The prayers were finally offered on the busy Mehrauli- Gurgaon Road, creating a traffic bottleneck for over half an hour.

 

The Jamali Kamali mosque is listed by the Waqf Board as a mosque, but the ASI has listed it as a protected monument.

 

“This is not a monument — this is a mosque meant for offering prayers,” said Abdul Hamid, 48, after offering his prayers on M-G Road. As of now, “it is our religious place listed in the Wakf Board properties”.

 

The Wakf Board, incidentally, has also appointed an imam for the ‘mosque’.

 

ASI contends the building is a protected monument and prayers cannot be allowed in it. “It will collapse soon if prayers are offered there because it is old,” an ASI official based in Qutab Minar said. “We can’t allow people to assemble in a monument.”

 

A section of the local minority community began offering prayers in the Jamali Kamali ‘mosque’ four months ago — the number was meager at first but it began to swell slowly. “They bar us from praying in the mosque but boys and girls come here to engage in immoral acts. This place had become a den for drug addicts and drunks,” Haji Rous Mohammad, the imam, said. “The Quran is engraved on the walls (of the structure) — they can’t just call it a monument and let immoral activities take place here.”

 

The issue since become a contentious one, with a section of people from the majority community saying such “land grabbing” cannot be allowed. Wakf Board chairman Matin Ahmad said the number of Muslims in Delhi is increasing and members from the community should not be barred from offering prayers. “These mosques with a historical value should have been thrown open only for prayers and not otherwise but you can’t just lock them up,” Ahmad said.

The police meanwhile said they would not let the situation turn communal.l.

 

No prayers in ASI-protected monuments, says govt.
UNWILLING to disturb the status quo, the government has refused to yield to the protest and decided not to change the rule of not allowing prayers inside ancient mosques which are ASI-protected by the Archaeological Survey of India is not allowed. But hundreds of people had gathered outside some ancient mosques in South Delhi, including the Qutub Minar, demanding that they be allowed to hold prayers. When they were prevented by the police from entering the monuments, they offered Friday prayers on road and shouted slogans against ASI officials. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, which met here last night, is also learnt to have discussed the issue.

1 August 2009, The Indian Express

 

Ropeway will boost tourism
Lucknow: Two ropeways are planned in Agra to improve the Taj-visitor experience. Tanveer Zafar Ali, vice-chairperson of the Agra Development Authority, said, ‘‘The first will stretch from the back of Taj Mahal across Yamuna up to the Mehtab Bagh while the second ropeway will link Mehtab Bagh to Agra Fort.’’ At both these points, the tourism department will ply battery operated buses to ferry visitors. This will save tourists the trouble of taking the long route via Strachy Bridge and at least one-and-a-half hours of travel time as the area is among the most congested in the city, the official said. The result could be a substantial rise in the number of visitors. Last year, 37 lakh tourists visited the Taj. However, only 14,000 among them went to Mehtab Bagh. Once the facility of cable cars is available, they won’t have to skip other landmarks, Zafar hoped.

The ADA has already discussed the proposal of a suspension bridge with the DG ASI and the amicus curae for Taj affairs in Supreme Court, Krishna Mohan. The response, he said, is quite encouraging. The Agra Eye, meanwhile, is expected to be patterned on the London Eye, the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world which rises 135 metres above the London skyline.

However, local ASI officials, tasked with protection of India’s most valuable tourist site, are far from excited. The project is bound to play havoc with the world famous Taj skyline, said an ASI official. ADA is undeterred by ASI’s reluctance. ‘‘The tourism sector needs a facelift. We are taking all necessary precaution by strictly sticking to all rules in the book. Construction will start only after the apex court and ASI both okay it. But neither will be opposed to the idea of keeping up with the changing times,’’ the ADA V-C said. PC against prayers in protected monuments

New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday underlined the fact that people will not be allowed to offer prayers at protected monuments even as the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and worshippers continued on collision course over the issue.

Home minister P Chidambaram said that prayers will be allowed only in the 12 structures listed so far.

‘‘We have made it very clear that such prayers in protected monuments will not be allowed,’’ Chidambaram told reporters responding to ASI’s stand not to allow Friday prayers at the Jamali Kamali mosque in Qutub Minar which led to protests.

The minister said the Centre had made this clear when such attempts were made and law was enforced on Friday. ‘‘In the Jamali Kamali mosque, a protected monument, that (law) was enforced yesterday,’’ Chidambaram said making an appeal to people not to violate the norm laid down as early as January 1981 by former PM Indira Gandhi.

He said there were 12 places of worship — five leading monuments and seven others where prayers have been offered on Fridays for a long time — where de facto prayers have been allowed. ‘‘In those 12 places, de facto status quo is intact. But in no other protected monument prayers will be allowed to be offered,’’ Chidambaram said. .

