Editorial/Opinion The Daily
Zabarwan Times Thursday, 04 July 2013
Vandalizing Kashmir
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ashmir is literally bursting at the seams with the heavy inflow of tourists from all over the country. The rush is such that there is no space in hotel and many residential houses in Dalgate, Rajbagh, Basantbagh, Nishat, Shalimar etc. have been turned into guest houses. The house owners are living in rented places and are making hay while the sun is shining. People related with the tourism trade are the happiest lot because they are busy making money with both hands. And the political leadership is backing its back for sustaining peace in Kashmir and making it a favourite choice for tourists-once again. Amid all this hullabaloo, what we are neglecting is the tremendous pressure on the ecology of the Kashmir valley. Lus green places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg are turning into concrete jungles. In a greed to raise new infrastructure to accommodate more tourists (that means more income), the state government is playing deaf and dumb. The tourism players are exploiting the situation to the hilt and are reaping the dividends of the tourism flow. Add to it the uncontrolled rush of pilgrims vandalizing both Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Amid alarming pollution in the Valley's rivers and streams because of growing commercial activities, ancestral lands on which were once grown rice, maize and oilseeds are getting buried under tons of concrete, depriving the countryside of the magic it has always been famous for. Land prices in the rural areas, especially at places close to highways, railway tracks and tourist resorts, have soared beyond imagination during the last few years. Tourist resorts like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Kokernag and Yusmarg, to name just a few have become a gold mine for land dealers. Ancestral agricultural fields are giving way to shopping malls and multistoreyed residential apartments, as also roadside eateries catering to the needs of the ever-growing numbers of tourists. In most areas of the Kashmir countryside, agricultural land has been sold in violation of laws that prohibit its conversion for commercial purposes.The state high court has been monitoring the preservation of the Sindh stream which flows in the middle of the Sindh Valley. All construction work along the banks of the stream has been banned. But, despite the court directives, illegal constructions causing massive pollution of the once pristine Sindh stream are being regularly reported by local newspapers. Interestingly some bureaucrats, both serving and retired are the leading violators of land use. In the green-belt area of Sonamarg hill station, which is located on the Sindh stream, the authorities recently demolished unlawful structures after state Governor N.N. Vohra expressed concern over the encroachments. But soon after the fresh constructions started coming up along the beautiful Nallah. The situation in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, where the famous Pahalgam health resort is situated, is no different. The difference between the Sindh Valley and the Lidder Valley is that prices increased gradually over a period of time in the Lidder Valley while they suddenly started touching the skies in the Sindh Valley. But, then, it's not the private builders who are in the fray. Land has been acquired by the state government for the massive road and railway projects under way in Srinagar, Badgam, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kupwara, Kulgam and Pulwama districts. In far-off mountain villages also, land has been acquired by the government to build roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. In Anderwan village (of Ganderbal district), the government paid Rs. 200,000 per kanal of land. The poor landowners suddenly got surplus capital which they have used for buying cars, building new houses and in some cases even taking a second wife.
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Daily
ZABARWAN TIMES 9
Thursday, 04 July 2013
Fall-outs of global warming
lobal warming will have impact on various sectors. A preliminary assessment of impact and vulnerability due to projected climate on sectors such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, natural ecosystems, coastal zones, human heath, energy, industry and infrastructure was undertaken at the time of preparation of India’s Initial National Communication on Climate Change submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2004. The Projected climate change impact scenarios indicate increase in and variable trend of both rainfall and temperature into the 21st century, reduction in the quantity of surface run off across the various river basins, droughts and intensity of floods in various parts of t h e c o u n t r y. T h e r e p o r t o f Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of scientists and experts appointed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) observes that eleven of the last twelve years rank among the warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature since 1850. The updated 100 year linear trend for 1906-2005 is 0.740C. There is no specific scenario predicated for India in the report, but this will have some effect in the long run. In most tropical and sub-regions, potential yields are projected to generally decrease. Water scarcity in many water scare areas will be further exacerbated. Population in low –lying coastal areas and small islands would be at particular risk. Ecological productivity and bio diversity will be altered by climate change with increased risk of extinction of some species. Increasing concentrations of Green House Gases (GHG) are also projected to result in changes in frequency, duration and intensity of extreme events such as heat waves and heavy precipitation events. Climate Change would also increase the threats to human health due to increase in vector
