CURRENT NEWS

APRIL 2009

Villagers put on pollution watch - Sponge iron units under scanner

Jamshedpur, April 30: In a renewed effort to rein in industries spewing poison in the air, the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) has decided to rope in local villagers to provide feedback on units continuing to defy the board by not installing mandatory monitoring systems. R.K. Sinha, the board’s member secretary, said villagers who were worst affected due to these polluting units — mostly sponge iron plants — set up in their localities had been asked to provide feedback on the level of pollution. He said they could also take relevant photographs and send them to the JSPCB headquarters in Ranchi or regional offices for necessary action. “Once we get the feedback supported by photographs from villagers, the JSPCB will be in a better position to enforce directives for installing the online stack (chimney) monitoring system in the polluting units,” Sinha told The Telegraph. Hoping that this strategy would prove effective, the member secretary revealed that on March 22, managements of 50 sponge iron units located in and around Jamshedpur, Ramgarh, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh had been instructed to install online stack monitoring system. And to ensure compliance, the units were given three months’ time to set up the system that would help the JSPCB monitor online dust particles and toxicity levels of gases being let off from chimneys.  “Although we gave them three months’ time, we had asked for a weekly progress report to convince us of their intent about installing the equipment. But, more than a month has passed, and none of the companies has submitted a report,” said Sinha. He said the sponge iron units were notorious for trying to hoodwink the JSPCB and were solely responsible for making their surroundings extremely unhygienic and dangerous for human habitation.  Pollution board officials maintained that the units avoided installing electro static precipitator (ESP) machines as they consume power. Many units even lied to the board claiming they had installed the machine. “But, once the online system is installed, the JSPCB will be able to get data related to dust particles gathered at the chimney of any industrial unit and this can be done by sitting at the JSPCB he- adquarters in Ranchi,” said Sinha.

(Source: http://telegraphindia.com)

Mining continues amid confusion

‘No letter from Centre has reached Secretariat’

ANANTAPUR, April, 30, 2009: Iron ore mining continues in Obulapuram and H. Siddapuram villages amid confusion prevailing over the letter written by the Forest Conservation Division of Union Ministry of Environment directing the State government to suspend five mining leases till clear demarcation of boundaries is finalised. A week after the letter kicked up a political row as one of these leases was held by two Karnataka Ministers, District Forest and Mines department here expressed doubts over such a letter being received by top officials in Hyderabad, leave alone them.  “I am in constant touch with the government, but the reported letter has not even reached the Secretariat. As such, I can’t comment on the contents of the reported letter as we have to act as per the directions of the (State) government,” District Forest Officer Kallol Biswas told The Hindu on Wednesday. Neither the State government nor the officials like the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Nodal Officer in the office of the PCCF, to whom copies were marked, received the letter so far. This being the case, the district officials could not have received the communication, sources in these two departments here have contended, explaining why the leases were not suspended.  At the same time, questions are being raised over the version of these officials as two key district officers of Forest and Mining department have just returned after camping in Hyderabad for two days reportedly to discuss the issue with higher authorities.  Owing to the confusion, mining leases continue to be in operation including that of Obulapuram Mining Compnay owned by the two Karnataka Ministers and brothers, Gali Janardhan Reddy and Gali Karunakar Reddy.  Both are close to the powers that be in Andhra Pradesh with their mega steel plant Brahmani Steel coming up in Kadapa distrct. Its joint managing director, K. Ramachandra Reddy, is the Congress candidate from Rayadurg Assembly constituency in the district.

‘Wrong report’

“Why should we stop our legal activity, based on media reports?” General Manager of the OMC B.V. Srinivasa Reddy sought to know, when contacted by The Hindu on Wednesday. In the same vein, he said some sections have misguided the regional officer of forests and got a wrong report sent to the Union Ministry leading to the reported letter.  “However, the State has already replied to that letter,” he said, indicating that a letter had indeed been received by the government.

