Impact of our Tribals on our Wildlerness:
I was with the WWF team in a meeting with the Muduvans in the Chinar Wildlife Sanctuary. I was told that they had fled from Madurai about 900 years ago and have stayed in the forests ever since. They tie a white turban to remind that they are the king’s men. They are now classified as tribals. These Muduvan’s cultivate lemon grass and extract its oil called citronella. Lot of fire wood is consumed in the earthen oven used to extract the lemon grass oil. We were discussing the use of an alternate oven design for enhanced energy efficiency. After the meeting, I was asked to share my knowledge of wildlife.

I was surprised and replied that they should know more about wildlife as they stay in the forest. To my astonishment, I was told that they fear wildlife and would run away if they see an elephant. Slowly I realized that these people have stayed for more than 900 years in the forest, but they haven’t learnt to read from the book of nature.

The hills are ideal Nilgiri Tahr habitat, with the precipices protecting the Nilgiri Tahr from predators like leopards. The hills looked green from a distance. However, as I started climbing up, the scenario rapidly unraveled in front of my eyes. The forests and grasslands have been cleared up and lemon grass is being cultivated. No herbivore eats this lemon grass. So except for elephants that pass through the lower reaches of the hills, and the dung from a gaur herd at one place, we found no trace of wildlife. Entire hills have been cleared of forest for use as fire wood. It was shocking. I was sad by the devastation.

I was told that the Muduvan’s now understand that there are hardly any trees left in the forest. So they are now cutting the remaining trees to stock fire wood for future use. Some of them admitted that their stock will last for a few years, but definitely not more than 5 years.

I wish our tribal rights activists and NGOs understand the reality. Our tribals, except for the Jarawas and Sentinelese and perhaps one or two tribes more, are no longer tribals in the true sense. They have been harvesting the forest produce not for personal consumption but for commerce. Every household has got a TV. Naturally, they yearn for a more materialistic lifestyle, which their present livelihood can’t provide. The vices of our world, namely liquor, outraging the modesty of woman, gambling etc are becoming more frequent.

Is it not time for us to seriously undertake the relocation of villages and create inviolate spaces for our wildlife? I am convinced that relocation of villages is a win-win situation for our wildlife and the tribals, except for a few activists and middlemen.

IndiaWilds Forums:
Conservation:
We have been trying to save Telineelapuram a wetland in Naupada district of Andhra Pradesh. The Expert Appraisal committee on Environment Impact Assessment had earlier stayed the Power Project. However, they have managed to get permission from the ministry. The issue is now before the Supreme Court. This case reminds us of the need for detailed documentation of our wild places and wetlands, else they may fall a victim to the so called “development”.
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7844#post7844

Some of our interesting discussions in the conservation section:
Renaming National Parks as National Wildlife Preserves
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1536

Ecofriendly fishing by Abhishek Jamalabad
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1522

Wilderness Updates:
An update about Aiyur Forest Reserve by Siddhartha Gogoi
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1601

Elephants run over by trains in the Walayar ghat region by Laxminarayanan Nataraja
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1428

Wildlife Photography:
I am sharing a few links to some of the fine images shared by our members:
Crimson Sunbird Split the Prey by Kiran Ghadge
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1386

Talking to God by Subramanya CK
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1501

Grey belied Cuckoo by Chandrashekhar CV
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1459

Egyptian Vulture by AB Apana
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1572

Short-toed Snake Eagle Portrait by Ashish Parmar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1631

Waterfall by Kiran Ghadge
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1401

Blue Mormon by Sumon Sinha
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1534

Some fine efforts using compact cameras:
Sunrise by Hari Har Raj Kalingarayar
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1488

Eel Ratnagiri – Vishal Bhave
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1658

Natural History:
Lantana and Langur
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1376

The challenges facing our wilderness and wildlife are enourmous. We need to strengthen the hands of champions’ figting alone in some remote corner of India. Look forward to your feedback and your action in preserving the last tracts of wilderness and wildlife left in this beautiful country. For other interesting articles and photographs please check:
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/

We look forward to more inputs from you.

