Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Instant messaging, first line of defence against moving herds

August 13, 2018Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, Alladmin

WhatsApp group launched by Forest Department staff goes a long way in reducing human deaths

Like many of us, Deputy Range Forest Officer K.M. Devaiah scans his WhatsApp messages every morning. And, they trigger him into instant action. Far from being ‘good morning’ messages, these are SOS from estate workers and owners in Ammathi range of Virajpet forest division in Kodagu district seeking his help to clear a wild herd of elephants from their terrain.

A routine act initiated among the Forest Department staff at the beat level, has become the first line of defence for people facing the brunt of conflict with elephants in the coffee plantations of Kodagu.

A WhatsApp group launched by Mr. Devaiah in 2016, with eight guards as members of the group, sharing information on elephant herds, has expanded and is now christened ‘Rapid Response Team’.

It has now become the most popular interface between the people and the department in tracking the movement of elephants in the estates around Ammathi.

“Ever since the WhatsApp group was launched, we have been on our toes following the herds wherever they are. Our very presence is an indication to the local community that the herds are not far off and they become more alert and cautious,” said Mr. Devaiah.

With almost half a dozen alerts received daily, Mr. Devaiah and his team map the areas of elephant presence and this information is passed on to all stakeholders, who take precautionary measures to stay safe.

A senior forest official said it is a small initiative that has made a big difference at the ground level by minimising human deaths. Between 2011 and 2016 there were about 8 to 10 human deaths reported every year. But in 2017, the number of human deaths was down to one or two and there have been none so far in 2018, the official added.

However, the authorities admit that in the perception of the public, the larger issue — of the presence of elephants in plantations and estates and threat posed by them — remain, and this is only a temporary reprieve.

But given the potential to reduce loss of life, the model is now being replicated across the district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – August 13th, 2018

NITK experts to visit Virajpet to inspect road

August 9, 2018Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

Technical experts from the Mines and Geology Department, Bengaluru, paid a visit to Virajpet on Monday and inspected the condition of Perumbadi-Makutta-Kootupole Road, which was damaged due to rains.

Experts from the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, along with the officials of Public Works Department will visit Virajpet on August 7, to inspect the condition of Perumbadi-Makutta-Kootupole Link Road, which was damaged due to the recent rains in the district.

The expert team will give suggestions towards the maintenance of the road and also on safeguarding the passengers plying on the road.

The concerned department will be guided by the team in preparing a scientific design for road construction.

The Karnataka government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the permanent maintenance of the road, which connects Kodagu with Kerala. A proposal in this regard was sent by the PWD to the government, along with the submission of an estimate.

A team of technical experts from the Mines and Geology Department, Bengaluru had recently visited the place to inspect the road. The soil from the spot has been collected as a sample for scientific tests and the report on the same is expected.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by DH News Service, Virajpet / August 06th, 2018

Chasing the Cauvery

July 31, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Side by side: The Cauvery (left) and the Kollidam at the Kambarasampettai check dam near Srirangam in Tiruchi. PHOTO: M. MOORTHY — Side by side: The Cauvery (left) and the Kollidam at the Kambarasampettai check dam near Srirangam in Tiruchi.
PHOTO: M. MOORTHY

Broad, menacing and gushing, the river has gained new life aided by a generous southwest monsoon

Originating as a small spring at Talacauvery in the Brahmagiri Hills of Kodagu district in Karnataka and through its 802-km journey before emptying into the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar on the Coromandel coast, the Cauvery evokes strong emotions, both sublime and mundane. The generous monsoon this year has infused new life into the river. All the major dams in Karnataka (Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathi, Kabini and Harangi) are brimming over. With the combined rate of outflow from the reservoirs being 75,000 cusecs to 1,00,000 cusecs, the Cauvery, barely visible in summer, is now a river in spate.

Among the more popular sights on its course is the Abbey Falls in Madikeri, where a few natural streams jump off the cliff and join the river downstream. The Lakshmantirtha, a bigger tributary originating from Brahmagiri, jumps down the cliffs in a series of rapid falls from a height of nearly 170 feet to form the Iruppu Falls and snakes through the Nagarahole tiger reserve before merging with the Cauvery at the Krishnaraja Sagar. Meandering and gliding along through the rough and rocky terrain, the Cauvery splits into two and forms the riverine island of Shivanasamudra and presents the breathtaking sight of the Gaganachukki and Bharachukki segmented falls, plummeting from a height of 320 feet (and almost a 1,000 feet wide) with a deafening roar before hitting the rocky gorge below releasing clouds of vapour and foam.

