Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Jul 10, 2013, 03.09AM IST
MUMBAI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a warrant and showcause notices to senior bureaucrats of the state and central government bodies for not taking its directives seriously.
In the first case of its kind, the bailable warrant has been issued against the member secretary of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority ( MCZMA), asking him to be present before the tribunal. The warrant came after the failure of the member secretary to be present at a hearing on a matter challenging green nod accorded by the ministry of external affairs for building six water transport terminals in Mumbai.
In the same matter, the NGT has issued showcause notice to the chief secretary, asking why appropriate action should not be taken against the state's apathy in responding to environmental issues raised in the matter.
In another case, the NGT has taken serious note of the non-compliance of its judgment by senior officials of the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) with regard to controlling noise from sirens fitted on vehicles across the country. The MoRTH was supposed to notify the standards of sirens within three months of the NGT order followed by compliance of the notified standards by other government agencies.
"It was the duty of MoRTH to set appropriate (noise and other) standards for siren use and multi-toned horns within given timeframe and notify them. There appears to be non-compliance of the direction and hence notice be issued as to why directions were not complied with. After explanation through the responsible officer, the tribunal will decide on a penal action," the NGT said in its order. Activist Dileep Nevatia had filed the petitions in both cases after which the NGT had issued orders and notices. Nevatia later sought actions against these offices and their bosses for not complying with NGT directives.
Dr. APJ KALAM's House becomes ‘SOLAR HOUSE'
Solar-powered light to help fishermen avert accidents --- and the house of Dr. Kalam in Rameswaram will be declared a 'solar house'
Kalam’s initiative to be launched in the island town on July 19.
Fishing boats in Rameswaram will soon have high-beam solar powered lights which will help in averting mid-sea collisions.
The initiative is part of the ‘Rameswaram Solar Power Mission’, an initiative of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to be launched in the island town on July 19.
A majority of fishing boats in Tamil Nadu still use conventional lanterns while venturing into the sea. There were a few instances of defence or cargo ships running over the boats, resulting in deaths or injuries to fishermen. The mission is being implemented in association with the Ramanathapuram district administration, We Serve Foundation of Stalwart Energy Pvt. LTD and NGOs.
“The house of Dr. Kalam in Rameswaram
will be declared a ‘solar house’. A 6-KW solar plant has been installed to provide uninterrupted power supply. The plant will cover the ‘Mission of Life’ gallery and ‘Knowledge Centre’ library of Dr. Kalam on the premises. Many students, tourists and local people visit the gallery and library and power cuts hamper the ambience…,” V. Ponraj, Advisor to the former President, told . Besides streetlights in Rameswaram, the mission would illuminate the world famous Pamban bridge across the sea with solar lights.
The solar powered house of Dr. Kalam would be inaugurated by Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller of Defence (Research and Development), Defence Research and Development Organisation, and CEO of Brahmos Aerospace, on July 19.
STALWART International IS holding a solar convention in Delhi on the 12th of August for the improvisation of Solar Implementation through friendly government policies. A short Film Competition along with top press and media partners is being conducted and prizes are distributed in the convention to be held in Delhi. This program in Delhi is organised and scheduled by respectful Mr.D.R. Karthikeyan and Mr.V.Ponraj(Dr. Abdul Kalam's Advisor).
Puttur, Jul 2: “Today the land of sandalwood is seeing its extinction; sandalwood trees are now an endangered species in India,” says Jairam Sharma, owner of a sandalwood nursery in Nelyadi.
Sharma is an agriculturist and his love for nature and concern for the environment led him to cultivate a sandalwood nursery on his 16 acre plot. Sharma started this model nursery ‘Chandana’, under the National Horticulture Mission, National Medicinal Plant Board, to grow the endangered species in 2003.
His mission was to provide more income to farmers and economically empower them, while increasing the extinct species ‘Santalum Album’ and ‘Pterocarpus Santalinus’ that are an asset to the nation and to the government.
Sharma is not only an agriculturist but is an expert on sandalwood plantation. He mourns for man’s perversion towards exploiting nature for his selfish wants.
He also said, “Karnataka is said to be the ‘Land of Sandal’ - ‘Gandhada Nadu’ - but what is the present of condition of this land of sandalwood? Sandalwood trees are reaching extinction. Both Santalum Album and Pterocarpus Santalinus have become endangered species. Even the huge trees in the forest are trampled down by the smuggling mafia.”
Narrating the techniques of sandalwood cultivation, Sharma said, “Basically, sandalwood cultivation is well-suited for dry land. On one hectare, a farmer can cultivate 500 plants. Today, in Australia, sandalwood cultivation has become a regular crop.”
“Cultivated plants can be grown for 25 to 30 years, but it is viable at the age of 15 years and it gets good market value. The cost of a sandalwood plant depends on its age and height. Basically, the Santalum Album is a semi root parasitic plant. Sandalwood plant can also be
cultivated as a mixed crop between Mango or Sapodilla plantations. Seeds of this plant can be used for fat extraction for soaps and detergents. Apart from this, it can be also used as cereal grains for food but it is not affordable to the common man,” says Sharma form his experience of cultivation.
“India is pioneer of sandalwood and East Indian sandalwood has wide demand and market throughout the world because of its quality. Till 2001, there was restriction on growing sandalwood. In 2001, the Act was amended with regard to growing sandalwood trees in Karnataka, where in 2003 the state government implemented the Act on growing and cutting sandalwood trees without any restrictions. But a farmer has to sell the sandalwood to government-owned bodies like Karnataka Soap Factory, Karnataka Handicraft Emporium, or to Karnataka Forest Department. Unfortunately, a farmer doesn’t have an open market for sandalwood,” said Sharma.
Sharma sells sandalwood plants from his nursery in states like Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa, but selling is not the sole aim. He also visits such places to check the condition of plants he has sold.
Talking on the products and demand of Red Sanders, he said, “Red Sanders is also used in preparing music instruments and idols especially which are exported to Japan. So, it has wide demand in the world.”
Sharma, feeling proud about his profession, says, “This profession gives me more peace and happiness where one can show love towards nature. If the market for sandalwood falls, no matter, but we can save this earth from global warming.”
As Franklin D Roosevelt said, “A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”
