Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
SPECIAL ISSUE
`45.00
Bangladesh: Taka 58.00 / Pakistan: Rs 58.00 / Nepal: Rs 38.00 / Sri Lanka: Rs 117.00 / Maldives: Rf 28.00 Bhutan: Ngultrum 24 / Rest of the World (South): US $2.70 / Rest of the World (North): US $3.40
Jumping spider,
found in the tea
gardens of Dooars,
West Bengal
01Cover.indd 1
SAY
HELLO
TO STUNNING NEW
SPECIES JUST
DISCOVERED
11/01/16 3:18 PM
ORG
M
s'
Farmer
ANIC
arket
Saturday, January 30
10:00am - 3:00pm
Margosa Lawn, Habitat World, IHC
(Entry from Gate no. 2)
Entry
free
11/01/16 4:25 PM
EDITORS
PAGE
03Editors.indd 3
It is for this reason that the Centre for Science and Environment,
where I work, has done a detailed investigation into truck pollution
and demanded that an environment compensation tax be imposed
on these vehicles if they are transiting through the polluted airshed
of Delhi. We have also asked for cleaner fuel and technology to be
introduced today, not tomorrow. The Supreme Court has heard us;
imposed the tax and already there are some 20 per cent fewer trucks
in Delhi. The Central government has also heard us and decided to
leapfrog to Euro VI, the European fuel-vehicle emissions standards
that can bring drastic improvement to diesel vehicles by 2020. This
is an advancement of over four years and will be a big game changer. Incidentally, it was also opposed tooth and nail by the gaggle of
automobile lawyers in the Supreme Court on that day.
Then come private vehicles, of which two-wheelers because of
their sheer numbers contribute the bulk of emissions. Cars add to
some 10-15 per cent of vehicle emissions but this contribution is much
more when you take the impact of congestion on the road. It is for this
reason that the report of source inventoryestimating the pollution
sourcesby the Indian Institute of Technology,
Kanpur, finds that in certain congested areas of
Delhi cars, particularly diesel cars, add up to 6090 per cent of the PM 2.5tiny particulates that
are most toxic. It also finds that secondary particulatesformed from gases like nitrogen oxides and emitted from diesel vehicles and coal
burningare a big cause of air pollution in
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
Delhis airshed.
So, cars, particularly clean and new diesel ones, which are
legally allowed to emit seven times more than petrol, are important
part of the pollution story. Thats why the rationing of vehicles based
on their odd-even number plate has had impact in Delhi. This winter Delhi has seen weather conditions that are horrendous for pollutionstill air, high moisture levels which trap particles and winter inversion. It is a fact that in the first week of odd-even, pollution
levels increased but this was because weather conditions turned
foul. The emergency step of taking half the cars off the road meant
that the pollution spike was moderated. This is a big achievement.
The long-term solution is to make Delhi and its vicinity free of
two-wheelers and cars permanently. This can only be possible when
we invest in public transport at a scale never done before. Today only
10-15 per cent of Delhi and its neighbourhood drive cars, but this is already the cause of congestion and pollution. There is no way we can
plan for the rest to drive cars. This is why odd-even should become our
way of life. Lets share cars; take a bus or metro; cycle or walk.
www.downtoearth.org.in 3
12/01/16 4:48 PM
Down To Earth
SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT FORTNIGHTLY
ON THE WEB
WHAT'S HOT
Anil Agarwal
EDITOR Sunita Narain
FOUNDER EDITOR
Richard Mahapatra
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
SPECIAL COVERAGE
SPECIAL FEATURE
BLOG
From western
disturbances to the
monsoon, Akshay
WEB TEAM
POPULAR
SCOTT FENDORF
Kiran Pandey
www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in team
CONSULTING EDITORS
Jyoti Ghosh
jghosh@cseindia.org
FOR SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT
K C R Raja
raja@cseindia.org
COVER DESIGN Ajit Bajaj
COVER PHOTO Mario Madrona
4 DOWN TO EARTH
On web
Sunita Narain highlights
hits and misses of Paris
climate deal
On Facebook
Uttar Pradesh bans
polythene across state
On Twitter
Dense forests lost, says
Forest Survey of India 2015
VIDEO
www.downtoearth.org.in
07/01/16 4:22 PM
THINKSTOCK PHOTOS
letters
05-07Letters.indd 5
www.downtoearth.org.in 5
07/01/16 12:07 PM
letters
Thanks, DTE
Monsoon muddle
This refers to the article
Monsoon mechanism (1630 September, 2015). Being a
scientist of meteorology and
standard meteorological
institutes like the India
Meteorological Department
(IMD) which has been catering
to the needs of all with their
sincere forecasting every
year since the British Raj. The
IMD network is quite strong,
with improved scales of
forecasting. I shall appreciate
if Down To Earth can bring
out an article comparing
http://www.facebook.com/down2earthindia
It should, provided the Delhi
government is able to provide
the requisite number of
extra buses.