It is at the Hogenakkal falls that the river tumbles down, after traversing for 64 km along the inter-State boundary. The river spreads into the Mettur Dam in Salem district, the largest in Tamil Nadu with a capacity of 93.47 thousand million cubic feet. From Mettur, the river proceeds south and turns eastward.

At the Upper Anicut, or Mukkombu (which is about 15 km above Tiruchi), the Cauvery splits into two, with the southern branch retaining the original name and the other, known as Coleroon (Kollidam in Tamil), and drains into the sea near Portonovo (Parangipettai) in Cuddalore district.

Text by R. Krishnakumar and T. Ramakrishnan

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Tamil Nadu / July 29th, 2018

Marshy field sports held in Madikeri amidst rain

July 23, 2018Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Sportsadmin

Youth take part in a marshy field race in Madikeri. DH PHOTO

From tiny tots to the elderly, a large number of people became a part of fun and frolic amid rain, at a marshy field in Madikeri on Sunday.

Various competitions were held at a marshy field belonging to Kukkera Palangappa in Devasturu village in Madikeri taluk, as a part of ‘Aatinaati Koodukoota’ organised by Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi mattu Sahitya Academy.

Men and women took part in volleyball, tug of war, throw-ball and running race. Rural games were conducted for children.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA M P Appacchu Ranjan felt the need to preserve paddy transplantation for the next generation.

“People should not think about profit alone and should get into the marshy field, as an effort to rediscover traditional agriculture which is vanishing,” said Ranjan.

Pattedar of Devastur, Kukkera Thammaiah flagged-off the paddy seedling transplantation and marshy field race.

He said that agriculture was a social activity in the past and people in the village help each other in paddy seedling transplantation work. But, today, fields have been left fallow.

In a good development, a few youth associations have come forward to carry out paddy transplantation work, he added.

Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi mattu Sahitya Academy Chairman P C Jayaram said that the traditional methods of agriculture reflected social harmony.

MLA K G Bopaiah, Kolar Excise Department Deputy Commissioner Sumitha Lingaraju, academy members Ramesh Joyappa, Kakkera Pradeep and A K Himakara were present among others.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by DH News Service, Madikeri / July 22nd, 2018

H D Kumaraswamy promises all help to rain-hit Kodagu

July 21, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Natureadmin

CM offers ‘Baagina’ to the Cauvery at Harangi n To perform poojas at Talacauvery today.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy offers ‘Baagina’ to river Cauvery at Harangi dam in Kodagu on Thursday. His wife Anitha Kumaraswamy and ministers D.K. Shivakumar and H.D. Revanna are seen (Photo: KPN )

Mysuru:

After a three-year-long drought with all the reservoirs in Cauvery catchment area having reached full reservoir levels because of the record rainfall, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy offered ‘Baagina’ to river Cauvery at Harangi reservoir in Kodagu district, as a gesture of thanks to ‘Mother Nature’ on Thursday. His wife Anita Kumaraswamy joined him for the special poojas. Water resources minister D.K. Shivakumar, Public Works minister H D Revanna Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahaesh, BJP MLAs K.G Bopaiah (Virajpet) and M.P. Appachu Ranjan (Madikeri), and MLCs Sunil Subramani and Veena Achaiah participated in the function.

Harangi reservoir is the second after Kabini to fill to the brim in the State this year. Kumaraswamy will follow this up with Cauvery poojas at Talacauvery in Kodagu on Friday morning, and later he will offer baagina to the Kapila at Kabini reservoir and the Cauvery again at KRS on Friday. He will participate in Aashada Friday poojas at Chamundeswari temple atop the Chamundi Hills which will begin on Friday.

Expressing his happiness that all the reservoirs have filled up after good rains, the CM said: “Kodagu has received this huge record rainfall after 35 years. I am here to respond to problems of people of Kodagu, which is the birthplace of the Cauvery.” Holding a meeting of officers on the losses incurred by people of Kodagu, due to rain havoc, he said, “Personnel from Hassan and Mysuru are being deputed to reinstate electricity connections in Kodagu.”

