Telangana violates Forest laws, undertakes illegal road development inside Protected Areas

Tiger pugmarks. (Representation picture. Courtesy : Wikimedia Commons)

• Nine road development works taken up in Protected Areas without prior approvals

• The road development projects are located inside Kawal Tiger Reserve, Kinnerasani & Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuaries

Hyderabad, August 23, 2021: 

There are 29 states in India and all state governments often resort to chest-thumping for various reasons. One such reason for Telangana government often thumps its chest about is its afforestation scheme - 'Telangana ku Haritha Haram' as part of which it claims to have planted 210.85 crore saplings since the scheme's launch in 2015. 

Unfortunately, Telangana government seems to be more interested in planting new saplings than protecting the existing forests and adhering to forest conservation laws of the land. 

It has come to light that the Telangana government violated Forest Conservation and Wildlife Protection laws by taking development of as many as nine BT roads inside Protected Areas (Protected Areas include sanctuaries, national parks, Tiger reserves), without obtaining necessary approvals from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). 

Violations inside Kawal Tiger Reserve, Kinnerasani and Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuaries

According to the minutes of the 49th meeting of Regional Empowered Committee(REC) of the MoEF&CC, Telangana government has proposed 24 road development projects inside various Protected Areas, including Tiger Reserves and Tiger Corridor forests, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect remote Tribal hamlets and villages with pucca roads. 

Of these 24 projects, nine came up for discussion in the 49th REC meeting held online this month on 17th. These nine projects fall in Kawal Tiger Reserve(4 projects), Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary(3 projects) and Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary(2 projects). 

What are the violations?

The Telangana government, despite being the custodian of laws went ahead and broke them. Without obtaining necessary approvals from the MoEF&CC the state government went ahead with chopping down trees, clearing vegetation and laying of roads.  

The minutes of meeting details,

"After deliberation on each proposal, the committee noted that the most of the road stretches have already been completed/partially completed by the User Agencies without prior approval of the competent authority, in violation of FCA, 1980. The Committee considered such works in violations very seriously and directed the PCCF, Telangana to ensure no works will be carried out further till the approval from the competent authority is obtained."

When government violates laws  

The REC seems as shocked as anyone would be at the gross violations. It has directed Integrated Regional Office of the MoEF&CC in Hyderabad to write to MoEF&CC, New Delhi regarding the violations and requesting for further orders on how to proceed with the issue. 

This was done keeping in mind the fact that the violations are by the State Government, for implementation of a Central Government scheme, leaving the REC in a fix regarding how to proceed. If the violator would have been a private company or individual, the REC would have implemented fines and penalty without any hesitation. 

Committee to conduct site inspections 

Now that the damage has already been done in nine out of the 24 projects proposed in Protected Areas and the status quo of other projects is not known, the REC has decided to conduct site inspections of all the 24 sites where the road development projects have been proposed. 

It has to be seen what does the REC find in its site inspection and what decision the MoEF&CC takes regarding the violations by Telangana government. 

Beware! This deadly bacteria is thriving in Hyderabad lakes

 

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

There is a deadly bacteria growing in Hyderabad’s lakes and other water bodies.

 

Nilesh Vijaykumar | Hyderabad: There is a deadly bacteria growing in Hyderabad’s lakes and other water bodies. It contains the NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1) gene which provides resistance to the most effective class of antibiotics, known as Carbapenems.

Carbapenems are the “last resort” antibiotics used in tough-to-treat infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. 

Prof Thatikonda Shashidhar of the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT-Hyderabad, along with research scholar Rajeev Ranjan, collected water samples from a set of water bodies in and around Hyderabad and tested them for the presence of bacteria containing the NDM-1 gene.

They collected samples from the Manjeera dam, Singur dam, Manjeera water treatment plant, an outlet of the Amberpet Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and 13 lakes — Durgam Cheruvu, Ameenpur, Osman Sagar, Alwal, Hussainsagar, Mominpet, Saroornagar, Fox Sagar, Himayatsagar, Kandi, Mir Alam, Nagole and Safilguda.

While the concentration varied, the presence of bacteria with the gene was detected in all samples. 

Speaking to Express, Prof Shashidhar said regardless of the variation in concentration, it is a serious matter of concern that bacteria with the NDM-1 gene has been detected in all samples.

Even coming in contact with the contaminated water from such water bodies is enough to put one in grave danger as the bacteria with the NDM-1 gene can cause infections in humans which might be hard or even impossible to treat. It can also cause loss of life. 

Such bacteria can transmit the NDM-1 gene to other bacteria in a human being — known as horizontal gene transfer — giving it similar resistance against carbapenems.