6 DOWN TO EARTH
05-07Letters.indd 6
DAWA GYALMO
LACHUNGPA
06/01/16 3:05 PM
DTE replies:
Yes, the mushrooming of private
meteorological services is indeed a
potential concern. We at Down To Earth
are constantly monitoring the scenario
regarding climate services. Please read
No insurance against fraud (16-31
October, 2015).
Be vegetarian
This is with reference to the article
Trouble with vegetarian fascists (1630 November, 2015) supporting meat
SORIT / CSE
ERRATUM
NOTICE BOARD
llege
Future
th a
ducation
t macro
ance,
e affecting
mail.com
rg
Register: bhoomiprogrammes@gmail.com
www.bhoomicollege.org
05-07Letters.indd 7
Organic
Green, White
& Speciality
Teas
For trade enquiries
The United Nilgiri Tea Estates Co. Ltd.,
www.unitednilgiritea.com
Shop online at
www.chamrajtea.in
www.downtoearth.org.in 7
06/01/16 5:13 PM
contents
Disaster at
Nairobi
THE FORTNIGHT
12
16
A second
chance
18
Development
agenda of the Doha
round given a
quiet burial at the
WTO talks
COVER STORY
A new Rosetta
Stone
Scientists discover new
plant and animal species
across India
SCIENCE
New source of
antibiotic resistance
HEALTH
Delivery debate
46
It is all in the mind
Israeli study challenges gender
stereotypes 50
52
BOOK
People power
Delhi's anti-pollution drive is
a shining example of soliciting
public participation
08Contents.indd 8
48
FOOD
Flip side
No taking
sides
A new book explains
why growth at the cost
of environment makes
no sense
45
55
58
56
HISTORY
Oz's true
conquerors
How Australia came to have the
largest number of feral camels
11/01/16 11:12 AM
FORTNIGHT
CROSS HAIRS
THE
THE UNION
09-11The Fortnight.indd 9
POINT
`1,00,000
Cash award to anyone who provides
information on clinics conducting
pre-birth gender tests in Panchkula,
Haryana
Source: Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula
www.downtoearth.org.in 9
07/01/16 12:00 PM
FORTNIGHT
E VO LU T I O N
THE
TO MINIMISE
RAMKUMAR
10 DOWN TO EARTH
09-11The Fortnight.indd 10
07/01/16 3:00 PM
THE
I N FO C U S
I N CO U RT
THINKSTOCK PHOTO
FORTNIGHT
Delhi
Uttar Pradesh
Meghalaya
Odisha
Goa
Telangana/
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
HIGH
COURTS
NGT
07
08
58
THINKSTOCK PHOTO
T H E L A R G E S T wildlife census in
history would be coming to end in March
this year. The Great Elephant Census (gec)
is being conducted across Africa and is
being funded by Microsoft billionaire Paul
G Allen. It began in February 2014 with
the aim of better understanding elephant
numbers across Africa. During the survey,
90 researchers from various organisations
joined aerial teams in sorties in 18 elephant
range countries. The teams have covered a
distance of 460,000 kilometres. The central
database of the survey is being developed
by the philanthropic wing of Allen's Vulcan
Inc in Seattle. The non-profit, Elephants
Without Borders, is the project's
principal researcher.
09-11The Fortnight.indd 11
V E R B AT I M
www.downtoearth.org.in 11
11/01/16 11:39 AM
WORLD
TRADE
Doha endgame
at Nairobi
WTO has buried the development mandate
of the Doha round, with India failing to pull its weight at
the ministerial meeting
LATHA JISHNU | new delhi
12-13World Trade.indd 12
REUTERS
06/01/16 3:07 PM
WORLD
TRADE
Farmers from developing countries protest opening up of local markets to foreign imports at the WTO meet
12-13World Trade.indd 13
06/01/16 3:07 PM
WORLD
TRADE
COURTESY: WTO
Representatives from at least 25 countries attended the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference
12-13World Trade.indd 14
06/01/16 3:07 PM
SUBSCRIBE
DownToEarth
www.downtoearth.org.in
A Good Addiction
S C I E N C E
A N D
E N V I R O N M E N T
F O R T N I G H T L Y
DownToEarth
To gift to a friend
For my institution
Off
Res________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Res
Cash / MO
@ 45
cover price
You
Save
You
Pay Only
You
Save
You
Pay Only
4,540
1,770
2,770
2,420
2,120
3,240
970
2,270
1,620
1,620
3,060
1,140
1,920
1,570
1,490
2,160
540
1,620
970
1,190
1,430
420
1,010
630
800
1,080
220
860
430
650
150 each and 2017 at 200 if ordered with your subscription. You can order your subscription without Annual Issues also.
