Tag Environment

Torturing animals is suicidal!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 13.12.25

Disturbing visual! Why don’t admins remove video clips of animals being tortured?

A social media post caught the attention of the admins in a WhatsApp group. Indeed, the clip was quite disturbing! It showed a live crocodile being skinned. A Chinese woman used a knife to remove the top layer of a crocodile’s skin to create a stylish ladies’ handbag. If a weak-hearted person sees the clip, he would even faint. Now the question is whether the post is scary or the action. In another clip, it was explained how shuttlecocks are manufactured using feathers plucked from live pigeons. Shockingly, millions of feathers are taken from these birds while they are still alive. We do not want to debate whether such practices should be banned, but it is a fact that animals are being tortured. Cruelty toward animals for meat, milk, eggs, leather, wool, or silk is a major ethical concern worldwide. We cannot stop killing animals for meat. Any debate for this will end in controversy. But unconfirmed sources quote the world’s non-vegetarians as between 75% and 90%. However, in India, A 2021 survey found that about 39% of Indian adults describe themselves as “vegetarian.”  Slaughterhouses, in general, claim to kill animals at one go and without torture. This is what we understand, and we may be wrong. The animals are part of the food chain, which we acknowledge. Our concern lies with the cruelty inflicted on animals.

What is more painful to hear is that many wild animals and birds are tortured and killed for purposes other than food. Tigers are poached for their nails, teeth and bones. Metal traps used for killing them cause slow and painful death. Monkeys are forced to perform in street shows, kept in chains, and beaten until they obey commands. In traditional practices like “dancing bears” (now banned), bears had their teeth broken and noses pierced with hot rods. Crocodiles are killed brutally or skinned while alive for leather. Snakes are nailed to trees and skinned alive in illegal markets. Snake charmers remove fangs, causing infection and starvation. In Tamil Nadu, for kili josiyam (parrot astrology), flight feathers of rose-ringed parakeets are cut painfully so they cannot fly away and are used to pick fortune cards, even though they are protected under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Act. It is an offence as per the law. The above are only indicative examples, not exhaustive. Instead of condemning social media posts that show cruelty towards animals, just because they induce palpitations, group members must come forward to become the voice for the voiceless. People who forward such posts must add a sentence cautioning the weak-hearted people to avoid seeing them. In our opinion, bringing such horrible episodes to the limelight will help create awareness and stop cruelty to animals.

Cyclone – brings strangers, raises brows!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 6.12.25

Yes, I am referring to the Amur falcons that were carried to Point Caimere by the strong winds during the recent cyclone. This attracted media attention and raised the eyebrows of environmentalists. It is but natural that a cyclone creates havoc. Obviously, Cyclone Ditwah also brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast. After creating havoc in Sri Lanka, it has slowly lost its intensity as it crossed the Indian shore. But there were some unusual developments during this cyclone. Various marine species and birds were washed ashore. Two Amur falcons were blown off course during their migration and landed on the Point Calimere (Kodiakarai) coast. These birds are passage migrants and typically migrate through Gujarat and Maharashtra, but the cyclone forced them to divert from their usual route. Are these isolated cases, and could they be neglected? We need to wait and see whether these falcons will stay in the eastern coast or will return to their regular migration route in the western shore. In general, the Amur Falcon stays in India for a brief time. We do not know how the stranded birds will respond to this change. (Picture courtesy: birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Richard Garmmett & others)

This is just one side of the game. I recently came across a viral video showing an elephant saving a spotted deer stranded in floodwaters caused by the cyclone. In another instance, a leopard climbs onto an elephant to escape the floods. These animal behaviours are abnormal and misleading. Comments have already indicated that these video clips are AI-generated. Why these social media champions pass false and fabricated videos is anyone’s guess. Perhaps, more followers may help them monetise their page. But in the process, they pass on misinformation. Today’s netizens must ensure twice that a viral video is genuine or doctored. Else the misinformation would spread like wildfire. The fallout of such misinformation will be harmful and create disturbance to the behavioural pattern of human beings.

