ASSAM GREEN FILE (English & Assamese) (September 1st to December 31st 2014) Vol. I ENVIS Centre-Assam Assam Science Technology & Environment Council Bigyan Bhawan, G.S. Road, Guwahati -781005 CONTENTS PART-I English Newspapers Page No. 1. Forest ............................................................................................ 1 2. Environment ................................................................................. 16 3. Health and Occupational Hazards ............................................. 24 4. Land Agriculture, Grazing Land and Animal Care.................. 27 5. Pollution ........................................................................................ 28 6. Power ............................................................................................. 31 7. Flood. ............................................................................................. 32 PART-II Assamese Newspapers Page No. 1. Forest ............................................................................................ 40 2. Environment ................................................................................. 50 3. Health and Occupational Hazards ............................................. 56 4. Land Agriculture, Grazing Land and Animal Care.................. 59 5. Pollution ........................................................................................ 61 6. Power ............................................................................................. 66 7. Flood. ............................................................................................. 67 PART- I ENGLISH NEWSPAPER FOREST English Newspapers ‘Kaziranga’s wildlife population has writ–petitions relating to poaching, a under both the State and the Central increased’ division bench, comprising Chief Justice governments attract actions under Section HC orders government to clear KNP (acting) K Sreedhar Rao and Justice AK 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, encroachments Goswami, directed the State Government 2010, the owners of the industrial units BY OUR STAFF REPORTER to implement the measures to hand over (stone crushers, bitumen hot-mix plants, GUWAHATI, September 2: State the land to the KNP authorities. brick kilns, oil mills and others) are Environment and Forest Minister Lawyer Rita Boro Barua, who represented operating in clear violation of the NGT Rockybul Hussain on Tuesday informed the petitioner, said Assam government orders. Section 26 of the said legislation that there was no encroachment in the suggested short–term and long term describes such acts as offences notified areas of the Kaziranga National measures. “According to the government, punishable with imprisonment for a Park, but admitted that the additional areas the short–term measures will start period which may be extended up to three of the park are witnessing some amount of immediately and the encroachments will years and with fine which may be encroachment. be cleared by March 31, 2015,” she said. extended up to Rs 10 crore or with both, The additional areas meant for the park are Assam government also proposed a said Choudhury. yet to be handed over to the Forest compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the people As per the NGT order dated September 7, Department by the Revenue Department. who are living in the additions and 2012, Choudhury had filed an RTI Talking to reporters here, Hussain said, suggested that they may be re–located to application with the Union Ministry of “Some people have patta land in these model villages. The court also suggested Environment and Forests (MoEF) additional areas which are still under the setting up of a separate sub–division for requesting for the copy of the Revenue Department. We have given a expediting the works. Comprehensive Action Plan and proposal to the Central government for Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, Monitoring Mechanism prepared by the rehabilitation of the owners of patta land in Wednesday, September 03, 2014 Ministry of Environment and Forests, for these additional areas and to give them implementation of the conditions compensation up to Rs 10 lakh,” adding, stipulated in the 1996 notification “Three such additional areas are yet to be specifying “No Development Zone” and handed over to us.” for inspection, verification and On land erosion facing by the park, the monitoring of the prohibitions stated in minister said, “From 1904 to till date, 84 the notification. And, following no sq km of the park’s land has been eroded answer from the Ministry, he filed the and it’s a major challenge for the park first appeal on the matter on February 11 authorities as well as the Forest this year. Department.” Choudhury filed another RTI application Expressing optimism, Hussain said, with the Department of Environment and “Despite land erosion problem, the park’s Forests, Government of Assam on wildlife population has increased. In case February 24, 2014 on the same issue. He of tiger population density, the park is filed the First Appeal on the matter on currently ranked between 1 and 5 April 9, 2014, but no information has globally,” adding, “The park harbours 32– been provided to him as yet. He was 34 tigers per 100 sq km.” informed through a communication on On the rhino poaching issue, the ___________________________ May 22 last that “the required Environment and Forest Minister said, information as sought for on the point Industries near Kaziranga violating “We are very serious about rhino poaching, No.1 and 2 are under process for which norms and for safety of these animals, electronic Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – The the information could not be provided.” surveillance system has been installed in industrial units located in the eco-sensitive In the third RTI application filed with the the park,” adding, “About 100 local youth zone of Kaziranga National Park (KNP) Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) living around the park will be trained for have been operating in clear violation of on February 12, 2014, and the First assisting the park’s security officials in the legal provisions and the government Appeal filed thereon on March 29 in curbing poaching and other anti–social authorities concerned have also failed to respect to the KNP Eco-sensitive Zone, activities in and around the park.” take any actions against these units despite 2014, the PCBA informed him on April Hussain further informed that Union there being written complaints, alleged 10, 2014 – “No step has been taken by Environment and Forest Minister Prakash environment and RTI activist Rohit the PCB, Assam to install necessary Javadekar would be visiting the Kaziranga Choudhury who is fighting a legal battle pollution control equipment as the Board National Park for two days from against all the anti-environment-friendly office didn’t allow the units to operate” September 4 to review the whole scenario. activities in this zone, also alleged that the and “As the Board didn’t allow the units Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court today authorities have allowed these units to to operate, so the inspection matter does asked Assam government to clear the violate even the orders of the National not arise.” encroachments in four additions of Green Tribunal (NGT). The authorities, in Choudhury claims that contrary to the Kaziranga National Park hand them over to a bid to cover-up such nefarious activities, PCBA statement, the units in question are the park authorities. The first and fourth have also been trying to evade the queries continuing with their industrial activities. additions have been handed to the park made by him through RTI applications, Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, authorities earlier. However, the rest of the alleged Choudhury While the authorities Thursday, September 04, 2014 four additions still have encroachments. Hearing a PIL along with 1 ASTEC- Assam Green File 33 animals rescued in Kaziranga around 80 per cent of the park area had introduced ‘time card’ system to By Our Staff Reporter causing a threat to the animal population control the vehicle movement on NH 37. Guwahati, September 3: Thirty three of the Kaziranga National Park. Animals face problem due to vehicle animals have been rescued from the Elephants, rhinos, tiger and the most movement which sometimes lead to flooded parts of Kaziranga National Park, affected deer population had suffered a casualties. of which 26 have been released in the lot. Most of the deers have shifted Out of 33 rescued animals, twenty six (26) wilds and the remained seven succumbed towards highlands of Karbi Anglong animals were released by the MVS team to their injuries. The animals were foothills. But the rescues of endangered after minimum intervention in the safe rescued by the Centre for Wildlife hog deer from the fringes were the most. wilderness of Kaziranga National Park. Six Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) The national highway 37, the lifeline hog deer and one wild boar died. run Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) through the Kaziranga landscape is the Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, units of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and most vulnerable stretch that has quite a Thursday, September 04, 2014 International Fund for Animal Welfare number of animal corridors connected to (IFAW) in association with Assam Forest the park. And the wildlife moves towards Department and local people from August the highlands through these animal 25 to 30. corridors during flood too. Like every The recent flood wave has submerged year, the Kaziranga Forest Authority The Telegraph