borne diseases. The impact of climate change would fall disproportionately upon developing countries and would further increase inequities in health status, access to food, clean water and other resources. Projections of Climate Change for India Indian projections, under future climate change scenario of increase Green House Gas(GHG) concentrations, indicate marked increase in both rainfall and temperature into the 21st century, particularly becoming conspicuous after 2040’s. Increase in GHG concentrations may lead to overall increase in the rainy day intensity by 1-4 mm/day except for small areas in northwest India where the rainfall intensities decrease by 1 mm/day. According to India Meteorological Department, the monsoon rainfall at All India level does not show any trend but there are some regional patterns. This in turn would impact yields of crops. The process of climate change is slow and its effects on agriculture are projected to be apparent over several decades. Forestry and Natural Ecosystems The emerging results of analysis of impact of climate change on forest biomes in India seem to be highly vulnerable to the projected change in climate. Majority of the vegetation in India is likely to be less optimally adapted to its existing location and consequently vulnerable to the adverse climatic changes. Biodiversity is also likely to have adverse impact due to this. Human Health According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) in its 4th Assessment Report published in 2007, human begins are exposed to climate change through changing weather patterns for example, more intense and frequent extreme events and indirectly through changes in water, air, food quality and quantity, ecosystems, agriculture and economy. Increases in malnutrition and consequent disorders, with implications for child
growth and development seems other effect on human beings. Particularly those with low adaptive capacity will suffer in different ways. Increase in deaths, disease and injury due to heat waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts, the increased burden of diarrhoeal disease; increased frequency of cardiorespiratory diseases due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone related to climate change and altered spatial distribution of some infectiousdisease vectors. Malaria incidences are directly linked to the generation of vectors which are sensitive to temperature, precipitation and humidity conditions. Infrastructure Large infrastructure such as dams, roads, bridges incurring high costs of construction are vulnerable to extreme events like cyclones, heavy rains, landslides and floods, which may increase in the later half of the century due to climate change. At that time, the currently commissioned infrastructure having lived its normal life span would be more vulnerable to these recurrent events. Coastal Zones in India The holistic data of sea level reveals high variability along the Indian coast line with an increase along the Gulf of Kutchh and West Bengal line and decrease along Karnataka coast. The observations indicate a long term average rising trend of 1mm/year in sea level and a projection of rise in a sea level in the range of 46-59 cm by the end of twenty first century. The result of preliminary assessment indicates the vulnerability of Indian coast lines due to sea level rise, tectonic movement, and prevalent hydrographs and physiographic. Agriculture Variable impacts of climate change on agriculture have been projected. For instance, increase in CO2 concretion; increase in temperature and variable distribution of rainfall show a mixed projection of yields of various crops
across regions. No definite trends have yet been established. While high CO2 can result in growth and increase in plant biomass, high ambient temperature resulting from increased emission can reduce the crop yields. Studies indicate that increased temperature can substantially reduce yields of cereals apart from affecting their quality. Secondary impact of changed pest and disease scenario can further complicate the crop yield situation. The Expert Committee on Climate Change would be looking into the aspects of measures required for agriculture and to ensure that food security is not threatened due to climate change. Department of Agriculture is in process of preparing a comprehensive action plan on the agricultural agenda for the climate change. According to India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), some scanty information of extreme events of cold waves, heat waves and excess rainfall have been noticed. In Agra, Wheat yields were lowered due to cold waves in 2002-03 as compared to previous normal year of 2001-02. In Bihar, loss of seed setting in maize and loss of productivity in boro rice of Assam was recorded in response to extreme coldness. Research in different Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes ( ICAR) through its own programme and research projects funded by National Agriculture Innovate Project (NAIP) is trying to tackle the issue and develop agro technologies including crop varieties and crop growing methods to reduce the adverse impact of emission related climate change and retain high adverse impact on production and productivity. The Expert Committee on Climate Change would also be looking into the aspects of measures required for agriculture and to ensure that food security is not threatened due to climate change. Department of Agriculture is in process of preparing a comprehensive action plan on the agricultural agenda for the climate change.
