Brahma Chellaney
The Hindu STATECRAFT: The Asian economies must make do with their own water resources, a significant share of which is in transnational watercourses. This fact only serves as a strong incentive for some nations to try and commandeer internationally shared waters before they leave their national borders. Pictured here is the Brahmaputra flowing through Morigaon district of Assam. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar
The fastest-growing economies in the region are all in or near water-stressed conditions, with huge implications for economic growth and inter-riparian relations.
Water, the most vital of all resources, has emerged as a key issue that would determine if Asia is headed toward cooperation or competition. After all, the driest continent in the world is not Africa but Asia, where availability of freshwater is not even half the global annual average of 6,380 cubic metres per inhabitant.
When the estimated reserves of rivers, lakes, and aquifers are added up, Asia has less than one-tenth of the waters of South America, Australia and New Zealand, not even one-fourth of North America, almost one-third of Europe, and moderately less than Africa per inhabitant. Yet the world's fastest-growing demand for water for food and industrial production and for municipal supply is in Asia, which now serves as the locomotive of the world economy.
Today, the fastest-growing Asian economies are all at or near water-stressed conditions, including China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. But just three or four decades ago, these economies were relatively free of water stress. Now if we look three or four decades ahead, it is clear that the water situation will only exacerbate, carrying major implications for rapid economic growth and inter-riparian relations.
Water, the new arena of conflict : Yet Asia continues to draw on tomorrow's water to meet today's needs. Worse still, Asia has one of the lowest levels of water efficiency and productivity in the world. Against this background, it is no exaggeration to say that the water crisis threatens Asia's economic and political rise and its environmental sustainability. For investors, it carries risks that potentially are as damaging as non-performing loans, real estate bubbles, and political corruption. Water has also emerged as a source of increasing competition and discord within and between nations, spurring new tensions over shared basin resources and local resistance to governmental or corporate decisions to set up water-intensive industries.
These developments raise the question whether the risks of water conflict are higher in Asia than elsewhere in the world. With Asia becoming the scene of increasingly fierce intrastate and interstate water competition, the answer clearly is yes. Water is a new arena in the Asian Great Game.
In fact, water wars — in a political, diplomatic, or economic sense — are already being waged between riparian neighbours in several Asian regions, fuelling a cycle of bitter recrimination and fostering mistrust that impedes broader regional cooperation and integration. Without any shots being fired, rising costs continue to be exacted. The resources of transnational rivers, aquifers, and lakes have become the target of rival appropriation plans.
Grand projects; crisis factors : With a river or groundwater basin often becoming tied with a nation's identity, ownership and control over its resources is considered crucial to national interests. That has helped give rise to grand but environmentally questionable ideas — from China's Great Western Route to divert river waters from the Tibetan Plateau to its parched north and South Korea's politically divisive four-rivers project, to India's now-stalled proposal to link up its important rivers and Jordan's plan to save the dying Dead Sea by bringing water from the Red Sea through a 178-kilometre-long canal, which is also to serve as a source for desalinated drinking water.
Several factors have contributed to the Asian water crisis, which is leading to river and aquifer degradation. One key factor responsible for the water crisis is that Asia is not only the largest and most-populous continent but also the fastest-developing continent. How the swift economic rise of Asia has brought water resources under increasing pressure can be seen from the fact that most Asian economies now are water-stressed. The exceptions are few: Bhutan, Burma, Papua New Guinea, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, and Malaysia.
Unlike fossils fuels, mineral ores, and timber that they import even from distant lands, the Asian economies must make do with their own water resources, a significant share of which is in transnational watercourses.
This fact only serves as a strong incentive for some nations to try and commandeer internationally shared waters before they leave their national borders. Given the critical role of water in economic modernisation, this continent has emerged at the centre of the global water challenges.
Another factor is consumption growth, as a consequence of rising prosperity. The plain fact is that the average Asian is consuming more resources, including water, food, oil, and energy. The consumption growth is best illustrated by the changing diets, especially the greater intake of meat, whose production is notoriously water-intensive.
A third factor is the role of irrigation in accentuating the Asian water stress. Asia more than doubled its total irrigated cropland just between 1960 and 2000. Once a continent of serious food shortages and recurrent famines, Asia opened the path to its dramatic economic rise by emerging as a net food exporter on the back of this unparalleled irrigation expansion.
Asia now boasts the leonine proportion of the world's surface land under irrigation. About 70 per cent of the world's 301 million hectares of land equipped for irrigation is in Asia alone, making it the global irrigation hub. Just three sub-regions of Asia—South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia — by themselves account for about 50 per cent of the world's total irrigated land.
It is thus hardly a surprise that Asia leads the world in the total volume of freshwater withdrawn for agriculture. Indeed, almost 74 per cent of the total global freshwater withdrawals for agriculture by volume are made in Asia alone.
Water literally is food in Asia. Yet the growth of rice and wheat output in Asia, after the dramatic increases of the previous quarter century, has actually slowed since the late 1990s, raising concerns that Asian countries will become major food importers, roiling the international market. The international food market is not large enough to meet major import demands from Asia.
A fourth factor is that the fastest increase in water demand in Asia is now coming not from agriculture but from the industrial sector and urban households, in keeping with the fact that this continent has become the seat of the world's fastest industrialisation and urbanisation.
A final factor linked to Asia's water stress is the large-scale impoundment of water resources through dams, barrages, reservoirs, and other human-made structures without factoring in long-term environmental considerations. Dams, to be sure, bring important benefits. But upstream dams on rivers shared by two or more nations or provinces in an era of growing water stress often carry broader political and social implications, especially because they can affect water quality and quantity downstream. Dams can also alter fluvial ecosystems, damage biodiversity, and promote coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion.
Most number of dams : Asia is not just the global irrigation hub; it is also the world's most dam-dotted continent. China, the world's biggest dam builder, alone has slightly more than half of the approximately 50,000 large dams on the planet. Most of the best dam sites in Asia already have been taken. Yet the numerous new dam projects in Asia show that the damming of rivers is still an important priority for policymakers. Such a focus on dam building has only intensified intrastate and interstate water disputes and tensions in Asia, with implications for regional security and stability.
The countries likely to bear the brunt of upstream diversion of waters are those located farthest downstream on rivers like the Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Tigris-Euphrates: Bangladesh, whose very future is threatened by climate and environmental change; Vietnam, a rice bowl of Asia; and Iraq, still internally torn. Cross-border water appropriations from the Illy River threaten to turn Kazakhstan's Lake Balkhash into another Aral Sea, which is dying.
A way out : So, the big question is: How can Asian nations prevent the sharpening struggle for water resources from becoming a tipping point for overt conflict? To contain the security risks, Asian states must invest more in institutionalised cooperation on transboundary basin resources in order to underpin strategic stability, protect continued economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability.
The harsh truth is that only four of the 57 transnational river basins in Asia have a treaty covering water sharing or other institutionalised cooperation. These are the Mekong, Ganges, Indus and Jordan river basins. The absence of a cooperative arrangement in most Asian transnational basins is making inter-country water competition a major security risk, increasing the likelihood of geopolitical tensions and instabilities.
With its multitude of inter-country basins, Asia cannot continue to prosper without building political and technological partnerships to help stabilise inter-riparian relations, encourage greater water efficiency, promote environmental sustainability, take on practicable conservation strategies, and invest in clean-water technologies. If Asian states are to address their water challenges, they will need to embrace good practices on the strategic planning and management of water resources.
(Brahma Chellaney is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Centre for Policy Research. The article is adapted from the author's newly released book, Water: Asia's New Battleground, Georgetown University Press and HarperCollins.)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
As the Yamuna ebbs away, water-birds give Delhi a miss (The Hindi 21 October 2011)
Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar
The Hindu Spot billed ducks seen at the Okhla Bird Sanctury in Delhi. Photo: S. Subramanium
While the fish are dying, chances are many migratory water-birds may not make it to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary this year
The depleting water levels of the Yamuna, brought about by the twin impact of less water flow into Delhi and a mechanical fault with the Okhla barrage, have had a tragic effect on the fish in the river and on the arrival of migratory birds at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
According to avid bird-watchers, this year could prove to be particularly bad for the arrival of migratory birds at the sanctuary since the river has almost dried up at the point where it leaves Delhi. Also the fish, which are now confined to the small pools, are quickly dying.
“The water levels at Okhla Bird Sanctuary have never been this low. The reason is that very little water is entering Delhi. Also, due to the repairs being carried out at the barrage the gates remained open and the water which should have been retained in the sanctuary flowed out,” says Asian Waterbird Census coordinator Tarun K. Roy who has been following the situation closely.
He adds that while some local migratory water-birds like brahminy ducks, northern shovelers, pied avocets, whiskered terns, green sandpipers, wood sandpipers and ruffs had been spotted at the sanctuary in the first week of October, they are quickly vanishing from there due to the sharp fall in availability of water.
The sanctuary on the Delhi side of the Yamuna is almost non-existent now due to rampant encroachment by illegal colonies. It is on the other side of the Yamuna that the sanctuary supports some bird life. Incidentally, this area is located barely a couple of kilometres from the Dalit Prerna Sthal, which was inaugurated recently by U. P. Chief Minister Mayawati.
“On this side too, the small fish are almost dead and only a few large ones remain in the small pools that now exist. The birds are fast exiting the area,” says Mr. Roy.
Having carried out the bird census on behalf of Wetlands International's South Asia Division for many years, he is concerned that the arrival of the migratory birds from abroad this winter may be affected by the water crisis.
“Already about a dozen resident water-bird species like the Indian moorhen, purple swamphen, little greeb and march harrier, have given Delhi a go-by. And it now seems that birds like the Eurasian wigeon, tufted pochard, comb duck, bar-headed geese and grey leg geese which come in from abroad may also give the Okhla sanctuary in Delhi a pass on not finding water here,” Mr. Roy warns, demanding a minimum water level in the sanctuary that could support fish and bird life.
The Hindu Spot billed ducks seen at the Okhla Bird Sanctury in Delhi. Photo: S. Subramanium
While the fish are dying, chances are many migratory water-birds may not make it to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary this year
The depleting water levels of the Yamuna, brought about by the twin impact of less water flow into Delhi and a mechanical fault with the Okhla barrage, have had a tragic effect on the fish in the river and on the arrival of migratory birds at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
According to avid bird-watchers, this year could prove to be particularly bad for the arrival of migratory birds at the sanctuary since the river has almost dried up at the point where it leaves Delhi. Also the fish, which are now confined to the small pools, are quickly dying.
“The water levels at Okhla Bird Sanctuary have never been this low. The reason is that very little water is entering Delhi. Also, due to the repairs being carried out at the barrage the gates remained open and the water which should have been retained in the sanctuary flowed out,” says Asian Waterbird Census coordinator Tarun K. Roy who has been following the situation closely.
He adds that while some local migratory water-birds like brahminy ducks, northern shovelers, pied avocets, whiskered terns, green sandpipers, wood sandpipers and ruffs had been spotted at the sanctuary in the first week of October, they are quickly vanishing from there due to the sharp fall in availability of water.
The sanctuary on the Delhi side of the Yamuna is almost non-existent now due to rampant encroachment by illegal colonies. It is on the other side of the Yamuna that the sanctuary supports some bird life. Incidentally, this area is located barely a couple of kilometres from the Dalit Prerna Sthal, which was inaugurated recently by U. P. Chief Minister Mayawati.
“On this side too, the small fish are almost dead and only a few large ones remain in the small pools that now exist. The birds are fast exiting the area,” says Mr. Roy.
Having carried out the bird census on behalf of Wetlands International's South Asia Division for many years, he is concerned that the arrival of the migratory birds from abroad this winter may be affected by the water crisis.
“Already about a dozen resident water-bird species like the Indian moorhen, purple swamphen, little greeb and march harrier, have given Delhi a go-by. And it now seems that birds like the Eurasian wigeon, tufted pochard, comb duck, bar-headed geese and grey leg geese which come in from abroad may also give the Okhla sanctuary in Delhi a pass on not finding water here,” Mr. Roy warns, demanding a minimum water level in the sanctuary that could support fish and bird life.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
A new tragedy of the commons (Hindu 20 October 2011)
The mega-city's unquenchable thirst for land is the backstory of the recent communal clash in Gopalgarh.
