Thursday, July 10, 2014

India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2013

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India's green area grows 5,871 sqkm in 2 years

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jul 9, 2014, 05.30AM IST
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NEW DELHI: India recorded an increase of 5,871 sq km in its forest cover in the past two years with West Bengal contributing over 60% of the total rise in green area.

Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand and Bihar were the other states which contributed to this marginal increase.

Hilly and tribal districts of the country registered an increase in forest cover of 40 sq km and 2,396 sq km, respectively.

The northeastern states, which account for one-fourth of the country's forest cover, recorded a net decline of 627 sq km in 2013 compared to the assessment of green cover in 2011.

Among bigger states, Andhra Pradesh lost the maximum 273 sq km of forest cover whereas Madhya Pradesh lost 178 sq km of green patch in two years.

These facts emerged out of the latest 'India State of Forest Report' (ISFR), which was released on Tuesday by environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar.

Though India continues to be far behind its target of having 33% of its geographical area under forest, the marginal increase is a positive sign.

Javadekar said, "Decline of forest cover in our northeastern states is, however, a matter of concern. We should not allow this to happen."

Assuring that his government would work hard to further increase the forest cover, he said, "We will make it a mass movement where people would come forward to not only protect the existing green cover but also plant more and more trees across the country."

While there is an increase in total forest cover in the country, there is a decrease in the 'growing stock' both inside and outside forest area. This along with decline in forest cover in northeastern states is also a matter of concern. The report said even in the 'moderately dense' forest section, the net change in forest cover between 2011 and 2013 assessments shows a decline 0.62%.

Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been assessing the forest and tree resources of the country on a biennial basis since 1987. The results of the assessment are published in its ISFR. The latest survey is the result of assessment using satellite imagery during the period October, 2010 to January, 2012.

Although survey is primarily based on satellite data and its authenticity is widely debated, the FSI director general Anmol Kumar on Tuesday claimed, "The satellite interpretation is followed by extensive and rigorous ground truthing".

Kumar added, "In addition, periodic ground data collected by field parties and information from other sources are also used to improve the accuracy of the interpreted image."

Environmentalists and forest conservationists, however, invariably question such method. They also, time and again, pointed out that the FSI reported increase, taking refuge in definition of 'forest cover' and the green patch of 'open area' (mainly outside forest area).

The term 'forest cover' as used in the ISFR refers to all lands more than one hectare in area with a tree canopy of more than 10%. Forest conservationists always question such definition, saying the green cover's accounting cannot be generalized by assessing a small patch of land in particular 'open forest' area as 'forest cover'.

Javadekar, however, appears to look at positive side of the entire report. He said, "In climate change debates, we always go and tell the world here is a country which is increasing its canopy and green cover. Over last one decade, we have added net 2 to 3%. Many countries do not have that. If we are increasing our forest cover, we are going in the right direction."

The minister said India was the only country which published this report after every two years while US does it in five and China in four years.

At present, the total carbon stock in forest is estimated to be 6,941 million tones. The report said, "There was an increase of 278 million tones in the carbon stock of country between the year 2004 and 2011." .............................http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Indias-green-cover-grows-5871-sq-km-in-09072014017005#
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Ganga Manthan

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Tourism to be major part of Ganga rejuvenation plan

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jul 8, 2014, 02.50AM IST
Uma Bharati expressed hope that there would be no shortage of funds as the government was committed for continuous and uninterrupted flow of Ganga from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar.
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NEW DELHI: Ganga will be developed as a major tourist attraction and navigation corridor as part of the government's plan to rejuvenate the river which holds immense spiritual value for people.

An important part of the plan envisages completely stopping inflow of polluted water into the river. The ambitious mission to rejuvenate Ganga will cost an estimated Rs 80,000 crore.

Some of these proposals were shared by different ministers during 'Ganga Manthan' (day-long national dialogue on Ganga) which was also attended by scientists, environmentalists, religious leaders and NGOs.

Views and suggestions expressed at the meeting will be shared with the informal group of secretaries that has been working on a blueprint to develop the river. Final blueprint of the Ganga rejuvenation plan is expected later this month.

Outlining the plan to develop Ganga as a major tourist destination, tourism minister Shripada Naik said his ministry was "exploring the possibility of introducing shikaras on Ganga on the pattern of Kashmir".

