on. Ajmal Khan had seen through the bluff for the patient was not a woman but a goat. At another time he was given a bottle containing the urine of a baboon as that of a diabetic man. The hakim smelt the bottle and said feed bananas to the patient and leave it on a tree. These tales were related by the old mian while eating halim that evening in 1963 and when one reads Prof. Siddiqui's book one was immediately reminded of these latter-day incidents. Yet another one was of a woman with an incurable carbuncle cured with the bark of a tree and a special grass from Kasganj in an age when medical science had not made the tremendous progress of our times.

A lasting memorial to this great hakim is the Tibbia College in Karol Bagh, where both Unani and Ayurvedic medicine are taught to aspiring hakims. Its foundation stone was laid by Lord Hardinge in 1916 and it was opened by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Ballimaran is far away from it but the link with the college continues, as also with the park, market and road nearby named after Ajmal Khan. But one doesn't get to taste halim there. To eat it one has to come all the way to Ballimaran, where tales of Hakim Ajmal Khan's legendary cures are on the lips of old timers residing near his hereditary home, Sharif Manzil.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

Paintings so fine and detailed that you would mistake it for a photograph, and photographs of wild things so pretty that you would mistake it for a painting. All elements of the painting and photograph exhibition, "Scent Mark by Kazi Nasir", will be coming to the Capital on March 6.

There are the tigers with whiskers so fine that you can count it, there is a snow white owl with eyes so piercing as to make you squirm. The leopard looks ready to spring and the wild ducks in the water are so serene. A family of antelope leaving their watering hole at twilight and the whistling trees seem to have a mind of their own.

Kazi Nasir used to travel the jungles armed with his camera shooting the wild and the beautiful. He found the experience so enriching that it soon became a spiritual sojourn. He returned home, only to remember the sights of the jungle, so he started to paint. "Can I live a life without the smell of wetland? Without entering a grassland with its living creatures? Simply I can't… whenever possible I try to run away with my cameras and lenses to spend my time in a jungle," says the artist, who is also an atheist.

"Being an atheist, I find my spirituality in these sojourns. I cannot explain this spirituality to anyone who does not love the smell of shivering grasses, who can't follow the dialogue of a wetland on a foggy morning," he says, adding: "With these paintings and photographs I want to share my joy and feelings about wildlife."

The photographs, caught at different times in the day, mostly at dusk or twilight are diverse. The show has been organised by Niten Mehta from the TAD Arts Gallery and while describing each of these artworks a clever mix of the forest backdrop and wild animals, she says: "I am astonished and intrigued by the fact that more often than not, the viewer is forced to believe that these are photographs that he has recaptured on canvas -- but on a closer look, one realizes that all of them are created and visualised by this master of technique and simplicity. He chooses to be as natural and steer clear of fantasy."

The exhibits will be displayed at the Open Palm Court of India Habitat Centre.

-The Hindu, 25th February 2013

The presence of Kos Minar, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected (ASI) structure enclosed in a roundabout on a road inside the sprawling Delhi zoo, likely to affect its expansion plans.

According to the master layout, the authorities have planned a major re-hauling, that includes an aquarium, insectarium, a butterfly park along with different zones representing different geographical areas of India, apart from a new comprehensive visitor centre, automated parking, a fine dining facility just outside the ticketing area and reworking the visitor-circulation path.

Most of the new buildings and constructions have been planned to avoid the 0-100 metre off set (called the prohibited area) for ASI-protected monuments, such as the Kos Minar and the Purana Qila right next to it. For construction falling between 101-300 metres (regulated area), the proposal will need clearance first from the Competent Authority and then from the National Monument Authority (NMA). There are a few public conveniences shown in the master layout plan near the Kos Minar too.

"But right now, there is no construction planned around the Kos Minar. As and when in future we would need to construct toilets, we would try to build it beyond 100 metres," said Amitabh Agnihotri, Zoo Director.

The focus right now, Agnihotri emphasised, is on getting the visitor centre re-aligned. The proposal is being examined by the Competent Authority (for Delhi), which has conducted meetings/inspection in this connection. Once it is cleared by this authority, the proposal is due to go to the National Monument Authority.

-The Hindustan Times, 25th February 2013

It was a bumper day for birding enthusiasts in Delhi. Other than the annual Big Bird Day, where teams set out to specified areas and count the bird species they saw, a Bird Race was organized separately on Sunday where participants were free to travel all over the city to count birds. The icing on the cake was the weather that cleared up after a day of heavy rain and dark skies, making it the ideal day for bird-watching.

The growing popularity of the bird day was evident in the number of participants this year. About 270 teams across the country organized bird days in their cities in collaboration with Delhi Big Bird Day. Once again, Bhindawas recorded the highest number of species at 151. The total number of species recorded across the city was 222, two down from 2012 and, hence, not so worrying. However, numbers are still below 2011's count of 240 and the highest ever recorded in 2005 of 271.

From 115, the team that visited Sanjay Van, Bhati Mines and Shankar Vihar saw their tally come down to 103 though the members were happy with the birds they saw. "We managed to see practically all the raptors we were hoping for, including a group of red vultures in Bhati Mines, Egyptian vultures , Long-legged buzzard and the steppe eagle. The number of waders was less in south Delhi this time, especially with loss of habitat at Shankar Vihar ," said Surya Prakash who led the team.

However, other wetlands like Sultanpur, Bhindawas and Okhla are still doing quite well and threw up a large population of waders.

Bird Race, co-ordinated by K B Singh, had at least 15 teams that went across the city, of which at least six teams recorded over 140 species each. The maximum number of birds was spotted by a team led by Pankaj Gupta, who possibly covered the largest region. "We recorded 155 species across Sultanpur, Najafgarh and Basai. The bird condition seems to have improved after rain in the past month but in Basai numbers have come down," said Gupta.

The highlight of the trip was a Jack snipe, a migratory wader that was seen in Basai.

