AP Chief Minister Bulldozing Kolleru WLS

 

       

 AP State Wild Life Board, presided by AP CM,  is reported to have adopted the Resolution to reduce the area of  KWLS from contour level +5 feet to +3 feet. When the subject matter was discussed in 4 th State Wild Life Board Meeting held, under Chairmanship of Sri Kiran Kumar Reddy then CM, on 10-05-2011, the proposal for reduction of KWLS Area was not accepted. 

The State WL Board Resolution for reducing the area of KWLS, is reported to be coming up for consideration of Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife, at its meeting scheduled to be held on 18 th August 2015. If this proposal is ratified by MOEF&CC GOI, KWLS Area will be drastically shrunk by bringing about 25,000 acres, under Aqua Culture & other Activities, which are not congenial to sustenance of Wild Life Sanctuary.

Dr.Azeez Committee Report

Dr. Aziz Committee, constituted  to study the proposal of A.P.Govt. for reduction of Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary from + 5 to + 3 Contour, clearly stated that the reduction of the area of KWLS is not a viable solution for various socioeconomic & ecological issues confronting the Kolleru and It will lead to destruction of a very valuable and ecologically important & sensitive area for short sighted benefits.

22 nd Standing Committee Meeting NBWL

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life, chaired by then Minister for Environment and Forests, in its 22 nd. Meeting held on 25-04-2011, accepted the recommendations of Dr. Azeez Committee Report in Toto. The Minister stated, as Chairperson of the Standing Committee, would take forward the Report as appropriate, to the State Government of AP for its implementation.

  Lack of Follow up Action by MOEF&CC & AP Govt.

Even after Dr.Azeez Committee emphasized the urgent need for conducting re-survey of boundaries as of now, using advance GPS Technology  and to be completed within a period of 18 months, nothing much seems to have happened so far in that direction, even though more than 4 years have lapsed after accepting the recommendations of the Committee.

Lack of Foresight & Wisdom

The floods resulted by “Cyclone Nilam” of November 2012, in various drains –Budameru, Tammileru etc.- that empty into Kolleru, have caused the waters to rise up and cross the +8 Contour. This has resulted in flooding of several colonies along the banks of Budameru in Vijayawada City, for several days.

It is unfortunate that same N. Chandrababu Naidu, the architect of KWLS in 1999, is behind the Resolution passed by present AP State Legislative Assembly on 22-12-2014, seeking recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife for reduction of boundary of KWLS from +5 to +3 Contour.

It is ironical that AP State Govt. advocating development of newly formed State & State Capital on the models of Japan and Singapore, is working overtime for destruction of Kolleru, one of Asia’s most ancient & largest fresh water lakes and invaluable Wetland Ecosystem of international importance.

Playing With Nature can be Disastrous

The Chief Minister of AP is reported to have stated that man-made lake, twice the size of Hyderabad water body “Hussain Sagar” is proposed in the new capital of AP. It cannot be a consolation for vanishing Kolleru Wild Life Sanctuary spread over about 77,000 acres, with invaluable Wetland Ecosystem of international importance. Can Create A Pond & Not A Wetland Ecosystem ?

Appeal

MOEF&CC and CM, AP Govt may be requested not to go ahead with the reduction of area of KWLS, ignoring recommendations of Dr.Aziz Committee and without consulting Empowered Committee constituted by Supreme Court . The Public opinion needs to be respected before any final decision is taken regarding reduction of the area of KWLS, instead of Bulldozing .

Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet

                           The Theme of World Environment Day, 2015

                    Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.

The 5 th of June was observed as “World Environment Day” all over the World with fan-fare, but back to Business as Usual from the very next day. There does not seem to be marked change in our life-styles, attitudes and behavior in the Consumption pattern of life supporting Natural Resources.

The Environment includes, Land, Water, Air and Food and the inter-relationship that exists among and between Land, Water, Air and Food and Human Beings, other Living Creatures, Plants, Micro-Organism and Property.

We should stop looking at Land, Water, Air and Food as Commodities, if we care for Human Environment and Planet Earth. We should regard them as the ingredients which constitute our body and as an organic part of the Life-Process.

The protection and improvement of the Human Environment is a major issue which affects the well being of the people and economic development of the whole world.

