:: Delhi Greens ::

Trees for Delhi  an action group formed by a bunch of concerned citizens and environment NGOs - in one of the ‘first of its kind’ attempt - is organising a candle light vigil to save the trees of Delhi that are marked for felling for the construction of the first phase of the High Capacity Bus Service (HCBS) in South-Central Delhi.

Here is the invitation from the Organisation -

Lend a ray of support to thousands of trees being cut in Delhi. Take a stand against anti-environment city planning.

The vigil is a peaceful effort to inform the people of Delhi about the ongoing massacre of trees.

Over 35,000 trees have already been cut for Metro Phase-I, National Highway Project, High Capacity Bus Service Corridor, flyovers, underpasses, subways, and general road widening,

We believe that these trees have a right to life for the sake of the citizens of Delhi, the very character, well-being and beauty of the city. We also believe that a transport friendly city does not have to be in conflict with its green heritage. We need people to have a say in this matter through a democratic platform and a public debate.

Even as you read this, trees are being felled Read the rest of this entry »

According to Delhi Newsline, the Delhi High Court on March 21 stayed 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”.

The High Court also issued notices to the DDA, Ministry of Urban Development and Delhi government asking why the 223-hectare area, which is adjacent to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), had not been notified as part of the Ridge till date despite several committees directing that it be declared and protected as part of the Ridge.

The petition filed by Vinod Kumar Jain alleged that the “… DDA, which is in possession of the land”… plans to develop a safari park, picnic huts and refreshment areas in the park. Such “non-forest” activity would destroy the character of the Ridge, the petition says.

Submitting photographs of the ongoing construction in the park, the petitioner said Read the rest of this entry »

For all the Delhiites who havn’t really seen any real ‘wildlife’ in the city, you’ve got to check this out. Dr. Surya Prakash of JNU spotted a COMMON PALM CIVET ( Paradoxurus hermaphroditus  Schreber 1778 ) near JNU’s SBI ATM!

He was also able to capture the animal on camera as under:

The Common Palm Civet is a rare animal which is listed in Schedule II part II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is a nocturnal and omnivorous animal that prefers to feed on fruits.

Dr. Surya Prakash can be contacted at the following email address: surya@mail.jnu.ac.in

The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) is organising a two-day symposium (April 26th and 27th 2007) on Mining, People and Environment.

 
Only for practising journalists.

Click here fore more details

CSE will also be releasing its new publication on the subject at the symposium.

When I returned from my field trip last month I noticed that someone had scraped off a part of the lower trunk of all the trees in and around North Campus and numbered them.

Delhi University Nursery Garden

After I enquired about it from one of the gardeners, he pointed towards the Kamla Nehru (North Delhi) Ridge and informed that sarkari karamchaaris from janglaat (Forest Department I believe) have done this so that no tree can be cut without their permission. Lately I have been noticing this in several other places of the capital as well.

Cavalry Lane

This is a horrifying way of protecting trees (if it is for that purpose). The bark has been removed to a considerable depth in some of the trees making them vulnerable to pest attack. At places it is so deep that it may have even damaged the nutrient transferring tissues of the trees. Besides it has also affected the University campus’ visual beauty.

VC’s office in the vicinity

The trees around the School of Environmental Studies, Botany Dept, and Central Science Library (CSL) in the Faculty of Science are yet to be treated in this brutal way (as on 20th March) and so I urge the Delhi Government and also the Delhi University’s Garden Committee to think things over and give it some sensible thought.

Tribal Rights….Forests…..and the !

On 15th of December 2006 the Lok Sabha passed by voice vote the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005, seeking to recognise and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest-dwellers.

Draft Scheduled Tribes Bill (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005
Dated 03/06/2005: Bill put to public for Views/Suggestions.

Once the Draft Bill was out…..Social groups and environmentalists believed that the Bill, if implemented in the present form, could lead to social division while wildlife enthusiasts feared that access to the forest would harm wildlife.

The Draft Act dropped forest-dwellers, including tribes not scheduled in some areas, Dalits and other backward communities who are linked to the forest, for livelihood needs.

This, as suggested by Souparno Lahiri of the Delhi Forum, could create conflict among the forest Read the rest of this entry »

The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) is initiating a process where students in various districts and across universities participate in monitoring the development effectiveness of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) through an extensive survey. CSE, along with university teachers and experts in relevant fields, will train students in the evaluation process.

The survey results will be used for public dissemination to do policy advocacy. The monitoring will involve 10 states, 10 districts, 20 development blocks and 160 villages.

Key objectives of the initiative:
• To monitor the productive asset creation/development works under NREGA to assess how it is being used for economic change.
• To do the monitoring through the engagement of universities based in the region where work is being undertaken.
• To build capacity of universities/students to do monitoring and to understand linkages between environment and economy.
• To use the data produced through the monitoring for policy advocacy.

To join the CSE student volunteer programme on NREGA, you need to:

• Spare 20 days during summer vacation (mid-May to mid June) – four days for training and 16 days for field survey.
• Have an aptitude for development issues, particularly for backward areas.
• Have a genuine interest in seeking applications of academic training.
(A letter of recommendation from your Professor/Department will be required)

CSE will take care of the travel, lodging and boarding as well as food during training and field survey besides a token honorarium for the same period.

A Certificate of participation will be awarded to all participants.

Click here for more information (and to apply)

The last date for receiving applications is 31st March 2007.

A Pair of Rofous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)

Spotted behind the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan Bus Stand - K.G. Marg
(apparently they have nested in RJD MP Pappu Yadav’s residence!)
Spotted on: March 14, 2007

Photo Courtesy: HT

The Eighth Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Meet (held on 21st March 2007 at the Jawahar Bhawan) invited Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prof. Wangari Muta Maathai. At a time when the world is facing a global warming crisis, Prof. Maathai’s lecture on ‘Environment, Democracy & Peace: A critical link’ could not be better timed. Through her Green Belt Movement, Prof. Maathai has planted billions of trees and cared for million others.

Prior to her lecture, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi welcomed the guests and reminded us of Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote which has literally become the punch line of present day environmentalism, “The World has enough for everybody’s need but not enough for everybody’s greed.”

“I have never been to a more green city”, was Prof. Maathai’s complement to New Delhi. After giving a general idea of the basic environmental problems mankind faces today, she was quick to state that India should stop giving the excuse of being a developing country for not taking adequate initiatives towards a better environment. India, according to her is developed among developing countries and needs to take quick first steps towards saving the environment – which is essential to eradicate poverty. The latter, as was suggested by Later Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decades ago; is the root cause of some of the major environmental problems.

Prof. Maathai also clarified the relation between Peace and Trees and how the latter got her a Nobel Prize in the former! She requested all to go back to the 3 R’s – Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. Her message that every person needs to plant and maintain 10 trees in order to balance his/her existence was received with much applause. She has herself vowed that she will plant 8 more trees to balance the environmental harm made by her this trip to India. Last, but never the least, Prof Maathai called for a Global Action to save our environment – an action which should be taken in a committed, patient and persistent manner.

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An effort to highlight the green spaces, flora and fauna of Delhi and sensitise people about the pressing environmental and social issues in and around the capital city.

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