Cyclone is a serious matter. Today, Sri Lanka is under a nationwide state of emergency after Cyclone Ditwah triggered catastrophic flooding across the western provinces, killing at least 366 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods submerged. Residents wade through chest-high waters, stranded without food or shelter as they plead for urgent assistance. It seems to be the worst disaster in the country’s history. According to the Disaster Management Centre, key infrastructure like roads and bridges, power and rail networks are damaged and over a million people are affected. While Cyclone Ditwah has weakened into a deep depression near Tamil Nadu, officials warn that floodwaters may take days to recede. Under such a serious calamity, spreading rumours and misinformation will add more damage than good

Is Bangalore inching towards Delhi?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 29.11.25

AQI in Bangalore has crossed 100

This is the top news nowadays. For residents of Bengaluru, the fact that the Air Quality Index (AQI) has breached the 100 mark has led to widespread cynicism. Many people are vociferous about the increased air pollution levels caused by heavy traffic and ongoing construction works. Indeed, the city is no longer the historical “Garden City” it once was. The innumerable residential construction projects and corporate skyscrapers have caused more harm than good. It is high time that the policymakers put a halt to the licensing of such construction and consider expanding to nearby towns like Tumkur. The increased migratory population has slowly started telling upon the most preferred Bangalore weather. Summers are prolonging, and more air conditioning units are seen near every balcony. Lifestyle changes have led residents to go for a second car. But comparing Delhi, Bangalore is far better. Delhi’s air pollution, which has breached 400 mark, is turning the city into a gas chamber. The situation is grim and worse when compared to top cities of the world. While Bengalurians may console themselves by comparing Delhi, they need to understand that Bengaluru is nowhere better than Delhi. Situated in the Gangetic plains, Delhi’s terrain resembles a bowl, which allows air pollutants to linger over the city for extended periods, particularly when mixed with winter fog. In contrast, Bangalore is located on the Deccan Plateau, giving it a convex shape. This topography causes air pollutants to disperse more easily, creating the impression that pollution is better managed in Bangalore. However, if increasing pollution is not addressed promptly, the city could eventually face the same challenges as Delhi.

Delhi faces several urgent challenges, including high vehicular pollution levels, ongoing construction, and harmful practices such as garbage and stubble burning from neighbouring states. These issues have been lingering for years, with no tangible solution in the near future. Doctors started advising patients to leave Delhi. While neighbouring states report a notable decrease in stubble burning, it is clear that the measures implemented by authorities in Delhi are insufficient. Additionally, residents of Delhi are often reluctant to step out of their comfort zones and opt for public transportation, despite the excellent Metro connectivity available in the city. In Bangalore, the situation is getting worse and inching towards a stage of no return. The fact that the AQI has crossed 100 is also a dangerous indication. If there is no tab on the new constructions, the PM2.5 level will definitely go up. Metro and flyover construction is severely delayed. Damocles’ sword hangs over the city as the 16.7 km, ill-conceived, unscientific Tunnel project prepares for its ground-breaking ceremony in February 2026. While Bangalore is gearing up to face the increased traffic snarls due to the tunnel project, it is worrisome to imagine where PM 2.5 levels will reach. God alone can save Bangalore!

Where are the migratory ducks?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Sardar Charan Singh appeared downcast when we boarded his e Rickshaw from the hotel where we stayed. E-Rickshaw No. 66 had not seen many tourists this season. As a senior birding guide with four decades of experience, Charan Singh, the authorised rickshaw driver, is more than just a driver. He shares insights about the woolly-necked stork, shovellers, Garganey, comb ducks, and the collared scops owl. While these uncommon bird species may not be so important to normal tourists, seasoned birders often seek out such unique names while chatting with the rickshaw drivers. To successfully capture images of birds like the Garganey, Gadwall, Red-crested Pochard, Comb Duck, Black Bittern, or Nightjar, birdwatchers often rely on the expertise of guides. Sardar knows exactly where the Nightjars are likely to be perched, ensuring that his customers leave delighted. However, Charan Singh was feeling dissatisfied this time. Due to the El Niño effect, the weather was unusually hot, even for November. Typically, this time of year would attract many migratory birds to Bharatpur. But Charan Singh is determined to show some special birds to the bird lovers. So, even before the birders get disappointed, he seeks permission to go to a nearby area, about a KM away from the national park.  Though initially it appeared a typical guide mindset to market something, a drive with him was not disappointing. The birds seemed to have taken a new abode, it looked like. We had a glimpse of all three species of Cormorants, Spoonbills, Openbills and night herons besides the usual egrets, jacanas, coots and moorhens. Thousands of water birds congregated here for hatching and breeding. It appears that the Rajasthan Govt had decided to convert this place into a heronry. At least this is what a rusted board indicated. When we returned to the Sanctuary and started moving inside, we were a little bit disappointed as there were not many water birds except Painted Storks in thousands. Charan Singh said that the breeding of Painted storks was delayed this year. Some common birds were also missing. Saurus crane was not seen anywhere. We were looking for migrants but were disappointed. Initially, we thought of making two rounds, one in the morning and another in the evening. But, realising that migrants were missing, we packed up and wanted to return. But Charan Singh took us around on unknown routes, trying to help us spot a few uncommon birds. Of course, it helped us to spot a Jackal and a spotted deer. But that is not what we looked for. Though the local guides still pin hope on the arrival of migratory ducks by November end, the fact of delay in migration clearly indicates that the El Niño situation may be intensified into climate change. In old books, there is evidence for counting 500- 600 species; the present-day guides estimate 300 to 400 species during the migratory season. The global hotspot, Keoladeo National Park, which looks deserted and dry, does not appear to have any hope for tomorrow. However, we could record 82 species of birds in 4 hours