In the name of so called Economic Development, let us not harm Human Environment. Let us learn to respect, protect and conserve Life Supporting Natural Resources, instead of treating them as Expendable Commodities.

Most Insects, Birds and Animals respect the basic elements of the Nature, unlike the Human Beings who are endowed with the Power of Discrimination.

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Ten best Indian Army quotes: Must read!

Really felt proud just by reading them.
1. "Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolor, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure.” – Capt. Vikram Batra, PVC
2. “What is a lifetime adventure for you is a daily routine for us.” – Ladakh Leh highway sign board

3. “If death strikes, before I prove my blood, I swear I’ll kill death.” – Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey PVC 1/11 Gorkha Rifles
4. “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”
5. “To find us, you must be good, to catch us you must be fast, but to beat us…………you must be kidding.”
6. “May God have mercy on our enemies, because we won’t.”
7. “We live by chance, we love by choice, we kill by profession.” – Officers Training Academy, Chennai
8. “If a man says he’s not afraid of dying, he’s either lying, or he’s a Gorkha.” – Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
9. “It is God’s duty to forgive the enemies, but it’s our duty to convene a meeting between the two.”
10. “I regret I have but one life to give for my country.” – Prem Ramchandani

Proud of Indian army. Let us salute them.

Top Defence Management

The present system of Defence Management is centered round the Defence 

 Secretary, who is entrusted with the responsibility for the defence of India, as per the Government's Rules of Business. In the case of Defence Secretary, the Responsibility and Accountability do not seem to be linked together.

No Defence Secretary has ever been held accountable: 1962 war with China, Kargil Episode, Disparity in defence preparedness between China and India or Lack of suitable & adequate Field Armour, Aging Fighter Squadrons and Naval Fleet.

Post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

The Naresh Chandra Task Force had recommended creating an equivalent of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2012 and the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh endorsed it. But the file remains buried in the South Block.

The Civil Service (Bureaucracy), which is the biggest impediment for Defence Reforms, may not permit any reform to go through smoothly, as it may diminish its status and importance in the Civil- Military Calculus.

One Rank One Pension (OROP)

OROP for ex servicemen, was acceded to by the UPA government, echoed by the NDA, and announced again by the new regime after its ascension to power. Prime Minister Modi declared emotionally on his visit to the troops in Siachen that "One Rank One Pension has been fulfilled". Even one year after NDA Govt. OROP remains a pipe-dream – Thanks to the strangle hold of Civil Bureaucracy over (non) implementation of policy decisions.

As far back as 2003, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recommended One Rank One Pension, calling it "a debt" the Nation had to pay. It is a debt, the NDA Government must honour without any Ifs & Buts. Not to do so forthwith is an act of dishonour.

Disparities between Civil Bureaucrats Vs Service Officers

A Joint Secretary, with nineteen years of professional experience, is deemed the equivalent of a Major-General, who not only has many more years of service but has commanded men and materiel, made life-and-death decisions and protected our nation. Only less than 1% of Army officers ever attain Major General Rank, while almost all IAS Officers are likely to become Joint Secretaries by time scale. Lot more pensions are paid to Joint Secretaries than Major-Generals, yet there there is quibbling about the cost of Defence Pensions.

Supremacy of Democratic Civilian Govt OK, but Not ----

The supremacy of Democratic Civilian Government over Defence Services is a Must, but the Arrogance and Tyranny of Civil Bureaucracy cannot be tolerated and not desirable in the name of Govt.

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Stop Criminal Act of Draining out Hussain Sagar Waters

Hussein Sagar, a picturesque water body in Twin Cities of Hyderabad & 

 Secunderabad, was originally constructed in a natural depression at about 513 m above MSL, in the year 1561. It was a fresh water lake and used as drinking water source for Hyderabad from 1860s to 1930s.

 

As the City of Hyderabad developed and the population got multiplied putting 

heavy pressure on urban land, the water spread area has shrunk drastically 

making way for various so called development activities around it. In the 

process of urbanization and heavy industrialization, the lake also got heavily 

polluted by untreated / under-treated Domestic Sewage and Industrial 

Effluents discharged in the catchment of the inlet channels. But it has 

continued to be an Ecological and Heritage Asset of the City.

