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‘Thuner’ species under siege
Mussoorie, January 15 Locally known as ‘Thuner’, ‘Taxus Baccata’ is an evergreen tree of medium size that generally grows in forests that are located 1,800 to 3,400 metres above sea level. It grows in small patches in between high altitude tree species like deodar and ‘kharsu’. The plant has tremendous medicinal utility and is used for treating asthma, bronchitis and epilepsy. However, in recent times ‘Thuner’ has been widely sought after for an alkaloid called taxine - found in its leaves, shoots and seeds -that is used for treatment of cancer. According to estimates, one gram of anti-cancer alkaloid called taxol, prepared from taxine, fetches up to 25,000 US dollars in international markets. At the local level, around one kg of leaves are sold for as much as Rs 250. Tarun Joshi, an environmental activist and coordinator of Van Panchayat Sanghrash Morcha, an Almora-based non-government organisation, said profit motives have driven pharmaceutical companies to engage in rampant harvest of ‘Thuner’, which is endangering the species. He said large pharmaceutical companies, particularly Dabur, have opened nurseries at Jageshwar in Almora district for cultivating ‘Thuner’ near its natural habitat. “After establishing nurseries near some good ‘Thuner’ patches, Dabur is encouraging local farmers and van panchayats to cultivate the tree and has entered into buy-back agreements with them,” he said. However, Joshi alleged that Dabur has promoted largescale extraction of ‘Thuner’ from existing forests. “The cultivation of ‘Thuner’ is merely an eye-wash and the actual harvest of the plant parts is taking place from reserve forest areas,” he alleged. Bhagi Chand Singh, a medicinal plant cultivator from Bageshwar district, made similar allegations. Bhuvan Chaube, president of an organisation called Himalayan Mountaineer and an avid naturalist from Bageshwar, also alleged that “A majority of the harvest being done in Bageshwar district is from reserve forests and the local people have now started opposing it.” However, Dr Dinesh Sharma, senior manager of Dabur, who is looking after Uttarakhand operations, has refuted all such claims. “The entire harvest by our company is legal and done from our own plantations.” He said during 2008 Dabur had harvested 2,100 quintals of green leaves of ‘Thuner’ from its own plantations. Meanwhile, Joshi said recently established ‘Thuner’ plantations do not have the capacity to yield any significant quantity of leaves due to the slow growing nature of the plant. “Thuner is such a slow growing species that it would take a long time for any commercial cultivation to yield a significant quantity of leaves,” he said. Dr Dinesh Sharma said, “Only about 35 gram leaves (dry weight) are extractable from a plant aged around 4-5 years.” The extremely poor seed germination has further compounded the threat to this species. According to DFO, Mussoorie Forest Division, AK Banerjee, “The saplings require deep shade and therefore the species does not come up in cleared forest areas or under large canopy gaps.” He said the consumption of seeds along with the aril (pulp surrounding the seed) by birds and monkeys might also lead to regeneration failure. In addition, scientists believe that biotic interference and climate change is affecting the species. They believe that changes in the canopy cover, temperatures, forest fires and precipitation are having an impact on the survival and growth of ‘Thuner’. Although the forest department is being held responsible for failing to control illegal harvest of Thuner, recent efforts by the department to promote vegetative propagation of the species are noteworthy. According to Banerjee, vegetative propagation of the tree through branch cuttings has been found to be more successful and less time-consuming as compared to the traditional method. Jai Prakash Devlal, who is managing a nursery near Dhanolti, said, “From one branch about 50 to 100 cuttings can be developed for the plantation.” “Plantations of Taxus Baccata are being taken up through Civil Soyam Division in Almora district and also near Chakrata in Dehradun district,” said Banerjee informed. Notably, ‘Taxus Baccata’ has been brought under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) framework and within the negative list of export control order of the government of India.
