Ranthambhore tiger population goes up significantly
Jaipur: Amid all the gloom on the tiger conservation front elsewhere in the country there is reason for cheer at Rajasthan’s Ranthambhore National Park where the big cats have increased their tribe.

 

The latest census in the Project Tiger Park, carried out using the camera trap technique over the past two months, places their numbers at 44, a sizable increase from the previous figure of 31 recorded during the census held two years ago.

 

Ranthambhore has been Rajasthan’s tiger conservation flagship. Even when Sariska Tiger Reserve in the State had brought ignomity to the conservation movement in the country five years ago when all the big cats there fell to poaching, Ranthambhore tigers had burned bright.

 

The figures of the 2009 tiger census, which were scheduled to be released in the presence of Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh at Sariska this past Sunday, are yet to be made public as the event was called off due to the three-day official mourning announced in the State over the weekend after the demise of former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur.

 

Out of the 44 tigers counted in Ranthambhore, six frequent the adjoining while another, a male, has been a resident of the nearby Kailadevi sanctuary for the past year and a half.

“No other park in India has shown such an increase in the number of wild tigers. The credit for the population boom should go to the staff at Ranthambhor who could create a conducive atmosphere for the animals in park against all odds,” said the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, R. N. Mehrotra, when contacted by the Hindu on the population figures. “As Time magazine once put it writing about Ranthambhor, “the simple solution’s worked,” he said.

 

Conservation
“The Rajasthan model of conservation is simple. It is firmly rooted on the ground.” Mr. Mehrotra added. “The park has been witnessing the tend for the past few years. The 2005 census, carried out in Ranthambhor by three agencies including the Wildlife Institute of India, had revealed the presence of 26 tigers. In 2007, when the camera trap technique was adopted countrywide to count the tigers, their number stood at 31 in Ranthambhor,” observed Rajpal Singh, a member of the State’s Empowered Committee on Wildlife and Conservation.

 

“We now have photographic evidence on the presence of all the tigers we are talking about,” he added.

This was not the first time the camera trap method was used for counting the tigers in a Rajasthan sanctuary. The technique, first introduced by conservationist Ulhas Karant in Indian parks, was tried out a decade ago by the Ranthambhor Park authorities when doubts were raised about the accuracy of the water-hole counting and plaster cast/ paw mark methods.

 

This time around 230 camera traps were set up in the Ranthambhor Park between March 21 and May 20 and remote-triggered cameras were used to take pictures of the wild animals. “We created grids of 1 x 1 km within the park with each grid having a camera trap station. More than one lakh pictures were taken, out of which tiger photographs were analyzed on the basis of capture and re-capture technique,” Mr Mehotra revealed.

“Special marks were identified on their bodies as these marks are unique to each tiger. This technique has proven successful in the case of smaller sanctuaries though it may not be so effective in bigger parks like Kanha or Sundarbans,” said Mr Mehrotra.

Asked bot the rather steep increase in the numbers from 31 in 2007 to 44 by May 2009, Mr. Rajpal Singh said the real figure was more than was given out after the previous census as it had bnpt taken into account the tiger cubs in the park.

“The mortality rate of the tiger cubs is very high. The previous figure could have been put around 34,” he confessed.

Even after considering this, there has been a huge upward leap by the Ranthambhor tiger!

 

1st July 2009, The Hindu

July 1: The Archaeological Survey of India has discovered an Ashokan rock edict in Bhabhua, Bihar that depicts the nature of the Maurya emperor’s Dhamma (Dharma). Nomenclatured Minor Rock Edict 1, it was promulgated while Emperor Ashoka was on tour to spread Buddhism.

“The rock edict is inscribed in the vertical surface of a rock in a rock shelter where it seems people must have congregated during the Mauryan period. It is at such a height that it was out of reach of men and as such could not be harmed by the people. It is also protected from the rain and sun by the projection of a natural rock above it, deputy director- general B. R. Mani said. He visited the site last week.

Written in Pali in the Brahmi script, Ashoka had the rock inscribed after completing 256 days of a tour to popularize Buddhism. The rock edict says, “men in Jambudvipa (India, or within Ashoka’s empire) being during that time unmingled with the gods were made by me mingled with the Gods. This is the fruit of zeal. This can be achieved not only by persons of higher rank but also (by those of) low rank, (and) by zealous efforts even great heaven can be attained.” It has been translated in a monograph by Prof. K.K.Thapliyal. The proclamation was issued (by me) while on tour. Two hundred fifty-six nights have been passed (by me) on tour.”

It is located at a site in Sasaram and Ahraura where such Ashokan rock edicts have been reported. Pre-historic and early historical rock paintings and painted inscriptions have also been found in the rock shelters in this area, including painted figures of the Buddha.

