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DownToEarth

1-15 OCTOBER, 2014

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT FORTNIGHTLY Subscriber copy, not for resale `45.00
Bangladesh: Taka 58.00 / Pakistan: Rs 58.00 / Nepal: Rs 38.00 / Sri Lanka: Rs 117.00 / Maldives: Rf 28.00 Bhutan: Ngultrum 24 / Rest of the World (South): US $2.70 / Rest of the World (North): US $3.40

Fourteen-year-old

In a
Sahil prays for
the safety of his
family at a relief
camp in Srinagar

TRAGIC
state Kashmir floods make a pleading
case for urban flood management

01Cover.indd 7 22/09/14 4:27 PM


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Ensure performance evaluation of pollution control
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Conduct Social Impact Assessment for opening
opportunities to local people

FOR REGISTRATIONS mail at: nivit@cseindia.org


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COURSE DURATION
November 10-14, 2014

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CSE, 38, Tughlakabad Institutional
Area, New Delhi 62

LAST DATE FOR APPLYING


September 30, 2014

OPEN FOR ALL


Industry professionals such as
Environment Managers; Health
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Environment Auditors; and
Environment Engineers

For details contact: Nivit Kumar Yadav, Industry & Environment Unit
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062
Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 251); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879
Mobile: 9968023535 Website: www.cseindia.org

oct15, 2014 Down To Earth 02


EDITORS PAGE

THE MYTH OF
GREEN BUILDING
T
HERE IS no question that India and other parts What we discovered is not a convenient truth. My col-
of the still-under-construction world must build leagues have put together a book, Building Sense: Beyond the
green. The building sector is a major contributor Green Faade of Sustainable Habitat, to bust some myths and
to climate change and local environmental de- explore alternative approaches. What they find is as follows.
struction because of construction materials used; First, the general approach is to build wrongly and
energy expended for lighting, heating and cooling; and water then fit in the green features. For instance, glass-envel-
consumption and waste discharge.This is the threat.There is oped buildings are certified green, simply because they in-
an opportunity as well. Most of India is still unbuiltover stall double or triple insulating glass or five-star air-condi-
70 per cent of the building stock is yet to be constructed tioners to cool places that were first heated up deliberately.
so unlike the rest of the already developed world, India can Secondly, rating systems are being pushed through
build anew in efficient and sustainable manner. But how? government and municipal schemes without any evidence
This is an issue that has been troubling us at the Centre that green-certified buildings are actually working. Data
for Science and Environment. Over the past few years the on the performance of the green buildings after they have
idea of green buildings has gained popularityeverybody, it been commissioned was, till very recently, not disclosed.
would seem, has turned a new leaf. Across the country large So, even though rating agencies say that green-certified
and small constructions are advertised as the greenest of buildings save between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the
green.To prove that they are indeed energy and reduce water consumption
environment-friendly, the business by 20-30 per cent, they have no corrob-
of certification has also grown.There orating data.
are agencies that now rate and award Thirdly, all these so-called green
stars to individual buildings based technologies end up hiking costs to
on certain parameters. Many state the extent that buildings become
governments are making these same unaffordable to most. What India
standards of greenness mandatory. needs are building standards that are
Some are even providing incentives, appropriate and cost-effective. Green
like exemptions on property tax, to architecture should not be a barrier to
those buildings that qualify as envi- inclusive growth.
ronment-friendly. This is where old knowledge has a
All this is important but do we know what green means? role to play. Traditional architecture is based on the princi-
When we began asking this question, what surprised us ple of localising buildings so that they can optimise nat-
was the hostility with which it was received. Nobody wanted ural elements and be efficient in resource use. This science
the new God to be questioned. Nobody wanted to be asked and art of engineers for nature needs to be infused with the
something as simple as what the post-commissioning per- new material knowledge of modern architecture.
formance of a green building was. We realised that the in- Many architects, engineers and builders are innovating
terestsof architects, builders, auditors and certifiersin with this old-new science. Thats how the knowledge and
this new industry were already entrenched. It was a cozy club practice of affordable and sustainable buildings will evolve.
and nobody was keen to give us entry. But big builders will adopt it only if and when the faade of
We dug in our heels. Buildings are the key to a green buildings is lifted. This is what we hope to do.
cleaner and greener future.The building sector uses, already,
some 40 per cent of the countrys electricity generation. So,
every effort made to reduce energy intensity of buildings
will go a long way. We wanted to know what was happen-
ing and what more could be done to reduce the material-use
footprint and emissions of every construction.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 3

03Editors.indd 3 22/09/14 11:10 AM


Down To Earth
SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT FORTNIGHTLY
ON THE WEB
WHAT'S HOT
FOUNDER EDITOR Anil Agarwal
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Sunita Narain SPECIAL COVERAGE
MANAGING EDITOR Richard Mahapatra
ASSOCIATE EDITORS J&K floods: causes
Vibha Varshney, Kaushik Das Gupta,
Archana Yadav, Aruna P Sharma
and effects
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Arnab Pratim Dutta After the Uttarakhand floods
SENIOR EDITOR Latha Jishnu last year, the flood in the
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ajit Bajaj northern state of Jammu
GRAPHIC EDITOR Sorit Gupto and Kashmir is another
REPORTING TEAM reminder of how unplanned
Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, and haphazard urbanisation
Suchitra M, Aparna Pallavi, Jyotika Sood, in cities like Jammu and
Anupam Chakravartty, Alok Kumar Gupta,
Jitendra Choubey, Soma Basu,
Srinagar can compound
Kundan Pandey, Jyotsna Singh the impacts of extreme
COPY DESK weather events
Snigdha Das, Aditya Misra, Vani Manocha,
Rajit Sengupta, Moushumi Sharma SPECIAL FEATURE BLOG
DESIGN TEAM
Chaitanya Chandan, Shri Krishan, Raj Kumar Finances and
Singh, Tarique Aziz, Juhi Jha Can the world reduce hunger?
logistics will pose a
PHOTOGRAPHER Vikas Choudhary
huge challenge for
PHOTO LIBRARY Anil Kumar
the 24x7 assured
WEB TEAM
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PRODUCTION
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INFORMATION AND RESEARCH ASSISTANCE Andhra Pradesh,
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www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in team says N Sai Siddhartha
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Chandra Bhushan, Anumita Roychowdhury
POPULAR
vol 23, no 10; Total No of pages 80
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04web and credits.indd 4 22/09/14 11:40 AM


letters

MEETA AHLAWAT / CSE


All eyes on Ganga
The Ganga Action Plan needs transparency. The National Mission for Clean
Ganga (nmcg) must put out in public domain how it proposes to ensure the
wholesomeness of the National River and its basin. This could include:
Continuous flow: A concept note describing the technical approach to ensure
optimum environmental flow in every tributary of the Ganga so that waters of
neighbouring basins are not required to be transferred.
Unpolluted flow: A modified approach paper giving the technology and
roadmap to clean the river basin, which has 836 watersheds, 126 sub-catchments
and 22 catchments. Conventional pollution control methods have failed.
Geological entity: Every healthy river system performs its natural function,
that is, transportation of sediments and dissolved salts during rainy season
and transportation of dissolved compounds and material (rock fragments, for
example) during dry months. nmcg should put out a crystal clear approach paper
on restoring the geological entity of the river system.
Ecological entity: The Ganga river system is a delicate balance between living
species and the physical environment, achieved by nature over thousands of
years. nmcg may first define the environmental flow in Indian context and then
describe how the ecosystem and the safety of life forms shall be ensured.
K G V YAS, FORMER ADVISOR , RA JIV GANDHI WATER SHED MISSION

VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE


states. Why are these
What's in your food? not monitoring the use
This is with reference to the of chemicals in animals?
editorial "Chicken comes Do these laboratories not
home to roost" (August have enough personnel
16-31, 2014). The issue or equipment? The
of antibiotics in poultry government should either
is largely ignored in this ensure regular monitoring
country. There are more of animal farms to check
than 70 labs of the Food the use of antibiotics or
Safety and Standards promote organic farming.
Authority of India in various PRAVEEN KUMAR

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 5

05-07Letters.indd 5 17/09/14 4:17 PM


letters * Our irresistible appetite
for meat is dangerous both
for human health and the
environment. Antimicrobials
used in livestock can leech
into water bodies from animal
waste, contaminating the
environment and also posing
a health risk. New diseases,
such as swine flu and mad cow
SATWIK MUDGAL / CSE

disease, have emerged. Meat


production has been linked
to erosion of farmlands and
destruction of rainforests.
Livestock production has also
been linked to climate change.
Philosopher Peter Singer has
rightly put it: "we are, quite
literally, gambling with the
future of our planet for the should be cleared and important and must be given
sake of hamburgers." transported late at night or due consideration.
JAYDEV JANA early in the morning when the CHITRA
roads are not crowded with
Think waste people and vehicles. * The article was thought
This is with reference to TATHABRATA provoking, especially all the
"Garbage gets attention" facts and figures about waste
(September 1-15, 2014). I hope * Management of waste has generation and disposal. Prior
the government puts in place an impact on both human to this, I never gave garbage
a law on the transportation of health and environment, much attention. Now I realise
municipal waste. The current but this issue has been that garbage is easily one of
practice of municipal trucks long ignored. Every aspect the most ignored issues in
clearing and transporting of waste management- the country. I hope the article
garbage during peak hours, handling, storage, collection, will encourage people to give
besides being undesirable, transportation, sorting, waste management a thought.
disrupts traffic. Garbage processing and disposal-is SHEFALI

http://www.facebook.com/down2earthindia
India is up for sale to the highest unsustainable interests of industry. The
polluters. By the time we wake up from move to amend green laws is no surprise.
our ignorance it will be too late. What this Cleaning the Ganga alone is not going to
government is doing will create concrete restore the irreparable damages to the
cities without food, water or clean air. ecosystem resulting from such decisions.
NDA government sets up SHANKARY KRISHNAMOORTHY VARAD SHENDE

high-level panel to The government's aim is not to amend but We need to strike a balance between
amend green laws. Do we to destroy. Why not formulate a policy on development and environment. Otherwise
population control instead? no living being will be able to enjoy the
need to worry? ANIL KAPUR fruits of development. In the development
debate, we also need to ask "development
Since it came to power, this government for whom".
has made clear its intention of fuelling the SUBHENDU BHAT TACHARJEE

6 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

05-07Letters.indd 6 17/09/14 4:17 PM


LETTERS
LETTERS

DONT FUDGE REPORTS ments can b


Western Ghats:REPORTS
DONT FUDGE lessons in protection makes can
ments it im
b
(March
Western 16-31,
Ghats:2014) wasinanprotection
lessons enlighten- constituted
makes it im
Healthy myth ing
* editorial on
The officials
(March the
16-31,of2014) conflicting
the Central
was anand interests
state
enlighten- ment to be h
constituted
"Now healthy ads sell junk" (September of the two
pollution government-appointed
control
ing editorial on boards are equally
the conflicting com-
interests the right
ment reco
to be h
1-15, 2014) was an eye-opener for me. I am, mitteesGadgil
of the two Committee
corrupt. They manipulate data to fit them
government-appointed and
com- the right reco
or was till I read the article, an ardent fan Kasturirangan Committeeregarding D V MAYDE
within the regulatory standards of the
mitteesGadgil Committee and
of digestive biscuits and atta noodles. All the conservationCommitteeregarding
Kasturirangan of the Western Ghats. dr_dilipmayd
D V MAYDE
Ministry of Environment, Forests and
The two committees should Ghats.
have dr_dilipmayd
this while I thought I was making a smart the conservation
Climate Change of the
so that Western
worked
The twoin tandem in itthe
committees
grants quick
spirit
should of have
pro- CATCH DRO
choice in opting for wheat and fibre-based clearances to development projects.
tecting
worked in the environment.
tandem in the spiritIt ofis pro-
well This is with
CATCH DRO
products instead of flour and sugar. But I known that environment impact ANAND
assess- (March 16-3
guess I was wrong. I want to thank Down tecting the environment. It is well This is with
TARIQ AZIZ / CSE ing a wate
known that environment impact assess- (March 16-31
To Earth for raising a critical health issue NOTICE BOARD turned into
who want to make quick money. These ing a water
and creating awareness. 2011. Worse
turned into
moves need to be opposed, else we will NOTICE BOARD
NIDHI
lose whatever little greenery is left. SHOLAI SCHOOL demand
2011. for w
Worse
rise drastical
SHOLAI SCHOOL
Located in the campus of the Centre for Learning, demand for w
A nuclear lesson M A HAQUE Organic Agriculture and Appropriate Technology,
Centre
are millions
rise drasticall
Located
in in the
a beautiful campus
sylvan of the
valley of the Palanifor Learning,
Hills, we are havemillions
access to
"Chronicle of the end foretold" (September * Scrutiny of environmental projects aOrganic Agriculture and
non-conventional, 70 Appropriate
acre residentialTechnology,
School are
1-15, 2014) is a searing depiction of nuclear in a beautiful sylvan valley of the Palani Hills, we are a crisis loom
have access to
is usually carried out by spin doctors registered with the University of Cambridge
a non-conventional, 70 acre residential School
winter. It takes us back to Apocalypse International Examinations (IN499). The students should be
a crisis loom bu
at the state level and manufactured registered
take IGCSEwith (Xth the University
standard) and Aoflevel Cambridge
exams. a drought-lik
Now and the works of Helen Caldicott. The environment assessment reports are International
Having Examinations
a teacher (IN499).
: student ratio of 1:6 weThearestudents
able to
should be bu
truths that emerge from the comic strip are take IGCSE
explore (Xth
learning standard)
well beyond the and A level
confines exams.
of syllabi. athat the gov
drought-lik
generated. This results in a system of Having a teacher : student ratio of 1:6 we are able to
too deadly to be forgotten. Comprehension of conditioning and its limiting effect on that the gov
obstruction and prevarication. The explore learning well beyond the confines of syllabi.
the mind and reflecting on responsibility and sensitivity Down To Eart
A SRINIVAS editorial raises one question: why do Comprehension
in relationships ofare
conditioning
some of andthe its limiting explored
themes effect on
the mind students
and reflecting on responsibility Narain, Edito
between and teachers. Send forand sensitivity
brochure to: Down To Eart
knowledge and foresight get short shrift in relationships are some of the themes explored Email: editor@
* This is amazing work. It is rare to Sholai School, P.O.Box 57, Kodaikanal - 624 101. Narain, Editor
irrespective of the political arrangement? between students and teachers. Send for brochure to:
Telephone-04542-230393/297/487 Email: editor@
find a visual dialogue with such in-depth J GEOR GE Sholai cloaat@yahoo.com
Email: School, P.O.Box 57, Website:
Kodaikanal - 624 101.
sholaicloaat.org
knowledge on a critical issue. I would love Telephone-04542-230393/297/487
Email: cloaat@yahoo.com Website: sholaicloaat.org
to see more such content in Down To Earth. NOTICE BOARD
NOBINA GUPTA
SAHYADRI SCHOOL
* Excellent work depicting the horrifying The Bhoomi College SAHYADRI SCHOOL
KRISHNAMURTI FOUNDATION INDIA
impact of nuclear warfare. Important Tiwai Hill, FOUNDATION
KRISHNAMURTI Rajgurunagar INDIA
For holistic and practical learning:
information has been presented in an Dist. Hill,
Tiwai Pune 410 513
Rajgurunagar
interesting format. We need more such Eco friendly Food and Farming Dist. Pune 410 513
A fully residential, co-educational school,
illustrations to create awareness among 1 Sep - 8 Oct 2014
Sahyadri is situated amidst great natural
A fully residential, co-educational school, Ph
the people. Inner and Outer Ecology - Retreat beauty in the Western Ghats. The school is not
VIPIN 11 - 16 October, 2014
Sahyadri is situated amidst great natural
only a centre of academic excellence, but also Ph
beauty in the Western Ghats. The school is not
a place where children and educators explore
Register: bhoomiprogrammes@gmail.com only a centre of academic excellence, but also Cont
fundamental questions of life together. The
Bitter green truth www.bhoomicollege.org a place where children and educators explore
discovery of self-awareness, right living and
This is with reference to the editorial, fundamental questions of life together. The Conti
right relationship with the earth is at the heart
"Green clearance test for NDA" (September Subscribe to: discovery of self-awareness, right living and
of our intent.
right relationship with the earth is at the heart
1-15, 2014). The steps taken by the www.bhoomimagazine.org of our intent.
Experienced teachers may apply, through the
government are retrogressive. Every day school website, for classes 4-10, and for classes
Experienced teachers may apply, through the
there is some announcement or the 11-12 (higher secondary). Teachers with varied
school website, for classes 4-10, and for classes
interests and capabilities will be preferred.
other on environmental laws and 11-12 (higher secondary). Teachers with varied Ph
regulations. I fail to understand why interests and capabilities will be preferred.
EnviroXpressions/INDUS/02/2010

Application forms for entry into Classes 4 to Ph


the government is so involved with the 8, and 11 can be downloaded from the school Sp
EnviroXpressions/INDUS/02/2010

Application forms for entry into Classes 4 to


environment when there are hundreds website and submitted, duly filled in, to
8, and 11 can be downloaded from the school
Env
Sp
the School. Scholarships are available for
of other problems-law and order is in website and submitted, duly filled in, to
deserving students to partially meet Envi
a shambles; women and children are the School. Scholarships are available for
For trade enquiries
school fees.
deserving students to partially meet
exploited every day; the justice system is The United Nilgiri Tea Estates Co. Ltd.,
school fees.
almost non-functional, except perhaps Chamraj Estate, The Nilgiris - 643 204, India For information:
Ph: 91-423-2258737, Fax: + 91-423-2258837 phone: 02135 306100, 288442/3
for those who hire prominent lawyers. But e-mail: chamrajtea@gmail.com For information:
email: sahyadrischool@gmail.com
www.unitednilgiritea.com phone: 02135 306100, 288442/3
the government does not address these website: www.sahyadrischool.org
email: sahyadrischool@gmail.com striv
concerns. Obviously, strong environmental Shop online at website: www.sahyadrischool.org
regulations are getting in the way of those www.chamrajtea.com striv
8 Down To Earth May 1-15, 2014
1-15 OCTOBER 2014 8 Down Towww.downtoearth.org.in
Earth May 1-15, 2014 7

