The high pollution level in the Yamuna, continuous destruction of natural habitat and inconsistent winter have made many migratory birds — 21 of the 27 major species —skip the city this year.
Endangered species like painted storks, black-headed ibis and ferruginous pochards have come in few numbers, says the Asian Water birds Census (AWC).
Of the various stretches of the Yamuna between Wazirabad barrage and the point where it leaves the Capital, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary has fared better with 58 of the 75 local and migratory species being sighted there.
Those who did not show up include temminck’s stint, Indian cormorant, greater flamingo and great white pelican. Also, the numbers of several species of ducks and storks – bar-headed geese, northern shoveler, northern pintail and red-wattled lapwing – have witnessed a sharp decline at Okhla, the census said. From the other stretches of Yamuna, the species that have missed the city include red-crested pochard, common coot, spot-billed duck and little cormorant.
Besides water pollution and loss of habitat, the inconsistent winter has played a spoilsport, said TK Roy, conservationist and AWC Delhi state coordinator. “Usually, birds start arriving in the city by October-end or the beginning of November. This time in 2011, Delhi lacked the chill, so many species flew past the area,” he said.
Sajit P Mohanan of Delhi Birds Group said it is not exactly that birds are “missing” but certain species may have chosen some other locations. For instance, construction activity along Dwarka Expressway has affected the arrival of birds at Najafgarh jheel.
Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said some birds survive in polluted water, but many need clear water and these species avoid polluted stretches. “With polluted stretches, we find that the diversity of bird life comes down drastically. The difference can be seen at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park and upstream of Wazirabad compared with areas downstream of it,” he said.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Braving the chill, for a cause pedalling to save lifeline (Times of India 23 January 2012)
Dot at 7am on a chilly Sunday, St Stephen's College was abuzz with activity. However, most of the over 600 people who had gathered there with their bicycles were not students. Several foreign nationals, members of Delhi's cycling clubs, nature enthusiasts, schoolchildren, foodies and teachers had gathered for a 22-km cyclothon that had been organized to raise awareness about the River Yamuna.
A large part of the cycle rally route ran along the river and many participants had their first encounter with the river at Wazirabad, a point when it is still not completely sullied by the city's filth.
"The Yamuna is a dead river, its waters immensely polluted. The Yamuna Cyclothon is an attempt to highlight the changes it undergoes through its journey across the capital. It is important for Delhiites to take responsibility for the state the Yamuna is in right now," said Vimlendu Jha, co-founder of Swechha, We for Yamuna which organized the cycle rally to track the river's conversion from a relatively clean flow of water to a narrow stream of sewage.
Cause-worthy
People turned up to do their bit for the river cycle marathon, probably the largest seen in Delhi in the recent past, wound its way across heavy traffic through Civil Lines and the Wazirabad Road before hitting the old Railway bridge.
Cyclists took a U-turn from there and cycled back through the Ridge. "The cyclothon serves two purposes. First of all it is our endeavour to take people to the river and have them connect to this natural heritage. A substantial part of our 22km cycling stretch will be along the river, starting from Wazirabad to the Loha Pul. The second purpose of this project of course is to promote cycling among people, especially in a city like Delhi," added Jha.
However, those who turned up definitely did not need any further motivation to cycle. Girish Gandhi, a businessman turned up with his son from Ashok Nagar because he "loves cycling " and wanted to do his bit for the Yamuna. "The government has done a lot for the river but unfortunately there are no results to prove that. If cycling draws attention to the plight of the river, I am more than happy cycling for it," he said.
Arnav Agarwal, a 10-year-old who turned up accompanied by his equally enthusiastic father, said he loved cycling and was glad to be able to raise awareness about the river. "I love cycling and am hoping this morning will be a lot of fun," he beamed.
Swechha reported that 350 people had officially registered for the rally but 100 volunteers, including foreign nationals who are working with the NGO and about 150 cycling club members joined in the cyclothon. Of the registered participants, 150 rode on bikes especially organized by Hero Cycles, co-organisers of the event.