Regards,
Sabyasachi Patra
www.indiawilds.com/forums

(Circulated in August 2009)

Sabyasachi Patra

I am passionate about wildlife conservation. I am striving to make my films and photographs full of life and emotion and write articles to educate and evangelise the need for conserving the last tracts of vanishing wilderness sand wildlife in our country. I pray to the almighty that my wildlife films, photographs and writings force people to pause, look, ponder and ultimately take action. To make my ends meet, I work as Executive Director at MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology)

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State of Wildlife Tourism:
When will the wildlife tourism sector practice what it preaches – that it is non-consumptive and has minimal impact on the wildlife and wilderness? When will our wildlife tourism sector understand its resposibilities? These and many more thoughts crossed my mind when I was returning from Kabini on Sunday night. I was suffering from cough and cold, and in a moment of inspiration, I had driven down to Kabini for a day to recharge my batteries.

I had checked into Cicada resort on Saturday. I was new to Cicada, though not new to the other resorts in the area. It has all the creature comforts like swimming pool, spa, gym to keep in tune with the profile of its clientele

I took three safaris into the park, in the vehicle organised by Cicada (outside vehicles are not allowed in Nagarhole. Only resorts like JLR, Cicada, Waterwoods etc are allowed to ply their vehicles that seat 9 people). On Sunday morning there was a sighting of leopard with cub on a tree. In the evening, at Old MM Road inside Nagarhole we stopped the vehicle on hearing alarm calls by langurs. A leopard was trying to hunt langurs. We could hear the leopard roaring. There was another vehicle apart from our own. Soon one more vehicle reached the spot making it three vehicles waiting for the leopard to come out of the lantana bushes. Another vehicle of Cicada (KL 03 MF8956) reached the spot after being informed over mobile by our naturalist. The vehicle was loaded with foreigners. Some of them had cameras with small wide angle and intermediate zoom lenses.

My vehicle was in front and when the leopard came out of the bush and surveyed the surroundings, everybody was quiet and waiting. I had my camera ready. Suddenly the other vehicle of Cicada, carrying the foreigners, which was way behind other vehicles decided to go off road and move to the front in a desperate measure to have a better sighting for the foreigners. The vehicle drove like a rally car and sped towards the leopard. The vehicle was about 15 -20 feet off the road. The leopard which was slowly crossing the road got frightened and bolted. The crowd in the vehical were over excited after sighting the leopard from such a short distance.

I was stunned to say the least. These are the high end tour operators who talk of responsible tourism all the time. But then understand how much will be the returns by breaking the rules. The foreigners are always sought after and given preferential treatment. Perhaps, if a foreigner would have been in my vehicle, then they would have been more restraint in their approach, for the fear of displeasing another foreigner. For them the welfare of the leopard was not important. They happily endangered the life of the leopard. Though they messed with my leopard experience, I felt more humiliated as they show scant regard for Indians when foreign clients are around. Who says racism is dead? It is thriving and has many supporters in the wildlife tourism sector.

There has to be a cataclysmic change in the attitude in wildlife tourism sector, else the damage done would be irreparable. Let me know your thoughts on this issue, or if any other similar experience.

Conservation:
As mentioned in the last newsletter our conservation initiatives are gathering momentum and some have borne fruit. You may check the following links:

Effect of Urbanisation and Skewed Biodiversity: A Chandaka Perspective
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243

Telineelapuram

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249

Sustainable Use – the death sentence for Indian Wildlife?
An interesting discussion about sustainable use becoming the messenger of hell for Indian Wildlife. You can participate in the poll as well.
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=984#post984

Wildlife Photography:
The Wildlife Photography section has got a big boost due to the images depicting animal behaviour, thanks to our moderator Vikram Nanjappa. Wish more and more people had a camera in hand to document such behaviour.