05-07Letters.indd 7 17/09/14 4:18 PM


contents 15.3
million
hungry
mouths
South Asia
continues to
be home to the
largest number of
11

undernourished
people

24

Caught unawares
The Jammu and Kashmir
disaster shows why India needs
to worry about its urban flood
management

Risky
promotion
The Bangladesh
government is set to
expand cultivation of
controversial
GM brinjal 22
Bihari migrants
16 come home
Migration trends in Bihar are changing,
causing labour shortage elsewhere

18
Where lies
Krishna
consciousness?
ISKCON's planned Chandrodaya temple
may further deplete Vrindavan's
On the wrong side of rights groundwater and harm its environment
Tribal affairs ministry objects to Maharashtra's Village
Forest Rules that violate the Forest Rights Act. Other
ministries pressure it to backtrack

14

8 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

08-09Contents.indd 8 22/09/14 2:50 PM


Mermaid returns 44 Try Vidarbha's
Dugongs stage a revival around earthy tea
Andaman and Nicobar islands Tea made with Anantamool herb can
be more than a refresher

50

56

38 Let's talk shit


The life story of excreta
and why its disposal
Cooking up should be a matter of
toxic air concern
Kitchens without effective
exhausts can also serve a 54
significant amount of air
pollutants
46
Time for
another Who needs
tree walk
Filmmaker Pradip a new IPR
Krishen publishes policy?
his next work, India has enough
Jungle Trees of laws to protect its
Central India intellectual property
rights

Origin of the `Land subsidence Nazi's


monsoon is imminent' industrial
Fossil analyses show the Geologist Pradip Sikdar on jackal
monsoon system could have dangers of overextraction of Pharma and chemical
formed 15 million years earlier groundwater in India majors, Bayer, Hoechst
than thought and BASF, participated
37 in Nazi crimes 58
52 A lethal
secrecy
Why governments hide
trade negotiations that
have dire consequences
for public services?
Children's
Cattle healers Swaraj
Tribals of Central India heal Karnataka turns
lethal livestock diseases with governance into child's play
with kids' assemblies
herbs from their backyard 42 20-PAGE DTE SUPPLEMENT
48
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Supplement Editor: Sumita Dasgupta
40 Copy: Prachi Guron, Anjali Nambissan, Ajanta Sikdar
Design: Kadambari Misra, Surender Singh

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 9

08-09Contents.indd 9 22/09/14 11:41 AM


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p10 oc15,14
THE FORTNIGHT
CROSS HAIRS

Hunger continues to stalk South Asia POINT

SOUTH ASIA hosts the largest number


of chronically hungry people: over half
a billion. While hunger reduction targets
Insecurity in the World report published
by the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) of the United Nations. FAO says
999 million
bank accounts opened in last eight
outlined in United Nations' Millennium prevalence of undernourishment has years to disburse wages under the
Development Goals have been met in East fallen from 18.7 per cent in 1990-92 to 11.3 rural employment guarantee Act
and Southeast Asia, progress has been per cent in 2012-14 in the world, and from
very slow in South Asia. Only 15.3 million 23.4 per cent to 13.5 per cent in developing
South Asians have overcome hunger since regions. But the world still has 805 million
1990-92, says the fourth State of Food hungry people. Source: India Country Report, 2014, SAARC

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 11

11-13The Fortnight.indd 11 22/09/14 11:23 AM


THE FORTNIGHT
MINING

SAYANTAN BERA / CSE


SC closes iron ore mines in Jharkhand
FOLLOWING A Supreme Court order, the Jharkhand non-adherence to environmental laws and failure in taking
government has closed 12 iron ore mines in West Singhbhum up corporate social responsibilities in the right spirit.
district. The 12 leased mines were operated by Tata Steel, The closure of mines has triggered panic among major
Steel Authority of India Ltd and Orissa Manganese and steel makers in the area. It has also led to loss of livelihood
Minerals Private Ltd. The companies had not renewed their for hundreds of tribal miners in the district. But Soren has
mining licences for the past few years. Chief Minister Hemant refused to work out a compromise to appeal for restarting
Soren has attributed the closure to the mining companies' the mines.

Ozone, at ground zero


MEETA AHLAWAT / CSE
GROUND-LEVEL ozone of sunlight. Being a strong
pollution has damaged oxidant, ozone damages lungs
six million tonnes of crops in and vegetation. It is also the
India in 2005, says a research main component of smog.
published in Geophysical "India could feed 94 million
Research Letters. Ground-level people with the lost wheat
ozone is formed in the air due and rice crops," said Sachin
to reactions between nitrogen Ghude, scientist at the
oxides and hydrocarbon Indian Institute of Tropical
(emitted from vehicles and Meteorology, Pune, and lead
other sources) in the presence author of the study.

12 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

11-13The Fortnight.indd 12 22/09/14 11:23 AM


THE FORTNIGHT

Algae floods
Arabian Sea
Government nod to AYUSH mission
THE UNION Cabinet has approved AYUSH education systems, increasing
A green algae growing a National AYUSH Mission to revive the number of AYUSH hospitals and
in the Arabian Sea is the country's traditional systems of dispensaries, and ensuring availability of
medicine. AYUSH stands for ayurveda, raw material for drugs. The announcement
threatening fisheries in yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and comes at a time when 11 Southeast Asian
the region. A report by homoeopathy. The mission aims to countries are looking at ways to integrate
provide healthcare services to vulnerable traditional medicines into national
Columbia University's
and far-flung areas of the country by healthcare systems for ensuring universal
Lamont-Doherty Earth allocating more resources, promoting health coverage.
Observatory says green
Noctiluca scintillans has
been spreading over Standing protest for land V E R B AT I M

the last decade. It is a T H E N I L P P U S A M A R A , or standing protest, by tribal


plankton that survives people in front of Kerala's secretariat completed its 100th day.
in low-oxygen waters Led by the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha, an umbrella organisation
of tribal groups in Kerala, the protesters are demanding the
and a growing "dead state government to honour the package it had promised to
zone" in the Arabian them in 2001. After
48 days of continuous
Sea has allowed it to protests by several tribal
dominate the region. organisations, under the "The pace of
leadership of Wayanad the disease
COURTESY: MATHRUBHUMI

Discharge of nutrient- tribal leader C K Janu, the and also its


rich sewage from coastal Kerala government had impact has
promised in October 2001 taken our
cities is expanding the to distribute cultivable breath away-
dead zone. Fisheries land to tribal people, and it's been that
protect their land from massive"
help sustain 120 million encroachment. It was to be implemented in a mission mode. As Shanelle Hall,
people living along the per the agreement, all landless tribal people were to get one to director of the
two hectares of cultivable land and financial help to develop it. supply division,
shores of Oman, India The distributed land was to be brought under the Fifth Schedule Unicef, on the
and Pakistan. of the Constitution to prevent transfer to non-tribals. spread of Ebola

VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE

DCGI circular on poultry feed


THE DRUGS Controller follows a letter by the Union
General of India (DCGI) has Minister for Women and Child
admitted that non-therapeutic Development, Maneka Gandhi,
use of antibiotics is rampant in to the Union health minister
poultry and cattle feed. It has highlighting the problem. The
asked drug controllers in all letter cited recent findings by
states and Union Territories to Delhi-based non-profit Centre
ensure that animal feed does for Science and Environment
not contain antibiotics. DCGI that say poultry farmers use
had issued similar instructions antibiotics to increase meat
in June. The latest circular production.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 13

11-13The Fortnight.indd 13 22/09/14 11:23 AM


FOREST

A new roadblock
Tribal affairs ministry objects to Maharashtra's Village Forest Rules
that violate FRA. Other ministeries pressure it to backtrack
KUMAR SAMBHAV SHRIVASTAVA | delhi

T
HE FOREST Rights Act, which em-

KUMAR SAMBHAV SHRIVASTAVA / CSE


powers tribal people and forest
dwellers to have absolute rights
over their forests, has started a
battle at the Centre.Two Union ministries
rural development and panchayati raj; and
environment, forests and climate change
are putting pressure on the Union Ministry
of Tribal Affairs to withdraw its stand up-
holding the landmark law enacted in 2006.
The problem started in March this year,
when the Maharashtra government issued
the Maharashtra Village Forest Rules of 2014,
which sought to make communities declare
forests under their jurisdictions as village for-
ests. On August 13, the Union tribal affairs
ministry asked the state to put on hold the
rules because they were prima facie in viola-
tion of the Forest Rights Act (fra).
Six days later, Nitin Gadkari, the
minister of rural development and panchay-
ati raj wrote to tribal affairs minister, Jual
Oram, requesting him to withdraw his
ministrys objections against the
Maharashtra Village Forest Rules. In his let-
ter, Gadkari said that the rules were empow-
ering the village panchayats in the state and
that the state politicians were in favour of
their implementation. He requested Oram
to discuss the matter with the Union
environment and forests ministry as the rules
were issued under a law administered by the
minsitry. Then on August 29, Union envi-
ronment minister Prakash Javadekar wrote
to Oram with the same request.
It is shocking that Gadkari, whose min-
istry has nothing to do with the forests or
tribal communities has been writing such let-
ters to the tribal affairs ministry, says tribal
rights activist Madhu Sarin.

New line of defence


Activists say that the new rules, which
The Maharashtra Village Forest Rules, 2014, are in contravention of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, emerge from the colonial Indian Forest Act
that gives absolute authority to the gram sabha over forests under a community's jurisdiction (ifa), 1927, are the Maharashtra govern-

14 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

14-15Forest.indd 14 22/09/14 2:50 PM


FOREST

ments latest attempt to stop forest dwellers


from benefitting under fra.
the suo moto clause on stay, saying there was
a confusion over its impact on cfr.
Unwilling states
Under the new rules, the forest depart- C R Bijoy of Campaign for Survival and Forest departments have
ment sets the terms for communities access Dignity says, Through these rules, the forest always resisted notification
and use of village forest resources.The village department wanted to do two things. One, to of village forests
forest management committees of the gram declare areas that are yet to receive cfr as
sabhas, to be constituted under the rules, are village forests. This is frightening because 1865
supposed to work under the supervision of only a handful of areas have been brought First forest law enacted. It
forest officials. Even the extraction of minor under cfr so far. And two, through the suo provides for three types of forests:
forest produce such as bamboo can only be moto clause they wanted to regain its control reserved, protected and village. The
done by the communities as per the working over community forests. provision for village forests never
plan of the forest department. The activists fear is not completely implemented
This is in contravention of the commu- unfounded. On this Independence day, the
nity forest rights provisions of fra which state forest department distributed draft 1927
give absolute authority to the gram sabha resolutions to gram sabhas and asked them to The Indian Forest Act (IFA), which
(village council) over forests under the pass the same in the meeting so that they can retains the provision for the three
communitys jurisdiction. be included as village forests. The kinds of forests, passed. The
The new rules come at a time when villages that received the draft resolution provision for village forests still
several villages in the tribal-dominated re- included several cfr villages including not impleme nted
gions such as Gadchiroli district have got cfr Mendha Lekha, the first village in the 1980S
titles and are benefitting by trading in bam- country to get the cfr title in 2009. Even Orissa Village Forest Rules passed
boo from the community forests, which were though the suo moto clause has been put on under IFA to formalise a social
controlled by the forest department before hold after protests from communities, the forestry program in the state. The
the fra was enacted (see Major battle over danger of notifying new areas under Village rules are drafted in such a way that
minor produce, Down To Earth, November Forest Rules still remains, says Bijoy. all important decisions remain in
1-15, 2010 and Bamboo rising, Down To A K Saxena, principal chief conservator the hands of revenue and forest
Earth, January 16-31, 2013). Many more vil- of forests, Maharashtra , defends the rules by departments
lages in the state are also in the process of arguing that cfr and Village Forests Rules
claiming cfr status to harvest and trade in are two different provisions under two 1990S
bamboo and tendu leaves. different Acts. Joint forest management (JFM)
It is precisely to subvert this process (of There is no relationship between the programme introduced in several
fra) that the forest department has come up two. Besides, if you have read the rules, you states with the idea of sharing
with the village forest rules, says Mohan must have seen that it is clearly mentioned forest benefits with communities.
Hirabai Hiralal of non-profit Vrikshamitra, that the rules will not be applicable in cfr Activists demand that community
which has been associated with the cfr areas, Saxena told Down To Earth. rights under JFM be formalised by
movement in Gadchiroli. Activists point out that the village forest declaring village forests under IFA.
In the past, forest communites have de- provision has been misused in other states. States do not act
manded implemetation of the 150-year-old In Uttarakhand, forest officials were made a
provisons because they were the only provi- part of the van panchayats, the traditional 2001
sions relating to community forest rights be- community forestry institutions in the state, Uttarakahnd formulates village
fore fra was enacted. But the forest deaprt- through a notification on village forest rules forest rules to include forest officers
ments refused to implement them (see in 2001. Gradually the van panchayats were in van panchayats. As a result, the
Unwilling states). made ineffective. A similar thing was done in panchayats become ineffective
Odisha in the 1980s, says Sarin. 2007
Desperate measures Tushar Dash of Odisha-based non-prof- Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA)
According to the new rules, village forests it Vasundhara that works on tribal rights, enacted. It gives absolute authority
will be notified only in the areas that are not fears that if Maharashtra pulls it off, other to gram sabhas over traditional
covered under fra or where communities states will take the same route. community forests
have not got cfr titles. But the department Forest departments in almost all states
has also subtly put a clause in the rules saying are already looking for different ways to 2014
that any gram sabha may, suo moto, make a resist the implementation of cfr because Maharashtra Village Forest Rules
decision, by resolution, to adopt these rules. they want to retain their control over forests, formulated. Activists say it is passed
On September 17, the state government put he says. n to hinder the implementation of FRA

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 15

14-15Forest.indd 15 22/09/14 11:24 AM


AGRICULTURE

Brinjal blues
Amid countrywide protests against Bt brinjal, Bangladesh government
announces plan to expand cultivation of the genetically modified crop
REAZ AHMED | dhaka
COURTESY: LVCSOUTHASIA.BLOGSPOT.IN

Farmers take out a rally in Gazipur


protesting Bt brinjal

T
HE DEBATE over South Asias first The two camps earlier came face to face
commercially released genetically at a press meet organised by the Bangladesh
modified (GM) crop is unlikely to Environmental Lawyers Association (bela)
die down any time soon. in Dhaka on August 31, where bela and oth-
A week after anti-GM groups in er anti-GM groups, including ubinig and
Bangladesh demanded a ban on the farming Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, denounced
and marketing of Bt brinjal citing inadequate the introduction of Bt brinjal. They claimed
research on its impact on the environment that hardly five to six farmers who grew the
and human health, the Bangladesh crop had a good harvest.To counter this, bari
Agricultural Research Institute (bari), on brought in as many as 16 farmers from across
September 7, declared plans to expand the the country who grew Bt brinjal. It claimed
cultivation of Bt brinjal. that 11 of them got good yields, while

16 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

16-17Agriculture.indd 16 18/09/14 11:58 AM


AGRICULTURE

admitting that the remaining nine did not


because of problems of bacterial wilt and
Uneasy numbers had a mixed response to Bt brinjal. While
some expressed complete satisfaction in their
delay in sowing. BARI claims 11 of the 20 farmers growing Bt first experience with the GM crop, others
brinjal got good yield. It plans to distribute Bt complained of insufficient yields.
Seeds of controversy brinjal saplings to 100 farmers by year end Some people used to stalk my field and
The Bangladesh government released Bt warned me not to feed Bt brinjal to my chil-
brinjal on October 30, 2013, and became the dren. They also warned me not to sell the
28th country in the world that grows one or brinjal in the market, says Mansur Ahmed
more GM crops. On January 22 this year, Rangpur Sarkar, a farmer from Gazipur. Haidul Islam,
bari handed over saplings of four Bt brinjal another farmer, had a bitter experience as all
varieties to 20 farmers selected from four Jamalpur the Bt brinjal plants he had grown wilted
Jamalpur
agro-ecological zones of the country in the ahead of time.
B A N G L A D E S H
first phase of field trials (see Uneasy num- Mondal admitted that there was a delay
Pabna
bers). The decision to release Bt brinjal in DHAKA in distributing the saplings and added that
Bangladesh came even as two other Asian Gazipur bari would distribute the next round of seeds
countriesIndia and the Philippineshav- in time. He alleged that some of the farmers
ing the same GM crop (Bt Brinjal) technol- could not take proper care of their fields
ogy ready in hand refrained from doing so be- because of constant threats from anti-GM
cause of legal hurdles and public opposition. groups. A few farmers agreed, but refused to
Eight months after Bangladesh began its take names.
Bt brinjal cultivation, the government and Districts where Bt brinjal was cultivated in Mondal disagrees that Bangladeshs first
anti-GM activists are still locked in a war of the first phase of field trials. Farmers in all encounter with the GM crop has gone awry.
four districts reported crop damage
words. Neither of the two groups is showing Bt Brinjal is not a silver bullet. It is meant to
any sign of relenting. resist fsb.This does not necessarily mean that
Amid the uproar, bari director-general A year of trial and error Bt Brinjal will not be susceptible to
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Mondal in- September 29, 2013 bacterial wilt or for that matter, certain other
formed the media on September 7 that the A Bangladesh high court orders government to vulnerabilities, he explains.
government plans to widen Bt brinjal farm- hold back the release of Bt brinjal Anti-GM groups like ubinig are of the
ing by distributing saplings to another 100 October 2, 2013 view that the government rushed with the in-
farmers this winter.This is a five-fold increase Supreme Court stays high court order; clears troduction of GM crops. Shahjahan, a farm-
from the first batch. way for the government to release Bt brinjal er from the central district of Jamalpur, gave
Farida Akhtar, one of the founders of October 28, 2013 Down To Earth three reasons why he did not
ubinig, an organisation that promotes National Committee on Bio-Safety approves get expected yields from Bt Brinjal. They
organic farming in Bangladesh, expresses cultivation of four GM varieties of brinjal [government] gave us the seeds late in the
concern over the news. On what basis is the January 22, 2014 season [ January instead of October-
government expanding GM crops? Has it Government distributes saplings to 20 farmers November]; these were kept in very dry con-
not seen how poorly Bt brinjal has fared? she January 23, 2014 ditions prior to distribution; and the variety
asks, and adds that those who are campaign- Coalition against Bt brinjal takes out protest
that I got is not suitable for the type of soil in
ing against the crop are being branded rally in Dhaka demanding the cancellation of my field. Had they supplied me Kajla variety
collaborators or lackeys of companies approval for GM brinjal instead of Nayantara, it would have grown
selling pesticides. February 9, 2014 well, he says.
UBINIG and farmers form human chain in front Shahjahan does not want to count
Bt brinjal: boon or bane? of BARI office himself in either of the camps in the Bt brin-
Bt brinjal does not require farmers to spray March 13, 2014 jal debate. There is no question of compen-
pesticides as it has been modified to keep sation for whatever crop losses some of us
Farmers form human chain around deputy
fruit and shoot borer (fsb) at bay. fsb is the commissioner's office in Gazipur have suffered. We have already got both
most destructive insect pest for brinjal in financial and material support from the
August 31, 2014
South and Southeast Asia, and fsb infesta- government, he says.
Green groups call for complete ban on Bt brinjal
tion renders as much as 70 per cent of the As the debate over the GM crop rages,
crop unusable. Overdose and improper ap- September 7, 2014 Shahjahan is willing to try out Bt Brinjal one
plication of pesticides in brinjal to fight fsb BARI announces plan to expand Bt brinjal more time provided the government gives
is harmful for consumers too. cultivation by year end him quality seeds/plants at the right time and
The farmers present at the press meet in the right condition. n