As the dust settles on the Gopalgarh firing in Bharatpur, in which nine Meos were killed, State and community versions have begun to unravel. Recent conversations with Gujars highlight the shocking role of the administration. This had already been pointed out by the Citizen's Report coordinated by the PUCL to which I was signatory. It would seem that the order to fire was given under pressure from right-wing leaders and an aggressive section of Gujars. Two, it was signed purportedly on the basis of false information that the Meos, who had collected in the local mosque, were about to commit martyrdom, were armed and had already killed five persons. Whatever the flaws of the draft Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, its strength is that it clearly puts the onus of inter-communal peace on the administration. In sum, Gopalgarh only proves what we already know about ethnic conflict: that in most cases it can be prevented given administrative and political will.
‘Not communal'
Further, the dispute between the Meos and Gujars of Gopalgarh was not “communal” to begin with, contrary to media and administrative versions. Instead, it approximated a feud, an essential aspect of the subcontinent's intercommunal and intracommunal life. The conflict was over their respective claims to a piece of land that both sides saw as their respective common property resource, the Meos as a graveyard, the Gujars as a pond (jauhar). The land was levelled in order to dig graves after the administration declared that in the Revenue Settlement it had been acknowledged as Meo “commons.”
Tension heightened and the Imam was assaulted by a few Gujars on September 13 having been proactive in the legal dispute. Crowds collected on both sides the following morning from surrounding villages, again typical of the numerous feuds that Meo/Gujar/Jat/Ahir clans have fought. The term “riot” is equally questionable as eventually both the police and an aggressive segment of the Gujars seem to have turned on the Meos in Gopalgarh's mosque, leaving nine dead and 22 injured after some 219 rounds of firing. That only 3 died of bullets and the rest of knife and other injuries is indicative of the nefarious collusion of the State and a segment of the local community and the tragic deployment of the ‘riot control' armoured vehicle that could have been used to disperse crowds on both sides instead of being used eventually as a death van. Indeed, the judicial commission must also look into why Gopalgarh was not instead brought under Section 144 or curfew by noon of September 14.'
Disrupting the communal fabric
The greater tragedy is the rupturing of the region's inter-communal fabric. Gujars and Meos have lived together in intimacy in villages for centuries, addressing each other by kinship terms, sharing languages and mythologies, practices and pilgrimages including to the Siva temple at Jhir. They have even intermarried in the past, as their common clan names suggest. The friendship between a Meo and a Gujar chief is described by the metaphor of “dant kati roti,” i.e. sharing the same bread! If the Meos were recognised as “marginally Muslim,” the Gujars have been “marginally Hindu” in the period preceding Partition. In a folk epic from the Meo oral tradition dating to the late 19th century, a Gujar woman weeps in the hills for the tiger has eaten her only cow. The Meo brothers, Ghurchari and Meo Khan, the “good” bandits, rescue her cow and dare to kill the tiger “protected” for the kingly kill, an act of supreme defiance against the Rajput-ruled kingdom.
In the rural areas of Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana, Gujar and Meos live in mixed or adjacent villages. An everyday cosmopolitanism marks local cultures, impossible to capture in the theory of high cosmopolitanism. Without it, one cannot understand peasant-pastoral lifeworlds of bare sustenance that many Gujars and Meos share. The upward mobility of other OBC peasant castes bypassed both groups in the previous two centuries until recently, when we witness the phenomenon of “city as imperium.”
Changing land regime
The background of a land dispute culminating in firing, vandalism and scorched bodies in Gopalgarh's mosque is constituted by Delhi's changing land regime and its fallout which seems to be escaping economists, urbanists, and planners. The entrepreneurial governance and spider-like agility of the “global city” has been highlighted by David Harvey and Aihwa Ong. But they fail to recognise how the mega-city in both China and India depeasantises and depastoralises. The urban corridor from Mehrauli to Mumbai — termed a “megalopolis” — gobbles land at a frenzied pace. Between Delhi and Ajmer, the industrial areas of Bhiwadi, Neemrana and Bagru thrive and are fast dissolving the cultural regions known for centuries as Gujarvati and Mewat. Gujars and Meos are both communities whose primary identity derives from land. And that land is now being sought by others willing to pay vast sums.
The genocide of 1947 against the Meos was a traumatic event and Gopalgarh suggests at its continuing reverberations. The new phenomenon is a politico-cultural ethnocide as Meo and Gujar landholders increasingly join the race to make quick money from land sales. Gurgaon was built on a few Gujars and others exchanging their land for thousands of crores.
The mega-city covets agricultural land, “wastelands” and the commons including its water bodies and waqf-owned land. Stone from the Aravallis is being mined at a furious pace. Six thousand truckloads from one village alone daily feed Delhi's limitless appetite for construction despite a Supreme Court stay order. The Aravallis are the oldest mountains in the world and responsible for the region's rainfall, fertility and the ways in which the scarce resource of water has been maximised by communities for a millennia.
Bhiwadi is one of the utopias that have mushroomed in this new landscape: Sunshine City, malls, real estate agent offices, gated apartment buildings and billboards provide incessant temptation to the capital's middle classes. Ranajit Guha described colonialism as dominance without hegemony. In this new mode of imperialism, hegemony is absolute, based on the total consent of the governed, urban and rural. Delhi's rise and Gopalgarh's descent are intrinsically connected. Indeed, the very conceptions of “urban” and “rural” are being transformed. Empire and nation have been older and established modes of imperialism. The 21st century is witness to the city as imperium.
(Shail Mayaram is a professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies Delhi)
As the dust settles on the Gopalgarh firing in Bharatpur, in which nine Meos were killed, State and community versions have begun to unravel. Recent conversations with Gujars highlight the shocking role of the administration. This had already been pointed out by the Citizen's Report coordinated by the PUCL to which I was signatory. It would seem that the order to fire was given under pressure from right-wing leaders and an aggressive section of Gujars. Two, it was signed purportedly on the basis of false information that the Meos, who had collected in the local mosque, were about to commit martyrdom, were armed and had already killed five persons. Whatever the flaws of the draft Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, its strength is that it clearly puts the onus of inter-communal peace on the administration. In sum, Gopalgarh only proves what we already know about ethnic conflict: that in most cases it can be prevented given administrative and political will.
‘Not communal'
Further, the dispute between the Meos and Gujars of Gopalgarh was not “communal” to begin with, contrary to media and administrative versions. Instead, it approximated a feud, an essential aspect of the subcontinent's intercommunal and intracommunal life. The conflict was over their respective claims to a piece of land that both sides saw as their respective common property resource, the Meos as a graveyard, the Gujars as a pond (jauhar). The land was levelled in order to dig graves after the administration declared that in the Revenue Settlement it had been acknowledged as Meo “commons.”
Tension heightened and the Imam was assaulted by a few Gujars on September 13 having been proactive in the legal dispute. Crowds collected on both sides the following morning from surrounding villages, again typical of the numerous feuds that Meo/Gujar/Jat/Ahir clans have fought. The term “riot” is equally questionable as eventually both the police and an aggressive segment of the Gujars seem to have turned on the Meos in Gopalgarh's mosque, leaving nine dead and 22 injured after some 219 rounds of firing. That only 3 died of bullets and the rest of knife and other injuries is indicative of the nefarious collusion of the State and a segment of the local community and the tragic deployment of the ‘riot control' armoured vehicle that could have been used to disperse crowds on both sides instead of being used eventually as a death van. Indeed, the judicial commission must also look into why Gopalgarh was not instead brought under Section 144 or curfew by noon of September 14.'
Disrupting the communal fabric
The greater tragedy is the rupturing of the region's inter-communal fabric. Gujars and Meos have lived together in intimacy in villages for centuries, addressing each other by kinship terms, sharing languages and mythologies, practices and pilgrimages including to the Siva temple at Jhir. They have even intermarried in the past, as their common clan names suggest. The friendship between a Meo and a Gujar chief is described by the metaphor of “dant kati roti,” i.e. sharing the same bread! If the Meos were recognised as “marginally Muslim,” the Gujars have been “marginally Hindu” in the period preceding Partition. In a folk epic from the Meo oral tradition dating to the late 19th century, a Gujar woman weeps in the hills for the tiger has eaten her only cow. The Meo brothers, Ghurchari and Meo Khan, the “good” bandits, rescue her cow and dare to kill the tiger “protected” for the kingly kill, an act of supreme defiance against the Rajput-ruled kingdom.
In the rural areas of Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana, Gujar and Meos live in mixed or adjacent villages. An everyday cosmopolitanism marks local cultures, impossible to capture in the theory of high cosmopolitanism. Without it, one cannot understand peasant-pastoral lifeworlds of bare sustenance that many Gujars and Meos share. The upward mobility of other OBC peasant castes bypassed both groups in the previous two centuries until recently, when we witness the phenomenon of “city as imperium.”
Changing land regime
The background of a land dispute culminating in firing, vandalism and scorched bodies in Gopalgarh's mosque is constituted by Delhi's changing land regime and its fallout which seems to be escaping economists, urbanists, and planners. The entrepreneurial governance and spider-like agility of the “global city” has been highlighted by David Harvey and Aihwa Ong. But they fail to recognise how the mega-city in both China and India depeasantises and depastoralises. The urban corridor from Mehrauli to Mumbai — termed a “megalopolis” — gobbles land at a frenzied pace. Between Delhi and Ajmer, the industrial areas of Bhiwadi, Neemrana and Bagru thrive and are fast dissolving the cultural regions known for centuries as Gujarvati and Mewat. Gujars and Meos are both communities whose primary identity derives from land. And that land is now being sought by others willing to pay vast sums.
The genocide of 1947 against the Meos was a traumatic event and Gopalgarh suggests at its continuing reverberations. The new phenomenon is a politico-cultural ethnocide as Meo and Gujar landholders increasingly join the race to make quick money from land sales. Gurgaon was built on a few Gujars and others exchanging their land for thousands of crores.
The mega-city covets agricultural land, “wastelands” and the commons including its water bodies and waqf-owned land. Stone from the Aravallis is being mined at a furious pace. Six thousand truckloads from one village alone daily feed Delhi's limitless appetite for construction despite a Supreme Court stay order. The Aravallis are the oldest mountains in the world and responsible for the region's rainfall, fertility and the ways in which the scarce resource of water has been maximised by communities for a millennia.
Bhiwadi is one of the utopias that have mushroomed in this new landscape: Sunshine City, malls, real estate agent offices, gated apartment buildings and billboards provide incessant temptation to the capital's middle classes. Ranajit Guha described colonialism as dominance without hegemony. In this new mode of imperialism, hegemony is absolute, based on the total consent of the governed, urban and rural. Delhi's rise and Gopalgarh's descent are intrinsically connected. Indeed, the very conceptions of “urban” and “rural” are being transformed. Empire and nation have been older and established modes of imperialism. The 21st century is witness to the city as imperium.
(Shail Mayaram is a professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies Delhi)
NCR population shot up by 40% in 10 years (Times of India 20 October 2011)
Rukmini Shrinivasan & Hemali Chhapia, TNN Oct 20, 2011, 05.52AM IST
DELHI/MUMBAI: The urban agglomeration of Delhi has for the first time overtaken that of Mumbai, whose UA's population in 2011 stood at 18.4 million according to the latest census data, but if Vasai-Virar municipal corporation is added to Mumbai UA, it still stands shy of 20 million.
If the same satellites are added to 2001 data, Delhi UA was still smaller than Mumbai a decade ago - 15.5 million to Mumbai's 16.6 million - showing that the relative change has taken place in the past 10 years. Overall, Delhi-NCR's population has shot up 40% to 21.7 million in the last decade.
Kolkata was listed by the census in 2001 to be the second biggest Indian UA with 13.2 million people; it remains the third biggest UA with 14.1 million people now. The big three - known as "megacities" since they have populations of more than 10 million - remain far ahead of the other big cities. About 15% of India's total urban population lives in these three cities. Along with the rest of the country, population growth is slowing down in these cities too, more so for Kolkata and Mumbai. Delhi is also slowing down, but it still added more than five million people - a third of its 2001 size - in 10 years. Chennai, which remains the fourth biggest, is less than half the size of Mumbai or Delhi.
Bangalore has knocked Hyderabad off the fifth position and is now almost as large as Chennai; 8.5 million to Chennai's 8.7 million, closing a gap of almost a million that existed in the last census. S Parasuraman, director of the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, attributed this to the "economic activities in these centres. They have improved significantly." Comparing the cost of living in Mumbai and Bangalore, he said: "The cost of a house in the heart of Bangalore is the same as the cost of a similar-sized house in Dombivli, in the outskirts of Mumbai."