Singh, who led a team to Okhla, said that though the bird population was slightly disturbed at the park, there were still quite a huge number to be seen there. "There must have been 6,000-8 ,000 birds, of which the highlight was a flock of greater flamingoes," he said. Singh's team also saw a rare large-tailed nightjar at Okhla, the last-known official record of which in Delhi was in 1961.

The result of having two different birding expeditions set out on the same day was that a large number of firsttimers joined the veterans, resulting in 200 people out bird hunting on Sunday morning. "The seniors got divided among the two activities but that helped to spread the word and several youngsters, many of them first-timers , joined in for the bird count," said Singh.

Missing wetland

About two years ago, Shankar Vihar in southwest Delhi was bustling with hundreds of waders. It was incorporated as a Big Bird Day site for the first time in 2011 but this year, over two-thirds of the wetland is missing and only a handful of birds can be seen. The remaining land has been cut off from the existing water body and is being used as a dumping ground for debris. A painted stork, some ruffs and a pair of pied avocets were the highlights of the place.

Extended park

Compared to previous years, the team that counted birds at Yamuna Biodiversity Park had three times the area to cover with the inclusion of the newly developed Phase II. The group was divided into two teams that recorded 100 species in two hours from two phases. The new phase is coming up on the active Yamuna flood zone and is being visited by painted storks. The near-threatened ferruginous pochard was recorded in Phase I of the park.

'Poor' Sanjay Van

The flow of untreated sewage into Sanjay Van has been a cause for concern for the past few years and order upon order has been issued to several agencies to stop this. However, no action has been taken and the stench of the filth permeates the air as one walks towards the 'water body' . When most other wetlands are flush with birds, this particular wetland has a dominant population of the black-winged stilt which survives best in filthy water.

-The Times of India, 25th February 2013

The Centre has re-ignited the Ram Sethu row by deciding to discard the recommendations of an expert committee headed by noted environmentalist RK Pachauri.

The new alignment of the Sethusamudram Project will damage the Ram Sethu, which the Government has claimed to be a natural formation.

Ordering status quo on the project over five years ago, the apex court asked the Centre on July 23, 2008 to consider the feasibility of an alternate route for the project to save the Ram Sethu in view of the religious and archaeological importance attached to it.

The alternate route that has been proposed extends from the east of Dhanu-shkodi to Lands End on Rameswaram Island.

A petition in the apex court opposed any move to damage the mythological bridge, believed to have been constructed by Lord Rama.

The Pachauri Committee and its team of experts concluded that: “Alignment 4A (proposed alternate route) and Alignment 6 (cutting through the Ram Sethu) were economically and ecologically non-feasible. Alignment 4A could potentially result in ecological threats that could pose a risk to ecosystems in the surrounding area, and in particular to the biosphere reserve.”

On both sets of alignments, the expert body was of the view that it would fail the benchmark Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 12 per cent prescribed for such scenarios.

The Committee said: “It is unlikely that public interest would be served by pursuing the project on the basis of Alignment 4A.”

Giving a go-by to the expert body’s advice, the fresh affidavit of the Centre said: “The Government of India does not accept the conclusions and recommendations of the Pachauri Committee.”

The Centre cited the economic and strategic advantage of the project to back its decision to construct the shipping passage passing through the mythological bridge.

“Given the advantage of the project (Sethusamudram), the Government of India intends to pursue the implementation of the project.”

Backing its claim with the clearance it received in 2004 from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the project consultant - Ramboll Consulting Engineers Limited, the Centre urged the apex court to dispose the petitions and resolve the contentious issues raised before the Court.

Incidentally, the Pachauri Committee was helped by eminent experts from NEERI, National Institute of Oceanography, Geological Survey of India, and representatives of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Examining the proposal for an alternate route from the cost-benefit angle, social and cultural impact, environmental impact, law and order aspect and other related matters, the Committee said: “On the basis of the foregoing analysis and the importance of observing a risk management approach, both in ecological as well as economic terms, it appears questionable whether Alignment 4A (proposed alternate route) represents an attractive or even an acceptable option.”

This is not the first controversy that has been generated around the Ram Sethu.

In the past, the Centre created an uproar when it denied the existence of the bridge.

The Centre’s special counsel Fali Nariman had observed on a previous occasion: “We are not destroying any bridge, as there is no bridge.”

He further submitted: “We believe it (Ram Sethu) was not a man-made structure. It was a superman-made structure which was broken by Lord Ram himself.

“If it was something that was destroyed by the same man who built it, we are dealing with only a belief.”

A watercolour painting by England’s iconic artist JMW Turner and a host of other impressive works by makers such as Renee Lalique will be a part of the Jodhpur auction.

The Jodhpur Auction, to be held on March 9, will feature carefully selected objects d’art, fascinating heirlooms, 11th and 12th century sculptures, a dazzling collection of jewellery and other heritage treasures in order to raise funds for the Indian Head Injury Foundation (IHIF).

The event will take place at the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace, under the support of Bid and Hammer Advisory Board member Maharaja Gaj Singh II.

The auction will have some of the rarest and finest of works on offer. The invitees will be present from all around the world, including who’s who of the Bollywood industry.

Talking about the auction, Maher Dadha, Chairman & Managing Director of Bid & Hammer said, “As the invitees will include royalty from Europe and the Middle East, corporate chieftains from across the world, millionaire entrepreneurs, movie moguls from Hollywood as well as the Indian film industry, rock stars and celebrities who believe they can make the world a better place, by bidding in aid of charity.”

He added, “The purpose is to raise as much as possible in aid of the IHIF through a luxurious range of offerings wherein the price-points would only add to the contributions”.

The exhibition will see an elaborated eight-panel Verre Eglomisé mirrored and painted metal screen, executed in circa 1928 by the famous French artist - Etienne Drian.

He was also a fashion illustrator active in France during the 1920s and 30s.

This screen was personally bought at an exhibition in France in 1931 by the Maharaja of Indore, Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, who was a Jazz enthusiast, for the music room of his famed art deco Manik-Bagh Palace and is estimated between Rs4-6 crore.