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 17

16-17Agriculture.indd 17 19/09/14 12:53 PM


C O N S E R VAT I O N

PHOTOGRAPHS: SOMA BASU / CSE

Years of negligence and urbanisation dried up

Bhakti divide
Rudra Kund, which once served as a perennial source
of freshwater. Braj Foundation has revived the pond
and is currently beautifying its ghats

in Brajbhoomi
Disagreement is brewing Neither the cities, the cultured lands nor the villages or their houses are ours. We are

among Krishna's devotees the forest people, dear father, and will always live in the forests and the hills
Sri Krishna (Srimad Bhagvatam, Chapter 10, Canto 24, Verse 24)
in Vrindavan. While some
want to show their love

K
RISHNA, THE god of love in British author Ranchor Prime in his book,
for the god by building Hindu mythology, is said to have
lived a simpletons life. He danced
Hinduism and Ecology: Seeds of Truth.
Today, Krishnas devotees are divided in
temples, others serve with peacocks, splashed in the riv- their bhakti. While one camp wants to glori-
ers, played the flute that mesmerised humans fy their master through magnificent temples,
Krishna by restoring and animals alike and spent his time in the the other believes in reviving the very forests
the forests that were forests herding cows. Srivatsa Goswami, a
Vaishnava scholar, considers Krishnas life to
where Krishna grew up, now lost to urbani-
sation. The former thinks erecting monu-
intrinsic to his life be the greatest chapter in environmental ments dedicated to Krishna is the best way to
history. One who is devoted to Krishna can spread his message; the latter says the right
SOMA BASU | vrindavan never be callous towards the environment, way to honour him is following in his foot-
because Krishna himself loves nature, writes steps and caring for the environment. What

18 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

18-20conservation.indd 18 17/09/14 4:18 PM


C O N S E R VAT I O N

emerges from these differences of opinion is iskcon to look after the new temple. Vrindavan, where Krishna spent his child-
polarisation in Krishna worship and a debate On the other hand, Braj Foundation, a hood and adolescence, is called the heart of
on the idea of bhakti. non-profit led by senior journalist Vineet Braj.Today, the town has at least 5,500 tem-
Narain, focuses on rejuvenating the forests ples and hundreds of dharamshalas (shelters)
Does devotion demand temples? associated with Krishnas life. Krishna was a and hotels to cater to more than six million
The International Society for Krishna primordial environmentalist. This is my way tourists who visit the town every year.
Consciousness (iskcon), a global Vaishnava of worshiping him. One who serves Braj
spiritual institution with temples all over the serves Krishna, Narain says. A swanky building for God
world, believes architecture is one of the ways Braj, spread across 5,000 square kilome- iskcons proposed temple will be another ad-
to propagate Krishnas mission. During a lec- tres around Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar dition to Vrindavans concrete jungle. The
ture in Mumbai on February 25, 1974, Srila Pradesh, is Krishnas own body, claim vedic Chandrodaya Mandir is being built on the
Prabhupada, the founder of iskcon, said, texts. Once upon a time, the region had 137 outskirts of the town in collaboration with
Oh, there are so many skyscrapers. Why not forests and 1,000 kunds or water bodies. the Kolkata-based Infinity Group.The glass-
construct a nice skyscraper temple of Today, only three of the 137 groves, associat- and-steel temple, spread over 2.2 hectares, is
Krishna? That is Krishna consciousness. ed with the legend of Radha Krishna, set to be the worlds tallest, measuring 210
Taking inspiration from his words, remain, while the rest have been lost to rapid metres with 70 floors. This is taller than the
iskcon plans to build a large and swanky urbanisation. Most of the kunds have either Qutub Minar in Delhi, which is 70 metres
temple in Vrindavan dedicated to Krishna. silted up, been encroached upon or have be- tall. The foundation stone for the proposed
An imposing temple would proclaim the come garbage dumps. Braj Foundation aims temple was laid in March this year and
status of Vrindavan as one of Indias spiritu- to rejuvenate the water bodies, forest groves construction is expected to be completed in
al capitals and attract global attention and hills in Braj, in what it considers is the five years.
towards Krishna and his message, explains best form of Krishna bhakti. According to the project brief of
Suvyakta Narasimha Dasa, president of the If Braj is abundant in forests and kunds Chandrodaya Mandir, the grand temple will
Vrindavan unit of Akshaya Patra that find mention in vedic texts, it also hous- be surrounded by 12 hectares of forest area to
Foundation, a charitable body set up by es brick monuments dedicated to Krishna. recreate the forests of Braj, including the
12 verdant forests, mentioned in Srimad
Bhagvatam, where Lord Krishna is believed
to perform his raas leelas (love plays). A
Yamuna creek that will be recreated in the
forests will provide boating opportunity to
visitors. The building will also house a heli-
pad, an amphitheatre, a hi-speed lift and a 4D
theatre.The entire project area spreads across
60 hectares, equivalent to the size of six
Akshardham temples in Delhi, and will also
comprise residential villas and apartments
with modern facilities.
In its eagerness to serve Krishna, iskcon
seems to be indifferent to the troubles
Brajwasis (people of Braj) might face from a
grand temple in their vicinity. The water for
the temple, toilets, kunds and the creek would
be extracted from the ground. The Yamuna
is 5 km away from the project site. As it is dif-
ficult to lay a pipeline for such a long distance,
we have identified a groundwater source
3 km away from the temple. Soon, boring will
An artist's
be done and pipelines will be laid, Dasa says.
impression of He claims that the Foundation has already
Chandrodaya
acquired environmental clearance for the
COURTESY: ISKCON

Mandir in
Vrindavan, project from the State Environment Impact
estimated to
be the tallest in
Assessment Authority.
the world Manoj Mishra, convenor of Yamuna Jiye

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 19

18-20conservation.indd 19 19/09/14 12:54 PM


C O N S E R VAT I O N

(Above) The water in Brahma Sarovar, one of the many kunds in Braj, was
reduced to a trickle due to encroachment; (Right) The sarovar was restored by
Braj Foundation and was opened to the public in 2009

Abhiyan, a non-profit in Delhi, says, This is "Krishna was a primordial from private sponsorships. The non-profit
another Akshardham temple in the making. environmentalist. Reviving also focuses on planting trees like kadamba,
In the name of God, natural resources are radha and krishnachura associated with the
the forests is my way of
being plundered. Groundwater is already legend of Radha Krishna. It promotes cow-
scarce in Vrindavan and its overextraction
worshipping him. One who based agriculture and organic farming too.
may further harm the environment. serves Braj serves Krishna" Butchers are stealing cows and killing them
Dasa estimates that the temple will con- Vineet Narain, head, Braj Foundation for meat. Most of the charitable gaushalas
sume 5-6 megawatt (MW) of electricity per (cow shelters) do not have very goods stand-
day, of which 2 MW would be generated buildings and two forests in Braj. The foun- ards of care. We aim to reestablish the eco-
from the solar panels in the temples parking dation has also been campaigning against nomic viability of the desi cow, he adds.
lot, which can hold 2,000 cars, while the rest mining on the hills. It plans to restore all
would be bought from electricity grids. 1,000 kunds in Braj associated with Krishna. What is bhakti ?
In 2006, it took up work to desilt the Several retired engineers and officials have
Reviving Krishna's forests Rudra Kund in Jatipura village in Braj, re- joined the Braj Foundation to show their love
Jagannath Poddar, head of Friends of move encroachments and restore the water for Krishna. To seek God, one needs eyes be-
Vrindavan, an environment non-profit, says body. But it faced opposition from encroach- reft of any worldly attachment. God does not
that urbanisation and prolonged negligence ers, who went to the Allahabad High Court need memorials, says a monk in Chaitanya
have pushed the kunds, also known as and got a stay order against the renovation of Gauriya Mutt in Vrindavan. On Srila
sarovars, in Braj to extinction. These kunds the kund. The order was lifted after five years Prabhupads message to build a skyscraper for
once served as perennial sources of freshwa- of legal battle. In June 2011, the Braj Krishna, he says that Prabhupads words must
ter. It is sad to see the resources of Vrindavan Foundation resumed its work and with the have a deeper meaning. When this reporter
being destroyed by people who are promot- help of the district administration and police, tried to verify the same from Dasa, he said,
ing real estate business here in the name of demolished unauthorised construction Religious texts are interpreted in two ways;
Krishna, he adds. around the kund. Once dry and filled with symbolic and literal. We are literalists.
Braj Foundation has been striving to garbage, Rudra Kund now sparkles Swami Sivananda of Matri Sadan
restore the ecological, architectural and cul- with clean water. After we desilt the kunds Ashram in Haridwar believes people have
tural heritage of Braj, which it says reflects and declog their recharge wells, we start misinterpreted Hinduism. While temples
the intertwined relationship between envi- working on their beautification so that peo- and memorials to mark sacred places are nec-
ronment, people and the Supreme Lord. ple know the religious and historical essary, building a 70-storey temple in a place
Since its formation in 2005, the non-profit significance of the place, Narain says. He where there are a thousand others is showing
has restored 46 water bodies, three heritage adds that the funding for their work comes off, he adds. n

20 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

18-20conservation.indd 20 17/09/14 4:18 PM


Advertisement

21 0CT 1-15 2014


21NBA ad.indd 21 22/09/14 2:39 PM
MIGRATION

Destination Bihar
Migration trends in Bihar
N
ANDLAL YADAV has no clue Large-scale infrastructure projects in
about his date or year of birth. All Bihar increased job opportunities for skilled
are changing, causing he remembers is that as a child he and unskilled labourers and this was the
used to take a train to Punjab reason behind the decline in migration, the
labour shortage in several along with his father and mother and return government said. The claim is not without
to his village in Madhepura in Bihar during basis. According to the Bihar Development
states. A few studies the festival of Chhatth. Nandlal calculates Report 2013-14, the state has seen a growth
investigate the reasons that he worked in Punjab for nearly 20 years
and then in Delhi for 15 years. It is for the
of 14.15 per cent in infrastructure since 2009.
Infrastructure projects such as construction
and patterns first time that I am working in Patna, he says. of roads, bridges and buildings have
Nandlals case is not isolated. Media contributed to around 50 per cent of the
ALOK GUPTA | patna reports state that migration from Bihar has economic growth in the state, says the states
declined, resulting in acute shortage of Economic Survey 2012-13 (see `Generating
labourers in Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, jobs' on p23).
West Bengal and other states. The issue was Though only 11.3 per cent of the state is
first highlighted in 2012 when the Bihar urbanised, mega bridges and national
governments labour department claimed highways have attracted migrant labourers in
that migration from the state had dropped by large numbers, says Indrajit Roy, research
35-40 per cent between 2008 and 2012. The fellow with the Department of International
Bihar witnessed a growth rate of 14.5 per cent department said that 1.5-2 million labourers Development, University of Oxford.
in infrastructure between 2009 and 2014. This
created jobs for labourers in the state and who would earlier migrate to other states Labourers from Bihar were working in cities
reduced migration every year are now finding jobs in Bihar. like Delhi and Gurgaon. The cost of living is
PHOTOGRAPHS: VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE

22 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

22-23Migration.indd 22 19/09/14 12:55 PM


MIGRATION

high in these cities. When similar


infrastructure growth started happening in
Bihar, labourers started to migrate within the
state, he says. However, Roy claims that
migration has not stopped but become
inward rather than outward. He says
unskilled labourers from rural Bihar are
moving to urban cities such as Patna,
Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur, rather than
migrating to other states.
The trend of rural to urban migration is Earlier,
supported by Census 2011 data which says labourers
migrated to
that between 2001 and 2010 urban Punjab for
population in India increased by 91 million the entire
harvesting
while rural population increased by 90.4 season. But
million. This is the first time that the growth mechanisation
of agriculture
in urban population has been more than the has limited
growth in rural population. The data also their work to
sowing
suggests the flight of migrant labourers from
the agriculture sector to industrial sector. In
Bihar, the urban population incresed by for the entire harvest seasonfrom sowing
"Labourers from Bihar
11.29 per cent between 2001 and 2010. the seeds to reaping the crop. Now it is
limited to the sowing season. Reaping is done
who now migrate to Punjab
Other factors at play using harvesting machines, says Diwakar.
prefer industrial towns such
Roy says that dismal growth of agriculture in There is another factor behind migration as Ludhiana and Jalandhar
Bihar (3.5 per cent during 2012-13) and within the state. According to a study by New rather than agricultural
mechanisation of farming in Punjab have Delhi-based Institute of Social Sciences, towns"
forced Bihari labourers to seek jobs in the people from lower castes migrate to cities to
construction sector within the state. The avoid exploitation and abuse at the hands of research was conducted in 2009-10.
point is echoed by D M Diwakar, director of the higher castes.The study, titled Why I left There are researchers who say migration
A N Sinha Institute of Social Sciences, Patna. my village: A study on migration from rural trends are not so simple to explain. Diwakar
Earlier, labourers would migrate to Punjab Bihar, was published in 2012. argues that 11.3 per cent of urbanised areas
are not enough to provide jobs to 5 million
Counter view migrant workers. Apart from this, road
Generating jobs The decline in the number of migrant farm construction in Bihar is mostly being done by
ON AN average, 500 km of roads labourers to Punjab does not mean that global firms that use machines, he says.
are being constructed every year in migration from Bihar has gone down. It has Sanjay Kumar, secretary in the states
Bihar. In 2012-13, more than 466 km only shifted from the farming sector to the labour department, does not have a clear
of National Highway was constructed industrial sector, says a report by Girish answer on the state of migration. When
and work on another 1,012 km is Kumar and Pranab Banerji from New Delhi- asked if the number of migrant labourers
going on. Official data shows that based Indian Institute of Public from Bihar has come down or if the state is
Bihar completed 205 km of Golden Administration. It claims 4.42 million witnessing inward migration, he replied, Its
Quadrilateral in 2013-14 and 488 km people from Bihar migrate every year to tough to say. In Bihar, we are still battling
of East West Corridor in 2012-13. various states of India and the migration has with primary data. There had been many
Bihar has constructed 1,671
actually gone up.The research, titled A study researches on migration in the state but they
bridges between 2005 and 2014
of Bihari migrant labourers: Incidence, are all snapshots of a cluster of districts. By
under the Chief Minister Bridge
Programme. These projects have Causes and Remedies, says the preferred primary data Kumar means that unskilled
generated more than 10,000 jobs for destinations of Bihari workers have shifted labourers like Nandlal need a birth certificate
both skilled and unskilled labourers. from Punjab to industrialised states such as and an address proof to make them part of
The per capita income of the state Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It claims official surveys. Government and researchers
has doubled in the past five years, Bihari labourers who now migrate to Punjab are still waiting for National Sample Survey
from `13,728 to `28,317. prefer industrial towns such as Ludhiana and and Census 2011 data on migration to better
Jalandhar rather than agricultural towns.The understand trends. n

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 23

22-23Migration.indd 23 18/09/14 11:58 AM


REUTERS

24-36Cover Story.indd 24 22/09/14 3:31 PM


`I did not have a
government for
36 hours'
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah pleaded helplessness as
the seat of his government went under
water and his ministers and officials
were marooned. As extreme weather
events become more frequent and
natural drainage systems collapse due
to urbanisation, Indian cities have to be
ready to deal with urban floods
SOMA BASU AND JYOTSNA SINGH