A group of people had on Friday tried to forcibly enter ASI-protected mosques in south Delhi to offer prayers but were prevented by the police. Forest dept rules out park inside ridge

New Delhi: DDA’s plans of converting the northern ridge to a biodiversity park have been shot down by the forest department. In a letter to the Authority, the department has said that the ridge is a notified forest where no construction activity can be allowed as such. DDA has only been given permission for ‘‘enrichment plantation’’.

Senior forest officials have said that while additional plantation in the ridge area is permissible, converting its status to a biodiversity park would entail some amount of concretization and movement of vehicles during the development stage. ‘‘The ridge was notified as forest in 1955. We cannot dilute its status as that will leave the field open for lots of activity that cannot be permitted in a forest area. We will also be left without powers to deal with encroachments, etc,’’ said an official.

Strangely, the notified forest has been mentioned as a regional park in the Master Plan-2021, based on which DDA had planned the Biodiversity Park. In 1994, the Authority had officially declared its intention for notifying the already notified area as forest. ‘‘The northern ridge is already a notified forest and DDA cannot supercede the earlier notification by wanting to notify it yet again. Despite what the master plan says, the northern ridge is already protected,’’ said forest officials.

DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar, however, clarified that they had no intentions of carrying out any construction in the ridge area. ‘‘We know the ridge is a forest area and we have already got the consent of the forest department for the project. In fact, the representative of the forest department is a member of the executive committee of the biodiversity foundation under whose guidance this is being planned. Secondly, the objective of these parks is to preserve the flora and fauna and biotic community which have become extinct due to increased urbansiation over a period of time,’’ said Dhar.

The northern ridge, among all other ridge areas in the city, is important specially as it houses several heritage structures, including a flag staff tower, an Ashoka pillar, a 14th century baoli, a British era mutiny memorial and the Chauburja mosque. Compared to the rest of the ridge, this area is also relatively free of encroachments. DDA has been planning large scale plantation in the area and development of walkways that will serve as naturecum-heritage trails.
  Learning to be visitor-friendly

To make visitors to the city feel welcome during the Commonwealth Games, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is set to train taxi and auto drivers, CISF personnel posted at monuments, dhaba owners, hotel staff etc. Participants will be taught basic English as well as courtesy and ways to communicate with tourists.

Delhi government sources admit that there is a shortage of trained guides in the city and with Commonwealth Games drawing close, the issue has to be addressed promptly. With hundreds of historical sites to visit and each monument boasting its own unique history, foreign nationals are often left to fend for themselves and depend on tourist books and brochures for information. Language is another problem. Quite a contrast to facilities offered in tourist sites in western countries, where trained guides — proficient in several languages—are easily available to aid visitors apart from group guided trips at regular intervals.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently launched audioguide services in Qutub Minar in five languages and is in the process of introducing it in the other world heritage sites as well. Trained guides and guided tours apart, what is lacking, point out experts is that not a single monument or tourist place in the city has an interpretation centre where tourist can come and get all information pertaining to a particular site.

ASI is also in the process of bringing out more brochures and guides for foreign visitors in the city. Much of the plans are in the implementation stages but experts say they are crucial if the government wants to promote Delhi as ‘a heritage city’. Various agencies like INTACH are also involved in the plans. ‘‘Visitor management is one of our top priorities and we are making more plans for it,’’ said an official.

Under ITDC’s plans, etiquette training for the Games will also be provided to residents who offer rooms to foreigners under Delhi government’s bed and breakfast scheme. Here, house owners will be briefed on how to be more tourist friendly. ‘‘House owners will be given hospitality related training and a brief of Indian tourism scenario. Most visitors generally question their hosts on information about the city so they will be provided information on the golden triangle — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as well as where tourists should go visiting in Delhi,’’ said an official.
  Multiple agencies hold up progress of heritage corridor

New Delhi: It was supposed to be the first heritage route in the city which would help enhance its historical status. But Delhi government’s much touted heritage corridor seems stuck in limbo. The project was envisioned for the Commonwealth Games, to allow visitors to get a feel of the city’s architecture and history, but even three years after inception, senior officials admit actual implementation is yet to begin.

The plan was visualised by INTACH Delhi Chapter and an MoU with Delhi Tourism was signed in 2007. According to INTACH officials, the heritage route is very significant and is the first step towards getting Delhi declared a world heritage city. But while the idea is realistic, experts say a lot of ground work needs to be done and time is of essence now.

Problems like the involvement of multiple agencies like DDA, CPWD and MCD has led to delay in starting work. ‘‘There are so many agencies involved in this project that coordination and implementation is a problem. While no agency has actually refused to start work, they all seem to be sitting on it,’’ said INTACH convener AGK Menon.