Authorities at reservoirs said that while the Kabini reservoir filled on June 15, Harangi on July 7, and KRS and Hemavathi on 14 July, it is usually on the day that Chief Minister offers Bagina to rivers at reservoirs, that the maximum level is recorded. And with CM’s programme to offer Bagina slotted on Thursday and Friday, outflow from all the reservoirs was reduced on Thursday. As on July 19, the KRS (78,04,11,672 cusecs) and Kabini (78,15,22,776 cusecs) received more than 78 lakh cusecs of water each from June 1 till July 18. During the same period, 34,58,31,120 cusecs of water was released from the KRS reservior and 64,06,78,770 cusecs from the Kabini reservoir this water year.

According to water resources department sources, on Thursday, 26,844 cusecs of water was released from the KRS reservoir and 35,800 cusecs from the Kabini reservoir. With good outflow from the state, water level at the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu stood at 102.680 feet as against its full capacity 120 feet, on Wednesday. The sources said 24,300 cusecs of water was released from the Hemavathi reservoir and 9100 cusecs from the Harangi reservoir on Thursday.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Shilpa P , Deccan Chronicle / July 20th, 2018

Measures to protect tourists at Mallalli waterfalls

July 21, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Mallalli falls near Somwarpet is in full splendour, following heavy rain in the region.

After 11 lives were claimed at Mallalli falls near Somwarpet, the Kodagu district administration has taken up protective measures at the tourist spot.

Like other falls in the district, Mallalli falls is now in its full splendour. Over the years, the place has been a favourite destination for tourists visiting Kodagu during vacations.

Mallalli falls, cascading from a height of around 150 foot in Bettadalli Gram Panchayat jurisdiction, attracts tourists during monsoon.

The falls is situated at a distance of three kilometres from Hanchinalli village, on the way from Shanthalli to Pushpagiri.

In spite of being one of the tourist destinations, the spot lacks basic facilities, including the toilet facilities, due to the apathy of the department.

So far, a total of 11 tourists, who visited the falls, have lost their lives, as there were no protective measures on the spot. Some tourists have been creating a nuisance by misbehaving and littering waste in the spot, it is said.

After some local residents staged a protest and urged the district administration to take proper measures for the protection of tourists, the district administration has installed iron rods and grills near the falls.

Prashant, a tourist from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, said that there are no information signboards or warning boards at the spot. But the Gram Panchayat collects a hefty entrance fee from tourists, he charged.

Taluk Panchayat former president K M Lokesh urged the Tourism Department to develop the Mallalli falls by into a tourist place, by providing basic facilities, such as drinking water and toilets for tourists. Also, necessary staff should be deployed at the spot for protection, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by DH News Service, Somwarpet / July 20th, 2018

Video Of Class 8 Boy Narrating Kodagu’s Rain Woes Goes Viral

July 16, 2018Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Madikeri:

While many people have expressed their dissatisfaction about Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) for not sanctioning any funds to Kodagu in his Budget, this little boy from Yemmemadu village near Napoklu takes the cake. In a video that has gone viral, the boy vents his anger at the CM and at the same time highlights how Kodagu is ravaged by rain and how man-animal conflict has made lives miserable in this tiny district.

In the video, the Class 8 student, Kallira Fateh, son of Kallira Ummar and Rukya, says the district which has given River Cauvery to Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu has got nothing from Kumaraswamy.

Hailing from a farming and daily wager family, Fateh, holding an umbrella, is seen pleading with the CM to provide relief to the rain-affected Kodagu farmers. Taking a dig at the Chief Minister for ‘neglecting’ Kodagu district in the Budget, Fateh said, “Mysuru, Mandya and half of Tamil Nadu get water, if it rains in Kodagu district. But the unrelenting rain has destroyed coffee, pepper, areca and paddy crops in Kodagu.”

“The wild elephant menace is on the rise in Kutta, Birunani, Balele and Ponnampet because of which daily wagers and agriculture farmers fear to venture out of their houses. The rain-battered Kodagu-Kerala Road has become non-motorable. “Who should people approach to get their problems addressed? It is you (CM), who else,” he said.

He continued, “Kumaraswamy has meted out injustice to Kodagu by not sanctioning grants to Kodagu and added that the CM should treat all districts equally.”

The boy then addressed BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa to impress upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce compensation for the distressed farmers.