(Source: http://www.hindu.com/)

Land ravaged by gem mining to be reclaimed

Srilanka, April 29 , 2009 : The National Gem and Jewellery Authority has launched a program to reclaim lands ravaged by gem mining in a project to restore lands devastated by irregular gem mining.  National Gem and Jewelery Authority Chairman, Hasitha Tillekeratna said the Authority expects to procure gems from lands that are “environmentally-sensitive” with the use of modern gem mining technologies under its Mined Land Reclamation program.  ”This would contribute to increase the national income,” he said. He said the National Gem and Jewellery Authority has been able to improve several State-owned mined lands, which have been abandoned after mining for gems, under the Mined Land Reclamation Program. ”Rilhena estate, the State-owned land in Ratnapura, is one of them to have been improved under the program,” he said. “We have rehabilitated the Castlereigh Reservoir damaged by irregular mining,” he added. ”We are also planning to introduce a tree planting program to go side by side with the Reclamation program. We plan to get the support of community organisations for the program,” he said.

(Source: http://www.dailynews.lk)

Students to vote for environment

Ranchi, April 28: It’s voting time again. But this time it is going to be students and the cause — the environment. Students would choose a Paryavaran Ambassador (PA) — a role model who works for the environment and encourages others too — via a postcard voting system across 36 government schools in the Kamdara (Gumla) and Torpa (Khunti) blocks of the state. The nominees could be an actor, a sportsperson, a political leader or a local leader. The person with the highest votes will be announced the winner.So far, the names being suggested are Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, among others.The campaign is part of Kaun Banega Bharat Ka Paryavaran Ambassador, which aims to identify those who could take forward the message of climate change education. This will be launched across in the selected schools next week. It is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and local NGO Citizen Foundation and Centre for Environment Education (CEE).Lalitha Mathew, who heads communication and advocacy of Citizen Foundation, said they were targeting 36 government schools in both blocks to spread awareness on environmental issues. All students between Classes VIII and X are eligible to vote. “We will select those nominees, who get maximum number of votes in a free and fair manner. Thereafter, the nominee with maximum support will become part of the election process. His or her name will be written on the postcards with details about his/her candidature,” she said.This is a nationwide campaign, which will run across 2 lakh schools. All participating schools would be given an educational pack comprising a booklet which contains information about the choices one can make to reduce the impact of climate change. Two posters, sticker sheets and printed postcards will also be given for the voting process. Students would also be required to give their feedback on their expectations from the environment ambassador.

(Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com)

How about a vote for the environment?

DEHRA DUN, April, 23, 2009: Veteran environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna has expressed concern over the fact that none of the political parties has taken up environmental concerns as an issue in the run-up to the coming Lok Sabha elections. Environmental degradation, global warming, recession of glaciers, water scarcity, increase in sea levels and increasing poisonous gases in the atmosphere are all issues which, if not addressed immediately, would leave the earth barren, Mr. Bahuguna said here. Perhaps the politicians yearning for power need to be educated about the dangers looming large over the planet and told about the large number of animal and plant species that have gone extinct, he said, adding, “If those hardy animals and plants can vanish, why the rather fragile human race can’t get extinct in the coming centuries?”  He asked politicians to make the environment a part of their concerns to make life better for the masses. Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation patron Anil Joshi feels that a beginning can be made with the voters questioning politicians, who approach them for a vote, on environment.

(Source: http://www.hindu.com)

Stop mining in Tumkur forest land: HC

Bangalore, April, 23, 2009: The High Court has directed the State to stop mining activities at Shivasandra Village in Tumkur district. The Court was hearing a petition by Kondli Gram Panchayat which had challenged the mining lease of 509 acres of forest land to Chennakeshava Reddy by the State. The petitioners said that the lease was granted without any public notification and was earlier rejected by the State and the Union Government as it was a forest patch. The division bench comprising Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice V G Sabhahit has directed the State to initiate action against the erring authorities. HC direction to media baron. The High Court has directed the media baron, Ramoji Rao and television serial director T N Seetharam to appear before the Court for undermining the judiciary in a serial “Muktha Muktha” aired by the television channel owned by the former. Hearing a criminal contempt petition by city-based advocate G R Mohan, who had objected to the remarks made against the judiciary in one of the episodes of the serial, the division bench comprising Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice N Anand has directed the respondents to appear before the court on May 26. The bench has made this direction after examining the DVD of episode No 117 of the serial.