Many protected structures like Sabz Burj, Khooni Darwaaza, Delhi Gate, Purana Qila, Ferozeshah Kotla are all on the route of the corridor. Other heritage buildings of significance like Matka Peer and some Daryaganj buildings will are also be enroute. ‘‘We are in talks with all the agencies owning these buildings about conservation. The basic idea is to add value to the heritage structures on this route and give more face to the buildings,’’ said an official.

‘‘The area in front of Ferozeshah Kotla is supposed to be renovated by MCD, but four months have passed and not even the official contract has been signed. DDA is yet to start work at Coronation Park where the corridor will actually begin. For protected monuments like Purana Qila, we still require the requisite permission from ASI,’’ added an INTACH official, listing the difficulties. However, additional projects like heritage tourist buses and nine walks on heritage routes planned by INTACH seem to be taking off. Museums and interpretation centres, all part of plans to boost Delhi’s heritage tag, are set to be implemented.

INTACH officials added that no major construction work would take place in this route and focus would be on making signages, increasing public space, repairing pavements, setting up kiosks, ensure functioning of streetlights and better horticulture. Many monuments along the route will also be illuminated. A plan to carry visitors in clean-energy shuttle buses along a model heritage route is also being examined. Just as in many of the world’s major cities, the buses would allow visitors to hop off along the way to see some of the capital’s sights that are less well known, then hop back on to travel to the next spot.

Around 10 million visitors are expected to come to Delhi during the Games. The heritage route is to be developed with the help of a special grant from American Express and the World Monuments Fund. According to INTACH, the heritage corridor is just the starting of what it hopes will extend to other parts of the city as well. Eventually officials hope that the heritage route can be extended to far off sites like Tughlaqabad Fort and Sultangarhi’s Tomb as well.

3 August 2009, The Times of India

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6 August 2009, Times of Indiaa

 

Explaining the overwhelming role habitat plays on the nature of trees, Singh said: ‘‘There are times when you see trees which usually spread wide, clustering together in one place — something which is apparently completely at odds with their usual behaviour. This often happens when too much concretisation has happened. There was far more rain earlier and the winter was longer and more bitter. This has meant that many trees could not adjust and died out,’’ he said. The commonest trees of Delhi include ashok, neem, amaltas, jamun, semul, siris and gulmohur. But one tree which cannot be excluded in any discussion about the trees of Delhi is actually an import. The central American mesquite — locally called vilaiti keekar to distinguish it from the babool — has emerged as the principal occupant of the ridge because of its fierce colonising ability, killing off in the process many of the native trees like kala siris, kulu and salai..

 

Figuring Out Green Cover
There are an estimated 250 varieties of trees in Delhi but this is the first time an official effort is being made to count them

When the capital shifted to Delhi in 1911, British rulers wanted only evergreen trees in Delhi. 13 species were selected-Mango, amaltas and siris did not make the cut for being deciduous and neem made it because it is evergreen. But planners never realised that it is the climate which decides tree behaviour.

There are some stretches where particular species are more in number for example peach trees abound in Shanti Path, amaltas along Akbar Road and kamrakh in Shalimar Bagh.

 

The ridge, which is the original ‘forest’ of Delhi, has been virtually taken over by the vilayati keekar, a fierce colonizer.

Many of the native trees of the ridge have died out though some of them are still seen elsewhere in the city. These include kala siris, salai and kulu.

7 August 2009, Times of Indiaa

 7 August 2009, Pioneerr

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Jaipur: A pair of Great Indian Bustard was sighted at the Tal Chappar sanctuary in Churu district earlier this month. This is the first time in the recent history that the endangered bird has been sighted in this sanctuary, otherwise known for its blackbucks.

‘‘It’s the first time in the past 30 years that a Great Indian Bustard pair has been witnessed at the Tal Chappar sanctuary. While the female bird was spotted on August 1, the male was spotted the next day. Even during the first bustard conference in 1981, no one had reported such an event,’’ a forest department official said. The area where the bird was spotted has now been closed to tourists. ‘‘We have enclosed the area and are keeping a watch on the birds. They are still there. These birds may have migrated to the sanctuary from Bikaner,’’ the official added.

Although all the four species of bustards have been accorded the highest degree of protection by placing them in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, their number continues to decline at an alarming rate. The Great Indian Bustard is currently found only in Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh.

In fact, rough estimates put the number of these birds at well below 300 in the country..

Efforts to save the bustard population started way back in 1980 after the first symposium was held in 1980. But nothing much emerged from the meeting. However, recently the state forest department has once again adopted a twopronged strategy to protect the bird. ‘‘A conservation strategy is being adopted by the department for the protection of the bird. As per plans, the birds will be protected where they are found. We have prepared a recovery plan which we will be sending to the Centre for a review after which we shall seek funds,’’ the official said. ‘‘We’ve also prepared a plan for the captive breeding of the bird at a place near Jaisalmer and have sent it for approval to the Central Zoo Authority,’’ he added.