Overall, there are now 53 million-plus cities as compared to 35 in 2001 and 43% of India's urban population lives in them. Among the new cities on this list is Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir's first million-plus city. Rapidly urbanizing Kerala has added six new million-plus cities to Kochi, its only such city in 2001, and Jharkhand now has three where it had none. Orissa, on the other hand, does not have a single million-plus city; nor does the entire north-east. More than a quarter of a billion people live in just 468 Indian cities known as Class I cities, each having a population greater than one lakh.
DELHI/MUMBAI: The urban agglomeration of Delhi has for the first time overtaken that of Mumbai, whose UA's population in 2011 stood at 18.4 million according to the latest census data, but if Vasai-Virar municipal corporation is added to Mumbai UA, it still stands shy of 20 million.
If the same satellites are added to 2001 data, Delhi UA was still smaller than Mumbai a decade ago - 15.5 million to Mumbai's 16.6 million - showing that the relative change has taken place in the past 10 years. Overall, Delhi-NCR's population has shot up 40% to 21.7 million in the last decade.
Kolkata was listed by the census in 2001 to be the second biggest Indian UA with 13.2 million people; it remains the third biggest UA with 14.1 million people now. The big three - known as "megacities" since they have populations of more than 10 million - remain far ahead of the other big cities. About 15% of India's total urban population lives in these three cities. Along with the rest of the country, population growth is slowing down in these cities too, more so for Kolkata and Mumbai. Delhi is also slowing down, but it still added more than five million people - a third of its 2001 size - in 10 years. Chennai, which remains the fourth biggest, is less than half the size of Mumbai or Delhi.
Bangalore has knocked Hyderabad off the fifth position and is now almost as large as Chennai; 8.5 million to Chennai's 8.7 million, closing a gap of almost a million that existed in the last census. S Parasuraman, director of the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, attributed this to the "economic activities in these centres. They have improved significantly." Comparing the cost of living in Mumbai and Bangalore, he said: "The cost of a house in the heart of Bangalore is the same as the cost of a similar-sized house in Dombivli, in the outskirts of Mumbai."
Overall, there are now 53 million-plus cities as compared to 35 in 2001 and 43% of India's urban population lives in them. Among the new cities on this list is Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir's first million-plus city. Rapidly urbanizing Kerala has added six new million-plus cities to Kochi, its only such city in 2001, and Jharkhand now has three where it had none. Orissa, on the other hand, does not have a single million-plus city; nor does the entire north-east. More than a quarter of a billion people live in just 468 Indian cities known as Class I cities, each having a population greater than one lakh.
Sanjay Van a bird sanctuary in the making (Hindu 20 October 2011)
Lieutenant-Governor launches International Year of Forests celebration by planting a sapling
Amid a growing demand from nature lovers that Sanjay Van, a city forest spread over 783 acres near Neela Hauz, be made a bird sanctuary, the 2011 International Year of Forests celebration was launched by Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on Wednesday by planting a sapling in the forest.
The Sanjay Van, which is presently undergoing restoration through a unique collaborative effort between the Delhi Development Authority and a citizen's group, could become a model that will be replicated to restore other ridges in the Capital.
The forest, which is part of the Mehrauli South Central Ridge, has undergone severe degradation in recent times with the proliferation of the Prosopsis Juliflora tree which is non-endemic to the Aravalli ranges and has caused depletion of the ground water level, killing native flora and changing the natural soil characteristics of the Aravallis. Sewage water and effluent discharge into Sanjay Van has also affected this green belt in the Capital.
Following the intervention and active petitioning of a group of citizens under the banner of Working With Nature Group (WWN) to the L-G, the DDA invited Air Vice-Marshal (retd.) Vinod Rawat of the group, to implement a scientific approach towards reviving the Sanjay Van. AVM Rawat organised a team which included two ecologists, Professors P. S. Ramakrishnan and K. S. Rao besides avid bird-watcher Dr. Surya Prakash, and in the last one year over 40,000 native Aravalli trees were planted – many of these by enthusiastic schoolchildren from neighbouring schools who volunteered to help.
Water management
Among the trees planted were those on the verge of disappearing from Sanjay Van like the dhak, khair, khejri, kumattha, desi keekar, hingot, ronjh, bistendu, and siris . The WWN also managed to revive, through better water management, 5,000 “ ber” bushes which had once flourished in Sanjay Van.
Though handicapped by the authorities not giving permission to remove the rapidly spreading Prosopsis Juliflora , the WWN team has worked around this problem by eradicating its seed pods, uprooting young saplings, and filling of open areas with native plants.
Another area where the team under AVM Rawat has made significant progress is water management. A detailed topographic map of Sanjay Van has been completed, and a DDA team is working with the WWN group to create water-harvesting structures, and cleaning of the discharged sewage water and effluents. AVM Rawat said the recharging of ground water would in a few years help create a large water body which will also help recharge the adjacent Neela Hauz lake.
Their results are already bearing fruit and Dr. Surya Prakash has testified to the presence of many rare birds like golden oriole, Asian paradise flycatcher, Eurasian sparrow hawk besides the pied-crested cuckoo which flies in from South Africa to breed in this forest. With Delhi being on the Central Asian Flyway, AVM Rawat said the development of rich greenery and water-bodies will help Sanjay Van attract a variety of migratory birds.
Besides the migratory ones, the forest is also a natural habitat for blue bulls, golden jackals, a large variety of butterflies, snakes, and birds like heron and peacock. The DDA has also promised to secure the forest through construction of a compound wall and appointing security staff.
Amid a growing demand from nature lovers that Sanjay Van, a city forest spread over 783 acres near Neela Hauz, be made a bird sanctuary, the 2011 International Year of Forests celebration was launched by Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on Wednesday by planting a sapling in the forest.
The Sanjay Van, which is presently undergoing restoration through a unique collaborative effort between the Delhi Development Authority and a citizen's group, could become a model that will be replicated to restore other ridges in the Capital.
The forest, which is part of the Mehrauli South Central Ridge, has undergone severe degradation in recent times with the proliferation of the Prosopsis Juliflora tree which is non-endemic to the Aravalli ranges and has caused depletion of the ground water level, killing native flora and changing the natural soil characteristics of the Aravallis. Sewage water and effluent discharge into Sanjay Van has also affected this green belt in the Capital.
Following the intervention and active petitioning of a group of citizens under the banner of Working With Nature Group (WWN) to the L-G, the DDA invited Air Vice-Marshal (retd.) Vinod Rawat of the group, to implement a scientific approach towards reviving the Sanjay Van. AVM Rawat organised a team which included two ecologists, Professors P. S. Ramakrishnan and K. S. Rao besides avid bird-watcher Dr. Surya Prakash, and in the last one year over 40,000 native Aravalli trees were planted – many of these by enthusiastic schoolchildren from neighbouring schools who volunteered to help.
Water management
Among the trees planted were those on the verge of disappearing from Sanjay Van like the dhak, khair, khejri, kumattha, desi keekar, hingot, ronjh, bistendu, and siris . The WWN also managed to revive, through better water management, 5,000 “ ber” bushes which had once flourished in Sanjay Van.
Though handicapped by the authorities not giving permission to remove the rapidly spreading Prosopsis Juliflora , the WWN team has worked around this problem by eradicating its seed pods, uprooting young saplings, and filling of open areas with native plants.
Another area where the team under AVM Rawat has made significant progress is water management. A detailed topographic map of Sanjay Van has been completed, and a DDA team is working with the WWN group to create water-harvesting structures, and cleaning of the discharged sewage water and effluents. AVM Rawat said the recharging of ground water would in a few years help create a large water body which will also help recharge the adjacent Neela Hauz lake.
Their results are already bearing fruit and Dr. Surya Prakash has testified to the presence of many rare birds like golden oriole, Asian paradise flycatcher, Eurasian sparrow hawk besides the pied-crested cuckoo which flies in from South Africa to breed in this forest. With Delhi being on the Central Asian Flyway, AVM Rawat said the development of rich greenery and water-bodies will help Sanjay Van attract a variety of migratory birds.
Besides the migratory ones, the forest is also a natural habitat for blue bulls, golden jackals, a large variety of butterflies, snakes, and birds like heron and peacock. The DDA has also promised to secure the forest through construction of a compound wall and appointing security staff.
Nod for new water scheme (Hindu 20 October 2011)
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday approved the bid documents of a new canal-based water supply scheme for Panipat town on a turnkey basis.
He said approval had also been given for procurement of all material including ductile iron (DI) pipes by the contractor on through rate basis.
The State Irrigation Department has also been directed to issue sanction for raw water outlet connection of 49 cusecs from Parallel Delhi Branch or Carrier Lined Channel.
He said approval had also been given for procurement of all material including ductile iron (DI) pipes by the contractor on through rate basis.
The State Irrigation Department has also been directed to issue sanction for raw water outlet connection of 49 cusecs from Parallel Delhi Branch or Carrier Lined Channel.
Japanese financial assistance for Rajasthan canal project soon (Hindi 20 October 2011)
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will shortly provide financial assistance worth Rs.1,774 crore for the second phase of a lift canal project in Nagaur district of Rajasthan to provide drinking water to 978 villages and seven towns. The water will be brought from the Indira Gandhi Canal Project.
A six-member fact-finding team of JICA met Nagaur Collector S. S. Bissa on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of the project. Mr. Bissa told the Japanese delegation that land for the project would be allotted without delay and the procedure would be simplified to facilitate early initiation of work.
He said the paucity of drinking water in the desert district could be resolved only through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. “The ground water [in Nagaur] has high fluoride contents causing fluorosis and other diseases of bones and teeth. The availability of fresh drinking water is going to provide much-needed succour to the people here,” he told the JICA team.
The JICA team, which studied environmental and geographical conditions at the grassroots, found that Nagaur district has a rich mineral wealth that has not been exploited because of paucity of water. Besides, the district has superior breeds of the livestock, but animal husbandry remains a neglected area for want of water.
Second phase
According to an official release here, the Japanese group was told that it was mostly government land which was available for the project's second phase. The members of the team included Koichi Kitamura, Toyoda Mariko, Mino Sato and Itaya.
The seven towns in Nagaur district which would get drinking water from the project are Kuchaman, Nawa, Makrana, Parbatsar, Deedwana, Ladnu and Degana. The project's Superintending Engineer, G. S. Bhati, and Superintending Engineer (Water Resources) G. R. Bhakar were also present during the JICA team's interaction with Mr. Bissa.
The JICA, established in 1974, is the primary Japanese Government agency implementing the country's programme for assisting Asian countries in their socio-economic development. Japan's official development assistance commitment has increased annually and expanded to more countries with Japan remaining the world's top donor since 1991.
A six-member fact-finding team of JICA met Nagaur Collector S. S. Bissa on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of the project. Mr. Bissa told the Japanese delegation that land for the project would be allotted without delay and the procedure would be simplified to facilitate early initiation of work.
He said the paucity of drinking water in the desert district could be resolved only through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. “The ground water [in Nagaur] has high fluoride contents causing fluorosis and other diseases of bones and teeth. The availability of fresh drinking water is going to provide much-needed succour to the people here,” he told the JICA team.
The JICA team, which studied environmental and geographical conditions at the grassroots, found that Nagaur district has a rich mineral wealth that has not been exploited because of paucity of water. Besides, the district has superior breeds of the livestock, but animal husbandry remains a neglected area for want of water.
Second phase
According to an official release here, the Japanese group was told that it was mostly government land which was available for the project's second phase. The members of the team included Koichi Kitamura, Toyoda Mariko, Mino Sato and Itaya.
The seven towns in Nagaur district which would get drinking water from the project are Kuchaman, Nawa, Makrana, Parbatsar, Deedwana, Ladnu and Degana. The project's Superintending Engineer, G. S. Bhati, and Superintending Engineer (Water Resources) G. R. Bhakar were also present during the JICA team's interaction with Mr. Bissa.
The JICA, established in 1974, is the primary Japanese Government agency implementing the country's programme for assisting Asian countries in their socio-economic development. Japan's official development assistance commitment has increased annually and expanded to more countries with Japan remaining the world's top donor since 1991.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Manmohan urged to save the Taj (Hindu 12 October 2011)
Smriti Kak Ramachandran
Alarmed over the threat to the historic Taj Mahal because of the drying of the Yamuna, a group of concerned citizens have asked for a White Paper on the river and its current state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they have said that a White Paper on the Yamuna will not only prove helpful in saving the river and the eco-system and heritage that it sustains but also help in framing policies in the future for river conservation.