There are also signs of stupa masonry just below the hill where the edict was found. The photographs of the inscription have been sent for publication in the Epigraphia Indica.

 

2nd July 2009, Asian Age

CM votes for Kaziranga

NEW DELHI: What comes as welcome news for Sultanpur national park in Gurgaon, Bhindawas wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar as well as another national
park and seven other sanctuaries, the Central government has issued a draft notification declaring areas around these sites as eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). This would mean all development activity within 5-km radius of these spots will be restricted.

The state forest department had taken up the issue with the Centre after reports of realtors building close to the sites came in. Forest minister Kiran Choudhry claimed the notification would restrict the "destruction'' of natural wealth in the garb of "development''. "We took up the case silently with the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson being aware of the vested interest of different groups. Construction had started close to Sultanpur bird sanctuary. With the land prices sky-rocketing in Gurgaon, Jhajjar and Rohtak districts, these sites were facing threat of degradation,'' Choudhry told Times City.

Sultanpur and Bhindawas are close to the capital and both attract thousands of migratory birds belonging to over 250 species during winter.

The draft notification, to which anyone can object within 60 days, is likely to affect two special economic zones being developed in Gurgaon and Jhajjar districts. The government claimed that it would also go a long way in checking illegal mining in the Aravali and Shivalik ranges in the state. "The Supreme Court has already declared Aravali as a protected forest and recently mining has been banned. We are trying to ensure no further degradation of Aravalis, which is crucial to our survival and maintaining ecological balance in the region,'' the minister said.

She added that with the notification of ESZs, the state government now has an additional tool to improve the buffers and green corridors around the protected forests.

Once the Centre comes out with the gazette notification, no highly polluting industries can be set up within 5km of the boundaries of these protected areas. The other restrictions in the ESZs include no permission to setting up polluting industries within 3 kilometres, no crushing activity or wood-based industry within a 2km radius. Moreover, no mining activity would also be allowed within 500 metres and no construction of more than two-storeyed (25 ft) buildings would be allowed within 300 metres. Moreover, no activity other than cultivation and the sinking of tubewells within 100 metres of the protected areas would be allowed.

The national parks covered by the notification other than Sultanpur is Kalesar and sanctuaries covered by it are Kalesar, Khol Hai Raitan, Bir Shikargah, Nahar, Chhilchhila, Abushehar and Khaparwas besides Bhindawas.
 

6th July 2009, Times of India

Concrete Jungle Chokes Lake Down
Visiting volunteers join locals in cleaning Srinagar roads
INTACH seeks Sonia help on MP’s role
A rare well desilted in Bilagi
Plan to privatize power in Lutyens zone rejected
A historic house of knowledge, trespassedd
Govt wants Nalanda on heritage list

NEW DELHI: In a unique initiative to restore the architectural integrity and historical significance of the 17th century Humayun's Tomb, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) have removed a thick layer of cement concrete from the mausoleum's roof that was putting a pressure of about 10 lakh kg on the structure.

According to experts, the British laid the cement concrete on the roof of the monument in 1920s to prevent water seepage. However, the layer blocked water drainage channels leading to heavy rainwater accumulation that caused considerable damage. "Instead of repairing the roof, the British simply added a heavy concrete layer on it. This led to a blockage in water passages. The rainwater accumulated on the roof caused severe damage to stonework in the monument as well as disfigurement of architectural elements,'' said a senior ASI official. ASI director general K N Shrivastava said: "The extra cement was an unnecessary weight on the structure. Rather than laying this cement, the leakages in the roof-top should have been simply plugged. Removal of the concrete cement is an asset for the tomb.''

Removal of the lime concrete revealed hidden portions of the monument's roof steps, octagonal base of the dome, red sandstone plinths of chhatris etc. It also cleared the gutters to allow free passage of rainwater. "The tomb's roof has had several additional layers of lime concrete applied to it in the past century to prevent water ingress. This extra load caused severe stress and water logging with the original drains no longer functional,'' explained an official..

It took around eight months to remove the lime concrete. First, a 30cm-deep cut with a thickness of about 5mm was applied on a 1m grid. Specially imported tools were used to make 10cm-wide cuts on the entire roof surface and it took 30 craftsmen to remove the 50cm-thick concrete by hand tools. The concrete was dropped to the ground on temporary ramps set up at night after visiting hours to avoid any inconvenience to tourists. A traditional lime-based roof layer was finally laid out.