8 August 2009, Times of Indiaa

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will restore a 1000-year –old Buddhist monastery in Ladakh. Conservation work at the monastery comprising mainly restoration of roofs above the temples has been started in May after an MoU was signed between the Lekir Monastery Management Committee and INTACH. The Buddhist monastery in Mangyu is among the earliest monasteries of the Ladakh region located at a distance of 70 km from Leh. It is believed that the great translator, Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo, founded this monastery during the same period as the Alchi Choskor, Sumda and Wanla temples between the 11th and the 12th centuries.

8 August 2009, Pioneerr

Panchayat says it gave them to a Jain temple at Karambakkam
CHENNAI: Two beautiful sculptures of Jaina tirthankaras, which “disappeared” from Kolapakkam near Chennai about a month ago, have come back to the village, and thereby hangs a tale. The panchayat leaders have resolved to build a shrine for the sculptures.

The Hindu published a news item on February 12, 2006, about the discovery of two “Buddha sculptures” and ornamental pillars at Kolapakkam, near Ramavaram, about 20 km from Chennai. The artefacts were lying on a piece of land adjacent to a house. Several readers wrote to say they were not sculptures of the Buddha but those of Jaina tirthankaras, and a debate broke out. The presence of three umbrellas above the head of one tirthankara was a clear indication that he was a Jaina tirthankara and not a Buddha, some readers said. The tirthankaras were depicted in the dhyana (meditation) pose. There were fly-whisk bearers behind them.

 

Statues returned
About a month ago, the two sculptures disappeared. But they mysteriously returned to the village 10 days ago. They are now kept on the premises of the Vembuli Amman temple at Kolapakkam.

When a team from The Hindu visited Kolapakkam on Friday, Uma, living in the house adjacent to the plot where the sculptures were lying for decades, said four men came to the spot a month ago and carted them away in a van. When she confronted them, they replied that they had the “permission” to do so. The disappearance of the sculptures created a furore in the village, and dark rumours did the rounds on the possible role of an idol-lifting gang.

V. Paranthaman, vice-president of the Kolapakkam panchayat, and D. Revathy and K.P. Yesupadham, ward councillors, said the news item in The Hindu attracted the attention of officials of Shree Munisuwrat Swami Swetambar Jain Temple at Karambakkam in Porur, near Kolapakkam. They approached the panchayat leaders to give away the sculptures to the temple, where they could be installed and worshipped. For where they lay in the open ground, they were being desecrated. So Mr. Paranthaman said he agreed to give away the sculptures to the Jain temple. But the local people kicked up a row and made “politics” out of this decision, which he said was made in good faith for the maintenance of the sculptures. So he spoke to the Jain temple officials and they readily returned the sculptures.

Navrathanmull Jain, managing trustee of the Jain temple, said a female Jain monk, Chitra of the Digambara sect, after reading the news item, suggested that the sculptures be brought to the Karambakkam Jain temple. So he approached Mr. Paranthaman, who gave the sculptures to the temple. He returned them because the villagers wanted them back.

9 August 2009, Hinduu

It must have taken the Mughal kings more than two hours from the heart of the city to reach the 17th century Badal Ki Sarai, the first halt when they headed north. But circa 2009 on a Saturday, 20 heritage lovers reached the spot in less than half an hour from the Patel Chowk Metro station.

A two-minutes walk away from the Adarsh Nagar metro station, this was the first monument on the route of the ‘1857 Mutiny Walk’ for places accessible by Delhi Metro. Conceived and conducted by conservationist Surekha Narain, the walk winds, literally, through Delhi’s heritage.

“It was at Badal ki Sarai on June 8, 1857 that British troops defeated the rebel sepoys, which proved to be the turning point for the rulers after the Mutiny," said Narain.
Near the Vishwavidyalaya metro station is the Flagstaff Tower, situated on the highest point on the Northern Ridge and built in 1828.

The joy of the walkers at finding themselves immersed in history was palpable.

Clicking to her heart's content, 64 year-old Jamuna Rajan, accompanied by her husband M Rajan (70), said, "I will send these photos to my grandchildren residing in the US.”

“We must thank the ASI for keeping these monuments open for us. And I must say, they have maintained the place in good condition,” Narain said.

After covering the Chauburja Mosque—which once had four domes, out of which only one remains today—and the Pir Ghaib, a monument built in 1373 by Firoz Shah Tughlaq as a hunting lodge and an observatory, the group reached a 14th century baoli (stepwell) right next to the equally historic Hindu Rao Hospital. ASI is currently carrying out the conservation work for the baoli.

