Friday's storm exposed the tall claims of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) about protecting the capital's green cover. At least a dozen full-grown trees were uprooted and around 50-60 others were destroyed, throwing traffic in the upscale area out of gear for hours. Several incidents of property being damaged were also reported.

Officials were quick to pass the buck and blamed strong winds for the damage. However, they failed to mention why they did not identify the weak links-trees that had been hollowed out due to termite infestation or had weak roots.

NDMC is the only civic body in the country to have a tree ambulance. "There are over one lakh trees in the area under NDMC and only one ambulance to tend to them. How do you expect it to screen all trees for damage or diseases? Also, expansion of roads and footpaths in several areas has left very little room for trees to grow," said a senior NDMC official.

Trees were uprooted in NDMC areas like Sarojini Nagar, Moti Bagh, Jor Bagh, Connaught Place.

Officials added that tree ambulances are of no use in such conditions where there is extensive damage to trees. "There are many old trees in the NDMC area that need to be taken care of at regular intervals. Our main job is to screen the trees for termite infestation, prune them, water them and strengthen their roots if required," said an official of the horticulture department.

He said that they have to seek permission from the forest department for heavy pruning of trees which have begun to lean heavily on one side. "It takes up to 30 days to get permission. In some cases, they do not even let us do that. Such trees are prone to get uprooted in severe storm conditions," the NDMC official added.

Green activists say the tree ambulance initiative must be expanded. "One ambulance is not enough. Other civic bodies like the municipal corporations should be prompted to take up the initiative too," said an activist.

- The Times of India, June 1, 2014

A treasured 1921 speech of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, recorded on a shellac disc, is preserved in a sound archive at Humboldt University.

Tagore delivered the lecture, "The message of the forest", in Berlin's Friedrich Wilhelm University (present-day Humboldt University) for the first time on June 1, 1921. He went on to give an encore in front of thousands of listeners at the University on June 2 owing to the overwhelming response the speech received.

The recording of the final passage of the speech is kept in the varsity's Lautarchiv (sound archive). This archive was founded by the linguist Wilhelm Albrecht Doegen in 1920.

The archive owns some 7,500 historic shellac discs with the voices of important personalities from the early-20th century as well as sample recordings of different German dialects and foreign languages as, for instance, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, as well as Nepalese Gurung and Limbu.

At present, the only publicly visible memorial for Tagore's connection with Humboldt University is his large bust by Gautam Satya Pal, a gift from the Government of India unveiled in the Institute for Asian and African Studies in 2006. After the 1921 visit, Tagore, Asia's first Nobel laureate, visited Germany in 1926 and again in 1930.

A copy of the recording of the lecture travelled to India in 1959 when the former German Democratic Republic Prime Minister Otto Grotewohl sought to get his Indian counterpart Jawaharlal Nehru's support for the official recognition of the East German State, according to official sources at the German Consulate here.



-The Hindu, June 1, 2014

Concretisation of area around the trees rampant despite Ministry guidelines

Hundreds of trees falling in Delhi and the National Capital Region during the Friday's storm that caused loss of life and property is a grim reminder of green norms being violated by government agencies for decades. It also reminds us that it is time we abide by the orders of the Delhi High Court and the National Green Tribunal against rampant concretisation and tiling around the trees.

In 1994, the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act had ruled against any kind of damage to trees. In 2002, the Ministry of Urban Development issued guidelines saying that concretisation/ tiling should be done only on pavements where there is heavy pedestrian movement and only porous tiles be used. Despite the guidelines, there is rampant concretisation around trees.

In 2007, at least 1,000 trees fell due to concrete under and around them. Following this, NGO Kalpvriksha moved the Delhi High Court which gave directions against concretisation around the trees and leaving 6x6 area around them free. In 2013, petitions came to be filed by environment activists Akash Vashistha and Aditya Prasad before the National Green Tribunal against concretisation around the trees and also the concretisation of other green areas, road sides etc. The NGT in one of the petitions granted permanent injunction against tiling around the trees and asked the authorities concerned to de-concretise the area around the trees.

Mr. Prasad told The Hindu that the authorities were to undertake de-concretisation in three colonies – R. K. Puram, Hauz Khas and Ashok Vihar – as pilot project after the matter came up before the NGT. However, nothing has been done till date.

Mr. Vashishtha said that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary had issued a circular in 2001 which said that all roadsides should be left muddy, but the agencies concerned are putting tiles everywhere. He also said there has been no tree census in Noida and Ghaziabad and so the authorities would not be able to ascertain total damage to trees or the number of trees that had fallen or how many more need to planted to make up for the loss.

Environment activist Vikrant Tongad, who has been writing to the Greater Noida civic agencies about concretisation around trees at Delta 3 in Greater Noida, said: "The officers in their reply said they are following the guidelines and leaving space around the trees but when I went to the site after receiving their reply, I found they were lying." Last week also he had written to the authorities. During Friday's storm, around 400 trees fell in Greater Noida and the number would surely be much higher in Noida, he said.



-The Hindu, June 1, 2014

The valley was dominated by the Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras in the 18th and 19th centuries who left indelible imprints on its architecture, says Feisal Alkazi

In 18th and 19th centuries (1752-1846), two extremely oppressive regimes ruled over the Valley. First came the Afghans, of whom a local poet wrote Sir buridanpesh in sangin dilan gulchidan ast. Describing the brutality of the Afghan rulers, the writer says that they thought no more of cutting off heads than of plucking a flower.

Twenty-two different governors ruled over Kashmir in the 67 years of Afghan rule. As a result, Afghan rule proved to be a very negative episode in Kashmiri history. While the Mughals had taken one-third of the produce as revenue for the state, under the Afghans this increased to half. As in other parts of India at the time, jagirdari rights (rights to collect land revenue) were auctioned off to the highest bidder resulting in further exploitation of the peasantry. Forced free labour or beggar was reintroduced in the Afghan period, a practice that emperor Akhar had banned. The change from Mughal to Afghan rule in the eighteenth century may be seen as the beginning of decay of the urban fabric.

Above all, the axis of the Mughal Empire — the Grand Trunk Road — was completely redirected by the Afghans. The new route, in the eighteenth century, circumvented Punjab and Delhi, and, from Afghan ruled Kashmir, the caravans could now reach Peshawar and Kabul without touching Sikh territory. Further, the economic and cultural links between Kashmir and Central Asia continued uninterrupted, as did Kashmiri literary activities, which continued to flourish through contact with Central Asia and Persia.

The Afghan governor Amir Khan Jawan Sher was responsible for building the palace-fort complex of Sherghari, the bridge of Amir Kadal, digging the water causeway of Nallah-i-Amir Khan linking Nagin Lake to Khushal Sar-Gil Sar. The nallah provided an alternate route for the flood water of Dal Lake to join the water of the Jhelum above the city limits. Another Afghan governor, Ata Mohammed Khan Barakzai was responsible for constructing a fort on top of Hari Parbat.

Next came the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh. Devastating famines during these years resulted in a quarter of the Kashmiri population either dying of starvation or moving out of the Valley in search of work.

The condition of the people went from bad to worse. Early snowfall destroyed the rice crops, leading to years of famine, then came cholera, and finally plague. Thousands died, thousands more left the Valley — the population of Kashmir fell from 8 lakh to 2 lakh by the 1840s. Summing up the Sikh rule, Baron Charles von Hugel wrote: "After so much conquest, what can remain of originality to these inhabitants of the valley, after so many changes of rulers, each in turn eager to destroy the works of his predecessors?"

After the death of Ranjit Singh in 1830, a mutiny in the Sikh army sent the whole of Punjab into confusion, paving the way for the Dogras to take over the Valley. Maharaja Gulab Singh bought all the hilly and mountainous country situated to the east of Indus, and west of the Ravi from the British for `75 lakh. He was a man of great vigour, foresight, and determination. He repressed opposition and crime with an iron fist and was universally feared and respected.

Gulab Singh laid down the economic structure of the Valley whereby the distribution of rice became a monopoly of the state. The government set the price of rice and other commodities and undertook their supply to the city population. Similarly, the Dagh Shawl Department that controlled the taxation and production of shawls was reorganised and brought firmly under the control of the state. The Maharaja died in 1857 and was succeeded by Maharaja Ranbir Singh who ruled from 1858 to 1885. During his reign the various state departments were organised on the pattern of departments as they existed in British India.

The British became suspicious of the Dogras, particularly as their own interest in the affairs of Central Asia increased in the 1870s. This culminated in the establishment of the British Residency and a state council to run the affairs of the state in 1889.

It was during the years of Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh's rule that the real modernisation of the state took place and several progressive reforms carried through. Sir Walter Lawrence carried out the first assessment of the land revenue system on scientific lines. The Jhelum valley road and Banihal Cart road were built, linking the state with the rest of India.

There was development in the means of communication and telegraphs, telephones and post offices were opened in many places. The isolation of Kashmir from the rest of the country was over, and large numbers of people, mostly Europeans began to visit the Valley. There were many efforts made by Englishmen to buy land to build houses which the Maharaja refused to entertain, and this led to the construction of house boats.

A scheme of drainage, reclaiming waste-land and preventing floods by digging flood channels was put into operation. Construction of a water reservoir at Harwan and the establishment of an electricity generating plant at Mohra was also undertaken. Two colleges and a large number of educational institutions were established.

The beginning of Sikh and Dogra rule in the nineteenth century also marked the advent of European influences both architecturally as well as culturally. After the death of Maharaja Pratap Singh, his nephew Maharaja Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne in 1925. He continued to govern the state till 1950. The birth of political parties and the growth of political consciousness mark this period. But even more important was the liberation of the country from the British yoke in 1947. It was on 28 January 1957 that the Kashmir Constituent Assembly ended the hereditary rule of the Dogra monarchy, exactly one-hundred-and-ten years after its establishment.

Excerpts from Srinagar: An Architectural Legacy (Roli Books)



-The Pioneer, 02 June 2014

After the guest list at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the focus has now shifted to guests of a different feather.

A book on the winged visitors of Rashtrapati Bhawan, shot entirely within the 330-acre presidential estate and complete with a brief description of their habit and habitat, will be unveiled on July 25, as part of the celebrations to mark President Pranab Mukherjee's two years in office. Over 113 avian varieties, half of which are migratory species, have been identified in the extensive lawns, including the Mughal Garden, Herbal Garden, Cactus Garden, the Dallikhana (nursery) and the duck pond near it.

To be printed by the publishing division of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, all photographs in the book are from the personal collection of Additional Secretary Thomas Mathew at the President's Secretariat.

"The President was keen to document the assets of Rashtrapati Bhawan and he is very fond of nature. That is roughly how the idea of the book came about. We started work in May 2013 and it is now in the last leg… We have identified more than 113 varieties of birds — each one has been photographed in the grounds," said Mathew.

Among the birds that have been spotted are the purple sunbird, hornbill, black rumped flameback, oriental white-eye and a wide variety of ducks and predatory birds.

This is not the first time that such an exercise is being undertaken. Following an initiative by former President A P J Abdul Kalam, a coffee table book curated by the Bombay Natural History Society was published during his tenure. But none of the photographs used in that book were actually from Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The new book is likely to be a priced publication. Mathew said he roped in Rashtrapati Bhawan's army of gardeners as bird spotters. Each gardener was given a book commonly used by bird watchers and taught to identify various species. "When a particular bird was spotted, a gardener who did not always know the name of the bird would simply come and tell me he had seen page number 23. I would then go and photograph the bird, or at least I would know where to find it. Once a bird was done, that page was flagged to avoid repetition," said Mathew.

Besides the book on birds, there are plans to bring out an eight-book series on Rashtrapati Bhawan — including on its kitchens, art and artefacts, the Presidential Bodyguards, the cultural life, and the anecdotal history.

-The Indian Express, June 2, 2014

Serais or inns have a certain fascination of their own. They were equated with caravanserais, like the battered one (of the World) mentioned by Omar Khayyam in his Rubaiyat. Truly many a traveller Sultan made his way into it and went his way. The same can be said of Arab Serai, which is being renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India. Situated near the Kotla of Isa Khan, minister of Islam Shah, it was built by Bega (Haji) Begum, Humayun's first wife who was left behind by him in anger following the battle of the Ganga and flight from his kingdom. That was after a tiff with the Begum who was looked after by his rival, Shi Shah and survived long after Humayun's return to Delhi with his second wife Hamida Banu. She was young enough to be his daughter but was persuaded to marry the elderly Emperor-in-flight so that she could give him an heir. And she did that at Amarkot with the birth of Akbar since Bega Begum had failed to do so.

Bega Begum became Haji Begum after she made a pilgrimage to Mecca and performed the Haj. She was greatly loved by Akbar, who helped her construct Humayun's tomb, cared for her till her death in 1581 like his own mother, who enjoyed the title of Mariam Makhani (compared to Mariam Zamani, his chief wife and mother of Jahangir). One thing that is probably overlooked is that Arab Sarai came up before the completion of Humayun's Tomb since the 300 Arab workmen were housed there, just like the quarters of the men who built the Pyramids, which predated them. Similarly, the residences of the workmen who built the Taj came up before the monument itself. However, historians think not all those who came with Bega Begum were Arabs. Most of them were Persian artisans and also clerics, brought to pray for the dead Emperor

Arab Serai was the first halt from Shahjahanabad for those travelling by Akbar's Grand Truck Road to Agra. It was visited by Kipling too after he had been to the tomb of Jahanara in Nizamuddin and, seeing the grass and mud grave, was reminded of what Christina Rossetti, the celebrated sister Dante Gabriel Rossetti of the pre-Raphaelite group of artists had wished for herself. It is said that Bahadur Shah Zafar was advised to take refuge in this serai and not at Humayun's tomb as it was a better hiding place where the British spies (led by munshi and a maulvi) would not have come looking for him, along with the notorious Hodson.

Percival Spear erred when he wrote that Hamida Bano built the serai and Humayun's Tomb though she lived long and died a little before Akbar in 1603. Interestingly enough, at Arab Serai, which once housed an Industrial Training Institute, was the favourite stopping place for British couples who were not able to stay in hotels and were denied access to the dak bungalows. Captain John Foster and his wife were among them. Foster settled down in Nairobi soon after 1947, and was followed to Kenya by Jim Corbett and his sister, Maggie.

One story about Arab Serai is that it had become home for an Anglo-Indian artist, Eugene Dunn, who had come after his initial years in a boarding school orphanage. Dunn spent most of his time in sketching the monuments of Delhi, starting with Humayun's Tomb and working his way to Shahjahanabad, where he fell in love with the Moti Masjid of the Red Fort describing it as a begum sitting in repose. But somehow he did not frequent Mehtaul: as the Nizamuddin area with its serai, appealed to him more. It was at the serai that he met his English girlfriend and went away with her to London during World War II. There must have been others like him – artists, lovers and vagabonds – who sought refuge in this 16th Century caravanserai that had fallen on bad days, with only its imposing gateway beckoning tourists. Historical Rosie Jones and the descendants of the British killed or wounded in 1857 were among those who made a memorable trip to it 150 years later.

Surely Khayyam's words still apply to the serai, though instead of Sultans, common men and women stayed in it and went their way. Its restoration will certainly preserve such memories and that of the pious Haji Begum who, instead of bearing an heir, gave a beautiful mausoleum as a lasting gift to her beloved but cross husband, with the serai as an added attraction.

The author is a veteran chronicler of Delhi

-The Hindu, 02 June 2014

Sets up two panels to look into pollution and state of drains

Hearing two petitions relating to dumping of waste and debris into the Yamuna and the covering and encroachments of storm water drains (SWDs), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday considered the technical advice submitted by the Civil Engineering Department of IIT-Delhi and set up two committees to look into the issues and submit a report by July 17.

"This issue has been divided into three parts. The first is related to drains (natural or artificial) coverage and the pollution from this, second is related to steps required to be taken for ensuring and rendering Yamuna free from pollution, and thirdly, restoration and beautification of the banks of river Yamuna," said the tribunal in its order setting up the two committees.

The first committee has been asked to inspect places they consider crucial for data on the number of drains – artificial and natural - in Delhi. The committee has been asked to study drains that join the river directly, those that join the river indirectly, as well as gather data on the number of storm water drains and how many carry sewage jointly or separately.

According to the tribunal's order, the committee which will be headed by an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary from Minister of Environments and Forests will also collect and submit information on the status of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) – how many have been established in Delhi, working of STPs, at how many points new STPs need to be established and whether it is possible to restore the existing STPs and make them functional to their optimum capacity.

At present no consolidated data exists on Storm Water Drains (SWDs), though there are multiple agencies, including Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department, tasked with maintaining SWDs. The NGT was hearing a 2012 application by Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan related to dumping of solid waste and construction debris into the Yamuna along with a 2013 application by the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan challenging the coverage of the city's storm water drains by government bodies in particular, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)'s Shahdara Link Drain project. After the tribunal's order on May 27, Professor AK Gosain of Department of Civil Engineering IIT-Delhi had submitted a report on various factors that add to the pollution of the river Yamuna. "We welcome that the tribunal has clubbed the two applications and passed an order which is holistic," said Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan.

According to the order, the first committee will include an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary from the Minister of Environments and Forests, Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board, Engineer in Chief Delhi Development Authority, Member Secretary Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Member (Drainage) Delhi Jal Board, two chief engineers from South Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Corporation, Professor Gosain and Professor Brij Gopal of IIT-Delhi.

The second committee will be headed by Additional Secretary MoEF and Vice-Chairman of DDA. It has been asked to oversee the first committee and to hold a meeting within two weeks to ensure compliance and to consider what changes may be made to the existing schemes. The next hearing is on July 17.

________________________________________
• The committee has been asked to gather data on the number of storm water drains and how many carry sewage jointly or separately
• Information has been sought on the status of the Sewage Treatment Plants in Delhi and how many new ones need to be established


-The Hindu, 02 June 2014

As we prepare to celebrate World Environment Day, let’s pause a while and take a look around us. What can we do to stem the damage? What can we do to save our world?

All through the year we tend to take the environment for granted. However, on June 5 suddenly we wake up, making tall claims and loud pitches in favour of environment conservation. Should we just talk about Environment on June 5 and not do anything about it for the rest of the year?

As students we need to understand the need to participate in real-time environment work. The United Nation’s Environment Programme’s (UNEP) theme for this year’s world environment day focuses on rising our voice against the raise of sea level. With one of the longest coastlines in the world, India as a country will be adversely affected by increasing sea levels.

Under water?

Imagine our cities and their beautiful beaches getting immersed in the sea, the people and their homes along the beaches being washed away. We need to understand that we are not trying to protect the environment, we are trying to make life better for ourselves by cleaning our environment. To live, we need clean air, fresh water and chemical-free vegetables.

Sea level increases due to the melting of ice caps at the poles. The ice caps melt due to global warming, which is the heating up of earth’s atmosphere due to natural and unnatural causes. We are directly responsible for the unnatural heat being generated. Think of all the garbage that we generate on a given day.

From the toffee wrapper to the detergent cover, everything ends up in a dust bin. From the dust bin to our city’s dump yards where it is being burnt illegally in most cases, we are releasing toxic gases and heating up the earth’s atmosphere. Excess pollution from cars to the burning of plastics, we are directly responsible for heating our earth.

As a return, we bear the brunt of the rise in sea level, because of our irresponsible acts of pollution. It is time we stopped waiting for “somebody” to do something,

We need to become that “Somebody” for India and her Environment. This Environment Day is for change to happen, the change has to happen beginning with us.

What you can do

- Choose five coastal cities/towns across India.
- Identify the coast line on a map and gather information about the city/town’s beaches.
- Compare the beach data available as on date to what it was like five years and 10 years ago.
- Note points of difference.
- Read up on sea level increase projections given by UNEP.
- Prepare a report on “What You Think Will Happen” to these five cities in the next five and 10 years respectively.
- What could be the increase in sea level and what will be the impact?
- Can you suggest solutions on how to remedy the situation and make our environment cleaner and greener?
Cool down

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness, to take positive environmental action, to protect nature and the Earth. It is a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 on the day the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began.

The theme for World Environment Day this year will focus on “Small Islands and Climate Change”. The official slogan is “Raise Your Voice, Not The Sea Level”.

-The Hindu, 03 June 2014

The Union Ministry of Water Resources has identified cleaning up of the Ganga and execution of river water-related provisions under the Telangana Act as its top priorities in the first 100 days of the Narendra Modi government.

The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which is presently under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is likely to be transferred to the Water Resources Ministry.

Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has already held a meeting with senior officials of the NGRBA to know of the progress made so far in cleaning up the river.

Among other priorities are setting up and operating Krishna River Management Board and Godavari River Management Board for overseeing the sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters and regulating projects in the two basins, as defined in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (or Telangana) Act, 2014.

An apex council, chaired by the Water Resources Minister, with the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as its members, will be constituted for the supervision of the two boards. This is also a provision in the Telangana Act.

Setting up a Polavaram National Project Authority for the multi-purpose scheme has also been included in the 100-day priority list.

-The Hindu, 03 June 2014

An area around the Shahdara lake, which has been turned into a garbage dump over the years, is on its way to become a tourist hotspot.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to revive the little-known Shahdara lake and develop the area. The Rs 22-crore project, which will include an amphitheatre, banquet hall, facility for recreational activities, and a playground around the lake, was recently approved by Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board.

The corporation has already got National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to prepare the plan for rejuvenation of the lake and development of the area - spread over 30 acres - around it. "It is an important project as we are not only going to revive the lake but also develop the area around it. There aren't many open spaces in east Delhi. This will be a one-of-its-kind facility in Delhi. Now that Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board has given the go-ahead, we will start the work soon," said S S Yadav, commissioner, East corporation. The project is likely to be over in two years.

The main challenge before the civic agency is to revive the lake, which has dried up over the years. For this, the corporation plans to use treated sewer water. According to the plan, a 15-20ft-wide moat will be constructed around the lake where waste water will be collected and treated. It will then be released into the lake.

"We will treat close to three million litres of water every day. Once the lake is revived, this treated water will be used to recharge the groundwater. With the help of NEERI, we are going to set up treatment plants," said Yadav. The sewer water will be treated using phytorid method, a chemical-free procedure. The lake, which is spread over 14 acres, will offer boating facilities.

The corporation also plans to construct walkways around the lake. Five acres will be developed as space for recreational activities. "There are plans for a football ground, children's park, haat, amphitheatre, a wetland discovery centre etc. As the place is very close to Welcome Metro station, we are optimistic that it will be a success. We area also planning a learning centre for children," the commissioner said.

The corporation has been working on this project for a long time, he added. "This space was just getting wasted as people used to dump garbage. We decided to turn this place into a tourist centre," he said.

For the cash-strapped municipal corporation, this is also a way to boost its revenue through a banquet hall, conference rooms, two party lawns, a haat etc.

The area will be developed on a private-public partnership model. "This is one of the first PPP projects being undertaken by the corporation. Once completed, it will become a tourist hotspot. This open space in east Delhi will be a good thing for residents. Also, we will earn good revenue from this project," said a senior official.

-The Times of India, 03 June 2014

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who skipped the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit him at 11 am on Monday. Though Chandy calls it a courtesy visit, India Today learnt that the Chief Minister will express his concerns regarding the implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms and Kasturirangan report on the conservation of Western Ghats. Chandy said that he is hoping to have good relationship with Modi and would seek his help to take forward the developmental projects like Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal, Kochi Metro and LNG terminal.

The meeting with the two leaders draws attention as Modi had criticized Kerala's slow pace of growth in developmental activities citing the inordinate delay that took in commissioning LNG terminal while he was attending election campaign in Kerala. He said that the same project was completed in Gujarat with lesser money in lesser number of days. Modi also said that Kerala was not exploiting its growth potential in tourism and other sectors. Kerala politicians were averse to meet Modi while he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat even to study the Gujarat Model and one minister who met Modi an year back drew criticism from several quarters.

Labour minister Shibu Baby John's visit to Gujarat was criticized by several Congress leaders. Though Kerala has a wish list, Chandy may not submit it to the prime minister during his first visit. BJP national executive member and defeated LS candidate in Palakkad Sobha Surendran was stressing in her campaign speeches that she would get an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for Kerala from Modi if she would voted in as an MP.

Chief Minister will also meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi and former defense minister A K Antony later on the day. It is rumoured that Chief Minister would seek permission from the high command for a cabinet reshuffle. KPCC president V M Sudeeran and home minister Ramesh Chennithala was not in favour of cabinet reshuffle at this moment as it will alter the present equilibrium in the cabinet. But Chandy is adamant to carry out the cabinet reshuffle as he wanted to reinduct Kerala Congress (B) leader K B Ganesh Kumar into the cabinet. Ganesh was ousted from the cabinet following his ex-wife's complaint against him for domestic violence. The case was settled later after their divorce, paying a huge compensation. If Ganesh Kumar is inducted into the cabinet, it is probable that a minister from Ramesh Chennithala led 'I' faction would have to sacrifice his cabinet berth.

Most party leaders in the state too share the view of KPCC president that a cabinet reshuffle is unnecessary at a time when the party had an impressive performance in the election. "The party has performed well with this cabinet and hence there was need for a cabinet reshuffle," said senior leader K Muraleedharan.

Interestingly, Chandy is meeting the high command after KPCC had passed a resolution on Saturday that UPA government's policies, lack of election strategies led to the poll debacle of the party at national level.

-The India Today, 03 June 2014

The first indications from the new Government on environment are ominous. Industry and India Inc have been reassured that green clearances will not be a ‘hurdle', but there has been little credible assurance on environment

A new Government and a new Environment, Forests & Climate Change Minister in place has ushered in a new era, bringing with it, its own set of ideologies, values, priorities.

And yes…promise and hope. The initial rumblings for the environment, however, are ominous. Industry and India Inc has been reassured that green clearances will not be a ‘hurdle’, but there has been little assurance for conservation. Yes, we did hear that development and environment conservation will go together, but this is frankly unconvincing, with no roadmap or concrete steps to back the statement. Worryingly, a list of infrastructure projects for swift nods has been identified and these include thermal power and mining projects in dense and wildlife-rich forests of Chhattisgarh, and the very fragile zone of Andaman & Nicobar islands and the Konkan belt.

There have also been statements that defence projects will take priority over environment. Understandable, India’s security is paramount (though defence projects have rarely been rejected). Equally important is India’s water and ecological security, which will be lost if we destroy and pillage the Himalayas. It is Asia’s water towers which perform a vital ecosystem service, feeding the great rivers of the subcontinent which are the backbone of agriculture in the region. Any development here must scientifically evaluate and consider impacts and consequences not just on livelihood, but of the fragility of the planet’s youngest mountain range.

This columnist has said it often enough, but it merits repeating that there can be no growth without a strong ecological foundation — forests that nurture and nourish rivers and soils, replenish groundwater, influence monsoons, stabilise climate. We cannot have growth with an ailing population. Pollution is already crippling us with cancers afflicting high pesticide belts, air pollution killing no less than two million annually and water-borne diseases taking a heavy toll. China, which we look to emulate, has realised — largely due to public outage at the deteriorating environment — the grave consequences of blinkered growth, and has now drastically modified its law to make environment protection its basic policy, with a tough stance against industrial polluters and making bureaucracy accountable for green violations.

Though China emerged as a major industrial power, the environmental degradation it caused is catastrophic, causing a major long-term financial burden on the country, and its population bearing the burden of disease. To give an idea, according to their Ministry of Health, pollution has made cancer as China’s leading cause of death; only one per cent of its city dwellers breathe safe air and many species have been pushed to the brink including the much revered baiji, a river dolphin, exterminated largely due to the pollution and damming of China’s lifeline, the river Yangtze.

China’s biggest achievement has become its biggest problem. For China, some reckon, it’s almost too late, but we in India still have time on our side, but only just. We are increasingly embarking, nay hurtling, on the same path, disregarding protectionist green laws that safeguard the environment, thereby negating growth. Environmental damage costs our GDP 5.7 per cent annually. We hope the new Government will give us growth that safeguards our environment and forests so that India and its future generations have a healthy future, clean air and water.

These are early days yet, and it’s perhaps too soon to judge which way the wind will blow. Besides mandatory environment and forest safeguards for the growth agenda, we are looking forward to the Government to take many proactive and positive measures. Let’s start with the new nomenclature of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change — it conveys that the Government will give climate change its due significance. More importantly, one hopes that the crucial link between forests and climate change will be once and for all established, accepted and taken action on. Forests sequester and store carbon — nearly 300 billion tonnes — that would otherwise contribute to climate change. When we cut, degrade and destroy forests this carbon is released into the atmosphere. Deforestation is a major cause for global warming, accounting for upwards of 18 per cent of global emissions. Conserving old forests and avoiding deforestation, concluded the Stern Review report on the Economics of Climate Change, is a highly cost-effective option to mitigate climate change.

The biggest contribution, therefore, toward protecting India from impacts of climate change is conserving forests, wetlands, mangroves, and rivers which will take the heat of global warming. Afforestation and ‘Green India’ programmes which divert and waste huge amounts from the public exchequer achieve nothing and must be scrapped. They are simply lucrative schemes that encourage mono-cultures with little or no biodiversity value and have less than 10 per cent success.