A large part of the cycle rally route ran along the river and many participants had their first encounter with the river at Wazirabad, a point when it is still not completely sullied by the city's filth.
"The Yamuna is a dead river, its waters immensely polluted. The Yamuna Cyclothon is an attempt to highlight the changes it undergoes through its journey across the capital. It is important for Delhiites to take responsibility for the state the Yamuna is in right now," said Vimlendu Jha, co-founder of Swechha, We for Yamuna which organized the cycle rally to track the river's conversion from a relatively clean flow of water to a narrow stream of sewage.
Cause-worthy
People turned up to do their bit for the river cycle marathon, probably the largest seen in Delhi in the recent past, wound its way across heavy traffic through Civil Lines and the Wazirabad Road before hitting the old Railway bridge.
Cyclists took a U-turn from there and cycled back through the Ridge. "The cyclothon serves two purposes. First of all it is our endeavour to take people to the river and have them connect to this natural heritage. A substantial part of our 22km cycling stretch will be along the river, starting from Wazirabad to the Loha Pul. The second purpose of this project of course is to promote cycling among people, especially in a city like Delhi," added Jha.
However, those who turned up definitely did not need any further motivation to cycle. Girish Gandhi, a businessman turned up with his son from Ashok Nagar because he "loves cycling " and wanted to do his bit for the Yamuna. "The government has done a lot for the river but unfortunately there are no results to prove that. If cycling draws attention to the plight of the river, I am more than happy cycling for it," he said.
Arnav Agarwal, a 10-year-old who turned up accompanied by his equally enthusiastic father, said he loved cycling and was glad to be able to raise awareness about the river. "I love cycling and am hoping this morning will be a lot of fun," he beamed.
Swechha reported that 350 people had officially registered for the rally but 100 volunteers, including foreign nationals who are working with the NGO and about 150 cycling club members joined in the cyclothon. Of the registered participants, 150 rode on bikes especially organized by Hero Cycles, co-organisers of the event.
Jayanthi hauls up Maya for ignoring pollution of rivers (Times of India 23 January 2012)
New Delhi: The UPA government launched another salvo at BSP supremo Mayawati with the Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan writing to the Uttar Pradesh CM pointing out that industries were polluting select rivers in the state leading to contamination of groundwater in some regions.
The minister also criticized the state government for not utilizing Central funds properly to abate pollution in the water bodies. “In last two years, the environment ministry has sanctioned several projects for conservation of river Ganga and lakes like Ramgarh Tal at Gorakhpur. Hundreds of crores have been released to Uttar Pradesh for implementation of these projects. I hear that the state government has not used the money properly,” she said.
“Our efforts, to clean river Ganga that flows to important parts of UP have not been able to succeed because of the ndifference shown by the state government with regard to pollution,” she added.
Natarajan has asked the state government to direct her state pollution control board to curb pollution, specifically in Aami River in Gorakhpur.
She noted that effluent from industries in Gorakhpur industrial area and untreated municipal solid waste was making its way unchecked into the river and polluting the groundwater of villages in the vicinity. The central pollution control board, which works under the environment ministry, had found that the effluent treatment plants of the area were not working and the waste of Gorakhpur too was being dumped in Rapti river despite directions from the Centre against it.
In the last two years the environment ministry has sanctioned seven projects at a total cost of Rs 1341.60 crore for conservation of Ganga in Allahabad, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Moradabad and Kannauj.
Of the sanctioned amount, Rs 204.20 crore has been released to the state so far. Another Rs. 217.14 crore has been transferred to UP in the last three years for implementation of ongoing sanctioned schemes under the Gomti Action Plan and the Ganga Action Plan Phase-II.
The minister also criticized the state government for not utilizing Central funds properly to abate pollution in the water bodies. “In last two years, the environment ministry has sanctioned several projects for conservation of river Ganga and lakes like Ramgarh Tal at Gorakhpur. Hundreds of crores have been released to Uttar Pradesh for implementation of these projects. I hear that the state government has not used the money properly,” she said.