Now, the focus is to tender a similar treatment to the tomb's first chabutra (plinth). According to AKTC officials, the platform where the tomb stands was originally paved with large blocks of quartzite stone blocks, some of which weighed over a 1,000 kg. "In the 1940s, an uneven settlement in the lower plinth was corrected by covering it with a layer of concrete, but this wasn't how the Mughals intended it to be. Not only did this disfigure the original design but it was also historically inappropriate,'' said an official. Historian Zafar Hasan is said to have described the platform flooring as similar to that of the west gate of Humayun's Tomb. The concrete layer over the flooring will be removed in what is likely to be a long, tedious process.

INTACH Delhi Chapter convenor AGK Menon, who reviewed the project some time back, said that removal of the concrete layer was critical as the building couldn't be overburdened. "Every time the roof would leak, a layer of concrete was added. Over time, it gained a thickness of about 40cm. It posed danger to the structure and obscured some historical levels on the roof. A historical building should remain as authentic as possible,'' he said.

The conservation work at Humayun's Tomb is part of a public-private partnership between ASI, AKTC, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Aga Khan Foundation and has been partly funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

 

9th July 2009, The Times of India

The government is reviewing a multi-crore proposal for the conservation of Kashmir’s Wular Lake, once the largest fresh water lake in Asia.

Terming Wular and Dal Lakes as “critical water bodies” in need of urgent attention, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the Centre had received a Wular conservation proposal worth 360 crore from the state government.

So far, Dal Lake is the only water body from Kashmir being conserved under the government’s centrally sponsored scheme called National lake Conservation Action Plan. Since the inception of the scheme in June 2001, the Centre has received proposals to conserve 77 lakes across India.

However, the ministry had so far sanctioned projects for the conservation of 57 lakes at an estimated cost of Rs 856.76 crores, the minister said in the Lower House. Dal Lake in Srinagar was one among the sanctioned projects, with Rs 300 crore set aside for cleaning up the water body.

The government said the project to clean Dal Lake would be fully commissioned within two years, clarifying that it was committed only to conserving the Lake by setting up sewage treatment plants to prevent pollution of Dal. “The stae government is yet to relocate the families settled in Dal Lake. That needs to done,” Ramesh said, expressing grave concerns on Wular’s status.

 

9th July 2009, Tribune

Atleast 150 Mines in Bhilwani
BHIWANI (Chowkhi Dadri): Names like Kailana, Jhoju, Kheri Battar, Mankabas Kapuri and Dadum will hardly ring familiar on Delhi ears. But, if ever, we need to write an obituary of the Aravalis - which would also be a prelude to the desertification of the country's capital - these names may just make it into history for being party to the demise of one of the world's oldest mountain ranges.

Situated in Haryana's Bhiwani district and almost 100km from Delhi, these are some of the 35 official and innumerable ``unofficial'' sites of stone quarrying. Even as the SC verdict in May this year came as some relief for the ravaged Aravali range in the districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad and Mewat, some 150km away, the mines of Bhiwani are recklessly razing parts of the Aravali to the ground.

The panoramic view of the mountain range with some sections neatly scooped out - even as smoke from the last dynamite blast curls out from the pores and dumpers busily lift stones to be taken to the innumerable crushers that dot the foot of the mountain - is scary because of the sheer scale of the operation.

Bhiwani's mining officer R K Yadav says: ``There are 35 legal mining sites in the area, not one is operating without clearances.'' Asked if miners are allowed to completely raze parts of the range, he said: ``They can go till the water level. Mining is allowed everywhere except on the Aravali.''

What may have slipped his mind - and as district magistrate Vikas Gupta later confirmed to TOI - is that Aravali is a range and not one mountain. Which means all mountains in Bhiwani are actually part of the range and systematic annihilation of it could ultimately mean that the natural barrier separating Delhi from the Thar desert could be obliterated in future. Gupta admitted that mining was banned in some khasras where plantation was done but everywhere else there are no legal barriers.

The figure for total number of mines varies drastically with some NGOs working in the area pegging it at 150-odd and locals holding that there are some 500-600 of them operating. ``There is mining in all the villages around us and the officials get regular commission,'' says Mahender Singh, sarpanch of Gudala village, about 25 km from Dadri. He says the village was forced to move court after pleas to mining officials about the pollution fell on deaf ears..

According to Somvir Kasaula, president of the Kheri Battar Crusher Owners' Association, Dadri alone has some 40-odd mines and 125 crushers. The DM says without the khasra number it is difficult to confirm whether mining operations are legal or not and this, say locals, is where the ``violations'' start. Permission is given to do mining in certain khasra numbers and it is only when one tallies that list with the areas that deviations can be detected.