The one key step for wildlife conservation is to enable through adequate funding the fair and voluntary relocation of people from tiger reserves and other important wildlife habitats. It has been scientifically established that tigers and other wide ranging animals like elephants or even critically-endangered wildlife like the hanguls and the bustard need inviolate spaces to breed and maintain viable populations. Also, people living deep within remote forests and sanctuaries are desperate to move out. A few examples being Corbett, Lansdowne (Uttarakhand), Anshi-Dandeli (Karnataka), Satkosia (Odisha), Nagzira-Bor (Maharashtra), Wayanad (Kerala), Kudremukh (Karnataka), Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), Forest dwellers have petitioned Governments and even courts seeking speedy voluntary relocation. Relocation offers access to basic amenities and the opportunity of a better quality of life and livelihood to marginalised communities in remote forests and provides them relief from constant human-wildlife conflict that they bear the brunt of.

Another must-do for the Government is to prioritise conservation of the Asiatic elephant, revered as Ganesha, but currently very vulnerable with vanishing, fragmented habitats, severe conflict with humans and poachers. A first step will be to have an empowered National Elephant Conservation Authority along the lines of that for the tiger.

Another important task is to revitalise the recovery programme for critically endangered species such as Great Indian Bustard, floricans, hanguls. Unless we take urgent action these species will go extinct in the immediate future.

The Modi-led Government in Gujarat did an excellent job of cracking down on poaching of the Asiatic lion, so there are great expectations that it will take on board the scale and gravity of wildlife crime, which is globally second only to arms and drugs, finances, insurgency and terrorism. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau needs to be empowered along the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau. On another front, we need to empower, enable and equip the frontline forest staffs who are our first line of defence to protect tigers and other endangered wildlife. They are our green army and India needs to back and support them in their task.

Last but not the least, we need to build institutions. Why is it that with India being the top biodiversity country in the world, youths seek their education from foreign shores? We have excellent but very few institutes for wildlife scientists and given the scope and increasing challenges in these fields, we need to establish not just more of these, but also institutions in varied disciplines concerning the conservation of our natural heritage. Equally, there are tremendous opportunities for jobs in the environment and conservation sector and at all levels. Consider the fact that we lack proper systems to assess and monitor environment and wildlife impacts of projects. Building skills in this sector is just one way not only to create jobs in this sector, but has the potential to ensure that impacts to environment are minimal in damaging development projects.

Avenues and opportunities exist, as India stands at a crossroads. We can either wear blinkers to carry on with business as usual, or have the vision of a healthy, safe India for future generations.

(The writer is trustee, ‘Bagh’, member, State Board for Wildlife, Uttarakhand, and a former member of the National Board for Wildlife)

-The Pioneer, 04 June 2014

A scrap of dark-red paper faintly printed in black, the only surviving example of a legendary stamp that sold for one cent in 1856, is to be auctioned in New York for an estimated $20 million, reinforcing its reputation as the world’s most famous and valuable stamp. It was most recently owned by an American millionaire who died four years ago in a prison cell.

If the British Guiana one-cent magenta reaches the predicted price at a Sotheby’s sale in New York on June 17, it will set a new auction record for a single stamp.

The stamp was one of an emergency printing of several denominations by the local Official Gazette newspaper in British Guiana in 1856, when storms delayed a shipment from the U.K. and the postmaster was in danger of entirely running out of stamps. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2014

-The Hindu, 04 June 2014

Experts are worried that many parts of the capital have reached a point of no return in terms of losing groundwater. At several places in south Delhi, it may take years to replenish this water but if and only if there is an immediate end to further extraction.

For the last few years, Central Ground Water Board has been seeing no improvement in water level in the wells under its watch even after the monsoon season. TOI has accessed post-monsoon and pre-monsoon data of the wells. CGWB officials say it is a sign of how critical groundwater levels are in the city.

CGWB has just completed recording the water levels (pre-monsoon) in its 120 wells and found these to be between three and 75 metres below ground level (mbgl). The levels were similar in November 2013 and January 2014, which shows that the post-monsoon levels are no better. When compared to 2007 data, water levels in most south Delhi wells have fallen by more than a metre.

"We are not seeing much change in depth of water post-monsoon. We are also noticing a steady decline in depth of wells in south Delhi and Ridge area which can be clearly attributed to unsustainable extraction," says a CGWB official.

Wells located near Yamuna floodplains are in the safe zone because of the river in their vicinity but those in south and southwest Delhi are in critical condition with groundwater levels at 40-72mbgl. "As soon as we start digging below 40 metres, we are entering a danger zone. If we go below 50 metres it's an emergency situation. Because after that we have very little exploitable water left and replenishing the aquifer is going to take years. It's like a disease. If not controlled now will lead to severe complications," says Shashank Shekhar, assistant professor, department of earth sciences, DU.

In his recent study on 'groundwater management in Delhi', Shekhar found the rate of decline in water levels is as high as 1.7-2m/year in some areas of south and southwest Delhi. In fact, CGWB's groundwater year book of 2012-13 stated that a fall of more than 2m had been noticed in some areas between August 2011 and August 2012. A comparison of pre-monsoon water levels in 2012 with August 2012 revealed there is rise in the water level in almost the entire country except in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Pace of recharge is far slower than the pace of depletion. Vikram Soni, water expert and professor at Jamia Millia University, said, "The water table can be recharged by a metre every year if there is no withdrawal. As soon as we go beyond 30 metres we have to harvest water. It is important that we stop withdrawing when we are about to reach half the depth of the aquifer."

He added, "We are running out of time. Delhi needs to act now to deal with this crisis".

The Delhi environment department has directed people and establishments to voluntarily disclose if they have borewells or tubewells. About 500 people have submitted data on their borewells, but the total number of users could be more than 4.5 lakhs.

-The Times of India, 05 June 2014

Stepwells remind of the time when the State was conscious about conserving water for the subjects

Some day while fretting about endless traffic jams in and around Connaught Place, take a deep breath, park your vehicle at the nearest place and walk down to Ugrasen ki Baoli. Located less than a kilometre away from the maddening traffic of CP, this step well is a splendid treasure house of calm and reflection. As you descend each step, birds fly across. The air is moist. And sunshine filters through the side. Bats love the place too; some urchins frequent it. Most Delhiites stay painfully ignorant of its existence; heritage for them is all about the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. Baolis could as well belong to another age, time and place.

Yet, contrary to the common perception, Delhi is rich with baolis. Just a few kilometres from Ugrasen ki Baoli is another stepwell in Nizamuddin. Again, thousands frequent the sufi’s dargah, few very go down to the baoli. The stepwell, for many, stays door ast – remember what Nizamuddin Auliya told Ghyasuddin Tughlaq when the latter was approaching Delhi in a fit of rage?

Talking of medieval baolis, reminds one of Mehrauli, that wonderful storehouse of early medieval architecture. Also, once the Capital city of a Mughal king called Shah Alam. Pity, Shah’s alam (universe) extended merely half a dozen kilometres in and around Mehrauli. But today in that little place lie two breath-taking baolis. One is fittingly called Rajaon ki Baoli; the other is the more therapeutic Gandak ki Baoli. Their names are a giveaway. The architecture is more utilitarian, the stuff much more durable.

And with the little tales associated with them, these baolis tell us about the days gone by: times when our kings and princes stored water, preserved it for the common man, and the rich happily them out for the less privileges.

Today, they remind us that the State was concerned about the aam aadmi too. Today, it is the aam aadmi who seems to have forgotten these humble stopovers in the mad rush of the city.

-The Hindu, 05 June 2014

Bahar Dutt bats for the cumulative assessment of development in the wildlife habitats in her book Green Wars. She spoke to Karan Bhardwaj

In a country where over 300 million people live off forests and their natural resources, is it really possible to talk about conservation without touching the lives of people? That question intrigued Bahar Dutt, a conservationist, journalist and author of Green Wars: Dispatches from a Vanishing World, as she was trying to decode her admiration for nature in late 90s. To begin with, she went to Sapera Basti in Delhi where she encountered thrilling stories of snake charmers. The community was hostile as they were exploited by the administration in more than one ways. “According to the act, they are not allowed to use snakes to earn livelihood. So they were put in jail, tortured and once they return, they would go back to snakes. I was also bowled over by the impeccable knowledge they had about the reptiles. On my first day there, a group of people put a snake in my bag. They were disgusted and simply not interested. But then, my adventurous jounrey in wildlife had begun as I continued to work with these people for next eight years,” she tells us.

Dutt formed a band for them called Hundred Charmers which performed all over the country playing flute apart from setting up shops in the area. “I wanted to empower them with the resources they had,” she says. However, as she came closer to the nature, she realised that the problem was certainly bigger than one community. As the nation reaped the fruits of economic explosion, we intended to ignore the exploitation of resources. “I noticed rivers being diverted, mining projects in tiger reserves and a lot of muscle-flexing with the natural reserves. I was upset since nobody in the media was reporting about it. So I thought of pursuing journalism finally to bring the disastrous activities in light,” she says.

In mid 2000s, she joined television media and started covering the far flung areas which were being affected by the economic activities. One major landmark came when she broadcast the illegal mining activities in Goa. “After we captured the mining, we were attacked by the mafias. They didn’t let us go with the recorded tapes. We tried reaching out from local police to national authorities but the mafias on ground refused to budge. So we finally handed over the blank tapes. I came back to city and filed the court case. The verdict banned the mining there,” she beams.

India is under constant criticism for the size of population but Dutt says there could be harmony if the path towards the development is properly measured. “I don’t consider human population as a disadvantage as far as the environment is concerned. The problem lies in the way we develop. If it is going to be a carbon-intensive growth, it’s going to be an issue. Our per capita emmission is less than the US because we have poorer people who don’t have access to energy. I think more than looking into the population growth, we need to see what kind of energy sources we are providing to our people. Yes, the upper middle class are at par with average American consumer but not everyone because the size of that community is small,” she says. With over 300 dams on Ganga and 150 more in pristine forests of Arunachal Pradesh, Dutt says humans have crossed the limits of taking nature for granted.

“We believe we can construct as much as we can and there won’t be any repurcussion or depletion. A year before the Himalayan tragedy, environmentalsis had warned of a big misery. But we turned the deaf ear only to witness the destruction,” she says.

-The Pioneer, 05 June 2014

While there are much expectations from the proposed first meeting of inter ministerial group on Ganges, which will finalise the draft for cleaning of the national river, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate change (MoEFC) is gearing up for the most challenging task ahead. It pertains to the cleaning of the polluted river.

According to the estimates of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) as against the release of 3,000 million litres of sewerage into the river water daily, only 1,000 million litres sewerage is treated. Experts further pointed out that both the flow and quantity of the river has reduced due to large number of dams in the upper stream of the river in Uttarakhand.

Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti has been given a dedicated portfolio of Ganga Rejuvenation by Modi. According to sources, NGRBA, which is presently under MoEFC, is likely to be transferred to Water Resources Ministry. Bharti has sought the data and files in this regard from NGRBA.

While the five Ministries viz — Water Resources, Environment, Shipping, Tourism and Power will work in coordination to fulfil Modi’s commitment to rejuvenate the river, MoEFC faces an uphill task. Even after nearly `100 crore being spent under the NGRBA that comprised laying sewer lines in Varanasi, the results are far from satisfactory.

According to sources, this is largely because there is discharge of nearly 200 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage into the river and there are not enough sewage treatment plants. The city generates a total of 300 million litres of sewage every day with only one STP (of a capacity of 102 MLD) for its treatment.

According to the official data, NGRBA is currently working on 57 projects of sewerage treatment plant with combined capacity to treat 470.53 million litres of sewerage in a day. About 15 projects are underway in Uttarakhand, seven in Uttar Pradesh, five in Bihar and 27 in West Bengal. Further, three projects of Central Pollution Control Board are also under construction.

However, even if efforts are on to control pollution, certain experts argued that the main problem with Ganges is not just pollution. But drop in quantity and flow of the river has led to siltation and decrease in the depth of the river. Encroachment, along the riverbed, has further constricted the river. “Hence in many places, it is not a river but a pond. This has reduced its capacity of self generation/purification. Hence, even if there was less pollution in the river, it will not improve water quality. According to them, “the quantity of (original) water of Ganges, would in fact be less than 1% in Varanasi”.

-The Pioneer, 05 June 2014

PM Narendra Modi's pet Ganga cleanup programme and his mission for clean water has attracted interest from foreign nations. Israel and Denmark, global leaders in water technology and water management, say they can be part of this particular national mission.

Israeli ambassador Alon Ushpiz told TOI, "Think about the purification of the holy Ganges. I have a list of 200 Israeli companies that can do this." Already, a consortium of Danish water companies are operating in Gujarat, even conducting a pilot project for water management in Rajkot, Danish ambassador Freddy Svane said.

"If you go from Gujarat down to Tamil Nadu and up to Hyderabad, you will come across more than two dozen Israeli desalination plants. Some huge, others not so big. There are places in some cities where you probably will drink water from Israeli desalination plants, joint projects with state governments. This is good water, very good water. The plants are exactly the same as on the shores of the Mediterranean," Ushpiz said.

Svane said Copenhagen harbour was a perfect case study of implementation of new technologies for water management. Danish companies can undertake impact studies, cleaning up of water and even provide enzymatic solutions to reduce waste water in quantity and quality.

Ushpiz said, "Israel loses just about 8% of what we put in the pipes, the best figure in the world. Indian figures are higher. The beauty of water management is that you simply enlarge your water collection by saving water. I come from a society that has put water on a pedestal. It's not only a commodity, it's a cultural value."

-The Times of India, 06 June 2014

Dictionaries will be brought out and ethnic knowledge system will be recorded

The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) here will embark on a mega project to document nearly 500 endangered languages in the country, each spoken by less than 10,000 people.

It has been approved in principle by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The CIIL will collaborate with universities and institutes.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on ‘Endangered tribal languages in south India’, organised by the Anthropological Society of India and the CIIL, L. Ramamoorthy, Head, Linguistic Data Consortium for Indian Languages, CIIL, said on Monday that the work would be taken up under a scheme to preserve and protect endangered languages.

The objective is to bring out dictionaries and also document and preserve the ethnic knowledge system enshrined in the languages, including folklore. It also intends to frame grammar rules. Experts would give suggestions for the revitalisation of these languages.

About 70 languages from different parts of the country would be studied in the first phase and 500 would be taken up in a span of 10 years, Mr. Ramamoorthy said. The study and documentation of each language would cost between Rs. 6 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh, he added.

Earlier, Dr. Ramamoorthy spoke on ‘Endangered tribal languages – initiatives from the CIIL’. Referring to the above project, he said there was no consensus on the status of endangered languages. While the Census of India 2001 pegged the number at 122, the Anthropological Survey of India put it at 323, while a UNESCO report said 196 Indian languages were endangered. He hoped the workshop would come out with tools and parameters to identify an endangered language.

Lawrence Surendra, Senior Fellow, Indian Council of Social Science Research, delivered a special lecture on endangered tribal languages and cultures and pointed out that endangerment of language was far more serious than that of culture because with the extinction of language, the entire encyclopaedia of knowledge enshrined in that language would be lost forever.

P.K. Misra, president, Anthropological Association, Mysore, inaugurated the workshop and said the status of language should be understood in the context of society and culture which were not static but under constant change. Citing the example of Jenu Kuruba community, Prof. Misra said changing external environmental factors had affected the traditional lifestyle of the tribal people.

C.R. Satyanarayana, deputy director and head, ASI Southern Regional Centre, subject experts from different universities and institutions are attending the workshop.

-The Hindu, 06 June 2014

The team was then given a presentation of the Rs 1,250-crore riverfront project at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in Danapith.

To explore possibilities of replicating Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati riverfront project along the Yamuna in Delhi, a 13-member team reached Ahmedabad for a two-day visit.

The team — headed by Secretary of Environment and Forests, Sanjiv Kumar — was sent to Gujarat to study the project and submit a report to L-G Najeeb Jung’s office on the possibilities of replicating the model in the capital.

The visit is said to be a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Jung last week, during which Modi had suggested that Delhi follow the Sabarmati example.

“The team is on a tour to the study the Sabarmati riverfront project and find possibilities to replicate it for the Yamuna. The report is to be submitted to the Lt-Governor,” CEO of Delhi Parks and Garden Society and team member Dr S D Singh said.

The team includes heads and members of Delhi’s various departments — CEO of Delhi Jal Board Vijay Kumar, DU professor C R Babu, DDA landscape expert Savita Bhandari and members of Tourism and Flood Control departments.

The team reached Ahmedabad on Thursday morning and started the day with a visit to the gardens on the riverfront, which were developed at a cost of Rs 18 crore and inaugurated in October last year by BJP leader L K Advani. The team also studied the transformation of reclaimed land into parks.

The team was then given a presentation of the Rs 1,250-crore riverfront project at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in Danapith. It was presented by Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited.

“The team members showed a lot of interest in the details. Apart from the documented information, they tried to note down details,” an AMC official accompanying the Delhi team said. AMC commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra said, “The team members had queries about resettlement and rehabilitation of slums in the area. They wanted to know how slums on the riverfront were rehabilitated and also about various court cases related to the same.” On Friday, the team will visit dhobhi ghat and gujari bazaar at Sabarmati riverfront.

-The Indian Express, 06 June 2014

Authored by Feisal Alkazi, the INTACH Roli Guide on Srinagar hopes to show an undiscovered Kashmir to a curious traveller.

Feisal Alkazi is looking at here and now. Be it through his theatre or writing, Feisal is probing the world around him. While for the former, he turns to the world of kids, for the latter he responds to the urban existence through architecture. “Srinagar: An Architectural Legacy”, published by Roli Books in collaboration with INTACH belongs in there where the author earnestly evokes a non-touristy view of Srinagar for an experimental tourist. “It is for those who are interested in looking. So it goes beyond the standard two day three night package enabling the traveller to discover the real Srinagar on his/her own. There exists a British-view of Kashmir which we wanted to do away with in this book,” says Feisal, who undertook 22 trips from 2004 to 2011 to the Valley. Working with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Feisal was involved with the project ‘Children of Kashmir’, which dealt with children whose parents had been killed. “And that’s when I got familiarized with the layered history of the State and then INTACH asked me to do the book. Why is sufism in Kashmir different from other States, the story of the shawl, its Buddhist connections — The third Buddhist conference was held here in 100 A.D. — its magnificent gardens, I started looking at the various layers of Kashmir,” says Feisal, who has also refrained from turning it into a coffee table book.

“It is very easy to do a coffee table book on Kashmir but I wanted to keep it simple and reader friendly.” The book has 10 chapters with the last one based on walks the INTACH has devised — from Medieval to Colonial Srinagar, A walk along the Bund, A Garland of Gardens, Exploring Hari Parbat, Of Mosques and Khanqahs, Moving back in time from Ali Kadal. “My favourite walk is the first walk because it is really about discovering the essence of this riverine city and the whole interplay between water, religion and money. It starts from Khanqah-I-Mualla, goes to the hammam, Mohammed Ramzan Krall’s house, Pathar Masjid, Zaina Kadal and ends at Shri Ranbir Gunj Shopping Complex,” says Feisal, who is also an educationist, trainer and theatre director. He now heads the Creative Learning for Change, an NGO.

The author also spends time over Kashmiri handicrafts too like the shawl, papier-mache and woodcarving in the slim volume. The closely intertwined history and architecture of the city gets a special treatment from the author who begins by discussing the development of the city along the meandering course of Jhelum with structures like mohallas, galis and traditional wooden bridges called ‘kadal’. Very briefly and interestingly, Feisal brings in references to Kalhana’s “Rajtarangini”, significant Chinese visitors to Kashmir, Kshemendra’s (a Sanskrit writer from 11 century Kashmir) “Samay Matrika”. He then quickly moves on observing the influences different Mughal rulers and colonialism left on the Valley’s architectural heritage.

Very swifly he gives the reader a glimpse of Kashmir through the years. From Zain-ul-Abidin’s process of urbanization, his three towns — Zainapur, Zainakot, Zainagir, man-made island Zaina Lank, Zaina Kadal (first permanent bridge at Ala-u-dinpura), to Nallah Mar Canal followed by Pathar Masjid, built by the Mughal empress Noor Jahan, to the mosque built by Dara Shikoh for his spiritual mentor Mullah Shah on Hari Parbat, the city under the Sikh and Afghan rulers followed by the modernization that happened under the Dogra ruler Maharaja Pratap Singh, he makes it exhaustive. Colonial impact on architecture and the traditional Kashmiri residential architecture through its unique features like the over hanging balcony (dub), windows with pinjarkari (lattice work), Dhajji-Dewari (patch-quilt wall) traditionally used for construction in Kashmir, khatamband (a ceiling art) etc. get special attention by the author.

-The Hindu, 06 June 2014

Gujarat had land to develop solar farms and plan innovative projects like solar panels on the Narmada canal; land-starved Delhi cannot afford all that. The least it can do is to replicate Gandhinagar's solar rooftop project that started as a pilot for government buildings but now provides to private properties as well. In contrast, Delhi has hardly moved on the solar front. It has small projects with a negligible output. The Delhi government had prepared a solar policy in 2013 but it's still stuck between various departments.

The installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells in Delhi till 2013 was only 2.5 MW compared to over 1000 MW in Gujarat. "The overall cost besides an acute shortage of land is what kept Delhi waiting. Which is why we too advised them to look at rooftop systems instead of ground-mounted ones," says Abhishek Pratap, renewable energy campaigner for Greenpeace India. "Even if Delhi chooses to replicate the Gandhinagar model, determining the preferential tariff for those who rent their roof out to utilities is crucial. Without an attractive incentive for them, the scheme will just fall flat." That's the feedback they have got from RWAs.

When Pratap and his colleagues interviewed RWAs in Delhi early this year about what they think of such a scheme, people said that such a scheme will be accepted by people only when the incentive is fair and linked to current market rates in terms of real estate.

Under the rent-a-roof scheme in Gandhinagar, residents give out their rooftops on hire to private solar energy companies who in turn pay them Rs 3 for every unit of energy produced.

Delhi has also been slow in executing the net-metering technology that is crucial for producers of roof-top solar power to be able to supply to the grid and gain benefits from it. Net metering is a mechanism that credits customers who generate solar energy to add to the grid. The utility pays the customer for the extra or unused units of solar energy, which automatically go back to the grid. Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had recently invited comments from stakeholders on a proposal to introduce net metering for rooftop solar power generation according to the guidelines laid down by the ministry of new and renewable energy. But that hasn't been finalized either. DERC hasn't fixed a tariff yet because the projects in Delhi are too small. "We will do that only when there is a very big project. It doesn't make sense otherwise," says PD Sudhakar, chairman of DERC.

Delhi met 0% of its renewable purchase obligation (RPO) in 2012 while Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Karnataka overshot their targets. RPO is a government regulation that makes it obligatory for state electricity regulatory commissions to buy a certain percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources. These targets were set by different states in 2010 to achieve the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) requirement of 15% renewable energy supply in India by 2020.

Environment secretary Sanjiv Kumar and director, environment, Anil Kumar, had visited Gujarat last September to see their projects. The two are currently in Gandhinagar. "We are trying to understand the feasibility of the solar rooftop project but can't say if anything will be replicated for sure," said Anil Kumar. solar tour in Gujarat. Another 10 bureaucrats from Delhi are on the Sabarmati river front tour. Department officials said a public presentation of take away points will be made once they are back.

Experts say the rooftop model is the only scheme that is replicable. "Delhi had a solar policy of its own. I don't know what stage it is in. I think they can focus on the roof top project and see how policies can be worked out for such a project," said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Anand Prabhu Pathanjali, energy campaigner with Greenpeace India, said the rooftop model is a micro-utility concept or one that can also work in a mini-grid and that it is well-established in parts of United States and Germany. "It's an established concept for any land-starved city. I think Delhi can try the canal project too where panels are laid on a Narmada canal in Gujarat. It may be costly on the Yamuna though because of the size."

'Rooftop Revolution', a report by Greenpeace, has estimated that of 700 sq km, which is Delhi's total built-up space, about 31sq km is the "available roof space" that can be utilized for the solar project and that it has a potential to generate 2,557 MW, much higher than what Gujarat is generating currently.

-The Times of India, 07 June 2014

It is supposed to be a leaf from an interpretation of the Harivamsa series that tells tales of Krishna. Painted by a Kangra artist sometime after 1830, the watercolour has a raging Indra waging a war on Krishna. The bone of contention is a Parijata tree that has caught the attention of their respective wives. The serene pastel backdrop is the battleground, with the deities on their chariots. Estimated between £20,000 and £30,000, the Pahari illustration is among the 50 lots on sale at the Christie’s auction “India on Paper – A Private Collection of Paintings”.

Coming from a single owner collection of a Swiss collector, the online sale that closes on June 12 comprises works from six major Indian schools of paintings, ranging from the Himalayan foothills to Karnataka, dated between the 1600s and the early 19th century. “Its diversity is one of the highlights of the collection. There may not be different mediums like jewellery, silver ware or metal, but there is substantial range within paintings,” says Romain Pingannaud, Head of Department, Islamic Art, Christie’s. Among his favourites is a painting from Bikaner titled A Princely Couple on a Terrace. Dated 1710 AD, the pastel work estimated between £8,000 to £12,000 is probably an illustration from the Bharamasa or Ragamala series. “It makes you feel the love. The couple seated in marble pavilions, with a detailed floral carpet on the floor, makes for a wonderful picture,” says Pingannaud.

While the Harivamsa work leads the auction, the other highlights include two paintings from the 86-page Ragamala series identifiable through tomato-red borders and the striking palette of colours. Possibly painted as early as 1640, these could have been painted for one of the semi-independent Hindu provincial courts of the northern Deccan and a precursor to the “mixed” Deccani-Rajasthani style of Aurangabad. Meanwhile, estimated between £3,000 to £5,000 are two illustrations of Shiva and Shaivate.

The opaque pigments on paper from Punjab depict a multi-armed and ash-covered deity seated on a pink rug, holding various weapons in his radiating arms with coloured clouds above; the other has a red-skinned goddess seated on a pink lotus, lavishly dressed with a cobra coiled about her head.

The auction house is also doing its bit to generate interest in its archives. “To initiate new buyers in the segment, we at times put them with modern and contemporary works at displays,” says Pingannaud. As personal collections become public, the number of quality artwork in the market will escalate, he says.

-The Indian Express, 08 June 2014

Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities, is now expecting a radical change in its urban infrastructure and civic amenities. The Prime Minister has already held out some thoughts on his priorities for the city including cleanliness and a vision for it as a thriving hub of tourism.

One sector that is watching the developments with a sense of optimism is real estate that sees a new lease of life, given that there is hope that Narendra Modi would be able to get his vision for the city implemented.

“Modi is unequivocally pro-development and also pro-tourism, both of which are good news for a city like Varanasi,” says Anuj Puri, chairman and country head, JLL India. “A determined focus on infrastructural upliftment in general will mean that tier-III towns will see a stronger emergence, especially if they already have decisive economic drivers in place. This is definitely the case with Varanasi, which has been seeing gradual but steady growth in both economic activity and real estate dynamism.”

Urban problems

The current area under the Varanasi Nagar Nigam, the municipality, is 79.79 square kms, according to its website, making it a mid-sized city. Municipal administration in Varanasi dates back to 1959 when the first municipal board was formed. According to the latest figures available, its expenditure budget for FY14 stood at around Rs 568 crore. As a comparison, the municipal corporation of neighbouring Allahabad spent Rs 469 crore.

But, Varanasi also covers a substantial area outside the municipal jurisdiction, called the Varanasi urban agglomeration that is around 112.26 sq km. There is the Banaras Hindu University, the cantonment and a vast railway settlement. For coordinated regional planning, the Uttar Pradesh government established the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) in 1974. In 1994, the authority had formulated a Master Plan, 2011 and created several zones for the city. Interestingly, this plan is only for the west of the Ganga. The eastern half is as yet untouched by the Master Plan.

In 1994, the land use pattern recorded by the VDA showed that 37 per cent was taken up for residential purposes, while 20 per cent was for recreational use. The 2011 Master Plan placed the maximum emphasis on housing, apportioning 53 per cent of the total land use. Neighbouring Allahabad had 34 per cent land used for housing in 2001, which was envisaged to be 36 per cent in the city’s Master Plan 2021. Currently the VDA is playing the leading role in meeting the housing demand.

However, the emphasis on housing under the land use plan under Master Plan 2011 has come at the cost of recreational space and industrial infrastructure, says the report on the Varanasi City

Development Plan under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM).

This shows the extent of demand for housing in the city, which is rising at 16 per cent a year, as per the report. Under the JnNURM, Varanasi applied for a grant of Rs 3,072.59 crore for essential infrastructural needs and basic services for urban poor. As per current data, none of the projects are anywhere near completion.

Emerging market

The huge demanD-supply gap in housing has got real estate players interested, which has developed into positive sentiments after the general elections.

However, the action is not happening in the old areas housing the Ghats, the typical Varanasi postcard. As the JnNURM report says, the old city presents a very unique challenge in urban renewal for the essential requirements are provision of modern services without disturbing its cultural character. “Plot owners who have small and old structures on them have managed to demolish them to give way to new constructions,” says Raj Yadav, who works in Mumbai, but is a registered voter in Varanasi and cast his vote in the 2014 election.

“Many new areas are also developing around the city as suburban units,” adds Yadav.

The business opportunity is being seized by developers from other cities who see a viable proposition in this tier-III market. “The mega township known as Shree Sai City by Delhi-based Rudra Real Estate is coming up in the airport area while Mumbai-based S Raheja Realty is coming up with SDS Residency, a 14 storey complex which will be one of the tallest buildings within the city,” says Anmol Agarwal, national manager, network acquisition, RE/MAX India.