 

But unfortunately, with or without the connivance of the concerned Govt 

Agencies the masquerading of real estate business, in and around Hussein 

Sagar, still goes on, in spite of the Court Orders, Master Plan, Water, Land 

and Trees Act, 2002 and many other Regulations. The reason is simple. 

Urban Land has become a profitable Commodity. The prime land right in the 

heart of the city has become an Attractive, Low Risk and High Profit Real 

Estate Business with quick money, and Hussein Sagar is no body’s baby.

. 

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other concerned 

agencies had undertaken to discharge highly Polluted Waters of Hussain 

Sagar down stream into Musi River, by fully opening the Sluices and breaking 

Surplus Weirs from mid April, in the name of carrying out their repairs. This is 

nothing but clever camouflage of clandestine implementation of the publicly 

announced intention of Chief Minister of Telangana for de-watering and 

de-silting of Hussain Sagar in the name of cleansing it.

 

NGT SZ, in its order 1 st May, having some reasonable doubt about the 

conduct of the Respondents, as to whether they have conducted any detailed 

scientific study about the scheme of De-watering, prevented them from further 

de-watering of Hussain Sagar & transferring to any other water bodies 

pending further orders of the Tribunal.

 

But the concerned State Agencies, continued to discharge polluted waters 

from Hussain Sagar down stream into Musi River, in utter contempt to NGT 

Directive and in utter disregard to the provisions of Section 24 of Water Act, 

1974. In addition they approached Hyderabad High Court on 7 th May, in 

violation of Section 22 of NGT Act 2010, and obtained stay order against NGT 

Directive, even before the Petitioner before NGT was informed.

All these are speaking facts of the malformed intentions behind the Criminal 

Act of the State Administration to De-water Hussain Sagar, before onset of 

monsoon, which harms Environment and Quality of Life of People in Twin 

Cities and down stream of Musi River, apart from loosing the Ecological and 

Heritage Asset.

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Planet Earth - Water Data

Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one Oxygen and two Hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice and gaseous state ( water vapour or steam). Water also exists in a liquid crystal state near hydraulic surfaces.

Water covers 70.9% of the Earth's surface, and is vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the planet's water is found in Oceans, 1.7% in Groundwater, 1.7% in Glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation. Only 2.5% of the Earth's water is Freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice and groundwater. Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the Earth's freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.

Water on Earth moves continually through the hydrological cycle of evoporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration), condensation, precipitation and runoff, usually reaching the sea. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over Land.

Safe Drinking Water is essential to humans and other lifeforms. Access to safe drinking water is reported to have improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world, but approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water and over 2.5 billion lack access to adequate sanitation.There is a clear correlation between access to safe water and GDP per capita. However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the World Population will be facing water-based vulnerability.The report of November 2009 suggests that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%.Water plays an important role in the World Economy, as it functions as a Solvent for a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates, industrial cooling and transportation. Approximately 70% of the Fresh Water used by Humans goes to Agriculture.

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Petroleum Products Pricing Policy – Adverse Impacts on Urban Air Pollution & Health

Expert Committee Report

The Expert Committee on “Auto Fuel Vision & Policy 2025” has submitted its Report to Govt. of India in May 2014.The report emphasized on improvement of of Vehicle Technology and Automotive Fuel Quality to BS IV/BS V emission norms. These imply huge capital investments in Refineries on the one hand and in the Auto-Mobile Sector, which is going to be a long drawn affair.

The Expert Committee recommendation for rapid transition to BS IV / BS V Automotive Fuels with 50 ppm/10 ppm Sulfur, without addressing carcinogenic tiny particles( rspm) -PM 2.5 -and Nitrogen Oxides emitted by Diesel Vehicles may not be of much use

Misuse of Subsidized Diesel

The Diesel prices are subsidized for reasons of public policy-its use for Transportation of Essential Goods & for Public Transport and for Agricultural purposes. Allowing its use in the Private Transport Sector is clearly a deliberate policy distortion. More than 40% of total Diesel consumption is reported to be misused by Industry, Cell Towers, Captive Power Generators and Passenger Cars. The fact that agricultural sector uses less than 12 per cent of the country’s diesel consumption, busts the myth.

The price differential between Petrol and Diesel, encouraged people to gravitate towards diesel vehicles. More the use of diesel, more the oil companies bleed. Worse, we all bleed because Diesel Emissions add to toxic pollution in our Cities, which in turn, adds to ill health and treatment costs. This is socialism of Indian style-Taxing the Poor to Benefit the Rich.