Environment can’t be saved in air-conditioned halls!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 25.10.25

‘Banker by profession, Birder by choice!’ Yes! This is how I want to reflect on my personal journey. I wish to deviate from my usual editorial to share my thoughts on environmental activism and whether I am fit for the passion chosen! During my college education in zoology, I became fascinated by bird migration, a topic that my professor handled amazingly. This inspired me to take up birdwatching as a hobby. Through watching birds, I became motivated to engage in conservation, which ultimately led me to environmental activism. Pursuing a career in banking while doing some justice to conservation was not that easy. I took to environmental activities four decades back to start my first conservation work in Tamil Nadu. After spending nearly four decades as an environmental activist, I am not confident whether I do justice to this title. To truly make a difference for our environment, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work at the grassroots level! The Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in the 90s awakened many of us to think globally and act locally.  I put a question, ‘Why should I wait for my retirement?’ Let me start doing something! So, I contemplated forming a social organisation with the support of enlightened friends, and took efforts to get a lake declared as a Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, where a huge number of birds were present. Then came the jolt that I was transferred to Delhi by my Bank. I took 7 years to find a like-minded team in Delhi to continue my mission. At last, I founded Green Circle in Dwarka, New Delhi, in 2001. I could have chosen to be an independent environmentalist or could have written books on birds and wildlife. However, my inner voice guided me to focus on making small collective efforts, believing that a team can create a more powerful impact than an individual. Green Circle has now traversed 25 years of environmental action, during which I have gained more valuable lessons than I would have through solo efforts. Looking back, I feel proud of what I’ve accomplished. From designing flyers to maintaining accounts and organizing dharnas, rallies, and grassroots climate action programs, namely, plogging and tree planting, I’ve engaged deeply with environmental efforts. I’ve also presented at seminars alongside esteemed scholars, all under the Green Circle banner with a dedicated team. However, I believe our actions must lead to real conservation. Merely holding poster-making competitions or presenting papers in air-conditioned halls won’t combat climate change. Many global conventions face the same fate. As we approach our Silver Jubilee celebration on November 1, 2025, in Dwarka, New Delhi, I urge my fellow Green Circle members to reflect on these thoughts seriously.

Green Circle celebrates Silver Jubilee in Dwarka, New Delhi

Green Circle, a voluntary environmental organization that began its journey in Dwarka 25 years ago, proudly celebrates its Silver Jubilee Year. Founded with the vision of creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community, Green Circle has grown into one of the most active and respected environmental groups in the region. Over the years, Green Circle has undertaken a wide range of impactful initiatives to promote environmental awareness, community participation, and ecological preservation. Its consistent efforts have inspired citizens, schools, and institutions to join the green movement. To commemorate its Silver Jubilee, Green Circle is organizing a grand community event, “Green Mela 2025” on 1st November 2025 at Bal Bhawan International School, Sector-12, Dwarka. The Chief Guest of the day is Shri Ankit Singh IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dwarka. The Guests of Honour are: Dr Dhananjay Joshi, Professor GGSIP, Kunal Gupta, Director Bal Bhavan International School, Dr Sumit Dookia- Professor GGSIPU, Poonam K Gaur, Asst. News Editor NBT, Dr Jaspreet Kaur, Principal Bal Bhavan International School, and Robin Sharma, Founder Dwarka Express. Eminent persons like Adv. Vikrant Tongad, Dr.Deepmala, Jyoti Raghavan Dr Arindam Ray, Shristi Srivasthava, Prof. Shankar Sahay, Poonam Gupta and Monika Singh will be the special guests. The event will bring together 50+ schools and over 1000 participants, featuring eco-stalls, painting and poster competitions, street plays, cultural performances, and interactive environmental sessions under the theme “Environment First, Efforts Must.” An estimated 2,500 footfalls are expected.