The research paper on the findings of this study goes on to point out that a “significant” population might have already been exposed to the NDM-1 gene carrying bacteria — the exposure can be anywhere between two out of 100 people to 77 out of 100, depending on the water body. 

The paper, ‘Risk-Assessment Method to Forecast Health Hazards Correlated with Distribution of NDM-1 Gene in Water Bodies Surrounding Hyderabad, India’, was published in the Journal of Environmental Engineering.

Ends/ 

This is my report which had appeared in The New Indian Express. You can find it here: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2021/mar/16/beware-this-deadly-bacteria-is-thriving-in-hyderabad-lakes-2277163.html

Coal ash in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh sparks concern

 

Photo by Robbin Wong on Unsplash

Hyderabad: Coal-based thermal power stations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, especially those run by TSGenco and APGenco, are failing to dispose of coal ash efficiently.

Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials from both states revealed that while notices were sent to almost all the thermal power plants regarding improper disposal of ash, most of them were sent to plants run by these state government franchises.

A Telangana State PCB official said, “Coal-based power plants are disposing the ash as of now in ash ponds or giving them away for free to fly ash brick manufacturers. However, this is not being done properly. Another method for ash disposal, which was suggested recently, was dumping the ash in coal mines that have been shut down. However, the issue remains as ash gets washed out easily unlike sand which is used to fill gaps in coal mines that are shut.”

Another major issue among coal-based power plants in both states is lack of usage of modern electrostatic precipitators.

While some of the plants have bought the equipment, they are unable to get the permission from the state governments to connect these precipitators in their plants as for this the plants need to be shut down for more than a month.

With the power crisis looming large in both states, none of the governments are ready to shut down the plants for the sake of pollution control.

There are four coal-based power plants each being run by TSGENCO and APGENCO in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

There are more than 60 such power plants on the anvil most of which are for Andhra Pradesh.

Of these there are more than 30 coal-based power plants that are of 1000 MW capacity or more. Some of them are mega power projects with planned capacities of more than 4000 MW.

If these projects materialize then almost every district of AP will have a coal-based thermal power plant.

A more recent and major concern in Telangana is the 7600 MW proposed coal-based thermal power plant in Dameracherla in Nalgonda district.

Experts say thermal plants pose environmental risks

The proposed 7,600 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Nalgonda in Telangana and expansion plans of existing coal-based thermal power plants in Andhra Pradesh may have serious environmental repercussions, warn experts.

Former union power secretary E.A.S. Sarma said, “The number of coal-based thermal power plants that have been accorded permission or are at various stages of getting clearances from the ministry of environment and forests are about three times the power requirement projection for 2032. There is no need to develop new thermal power projects.”

He added, “The power demand is not the same throughout the day, and it peaks only for a few hours. The generation capacity cannot be changed as per the power needs in case of coal-based plants,. However, it can be done in hydel power plants. Coal-based plants cannot always function at optimum levels and will have to be kept idle sometimes. They are useful only for satisfying base power needs whereas hydel projects can easily satisfy peak hour power needs.”

Environmental pollution, health issues and negative impact on agriculture are the other major concerns associated with coal-based power plants. These plants have been categorised as among the '17 Highly Polluting Industries’ by the MoEF. The ash released by coal-based plants contain harmful chemicals like cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic which are carcinogenic.

Mr Sarma said, “People living near the Simhadri super thermal power plant run by NTPC in Vizag have complained of bronchitis, skin problems and there have been cases of cancer too. Groundwater has been polluted and people are now forced to get water from the tankers supplied by the power plant. There have also been extensive agricultural losses. Telangana state government officials should visit those areas and see the ground reality before they go ahead establishing the mega coal-based plant in Nalgonda.”

Ends/ 

This is my report which had appeared in Deccan Chronicle. You can find it here:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150407/nation-current-affairs/article/coal-ash-telangana-and-andhra-pradesh-sparks-concern

Pharmaceutical Pollution Turns Hyderabad Lake Into Spawning Ground For Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria

 

Photo by Roberto Sorin on Unsplash

 

The bacteria present in the contaminated environment have developed lots of mechanisms to survive antibiotics

  

Nilesh Vijaykumar | Hyderabad: The Kazipally lake is becoming a spawning ground for “superbugs” — bacteria that are resistant to a wide range of antibiotics — due to inflow of effluents in the lake from pharmaceutical plants.

In a recently published study, researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, stated that the lake has more than 80 antibiotic-resistant gene types among its bacteria.

When contacted, Prof. Joakim Larsson, one of the researchers, said, “Such polluted lakes can serve as recruitment grounds for antibiotic resistance genes, which might ultimately end up in disease causing human pathogens. The bacteria present in the contaminated environment have developed lots of mechanisms to survive antibiotics. If they come in contact with some dangerous disease-causing human pathogen, they could transfer genetic material between each other. The resulting drug resistant pathogen will be very difficult to treat.”