There are other established players include Awadh Constructions and Visionary Buildtech.

“Apart from being a great tourist attraction, Varanasi is in demand for its residential property due to its spiritual aspect. People invest in these properties in search of peace,” says Advitiya Sharma, co-founder and marketing head for Housing.com, a leading real estate portal. “The Varanasi market has seen a substantial escalation of 40 per cent in the last few years and the VDAs’ plan to develop the city has also grabbed the attention of investors,” adds Sharma.

The approximate average range of residential flats today across the city is at Rs 2,600 to Rs 6,000 per sq ft. There are high-end options available in different pockets of the city starting from Rs 8,000 per sq ft.

Land is rarely available within the city are available aplenty outside the city. The land in some areas is as low as Rs 500 to Rs 600 per sq ft. The average land cost in the city is in the range of Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 per sq ft. In several high demand and fast developing areas the asking rate has shot up in the range of Rs 2, 500-Rs3,000 a sq ft.

A Ray of Hope

With the primary focus on cleaning the Ganga, residents can hope to have piped supply from the holy river into their homes.”Cleaning of the Ganga will get pure drinking water in the houses, which are currently getting it through private bore wells dug in a most haphazard manner across the city,” says Vijay Kumar Singh, another Varanasi resident who is now employed with a nationalised bank in Mumbai.

“Electricity is another issue. One gets it for an average of 4-6 hours daily. How can one expect to grow with that? The Ghats need repairing and beautification, which in turn will get more tourists and pilgrims bringing more revenue for the city,” says Yadav. Lack of roads and bridges, adequate sanitation, mushrooming of houses and industrial units without any plan, pollution are the other problems.

“If the proposed ring road is developed, then Varanasi will expand. There are also 60 flyovers planned within the city, connecting the banks of the Ganga, which will also impact the real estate market,” says Ram Raheja, Director, S Raheja Realty, whose project is slated for completion next year.

There are three reasons for Varanasi to be on the path of the overall development fuelling real estate momentum as well. One, the pro-development and pro-infrastructure-growth tilt of the new regime, secondly, the BJP, with its sights set on the UP state election must prove their commitment for development.

With Varanasi being the Prime Minister’s constituency, expectations are high that development plans that are currently stuck would get going with an emphasis on speeding essential infrastructure development.

-The Indian Express, 08 June 2014

The Sabarmati riverfront project can't be a model for the Yamuna floodplains believe experts, almost unanimously. Many of them don't even consider the Sabarmati project worth replicating as the 11-km stretch of the river that flows through Ahmedabad draws channelized water from Narmada. This may not be possible in Delhi at all. The 22-km stretch in Delhi, which has 18 drains flowing into it, needs a different set of solutions.

Reclamation of the floodplains to create a concrete riverfront, like in Ahmedabad, may be ecologically unsound and even dangerous for Delhi that's already extremely vulnerable to floods, argue experts.

Recently, a committee of experts formed by National Green Tribunal and headed by ecologist C R Babu had recommended that DDA's ambitious plan for developing recreational facilities, parking lots and promenades be scrapped. Its Yamuna Riverfront Development scheme will reduce the river's flood-carrying capacity and increase flooding and pollution, the report had said.

It, instead, recommended a ban on developmental activity in the river's Zone 'O' and its active floodplains on the UP side.

It also said that a 52-km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi and UP be declared a 'conservation zone' as restoring the river's ecological functions is heavily dependent on the environmental flow through this stretch, particularly in the lean season.

Babu, who has been asked to submit a report on the Sabarmati model by the Delhi government, has reserved his comments for now. "I will share my view as soon as I submit my report to the government," he said.

Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, who has been studying different stretches of the river and its problems, dismissed the Sabarmati solution. "We cannot call it a Sabarmati model. It can be called the Narmada canal model. It's like a mirage created for a brief stretch. Let's be clear about it. If the Delhi bureaucrats have gone there to learn from the Gujarat model, it's up to them to figure out if it can be implemented. I cannot call the Sabarmati project a river rejuvenation project - it's more of a real estate project where the riverfront has been developed. That is not advisable for Delhi," said Misra.

The Yamuna also has huge pollution problems that have reduced it to a "drain". Various phases of Yamuna Action Plan, costing over Rs 6,500 crore, which were overseen by both BJP and Congress governments, have failed to improve the situation.

The plan involved installing expensive sewage treatment plants and expanding urban sewerage to keep waste water away. But the STP capacity is not just inadequate; the existing STPs are not performing to their full potential, leading to more than half of Delhi's sewage ending up untreated in the river.

Again and again, the importance of environmental flow was raised to ensure that there is enough water in the river to be able to dilute the pollutants to some extent. But that means rationing water with neighbouring states. Only renegotiating a May 1994 MoU among upper Yamuna basin states that says Delhi will get 0.724 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water of the 11.983 BCM of annual utilizable flow of Yamuna up to Okhla may ensure more water in the river.

A minimum flow of 10 cubic metres per second is the minimum that's required to dilute the water in Yamuna, added Misra.

"Sabarmati happened because Narmada is diluting its water. How will we do it in Yamuna? It has a different set of challenges," said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

And channelizing may not solve the real problem with the river, say other experts. "Upstream of Sabarmati in Narmada from where the water is drawn there is a dry riverbed and downstream where the 11-km stretch ends in Vasna, the river turns as polluted as Yamuna or even more. So creating a channel to dilute water may not be a great idea. They have also reclaimed 200 ha of floodplains for real estate development. I don't think that's advisable," said Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Rivers, Dams and People.

-The Times of India, 08 June 2014

Haryana's decision to demarcate only 60 metres of buffer around Mangar Bani sacred grove in Aravalis as "no construction zone" has become a bone of contention between the state and National Capital Region Planning Board. The board's secretariat has written to Haryana government seeking a compliance report on this issue since the state had agreed committed to earmark 500 metres around the forest for no construction activity.

A government source said that NCRPB will wait for the response from Haryana and if they fail to comply then the board can issue a notice to the state government. "Any valid objection of NCRPB on Haryana's notified sub-regional plan will have serious repercussions. It has been made clear in separate court proceedings that NCRPB observations have to be addressed," said an official.

Though a few more aberrations have also been noted in the sub-regional plan, the major one relates to the buffer area. This is more significant considering the fact that the NCRPB has not yet notified the revised regional plan 2021 despite the board has approved the necessary amendments in the plan. "Since Haryana had committed to demarcate a larger radius around the forest to prevent real estate development in the full board meeting, it should have followed this while notifying the sub-regional plan. While it has referred to the decisions taken at the board meeting, it has preferred to bypass the approved minutes," an urban development ministry official said.

He added this non-compliance can be brought to the notice of Punjab and Haryana High Court where the state government has submitted a copy of its notification. TOI has learnt that the NCRPB will place the status report on the revised regional plan before the new urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu to take his view. Only after that the plan will be notified.

Environment activists have alleged that Haryana government went back on its words on the buffer area only to ensure that big realtors' projects can take off. Quite a few big players have brought land close to Mangar forest and they have already approached both the state and Central governments.

-The Times of India, 08 June 2014

The Taj Mahal, the monument of love at Agra, will get a ‘mud-pack treatment’ to give sheen to its white marble which is getting pale because of high pollution in and around this 17th century mausoleum.

“Officials blame air pollution for the discolouration of the marble. They say the Taj Mahal is encrusted with “suspended particulate matter,” or granules of dirt and soot found in high levels in the air.“The deposition of SPM on the shimmering white marble of the Taj Mahal imparts yellow tinge to the marble surface,” an official said.

To restore the monument to its pristine glory, a panel recommended packing it in mud, a process used on the Taj Mahal in the past. The treatment takes about two months and involves caking the domed edifice in clay and letting it dry and they washing the mud off. As the mud dries, it absorbs the dirt build-up.

As part of the ‘facial’ treatment for the monument, lime-rich clay will be plastered over the affected areas of the monument and left overnight. As the mud begins to dry, it will be washed away, hopefully with the grime that coats the monument.The maiden mud-pack treatment of the Taj took place in 1994, the second in 2001 and the last such treatment was given to it in 2008.The last treatment cost Rs 10.4 lakh. Over two experts had carried out the work.The Taj Mahal was built by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1654 for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It houses their graves. The Taj complex has a mosque as well as several other graves of lesser Mogul royalty.

Some three million tourists visit the mausoleum every year.To check pollution, the visitors to The Taj have to park their vehicles about two kilometres away from the monument and take battery-run buses or horse-drawn carriages, to reach the gates of the grand mausoleum.

-The Pioneer, 09 June 2014

Just a few hours of exposure to it can trigger serious health problems, especially among those who are already suffering from respiratory and asthmatic problems

As the intense heat wave conditions continue unabated, Delhi has witnessed significant ozone build-up this summer. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study based on the real-time air quality data available from the key monitoring locations of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for the period January to early June 2014 shows rapid build-up of ozone, exceeding the standards proposed by the Union ministry of environment and forests.

CSE experts say the ozone build-up is the result of a deadly combination of high pollution levels and an unusually hot summer. Ozone is known to be extremely hazardous for human health.

According to Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy and head of CSE’s air pollution programme: “Ozone is the new generation public health threat and a difficult challenge. It must be checked at the early stages with stringent controls on nitrogen oxide and toxic and volatile gases, the major ingredients of ozone recipe.”

The CSE has analysed ozone data from the automatic monitoring stations of the DPCC located in R.K. Puram, Civil Lines, Mandir Marg and Punjabi Bagh all residential areas as well as the IGI Airport. “Delhi needs to act immediately to protect public health,” says Roychowd-hury. “Explosive increase in vehicle numbers, especially diesel vehicles that spew much higher levels of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds, can only worsen the deadly recipe needed for formation of ozone in the city with hot and extreme climate.”

Ozone is an extremely harmful gas, particularly for those involved in outdoor activities. Just a few hours of exposure to it can trigger serious health problems, especially among those who are already suffering from respiratory and asthmatic problems. Ozone worsens symptoms of asthma, leads to lung function impairment and damages lung tissues. Chest pain, coughing, nausea, headac-hes and chest congestion are common symptoms.

It can even worsen heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema. It increases emergency hospital visits and admissions related to respiratory diseases.

-The Asian Age, 10 June 2014

Mumbai’s Keneseth Eliyahoo synagogue that turns 130 this year presents a picture of neglect

The scene rarely changes on Friday evenings at the Keneseth Eliyahoo synagogue. A rabbi enters and waits for 10 men to congregate. Once the quorum is present, he recites prayers in Hebrew that resonate through the house of prayer. Soon, the men huddle together and break into a dance invoking the queen of the Sabbath. Women, who can only watch the proceedings from behind a wooden partition, wish each other “Sabbath Shalom.”

But the synagogue, which turns 130 this year, was not always deserted. Built in 1884 by Jason Sassoon in memory of his father Eliyahoo, the synagogue with its large, light-blue exterior became a favourite with the Baghdadi Jews who settled along the coast in Colaba. Then women sat in the upper gallery and the prayer hall was always full. “Even today, like then, we are not allowed to be seen by men in the prayer hall,” says Lena Karkera, a Bene Israel Jew, recalling the synagogue’s glorious past.

It was in the 1880s — when the city boasted a neo-Gothic skyline with buildings such as the High Court and the University, and later the Victoria Terminus and the municipal headquarters — that this robust structure bearing characteristics of the neoclassical style came up. The synagogue, recognised as a grade 2A heritage structure, has spectacular stained glass windows, the likes of which can be only seen at the St. Thomas Cathedral and the Afghan church in Mumbai.

After 1948, however, many Jewish Indians flocked to the newly-formed Israel. “Many years ago, most synagogues in the city were filled to capacity during festivals. Now, there are just about 4,000 Jews in Mumbai. There are times, when we do not have a quorum of 10 men to start prayers,” says Solomon Sopher, president of the synagogue. After the 26/11 attacks, when terrorists targeted the Jewish community, the synagogue turned into a fortress with policemen guarding it round the clock.

A dwindling community has meant fewer hands to look after the place of worship. Though a Rs.1.2-crore restoration plan was proposed four years ago, it has not taken off owing to paucity of funds. “The World Monument Fund has agreed to help once we manage to raise half the funds. I hope we start the project by the year-end,” says Mr. Sopher.

-The Hindu, 10 June 2014

By 2020, out of the 60 per cent of the total population working and contributing towards GDP, only 25 per cent is capable of being used by the job market. To meet the rising demand for skilled manpower in all sectors, the present condition of India’s skill landscape requires a facelift, says Sanjeev Duggal

Vocational Training has been one of the major topics of discussions for the policy makers in India for the past couple of years now. However, the sector still has a long way to go. With the country’s population expected to reach 1.3 billion in the next six years (2020), almost 60 per cent of the overall citizens would be in the working age group (15-59 years) India.

A research by Boston Consulting Group also estimated that by 2020 India will have a surplus of around 47 million of active population. Going by this, we’ll have a remarkable 60 per cent of total population available for working and contributing towards GDP, but out of the total pool, only 25 per cent is capable of being used by the job market. According to the research reports there would be a demand-supply gap of 82 to 86 per cent in the core professions. IT industry would also face the shortage of up to 3.5 million skilled workers. Same is the situation for almost all the sectors. In short, our markets/economy will grow, creating an increase in the number of jobs and need for skilled manpower, but on the other side, there would be a scarcity of skilled manpower.

The current scenario also establishes the fact that the demand for skilled workforce is not only restricted to traditional sectors like auto and BFSI but also includes the sunrise sector such as the organised retail. But is the country ready to bear the responsibility? With this kind of future ahead, the present condition of India’s skill landscape definitely requires a facelift.

The problem further deepens with a situation where on the skill supply side one does see an exponential growth in the number of institutes but a sharp decline in the quality of education being provided. Growth of the institutes is not planned, but is driven by fad. Numerous engineering/computer education institutes are testimony to this fact. On one hand, mushroom growth of vocational training institutes is skewing the skill distribution of the country; it’s at the same time increasing the number of unemployable youth who aren’t fit to be absorbed by the job market. This high rate of youth unemployment represents a wasted resource for developing economies like ours that hinders the urgently needed growth.

With lakhs of students being added every year to this pool of job seekers in absence of proper management, the time when the entire system fails is not far away. Perhaps that is the reason why skill development has been in the centre stage lately. Lots of initiatives are being taken by the Government also. The target is to have a pool of skilled labour that is market ready and readily employable by the Industry. Managing such huge inflow of candidates across domains every year is a gargantuan task. It needs joint efforts from all entities of skill ecosystem.

Research has shown that, it’s a nation’s success or failure in realising the economic potential of young people during this ‘low dependency ratio’ period that can make the difference between sustained and faltering long-term development. The skill levels of our country surely do need improvement if we want to reap the demographic dividend of having a working population of 0.8 billion. Construction and manufacturing are just some of the large-scale sectors where there is an alarming shortage in skilled labour.

Construction companies, for example, were forced to import labour from China to complete the planned Commonwealth Games projects. On the other side, there is a growing pool of urban professionals with more money than time who are eager to hire skilled electricians, plumbers, tailors, cleaners, and carpenters but these trades remain poorly trained and organised as are the staff of restaurants, hotels, spas, and salons which are rapidly multiplying. Time is not far when demand for such workforce reach the tier two and three cities, and thus continue to pump up the demand for skilled service professionals. It would be good news except only 10 per cent of Indians between the ages of 15-29 receive formal vocational training.

One way to train this deluge of unskilled population is to create a nationwide network of affordable community colleges with courses and diplomas closely tailored to the skilled labour market. In fact, it would be better if the courses in the vocational colleges are designed keeping in the mind the needs of the local markets. These would not only help in creating opportunities where people live, it would also be able to stop unsustainable migrations to the big cities. In rural areas, where poor children are forced to drop out due to several socio-economic reasons at a very early age, vocational training can be incorporated into post-elementary education. In fact, the Government can also consider an ICT based long-term plan for addressing the skill requirements by involving key stakeholders.

The Government’s initiatives like the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), national vocational education qualifications framework (NVEQF) are surely steps in the right direction. However, for this effort to be successful and sustainable, industry or corporate sector should own the skill enhancement or intervention programmes. An effective use of the new company’s bill mandating corporate social responsibility (CSR) might come handy if only CSR initiatives are result oriented and measurable.

Perhaps, a mandate for the industry such as the ‘Companies Bill’ by the major industry bodies in India to work closely with NSDC, NVEQF, along with universities to encourage innovation, help improve skill levels and address employability challenges may solve the issue of skilled workforce in India. In fact, depending on demand, some vocational courses could be converted into full-fledged ITI (Industrial training institute) or diploma courses. There are several examples across the world of strong industry-academia relationship resulting in mutual benefits. India just needs to replicate it.

The author is CEO and director of Centum Learning Ltd.

-The Pioneer, 11 June 2014

Speaking up for lesser-known species, which are being relentlessly hunted and traded, conservationists, wildlife experts, policy makers, scientists, research scholars, and senior officials from the State Forest Departments, Ministry of Environment and Forests, enforcement agencies, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and non-government organisations got together earlier this week to deliberate on how security measures can be put in place to protect the future of these species.

Wildlife species like pangolins, birds, tortoises and sharks, were discussed during the meeting on ‘Consultation on Illegal Trade in Lesser Known Species’. The meet was jointly organised by the TRAFFIC, the WWF-India, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).

Every year in India, hundreds of pangolins, lizards and tortoises are poached, an estimated 700,000 birds are illegally trapped, and about 70,000 tonnes of sharks are caught, yet the levels of exploitation on these species are rarely reported.

TRAFFIC, India head, Dr. Shekhar Kumar Niraj said: “While the threat posed by illegal wildlife trade to some of India’s most iconic wild animals, such as the tiger and Indian rhinoceros are well publicised, many of India’s less well-known species are also rapidly vanishing because of poaching, yet their fate remains largely under the radar.’’

“Pangolins are highly threatened because they are subject to a colossal illegal trade internationally, yet their plight is barely publicised in conservation or media circles. Others, like the monitor lizard, mongoose, star tortoises, spiny-tailed lizards, freshwater and mariner turtles also need immediate attention,” he added.

Monitor lizards, especially the Bengal Monitor, were once commonly seen across the country but appear to have declined markedly. Other speakers at the meeting included Ravi Singh from the WWF-India, Kamal Dutta from the WCCB, Belinda Wright from the WPSI.

-The Hindu, 11 June 2014

Brushing aside concerns raised by environmentalists and river ecology experts, environment secretary Sanjiv Kumar was full of praise for the Sabarmati riverfront project. He was part of a team of bureaucrats that recently visited Gujarat to explore the possibility of replicating the solar rooftop project in Gandhinagar and the Sabarmati project for Yamuna. Kumar said the place looks "beautiful" and akin to an "international destination." All encroachments have been removed from the riverbank to make room for visitors, he said.

Kumar, however, said the details of whether and how the project will be replicated can be provided only after the department prepares a report of the visit and submit it to the government. "The project has not been studied in its entirety yet. The report will be ready in two to three weeks. Replicating is a complex matter and needs the buy-in from all stakeholders. There are too many players involved," he said. He is sure that a middle ground can be found. "Everyone has a different aesthetic sense. I have studied in Ahmedabad and bathed in Sabarmati in 1973, when it wasn't polluted. The river has been developed so nicely. The project has also won several international awards. All over the world, riverfronts have been developed. Why can't we do it in Delhi?" observed Kumar.

In case of Sabarmati, water is channelled from Narmada Canal, north of Gujarat. Water from Narmada dilutes that of Sabarmati in the 11km stretch flowing through Ahmedabad. Experts were sceptical about its implementation in Delhi. "We have to find a way to get the water as channelizing may not work in Delhi," he said. On concerns of flooding in Yamuna that may be accentuated with concretization of floodplains, Kumar claimed, "Making everything ecologically safe is easier said than done. Flooding is a concern but there are different hydrological models. Experts can find a way out." On letting out a part of the riverfront for commercial development, Kumar explained, "About 10% to 13% of the land has been given out for commercial projects, which can sustain the project without having to depend on the government."

The Sabarmati project consists of more than 11km of uninterrupted pedestrian concrete promenade on each bank and public ghats. More than 85 percent of the riverfront land has been reserved for infrastructure, parks and sports facilities.

a committee of experts by National Green Tribunal and headed by ecologist C R Babu had recently recommended scrapping of DDA's ambitious plan for developing recreational facilities, parking lots and promenades.

It, instead, recommended a ban on developmental activity in the river's Zone 'O' and its active floodplains on the UP side. It also said that a 52-km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi and UP be declared a 'conservation zone' as restoring the river's ecological functions is heavily dependent on the environmental flow through this stretch, particularly in the lean season.

-The Times of India, 11 June 2014

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday paved the way for the second Metro link to Ghaziabad by clearing the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a 9.41-km route that will extend from Dilshad Garden in Delhi to New bus stand in Ghaziabad.

The entire route is proposed to be an elevated section and would be on right of way of GT Road to connect various Ghaziabad localities at seven stations. The stations will come up at: Shaheed Nagar, Raj Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Shyam Park, Mohan Nagar, Arthala and New bus stand.

The government’s clearance for the new link would set the stage for the signing of MoU between the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in the coming days.

The DMRC board had cleared the project in January and later the draft MoU was sent to GDA — nodal agency for the project execution. The draft was later sent to the state government officials but it could not be taken up due to imposition of the model code of conduct for the general elections.

“The cabinet on Wednesday cleared the MoU for the project. Now, the GDA and DMRC will sign the MoU for project execution. The UP government has authorised GDA to implement the project and entrusted it with the responsibility for making payments to the DMRC,” GDA vice-chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said.

Of the total project cost of Rs. 1,770 crore, the Central government will contribute `397.40 crore while the DMRC will bear Rs. 256 crore. The remaining amount of Rs. 1,116 crore will be borne by various UP agencies, including GDA.

The project is estimated to be completed in three years with GDA paying Rs. 545 crore, Rs. 393 crore and Rs.178.6 crore in three instalments to DMRC by the end of June each year, starting 2014. Earlier, the DMRC officials had inspected the proposed alignment route before the general elections.

Apart from relieving heavy traffic congestion in Ghaziabad, the route is expected to cater to over 87,000 commuters and will prove a boon for the intra-city connectivity. GDA officials said since the route covers various residential areas, the footfall would be significantly higher.

Presently, Ghaziabad has a single operational 2.57-km Metro extension from Anand Vihar in Delhi to Vaishal, which caters to a people living in Indirapuram, Kaushambi, Vaishali, Vasundhara and Delta colonies.

The GDA officials are in touch with their DMRC counterparts to draw up the formalities for the signing of the MoU.

-The Hindustan Times, 12 June 2014

Two new chapters have been included in the Master Plan Delhi, 2021, after clearance from lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday. Despite more than 100 modifications which were earlier recommended, the plan is likely to be completed within two months. The plan, which is in its final stages, will now have chapters on environment and transportation as well.

“After a marathon three-hour meet, the advisory committee has cleared the inclusion of the chapters on environment and transportation in the Delhi Master Plan,” DDA vice-chairman Balvinder Kumar said. “Now, both chapters will go to public for objection and suggestion. These two chapters were left as most of our work is done, and therefore, we think, now the Delhi Master Plan should be ready in the next two months,” Mr Kumar said.

The Delhi L-G is also the chairman of the Delhi Development Authority, the urban body which prepares the Master Plan for the capital city.Talking on the Master Plan, Mr Kumar said, “Transport corridors and Metro corridors have been discussed in it and we are also discussing Transit-Oriented-Development (TOD) in such areas, that is, to take up development activities closer to transportation facilities.”

On land use, the Master Plan will also see a new concept of “land pooling” as against just “land acquisition,” so as to “increase the partnership” of farmers with the DDA, a senior DDA official said on condition of anonymity.

-The Asian Age, 12 June 2014

As part of its efforts to streamline environment issues in a realistic manner to assist development in Naxal-affected areas, the Centre will change some rules in the Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation Act to step up economic activities in worst affected states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

"Left-wing extremism districts need to have separate criteria for development and environment protection," environment minister Prakash Javadekar said.

His remarks came after his meeting with Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Tuesday where he is learnt to have assured the state to wait for a comprehensive policy which will take care of development goals of Naxal-affected states. Officials privy to the discussion hinted at some changes which will be different for coastal states, Naxal region having rich forest cover, northeast states and the rest of the country. The changes may include extending the limit of diversion of forest area in Naxal-affected Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts for development work and providing exemptions to certain projects, including restricted mining, under the existing laws.

At present, states in the Maoist belt have rights to give clearance to minor projects up to five hectares of forest land. BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh has long been demanding extending the limit up to 40 hectares under the Forest Conservation Act. It is expected that other states may also get power to issue forest clearance for areas up to 10 hectares of forest land.

"States with higher forest cover should not be penalized. They should be benefitted for their environment protection efforts," said Javadekar.

Indicating the change in approach, the minister had tweeted after his meeting with the Chhattisgarh CM on Tuesday, "We are not for 'We vs they' for Centre-state issues. We consider 'we are family' for development and environment protection."

In a clear signal that the government would not hesitate to bring amendments in the existing set of green laws, he said, "We should evolve a mechanism to ensure that Centre's guidelines for environment protection are implemented properly."

It is learnt that the ministry may also move a proposal to release compensatory afforestation funds to states so that it can be utilized to increase forest cover.

"The government is keen on exploring an option for reclamation and afforestation of degraded land," tweeted Javadekar who is likely to elaborate further on this and many other issues concerning environment and forest clearances during a formal briefing on Thursday.

-The Times of India, 12 June 2014

One of the oldest markets in New Delhi area, Shankar Market, is set to get a colour splash this weekend. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in association with Delhi Street Art (DSA) is set to revive the old bazaar by painting about the evolution of Lutyens’ Zone on its walls.

The historical market which was built a few years before India attained independence will undergo the paint brush on Saturday. With this, the civic agency aims to familiarise the age-old market to the young shoppers and visitors who have probably often passed through it but rarely stopped to look.

“The June 14 event will be unique as it will target the revival of one of the oldest markets in our area. Many people do not even know if the market exists and several others pass through the area without noticing it. Through this initiative, we want to turn the market into an attractive hangout,” said OP Mishra, Director (Projects), NDMC. The civic agency had earlier associated with DSA in which it transformed all the garbage cans of Lodi Gardens into public art canvases. “Our success of working together with Delhi Street Art in transforming all the garbage cans of Lodi Gardens has given us impetus to do more public art initiatives together in the future,” he added.

The civic agency and the DSA have asked for public participation inviting artists to be a part of the event. According to Yogesh Saini, founder Delhi Street Art, “We want to encourage citizens to keep their public spaces clean, while appreciating the art. Now we feel excited to do our small bit towards restoring old city landmarks.”

While the painting frenzy is set to take off at 9 am on Saturday, the civic agency has also organised a musical extravaganza in the evening on the same day. “Artists who sign up for the Shankar Market event will be provided all paint materials and supplies along with snacks and plenty of hydration to beat the peak summer heat of Delhi. At 5 pm musical group Anantara led by Kalyaani will be entertaining the artists and visitors with live music at the venue,” said an NDMC official.

Recently, the DSA transformed the 1-km long boundary wall and the children’s train at National Bal Bhavan into a virtual outdoor art museum. “Just a few days back, we took the street art culture to Ahmedabad to create attractive murals on a newly built flyover at a very busy intersection. That experience taught us among other things to stay focussed, cool and patient despite the heat, traffic and other logistical challenges,” added Saini.

-The Pioneer, 13 June 2014

The NDA plans to make its mission to clean the Ganga a wide-based public campaign involving Hindu priests, technologists and conservationists, water resources minister Uma Bharti said on Thursday.

The plan could be a political masterstroke as it seeks to make a large chunk of those living along the Ganga stakeholders in restoring the vitality of Hinduism’s most scared river.

“Ganga can’t be restored without a people’s movement,” Bharti said, adding: “Apart from scientists, environmentalists and officials, Ganga lovers from around the world and Hindu priests associated various traditions will have a key role.”

To kick off the campaign, Bharti said her ministry would organize a “Ganga Manthan” or “meet on Ganga” in the first week of July, where leading social organisations and priests would be invited.

“This should be seen in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Parliament in which he has talked about making development a people’s movement,” she said.

A third of India’s 1.2 billion people live on the floodplains along the 2510-km sacred river. Despite its redemptory role in Hinduism, the Ganges is dying a slow death due to filth, untreated sewage and industrial run-off, which have soiled its waters for years.

Currently, only about 45% of the 11 billion litres of sewage from 181 towns along the Ganges and its tributaries is treated.

Bharti said her government would maintain the same approach towards all rivers that need attention, including the Yamuna.

She said an inter-ministerial group involving secretaries of key departments were preparing the technological and administrative framework.

-The Hindustan Times, 13 June 2014

Expressing confidence that the relations between the two countries would go even further with a new government in New Delhi, Israel has said that the partnership needs to extend beyond defence and agriculture to public security and civilian trade.

The outgoing Israeli Ambassador to India, Alon Ushpiz, also pledged Tel Aviv’s support and technology for the new government’s plan to clean up the Ganga river, explaining that his nation has some of the best water technologies in the world.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ushpiz said the India-Israel trajectory is very positive and relations are an evolution process in which “every new layer is built on the previous one”.

“My expectation from the government is that together we shall be able to to take all the things we have being doing in the last 10 years further.