Birds are vanishing fast!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 18.10.25

Where No Vultures Fly, a 1951 British film directed by Harry Watt and starring Antony Steel and Dinah Sheridan, was an adventure movie based on the real-life story of the conservator Mervyn Cowie in the jungles of Kenya. Now vultures are rarely seen. I still remember the Gole market in Karol Bagh, which had meat shops in the 90s. I used to wonder at the huge flock of giant-sized vultures waiting for the leftovers. When I used to travel by a scooter from Gole Market towards East Patel Nagar, enjoying the winter weather, I never missed the migratory Swallows gregariously flying low and near me, while waiting at signals. Gone are those days, as flyovers and metro pillars dominate most signals. The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is the state bird of Rajasthan. Recently, I saw a video clip in social media that tends to promote a whiskey brand called Godawan 173, relating it to the near extinction of GIB. The Rs 500000 per bottle of whiskey is Indian-made (Is it self-reliance?) Yes, you read it correctly. It is Rs 5 lac, coming in a beautiful Jaipur Blue bottle. While the researchers dispute the actual number of birds (not 173, they claim), it is a shame that a whiskey brand is promoting conservation of GIB without even caring to contribute to the conservation

Rapid urbanization has taken its toll. Even the most common sparrow has become uncommon in cities and towns. But still, they are part of rural India. Recently, it was reported that the India Roller, Karnataka’s state bird (neelkanta in Kannada) has been downgraded to the ‘Near Threatened (NT)’ category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from the earlier category of ‘Least Concern (LC)’. Whenever we go birdwatching in natural areas like lakes and rural scrub jungles, we seek out the Indian Roller, which is often regarded as one of the most beautiful birds. I still remember seeing this bird perched on power lines in large numbers back in the 90s. While travelling by train, it was fascinating to observe this bird, with its distinctive big head and bright blue colour, as it flew by. Unfortunately, it has now become a rarity. In Bangalore, the winter season has nearly begun, but migratory bird species are notably absent. Man-made climate change is believed to be the primary cause of the rapid decline of these rare species. This trend is evident in other regions as well. For instance, in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur National Park, migration has yet to start. Similar situations are occurring in many other places. Activities such as the beautification of water bodies, unregulated ecotourism, and careless development projects are causing us to lose our valuable natural assets. The vanishing of the bird species is a stark reality of how fragile migratory birds have become. Stronger global action is needed to protect rare species before they too vanish.  (Photo courtesy: Karthik, Bangalore, and IUCN website)

Why do people throw garbage in unauthorised areas?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 4.10.25

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India on 2 October 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management, and to create Open Defecation Free villages. As we enter the 12th year of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, it is unfortunate that the mission has not evoked much interest. In other words, there is not much visible change in the garbage handling. Almost every municipality is struggling to manage the ever-increasing amount of garbage. I asked a question in a WhatsApp group to understand why individuals tend to throw garbage. From your WhatsApp survey, it seems people are aware of the problem but frustrated. Optimism exists, but anger dominates—showing that citizens want change but don’t feel empowered to make it happen. A few of the views that came up are as under “People lack civic consciousness.” “No dedicated garbage bins, periodically cleared.”“Independent houses have no lifting facility like apartments. “People don’t want to pay for garbage.” “No strict rules or enforcement of penalties.”

One member added, “7 years back, I was staying in Amrutahalli, Bengaluru. It was not so developed during those days. But garbage vans used to come, whistle near every house, and used to pick up garbage. The garbage pickers were responsible during those days.” In fact, this system is in vogue in some municipalities where even publicity songs are played by the collection van. Users put the garbage in the van daily. But all said and done, we still see the eyesore dumps in all cities. Talking about penalties, another member added, “Garbage cess is already imposed. Not sure whether the collection started? Community composting, as done in the HSR layout, is one option that can be thought of. Every street or group of streets can have a dedicated place for community composting for all the wet waste generated in the area.”  