The links to some of the noteworthy images in Jan 09 – Feb 09 are given below:

A sick Elephant from Nagarhole by Vikram Nanjappa

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380

A Black Shouldered Kite by Rajpal Navalkar

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388

A serene image of the Sunrise at Kabini by Rajan Kanagasabai

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=377

A realistic shot of the Deaths of Olive Ridley Turtles in Orissa by Bibhav Behera

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245

Wilderness Updates:

- The Elephant Attack on the road from Masinagudi to Bandipur by Rajan Kanagasabai: An issue highlighting the plight of animals as more and more roads cut into their territory, rash driving. I wish we accept that animals have the right of way.

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316

- Usage of Plastics in No Plastic Zone by Shallu Bansal – A pertinent issue that has crosses our minds when we see the devastations that are happening all around due to the indiscriminate use and throw of plastics.

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341

I look forward to your suggestions and feedback.

Sabyasachi Patra
16th February, 2009
www.indiawilds.com/forums

Sabyasachi Patra

I am passionate about wildlife conservation. I am striving to make my films and photographs full of life and emotion and write articles to educate and evangelise the need for conserving the last tracts of vanishing wilderness sand wildlife in our country. I pray to the almighty that my wildlife films, photographs and writings force people to pause, look, ponder and ultimately take action. To make my ends meet, I work as Executive Director at MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology)

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Follow Me:

To make the matters worse, I was thinking that the ticket wont get confirmed, so hadn’t packed. Naturally, something or the other would be missed. However, I had never imagined that I will miss my tripod. I had packed the tripod in its cloth bag, but while rushing from the room, I forgot to pick it up. What a costly mistake. 

On 1st of November 2008, I got down at Naupara junction. It is a small junction with hardly any construction. I got into an auto rickshaw. And what a drive it turned out to be! 

I don’t know whether the driver would have ever seen F1 in TV. Being in a remote corner of India, this seems to be impossible. However, the way the auto driver started driving his auto at breckneck speed, dodging the pot holes, he would have put aspiring formula one drivers to shame. 

I had a tough time understanding the language as I don’t follow Telugu. I reached the forest guest house. I could see pelicans and painted storks flying by. I could see a watch tower constructed within the premises. Without waiting for the watchman to open the door of the Forest Rest House, I climbed up the tower and could see a small colony of pelicans nesting in a nearby tree. The sun was setting and I took some record shots of pelicans. Normally, I am not so keen in photographing Pelicans and Painted storks nesting. The background comes out pretty clumsy. I tried photographing them against the setting sun to make it slightly different than the run of the mill pelican shots. 

I came back to the room and unpacked. I had a chat about Mr. Mrutyunjaya Rao – a man whom I had come to support in the fight to save the Telineelapuram wetlands – to understand the area. I asked the watchman to get some food from a nearby hotel. In the meanwhile, a few local guys arrived and striked a conversation. Initially I was polite with them till the time one of them offered to arrange someone to remove my loneliness. I had to show them the door and then retired for the night. 

Lets see what is in store tomorrow. 

It was tough sleeping in the forest rest house. The building is hardly maintained as this is not a regular tourist spot. There is a watchman who hasn’t got his salary for a long long time. Naturally, he felt very good when I tipped him yesterday. It was a difficult night and I woke up feeling uneasy. 

I finished my morning chores and then slept for half an hour. I was woken up by a local guy whom I had met earlier. He was from Orissa and had settled in the village. I went out to photograph the pelicans and painted storks. I was urged by the locals to shoot the painted stork and I realized that they feel painted stork is better. On questioning, I was told that every year they wait for the arrival of painted storks and consider the day of their arrival as an auspicious day. 

The forest watchman brought tea and breakfast for me. After having breakfast, I took an autorickshaw. There were confusions galore, as I could not understand their language. The auto rickshaw driver and the forest rest house watchman took me to the sea thinking that I am a normal tourist. I could not even convey it to them that the extremely bumpy ride was a waste of time. I had lunch in a small thatched roof restaurant. In such kinds of places, there is no point in asking for the menu. You eat whatever is given. Surprisingly, the hotel owner knew a smattering of hindi and provided me with some piping hot vegeteraian meals. 