There are things we are very good at, like defence and agriculture, but there are also others like civilian trade and water (where more can be done) and then there are things we are at the beginning of, like public security,” said Ushpiz.

He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 16, after the election results, and congratulated him in a “brief but good conversation”. He also said Tel Aviv is looking forward to hosting Modi as a state guest. “We will be very happy to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time, but his first as a PM,” he said.

Ushpiz expressed hope that political interactions between the two countries would reach new heights in the coming months. “We hope to take advantage of the next couple to years to push diplomatic relations forward as one basket and another basket being political interactions. The high level political interactions will be increasing in the coming months,” he said.

Ushpiz described the defence partnership between the two countries as “very serious and very unique”. “There is a lot of appreciation of Indian (defence) professionals. We have a partnership, which means it is a two-way street, something which is very far away from a buying and selling relation,” he said, defining the tipping point in the relation as “when two intimate partners who trust each other and start thinking of challenges together and solutions together and what follows together”.

-The Indian Express, 13 June 2014

Of the 350 trees damaged or uprooted during the powerful dust storm of May 30, a few have struck roots again, with some help. A 25-year-old casuarina and a 20-year-old kassod tree in Lodhi Garden had fallen, their roots severely damaged. Some members of Green Circle of Delhi, a community of concerned citizens, urged the New Delhi Municipal Council staff to replant them. After 12 days, new shoots have started growing, a sign that recovery has begun.

In both cases, the rescue operation followed the same steps. On May 31, the NDMC staff began its efforts at 10.30am. They first dug up a huge pit around the space where the tree had toppled. The casuarina tree's main root was damaged and only two ancillary roots were intact. They applied a root hormone and subjected it to some treatment to avoid infestation. Then they hacked the 50-60 feet tree at the height of seven feet and applied a fungicide on the hacked part as well.

"We gave it a slanted hack so that water won't stay on the trunk top and trickle down the slope. We are now seeing new leaves and shoots appear. This means we have succeeded in saving the tree," said Jitendra Kaushik, assistant director, NDMC (horticulture), in charge of Lodhi Garden. Casuarina or the jangli saru is not a native of Delhi. It has drooping branches and scale-like leaves and is native to the sandy beaches of some parts of Asia and Australia. Kaushik, however, claims that casaurinas have adapted very well to Delhi's weather and soil. There are more than 10 casuarina trees inside Lodhi Garden.

A kassod tree, also about 60 feet tall, lost a part of its bark along with the root. "We followed the same procedure for this tree. On the area where its bark peeled off, we applied fungicide and we wrapped it with a jute cloth to avoid infection. This tree, too, has started showing signs of recovery," said Kaushik. The NDMC team has replanted two Neeli Gulmohar trees and one Acocanthera tree. They have also replanted a tree near 7 RCR.

This restoration exercise offers hope to residents or agencies who want to do something about diseased trees or trees that fall during storms.

"We thought this can encourage people to do something about trees that fall during storms or are diseased. We don't have to lose hundreds of trees. This effort needs to be broad-based," Suhas Borker, founder-member of Green Circle of Delhi, said. The same group is starting a project to measure the carbon sequestration capacity of trees in Lodhi Garden so as to convey its importance to the authorities.

-The Times of India, 13 June 2014

The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area in Himachal Pradesh is set to join seven other natural locations in India that have been declared World Heritage sites by the UN. The park, located west of the Kullu valley, will be conferred the prestigious tag at the world heritage committee meeting in Doha that starts on June 15.

GHNP and its surrounding parks together cover an area of 2,850sq km, straddling an altitude range of 1,900m to 6,110m, with several distinct ecological zones representative of western Himalayan ecosystem.

A letter sent to Indian officials by Unesco, the body that grants the title, says the committee has in a draft decision inscribed GHNP Conservation Area on the World Heritage list. "The area would formally be put on the World Heritage list at the committee's meeting in Doha. It's a culmination of a process that began nine years ago. Over this period, we have strived to meet a number of demands for getting this recognition," said Sanjeeva Pandey, additional principal chief conservator of forest, Himachal Pradesh, who earlier served as the GHNP director for eight years.

The heritage status is being granted under criterion 10. The rule lays down that World Heritage tag can be granted to locations which "contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value..."

GHNP is home to several rare and threatened species including the elusive snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, serow and Asiatic black bear. Himalayan tahr, bharal (blue sheep) and pheasants such as western tragopan and chir are also found there. Besides, around 25 threatened IUCN red-listed plant species have been recorded in the park.

The striking landscape of the park includes 35 peaks higher than 5000m and two above 6000m. The four rivers flowing through the park —Jiwanal, Sainj, Tirthan and Parvati — join Beas downstream.

The other natural World Heritage sites in India are Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries in Assam; Keoladeo national park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan; Sundarbans in Bengal; Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers national parks in Uttarakhand and the western ghats.

-The Times of India, 13 June 2014

Money to be flushed down the drain to treat wastewater

After almost two decades and spending Rs 1,500 crore on cleaning the polluted Yamuna River, the project is still at a dead-end. Meanwhile, the high-level empowered committee set up by the Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung has suggested to launch more sewage and effluent treatment plants to avoid discharge of untreated wastewater into drains and eventually keep Yamuna clean. In its recommendations to Lieutenant-Governor, the committee has suggested some short-term measures, including setting up more STPs/ETPs, installing of online monitoring systems and CCTV cameras over river Yamuna. The recommendations also include construction of boundary walls/wire meshes along the drains, increase the number of dhalaos so that solid waste is not dumped in drains. Delhi generates approximately 600 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage, while it has an installed capacity to treat

approximately 512.4 MGD of waste. However, nearly 58 per cent of the total sewage generated by the city is dumped in the Yamuna by 22 drains between Wazirabad and Okhla Barrage.

“The Delhi Jal Board (DJB), DSIIDC, Industry Department and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have to ensure maximum treatment of sewage/effluents so as to avoid discharge of untreated wastewater into drains and Yamuna River. The DPCC has already issued directions for installing online monitoring systems and CCTV cameras over drains and river,” the committee recommended. On dumping the solid waste in drains, the committee recommended that the civic bodies, apart from construction of boundary walls/wire meshes along the drains, should also increase the number of dhalaos so that solid waste is not dumped in drains.

“The DJB has been asked to list out and publicise the STPs where treated wastewater is available for utilisation and ensure that the departments — like DJB, horticulture, DDA, PWD, NDMC, Delhi Parks and Gardens Society — use this wastewater for irrigation,” the committee recommended.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD) study in 2011 found that drinking water supplied to most Delhiites was contaminated with sewage water. However, a shocking 81 out of 116 samples of water — almost 70 per cent — is supplied across the Capital by the DJB failed MCD’s purity test. Since 1993, the Centre has spent more than Rs 1,500 crore under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) I and II to clean the river unsuccessfully. The first phase was launched after a study by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. It covered Delhi, eight towns in Uttar Pradesh and six towns in Haryana. Under YAP II, the 22-km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi, one of the dirtiest, was taken up. In the next phase, the Government plans to spend another Rs 5,300 crore to clean the river.

It may be noted that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in its report regarding the pollution level in Yamuna, pointed out that Yamuna’s water from Panipat to Agra contain high-levels of pollutants. Meanwhile, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key measure of water pollution, have increased between Panipat and Agra, thanks to hundreds of drains that dump untreated sewage in the river. The CPCB has also identified two critically polluted stretches of the river — one from Wazirabad to Okhla in Delhi and the other from Majawali to Juhika in Uttar Pradesh. Discharge of untreated sewage into the Yamuna is one of the main culprits polluting the river.

-The Pioneer, 16 June 2014

A year has passed since disaster wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand but according to the locals and activists, the authorities have not only failed to learn any lessons from the disaster but are also abetting works like construction of hydro power projects which are believed to have exacerbated the damage wreaked by the disaster last year due to the blatant apathy towards the environment and various violations of environmental laws in such works.

The flood protection works are inadequate and have been started late due to which the quality of works is also inferior and unlikely to offer real protection when needed.

Despite Government plans, official claims and considerable sums of money spent, the locals further point out that apart from anomalies in relief and rehabilitation the Government has not yet improved its monitoring, regulation and preparedness for disaster situations.

They allege that the focus of the Government has been on areas visited by pilgrims and tourists while the disaster-affected areas off the tourism circuit have been ignored.

Ganga Ahvaan movement’s Hemant Dhyani, who was also a member of the Supreme Court appointed expert committee formed to review the impact of hydro power projects in Uttarakhand after last year’s disaster said that flood protection works were started late so many are incomplete and the work quality is inferior.

The preparedness, monitoring and regulation for landslides and other disasters is missing. Even a proper disaster management policy is absent and the district magistrates who were busy with the parliamentary elections till recently are now busy with the Panchayat elections.

In some cases, people seeking timely completion of protection works were told by the Government officials to stop worrying as there would be no disaster this year.

Contractors dominate the Irrigation department which is executing the flood protection works while a political nexus has negatively affected most disaster related works.

The highway to Gangotri in Uttarkashi district is still dotted by stretches where boulders and loose earth material are prone to start raining down on the road following rain.

In stead of ensuring environmental protection to mitigate disaster, the authorities are more eager to facilitate construction of dams while the zonal master plan for the Bhagirathi eco sensitive zone from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi has not yet been finalised. The zonal master plan for the ESZ is supposed to be ready within two years of the notification (December 2012) but so far only one meeting of the committee has been held and that too following directions of the National Green Tribunal,” he added. Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan lamented that instead of ensuring that companies implementing hydro power projects follow rules, the government has allowed the companies to continue blatant violation of regulations. Many of the disaster affected continue to face hardships due to the inefficiency of the State Government, he added.

-The Pioneer, 16 June 2014

The first module of Delhi Metro’s rooftop solar power plant was inaugurated in the Capital on Sunday.

The plant was inaugurated at Dwarka Sector 21 Metro station in the city. An official of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said the power produced from this plant will meet the power requirements of the DMRC at this station. “The rooftop solar power plant is expected to start by end of July,” he added. It has a power generating capacity of 500 kWp. The Delhi Metro is the first Metro system in the country to install such plants at its Metro stations. The official added a power purchase agreement (PPA) regarding the installation of the plant was signed last February between the DMRC and a multi-national firm that is engaged in installation of solar power plants. This is the largest rooftop plant with such capacity in Delhi National Capital Region under the RESCO model. Under this, DMRC will pay for the units generated by the plant and the capital investment shall be provided by the developer.

-The Pioneer, 16 June 2014

The Barapullah elevated corridor will soon be extended to Mayur Vihar, with a new bridge being built over the Yamuna for the purpose.

Arun Baroka, principal secretary, PWD, said on Sunday that all approvals for Barapullah's phase III project have been obtained and work would start "soon".

Baroka said that as part of the Master Plan for Delhi 2021, the proposal to "construct a bridge on Yamuna in the downstream of Nizamuddin Bridge" had been approved. "In the notification of MPD-2021, the ministry of urban development has also suggested that this bridge should be constructed along the alignment of old Pontoon bridge," he added.

Baroka said the financial clearance for the project is expected shortly. "A nod from the expenditure finance committee (EFC) is expected soon. After obtaining all statutory clearances/approvals, the preliminary estimate amounting to Rs 1285.64 crore has been submitted, so %that the construction work can start without any hurdle," he added.

An elevated corridor from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Sarai Kale Khan over Barapullah Nallah was constructed by PWD in 2010 under phase I. Extension of this elevated road towards the west, up to Aurobindo Marg, has been in progress under phase II. In principle approval for extension of the corridor across Yamuna (phase III), from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar, has already been given by the cabinet.

Approval from the UTTIPEC and DUAC has also come in for this phase. As part of the design, a bridge and a viaduct will be built. The 3.5km long elevated road will be divided by an eight-lane carriageway of 17.5m each.

"This road will cater to traffic from all directions between Sarai Kale Khan and Mayur Vihar via the bridge. Finally the stretch from Mayur Vihar to AIIMS shall be signal free through the elevated Barapullah Road," said the PWD release.

An additional flyover at Mayur Vihar Phase-I will also be constructed. A three-laned 11m wide flyover, parallel to the existing on at Mayur Vihar, with one additional auxiliary lane 3.5m wide connecting two loops, will also be constructed.

?Along with this, two loops of 7.5m width — for turning right from NH24 to Akshardham and from Noida to NH24 will be constructed. Along with this, two lanes will be built for turning left towards Akshardham and two lanes for a right turn towards Noida, connecting to the existing flyover at Mayur Vihar. A slip road on the left connecting to the bridge from Noida will also be part of the design.

-The Times of India, 16 June 2014

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to become the first ever metro system in the country to install ‘Roof Top Solar Power Plants’ at its metro stations. The first ever such plant with a production capacity of 500 [...] The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to become the first ever metro system indownload (2) the country to install ‘Roof Top Solar Power Plants’ at its metro stations.

The first ever such plant with a production capacity of 500 kWp will be installed at the Dwarka Sector 21 metro station. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) regarding the installation of the plant was signed between DMRC and the developer, a multinational firm engaged in the installation and production of solar power worldwide, in the presence of DMRC’s Managing Director, Sh. Mangu Singh and other senior officials of DMRC.`

This is the largest roof top plant with such capacity in Delhi NCR region under the RESCO model.

Under this model, the DMRC will pay for the units generated by the plant and the capital investment shall be provided by the developer. The plant is expected to start production within a period of six months. The power produced from this plant will be used to cater to the power requirements of DMRC at this station.

After the installation of this roof top plant, DMRC will also explore the possibility of installing more such plants at its stations, depots, parking lots as well as residential complexes. Efforts are also being made to integrate such solar plants with the station structures of Phase 3.

-By Firstgreen, 16 June 2014

Without another foundation ceremony, work on the Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan has finally begun. On Monday evening, the process of shifting all utilities, from Fatehpuri Masjid to Town Hall, underground was set in motion. After a delay of six years and three inaugurations, things are finally moving.

Drawings are still being prepared as a lot of changes were made to the plan. The first phase involving shifting of all utilities is a basic task and PWD has decided to go ahead with it. "We decided to get started as the project is running late. The details can be simultaneously worked out. We have taken permission from the traffic police and work will be carried out late at night to minimize the inconvenience to commuters," said PWD secretary Arun Baroka.

Trenches will be dug up from Fatehpuri Masjid and the concrete duct will be placed inside. Further digging will be carried out from Town Hall till the fountain, going up to Red Fort. The budget for the first phase—pegged at Rs 13 crore—has been sanctioned.

Traders, who have suffered because of the undue delay, say they are happy that the work has kicked off but they are bracing themselves for further trouble. "After all these years, things are moving on the ground. But, what happened in Connaught Place was more harm than good. We only want that they finish the work on time and don't create a digging mess as the area is already congested," said Sanjay Bhargava, general secretary, Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal.

Some are worried that the agency will start digging just when the monsoon is setting in. "Starting work before or after the rains would have been better. The area will be waterlogged and the trenches can spell danger for pedestrians," said Mohd Akhlaq, a trader.

The imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, Mufti Mukarram, has asked the agency to finish the work outside the mosque before July 20 as Eid prayers will be held.

PWD officials say they plan to wind up the first phase by July-end and the second phase will begin soon after. "Phase II will focus on remedial measures to ease congestion. Economical and technologically efficient solutions will be found to conserve power and the environment. This includes improving streets in Chandni Chowk and accommodating pedestrians while retaining the distinct character of the area," said a senior PWD official.

Even a provision for the trams is part of the redevelopment plan, where 50% of the road from Subhash Marg to Fatehpuri Masjid will be used for pedestrians, while the rest will be used for non-motorized vehicles. "After the LG's and UTTIPEC's approval, the consultant is working on the drawings for the provision of trams. Whether it will be trams or a monorail is a policy matter and is still being worked out," said Baroka. The officials blame the corporations and the case pending with the high court, which is closely monitoring the redevelopment plan, for the delay. The project was with the corporation till last year; after the transfer of 60-foot and wide roads were transferred to PWD, the project was also handed over to them.

-The Times of India, June 17, 2014

"DUHF must take the lead in helping the city preserve its rich history and heritage,” Jung said.

In order to boost conservation of heritage structures in Delhi, a heritage cell will be set up in Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The heritage cell will comprise conservation experts, structural engineers, landscape architects, historians and other experts. The cell will also act as a facilitating centre to co-ordinate with multiple government agencies for conservation projects.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Delhi Urban Heritage Foundation (DUHF), chaired by Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday. It was decided that schemes, which will involve the people of Delhi in conservation of its heritage, would be launched.

The meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary, vice-chairman (DDA), chief architect (DDA), newly co-opted members of the DUHF, including professor Romila Thapar, Convener of Delhi Chapter of INTACH AGK Menon, project director (Aga Khan Trust for Culture) Ratish Nanda and DU professor Amar Farooqui.

“Delhi has a rich history and heritage and we must do all we can to help conserve it. DUHF must take the lead in helping the city preserve its rich history,” Jung said. DUHF was set up by DDA to safeguard and built the natural heritage of Delhi. At present, it has completed conservation and landscape of the Lado Sarai Tomb and renovation of Ex-Vice Regal Lodge at Delhi University.

DDA identifies 1,208 heritage structures and 22 conservation areas in Delhi, of which 174 are protected by the Archaeological Society of India and 19 by the State Archaeology Department.

During the meeting, the Lt-Governor also reviewed progress on conservation of Sultan Garhi Tomb and its precincts, the Cultural Resource Management Plan for an archaeological park in Mehrauli, and restoration of the Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School at Ajmeri Gate.

Restoration of Bengali Club at Kashmere Gate and the Hazrat Nizammudin Basti Urban Renewal Master Plan were also discussed at the meeting.

-The Indian Express, June 17, 2014

After putting environmental clearances on the fast track, decks are now being cleared for setting up of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

According to Ministry sources, the task finds a place in the 100-day agenda of the Modi Government.

The NBWL’s term ended in September 2013 following which no decision could be taken on nearly 120 infrastructure projects. These include the controversial Navi Mumbai airport project, broad gauging of the elephant-killer rail tracks near Alipurduar in North Bengal , 520 MW Hydro Electric Power project on River Teesta in Sikkim amongst others. The sources said, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is seriously looking at the issue. Hectic lobbying is on by various environmentalists and NGOs to find a place in the 15-member standing committee of the NBWL.

The Environment Minister is the chairman of the committee, which meets once in three months to give clearance to projects passing through various protected areas of the country or those falling within a ten km radius.

According to a former NBWL member, it is time for the Government to take decisions on certain key issues, which were left hanging during the UPA regime. For instance, wildlife corridors need to be brought under the purview of NBWL standing committee. Though the issue has been discussed a number of times in the past, no decision has been taken so far. These patches of forest are vital for the movement of both wildlife and humans, and potential areas of conflict between them.

The connectivity for elephants is also a serious issue and nearly 70 corridors has been identified across the country. These corridors need to be notified as diversion of land in these areas would be required to follow certain laid out procedures, said a wildlife expert.

Another member expressed concern over the misunderstanding among the State Governments in drawing the boundaries of the Eco-Sensitive Zones around National Parks and Sanctuaries.He said the standing committee should also be involved in the process of delineation and analysis of eco fragile zones. This is particularly relevant in the case of Western Ghat controversy with the various states, he said.

The issue of diverting CAMPA funds for relocation of villages from the reserve also needs attention. The former members pointed to the huge corpus of funds available under this head which can be used for better habitat management. The issue had also come up for discussions in the past, but decision is pending in this regard, said a former standing committee member of NBWL.

Majority of other pending projects pertain to the construction of roads, highways and electric transmission lines passing through the protected area. Others include diversion of forest land from the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary for construction of a new railway line between Agartala and Sabroom (Tripura) and permission for control of fencing and patrol road on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram amongst others.

-The Pioneer, 17 June 2014

In his recent lecture series, Bronzes of India, John Dawson focussed on works created during the Harappan civilisation, their forms and shapes. He told Darpan Mago that they were made for veneration in temples

The only seated image of Buddha in Bronze from Uttar Pradesh unfortunately lies in the British Museum in the United Kingdom. The bronze statue of Nataraj might be very common in Indian homes, but not many dive into the philosophical nature of the masterpiece. First patronised by the Cholas around 11 century AD, the overall mood of the image is rare and unites the process of birth and death. The artefact denotes the process of creation and destruction continuously happening around us. Shiva is said to have invented 108 types of dances, the one represented in this bronze sculpture is panchtatva or the five elements of life. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva holds a kettle drum (damru) whose initial vibrations are said to have originated the universe. The raised leg and second right hand in abhay mudra offer assurance to all devotees who come under Shiva’s shelter. Shiva is dancing on a dwarf, which is the demon of ignorance or Apasmara and symbolises God’s victory over darkness. In his upper left hand Shiva carries agni or fire, which is the symbol of destruction. The figure is surrounded by a circle, representing flames and manifestation of Universe. Like a circle doesn’t have a beginning or an end, the universe is also on the same lines. Shiva is neutral throughout the dance and his stoic facial expression exemplifies balance. A lecture series by John Dawson on the Bronzes of India at the India Habitat Center revealed some interesting historical facts. John is a former curator (archeology) and a custodian of the largest collection of bronzes for more than two decades. “The lecture series was organised to give people an academic input on the wealth of bronzes treasure in India. This initiative was to make people more appreciative of their culture, and heritage. A country like America doesn’t have much of history, so naturally they don’t have much of art history as well. India is not like that, we have a long history beginning from nearly 2600 BC, which makes us the successors of a nearly 4600-year-old culture. The prime concern for us is to preserve our rich cultural heritage,” said Dawson.

The earliest bronzes in the Indian subcontinent are dated to the mature Harappan period from 2600 to 2000 BC. “In the earlier Harappan period bronzes were cast by a technique called hammering. Later, Indian artists discovered a new technique called the ‘lost wax method.’ It was the first time in India that artists began to make a wax model and then they coated it with three layers of clay. After it hardened, the model was heated and wax was allowed to flow out, forming an empty mould. The molten liquid metal was then poured in this mould and outer clay shell was broken to obtain the bronze. This bronze was later smoothed and certain engravings were done on them,” explained Dawson. Talking about different characteristics of bronze from various periods in India, Dawson threw light on the minds of artists. “In Kushan and Gupta period we had a unique and unabated flow in creation of bronzes. Due to the economic prosperity in these periods, artists came up with some finest creations. Perfection of human form was achieved in Gupta period with subtle physiognomy and keenness towards human body. A sense of spiritualism or calmness was brought in the facial expression of these figures. The artists in Gupta period employed Mahapurusha Lakshans or signs to show a commoner emerging from a great person. Few of these changes were indicated through eyebrows, pointed nose, full lips, elongated ears and tri-valya or the three rings on the neck,” informed Dawson. It is unfortunate that many Indian bronzes today are scattered all over the world. “There are only 30 sculptures from the Pallava period all over the world. Out of these the National Museum has two, a few are in Madras Museum in Chennai and the others are scattered in different countries. Possessed by some US, British and German museums, none of the Gupta period bronzes are today present in India. We enacted the antiquities and art treasures act much later in 1978, whatever happened before this has to be undone very diplomatically,” said Dawson.

-The Pioneer, 17 June 2014

Roman coins— more than 2,000 years old — found in Kottayam district, come up for documentation and study

A commendable initiative in Kerala to bring treasures and antiquities, which are isolated and hidden in private collections, for public viewing and research has yielded impressive results. Recently, a heritage enthusiast turned in two silver Roman coins — more than 2,000 years old — for documentation and study.

So far, this initiative has helped obtain many precious artefacts such as palm leaves containing valuable text on Ayurveda, a few Chola coins and more than 1,200 Chinese coins dating from 1st century CE to 15th century CE. Such voluntary sharing of information is viewed as a significant accomplishment, and experts say such initiatives would go a long way in unravelling and protecting the precious past of the State.

Sharing of information
The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) started this public participatory project a few years ago to encourage people to share treasures in their possession without fear or hesitation. It assured those who owned antiquities that the institute would return the objects after documenting and studying them.

Dr. P. J. Cherian, Director, KCHR, told The Hindu, “People who possess antiquities must not feel threatened by rules of acquisition and penalty. Such moves would defeat the very purpose of the rules. The KCHR wants people to share the details of antique objects freely. No artefact of archaeological value should be hoarded. It is the prime obligation of an enlightened society to ensure they are in the public domain.” He also added that if the state or any institution desired to retain privately-owned antiquities in their museums, there should be provision for compensation.

One of their best finds so far has been the two Roman coins discovered in Kottayam district and datable to 1st century BCE. KCHR researchers carefully photographed the coins and sent them for a professional assessment to an expert in the University of Rome.

A careful study has revealed that these two coins are original — each weighs 3.7 gm and is about 2 cm in diameter; contains a laureate head on one side and legend and figures on the other. One is a Denarius (small-minted silver coin) of Augustus, and the other is a Denarius of Tiberius. This find assumes significance in the light of growing interest in the ancient trade links with Kerala and excavations at Pattanam, a village near Kochi, identified as a trading settlement with Roman trade connections.

The urgency for such a people-friendly project was felt a year ago. A person from North Paravoor mining the Periyar bed for shell deposit at Chendamangalam found a small vase-like object. Upon cleaning it, to his surprise, he discovered that it was an ancient gold vase with a long neck and weighing seven sovereigns. He took it to a jeweller, melted it and made a gold chain for his wife. Worse, he did not even photograph it.

“This incident and many others like this clearly inform us the importance of creating awareness about the need to document and preserve valuable records,” Dr. Cherian emphasised. Countries such as the U.K. have been successfully pursuing innovative schemes to record archaeological objects found by the public for some time now.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme launched in 1997 and managed by the British Museum, partner with people to promote interest in heritage and document artefacts discovered by them. This scheme so far has helped record 900,000 archaeological finds.

-The Hindu, June 18, 2014

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mission Clean Ganga’, the Centre has asked the States along the 2,500-km-long river basin to launch a special drive to set up toilets and community sanitary complexes in villages situated along the river banks to prevent open defecation and curb pollution.

The Union Water and Sanitation Ministry’s move follows the Government’s determination to restore the ecological flow of the holy river by taking anti-pollution measures in the Ganga States — Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Bihar — where about 45 crore people inhabit the river basin.

With a good percentage living in the villages relieving themselves directly in the river because of lack of proper toilet facilities, Pankaj Jain, Ministry’s Secretary has written to the States saying, “This is causing untold pollution to the river which needs to be urgently checked. Also, the quality of drinking water to the towns/villages which is being sourced from the river is getting polluted and spoilt”.

Jain called for taking urgent steps as a special drive to provide individual household toilets as well as community sanitary complexes in all villages (including those near towns and municipal limits) falling on both sides of river Ganga to ensure water remains clean and pollution free and fit for utilization as a good source for drinking water schemes. The Ministry has also asked the States to regularly report to it regarding the number of individual and community toilets sanctioned and built in villages falling on both sides of the river.

However, this would not be an easy task. Despite Rs 20,000 crore pumped over the years into the cleaning exercise for the river, it remains highly polluted. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 2.7 billion litres of sewage is generated every day by class 1 and class 2 cities along the river, but only 1.2 billion litres of treatment capacity exists. In other words, 55% of the sewage generated is dumped untreated into the Ganga.

It is estimated that India’s cities and towns generate 38.2 billion litres of sewage every day. And the country has the installed capacity to treat just 11.8 billion litres-31 per cent of what it needs, as per a government report.

-The Pioneer, 18 June 2014

Re-constitute wildlife board to protect both

By listing the re-constitution of the National Board for Wildlife in its first-100-days agenda, the BJP-led NDA Government has prioritised both environment and development concerns. The Board's tenure had expired in September last year, but between then and March of this year, when the Model Code of Conduct kicked in before the Lok Sabha election, the UPA Government found no time to re-instate the panel. This, of course, was typical of the Congress-led regime's style of governance. A statutory body under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the NBWL, led by the Prime Minister, oversees the implementation of the Government's wildlife policy. Its standing committee, chaired by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, and comprising non-Government members as well, appraises all projects proposed either inside protected wildlife areas or within a 10km radius of any such zone. However, since the NBWL has been defunct for months now, more than 120 projects across the country are held up. Most of these relate to the construction of roads, highways and electric transmission lines in the vicinity of protected areas. In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for instance, huge real estate projects (comprising about 30,000 flats), bordering the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, are in limbo after the National Green Tribunal ordered that they get the NBWL clearances. Builders have already lost several crores and buyers have been equally inconvenienced. In Tripura, the authorities are still waiting for permission to divert forest land from the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary to construct a new railway line between Agartala and Sabroom. In Mizoram, the raising of a fence and construction of a patrol road along the India-Bangladesh border in the Dampa Tiger Reserve has been held up.

Apart from dealing with the clearances backlog, the NBWL also has to take decisions on a whole range of regulatory issues — for instance, the demarcation of eco-sensitive zones around protected areas. State Governments are confused about the rules in this aspect and the Board needs to resolve the matter at the earliest. Similarly, it also needs to take a call on bringing wildlife corridors within its ambit. These corridors are crucial for wildlife survival but have also become veritable death traps in some cases wherein they cut through roads and railway lines. Indeed, reports of elephants being mowed down by speeding trains in north Bengal have become a matter of routine. Unfortunately, none of these issues mattered to the UPA regime which was effectively paralysed towards the end of its second term. However, it is a telling remark on the UPA's hollow governance model that, even as the NBWL was out of use, the MoEF sought to reduce the legally protected area around wildlife zones to avoid seeking the Board's clearance for hydro-electric projects in Sikkim. The stalled 520MW project, four kilometres from the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, is a typical example of the resultant mess.

