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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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)