A recently discovered watercolour painting by England’s most iconic artist JMW Turner (1775-1851) belongs to one of a series that Turner did on the Seige of Seringapatam. Authenticated by Tate Britain and the renowned Turner experts Andrew Wilton & Ian Warell, this work depicts the ‘cullaly deedy, water-gate in the outer rampart of Seringapatam’, where Tippoo Sultan resided during the siege.

The work is one of the very few works to have been done by Turner on an Indian subject. The painting with 16.5 x 24.2 in pencil and watercolour is estimated between Rs2-3 crore.

“We expect the art and antique items to go at record price as the guests expected to be at the event are big collectors of art and will be present in person in such a large number for a live auction,” said Ankush Dadha, Director, Bid & Hammer.

Apart from the renowned personalities from Indian industry, there will be the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, French billionaire Patrick Guerrand Hermes; American film-maker Forest Steven Whitaker and British writer Jemima Marcelle Khan.

Maharaja Gaj Singh, who founded the Indian Head Injuries Foundation after his son Shivraj Singh suffered a major head injury in a polo accident in 2005, wants to turn the auction into a biennial event.

There are a host of other impressive and highly decorative works by makers such as Renee Lalique, Lorenzo and Gilbert, accompanied by very fine miniature paintings from the Rajasthan schools, hallmarked silver, jewellery and exquisitely embellished ceremonial daggers from royal collections.

The auction will also feature paintings by top modernist Indian artists of the Bombay Progressive Artists group, such as MF Husain, FN Souza, AA Raiba and Ram Kumar and some contemporary artists.

There is an original illustrated antiquarian book with hand-coloured aquatints by William Hodges, RA (1744-1797) that would be a connoisseur’s delight or for those first time collectors who are looking at subjects on the history and views of India.

There will also be a live performance by the band Sting.

- The Pioneer, 26th February 2013

The Pamban rail bridge, an engineering marvel and India’s first cantilever bridge stepped into its centenary year on Sunday.

The 2.06 km long bridge, the second longest sea bridge after Bandra-Worli sea link was thrown open to traffic this day in 1914 and is still going strong, providing the much needed rail connectivity to the pilgrim centre of Rameswaram.

Located at the world’s second highly corrosive environment, next to Mexico, the bridge was constructed amid challenges. Having survived the devastating 1964 cyclonic storm, the bridge entered the 100{+t}{+h}year on Sunday, sans any celebration by the Railways.

The need for rail connectivity between the main land and the island was felt in the late 1870s, when the East India Company, expanding its trade, decided to establish rail link between Danushkodi and Colombo, a Railway Engineer said, giving details of the historic bridge.

After feasibility study, a proposal on “Indo-Ceylon project” was sent to the British Parliament for building a rail bridge from Mandapam to Pamban and from Danushkodi to Thalaimannar at an estimated cost of Rs. 299 lakh. The British Parliament rejected the project, stating that the cost of the project was too high. It, however, gave its nod for the Pamban rail bridge at a cost Rs 70 lakh in 1880.

Soon the excavation work began and the South Indian Railway commenced the bridge construction in 1902.

The ‘Khurai” families from the Kutch region in Gujarat, who had experience in working with the Himalayan Railways were brought to Pamban for excavation and erection work, while the fabricated structures were brought from Britain, the Engineer said talking to The Hindu . Work was smooth till the construction of 112th pier from Mandapam side. The project faced the first major hurdle when the engineers found movement of ferry service in a 65.23 metre wide ‘Pambar’ in the Palk strait.

“"They could have moved ahead with putting up piers, but the engineers, unwilling to obstruct the ferry service and disturb ‘first users’ wanted to have the rail link, while allowing the ferry service as well,” the Railway Engineer said quoting old records.

It was at this stage, the Railways approached Scherzer, a German Engineer, who designed and built the famous 65.23 metre long rolling type lift span, which opens up to pave way for the vessels to pass through like a pair of scissors.

After the erection of rolling lift centre span in 1913, the bridge was thrown open to traffic on February 24, 1914.

The strength of the bridge was put to test for the first time in December 1964, when a severe cyclonic storm hit this part of the area. All the girders, both RCC and steel were washed away. Two of the 141 piers also damaged, but the Scherzer’s span withstood nature’s fury.

This time, it was the turn of Indian engineers to show case their engineering prowess. A team of engineers, led by the then Assistant Engineer E Sreedharan (Delhi Metro Sreedharan) salvaged the girders and put the bridge back on the rails in just five months.

The rail bridge threatened to become defunct, when the Indian Railways announced the “unigauge” policy in 2006. The Railways considered a proposal to construct a new bridge, but gave up the idea as it would cost a whopping Rs.700 crore.

Stepping in, the then President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, who hailed from Rameswaram island, suggested that the existing bridge could be strengthened for gauge conversion. After obtaining expert opinions from IIT-Chennai and structural engineers, the bridge was strengthened to broad gauge standard and train services resumed in 2007.

The bridge was further strengthened in 2009 for running of goods traffic. It suffered a jolt, when a barge, being taken through the channel, crashed into the bridge, damaging the 121{+s}{+t}pier after anchor failure. After a week, train services were resumed in the bridge.

- The Hindu, 26th February 2013

Hauz Khas village, home to popular resto-bars and designer boutiques, is at the centre of a demolition drive. Municipal authorities have cracked the whip on illegal properties in the area.Five properties have been torn down within a week. South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) officials, sources said, were forced into action by the “rampant” illegal construction in the market. The civic agency cracked the whip on three properties in the market, a haunt frequented by thousands every day, on Monday itself. The SDMC will conduct a survey of the area, including the market, to identify floors and rooms constructed without necessary clearance.

The officials have pointed out that illegal constructions pose a risk to those living in the area because builders often do not consider structural safety, and they are built in a hurry to avoid detection.