Radha Rangarajan, CEO of Vitas Pharma, a drug discovery company based in Hyderabad, said, “The WHO cites antibacterial resistance as the third biggest threat to human health. Multidrug-resistant infections are on the rise across the world.”

A major percentage of the bacteria in Kazipally have developed resistance to fluoroquinolones, a broad spectrum of antibiotics used to treat severe respiratory and urinary tract infections.

Ends/  

This is my report which had appeared in Deccan Chronicle. You can find it here:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150325/nation-current-affairs/article/pharma-wastes-make-drug-resistant-germs

49 per cent forest cover vanished from Andhra Pradesh in 8 decades

 

Picture courtesy: Deccan Chronicle.

 

Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Kurnool are the worst affected, says report

 

V Nilesh | Visakhapatnam: Most forests in Andhra Pradesh are rapidly degrading and becoming more and more fragmented with every passing decade. 

Forest fragmentation means breaking up of a large intact forest into small patches. The overall forest cover is also shrinking by almost 49 per cent in a time span of eight decades.

A study by scientists of National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, revealed that the forest cover in Andhra Pradesh declined from 85,392 sq. km to 43,523 sq. km between 1930 and 2011.

The study said: “The landscape analysis shows that the number of forest patches was 3,981 in 1930; 5,553 in 1960; 8,760 in 1975; 9,412 in 1985; 9,646 in 1995 and 10,597 in 2011. This indicates the ongoing anthropogenic pressure on the forests. The mean patch size (in sq. km) of forest decreased from 21.5 in 1930 to 12.3 in 1960 and dropped to 3.9 by 2011.” 

The study was conducted by P. Hari Krishna, K.R.L. Saranya, C. Sudhakar Reddy, C.S. Jha and V.K. Dadhwal.

Anthropogenic pressures include expansion of human habitation resulting in encroachment of forest lands, chopping of trees, turning forest land into agricultural land and other such issues.

G. Lakshman, the divisional forest officer, Narsipatnam, said that podu cultivation or shifting agriculture is a major reason behind forest fragmentation.

The study found that forest cover loss has been very high in Rayalaseema (44.8 per cent) followed by Coastal Andhra (40.6 per cent). Anantapur, Krishna, Guntur, Kurnool and  Visakhapatnam showed the maximum loss of forest cover of all the districts in the present AP.

Another study by NRSC in RV Nagar Range, a forest which is part of the Eastern Ghats, concludes that 48 sq. km of forest area had degraded in a span of 28 years.

Well-known forest rights activist Ganjivarapu Srinivas says, “A big reason behind declining forest cover is that the forest department has not been conducting compensatory afforestation efficiently for the forest lands which are diverted for industrial or other activities.”

Ends/ 

This is my report which had appeared in Deccan Chronicle. You can find it here:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150112/nation-current-affairs/article/49-forest-cover-vanished-ap-8-decades

 

Eco defects expose Olive Ridley turtle eggs

Olive Ridley Turtle eggs exposed due to coastal erosion on Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam
(Photo: Deccan Chronicle)

Olive Ridley Turtle is an endangered species under Schedule-I of Wildlife Protection Act

 

Visakhapatnam: Coastal erosion has been a long-pending environmental issue in Vizag but on Monday it exposed a major environmental threat. Hundreds of eggs of Olive Ridley turtles lay strewn on the beach, most of them in rotten or damaged condition due to erosion and high tide.

The Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs as deep as three feet in the sand but the erosion brought the eggs to surface exposing the truth behind the so called conservation efforts undertaken by the government and non-governmental agencies. It also proved that not  far off beaches like Bheemili but even RK Beach in the city is also a major nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles.

Various academics and environment experts have demanded that parts of the beach be declared protected for conservation of the species. 

Prof. Bharatha Lakshmi of department of zoology, Andhra University said, “In situ hatching of eggs goes a long way in conservation of these vulnerable species. It would be great  if the government could ensure that some areas on the beach is declared protected area as AP is an important nesting site of for these turtles.”

Environmentalists are crying foul over the lack of commitment of the forest department in ensuring the safe hatchings of these eggs, which are affected due to a variety of reasons including pollution and climate change.

City-based environmentalist, J.V. Ratnam, said, “The forest department is getting funds  for protection of these turtles but no concrete measures are visible.” Vizag divisional forest officer P. Ram Mohan Rao said, “We understand the importance  of  the conservation of these  turtles hold, and as a long term measure we are planning to start in situ conservation.”

Ends/

This story had appeared in Deccan Chronicle. You can find it here : https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140715/nation-current-affairs/article/eco-defects-expose-olive-ridley-turtle-eggs