It is a fact that civic sense and responsibility are missing or perhaps not much developed in India. Bengaluru was ranked the fifth dirtiest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2025 survey. Of course, this survey was made among the cities with a population above one million. Along with Bengaluru, Ranchi, Chennai, Ludhiana, and Madurai were ranked the top dirtiest cities. Unfortunately, some of the southern states that claim the highest percentage of education level have more unauthorized garbage dumping. Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility. It is not fair if somebody keeps his home very clean but does not care about the surroundings. Every year, we remember Mahatma Gandhi on Oct 2nd, because not only is it his birthday, but also that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was rightly started by the PM on this day.

BBMP to GBA, is it ‘old wine in a new bottle’?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 27.9.25

Will the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) perform better after being renamed as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)? Will the split of BBMP, now renamed as GBA work better? Will the five zones, that have now been formed serve the purpose for which they have been formed? GBA formed in May 2025, became fully operational in September 2025. The Authority has a three-tier governance structure, comprising the Authority at the apex, multiple City Corporations, and Ward Committees. It is hoped that the ward elections kept pending for more than 5 years will soon be held. As of now 350 wards are there in GBA’s jurisdiction. Even in 2015, it was decided to split the erstwhile BBMP into small corporations. The reason tabled by the Govt was that it was difficult to manage the city by a single corporation, given the ever-increasing population of Bangalore. The decision to split the former BBMP into smaller corporations was made in 2015. The government cited the growing population of Bengaluru as the reason, stating that managing the city with a single corporation had become increasingly challenging. In recent years, residents of Bengaluru have noticed a decline in the city’s overall condition, which is evident in areas such as garbage clearance, green cover, infrastructure maintenance, and other related services. Smaller municipalities achieve greater decentralisation, a key hallmark of good governance. There may also be a larger voice for the citizens and greater accountability towards them. In this regard, it may not be out of place to compare Delhi with Bangalore

In Delhi, there was a single corporation called ‘Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)’ up to 2011. In 2012, the MCD was divided into three separate corporations: North, South, and East. The goal was to enhance regional efficiency since the area was twice the size of Bangalore. Delhi is not just another city. As the country’s capital, its governance has some special requirements. The trifurcation has led to economic imbalances, in addition to causing political controversies. In 2022,  Delhi reversed its decision and returned to a single corporation. Though there was a political hue and cry, it was finally decided to merge all three corporations. MCD thus had a rebirth. The citizens supported the remerger of the corporations since they hoped to get good governance, characterized by efficient and transparent service delivery.

In Bangalore, some experts believe that the division was unnecessary and implemented in a manner that will lead to uneven development in the city. Leaving aside politics, an effective decentralization will be in place if the authority is delegated to a dedicated committee. The city has to hold its Municipal elections immediately to ensure effective micro-management. Imbalances between corporations should be eliminated by apex-level policy management by the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The city is facing major problems, namely garbage clearance, potholed roads, overflowing drains, irregular water supply, and ever-rising traffic congestion. If decentralization can’t address these issues, then it will be nothing but old wine in a new bottle

(representative picture from the net)

Stay away from wild animals!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in South Express on 13.9.25

Recently, in the Bannerghatta forest area in Karnataka, a leopard climbed onto a safari jeep that was completely secured with a grill. The leopard attacked a boy inside the jeep by reaching its foreleg through the viewing hole. The incident was captured on video and went viral, as the boy was hospitalized for minor bruises. It’s important to remember that animals often act spontaneously and defensively. As for the safety measures in this case, there does not seem to have been any lapse on the part of the forest department. Even the boy was not at fault. An investigation is probing the cause. Perhaps the animal may have sensed a threat from the tourists and reacted accordingly. As the viewing hole was small, the animal could not enter the jeep.