Avail your free gift offer + Digital Access to Down To Earth with archives +
MANAGEMENT
Cleaning Nepal,
brick by brick
The 2015 earthquake
has given Nepal an
opportunity to adopt
cleaner brick kiln
technologies
ALOK GUPTA | kathmandu
16 DOWN TO EARTH
16-17Brick Kiln.indd 16
ALOK GUPTA
WAT E R
11/01/16 1:22 PM
BRICK
Carbon guzzlers
0.01
0.10
0.95
0.02
0.21
1.20
0.03
0.23
1.00
Tunnel Kiln*
0.05
0.10
2.00
0.16
0.80
1.40
Source: ICIMOD
* New technology
** Old technology
16-17Brick Kiln.indd 17
Expensive technology
According to fnbi, there are 826 registered
kilns in Nepal, of which 157 are movable
chimney kilns, which are highly polluting.
However, only 20 per cent of kilns have
adopted the icimod technology. Small kiln
owners are hesitant to invest in the new
technology without government incentive
because it is very expensive. As per fnbi
data, 60-70 per cent of all kilns in Nepal are
small scale.
A kiln owner has to invest over npr 1.21.5 crore for adopting icimods technology.
Rajkumar Lakhemaru, for instance, whose
brick kiln in Bhaktapur was destroyed in
the quake, invested npr 1 crore to upgrade
to the new technology. The technology
that I used earlier produced only 30 per
cent best quality bricks. I have a stock of
nearly 100,000 low-quality bricks for
which there are no buyers, he says. He is,
however, hopeful that with icimods technology, he will be able to recover his investment in two years by producing high-quality bricks.
The government is not disappointed
with the low number of brick manufacturers adopting the technology.
You cannot expect a change overnight.
Even a few kiln owners adopting the new
technology would lead to competition in
the market. We are considering financial
incentives for them in the long run, says
Shrestha.
KILN
Polluting kilns
It has taken years of effort by the Nepalese
government to persuade kiln owners to
switch to clean technology. Until 2011, a
majority of kilns used to run on the traditional Bulls Trench Kiln technology and
the Fixed Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln technology that consume large amounts of coal
and emit massive amounts of carbon (see
Carbon guzzlers).
In 2002, Kathmandu-based non-profit Clean Energy Nepal conducted a study on
emissions from brick kilns and found that
PM10 levels increased nearly three times
from 217 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/
m3) during an off season (MarchDecember) to 603 mg/m3 during the operational season (January-March) of brick
kilns. After massive public protests following the report, the government banned the
Movable Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln technology and formulated guidelines to check
air pollution from kilns. These included
phasing out of Movable Chimney Bull
Trench Kiln within two years and a ban on
kilns within a 1 km radius of schools, hospitals and tourist spots.
Between 2003 and 2006, the government collected npr 36 lakh through penalty and shut down 22 brick kilns. The stringent action succeeded in bringing down
pollution levels to some extent.
Persisting with its efforts, in 2002, the
government introduced new technologies,
such as Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (vsbk).
Pollution levels, meanwhile, continued to
spiral as the number of kilns kept increasing. Mahendra Chitrakar, president of the
Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, recalls with a hint of anger how brick manufacturers became the biggest villain during
2006-08. A new method of brick manufacturing, like vsbk, costs npr 2-3 crore. No
kiln owner has such a princely sum, he says.
According to Shrestha, it was only in
2011 that the polluting Movable Chimney
Bull Trench Technology was completely
phased out. At the dawn of a new year as
Nepal prepares to make a new beginning,
the government should introduce more environment-friendly technologies at affordable prices and also provide incentives to
the kiln owners who adopt such technologies. This would go a long way in checking
pollution levels in the country. n
www.downtoearth.org.in 17
11/01/16 11:33 AM
MEET
THY
NEIGHBOURS
Every existence has its excuse, it is said. Every year taxonomists in India venture into
uncharted landscapes and scan every nook and corner to find out many such existences
and unveil the excuses. In the past year they found 523 species of animals and plants.
