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Assan all set for a make over
Nanda Devi festival begins
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Need to research gap areas in Keoladeo
Nothing to beat Indian fast food
Sethis' Dhaba at Clock Tower in Dehradun. A Tribune photograph
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Assan all set for a make over
Dehradun, August 23 There are select wetlands in the country that have been accorded Ramsar site status that ensures international recognition and better funds. Spread over an expanse of 250 hectares along the Uttarakhand-Himachal border, the Assan Conservation Reserve in Dehradun attracts migratory birds in big numbers and at the same time continues to be high on priority for varied tourism activity. The state wildlife authorities had in 2007 entrusted the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun with the task of coming out with the first-ever management plan for Asan. A 200-paged document is finally ready and has been submitted to the state wildlife authorities for consent. Expressing strong reservations over continuance of any activity that may prove disturbing for this avian biodiversity at Assan, the management plan has sought a ban on activities such as motorboat, kayaking and water surfing, which can disturb birds and prove detrimental to the wetland’s avian biodiversity. It has, taking into account Assan’s identity as a recreation spot, has allowed usage of paddleboats in the reserve waters, simultaneously making it clear that nature-based tourism activities were certainly the need of the hour. “While conservation has been our primary mandate, the draft plan has kept its focus on nature-oriented tourism and has restricted any activity that may lead to disturbance to birds,” said Dhananjay Mohan, Indian Forest Service officer and the brain behind the master plan. The plan has come up with a blue print towards achieving Ramsar site status for Assan. Avoiding a sudden shift from recreation to nature-oriented tourism, it calls for a gradual transformation. Over a period of three to four years, Assan could be gradually converted to nature-based tourism site. It was in 2005, after Assan was accorded conservation reserve status by the President, that a need of a comprehensive management plan for Assan was felt. The Assan management committee, that apart from local villagers, has Divisional Forest Officer of Chakrata as member secretary, has sought the services of the WII for the purpose. The WII team comprising five scientists and two researchers started work on the plan in April last year. Dhananjay Mohan guided the team towards preparation of of the plan, ensuring that every aspect of Assan was covered. The two researchers who spent most of their time camping at the wetland not only interacted with people and other stake-holders but also concentrated on gathering the necessary data. Maps based on satellite imagery are an integral part of draft plan. "The WII management plan will boost Assan chances towards bringing it under the purview of Ramsar Lake Convention," said BP Gupta, Conservator of Forests, Yamuna Circle, who is also secretary of the Assan management committee. From day one, the Uttarakhand forest authorities have been trying hard to ensure Assan a place in the wetland map of the country. It had in recent times undertaken a slew of measures to promote Assan for conservation-based tourism. The arrival of migratory birds too has recorded a steady rise in Assan in terms of numerical strength and species, which includes some rare species too. “Assan has emerged a major destination for migratory birds in the recent times and the forest department has been working hard to conserve this important wildlife area,” said Gupta. The management plan comes at a time when hardly a year back, the Bombay Natural History Society identified Assan as a potential Ramsar site. The book "Potential and Existing Ramsar Sites in India" authored by Asad R Rahmani and M Zafar-ul Islam, strongly advocated Ramsar site status for Asan, saying the wetland met three of the key Ramsar criteria. These includes wetland supporting threatened ecological communities, supporting population of one species and sub-species and regularly supporting 20,000 or more waterbirds. Assan's significance as an important bird area has also been backed with the fact that being located towards the North West, it serves as a halt for trans-Himalayan migratory birds and receives waterfowl migrants that are rare elsewhere. The plan has dwelt at length on Assan’s strength as interpretation centre for schoolgoing children. Dehradun has a large number of schools attracting students from all across the country and sensitising them on the importance of conservation is one of the suggestions in the plan. Assan has been one example of wildlife conservation coming in direct conflict with tourism in Uttarakhand. Major stakeholders at Assan, the tourism and forest departments have been facing a piquant situation in the backdrop of Assan’s reputation as an important bird area and an equally important tourism destination. The management plan now has made the picture clearer, obviously favouring conservation-oriented tourism and shunning any tourist activity affecting avian biodiversity. The management plan is expected to be announced by September-end, say sources.