Ecotourism everywhere has become a menace, disturbing the privacy of the wild animals. The tourists must indeed keep a safe distance from wild animals. More so in the case of stray animals. In one of the safaris, I found myself very close to a tigress. The jeep did not have grills to secure the tourists. In their excitement to capture close-up photographs, tourists often tend to put their heads and hands outside the jeep. Additionally, safari drivers quickly share information with other jeeps via wireless communication. In no minute, all the jeeps parade in the spot to get better scores from their passengers. Tourists comfortably forget that they are disturbing the privacy of the animals. Many instances of attacks by wild animals have been reported from various parts of the country. While wild animals are making headlines, we must also acknowledge the issue of stray dogs.

The behavior of stray animals is often unpredictable. Animals behave instinctively, while humans are rational beings. Neither the animals nor the affected people should be neglected. The grim stories about stray dogs continue. Even as the man-animal conflicts continue, both need a better deal. The revised court order gave some respite for stray dog enthusiasts. But the victims of stray dog attacks are at large. We should not forget that although humans are at the top of the food chain, they cannot live without other living organisms, right from carnivores to street dogs. The Government should take balanced action to protect both human beings and animals, as it is bound by the constitutional obligation to provide a better livelihood to all living beings. 

Freedom from plastics, when?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

1947 freedom struggle was an amazing event in our history. Our freedom fighters had a challenge to get out of the clutches of the British. Now it appears that we need a different freedom struggle, yes, freedom from plastic. A QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT is needed for plastic. As India just celebrated 78th Independence Day, remembering the freedom struggle, in reality, we need to achieve freedom from many social evils, some of them start with the letter “P”, namely Poverty, Population, Pollution and Plastic. While all of them are serious concerns that affect the civil society, it seems that Plastic is the one menace that can not be eliminated at all, while others are also formidable. Everyone knows that it is not that easy to come out of the clutches of plastics. It was indeed a slow poison a few decades back. But by the end of the last century, plastic proliferated and spread like a cancer in the society. From packaging function to preservation work, plastic has become an ‘inevitable’ necessity. Today if we say NO to plastics, we will be castigated as one who lives in a fool’s paradise.

A close audit of one’s house will reveal that the house contains more than 500 items made up of plastic easily.  When plastic cannot be eliminated fully, the next midway to address the irking plastic menace is to eliminate single use plastics (SUP). Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021 defined Single-use plastic item as a plastic commodity intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled. The adverse impacts of littered single use plastic items plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in marine environment are globally recognized. Taking cognizance of the above, the ban of Single use plastics on July 1st, 2022. Interestingly the banned list of SUPs was not exhaustive. A few glaring misses were the PET bottles and plastic balloons, to mention a few.  Though PET bottle was a glaring omission, which was criticized by environmentalists and citizens alike, many environmentally conscious institutions and homes, voluntarily avoid them. But balloon is a very unfortunate miss. Very strangely balloon sticks are banned but not the balloons.

During the present Independence Day events, many gated communities and business houses decorated their party halls and entrance gates with colourful balloons made of plastic. A debate was going on in social media that balloon is not a banned single use plastic, only the balloon stick is, said the organisers of celebrations. Asserts a resident, ‘personally I am environment conscious, but collectively enjoyment is more important than environment’. Balloon makes the occasion grand but harms the environment. Of course, a latex balloon made of rubber is biodegradable as it comes from a rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Even the latex balloons take months and years to biodegrade. Today, no one is using latex balloon, because plastic balloons look stylish. SUP items may be just 10~20 percent of the total plastic. But eliminating the SUPs will play a major role in saving our waterbodies and soil and also can easily be responsible for micro plastic generation, which is more harmful. We hope that the Government will expand the scope of SUP items and make it exhaustive. Stringent rules must come up to stop manufacturing the SUPs.

Freedom from SUP is the need of the hour!

Why leopard roams in towns?

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published in Dwarka Express on 21.4.24

Mayiladuthurai is a small town in Tamil Nadu. It has been on news in recent times. It is because a leopard has been spotted in CCTV footages. No one knows how a leopard has entered in that town though Forest department is leaving no stone unturned to capture the animal alive. In the meantime, there was panic in nearby towns including the city of Thanjavur. Animals entering a civic society is not a new thing. Interestingly its sighting in a town which is nowhere close to the jungles is the suspense of the story. It was first spotted on 2nd April in the town. Despite tremendous efforts by Forest officials, the leopard has been elusive and not traceable till 11th April. Suddenly it was reported that the animal was spotted in CCTV in a small village called Ponparappi. Forest officials rushed to the village but no pug mark was seen anywhere. Later another message reached the department that the animal has moved to Sendurai, another village. It is surprising that the animal is not traceable. We cannot blame the Forest departments since they are making the best efforts.