-The Pioneer, 18 June 2014

One of the most neglected areas of India’s IT industry has been Indic Computing or computing in Indian languages. It is a strange anomaly: While India’s software industry has enabled IT for the world, it has done little to empower Indians to use IT. In contrast to the healthy state of the country’s software exports, the state of Indian languages online is a picture of malnourishment. Hindi is the fourth-largest spoken language in the world (360 million speakers) but on Wikipedia it has a mere 101,297 articles and ranks below even Nynorsk, one of the two official languages in Norway, a tiny country with a population that barely crosses five million.

The average Indian language IT user has to traverse such a vast range of hurdles that it is a miracle that there is any content in Indian languages at all. The most basic starting point for computing in Indian languages, the keyboard, was not easily available until the advent of smartphones. In many parts of the world, if you buy a computing device, it comes bundled with a keyboard for the national language. Not so in India. If this situation is allowed to fester, Indian languages could die a slow death in the digital age. The significant bulk of users want their devices to work and these users are not going to fiddle with installing fonts, keyboards and other paraphernalia. To entice them, Indic users have to be given parity with the English world, and devices should work in Indian languages with the same ease and efficiency that they do in English.

Thankfully, the BJP’s manifesto has recognised the importance of Indic Computing. The manifesto says that the BJP will ‘promote e-Bhasha — National Mission for the promotion of IT in Indian languages’. This goal is challenging but not impossible because the government and private sector have created many of the building blocks. However, these efforts need to be synchronised in such a way that users find Indic Computing as easy as computing in English. If we have to usher in the next 300 million users into the IT revolution, we will have to bring parity and make Indic computing as easy as English computing. This requires a major ecosystem push that includes hardware vendors, software developers, Internet technology companies and the government. Such a push will also have a significant social impact by democratising access to knowledge in Indian languages.

Venkatesh Hariharan is a technology and policy analyst The views expressed by the author are personal

- The Hindustan Times, 18 June 2014

It was the summer of 1985, the first meeting of the Central Ganga Authority was being held. They were all there — the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, the Union ministers of finance, water resources, environment and science. I was there as the project’s first director. We all agreed on the following. First, even in the mightiest of rivers, water has to flow. Without water, a river is a ditch beyond cleaning. Second, that watershed management was essential for maintaining the flow of the river.

Third, that the purity of the waters of the Ganga was legendary but that this was because of the countless micro-organisms in the river. Over the years, chemical fertilisers and pesticides had affected these organisms, rendering the river vulnerable. Fourth, that pollution — waste and sewage discharged into the river from the many cities along its banks — was a phenomenon of recent years, thoughtless and without restraint. And last, that industries and others extracting water from the Ganga should pay for it and not discharge their waste into the river. All this was known to and accepted by the powers that be. But we made three mistakes.

One was to regard the Ganga project as a substitute for sewage treatment. Engineering reports had conjured up a picture that sewage treatment would yield saleable products — methane and fertiliser — which could be used to pay for the project. There was also the hope that a variety of technologies for sewage treatment would be available to be applied in the project. But before long, the project was tied up in sponsoring sewage treatment plants, which should really have been the concern of the municipalities. The second mistake was to succumb to pressure from various agencies, including the courts, to make all settlements, big and small, the concern of the Ganga project. This diluted the project’s priority and selectivity, reduced it to a platform for ceaseless design and tender disputes between the squabbling parastatals of public health, engineering, municipalities and others. The third was the belief that engineers could discipline the Ganga by training its course, hemming its banks, curtailing its spread and diverting its waters to provide flushing doses. The hidden agenda was to extract valuable real estate from the river. But the nagar nigams and municipalities were marginalised and had little to do with the programme. The cities and the Ganga depend on each other for their life. One without the other has no meaning.

It’s good that the prime minister has turned his attention to Varanasi, one of the world’s continuously inhabited settlements. The mayor of Varanasi, like his colleagues in the state, has only one blessing — a five-year tenure. He has to take charge of the city.

-The Indian Express, June 18, 2014

The Kedarnath temple committee has expressed dissatisfaction over the restoration work being carried out by ASI at the shrine which was damaged in last year’s flash floods in Uttarakhand, but the government agency has squarely rejected these claims.

Ganesh Godiyal, president of Badri Kedar Temple Committee, has said that the Archaeological Survey of India should adopt a ‘transparent and efficient’ approach and make ‘good use of government money’.

“I asked ASI about the claim it has made about spending Rs 35 lakh on restoration work so far. I got a reply from its Dehradun circle mentioning a list of 18 to 20 items on which the expenditure was incurred. They have also taken credit for cleaning the temple premises, which is false. The cleaning work was done by the temple committee,” Godiyal told PTI. “We are not satisfied with the way ASI has worked. They have just installed the temple door which is also not of good quality. I have forwarded their reply to temple officer Anil Sharma to verify their claims. After his report, we will decide on our future course of action,” he said.

ASI was handed the responsibility of restoring the temple which was badly affected by the devastating floods and landslides last June in Uttarakhand in which over 5,700 people were presumed dead by the state government.

But the temple committee is not satisfied with the way ASI has worked. According to Godiyal, the committee does not want to create any controversy but expects ASI to be transparent and efficient in its work. to help us personalise your reading experience.

“We don’t want to create an issue out of it. We just want ASI to work transparently and with more efficiency. They should make good use of government money. What have they done in last one year?” he asked. “They have not even started work to rebuild Ishaan temple which was washed away in the floods. Re-installation of the stones, which were dislodged, is also pending. They have done nothing to solve the problem of water leakage from the roof of the temple. The problem persists during rains,” he said. However, dismissing Godiyal’s allegations, Atul Bhargava, superintendent archaeologist of ASI’s Dehradun circle said, “We got only one month for the work so far. In that time we have installed the door and cleared the platform. Apart from that, our team did scientific cleaning some 8ft to 9ft inside the temple. After that, the doors of the temple were closed.

“We have resumed work from June 6 and are cleaning the remaining portion of the temple’s interior. We have also started carving on dislodged stones from the eastern side. The Ishaan temple is not our responsibility as it was completely washed away in the flood. I don’t understand the reason for their dissatisfaction.” Godiyal further said, “They have cleaned the stones which turned black under the sun. We, too, could have done that as that was the easiest thing to do and did not require any expertise. “ASI has claimed to have spent around Rs 3 lakh on travel by helicopter but till now their team of four of five people has visited the site only thrice.” He also questioned the scientific procedure mentioned by ASI in its reply.

“ASI has repeatedly mentioned ‘scientific procedure’ adopted by them in the work. They have also said that they have purchased equipment for the work but where have they kept them?” he asked.

In his response, Bhargava said that “as far as expenditure is concerned, we have purchased some equipment which is with us. IIT Chennai’s expert team has visited the site to assessthe condition of the foundation and the structure. Their second team will visit again on June 19. “This is not modern construction work, hence it takes time. An ASI team of seven-eight people is there at the site on rotation basis. I have visited the site with our conservation director. Work is on but we can’t fix any time frame for it.”

-The Indian Express, June 18, 2014

Experts at the Nehru Mountaineering Institute (NMI), in collaboration with a team from IIT Roorkee, have brought the Mandakini river in Kedarnath back to its original course, a year after the Uttarakhand deluge. The river had changed course after the flash floods of June last year.

After the deluge, the river, originating from Chorabari glacier, had brought down large boulders weighing tonnes from its upper course and wreaked havoc in the Kedarnath valley. Swelling dangerously, the river altered course and began flowing to the right of the Kedarnath shrine, while earlier it flowed to the left.

The Mandakini also merged with the Saraswati river just 50 metres away from the shrine after the deluge. The combined flow coursed barely 20 metres to the shrine's right.

After the snow started melting last month, the state government roped in NMI to re-route the Mandakini and return it to its original course, before monsoons caused the river to swell to unmanageable proportions. Days of brainstorming preceded the start of work at a height of 7000 metres.

"It was a very challenging task because bringing river to its original course at such a height has not been carried out in Uttarakhand. So we roped in experts from IIT Roorkee and others to plan out the exact roadmap," Col Ajay Kothiyal, principal of NMI said.

The team of experts scanned the 100-metre stretch upwards to the point from where the river carved out its new course. Kothiyal explained that on over 100 metres of the river's track, the experts used specially designed concrete blocks and placed them strategically to facilitate the river's switch to its original track. He said that the technique was provided by an international company, which in nutshell is about the strategic placement of several wire-mesh concrete blocks which acts as "energy dissipator" in the middle of the river track.

"After these blocks were placed, the river slowly started changing its course to the left side. Our team cleared the original track of the river to ensure that it smoothly changes its course," Kothiyal said.

After changing the course of the Mandakani, the experts also changed the course of Saraswati. "As the river returned to its original course, we also started putting concrete blocks on the vacant track. It took ten days for completing the task. Now even if the water level shoots up in the monsoon, the rivers will stick to this course," said Kothiyal.

Experts like Kireet Kumar of the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, however are skeptical: "Himalayan glaciers are receding and changing the course of river should have been avoided. The real test of the artificial blocks used in the new course of the river would be the monsoon," he said.

-The Times of India, June 18, 2014

In the face of protests and demands for converting it into a museum, ‘Mehrangir’, the iconic bungalow of Homi J Bhabha in Malabar Hill, was on Wednesday sold at an auction for Rs. 372 crore. The bungalow went under the hammer at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), its custodian. It had issued a public notice inviting developers and investors interested in purchasing the bungalow in March.

Employees of Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) had long been opposed to the move. The hopes of a large group of BARC employees are now pinned on a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court, demanding a cancellation on the auction.

The next date for hearing has now been fixed for June 23. There has been a demand that instead of an auction, the house should be converted into a heritage and museum. Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna recipient CNR Rao told HT over phone, “This is really unfortunate and should not have happened. I tried my best to prevent it from being sold. We should have kept it as a heritage for the country.”

At the time of submission, there were eight bidders but in the final round, there were three bidders.

The identity of the person who bought the bungalow was not revealed. The minimum bid price for the bungalow was fixed at Rs 257 crore.

After Bhabha, the pioneer of India's atomic energy programme, died in 1966, his brother Jamshed became the custodian of the Bhabha estate.

An avid patron of arts and culture, Jamshed Bhabha, had willed the property to the NCPA, which he had founded. “It is a probated will of Dr J J Bhabha and the NCPA is obliged to auction as per the process laid down the Public Trust Act. We have handed over all the things of Dr Homi Bhabha which includes his papers to BARC,” Khushroo Suntook, NCPA chairperson, told HT.

Prashant Motiram Worlikar, the president of Atomic Energy Workers' & Staff Union as well as one of the petitioners, said, “We have not lost hope. We are in search for the will, which will spell out the truth.”

-The Hindustan Times, June 18, 2014

Union Minister for Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Monday asked Delhi Government officials to explore the possibility of constructing navigational barrages on Delhi stretch of Yamuna to augment the flow of the river. The measure was suggested by the Central Water Commission in one of its previous reports which also entails augmenting the water capacity by recharging the at least four to five big lakes which are close and channelise their flow into the river. Gadkari was chairing a meeting for rejuvenation of Yamuna River and to make its stretch in Delhi navigable.

The key issues discussed in the meeting were making sufficient water flow available in the river throughout the year and the treatment of sewage and industrial waste in Delhi before discharging into the river for augmenting its water level. It was also discussed in the meeting to undertake development and beautification of the river banks in an ecologically sound and environment sensitive manner. The Delhi Government also has a plan for taking up a pilot project around the Signature Bridge, presently under construction, in the city to improve the water flow in the stretch by dredging and installing an ‘inflatable rubber weir’ to hold back enough water during the lean season to provide two-three meters of depth for navigation purposes throughout the year.

It was suggested in the meeting that the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model for Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) being constructed by Delhi administration may be implemented where ever feasible. Another proposal put forward for consideration was to provide the treated water from the STPs to the users on chargeable basis thus generating some revenue for the river rejuvenation project.

-The Pioneer, 19 June 2014

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) along with a team from IIT-Chennai has resumed restoration of Kedarnath temple which was damaged in last year's flash floods in Uttarakhand. A senior official from the Culture Ministry said that a six-member ASI and IIT-Chennai team is carrying out geophysical testing of the site of the structure through Multi-Channel Analysis of Spectral Waves (MASW) tests.

Once their report is available, the necessary underpinning and repairs to the foundation of the temple, if required, will be carried out.“Major works to be accomplished at the site this year by ASI include packing the stones (matching the original profile and design), providing wooden flooring, cleaning of temple interior and preserving its stone surfaces and repairs to the temple steps and stone plinth, including resetting and repairs to the roof over Mandapa of the temple,” said the official.

ASI has engaged stone dressers (from Rajasthan), labourers and carpenters for the conservation work for which Rs2 crore have been earmarked.

-The Pioneer, 19 June 2014

By the turn of the century, global warming could radically alter the climatic anatomy of one of the world's most populated river basins — the Indus — thereby impacting millions of livelihoods, says a new study.

The 1.1 million sq. km basin, shared by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, is projected to warm “significantly and progressively”, with average temperatures set to increase by around 4 degrees C by 2080, says a paper published recently in the journal Climate Dynamics.

Warmer winters in the plains, quicker snow melt in the basin's northern highlands (comprising parts of the Hindu Kush, Karakorum, and Himalayas) and more frequent flash floods at the foothills are predicted over the next seven decades, altering the basin’s hydrology, the paper warns.

Winter in the Indus basin on average could be warmer by 3.9 to 5.1 degrees C, and summers by 3.4 to 4.6 degrees C, the researchers found; they created three projections of climate change between 2020 and 2080.

Two simulations indicate a 4 to 8 degree C rise in maximum summer temperature. The summer monsoon is likely to be warmer too, with a rise in maximum mean temperature by 1.5 degrees C by the 2020s.

By 2080, the number of rainy days over the basin will increase and the intensity of rainfall is likely to rise in the foothills of the Hindukush and other highlands — an area that is already prone to flash floods. Northern highlands could get hotter, and snow and glacier melt likely to hasten. “… The projected changes in extreme events are likely to exacerbate the flood and flash flood hazard,” says the paper.

However, changes in climate are not spatially uniform across the basin. For instance, a decrease in rainfall during winter is projected for 2020 in the southern plains of the basin, but an increase is expected in the upper highlands.

“Overall the projected regional rainfall changes are broadly consistent with the general observation predicted by IPCC in 2007” — “the wet getting wetter and the dry becoming drier.

“'The most affected will be people with least adaptation capacity. Farmers may be left with no choice but to change their cropping patterns, perhaps even their crops,” said Ashwini Kulkarni of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and a co-author.

-The Hindu, June 19, 2014

An incredibly rare 19th century postage stamp, a tiny one-cent magenta from British colonial Guyana, sold for $9.5 million in New York on Tuesday, setting a new world record.

Bidding began at $4.5 million and it took just two minutes to sell the stamp to an anonymous bidder on the phone, although the auction house Sotheby’s had valued the tiny specimen of British colonial memorabilia at $10-20 million. Sotheby’s said the previous auction record for a single stamp was $2.2 million, set by the Treskilling Yellow in 1996.

Made in 1856 in Guyana and measuring just 2.54 by 3.18 cm, the one-cent magenta is octagonal, printed in black ink and bears the initials of the postmaster.

Last bought by convicted murderer and American multi-millionaire John du Pont in 1980, it was last seen in public in 1986, before going on display at Sotheby’s in the build-up to Tuesday’s sale. — AFP

-The Hindu, June 19, 2014

The Delhi Development Authority on Wednesday decided to use an innovative ‘soil bio-technology’, developed by IIT-Bombay, to meet the water requirement in Dwarka area.

“The project proposes using soil bio-technology treatment of bioremediated water, sourced from Palam drain. The technology will allow the remediated water from the drain, high in biochemical oxygen demand (BoD), to be treated and make it potable,” a senior DDA official said. Bioremediation is a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms to remove or neutralise pollutants from a contaminated site.

BoD (biochemical oxygen demand) is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. And, the metric and can be used as a gauge of the effectiveness of waste-water treatment plants.

The pilot project would cost Rs3.75 crore, on 5000 square metres of land, and was likely to deliver water by the end of December this year and five million litres of water per day by January 2015, which is equivalent to supply from 50 tubwells, the official said. DDA vice-chairman Balvinder Kumar along with a team of engineers and senior officers today assessed the proposal and the urban body has decided to take up the project.

-The Pioneer, 19 June 2014

Trudging through the mohallas, chaubaras and bazaars of Chamba and Basholi, I went searching for living exponents of miniature painting tradition; the descendants of the masters who had created the Pahari schools of paintings, imbuing them with lyrical mysticism that perhaps comes from living in the mist covered, snow-capped mountains. The blues and greens that permeate the miniatures are a reflection of the myriad hues that light up the hills as the day goes by, and the unpredictable weather changes in a flash.

My search revealed just a sprinkling of actual practioners and a large number of forgers. The former were still trying to innovate and bring in new ideals and idioms, bringing in fresh flavour to time-tested sagas such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata as also the romantic heroines that belong solely in the realm of Pahari miniatures; seen in languid or sensual poses in the Ragamala and the Rasamanjari genres. The forgers were happily churning out the same but in a turgid, conventionalised format on tea-decoction stained paper. The one thing that is common to both categories is the use of chemical paints such as poster colours though very few use gouache. But for the cognoscenti , who object to the opaqueness of colour and lack of layering, luckily for the artists this does not seem to present any great dilemma to those who are exposed only to modern versions of miniature paintings.

Far more interesting are the apocryphal tales with regards to the lack of recognition of the value of these paintings about a half a century ago. One hears of shopkeepers packing groceries in paper bags made of miniatures and of cracks in windows being papered with the same. This of course fuels the imagination of every antique hunter, the present writer included, but till date I have not come across any such windfall. From being considered waste paper to being valuable enough to be forged, Pahari miniatures have come a full circle. May the vibrancy of their themes and colours live forever.

-The Deccan Chronicle, June 19, 2014

The world may be going solar but the capital isn't designed to harness the sun's energy optimally. That's the crux of an environment department report on the lessons Delhi can learn from Gujarat's solar power projects.

The report that will be submitted to the LG soon says Delhi can replicate Gandhinagar's "rent a roof" model, but it will be limited to government buildings like offices, schools and hospitals as most private properties are not suitably aligned or are haphazardly built.

Although the capital's solar power potential has not been assessed yet, a senior official from the department said, "Delhi is very different from other cities. The buildings are of uneven height. There are unauthorized colonies and various constructions on roofs". As a result, the rooftop area available for solar generation in Delhi may be much less than that in Gandhinagar, which is a planned city with buildings of similar height and size. "We have to assess the potential with bidders for this project. First, let's find out how much roof space is available," the officer said.

Solar panels work best on south-facing buildings, so initially, the project will be confined to government buildings that meet this requirement. Also, large-scale projects like solar parks that Gujarat has implemented will not be feasible here because of the space crunch. "We have prepared a report only on the Gandhinagar rooftop project," said the official.

The project is likely to use a 'gross metering' system-one in which all the power generated goes to the grid, as opposed to the 'net metering' system in which the producer uses some of the power and transfers the surplus to the grid. Rooftop owners will be compensated according to the Gandhinagar model. "If the cost of solar power is Rs 12 per unit, the property owner will get Rs 3 per unit."

Delhi's solar policy is still at a draft stage as power regulator DERC has not finalized metering guidelines. No timelines have been set for the project. "We will know how much time the project will take after bidding starts," said the official.

Delhi's draft solar policy promotes a "production-based subsidy" under which the government pays the producer for the units of conventional energy saved by using renewable energy.

-The Times of India, June 20, 2014

The adviser to the Gujarat government on water issues, Babubhai Navalawala will now head an advisory group that will "guide the Delhi government on issues related to water management".

Navalawala, a former secretary in the ministry of water resources and a water expert, has also been associated with the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd, responsible for the Narmada dam. He was in Delhi at the invitation of lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and met him and senior officials on Thursday.

During the meeting, Jung appointed Navalawala as chairperson of the advisory group that will focus on three critical areas-disposal of untreated sewage by storm water drains into the Yamuna, development of the river and raising the water table in Delhi.

The LG, who on Tuesday reviewed the working of DJB, announced that the city needs to draft a long-term plan for water and sewage, both of which will also be supervised by the advisory group. It will also work out an action plan on the three major water and sewerage concerns and create task forces which will execute the specific plans and report to the advisory group. "The advisory group will consist of five expert members and they will meet on a monthly basis to review the progress of the works assigned," said sources.

Last week, a team of Delhi government officials visited Ahmedabad to study the Sabarmati river project. On their return, several departments recommended that the only way of cleaning the Yamuna is by channelizing it like the Sabarmati, a suggestion that has met with stiff opposition from environmentalists.

Meanwhile, Jung asked DJB to improve water supply and provide sewerage facilities to unauthorized colonies.

-The Times of India, June 20, 2014

With the national Capital facing acute water shortage, the Delhi Government has now roped in the advisor to Gujarat Government on water issues, Babubhai Navalawala, to guide it on water management.

Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung, on Thursday, formed an advisory group of experts, chaired by Navalawala, that will work out an action plan and guide the Government in tackling the issue.

The five-member advisory group of experts, headed by water expert Navalawala, will guide Delhi Government on issues related to water management. The advisory group was constituted by Jung, on Thursday, to work out an action plan and create task forces which will execute specific plans and report to the unified command of the Advisory Group, officials in LG House said.

The LG highlighted three critical areas which require immediate intervention, in terms of water and sewerage planning and execution for Delhi. They are storm water drains disposing untreated sewerage into the Yamuna, developing the Yamuna itself and raising the water table in Delhi. This apart, during the meeting, Jung also approved a number of short-term measures to improve the availability of water in Delhi, like setting up of water ATMs, facilitating sewer connections and releasing water to unauthorised colonies and so on. It was felt that the Government must develop a long-term master plan to address the water and sewerage issues in Delhi.

“We must draw from best practices and work out a comprehensive plan for Delhi which will be able to cater to the growing needs of the city,” said Jung. The advisory group would meet on a monthly basis to review the progress.

-The Pioneer, 20 June 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be concerned over the state of Ganga river, but the authorities responsible for keeping the river pollution free seem reluctant to care about its condition.

As a result, the river becomes contaminated near its source in Gangotri itself. The sewage treatment plant approved for Gangotri in 2007 has not yet been built. In addition, the sewage from Uttarkashi is also being dumped into the Bhagirathi River. The Rs10.48 crore sewage treatment plant at Gangotri was given the green signal in 2007, but even after seven years, out of 2.25 km sewer line only 1.61 km line has been laid so far.

The work on three sewage pumping stations and a sewage treatment plant in the region has remained incomplete. The 100 KW power needed to operate the treatment plant has not yet been facilitated. The Rs8.25 crore sewage treatment plant in Uttarkashi which was damaged in past floods has not yet been repaired. The 1,570 metre sewer line, two pumping stations and three small treatment plants in Uttarkashi were damaged in last year's floods. Now the raw sewage is being dumped directly into the Bhagirathi from Tambakhani sewage pumping station.

According to officials at the Ganga Pollution Control Unit, Rs448.75 lakh sought for repair of the Uttarkashi plant has not been received so far. It is not possible to prevent dumping of raw sewage in the Bhagirathi without repairing this treatment plant. The Gangotri temple committee secretary Suresh Semwal blamed the apathy and inefficiency of the Government machinery for the degeneration of the river which is being contaminated near its source. However, the expression of concern for the Ganga by the Prime Minister has raised some hopes about the authorities acting as required to prevent the degeneration of the holy river.

-The Pioneer, 20 June 2014

While restoration work at the Red Fort is all but overtaken by preparations for the Prime Minister’s address on August 15, the ASI should remember it also needs to provide basic amenities to shopkeepers and tourists on the premises

When Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Red Fort as a royal residence within the fortified palace of Shahjahanabad, he spared a thought for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal and the other women in his life, who needed a break from the humdrum existence of their luxurious yet secluded harem. The Emperor ordered that a market of silver and gold jewellery and handicrafts — now known as Chhatta Chowk or Chhatta Bazaar — be set up within the palace. This would enable women from the royal family to enjoy an uninterrupted shopping experience.

Its heyday may be a thing of the past, but shops are still running in the enclosure, many operated by families who have been in this ancestral business for over a century. To beautify the bazaar, the Archaeological Survey of India is restoring 32 cells located above the shops. It has removed kitchens, toilets and offices made by the Army while it was stationed there. But the work is being done at a snail’s pace, and so far only one cell has been restored.

“Work is being done in such a manner that visitors are not disturbed. We are trying to restore the Mughal architectural design patterns inside each of these cells. Work in only one cell, where the diamond cut design had been completely destroyed, has been completed. We will undertake work in the remaining cell after August 15,” says an ASI official. According to 87-year-old A.P. Singha, one of the oldest shopkeepers, the British continued to patronise the bazaar after taking over the fort. As a child, Singha came across uniformed British officers issuing instructions to sweepers as well as babus to ensure that the fortified palace, particularly the Chhatta Bazaar, was spic and span. And the shops continued to sell jewellery and handicrafts. Arif Husain, a fourth generation shopkeeper, got ownership of the shop because his great grandfather, a military photographer, was allotted space by the British. “But my grandfather converted the studio into a handicraft shop,” he says.

The entire market was looked after with a lot of care and meticulous planning. Nowadays, one stumbles upon uncouth visitors spitting betel juice and sweepers cleaning the market perfunctorily.

Right at the entrance, one realises that the red sandstone fort has transformed into a faded fortified enclosure. The ASI, responsible for the upkeep of the edifice, has apparently not paid attention to this aspect so far. The Red Fort urgently needs cleaning and perhaps adequate supply of limestone to strengthen its massive walls. The ASI plans to set up an outlet within the Red Fort premises for refreshments and snacks. But so far not a single eatery is functioning in the sprawling area. “Right now, our priority is to make arrangements for the August 15 function,” says the official.

Meanwhile, on a hot June afternoon, one witnesses anxious visitors searching for bottled water and soft drinks. The earlier food outlets have been discontinued. Furthermore, visitors have to trudge at least one kilometre to enter the fort as no feeder buses or e-rickshaws are allowed. All this has hampered the business of the shopkeepers.

-The Hindu, June 21, 2014

Abdication of statutory duty by the state and its agencies has emerged as the disturbing theme in two recent cases heard by the Supreme Court related to rights of flat owners.

The net loser in both instances is the consumer, be it thousands of flat owners awaiting allotment in Noida, or those facing sudden eviction after inhabiting Campa Cola society in Mumbai for 25 years. Experts fear projects in the NCR may meet the fate of Campa Cola society unless state and central governments streamline the process of granting environmental clearances. The latest crisis to have hit projects under construction within a 10km radius of Okhla sanctuary is widely seen to be the result of failure of the ministry of environment and forests to demarcate ecologically sensitive zones.

With SC refusing to interfere with orders of the National Green Tribunal in the Okhla sanctuary matter, lawyers say it may open a floodgate of litigation against developers due to delayed possessions. Former law minister and Aam Aadmi Party ideologue Shanti Bhushan has faulted the state agencies for conniving with builders and cited the Campa Cola society as an example. Bhushan maintained that while SC can't be blamed for refusing to intervene, "the case raises many issues of constitutional importance, which must determine the state's responsibility in such situations." The senior advocate said "while nobody can have any objection if the builder and authorities were punished, but the question is whether demolition of hundreds of flats can be the response of the state."

In the Okhla sanctuary case, lawyers point out that UP government continued to grant environmental clearances for projects, despite an SC order in 2006. The apex court had specified that clearances by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority to projects within 10km of a wildlife sanctuary or a national park are subject to obtaining prior approval from the National Board for Wildlife, which wasn't done in this case .

"It must be clarified that there is no such order for stopping construction. The order only pertains to issuance of notification of eco-sensitive zone by the MoEF. Since the order also states that completion certificates shall not be given to the builders, the ultimate effect would be on the customers as builders would not be able to transfer possession," says Sumeer Sodhi, a lawyer representing some of the developers. He hoped the MoEF— infamous for delays due to red-tapism—would change in the new government and do "what is required at the earliest for the benefit of customers."

Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, whose petition resulted in the NGT order, also blamed the state government. "Had they told builders that they have to take permission from NBWL then the situation might have been different."

-The Times of India, June 21, 2014

Though the NDA Government has created a separate Ministry of Ganga Rejuvenation for cleaning of the Ganga, the situation has not moved up much on the ground as yet.

According to sources, the official notification related to the procedural transfers from Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) as the nodal Ministry for cleaning Ganga to the Ministry of Water Resources is still pending. This can happen after the Cabinet Secretariat issues notification for the shifting of work from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Even though the Government has created a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) from the ministries of Tourism, Shipping and environment as members, in absence of the notification, the transfer of files are still awaited from MoEF.

Sources informed that formally the Cabinet Secretariat is required to issue a notification stating ‘Amendment of Allocation of Business Rule’. This will officially notify the Ministry of Water Resources as the nodal Ministery for Ganga Cleaning. However, at this juncture, the MoEF continues to be the nodal Ministery for the cleaning of the Ganges. The sources informed that as a result work has come to a standstill where by the official notification is awaited.