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Nanda Devi festival begins
Pitthoragarh, August 23 The idols of Nanda and Sunanda are installed amid tantrik rituals and worshiped for seven days before being immersed into water. This year the Nanda Devi festival in Kumoan begins on August 24 when banana leaves are cut to make idols. These idols of Nanda and Sunanda are then sanctified and the worship begins. On August 30, the sedan of Nanda and Sunanda will be carried out in the town. “During previous years, goat and buffalo sacrifices would be performed on ashtami (eighth day of the festival) but the tradition has become a thing of the past,” said Naveen Bisht, a poet in Almora. Says Rajandra Bora, a Kumoani poet and theatre artiste:“ Nanda was the daughter of one of the Kumoan kings and had adopted a bull. She was married to a prince. But the bull also wanted to marry her. “When Nanda refused to do so, it ran after her to kill her. To save herself, Nanda hid behind a banana tree. But when the leaves of the tree were eaten by a goat, she was spotted by the bull who killed her. “To commemorate the incident, a bull and a goat are sacrificed every year while worshipping Nanda.” But historians have a different tale to tell. Says BD Pandey, author of “History of Kumaon”, Kumaoni king Baj Bahadur Chand (1638 to 1678 ) attacked a Garhwal king and wrested from him the fort of Badhan Garhi and Juna Garhi. He brought with him the idol of Nanda Devi, clan goddess of the Katuri kings, and installed it at Malla Mahal in Almora. Since than Nanda Devi is also worshiped as clan godess of Kumaoni kings. In Garhwal, Nanda is considered the daughter of the region married to Lord Shiva. When Nanda goes to her in-laws house every year, the entire Garhwal sees her off her.The occasion is celebrated every year as Nanda Devi Jat. As many as 22 villages en route gather to see off Nanda. Nanda being the clan goddess has a high emotional appeal among the people of Uttarakhand, having been worshipped for centuries in the region. “In Almora where Nanda has been worshipped since the last 400 years, in Nainital Nanda festivities began only 100 years ago,” says BL Shah, the octogenarian who holds Nanda festival in Nainital. The worship of Nanda begins from the fifth day of waxing moon and continues till Asthami. The day after, the Nanda idol is immersed at Dobanaula in Dobhal Khet in Almora. “The Nanda Devi festivity is the only cultural festival which unites Garhwal and Kumaon into a cultural unit. The tradition also represents the feudal past of the region,” says Dr Ram Singh, an eminent social historian. “This legend has undergone a sea change with cultural songs sung by villagers like Jhora, Chappili and Chanchari having disappeared,” says Bisht. — OC
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Need to research gap areas in Keoladeo
Dehradun, August 23 Describing Keoladeo as the only wintering ground for the central population of the endangered Siberian crane (grus leucogeranus), the WII report emphasises the importance of the park for its location - it falls on the central Asian flyway of the Asia Pacific Global Migratory Flyway. The WII report says earlier studies have helped the management to take certain important conservation measures. It now calls for another study on land use changes around the park in the backdrop of fast- developing Bharatpur and also suggests monitoring of the populations of sarus crane, vulture and python. “A study aimed to investigate the carrying capacity and minimum ecological requirement of seeds of both plants and fishes in the park is required to be carried out,” the WII report points out. Investigating the co-existence and resource partitioning of major herbivores such as the nilgai, sambar, cheetal, and feral cattle needs to be carried out. Taking into account the recurrence of bird flu in the country, the wetland stands as an excellent site for the study of epidemiology of avian influenza in India, which needs to be studied. WII’s VB Mathur, K Sivakumar, Bhumesh Singh and Anoop KR were instrumental in coming up with Bibliographical Review. Keoladeo National Park’s fauna includes more than 350 species of birds. It is also known as bird watchers’ paradise taking into account its rich diversity of habitats that supports the highest congregation of water fowl and is home to several terrestrial and local migratory species.
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Nothing to beat Indian fast food
Dehradun, August 23 Samoa’s, chola batura, kachuri and many other items are staple food of many north Indian households. Fiftyfive-year-old Sethi’s a small eating joint, located in the heart of the city, is one eatery, which is serving scrumptious fast food satisfying the taste buds of many who relish this appetising treat. “We started this shop with serving our traditional chole batura, samosa and chole chawal, but today as people trust our quality of food we are also selling bread pakora, khasta kachuri, chole samosa with creamy lassi and espresso coffee,” said Vishwar Dutt, the head cook of the eatery. However, the place is mostly packed for breakfast or lunch, as by 3 pm mostly all items are sold like hot cakes. Opening at 7 am, the place is favourite of many students and office goers. “Sethi’s chola batura is a must have,” said Pradeep, a local resident. A plate of rich and tangy chola’s combined with two soft batura’s and salad comes for a price of mere Rs 18. Moreover, since so many years the taste of the items, which are cooked by experienced hands in home-made masala, has remained the same. “Though with the increase in demand we have started running the shop in the evenings also. Also, seeing the response and affection Doonites have for this place, we are very happy and don’t even feel the need to massively renovate and add 10 new items to menu as it might effect the quality for which Sethi’s is known for,” added Vishwar Dutt.
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An important bird area in the country, the Assan Conservation Reserve, has finally got a management plan. Recommending a gradual shift from recreational to conservation tourism, the plan has come up with vital suggestions
Dehradun, August 23