“A number of property owners are carrying out illegal constructions, which range from adding a room to an entire floor. We destroyed illegal floors in the area, including ones at a restaurant,” said a senior SDMC official.

“A survey of the market and the area to assess the extent of illegal construction has been commissioned,” the official added.

Of the five properties demolished by the civic agency, three were on the main notified commercial stretch that houses several restaurants and boutiques.

The officials said illegal construction and encroachment of the narrow lanes in the market have further reduced their widths, making it difficult for fire engines to enter the area in case of an emergency.

The SDMC department concerned has sent notices to around 100 shops on Aurobindo Marg and Africa Avenue and warned of a drive to seal errant establishments next week.

“We have issued notices to the traders. If they fail to deposit conversion charges, we will begin sealing their shops,” said a senior official. The sources said the south zone has so far listed 500 defaulters, but the total number could be as high as 2,000.

Residential properties on notified roads were allowed commercial activity under the 2021 Delhi Master Plan, but the owners were to pay one-time parking and registration charges and an annual conversion charge.

- The Hindustan Times, 26th February 2013

From a distance, the historic Dorekere may look like a slice right out of Singapore with its brimming pristine water mirroring the skyscrapers surrounding it, thanks to the lake rejuvenation programme of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

But the lake wasn’t so a month ago. Weeds had choked it, despite several measures taken by the civic body. BBMP engineers, however, fear their efforts to give the water body a new lease of life would turn futile as sewage poses a perenial threat.

The Palike had to take up rejuvenation of Dorekere on a priority basis in view of the fact that it was built by the founder of Bangalore, Kempegowda, about 500 years ago. It chalked out a Rs 5.5-crore plan for the purpose and diverted sewage flowing from two directions into the water body and let it pass through the sewage treatment plant.

Despite these measures, waste water continued to gush into the lake. For two years, the BBMP struggled to arrest the flow of dirty water and has now succeeded to a good extent.

But Palike engineers are worried that the measures they had taken to check the flow of waste water into the lake may be marred during rains.

Last year, sewage flowing through the two storm water drains gushed into Dorekere after heavy rains. As a result, the lake was again filled with dirty water. Subsequently, water hyacinth choked it completely. The lake was in a shambles until de-weeding was done recently at a cost of about Rs 15 lakh.

A BBMP engineer, who has been monitoring the Dorekere rejuvenation programme, blamed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for the pathetic state of the lake and ruining their efforts.

“The BWSSB is supposed to set up the sewage treatment plant in the upstream of the storm water drain,” said an engineer. He said garbage dumped into the storm water drain was posing a major threat to the lake. It not only obstructed the STP set up next to Dorekere, but also led to flooding. Garbage has damaged the anicut built by the Palike to prevent the flow of sewage.

- The Deccan Herald, 27th February 2013

The temple town of Melkote could have been a veritable paradise for pilgrims, tourists and archaeologists. But its hoary temples, umpteen number of kalyanis and mantapas present a picture of utter neglect and apathy.

The town, which has a millennium of history behind it, is situated on an elongated ridge with valleys on the two sides. While the impressive Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple in the centre of the town acts as the pivot for pilgrims, the nearly 1,000-year-old Yoganarasimha temple is situated atop a thumb-like outcrop of hills overlooking the town.

These are, of course, principal attractions, but the town is dotted with numerous smaller yet historic monuments which are in an advanced state of disrepair. The Archaeological Survey norms prohibit construction of any building within 100 metres of a monument. But several new and multistoreyed buildings can be seen standing cheek by jowl with the Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple. Down the same road, the picturesque Teppakulam tank, which according to locals, used to have float festivals on important occasions, has turned into an eyesore with clothes being washed on the steps and the moss-ridden putrid waste occupying the corners. The gateway to the tank is dilapidated and the tank is enclosed on three sides from the backyards of the private homes. This has allowed households to conveniently dispose of their garbage into the tank’s periphery rendering it into a garbage bin. The crown (shikhara) of the mantapa in the centre of the tank has collapsed, with its stump still sticking out as a sore thumb.

According to Prof. Lakshmithathachar, an old resident, the town had 108 kalyanis some fifty years ago. The Wodeyar rulers had planned them in such a way that each one of them was at a different level on the hilly terrain. Some of them were meant for bathing, others for washing and yet others for irrigation. But today, merely 40 of them can be spotted. These kalyanis were perennially charged water bodies. Some of them have been encroached upon while a few more have dried up.

Prof. Thathachar points out that today the water to the town is pumped from Tonnur tank or what has come to be known as Moti talab, 12 km from the town. The irony cannot be missed. The catchment area for the talab is Yadavagiri Hills on the slopes of which the town is nestled. The authorities could have built a reservoir in the upper reaches of the Yadavagiri Hills and gravitational flow could have ensured water supply to homes without much investment. Today the rain runoff from Melkote flows through two rivulets i.e., Yadava Nadi and Hebballa to the talab, and the same water is supplied to homes by pumping.

Yet another temple known as Sugreeva temple located within the premises of the Government Higher Primary School is a tell-tale picture of neglect. Built in the Hoysala style of architecture, it has turned into an asylum of sorts for urchins and anti-social elements during nights. The huge carved stones rather than being plastered have been set into walls and joined together with metal clamps. A missing slab from the slanted front of the building is proof of the negligence the monument has been subjected to, in the recent past.

An exquisitely planned pond known as Mythreya Teertha at the edge of the town has its own tale to tell. It has a mantapa on one of the banks. It is said that eight such ponds were constructed in the town by various sages who performed penance there. Today, it is used for bathing the padukas (footwear) of the presiding deity of Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple once a year. For the remaining period, it serves as a washing ghat.

Some imaginative steps at conservation could restore many of these monuments and tanks, thereby attracting more pilgrims and tourists to this repository of heritage.

- The Deccan Herald, 27th February 2013

A unique exhibition on the centenary celebrations of Delhi is currently on at the City’s National Gallery of Modern Arts (NGMA) here.