It is not a new thing that an elephant, a tiger or a leopard sneak into a nearby residential settlements or colonies. Normally in such cases, either the forest will be in the vicinity or the affected area is an encroached one. The later one is true in many cases in general. We often forget that jurisdictions and borders are made for our convenience and animals do not have any idea about that. When an elephant crosses over its assigned territory, we blame forest department, Government and politicians without realising that it is we who decided the living areas for animals and we never consulted the animals. Forest department is left with no option except to burst crackers or shoot the animals to ensure safety of the human beings. People may have forgotten the November 2023 episode in Bangalore when a leopard from nearby Bannerghatta forests has sneaked into Bangalore city area, it succumbed to a bullet, after an attempt to dart the big cat failed. The forest department claimed that the leopard was ‘aggressive’ and ‘killing’ was a last resort. Social media was fuming in favour of the big cat. Environmentalists were on their toes and highly critical of the whole episode. But it is also true that the local residents heaved a sigh of relief. The whole episode was set to rest. People have a great disease called ‘amnesia’. Life goes on as usual even after any big crisis. Corana is one such event, which is now a history. It is suspected by forest department of Thanjavur that the big cat in Mayiladuthurai might have travelled from Ariyalur along river banks of Cauvery and reached Mayiladuthurai. And it is also believed that the big cat returned to Ariyalur in the same route. The nearest forest area appears to be Nagoor reserve forest, Puliyancholai reserve forest, a part of the Kolli hills. It is still a mystery how it could have travelled more than 100 KMs from a reserve forest without being noticed by anyone. All said and done, even after two weeks, no one knows, wherefrom it came and where it had gone. Will forest departments investigate the entire episode? (Representative picture from Wikipedia)

E Waste threat is looming large!

Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Published on 24.2.24 in Dwarka Express

Kumar, a student of 10th standard was going around bragging to his friends. His latest model smart phone, costing Rs 40000 was the cause of his flaunting. ‘Mam, Smart phones become out dated in just a year’, was his impromptu response, when Kavitha, his teacher asked him why he discarded his previous phone. Adolescence doesn’t see any rhyme or reason. Logics don’t work in Kumar’s case. And this is not an isolated case. There are many such consumers. Precisely, what is the utility of a smart phone? Calls, chat, Insta uploads and at the maximum an email check. Gone are the days of basic model phones. Perhaps a teacher may use it to ‘escape’ from the WhatsApp messages from his pestering student. Electronic devices become obsolete so faster that most of the gadgets do not have proper repair or replacement. Even, a warranty is also not much useful in many cases. As per World Health Organisation, ‘Every year, millions of tonnes of e-waste are recycled using environmentally unsound techniques and are likely stored in homes and warehouses, dumped, exported or recycled under inferior conditions. When e-waste is treated using inferior activities, it can release as many as 1000 different chemical substances into the environment, including harmful neurotoxicants such as lead. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable due to their unique pathways of exposure and their developmental status’.

Today electronic waste is the fastest growing solid waste among all wastes in the world.  It is said to be growing 3 times faster than the world population. E-waste is considered the most hazardous waste as it contains toxic materials and can emit toxic chemicals when treated inappropriately. It is interesting to note that a laptop contains 12 metals including gold, silver and platinum. This makes the e waste recycling industry, greedy of making quick money. This is perhaps the reason for improper and sub-standard recycling of e waste all over the world, especially in poor and developing countries. Richer nations tend to dump the e waste in those poor countries. In India, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified the e waste rules from time to time. The latest amended rules are dated 2.11.2022. Whatever may be the rules, we should realise that the volume of e waste being generated is formidable. Going forward, it is going to be quite challenging to manage. While the challenge is a global phenomenon, it is unfortunate that developed nations use India as dumping yard for e waste. India should curtail import of scrap to a larger extent, listening to the warning bell. There are many issues involved in e waste management. Right from health hazards, to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) the e waste management rules ensure that proper waste management is in place. However, there is a dire need to integrate the role of circular economy in addressing the spurt in growth of e waste immediately else the piling e waste will pose a dangerous situation. So, reducing consumption must become an integral part of our lifestyle. Will Gen next inculcate the habit of Responsible Consumption?