ENVIS NEWSLETTER on Status of Environment & Its Related Issues
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2017-18 OCTOBER-DECEMBER QUARTERLY VOL. 10 ISSUE 3 SIKKIM STATE ENVIS NEWSLETTER On Status of Environment & Its Related Issues MORE IN THIS ISSUE Mith/ Mit Trees Sidkeong Tulku Bird Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity & Reverence) Rules 2017 Park inaugurated at Rabdenste, West Conceived with a noble idea by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Pawan Sikkim Chamling in order to promote and revive the age-old tradition of forging brotherhood Tinjurey – A short relationship with trees, the State Government has notified Sikkim Forest Trees (Amity nature trek near and Reverence) Rules, 2017 that allows any person to have a Mith/Mit or Mitini Gangtok relationship with a tree or trees standing on his or her private land or on any public Minimal Pollution land, in which case, the tree shall be called a Mith/ Mit tree. during Deepawali festival in Sikkim Though this concept was brewing in the farsighted vision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling since some time, the State Government has finally promulgated Two new records of the rule exercising the powers conferred by clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 83 of Amphibians in Sikkim Himalaya, the Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, India 1988 (6 of 1988). Contd… Look in for more …. Sikkim State ENVIS Quarterly Newsletter 2017-18 Vol. 10, Issue 3 October-December 2 …..continued from Page 1 Minimal pollution during Sikkim has had an age-old tradition of Deepawali festival in Sikkim forging brotherhood relationship with trees, a cultural practice that establishes nature conservation as a way of life for the people. The State Government has considered necessary and expedient to revive this practice in order to create a sense of responsibility in people towards caring and nurturing trees and plants. Under this rule, the State Government shall allow any person to associate with trees standing on his or her private land or on any public land: 1) by entering into a Mith/Mit or Mitini relationship with a tree in which case the tree shall be called a Mith/Mit tree, or 2) by adopting a tree as if it was his or her October 2017: Air quality in various Air quality of Rangpo was satisfactory own child in which case the tree shall parts of Sikkim remained ‘good’ on at 72 points causing minor breathing be called an adopted tree, or Deepawali nights as minimal impacts discomfort to sensitive people while 3) by preserving a tree in remembrance of was recorded in almost all the eight that of Deorali, Singtam, Ravangla, a departed relative in which case the locations in the State. The State Namchi, Pelling, Chungthang and tree shall be called a smriti tree: Pollution Control Board Sikkim which Mangan remained good showing monitored the ambient air quality minimal impact. On pre-Deepawali Under this rule, no person shall be allowed before and during Deepawali festival monitoring, Rangpo and Singtam had to fell or damage a tree registered as showed good indices in at least seven satisfactory air quality index while the mith/mit or mitini, adopted or smriti tree of the eight locations throughout the six other locations had good with except with the approval of the State. minimal impact. Government which shall normally not be LOCATION Air Quality Index given except if it is posing danger as NAME OF STATION Pre-Deepawali Pre-Deepawali On Deepawali provided under the Sikkim Forests Private and Other Non-Forest Land Tree Felling 12.10.2017 17.10.2017 19.10.2017 1 RANGPO, East Sikkim 70 (Satisfactory) 55(Satisfactory) 72(Satisfactory) Rules, 2006. 2 SINGTAM, East Sikkim 27 (Good) 57(Satisfactory) 42 (Good) 3 DEORALI, East Sikkim 26 (Good) 32 (Good) 31 (Good) Felling of a tree registered under these 4 RAVANGLA, South 10 (Good) 12 (Good) 16 (Good) rules in violation of the provisions of these Sikkim rules shall be treated as a forest offence 5 NAMCHI, South 24 (Good) 25 (Good) 27 (Good) and will be punishable as provided under Sikkim the Act. 6 PELLING, West Sikkim 8 (Good) 18 (Good) 17 (Good) 7 CHUNGTHANG, North 16 (Good) 16 (Good) 19 (Good) The concept of Mith/ Mitini relationship Sikkim with a tree is in addition to the already 8 MANGAN, North 32 (Good) 28(Good) 30 (Good) Sikkim practiced conservation initiatives such as Heritage Trees, planting ten saplings for National AQI Category and its associated health impacts every tree cut in private land, State green Good Minimal Impact Poor Breathing discomfort to people mission, Ten minutes to earth and Smritivan (0-50) (201-300) on prolonged exposure which have all significantly contributed in Satisfactory Minor breathing discomfort to Very Poor Respiratory