“Our efforts, to clean river Ganga that flows to important parts of UP have not been able to succeed because of the ndifference shown by the state government with regard to pollution,” she added.
Natarajan has asked the state government to direct her state pollution control board to curb pollution, specifically in Aami River in Gorakhpur.
She noted that effluent from industries in Gorakhpur industrial area and untreated municipal solid waste was making its way unchecked into the river and polluting the groundwater of villages in the vicinity. The central pollution control board, which works under the environment ministry, had found that the effluent treatment plants of the area were not working and the waste of Gorakhpur too was being dumped in Rapti river despite directions from the Centre against it.
In the last two years the environment ministry has sanctioned seven projects at a total cost of Rs 1341.60 crore for conservation of Ganga in Allahabad, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Moradabad and Kannauj.
Of the sanctioned amount, Rs 204.20 crore has been released to the state so far. Another Rs. 217.14 crore has been transferred to UP in the last three years for implementation of ongoing sanctioned schemes under the Gomti Action Plan and the Ganga Action Plan Phase-II.
Yamuna clean-up: Interceptor project launched (Times of India 23 January 2012)
New Delhi: The ambitious interceptor sewage project that is being pitched as the ultimate solution to the Yamuna’s filth was finally inaugurated on Thursday. Work is expected to begin on Friday but the system, that entails construction of parallel channels along the three main drains in the city – Najafgarh, Shahdara and Supplementary, will finish only around the middle of 2014.
The interceptors, which will eventually function as independent trunk sewers, will trap sewage that flows into the three main drains and carry it to the nearest sewage treatment plant (STP). The treated sewage will then be permitted to drain directly into the Yamuna. Officials say that the biological oxygen demand of the river, that is an extremely unhealthy 41 mg per litre, will reduce to 12 mg/litre.
The project management consultant is Engineers India Limited and the work has been awarded to three difference agencies. “The length of the interceptor system is 59 km and the depth is 20-60 feet. The diametre will vary from 600mm to 2,400mm. The cost of the project is Rs 1,978 crores.
“Sewage from 1,600 unauthorised colonies and other unsewered areas including rural villages and JJ clusters will be trapped by the interceptors. An additional 70 million gallons per day of sewage treatment capacity will be built for the project but our aim is to utilize the existing treatment capacity,” said a DJB official.
The project had earlier met with deep skepticism from several agencies. The allegations against it were that it was nother money guzzling project from DJB that would neither be of a required capacity nor would it be able to treat water to bathing quality as mandated by the court. The project is also massively delayed. At the last deadline, officials had claimed that two thirds of the project would be completed before the Commonwealth Games. However, a year later work is just about starting.
Other work that will be carried out simultaneously to clean the river includes augmentation of the existing capacity of Dr Sen Nursing Home and Delhi Gate STP drains from 2.2 MGD to 15 MGD. About 13 drains emptying into the Bela Road and Ring Road trunk sewers will also be intercepted. “We are expecting the river and the major drains to be pollution free in another three years. The effluent generated will be treated to a level where it can be utilized for non-potable purposes in industry and horticulture,” said an official.
The interceptors, which will eventually function as independent trunk sewers, will trap sewage that flows into the three main drains and carry it to the nearest sewage treatment plant (STP). The treated sewage will then be permitted to drain directly into the Yamuna. Officials say that the biological oxygen demand of the river, that is an extremely unhealthy 41 mg per litre, will reduce to 12 mg/litre.
The project management consultant is Engineers India Limited and the work has been awarded to three difference agencies. “The length of the interceptor system is 59 km and the depth is 20-60 feet. The diametre will vary from 600mm to 2,400mm. The cost of the project is Rs 1,978 crores.
“Sewage from 1,600 unauthorised colonies and other unsewered areas including rural villages and JJ clusters will be trapped by the interceptors. An additional 70 million gallons per day of sewage treatment capacity will be built for the project but our aim is to utilize the existing treatment capacity,” said a DJB official.