(Source: http://www.deccanherald.com)

HC grants 2 days time to carry ore during Shirgao festival

Also directs firm to pay Rs 3 lakh donation

PANJIM, April 21, 2009: The High Court, though allowed two days to a mining company to transport ore through Shirgao village during festival time, it has been directed to pay Rs 3 lakh as donation to the management of the temple, Shri Lairai Saunsthan.The Division Bench of Justices B P Dharmadhikari and U D Salvi declined to grant prayer of Rajaram Bandekar (Shirgao) Mines Pvt Ltd, that wanted  ban period be reduced to five days -- April 29 –May 3  in terms of period of  the last year when mining trucks were not allowed entry into the village. The Court allowed the company to transport ore for two days -- April 23 and 24 in view of its claims that it would incur huge losses if assignment is not send on time. In Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Villagers of Shirgao, the Bombay High Court at Goa, last week, had directed the State Administration to disallow transportation of ore through Shirigao village during entire ten days of the festival between April 23 to May 3. The applicant mining company had sought modification of the order. Amicus curiae Norma Alvares told the Court that it is not the case as stated by the mining company.  Entry of trucks was banned for the entire period of festival from May 6 to May 13 even last year, she said. She also told the Court that level of dust pollution level in Shirgao is high as one truck passes every thirty seconds. It’s even difficult to walk on the road when mining trucks pass through the village due to dust pollution they generate.The case of the petitioners that dust pollution is caused by mining was also supported by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and Advocate General Subodh Kantak. Kantak told the Court that the subject company should be made to pay compensation Rs 5 lakh.

(Source: http://oheraldo.in/)

Issues in Konkan

Land, livelihood and environment are concerns that will play a role in this coastal region of Maharashtra

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, This beautiful village near the Goa- Maharashtra border has become the flashpoint of a prolonged anti-mining struggle, which locals say will have a major impact on the Lok Sabha election. In the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, issues related to land and livelihood dominate the election scene and have thrown up unlikely candidates.  In the newly created Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat, pediatrician Dr Jayendra Parulekar is standing on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket. In Raigad, the stronghold of Union Minister A. R. Antulay, the challenge apart from Anant Geete of the Sena, includes two other candidates seeking votes on land issues. In Maval, another new seat, Maruti Bhapkar, an Independent, hopes to cash in on the huge disillusionment about special economic zones (SEZ)s. In Jaigad, a thermal power plant was opposed by fisherfolk and mango farmers. Dr. Vivek Bhide, activist, points out that at least five proposed major thermal and nuclear power projects in the region will damage livelihoods based on horticulture and fishing. But it is Kalane and other villages in Sindhudurg district which form the core of the opposition. Since August last year, 70 acres of the village was acquired for iron ore mining by a mineral company with alleged political links. The gram panchayat had passed a resolution against the mining project and a public hearing was disrupted by goondas, allegedly from the Congress party. Opposition to attempts to build a road on March 19 set off a chain of events that ended with a security guard falling out of a jeep and losing his life. The husband of Kalane’s sarpanch, Sunita Bhise, and 15 others were arrested and charged with murder. The protests continue to this day.  On the night of April 16, the mining company tried to build another road. Villagers have sealed it off and do not allow any Congress workers to campaign here. They had initially decided to boycott the elections but now feel they should use the ballot decisively, says Ms. Bhise. Deputy sarpanch of Kalane, Sampada Desai’s husband is also in jail. “People will vote against the Congress after all this. We will not allow this illegal activity here,” she says.  Congress candidate from Ratnagiri -Sindhudurg Nilesh Rane, son of Industries Minister Narayan Rane, is betting on development and jobs. However, Shiv Sena MP and candidate from the same seat, Suresh Prabhu has been drawing crowds for his opposition to unsustainable development. “Environment is a major election plank,” he says. “As environment minister, I introduced public hearings and a methodical way of bringing in projects. Development cannot destroy livelihoods and the environment. We have been demanding the Konkan to be made into an eco sensitive area,” he points out.  The BSP’s Dr. Parulekar says his party will oppose destructive development promoted by Mr. Rane and the response he is getting is tremendous. “Our slogan is Janakshakti not Dhanashakti (People’s power and not money power).”  Contests are sharp and tempers high in the area thanks to the numerous projects, apart from the over 30 SEZs which are proposed in the Maval and Raigad seats. Rajan Zemse says people are very unhappy with the ruling party and there is a wave against the sitting Raigad MP Mr. Antulay. Besides, in all the manifestos, SEZ issues are ignored. “Last year when we were on a hunger strike, we had requested Antulay to come and meet us but he refused,” he rues.