Though he did not get into details, his ministry is learnt to be working on a plan which includes river cruising facilities, floating hotels and moving light and sound shows. All these will be part of a comprehensive plan comprising the shipping ministry's proposal to develop a "navigation corridor".

Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari said it was proposed to conduct dredging to provide a width of 45 meters and five meters draft (depth) to enable navigation of small ships between Varanasi and Hoogly in the first stage of its development.

He said barrages were proposed to be constructed at every 100 km on the river and his ministry had sent a proposal in this regard to World Bank for the development of Allahabad-Haldia corridor.



"We might get Rs 4,000 crore for this project in its last stage of implementation," Gadkari said.

Noting that tanneries in Kanpur and other cities in Uttar Pradesh dumped polluted water into Ganga, Gadkari said inflow of polluted water must be stopped and it can be done through recycling of all untreated water.

"If we had to take the estimated cost of this entire project, it would take Rs 80,000 crore. Government does not have so much money. We suggested to Uma Bharati (water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister) that 25-30% of that money will be paid through viability gap while 70% of the investment may be through PPP model," he said.



Delegates during the inauguration of the 'Ganga Manthan-National Dialogue on Ganga' organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, in New Delhi (PTI photo) 


The minister suggested that private investors may sell the recycled water for use in industries.

Bharati expressed hope that there would be no shortage of funds as the government was committed for continuous and uninterrupted flow of Ganga from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar. She said, "We have had a series of discussions with various stakeholders on the issue and will soon arrive on some positive outcome.".........................http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Tourism-to-be-big-part-of-Ganga-plan-08072014019023#
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Ganga Manthan

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Ganga Manthan today to discuss river cleaning plan

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jul 7, 2014, 03.46AM IST
According to a recent study, key pilgrimage sites along the Ganga were responsible for spread of 'resistence genes' that promote life-threatening bacteria.
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NEW DELHI: With the 'Ganga Manthan' on Monday expected to discuss various measures, including checking flow of untreated human waste into the river during religious congregations, Newcastle University expert David Graham, who was linked to an important study on the issue, has suggested focusing on placing as many "portable toilets" as possible near the river and setting up small scale "waste treatment units" at locations of huge regular public gatherings.

Graham was instrumental in coming out with findings which showed how key pilgrimage sites along the Ganga were responsible for spread of "resistance genes" that promote life-threatening bacteria.

The findings, linking spread of antibiotic resistance to annual human pilgrimages, were the result of a study which was jointly carried out by IIT-Delhi and Newcastle University. It was first published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology in February.

Experts from both institutions had scientifically examined water samples from seven sites along the upper Ganga and found that the levels of resistance genes that lead to spread of "potential" superbugs were 60 times greater in May and June when hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to Rishikesh and Haridwar to visit sacred sites.


READ ALSO: Make Ganga users pay for clean-up: Activists
Responding to questions from TOI through email on July 4, Graham suggested a three-tier solution to make religious practices and congregations on the river as safe as possible. He also emphasized that the solutions "must be socially and technically acceptable and sustainable".

Enlisting the solutions in the backdrop of those findings, Graham - an environmental engineer - pitched for the following three actions:

* Reducing human waste directly entering the river without some sort of partial treatment on very local scales, which might include placing and maintaining as many portable toilets as possible near the river where people congregate

* Developing and implementing small scale waste treatment units at locations of greater regular congregation

* Expanding education and social engineering for the public and stakeholders to promote personal sanitation and the use the new waste treatment and handling facilities.






Asked what the government should do to clean Ganga, Graham suggested that the government should as a short-term measure "place and maintain portable toilets along the river, especially at locations where congregation is expected and occurs". He also emphasized on using "public education to promote greater personal sanitation when near the river".

As long-term measures, he recommended reducing untreated waste inputs into the Ganga on large scales and simultaneously investing in greater technical knowledge for sustainable waste management solutions (eg, affordable technologies that reduce direct human waste inputs into the river, which can be implemented at local and semi-local scales).

"The technologies must be simple and specifically aim to reduce antibiotic resistance and disease transmission. Appropriate technologies are under development", he said.

The Ganga Manthan — national dialogue on the river Ganga — will be a day-long conference where Union ministers, MPs, scientists, experts, religious leaders and NGOs are expected to discuss such findings and suggestions along with various issues relating to the river pollution and cleaning exercises.

