Water released in Kalyan lake killed 100 turtles, suggests report: Kalyan Turtle Death Mystery
A month after over 100 Indian softshell turtles were found dead in a lake in Kalyan, a laboratory report suggests that different bacteria in body parts of the turtles led to their deaths, and also suggests that water in the lake was polluted.
The turtles were found dead in Gauripada lake on January 24. The water body was beautified by KDMC two years ago. A forest team had sent the carcasses to the Centre for Wildlife Conservation, Management and Disease Surveillance, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Veterinary Research Institute for laboratory examination conducted several tests and found bacteria led to the deaths.
The forest department probing the cause of death said that the laboratory report suggests that untreated drainage water released in the lake could be reason for bacteria that led to death of the turtles.
👉 TOI
Continued fluoride contamination of groundwater is a glaring public health issue in central India
Across villages in central India, people are developing discoloration of teeth, a main symptom of dental fluorosis caused by excessive ingestion of fluoride. People in their 30s and 40s are experiencing bone deformities that is claimed to be due to long exposure to contaminated water.
In many of the tribal villages in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, contaminated groundwater is not only a health problem but also has social impacts.
According to government data, as of September 2020, Chhattisgarh has 154 habitations with a total estimated population of around 54,828 which are affected by fluoride contamination in water.
Experts claim that slow progress on solutions by the government, a lack of technological interventions, and no monitoring of newly contaminated villages is making the problem of fluorosis contamination worse.
Will new airstrip in Kerala’s Idukki be a permanent threat to Periyar Tiger Reserve
The much-touted airstrip at Sathram near Vandiperiyar in Kerala’s hill district Idukki is likely to affect the wildlife and ecology of Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of India’s most well-protected forest regions.
An official reply given by the Kerala Forest Department to a recent query from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirms the fear that many environmentalists have already expressed.
The department, in its reply, has confirmed that the airstrip runway is located hardly 600 metres from the boundary of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, which has won global awards several times for setting examples in fool proof conservation.
Georgi P Mathachan, chief conservator of forest (High Range Circle) confirmed that the land used for constructing the airstrip has the status of forest and it features in the annual Working Plan of the Kottayam Forest Division. He said the forest department has no formal communication regarding the project or its environmental impact.
👉 DTE
Asia’s biggest wetland Keshopur chamb on ventilator: Punjab
On January 29, 2018, then tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu strode into Keshopur chamb, one of the Asia’s biggest wetland, with half-a-dozen bureaucrats and proclaimed that an international photography competition will be organised annually. 4 years down the line, neither photography competition nor has wetland circuit, materialized. Right now, things have come to such a pass that if the wetland does not get a benefactor, it would soon lose its soul.
A leading ornithologist said, “All three of Sidhu’s mega-projects have evaporated into thin air. He had one full year to ensure he kept his word before he was shunted out of the Cabinet.” Sidhu gave Rs 3 crore to develop all the four thoroughfares which lead to the area. He had personally ensured that these were reconstructed and recarpeted, but once he was shorn of his governmental position, the roads started falling victim to encroachments and government apathy.
Negative publicity, a dysfunctional TIC and lack of transport facilities have stripped Keshopur of its sheen. The ornithologists claim that if the state government does not give a massive dose of oxygen in the form of funds, the birds may well start skipping the area in future.
Two leopard cubs killed in accidents in Andhra forest
Two leopard cubs have died in two separate accidents in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district in two days. Both the accidents occurred in Nallamalla forests. While one cub was found dead on the railway track near Pacherla village, the second was killed in what a hit-and-run case on a road in Eagle Base Camp in Chelama forest range.
The number of leopard cubs killed in the state this month rose to three. A cub was killed on Kadapa-Chittoor highway earlier this month. The forest department took a serious note of this and initiated steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The forest officials have requested railway authorities to slow down the trains in the forest area. They will also be approaching the authorities concerned for erecting speed breakers on roads passing through the forests, especially at the turning. The forest officials said they will send a proposal to highway authorities to build an underpass as an alternative route for vehicles and to all free movement of wild life.
👉 Canindia
Environment India is a PAN INDIA Volunteer initiative for ecological awareness and incorporate conservative environmentalism in the society. Your support will encourage us to provide you this free service. To support us you just have to follow us and share posts more to create awareness. You can also share your thoughts and articles to publish on topics related to Environment and Wildlife.
🌱🌏🌱
Comment and tell us your thoughts
Join our Endian Group 👉 Environment India to share your eco-awareness message
Now you can also join our WhatsApp group 👉Environment India
Environment India 