(Source: http://www.hindu.com)

Six Global Campaigners Win "Environmental Nobels"

LONDON, April 20, 2009:  From the rainforests of Africa to the mountain-top coal mines of West Virginia, six campaigners who have fought governments and industry to protect the planet won prestigious Goldman Environmental Prizes on Sunday. The awards, often referred to as the Nobel Prizes of the environmental world, went to activists in six continents who took on everything from toxic chemical dumps in the former Soviet Union to ship-breaking in Asia. Previous winners of the award, established in 1990 by two US philanthropists, include the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, hanged in 1995 after leading protests against oil companies in Nigeria. This year's African winner is Marc Ona Essangui, who campaigned against plans by a Chinese state-owned company to open an iron ore mine in the rainforests of Gabon, west Africa. Ona, who uses a wheelchair due to childhood polio, has been repeatedly threatened, and arrested and evicted from his home. "Threats shouldn't prevent you from carrying on your fight," he told Reuters by phone from Gabon. "It could destroy the most beautiful forests in central Africa." His campaign helped lead to a review of the project, which is currently on hold, the prize's organisers said.

DEATH THREATS

The North America winner was Maria Gunnoe, a former waitress who campaigns against the environmental impact of mountain-top coal-mining in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia. The method involves blasting the tops of mountains, removing the coal and pushing the rubble into valleys. Critics say it pollutes land, destroys streams and causes flooding. In an area where coal is the backbone of the economy, Gunnoe has divided the community and received death threats. "There's a lot of people here who support what I do. But there's others who drive in here every day for their jobs, and given a choice, they would run over me in a heartbeat," she said in a message on her website. In Europe, the prize went to Olga Speranskaya, a Russian scientist whose Moscow-based campaign group Eco-Accord aims to rid former Soviet republics of old toxic chemicals once used in agriculture or industry. "They are among the most toxic and dangerous substances and cause birth defects ... and even cancer," she told Reuters.

The other winners, who receive their $150,000 prizes at a ceremony in San Francisco on Monday, are:

* Asia: Rizwana Hasan, from Bangladesh, who has raised public awareness of the dangers of ship-breaking.

* South & Central America: Hugo Jabini and Wanze Eduards, from Suriname, who organised local people to campaign against logging on their land.

* Islands: Yuyun Ismawati, who campaigned for better waste management in Indonesia.

(Source: http://www.planetark.com)

Normal monsoon this year, says Met

New Delhi, Apr 18, 2009 : The Met department on Friday forecast another year of near normal monsoon for the country, predicting 96 per cent rains over the four-month period of June-September. The forecast is likely to bring cheer to farmers as well as the industry as good rainfall is extremely crucial in agriculture dependent India to boost growth in a slowing economy. The department said that the south-west monsoons this season would be 96 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of 5 per cent. The country's rice and wheat growers heavily depend on the south-west monsoon as about 60 per cent of arable land is not irrigated. Some meteorologists were expecting the monsoon rain to be normal as the El Nino factor, a phenomena of warming of the Central Pacific ocean, was unlikely to develop. Higher than normal temperatures in several parts of the country have also led some weather scientists to forecast better rains. However, the weather office said dynamical and statistical models indicate equal probabilities for weak La Nina and El Nino neutral conditions which could still swing the forecast toward wetter or drier weather. IMD will update the forecast in June as a part of the second stage of predictions. The weather office also took into account experimental forecasts prepared by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Indian Institute of Science, Space Applications Centre, National Aerospace Laboratories, Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, a statement from the Met department said.