“It is alarming that the Taj Mahal might just collapse or tilt because the river is drying up. If we don't take immediate steps, we might lose the heritage as well as the eco-systems along the river. There is a dire need to prepare a document on what has gone wrong with the river and what urgent steps should be taken to make amends,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, which is also a signatory to the letter.
Mr. Misra said the river has begun to run dry in the summer months over the past ten years, and attributed it to the construction of the Hathnikund barrage. “When Tajewala barrage was in use there was still enough water in the river to maintain the necessary flow. However, ever since the Hathnikund barrage has become functional, it has given Haryana a means to divert most of the water and left the river with no minimum flow.”
In the letter to the PM, the group said: “It is no secret that the rivers in the country are today in a highly-threatened state, with the Yamuna -- passing through the historic and holy cities of Delhi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra and hundreds of villages -- being the worst of them all.” So, they said, it did not come as a surprise when a question mark was raised recently on the future of the Taj Mahal which stands on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra.
Among the letter's signatories are Prakash Singh, former DGP (UP); Himanshu Thakkar of the NGO South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People; Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat and ambassador; Anand Arya, environmentalist; Sureswar Sinha; and Yamuna Sewa Samiti, Haryana.
Alarmed over the threat to the historic Taj Mahal because of the drying of the Yamuna, a group of concerned citizens have asked for a White Paper on the river and its current state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they have said that a White Paper on the Yamuna will not only prove helpful in saving the river and the eco-system and heritage that it sustains but also help in framing policies in the future for river conservation.
“It is alarming that the Taj Mahal might just collapse or tilt because the river is drying up. If we don't take immediate steps, we might lose the heritage as well as the eco-systems along the river. There is a dire need to prepare a document on what has gone wrong with the river and what urgent steps should be taken to make amends,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, which is also a signatory to the letter.
Mr. Misra said the river has begun to run dry in the summer months over the past ten years, and attributed it to the construction of the Hathnikund barrage. “When Tajewala barrage was in use there was still enough water in the river to maintain the necessary flow. However, ever since the Hathnikund barrage has become functional, it has given Haryana a means to divert most of the water and left the river with no minimum flow.”
In the letter to the PM, the group said: “It is no secret that the rivers in the country are today in a highly-threatened state, with the Yamuna -- passing through the historic and holy cities of Delhi, Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra and hundreds of villages -- being the worst of them all.” So, they said, it did not come as a surprise when a question mark was raised recently on the future of the Taj Mahal which stands on the banks of the Yamuna in Agra.
Among the letter's signatories are Prakash Singh, former DGP (UP); Himanshu Thakkar of the NGO South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People; Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat and ambassador; Anand Arya, environmentalist; Sureswar Sinha; and Yamuna Sewa Samiti, Haryana.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
MCD to govt: Help stop encroachment on Yamuna riverbed (Hindustan Times 11 October 2011)
New Delhi, The chairman of the Works Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Jagdish Mamgain on Monday said that illegal constructions are mushrooming on the Yamuna riverbed and that the Delhi government should direct its departments to stop them instead of blaming MCD.
While
providing pictorial evidence, Mamgain said it was a matter of concern that illegal encroachments and constructions were continuing on the Yamuna riverbed and that the government seems least bothered. "Whenever any incident happens due to illegal construction, the Delhi CM and her colleagues pass the buck on to MCD. Preventive measures and strong action against the law violators is better than trading changes later. Flood department should conduct a survey about the status of river Yamuna and its bed," said Mamgain.
He added that no construction should be allowed at least up to the danger area. The DND road may be taken on priority as maximum illegal activities are undergoing on it.
Alleging that it shows the insensitivity towards protection of natural resources, which may cause environmental hazard, Mamgain said, "Starting from Noida to Delhi and onwards, a number of buildings including pucca buildings are being raised and all these structures are going to be completed soon. I am surprised how builders managed to build without attracting any one's attention," he said.
While
providing pictorial evidence, Mamgain said it was a matter of concern that illegal encroachments and constructions were continuing on the Yamuna riverbed and that the government seems least bothered. "Whenever any incident happens due to illegal construction, the Delhi CM and her colleagues pass the buck on to MCD. Preventive measures and strong action against the law violators is better than trading changes later. Flood department should conduct a survey about the status of river Yamuna and its bed," said Mamgain.
He added that no construction should be allowed at least up to the danger area. The DND road may be taken on priority as maximum illegal activities are undergoing on it.
Alleging that it shows the insensitivity towards protection of natural resources, which may cause environmental hazard, Mamgain said, "Starting from Noida to Delhi and onwards, a number of buildings including pucca buildings are being raised and all these structures are going to be completed soon. I am surprised how builders managed to build without attracting any one's attention," he said.
Monday, October 10, 2011
A unique initiative for community empowerment (Time of India 10 October 2011)
The youth of Nagla Banjara village in Bharatpur, Rajasthan have taken up street vending with help from the Lupin Foundation. –Photo: Rohit Jain Paras
Jaipur: Through utilisation of existing resources, a large number of street vendors at Nagla Banjara village in Nadbai teshil of Bharatpur district have been helped out to expand their business, construct houses and send their children to school.
The residents of the small Nagla Banjara village, situated near Antara on the Agra-Bikaner National Highway, are traditionally known in eastern Rajasthan as “Pheri Wallas” (street vendors). They travel to far-off villages and sell items of daily use mostly on bicycles and handcarts.
The village has about 100 households mostly of the people belonging to the Banjara (nomad) clan. They were earlier engaged in buying and selling of the cattle used in agricultural farms, but their utility ended after the advent of mechanisation in the agriculture sector. For several years now, they have taken up street vending as their principal vocation.
The Banjaras travel to the rural areas not just in Rajasthan but also in the States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana, where they have been earning good profits by selling different kinds of commodities.
For street vending, they bring the goods such as utensils, wooden and metal items and cosmetic products from the cities and sell them in the villages. In the absence of adequate capital, they had to travel earlier to the cities over and over again for buying the merchandise.
Sixty per cent of the villagers are engaged in street vending, while the rest work as farm labourers to earn their livelihood, as they do not own any agricultural land. Women rear the cattle to supplement the family income. On any given day, one can only find old people, women and children in the village during the day, while the youths venture out for vending.
On the development front, 80 per cent of the families in Nagla Banjara did not have a brick house till about a year ago and most of them were staying in the huts with thatched roof and sheds erected on pasture land. Barely 20 to 30 persons were literate, even though there is a primary school in the village.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation – the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin – adopted Nagla Banjara about a year ago with the intention of launching all-round development works for benefiting the local population.
The first task it took up was getting loans of Rs.25,000 each to 53 persons from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for construction of brick houses to replace the huts and sheds. Ten other households were helped out in getting financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Below Poverty Line Housing Scheme.
According to Lupin Foundation Executive Director Sita Ram Gupta here, brick houses are being constructed at a fast pace in the village and many of the dusty pathways have been converted into regular roads by utilising the MP's Local Area Development Fund.
The Lupin Foundation laid emphasis on revamping of street vending as an existing resource for livelihood. It gave loans of Rs.20,000 each on easy terms to 78 youths for purchasing items for selling and gave training for fabrication of metal chains to 10 women in the village. Three others were provided with the buffaloes of the improved ‘Murra' breed.
Mr. Gupta points out that the people in the village have now understood the significance of education, as it helps and provides expertise even in a work like street vending. Attempts are underway to bring the out-of-school children to new education centres.
The State Government has since joined the efforts of Lupin Foundation to ensure the village's development and installed separate drinking water tanks for human and cattle consumption. Besides, the youths belonging to BPL families are being trained under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana for working as security guards.
Having got information about the Government's welfare schemes, the villagers now approach the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions for getting their benefits. The sustained year-long efforts have seemingly ensured the nondescript village's march on the road to progress and prosperity.
The villagers' empowerment along with the creation of new livelihood opportunities has generated a model for others for taking similar initiatives, he says.
Jaipur: Through utilisation of existing resources, a large number of street vendors at Nagla Banjara village in Nadbai teshil of Bharatpur district have been helped out to expand their business, construct houses and send their children to school.
The residents of the small Nagla Banjara village, situated near Antara on the Agra-Bikaner National Highway, are traditionally known in eastern Rajasthan as “Pheri Wallas” (street vendors). They travel to far-off villages and sell items of daily use mostly on bicycles and handcarts.
The village has about 100 households mostly of the people belonging to the Banjara (nomad) clan. They were earlier engaged in buying and selling of the cattle used in agricultural farms, but their utility ended after the advent of mechanisation in the agriculture sector. For several years now, they have taken up street vending as their principal vocation.
The Banjaras travel to the rural areas not just in Rajasthan but also in the States such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana, where they have been earning good profits by selling different kinds of commodities.
For street vending, they bring the goods such as utensils, wooden and metal items and cosmetic products from the cities and sell them in the villages. In the absence of adequate capital, they had to travel earlier to the cities over and over again for buying the merchandise.
Sixty per cent of the villagers are engaged in street vending, while the rest work as farm labourers to earn their livelihood, as they do not own any agricultural land. Women rear the cattle to supplement the family income. On any given day, one can only find old people, women and children in the village during the day, while the youths venture out for vending.
On the development front, 80 per cent of the families in Nagla Banjara did not have a brick house till about a year ago and most of them were staying in the huts with thatched roof and sheds erected on pasture land. Barely 20 to 30 persons were literate, even though there is a primary school in the village.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation – the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin – adopted Nagla Banjara about a year ago with the intention of launching all-round development works for benefiting the local population.
The first task it took up was getting loans of Rs.25,000 each to 53 persons from the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for construction of brick houses to replace the huts and sheds. Ten other households were helped out in getting financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Below Poverty Line Housing Scheme.
According to Lupin Foundation Executive Director Sita Ram Gupta here, brick houses are being constructed at a fast pace in the village and many of the dusty pathways have been converted into regular roads by utilising the MP's Local Area Development Fund.
The Lupin Foundation laid emphasis on revamping of street vending as an existing resource for livelihood. It gave loans of Rs.20,000 each on easy terms to 78 youths for purchasing items for selling and gave training for fabrication of metal chains to 10 women in the village. Three others were provided with the buffaloes of the improved ‘Murra' breed.
Mr. Gupta points out that the people in the village have now understood the significance of education, as it helps and provides expertise even in a work like street vending. Attempts are underway to bring the out-of-school children to new education centres.
The State Government has since joined the efforts of Lupin Foundation to ensure the village's development and installed separate drinking water tanks for human and cattle consumption. Besides, the youths belonging to BPL families are being trained under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana for working as security guards.
Having got information about the Government's welfare schemes, the villagers now approach the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions for getting their benefits. The sustained year-long efforts have seemingly ensured the nondescript village's march on the road to progress and prosperity.
The villagers' empowerment along with the creation of new livelihood opportunities has generated a model for others for taking similar initiatives, he says.
Brace for power cuts as plants are low on coal, water (Time of India 10 October 2011)
TNN Oct 10, 2011, 05.54AM IST
Tags: i) power generation at BTPS ii) power cuts in delhi
NEW DELHI: City may have to reel under power cuts on Monday if coal shortage continues to hit power plants. Delhi received up to 1,000 MW less power on Sunday leading to load shedding in many areas; but no crisis situation arose due to less demand as it was a holiday.
While the units at NTPC's plants at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Farakka in West Bengal and Kahalgaon in Bihar were already producing less power due to shortage of coal and wet coal, fewer water supply from the Agra Canal led to a shortfall in supply from the Badarpur plant on Sunday. Discoms have warned that load shedding may have to be intensified on Monday when demand rises.
"Due to further reduction in power generation at BTPS, supply to Delhi fell short by as much as 1,000 MW for certain periods on Sunday. The impact wasn't pronounced it being a Sunday, but we may have to resort to load shedding on a rotational basis on Monday if the problem is not sorted out. There will be an obvious increase in power demand on a working day," said a discom official. The peak load on Sunday was 3,526 MW which was about 200 MW less than what it was on Saturday. According to Transco, the load shedding was to the tune of 270 MW on Sunday.