A Pelican builds its nest in Telineelapuram

A pelican flys by with Painted Storks in the background

I then went to another place and could find lots of Open billed storks in the fields. I could find a pair of pied kingfishers perched on an electric pole. Black wing stilts, cattle egrets, median egrets, Indian roller, common rail, water hen, coots, shoveller, kite, harrier…. 

It was tough trying to photograph using only my 300mm lens as it was difficult to handhold my 400mm lens that weighs 5.3 kgs. All the time I was cusing myself for forgetting my tripod without which the 400mm lens was difficult to use. 

Will this be the sunset for the beautiful wetlands

We kept on moving on the auto rickshaw and stopping whenever I saw a bird. This went on till the auto rickshaw reached a checkgate. I got down and started shooting some shovellers and immediately a guard came running towards me. He told me that I am not allowed to photograph there. On asking he told me that a Thermal Power Plant was being set up by East Coast Energy Ltd. I had an argument, as I was not encroaching upon their territory and was photographing in the area opposite to their area on the other side of the road. The supervisor of that place who appeared more like a goon, threatned me and told me that they will file a police complaint against me. See the temerity of these people. This is a company that had applied for environmental clearance and it was pending. They guys are constructing without the environmental clearance and threatening me of dire consequences. 

These guys were filling mud in the place to change the very nature of that place. I saw lot of dumpers dumping mud and construction being done at a very fast pace. I was amazed, as I had been told that some activity is going on, but hadn’t expected work to be going on at such furious pace. Clearly, they wanted to change the nature of that place and then prove that a wetland never existed. Unfortunately, in India our wetlands are not documented. This makes it easy for people to “reclaim” that land by terming it as wastelands. 

A PIL was already filed by Mr. Mrutunjaya Rao. I was happy to send my images to strengthen the fight against such blatant violation of environmental norms. We should be happy that there are still some good people around to take up the cause of conservation. Dr. J S Sarma, who was the Ex- Forest secy of Andhra Pradesh had also lend his voice in support of the movement against the Thermal Power Plant in telineelapuram. Fortunately, the committee decided that the Power Plant needs to be shifted to another location. 

The following is the text of the meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment of the Thermal Power Project. I have reproduced the minutes of both the meetings. 

This meeting was held on June 11, 2008.  The minutes of the meeting is as follows: 

Ministry of Environment & Forests 

(IA Division) 

*** 

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 24^th MEETING OF RECONSTITUTED EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THERMAL POWER AND COAL MINE PROJECTS 

          The 24^th meeting of the reconstituted Expert Appraisal Committee for Environmental Impact Assessment of Thermal Power and Coal Mine Projects was held on June 11-12, 2008 in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.   

2640 MW Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project near Kakrapalli Village, Sri Kakulam District, Andhra Pradesh by M/s East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd. 

The proposal was considered by the Committee and the proponent made a presentation on the proposal.  The proposal is for grant of environmental clearance for setting up of a 2640 MW (4×660 MW) thermal power project at Kakarpalli village, Sri Kakulam District,Andhra Pradesh.  The TORs for the project were prescribed on 6^th August, 2007.  The public consultation was held on 23.4.2008. Super Critical Technology will be adopted. Project will be implemented in two phases. The land requirement for the project is 2450 acres. The water requirement is 155.12 cusec. Seawater will be used. There would be no fresh water requirement. CoolingTowers will be installed. COC of 2 will be adopted.  Imported coal requirement for both the phases is 8.98 MTPA, which has been tied up with Global Fuels Pte Ltd., Singapore.   However, indigenous coal for phase-II is also proposed, for which coal linkage is being sought from the Ministry of Coal. Imported coal will be transported by sea to the dedicated Jetty at Meghavaram village. Project area is reported to be out side the CRZ area.  Railway line is at less than 500m distance. It is proposed to shift the project colony from the present location. Impervious lining in the ash pond will be done.  

The Committee observed that the project proponent has submitted both the fuel options i.e. imported   and indigenous coal for the project and also prepared EIA report having both the option. The imported coal has been tied up with the supplier where as indigenous coal is not yet confirmed. In view of this, the Committee decided to consider the project with imported coal to be used in this project.  