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More tigers spotted at Rajaji
“Sighting tigers in this sectors of Rajaji, has come up as a positive development towards emergence of tiger habitat in this vulnerable area of the park,” Uttarakhand chief wildlife warden, Srikant Chandola said. He said with the efforts made for the betterment of the Asiatic elephants and other animals, the park authorities were serious towards tiger conservation and to put it in the tiger map of the country. The Rajaji forest authorities believed that the removal of Van Gujjars from the park premises is the major factor behind this development. The areas from where the Gujjars were removed included Dhaulkhand, Chillawali and Ramgarh. “The removal of Van Gujjars from certain areas of the park has resulted in the increased number of tigers in the western sector,” said Pradeep Kumar, warden. Pradeep Kumar has been looking after Gujjar rehabilitation in the park for quite some time now. When asked about of the authenticity to these sightings, Rajaji forest authorities claimed that pug marks have been recorded by the forest guards and authorities are also preparing maps of the areas emerging as new tiger habitat. Rajaji Park officials had revealed a couple of months back that while the eastern part of the park has witnessed newborn tiger cubs, the western sector is being devoid of tigers. But the recent development holds significance in revealing new tiger habitat in Rajaji National Park. The Park has been emerged as a perfect example of clash of interests between man and animal. While Van Gujjars have initiated efforts towards resorting their tribal rights, the Park officials are keeping a check on their presence inside the protected areas alleging their adverse impact on the wildlife. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand government has repeatedly failed to come up with a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for Van Gujjars, the Wildlife officials blame Gujjars of being least responsive to the rehabilitation package. Park officials had also declared three of its key ranges as a part of Core Zone thereby putting stringent check on any human activity inside these ranges. The 2004 census claimed to have 24 tigers in the Rajaji Park, however, the last year’s census report of the Wildlife Institute Tiger revealed the total number of tigers is quite low. The report had blamed presence of Van Gujjars as determintal to the existence of the tigers in the park.
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Forest dept reaches out to people
Haridwar, January 15 The Forest Department has come out with the idea to reach the people. The first camp was held today. The date has been named ‘Paryavaran Divas’ (Environment Day) and as a result of the camp, anyone, who has a problem related to forest department, will be saved a trip to the department’s head office. SS Rasailly, director, Rajaji National Park, today presided over the camp at Tibdi forest range office in Haridwar. “I am not available at my office at all times and people face problems in communicating with us. Camps like this, which will be held on the 15th of every month, will prove very effective in solving the problems or at least bringing them to the knowledge of the concerned officers,” said Rasailly. In case, the 15th of the month is a government holiday, then the next day will be assumed as the camp day. Forest warden IS Siddiqui said that the people’s response was overwhelming and several cases were solved on the spot. The people too felt that it was a good initiative which would help in better communication between them and the forest department.
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Indian forces are ready: GOC-in-C
Roorkee, January 15 "We are one of the topmost defence forces of the world equipped with all latest weaponry and advanced techniques. Many powerful countries look forward to us for tie-ups in military training. I must say that our force is always ready for action," said Mohanty while addressing mediapersons after presiding over the Army Day Parade cum Investiture Ceremony at the grounds of Bengal Engineering Group and Centre (BEG) here today. However, the Commander maintained that war was not the only option. Many alternatives are still there to harmonise relations with Pakistan, he said. Mohanty declined to comment when asked whether the Mumbai terror strike was the result of failure of the Indian intelligence agencies. On the increase in incidents of unusual behaviour including suicides by the jawans due to frustration, the GOC-in-C said that steps were being taken to meet aspirations of the individuals. "Though such things are common in any developing society, in my viewpoint, only mentally tough youth should be recruited in the Army. To check mental toughness, special psychological tests should be conducted before recruitment," said Mohanty. Giving reasons for shortage of officers in defence forces, Mohanty said that people always go for easy jobs. "Serving in the forces is a big challenge and youths are deviating from the Army to easier jobs. However, top-class facilities and respect, which soldiers get while serving the country, will definitely attract many youths to the Army," felt Mohanty. Mohanty also termed instances of sexual harassment of women officers in the forces as rubbish. With one or two incidents, you can't generalise things, added
Mohanty.