24-36Cover Story.indd 25 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

W
HEN THE rains began in Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K) on the morning of
September 3, it was just another day for Vijay Gadhia. The 50-year-old
employee of Jammus Power Development Department had gone to
Srinagar with his colleagues for official work. He expected the next
day to be bright and sunny. A day of rain in the region is usually followed
by a day of sunshine. But the rain did not stop. Instead, he heard the
news that a bus carrying 70 members of a wedding party was washed
away by flash floods in Rajouri, of which 50 could not be traced.
On the night of September 4, the Doodh Ganga, a tributary of the Jhelum
flowing through Srinagar, breached its embankment following a cloudburst in its catch-
ment area. On September 5, the water level in the Tawi and Chenab rivers in Jammu rose
dramatically. Flood control bunds were washed away, bridges collapsed and agricultural
land got submerged. Rains continued to lash the region in the next few days triggering land-
slides that disrupted highways and snapped power lines.Till the afternoon of September 5,
CHRONOLOGY Srinagar residents were clicking photographs of the gradually swelling Jhelum to post
OF A on social media.
DISASTER On the night of September 5, the Jhelum too breached its embankment at Padshahi Bagh,
August 30 following which there was a half-hearted attempt by the state administration to warn the peo-
A cyclonic circulation ple. Announcements were made from several mosques in the city at 10 pm. Residents were
coupled with a fresh asked to move to the first floor of their houses. But the announcements came late. Most people
Western disturbance had gone to bed. Many of
moves towards J&K those who were awake ig-
nored the words. According
Rainfall in Srinagar for September
September 1-2 crossed its 10-year-high mark of 151.9
Rainfall starts in J&K to Gadhia, it hardly sounded
like a warning.Those who did mm in 1992 within 24 hours. This year,
September 3
Landslides claim 10 lives not have a multi-storey build- the city received 156.7 mm of rainfall
across the state. The ing had no choice. By the time on September 5 alone
Jhelum flows a metre the announcements started,
above the danger mark some parts of Srinagar were already submerged in waist-deep water.
September 4 Gadhia and his colleagues sensed trouble and fled Srinagar, spent four days in the
The Jhelum rises to 5.43 wilderness without food and water before reaching the Shankaracharya hill on
metre above the danger September 12. After that we reached the Governor House from where we were airlifted to
level. Flash floods in Jammu, Gadhia told Down To Earth.
Rajouri claim 50 lives
September 5 A CITY UNDER WATER
Cloudburst in the In September, rainfall in Srinagar crossed its 10-year-high mark151.9 mm of
catchment area of Doodh rainfall in September 1992within 24 hours. This year, the city received 156.7
Ganga. Jhelum breaches mm of rainfall on September 5 alone. The average monthly rainfall for Srinagar
embankment is 56.4 mm. The India Meteorological Department recorded more than 500 mm
September 6 of rainfall in the first week of September. The floodwater started receding from
Water level reaches September 11, but till September 13 more than 70 per cent of Srinagar was still
7-8 metres in parts submerged, with tens of thousands of people stranded.
of Srinagar. Rescue The two distinct water channels flowing through the citythe Jhelum and the
operations start flood channel, an artificial outlet created in 1904 to drain out excess water from the Jhelum
September 7 in case of floodhad merged into a big, brown lake. Some of the worst-affected areas
Prime Minister Narendra include Allochi Bagh, Tulsi Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Rajbagh, Zero Bridge and areas along the
Modi calls the flood a right bank of the Jhelum. Maisuma, Natipora, Lal Chowk and several localities in Civil Lines
`national calamity' remained submerged under two metres of water.
September 9 Murtaza Khan, a former legislator, spent three days on the roof of the mla hostel build-
Death toll stands at 215 ing on M A Road. The pace and level of rescue operation was only five per cent of the
September 11 required scale.The Army or the National Disaster Response Force (ndrf ) hardly knew about
Floodwater Srinagar.They had no idea which area was densely populated with kuccha houses and which
starts receding had high-rises, nor did they know where the water currents were maximum and why,he says.

26 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

24-36Cover Story.indd 26 22/09/14 1:04 PM


Wular
Lake
Mawer Pohru COVER STORY
River River Sopore
Sind River

Baramulla
J&K Anchar
Jhelum Lake
River

Dal Lake

Uri Srinagar

Srinagar's lost
SAVIOURS Flood-affected areas Jhelum River

The entire city of Srinagar was flooded after Jammu and


Kashmir received more than 550 mm of rainfall in one week.
Would the city have faced the same catastrophe had its
wetlands and other water bodies been in good shape? Anantnag
Water bodies turn
urban jungles
Drains | The central city was the worst-affected as Lakes | Dal Lake in From 1911-2004, Srinagar lost more
drainage channels that used to drain out floodwater have Srinagar, one of the than 50 per cent of its water bodies
disappeared as also the wetlands in and around Srinagar largest freshwater lakes in due to urbanisation
because of encroachment the world, has been 1911
reduced to one-sixth of its
Worst-affected areas original size. Others like
Wetlands, water bodies lost to urbanisation
Anchar and Wular lakes
have also shrunk in size
and face heavy pollution

Srinagar-Ladakh Highway

Sind River

Jhelum River
Anchar
Lake Wetland 13,425.90 hectares (ha)
Built-up land 1,745.73 ha
Open water source 4,000.50 ha
S R I N A G A R Dal Lake Others 50,505.90 ha

Hokarsar 2004
Karan Mar Nalla
Nagar
Flood Channel
Qamarwari Khanyar
Rekh-i-Gandakshah Brar-i-Nambal
Maisuma
Rakh-i-Arat Lal Chowk Regal Chowk
Zero Bridge Sonwar
Bemina Batamaloo
Rajbagh Indranagar
Wazir Bagh
Gogjibagh Shivpura Badamibagh
Batamaloo Tulsi Bagh
wetlands
Rambagh Padshahi Bagh
Mehjoor Nagar
Wetland 6,407.14 ha
Natipora Rakh-i-Khan Built-up land 10,791.60 ha
Beerwah- Doodh Open water source 3,065.88 ha
Budgam Road Ganga Others 49,426.70 ha
Source: Study "Quantification of loss of spatial extent of lakes
GRAPHICS: RAKU Nowgam-Pulwama Road and wetlands in the suburbs of Srinagar city during last
century using geospatial approach"; Authors: Humayun
Rashid and Gowhar Naseem

24-36Cover Story.indd 27 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

Gadhia and Khan were lucky to have been saved, unlike the 215 people who lost their
lives in the deluge. The toll is likely to rise as the water recedes. Hectares of ripe crop and
orchards have been lost, and the infrastructural damage is likely to cross `6,000 crore.
Kashmiris have complained about the lack of coordination among the Army, ndrf and
the local administration in rescuing people. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pleaded help-
lessness. I had no government for the first 36 hours as the seat of establishment was wiped
out. My own residence has no power supply, and my cellphones had no connectivity. My cap-
ital city [Srinagar] was taken out. I resumed administrative operations with six officers in a
makeshift mini secretariat, he told journalists at a press meet on September 9. According
to news reports, the six-storey secretariat was submerged up to the second floor.
Abdullah added that his officers could not be located for at least three days after the floods
began. Peoples anger is justified, but we were caught off guard. His minister for irrigation
and flood control, Shyam Lal Sharma, told Down To Earth that his department had given a
warning which was not taken seriously. We issued a warning on September 5. People were
alerted in various parts of the state, Sharma said.

FLOODS NOT UNPRECEDENTED


Jammu and Kashmir has a long history of floods. From 1905 to 1959, the state was hit by
flood 14 times. The memory of the 2010 floods in Leh was still fresh when disaster struck
again last month.
In 2010, the Jammu and Kashmir Flood Control Ministry had prepared a report and
issued a warning that the state is likely to face a major flood catastrophe in the next five
years and that the government is ill-equipped to save lives and property. The Irrigation
and Flood Control Department had proposed a `2,200 crore project to put the required
infrastructure in place. The report was submitted to the Union Water Resources Ministry,
but nothing happened.
The Jhelum is one of the most important natural drainage channels of Srinagar, which is
otherwise like a bowl having no outlet for water. Silt
In 2010, the Jammu and has accumulated in all of its major tributaries and
the flood channels are blocked. The wetlands of
Kashmir Flood Control
Nadru, Nambal, Narkara Nambal and Hokarsar
Ministry warned that the state that absorb rainwater have been replaced by res-
is likely to face a major flood in idential colonies (see Srinagars lost saviours on
the next five years. No action p27). When it rains for two to three days, the city
was taken by the government gets flooded with water from the Jhelum. Srinagar
faces flood every 50 years. It has a cycle. But en-
croachment has killed its flood channels. Bemina used to be a flood basin, but many residen-
tial and commercial buildings have come up in its place in the past 10 years, Sharma says.

URBAN FLOODS INCREASING


Srinagar was once famous for its traditional ponds and tanks, which have been erased to
house commercial complexes and parks.This has become a widespread practice across India.
Every year floods are reported from cities like Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Kolkata,
Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Rohtak, Gorakhpur and Guwahati. Factors are
manyinadequate drainage systems, constructions on flood plains and river beds and loss
of natural water storage areas. It only shows how rapid urbanisation in and around a city
makes floods inevitable. In the past decade alone, India witnessed numerous incidents of
floods in Mumbai (nine times), Ahmedabad (seven times),Chennai (six times), Hyderabad
(five times), Kolkata (five times), Bengaluru (four times) and Surat (thrice).
Abdullah defended himself by saying that state capitals had never been hit by a
disaster in recent memory. But the devastating flood could have been averted had his
administration and the Union government taken necessary steps to save the drainage
channels of Srinagar when an alert was sounded in 2010.

28 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

24-36Cover Story.indd 28 22/09/14 1:04 PM


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oct15, 2014 Down To Earth 29


COVER STORY

Drainage is the key


Why wetlands and lakes are necessary to prevent floods

I
n flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, Law. The lake area almost reduced to one-
the streets of the states summer capital, third in the 1980s and has further
Srinagar, resemble surging streams. The reduced to one-sixth of its original size in the
drainage channels of the city have been recent past. It has lost almost 12 metres of
blocked.The links connecting the lakes have depth. Srinagars natural drainage system has
been cut off due to unplanned urbanisation collapsed making it prone to urban floods.
and encroachment. As a result, the lakes have
lost their capacity to absorb water the way HALF OF WATER BODIES LOST
they used to a century ago, scientists say. Last month, continuous rain for two to three
Wetlands and lakes act as sponges during days flooded Srinagar with water from the
floods. Kashmir Valley is dotted with Jhelum.This would not have happened a few
wetlands. Apart from natural ponds and decades ago, say Humayun Rashid and
lakes, the valley has other types of wetlands, Gowhar Naseem of the Directorate of
such as rivers, streams, riverine wetlands, Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing,
human-made ponds and tanks. According to who have studied the loss of lakes and
a report by the Department of Environment wetlands in Srinagar and its effect on the city.
and Remote Sensing, there are 1,230 lakes They explain that deforestation in the
and water bodies in the state150 in Jhelum basin has led to excessive siltation in
Jammu, 415 in Kashmir and 665 in Ladakh. most of the lakes and water bodies of
Dal Lake, Anchar Lake, Manasbal Lake and Srinagar. They compare two maps of the
Wular Lake are some of the larger wetlands cityone of 1911 and another of 2004 (see
in the region which are today threatened by Srinagars lost saviours on p27). Their
urbanisation. Dal Lake in Srinagar, one of analysis shows that wetlands like Batamaloo A resident of
Padshahi Bagh in
the worlds largest natural lakes, covered an Nambal, Rekh-i-Gandakshah, Rakh-i-Arat Srinagar assesses
area of 75 square kilometre in 1,200 AD, says and Rakh-i-Khan and the streams of the the damage to
his house in the
Nadeem Qadri, executive director of the Doodh Ganga and Mar Nalla have been aftermath of
non-profit, Centre for Environment and completely lost to urbanisation, while other the flood

PHOTOGRAPHS: AJIT

24-36Cover Story.indd 30 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

REUTERS
A temple stands lakes and wetlands have experienced six basins of streams that criss-crossed Srinagar
amidst the waters of
the overflowing Tawi considerable shrinkage in the past century. the city, meant to carry its monsoon runoff, residents
river during heavy The study involved mapping of nearly had been converted into roads, buildings
rains in Jammu on have
69,677 hectares (ha) in and around Srinagar. and slums, just like Srinagar. Kolkata,
September 6
The analysis of the changes that have taken Guwahati, Hyderabad, Chennai and several
connected
place in the spatial extent of lakes and other cities have been falling prey to frequent
their sewer
wetlands from 1911-2004 reveals that the urban floods due to the degradation of their lines to
city has lost more than 50 per cent of its drainage network. drains
water bodies. that are
LEGAL SAFEGUARDS meant for
WHAT WENT WRONG A few cities like Guwahati and Kolkata draining
When some low-lying areas in Srinagar go have taken steps to preserve their water out storm
under water during heavy rains, people bodies. In Guwahati, the state government water
blame the drainage system. What they dont passed the Guwahati Water Bodies
realise is that they have constructed their (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008.
houses in those low-lying areas that The aim was to preserve wetlands and to
were previously used as drainage basins for reacquire land in the periphery of the water
the disposal of storm water, says Mehrajudin bodies. In 2006, the East Kolkata Wetland
Bhat, executive engineer of the J&K Urban Conservation and Management Bill was
Environment Engineering Department. passed to protect 12,000 ha of wetland.
People in the city have connected their The Ministry of Environment and
sewage lines directly to drains that are Forests issued a rule for conservation and
meant for the disposal of storm management of wetlands in December
water. This leads to choking of drains, 2010, under the provisions of the
he explains. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, called
In 1971, Srinagars municipal limits the Wetlands (Management and
covered only 83 square kilometres (sq km). Conservation) Rules, 2010.
In 1981, the area went up to 103.3 sq km. But the law has no teeth until a wetland
At present, urban agglomeration of is notified under it, says leading
Srinagar covers more than 230 sq km. This environmental lawyer Sanjay Upadhyay.
has resulted in the encroachment of He adds that the Town and Country
wetlands and natural drainage channels, Planning Act should take care of the
Bhat says. wetlands, but the municipal bodies that
Just like Srinagar, many urban centres implement this Act do not have the
of India have failed to manage their technical expertise to even identify a
drainage channels and storm water drains. wetland. These loopholes add to the
Mumbai learnt its lesson in July 2005. The problem of floods in urban India.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 31

24-36Cover Story.indd 31 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

The peculiarity of
urban floods
What are urban floods and why are we witnessing them?

U
rbanisation affects disasters just as drains which flush out the runoff from the
profoundly as disasters can affect city, unlike in rural settings where the runoff
urbanisation, writes Mark Pelling, is absorbed naturally by farmlands and ponds.
geographer and climate change expert at Urban areas are characterised by
Kings College, London, in his book, impervious surfaces like roads, pavements
The Vulnerability of Cities. and buildings. High rate of development and
In recent times, urban flooding has construction in these areas has resulted in the
emerged as a major concern. As the weather loss of soft landscape. This decreases a citys
gets more erratic and one-time rainfall, like capacity to absorb water, making it
the one recently witnessed in Srinagar, dependent solely on the outflow of surface
increases, large concentrated populations in water runoff. Under such circumstances,
urban areas face increased risk of flood. even moderate rainfall can lead to flash
There are some peculiarities of flooding in floods in low-lying areas. Cities located
urban areas. Its primary reason is surface along a river might face an added problem if
The Army and National water runoff. Surface runoff is the excess the river flows at a higher level within its
Disaster Response
Force were not familiar water from rain or melting snow that flows embankment. Guwahati, a low-lying city on
with the topography of over the earths surface without getting the bank of the Brahmaputra river, faced
Srinagar. This delayed
the scaling up of rescue absorbed. In the urban landscape, it is unprecedented flooding this year.
operations controlled and managed artificially through In the past few years, flooding in Delhi

24-36Cover Story.indd 32 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

REUTERS REUTERS

Mumbai was plunged due to overflow of the citys 18 major drains director-general of meteorology (research),
into chaos as the city
received more than
has become a common phenomenon. Heavy Pune, analysed flooding in four megacities of
900 mm of rainfall rain in the Yamunas upstream increases its the countryDelhi, Chennai, Kolkata and
in July 2005;
(Right) Flood in
water level in Delhi, due to which the drains Mumbai.The paper demonstrated how rapid
Chennai the same in the city experience reverse flow. and uncontrolled urbanisation is at the root
year affected more
than 500,000 people
As more and more farmlands and green of floods and flood-related damages in these
areas are being urbanised, the amount of cities. It noted that the mechanism for
surface area for water percolation is getting urban flooding is complex and location-
reduced. As a result, all the runoff flows on specific. Hence, each city needs its own flood
the land, without being absorbed. This management practices.
increases the chance of floods. Encroachment is another fallout of
Another reason for urban flooding is the urbanisation. The paper mentions that the
lack of drainage system in an urban area. As number of water bodies in Delhi has been
there is little open soil to absorb water, nearly reduced to 600 from the original 800 due to
all the excess rainwater needs to be encroachment. It notes that the floodplains
transported to the drainage system. High- of the Yamunahome to thousands of
intensity rainfall can cause floods when a illegal coloniesare the most populated
citys drainage network does not have the parts of Delhi. High population density
capacity to drain away excess water in demands more infrastructure, leading to
adequate time. environmental degradation. By 2025, the
A 2003 study by C P Konard, published population of tropical Asia is estimated to High-
in the US Geological Survey, shows that the rise to 2.4 billion. Many of the most intensity
streams in the urban areas of the US rise populated cities of the worldTokyo, rainfall
more quickly than those in rural areas during Mumbai, Shanghai, Kolkata, Jakarta, Delhi, can cause
storms and have higher discharge. Thus, Seoul, Manila and Dhakaare located in floods
urban spaces flood more rapidly. It also shows Asia, three of which are in India. when
that debris from broken bridges and other Kolkata has been built on wetlands. a city's
construction that the streams collect further Chennai, too, has seen massive construction
drainage
restrict the waters flow from the city, in recent decades, reducing soil cover and
increasing its level and causing floods. vegetation. While other cities can expand in
network
adjoining areas, Mumbai cannot due to its
loses
URBANISATION THE ROOT CAUSE long coastline.The city was built by merging capacity
The risk of infrastructural damage increases seven islands and hilly areas. Nearly 60 per to drain
with increasing urbanisation. A 2013 cent of Mumbais population lives in poorly precipi-
research paper by U S De, former additional built temporary settlements. Only three tation

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 33

24-36Cover Story.indd 33 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

outfalls (discharge point of a waste stream


into a body of water) to the sea have
An urban nightmare
floodgates.The remaining 102 outfalls in the Urban flooding in India has been on the rise
city open directly into the sea. During high since 2005. The map depicts worst floods of the
tide, the sea water enters the drainage system past decade and their extent
through these outfalls, causing floods.