The sources further said in this situation of uncertainty, the official transfer of files and documents from MoEF related to the projects and schemes on the Ganges is stranded.Regarding the functioning of Committee of Secretaries, the sources further informed that a Commissioner needs to be deputed to coordinate with the secretaries of the respective ministries to prepare the action plan for cleaning of the Ganges. The appointment or allotment of work to any official cannot be done against a pending notification, the sources added. The committee was supposed to prepare the road map for Ganges cleaning within a month beginning from June 6.MoEF has been implementing the Ganga Action Plan (GAP I and II) since the past three decades.

It has also been the nodal agency for implementation of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was constituted under the chairman ship of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Unfortunately,according to sources, the authority met only thrice since 2009 and three of its members including Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh had also quit in the face of complete lack of interest on the part of Government.

-The Pioneer, 21 June 2014

From the argument between Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi to the British Cabinet Mission of 1946 — which finalised plans for India’s independence — history buffs in the national Capital are set to witness some of the rarest and iconic moments of India’s independence movement. Showcasing some of the exclusive images of historical figures — like Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and even Jackie Kennedy — Connaught Place will play host to a unique photo exhibition, to be flagged off on August 15, by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Most of the photographs on display are set to grab eyeballs as they have never been published. “The archival collection of historic images shall represent the work of a once forgotten photojournalist, Kulwant Roy (1914-1984). The month-long festival will trace nationalist history through pictures of historic political meetings, iconic portraits and glimpses into the lives of famous freedom fighters and leaders of India. Priceless moments of the Indian history, dating from the 1930s to 1960s, that spring to life in black and white will also be on display,” said Jalaj Shrivastava, chairman, NDMC. “People will get to see the iconic picture of Jinnah and Gandhi fighting at his residence. Then there will be one in which Nehru and Ghaffar Khan walk to a Congress meeting while Sardar Patel is pulled alongside in a rickshaw,” also said a senior NDMC official.

The civic agency will be organising the event in collaboration with India Photo Archive Foundation (IPAF), founded by Aditya Arya, to whom Roy left all his photo collections. “In order to keep the exclusivity of images intact, there will be 30 to 35 images on display. Each photo will carry an accompanying story about it,” said Arya. The photos will be displayed at all six blocks in CP’s Inner Circle, in the Central Park around the flag point, Regal Cinema and Jeevan Bharti building’s façade and also in the subways.

-The Pioneer, 21 June 2014

The National Investigation Agency has written to the Delhi and Maharashtra police on the possibility of a terror attack and sounded a security alert at important monuments like Qutub Minar and Lotus Temple. NIA has given details of the interrogation of SIMI activists. Places like the Anand Vihar here will also have tight security.

On questioning Hyder Ali alias Black Beauty, who masterminded the Patna serial blasts, NIA found that he and his aides had done a recce of six important installations in Delhi. Ali, along with others, was arrested in May. The arrests were followed by a major haul of improvised explosive devices (IED) and timers from the outskirts of Ranchi. They were found to have inspected more than 20 installations in the two states.

Delhi Police has intensified security at vulnerable areas. The local police are also in the know. Crowded markets, malls, Delhi Metro and railway stations are also under close watch. Security at Chhawri Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj has been reviewed. Embassies and government installations have been notified and cops are keeping an eye out for any unclaimed vehicles parked nearby. The eyes-and-ears scheme has been activated, an officer said. Patrolling and barricading is also being reviewed.

The sellers of ammonium nitrate have been asked to maintain proper logs and identification details of buyers, especially those who order huge quantities.

-The Times of India, 21 June 2014

The Delhi Government’s ambitious redevelopment project of historical Chandni Chowk will finally take-off on Sunday as the Delhi Traffic Police has given its go-ahead to the project. This, however, has come with a rider — the construction works will be carried out in six phases — contrary to the Public Works Department’s plan to complete the work in one go. The project has been lingering for the last six years despite several announcements and inaugural ceremonies.

The first phase of work pertains to the shifting of underground utility cables. The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory. “The RCC ducting work will be carried out in six phases of about one month each. In the first phase, ducts will be laid out in the northern carriageway from Fatehpuri Mosque to Town Hall. So, the carriageway will remain closed from Sunday onwards,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla. There will be a 2.5-metre lane near the central verge for exclusive movement of pedestrians. There will be total restriction for light motor vehicles (LMVs) and heavy transport vehicles (HMVs) on the lane.

“All the stakeholders held a meeting on the issue on Friday, including the Delhi Traffic Police. We are set to begin with the work,” said Jayesh Kumar, PWD project engineer. Meanwhile, peeved over the development, the residents and traders of the historical market blamed the elected representatives and their parties for inordinate delay. They said the negligence on their part is not only affecting the sheen of Chandni Chowk but also puts the lives of traders, shoppers and dwellers at risk.

“The local MP, MLAs and councillors hardly take any interest in the redevelopment project. They are seemingly interested only in laying foundation stones or cutting ribbons but nothing moves beyond that and eventually we are affected,” said Manish Pal, who runs an eatery near Chandni Chowk Metro Station.

“Huge bunch of hanging electricity cables makes shops look ill-maintained. At the same time, they are a major threat as a spark can lead to massive fire within minutes,” he added. The region also includes Asia’s biggest dry fruits and spices market, which attract buyers from across the country. Lack of parking space and encroachment over roads are other issues which aggravate the chaos here. Pedestrians can be seen jostling for space.

Locals also expressed their apprehensions over successful implementation of the Government’s plan to introduce trams once again in Chandni Chowk. “Trams track would restrict the movement of the private vehicles in the area. Before bringing such projects, the Government must consult all the stakeholders. Most importantly, the Government should ensure timely implementation of any scheme,” said Jai Prakash Sethi, a paper merchant in Khari Baoli Market.

“The efforts should be made to retain the character of the market in order to attract more tourists and shoppers. But the traders and residents should not be affected. Now is the time to act,” he added.

-The Pioneer, 22 June 2014

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), a multi-disciplinary research institute, has developed an innovative eco-friendly wastewater treatment plant based on a technology that could improve efficiency as well as reduce costs significantly. The wastewater treatment plant, which utilises emergent wetland plants and micro-organisms present in wastewater, is operational on the IARI’s Delhi campus where three cells are treating 2.2 million litres of water per day sourced from the Krishn Kunj colony.

IARI scientists pointed out that while conventional wastewater treatment plants degrade only organic pollutants and do not reduce metal pollutants, the new technology will reduce metal pollutants present in waste water. “Metals in waste water and sludge, which currently do not get treated at wastewater plants, seep into natural ecosystems and contaminate ground water. In comparison, the new system reduces metal pollutants besides degrading organic and inorganic pollutants. Its energy requirement is 1 per cent of conventional wastewater treatment plants use as it does not require operating aerators 24X7, but relies on vegetation and plants to do this,” said Ravinder Kaur, project director, Water Technology Centre at the IARI.

“We have engineered the natural treatment processes and have relied on solar radiation, native micro-organisms and plants, and have integrated a “Cash for Trash” business model in this leading to an annual saving of about Rs.1.8 lakh,” said Ms. Kaur. IARI experts said that the waste water treatment plant can be harvested every two months to yield 12 tonnes of dry biomass per annum per cell that can be transformed to 3,000 sq. m. particle boards, which sell for Rs.200-250 sq. m. or sold to particle board manufacturers at Rs.2,000 per tonnes as dry matter.

According to the IARI, freshwater availability per capita in the country decreased from 5,177 cubic metre in 1951 to 1,869 cubic metre in 2001 to 1,588 cubic metre in 2010. The IARI calculates this may further drop to 1,140 cubic metre by 2050. Class I and II cities, which account for 72 per cent of the population, are generating 98 litres per capita per day. In Delhi, users generate a much higher amount of 220 litres per capita per day. Of current total availability 85 per cent water is diverted for irrigation. About 70 to 80 per cent of water supplied to homes gets converted into waste-water.

At present, as per the Central Pollution Control Board, Class I and II cities generate 40 billion litres of water per day, while installed sewage treatment capacity is 30 per cent of this.

-The Hindu, 22 June 2014

Stations of Delhi Metro's upcoming Phase III, along with other stations across the country, will be rated to judge their compatibility with green building norms, said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday.

"This will help the metro systems design their stations as eco-friendly structures and utilise natural resources such as sunlight more effectively," said the Delhi Metro spokesman, Anuj Dayal. According to the Delhi Metro, the rating process will help the upcoming Metro projects design their stations according to green building norms. They can later apply for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a globally accepted green building certification programme that recognizes the best in class building strategies and practices. DMRC has already announced that all the stations in its third phase of expansion along with 12 receiving sub-stations and residential quarters will be designed as green buildings.

"Green buildings help in better preservation of the environment as in such structures there are provisions for better saving of energy, water and CO2. Such buildings also have better waste management arrangements," added Dayal. "The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a body involved in promoting the Green Building concept in India, will be conducting this rating process. They will also issue guidelines for designing the station structures as green buildings," he added.

Apart from Kolkata and Delhi, metro systems are also operational at Bengaluru and Mumbai. "Many other cities such as Jaipur, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Pune etc will also have metro corridors in the years to come. So, this initiative is expected to prove very beneficial for the better preservation of the environment," said a Delhi Metro official.

-The Times of India, 22 June 2014

An unsung hero, Hakim Nabina devoted his life to heal the ailing

Hakim Nabina has passed into legend. Three years older than Hakim Ajmal Khan, one was reminded of him when Ajmal Khan’s great-granddaughter came for admission to Hamdard University last week, accompanied by her father. While Ajmal Khan’s name lives on beyond his ancestral haveli, Sharif Manzil in Ballimaran, Hakim Nabina had no fixed abode and believed to have been born in the Walled City too, got most of his fame in South Delhi where he was brought by some dealers in Unani medicine.

Born in the same year as Rabindranath Tagore, he was 105 when Dr. S. A. Ali of Hamdard met him in 1965 to seek medication for a digestive problem. The hakim, who had probably been born blind or had lost his vision in childhood, felt the patient’s pulse and diagnosed that his heart and liver were in good trim but not his digestive system. “Did you by any chance eat arbi (yams)?” he enquired. Dr Ali confessed that he had in fact had a piece of the vegetable though he was not fond of it. The hakim told him to have light food in future and prescribed some medicine which cured his ailment. Syed Ausaf Ali, himself an octogenarian now, says Nabina lived at Hazrat Pattey Shah’s dargah, behind Humayun’s Tomb. What he prescribed was dispensed by dealers in Unani drugs. When someone complained that the charges were very high, he advised them not to go to the dispensers but take medicine from him directly.

Pattey Shah or the saint amid tree leaves was actually named Shamsuddin Ataullah and died in AD 1300 during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. He got the nickname because whenever Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya visited his khanqah or hospice, he would hide behind bushes and tree leaves, saying he was not worthy of coming face-to-face with the Auliya. This is what has been affirmed in Sadia Dehlvi’s book on the Dargahs of Delhi. It is said that the Shah belonged to the Chishti silsila or order of saints. “During the day he would light a fire and cover himself with its ashes, while at night he slept in a grave-like hollow (something emulated by the eccentric Spanish painter Salvador Dali, who spent his nights in a coffin). When he died Hazrat Nizamuddin led the funeral prayers as per the Shah’s last wish. Hakim Nabina seems to have developed a spiritual rapport with Pattey Shah and lived most of his long life at the latter’s shrine. When he died is not known but it was probably during Indira Gandhi’s first prime ministership, which would mean that he was nearly 110 years old at that time.

The hakim is not to be confused with Hafiz Nabina Doliwale, the blind mendicant who lived under a tree near the southern gate of the Jama Masjid. Nobody knew his real name also, except that he was one who could recite the Quran by heart (Hafiz), was blind (Nabina), wore no clothes and loved to travel free in a doli or palanquin. He and Hakim Nabina were both born in the same year (1860), when Bahadur Shah Zafar was passing his last days in Rangoon. But Hafiz Nabina died at the age of 87 much before the hakim sahib. Everybody in the city knew him and he also finds mention in Ahmed Ali’s “Twilight in Delhi” as he often visited the hero of the book, Mir Nihal. He was regarded as a majzoob (a man possessed), lost in himself and supposed to be in contact with the jinns, without much care for hygiene.

However Hakim Nabina, despite his mystical leanings, never gave the impression that he was a majzoob. His direct communion was with Pattey Shah and he passed his life in the service of those who came to him to be healed. That he could tell a patient what his illness was merely by touching him and pointing out, “Thou ailest here and here,” was a sign of his deep knowledge of human nature and anatomy and the Unani system of medication. Like Hafiz Nabina, he was a recluse but of a different sort who did not discard the ways of the world in matters of dress, behaviour and etiquette. Old-timers remember him as a worthy contemporary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, who had acquired the halo of Massiha (messiah) of the ailing populace!

-The Hindu, June 23, 2014

To deal with the perennial water problems, the city needs to urgently introduce conservation measures in totality, and not sporadically. A holistic approach to water conservation, including encouraging use of water-efficient devices, both in residential and industrial units, treatment of sewage, economic usage of water at an individual level and rainwater harvesting, is vital to break the recurring chain of gap in demand and supply of water in the city, according to conservation experts.

The city does not properly manage the whole water ecological system. “The city does not protect its 600-odd water bodies, does not harness the rainwater, does not efficiently treat the sewage it generates and does not even encourage its residents to use water economically.

The government’s policies are oriented towards the supply-side management rather than the management of demand — which encourages efficient usage of water at an individual level,” according to Himanshu Thakker of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People.

Poor treatment of sewage is also one of the prime causes of the shortage of potable water. Although the amount of sewage Delhi generates is huge, the city is able to treat only 40 per cent. The rest seeps into water bodies and pollutes them.

“Delhi’s 17 sewage treatment plants hold a treatment capacity of 2,330 MLD. However, the growth in sewage treatment capacity has not kept pace with the increase in population and waste. Statistics reveal that the city’s treatment capacity increased only seven-fold (from 300 million gallons a day in 1960 to 2,330 MLD in 2008) in 40 years, compared to a 12-fold hike in wastewater generation in that same period,” a report by the Centre for Science and Environment says, adding that the situation has worsened in recent years as the gap between treatment capacity and waste generation stands at about 2,100 MLD at present.

“Large areas of the city — private citizens and institutions — have increasingly become dependent on groundwater. There are over three lakh tubewells in the city, of which barely one-third are registered. According to the Central Ground Water Board’s 2005 report on dynamic groundwater resources of India, Delhi extracts 170 per cent more water from the ground than what is sustainable. In other words, Delhi does not have any groundwater reserves for its future use,” the report added.

Mr Thakker said that if the city adopts measures like making sewage treatment mandatory for all big buildings like schools, malls, shopping areas such as Connaught Place and government buildings, it will significantly be able to reduce the load on the groundwater and reduce pollution in the Yamuna. “The city does not have a centralised sewage system. Though the sewage treatment has been made mandatory for the 3-star hotels and above, it should be extended to other big commercial units as well,” he said.

-The Asian Age, June 23, 2014

Despite the State having been rocked by one of the worst calamities last year in which over 6,000 people were killed in flash floods — large scale environmental degradation in the region being the primary reason — the sand mafia continues to operate brazenly on the banks of rivers in the State. This, is despite the fact that the National Green Tribunal has put a blanket ban on sand mining and strict safeguards have been set in place by the Supreme Court.

“People have not learnt their lessons despite such a huge loss. They are still playing with nature,” Naresh Tamta, owner of Tamta Tea Stall in Srinagar said. His shop stands overlooking the majestic Alaknanda River where trucks and JCBs could be seen operating mindlessly.

“At least two dozen trucks carry sand everyday from these banks. You can see four to five JCBs working - some crushing boulders into gravel and others loading sand into trucks,” he said pointing at the trucks from the window of his tea shop.

The scene is similar as one meanders through Rishikesh and goes towards Rudraprayag passing through Agastya Muni and Srinagar - two small towns that witnessed extensive damage during flooding in June last year caused by a cloud burst in Kedarnath Valley. The swirling waters of the Alaknanda River washed away the headquarters of the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and Industrial Training Institute in Srinagar.

Himanshu Thakkar, Convener of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People said that tampering with riverbeds with machines like JCBs has a devastating effect on the environment as it increases the erosion capacity of the river.

“People do not realise that sand and boulders prevent the river from changing its course. Removing sand gives a bigger space for the river to play with and within no time it changes its course with devastating effect,” Thakkar said.

Officials in the Government admit to the link between indiscriminate mining and the disaster that struck Uttarakhand last year. Amit Chandola, Government spokesman, said that flooding in rivers has caused a lot of damage in the last five to seven years because man has played with nature.

“We are well-versed with the danger, therefore, the State has sought clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to mine over 2,000 hectares of land because the riverbed in the lower reaches of the hills has risen up to 1.5 to 2 metres at some places due to the debris that came down with the flood waters of rivers. The District Magistrates give permission for mining.

And to the best of my knowledge it is banned till October 2014,” he said. Shailesh Bagauli, Director of Geology and Mining unit of Uttarakhand’s Directorate of Industries, said that since there is a significant rise in the riverbeds because of aggradation, it has become necessary to clear the debris. “The courts have not banned mining. They have simply said that mining cannot be done without clearance from the Centre. So, we have sought mining clearance on more than 2,000 hectares of land from MoEF and the files are in process,” he said.

The illegal mining is carried out by those who are in the business of construction material. With a spurt in construction activity in the area, the contractors are charging hefty money on the pretext of the ban. Sources said the sand and gravel even come to Uttar Pradesh as the Akhilesh Yadav Government has banned mining in Vindhyachal area - the source of gravel.

Himanshu Joshi of Associations of Hotels and Restaurants said that 878 hotels/restaurants have come up at the bank of rivers in Uttarakhand since 2000 - when this hilly region attained statehood. “There must be thousands of other hotels that might have come up in other parts of the State,” he said.

Joshi said that around 600 hotels/restaurants were washed away in the catastrophe that struck Uttarakhand last year. The riverbeds provide cheap construction material so contractors, Government officials and police work in tandem to look the other way as plundering of riverbeds by contractors continues.

Dr VP Singh of Terai Conservation Society said that people do not realize that sand is an important ingredient for protecting the ecosystem. It not only helps in ground water recharge but also protects the microorganism found at the riverside.

“It is true that rivers provide us with cheap sand and gravel for construction but their plunder damages the ecology,” Dr Singh said. He has filed a PIL in the High Court against illegal sand mining.

Illegal mining is not only a curse of the hills this menace is prevalent in the plains also. “Can anyone forget the case of Divya Shakti Nagpal, the young IAS officer who was suspended because she took up cudgels against the powerful sand mafia in Noida,” he asked.

“Development is necessary but it should not come at the expense of the environment. Playing with nature is like playing with fire,” Dr Singh said. The NGT had, on August 6, 2013, imposed a blanket ban on all sand mining activities across the country after a petition filed by NGT Bar Association pointed out brazen disregard of a Supreme Court order in February 2012 that required sand miners to seek compulsory clearance from Environment Ministry even for mining in areas less than five hectares. While imposing the ban, NGT had reiterated that no mining of sand will be permitted without prior clearance from the MoEF. Even the SC order, in no less terms indicated that sand, gravel being minor minerals will require permission from MoEF even for areas less than five hectares. The Court observed, “Sand mining may have an adverse effect on bio-diversity as loss of habitat caused by sand mining will effect various species, flora and fauna and it may also destabilize the soil structure of river banks and often leaves isolated islands.”

-The Pioneer, 23 June 2014

Delhi Tamil Sangam (DTS), a cultural and literary association founded in the Capital in 1946, is all set to get a facelift with the construction of an entrance arch (Thorana Vayil) that is embedded with sculptures that reflect the South Indian ethos.

According to the president and secretary of DTS, M.N. Krishnamani and R. Mukunthan, respectively it was long time dream of Tamils settled in Delhi to have a beautiful gate (Thorana Vayil) and this dream had come true this year. They said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had sanctioned Rs. 25 lakh for the construction of the arch. According to Mr. K. Karunanidhi, civil engineer, who has undertaken this work, the arch has unique features like 6-feet high statue of Thamizh Thai (mother Tamil) at the top of arch in standing posture with Saint Thiruvalluvar embossed on both sides of Tamizh Thai and women holding a lamp on either sides of the top beam. The 27-ft high and 34-ft width arch has traditional carvings, uthiram, cornices and other decorative niches. A lion has been carved on two sides of the pillars and the full arch reflects ancient South Indian temple architecture. He said the work took about 90 days to complete and finishing touches were now being given. The name of Ms. Jayalalithaa, who has given her consent for the inauguration shortly, has also been inscribed at the bottom of the arch.

Mr. Mukunthan said, “DTS has been organising literary, musical and drama programmes every weekend. In recognition of its services in promoting Tamil culture, the DTS was awarded in 2013 with the ‘Tamizh Thai Virudhu’ instituted by the Tamil Nadu government. Former Presidents late R. Venkataraman, late Giani Zail Singh and A.P.J.Abdul Kalam and great personalities like Late C.N. Annathurai and M. Karunanidhi, former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu had visited the DTS and lauded its services."

-The Hindu, 23 June 2014

The Environment Ministry is going ahead with grant of approval to the proposed Defence radar project in the Andamans despite vehement opposition by wildlife scientists and conservationists on the grounds that it will cause irreparable damage to the highly-endangered Narcondam Hornbill.

There are only about 300 of these endangered birds left and the species is endemic to India. Scientists say finding an alternative home for the bird may be nearly impossible. The Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Asad Rahmani has already written to the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar advising him on the significance of the species.

The UPA Government had shelved the project in 2012 following a report filed by Rahmani contending that such a project would be detrimental to the species.However, with the new Environment Minister reopening the file, on the grounds that it is a crucial national security project, apprehensions of the environmentalists have grown.

In a recent Press meet Javadekar referred to Coco Islands in the vicinity of Andamans and said that China already has a presence in the region. “China is sitting in front and doing something and we cannot even monitor that! The country cannot run like that. So these kinds of projects, which are of importance to the country’s security, will be cleared on priority basis,” the Minister had said.

The standing committee of the National Board For Wildlife (NBWL) had rejected such a proposal earlier. The rejection came on the basis of a report filed by Rahmani who pointed out that hundreds of trees would be uprooted to make space for the radar and an approach road along with a helipad. “While surveillance projects cannot be compromised, but such large project on this tiny Narcondam Island may spell disaster for the already dwindling population of the highly-endangered Narcondam Hornbills”, said Rahmani in his report.

A former member of the NBWL said since it was a project within a Protected Area, giving permission to it should be decided by the NBWL and not unilaterally by the Minister. The Ministry is, however, yet to constitute the NBWL, whose term got over on September 6, 2013.

Rahmani said the total area of the island is less than 7 sq km. Hence, if any further development occurs, it will take away the space of this bird. They are endemic to this island and have been living here for millions of years. “The radar can be built elsewhere but where will the Hornbills go?,” Rahmani asked.

The environmentalists have often recommended that this rare and highly endangered species must be left with minimum disturbance. At present, there is a small police post of 15-17 policemen on duty on the island. They have very little ecological impact, but with the proposed Radar project and the accompanying constructions, disturbances will increase manifold.

-The Pioneer, 24 June 2014

“What is noteworthy is that there will be no dislocation of families living in the core park area”

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh was accorded the Unesco World Heritage Site status on Monday.

The Unesco World Heritage Site Committee at Doha in Qatar granted the status to the park under the criteria of “exceptional natural beauty and conservation of biological diversity.”

The GHNP has now come in the league of Indian World Heritage Sites (WHS) such as the Taj Mahal, Ellora, Kaziranga National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Manas National Park, Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve and the Sunderbans.

Boost for ecotourism

This would help in boosting ecotourism in the hill State, said Forest Minister Thakar Singh Bharmauri. What is noteworthy is that there would be no dislocation of villages or families living in the core park area and their rights had been recognised and would stay protected, he said.

The Forest Minister said the GHNP was declared a National Park under the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972, by the Himachal Pradesh government in 1999. A total of 832 plant species, representing 128 families and 427 genera, which cover 26 per cent of the total flora of Himachal Pradesh, have been recorded in the GHNP.

It is also home to a number of threatened species, providing them with habitats critical to their survival. It supports self-sustaining populations of near-threatened, vulnerable and endangered species like leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Royle’s Vole, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan serow, Himalayan goral, Himalayan musk deer, western tragopan and cheer pheasant. The endangered snow leopard and the critically endangered Red-headed vulture are also present.

According to V.B. Mathur, director of the Wildlife Institute of India, the park has been inscribed under category 10 of the World Heritage Convention that covers areas that “contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.” The inscription comes as recognition to the efforts at conserving and managing the unique natural heritage of the country, said a communication from S.K. Khanduri, Inspector-General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests.

(With additional reporting by K.S. Sudhi)

-The Hindu, 24 June 2014

Expressing an inclination to acquire Dr Homi J Bhabha’s iconic Malabar Hill bungalow and turn it into a museum, the Centre told the Bombay High Court Monday that it has sought the state government’s intervention to declare Bhabha’s bungalow ‘Meherangir’, auctioned by National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) for Rs 372 crore last week, as a “protected monument”.

The move, according to the Central government, will “inspire the youth of India and tribute to Dr Bhabha, courtesy whom, the country got the recognition of ‘nuclear power’ around the world.”

The Centre’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) also told Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sonak that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had, on June 18, 2014, written to the Ministry of Legal Affairs showing its willingness to preserve the bungalow.

On June 15, Bharat Ratna and C N R Rao, a science advisor to several PMs and who met Modi earlier this month, had told The Indian Express: “The house is legendary, steeped in the scientific history of India. It has to be saved at any cost. It should be declared a national heritage property .”

Located on a 1,000 sq m plot, the four-floor ancestral house was named ‘Meherangir’ by Bhabha to honour the memory of his mother Meherbai and father Jehangir. It was given by Bhabha’s brother, artist Jamshed J Bhabha, to the NCPA in his will. DAE undersecretary K P S Pillai, in an intervention application that was filed on Monday through senior counsel Rashmi Desai and advocate Ravindra Lokhande, told the court that the department had taken up the matter with the state government.

“The DAE, government of India, had in this regard approached the government of Maharashtra with a request to initiate appropriate steps to declare Meherangir as a heritage building so as to prevent it from possible demolition, etc. The matter is also being taken up by DAE with the government of India for declaration of the bungalow as a historical monument and acquisition of the same under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960,” Pillai told the HC.

While stating there was a need to “retain the memory” of the late nuclear scientist, Pillai said it could only be done by preserving Meherangir in the form of museum-cum-exhibition center.

-The Indian Express, 24 June 2014

The public works department said the Sabarmati Model of river development may not be the ideal model to follow for the Yamuna in Delhi.

Sources said that is because the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad is fed by water from the Narmada Canal and Delhi has no such access to additional clean water that can replace the Yamuna in Delhi's 22-km stretch.

In a presentation before LG Najeeb Jung on Monday, government agencies explained what steps are being taken to improve Yamuna's water quality. PWD has also made a pitch for a unified Yamuna authority which is likely to be under the control of the LG when ever it is formed.

"An international consultant may also be appointed to guide Delhi government on how to clean the Yamuna. What the government will do immediately is educate the public on the steps already being taken by the government, especially the Delhi Jal Board and the environment department, to clean the river. Subsequently, a Yamuna Authority will be formed and a detailed plan will be drawn up. The Centre is taking a keen interest in the river, along with the Ganga, and its problem areas need to be addressed immediately," said sources.

A contingent of Delhi government officials visited Ahmedabad recently to study the Sabarmati River development project.

Later, it was suggested that like the Sabarmati, Yamuna needs to be channelized and reclaimed river bed land used for greening. Part of the land could be commercialized to make the project self-sustainable.

With no alternate source of water, it then becomes imperative to clean the river. During Monday's presentation, the environment department and DJB said the ongoing interceptor sewage system would address this issue. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

-The Times of India, 24 June 2014

Our precious heritage of flora and fauna, some rare and endangered, are at risk due to poaching and lack of governmental will. We need to act now before it is too late, and before our forests are emptied of their rich cover

It is well known that tigers are killed for the illegal market for virtually every part of their body — skin, bones, whiskers, claws, teeth, even its testicles. But few of us know that virtually all of our wildlife is up for sale in the booming wildlife market — driving rare creatures to extinction — largely unchecked, and with little awareness of the extent of the trade, or even the species involved.

One of the ‘hottest’ items in wildlife trade, for example, is the pangolin, a creature few have heard of or even seen in the wild. Pangolins are secretive, nocturnal and, when threatened, curl their scaly-armoured body into a tight ball. While this protects them from natural predators, it also makes it easy for poachers to capture them alive. India is a major ‘supply point’ for the pangolin trade, and seizures have been reported from Mizoram, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Assam, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, among other States. Pangolin scales are believed to cure various diseases from headaches and cancers to impotence — even though such ‘medicinal’ properties are dubious since the scales are made up of keratin, the same substance as human nails and hair. Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy, primarily in South-East Asia. The trade in pangolins is well-organised and lucrative, along the lines of that in ivory and tiger parts. To give an idea of the trade, over 2,00,000 pangolins were seized between 2000 and 2012 and since the wildlife trade is clandestine, these numbers represent just the tip of the iceberg.

It is not just pangolins, though.

Turtles, frogs, pheasants are killed for the table, dolphins for oil, sharks for their fins, star tortoises make for exotic pets, butterflies and beetles are collectable items, parakeets, munias, doves and hill mynas feed a thriving cage-bird trade, owls are mere ingredients for black magic, bears butchered for their bile, sea horses and spiny-tailed lizards are medicines for impotent souls, monitor lizards, otters and snakes are slaughtered for their skins... the list is endless, virtually no wild creature is spared from the gun or the trap.