Organised by the Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, the travelling collaborative exhibition called ‘Dawn Upon Delhi: Rise of a Capital’ is on till March 15.

The exhibition focuses on Delhi of the late 19th and mid-20th century, seeking to arouse a capital, one that had been the epicentre of political and cultural life for many centuries, from the time of Qutub-ud-din Aibak and Shah Jahan, to the very present.

Through richly detailed engravings, maps, plans, vintage and modern photographs, from the Alkazi Collection, as well as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) archives and the archives of D N Chaudhuri and Habib Rahman (currently with Ram Rahman), we find that Delhi, located in the heart of Doab country, between two of India’s most holy rivers, Ganga and Yamuna, was important for any ruler to capture this strategic site in order to rule the northern region.

A glimpse of the exhibition shows an emerging centre of the arts in the City, even in areas such as Shahjahanabad, with its meandering galis and animated vendors. The very same streets would then become part of the coronations of Delhi (during the Imperial Coronations of 1877, 1903 and 1911).

Also part of the exhibition are works of renowned architect, Habib Rahman. His ingenious understanding of ‘modern architecture’ was shaped by both American and European Modern movements prevalent in the 1930s and 40s.

He returned to India in 1947 to join the West Bengal’s Public Works Department, and in 1953, moved to Delhi as Senior Architect of the CPWD. His photographs, however, engage in complex discourses — social, political and cultural — to be seen as a seamless thread that ties land to people, people to place and the latter to an artistic, almost altruistic anomaly created through the lens.

Another interesting aspect of the exhibition are the photographs depicting the greatly transformed urban landscape of the 1940s and 50s.

These photographs focused on geographical zones of authority in New Delhi, such as the Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan, symbols of a rising nation-state, whose original plans by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker are seen for the first time. Also featured are photographs taken by an anonymous state photographer of the CPWD.

With the rise of Delhi as the Capital of Modern India, we see the compelling growth in its infrastructure, opening up to its dwellers in new ways with the making of areas such as Connaught Place, some original plans of which are featured in the exhibition by Russell.

Modern day practitioners featured in the exhibition such as D N Chaudhuri, a living press photographer from the 50s and 60s, captured a pictorial sense of the city and carefully documented Delhi’s rise to current day urbanism.

- The Deccan Herald, 27th February 2013

Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, who is known to have an eye for design and detail, is not pleased with the slapdash and sloppy finishing work seen in most government owned buildings and wants India to borrow from China where construction work is known for its flawlessness.

On Tuesday the Minister disapprovingly mentioned how little attention is paid to the “finishing” of the construction that consequently results in “building paint overlapping the woodwork and the polish on the woodwork getting on to the paint”.

The Minister was speaking at a function organised by the Central Public Works Department to release a series of handbooks on various aspects of building design and landscape. “The CPWD should now bring out a manual on finishing,” the Minister said, adding how poorly executed finishing works, like a baldly put up paint or haphazardly placed stones on a floor, impair the looks of a building.

Citing the example of China, where building construction is impeccable, the Minister said, CPWD should learn from the Chinese example and train its workforce to attain an eye for design. He urged the CPWD to step up its efforts in addressing complaints and carrying out maintenance works, as any tardiness in doing so results in the agency getting a “bad name”.

The Minister also urged the CPWD to set up a heritage conservation cell to look after the large pool of monuments and buildings of heritage value like Raj Bhavans. He said, since the CPWD is the custodian of these heritage structures, there should be a special technical wing to look after them.

The Minister also instructed the CPWD to take up large scale works that are “commensurate” to its workforce and its large pool of talent. He said ratio of the average size of the project to the talent pool of the agency is rather modest and stress should also be on “better project management”.

While praising the CPWD for being a prime public agency that undertake works worth Rs. 5,500 crore annually, looks after one lakh residential units and 50 lakh square metre of office space, apart from being a custodian of land and estate, Mr. Nath said, the agency needs to enhance the training and exposure of its officials and engineers to be able to meet the challenges that future holds.

He said the CPWD should maintain an accurate data of its land pools to avoid land lying unproductively and prevent its encroachment.

The Minister released a set of eight handbooks on the occasion that can explain the essentials of green design, landscaping, specifications of electrical works, architectural planning and office building planning to professionals as well as the layperson.

- The Hindu, 27th February 2013

Faced with environmental hurdles in pushing vertical growth in the state, the Kerala government last month amended its municipal building rules to change the very definition of 'high-rise' buildings to get around the stringent new requirements for a green nod.

Kerala and some other states have strongly opposed the union environment ministry's 'Guideline for High Rise Buildings' brought in through a February 7 notification on the recommendation of its Expert Appraisal Committee on Building/Construction, Infrastructure and CRZ Projects.

These guidelines link the height of buildings with the width of roads on which they are to be located, and also the distance to fire stations so that fire tenders can reach swiftly in the event of an emergency.

For instance, if a proposed building is between 15 m and 30 m tall, it should be located along a road that is at least 15 metres wide. Moreover, the building should have a fire station located within a 10-km radius, the guidelines say.

Land-starved Kerala had been expressing serious concerns about the guidelines. It found a way out by amending its building rules to boost real estate growth in the state, Kerala government sources said.

While a building with four floors or 15 m tall was earlier termed a high-rise building in Kerala, after the amendment a high-rise will have to be 16 m tall with as many floors as can be built. Since a 15 m building in Kerala is no longer a high-rise, the MoEF's guidelines for 'high-rise' buildings will not be applicable to them. "The environmental clearance issue is of serious concern for the state as it has major implications for the real estate development in land scarce Kerala. Accordingly, this was factored in and some aspects have been taken care of through the new building rules that have been passed by the state legislature now," a senior state government official said.

Maharashtra has also objected to the new high-rise clearance norms and sources said more than 100 such building projects in the state are awaiting environment approval. The Maharashtra Chambers of Housing Industries had also filed a petition before the state high court on the high-rise guidelines.