Views and suggestions, expressed by the stakeholders during the session, will be shared with the committee of secretaries (CoS) that has been working on a blueprint to develop the river. This group is expected to submit its plan by mid-July................http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31812&articlexml=3-tier-solution-for-a-cleaner-Ganga-07072014007034#
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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Ganga Manthan




First Ganga Manthan to take place on July 7

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jul 4, 2014, 07.26PM IST
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NEW DELHI: First national dialogue on river Ganga — Ganga Manthan — will take place on July 7. Union ministers, MPs, scientists, experts, religious leaders and NGOs will participate in this day-long brainstorming on the Ganga river rejuvenation plan.

Views and suggestions, expressed by the stakeholders during the session, will be shared with a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) that has been working on a blueprint to develop the river. This group is expected to submit its plan by mid-July.

The national dialogue will be organized here by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, which is currently being functioned under the ministry of environment. It is expected that the Mission's schemes will eventually be implemented by the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation.

"Idea of the 'Ganga Manthan' is to bring all concerned citizens, including 'sadhus' and 'saints', at one platform where they can exchange their views and suggest ways and means to rejuvenate the river", water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister Uma Bharti had said last month.

Announcing the plan to hold the brainstorming on Ganga, she had said though this programme would be called 'Ganga Manthan', it will include discussions over Yamuna and other important rivers of the country which also need to be cleaned and developed on priority basis.

Emphasizing that the river cannot remain clean unless every citizen cooperates, she had said her ministry would approach the issue by making the Ganga rejuvenation plan a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement).

The ministry will soon launch a website on the river Ganga, inviting suggestion for cleaning the river from all over the world.

Besides Uma Bharti, environment minister Prakash Javadekar, transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, tourism minister Shripad Naik and minister of state for water resources Santosh Kumar Gangwar will attend the dialogue on Ganga. 
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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Ganga Manthan

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Modi likely to share views with stakeholders at 'Ganga Manthan'

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jun 21, 2014, 06.17AM IST
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend 'Ganga Manthan' - a congregation of religious leaders, environmentalists, scientists, water conservationists, NGOs and elected representative - next month to hear views of different stakeholders over his government's plan to rejuvenate the river.

A brain-child of water resources minister Uma Bharti, 'Ganga Manthan' is likely to take place here before the commencement of the Parliament session early next month.

Sources said Bharti, who has been finalizing the plan of the congregation, would soon meet Modi with her proposal and formally request him to attend a session during the brainstorming on Ganga.

"There are strong indications that the Prime Minister may attend one session during 'Ganga Manthan' where he would speak his mind on his pet project," said an official.

Views and suggestions, expressed by the stakeholders during the brainstorming, will be shared with a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) that has been working on a blueprint to develop the river. This group is expected to submit its plan by mid-July.

"The idea of the 'Ganga Manthan' is to bring all concerned, including 'sadhus' and 'saints', on one platform where they can exchange views and suggest ways and means to rejuvenate the river," Bharti had said last week.

Announcing the plan to hold the deliberations, she had said though the programme would also include discussions over Yamuna and other important rivers which need to be cleaned and developed on priority basis.

Emphasizing that the river cannot remain clean unless every citizen cooperates, she had said her ministry would approach the issue by making the Ganga rejuvenation plan a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement).

The ministry will soon launch a website on Ganga, inviting suggestions from all over for cleaning the river.
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Ganga Manthan

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Centre to hold 'Ganga Manthan' before finalizing its river rejuvenation blueprint

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jun 12, 2014, 07.55PM IST
The government will hold ‘Ganga Manthan’ in Delhi early next month to take their views along with suggestions of environmentalists, water conservationists, NGOs and local elected representatives.
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NEW DELHI: Religious leaders — sadhus and saints — will also be consulted by the Centre before making a blue print of its Ganga rejuvenation programmes.

The government will hold 'Ganga Manthan' here in the national Capital early next month to take their views along with suggestions of environmentalists, water conservationists, NGOs and local elected representatives.

Their views\suggestions will subsequently be shared with a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) who have been working on a comprehensive plan to develop the river.

"Idea of the 'Ganga Manthan' is to bring all concerned citizens, including 'sadhus' and 'saints', at one platform where they can exchange their views and suggest ways and means to rejuvenate the river," said water resources minister Uma Bharti.

