Coastal corridor is threat to sea life, ground water pollution, disturb the climate, environmental pollution and facing food security problem in feature
The Andhra Pradesh Government plans to develop the coastal corridor on the eastern seacoast. Under this project, the 972 km coastline from Ichapuram in Srikakulam district to Tada of Nellore district would be developed using natural resources and private investments. The Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a wing of the World Bank, have agreed to take up this project
The State Government has proposed a major initiative to take up the integrated development of a coastal corridor by creating infrastructure, promoting industries and giving special attention to socio-economic sectors. This corridor would extend from Srikakulam to East Godavari under the first phase and from West Godavari to Nellore in the second phase. The area to be developing in the first phase consists of 73 mandals in four north costal districts. The government also a plan to develop A four-lane coastal road along the seacoast and communication corridor for this industrial region. Apart from these activities the government want to develop the seaports, air links, roads, rail networks, industrial parks, SEZs, Pharma parks establishing townships. of Andhra Pradesh begins the coastal corridor activities between Vizag and Kakinada region.
The government declared this region as ‘petroleum, chemical, petrochemical investment region’ (PCPIR) inviting more companies to establish there manufacturing units in this region. Especially chemical, petrochemical, Fertilizers, mineral based industries and refineries in to locate this area.
But environmentalists are opposing this type of development. In Andhra Pradesh Vizag is the second largest city in industrial development. The city is experienced regularly with the industrial pollution problems. Due to this problem hundreds of tortoises, Dolphins and other sea fish dead. Last three months this types of incidents are occurred in Visakhapatnm district. With this coastal corridor big climatic changes will occur. Environmental pollution increased. Biodiversity cycle is disturbed. Since last 10 years Vizag city temperature gradually increasing.
జే.వి. రత్నం , సీనియర్ పాత్రికేయులు , విశాఖపట్నం
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Bauxite mining threatens unique wildlife, warn Jamaican conservationists- A lesson to vizag
The Cockpit Country, home to 27 of Jamaica’s 28 endemic bird species and the giant swallowtail, the largest butterfly in the Americas, is reportedly at risk from bauxite mining. Under licences already granted, mining companies have begun drilling for bauxite samples, the raw material for aluminium, to meet the world’s rapidly escalating demand for this valuable metal. Conservationists in Jamaica are concerned that despite its international importance, the fate of the Cockpit Country is likely to go unnoticed by the rest of the world. During a radio phone-in, the programme host asked, “Does anyone outside of Jamaica care about the Cockpit Country?”“Unfortunately for the birds, landscape, and many communities, Jamaica is pushing hard to extract every bit of bauxite from her soils to export for aluminium production, and we recently learned that this threat is close to reality for Cockpit Country,” said Susan Koenig of the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group.Jamaica is recognised internationally for its high levels of endemism and is part of the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot. Jamaica’s endemics include 828 flowering plants, 505 land snails, 21 amphibians and 34 reptiles, five bats and 20 butterflies. Some of these -- including two amphibians, two reptiles, and 65 plants -- are found only in Cockpit Country. It is likely that the sole viable population of the endemic, globally-endangered giant swallowtail, is confined to Cockpit Country.Up to 95 percent of the world’s Black-billed Amazons -- one of two threatened endemic Jamaican parrots -- live in Cockpit Country, which is also home to the Endangered Jamaican Blackbird. This bird forages mostly on bromeliads -- epiphytic plants growing on the branches of trees. But bromeliads are especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation and caustic dust from mining.Bauxite/aluminium is Jamaica’s principal export, and deposits underlie around one quarter of the island’s surface. But the industry has a patchy record of meeting its requirements to “restore” lands devastated by mining -- and the government has a similarly poor record of enforcing the penalties for failure to do so. One community is currently preparing legal action on behalf of hundreds of people whose homes, lands and livelihoods were damaged by one of Jamaica’s major bauxite extraction companies.But even if the “restoration” work were carried out, it would not improve the prospects for Cockpit Country’s biodiversity. In a typical “restored” site, a thin layer of topsoil has been bulldozed back over densely-packed limestone gravel and non-native grass planted. Examples of native forest regenerating in such reclaimed pits are difficult to find, according to Koenig. “The ecological damage wrought by the industry is astounding for a medium-sized island (11,000 sq. km). If you were to overlay a map of our bauxite reserves on a map of other major producers, such as Australia, Brazil, and China, they cover a few pixel points: for Jamaica, it’s approximately 25% of the island,” said Koenig.
Jamaica Environment Trust and the other Cockpit Country Stakeholders are calling upon the Jamaican government to withhold permission for the bauxite companies to begin work, at the very least until a more stringent and realistic environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out. The EIA should look not only at Cockpit Country’s biological and cultural heritage but also at the area’s role as the major aquifer for central-western Jamaica, and the part its forests play in reducing flash flooding and erosion after tropical storms and hurricanes (which seem to be increasingly frequent as a result of Global Climate Change). The Cockpit Country Stakeholders also point out that even discounting the value of ecosystem services, damaging one of the world’s most important and spectacular karst landscapes to get at the bauxite underneath makes no long-term economic sense. Tourism now generates 45 percent of Jamaica’s foreign earnings, and directly or indirectly, provides jobs for around a quarter of the working population. Mining employs far fewer people and is not sustainable. Writing in the Jamaica Observer, veteran journalist John Maxwell commented: “the aquifer underneath the Cockpit Country is vital to the entire North Coast, and not least, to the tourism industry. But when the red earth is disturbed, as it has been in a river in the southern Cockpit Country, you may find the water turning blood red…. Imagine, if you will, the cruise ships being told that our water is perfectly drinkable. It just happens to be red today…”
Jamaica Environment Trust and the other Cockpit Country Stakeholders are calling upon the Jamaican government to withhold permission for the bauxite companies to begin work, at the very least until a more stringent and realistic environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out. The EIA should look not only at Cockpit Country’s biological and cultural heritage but also at the area’s role as the major aquifer for central-western Jamaica, and the part its forests play in reducing flash flooding and erosion after tropical storms and hurricanes (which seem to be increasingly frequent as a result of Global Climate Change). The Cockpit Country Stakeholders also point out that even discounting the value of ecosystem services, damaging one of the world’s most important and spectacular karst landscapes to get at the bauxite underneath makes no long-term economic sense. Tourism now generates 45 percent of Jamaica’s foreign earnings, and directly or indirectly, provides jobs for around a quarter of the working population. Mining employs far fewer people and is not sustainable. Writing in the Jamaica Observer, veteran journalist John Maxwell commented: “the aquifer underneath the Cockpit Country is vital to the entire North Coast, and not least, to the tourism industry. But when the red earth is disturbed, as it has been in a river in the southern Cockpit Country, you may find the water turning blood red…. Imagine, if you will, the cruise ships being told that our water is perfectly drinkable. It just happens to be red today…”
విక్రయానికి ఖనిజ సంపద
Exploitation of Bauxite Deposits in Visakhapatnam
GO AP through G.O.Ms.No. 999, dt. 25.10.1975 reserved Bauxite bearing areas in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts for exclusive exploitation in public sector. All these areas fall in scheduled and Forest areas. Reserves in Araku group over 2.69 sq.kms consist 54.47 million tonnes and Chintapalli group over 28.71 sq.kms consist 491.89 million tonnes Metallurgical grade Bauxite. Total reserves in both groups over 31.40 sq.kms work out to 546.36 million tonnes. The Corporation filed 25 ML applications covering 4,775 ha.
An MOU was signed on 01.07.05 between GoAP and M/s. Jindal South West Holdings Ltd., The JSWHL will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about
2.5 lakh MTs Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs. 9,000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Araku group and Sapparla group consisting 2,446 ha and containing 240 million tonnes. A minimum of 0.5% of revenue shall be spent on health, training, social infrastructure and welfare of Tribals.
The Corporation is already imparting training to 200 Tribal Youth by paying stipend of Rs.3000/- per each and also providing lodging and boarding in mining and allied activities to absorb them in the industry as far as possible.
Also another MOU was signed on 14-2-2007 between GOAP and Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah incorporated an Indian Company namely M/s An Rak Aluminium Limited, who will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about 2.5 lakh MTs of Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs.9,0000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Jerrela group consisting 1162 ha. and containing 224 million tonnes. The process of getting Forest, Environmental Clearance from Govt. of India, Mining Plans approval from IBM in respect of the 4 Bauxite Blocks of Jerrela on priority is pursued as part of grant of mining leases.
GO AP through G.O.Ms.No. 999, dt. 25.10.1975 reserved Bauxite bearing areas in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts for exclusive exploitation in public sector. All these areas fall in scheduled and Forest areas. Reserves in Araku group over 2.69 sq.kms consist 54.47 million tonnes and Chintapalli group over 28.71 sq.kms consist 491.89 million tonnes Metallurgical grade Bauxite. Total reserves in both groups over 31.40 sq.kms work out to 546.36 million tonnes. The Corporation filed 25 ML applications covering 4,775 ha.
An MOU was signed on 01.07.05 between GoAP and M/s. Jindal South West Holdings Ltd., The JSWHL will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about
2.5 lakh MTs Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs. 9,000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Araku group and Sapparla group consisting 2,446 ha and containing 240 million tonnes. A minimum of 0.5% of revenue shall be spent on health, training, social infrastructure and welfare of Tribals.
The Corporation is already imparting training to 200 Tribal Youth by paying stipend of Rs.3000/- per each and also providing lodging and boarding in mining and allied activities to absorb them in the industry as far as possible.
Also another MOU was signed on 14-2-2007 between GOAP and Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The Govt. of Ras Al Khaimah incorporated an Indian Company namely M/s An Rak Aluminium Limited, who will set up Alumina and Aluminium refinery and smelter to produce about 2.5 lakh MTs of Aluminium per annum initially with a provision for suitable expansion and with a capital outlay of Rs.9,0000 crores. APMDC shall supply Bauxite from the deposits of Jerrela group consisting 1162 ha. and containing 224 million tonnes. The process of getting Forest, Environmental Clearance from Govt. of India, Mining Plans approval from IBM in respect of the 4 Bauxite Blocks of Jerrela on priority is pursued as part of grant of mining leases.
Exploitation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands
The Corporation already filed applications for grant of MLs in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts covering 156.59 sq.kms. M/s Bothli trade AG, Switzerland based company evinced interest to establish Titanium Sponge and Titanium Metal Industry with an investment of about of Rs.4,000 crores. The GoAP entered into an MOU with M/s Bothli Trade AG on 18-4-2006 covering an extent of 82.37 sq.kms. and consequently the Corporation entered into an agreement on 24-08-2006 with M/s Bothli. The Corporation proposes to consider additional extent of 33.33 Sq.Kms. subject to approval of GoAP.
M/s V.V.Mineral, Chennai also evinced interest to form Joint Venture with the Corporation for mining and mineral separation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands and also establishment of Value added unit based on the deposits in Srikakulam District over an extent of 14.78 sq.kms. Accordingly the Corporation entered into an agreement with M/s V.V.Minerals Pvt.Ltd., on 30-12-2006 as approved by the GoAP.
Exploitation of Calcite Deposit
The Corporation holds leases for Calcite in Visakhapatnamdistrict. The Corporation already initiated action to exploit the deposit in Nimmalapadu through rising and sale contracts and expects to produce about 24,000 MTs with a profit of 30%.
The Corporation already filed applications for grant of MLs in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts covering 156.59 sq.kms. M/s Bothli trade AG, Switzerland based company evinced interest to establish Titanium Sponge and Titanium Metal Industry with an investment of about of Rs.4,000 crores. The GoAP entered into an MOU with M/s Bothli Trade AG on 18-4-2006 covering an extent of 82.37 sq.kms. and consequently the Corporation entered into an agreement on 24-08-2006 with M/s Bothli. The Corporation proposes to consider additional extent of 33.33 Sq.Kms. subject to approval of GoAP.
M/s V.V.Mineral, Chennai also evinced interest to form Joint Venture with the Corporation for mining and mineral separation of Heavy Mineral Beach Sands and also establishment of Value added unit based on the deposits in Srikakulam District over an extent of 14.78 sq.kms. Accordingly the Corporation entered into an agreement with M/s V.V.Minerals Pvt.Ltd., on 30-12-2006 as approved by the GoAP.
Exploitation of Calcite Deposit
The Corporation holds leases for Calcite in Visakhapatnamdistrict. The Corporation already initiated action to exploit the deposit in Nimmalapadu through rising and sale contracts and expects to produce about 24,000 MTs with a profit of 30%.
Cage culture in వైజాగ్
For the first time in the country, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has demonstrated here that cage culture of marine species could be undertaken. The first crop was harvested. The local branch of CMFRI, which developed the technology, first undertook cage culture last year, but did not prove successful in the first attempt.
The cage, placed in the Bay of Bengal, was washed ashore and another attempt was made, after making modifications to the cage. Mr Mohan Joseph Modayil of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and former Director of CMFRI, said Visakhapatnam had been chosen to demonstrate the project, as aqua farmers of Andhra Pradesh were pioneers, especially in shrimp culture.
He said the project had first been conceived five years ago when he was the Director of CMFRI.
“Cage culture of marine species is commercially viable and it will greatly enhance production.
The returns to farmers will be high,” he explained. He said China, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia had made giant strides in cage culture and there was no reason why India should be lagging, with all its advantages.
‘Can take roots’
Mr N.G.K. Pillai, Director of CMFRI, expressed confidence that cage culture would take roots, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Dr G. Syda Rao, scientist in-charge of the local branch of CMFRI, said that some 1,400 seed of Asia Bass (locally known as Pandugappalu) were stocked in the cage on December 23, 2007.
They were fed with low-value fish on a daily basis. The first harvest was carried out on Saturday. Commercial production could begin from June, he said.
Dr Rao said that a one-time capital investment of Rs 15 lakh would be needed and the culture cost for seven months would be Rs 16 lakh.
The yield would be roughly 25 tonnes and the estimated return Rs 35 lakh per crop, he added.
సోర్సు:Hindu
The cage, placed in the Bay of Bengal, was washed ashore and another attempt was made, after making modifications to the cage. Mr Mohan Joseph Modayil of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and former Director of CMFRI, said Visakhapatnam had been chosen to demonstrate the project, as aqua farmers of Andhra Pradesh were pioneers, especially in shrimp culture.
He said the project had first been conceived five years ago when he was the Director of CMFRI.
“Cage culture of marine species is commercially viable and it will greatly enhance production.
The returns to farmers will be high,” he explained. He said China, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia had made giant strides in cage culture and there was no reason why India should be lagging, with all its advantages.
‘Can take roots’
Mr N.G.K. Pillai, Director of CMFRI, expressed confidence that cage culture would take roots, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Dr G. Syda Rao, scientist in-charge of the local branch of CMFRI, said that some 1,400 seed of Asia Bass (locally known as Pandugappalu) were stocked in the cage on December 23, 2007.
They were fed with low-value fish on a daily basis. The first harvest was carried out on Saturday. Commercial production could begin from June, he said.
Dr Rao said that a one-time capital investment of Rs 15 lakh would be needed and the culture cost for seven months would be Rs 16 lakh.
The yield would be roughly 25 tonnes and the estimated return Rs 35 lakh per crop, he added.
సోర్సు:Hindu
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
భారతావని లో
* India has the world's largest child development program. Yet, the prevalence of underweight children is nearly double that of Sub - Saharan Africa, and among the highest in the world. This is mainly because the program has placed priority on supplementing food rather than on nutrition and health education, and mostly targets children after the age of three when malnutrition has set ఇన్.
* Every year 2.4 million children and about 136,000 women die unnecessarily in India. This is about one fifth of the global total. India’s National Rural Health Mission, launched in April 2005, has a strong commitment to reduce maternal and infant mortality and provide universal access to public health services, the delivery of which is extremely complex and involves a host of public and private, local and international players.
* A severe water crisis looms ahead for India unless the country changes the way it manages water and changes it soon. India’s dams can only store small amounts of its fickle rainfall and its groundwater is rapidly depleting. Estimates reveal that by 2020, India’s demand for water will exceed all sources of సప్లై.
సోర్సు: వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు నివేదిక
* Every year 2.4 million children and about 136,000 women die unnecessarily in India. This is about one fifth of the global total. India’s National Rural Health Mission, launched in April 2005, has a strong commitment to reduce maternal and infant mortality and provide universal access to public health services, the delivery of which is extremely complex and involves a host of public and private, local and international players.
* A severe water crisis looms ahead for India unless the country changes the way it manages water and changes it soon. India’s dams can only store small amounts of its fickle rainfall and its groundwater is rapidly depleting. Estimates reveal that by 2020, India’s demand for water will exceed all sources of సప్లై.
సోర్సు: వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు నివేదిక
వరల్డ్ బ్యాంకు ముందు భారతావని
India is one of the oldest members of the World Bank having joined the institution in 1944. New World Bank lending to the country in FY07 (July 2006-June 2007) was US$3.7 billion. At end of June 2007, the Bank group had 67 active projects with a net commitment of about US$ 14.3 billion for these projects.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths
Although alcohol consumption has occurred for thousands of years, many of the varied health effects have been discovered fairly recently. Alcohol consumption has health and social consequences via intoxication (drunkenness), dependence (habitual, compulsive and long-term drinking), and other biochemical effects. In addition to chronic diseases that may affect drinkers after many years of heavy use, alcohol contributes to traumatic outcomes that kill or disable at a relatively young age, resulting in the loss of many years of life to death or disability. There is increasing evidence that besides volume of alcohol, the pattern of the drinking is relevant for the health outcomes. Overall there is a causal relationship between alcohol consumption and more than 60 types of disease and injury. Alcohol is estimated to cause about 20-30% worldwide of oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, homicide, epilepsy, and motor vehicle accidents.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro-psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. The burden is not equally distributed among the countries, as is shown on the map below.
Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro-psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. The burden is not equally distributed among the countries, as is shown on the map below.
Globally alcohol consumption has increased in recent decades, with all or most of that increase in developing countries. This increase is often occurring in countries with little tradition of alcohol use on population level and few methods of prevention, control or treatment. The rise in alcohol consumption in developing countries provides ample cause for concern over the possible advent of a matching rise in alcohol-related problems in those regions of the world most at risk.
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