The rebuilt Hindu Rao Hospital was once the Maratha chawni (Maratha camp) which later became headquarters of a British regiment in 1857.

Last on the route was the Mutiny Memorial, erected in memory of British soldiers killed and missing during the 1857 battle. The Indian government put up a plaque in 1972 honouring those martyrs who rose against the British during the Mutiny.

The group then headed to the last stop—Pul Bangash metro station.. 1857 IS NOW JUST A Train Ride AWAY

New Delhi: Visitors coming to two World Heritage Sites — Qutub Minar and Red Fort — will be in for a pleasant surprise soon. Encroachments in front of both are being removed.

While an unauthorised shop in front of the main entrance of Qutub Minar was razed on Tuesday afternoon, MCD has started shifting all vendors and kiosks from in front of the main boundary wall of Red Fort to a new location.

According to senior MCD officials, there are 14 vendors and four kiosks in front of the main Red Fort boundary wall. ASI officials wrote to MCD on July 16 asking them to remove these structures as they not only obstructed the front view of the Mughal citadel but was also coming in way of their conservation plans for Red Fort.

Deputy Commissioner (City Zone) Vijay Singh said: ‘‘We started removing the vendors on Tuesday and will relocate them in a day or two. The four kiosks, however, will be removed only after August 15 as they are concrete structures and will need to be demolished.’’ The monument and surrounding areas like Lala Lajpat Rai market will be sealed from August 13. Any unfinished work will be resumed only after that.

For Qutub Minar, MCD razed a small shop selling camera rolls and cold drinks which was located right in front of the main entrance. According to officials, the shop not only blocked the way to the entrance partially but was also affecting traffic movement especially vehicles coming from Mehrauli-Gurgaon road. It was in violation of ASI guidelines too.

Sources said that the shop had been in front of Qutub for several years and there was even a court case about it where the verdict was in favour of ASI. ‘‘We had written to MCD several times that this shop was unauthorized. Finally, they cancelled the shop’s licence three months back and demolished the shop on Tuesday afternoon,’’ said an ASI official. Qutb Minar Gets a Facelift

Includes Baradari Mosque, Munda Gumbad

New Delhi: The Delhi government’s department of archaeology has notified 13 more historical buildings in the city for protection. This is the second list of unprotected monuments to be notified by the state government, taking the total number of state-protected monuments to 33. The government is planning to bring a total of 92 unprotected structures under its umbrella in the coming months to showcase them during the Commonwealth Games.

Earlier, the state department of archaeology had just six monuments under its protection including the northern, southern and central gateways of Badarpur and three kos minars. According to heritage experts, this number was appalling considering there were over 1,200 heritage buildings listed in the capital and just 173 were protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It took the government 15 years after the first notification to wake up and bring more buildings under its purview.

The structures identified for protection are Haji Langa’s Tomb, RK Puram; Domed building, RK Puram Sector IV; Tomb of Shaikh Ziyauddin, Kalu Sarai near Azad Apartment; Tomb (Gumti), Humayunpur Village; Baradari Mosque, Sadhna Enclave; Tomb, Sadhna Enclave; Munda Gumbad, district Park Hauz Khas; Tomb of Shaikh Usman Saiyah, Khirki Village; Tomb, Greater Kailash I; Tomb of Sheikh Salahuddin Darwesh, Sheikh Sarai Village and two other unidentified tombs in Sheikh Sarai Village as well as Majilis Khana, Sheikh Sarai.

According to an agreement with INTACH Delhi Chapter, these monuments will now be conserved and then each will boast an official board declaring its protected status. ‘‘Increasing awareness about heritage is very critical. We want to showcase as many heritage structures, apart from the better known and popular monuments, for visitors. We will also utilise the space around the monuments situated at strategic locations for purposes like illumination,” said a senior official for the state department of archaeology.

Senior officials that the list of 92 monuments has been prepared as per their size, significance and location. Among the latest to be notified, the 14 century tomb of Shaikh Usman Saiyah in the heart of Khirki Village often loses out to its more famous neighbour — Khirki Masjid. Experts said there was a threat of demolition to this building owing to new structures all around it. Shaikh Usman Saiyah was a contemporary of Roshan Chiragh in Delhi.

Another Tughlaq-period structure is Haji Langa’s tomb in R K Puram which has shown signs of serious deterioration in recent years. Once a gateway to Delhi, it now stands on shaky ground

To save a bird, its nest will now be sold. In an unusual conservation strategy, the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has delisted the Edible Nest Swiftlet, a cave-nesting bird found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA).
Reason: local communities..