WEATHER: THE MISSING LINK 2014


The year 2005 was recorded as the hottest No. of affected
2010
year of the century. Incidentally, in the cities: 17 and
No. of affected
same year, the worst urban flooding was counting
cities: 37
Worst affected:
reported in Mumbai on July 26-27. During Worst affected:
Srinagar
those two days, the city witnessed an Leh
unprecedented 944 mm of rainfall in 24 2007
hours. In the same year, 10 severe urban No. of affected
floods were reported from across the cities: 35
country. Three-fourths of Chennai Worst affected:
was inundated. It affected more than Kolkata
500,000 people.
In 2006, 22 cities in India reported floods.
The increasing trend of urban flooding
was carried into 2007, where the number 2006
of affected cities rose to 35. Extreme weather 2005 No. of affected
events have increased in recent times. No. of affected cities: 22
Floods and droughts will become more cities: 10 Worst affected:
Worst affected: Surat, Vizag
frequent. One projection shows that
Mumbai
the intensity and the number of tropical
cyclones will increase in the next 40-100
years, De says. Source: Urban Floods and Climate Change, research paper by Jyoti Parikh, 2010;
National Institute of Disaster Management; media reports
Anil K Gupta, director of the Wadia
Institute of Himalayan Geology in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, adds that the entire we saw floods in Pakistan and cloudbursts
Himalayan range is vulnerable because in Jammu and Kashmir, says Jatin Singh,
of rising temperatures. Each and every chief executive officer of Skymet, a private
valleybe it Kashmir, Kedarnath or weather forecast company.
Badrinathfaces the threat of increased In the course of such events, many urban
precipitation, he says. areas are likely to be affected, the way
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar was caught unawares. The India
State Action Plan on Climate Change, 2013, Meteorological Department (imd) is yet to
minimum temperatures in the Himalayan recognise that extreme weather events are a
region are projected to rise by 1C-4.5C. result of climate change. For the last four
The report also says that the number of rainy major natural disasters in IndiaMumbai
days in the region in 2030s may increase by floods of 2005, Leh cloudburst of 2010,
five or 10. The intensity of rainfall is likely to Uttarakhand disaster of 2013 and J&K
increase by 1-2 mm per day. What is floods of 2014imd has cited disturbances
increasing is sudden precipitation, which in the wind current and monsoon as reasons.
happened during the recent Kashmir floods, It used words like unprecedented,unusual
Gupta says. and unique, but offered no explanation for
A report by the UN Intergovernmental why these events are happening at such
Panel on Climate Change notes that high frequency.
every year there will be at least one extreme In light of the complexity of urban floods,
weather event in the Himalayas. Last year, we need a comprehensive plan of action to
it was the Uttarakhand disaster. Before that reduce the damage thus caused.

34 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

24-36Cover Story.indd 34 22/09/14 1:04 PM


COVER STORY

Are we prepared?
How do we manage urban floods? Is there a protocol?

D
espite warnings from the Indian Management of Urban Flooding. The
Meteorological Department and the guidelines were released in 2010.
state Irrigation and Flood Control
Department, Jammu and Kashmir went under WHAT THE GUIDELINES SAY
water because it did not have a contingency ndma acknowledges the increasing
plan, nor did it have a well-equipped state frequency of urban flooding. It says that the
emergency operation centre (seoc). causes of urban flooding are different for
One might argue that when Mumbai was each city, which is why flood management
hit by flood in 2005, Surat in 2006 and strategies need to be customised. Policies for
Kolkata in 2007, each city had functional a coastal city, for example, would have to be
seocs, yet they failed to prevent the disaster. different from a city located on the hills.
This is because the floods they faced in those ndma proposed an Urban Flooding Cell
particular years were quite different from the with a technical umbrella for forecasting and
floods they had faced earlier. warning at the state level. It mooted a local
Urban floods are a new challenge. Census network of automatic rainfall gauges for real-
2011 showed that for the first time since time monitoring. Local authorities were
1921, the urban population in India was asked to go in for contour mapping, put the
much more than the rural population. A 2008 existing storm water drainage network on
study by the National Institute of Disaster geographic information system (gis) and
Management showed that the annual desilt all drains by March end every year. It
economic losses from urban flooding are also suggested that lakes should be freed from
much higher than those incurred from encroachment so that the natural drainage
other disasters. system of a city could be maintained.
The National Disaster Management
Authority (ndma) decided to deal with GUIDELINES NOT BINDING A road in Srinagar
urban flooding separately. In 2008, it formed Most of the state governments have not been caves in under
the pressure of
a committee on urban floods which sincere in implementing ndmas guidelines. floodwater from an
formulated the National Guidelines for But are the guidelines binding? asks overflowing Jhelum

24-36Cover Story.indd 35 22/09/14 1:05 PM


COVER STORY

WHAT HAS A K Sarma of the Indian Institute of Models of flood management


CHANGED Technology (iit), Guwahati, who was a
AFTER member of the committee formed by ndma. TORONTO AND Region measures to reduce risk. In
URBAN It is up to the states to implement the rules. Conservation Flood Management terms of infrastructure, the
The state governments are not compelled Programme of Canada is Toronto and Region Conservation
FLOODS to follow the guidelines, so nothing ever considered a model for flood Authority is mandated to operate
happens, Sarma adds. He says there needs management in urban spaces. and maintain flood control
Mumbai
to be a holistic approach to address urban In practice since 2011, the infrastructure across all regions
The Brihanmumbai
floods. While preparing the guidelines, programme forms a close link of Toronto, including large dams,
Stormwater Drainage
between Canada's Weather channels, flood walls and dykes.
Project is being we had the diversity of India in mind
Office, Ministry of Natural Arizona, a south-western
redesigned. A rapid and knew that the rainfall that Jaipur
Resources and local government state of the United States, has
flood risk assessment receives is not the same as what Shillong
agencies of the four sub- gone a step ahead to retain the
for the city is being receives. So we tried to cater to all types of divisions of Toronto-Durham, water quality after floods. The
carried out by the cities, he explains. Peel, Toronto and York. One Flood Control District is a plan
Indian Institute of He adds that for proper implementation of the major tasks undertaken to control flooding in Maricopa
Technology, Bombay. of the guidelines, various departments have is clear and consistent flood County, the worst-affected
to come together. For example, the problem warning. Localised warnings region of Arizona. The plan is
Surat
of urbanisation is not only wrong town help the authorities to being carried out as per the
Under the Jawaharlal
Nehru National planning but also encroachment of wetlands convince people to move to National Pollutant Discharge
and water channels, which reduces a citys secured locations. One major Elimination System Stormwater
Urban Renewal
natural capacity to handle floods.To correct problem that the authorities in Programme as part of the
Mission, drainage
this, municipal corporations have to work Kashmir faced was the inability Clean Water Act. A guide and
rehabilitation,
closely with the Irrigation and Flood to convince people of the awareness manual has been
construction of
Control Departments. But administrative seriousness of the situation and circulated among the public
roadside drains, flood
the need to move to safer places. and local authorities on ways to
protection measures differences make it difficult to handle a
The three departments prevent floodwater
and desilting of the disaster like urban flood.
also identify flood-prone areas from entering into the water
Tapi river are being This is evident from what happened in
and undertake mitigation channels of the area.
taken up by the Srinagar. Despite repeated warnings by the
Gujarat government. Irrigation and Flood Control Department
about the encroachment of the drainage
Chennai
channels in the city, the Srinagar Municipal Siltation in the drains by sediments carried
An early warning
Corporation failed to clear these channels. by rainwater has been identified as one of
system for urban
flood management ndma guidelines also stress on the need the major causes of waterlogging in the city.
is being developed to make the planning process participatory. gmda also plans to clear encroachments
by the Centre for Following the hierarchical structure of along the drainage channels of Guwahati.
Remote Sensing, administrative systems, flood control gmda is being given technical support
Anna University, measures are planned without the by iit-Guwahati, and Shristie, a city-based
and the Tamil Nadu participation of the affected communities. civil engineering firm, which focuses on
government. In many cases, this results in unsustainable plantation in the hills, development of an
measures which dont meet the needs of efficient drainage system, putting up
Hyderabad relevant stakeholders, state the guidelines. structures on the hill to check the speed of
A pilot project water and rainwater harvesting.The project
on Urban Flood LESSONS LEARNT is touted to be the first of its kind in India.
Impact Assessment
While most cities in India are yet to wake up While some states have accepted that
for Hyderabad is
to the problem of urban flooding, Guwahati, urban floods are becoming frequent, as are
being taken up by
which faces floods almost every year, is extreme weather events, and are taking steps
the government of
Andhra Pradesh in getting ready with an action plan. The to revive their natural drainage systems,
association with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development others continue to be in denial. It is time the
National Disaster Authority (gmda) has taken up a project in governments woke up to the crisis of urban
Management the citys Garbhanga hill for scientific floods and took adequate measures to
Authority and Greater management of rainwater that flows down preserve the ecological balance, while
Hyderabad Municipal the hill during monsoon, triggering keeping contingency plans ready to deal
Corporation. landslides and choking drains with silt. with any unforeseen disaster. n

36 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

24-36Cover Story.indd 36 22/09/14 3:31 PM


SCIENCE
BYTES
TECHNOLOGY

CO2 key to rain pattern Atom-thick material


A MATERIAL made of a single layer of
germanium atom has been created. Named
Fossil analyses show Asian monsoon system germanene, the "two-dimensional" material
took form when CO2 levels were high is likely to have unique electrical and optical
properties and could be widely used in the
electronics industry. The material is also likely
to have insulation qualities required for use
in quantum computing. New Journal of Physics,
September 10

ASTRONOMY
PHOTOGRAPHS: ALEXIS LICHT

NASA
Water ice found in exosolar body
EVIDENCE OF water ice clouds outside
our solar system has been found for the
first time. The clouds have been found on a
brown dwarf named W0855. Brown dwarfs
are objects much bigger than giant planets
and much smaller than tiny stars. The clouds
were detected by combining images taken
through a telescope over three nights. Ice
clouds are a great tool in understanding a
planet's atmosphere. In our solar system, such
clouds are present in planets such as Jupiter
and Saturn. The Astrophysical Journal Letters,
September 8
A researcher examines skull of an anthracothere, a
hippopotamus-like mammal that lived 40 million years
ago, and (left) 35-million-year-old snail fossils in Myanmar ECOLOGY

A
SIAN MONSOON system is much older than thought. Scientists believed Sharks thrive in healthy corals
that the system took form 22-25 million years ago due to the uplift SHARKS BECOME abundant in a coral
of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. But research has shown zone when the reefs are healthy. In a decade-
that it came into existence 35-40 million years ago when carbon dioxide long study conducted in the Great Barrier
(CO2) levels were three-four times more than what they are now. The Reef, researchers used thousands of remote
pattern became weak 34 million years ago when the CO2 levels declined by underwater video stations to count the
50 per cent. For the study, 40-million-year-old snail and mammal fossils number of sharks. The results showed that
in Myanmar were analysed to find the types of oxygen they contained. The the health of coral reef had a huge affect on
ratio of oxygen-18 and oxygen-16 (two different forms of oxygen) showed abundance of shark, especially the grey reef
that the animal lived in monsoonal conditions. Another study in China shark which is found on coral reefs. The study
corroborated the results. Monsoon climate generates winter winds that underlines the importance of coral reefs in
bring dust from Central Asia to China. Such dust, dating 41 million years protecting sharks. PLoS One, September 10
ago, was found in Xining basin in central China. Linking the results with CO2
levels present at the time showed the correlation. Nature, September 14

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 37

37S&T Bytes.indd 37 22/09/14 11:42 AM


HEALTH

Silent threat
C
OOKING TAKES place every day in
Studies show modern kitchen is not as safe as homes across the world. Whether it is
believed. Use of exhausts, effective ventilation done on traditional mud stoves or on
sophisticated burners, gases released
can reduce household pollution during the process endanger the health and
lives of people in the house. Experts say it
INDU MATHI S is a misconception that kitchen exhaust and
VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE
ventilation are not a necessity.
Harmful gases and chemicals are
released during combustion of both kinds
of fuelsolid (wood, coal, kerosene) and
gas (natural, bio, lpg). The list of pollutants
includes nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide,
particulate matter and formaldehyde.
According to a study published in
Environmental Health Perspective in August
2014, around 3 billion people in the world
face household air pollution. Though most
of these live in poor countries, the problem
is not limited to poor countries. The study
estimated that 500,000 to 600,000 people
with low incomes in the US are exposed
to indoor pollution because their primary
source of heating is solid fuel. As per the
World Health Organization estimates, 4.3
million people across the world die every year
due to illnesses attributable to household
air pollution. In comparison, outdoor air
pollution kills 3.7 million a year.

Pollution from natural gas


A study conducted by researchers from
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
California, found that the use of natural gas
for cooking generates substantial quantities
of the pollutants. The research showed that
the level of pollutants in homes using natural
gas burners exceeds safe limits set by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (epa).
The study was published in the journal
Environmental Health Perspectives on
November 5, 2013.
The problems associated with gas fuels

Harmful gases and chemicals are released


during combustion of both solid and gas fuels

38 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

38-39Health.indd 38 17/09/14 4:19 PM


are not new. Another study, published
in February 1996 in Lancet, found that
Indoor killer needs for heating and cooling, it is even
more important to provide ventilation when
exposure to burning gas stoves increases
4.3 million people die every year cooking and using combustion sources.
the risk of respiratory problems such as
from illnesses attributable to Otherwise, indoor air quality problems
wheezing, shortness of breath and asthma
indoor pollution can occur.
attacks. Harmful effects associated with Singer and his team studied the
gas burners were also recognised by efficacy of household cooking exhaust
the Canada government which Frying Fumes hoods in capturing and venting out air
released a Clean Air Guide in and grilling of released during pollutants generated by gas burners due
1993. The guide recognised food produces acrolein seasoning with to combustion of fuels. The capture
from carbohydrates, mustard, curry leaves,
gas water heaters, furnaces, efficiency of the seven devices they
vegetable oil, animal fats and and chilly can act as
unvented space heaters and tested varied from less than 15 per cent
amino acids. Acrolein has respiratory
cooking stoves as major causes been associated with to more than 98 per cent. The study
of chemical contamination in irritants found that all exhaust hoods
cancer in some
homes. The agency recommended studies Combustion do a better job of capturing
the replacement of gas appliances of gas releases pollutants generated by the
with electrical ones. fumes which cause two back-burners of a four
respiratory burner stove than its front
Advantages of gas fuel problems burners. The study was
Despite their drawbacks, gas stoves are published in Environmental
still better than solid fuel stoves, says Science and Technology in 2012.
Kirk R Smith, professor of Global The researchers suggested that
Environmental Health at the University improvements in design, use of grease
of California, Berkeley. According to him, traps and better motors can make kitchen
using gas may result in a slight overshoot chimneys more effective.
of US standards for a few minor pollutants, Singer and his team followed this
Pollutants released during cooking |
but it is much better in comparison to the Nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, research with another one to assess the ability
extensive particulate matter produced by particulate matter and formaldehyde of exhaust hoods in capturing pollutants
solid fuel in India. Smith also says that in generated by food items during cooking.
Sources of indoor pollution | Cooking
some cases, burning of gas has been found to stoves, gas water heaters, furnaces The team found that the capture efficiency of
aggravate respiratory problems in children, exhaust hoods in venting out fumes generated
but it is not clear whether the effects are due by food items kept at the back-burners was not
to the emissions from the burning of gas or evidence to link acrolein with cancer. much different from their efficiency in venting
the food itself. Gas is a clean fuel, he says. Fumes released in cooking processes out fumes generated by gas fuel combustion
Nothing is perfectly without risk. such as seasoning with mustard, curry leaves, from back-burners, calculated in the previous
For those using solid fuels, gas would be and chilly, can act as respiratory irritants in study. However, the figures were different
immensely better, says Smith, and adds, some individuals, says Ramakrishna Goud, for front burners. The study says that capture
only induction cooking produces no additional professor at the department efficiencies (CE) for combustion pollutants
pollution at all in the house. of community health, St Johns Medical are not predictive of CEs for cooking-
However, induction cooking too is not Research Institute in Bengaluru. generated particles under all conditions.The
completely harmless because fumes released findings were published online in the journal
from food during cooking can harm health. Ventilation, the best solution Indoor Air on May 24, 2014. Singer stresses,
Frying and grilling of food releases acrolein According to a study conducted by the Solution to avoiding pollution from gas
which has been associated with cancer in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, burners is to effectively ventilate.
some studies. Acrolein is also present in the use of exhaust hoods or electronic In a report published in January 2014 by
cooked foods in trace quantities. It is formed kitchen chimneys can considerably reduce the Berkeley Lab, Singer and his team said it
from carbohydrates, vegetable oil, animal fats toxic chemicals released during cooking. was a common misconception that kitchen
and amino acids during cooking of food. A Brett C Singer, co-author of the study, says, exhaust is not necessary during cooking.The
study published in the Journal of Exposure Our key finding is that even with a clean team suggested measures to counter kitchen
Science and Environmental Epidemiology in fuel source of natural gas used for cooking, it contaminants. These include raising public
2013 shows that exposure to fumes released is important to ventilate when using indoor awareness on the need of kitchen ventilation
from cooking oil could lead to dna damage combustion. As homes become tighter, and setting performance targets to ensure
and cancer. But there is no conclusive which improves comfort and reduces energy development of high quality products.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 39

38-39Health.indd 39 17/09/14 4:19 PM


SCIENCE
LIFE SCIENCES

Herbs to
heal cattle
In the absence of
veterinary services,
traditional medical
practices for treating
livestock remain popular
in tribal villages
APARNA PALLAVI | nagpur
COMMON WORMWOOD
(Artemisia vulgaris) is used
to fumigate cattle sheds

A
LL VETERINARY doctors will
unanimously agree that treating
ruminal tympany disease (bloated
rumen or paunch of the cattle) is
difficult. After all, it is responsible for 20 per
cent of cattle mortality in the country.
But a study on the use ethno-veteri-
nary medicines-traditional practices of
veterinary medicine using local plants and
herbs-claims local cattle herders cure the DHOTRA (Datura metel)
lethal cattle disease with good old tamarind. leaves and fruits are used
to heal wounds
The paper, Use of Ethno-Veterinary Medicines
(evm) from Vidarbha Region, India, pub-
lished in Bioscience Discovery, in July 2014
SANDALWOOD
found that the use of plants to heal cattle (Santalum album L.) leaves
diseases is a common practice in the tribal are used to heal eye injury
parts of Nagpur, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli
districts of Maharashtra.
It has identified 46 plants used to cure
different diseases in livestock used by 60
herbalists and cattle herders experienced in
administering such plant-based medicines.
The paper found evm to be highly effective
in curing 20 conditions, ranging from seri-
ous ailments such as foot and mouth disease,
fractures and abortions to common condi-
NEEM (Azadirachta indica) is tions such as reduced lactation, eye or teeth
used to fumigate cattle sheds problems and snake or scorpion bites.