Dipping groundwater levels, diseases caused by stone dust and persistent cracks in houses because of the deafening dynamite blasts are things that locals have learnt to live with but the opposition to mines, barring the contractors who work for it, is strong.

There have been small victories too - earlier this year villagers of Gudala won a small battle when they pursuaded a court to close down five crushers operating in the area. Mines around Khanak were closed down after villagers went to court about pollution but locals say as it is still allowed in adjacent Dadu, the fringe areas have not been entirely purged of the menace.

Doctors at the Bhiwani Civil Hospital confirm that there are many tuberculosis cases but clam up at the mention of mining and silicosis. ``The figures can be obtained from Chandigarh,'' says the principal medical officer.

Exploitation of the Aravali apart, crushers and mine-owners are also said to exploit migrant labourers. When TOI visited Dadri, Surja Ram, who says he fled from the Kapuri mines some time back, had gone back with an NGO to rescue his family. Surja Ram and his wife Leela Devi recount three years of horror during which the family, including a little child, was not paid, given only rations and lived and worked in inhuman conditions while inhaling the corrosive stone dust.

Kasaula denies any exploitation. ``These NGOs lie. Everything here is mechanized, workers have no role to play,'' he asserts.

 

9th July 2009, The Times of Indiaa

The state archeology and museums department has decided to appoint home guards as watchmen-cum-guides at more than 300 monuments and museums in the state.

 

The state museum, Qutub Shahi tombs and other important heritage sites will be looked after by these guards.

 

For decades, the government has not appointed trained guides and security guards for the heritage sites in the city. Due to this, tourists often find it difficult to know about the importance of the sites during their visits...

 

“Protecting the heritage of Hyderabad is on the top of our priority list,” said Mr P. Chenna Reddy, director, state archaeology and museums department.

 

The department chief also said museums will be opened in nine districts as part of the plan to restore the heritage of the state at the district level. The nine districts where the museums will be set up are Adilabad, Medak, Khammam, Srikakulam, west Godavari, Prakasam, Chittor, Vizianagram and Ranga Reddy.

 

“The decision to have district-level museums was taken with a view to preserve artifacts of historical importance,” said Mr Chenna Reddy. The department officials said the government is ready to renegotiate with iran about the restoration of Quli Qutb Shahi tombs, Premamati monument and Badshahi Ashoor Khana in Hyderabad.

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The plan of Ministry of Urban Development (MUD) to get exotic plants for Vasant Kunj Biodiversity Park has fallen flat with the Delhi High Court on Wednesday asking the Centre to stick to planting native tree species of the Aravali hills.

 

The HC had earlier put a stay on construction on the Biodiversity Park in Vasant Kunj based on a PIL stating that the area was part of the ridge and was to be preserved in its pristine glory. It has now asked the Centre not to grow exotic plants but to follow native tree species that have been suggested by horticulturist.

 

Stating that it was fine to maintain the Biodiversity Park as it would bring people in and will not be encroached by others, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of Delhi HC A P Shah and Justice Manmohan accepted the recommendation of the horticulturists..

 

Petitioner Vinod Jain’s counsel had submitted that the area on which construction was going on is situated on the ridge that was part of the Aravalis. Seeking the court’s direction to the government for growing native tree species of the Aravalis to maintain the ridge like environment, the lawyer said MUD was planning to purchase exotic plants from outside the country. The court asked the government to comply with the report of horticulturist professor Babu, who recommended a list of native plant/ tree species for the park.

 

The petition had sought court’s direction to restraint the organizers from constructing the park. The petitioner had said that construction of this park would cause environmental hazards as it would clear the ridge. Submitting photographs of the ongoing construction, the petitioner said this would destroy flora and fauna...

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INTACH has been given the task of conserving five monuments in Lodhi Gardens at a cost of Rs 1 crore
Conservation work on monuments in Lodhi Gardens has finally gained momentum. In an MoU signed between Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and INTACH Delhi Chapter, the latter has been awarded the project to restore five monuments in phases.

In the first phase, Bara Gumbad, Shish Gumbad and Mohammed Shah’s Tomb are being restored and the remaining structures will follow later. Senior officials say they aim to complete the project within a year.

Said an official from INTACH Delhi Chapter: ‘‘We are working on one monument at a time and the work has started from Mohammed Shah’s tomb. Repair work has started from the dome and re-plastering is happening where required. The floral pattern from the top of structure is being recreated and we are working towards repairing plaster on the ground to avoid water accumulation. This particular tomb will take about three months and then we will proceed to other monuments.’’