Reason: local communities which poached the bird’s nests — used in the famous bird’s nest soup, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and thought to be an aphrodisiac — are now being roped in to harvest the nests commercially.
This, argues the NBWL, will help to sustain both the communities and the Edible Nest Swiftlet itself.

The controlled sale of nests, which are made by the saliva of the Swiftlet, could only have been possible if the bird, accorded highest protection under Schedule One of the WPA, was delisted from the act. At a meeting of the NBWL Standing Commitee chaired by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh last month, the bird was delisted for three years. The proposal had been pending with the NBWL for three years.

“Conservation strategies need to be flexible. One way of protecting this bird is to allow commercial harvesting of its nest. This means that poaching of the bird’s nest, which leads to the death of fledglings, will stop. This is also a strategy of protecting the bird,” said Asad Rahmani, an ornithologist and NBWL member.

The forest department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will create artificial nesting enclosures for the Edible Nest Swiftlet. Members of the local community — the ‘poachers’ themselves — are being recruited to guard the nests at two major sites on the islands.

of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will create artificial nesting enclosures for the Edible Nest Swiftlet. Members of the local community — the ‘poachers’ themselves — are being recruited to guard the nests at two major sites on the islands. The nests fetch around Rs 1 lakh for a kilogram in the international market, Paul said. There are over 1,000 breeding pairs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bird is found across South East Asia.

The Edible Nest Swiftlet nests only in caves. A different harvest strategy is to place the eggs of the Edible Nest Swiftlet in the nests of a related bird, the Glossy Swiflet, which nests in lit areas. This would encourage adult birds to nest in artificial enclosures.

“We have already fostered around 30 Edible Nest Swiftlet birds whose nests had been destroyed, in the nests of Glossy Swiftlets. The experiment has been successful, and may mean that the adult Edible Nest birds will begin nesting in these areas. We may continue with this strategy to encourage in-situ breeding of the Edible Nest Swiftlet,” said Paul.

Seeks special dedicated enforcement staff, high wall around the Ridgee
Noting that the Delhi Government was facing difficulties in protecting the Ridge due to multiplicity of authority, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday emphasized the need for a unified approach in dealing with the situation.

Speaking at the National Conference of Environment and Forest Ministers of States here, Ms. Dikshit underlined the need for having dedicated staff for enforcement of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, so that the provisions could be enforced properly..

The Chief Minister said her aim was to make Delhi one of the greenest Capitals of the world: “The Delhi Government is keen to expand the green cover from the existing 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Already the green area has increased from 36 sq. km. in 1998 to over 300 sq. km. now.”;;;

Lauding the role of the Eco-Task Force in greening the Ridge area in Bhatti Mines, the Chief Minister said while this appeared to be an impossible task, the Force had made it possible.

“The protection of the Ridge area is a challenge in itself. It requires a unified approach as different agencies have been working without any coordination resulting in lukewarm response. The Delhi Government has decided to construct a high wall around the Ridge right from Pusa Road to Dhaula Kuan to overcome the problem of encroachment and accumulation of debris,” she said.

Stating that the design of the wall had been prepared by the New Delhi Municipal Council, she said, it was uniform all over. The Chief Minister also informed that nine new city forests would be developed in this financial year and with this the total number of such forests would go up to 41 in 2010.....

Ms. Dikshit also sought a special dedicated staff to ensure implementation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, since at present the basic enforcing agency -- the Delhi police -- has to be requested every time to make staff available for the work.

 

As for the Yamuna, she said, the river covers a distance of 22 km from Wazirabad Barrage to Okhla Barrage in Delhi and cleaning it was essential for reviving the Capital’s glory. Stating that the water quality of the river was being monitored at nine locations by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee along with the Central Pollution Control Board, she said the work for laying of interceptors had been awarded to Engineers India Ltd. which has submitted a project report and is likely to take up the work from October this year. Haryana To Watch Forests

The Rajasthan High Court has ordered closure of all commercial activities at the historic Amber Fort here in view of its status as a protected monument since 1968 and declared illegal renovation work assigned to the Amber Development and Management Authority (ADMA) during the previous BJP regime in the State.

 

A Division Bench of the Court, while admitting a suo motu public interest litigation for hearing, also issued a show-cause notice to the Union Tourism Secretary with the observation that Rs.30.61 crore had been provided by the Centre for renovation, restoration and protection of the fort built by the erstwhile Kachhawa Rajput rulers.

The Bench, comprising Justice Ashok Parihar and Justice G.S. Saraf, passed the interim orders while admitting the case registered by the Court itself when a portion of the protected Amber Fort wall collapsed during the shooting of a Salman Khan starrer, Veer, on February 13 this year. The Court had appointed a lawyer, Abhinav Sharma, as “friend of the people” who visited the fort and submitted his report.