The developments have forced the MoEF to revisit the guidelines and a committee has been constituted under Planning Commission member Dr K Kasturirangan to review the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006 for grant of environmental clearance for various building, road and SEZ projects.

This committee is not only reviewing the prescribed co-relation of height of buildings with the width of roads and distance from fire station but also highway related issues. It will review the requirement of environmental clearance for highway expansion projects up to right of way of 60 m and length of 200 km.

The panel will also review the requirement of environmental clearance for building and real estate projects to avoid duplication considering that such projects will be covered by local civic authorities and under the provision of the relevant master plan, building control regulations and safety guidelines. The categorization of roads, SEZs and building as A, B, B1 and B2 will also be revisited.

- The Indian Express, 27th February 2013

Delhi's forest department has filed a police complaint against "unknown persons" for building three roads cutting across the Rajokri forest in the southern Ridge area. The police saw these roads last week during patrolling and had a trench dug at the entrance of one to prevent people from using it. The accused, however, had the trench filled up on Monday. Rajokri is a notified forest of 240 hectares, located behind Vasant Kunj along NH-8 to MG Road. No construction is permitted here unless approved by the Supreme Court. Sources say that the three roads were initially 'kachcha' roads used by people living inside the forest area. Around a week ago, truckloads of construction debris and loose earth was brought to the forest and dumped onto the path to make a proper road.

"The work is illegal and the involvement of local political bodies is being suspected. The effort was to connect the villages inside the forest with the main Andheria Mod-Mahipalpur Road. The matter was detected by the police and a complaint was forwarded to both municipal corporation and forest department. Video evidence and pictures of the construction have also been submitted to the agencies. The issue is being investigated," said a police source. When TOI visited the spot, it found that within 10 minutes six vehicles, including heavy vehicles like truck, used the road. Forest department officials said two complaints had been sent to the police and it was expecting an FIR to be filed.

"We cannot say with confidence whose work this is... Those involved seem to be quite shameless as after the police dug a trench, they had it filled up. The forest department blocked another road they were trying to build by placing boulders at the entrance," said A K Shukla, chief conservator of forests.

The forest is flush with birds and animals. However, say residents, the road will make the forest accessible to motorists and will mean an end of the forest. "Already several unauthorized constructions have come up inside the forest and a lot of dumping is taking place. If the road is allowed to come up, it would result in serious degradation of the forest," said a Vasant Kunj resident.

Forest department officials said they were aware of the illegal construction inside the forest and would be taking action. "We have seen what is happening inside and have taken a strict view of it. None of these encroachments will be permitted and if need be, they shall be razed. At present, our concern is to ensure that the road doesn't come up and for that we will have trenches dug up again so that vehicles can't access it," said Shukla.

- The Times of India, 28th February 2013

On a day when a massive fire in Kolkata resulted in the death of 20 persons, two incidents of fire were reported from Old Delhi. The two incidents - from Sadar Bazar and Bhagirath Palace — were reported around 7.30 in the evening.

While it took eight fire tenders to douse the flames at Bhagirath Palace, the Fire department had to bring in at least 30 fire tenders to control the Sadar Bazar fire. No one was injured in either of the incidents, police said, but traders claimed that loss of goods could run into lakhs.

Fire officials said they had to stretch the water hose for about 700 metres as the alleys in the area made it difficult for the fire tenders to enter the lanes.

According to fire officials, a short-circuit in one of the two-storied buildings in Gali Matke Wali Sadar Bazar - where paint material with inflammable liquids were stocked - is believed to have started the fire.

Aamir Khan (29), who owns a cosmetic shop in the area, said he had reached home after closing his shop when he received the news of the fire.

"The owner of the shop, where the fire started, sells pichkaris, Holi colours, balloons and water colours. It was the only shop that caught fire. It is an old structure with wooden panels and tin sheds, which made it vulnerable. Moreover, the infrastructure here is very bad. Cables hang in the air, making the area more prone to such incidents," he said.

Attar Singh, a fire personnel who was at the spot, said a portion of the building collapsed due to the fire.

Chief Fire Officer A K Sharma said: "The building is an old one. The plastic material and inflammable cheimcals (thinners) helped the fire to spread. One portion of the building also collapsed in the fire. The fire is under control as we asked all fire stations for help immediately after the incident. We used what is known as the multi-directional approach so that the vehicles reach the spot quickly. We are trying to cool the heat now so that no sparks are left to cause any further short-circuit. We are investigating the cause of fire."

Masood (28), who also owns an artificial jewellery shop in the area, said, "It is a wholesale market. Most of us close our shops by 7 pm and are out of the market by 7.15 pm."

Till late night, around 40 firemen were on the spot in a bid to close the operation. At Bhagirath Palace, the fire was reported from an electricals goods shop. It was doused within half an hour, fire service personnel said. This is the second fire in the market in the last three months. A major fire was reported here in December last year.

- The Indian Express, 28th February 2013

The police have registered an FIR against unknown persons for defacing public property after posters demanding the arrest of Union Minister Kamal Nath were pasted on the walls of the Qutub Minar on February 25.

The posters were allegedly put up by the All India Imam Association (AIIA).

"The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) which reports to Kamal Nath, demolished a part of the Ghausia masjid in Mehrauli, and many people who tried to prevent the masjid from getting demolished in December were arrested illegally. They are still in Tihar. The Delhi Development Authority used forged papers to prove that the land on which the masjid stood, belonged to the government. We have asked everyone to court arrest for the cause of the masjid. We also met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday regarding the same issue."

According to police, an FIR into the matter was registered at the Mehrauli police station under sections 3 of the Defacement of Public Property Act. No arrests have been made till now. Police said investigations were on in the matter.

- The Indian Express, 28th February 2013

The narrow staircases, the cobbled pathways and high rooftops have all been charming attributes of South Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, but it is some of these qualities that are posing as safety concern for the area’s residents and the growing number of visitors. Earlier this week, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation began a demolition drive to check what it terms “rampant unauthorised construction”.