"Due to shortage of water used for cooling and also technical snags, generating stations in the city, including BTPS and Rajghat, were cumulatively producing around 410 MW less power. They normally supply around 1,100 MW to Delhi," a discom official said. Sources said the city received only 800 MW power from the Dadri plant even though its quota is 1,400 MW. The power plants have been cutting down on their generation for nearly a week due to inadequate supply of coal.
Incessant rain in the east has severely hit mining and loading of coal due to which discoms have been overdrawing from the Northern Grid. Last week, load shedding in the city had to be increased to maintain grid frequency. As per Delhi government sources, neighbouring states were heavily overdrawing from the Grid. According to discoms, they cannot arrange to buy power from other sources for the time being as power supply has been hit in other parts of the country, too.
"This problem is beyond our control. All states are overdrawing due to coal shortage. Where is the power to buy?" an official said. Delhi government has also written to NTPC, requesting restoration of full supply to the city.
Tags: i) power generation at BTPS ii) power cuts in delhi
NEW DELHI: City may have to reel under power cuts on Monday if coal shortage continues to hit power plants. Delhi received up to 1,000 MW less power on Sunday leading to load shedding in many areas; but no crisis situation arose due to less demand as it was a holiday.
While the units at NTPC's plants at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Farakka in West Bengal and Kahalgaon in Bihar were already producing less power due to shortage of coal and wet coal, fewer water supply from the Agra Canal led to a shortfall in supply from the Badarpur plant on Sunday. Discoms have warned that load shedding may have to be intensified on Monday when demand rises.
"Due to further reduction in power generation at BTPS, supply to Delhi fell short by as much as 1,000 MW for certain periods on Sunday. The impact wasn't pronounced it being a Sunday, but we may have to resort to load shedding on a rotational basis on Monday if the problem is not sorted out. There will be an obvious increase in power demand on a working day," said a discom official. The peak load on Sunday was 3,526 MW which was about 200 MW less than what it was on Saturday. According to Transco, the load shedding was to the tune of 270 MW on Sunday.
"Due to shortage of water used for cooling and also technical snags, generating stations in the city, including BTPS and Rajghat, were cumulatively producing around 410 MW less power. They normally supply around 1,100 MW to Delhi," a discom official said. Sources said the city received only 800 MW power from the Dadri plant even though its quota is 1,400 MW. The power plants have been cutting down on their generation for nearly a week due to inadequate supply of coal.
Incessant rain in the east has severely hit mining and loading of coal due to which discoms have been overdrawing from the Northern Grid. Last week, load shedding in the city had to be increased to maintain grid frequency. As per Delhi government sources, neighbouring states were heavily overdrawing from the Grid. According to discoms, they cannot arrange to buy power from other sources for the time being as power supply has been hit in other parts of the country, too.
"This problem is beyond our control. All states are overdrawing due to coal shortage. Where is the power to buy?" an official said. Delhi government has also written to NTPC, requesting restoration of full supply to the city.
Puja flowers to give Holi colour (Time of India 09 October 2011)
Ambika Pandit, TNN Oct 9, 2011, 04.33AM IST
Tags: i) floral tributes ii) Durga puja
NEW DELHI: Floral tributes paid to goddess Durga on Vijaya Dashami are benefitting the under-privileged in the city. Volunteers of different NGOs have salvaged nearly six tonnes of flowers from the banks of the Yamuna after the visarjan (idol immersion) held on Thursday to mark the end of Durga Puja.
Eco-friendly colours will be made from these flowers and sold during Holi, thereby serving as a means of livelihood for hundreds of differently-abled people.
Dr Madhumita Puri, who leads a project called 'From Trash to Cash' and coordinated the flower collection exercise at the enclosures set up along the river banks, said: "The flowers have been collected under the banner of 'Avacayam', a project by virtue of which volunteers collect waste flowers. About six tonnes flowers were collected from Kalindi Kunj, Qudsia Ghat, Geeta Ghat and Jagatpur."
She added: "The response was better than last year when we managed to collect flowers from only one ghat. But this is smaller than what I was hoping to collect: about 12 tonnes. To build awareness among people a wider and more focused campaign is required.
"People need to be informed and requested to put aside puja offerings like flowers before the immersion of the idol so that they can be recycled for a cause.
"From next time, the campaign for an eco-friendly visarjan must be organized much before the puja celebrations begin. Building awareness during the festivities when everyone is too busy with the celebrations does not have that big an impact," she said.
The state environment department has proposed to issue an advisory to all puja organizers next year.
This, they hope, will generate awareness among puja organizers to make idol immersion more eco-friendly. The advisory will talk about prevention of river pollution and how puja offerings like flowers can be recycled and put to better use.
"Our volunteers collect nearly 500 kg of flowers every day from temples. In this, they are aided by 20 other NGOs, who collect at least 100 kg of flowers every day. The flowers are then cleaned, cut, dried and converted into natural colours by differently-abled people," said Puri, who coordinates the Avacayam project round the year.
Tags: i) floral tributes ii) Durga puja
NEW DELHI: Floral tributes paid to goddess Durga on Vijaya Dashami are benefitting the under-privileged in the city. Volunteers of different NGOs have salvaged nearly six tonnes of flowers from the banks of the Yamuna after the visarjan (idol immersion) held on Thursday to mark the end of Durga Puja.
Eco-friendly colours will be made from these flowers and sold during Holi, thereby serving as a means of livelihood for hundreds of differently-abled people.
Dr Madhumita Puri, who leads a project called 'From Trash to Cash' and coordinated the flower collection exercise at the enclosures set up along the river banks, said: "The flowers have been collected under the banner of 'Avacayam', a project by virtue of which volunteers collect waste flowers. About six tonnes flowers were collected from Kalindi Kunj, Qudsia Ghat, Geeta Ghat and Jagatpur."
She added: "The response was better than last year when we managed to collect flowers from only one ghat. But this is smaller than what I was hoping to collect: about 12 tonnes. To build awareness among people a wider and more focused campaign is required.
"People need to be informed and requested to put aside puja offerings like flowers before the immersion of the idol so that they can be recycled for a cause.
"From next time, the campaign for an eco-friendly visarjan must be organized much before the puja celebrations begin. Building awareness during the festivities when everyone is too busy with the celebrations does not have that big an impact," she said.
The state environment department has proposed to issue an advisory to all puja organizers next year.
This, they hope, will generate awareness among puja organizers to make idol immersion more eco-friendly. The advisory will talk about prevention of river pollution and how puja offerings like flowers can be recycled and put to better use.
"Our volunteers collect nearly 500 kg of flowers every day from temples. In this, they are aided by 20 other NGOs, who collect at least 100 kg of flowers every day. The flowers are then cleaned, cut, dried and converted into natural colours by differently-abled people," said Puri, who coordinates the Avacayam project round the year.
Water resources minister seeks law akin to RTI (Time of India 09 October 2011)
Abantika Ghosh, TNN Oct 9, 2011, 01.21AM IST
Tags: i) RTI Act ii) ministry of water resources
NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the recent standing committee recommendations about putting water on the Concurrent List if not the Union List, the ministry of water resources is looking at a national framework law on the lines of the RTI Act to ensure state compliance on water conservation and pricing.
"The matter (of putting water on the Concurrent List or the Union List) will be taken up by the group of ministers soon. Our stand is clear. We need some say in the matter as leaving it to states is serving nobody's purpose. It's a politically sensitive issue and electoral concerns mean that tough measures like pricing are seldom implemented. But evolving a political consensus might be equally difficult. That's why we are looking at a national framework law. Once we get it passed with support from two or more states, other states will have to adopt it," said a senior official in the ministry of water resources.
The standing committee in its report on the augmentation of ground water had recommended: "Taking note of the recurrent disputes between certain states and regions over water sharing, the Committee hardly need to underline the need for evolving national planning development, conservation, exploitation and distribution of water in an equitable and sustainable manner...The Committee would urge the government to initiate steps in right earnest to strive to build national consensus to bring water either in the Union list of the concurrent list after due consultation with state governments."
The panel has asked the ministry to initiate a draft proposal on this at the earliest.
Senior ministry officials say that efforts are on to have a law in place by the start of the 12th Five Year plan. The law would have provisions for setting up of a water authority in each state - much like the State Information Commission under the RTI Act - and tackle issues like water pricing, where each state now has adopted a separate regime.
Lack of Central powers in the matter has led the ambitious river linking project hanging fire for many years. The first project, Ken-Betwa, is stuck over the inundation threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve. While Madhya Pradesh has withdrawn consent to the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal linking project, maintaining that it doesn't stand to benefit from it. "These are some of the things that would ease once there are more powers on water issues," said an official.
Tags: i) RTI Act ii) ministry of water resources
NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the recent standing committee recommendations about putting water on the Concurrent List if not the Union List, the ministry of water resources is looking at a national framework law on the lines of the RTI Act to ensure state compliance on water conservation and pricing.
"The matter (of putting water on the Concurrent List or the Union List) will be taken up by the group of ministers soon. Our stand is clear. We need some say in the matter as leaving it to states is serving nobody's purpose. It's a politically sensitive issue and electoral concerns mean that tough measures like pricing are seldom implemented. But evolving a political consensus might be equally difficult. That's why we are looking at a national framework law. Once we get it passed with support from two or more states, other states will have to adopt it," said a senior official in the ministry of water resources.
The standing committee in its report on the augmentation of ground water had recommended: "Taking note of the recurrent disputes between certain states and regions over water sharing, the Committee hardly need to underline the need for evolving national planning development, conservation, exploitation and distribution of water in an equitable and sustainable manner...The Committee would urge the government to initiate steps in right earnest to strive to build national consensus to bring water either in the Union list of the concurrent list after due consultation with state governments."
The panel has asked the ministry to initiate a draft proposal on this at the earliest.
Senior ministry officials say that efforts are on to have a law in place by the start of the 12th Five Year plan. The law would have provisions for setting up of a water authority in each state - much like the State Information Commission under the RTI Act - and tackle issues like water pricing, where each state now has adopted a separate regime.
Lack of Central powers in the matter has led the ambitious river linking project hanging fire for many years. The first project, Ken-Betwa, is stuck over the inundation threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve. While Madhya Pradesh has withdrawn consent to the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal linking project, maintaining that it doesn't stand to benefit from it. "These are some of the things that would ease once there are more powers on water issues," said an official.
Croat captures colour and emotion on banks (Time of India 07 October 2011)
Indrani Basu, TNN Oct 7, 2011, 05.22AM IST
New Delhi: As hundreds of devotees sang songs in praise of the Goddess Durga on Vijayadashami, Croatian documentary filmmaker Ljubica Jankovic Lazaric was busy capturing emotions on the Kalindi Kunj ghat. The well-known filmmaker has been busy recording the festival for the past four days in Delhi with her Lucknow-based camera person Ali and her friend Kartik, a Delhi-based interior and graphic designer who has been helping her communicate with locals.
"I am shooting a documentary on Delhi as seen through the four seasons and trying to capture those things in this city that change and that which remains constant. The personality of the city of Delhi is dynamic, with lots of things changing every day as it rushes to become a world-class city. Some of the changes will cause it to lose its uniqueness but things like Durga Puja and the festivities that surround it will remain a constant. Each year, the ghats are crowded with devotees and I am here to capture this excitement and activity," explained Lazaric to TOI.
Lazaric has been visiting different puja pandals in the city to catch the festive flavour. "The celebration of this festival marks the start of autumn in Delhi. I have been to the CR Park Mela Grounds where we captured the beautiful idol and the hundreds of people who visited the pandal. The entire immersion process has been equally beautiful. After this, I am also planning to shoot the Ramlila. The variety and vibrant environment of Delhi is infectious. Earlier, when I shot ten stories of India in Chennai, Rishikesh, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Pushkar, Ajmer and Varanasi among others and it was aired in Croatia, it became very popular. Now I want to focus on Delhi and its many moods through the year," said Lazaric.
The filmmaker first came to India six years ago when she shot brief episodes on Indian culture for Croatian television. Four years ago, she visited India again. This time, with a mission to capture multifaceted Delhi, Lazaric is shooting two documentaries on Delhi, one of them being Delhi through the seasons.
"Delhi has become a home to me and this film is a tribute to the city. When I leave, this will be my present," said the filmmaker, who is currently living in Noida. Lazaric, who studied at the University of Zagreb and is a member of Croatian Film Director's Guild, has directed more than 250 documentary films in countries such as Germany, Australia, USA, Italy, Albania, Iran, and India.