“Modiji is Prime Minister for 130 crore people of the country. He should treat people of all religions and castes on equal footing. This holds good for the CM too,” Fateh said.

The video went viral and reached the CM too. Kumaraswamy told reporters in Bengaluru that since Independence, many rulers have come. “Why am I being targeted, that too after taking charge just two months ago? I know about the problems faced by people of Kodagu. I will visit Kodagu and stay there for two days and hear the grievances of people and solve their problems,” he said. Fateh’s father Umar said his son was pained by the destruction of standing crops on 3,500 acres of paddy fields in the village.

“Our paddy field has been waterlogged for the past 13 days. No official or people’s representative visited our area. In our village, we get electricity only for six months a year. All this upset him,” he said. “I’m happy that the State Government and the CM have responded to our demands,” he said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / Madikeri – July 15th, 2018

Tree Lovers Club Plants 700 Saplings At Vijayanagar

July 14, 2018Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Natureadmin

Urban greening initiative…

Mysuru:

The newly-floated Tree Lovers Club, Vijayanagar, planted around 700 saplings including fruit-bearing indigenous trees in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage on Sunday last.

The Club, an offshoot of Vekare Ex-Servicemen Trust (VKET), will take up urban greening and promote it by example and through public campaigns.

Speaking to SOM, VKET and Tree Lovers Club President Mandetira N. Subramani said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to take care of the ecology and environment around their neighbourhood, first by planting a couple of fruit-bearing saplings in places wherever it is feasible. Subsequently, it should be the individual’s responsibility to nurture them after their maintenance for five years till they grow at least 15 feet in height.

He said, it is the collective responsibility of the residents and NGOs to take the initiative to impress upon the Forest Department to plant more saplings.

He further mentioned that the Tree Lovers Club will accomplish its mission of apprising the Chief Conservator of Forests in Mysuru to plant over 5,000 different species of saplings including fruit-bearing trees in Vijayanagar 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Stages.

Vice-President Shakunthala Subramani, Gen. Secretary A.B. Bojappa, Jt. Secretary Poornima Raghu, Treasurer S. Somashekara and Hon. Advisor P.S. Bose Subramani led the morning walkers and residents of Vijayanagar 3rd Stage, numbering over 150, in planting the saplings.

Addressing the gathering after planting over 25 fruit-bearing trees in the Park opposite Heritage Club, the Tree Lovers Club President thanked the participants, members of Brahmagiri Kodava Association and Heritage Club for giving moral support to the Club in accomplishing the greening initiative. Tree Lovers Club intends to adopt the Park in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage for development and maintenance after obtaining the consent of authorities concerned.

Speaking on the occasion, A.B. Bojappa said that the Club would form a Committee of Tree Lovers to look after the saplings already planted in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage in the past one week.

The Secretary also requested those present to give their suggestions to improve the ecology of Vijayanagar 3rd Stage via e-mail: tree.lovers@yahoo.com or infowicket@gmail.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 10th, 2018

Voice of The Reader : A Mysurean’s Tryst With Kodagu

July 12, 2018About Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Sir,

I should consider it treason on my part if I don’t respond now to KBG’s Abracadabra titled “Will Kodagu, heaven on earth, cease to exist ?” (SOM dated June 23). Yes, I consider Kodagu my second homeland, if KBG calls Mysuru his homeland.

Ever since KBG advised me to go to Tadiyandamol in 1984 to enjoy a good trekking experience, my tryst with the land has been, probably, more significant than that of anybody else living outside Kodagu. During the first six years thereon (1984), one could find me wandering around seldom tread remotest and wildest paths of the district, along with my students. During 1990 and 1995 people could very regularly find me around Talacauvery, measuring rainfall and monitoring flows in small streams, including Cauvery and Kannike at their origin, and developing theories on ‘Pipeflow’ for my Ph.D.

Later, for about a decade, one could find my students working on data we collected from the region and me coming out with significant publications telling the world about the thrills of my work in the Western Ghats. Ever since I was awarded a Funded Project by ISRO in 2006, my association with Kodagu started expanding in multiples. Innumerable number of our (NIE) students started getting benefited from the project, and enjoyed working in the wet areas of the Watershed of Kumaradhara, which originates on the eastern slopes of Pushpagiri.