“Both restaurants and residential areas have come under scrutiny,” said a senior SDMC official, adding the drive is likely to continue during the later part of this week. According to the civic body not a single building plan has been sanctioned in the area since April 2005. “The area has 42 restaurants and only 27 operate with health trade licences,” said the official.

The area which is also home to several Archaeological Survey of India protected monuments has come under scrutiny for construction activity carried out within 100 metres of these monuments. However, while area councillor Shailender Singh Monty said he was out of town and did not know the present status with the demolition drive terming it “routine activities”, other councillors from neighbouring areas say it is unfair to trouble villagers who have lived their for decades.

“The ASI even though they have their own staff take the help of the civic body to check construction within the 100 metre zone,” observed Ankita Saini, councillor for ward 164, adding this sends wrong message about the civic body among the residents. “Some of these areas were taken from villagers who were the original residents but now due to these various drives they are being rendered homeless. This is unfair,” she added.

However, Ms. Saini did not wish to comment on the demolition drive taking place in the Hauz Khas Village while agreeing that over-construction should be checked.

- The Hindu, 28th February 2013

The Ganga Action Parivar (GAP) has taken primary steps towards constructing the first zero-waste, “bio-digester” toilet in Uttar Pradesh along the banks of the Ganga.

The initiative is part of GAP’s drive to build 5,000 eco-friendly toilets in villages along the 2,500-km stretch of the Ganga and also integrates its “Green Kashi and Green Prayag” campaign.

A special “brick puja” was performed by the organisers on the banks of the Ganga on Tuesday.

The bricks will be used to construct the first bio-digester toilet complex here in Allahabad.

“The site for the first toilet has been earmarked on Arail Ghat after discussions with the District Magistrate and we hope that the construction will start during this Maha Kumbh Mela,” said Ram Mahesh Mishra, Director of Parmarth Niketan Ashram.

Around 200 toilets would be constructed in the first phase and the drive would be extended to other States once land is allotted, he added.

The first of these toilets was inaugurated at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh on October 15 by Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi.

Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, the force behind the save Ganga campaign and founder of GAP, said: “It hurts my heart and I feel that we are inflicting great physical and emotional violence against our Matri Shakti by not providing them (women) with safe, available places to go to toilet.”

Stating that the lack of toilet facilities was a major source of fear among women living in villages along the river, Swami Chidanand said: “Lack of toilets is one of the main reasons for young girls dropping out of school, so we are committed to building toilets in schools so our young girls can continue their studies.”

Uttar Pradesh PWD & Irrigation Minister Shivpal Yadav, who visited the GAP camp, said the State would provide all support to construct the eco-friendly toilets.

The model of the toilets has been developed by GAP in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), also the designer.

The specially designed toilets use no chemicals and require no electricity.

According to GAP, the Ganga is deluged with nearly two billion litres of human waste a day while being the sole source of drinking water to a population approximating that of America, Canada and Russia combined.

- The Hindu, 28th February 2013

Administration argues pulling down their huts will ensure ‘safety of wildlife’

A day after the Union government announced a Rs.100-crore grant for Chukutiya Bhunjia of Orissa, a primitive tribe which lives on the eastern border of Chhattisgarh, 30 huts of the Baigas, another primitive tribe, were razed to the ground by government officials in the western part of the State.

The incident took place on February 18, adjacent to the Bhoramdeo Reserve Forest in Kawardah district. While officials reasoned that it was done to ensure the ‘safety of the wildlife,’ the eviction is in violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006.

The two overlapping villages, Rajanacha and Baijadhap, in the district wore the same look as that of villages ravaged by members of the Salwa Judum in south Chhattisgarh between 2005 and 2009. A team of 20 forest guards and the police raided the villages with “clubs, axes and pistols,” said Bijadhap residents, an allegation not denied by officials.

While no villager was beaten or detained, the officials axed all stocky twigs that held the interwoven mats of dry leaves. A similar operation was carried out in the same villages two weeks earlier. “Officials have threatened to… arrest us, if we resettle here,” said Budhni Bai, an old woman who was unsure about her age.

As 30 houses of sun-dried leaves, grass and twigs were crushed, roughly 60 Baiga families of 200 members became homeless. The families stuffed a few household items in large cement bags and were sleeping in the open on plastic sheets spread over their destroyed home. Around 100 Baiga men and women are busy building their houses before Chhattisgarh’s cruel summer sets in. “The other day when a hailstorm started, I freaked out; he ought not to have been born now,” said Amrita Baiga, 25, feeding her three-month-old son Gopal.

The Baigas are not sure when they built their first house in Kawardah. But going by the map produced by Jawaharlal Nehru’s tribal affairs adviser, Verrier Elwin, in his book The Baiga, the “extraordinarily shy” community is in Kawardha and adjoining hill areas for centuries. Yet, the community does not know why they are asked to “vanish.” Bijadhap residents said they were “asked to leave Bhoramdeo and settle in Bijadhap around 2006 by Forest Department officials.”

The FRA says forest-dwellers have complete right to forestland and they cannot be evicted. In case of their displacement for development, gram sabhas will have to approve the government’s offer in writing. Moreover, ‘a resettlement or alternatives package’ has to be prepared to secure livelihood for the affected individuals and communities, and “no resettlement shall take place until facilities and land allocation at the resettlement location are complete.” These norms are violated in the eviction of the Baigas. Let alone the consent of the gram sabha, even Assistant Commissioner of Tribal Affairs Department M.L. Deshlahre was not aware of the eviction; he came to know about it from this correspondent.

Divisional Forest Officer Vishwesh Kumar told The Hindu that the Baigas came “on their own” to the plains from Bhomradeo in 2006 as they faced “water and other agricultural problems” in the forest. “How can we give settlement according to the FRA since it is meant for only those who are resettled before 2006?”