(source: http://www.indianexpress.com)

HC seeks report on sand mining

Bangalore, April 17, 2009: The High Court has directed the Government to submit a report on the damage caused to ecology due to rampant sand mining along the banks of Arkavathi river in Ramanagara. A division bench headed by Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation by a resident of Sugganahalli, directed Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce to initiate stringent action against the officials who allowed illegal mining along the river bed. Counsel for petitioner, Ujwala, pointed out that sand mining had damaged the bridge, the only access to the village.

(source: http://www.deccanherald.com)

Green voice from Kerala hinterland

Thrissur, Tuesday, Apr 14, 2009: Kunjan Pulayan looks sadly at his empty barn as his wife Ammini asks him to borrow paddy from a relative. “I am a landless farm worker. Sometime back, I leased some land and started farming. But now farmlands in the village are shrinking because of the sand mafia,” he says. Mr. Pulayan and agricultural workers at Muriyad in Thrissur’s rural hinterland tell a tale of empty barns, shrinking paddy fields and failed dreams. It is to highlight their woes that Mr. Pulayan has decided to contest the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. The 52-year-old farm worker represents ‘Poura Munnettam,’ a forum with no political affiliation.“Political issues do not concern us. We are concerned only with protection and irrigation of our paddy fields. Also, we want to get fair prices for farm products,” he declares. Under the banner of the Karshaka Munnettam, the Muriyad agitation was launched in 2007 after the area under cultivation in the region shrunk from 4,452 hectares to 2,833 hectares because of the sand/clay mining, conversion of paddy fields to brick kilns, and large-scale procurement of land from indigent farmers by sand miners. The farmers want a permanent ban on sand mining, drainage of water from paddy fields, and the setting up of a land development authority exclusively for Muriyad. He is proud of his surname, Pulayan (a Dalit community). “Do you know the meaning of ‘Pulayan’?” he asks. “It means ‘one who works on the land.’ Our community is rooted in agriculture. As far as I know, five generations of my family have been engaged in farming,” he says. “I am not contesting to win. It is only to highlight the need for a farmer’s voice to be heard in Parliament,” he adds..

(Source: http://www.hindu.com)

China, the Brahmaputra and India

Tuesday, April, 14, 2009, China’s attempt to divert the Brahmaputra has reared its head again. The Chinese are apparently eyeing about 40 billion cubic metres, out of the annual average inflow of 71.4 billion, of the Brahmaputra’s waters. The river skirts China’s borders before dipping into India and Bangladesh. China has a serious need to feed water to its north-west territory, the Gobi Desert, which contains almost half the country’s total landmass, but only seven per ce nt of its freshwater. The Gobi occupies an area of 13,00,000 sq.km making it one of the largest deserts in the world. Desertification of Gobi since 1950s has expanded it by 52,000 sq.km and it is now just 160 km from Beijing. It is said to expand by 3 km per year. China has the will and the necessary resources — manpower, technology and, above all, large foreign currency reserves in excess of a trillion dollars — to take the Brahmaputra diversion project forward; the country’s economic stimulus in infrastructure could create employment potential for more than a few million people.

Hydrological risk

What does this diversion mean for India? The move by the Chinese Government will put almost 40 per cent of India’s hydel potential in trouble. India has hydro potential of 1,50,000 MW, of which 50,000 MW is in the North-East. Arunachal Pradesh, mainly fed by Brahmaputra’s tributaries — Siang, Subansiri and Lohit — supports development of 28,500 MW hydro projects. Of this, 2,000 MW is under development by NHPC and almost 23,500 MW has been awarded to Reliance Power, Jaiprakash Power, Athena Energy and Mountain Falls Ltd, besides NHPC. Most of the awarded projects are awaiting environmental clearances, which may take two-three years, before work can begin on the ground. Since Brahmaputra is fed mainly by melted water from the Himalayan glaciers, the hydrological flow is expected to be affected during the lean flow season (winters), affecting generation from the planned plants. A move by China to divert the water will force private developers to be wary of investing in projects with the hydrological risk of not having adequate water even during normal times.