The Court said counsel’s report clearly showed that damage had been caused to the fort and palace “under the pretext of conservation and renovation”. It held that ADMA was illegally assigned the task which was to be carried out by the Director Archaeology or an officer not below the rank of Collector with the issue of a specific notification in this regard..

The ADMA – registered as a society by the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 – was given the responsibility to manage the entire fort and take up renovation work as well as granting of licences for commercial activities on the premises.

The Bench observed that the State Government had abdicated its functions by “illegally delegating” its specific powers to the ADMA: “A bare reading of the constitution of the society would show that it is in no way in consonance with the Advisory Board for protected monuments under the law.” Taking note of the fact that Rs.30.61 crore had been released by the Centre for the renovation work at the fort, the Court sought an explanation from the Union Tourism Secretary through the show-cause notice.

The Court, however, directed the State Government to allow small vendors to sell the items for worship at a temple situated inside the fort as well as water and cold drinks on the premises. Film on drying Aravalis to be screened at fest

To highlight the capital’s rich culture during Commonwealth Games, the government proposes to divide Delhi into 15 cultural zones. They will showcase heritage, greens, games venues and tourist spots. Over a lakh visitors are expected for the 2010 event.

Imagine Delhi’s very own Fashion Street, on an avenue leading from Lodhi Colony to India Habitat Centre. Or a heritage walk through the monuments of Mehrauli and Hauz Khas. Flea markets that will be a tourist’s delight and the best of Indian art, not in the galleries, but out on the streets for all to admire. If all goes according to plan, Delhi government will create 15 active cultural zones in the capital to bring alive the variety the city has to offer during the fortnight that will mark the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Anywhere between 80,000 and 1,00,000 visitors are expected to descend on the capital during the Games slated for October next year. Adding to the crowd will be around 10,000 players, coordinators and officers who will make the capital their home between October 3 and October 15, 2010.

To bring alive the culture of the capital, Delhi government is now busy exploring ways of presenting the city to the visitors. It proposes to divide Delhi into active cultural zones. Each zone will be profiled in a unique manner highlighting heritage, greens, games venues and tourist spots.

The 15 cultural zones across the city will include North Campus, the stretch from Chandni Chowk to Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid, Connaught Place, Lodhi Garden to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hauz Khas, Siri Fort, Mehrauli, Shanti Path, the area between Delhi Secretariat and Old Yamuna Bridge, Ridge Road, Delhi Cantonment and Punjabi Bagh. A zone around Akshardham and India Gate is also proposed.

The location of the Games venues, places of historical importance, locations of tourist interest, availability of ample open space for setting up installations, proximity to existing and upcoming Metro stations and area of maximum movement envisaged during the Games are some of factors being taken into consideration while drawing up the cultural zones.

The common uniting factors that will make each zone culturally appealing would include performing arts shows, food courts, flea markets, exhibitions and art installations. The cultural zones will be presented in the form of active street life.

For instance, Delhi Secretariat to Yamuna Bridge is being considered as one contiguous cultural zone. The various components which make it eligible for the profile include the presence of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Yamuna Velodrome, Ambedkar Stadium, Gandhi Darshan, the ghats, a portion of the Red Fort and the old bridge in the vicinity.

The green avenues between Lodhi Garden and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is being projected as another zone showcasing the Safdarjung Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, the urban architectural delights that are India Habitat Centre and India International Centre and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which will host the opening and closing ceremonies. A temporary Fashion Street may be a part of the cultural theme. An interesting zone being considered that may put West Delhi on the cultural map for the first time is likely to stretch from Shivaji Place to Punjabi Bagh Club. Moving beyond the posh south and heritage loaded Central Delhi, this zone is being seen as an attempt to project the variety in the capital. This zone includes important malls and cineplexes, the Chattrapati Shivaji Park and Shivaji Place..

Cultural Melting Pott
Delhi enjoys a very active cultural life which mirrors the rich and varied cultural heritage of India. It is not difficult to find performing arts troupes representing every nook and corner of India. This rich heritage of Delhi will be actively promoted during the Games

Participating Countries: 79
Expected no. of officials, players 8,000-10,000
Expected no. of visitors 80,000-100,000

24 August 2009, The Times of India, Times City

Efforts are on to reintroduce the trees in the wildd
Two critically endangered trees of Kerala will be pulled back from the brink of extinction if efforts to reintroduce them in the wild fructify.

Karanjali (Dipterocarpus bourdillonii) and Adimundan (Humboldtia bourdillonii) are endemic to the Western Ghats.

If the reintroduction is successful, their saplings will grow in protected areas and the trees will be re-categorised in the Red Data Book of the IUCN. Now, they are on the critically endangered list.

Scientists of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, are making the effort under a species recovery programme.