New Delhi: As hundreds of devotees sang songs in praise of the Goddess Durga on Vijayadashami, Croatian documentary filmmaker Ljubica Jankovic Lazaric was busy capturing emotions on the Kalindi Kunj ghat. The well-known filmmaker has been busy recording the festival for the past four days in Delhi with her Lucknow-based camera person Ali and her friend Kartik, a Delhi-based interior and graphic designer who has been helping her communicate with locals.
"I am shooting a documentary on Delhi as seen through the four seasons and trying to capture those things in this city that change and that which remains constant. The personality of the city of Delhi is dynamic, with lots of things changing every day as it rushes to become a world-class city. Some of the changes will cause it to lose its uniqueness but things like Durga Puja and the festivities that surround it will remain a constant. Each year, the ghats are crowded with devotees and I am here to capture this excitement and activity," explained Lazaric to TOI.
Lazaric has been visiting different puja pandals in the city to catch the festive flavour. "The celebration of this festival marks the start of autumn in Delhi. I have been to the CR Park Mela Grounds where we captured the beautiful idol and the hundreds of people who visited the pandal. The entire immersion process has been equally beautiful. After this, I am also planning to shoot the Ramlila. The variety and vibrant environment of Delhi is infectious. Earlier, when I shot ten stories of India in Chennai, Rishikesh, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Pushkar, Ajmer and Varanasi among others and it was aired in Croatia, it became very popular. Now I want to focus on Delhi and its many moods through the year," said Lazaric.
The filmmaker first came to India six years ago when she shot brief episodes on Indian culture for Croatian television. Four years ago, she visited India again. This time, with a mission to capture multifaceted Delhi, Lazaric is shooting two documentaries on Delhi, one of them being Delhi through the seasons.
"Delhi has become a home to me and this film is a tribute to the city. When I leave, this will be my present," said the filmmaker, who is currently living in Noida. Lazaric, who studied at the University of Zagreb and is a member of Croatian Film Director's Guild, has directed more than 250 documentary films in countries such as Germany, Australia, USA, Italy, Albania, Iran, and India.
Ghats packed with devotees as festival culminates with immersion of the deity (Time of India 07 October 2011)
Indrani Basu, TNN Oct 7, 2011, 05.26AM IST indrani.basu@timesgroup.com
Tags: South Delhi Joint Procession Committee
New Delhi: With unbridled enthusiasm, they danced to the fervent beat of drums and chanted Durga's name, before bidding adieu to their beloved goddess.
Four days of festivities culminated in Vijaya Dashami on Thursday as hundreds of devotees thronged the Yamuna ghats to immerse the idols.
The send-off was an elaborate affair, with men, women and children holding pots containing burning coconut husk and dancing in front of Durga's idols, in reverence to the goddess.
The immersion took place at four main ghats in the capital - Kalindi Kunj, Geeta Ghat, Kudsiya Ghat and Ramghat. The Kalindi Kunj ghat alone witnessed over 250 visarjans by various puja samitis from south Delhi, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida among others. "We have 135 puja samitis who have registered for visarjan at Kalindi Kunj Ghat this year. There are over 150 unregistered puja samitis who also brought their idols for immersion here," said Anjan Mukherjee, member of South Delhi Joint Procession Committee.
"Friday onwards, we will go back to our normal routine. Until then we are pulling out all stops and singing and dancing to our heart's content. At least 50 to 60 people from our puja pandal have come to the Kalindi Kunj ghat," said Shubha Goswami of Sarita Vihar puja pandal.
Each puja committee brought their teams comprising of young and the elderly to carry the idols to the river for immersion. Spinning the idol thrice for good fortune, devotees waded into the river and bid the goddess farewell with a heavy heart, their eyes moist with tears as the idol drifted away. "Vijayadashami is a bittersweet day for us. We are sad to see Ma Durga drift away after four days of non-stop celebrations and excitement. Her immersion has left a void in the heart of the devotees. The only consolation is that everyone is aware of the fact that the goddess will return next year, to fill us with joy and colour," said Niharika Roy.
Members of many puja committees were seen sporting T-shirts specially printed for their respective puja samitis.
Ashoka Enclave Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee of Faridabad had a team of 70 people from various walks of life coming to the ghat for the visarjan. "The committee boasts of engineers, chartered accountants, IT professionals, advertising professionals and school teachers. We are 85 families who love to organize Durga Puja and celebrate together. We are a very close-knit community, and this is why everyone wants to come to the ghat," said puja samiti cultural secretary Arjun Sengupta.
Tags: South Delhi Joint Procession Committee
New Delhi: With unbridled enthusiasm, they danced to the fervent beat of drums and chanted Durga's name, before bidding adieu to their beloved goddess.
Four days of festivities culminated in Vijaya Dashami on Thursday as hundreds of devotees thronged the Yamuna ghats to immerse the idols.
The send-off was an elaborate affair, with men, women and children holding pots containing burning coconut husk and dancing in front of Durga's idols, in reverence to the goddess.
The immersion took place at four main ghats in the capital - Kalindi Kunj, Geeta Ghat, Kudsiya Ghat and Ramghat. The Kalindi Kunj ghat alone witnessed over 250 visarjans by various puja samitis from south Delhi, Dwarka, Mayur Vihar, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida among others. "We have 135 puja samitis who have registered for visarjan at Kalindi Kunj Ghat this year. There are over 150 unregistered puja samitis who also brought their idols for immersion here," said Anjan Mukherjee, member of South Delhi Joint Procession Committee.
"Friday onwards, we will go back to our normal routine. Until then we are pulling out all stops and singing and dancing to our heart's content. At least 50 to 60 people from our puja pandal have come to the Kalindi Kunj ghat," said Shubha Goswami of Sarita Vihar puja pandal.
Each puja committee brought their teams comprising of young and the elderly to carry the idols to the river for immersion. Spinning the idol thrice for good fortune, devotees waded into the river and bid the goddess farewell with a heavy heart, their eyes moist with tears as the idol drifted away. "Vijayadashami is a bittersweet day for us. We are sad to see Ma Durga drift away after four days of non-stop celebrations and excitement. Her immersion has left a void in the heart of the devotees. The only consolation is that everyone is aware of the fact that the goddess will return next year, to fill us with joy and colour," said Niharika Roy.
Members of many puja committees were seen sporting T-shirts specially printed for their respective puja samitis.
Ashoka Enclave Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee of Faridabad had a team of 70 people from various walks of life coming to the ghat for the visarjan. "The committee boasts of engineers, chartered accountants, IT professionals, advertising professionals and school teachers. We are 85 families who love to organize Durga Puja and celebrate together. We are a very close-knit community, and this is why everyone wants to come to the ghat," said puja samiti cultural secretary Arjun Sengupta.
Just wading into river, little water (Time of India 07 October 2011)
Jayashree Nandi & Indrani Basu, TNN Oct 7, 2011, 05.25AM IST toireporter@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: After Durga was immersed with festive fervour, devotees bent their heads reverentially for the sprinkling of 'holy water'. But they were in fact breathing stench and getting sprayed with drain water. The Yamuna seemed like a dirty nullah choked and frothing with filth and scum.
And what's shocking, the water level has receded to such low levels that devotees were seen wading in the middle of the river, the water barely touching their knees.
"There will probably be a time when we won't need boats. And it's just not about the water level, the stench here is unbearable. We spend our days here and pollution is killing the river," said Vikas Paswan, a boatman at Kalindi Kunj ghat.
The ambitious New Ganga and Yamuna Action Plans have still not been able to bring the river back from the brink. And activists say speedy implementation of the plan can still save the Yamuna.
"There are several reasons for the receding water levels. Water is diverted into Yamuna's tributaries like Renuka, which is also dying due to lack of natural water source. Rising population and depleting agricultural land are also exerting pressure on the river," said Puran Chand, an activist of the Renuka Bandh Sangharsh Samiti.
Experts say the city is hardly equipped to treat waste water. "Under the Water Pollution Act, 1974, it is illegal to dump untreated water. The national capital is setting the worst example by not treating waste water. Even the small amount that is treated is released into the untreated waste water that defeats the entire purpose. The river does not belong to the Delhi alone. There are a lot of excuses offered by authorities, including migration and overpopulation for not treating water, but it has been many years and the situation is just getting worse," said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator for South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People.
Environmentalists say there is almost no fresh water in the Yamuna today. With fresh water diverted from Wazirabad for urban use, the water flowing downstream carries untreated pollutants from Delhi. The urban and industrial waste and drain water from Najafgarh pass through Kalindi Kunj ghat.
New Delhi: After Durga was immersed with festive fervour, devotees bent their heads reverentially for the sprinkling of 'holy water'. But they were in fact breathing stench and getting sprayed with drain water. The Yamuna seemed like a dirty nullah choked and frothing with filth and scum.
And what's shocking, the water level has receded to such low levels that devotees were seen wading in the middle of the river, the water barely touching their knees.
"There will probably be a time when we won't need boats. And it's just not about the water level, the stench here is unbearable. We spend our days here and pollution is killing the river," said Vikas Paswan, a boatman at Kalindi Kunj ghat.
The ambitious New Ganga and Yamuna Action Plans have still not been able to bring the river back from the brink. And activists say speedy implementation of the plan can still save the Yamuna.
"There are several reasons for the receding water levels. Water is diverted into Yamuna's tributaries like Renuka, which is also dying due to lack of natural water source. Rising population and depleting agricultural land are also exerting pressure on the river," said Puran Chand, an activist of the Renuka Bandh Sangharsh Samiti.
Experts say the city is hardly equipped to treat waste water. "Under the Water Pollution Act, 1974, it is illegal to dump untreated water. The national capital is setting the worst example by not treating waste water. Even the small amount that is treated is released into the untreated waste water that defeats the entire purpose. The river does not belong to the Delhi alone. There are a lot of excuses offered by authorities, including migration and overpopulation for not treating water, but it has been many years and the situation is just getting worse," said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator for South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People.
Environmentalists say there is almost no fresh water in the Yamuna today. With fresh water diverted from Wazirabad for urban use, the water flowing downstream carries untreated pollutants from Delhi. The urban and industrial waste and drain water from Najafgarh pass through Kalindi Kunj ghat.
Scavengers strike gold in trash heap (Time of India 07 October 2011)
Indrani Basu, TNN Oct 7, 2011, 05.23AM IST indrani.basu@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: With the immersion of the idols on Vijaya Dashami, it is curtains to Durga Puja, but for these ragpickers, the festival has just begun. These band of boys from the nearby jhuggi clusters around the Yamuna ghats look forward to this day each year when hundreds of puja devotees come for the immersion and leave behind offerings. What is waste for others is big money for them.
Proudly clutching his "booty" in a dirty, white plastic sack, seven-year-old Suhaib says he collected enough utensils to last a year for his family in about 50 minutes. There are many others who like Suhaib are busy sifting through piles of incense sticks, puja samagri and packets of flowers to retrieve what they consider "useful" waste.
"I collect gatta (cardboard) and plastic. Gatta sells for Rs 5 a kilo and plastic for Rs 13 a kilo. Today, I have already made two trips to my house to empty my bag. I will collect enough to sell for at least Rs 50. All my siblings are also here. We will have a feast tonight," said a jubilant nine-year-old Bhuwan. He stays in a rundown hut near the Shamshan Ghat with his paralytic mother and three siblings.
For most of these children, the festivities begin only when the puja ends for the devotees. Each year, these children watch from the banks of the Yamuna as the puja committees come the ghats with their idols. As the devotees dance and pray in front of the idols before the visarjan, the scavengers too join in, in anticipation of the treasures that they would soon find in the devotees' waste. Most people coming for the visarjan carry water bottles and plastic packets that they carelessly throw away before leaving the ghat, and these children are only too happy to pick them up and stow them away in the bags they bring with them.
"Sometimes, we have demarcated areas where each scavenger can forage. We cover the whole ghat and some of the more experienced swimmers dive into the water to salvage packets of utensils which the devotees throw into the river. Our operation continues till late into the evening. For us, it's a hard day's work, but it is also our one of the happier days. Vijaya Dashami is the day when we are assured of a full meal at night. Many of the things we manage to salvage keep us going for the rest of the year," said 12-year-old Vijay, who has been visiting the ghat on Vijaya Dashami since he was eight years old.
As devotees pull out of the ghats chanting "Ma Durga would be back again next year", these young scavengers join in to echo their prayer.
