Kolkata's Dalhousie Square enlisted as endangered heritage site

    Kolkata: The 2.5 km Dalhousie Square area situated in the heart of Kolkata with its abundance of colonial buildings has been enlisted as one of the hundred endangered sites by the World Monument Fund (WMF) for years 2004 and 2006. Since its initial listing as an endangered site in 2004, there is an awareness among the public and organisations to preserve this colonial heritage. "The Dalhousie Square Area is essentially one of the finest examples of colonial heritage city centres worldwide. British colonial heritage worldwide probably is present in largest numbers in this location," said G M Kapoor, Convener, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The proposal to include the Dalhousie Square in the heritage list of the WMF was mooted by ARCH (Action Research in Culture Heritage) and seconded by INTACH. The WMF has also sanctioned a grant of 75000 dollars for giving a face lift to the beautiful, but damaged Standard Life Assurance Building in Dalhousie Square. The building is currently facing ownership litigation. "I think it is a very good preparatory funding that we have got. It is not a fund which can really make the entire site look rejuvenated. But it is a very important funding at a very critical juncture, at a point when we see that the buildings have just started slipping into decay. And if we don't pay attention now, it will be getting into an irreparable state," said Manish Chakroborty, ARCH.

     Moreover, the funding would be used to organise seminars and workshops to motivate the owners to preserve city's historical architecture. ARCH has also set up a Dalhousie Square Heritage Society comprising of government departments and corporations which own the buildings in the Square. The conservationists, architects and Non governmental organisations (NGOs) which are working behind the development of Kolkata are also its members. Some of the well maintained buildings are the General Post Office, Writers' Building and Raj Bhawan (Governor's Residence). ARCH has also prepared a graphic simulation of Dalhousie Square to depict the benefits of the long term protection programme. The programme proposes cleaning up the Lal Dighi Pond in the centre of the Dalhousie Square with pedestrian zones, neat pavements with street lights, underground parking and a park over- ground at the city centre. ARCH hopes that the enlisting of the Square would fetch it the identity of a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The WMF has also listed three other sites in India in 2004 - the Wilson Hotel in Mumbai, a "haveli" in Bhuj and a "kila" in Patiala. The Dalhousie Square was the bustling hub of English colonial power and trade during the two centuries that the city served as the capital of British India. It was named in honor of James, Marquise of Dalhousie, the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856.
-July 31, 2005

Four peacocks die of suspected poisoning  (Go To Top)

     Gwalior: Four peacocks have been found dead under mysterious circumstances in Madhya Pradesh. The dead birds found in a village in Gwalior-Chambal region included three males and a female. The tragedy was first noticed by a villager who reported it to the police. Police suspect poisoning to be the cause of the death of the birds, but a post-mortem report is awaited. Police have identified seven persons as responsible for the crime, although no arrest has been made so far. "When we reached the site of the incident, we saw the bodies of four peacocks - three males and one female. We have taken the bodies in our custody. Post-mortem is being done. Seven persons responsible for the crime have been identified and all of them would be tried under section 9 and 51 of Wildlife Protection Act," said Anita Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO) at Tigra police station. Bodies would be handed over to the wildlife authorities after the post-mortem, added Sharma. The peacocks had been killed allegedly for their meat, a lucrative delicacy sold at stiff price compared to that of other birds. The area has an abundance of peacocks and a number of them are killed every year by the residents for meat and feathers. Peacock, the national bird of India, is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, poaching and illegal trade of their feathers continue. Destruction of habitats, poaching and contamination of food sources are the major factors leading the birds to the brink of extinction. The male Indian Peafowl, commonly known as the peacock, is one of the world's largest flying birds.
-July 30, 2005

New born vipers draw huge crowds in Lucknow zoo (Go To Top)

     Lucknow: 18 new-born Russell's Vipers, highly venomous terrestrial snakes, are a big hit among the visitors at the city's zoological park. Born of a Viper pair on June 7, the young ones with dark brown spots and lustrous skin are attracting huge crowds to the zoo. Visitors have been flocking to the cage where the snakes have been accommodated since the news of their birth broke out in the city. "Viper has given birth to a number of young ones and the population of snakes has increased in the zoo. This news attracted us and we came here to see the vipers. I am very happy to see these young ones," said Sushant, a visitor to the zoo. Russell's Viper is an endangered species protected by the Wildlife Protection Act in the country. This is for the first time in the history of Lucknow zoo that the vipers have been bred in the captivity. "Russell's Vipers are protected under the schedule II of Wildlife Protection Act. Breeding occurs in captivity but this if for the first time in this zoo that vipers have been born in captivity and we consider it an achievement. We have decided that we'll leave them in the forest once they grow up," said Eva Sharma, Director of the zoological park. Russell's Vipers, although belong to the class reptilila of vertebrates, give birth to young ones instead of laying eggs. Primarily nocturnal in nature, the snake is often responsible for the majority of snakebite incidents. Its venom incudes haemotoxins and a substantial amount of neurotoxins as well. Haemotoxins attack circulatory system of the prey while neurotoxins target and disable the central nervous system. Snakes are worshipped in many parts of the country and it is against religious beliefs to kill snakes. But animal rights activists say every year hundreds of snakes die during a festival dedicated to snakes, many as a result of drinking milk which causes severe dehydration and allergic reactions. Also, poor nomads hunt down the snakes in fields and forests during the monsoon season when they come out in the open after their holes are inundated with rain water. Besides a lack of knowledge about venomous snakes has led common people to thrash all snakes to death.
-June 26, 2005

Wildlife in Jharkhand under threat from scorching heat (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: The wildlife in Jharkhand is under severe threat due to the crisis of water and intense heat wave, which has affected the lives of animals abiding in the national parks of the state. Authorities are struggling hard to provide adequate water facilites to the animals as the water reservoirs are drying up. "The forest department has not been provided with any permanent facilities. There is no river nor there is any deep pond where water can be stored," said Manoranjan Singh, Convener, People for Animals (PFA), Jharkhand. Forests in Jharkhand extend over 23605 sq.km. representing 29.61 per cent of the total geographical area of the State of which 82 per cent are Protected Forest and 17.5 per cent are Reserve Forest with a small amount of unclassed forests ( 33.49 sq.km.). Manoranjan further said,"In Jharkhand there are certain areas which have national parks like the Betla National Park, Tiger Project in Palamu where the temperature has risen to 40 degree Celsius. Again we have the Hazaribagh National Park and there is cry for water everywhere." The Government of Jharkhand is claiming that it has taken new initiatives and introduced new techniques for the preservation of the wildlife. "The water layer has gone down. The heat has affected the whole country. Besides Jharkhand, the neighbouring states have also been affected. We are trying to implement new techniques for the protection of wildlife," said Harinarayan Rai, Forest Minister, Jharkhand. Authorities, however, claim that this was the first time Jharkhand has been affected by this kind of heat wave, which has affected the lives of the animals breeding in the various parks of the state. The wild animals like deer and birds have been reportedly dying due to dehydration. Out of 35 Crocodiles in Muta Crocodile Breeding Centre, which is situated 23 kms from Ranchi near Ormanjhi, only 14 are left now. The employees are trying hard to keep the animals alive. The water tanks that were once used for the crocodiles dwelling have dried up now and those which have some amount of water left are stinking.
-June 18, 2005