TRAFFIC-India, a programme division of WWF-India, recently organised a workshop which got together wildlife experts, policymakers, scientists, research scholars, conservationists, senior officials from the State forest departments, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, enforcement agencies, Wildlife Institute of India, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and NGOs to draw attention on, as well as work out strategies on, measures to prevent this illegal trade in lesser-known species.

It is estimated that in India, 7,00,000 birds are illegally trapped and about 70,000 tonnes of sharks are caught off our shores. All primate species in the country, from the rhesus macaque to India’s only ape, the Hoolock Gibbon, are also traded for reasons ranging from black magic to experiments to meat and as pets. The seminar also drew attention on little known aspects of the trade such as fresh water fish for the aquarium trade. The levels of exploitation on these species are rarely reported, but a recent study published in Biological Conservation estimated that 1.5 million freshwater fish belonging to 30 threatened species were exported from India between 2005 and 2012.

There is a booming trade in spiders, butterflies and beetles, destined for private collections mainly in Japan, Russia, Germany and the Czech Republic. The ‘source’ sites are some of our richest, most bio-diverse forests of North-East India, the Western and Eastern Ghats, and the western Himalayas.

There is a hot trade in star tortoises and there are steady reports of massive seizures of tortoises, procured mainly from the forests of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, stacked in suitcases on their way out from Chennai airport — a transit point of the trade. The wildlife market has also expanded from a ‘physical’ entity to a 'virtual’ one. The advantage it offers is anonymity, with many species like star tortoise, butterflies and beetles being sold off the internet too.

Most of the trade goes unchecked. While in India the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, bans trade in most species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species regulates trade across borders. But enforcement is poor, and awareness about micro-fauna, even among the enforcement agencies, is minimal.

It is important that we take the gravity of this crime on board, the ramifications of which go far beyond threatening rare and endemic species-or even extinction. The market for lesser-known species form a significant part of the global illegal wildlife trade which is second only to arms and narcotics in scale, and is annually calculated at over $25 billion worldwide, and is a known source of funding for global terrorist activities. Importantly, India is a major ‘supplier’ of wildlife and its products — from tigers to pangolins to snow leopards and otters to tokay geckos. To deal with this serious crime we have a woefully under-equipped and toothless Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. To give an idea, the Bureau has one inspector for the entire northern region, and it does not even have the power to access phone call details directly, which is crucial to crack crime cases. It is imperative that we strengthen the Bureau and bring it on par with other enforcement agencies.

While the demand drives trade — be it local or international — and there have to be sustained efforts to curb this, protection must begin at home. A critical step here is to strengthen the frontline forest staff, our first line of defence to protect endangered wildlife. Ensuring sufficient well-trained and motivated frontline staff, equipping, enabling and empowering them should be the priority in our battle against wildlife crime. Also of importance is sensitising other relevant departments and enforcement agencies such as the judiciary, police, customs, Army and paramilitary agencies like the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Seema Suraksha Bal stationed at trade routes on the border. They need to be oriented and in identifying protected species, schedules and laws protecting them, etc.

At another level, there needs to be sufficient coordination between various Government departments and ministries so that they work in cooperation and not in conflict. For instance, the Botanical Survey of India estimated that over 90 per cent of wild medicinal plants were threatened, but sources say that many of these are still being promoted by Government ayurveda bodies. Similarly, over 35 species of freshwater fish that are threatened are promoted by the Marine Products Export Development Authority for export.

We need to act now before it is too late, and our forests emptied of their rich biodiversity.

(The writer is trustee, ‘Bagh’, member, State Board for Wildlife, Uttarakhand, and a former member of the National Board for Wildlife)

-The Pioneer, 25 June 2014

To address the issue of pollution in river Yamuna, Delhi Government has undertaken a comprehensive scheme of ‘Interceptor Sewer Project’ through which all drains, which are contributing to pollution in the river, shall be cleaned before they merge into the river. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has instructed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to ensure channelising of larger drains and also heavy plantation along the banks of major drains.

Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) was directed not to release untreated industrial waste into drains. Jung also asked Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to work on riverfront development and removal of encroachment from the floodplains.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will set up an interceptor sewer at a length of 59-km along the three major drains (supplementary, Najafgarh and Shahdara) to intercept sewerage from around 190 subsidiary small drains and transport it to the nearest sewage treatment plant (STP) to ensure that only treated effluent is discharged into these major drains.

“Around 70 per cent of pollution load in the river shall be reduced by this effort,” said a statement issued by the Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday. The already existing interceptor sewer between Aruna Nagar JJ cluster up to the outfall of Khyber Pass drain, which intercepts untreated sewage from Sweeper Colony, Magazine Road and Khyber Pass drain, will be made fully functional by June 2015.

The discharge intercepted from these drains shall be pumped to Nigam Bodh SPS and taken to the existing Okhla STP, which has a total treatment capacity of 170 MGD. Metcalfe House, Qudsia, Mori Gate, Tonga Stand, Civil Military drain shall be intercepted into the existing Ring Road trunk sewer, which has recently been rehabilitated under Yamuna Action Plan-II.

The sewage collected from these drains shall be pumped to Okhla STP through Ring Road SPS and this work shall be completed by June next year. The capacity of the STP at the mouth of the Delhi Gate drain can be augmented from existing 2.2 MDG to 17.2 MGD by constructing an additional 15 MGD STP, said Delhi Government officials.

The move comes after a team of Delhi Government officials visited Gujarat earlier this month to study Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront Project in Delhi along the Yamuna River. Delhi Jal Board further informed that the capacity of the STP at the mouth of Delhi Gate drain can be augmented from existing 2.2 MGD to 17.2 MGD by constructing an additional 15 MGD STP.

As for the Barapullah drain, which presently carries 30 MGD to 40 MGD untreated sewage, DJB is looking at short-term, medium and long-term measures to trap the entire sewage in the Barapullah drain and carry it for treatment to Okhla STP. Concurrently, to utilise all the STPs at their treated capacity, around 100-km trunk sewer has been rehabilitated and the rehabilitation of peripheral sewer at a length of 168-km is under process, which will take another three years.

The DJB is also in the process of laying of sewerage system in unsewered areas for which Sewerage Master Plan 2031 has been prepared. Till date, 541 out of the total 567 unauthorised colonies, 129 out of 135 urban villages, 44 resettlement colonies out of 44, 34 out of the 189 rural villages and 104 out of the 1,639 unauthorised or regularised colonies have been provided with sewerage facility.

The work of laying of sewerage system in 162 colonies is under progress and for another 142 tenders have been invited. The cost of all the projects is estimated to be more than Rs 25,000 crore. The development plan for Yamuna was reviewed by Najeeb Jung.

“Due to major expansion of the city, with its more than 1,600 unauthorised and regularised colonies, 189 rural villages, more than 1,000 JJ clusters, sewerage facilities could not be provided in many areas due to legal and institutional constraints. Consequently, untreated sewage is being discharged into stormwater drains and through them into the river Yamuna, thereby polluting it,” said the statement.

Presently, there are 22 drains carrying wastewater, solid waste and industrial effluents etc, that get discharged directly into the Yamuna. Jung also raised the matter with other stakeholders and asked Delhi Municipal Corporations and Public Works Development (PWD) to develop robust solid waste management so that no solid waste is dumped into smaller and bigger drains, including the river Yamuna.

Jung further stressed on regular desilting of drains and dumping of solid waste at designated sanitary landfills. In a nation that jumps on politicians for flushing away taxpayers’ money, maybe we should start insisting they figure out how to put more down the toilet — not in waste, but to fight it.

-The Pioneer, 25 June 2014

River cruises, floating hotels, moving sound and light show and even apps to provide information on religious ceremonies are all part of tourism ministry's proposal to rejuvenate the Ganga river. The action plan-that merges old traditions with new technologies-aims to ensure sustainable tourism along the river bank and is part of the ambitious Ganga rejuvenation plan.

One of the highlights of the Ganga river front is introducing river cruises and floating hotels on Ganga between Haridwar and Hooghly by private sector. Sources said some the industry had already expressed interest in starting short distance cruises like in Varanasi and Patna while the union tourism ministry had received proposals regarding floating hotels. "The concept is new to India but it is essentially a cruise where visitors can comfortably stay the night with modern facilities like bio-toilets to ensure environment concerns are met," a source said.

To encourage international tourism, the ministry has also proposed using apps for smart phones and tablets that would give information on religious ceremonies taking place on the banks of the river, including cremation, bathing, hair-shedding, not only in Indian languages like Bengali, Hindi and Gujarati but also in foreign languages. There is also provision for proper tourism reception centres at important towns to provide pilgrims and tourists with assistance.

The ministry has also proposed introducing sound and light show at Haridwar, complete an existing project at Rishikesh and are exploring the possibility of a laser show at Varanasi, Haridwar and Rishkesh executed through ITDC but run by private sector. Sources said that there was thespian Aamir Raza Hussain had proposed the concept of a sound and light show tracing the legends around the river. "We are looking at a moving sound and light show that is groups of people being taken on a barge along the ghats and narrating the history of each ghat through sound and light effects as the barge passes by," the source said.

The ministry has also underlined the importance of creating toilets along the river front, improved transport facilities, trained guides and registered bed and breakfast accommodation.

To tap the potential of "divine tourism" along the river the ministry has proposed tying up with renowned institutions and matths to hold events promoting yoga and meditation especially along the upper reaches of the Ganga.

-The Times of India, 25 June 2014

Three prominent sites in Orissa, comprising the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, the Chilka lake and the Ekamra Kshetra in the heritage city of Bhubaneswar, have been included in Unesco’s list of heritage sites, Orissa tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said on Tuesday.

The number of ancient monuments and sites in Bhubaneswar, which have enthused historians since long, have caused the city to be shortlisted by Unesco, Mr Panda said while speaking at the SOA University here.

Mr Panda expressed happiness at the capital city’s growth as an education hub.

“The city is now being referred to as ‘Vidya Nagari’ and the SOA University has also developed into a huge institution creating its own identity in the country,” he said.

With several IT companies setting up their centres in Bhubaneswar, the city was discussed as an IT destination in a conclave held in San Francisco in 2010 and the matter has been given due weightage in the Vision-2030 document prepared by IIT Kharagpur, the minister said, adding chief minister Naveen Patnaik had set up a task force for education. Mr Panda also said that the state government was keen to protect the state’s heritage.

for which the skill of master craftsmen in different fields was sought to be transferred to those willing to learn through the ancient “guru-sishya” tradition.

A project to revive the “Bhagabat Tungis” in the state had also been taken up, he informed.

Vice-chancellor of the University Prof. R.P. Mohanty felicitated the minister.

-The Asian age, 25 June 2014

The Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry is in the process of preparing a compact plan to clean up the river and the same parameters will be implemented to clean-up other rivers in the country, said Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday. A meeting of technocrats, saints, environmentalists and NGOs has been called on July 5 for consultations on Ganga Rejuvenation Programme.

Bharati was speaking as the chief guest at a National Conference on “Preserving Rivers in India”. She said parameters set for Ganga will also be applicable to other major rivers of the country.

While reiterating that it will be a people’s initiative, she stressed that Ganga Rejuvenation Programme of India will set an example for other countries to follow. “In India faith and development can go together”, she said. She added that Ganga Rejuvenation Programme will not be affected by shortage of funds. Private sector has also offered to cooperate. Collabo-rations from other countries are also being considered.

Refering to the doubts expressed by a section of the environmentalists on the inter linking of the rivers the Minister said, “We will ensure that only those rivers are interlinked which will not harm our eco-system.”

She further clarified that her Ministry is not opposed to power projects on rivers but at the same time it has to be ensured that main river is never dry during any point of the year.

She assured that the group of secretaries set up to draw an action plan for Ganga will come out with its report very soon, following which a definite road map will be created for the cleaning of the river. This will be a joint effort of four ministries including Surface Transport, Shipping, tourism and Water Resources that would work in coordination.

-The Pioneer, 26 June 2014

Gone are the days when Delhi’s Superintending Archaeologist could enjoy the sunset over the Safdarjung Tomb while on his way back from work. The Delhi Circle Office of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) moved from the 260-year-old Tomb to the new General Pool Office Complex — a maze of high rises whose name matches the absence of aesthetic and amenities in it.

The ASI has held fort at the Safdarjung Tomb since the Delhi Circle was created in 1972 out of the erstwhile Northern Circle based in Dehradun.

“The upkeep of the tomb and the surrounding monuments in Lodi Gardens improved due to the proximity of the Superintending Archaeologist to them. The pathways and gardens were also created during the same time. The key feature of the tomb was the Circle Library, a Mecca for researchers in the fields of archaeology, art and architecture,” Delhi Superintending Archaeologist Vasant Swarnkar told The Hindu.

The library, which comprises 12,000 books, was located in the chambers below the domed ramparts of the tomb. ASI sources say they are not satisfied with the library room allotted by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at their new office at Puratatva Bhawan, in Block D of the General Pool Office Complex.

“What is worse is that no one can find this place. Earlier, everyone knew that they had to take a bus till the Tomb or exit at the Jor Bagh metro station to reach our office. But now, people get lost while walking from the INA metro station. We shifted here on June 9, but a phone got installed only by June 24 after pulling a line from a telephone pillar on the road. The CPWD has still not given us internal connections for the phone lines, so people can’t even call us for directions,” a senior officer revealed.

He added: “This is a concrete jungle with cable jutting out and falling ceilings. The centralised air conditioning does not work in many rooms. There is no water supply, so we end up spending Rs.430 from our pocket on 10 water cans everyday. Don’t even ask what we do when we need to use the restroom.”

The most important public interface of the ASI with the public is issuing permissions for filming, photography and drawing for researchers. The Circle Office is the nodal office for these permits. Mr. Swarnkar confirmed that on an average, 50 permits are issued each month, although only urgent ones have been issued this month. He currently uses his personal data card as internet facilities have also not come through.

ASI sources allege that they were made to move as the Culture Ministry needed to occupy the building, which they had booked several years ago.

“No one else was willing and we were made the scapegoats,” a senior archaeologist told The Hindu. Joint Secretary Sanjiv Mittal, who supervises the ASI at the Ministry, claimed ignorance about the troubles at the General Pool Office Complex. The unlikely beneficiaries of the move are Delhi's lovers.

“Before 1972, the Tomb was the favourite hangout of couples. Some come back even today. When the Superintending Archaeologist was here, the couples were shy, but they are back now that they are away from prying eyes,” a monument attendant claimed.

-The Hindu, 26 June 2014

Two Indian sites get Heritage tag from Unesco

The induction of the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh and the Rani Ki Vav (Queen's stepwell) located in Gujarat into the list of World Heritage Sites this year is a matter of pride and celebration for India. The list is compiled annually by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and has different categories — while the GHNP made it to the list of 'natural sites', the stepwell has been grouped as a ‘cultural site'. Currently, India is home to 30 World Heritage properties, of which 24 are cultural (such as the Taj Mahal complex, the Ajanta and Ellora caves) and the remaining, natural (such as the Sunderbans, the Manas National Park). Such a prestigious award goes a long way in bringing public attention, both domestic and international, to the country's incredibly rich and div erse heritage. It also puts pressure on the Government to take adequate steps to conserve these sites. Take the Great Himalayan National Park for example. A 905 sqkm forest expanse that has massive ridges and glaciers, it is home to 375 different species of fauna and 10 per cent of the world's known plant species. Yet, it receives just a handful of tourists every year because of its remote location. Also, there are no motorable roads inside the park making its natural riches even more inaccessible. This is not to suggest that a World Heritage Site tag means that the park infrastructure will change overnight and become a commercial tourist hub, as feared by some green activists and local community members who had opposed the tag. In fact, forest officials may just as well decide to keep such ‘upgradation' initiatives to a bare minimum in a bid to protect the park's natural beauty. However, the label will put the park on the international eco-tourism map and the additional revenue generated can be used to shore up conservation efforts.

Those still worried about the consequences will do well to take a look at the Western Ghats experience. Tagged in 2012 as a World Heritage Site, this ecologically sensitive zone now gets prime attention from tourists and policy-makers alike. Interestingly, the GHNP was first nominated for the prestigious list in 2013 but it lost out to China's Xinjiang Tianshan mountain ranges and Namibia's coastal desert, the Namib Sand Sea. This year it made it to final list after receiving a recommendation from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. As for Rani Ki Vav too, it was first nominated in 2012 after which it was inspected by a delegation from the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the Unesco's advisory arm, and only then selected for the high honour. Located in Patan, a few hours drive from Ahmedabad, the 11 century stepwell, commissioned by Rani Udayamati in 1063AD, is an excellent example of a medieval water management system. Its intricate designs also mark a high point in Maru-Gurjara architecture. Hopefully, the world will now take note of it.

-The Pioneer, 26 June 2014

Over 63 major water bodies in the city will be revived and conserved through a public-private partnership project. These water bodies are located on land belonging to the Delhi Development Authority.

At present, several water bodies in the city are in a deplorable condition and need conservation efforts for revival, both to serve as recreational spots and to help recharge the depleting water table.

After deliberating over several proposals, the DDA has shortlisted four agencies, which include the Braj Foundation, which has done similar work in Mathura and Vrindavan, and Samarthya, which has taken up the cleaning of a lake in Kerala.

Other agencies include the Forum for Organised Resources Conservation and Enhancement (FORCE), which worked on reviving the Hauz Khas lake, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which is a consultant for Hauz Khas and Sanjay lake revival projects.

As soon as the agencies give their preferences, the water bodies they want to revive will be allocated to them. All the shortlisted agencies have been provided with the list of the 63 water bodies so that they can inspect them and submit their proposals. “For each water body, a Memorandum of Association (MoA) would be signed. These agencies will maintain the water bodies and generate funds from corporate houses and international agencies for their revival, conservation and maintenance. The DDA will be a partner in the development and conservation process,” an official said.

The expression of interest for the project was invited by the DDA in April. “After a meeting, which was chaired by DDA vice-chairman Balvinder Kumar, the expression of interest was invited from NGOs and self-help groups, which have experience in reviving and maintaining water bodies. Under the terms and conditions, these agencies are supposed to generate funds from non-governmental sources, including the corporate sector,” the official said Under the terms and conditions, a minimum of five years’ experience in revival of water bodies is needed for any agency undertaking the task. Moreover, the selected agencies should have technical staff required for executing the task, besides having knowledge of hydrology/irrigation engineering etc.

-The Indian Express, 26 June 2014

The much-awaited Mandi House to Central Secretariat Metro section was thrown open to the public on Thursday by Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu.

The minister flagged off the first train, operated by a woman driver, on this route from Mandi House Station at 9:30am and then himself took a ride on the train along with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Mangu Singh and other senior officials and media persons.

The metro section will open at noon today for the general public.

The 3.2km-long underground metro section from Central Secretariat to Mandi House is part of the 9.37km long Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate line, which is an extention of the Badarpur corridor (22km) of Phase two.

This section comprising three stations-Central Secretariat, Janpath and Mandi House-was completed in a span of 36 months within the stipulated cost.

"I feel very proud that DMRC has started the Mandi House to Central Secretariat Metro rail today. I congratulate Delhi Metro authorities, Delhi Governments and all the workers and those who made this work successful.

"This is one of the important steps that DMRC has taken since 2002 for improving lives of the people of the national capital. When the Phase III Delhi Metro, with construction of 140 kms of metro rail is completed, it will significantly change the way we travel in the national capital region," Naidu told reporters at Central Secretariat Metro Station.

The Minister noted that quick and comfortable travel is the essence of urban life. "Metro services combined with other efficient modes of transport will reduce hardship of urban travel. One of the major challenges is management of urbanisation," he said.

This section is an extension of 'Violet line' and is expected to decongest Rajiv Chowk station as commuters of Badarpur-Central Secretariat line bound for Noida, Vaishali and Dwarka will be able to change trains at Mandi House without changing trains twice at Central Secretariat and Rajiv Chowk.

Presently Rajiv Chowk station handles 5 lakh passengers everyday, the minister noted. The ridership in 2016 is expected to be 1,34,879.

Trains on the Mandi House-Central Secretariat section will run at a frequency of 3.25 minutes, he said, adding the new stations Janpath and Mandi House are equipped with token vending machines and add-value cards readers besides other facilities for passengers.

"I have seen that they have depicted historical background of regions at stations so that the new generation can know about the archaeological and historical importance of this region.I commend metro railway for taking this initiative along with Indian Council of Historical Research," he said.

This section will cater to about 70,000 additional commuters everyday.

There will be 13 such interchange stations in Phase III and this phase is going to be completed by March 2016.

"By that time the major portion of Delhi will be connected with metro rail. This is an ambitious programme and I hope DMRC is able to achieve this," he said.

The Union Minister said he has also written to all his colleagues, suggesting they avail metro facility for travelling in the national capital region.

"I have also written a letter to all my colleagues in the cabinet suggesting they avail the facility of metro rail when they come to Delhi from other destinations. They will help reduce pollution and congestion and make their travel comfortable and save time," Naidu said.

He said, "Whenever I come to Delhi I will travel by Metro rail so that I can get first hand information and in my own way contribute to decongesition and reducing pollution."

On increasing metro travel fares, which have been pending for a long time now, the Urban Development Minister said, "I have told DMRC to study project fares and then see whether some revision can take place".

"When the oil cost and other costs are increasing there are two ways - one to pass on to commuters and the other is to generate revenue from other sources like using premises in a more effective manner for commercial purpose like advertisements, ATMs, food court and other facilities to generate additional revenue and income which can take care of increasing cost of maintenance," Naidu said.

In the long term, Metro rail has to be made a viable proposition for which different avenues will have to be explored, he said.

On the issue of land acquisition for Delhi Metro projects in phase three, he said the issues have to be discussed with the Lt Governor.

Land acquisition will be discussed with Delhi authorities, he said.

-The Times of India, 27 June 2014

With shrinking water level in most of the Gujarat dams — coupled with delayed rain — Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Thursday held a high-level meeting and discussed supplying drinking water from Narmada Dam to water-scarce regions in Gujarat.

Anandiben also reviewed the availability of water in the State, fodder stock for cattle and the change in crop pattern due to delay in rain.

Generally farmers in Saurashtra and North Gujarat focus on groundnut and cotton, while in Southern and Central Gujarat peasants go for sugarcane and banana crops. However, due to insufficient rain, the crops like pulses, bajara and castor etc will have to be shifted now to better regions. Patel instructed to manage seeds and fertilisers accordingly.

She was satisfied with the stock of fodder after consultation with the forest officials. However, as part of preventative measure, she instructed to form a specific policy to grow grass along the existing canal network in the State.

The meeting was attended by senior ministers, Saurabh Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Babubhai Bokhiria as well as Ministers of State – Govindbhai Patel & Jayanti Kavadia. Besides, Gujarat chief secretary Dr Varesh Sinha and other top officials of forest, agriculture and other departments also attended the meeting.

-The Pioneer, 27 June 2014

Renovation work on legendary British author George Orwell’s house in a Bihar town where he was born has begun, officials said Thursday.

“Finally, renovation of Orwell’s birthplace has started,” said East Champaran District Magistrate Abhay Kumar Singh, who launched the work.

The single-storey brick house is in the lake town of Motihari, district headquarters of East Champaran.

Orwell, the author of classics such as Animal Farm and 1984, has a unique India link. Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903 in Motihari near India’s border with Nepal. His father, Richard Blair, worked as an agent of the opium department of the Indian Civil Service during British rule.

Deo Priya Mukherjee, associated with the George Orwell Commemorative Committee, said a State government agency has been entrusted with the task of renovating the house at a cost of Rs. 45 lakh.

Three years ago, then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a restoration and development plan prepared for the neglected building. He was keen to preserve Orwell’s birthplace to attract tourists.

The State government had declared the building a protected site four years ago.

-The Hindu, 27 June 2014

The fate of constructions coming up within 10-km radius of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Greater Noida is likely to be decided within the next fortnight with the Centre seeking reports from the Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the National Green Tribunal’s order against such projects. Sources said the Union Environment Ministry is keen to reduce the eco-sensitive zone around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida to 2-km radius from 10-km radius proposed by the National Green Tribunal order last year.

However, the final decision will depend on the land survey report to be submitted by the States within a fortnight. The Sources further said the Ministry is likely to issue a notification on eco-sensitive zone by July 15.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month upheld the stay on construction imposed by the National Green Tribunal in the eco-sensitive zone surrounding the Okhla Bird Sanctuary but had also empowered the Centre to take a final decision in this regard.On June 10, the court refused to entertain a plea of real estate firm Jaypee Infratech seeking a direction to Noida Authority to grant completion certificate to its projects which fall within 10-km radius of a bird sanctuary.

A bench of justices JS Kehar and C Naggapan had said, “Let the Central Government take a decision on this issue.” It dismissed the plea of the firm which was filed against interim orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). While directing that all construction in a 10-km radius be halted, the NGT had restrained the Noida Authority from granting completion certification to all the affected projects in the zone.

The NGT had also deemed all Environmental Clearances as “inoperational” until a No Objection Certificate is secured from the National Board For Wildlife. Builders appealed against this NGT order in the Supreme Court but it had dismissed the petition outright.

-The Pioneer, 28 June 2014

The Rajon Ki Baoli, which once provided a cool summer retreat to passers-by, stands as a ramshackle monument in one of the oldest places of Delhi, finds outSamiksha Raj

It is rightly said: “Truth is much stranger than fiction.” I recently got to experience this firsthand while venturing into the marvellous lanes of history. Only difference, I found truth to be not only stranger but also more effusive. I was walking along the bylanes of Mehrauli Archaeological Park in search of Delhi’s lost stepwells (baolis), passing by the many stony remnants of tombs and a few houses with sundry goats and hens running about when my trail was halted by this ASI board, declaring ‘Protected Monument’. Intrigued, I took a step closer — a rusty old gate and a crumbling stone boundary wall cordoned off a step-well that had lain there for centuries. Suddenly, a passer-by informed me that it was the Rajon Ki Baoli. I was all but astonished at the sprawling premises, the architectural details and magnificence of this historical monument of ‘national importance’ which now lies in a state of desertion and neglect with a little plastering and painting in the name of restoration. However, amidst the broken and discoloured walls, cracks and crevices, I could still feel that the Rajon ki Baoli was simply grand.

As history tells us, this three-storeyed stepwell was built by Daulat Khan during the reign of Sikandar Lodi in 1516. ‘Rajon’, in Rajon Ki Baoli, does not mean ‘kings’, but ‘masons’, perhaps a group of masons who used this stepwell for sometime during those years. It isn’t one of the deepest of baolis — it only consists of three long flights of broad steps leading down to the water.

This is, however, one of Delhi’s most beautiful baolis. The entire complex is subterranean and the entire structure unfolds itself as you walk towards the stairs leading down to the ground water. Each level of this baoli is lined with arched niches with carvings and rooms to accommodate perhaps the masons, locals and caravan traders during those times. The baoli complex also houses a 12-pillared tomb typical of Lodi era architecture along with a mosque which could be reached through the flight of around forty broad steps up from thebaoli. The arches along the entire arcade of Raja Ki Baoli house some exquisite plasterwork, carvings of traditional motifs and Urdu inscriptions, distinctive of the Lodhi era, on their walls and dome-shaped ceilings. As the baoli was not just meant to act as a source of water, but also as a place of rest for the thirsty travellers, the mosque with finely incised designs and the small cells surrounding this water reservoir were used as rooms for rest and siestas by the passers-by. In addition, there’s also a small tomb in the form of a chhatri (a domed pavilion). This, according to an inscription, was built possibly by Daulat Khan, for a certain Khwaja Mohammad in 1506. The topmost level of the baoli also has an extremely deep but dry well, which is now covered to avoid any mishaps. The rectangular shape, symmetrical arches of the arcade and incised plasterwork only add to the beauty of this stepwell, shadowed by the sands of time.

As I walked around, climbed up and alighted the umpteen flights of stairs distributed at the various corners around the Raja Ki Baoli, I experienced an eerie silence throughout, disturbed occasionally by the noise of aeroplanes flying above. The mosques, the cells, the chhatri and yes, the baoli, lie in deep slumber. Wander around and you’ll be greeted by mute walls and empty corridors. The stepwell itself is almost dry and whatever little water can been seen in the shaft below has garbage, dry leaves and plastic pouches floating in it. The baoli which was constructed for the welfare of people is now home to a flock of pigeons or a place for youngsters staying in that area who while away their afternoons playing cards or listening to music inside the arches. Despite this, the structure has managed to retain its dignity. It definitely remains etched as one of the most beautiful baolis in the history of Delhi and a heritage monument.

It really felt nice to find out such an intricately embellished truth — the truth of archaeological beauty personified — one which seems half-baked in books or through knowledge shared on the Internet.

-The Pioneer, 28 June 2014

The house, watched over by tall trees, stands in the silence of a summer morning on Malabar Hill, Mumbai. From its padlocked gates is visible the peeling plaster, but also the profusion of its garden, the many tints of green shading into the pink and white of flowers. The long windows are shut, and the Juliet balconies empty. Here, once lived Dr Homi J Bhabha, the architect of India’s nuclear power programme, with his parents, brother Jamshed and his dog, Cupid. If walls could speak — and bare walls are all that remain of a thing of great elegance and beauty—they would tell of a house that came alive with people, conversations and music, its spirit warmed by the glow of a great mind.