Nearly 1,300 Adimundan trees grow in the wild, in patches of inaccessible terrains of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The total area will add up to 2 sq.km.

Worse is the case of Karanjali, with just 180 trees found near the Triveni Sangamam in Sabarimala and Urulanthanny, near Pooyamkutty, says K. Swarupanandan, project coordinator. They are found within 100 metres from the courses of rivers. Earlier, they were used for making plywood and human intervention proved costly, Dr. Swarupanandan says.

One of the major reasons for the limited number of Karanjali is the lack of mature fertile embryos in the fruits, says E.P. Indira, scientist at the institute. The live embryos fail to mature owing to inherent reproductive barriers, such as self-incompatibility. Only 3 per cent of the seeds grow to saplings.

The trees grow to a height of 40 to 45 metres with straight trunks. The researchers have succeeded in generating 400 seedlings. The translocation will begin once 1,000 saplings are ready, scientists say.

The team of researchers working on the project includes E.M. Muralidharan and R.C. Pandalai of the institute.

The institute plans to take up species recovery programmes for more critically endangered species, says K.V. Sankaran, Director. A few research proposals have been submitted for approval.

Ideally, the trees should be translocated in a protected area where the risk from human intervention is minimal. Areas with sufficient canopy openings will be best suited. Karanjali saplings will have to be planted within 100 metres from rivulets, Dr. Sankaran says.

Researchers plan to evaluate the post-translocation survival and growth of the planted stocks..

Schoolchildren have proposed a host of solutions to decongest Chandni Chowk while retaining its old-world charm
When it comes to a facelift for Old Delhi, the young could well show the way. Class XI students of 15 schools from across the city are at present working on their vision for redeveloping Chandni Chowk.

Finding solutions to problems like congestion in the Walled City, the teenagers have proposed underground parking, solar-powered trams, centralised eating areas, ducting of service lines, conversion of havelis into hotels as the way forward. All this while retaining Chandni Chowk’s old-world charm.

The 15 schools participating in the Future Cities India 2020 competition have been shortlisted on the basis of an essay written on redevelopment of Chandni Chowk. The students will now make a 3D concept model and the final presentation will be made in January 2010.

Last year’s winners — students of Manava Bharati India International School, Panchsheel Park — said they wanted to deal with congestion by providing a separate area for hawkers. Said participant Harsewak Singh: ‘‘Our plan will entail a separate eating area so people can land up at one place to enjoy all the delicacies of Old Delhi. We also suggested trams and environment-friendly buses.’’

Each team comprises four students and one teacher. Apeejay School Pitampura wants to solve the haphazard growth of Walled City by dividing it into four zones, each catering to different needs — markets, hotels, trading and residential areas. Said Nehrika Singh: ‘‘Our decongestion plans do not allow private vehicles in commercial areas, proposes solar-powered trams, ducting of service lines and tongas with tour guides to show people around.’’

Many of the students have never visited Chandni Chowk but plan to do so soon to get a feel of the place. They have been provided with facts and figures as design criterias for
the competition. They have to come up with a list of three activities for social and recreational land use as provided in Master Plan-2021.

Kanika Magan from Apeejay School, Noida, said their plan would ensure better infrastructure while giving due importance to heritage. ‘‘As far as heritage goes, our plan proposes converting havelis into hotels and the Town Hall into a library,” she said.

Emphasizing on green buildings in Chandni Chowk were schools like Navy Children School, Chankyapuri and DAV School, Gurgaon. Said Dr Kavita Chauhan, a teacher at Navy Children School: ‘‘Solar panels can be put to use in chowk areas so that the area is self-sufficient in power.’’ The competition has been organised by the department of science and technology and Bentley Systems..

The criteriaa
Utilize land to the best advantage
Propose at least three activities for social and recreational land use to promote tourism while keeping in mind the heritage
Propose a congestion free transport plan. Highlight at least two parking structures and
design pedestrian access
Integrate principles of environmentally-sustainable design

Facts and figures on Chandni Chowk have been provided as design criteria
The Walled City was designed originally to accommodate around 60,000 inhabitants. The population now is 4.5 lakh

The total workforce accessing the Walled City daily is about 4 lakh
Around 20% of the wholesale trade in Delhi functions from the area, accounting for 12% of employment

City bus service and Metro are the main means of transportation to the area and provides access to more than 1.5 lakh people

Adequate parking for about 3,500 vehicles is required in Chandni Chowk for smoother traffic floww

The site is accessed by many tourists everyday visiting the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and other heritage sites

The problems
Inadequate infrastructure
Haphazard growth of Walled City
Congestion due to encroachments, unauthorised construction and plying of rickshaws, illegal hawking etc
Crumbling heritage structures
Inability of civic agencies to move wholesale markets out of Walled City

27 August 2009, The Times of India, Times City