New Delhi: With the immersion of the idols on Vijaya Dashami, it is curtains to Durga Puja, but for these ragpickers, the festival has just begun. These band of boys from the nearby jhuggi clusters around the Yamuna ghats look forward to this day each year when hundreds of puja devotees come for the immersion and leave behind offerings. What is waste for others is big money for them.
Proudly clutching his "booty" in a dirty, white plastic sack, seven-year-old Suhaib says he collected enough utensils to last a year for his family in about 50 minutes. There are many others who like Suhaib are busy sifting through piles of incense sticks, puja samagri and packets of flowers to retrieve what they consider "useful" waste.
"I collect gatta (cardboard) and plastic. Gatta sells for Rs 5 a kilo and plastic for Rs 13 a kilo. Today, I have already made two trips to my house to empty my bag. I will collect enough to sell for at least Rs 50. All my siblings are also here. We will have a feast tonight," said a jubilant nine-year-old Bhuwan. He stays in a rundown hut near the Shamshan Ghat with his paralytic mother and three siblings.
For most of these children, the festivities begin only when the puja ends for the devotees. Each year, these children watch from the banks of the Yamuna as the puja committees come the ghats with their idols. As the devotees dance and pray in front of the idols before the visarjan, the scavengers too join in, in anticipation of the treasures that they would soon find in the devotees' waste. Most people coming for the visarjan carry water bottles and plastic packets that they carelessly throw away before leaving the ghat, and these children are only too happy to pick them up and stow them away in the bags they bring with them.
"Sometimes, we have demarcated areas where each scavenger can forage. We cover the whole ghat and some of the more experienced swimmers dive into the water to salvage packets of utensils which the devotees throw into the river. Our operation continues till late into the evening. For us, it's a hard day's work, but it is also our one of the happier days. Vijaya Dashami is the day when we are assured of a full meal at night. Many of the things we manage to salvage keep us going for the rest of the year," said 12-year-old Vijay, who has been visiting the ghat on Vijaya Dashami since he was eight years old.
As devotees pull out of the ghats chanting "Ma Durga would be back again next year", these young scavengers join in to echo their prayer.
Yamuna chokes on toxins as puja samitis flout norms (Time of India 07 October 2011)
Jayashree Nandi, TNN Oct 7, 2011, 05.24AM IST jayashree.nandi @timesgroup.com
New Delhi: As Durga idols slowly sank into the Yamuna, nostalgia hung heavy and so was an overbearing stench over the ghats. The muddy, smelly waters along the Kalindi Kunj ghat were choked as hundreds of idols were hauled up by cranes and immersed. Plastic bottles, packets, thermocol and ornaments of goddesses were washed ashore in the ebb and flow.
Though most organizers claimed idols were decked up with herbal color, hardly anyone followed immersion guidelines. Toxic dyes and insoluble material sunk into the polluted waters, which drastically brings down the biological oxygen demand levels of aquatic life. Clothes or ornaments were also not removed in clear violation of the norms.
"The water is already polluted. I don't think it's only because of use of chemical colours or the large number of idols immersed," said Moloy Das, a member of Ashoka Enclave 3 puja committee in Faridabad.
Member of South Delhi immersion committee, Anjan Mukherjee, said eco-idols is the trend this year. "Most of our registered members said they have used herbal colours. There is no way we could monitor this. And going by the promise, pollution should be low this year. We have also created separate enclosures to dump non-biodegradable material like ornaments, plastic and thermocol. Last year, we received several complaints that dumping of plastic had affected fish culture. Most of the violators are unregistered members," he said.
Artistes of the Cooperative Ground Durga Puja Samiti for instance said they had used vegetable dyes and clay from the Yamuna and Ganga, Many puja samitis also claimed to have used minimal paint. But majority of the samitis had flouted guidelines and used toxic lead-based colours.
"Some organizers have shifted to eco-colours. But most colours contain heavy metals and toxins. And not all immersions take place at Wazirabad, many idols are taken upstream. This leads to toxins trickling into the water works.
Most idols remain afloat for months due to the kind of material used. The number of puja pandals have also increased. We have to find other ways to deal with it," said Ravi Agarwal of Toxic Link, an NGO working on toxic pollution.
Durga puja organisers say authorities need to maintain strict vigil on the day of immersion. Some devotees who flocked the ghats couldn't believe it was a river. "Look at the state of the river. Chemicals and waste have killed it. Immersion is not the sole reason for pollution. The river is under too much pressure," said Shobhit Mukherjee, who came with his friends to watch the event.
Communities living around Kalindi Kunj ghat say clean water is needed at least for the immersion ritual as it has tremendous religious and cultural significance. Vikas Paswan, a boatman, said,
"We have been living here for a decade. Each year, the water gets more polluted. Even human excreta is let out into the Yamuna. The water here is frothing with industrial waste from factories and the stench is because of the heavy inflow of drain water. I really wish there was clean water to bid farewell to our gods."
New Delhi: As Durga idols slowly sank into the Yamuna, nostalgia hung heavy and so was an overbearing stench over the ghats. The muddy, smelly waters along the Kalindi Kunj ghat were choked as hundreds of idols were hauled up by cranes and immersed. Plastic bottles, packets, thermocol and ornaments of goddesses were washed ashore in the ebb and flow.
Though most organizers claimed idols were decked up with herbal color, hardly anyone followed immersion guidelines. Toxic dyes and insoluble material sunk into the polluted waters, which drastically brings down the biological oxygen demand levels of aquatic life. Clothes or ornaments were also not removed in clear violation of the norms.
"The water is already polluted. I don't think it's only because of use of chemical colours or the large number of idols immersed," said Moloy Das, a member of Ashoka Enclave 3 puja committee in Faridabad.
Member of South Delhi immersion committee, Anjan Mukherjee, said eco-idols is the trend this year. "Most of our registered members said they have used herbal colours. There is no way we could monitor this. And going by the promise, pollution should be low this year. We have also created separate enclosures to dump non-biodegradable material like ornaments, plastic and thermocol. Last year, we received several complaints that dumping of plastic had affected fish culture. Most of the violators are unregistered members," he said.
Artistes of the Cooperative Ground Durga Puja Samiti for instance said they had used vegetable dyes and clay from the Yamuna and Ganga, Many puja samitis also claimed to have used minimal paint. But majority of the samitis had flouted guidelines and used toxic lead-based colours.
"Some organizers have shifted to eco-colours. But most colours contain heavy metals and toxins. And not all immersions take place at Wazirabad, many idols are taken upstream. This leads to toxins trickling into the water works.
Most idols remain afloat for months due to the kind of material used. The number of puja pandals have also increased. We have to find other ways to deal with it," said Ravi Agarwal of Toxic Link, an NGO working on toxic pollution.
Durga puja organisers say authorities need to maintain strict vigil on the day of immersion. Some devotees who flocked the ghats couldn't believe it was a river. "Look at the state of the river. Chemicals and waste have killed it. Immersion is not the sole reason for pollution. The river is under too much pressure," said Shobhit Mukherjee, who came with his friends to watch the event.
Communities living around Kalindi Kunj ghat say clean water is needed at least for the immersion ritual as it has tremendous religious and cultural significance. Vikas Paswan, a boatman, said,
"We have been living here for a decade. Each year, the water gets more polluted. Even human excreta is let out into the Yamuna. The water here is frothing with industrial waste from factories and the stench is because of the heavy inflow of drain water. I really wish there was clean water to bid farewell to our gods."
Friday, October 7, 2011
Kerala submits proposal for new Mullaperiyar dam (The Hindu 02 October 2011)
Ahead of the October 10 meeting of the Empowered Committee headed by former Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand, the Kerala government has submitted the feasibility report for new Mullaperiyar Dam to be located at 366 m below the centre line of the existing dam.
According to the Kerala government, the old dam will be demolished only after completion of the new dam and as such diversion of river flow for carrying out the construction of new dam will not be a major problem.
The present arrangement of water diversion to Tamil Nadu will continue to function uninterruptedly during the construction of the new dam and also after its commissioning.
According to the 130-page report, a copy of which is with The Hindu the total estimated amount for the new dam is Rs.663 crore and it is to be built spread over a period of four years.
“It is a straight gravity concrete dam. The structure consists of a main dam and a small saddle dam on the right side. The spillway is located in river portion and is located +366.0m downstream of the existing old Mullaperiyar Dam. The favourable geomorphological conditions coupled with reduced additional area of submergence (26.33Ha) of flora and fauna make the location highly technically and environmentally acceptable. The new dam has been designed for earthquake forces also.”
The height of the new dam will be 52.16 metres (from deepest foundation up to road level) and its length will be 305.9 m (including piers) and bottom width will be 42.253 m. The crest level and FRL is kept the same and hence actually no shutters are necessary at 52.16 m.
But since the outflow is to be restricted to 1.22 lakh cusecs, whenever reservoir level reaches a particular level between 148 and 149 feet, the effective vent way is to be reduced by lowering the shutters to the required level.
The report says a special purpose vehicle is being created to carry out the effective and efficient management of the construction of the New Mullaperiyar Dam after obtaining all the mandatory clearances. Kerala will commission the New Dam most expeditiously and in the minimum time frame to safeguard the lives and properties of its thousands of people and to ensure continued supply of water to the needy farmers of Tamil Nadu.
Justifying the necessity for construction of a new dam, the report says, “There is a limit to the number of years one can keep dams in service through maintenance and strengthening measures. In the case of Mullaperiyar dam, the dam has to be there for another 884 years for diverting water to Tamil Nadu as per Lease Deed. This is an impossible proposition. All over the world, safety of dams is being reviewed as per modern standards and hundreds of dams have already been dismantled considering the safety aspects of human life and property.”
The report says, “In view of the definite conclusions of the scientific studies conducted by national institutions of repute and the persistent threat which the dam poses, it is imperative that the present old Mullaperiyar Dam demands urgent decommissioning for discharging the responsibility of the State to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.”
According to the Kerala government, the old dam will be demolished only after completion of the new dam and as such diversion of river flow for carrying out the construction of new dam will not be a major problem.
The present arrangement of water diversion to Tamil Nadu will continue to function uninterruptedly during the construction of the new dam and also after its commissioning.
According to the 130-page report, a copy of which is with The Hindu the total estimated amount for the new dam is Rs.663 crore and it is to be built spread over a period of four years.
“It is a straight gravity concrete dam. The structure consists of a main dam and a small saddle dam on the right side. The spillway is located in river portion and is located +366.0m downstream of the existing old Mullaperiyar Dam. The favourable geomorphological conditions coupled with reduced additional area of submergence (26.33Ha) of flora and fauna make the location highly technically and environmentally acceptable. The new dam has been designed for earthquake forces also.”
The height of the new dam will be 52.16 metres (from deepest foundation up to road level) and its length will be 305.9 m (including piers) and bottom width will be 42.253 m. The crest level and FRL is kept the same and hence actually no shutters are necessary at 52.16 m.
But since the outflow is to be restricted to 1.22 lakh cusecs, whenever reservoir level reaches a particular level between 148 and 149 feet, the effective vent way is to be reduced by lowering the shutters to the required level.
The report says a special purpose vehicle is being created to carry out the effective and efficient management of the construction of the New Mullaperiyar Dam after obtaining all the mandatory clearances. Kerala will commission the New Dam most expeditiously and in the minimum time frame to safeguard the lives and properties of its thousands of people and to ensure continued supply of water to the needy farmers of Tamil Nadu.
Justifying the necessity for construction of a new dam, the report says, “There is a limit to the number of years one can keep dams in service through maintenance and strengthening measures. In the case of Mullaperiyar dam, the dam has to be there for another 884 years for diverting water to Tamil Nadu as per Lease Deed. This is an impossible proposition. All over the world, safety of dams is being reviewed as per modern standards and hundreds of dams have already been dismantled considering the safety aspects of human life and property.”
The report says, “In view of the definite conclusions of the scientific studies conducted by national institutions of repute and the persistent threat which the dam poses, it is imperative that the present old Mullaperiyar Dam demands urgent decommissioning for discharging the responsibility of the State to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.”
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Holiday by the Yamuna in 2015 (TOI, 4 Oct 2011)
YA M U N A R I V E R F R O N T D E V E LO P M E N T P L A N
Holiday by the Yamuna in 2015
With jungles,camping sites and playgrounds,riverfront will offer a perfect getaway without the carbon miles
Neha Pushkarna | TNN
Amid the hustle and bustle of Delhi,you can finally look at Yamuna for respite in a few years from now.Come 2015,the way we know and treat Yamuna is going to change.DDAs much-needed Yamuna Riverfront Development plan is finally off the ground with work already on at a couple of sites,and estimates,sketches and deadlines drawn up for the others.If administrative lethargy doesn't set in,the banks of Yamuna will be full of theme parks,promenades,amphitheatres,wellness centres and biodiversity zones for ecological study,camping and bird-watching,giving Delhiites a refreshing break without really having to go far and away.