The project had earlier met with deep skepticism from several agencies. The allegations against it were that it was nother money guzzling project from DJB that would neither be of a required capacity nor would it be able to treat water to bathing quality as mandated by the court. The project is also massively delayed. At the last deadline, officials had claimed that two thirds of the project would be completed before the Commonwealth Games. However, a year later work is just about starting.
Other work that will be carried out simultaneously to clean the river includes augmentation of the existing capacity of Dr Sen Nursing Home and Delhi Gate STP drains from 2.2 MGD to 15 MGD. About 13 drains emptying into the Bela Road and Ring Road trunk sewers will also be intercepted. “We are expecting the river and the major drains to be pollution free in another three years. The effluent generated will be treated to a level where it can be utilized for non-potable purposes in industry and horticulture,” said an official.
(New Channel IBM-7 23 January 2012)
New Delhi: Today the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Delhi with wetland is home to nearly 200 different species of birds and over 900 species of plants, but it has become synonymous to a filthy dead drain.
However, a team of scientists is trying to restore the river's original ecosystem. This green wonder has been created by field biologist Faiyaz Khudsar and his team of scientists who have painstakingly restored the lost wilderness of the dead river.
"It was a barren area full of salt. We didn't use any chemical to reduce the salt level but we used plant material that too belonging to Yamuna basin. We used lots of legumes and grass to handle the situation. So the forest you see now in eight years old. Its very different and amazing," Faiyaz said.
The 450 acre wilderness park has been grown from a scratch. Today it has 100 species of aquatic plants and 20 fish species that had once vanished from the Yamuna. And the result - thousands of birds now breed and feed here.
"This is the only place in the entire Delhi NCR region where the Red-crested Pochard comes and stay. Therefore it suggests that this wetland is functioning well," Fiayaz said.
Lilies once used to thrive all along the Yamuna in Delhi but vanished due to heavy pollution. And with the restoration of the ecosystem, creatures like wild pigs and civets can be seen in Yamuna at night, all in the heart of our bustling city.
"This area became a kind of open air laboratory for students. Students who study in book life cycle of butterfly, they come here and see here life. They try to understand how one bird is feeding on fruit and the other bird is feeding on insect and one bird is killing another live bird," Fiayaz said.
Once the entire river Yamuna was teeming with biodiversity and this has been made possible to due the work of Faiyaz and his team of scientists who have shown how a little of science and a lot of handwork can solve our most difficult environment problems.
However, a team of scientists is trying to restore the river's original ecosystem. This green wonder has been created by field biologist Faiyaz Khudsar and his team of scientists who have painstakingly restored the lost wilderness of the dead river.
"It was a barren area full of salt. We didn't use any chemical to reduce the salt level but we used plant material that too belonging to Yamuna basin. We used lots of legumes and grass to handle the situation. So the forest you see now in eight years old. Its very different and amazing," Faiyaz said.
The 450 acre wilderness park has been grown from a scratch. Today it has 100 species of aquatic plants and 20 fish species that had once vanished from the Yamuna. And the result - thousands of birds now breed and feed here.
"This is the only place in the entire Delhi NCR region where the Red-crested Pochard comes and stay. Therefore it suggests that this wetland is functioning well," Fiayaz said.
Lilies once used to thrive all along the Yamuna in Delhi but vanished due to heavy pollution. And with the restoration of the ecosystem, creatures like wild pigs and civets can be seen in Yamuna at night, all in the heart of our bustling city.
"This area became a kind of open air laboratory for students. Students who study in book life cycle of butterfly, they come here and see here life. They try to understand how one bird is feeding on fruit and the other bird is feeding on insect and one bird is killing another live bird," Fiayaz said.
Once the entire river Yamuna was teeming with biodiversity and this has been made possible to due the work of Faiyaz and his team of scientists who have shown how a little of science and a lot of handwork can solve our most difficult environment problems.