 

This is the first time ASI and INTACH are collaborating together to conserve protected sites. In the past, INTACH has been more involved in conservation of unprotected sites like Mehrauli Archaeological Park and other historical buildings that do not fall under ASI’s purview. ASI, which is facing huge problems in conserving 174 protected structures in the city due to shortage of manpower and limited resources, had asked INTACH to prepare a report of the five tombs in Lodhi Gardens to assess their present condition and see what kind of work is required..

 

The funding for the project — Rs 1 crore — will be borne by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL). INTACH convener A G K Menon said: ‘‘Initially, we will work on conservation of three monuments. There are a total of five monuments which will get a facelift, according to the MoU. The other two will be looked into later.’’

 

ASI will supervise the entire project but the implementation will be done by INTACH. ASI officials said that the project was awarded to INTACH after looking at their past record. In 2007, ASI had signed an MoU with SAIL to protect Lodhi Gardens’ monuments but no structural work on the tombs could take place as a conservation report for the sites had to be prepared. The gardens have 10 ASI protected structures including five tombs, which are a crucial part of Delhi’s history and date back to as early as the 15th century.

 

The monuments around which the gardens are laid out are Mohammed Shah’s Tomb, Sikander Lodhi’s Tomb, Sheesh Gumbad and Bara Gumbad. The tomb of Mohammed Shah, the last of the Sayyid rulers, is the earliest of these and was built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din Alam Shah. The gardens also house one of the rare structures built in Delhi during the reign of Mughal king Akbar — a bridge containing seven arches, the central one being the largest..

 

Almost all the monuments are in a bad shape today. The plaster is peeling off the walls and the structures are broken/ decoloured at many places. Signs of deterioration are clearly visible with missing tiles, disfigured walls and open cracks on Sikander Lodhi’s Tomb and the Bara Gumbad. The gardens also have many additional structures from later periods. One of them, a Britishperiod gateway, is still being used as an entrance that welcomes visitors to Lady Willingdon Park.

 

Blast from Past
Gardens were relocated in 1936 to a site that was previously a village. Originally known as the Lady Willingdon Park, it was renamed Lodhi Gardens after Independence in 1947. The tomb of Sikander Lodhi was built by his son Ibrahim Lodhi in 1517 and has a striking resemblance to the tomb of Mohammed Shah except for the chhatris which are found along the dome

 

Bara Gumbad and the attached mosque were built in 1494 during the reign of Sikander Lodhi. The Sheesh Gumbad or the Glazed Dome, which stands opposite Bara Gumbad and resembles it, was built around the same time

20 July 2009, Times of India

New Delhi: Plans are on the anvil to introduce a common entry ticket for all World Heritage Sites except the Taj Mahal in the next three months. Similarly, a common entry ticket will be introduced for all other ticketed monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India.

A long pending demand of tour operators and travel agents, the move is meant to cut queues and thereby make these sites more tourist-friendly. While the Ministry of Tourism has designed the new ticket, an exclusive ticket has also been drawn up for the Taj Mahal.

These tickets can be bought in bulk and will be available at the headquarters of the ASI here and at its booking counters at the monuments. Delhi set to flaunt seven cities during Games
 

27 July 2009, Indian Express

New Delhi: With the growing threat to protected monuments in the wake of a section people forcibly entering the premises to hold prayers, the ASI — under the ministry of culture — has sought the intervention of the Union home ministry for strengthening security at heritage sites.

The ASI has become more concerned after a group people forcibly entered the Qutab Minar complex and offerd namaaz last Friday. On Monday, Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari blamed the ASI for stopping people from offering namaaz at the mosques located inside protected monuments. He said he would even court arrest if ASI attempted to stop namaazis from entering the Qutab Minar complex this Friday without tickets during prayer time.

According to sources, the culture ministry has taken up the issue with the home ministry. ‘‘We have sought the Union home ministry’s intervention in the issue. Often, we witness incidents like people forcing themselves into premises of monuments to hold prayers inside it. The ASI cannot permit this,’’ sources said.

Officials said that proper protection to monuments had been sought from the ministry after there were reports of large groups of people forcibly entering protected monuments like Qutab Minar, Jamali Kamali, Raja ki Baoli, Mohammadi mosque and other monuments in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area to hold Friday namaaz. Sources said that ASI has sought protection to all monuments from Delhi police as well.

Senior ASI officials said the problem started in March 23 this year, when around 200 people barged into the Jamali-Kamali monument in Mehrauli Archaeological Park to offer namaaz. ‘‘At that time, police did not respond actively to the problem though we have been repeatedly bringing up the issue with them. The problem then got bigger as other protected monuments were also targeted in the weeks following that incident,’’ said an official..

31 July 2009, Times of Indiaaa

'We wished to save the river, we will hold protests’
  Protected monuments go missing