The Yamuna Riverfront Development plan was conceived last year.In a meeting with lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna in September,DDA officials made a presentation on the progress of the plan which looked both promising and challenging.The plan aims at refurbishing the land along the river from Palla in the northwest to Jaitpur in the south,a distance of 48km.But encroachments and existing land use pose a huge challenge.
DDA is starting with the development of banks on four sites Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP) near Wazirabad,Qudsia Ghat behind Kashmere Gate ISBT,Golden Jubilee Park (GJP) near Geeta Colony and the Delhi-Noida-Delhi Flyway.DDA says most parts of these locations are available for redevelopment and will be converted into three zones protective biodiversity,interactive biodiversity and recreational based on their natural condition,availability of flora and fauna and accessibility.The last two zones will be for public use.Work on YBP and GJP is under way.Redevelopment at Qudsia Ghat is likely to begin in April 2012,while it should start in late 2013 at DND flyway.
These zones have been identified on the basis of value analysis of the region done through urban exploration or riverine ecology study besides considering other data and site context, said a DDA official.Biodiversity experts from the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems are working to provide details of the wildlife available in the region and find ways for revival of their habitat.Land along Yamuna falls under Zone O of the Master Plan 2021 Delhi has been divided into 15 zones from A to P with Zone O having special characteristics and ecological significance.
About 9,700 hectares will be redeveloped.The four sites identified total up to 1,600 hectares in which 142 hectares in the DND Flyway zone is under habitation.The plan may help curb pollution of Yamuna.About 22km of Yamuna lies in the urban area with thermal and gas power stations,bathing ghats,sewage treatment plants and fly ash brick plants located alongside.
The riverfront development plan will restore and conserve the biotic heritage of Yamuna, said Neemo Dhar,spokesperson,DDA.
BAMBOO FOUNDATION
With construction prohibited on Yamunas banks,DDA plans to set up structures like bridges,seating areas,shelters,machans,naturopathy huts,eating areas and tree house using bamboo Bamboo will be planted on the banks of the river because of its ability to grow up to four feet a day without any fertilizers Eco-skywalk will be created as part of interactive biodiversity zone on the southern side of DND Flyway amid natural wetlands and grassland.It will be an elevated bamboo structure with a walking area and pause points for bird watching Zen Garden will be a spiritual wellness area located north of DND.Herbal garden,aroma garden,meditation areas,naturopathy and yoga huts will come up here
RIVER SIDEWALK
SITTING AREA
BRIDGES
NATUROPATHY HUT
ROCK GARDEN
SCULPTURES
WORKSHOPS
PROTECTIVE BIODIVERSITY ZONE |
Areas with existing wetlands and rich flora and fauna of river basin will be developed into core biodiversity zone.It will have thick and diverse plantation and even wildlife to achieve effects of a natural ecosystem
INTERACTIVE BIODIVERSITY ZONE |
It will have a moderate biodiversity layer and act as a buffer to the core zone.People will be allowed to enter for camping,exploring nature & ecological study
PUBLIC RECREATION ZONE |
Areas close to habitation with easy access will be developed for recreation.DDA has proposed to build playgrounds,theme parks,riverside promenade,orchards,exhibition areas and an informal bazaar
Holiday by the Yamuna in 2015
With jungles,camping sites and playgrounds,riverfront will offer a perfect getaway without the carbon miles
Neha Pushkarna | TNN
Amid the hustle and bustle of Delhi,you can finally look at Yamuna for respite in a few years from now.Come 2015,the way we know and treat Yamuna is going to change.DDAs much-needed Yamuna Riverfront Development plan is finally off the ground with work already on at a couple of sites,and estimates,sketches and deadlines drawn up for the others.If administrative lethargy doesn't set in,the banks of Yamuna will be full of theme parks,promenades,amphitheatres,wellness centres and biodiversity zones for ecological study,camping and bird-watching,giving Delhiites a refreshing break without really having to go far and away.
The Yamuna Riverfront Development plan was conceived last year.In a meeting with lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna in September,DDA officials made a presentation on the progress of the plan which looked both promising and challenging.The plan aims at refurbishing the land along the river from Palla in the northwest to Jaitpur in the south,a distance of 48km.But encroachments and existing land use pose a huge challenge.
DDA is starting with the development of banks on four sites Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP) near Wazirabad,Qudsia Ghat behind Kashmere Gate ISBT,Golden Jubilee Park (GJP) near Geeta Colony and the Delhi-Noida-Delhi Flyway.DDA says most parts of these locations are available for redevelopment and will be converted into three zones protective biodiversity,interactive biodiversity and recreational based on their natural condition,availability of flora and fauna and accessibility.The last two zones will be for public use.Work on YBP and GJP is under way.Redevelopment at Qudsia Ghat is likely to begin in April 2012,while it should start in late 2013 at DND flyway.
These zones have been identified on the basis of value analysis of the region done through urban exploration or riverine ecology study besides considering other data and site context, said a DDA official.Biodiversity experts from the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems are working to provide details of the wildlife available in the region and find ways for revival of their habitat.Land along Yamuna falls under Zone O of the Master Plan 2021 Delhi has been divided into 15 zones from A to P with Zone O having special characteristics and ecological significance.
About 9,700 hectares will be redeveloped.The four sites identified total up to 1,600 hectares in which 142 hectares in the DND Flyway zone is under habitation.The plan may help curb pollution of Yamuna.About 22km of Yamuna lies in the urban area with thermal and gas power stations,bathing ghats,sewage treatment plants and fly ash brick plants located alongside.
The riverfront development plan will restore and conserve the biotic heritage of Yamuna, said Neemo Dhar,spokesperson,DDA.
BAMBOO FOUNDATION
With construction prohibited on Yamunas banks,DDA plans to set up structures like bridges,seating areas,shelters,machans,naturopathy huts,eating areas and tree house using bamboo Bamboo will be planted on the banks of the river because of its ability to grow up to four feet a day without any fertilizers Eco-skywalk will be created as part of interactive biodiversity zone on the southern side of DND Flyway amid natural wetlands and grassland.It will be an elevated bamboo structure with a walking area and pause points for bird watching Zen Garden will be a spiritual wellness area located north of DND.Herbal garden,aroma garden,meditation areas,naturopathy and yoga huts will come up here
RIVER SIDEWALK
SITTING AREA
BRIDGES
NATUROPATHY HUT
ROCK GARDEN
SCULPTURES
WORKSHOPS
PROTECTIVE BIODIVERSITY ZONE |
Areas with existing wetlands and rich flora and fauna of river basin will be developed into core biodiversity zone.It will have thick and diverse plantation and even wildlife to achieve effects of a natural ecosystem
INTERACTIVE BIODIVERSITY ZONE |
It will have a moderate biodiversity layer and act as a buffer to the core zone.People will be allowed to enter for camping,exploring nature & ecological study
PUBLIC RECREATION ZONE |
Areas close to habitation with easy access will be developed for recreation.DDA has proposed to build playgrounds,theme parks,riverside promenade,orchards,exhibition areas and an informal bazaar
Met dept to change official Monsoon dates
Met dept to change official Monsoon dates
Neha Lalchandani, TNN Oct 4, 2011, 04.52AM IST
Tags:Scientist|IMD|Ajit Tyagi
NEW DELHI: Armed with exhaustive data on rainfall from several more stations in the past 30 years, the Indian Meteorological Department is working on an analysis that will see a change in the date of monsoon onset and withdrawal over the country. Since 2006, the monsoon's retreat has been commencing between September 21 and September 30 against a normal date of September 1.
A report on India's climate profile by IMD director-general Ajit Tyagi and Dr S D Attri reveals that between 1941 and 2000, there has been a slight shift in monsoon activity with late onset and late withdrawal and a general increase in duration by about a week. More evidently, as IMD set specific criteria for onset and withdrawal four-five years ago, making it mandatory for all conditions to be met before they declare onset or withdrawal, the withdrawal date has shifted by two-three weeks.
"As we have started following the criteria, we have new dates for onset and withdrawal. We will have to test these against the normal, work out variability and see if changes are required. The process has started but we need to have experts ratify our findings before the formal dates can be declared. The process may take a year or so," said Tyagi.
Between 1971 and 2000, Jammu and Kashmir saw a standard deviation of 14 days in the onset of monsoon from the normal date. West and northwest India have seen onset delayed by an average of 1.5 weeks.
Withdrawal dates have also shifted by about one to 1.5 weeks. "A general late onset suggests a shift in the monsoon activity. The duration of the southwest monsoon has also been found to be higher in all meteorological sub-divisions in the past 60 years," said Tyagi.
Dr M Rajeevan, scientist and monsoon expert with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, said it was high time that IMD proposed such changes. "The normal dates for monsoon activity were set several years ago and there has been a marked change in circulation, dates etc that should now be updated. For instance, onset of monsoon has been steadily getting delayed over the eastern parts of central India. Such changes are due to a natural variability and not a result of global warming," he said.
Officials also said a change had also been recorded in the total rainfall across various regions, though there had not been a significant change in the overall rainfall for the country. "In the four months of monsoon, we have seen large regional variation with east getting lesser and west getting more rainfall," said Tyagi.
In June, west and southwest India have recorded a significant increase in rainfall while central and eastern parts have shown a significant decrease. In July, central and peninsular India have shown a decrease while northeast India has shown a significant increase.
August has shown a significant increase in rain over Konkan and Goa, Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, west Madhya Pradesh, west Uttar Pradesh and Telengana while September has shown a decrease in average rainfall over Vidarbha, Marathwada and Telengana and an increase for sub-Himalayan West Bengal.
Neha Lalchandani, TNN Oct 4, 2011, 04.52AM IST
Tags:Scientist|IMD|Ajit Tyagi
NEW DELHI: Armed with exhaustive data on rainfall from several more stations in the past 30 years, the Indian Meteorological Department is working on an analysis that will see a change in the date of monsoon onset and withdrawal over the country. Since 2006, the monsoon's retreat has been commencing between September 21 and September 30 against a normal date of September 1.
A report on India's climate profile by IMD director-general Ajit Tyagi and Dr S D Attri reveals that between 1941 and 2000, there has been a slight shift in monsoon activity with late onset and late withdrawal and a general increase in duration by about a week. More evidently, as IMD set specific criteria for onset and withdrawal four-five years ago, making it mandatory for all conditions to be met before they declare onset or withdrawal, the withdrawal date has shifted by two-three weeks.
"As we have started following the criteria, we have new dates for onset and withdrawal. We will have to test these against the normal, work out variability and see if changes are required. The process has started but we need to have experts ratify our findings before the formal dates can be declared. The process may take a year or so," said Tyagi.
Between 1971 and 2000, Jammu and Kashmir saw a standard deviation of 14 days in the onset of monsoon from the normal date. West and northwest India have seen onset delayed by an average of 1.5 weeks.
Withdrawal dates have also shifted by about one to 1.5 weeks. "A general late onset suggests a shift in the monsoon activity. The duration of the southwest monsoon has also been found to be higher in all meteorological sub-divisions in the past 60 years," said Tyagi.
Dr M Rajeevan, scientist and monsoon expert with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, said it was high time that IMD proposed such changes. "The normal dates for monsoon activity were set several years ago and there has been a marked change in circulation, dates etc that should now be updated. For instance, onset of monsoon has been steadily getting delayed over the eastern parts of central India. Such changes are due to a natural variability and not a result of global warming," he said.
Officials also said a change had also been recorded in the total rainfall across various regions, though there had not been a significant change in the overall rainfall for the country. "In the four months of monsoon, we have seen large regional variation with east getting lesser and west getting more rainfall," said Tyagi.
In June, west and southwest India have recorded a significant increase in rainfall while central and eastern parts have shown a significant decrease. In July, central and peninsular India have shown a decrease while northeast India has shown a significant increase.
August has shown a significant increase in rain over Konkan and Goa, Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, west Madhya Pradesh, west Uttar Pradesh and Telengana while September has shown a decrease in average rainfall over Vidarbha, Marathwada and Telengana and an increase for sub-Himalayan West Bengal.
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