Debris & nurseries eat into Yamuna (Times of India 13 January 2012)
Green Campaigners Informed L-G’s Officer in November, No Action Takem
The author has posted comments on this article Neha Lalchandani,
NEW DELHI: The government might have moved slums from the Yamuna riverbed but it has not been able to stop encroachments or large-scale dumping of construction material, rather demolition material, along the Yamuna Pushta in east Delhi. A small water body has almost completely disappeared under mounds of waste and debris and stray dogs roam the area foraging for food.
Farmers living there say hundreds of trucks carrying debris (malba) having been arriving there at night and dumping tonnes of waste along the road. Plant nursery-owners, too, have staked claim to the land. A stretch of about 80-100m from the Pushta road has been filled in and raised by a good 6-10 feet.
Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA) has been raising the matter with the lieutenant-governor's office since November 2011 but no action has yet been taken against the offenders. TOI was unable to reach the LG for a comment.
Alisha, whose parents farm a small patch in the river bed, says trucks have been coming regularly at night.
"We have no idea who these people are but they come regularly. I have never seen them during the day," she says.
The area which now houses a couple of nurseries was till a year back being used to grow rice. "During the annual flooding, the entire area would be under water. It used to be occupied by huts that were removed some years back. Then onwards, we were growing rice there. Since last year, the nursery-owners came down and started filling in the land. Now the area they occupy is a good 10 feet higher than our farms. They have also been slowly inching inwards and we had to fight them off from taking over our land, too," said Radhu, a farmer.
Manoj Mishra, convener of YJA, wrote to the LG saying that the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the public works department be asked to get this "illegality stopped and get this site cleared of the dumped solid waste and restore the natural lake and the river bed" and report whether similar dumping was also taking place at other sites in the riverbed.
"Dumping at this site has been taking place for several months. We happened to chance upon it towards the end of last year. None of the government agencies are bothered. If this continues, we will lose precious land to encroachment. The government has clea rly failed to protect the riverbed though it is a notified area and the LG has issued a moratorium on it," said Mishra.
The author has posted comments on this article Neha Lalchandani,
NEW DELHI: The government might have moved slums from the Yamuna riverbed but it has not been able to stop encroachments or large-scale dumping of construction material, rather demolition material, along the Yamuna Pushta in east Delhi. A small water body has almost completely disappeared under mounds of waste and debris and stray dogs roam the area foraging for food.
Farmers living there say hundreds of trucks carrying debris (malba) having been arriving there at night and dumping tonnes of waste along the road. Plant nursery-owners, too, have staked claim to the land. A stretch of about 80-100m from the Pushta road has been filled in and raised by a good 6-10 feet.
Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA) has been raising the matter with the lieutenant-governor's office since November 2011 but no action has yet been taken against the offenders. TOI was unable to reach the LG for a comment.
Alisha, whose parents farm a small patch in the river bed, says trucks have been coming regularly at night.
"We have no idea who these people are but they come regularly. I have never seen them during the day," she says.
The area which now houses a couple of nurseries was till a year back being used to grow rice. "During the annual flooding, the entire area would be under water. It used to be occupied by huts that were removed some years back. Then onwards, we were growing rice there. Since last year, the nursery-owners came down and started filling in the land. Now the area they occupy is a good 10 feet higher than our farms. They have also been slowly inching inwards and we had to fight them off from taking over our land, too," said Radhu, a farmer.
Manoj Mishra, convener of YJA, wrote to the LG saying that the Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the public works department be asked to get this "illegality stopped and get this site cleared of the dumped solid waste and restore the natural lake and the river bed" and report whether similar dumping was also taking place at other sites in the riverbed.
"Dumping at this site has been taking place for several months. We happened to chance upon it towards the end of last year. None of the government agencies are bothered. If this continues, we will lose precious land to encroachment. The government has clea rly failed to protect the riverbed though it is a notified area and the LG has issued a moratorium on it," said Mishra.
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