illness to the people (51-100) sensitive people (301-400) on prolonged exposure conserving and expanding the green cover Moderate Breathing discomfort to the Severe Respiratory effects even on of the State. (101-200) people with lung, heart disease, (>401) healthy people children and older adults Sikkim State ENVIS Quarterly Newsletter 2017-18 Vol. 10, Issue 3 October-December 3 Ban on Firecrackers NOISE LEVEL MONITORING REPORT DURING DEEPAWALI 2017 A boon to green and clean Sikkim Location: Pre- During National campaign and way of life for Titanic Park, Deepawali Deepawali Standards Sikkimese people M.G.Marg 12/10/2017 19/10/2017 dB (A) Leq Time Duration dB (A) Leq dB (A) Leq 18:00 to 19:00 48.2 55.6 19:00 to 20:00 59.7 56.9 65 dB (A) 12:00 to 21:00 64.0 51.0 21:00 to 22:00 39.5 52.5 22:00 to 23:00 31.1 49.2 55 dB (A) 23:00 to 24:00 30.3 53.9 Further noise level monitored at Titanic Park, Gangtok was also within permissible limits as per the noise level data before and during Deepawali. The State Pollution Control Board Sikkim has attributed to the fact that people have refrained from using firecrackers and the collective initiative The State Government through Gazette taken by the general public, the State government to reduce air pollution Notification No 544 dated 19th December has been successful. 2014 imposed prohibition on the manufacture, sale and use or bursting of all The ban on firecrackers by the State Government and well supported by the nature loving people of the State has considerably improved the types of firecracker including any sound emitting or illuminating type of firecrackers ambient air quality of the State. The noise level monitored during within the State of Sikkim. Deepawali festival from 2014 onwards shows decline in noise level after implementation of firecracker ban in the entire State with effect from Rampant use of firecrackers during the December 2014. festivals and other occasion has led to several implications in the ecological fragile Deepawali Noise Pollution Monitoring at Gangtok Himalayan State that harbors more than 25% of country’s biodiversity. As Sikkim falls in 80 one of the only two biodiversity hotspots of M.G. Marg 70 (commercial area) the country, every measure possible taken Day time by the State Government to conserve this 60 Lall Bazar biodiversity has been welcomed by the 50 (commercial area) people of Sikkim. Day time 40 Hospital area Besides all possible health and other (silence zone) Day Leq. dB (A) Leq. dB 30 hazardous impacts, the noise and air time pollutants from firecrackers are irksome for 20 Development area both human and animals especially avifauna. (Residential area) The sparkles, powerful sounds, flashy lights 10 Day time and colors from fireworks might excite a 0 human mind, but there are many tiny 2014 2015 2016 2017 beautiful creatures and other living beings that share this wonderful planet and they Source: State Pollution Control Board Sikkim need some privacy and peace too. Most of the animals and birds get scared and they panic as they do not know what exactly is happening around them. It is not joy but shock that fills their innocent minds. When they hear such booming noise from those crackers they tremble with fear and run helter-skelter! The entire State of Sikkim has also already been declared as Air Pollution Control Area vide notification no. 03/FEWMD dated 05/09/2011 published in Extra Ordinary Gazette no. 506 dated 08/09/2011. Sikkim State ENVIS Quarterly Newsletter 2017-18 Vol. 10, Issue 3 October-December 4 Bamboo is officially not a ‘Tree’ anymore November 23, 2017 | Source: PTI: The Hon'ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind cleared The move, it is hoped, will contribute to achieving the an ordinance amending the Indian Forest Act, omitting objective of doubling the farmers' incomes by 2022. Bamboo bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of grows abundantly in areas outside forests with an estimated trees. This would help in exempting it from requiring growing stock of 10.20 million tonne and about 20 million permits for felling or transportation. Before the ordinance people are involved in bamboo related activities. was issued, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane. The brief ordinance, aimed One tonne of bamboo provides 350 man days of employment at increasing bamboo plantations, states that clause seven and an enabling environment for the cultivation of bamboo in section 2 of the Act would omit the word bamboo. will help in creation of job opportunities in the country. The current demand of bamboo in India is estimated at 28 million Though taxonomically a grass, bamboo was legally defined as a tree under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Before this tonnes.