She said though this programme would be called 'Ganga Manthan', it will include discussions over Yamuna and other important rivers of the country which need to be cleaned and developed on priority basis.

Emphasizing that the river cannot remain clean unless every citizen cooperates, she said her ministry would approach the issue by making the Ganga rejuvenation plan a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement).



PM Narendra Modi perform the 'Ganga Puja' religious ritual on the banks of the river Ganga in Varanasi.

The ministry will soon launch a website on the river Ganga. "Suggestion for cleaning Ganga will be invited from all over the world through this website," said the minister.

She said her ministry would not only get inspiration from how river Thames in London was kept clean but also from how people in some remote Rajasthan villages maintained river bank.

"I think modernization without westernization is possible," she said.


A devotee lights a lamp during 'Ganga Puja' at river Ganga in Kolkata.
Next Story »Centre may tweak forest laws in Naxal-hit states
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Thursday, June 19, 2014

New Delhi may harden its stand during global climate deal negotiations ..... this "right to grow" pitch may change the discourse

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India invokes 'right to grow' to tell rich nations of its stand on future climate change negotiations

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Jun 17, 2014, 10.08PM IST
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NEW DELHI: In what may be a strong signal to rich nations on the issue of climate change, New Delhi on Tuesday said the developing countries, including India, have a "right to grow" and in the process their "net emission (of greenhouse gases) may increase".

 Though India reiterated its commitment to reduce emissions, it made its preference clear. It said the country cannot address the challenges of climate change unless it eradicates poverty through economic growth.

Underlining that the problem of emission has not been created by the developing nations and hence responsibility for addressing it should not be solely put on them, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, "We have to reduce our carbon emissions. But, I (India) have not created the carbon emission problems, which have been done by others. But I am not into any blame game. The issue is that I have a right to grow. India and developing countries have right to grow. These are the emerging economies".

 His statement assumes significance in the light of a meeting of 'governments, leaders from finance, business, local government and civil society' in New York in September this year to "bring bold and new announcements and action" to keep the earth below the globally agreed two degree temperature rise.

 Noting that poverty is an "environmental disaster", Javadekar said "unless we tackle poverty, unless we eradicate poverty, we cannot really address the climate change."

 "To that end, we need to grow. Our net emission may increase," he said while speaking at a function on the occasion of the "World Day to Combat Desertification".

 The remark is expected to further strengthen the resolve of the BASIC group of nations on the issue of climate change. This bloc of four biggest emerging economies - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - has consistently been articulating developing countries' point of view at every forum while seeking bigger actions from rich nation to cut down emissions as part of their historical responsibility.

 Although the new government in India has not undermined the efforts to deal with the problem, the remark has certainly indicated hardening of stand by India as far as role of rich nations is concerned towards their 'bigger' responsibility to not only cut down emissions but also help out poor nations in taking various mitigation and adaptation measures.

 Javadekar articulated India's point of view barely three weeks after the new government showed some seriousness and gave new nomenclature to the environment ministry by adding 'climate change' as its core functioning. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) is now the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) under the new government.

 Interestingly, Javadekar had showed the same seriousness while speaking at a function to mark the 'World Environment Day' on June 5. He had said that India would provide a "new vocabulary to the world in environment conservation" as New Delhi was more conscious to its role.
It is to be seen whether his remark was merely a 'rhetoric' or something which meant real works on the ground to fight the challenge of climate change.

 In certain quarters, the change in narrative is only seen as India's new found zeal to 'project' its efforts to the global community more proactively now. New Delhi will possibly highlights its own works to deal with climate change more proactively while seeking rich nations to work more.

 India too had voluntarily pledged to reduce its carbon emission by 20 to 25%, over the 2005 levels, by the year 2020. But, it has been blamed for not doing enough to deal with the issue of greenhouse gas emission.

 Amid this backdrop, Javadekar had on June 5 said India should not be portrayed as a "villian" in the debate on climate change but should instead provide new dimensions to the discourse.

 "The world has always provided a vocabulary (on climate change) and we have reacted. We will provide a new vocabulary to which the world will react and we will take the discourse to a new height because we bother about climate change. We will work by keeping energy efficiency as the central theme," he had said.

But, the question now is whether this "right to grow" pitch will find a prominent place in the climate change discourse when rich and poor nations sit together to work out a global climate deal?

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