40 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

40-41Life Science.indd 40 22/09/14 11:46 AM


evm, however, have their limitations herders have some knowledge of herbs. In TAMARIND (Tamarindus
with contagious diseases and emergent case of complicated problems, they take help indica) leaves are crushed
to treat ruminal tympany
conditions such as viral diseases goat plague from others in the community. This has lead disease in cattle
(peste des petits ruminants ) and blue tongue, to a system based on mutual understanding
the report says. and trust, says Kulkarni.
Gawde says the evm network is dynam- ity issues in cattle and
Free and effective ic. Usually, there are a few experienced eth- relies extensively on
evm, says the study, are indispensable for no-veterinary practitioners in every village. vaccines for the same.
ensuring livestock health.The first reason for If any disease is beyond the expertise of those Vaccination for foot
this is the cost. While ethno-veterinary ser- available, people usually know whom to con- and mouth disease, black quarter and other
vices are provided in the community for free, tact in nearby villages. A cluster of villages is major contagious ailments is our main con-
veterinary treatment is expensive, points out usually self-sufficient in its veterinary re- cern. Farmers bring their cattle to us mainly
Ajay Gawde, an artificial insemination quirements, he explains. for milk yield-related problems like mastitis,
worker with Pune-based non-profit baif The practices documented in the paper says Satish Raju, animal husbandry develop-
Development Research Foundation from are both curative and preventive. Herders, for ment officer, Wardha district.
Sironcha tehsil in Gadchiroli district. instance, regularly fumigate cattle sheds with On the other hand, ethno-veterinary
Ranjeet Maraskolhe, a farmer from neem or common wormwood (Artemisia practices deal with day-to-day problems
Tuyiaapar village in Nagpur vulgaris) leaves to remove insects and germs. and emergencies faced by cattle-herders.
district, says, Hoof in- Simple treatments for healing wounds, This area is not covered under scientific in-
fections are common improving lactation and de-worming are vestigation programmes, so there is no cor-
in our village during usually carried out by the herders themselves. relating data or information available regard-
rains. If we get vet- The help of traditional herbalists is ing the nature of these problems or measures
erinary treatment, taken only in curing complex diseases which cattle stakeholders take to deal with them,
it costs `100-200, require the use of different herbs that need to says Kale. Even pharmaceutical research
SITAPHAL (Annona but our local cures be boiled, dried and burnt. in veterinary medicines is concentrated on
squamosa L.) leaves are cost nothing. He The paper notes that a plant is used for productivity and serious contagious diseas-
used to heal wounds
adds that transporting different problems in different areas. It says es. This, says Kulkarni, is where ethno-vet-
a sick animal to the treat- different parts of a plant are used for dif- erinary plays a crucial role.
ment centreavailable only in large gram ferent conditions. An example is mahua The paper concludes that while there is
panchayats or taluka headquartersis more (Madhuca longifolia), whose fruit is used in no substitute for a comprehensive animal
expensive than the treatment itself. In case the Vidarbha region for treating malarial fe- healthcare system, ethno-veterinary prac-
of emergencies, the animal is likely to die ver in cattle. Liquor from the flower is used in tices also need to be supported and extended.
during transportation, he says. western Maharashtra for a prolapsed uterus. The most important step to be taken
The paper points out that village res- The report found that while some herbs in this regard is the implementation of the
idents believe evm are more effective than were commonly used, others were known Biodiversity Act, which allows communi-
modern medicines. In our system, three only to a few herbalists. It was observed that ties to own and protect their local resources.
doses of herbs over a period of one-and-a- while 48 of 60 herbalists used Datura me- The second important step is to preserve
half days are enough to cure any disease, tel for healing wounds, only five used Ficus and extend traditional evm knowledge with-
says Maraskolhe, Conventional medicine bengalgenesis roots for dental problems. in communities. Maraskolhe says evm practi-
takes longer. Gawde agrees. These treat- tioners tend to be secretive of their art because
ments are effective.To cure tympany through A mix of both needed of superstition. Healers often do not share
evm, one needs to just mix tamarind pulp or The report calls for strengthening ethno-vet- their remedies even with their own sons, he
crushed leaves, a bit of oil and ash from cook- erinary practices and public animal says. Kulkarni says there is a need for a two-
ing fires with water and give it to the animal healthcare systems because they way process. On the one hand, commu-
to drink. Within 20 minutes, the most severe meet different needs in the nity members need training from quali-
case of tympany is eased, he says. area of cattle health. Amod fied veterinary doctors so that their art
Kale, a veterinary toxico- becomes more exact and comprehen-
Dynamic community practice pathologist from Akola sive, and on the other hand, the veter-
Ethno-veterinary practices have been part district in Maharashtra, inary system needs to learn from the
of livestock rearing for ages and are deeply says the veterinary sec- healers. Only then will this art be
rooted in the rural way of life, says Sajal tor is primarily con- sustained. n
Kulkarni, lead author of the study and a cerned with breed-
livestock researcher with baif. Most cattle- ing and productiv- ARJUN (Terminalia cuneata)
bark is used to heal wounds

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 41

40-41Life Science.indd 41 22/09/14 11:46 AM


SWASTIK PAL

Land subsidence is serious


India depends heavily on groundwater. But overextraction can
cause the land to sink. A recent study found that signs of land
subsidence are already evident in Kolkata. The Central Ground
Water Board has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute
of Remote Sensing to study the impact of groundwater
extraction on land subsidence in northern India.
SUSHMITA SENGUPTA talks to PRADIP SIKDAR, a geologist
involved in the Kolkata study, on the importance of the new project
42 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

42-43Interview.indd 42 17/09/14 4:19 PM


What is the relation between land metre drop in groundwater level, the mean and there is a high probability that land
subsidence and groundwater extraction? subsidence is 3.28 cm. Another study, subsidence will take place in north India due
Land subsidence generally occurs when published in 2013, analysed land subsidence to unmindful mining of groundwater.
groundwater is mined in an unplanned way. between 1956 and 2000 at Ultadanga, a Extraction of groundwater from areas
The impact is more evident in rocks made of locality in east Kolkata, and found that the prone to land subsidence may also cause
fine-grained sediments. Decline of area showed a subsidence rate of 18.23 mm/ adverse environmental impact on the regions
groundwater table causes a vertical year due to a decline of 9 m of groundwater ecosystem.There may be a loss of wetlands. It
compression of sediments bearing the water. level.The studies suggested that extraction of is imperative to estimate the possible rate of
Sometimes, lateral compression may also groundwater should be carried out based on land subsidence and chalk out a sustainable
take place along with this vertical the groundwater potential and the perceived groundwater management plan based on
compression. Lowering of the pore water threat of subsidence in the area. groundwater potential and estimated rate of
pressure in a layer results in an increase of the land subsidence of different areas, especially
effective stress in the soil, resulting in The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing in a fragile wetland to minimise the adverse
consolidation of the soil which manifests as recently signed an MoU with the Central environmental impacts of groundwater
land subsidence. Groundwater Board to study the effect development. The cities of north India may
of land subsidence in northern India. have lost their wetlands due to urbanisation,
What are the effects of land subsidence? Why is this study needed? but the Gangetic plains are dotted with
The effects can be settlement of upper clay Northern India comprises plains and hilly ponds, marshes and swamps (occurring in
layer leading to damage of infrastructure areas. Major rivers like the Ganga and its the peri-urban and rural areas) which may be
(roads, bridges) and flooding due to tributaries criss-cross the area and deposit affected by land subsidence.
ineffective drainage systems of the city. Lines fresh alluvium on the northern plains.
of weakness in the layers can also be activated How is land subsidence studied?
and this may cause earthquake in the area. For the Kolkata study, we collected data
There can be indirect effects such as a change Land subsidence can on groundwater from published journals,
in gradient of streams or drains. activate fault lines and cgwb and water level data measured by
cause earthquake in the myself and my students in wells in Kolkata
Is land subsidence a serious issue? area. There can also be and adjoining East Kolkata Wetland. The
Land subsidence is an irreversible process. It indirect effects, such as subsidence of land was then calculated using
can be very serious. In China the average total different mathematical models. But land
a change in gradient of
economic loss due to subsidence is estimated subsidence can be studied more accurately
at around US $1.5 billion per year, of which
streams or drains using remote sensing.
80-90 per cent are indirect losses. In Bangkok
many private and public buildings, and Urbanisation and industrialisation in these How will the study in northern India help
underground infrastructure are severely areas are causing a rapid decline in the people?
damaged by subsidence. In 2006, the total groundwater. Unplanned extraction of The study will help cgwb to prepare a
cost of subsidence-related damage, especially groundwater from soft, fresh alluvium groundwater management policy. Stringent
in subsidence-prone areas, in the underlying the northern plains can lead to laws can also be imposed by the state
Netherlands was estimated at over 3.5 land subsidence. This means cities like groundwater boards on the industries which
billion per year (`276 billion at current rate). Lucknow, Agra, Mathura, Kanpur, are the water guzzlers.
The US Geological Survey also recently Allahabad, Varanasi, which are on the In Bangkok, extreme land subsidence
released a report showing that extensive Gangetic plain, are prone to land subsidence. by groundwater extraction was successfully
groundwater pumping is causing land A study done in 2009 in Lucknow had reduced by regulations and restrictions.
subsidence in California. suggested that if the city continued A specific law (Groundwater Act) was
groundwater extraction at present rate, there enacted in 1977. Most severely affected
You were part of a study done in Kolkata will be land subsidence in 2026. The study areas were designated as critical zones,
on subsidence. What did the study show? was conducted by a retired scientist from the with more control over private and public
The area between Kasba, Gariahat and Central Ground Water Board (cgwb). groundwater activities. Groundwater use
Dhakuria in south Kolkata has shown land Till date there has been no major charges were first implemented in 1985 and
subsidence. The estimated mean subsidence incident of land subsidence in north India. gradually increased. Currently, Bangkok
rate in the city, according to a recent study, is Land subsidence cannot always be noticed as uses a very small amount of groundwater.
13.53 mm/year. There were few incidents of mostly the impact is spread over a large area. Only 10 per cent of water is sourced from the
tilting of buildings.This subsidence occurred But groundwater extraction from a similar ground. The rate of subsidence has gone
due to a decline of groundwater. For every soil in Kolkata has shown land subsidence drastically down.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 43

42-43Interview.indd 43 19/09/14 12:55 PM


WILDLIFE

PHOTOGRAPHS: VARDHAN PATANKAR


Mermaid's second life
The dugong stages
I
T IS SIX to seven feet long, has a curva- chipelago. They disappeared from the
ceous body and when it sits by the sea Lakshadweep islands around 60 years ago.
a revival, thanks to feeding its young, it resembles a Its rarity notwithstandingor perhaps

conservation efforts mermaid from a fairy tale. For long, the


dugong kept a low profile. The mermaid-
because of itsomething fascinating has
been happening in areas where they current-
VARDHAN PATANKAR shaped creature is the sole member of its ly occur. Throughout its range in the Indo-
family and spends most of its time in shallow Pacific, dugongs have become a priority
seas where healthy sea grass meadows exist, species for conservation in recent times.
often mingling and swimming in herds. In the past couple of decades, the number
Unfortunately, today this beautiful of articles, peer-reviewed publications, aca-
creature is on the verge of extinction across demic theses, posters and other educational
most of the Indo-Pacific region. material on the dugongs have increased. Odd
In India, dugongs were once abundant as it may seem, the charisma and current crit-
along the west and east coast and around its ically endangered status of the animal are
two island groups. But now they are sighted helping the dugong survive better in its
only around the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of favoured habitatseagrass meadows.
Mannar and the Andaman and Nicobar ar- The first major conservation impetus

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ty institutions and continuous support from
the forest department means that local
people are aware of dugongs and islanders are
keen to protect the species. The Andaman
and Nicobar forest department, with the help
of local ngos, is conducting awareness
campaigns for the conservation of the
species. In 2002, the dugong was declared the
state animal of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands. This and other conservation efforts
catapulted dugongs to celebrity status in
islands. At the national level, the dugong task
force was constituted in 2008 and the animal
is now top priority under the Centrally-
sponsored Species Recovery Programme.
Under this programme, the forest
department, in collaboration with Nature
Conservation Foundation, studied
interactions between seagrass and its habitat.
During the second phase of the project, the
forest department will actively monitor the
habitat of dugong and enforce anti-poaching
Critically endangered regulations.Tamil Nadu and Gujarat plan to
status of dugong
(above) is helping it follow in the footsteps of Andaman and
survive better in its Nicobar islands.
favoured habitat of
seagrass meadows Even international conservation organi-
(left) sations are finding ways to cooperate across
national borders. United Nations
came more than two decades ago. In 1992, months without a single sighting of the Environment Programme has signed a mem-
the Union Ministry of Environment and animal, and sometime we used indirect orandum of understanding with countries
Forests amended the status of the dugong, evidencefeeding trails on seagrass, mortal- where dugongs are known to occur. India is
giving the marine animal legal protection ity records and stories from village elders and now a signatory to the Convention on the
under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The fishersto deduce details of the dugongs life. Conservation of Migratory Species. Recent
ministry also directed the Zoological Survey In seven years, we sighted 15 individual meetings among nations have led to propos-
of India to study the status and distribution dugongs across the Andaman and Nicobar als for sharing data, coordinating research and
of dugongs in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk archipelago. We found that dugongs are creating a protected area for dugongs. Plans of
Bay. Scientists from the institute chalked out restricted to sheltered bays and channels with special dugong task force are in pipeline.
a methodology for surveying dugongs, persistent seagrass meadows dominated by Even then, there are huge challenges.The
including aerial surveys. However, during Halophila and Halodule genera. pressure from the fishing community, acci-
the two-year study, the scientists could not In these locations, dugongs consistently dental mortality in fishing nets, the propel-
sight a single living dugong. The initial avoid patchy meadows with low seagrass lers of highspeed boats are a few. A major
enthusiasm whittled away, when the cover. But on further probing, we found bottomup approach, a communitybased
scientists received little political and finan- something more dangerous than habitat de- conservation programme is yet to see the
cial support for the surveys. struction. We observed that a tourism boom light of day. More significantly, the areas
As researchers studying dugongs for the in the past decade and a resultant increase in where dugongs are found will always be iso-
past few years, our efforts are rooted in the fishing are adversely affecting dugong. We lated and difficult to reach. Poverty amongst
idea that if one wants to conserve the dugong, found the dugong was getting entangled in local fishermen remains a significant prob-
one needs to understand its habitat. With this the modern nets used by the islanders to catch lem that can slow or even impede change.
in mind, we at the Nature Conservation fish. Direct hunting also appears to have led But one thing is clear: the endangered
Foundation (ncf ) initiated a study in 2007 on to the extinction of dugongs from several lo- status of the dugongs seems to be leading the
the interaction between dugongs and its cations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. way forward. n
habitat: seagrass meadows in the Andaman However, the hard work of many Vardhan Patankar is a research scholar at the
and Nicobar archipelago. At times, we went conservation organisations, local communi- Nature Conservation Foundation in Mysore

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REVIEW
ON SHELF

Stewarding the
Earth, Rethinking
Property and the
Emergence of
Biocultural Rights
by Sanjay Kabir Bavikatte
Oxford University Press / `775

THE BOOK analyses the emergence

Romancing
of biocultural rights as a sub-set of
environmental law. It relies on economic,
anthropological, political and legal

the trees theories to understand what the current


concepts of private property mean
for indigenous people and traditional
communities. It also describes
After trees of Delhi, filmmaker and the application of new biocultural
jurisprudence through innovative,
tree lover Pradip Krishen finds his community-developed instruments such

muse in Central Indian forests as biocultural community protocols. The


theme of the book is important given
VIKRAMADITYA that in recent times, issues relating to
both biodiversity conservation and
displacement of the indigenous people
have been at the centre of controversy.