Mehrangir, as the house on 12, Little Gibbs Road was called, was sold earlier this month for Rs 372 crore by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), despite demands from scientists to turn it into a museum. (Jamshed became a custodian of the house after Bhabha’s death, and willed it to NCPA.) Towards the end of 2011, the NCPA had gone ahead and auctioned the contents of the house, from silverware, to carpets, furniture and paintings from the Bhabhas’ enviable art collection. Those pushing to preserve it as a memorial argue the four-storied bungalow, built on a 1593.29 square metre plot, amounts to more than its considerable real estate price. “Mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus’s house in Torun, Poland, has been preserved as a museum, where visitors get acquainted with his life and work, and get inspired. We should have done the same thing for Bhabha’s house. Memorials and associated museums of great scientists and leaders do inspire young students and others,” says Dr Govind Swarup, a pioneer of radio astronomy and a honorary fellow of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), who joined the institute on Bhabha’s request in 1963. That wish might yet come true. The central government told the Bombay High Court on June 23 that it has sought the Maharashtra government’s intervention to declare it a “protected monument”

Homi Bhabha grew up in Mehrangir. Theirs was a wealthy Parsi home, where the language spoken was largely English, and where music and art were a part of everyday life. His father, Jehangir Hormusji Bhabha, was a well-known lawyer and his mother Meherbai was the granddaughter of philanthropist Sir Dinshaw Petit. Bhabha went to the Cathedral and John Connon School in Bombay where he learnt Latin and French, developed a great fondness for the poetry of Shelley and discovered his deep interest in science. He left to study mathematics at Cambridge in 1927, and went on to complete his doctorate in nuclear physics. In 1939, he returned to India for a brief holiday when the Second World War broke out. He never went back, choosing to stay on in his country, and built its nuclear research programme from scratch. From 1946 till his death in 1966 in a plane crash, he lived in the house on Little Gibbs Road.

In their 2010 book on the great scientist, A Masterful Spirit, authors Indira Chowdhury and Ananya Dasgupta write about how central the house was to Bhabha’s life. “He grew up and lived to the end, with his loving mother Meherbai (his father had passed away earlier) on the upper floor of the family mansion. An avid gardener as well, he was an expert on trees, plants and flowers, and experimented with exotic plants, cross-bred bougainvillea and roses on his terrace garden…In his letters to his family as well as in his talks with his intimate friends, he referred with gratitude to the close bonds of affection and understanding that knit together the members of his family and to which he attributed a sense of emotional security in his early years,” they wrote. Bhabha’s favoured place was a vast room on the top floor of the house, with a spectacular view of the sea. A room that belonged as much to the artist and the lover of music as to the man of science. “Glass from floor to ceiling let in a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. At the far end, an alcove served as a bedroom; on the right, was a writing desk behind which was his own painting inspired by Mozart’s Aria, nearby was a draughts-board with sketches on it. On the opposite side was a recess with a music stand, manuscripts and a violin ready to be played; close by, there was an easel, palettes and brushes for painting. The room lead out onto a spacious terrace filled with botanical specimens from all over the world. Homi seldom returned from an overseas visit without samples of rare plants and herbs and never without a bottle of perfume, which his mother treasured (A Masterful Spirit)”. In Homi Bhabha as Artist (1968), Jamshed wrote that “there was hardly a single free evening at home when Homi would not be listening to music after dinner and before taking up again his mathematical work till late at night”.

Chowdhury, who is responsible for setting up the TIFR archives but is no longer with the institute, visited the house in 2011 when its contents were being auctioned off. “It was quite sad. As I walked through the house and saw the contents, the rare pieces, I realised it was a treasure trove and each piece could be used to tell a story.” She recalls older generations of scientists speaking about being entertained by Bhabha on the top floor. “While he was very much part of the elite social set in Bombay, he wouldn’t necessarily bow down to the wishes of the wealthy. N B Prasad, who had worked with Bhabha at the Atomic Energy Establishment told me that when he hosted a private dinner for the Queen of England at his place, he chose only to invite his professional colleagues and not the wealthy or powerful of Bombay. He was approachable, but if you were not at his intellectual level, you would probably not be part of a casual conversation with him,” she says.

Homi Bhabha’s greatest legacy is, perhaps, the institutions he created: places where science and art were joined in harmony. The TIFR was born in the Cosmic Ray Unit of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in June 1945, and shifted to its permanent location overlooking the Arabian Sea at Colaba in 1962. In a letter to the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhabha wrote about the great beauty that was integral to his visions on institution-building, “I think both Trombay (which later became BARC) and TIFR will be architecturally and botanically beautiful when they are completed.”

Architect Rustam BJ Patel calls Trombay his “monumental vision”, a “dream of a Versailles among the research centres of the world”. Patel says that in the layout and planning of the parks and gardens in which the laboratories of BARC were placed, Bhabha drew heavily from “old masters” like the 17th century French landscape architect Andre Le Notre, “emulating” in principle what they had done, but “seeking always the new”. While describing his visit to Bhabha’s home in 1954, German artist Rudi Von Leyden wrote about the grand imagination that was shaping Trombay: “Near his desk stood an enormous drawing board with huge printed plans pinned to it. It appeared that they were the first layout for the afforestation scheme and suggested gardens at Trombay. He spent many hours at night poring over these plans, trying to visualise in his mind’s eye the setting of this new city which he has founded and built mostly below the flanks of Trombay hill..it was typical of him that he could visualise the final shape of his city only in its complete harmonious integration into the surrounding landscape”. Through his spectacular career in science, Bhabha kept in touch with his inner artist. In Cambridge, contact with a brilliant group of scientists nudged him onto a career in physics, but no less was the impact of the galleries and museums of Europe, which stimulated him to changehis drawing and painting from the “dull academic manner learnt in Bombay to a more vigorous individual style”. That legacy is evident in the TIFR art collection, the largest single pool of artwork by the Bombay Progressive Artists, including FN Souza, M F Husain, SH Raza, KH Ara, Tyeb Mehta and their contemporaries. During his speech at the condolence meeting in Trombay on January 25, 1966, physicist Vikram Sarabhai said: “Those of us who had a personal contact with Bhabha know that science was an important part of life, but that he was a complete man in the best sense of the term as we understand today…He represented the best in the modern educated world, the best of science, the best of the arts.” Thought emptied of its wealth, a house on Malabar Hill remains witness to that glorious life.

-The Indian, Express, 29 June 2014

A man who never stepped into an art school has left behind the world’s largest single repository of folk art.

At first glance, Chandigarh neither looks nor feels like an Indian city. Le Corbusier’s strikingly original buildings, as much reviled as admired, give the impression of Western transplants, and the grid layout with arrow-straight criss-crossing roads is too regimented. You can never round a corner and come upon the unexpected, at least not until you step into the enchanted environs of Nek Chand’s Rock Garden.

Here is a fairyland fashioned out of the humblest materials. Like As a sculptor sees a statue in a roadside rock, Nek Chand saw creative possibilities in throwaway items. While going on his rounds as a road inspector, he picked up broken tiles, bricks, pipes, hoses, bathroom accessories, discarded pottery and jewellery, dented pots and pans, oil drums, bicycle and car parts, glass, feathers, and human hair from barber shops, all the detritus from the small towns and villages that were bulldozed to make way for the building of Chandigarh. In addition, he secretly transported strange rock formations from the Himalayan foothills by bicycle, and dumped them in a jungle gorge, and learnt how to use cement by watching Le Corbusier. Every night for 18 years he would visit his hideout and work on his hoard by the light of burning tar, till in 1975 officials came upon it fashioned into 2,000 statuettes of elephants, bears, horses, monkeys, birds and humans — an entire world in itself. Initially, he was threatened with imprisonment for stealing 12 acres of land, but eventually it was gifted to him with additional space and the services of 50 labourers to create his wonder world of waste.

One enters through a low archway tiled with mosaic in pink, yellow and blue and discovers a labyrinthine cobbled pathway lined with tin drums, matkas, and discarded electrical fittings embedded into cement walls. It opens out onto a small amphitheatre with a stage and seats cut into the hillside, for this is not just a rock garden but a mini-city built into the natural contours of the gorge.

Village belles with matkas on their heads stand beneath waterfalls topped with small temples, and shady trees loom overhead, their huge knotted roots exposed at eye level. Multiple bridges span rivulets, buffaloes wallow in a pond and women rest by the roadside their water pots beside them, every fold in their saris clearly etched with ridged tiles. Elsewhere, a feast is in progress with dancers, drummers and pipers. A man pours drinks from a wine bottle while his neighbour quaffs from a glass, and a scruffy–looking waiter wearing a chipped bowl upside down on his head offers tea in a dented kettle on a broken wooden slat serving as a tray.

Schoolboys, uniformed in brown shorts and shirts of white mosaic tiles, are lined up performing some kind of drill, stick figures dance in a meadow, and there are martial activities too. A soldier wearing a tin helmet salutes smartly, and another rides the cutest horse you ever saw, covered in white, blue, tan and pink tiling with rein and bridle made of white pebbles to match the soldier’s uniform. Elsewhere ranks of soldiers of another age dressed in blue and white tiles resembling body armour relax in a parade ground with a huge horse (The Trojan Horse perhaps?) in their midst.

The Rock Garden is a place of magical transformations where a broken bathtub becomes a swimming pool, a toilet bowl is a pond bordered with flowers, inner tubes of tyres and cycle wheels are arms and legs, and a space station, or it could be an alien spaceship, is made from dismembered bicycles. There is a launching pad, spiky antennae point skywards at odd angles, and rockets appear ready for take-off. Since there are no captions, the viewer’s imagination is free to fill in the blanks and join the dots, a fun-filled exercise.

Entire walls are embedded with vividly-coloured broken Chinaware and elegant ladies wear full-length gowns made of broken bangles. Bangles are used again to create a stunning gallery of peacocks, pink and blue, green and gold, purple and orange, gorgeous to behold as the sunlight glints on their iridescent ‘feathers’. There are crows, sparrows and geese too; and menageries of monkeys, elephants, bears and exotic animals. On an elevation stands an entire temple complex, only its spires and domes visible.

No amount of description can do justice to Nek Chand’s inventiveness or the sheer fecundity of his imagination. He is whimsical, playful and witty, but the sombre note is not entirely absent. A totemic tribal head with huge jade-green eyes stares hypnotically at the viewer, a three-headed woman has the body of a penguin, and women with mournful, hooded eyes swathed in dark brown clothing sit in a field, their torsos curved in ranks of brooding arcs. These mysterious, surreal figures are neither surprising nor out of place considering that its creator first saw his garden envisioned in a dream that became a magnificent obsession. In the process, this man of humble origin who never saw the inside of an art school has left us with the world’s largest single repository of folk art.

Honoured with the Padma Shri and accolades from the US and many European countries, here his success inevitably aroused jealousy. He has fought court cases to retain his land and, returning from a lecture tour, was horrified to find his figurines vandalised. Critics, unable to fit this one-man genre into any known category, have called it Outsider Art, but he insisted that he was not an artist, since his work was never meant for public viewing. ‘I did it only for my own pleasure’, he said. Today the Nek Chand Garden is the most popular tourist site in India after the Taj, drawing an average of 5,000 visitors a day, and standing as a monument to the dedication of the man who created it.

-The Hindu, 29 June 2014

The project

As per the original design, the dam was to irrigate 17.92 lakh ha land in Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Kutch and 73,000 ha of land in Jalore and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. By 2006, it was projected that 3.5 lakh ha of additional land in these state would be brought under irrigation. In Gujarat, the project promised to generate 1,450 MW of hydroelectric power, provide drinking water to 139 towns and around 9,633 villages and provide flood protection for 210 villages with an aggregate population of 750,000. A 80,000 km length canal network was to take water from the reservoir to drought-prone areas of the state and to Rajasthan.

The Narmada Main canal

Extending 450 km to the Rajasthan border, it crosses 19 rivers and 244 railway lines or roads. With 31 branch canals, the aggregate length of the distribution system will be 75,000 km which will require approximately 80,000 hectares of land. The canal’s capacity is such that it will be able to empty the proposed reservoir storage in less than two months. The canal will also transport Narmada water to Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat which are drought prone areas.

121.92 metres is the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river 138.68 metres is what the Narmada Control Authority has agreed to

The rising dam

June 2004 110.64 m June 2006 119 m October 2006 121.92 m Installation of radial gates will take the height to 138.68 m. At full reservoir level, taking into account the height of the flowing water column: 142 m

Height increase Who is cheering…

The Gujarat government says that with the increase in height, the reservoir capacity will go up from 1.27 million acre feet to 4.75 million acre feet. It claims that this will help provide irrigation to an additional 6.8 lakh hectare and generate additional power. Madhya Pradesh, where the narrative is largely about displacement, will get an extra 627 million units of electricity every year.

…Who isn’t

Activists and those displaced by the project. Critics say Gujarat and Rajasthan could have got their full share of water from the project even without the height increase. They say they haven’t been able to utilise even 20 per cent of the water already available to them at the current height. In Madhya Pradesh, 11,342 families are set to be displaced if the height increases.

Project cost

Originally, the estimated cost of the project was around Rs 33,000 crore. However, following repeated delays, it is set to cross Rs 75,000 crore.

The Canals Total Network

74,626 km (*As on August 31, 2013) Critics such as Sanat Mehta, former Gujarat finance minister and founder chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), the agency that is implementing the project, say that Gujarat can get its full share of water (9 million acre feet) even at the existing height. If that’s not happening, it’s because the branch canals, sub-canals and water distribution systems are not ready.

-The Indian Express, 29 June 2014

The much-delayed railway link to Manipur’s capital Imphal is set to get the world’s tallest girder rail bridge on the 125-km-long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal route.

First included in the 2003-2004 central budget, the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal project has seen many delays and construction is not even one-third the way through, but the Railways says it has so far completed seven of the 46 tunnels on the project, with the NF Railways saying it will complete five more in the current year.

“Last week we completed Tunnel No 14 that passes under the Silchar-Imphal National Highway-37, with which we have so far completed 19.5 km of the 39.4 km of total tunnel-length that the Jiribam-Imphal track will have,” a senior NF Railay official said on Sunday. The longest tunnel on this route will be 10.7 km in length, he said.

But the biggest feat the Railways has been working on is Bridge No 164, which will have a proposed pier height of 141 metre and would make it the tallest girder rail bridge in the world.

At present, the Malarijeka via-duct in Montenegro, Europe, with a height of 139 metre is the highest such rail bridge, the official said.

Declared as a National Project in 2012, the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal project has already missed two deadlines, with the revised target for completion now fixed at 2022.

“We however want to complete the Jiribam-Tupul 84-km section by March 2016 in the first phase. This portion will require 1,310 hectares of land out of which work is in progress in 1,263 hectares. There will be 112 minor bridges and six major bridges, out of which 52 minor bridges have been already completed,” the NF Railway official said.

-The Indian Express, 30 June 2014

Seventy hectares of land on the foothills of the majestic Mehrangarh fort here was once a rocky wasteland, colonised by an invasive plant from Mexico known as mesquite or baavlia – the ‘mad one’ in local parlance – as it cannot be uprooted. But the painstaking efforts of a man and his team have transformed the land into a paradise for migratory birds, and made it home for over 300 species of trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs.

In 2006, Jodhpur’s current maharaja Gaj Singh II of Mewar entrusted filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Krishen with the mammoth task of converting this baavlia—dominated wasteland into a green zone.

It was Gaj Singh’s great grandfather Maharaja Umaid Singh’s wish to convert this arid landscape into a green zone. To attain this, Umaid Singh had taken a plane and dropped baavlia seeds all over the region, unaware of its ‘dominating’ streak.

Hence, the ‘easy–looking’ job to eradicate baavlia and restore the ecological balance of the garden by growing ‘native’ lithophyte – plants able to eke out a living in a rocky habitat — was not an easy task for Krishen and his team.

After many hits and trials, Krishen cracked the code for this restoration project and called it “rewilding”. “The wild plant is like a weed that is of no use, but disrupts ecology. So to restore this system and make it bird–and–animal friendly, we have followed a systematic approach and it can be best described as rewilding,” he said.

The first challenge for the team was to uproot the plant that had made the arid land and fissures in the volcanic rhyolite — a 750–million–year–old rock– its home.

After all technological advances failed to uproot the plant, they opted for an unconventional ‘traditional’ route by having on board ‘khandwaliyas’, people from mining communities of Marwar whose expertise lies in cutting sandstone.

“Rhyolites are not soft like sandstone, but we had no other option. So we gave this a shot,” he said.

“I still remember, when Dhan Singh (head of the khandwaliyas) first struck the rock a couple of times, and then averted his eyes. I thought something went inside his eye, till he later told me he was ‘listening’ to the sound the rock made,” Krishen said with the same fascination he must have felt when he witnessed the episode.

Tree by tree “It was incredible. I call it an experience of native wisdom,” he added.

What followed next was an arduous task of literally going tree by tree, slowly and patiently.

“It was one man to one bush ratio,” he saids,”... a painstaking dig deep down into the ground as long as one could and plant plants lineally”.

After everything fell into place, the park was opened for visitors.

If visited between late July and October, naturalists will be able to spot ephemerals like rohido (marwar teak), hingoto (desert date), kair(bare caper), kheer kheem (rambling milkweed) and spot migratory birds like Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Long Leg Buzzard amongst many others.

“Come here now and don’t forget to come back in 10 years. There are quite a few big trees we would like to show you,” he concluded. -IANS

-The Hindu, 30 June 2014

The passage of time has not reduced offences caused by greed for a luxurious lifestyle

The murder of two jewellers of Dariba Kalan, in separate incidents recently, is the continuation of an old pattern of crime which can be traced to the 18th Century. During the reign of Mohammad Shah the court jeweller Sukh Karan had complained that whenever he returned late after partying with the dandy Emperor at the Red Fort he found young men following his palanquin in a bid to waylay him and rob the ornaments he wore. One of them was caught at his instance by the Kotwal who, on interrogating him, learnt that he and his accomplices were fond of going tokothas of the dancing girls who entertained customers according to the money or gifts given by them. Rabia Jaan, the most sought after courtesan, had become so rich that she did not acknowledge the presence of those showering notes at her mujra unless they offered gold or diamond jewellery.

A bullion merchant, whose wife had died in child-birth, was a frequent visitor and every night he had some precious gift or other to present to her, soon after which she concluded her performance and retired to her room with the still young Seth. One night Kishore Johri, as he was known, was surprised to find a boozed customer putting a necklace at the feet of the dancing girl. His shock was greater when he discovered that the necklace was the one stolen from his shop a week back. He flew into a rage and caught the man by his throat saying, “Confess that you stole this from my shop, you ruffian”. The accused drew a knife and stabbed the Seth but his flabby stomach cushioned the blow, and with the help of some others he managed to wrest the knife and pin the man down.

Sukh Karan (the one whose mobbing on March 8, 1729 became a cause celebre in the shoe-sellers’ riot) informed Mohammad Shah of the incident, who sent for Rabia and forced her to confess after three days of bare-body flagellation, that she had three boxes of jewellery, mostly stolen from Dariba and Chandni Chowk by her admirers, who made up for lack of riches by stealing ornaments on moonless nights after bribing the pahari chowkidars. Always in need of money as he was, the Emperor confiscated the boxes by sending his men to Chawri Bazar and the hapless Rabia, facing the threat of jail, was only too glad to join the royal harem and entertain Mohammad Shah every night at the Rang Mahal.

This is based on oral history, but to quote old records, the treatise, “Delhi Between Two Empires” states: “A common stereotype in late 19th Century officialese in Britain and in India of the criminal and dangerous classes afforded an explanation for the spate of petty crime in the city in years most noticeable between 1867 and 1874. The targets were the Chandni Chowk and Dariba shops, and bankers, merchants and pensioners.” The treatise goes on to say, “One major reason for the spate of crime was that the city gates were not always closed as they had been before 1857… During the period when the railway line was being constructed, access to the city was very easy …. After 1857 the “kuchabandi” or locking off one mohalla from another at night had been prohibited, and this also made for insecurity … and the paucity of policemen in mohallas made things easy for pickpockets (and other criminals). There was great wealth in the hands of many wholesale merchants, who had hoarded grain in the years of famine.” Naturally they were targeted by the criminals.

The safest period for Dariba and its environs was between the 1950s and 1970s, according to a jeweller who wanted to remain anonymous. The Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi not only curbed political dissent but also criminal elements. However, from the late 1980s up to now bullion shops have been the target of criminals (mostly youngsters out of job and trying to compete with those better off by buying cars and property with bank loans which are never repaid) he disclosed. “It is not surprising that stealing diamond, gold and silver jewellery is on the increase, as it seems the easiest crime to commit, along with looting of ATMs,” the Seth said. No wonder shops in Dariba and Chandni Chowk, despite their Nepali chowkidars, are often burgled. And now it is evident that criminals are becoming even bolder and committing robberies in the day too. Quite a few incidents of jewellers being attacked have been reported. The two who lost their lives were the more unfortunate ones. The new Rabias, said another jeweller, do not live in kothas but in posh colonies, where their admirers offer family or ill-gotten wealth to please them.” Probably a case of history repeating itself! (The author is a veteran chronicler of Delhi)

-The Hindu, 30 June 2014

A water conservation scheme in Osmanabad district of Marathwada region has been named after late BJP leaderGopinath Munde, as a tribute to the former Union minister's work for farmers.

Water conservation works of 35km have been undertaken as part of the scheme in 10 villages, which was launched by the Natural Sugar and Allied Industries, a sugar factory started by Munde's associate B B Thombre.

The scheme was named after Munde following his demise in Delhi after a road accident on June 3. Former BJP MLC Pasha Patel, who launched a nullah (drain) deepening project as part of the scheme earlier this week, said conservation works will help farmers tackle water shortage in the state.

Former BJP MLC Pasha Patel, who launched a nullah (drain) deepening project as part of the scheme earlier this week, said conservation works will help farmers tackle water shortage in the state.

-The Times of India, 30 June 2014

A large number of fish were reported dead due to water pollution of three major rivers — Kolong, Kopili and Kiling — in Morigaon district, causing concern among environmentalists.

According to information received by the revenue department, arsenic poisoning from the ground water was suspected to have mixed with the rivers in spate resulting in the death of various types of fish during the last three days.

Stating that thousands of dead fish were seen floating on the rivers, revenue department sources feared that other aquatic beings might also have been affected.

Arsenic pollution was also reported in neighbouring district of Karbi Anglong and parts of Nagaon's western and southern parts, besides along the inter-state Meghalaya border, causing the outbreak of viral diseases affecting the throat. The revenue department has informed the Geological Survey of India about the situation and asked them to study the soil and the exact cause for the pollution.

Environmentalists were also concerned about the loss of fish in the three rivers.

-The Times of India, 30 June 2014

A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently found two engravings of Buddha in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, which could throw new light on the Buddhist tradition of the region.The team led by superintendent archaeologist SS Gupta found the engraving on a fallen rock near Zemithang, 94 km north of Tawang.

The engraving, measuring 1.95m in length and 2.15m in breadth, sees the figure seated on a lotus pedestal with a halo carved behind his head.

Another engraving of Buddha was discovered at Tak Tsang, in Tawang district. This engraving also sees Buddha sitting on a lotus pedestal.

There is an inscription below in the local dialect honoring Buddha. The engraving measures nearly 50cm in length and 30 cm in width.

There also appear to be a few blue and green patches, which archaeologists believe are a later addition. “The discovery of such figures is unique. The existence of various forms of Buddhist stupas, of both the Hinayana and Mahayana traditions of Buddhism shows that it is a living religion in the area. It also reflects on how prevalent the religion is among tribes. The influence of neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Tibet can clearly be seen here,” Gupta told Hindustan Times.

-The Hindustan Times, 30 June 2014

Situated on Shanti Swaroop Tyagi Marg, 2 km from Kingsway Camp in North Delhi, the Coronation Park is getting readied to become a telling reminder of the city’s history. However, the work still remains incomplete despite the December 2011 deadline. The site marks the place where the declaration to shift British India’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi was made, and the coronation of King George V as Emperor of India on December 12, 1911, took place.

The park complex previously housed a Coronation Pillar or the obelisk and five statues mounted on pedestals, one of them being the tallest built statue of King George V.

As part of the centenary celebration of New Delhi’s existence, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is in-charge of the park, collaborated with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on a restoration and redevelopment plan for the park. The plan spelt out restorative treatment for the statues and the obelisk, and the building of a restaurant, interpretation centre, amphitheatre, children’s play area and parking lot in the 55-acre compound.

“The restoration has been completed by the INTACH, and the primary construction is also done. Electrification and clearances remain though,” said DDA assistant engineer Dilbagh Singh.

“The Tricolour will also be installed in the compound and be mounted on a 30-metre high flagpole, to make it tower over the 21-metre obelisk that stands as a testimony of the Raj,” Mr. Singh added.

The layout of the redeveloped complex has been designed by noted landscape architect Mohammad Shaheer, who has to his credit the restoration of the gardens at Humayun’s Tomb and several other significant projects.

“The interesting aspect about the new construction at Coronation Park is the generous use of sandstone that was an important feature of the Mughal as well as British architecture in Delhi,” Mr. Shaheer said, adding that “this will serve as a continuum to Indian art’s history through various periods extending up to the current day”.

The ambitious project, which was to be completed by December 2011 to host the Capital’s centenary celebrations, has missed several deadlines since, which has led it to exceed its initial estimated budget of Rs.20 crore.

Explaining the issue, INTACH Delhi Chapter convener A.G. Krishna Menon said: “You can only imagine the escalated costs of a project that has been delayed by several years. The work is wriggling owing to bureaucratic apathy. If by monsoon the work remains incomplete, we will be in trouble.”

The area, meanwhile, has been fitted with pumps to rid it of the water that floods the low-lying compound during the monsoon. The pumps, however, have not been tested to deem them reliable for the monsoon, Mr. Menon said.

“Last year too, rainwater got stagnated in the compound. A repetition this year will cause greater damage due to the sizeable horticultural work that has been undertaken in the park,” added a worried Mr. Menon.

-The Hindu, 30 June 2014

A team from UNESCO will be visiting the national capital sometime during September to examine the city's heritage sites, which are part of a dossier sent by India to the world body in pursuance of Delhi's bid for a World Heritage tag.

Delhi Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) had prepared the "voluminous" dossier on behalf of the Delhi government, which was eventually submitted to UNESCO by the Union Culture Ministry in January. The two areas listed in the nomination dossier are Shahjahanabad in old Delhi which has the Mughal-era heritage and Lutyens' Bungalow Zone (LBZ) in New Delhi, part of the new imperial capital designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker after the 1911 Delhi Durbar.

"We are constantly in correspondence with the UNESCO regarding this and so far what we have got to know is that a team from their side would be visiting sometime in September to evaluate the sites that have been nominated in our dossier," told Convener, INTACH Delhi Chapter A G K Menon.

"The visit is likely to be of two to three days during which the team will evaluate the heritage sites to ascertain the claims made in the dossier," said Menon.

He said the dossier has been meticulously prepared and runs into several pages and "also has many annexures attached to it", detailing the sites.

On the composition of the team, he said, while nothing has been made official from their (UNESCO) side about its composition, "I'm sure they will send people who understand India, its ethos, and its cultural and economic context."

"Indian cities cannot be compared with their European counterparts. So, for Delhi's Shahjahanabad, which is ancient and yet a living city, an organic city, economic constraints do impinge upon the conditions of such places. But, I still have positive vibes about it and we hope for the best," he added.

After evaluation of the sites here, the UNESCO will then eventually decide on "inscribing" the city in the World Heritage List, the announcement for which would be made in June 2015.

But, Menon who claims, "tag or no tag," the process of nomination itself has "immensely benefited Delhi already."

"Although, the 'World Heritage City' tag is the benchmark for us, but, but the nomination itself has accrued benefit to the city, which is an eclectic mix of so many layers of histories. And, so whether it is tourism or projects, it has helped tremendously," he said.

The visit also will come in the backdrop of Gujarat's 11th century stepwell 'Rani Ki Vav' and Himachal Pradesh's Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) having been accorded the coveted tag earlier this month.

"I think both our nominations, Rani Ki Vav (cultural site) and GHNP (natural site) from last year, which have been accepted for inscription, will be a great morale booster for India," said Menon.

But, the UNESCO nomination is "not an end in itself", as the ultimate purpose is to effect "heritage-oriented" policies, and the onus for which lies on the government, he said.

But, yes, if Delhi gets the nod, it will also provide a "huge impetus" to other cities to go for the same, cities like Varanasi.

But, former ASI Delhi Circle chief K K Muhammed, rues not having a single heritage city in India, and blames it on lack of heritage-protection policies or policies detrimental to existing heritage fabric of a city.

"Even a small country like Nepal has three world heritage cities including Kathmandu. We may have sent Delhi's name for the coveted tag, but what is the status of heritage in the national capital," he asked.

In the tentative dossier prepared about two years ago, four zones had been nominated, but Menon said, "judging their conditions, we removed Nizamuddin and Mehrauli from our list.

Also, we took out Connaught Place from the Lutyen's Bungalow Zone list, to not risk our bid, as the market place's character has been commercialised."

Meanwhile, INTACH has been organising conferences and seminars in promoting Delhi's bid and more programmes are lined up ahead of the visit.

"In August, we are holding a seminar on management of world heritage cities, and its a further step in our bid as the dates draw closer," said Menon.

-The Times of India, 30 June 2014