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A modern vision
Dehradun, January 15 “The recovery time and healing process is very quick and there is least discomfort. In fact, the patient can even drive back home,” said Dr Dinesh Sharma of Amritsar Eye Clinic, which is introducing Stellaris-Micro Incision Cataract Surgery (S-MICS) in Dehradun. Bosch and Lomb have brought the technique to India. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Dinesh Sharma said it is the world’s smallest incision surgery, which reduces the size from 3.2-3.4 to 1.6-1.8mm. “It is this small incision size that helps in restoration of the patient’s original vision and image clarity under various situations. The minimum costs for the procedure is Rs 20,000,” he said. Dr Sharma said the benefits from this surgery are immense for patients suffering from diabetes, as the incision size is reduced. “Even patients in their nineties, but otherwise healthy, can also undergo cataract surgery with this technique,” he said. A leading cataract surgeon from Ahmedabad, Dr Darshan Bavishi, who was also present during the conference said the new lens that is placed after removing the old one during the cataract operation is highly durable. “So much so that the person can even withstand a boxing punch delivered on the eye without fearing for the lens,” he quipped. Giving details, he said cataract is a condition when the natural lens of the eye hardens and becomes cloudy, and the surgery involves replacing it with new ones. Dr Bavishi also stressed on the competency of the surgeons. “Technology is a big help but the competency of a surgeon cannot be ruled out,” he added.
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Diligent SI feels let down
Dehradun, January 15 The reason is that the BJP-led Uttarakhand government has recently withdrawn cases against the accused. “I can only say that instead of punishing the accused, the culprits are being rewarded,” he said. During the election for the Gurukul Kangri Students Union, Haridwar, on November 30, 2005, Sanjay Chauhan and his supporters were indulging in electoral malpractices. When the policeman on duty, sub-inspector DP Bahuguna, prevented Sanjay of committing the crime, he threw a stone at Bahuguna. Bahuguna’s left eye was injured and even after undergoing surgery at AIIMS, he still can’t see from one eye. After the incident, Bahuguna was transferred to CM Security and recently, terming Bahuguna as “medically unfit”, he has been shifted to Police Lines. He said, “The incident changed my life. I am suffering economically, physically and mentally but I would have had no regrets had the culprits been behind bars. But unfortunately, the government has withdrawn the case.” Bahuguna remarked that such a move by the government would de-motivate the police force and cops would hesitate to perform their duty in the future. He also said that by withdrawing the case, government is encouraging criminal elements. “Sanjay is a notorious criminal but has not been arrested due to political pressure. During the past three years, the number of cases registered against him have increased from three to five,” he said. He urged the state government to reconsider its decision to withdraw the case. Bahuguna’s wife Smita Bahuguna had also met Chief Minister BC Khanduri in this regard. Meanwhile, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the state Congress leaders have strongly condemned the Khanduri government for withdrawing the cases against Sanjay.
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Abhinav Bindra gets nod for dream project
Dehradun, January 15 After Abhinav’s triumph in Beijing Olympics, his father AS Bindra had announced to gift Abhinav a 5-star hotel on Haridwar-Rishikesh road in Dehradun. Currently, there is only one 5-star hotel in Uttarakhand, which is in Nainital district. According to the information, senior Bindra had submitted a proposal for setting up a hotel to the Khanduri government. The matter was pending with the government, as a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required from various government departments for the constructing. On January 14, Uttarakhand Tourism Secretary, Rakesh Sharma convened a meeting with Bindra and the officials of the various departments including Revenue, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) and District Magistrate, Amit Singh Negi at the Secretariat. During the meeting, Rakesh Sharma directed the officials to speed up the work of NOC of the hotel. “We have been conveyed that legal work for the clearance of the hotel is almost complete and now we have to submit building plan to MDDA,” said Swarn Singh. When contacted MDDA Vice-Chairman R Meenakshi Sundram said that once they receive the building plan, after the requisite scrutiny, it will be sanctioned without any delay.
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Dehradun, January 15