Development
Failure and
JUNGLE TREES OF CENTRAL INDIA , A FIELD Identity Politics in
GUIDE FOR TREE SPOTTERS Pradip Krishen Uttar Pradesh
Penguin | `1,499 Edited by Roger Jeffery,
Craig Jeffery and Jens
Lerche

A
Sage / `995
T ONE PLACE in this book under review, author Pradip Krishen
writes, I could think of no way depicting the subtle shades of ma- THE BOOK investigates neoliberal
huas new foliage in the compass of a single spread. Here is a sample changes and political transformation in
spread of the russet tonnes of the most beautiful of trees.What fol- Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous and,
lows is a spread resplendent with breathtaking images of the mahua tree that by some measures, the poorest state.
are also remarkable for the detail they offer. That is one of the strengths of It examines the connection between
Krishens Jungle Trees of Central India, A Field Guide for Tree Spotters. Krishen transition in its economy and links it to the
is a master with words. But he also knows when to let the photographer take transformations in its politics. The book
over. It helps that he is also a brilliant photographer. demonstrates how an understanding of
Central India, the subject of Krishens enquiry, might seem a rather vague dynamics in Uttar Pradesh might provide
entity. One will not find it in a political map of the country. Krishen is careful new perspective on issues such as the
to qualify his choice quite early. My version of Central India encompasses state, the civil society, caste, democracy
most but not all of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It also accommodates a sliver and social impact of economic reforms
of (northern) Maharashtra, a slice of Chhattisgarh, tiny outliers of (southern) issues that are the subject of vigorous
Uttar Pradesh and a longitudinal wedge of (eastern) Rajasthan...Central India debate in India as a whole.
makes a lot of ecological sense but is not an exclusive domain and there are

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continuities, at least with respect to tree species, that extend all the way maybe meaningful for taxonomists, they do not work so well for the
down into the Eastern Ghats to the south, and vaulting nimbly over lay public. And at times, he gently challenges the reader in a way that
the Gangetic Plain, northwards to the foot of the Himalaya. So in only a tree lover can: Readers of my book on Delhis trees might be
some ways Central India is a portmanteau of affinities. disconcerted to learn that the tree known as arjun in Delhi is called
The area is a veritable treasure trove for botanists and attracted the kahua in Central India and that Delhis amaltas become kirvara in this
attention of Britishers quite early. In 1817, the East India Company book. Im sorry, but thats just how it is.
created a botanical garden in Saharanpurtoday in Uttar Pradesh. A scholarly motive, though, lies behind this challenge to the
In 1843, William Griffith, among the handful of East India compa- reader. Without a rigorous procedure of standardising common
nys surgeon-turned-botanists, wrote a short treatise, Remarks on a nameswhich can happen only in one languagewe will always be
Few Plants from Central India. Dietrich Brandis, the architect of co- faced with multiple names. And if attempts at standardising common
lonial Indian forestry, took a keen interest in the plants of the region. names of birds hold any lessons for us, it is not to fiddle and fuss too
James Forsyth, the soldier-turned-forester, tried to find ways of trans- much with names that have firmly embedded in folk memory,
porting timber down the hills in Panchmarhi. Some of Verrier Elwins Krishen writes. Interventions such as this make the book much more
works make a mention of the trees and plants
of Central Indiathough biodiversity was not
the central concern of the missionary-turned-
anthropologist.
In recent times, ethnobotanists have tried
to map the biodiversity of the region. But none
has produced a volume as comprehensive as
Jungle Trees of Central India. Describing
about 170 trees and with more than 2,000
photographs, the book is a product of nearly
four years of research. Yet Krishen is humble
enough to write that he is no botanist. That in
some ways is a blessing in disguise: the book is
shorn of the technical jargon that is stock-in-
trade of many scientists.
The books second heading describes it as
a field guide. That is somewhat downplaying
the work. Jungle Trees of Central India has a rare
infectious trait that anyone who has accompa-
nied Krishen on his tree walks will know
quite well. It is the work of a tree lover who is
meticulous about the minutest details and
takes care to present them in a manner that can
evoke curiosity from the most disinterested. A
word about Kadambari Mishras design here.
The format of Jungle Trees of Central India
makes navigating its 400-odd pages a joyful ex-
perience. A how-to-use section introduces us to the chunkiest part of than a field guide. The scholarly tree-lover also finds a voice in the
the book: The Tree Catalogue. In little less than 300 pages, the cat- overview, that follows the introduction. It introduces the reader to
alogue provides a wealth of information to guide a person trying to ecological zone described as Central India. Krishen acquaints us with
spot a tree in Central India. Scientific complexities are tucked away at the regions rocks, its forests and its ecological history. He tells us
the back of the book. what different seasons do to Central Indias treesall this without
In the catalogue, the photographs do most of the talking. Leaves any recourse to jargon. There is a forest map of the region, also a map
with their filigreed tracery of veins, flowers in all their resplendence, showing the soil types of Central India. But there is no map
fruits with all their oddities of shape and colours, even tree barks and showing where the trees described in the book occur. Is that another
seeds in near microscopic detail: the magic is alluring. Krishen prefers challenge to the reader? Or is it in keeping with the books credo
introducing the trees in their local nameswith a pronunciation of simplicity? Anyhow, this is a minor quibble: a complaint of a child
guide in parenthesisleaving the Latin monikers to a subhead in a with a sweet tooth whose appetite has been whetted, but he still wants
considerably smaller font. The reason is quite simple and Krishen that extra morsel. n
spells it out in the introduction: While they [botanical names] Vikramaditya is a designer in Chennai

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GOOD NEWS

PHOTOGRAPHS: JITENDRA / CSE


This culvert in Karnataka's Chittemakki panchayat in Chikmagalur district was built after the village kids passed a resolution in 2012

Children's swaraj
Karnataka turns governance into child's play with kids' assemblies
JITENDRA | chikmagalur

F
OURTEEN-YEAR-old Kavyasri M Y 10-year-old Rachin C V, a baal sabhas. It started the
is known as chief minister in her resident of another village exercise through a gov-
village of Chittemakki in Karnatakas in the same panchayat. ernment circular in
Koppa block in Chikmagalur district. The reasona small 2007.International or-
KARNATAKA
Two years ago, when she was in Class VII, stream that falls on the ganisations like Unicef
Kavyasri was elected as the representative of way would always over- and other non-profits
the baal sabhaa childrens assembly on the flow during the harsh Udupi Chikmagalur were suggesting a mech-
lines of gram sabha where all kids below the rainy season at the anism to include children
age of 18 meet to discuss issues that are often Western Ghats village. But in the decision process to
overlooked by adults. that is a thing of the past, says check child trafficking, child la-
As chief minister, it was Kavyasris duty Rachin, adding proudly, because of bour, child marriage, dropout rates in
to bring issues raised during the baal sabha to us. He and his friends participated in the baal schools and other problems that children face.
the notice of the panchayat, which organises sabha in November 2012 and passed a resolu- So the state government decided to start baal
the gathering once every year. The initiative tion in front of the panchayat members to sabha,says Ninge Gowda, former under sec-
has brought relief in many ways to children construct two culverts (enclosed drains) and retary to the state government, who issued the
in villages, as well as elders. a soak pit on the stream.They were construct- 2007 circular.Though implemented across the
For instance, travelling to school during ed a year later. state, the circular does not make baal sabhas
the monsoons was always a difficult task for Karnataka is the only state to organise mandatory. As a result, only a few panchayats

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48-49Good News.indd 48 19/09/14 12:56 PM


have implemented it. It is in nascent stage meeting of the block panchayat. We also sent this parliament. The next major initiative
and needs to be made mandatory, says Yalki a letter to the tehsildar, he says. came in 2001, when the undp-funded Kishori
Gowda, director, rural development and The initiative is also helping in political panchayat, a panchayat for girls, was launched
panchayati raj. empowerment of the children. In the 2013 in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.Girls in the
list of demands, we brought to the notice of 6-15 years of age group were engaged with
Power of innocence the school authorities adulteration in mid- their mothers in panchayat meetings. They
Thippeshi G C, block executive officer of day meal. We also pressured the authorities were quite active and understood issues relat-
Koppa block, points out that the reasons the to regularly clean the toilets, says Kavyasri. ed to health and education better than other
baal sabhas are a success is that children are Childrens assemblies are proving a suc- women,says B K Sinha, who steered the pro-
innocent and apolitical, and speak openly cess in other places too.The Hoshangre pan- ject. But even this was closed two years later.
about problems faced in their houses and chayat in Udupi district is another place
even in the neighbourhood.The Koppa block where baal sabhas have got work done. The Challenges ahead
has 22 panchayats that have 180 schools be- fencing of a pond was carried out after chil- The Karnataka government is yet to pass a law
tween them. According to Thippeshi, 85 dren passed a resolution for the same.We had seven years after the initiative was started.This
schools have demanded independent water to cross the pond to attend school, and it was uncertainty is one of the reasons the initiative
supply through resolutions of different baal dangerous during the rains. A few years ago, a has not been up-scaled despite its success.
sabhas. We are also using these sabhas to boy drowned after slipping, says Sfoorti, a We are going to recommend that baal sabha
meet our sanitation goals, says Thippeshi. class IX student. Now that the fence has been be included in the state Panchayati Raj Act,
Last year, we constructed 560 household constructed, elders too realised its conveni- says Karanataka legislator Ramesh Kumar,
toilets with the help of children. ence. We were unaware of the problem the who is heading a 15-member committee
The assemblies are so popular now that children faced. It came to our knowledge be- on the Act.
they are attracting more and more children. cause of the baal sabha, says Manjulnath, a T R Raghunandan, former joint secretary
Even better, they dont just discuss issues that village resident. of Union rural development ministry, believes
can be solved at the panchayat-level but also the initiative of baal sabhas also needs focus
those that need attention at the block and Initiatives in the past and should learn from Nepal, which is suc-
district level. The resolution of the 2013 baal Indias experiment with the idea of including cessfully running a similar model.
sabha demanded specialised subject teachers, children in the decision-making process start- In 2011, the Nepal government adopted
a games teacher and additional classrooms ed in 1992 when it signed the UN convention the National Child Friendly Local Gover-
for all schools in the panchayat. for protection of child rights. A year later, the nance strategy. Under it, the government
Chethan K Gopal, Chittemakki pan- Union Ministry of Human Resource promotes participation of children in pan-
chayat development officer, says, Children Development started a baal sansad (childrens chayat planning so that their voice can be
raised the issue of frequent movement of parliament), for which students were selected heard.The government also spends 10-15 per
sand-loaded trucks beside the school road, from different states. Despite being success- cent of capital grants for the panchayati sys-
which hamper their movement after classes. ful, the initiative was stopped in 1999, says tem on issues raised by children. Some of the
The issue does not come under the jurisdic- Teja Ram, who was responsible for the coor- issues brought forth by the kids include sep-
tion of the panchayat, so we raised it in the dination of the children who participated in arate toilets for boys and girls, lack of safe
drinking water and lack of quality education.
The Karnataka government needs to learn
from this effort and strive to sustain this
initiative, he adds.
The other challenge is that several of the
demands made by the baal sabhas do not fall
in the jurisdiction of the panchayat.
Children will lose interest if their resolu-
tions are not met, says Gopal. Raghunandan
suggests that children should be educated
about which department is responsible for
what function. If the recruitment of teach-
The pond in ers is not under the ambit of panchayats then
Hoshangre
panchayat in
the children should be trained on how to ap-
Udupi district proach the authority responsible. This will
was fenced
on children's
automatically increase the ambit of the initi-
demand ative and make it effective, says he. n

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FOOD

A sip of earthy
flavour
Anantamool tea is more than a refresher for the
farmers of Vidarbha
APARNA PALLAVI | nagpur
VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE

50-51Food.indd 50 17/09/14 4:33 PM


I
N THE EARLY years of my carrer, when I
began working with the farmers
Enquiries revealed that khobarvel,
as the vine is known in Madhya Pradesh
RECIPE
of Vidarbha, I would always try and Maharashtra, is the herb, Hemidesmus Khobarvel tea
to avoid a vital aspect of their indicus whose powerful health benefits are
hospitalitythe inevitable black tea. recognised in ayurveda. Called sariva or INGREDIENTS
The tea, in fact, has a muddy colour and anantamool in Sanskrit, the herb is known for Khobarvel root: about two inches
a strong muddy flavour that would set its cooling, diuretic and anti-inflammatory Water: two cups
my nerves on edge. But refusing the properties, and is used to cure a host of Tea leaves: a teaspoon
Sugar or jaggery: to taste
too-strong-too-sweet tea is tantamount ailments, including skin problems like
to insulting the host in this arid region psoriasis and eczema, arthritis, acute and
METHOD
of Maharashtra. An elderly farmer chronic gout, inflammation of mucus Wash the root and pound it till the
once made this resoundingly clear. We membranes, heavy menstrual bleeding, hard inner fibres are thoroughly
poor people can only offer tea by way of sluggish digestion and urinary infections of crushed. Add it to water, bring to
honouring our guests. By refusing it, all kinds, including serious kidney ailments. boil and allow to simmer for a few
you refuse our honour, he told me as The herb is also known to cure infertility. minutes, till the flavor gets absorbed
I was trying to wriggle out of gulping It is one of the 10 herbs used in preparing by the water. Add tea leaves and
down the brew. Another time, in a Dalit the formidable dashamool concoction, which sugar or jaggery.
household, I had to drink a huge lota of is said to cure virtually every ailment. One can add milk or other spices
water to prove that I did not refuse the tea Several modern researches underscore like ginger or cardamom to the tea.
out of touchability concerns. the wound healing, immunomodulatory and
THese few incidents put the fear of anti-microbial properties of the herb. Microbiology, Shrimad Andavan Arts and
the lord into me, and I have never since In 2012, K Vijaya Kumari of Dr NTR Science College in Tiruchirapalli, have
refused tea in rural areas. So for more University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, found significant amounts of other healing
than two decades, I survived the brew by established that powdered Hemidesmus when compounds like tannins and flavonoids in it.
developing naughty strategies insteadtake applied on wounds speeds up the healing Their finding was published in Asian Journal
one big gulp and leave the rest; hide the cup process and reduces scarring. Her research of Pharmaceutical Research in 2011.
behind the leg of a cot or a chair; or worse, was published in the International Research Small wonder that in recent years
pour the tea on the mud floor when no one Journal of Pharmacy in 2012. Hemidesmus indicus has become a health
is looking. But it turns out that all this while A year earlier, Smitha Jayaram and fad of sorts worldwide, mostly because of
I was too ignorant to appreciate the flavour. Shailaja S Dharmesh from the Central Food its coolant property. A popular formulation
One day, at my farm, my farm help Technological Research Institute, Mysore, of the herb is Iramusu tea, based on the
Ramesh Dhurve walked off with a had found phenolic compounds in the herb. Sri Lankan name for the herb.
pickaxe at the mention of tea. Intrigued, Anti-oxidant properties of these compounds The tribal people of Madhya Pradesh and
I followed him and found him digging make the herb so effective against multiple Maharashtra consume the herb as a matter
out what looked like long gnarled ropes. health ailments, they noted in Pharmacognosy of course. Ringo Bai, Dhurves wife, told me
On a closer inspection, I could see that they Research published in 2011. that people in her village boil the root with
were the roots of a thin, barely noticeable Another group of researchers have tea and consume it regularly in summers. It
creeper running between rocks and showing also found phenols in Hemidesmus indicus. is said to be good for health. When I told her
pointed, dark green leaves at intervals. It is The study, led by Rajan S of Department of about the health benefits of the herb, she said,
khobarvel, Dhurve informed me, we add it If there are health benefits, we will get them
to tea for fragrance. anyway, whether we know them or not. As
THe scales fell from my eyes with the for why it is consumed only in summers, she
first sip of the tea Dhurve made using simply said, It is easier to find.
the root. This was the flavour that had I wonder if a significant part of the
tormented me for yearsonly this time tribal wisdom is in simply letting
around it was milder, partly because nature decide which food to put on the
Ramesh is a Gond tribal from Betul district platter and when. A piece of advice I have
in Madhya Pradesh. Tea is traditionally heard again and again in tribal areas is that
milder in this part of the state than in wild vegetables and herbs become available
Vidarbha where food and beverages when it is good for us to eat them.
have strong taste and flavour. A few more So now I know I must learn to gulp down
sips later, I realised that the brew had a the muddy tea without complaint if I want
Anantamool vine. Its powerful health
refreshing earthy flavournot muddy. benefits are recognised in ayurveda to keep my job as a food writer.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 51

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HISTORY

GERMAN FEDERAL ARCHIVE


IG Farben factory within the Auschwitz

Nazi's
concentration camp complex

industrial jackal
Bayer, Hoechst and BASF participated in Nazi crimes
KAUSHIK DASGUPTA

D
URING THE Nuremberg War Crimes Trial in 1946, Chief Farben was the single largest donor to the election campaign of
Prosecutor Telford Taylor made a scathing accusation Adolph Hitler in the late 1920s. A year before Hitler seized power,
against a German cartel. These companies, not the luna- IG Farben donated 400,000 reichsmarks (German currency between
tic Nazi fanatics, are the main war criminals. If the guilt of 1924 and June 1948) to Hitler and his Nazi party.
these criminals is not brought to daylight and if they are not pun- After Hitler came to power, IG Farben worked in close collabo-
ished, they will pose a much greater threat to the future peace of ration with the Nazis. Farben produced chemical weapons for the
the world than Hitler if he were still alive, he had said. The cartel German military and looted chemical industries of the
in question was Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farben or Association of countries Germany occupied during the war. The Nuremberg trials
Common Interests, IG Farben in short. The cartel was formed in described the conglomerate as Nazis industrial jackal.
1925 after German pharma and chemical majors, Bayer, basf and The trials revealed that during the war, IG Farben used slave
Hoechst, joined hands. labour in many of its factories and mines. A part of the infamous
During the trials to indict Nazis for culpability in World War II, concentration camp in Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Germany was
Taylor and his colleagues went on to provide a huge body of evidence dedicated to supplying slave labour for the nearby IG Farben plant,
that incriminated the German cartel. The trials revealed that IG Buna-Werke, also known as IG Auschwitz. By 1944 over 80,000