Health Hazards of Diesel

The claim of Car manufacturers that the modern diesel vehicle is clean, is far from true. Emission data shows current diesel cars emit seven times more particulates and three to five times more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars. There is sufficient evidence that tiny particulates—PM 2.5—emitted from a diesel vehicle are toxic and carcinogenic.

This toxin is firmly associated with significant increase in cases of asthma, lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and heart ailments. Long-term exposure can cause lung cancer. The increased level of nitrogen dioxide contributes to the formation of ozone, which, in turn, damages our lungs. So be clear, diesel vehicles, however fancy, are costing us our health.

Adverse Impact on Climate Change

.Today, Europe, which promoted diesel vehicles, is paying a heavy cost. It is struggling to meet air quality standards, even though it has invested heavily in the cleanest of fuels reducing sulphur levels to near-zero and has fitted vehicles with every kind of anti-pollution devices like particulate traps and de-NOx catalyst. Diesel also has higher levels of black carbon, which is today understood to be a key contributor to climate change. In the US, the Car Mecca, where emission standards and price do not differentiate between fuels, there is no market for Diesel Cars.

Adverse Impact on Urban Air pollution

The “Bhure Lal Committee” appointed by Hon'ble Supreme Court, to study ambient air quality in NCT of Delhi, in its report submitted as far back as 1999, stated that more than 90% of the Nitrogen Dioxide and Respirable Particulate matter present is due to Diesel Emissions. Other sources of Air Pollution is reported to be burning of waste materials- Plastics- in open area.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court also imposed restrictions on plying of commercial vehicles including taxis which are more than 15 years old as on 02-10-1998, in NCT of Delhi. Another serious source of air pollution amongst the vehicular pollution is the 3 Wheelers, particularly that are run on Diesel. What is applicable to NCT of Delhi, holds good for many of Indian Urban Agglomerations

Why Inaction & Indifference to Ground Realities ?

The irony is that the Car Manufacturers struck a gold mine, when they realised that they could sell more vehicles, if they could run them on cheaper and subsidized Diesel fuel. Why do the Policy / Decision Makers provide this perverse incentive to Diesel Car manufacturers to pollute?

The Government agencies know that the inflationary impact of raising diesel price will be high; they know it will be opposed. But they use this convenient cover to do nothing about the most glaring of distortions—the use of the subsidized diesel fuel by the rich and for private transport.

But given the rising economic cost and air pollution, the option of doing nothing is not acceptable any more. The options are either to link the car price with emission standards or to ban production of personal diesel vehicles. If this is not possible, then the government should tax diesel vehicles to remove the fiscal distortion in price and policy. The committee after committee has recommended that this be done. But it is not done.

Conclusion

 

In the light of the position explained above, the following are suggested for consideration:

a) 15 to 25 % cess on sale price be imposed on diesel Cars, SUVs, in
addition to corresponding increase in Life-Tax imposed by the respective
State Governments so as to compensate for the subsidized diesel used
in Life-Time of Diesel Cars/SUVs.

b) The bulk users other than Railways and State Road Transport Corporations be charged be charged market determined Diesel Prices.

 

c) Phase out all commercial vehicles including taxis, 3 wheelers, older
than 15 years, as on 31 st March 2015 onwards.

d) The Goods Transport by Road be discouraged gradually, by making Diesel expensive to the extent possible and to encourage goods
transport by energy efficient and Eco-friendly Railway Network, which needs
to be encouraged by allocation of adequate funds, instead of expanding
National Highway Network at the cost of Railways

e) The subsidy burden on Kerosene for rural lighting purposes, can be brought down, apart from avoiding health hazards of Kerosene, by supplying stand alone Solar powered LED Lanterns, with a life span of at least 5 years, for rural households through MNRE 

Decouple Supply and Consumption     

     Both Energy and Economic Policies must share a least-cost , resource efficient emphasis. The current subsidized Supply-Side focus exacerbates the causes of energy waste. That energy-waste  bleeds the Economy and the Society, particularly the unfortunate Have-Nots. The "Wise Energy" policy creates both  healthier Economy and healthier Environment. 

       

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