Conservation of medicinal plants
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edicinal plants have always The Department of Biotechnology has Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Excellence on ‘Medicinal Plants & been considered a healthy already set up three national gene banks Rajasthan, Orissa, West Bengal and Traditional Knowledge’ at FRLHT, source of life for the people. on medicinal and aromatic plants at the Madhya Pradesh. The project is being Banglore also supports this activity which Therapeutical properties of medicinal Central Institute of Medicinal & c o o r d i n a t e d b y F o u n d a t i o n f o r is recognized . Implementation of the plants are very useful in healing various Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, Revitalizing of Local Health Traditions National Afforestation Programme Uttar Pradesh, National Bureau of Plant (FRLHT) , Banglore. These states are of (NAP) Scheme include models such as diseases. There are more than 8000 medicinal Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi two categories – one, with five States ‘Mixed Plantation of Trees having Minor plants listed in different classical and and Tropical Botanic Garden & Research (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Forest Produce and Medicinal Value’ and modern texts on medicinal plants. Around Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu) wherein Regeneration of Perennial Herbs and 960 medicinal plants are in active use in Kerala. They are engaged in collection, medicinal plants conservation activities Shrubs of Medicinal Value’ that relate to all India trade and around 2000 species conservation and characterization of the have been initiated and the second, with promotion of medicinal plants through are documented in Indian Systems of precious wealth of medicinal and remaining four States in which the afforestation and regeneration. The States Medicine like Ayurveda, Unani and aromatic herbs which are rare/ threat- conservation activities are to be initiated have been advised to give requisite thrust Siddha. Similarly, around 4000 species ened/endangered or are being used in under this project for the first time. The on plantation of medicinal plants and are used by rural communities in local traditional system, or those which are main aims are to establish a system for bamboos on degraded forest lands and health practices. The All India Ethno- commercially exploited. The Regional Rapid threat assessment and trade contiguous areas in addition to other biology Survey estimated that over 7,500 Research Laboratory (RRL), Jammu, regulation; establish a Network of species of local ecological and economic plant species are used by 4,635 ethnic Jammu & Kashmir, is the forth gene bank Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas importance in the afforestation activities. communities for human and veterinary which covers the North-Western (MPCAs); establish a state level medici- This is intended to contribute towards health care across the country. In 1993, poverty alleviation and also to ensure the Government estimated that between livelihood security of forest fringe dwellers Over Ninety-five percent of India’s besides ameliorating soil conditions and 60-80% of India’s population rely on medicinal plants for health care. improving/increasing forest cover. The medicinal plants are harvested from the Medicinal plants are particularly States have been also advised to consider important to the rural poor, who are able setting aside 10% of the project area for to harvest these from the wild to meet wild. Over 200 medicinal plant species in plantation of bamboos and medicinal their primary health care needs. The plants under the NAP. Conserving and Botanical Survey states some of the protecting medicinal plants is being carried southern and northern India are classified out through enforcement of the Indian common medicinal herbs as Brahmi, Babul gum, Bail, Satawar, Neem, Forests Act, 1927; Wildlife (Protection) as rare, endangered or threatened. Tesu/Gul Palash, Dalchini, Bhringraj, Act, 1972; Forest (Conservation) Act, Amla, Jatropha, Nagkesar, Jaiphal, 1980; Environment (Protection) Act, Ratanjot, Isabgo, Reetha, Kuth (Bitter), Himalayan region. A germ-plasma nal plants seed center; establish Home 1986; Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Chiraita, Jamun, Arjun, Behera, Harad repository for medicinal plants used in Herbal Gardens (HHGs) and prepare the rules under these Acts. Ayurveda has also been established at Community Knowledge Registers Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Choti), Harad (Pili) etc Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, Kerala. (CKKs); capacity building on community The Government has enacted the Nodal Agency on Medicinal Plants The National Medicinal Plants Board is More than 9,000 accessions of important owned medicinal plants enterprises Biological Diversity Act in 2002 and the designated nodal agency on all issues medicinal and aromatic plant species are programmes; communication and notified the Biological Diversity Rules in related to medicinal plants. It works under being maintained as live material in field advocacy programmes for outreach and a 2004, with the aim of conserving and the Department of AYUSH, the Ministry of gene banks, in the form of seed, in vitro multi-lingual website programme on sustainably using biological diversity, and Health and Family welfare. Besides material and DNA. For long-term Home Doctor. Another UNDP-GEP regulating the biological resources number of organizations and departments, conservation, the accessions are stored project, “Mainstreaming Conservation (including the medicinal plants) and and Sustainable use of Medicinal Plant associated traditional knowledge of Viz., ICMR, CIMAP, NBPGR, and under cryogenic conditions. Ministry of Commerce are also engaged in Thrust on National Afforestation Diversity” covers three Indian States - country with the purpose of securing Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of handling the subject of medicinal plants Programme but each one has a specific mandate. While The Ministry of Environment and Forests Uttarakhand. The National Medicinal these resources and associated knowledge. it is research for the first three organisa- has taken various measures for conserva- Plant Board, Department of Ayurveda, Harvest of Medicinal Plants tions, it is ex-situ conservation for tion and proliferation of rare medicinal Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha Over Ninety-five percent of India’s NBPGR, and marketing for the Ministry of herbs. United Nations Development and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), State medicinal plants are harvested from the Commerce. Similarly, research on Programme (UNDP) Project entitled Medicinal Plant Boards and FRLHT, wild. Over 200 medicinal plant species in cultivation of medicinal plants, especially ‘National Programme on Promoting Banglore are executing partners in this southern and northern India are classified pertaining to standardization of agro- Conservation of Medicinal Plants & project. The main objective of the project as rare, endangered or threatened. The technology & breeding techniques is Traditional Knowledge for Enhancing is to mainstream the conservation and true number of threatened species are, Health & Livelihood Security’ is in sustainable use of medicinal plants with including globally significant species, is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Genetic Conservation of Medicinal operation. It is being implemented in particular reference to globally signifi- likely to be far higher, but the status of nine States-Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil cant medicinal plants. A Centre of many species is insufficiently unknown. Plants
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