Tag: Western Ghats

Killing the keeper

It does not matter which discredited industrialist’s interest Avni’s death was meant to serve but by allowing a humungous14,000 square kilometers of green cover to be shorn off over the last 30 years, India has clearly demonstrated the status of its commitment to the natural environment.

November 11, 2018

A tryst with nature

It was a two-hour flight from Delhi to Mumbai and from there again a two-hour flight to Madurai and still our destination ~ Kodaikanal, the popular hill station in South India, was 125 km away. Throughout the journey to Kodaikanal, the only question bothering us was: Is this place worth taking all this trouble?  Of …

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August 26, 2018

Video | NASA satellite captures intense rains that caused Kerala floods

The NASA video shows satellite-based rainfall accumulation from July 19 to August 18, 2018. According to it, rainfall peaked in Kerala on July 20 and again reached abnormally high levels between August 8 and 16.

August 24, 2018

Kerala floods | Nature’s fury or failure of water governance?

To save the common man and the country from massive losses in future, it is time to shift the onus of death and destruction from nature and towards those mandated and responsible for flood management

August 23, 2018

The strange and wondrous creature

Frogs have soft bodies, and they leap about. They have the remarkable ability to expel foreign objects with their bladders engulfing the intrusions to help get rid of them. No other animal has ever used their bladder to eliminate foreign objects embedded in their bodies.

May 6, 2018

The little creature’s agony

When was the last time you saw or even heard a frog? Twenty years ago. One of the reasons why we have so many mosquitoes is because we have killed off their main predators – the frogs. For many years we exported millions of frogs’ legs to France, cut from living frogs. By the time …

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February 4, 2018

Mesmerising Munnar

Having experienced the charms of Kerala’s backwaters this winter, I wasn’t sure if I was up to another trip to God’s Own Country quite so soon, albeit this time to Munnar. Located in Idukki district, not only is the town a four-and- a-half- hour flight from Delhi (I could’ve reached Thailand in the same time) …

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May 11, 2017

Tiger, leopard, wild dog coexist with ‘smart’ adaptations

Despite being fierce competitors, three carnivores in wildlife reserves of the Western Ghats have developed "smart" adaptations to coexist, a study has revealed. Such adaption would help save the three carnivores – tiger, leopard, and dhole (Asian wild dog). The study conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) showed that the three carnivores, which are …

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February 19, 2017

Afforestation of the Ghats

The Western Ghats are known for being a biodiversity hotspot. Preserving and enhancing the biodiversity around the catchment areas of six lakes in the Maval and Mulshi Taluka (blocks) in Pune district has become a National priority. For this, Maharashtra government’s Afforestation Programme has been initiated to counter the increased pressure on the biodiversity found …

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February 1, 2017

Govt sanctions Rs.15 lakh to conserve rare plants in Sahyadris

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs.15 lakh for conservation of rare, endangered and threatened species in the Sahyadri mountain sub-cluster of the Western Ghats. The government resolution (GR) issued on Thursday stated that the funds will be given to Shivaji University, Kolhapur for utilisation towards the purpose. The sanctioned amount is a part of Rs.30 …

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September 22, 2016

AAP announces 4 candidates for Goa polls

Aam Aadmi Party today announced the first list of four candidates for the Goa Assembly elections due in March 2017. The names include AAP’s state convener Walmiki Naik who will contest from the Panaji constituency, which was earlier held by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. BJP legislator Siddharth Kuncolienkar currently represents Panaji constituency, a traditional …

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September 13, 2016

Ganesh Chaturthi – feel the blessings

The festival of great joy and devotion is round the corner. Beautiful and colourful clay models of Lord Ganesha are flooding the streets. Yes, soon the elephant headed God will shower his cherished blessings on his devotees as the nation celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as Lord Ganesha&’s birthday by the Hindus throughout …

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September 1, 2016

Zero tolerance over Ganga pollution: Environment Minister

Zero tolerance over Ganga pollution: Environment Minister

August 12, 2016