          Based on the presentation made and discussions held, the Committee desired information on the following:- 

(i)                EIA report should be modified with imported coal as fuel. 

(ii)              Revise the land and water requirement accordingly. 

(iii)            Distance from railway line should be kept > 500 m as per siting guidelines of the ministry for the thermal power plant. 

(iv)            Land use of the project land as well as study area of the project. 

(v)              Location of intake and outfall points should be given. These locations should be selected based on physical modelling. Details of modelling and the results obtained there from should be furnished. It may be kept in view that the intake and outfall points are away from the mangroves. 

(vi)            Impact of the project on marine environment should also be covered. 

(vii)          Details of desalination plant and disposal of sludge. 

(viii)        Topography of the area should be given clearly indicating whether the site requires any filling. If so, details of filling, quantity of fill material required, its source, transportation etc. should be given. 

(ix)            Impact on drainage of the area and the surroundings. 

(x)              Information regarding surface hydrology and water regime. 

(xi)            Facilities like jetty are to be created specifically for coal transportation; details of the same along with their impact should be provided. Details of other associated activities like dredging, if any should also be furnished. 

(xii)           Revise Marine study taking discharge temperature < 3⁰ c instead of 7⁰ C and also do mathematical modeling. 

(xiii)        Coastal fumigation study for air quality data. 

(xiv)        Location of any National Park, Sanctuary, Elephant / Tiger Reserve (existing as well as proposed), migratory routes, if any, within 10 km of the project site shall be specified and marked on the map and got authenticated by the State Chief Wildlife Warden. 

(xv)          Ash dyke area should be shifted to the down wind direction i.e. north of the project site. 

(xvi)        Detailed plan of ash utilization / management with imported as fuel. 

(xvii)      Details of evacuation of ash. 

(xviii)    Measures of socio economic influence to the local community proposed to be provided by project proponent. As far as possible, quantitative dimension to be given. CSR initiatives should also be specified with proper funding details. 

(xix)        Particulate emission should not exceed 50 mg/Nm3. 

(xx)          Area under greenbelt should be increased making 1/3 of total area and details of local species to be planted.  

(xxi)        Phyto barriers should be put up in between CHP and the plant. 

(xxii)      Details of the auxillary fuel to be used, if any, in the project (type of fuel, quantity to be used and maximum inventory to be stored at site).  

(xxiii)    Risk analysis taking into account the worst-case scenario including cascading effect based on the maximum inventory of storage.  The risk contours should be plotted on the location map.  It may clearly be shown whether the risk will be contained within the plant premises.  

(xxiv)    Time bound action plan to address the issues raised during public hearing along with financial allocation. 

           The presentation made by the project proponents show that the project site is a low lying area which collects the drainage from the surrounding areas and the overflow from there   reaches the sea through a connecting creek. Some of the members have opined that this could be a marshy land and prone to submergence even facing tidal impacts. The concerns in regard to general drainage of the surrounding area were also expressed during the public hearing conducted for the project. In view of these aspects, the committee felt the need for inspection of the site   by a sub group comprising Shri T.K.Dhar and Dr. Asha Rajavanshi with a representative of the Ministry.  As Prof. R V Rama Rao is located at Visakhapatnam and he is fully conversant with the area, he has been requested to offer his specialist services in respect of hydrology and coastal dynamics as a special invitee to the committee. 

          It was decided that the proposal may be brought back before the Committee for its further consideration after the requisite information as mentioned above and the reply to the observations of the sub group has been received from the project proponent. 

Sabyasachi Patra

I am passionate about wildlife conservation. I am striving to make my films and photographs full of life and emotion and write articles to educate and evangelise the need for conserving the last tracts of vanishing wilderness sand wildlife in our country. I pray to the almighty that my wildlife films, photographs and writings force people to pause, look, ponder and ultimately take action. To make my ends meet, I work as Executive Director at MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology)

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: