Surface Water

VIJAYAWADA: School children will be with one another to list the number of animals and plants they can recognise in a competition being held by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Forest Department at Kaikaluru on Tuesday.

The Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP) invites all citizens to celebrate the World Wetlands Day on the 2nd of February. This date marks the signing of the ‘Convention on Wetlands’ in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran. The 2010 Wetlands Day theme is “Caring for Wetlands – an Answer to Climate Change”. The theme highlights the fact that wetlands, with their biodiversity, can help mitigate climate change.

Bhubaneswar: World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February every year. It marks the date of signing of the convention on wetlands on 2nd February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This day presents us with a welcome opportunity to join together in celebrating the benefits that we all receive from wetlands, as well as to raise the awareness of the local communities who derive their livelihood about the importance of these vital ecosystems for our common future. The Ramsar Bureau (Secretariat) took a decision to observe the World wetland day on 2nd February in 1997. Chilika Development Authority has been observing World Wetlands Day way back from 1997 i.e. from the first year of observation of WWD.

The WWD is observed by CDA in and around Chilika Lake with the active participation of local communities. For optimizing the objectives of the WWD celebration instead of observing it at Bhubaneswar it is invariably observed in and around Chilika by CDA .

Manushi and Jal Biradari are organizing a three-day meeting to discuss the New Yamuna Action Plan. It will cover YAP 1 [Yamuna Action Plan] and the agenda for YAP2. Minister for Environment and Forests Mr Jairam Ramesh will participate in a dialogue on 10 February.

(Last to last year in frustration, this letter came out. Now when Commonwealth Games are at the door Mother Yamuna is asking for justice on her death bed)

Revered Citizens of India,

I am mother of one sixth of humanity, But now a stigma on my own sons. My own sons are raping me for their own prosperity and development. I want to tell you what is my story and what are my ideas while sitting on the death bed.

My story starts from a myth and a reality. My sons believe that I came from heaven while scientists say that I have originated from the glaciers of Himalayas. I believe in both. My father is Himalaya and I originate from Yamunotari glacier, now in state of Uttarakhand. My birth was considered as the end of vows of Aryan civilization. The oldest civilization started flourishing on my banks and sister Ganges also supported this cause. World’s greatest religion was founded in my territory.

Guest Post by Dr.A.Latha, River Research Centre

The Athirappilly Dam Issue in Kerala, India has reached a very critical stage. You must be aware that the MoEF had issued a show cause notice to Kerala State Electricity Board asking reasons for not revoking the environmental clearance granted in 2007 (Ltr No. J - 12011 / 6/ 97 - IA 1 dated 4th January 2010 attached) giving 15 days for responding. The KSEB has submitted its reply few days back. The KSEB has again tried to dilute and distort the real facts regarding this project as a desperate last minute attempt. The Honorable Minister for Environment and Forests has already made his stance clear that the MoEF will revoke the environmental clearance granted in 2007. However there is a need to expose the falsity and distortion of facts by the concerned officials and the continuous efforts to thwart the consistent public opposition to this project. The just decision taken by Sri.Jairam Ramesh also needs to be appreciated.