Round The States
New Delhi, 28 April 2011
Maharashtra Records First
TRIBALS GET BAMBOO
RIGHTS
By Insaf
In Maharashtra’s infamous
Naxal-infested Gadchiroli district finally there is some news to cheer about.
After over 150 years, the poor tribals have been restored the right to harvest
bamboos. Earning the district the numero
uno status amongst all Indian villages wherein bamboo is being recognized
as a community right of forest dwellers and tribals. Pertinently, since 1987
bamboo has remained under the grip of the country’s forest bureaucracy which
has steadfastly refused to let go of this money spinning forest produce. Kudos
to Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for “redefining” the word bamboo,
whereby it would no longer be treated as a tree but a minor forest produce like
Tendu leaves under the Indian Forest Act. All States’ eyes are now on Ramesh to
bestow them ‘bamboo kindly light’!
Meanwhile, the controversy-ridden Jaitapur nuclear power
plant project in the State’s Ratnagiri district has finally got the green
signal from the Union Government. This followed a high-powered meeting between Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Environment
Minister Jairam Ramesh. Simultaneously, the Government announced a new
compensation package of Rs.400 crores for agitating farmers and fishermen
affected by the nuclear plant. Under the package, the compensation per acre has
been increased from Rs 4.5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs along-with infrastructure
projects for community development in health, education, civic amenities and
fishing jetties and cold storages for fishermen. This is not all. The deal has
been sweetened by dangling the job carrot for one member of the affected
families in the power project. Last but not the least, an irradiation centre to
ensure that the famous Alfanso mango from the district retains its original
flavour.
* * * *
Singur Turns Green
West Bengal’s Singur district which gained
notoriety over local rebellion to Tata’s Nano car project forcing it to
re-locate and resurrected Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee’s flagging political
career, today blooms with flowers, vegetables and paddy cultivation. Gone are
the red bricks and buildings which became synonymous with the district’s
industrialization, replaced by green fields. All thanks to Mamata’s agitation
whereby 100 of farmers could reclaim their lands which had been forcibly
acquired by the State Government. Needless to say, Singur, Rajarhat and other
districts in this belt seem to have become the Waterloo of the CPM Government. It is a moot
point whether the area which went to the polls on Thursday last in the third
phase will vote for Mamata’s slogan Maa,
Mati Aur Manush.
* * * *
Delhi’s New Transport
The Union Capital Delhi is all set to have the most modern
public transport system. The Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit announced the debut
soon of the ‘pod car’ to modernize the city’s over-burdened transport system. Pod
cars are small automated taxis that run on a dedicated track and can seat two
to ten people. Plans are afoot to study
the running of the cars in congested areas where the metro and mono-rail cannot
be constructed. Another factor in favour of these ‘pod cars’ is that while the
metro is a cost intensive project of Rs.300 crores per km, the pod taxis
network can be built for just Rs.30 crores per km. Notwithstanding that the
metro has already changed the way people travel in the Capital, all eyes are
now set on riding a pod taxi!
* * * *
Wildlife Poachers
Beware
States where poachers are having a field day, beware. The
Union Government is all set to amend the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to make
offensives against endangered animals including tigers and leopards punishable
by a minimum of seven years imprison or a fine of Rs 25 lakhs or both. The
amendment also seeks a ban on the trade in peacock tail feathers and articles
made by them. Further, the new Act would give enhanced powers to enforcement
agencies to act against organized gangs engaged in wildlife crimes. Also, on
the anvil is the creation of a management authority to regulate trade in exotic
pieces of animals and plants that are alien to India, which might adversely affect
the country’s eco-systems if introduced. Undoubtedly, this would give a leg-up to
wildlife activists trying to save the country’s precious endangered wildlife.
* * * *
Kerala For
Pesticide Ban
The Kerala Government has upped the ante seeking an all-India
ban on life-crippling pesticide Endosulfan but the Union Government seems to be
turning a deaf ear. Led by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues
virtually the entire State took to the streets and observed an eight-hour fast
in Capital Thiruvananthapuram to demand the pesticide’s immediate withdrawal.
Especially against the backdrop of a recent survey by the State’s Health
Department wherein over 2200 cases of physical deformities, cancer and nervous
system disorders were identified in six worst hit villages in the Kasarkkode
district. Already over 200 cancer deaths have been reported from the area. Though
Kerala banned Endosulfan in 2005, it continues to be smuggled from neighbouring
States and is sprayed on cashew plantations to check tea mosquitoes. Worse, not
only has the pesticide polluted rivers, streams and water storages but has
resulted in disease and deaths. Hence, the demand for a country-wide ban. It is
a moot point whether the Centre heeds the cries of the affected families.
* * * *
MP’s Holiday Assignment
Children in Madhya Pradesh have a new holiday assignment: Learn
about cows. Plainly, high school students have been told to find out how a cow-based
economy works in villages and collect information about cattle and animal
husbandry schemes. They will also have to acquaint themselves with crops grown
around their home-towns, agriculture techniques, use of fertilizers and how
they impact productivity. In the urban areas, the students’ project work would
include sewage and water treatments. Significantly, last year too, the State
Government had told primary students to collect information about trees, birds,
history and geography of their villages. It remains to be seen how much of this
will reflect in the report cards of students! ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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