52 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

52-53History.indd 52 19/09/14 1:02 PM


forced labourers and death camp inmates had been put to work at

COURTESY: DIGITALCOMMONS.LAW.LSU.EDU
IG Auschwitzthe synthetic rubber and fuel plant where Farben
had invested 600 million reichsmarks, the Nuremberg trials revealed.
Writer Primo Levi, who was incarcerated at IG Auschwitz, wrote
later, There was chronic hungerunknown to free men. On the back
of my feet I already had those numb sores that will not heal. I pushed
wagons, I worked with a shovel, I turned rotten in the rain, I shivered
in the wind.The inhuman conditions claimed several thousands
this despite Farben ensuring that the fittest of the Aushwitz inmates
came to the plant. It paid the German 10,000 reichsmarks each year
for the purpose.
Our association with the Nazi party worked to our benefit, a
Farben employee testified at the trials. The company manufactured
and supplied Zyklon B to the Nazis. This poisonous cyanide-based
pesticide, on which IG Farben held the patent, was used during the
Holocaust to annihilate more than a million people at German
concentration camps. Farben also supplied the Nazis the methanol
used to burn the corpses.
The pharmaceutical departments of the IG Farben cartel used
the inmates of the concentration camp for human experiments, such
as the testing of new and unknown vaccines. For example, corre-
spondence between the commander of the concentration camp and
IG Farben representatives which came to light during the Nuremberg Fritz ter Meer (right), defendant of the IG Farben trial at Nurnberg, chats
trials shed light on the sale of 150 female prisoners for experiments with his counsel during a court intermission
on a sleep-inducing drug. Another missive notes, The experiments
were performed. All test persons died. We will contact you shortly stances. The historians note that Farben footed the bill for the
about a new shipment. research of Josef Mengele, Auschwitz-Birkenaus infamous Angel
A former Auschwitz prisoner testified: There was a large ward of Death, and some of his experiments utilised germs and pharma-
of tuberculars on block 20. The Bayer Company sent medications in ceuticals provided by Bayer.
unmarked and unnamed ampoules. The tuberculars were injected Nazi physician Hoven testified at the Nuremberg Tribunal: The
with this.These unfortunate people were never killed in the gas cham- SS (Nazis) did not have notable scientists at its disposal. The exper-
bers. One only had to wait for them to die, which did not take long. iments in the concentration camps only took place in the interests of
The serologic-bacteriological department of IG Farben experi- the IG Farben, which strived by all means to determine the effective-
mented on Auschwitz prisoners with their new typhus fever prepa- ness of these preparations.They let the SS deal with theshall I say
ration, 3582. The first series of tests produced results that were far dirty work in the concentration camps.
from satisfactory. Of the 50 test persons 15 died; the typhus fever drug The Nuremberg Tribunal indicted 24 IG Farben board members
led to vomiting and exhaustion. Part of the Auschwitz concentration and executives on charges of crimes against humanity. But only
camp was quarantined, which led to an extension of the tests to the 13 received prison sentences. Taylor described the sentences they
nearby concentration camp at Buchenwald. received as light enough to please a chicken thief . By the early
In their book, I.G. Farben, from Anilin to forced labor, the histori- 1950s, a number of those convicted of slavery, looting and mass mur-
ans Jrg Hunger and Paul Sander note, there was no scientific value der were back at the helm of Bayer, Hoechst and basf.
to these experiments.The test persons were in bad physical condition, One of them was Bayer executive Fritz ter Meer. A senior scien-
caused by forced labour, insufficient and wrong nutrition and diseas- tist at IG for many years, ter Meer had become a Nazi party member
es in the concentration camp. In addition to this there were general- in 1937 and rose to become the chairperson of IGs technical com-
ly bad sanitary circumstances in the laboratories. The test results in mittee. He was also the executive responsible for the construction of
the concentration camps, as the IG laboratory specialists should have the IG Farbens Auschwitz factory.The Nurember trials revealed that
known, could not be compared to results made under normal circum- ter Meer had a clear picture of what was occurring. He was found
guilty of plunder, slavery and mass murder. But ter Meer was out of
jail by 1952. By 1956 he had become the chairperson of the supervi-
Cyanide-based pesticide Zyklon B, on which sory board of Bayer, a post he held until 1964. Even today Bayer con-
IG Farben held the patent, was used during tinues to honour this convicted mass murderer. On All Saints Day
the Holocaust to annihilate a million people 2006, for instance, the corporation is known to have laid a wreath on
at German concentration camps ter Meers grave in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 53

52-53History.indd 53 19/09/14 12:57 PM


CLASSROOM

I wonder Let's find


where does out...
our shit go?

,
Flush nt
o
When we flush the toilet

but dget
our shit comes into this
pipeline, known as

for
sewer line.

Other sewer lines are


also connected to this Because of the We anaerobic microbes
pit.It is known as anaerobic bacterial decompose and
septic tank. environment that mineralise the waste
Look, the sewer develops in it.
line is going into discharged into the tank.
this pit! Why is it called
septic tank?

The waste is then Drains from different


carried through localities join bigger
pipelines called piplines and from there
drains. the sewage goes to a
bigger sewer drain.

He is a municipality Don't enter into


Who is he and worker. He cleans this uncle...it's
why is he entering the clogged drains. unhygenic!
into this pit?

54 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

54-55Classroom new.indd 54 22/09/14 11:51 AM


I earn my living out of this. Sewer drain leads to
Every year hundreds of people underground trunk
like me die of suffocation or by sewer line .
inhaling poisonus gases in the
pit.It's our life...and death. It is made up of complex
network of huge pipes.

It's scary!

Treated water from the sewage treatment plants is


discharged into the river. But you know only
45% households are
connected with the
sewarage system.

And what do
the rest of the
people do?
Form trunk sewer
line it goes to sewage
treatment plants.

There is no provision to And from where Yes, but before that


treat their sewage, and the do we get the municipality
untreated sewage is water for treats it properly...
discharged directly into the drinking? Well, not always.
EEK! from
nearby water body like a river, that very
lake or pond. river?

In the era of minimum


government and maximum Behave like a world-
governance don't blame class citizen.Drink But very good
municipality...purchase only mineral water. for wealth!!!
Water pollution
a water filter! is very bad for
the health.

1-15 OCTOBER 2014 www.downtoearth.org.in 55

54-55Classroom new.indd 55 22/09/14 11:52 AM


COLUMN

PAT E N T LY A B S U R D L AT H A J I S H N U

Pursuing a nationalist IPR policy


India has enough laws to protect its intellectual property
rights. It is the implementation that is wanting

I
T WAS an unexpected announcement that con- India is perhaps the only developing country with a
veyed a strong message. We are very strong in ipr long history of patent lawmaking starting with the colo-
(intellectual property rights) and we want to protect nial times.The turning point came in 1957 when the gov-
our national interest.That does not mean we are going ernment appointed the Justice N Rajagopala Ayyangar
to be regressive or restrictive, but it is the duty and right of Committee to provide a road map for revising the pat-
the government to protect the ipr of our country. That ent system. In September 1959, the Ayyangar Committee
was Union minister for commerce and industry Nirmala submitted its well argued 397-page report which recom-
Sitharaman at a recent meeting where she outlined the mended the retention of the patent system despite its
objectives her ministry had set for itself. When we are shortcomings. However, there was a significant caveat in
going for arbitration on ipr, others are picking holes be- the national interest: there would be no product patents in
cause we dont have an ipr pol- two key sectorspharmaceuticals and agricultural chem-
icy. The lack of policy has really icals.This report formed the basis of the Patents Act, 1970,
curbed us from establishing our which was passed after much deliberations outside and
rights in a forceful way. inside Parliament.
It was a statement that also Critics have termed this a defensive patent policy but
left many bemused. Surely, India it helped to foster the development of a pharma industry
had debated its policy on ipr that provided inexpensive generic versions of high-cost
thoroughly before amending its medicines developed by the innovator drug companies in
laws thrice since 1999? And had the developed world. Indian companies became adept at
the country not brought about developing new production processes and novel formu-
the biggest change to its 1970 lations that brought about the generics revolution that
Patent Act by allowing prod- was admiredand reviledacross the world. The pro-
uct patents almost 15 years ago? cess-only law passed in 1970 served the country well until
Sitharaman was clearly allud- it signed the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights
ing to the persistent attacks on Agreement or trips mandated by wto rules.
Indias patent regulations by US What will a new ipr policy look like? Indias stated
business lobbies and their sup- position at several international forums is that it favours
porters in the Congress. But the open source innovation. It is also strong on protecting its
statement failed to clarify why a traditional knowledge in a more focused way. This is all
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
policy however sharply enunci- to the good since the current patent system of granting
ated by the new nda government would mollify the US monopolies to the innovatorusually for a 20-year peri-
industry, in particular the big pharma companies. odignores the social cost of providing public goods in a
These companies are miffed with sections 3d and variety of sectors.
3e of the patent law which bars them from extending or The problem, however, is not with the policy or the
evergreening patents on their original discovery by laws. India has enough laws and more to protect its ipr-
seeking fresh ipr on incremental innovations. The lob- even in biodiversity and traditional knowledge. Its the im-
bies are seeking a repeal of these troublesome sections plementation that is wanting with regulators such as the
through a propaganda war rather than taking the coun- National Biodiversity Authority and the National Bureau
try to the disputes settlement body of the World Trade of Plant Genetic Resources failing to safeguard our
Organization (wto) as they should if the law is not com- natural resources and the ipr on these. Will a policy fill the
pliant with its requirements. shortcomings of the system?

56 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

56Column.indd 56 22/09/14 11:53 AM


One Week Advanced Training Program on

POLLUTION MONITORING
TECHNIQUES AND INSTRUMENTATION
November 1721, 2014

Centre for Science and Environment, a non-profit organisation


set up Pollution Monitoring Laboratory (PML) in 2000 to monitor COURSE FEE
environmental pollution. PML is an ISO certified laboratory for `8,000 per participant
conducting scientific studies on environmental samples. PML has
highly qualified and experienced staff that exercise Analytical Quality Accommodation and related costs
Control and meticulously follow Good Laboratory Practices. It is are not included in the course fee.
equipped with sophisticated state-of-art equipment for monitoring However, CSE can help you find a
and analysing air, water, soil and food contamination, including GC, place to stay
GC-MS, HPLC, AAS, microwave assisted digestion system, PM1.0, PM2.5 Nominations are invited from
& PM10 analyser, ozone monitor, sound level meter, EMF radiation Scientists/analysts working
measurement system, and has facilities for microbiological analysis. in government organisations,
PML has conducted several scientific studies that have brought academic institutions, CPCB
policy changes and new regulations in India. This includes pesticides laboratories, SPCB laboratories,
in bottled water, pesticides in soft drinks, phthalates in toys, lead in private sector analytical labs, EIA
paints, antibiotics in honey and antibiotics in chicken, etc. consultants, and students
PML has been organising training and capacity building
programmes for Central and State Pollution Control Boards for mid/
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
senior level officers on water quality, air quality, trace metals and
organic analysis. The participants get hands-on experience on the Date: November 1721, 2014
use of sophisticated analytical equipment for analysis of air, water Time: 10 am to 6 pm
and soil pollution parameters. The programme includes lectures and Venue: CSE, Core 6A, 4th Floor
demonstration on latest technologies for pollution monitoring. India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
New Delhi-110003
COURSE CONTENT Contact: Ramakant Sahu, Deputy
n Sample collection, storage and preservation Lab Head
n Chromatographic techniques and their applications in fuel
Email: ramakant@cseindia.org
oil adulteration, antibiotics in food, pesticides in air, water
and soil, etc
n Ambient air pesticides concentrationdetection, methodology
and analysis
n Existing and emerging sample preparation techniques for trace
organic analysis
n Decibel DrummingNoise level monitoring, instrumentation
Centre for Science and Environment
and control strategies
Core 6A, 4th Floor, India Habitat Centre
n Laboratory experiments on determination of pesticides in water, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
determination of heavy metals in soil, microbiological analysis of Phone: 011-24645334/335
water, measurement of EMF radiations from cell phone towers

N
TIO
I NA M Training on Pollution Monitoring Techniques and Instrumentation
M R
NO FO November 17-21, 2014
Name:......................................................................... Age:.............. Phone(s): ...................................... Fax:..............................................
Designation:............................................................................................ Official Website:......................................................................................
Name of Organisation:............................................................................ Contact email:.........................................................................................
Brief description of present responsibilities (if any): What does the participant expect to learn?
................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................
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................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................
Send this form by Post/Email : ramakant@cseindia.org OR Apply online at http://www.cseindia.org/node/5501

57 OCT15 2014
57lab ad.indd 57 22/09/14 2:41 PM
LAST WORD

R I G H T TO D I S S E N T L AT H A J I S H N U

A lethal secrecy in trade deals


Why do democratic governments hide trade negotiations
that have dire consequences for public services?

T
HIS IS the age of leaks. And thank goodness for addressed the issue of secrecy. The star turn was Jeffrey
that. Not just by WikiLeaks, the bte noire of Sachs, Columbia University professor of sustainable
secretive governments, but by bands of public- development who also directs the Earth Institute.
spirited individuals and organisations who have THe main points that emerged from Sachss talk
been instrumental in laying bare the machinations of are that these treaties are primarily aimed at protecting
corporate lobbies in shaping major trade agreements. investors and giving them unrestricted powers vis--vis
If not for the leaks, few of us would have known the state. He points out, what is forgotten in the rah-rah
how governments are conceding policy space to of free trade rhetoric is that simply open trade or open
powerful foreign governments and even more powerful investment by itself has no guarantee of meeting the
multinational corporations. In the case of the EU- criterion of raising wellbeing broadly, much less across
India Free Trade Agreement (fta), the board.
protests against the negotiations THe hungrier wolf waiting in
over suspected tightening of the wings is the Trade in Services
regulations on intellectual property Agreement, a completely opaque
rights (iprs) were confirmed in agreement that is being negotiated
March last year when non-profit in secret by mostly members of the
Knowledge Ecology International club of the rich or the Organisation
(kei) published the draft text of for Economic Co-operation and
the IP chapter under negotiation. Development. A small number of de-
kei is an organisation that seeks veloping nations such as Costa Rica,
to provide new ways of managing Pakistan, Panama and Paraguay, the
knowledge resources in more fair and usual members of the co-opted, are
efficient ways. The most worrying also taking part in these negotiations.
aspect of these proposed pacts is So where is democracy in all
the provision that allows foreign these agreements that are being
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
investors to sue host governments. pushed by the so-called liberal
So all that we have are leaks, some bits of information democracies of the West? The dichotomy is stark
that are accessed from informed sources, but for the between their professed aims and the policies they pursue
overwhelming part most of the mega trade agreements- in the area of global trade and economies. But it is sheer
Trans Pacific Partnership and Trans-Atlantic Trade and naivete to be surprised by the lack of democracy in the
Investment Partnership are among the most lethal-are US and Europe. Anyone familiar with recent history
highly secret and aimed at sidestepping the global system knows that US and European governments were
of the World Trade Organization. Not even the lawmakers comfortable with the military dictator Augusto Pinochet
in the US are privy to what goes on in these negotiations. rather than the democratically elected socialist Salvador
But then, thank goodness again for US members of Allende of Chile.
Congress who, deeply concerned about the economic THe best pointer comes from Slovenian thinker
impact of such deals across the world, are fighting for Slavoj iek who says the answer can be found in the
transparency in trade negotiations. 1998 statement of Hans Tietmeyer, then governor of the
On September 10, Representatives Rosa DeLauro Bundesbank, who held the permanent plebiscite of global
and George Miller organised a Capitol Hill forum where markets as superior to the plebiscite of the ballot box.
leading economists and experts from a range of fields The bomb inside these trade pacts is ticking.

58 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2014

58Last Word.indd 58 22/09/14 11:54 AM


TRAINING PROGRAMME
ON
URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL
WASTEWATER TREATMENT

The fast growing economy, rapid industrialisation and


growing urban population in India along with increasing
wastewater generation are reasons for concern and
reiterate the need for appropriate water management
practices. Centre for Science and Environment
recognises this need and has developed a five-day hands
on training programme aimed at giving practical exposure
to participants on wastewater treatment for industrial and
urban wastewater management including reuse and
recycle.
The objective of this programme is to build capacity and
create awareness among regulators, developers,
consultants, NGOs, students and academics to
understand wastewater treatment process, technologies
and affordable treatment options. The programme further
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parameters along with the applicable cost implication COURSE FEE:
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The course fee is Rs. 15,000 for Regulators,
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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN 7,500 for students The fee includes training material, field
Issues and challenges of urban and industrial visit, lunch, tea/coffee and refreshments during training
wastewater treatment, conservation/ efficiency and field visit. Participants will get a certificate at the end
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Wastewater treatment technologies including
advanced treatment options
Decentralized approaches in treating urban PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
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Proficiency on water and wastewater accounting Venue: Anil Agarwal Green College
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Concept of zero discharge with case studies
FOR REGISTERATION
Issues and challenges with Common Effluent
Treatment Plants and way ahead Last Date for Applying: October 20, 2014
State of art practices for wastewater management For information contact:
Law, policy options and standards for wastewater Swati Singh Sambyal, Senior Research Associate
treatment Centre for Science and Environment
Hands on experience in wastewater sampling and Tel: + 91-11-29955124/ 6110, Extension: 251
analysis Fax: + 91-11-29955879 Mob. No.: + 9910496283
E-mail: swati@cseindia.org

TOOLS
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Email: swati@cseindia.org
Contact: 9910496283

oct15, 2014 IBC


R.N.I. NO. 53588/92 POSTAL REGN. NO. DL(S)-17/3109/2012-2014
ISSN 0971-8079. Licensed to Post without Pre-payment U(SE)-44/2012-2014 at Lodhi Road HO,
New Delhi-110003. Published on 1st of every month. POSTED ON: 2-3 of the same fortnight.

FIRST FOOD:
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This collection of more than
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(PAGES 168) PB: ` 950/US $60.

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CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT


41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 062
Ph: 91-11 29955124/6110/6394/6399; Fax: 91-11-29955879
Website: www.cseindia.org; E-mail: cse@cseindia.org
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Name: Mr/Ms_______________________________________________________________________ Designation_________________________________________________________

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I wish to pay by Cash / MO Cheque/Demand draft (add Rs 15 for outstation/non-Delhi cheque) DD/Cheque No Dated ____________________________

payable to Centre for Science and Environment.

Please fill this form and mail or fax to: Sales & Despatch Department, Centre for Science and Environment,

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oct15, 2014 Down To Earth BC

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