We instrumented streams, installed rain gauges and collected precious data. The project culminated in me setting up a very unique “Field Hydrological Laboratory” which now caters to teaching PG students of NIE practical Hydrology. The Annual Survey Camp for UG students was also being held for a few years in Garwale, exposing students to real-life problems.

Recently, I have got funds to the tune of Rs. 30 lakh from MoES, for continuing my work in Kodagu — this means I can work with freedom in the Ghats till my retirement from service at NIE. I hope, people will understand how formidable my emotional attachment with Kodagu is.

For this very reason, I oppose all forces working towards the fall of Kodagu. I assure you that my ‘alilu seve’ continues to be available for purposes that will do good to Kodagu. To add to my earlier write-ups, I now have a point to emphasise on.

During the over seven decades of independence and democratic rule in the country, very sadly, Kodagu has had the opportunity of sending only one of its own sons to the Parliament. People of Kodagu have cast votes 16 times and have seen their representative (C.M. Poonacha) becoming an MP only once. During the last four decades, which I have seen, no MP has ever done anything favourable to Kodagu, except for shedding crocodile tears. Hence, I strongly feel that the people of Kodagu take up the challenge of installing their own representative.

A true representative of the people is of utmost importance in shaping political decisions and a strong lobby which alone can bear fruits. No doubt that a long-lasting battle is required to achieve this goal.

– Prof. Yadupathi Putty, Krishnamurthypuram, 1.7.2018

You can also mail us your views, opinions, and stories to voice@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / July 11th, 2018

Cauvery Gallery may soon become a reality

June 30, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

The Cauvery River Gallery, which was proposed to be established in the city, five years back, may finally be a reality with Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission and former chairman of ISRO K Kasturirangan announcing that he has spoken about the project with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, in Bengaluru, recently.

The formation of the Cauvery Tourism Development Authority was mooted in March 2015 and the idea of the Cauvery River Gallery was discussed in the first meeting of the authority, chaired by then Tourism minister R V Deshpande, in June 2015. Neither of them materialised so far, even though the previous chief minister was a native of Mysuru district, the nucleus of the Cauvery River basin.

According to the annual report (April 2016 – March 2017) of the National Academy of Sciences of India (NASI), River Cauvery is among the most sacred rivers in the southern region of India and is thought to be the Dakshina Ganga, on account of its diverse characteristics and attributes.

“Originating from the Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats and flowing towards the Bay of Bengal, the river travels along Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the southeastern direction. River Cauvery is well inscribed in Tamil and Kannada literature because of its sacredness. Bathing in waters of Cauvery is a traditional belief. The striking Shivanasamudram falls of Cauvery River is the second biggest waterfalls in the country.

At the request of Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, K Kasturirangan, Chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission, requested Manju Sharma, former president of NASI, to establish a Cauvery Gallery on the lines of Ganga Gallery and Brahmaputra Gallery.

Manju Sharma, with the consent of the NASI Council, sent a preliminary intent proposal to establish a high-quality gallery that captures the etymological, ecological, cultural, heritage and social characters of River Cauvery,” the report states.

The Cauvery Gallery can be established with the help of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Kolkata, and the financial support of the department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka. Interactive multimedia with diorama, animation, graphics and the 3-D display will be used to make the gallery interactive and interesting for visitors, the report states. At present, there is a gallery for River Brahmaputra in Guwahati, in Assam, and a gallery for River Ganga at Allahabad, in Uttar Pradesh .

The gallery is expected to showcase the life, culture and biodiversity along the Cauvery River from its birth in Talacauvery of Kodagu district till it reaches the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar (now Pombuhar) in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. It splits into two, twice, and forms the islands of Srirangapatna and Sivanasamudra in Karnataka.

Kasturirangan has said that he held talks with Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on setting up of the gallery on the Karnataka Exhibition Authority Grounds (Dasara Exhibition Grounds) in Mysuru and a detailed project report would be prepared soon.

In 2016 itself, Karnataka’s Tourism department and the NASI had signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the gallery at Mysuru. Then, the Tourism department officials and NASI experts had decided to establish the gallery on the premises of the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) complex. The project was scheduled to be completed in six to nine months and was expected to be a major tourist attraction in the city. The KEA complex is also yet to be constructed.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mysuru / by T.R. Sathish Kumar, DH News Service, Mysuru / June 28th, 2018

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