Chhattisgarh’s tribal affairs experts differ. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of them said it was not correct to say the displaced Baigas came from the forest “on their own” before 2006. “The Forest Department evicted the Baigas before the FRA came into force. Hence, the tribals should be adequately compensated as per the FRA and the rehabilitation policy of the Central government, which is in place for a longer time.”

On the other hand, Mr. Kumar said the administration was “trying hard” to find a solution, and the issue had been referred to the higher authorities.

An activist, who is trying to organise the Baigas, said the archaic wildlife laws and the highhandedness of Forest Department officials helped Maoists carve out a base in south Chhattisgarh. “The government is making the same mistake in the rest of the State.”

(The columnist is senior consultant, WCS India, and founder-director of 'Bagh'. She is also a member of the National Board for Wildlife)

- The Hindu, 28th February 2013

A vibrant tribal dance that also includes theatrical elements, the Purulia Chhau has always had a strong following in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. It’s only now that it is getting its due from the rest of the country

Among the neo-classical dances, the mask dance of eastern India Chhau is inimitable. The convoluted façades, the glittering ensembles of the performers, the cadenced thumping of the drums and the mellifluous tones of the sanai, have made Chhau popular not only in India but the world over. In Chhau repertoire there are several dance numbers which are based on episodes from the Mahabharat, the Ramayan and the Purans. The ballet represents different characters of these well-known epics as well the various deities, evil spirits and giants which are an essential part of the engaging narrative.

Musical instruments too play an important role during the dance performance as do the colourful masks which have not only determined the dance form’s growth but continue to remain its focal point. The making of these masks is an independent art altogether. It takes a gifted artist to visualise the mask and then give shape to it. Masks were earlier made of wood, but presently these are made of papier-mache or clay.

Chhau is believed to have originated a century ago, but a specific date cannot be ascertained. Historians like Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay, a retired professor of history at Banaras Hindu University, say that the dance was patronised by the crowned heads and landowners of the region. As far as the origin of the word ‘Chhau’ is concerned, there are many versions regarding its source. Nonetheless, the most commonly accepted adaptation is that in Purulia, while initiating the Chhau dance, the vocalist drum player often rushes to the other members of his group shouting “cho...cho...cho”, just before the dancers enter the performance area. There is a high possibility that it is the energy of this word which is exhibited in their frenzied and lively dance movements.

In Purulia, the Gajan (pronounced gaajon in Bengali) festival is popular among the masses. It celebrates the glories of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Bengali month of Choitra between April 15 and May 15. The Chhau dance is an essential part of the Gajan festival. During the festival a unique dancing pitch is prepared-in open air and level ground or an elevated dais with a canopy overhead festooned with buntings and streamers, where all the Chhau dancers come together to enact the plays.

Interestingly though, in present times, the dance is no longer limited to one particular time of the year. Rather it is performed on other occasions in the State as well, which is a testament to its versatility. In fact, Chhau is also popular in the neighbouring States of Odisha and Bihar as well. Presently there are three forms of Chhau that exist in the country. They are named after the district or hamlet where they are actively performed, — the Purulia Chhau of Bengal, the Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha and the Seraikella Chhau of Bihar.

But is it the Chhau naach of Purulia in West Bengal that is one of the most effervescent and famous art forms in the country today. Purulia Chhau is generally regarded as a dance form but there is more theatre in its performance than dance. It is actually a vibrant medley of dance, drama and music which has evolved over the years, much to the delight of its proponents.

The story or theme contained in each number in Purulia Chhau is not narrated in words but depicted only through vibrant and powerful dance movements. Therefore, Chhau is essentially a form of non-verbal theatre in which actors express themselves in movements, not in words. The story always revolves around the tussle between good and evil, and concludes in the victory of truth over venal sin.

An attractive trait of these powerful dance movements is the athletic utilisation of the performer’s body, the reverberating music beats and the beautifully designed masks worn by the dancers. This is in contrast to the elegant and more modern Seraikella variety or the traditional hunting dance style of the Mayurbhanj area.

The dance begins with a robust invocation to Lord Ganesh. The mesmeric chanting of prayers subsequently gives way to actions that delineate the narrative. Once the hero enters the stage, he is introduced to the audience. However, prior to beginning his jazz or initiating conversation with the other performers, he sprints backwards and forwards a number of times. Alternatively, a devilish character takes more than a few bouncy spins to challenge the supremacy of the hero. Then, the chief drummer sings the opening hymn or provides cadenced passages during the concert.

During the performance, two or more dhamsas (kettle drum players) and a correspondent numbers of drummers go with the groups. A wind instrument called the marui provides the jingle. Supplementary musical gadgets include the dhol, dhamsa and sanai.

Communication between the players and the spectators is a noteworthy trait of this kind of ballet. It is mandatory for the performers to use their masks while dancing, in order to depict different characters. Chhau dancers use attractive masks, which are made by the painter artistes of the district, to represent different animals such as the monkey, snake, bear, tiger, bull, lion and so on. Since the face is covered by a mask, performers generally display exaggerated emotions through their corporal movements, which make the dance more striking.

In the distant past, the performance arena used to be illuminated by torches that burnt all through the night. With the passage of time, the dance has changed in terms of how it is presented to the outside world through the use of musical instruments, lighting and stage craft. But its traditional aura has not faded away even in this hi-tech era because the tribal population of the region including the Bhuamas, Kurmis, Bhumijas, Doms, Mahatos and Deowas has continued this dance drama ritual with full enthusiasm.

However, one cannot ignore the fact that due to the paucity of support and lack of direction, Purulia Chhau has developed little since its inception. Still, notwithstanding this problem, the incorporation of inventive genius in this art form in the recent past has engendered much curiosity in the people about the Chhau dance. Further, after former President Pratibha Patil presented the Padma Shri to Chhau exponent and choreographer Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey in April 2012, Chhau has begun enjoying its due importance amid other traditional dance forms that exist in our country. Today, Purulia Chhau has a distinctive character of its own that has brought it global fame.

- The Pioneer, 28th February 2013