Funding mechanism

With this in mind, the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) is reported to have recently held a joint meeting with the Home Ministry, the Planning Commission and the State Governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to work out a suitable funding and compensation mechanism for storage projects on the Siang, Subansiri and Lohit Rivers. It was suggested at the meeting that 90 per cent of the funding of the flood moderation cost component of storage projects could be released to Arunachal Pradesh, which could then be passed on to the project authorities and, second, the amount equivalent to flood protection benefits accruing to Assam, as a result of the storage projects could be monetised and released to Arunachal Pradesh by the Planning Commission. Hopefully, this should speed up the process of the project development so that the country can claim its first user right over the waters in terms of the MoU entered into between India and China in 2002. The Brahmaputra flows 2,900 km from its source in the Kailash range of the Himalayas to its massive delta and the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. The river drains a vast area of nearly 9,36,800 sq. km. This river system forms the largest river delta and the third largest free water fall out into the Ocean in the world — next only to the Amazon and the Congo rivers. More people live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river basin than Western Europe and the entire North American continent.

Issue to be addressed

This river system is of critical interest to all the four countries, including Nepal. China is an upper riparian state and, therefore, has the freedom and capacity to divert the river. Should that happen, the irreparable loss will result in destruction of a large part of the North-East and Bangladesh. This step will also drive millions of refugees from Bangladesh into India for their livelihood. There is thus an urgent need to address this issue trilaterally. Water sustains life, environment and our culture. With global demand for water on the rise, we cannot be surprised if one country responds to its needs unilaterally; it is for us to take adequate steps before such disaster strikes.

(source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com)

Open pit mining can solve power crisis, check desertificationDhaka, April 9, 2009: Labour and Expatriates' Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said open pit mining in the North Bengal's coal mines would help solve not only power problems, but also check desertification in that region. “In underground mining method, you can get only 10 to 12 percent coal, but in open mining you get 70 to 80 percent,” he said, expressing annoyance over too much debates among the intellectuals over the methods of mining when the country goes power hungry for years. The minister was addressing a discussion on local industries and employments organised by Bangladesh Chamber of Industries at its office in the city. He, however, said it was his personal opinion, not of the government. Intellectuals are concerned over environment and agriculture in the case of open pit method, but it has good aspects too, because the open space created after coal extraction can retain a lot of water that can help recharge underground water in the northern areas which run the risk of desertification now, he noted. Besides, tourists can go there, he said, adding that fish production there could also help solve nutrition problem in the country. “If we leave the coal unused and yell, saying shortage and shortage, it will not do. If we cannot generate power, no development of industry nor of agriculture is possible,” the minister said. “Our future energy is coal. It has no alternatives,” he added.

(Source: http://www.thedailystar.net)

Uranium TRaces in Children

Hair samples taken forcibly

Bathinda, April 7, 2009: The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Faridkot, on orders of the Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, today went to the Baba Farid Centre for Special Children and forcibly cut hair of children who cannot speak. The CMO, along with a team of doctors, was at the centre to take blood and hair samples of children. Centre sources said permission to take samples was not taken from parents of the children and when the centre authorities asked which law the administration was following, they said none. The sources also stated that no notice about the administration team visiting the centre was sent. “The team came at 10 am and we got a notice stating that a team will be coming for collecting the samples at 12 noon. Children were forced to give samples,” a naturopath from the centre said. The report formed by the centre about uranium detection in hair samples of children was taken away by the CMO and his team. CMO SS Mahiya said, “The DC told us yesterday to visit the centre and take samples. A team of five doctors was constituted. We took hair, blood and samples of parents whose children are affected. We also took soil, canal water samples and these will be sent to PAU, Ludhiana.” The CMO yesterday said the administration had collected samples already and these were sent to Chandigarh. If the samples were already collected, then why were these collected again?

Canals blocked to prevent experts from taking samples

People complained that water in two canals in Faridkot had been stopped since last night and they felt it was done to prevent the DAE team from taking samples of canal waters. A press conference was held yesterday in the centre where the DAE team announced that they would find out everything present in the region affecting human body. The sources stated industrial waste was being released into the Sutlej and Beas and from these rivers it comes to canals, Rajasthan and Sirhind feeders in Faridkot. A DAE spokesperson said, “The region is having rain for the past two days and there are chances of our report not being correct if we take water samples now because the water supply from these canals to waterworks has been stopped. Rain water has already seeped into the stagnant canal water”. Dirty water from Ludhiana was being diverted towards this side. The centre sources could not tell where the team was today, but they were sure it was busy collecting samples from the district. The CMO, on canal water being stopped, said he was not aware, but if that was the case then the administration’s team would take the canal water sample again. ADC, Faridkot, Dr Amarpal Singh said, “I do not know anything about the canal water being stopped, but if it has been stopped, I am sure it was not to stop the DAE team from collecting water samples”.

(Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com)

No safe drinking water, no votes, says Bihar village

Patna, April 7, 2009: Fed up with official apathy, people of a Bihar village, suffering for decades due to high fluoride content in drinking water, have sent politicians the simple message: no safe drinking water, no votes. Villagers in Khaira in Jamui constituency have decided to boycott the April 16 polls and have banned the entry of politicians for campaigning. "We have decided to boycott elections and will not allow the entry of politicians to draw the attention of officials over the failure to provide fluoride-free drinking water to us," said Hardeo Prasad, a resident of Khaira, 200 km from here. Another villager, Mukesh Kumar, said Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Anant Satyarthi was forced to go back after the people refused to listen to him. "We did not allow him to enter the village for campaigning to show our anger and frustration," Kumar said. The villagers told the legislator that no politician would get any vote until the problem is solved. The villagers have also put up posters, saying 'No safe drinking water, no votes', at the entry point of the village. "We will continue to boycott the elections till we are provided fluoride-free drinking water," Rameshar Singh, a villager, said. Khaira, with a population of nearly 6,000, hit the headlines in the early 1990s when an unusually high number of villagers were found to be suffering from fluorosis, which leads to bone diseases. But the villagers say the problem was detected way back in the 1970s when a tube well was installed in the village. Residents say people suffering from bone diseases, stooped backs, crooked hands and legs, deformed teeth and other handicaps are a common sight in the village. "A large number of people in the village have been suffering from severe fluorosis for the last several decades, but successive governments have failed to provide us any relief," Manju Devi, another villager, said. Satyarthi admitted that he had faced the ire of the villagers on the drinking water problem. "I admit that the plight of the villagers is bad and accept that excess fluoride in drinking water has crippled hundreds of villagers," said Satyarthi. But in usual politician-style he blamed the earlier state governments for the problem and claimed that the government led by Nitish Kumar had initiated measures to provide safe drinking water. "The seriousness of the problem can be measured from the fact that fluoride in water was found even 400 feet below the ground. Now the government plans to import filter machines to provide safe water to villagers," he said. Official sources in the Public Health and Engineering Department said excess fluoride in drinking water is found in nine districts of Bihar. — IANS

(Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com)

SEZ Model opposed by confederation

Shimla, April 6, 2009: A confederation of environment-related movements across the state - the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA)- has decided to actively resist the “exploitive” development initiatives which led to dislocation of communities without cohesive rehabilitation and called for a new eco-friendly and pro-people development model with focus on sustainability of livelihoods. The campaign against the policy of setting up special economic zones, big hydroelectric projects, mining projects , cement plants and other such ecologically hazardous ventures at the cost of the traditional rights and livelihood of the local communities will kick off with a “Himalaya Bachao Rally” on April 9 at Bilaspur, to be followed by a two-day conference. Convener of the HNA Kulbhushan Upmanyu said that the purpose of the rally was to make it a people’s movement by providing a platform to the aggrieved communities. The members of the affected communities would share experiences with experts from all over the country and the representatives of various agitating non-government organisations would give first-hand accounts of the disastrous impact of the “insensitive” development initiatives. Well-known environment campaigners like Medha Patekar, Ashok Chaudhary and Sunder Lal Bahuguna will address the rally and participate in the conference. The objective of the rally was to put pressure on the government to evolve a new model for ensuring environmentally sustainable development of the hills. The focus would be on mega projects like Bhakra Dam and various ongoing hydroelectric projects in Kinnaur, upcoming cement plants at Sundernagar and Baga, Himalayan ski village at Manali , an industrial hub at Nalagarh and proposed SEZ at Gagret. The manner in which such projects were being implemented, ignoring the concerns of the communities and overriding their livelihood needs and rights, had caused widespread unrest among them. The only way out was to launch a mass movement to resist such development initiatives actively, he added.

(Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com)