Down To Earth introduces a few of the country's newest citizens to you, each of them
equally contributing to the megadiversity of India
JIGYASA WATWANI
SNIGDHA DAS
CHAITANYA CHANDAN
18 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 18
11/01/16 1:21 PM
COVER
18-44Cover Story.indd 19
STORY
11/01/16 11:26 AM
COVER
STORY
Join an expedition
20 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 20
11/01/16 2:46 PM
COVER
Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the northeastern of identifying, classifying and naming new species.
region and the Nicobar islands.
Since discovering new species is an arduous
Every year, as zsi and bsi carry out nearly 100 task, they are more interested in species already
countrywide expeditions, these regions spring discovered, says Mohite.
And the result is evident. There has been a
the maximum number of surprises, particularly
related to plant species. In fact, these are among decline in the size of new discoveries and records.
In 2013, zsi and bsi documented 302 new
the 37 most biodiverse regions in the world.
In 2014, the Western Ghats, which has animal species and 347 new plant species. In
recently been accorded the World heritage status 2014, the numbers were down to 237 fauna and
by Unesco, accounted for the maximum22 per 275 flora. Similarly, between 1998 and 2008,
centnumber of plant discoveries; 15 per cent wwf discovered 354 new species in the Eastern
of the new plant species were found each in the Himalayas. It discovered only 211 new species over
Eastern Himalayas and the northeastern region; the next five years.
11 per cent in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
But scientists of zsi and bsi are hopeful.
and 9 per cent in the Western Himalayas.
Though the size of findings was small last year, the
Discovery of new species helps us better list includes species that are significant in terms of
understand the ecosystem, says Shekhar Mohite, ecology and economy.
senior researcher at the Biodiversity Research
One such species is a palm-like plant, Cycas
and Conservation Foundation, an environmental sainathii, which scientists have regarded as living
non-profit in Ahmedabad. As we find out where fossil from the dinosaur era (see p42). Another is a
shade tree, Glochiodion tirupathiense,
these species live and how they interact
which scientists have discovered
with the ecosystem, it helps us
not from a less visited site but
design effective conservation
Biodiversity
hot spots of India
from the pilgrimage site of
measures. Their unique attri-butes also help expand our
Tirumala hills, on the way to
Himalayas
knowledge about the origin
Kumaradara Pusupadara
and evolutionary history of
Dam (see p41). However,
Northeast
life on earth, says Mohite.
they could locate only a few
India
Though all species are
plants of the species. Then
Western
significant in their own
there
are freshwater crabs
Ghats
ways, some assume greater
(Ghatiana aurantiaca and
Andaman and
triangulus)
importance to humans owing
Gubernatoriana triangulus
Nicobar Islands
to their economic or ornamental
that are considered ecologically
and economically important.
significance, or ability to boost
important
biodiversity research. For instance, the
Both the crabs play a significant role in
discovery of different species of cereals and pulses maintaining the nutrient cycle of water and act as
in the wild led scientists to interbreed them an intermediate link in the food chain of natural
and generate disease-resistant varieties. These habitat. They prey upon small aquatic organisms,
varieties were then domesticated, cultivated and and, at the same time, are predated by birds and
mammals. Local tribal communities are known to
used for consumption or medicinal purposes.
You never know how a new species and its relish these crabs, and hence they can be considered
variants can be used, says Y V Jhala, scientist at as a fishery wealth (see p30). The new findings also
the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
include nine new species of wild bananas (see p38)
Take the case of Thrips parvispinusa pest and 10 species of orchids (see p40).
Down To Earth roped in the countrys top
recorded for the first time in India in August 2015.
Earlier, it was recorded infecting papaya plants scientists, who supervised these incredible
in Hawaii, gardenia plants in Greece, and chilli, discoveries, to share their experiences of ecological
green beans, potato and brinjal in other countries. incursions. The magazine got access to the institutThe identification of a pest is the first step which ions complete data on species discovered during
unlocks the barriers for further research in 2014-15, and the authors spent hours with the
planning appropriate management strategies scientists to make sense of the new discoveries.
for the pest involved, notes a paper that reported As these authors pored over heaps of files on new
about T parvispinus in Journal of Insect Science.
species, they discovered a fascinating new world.
Unfortunately, young researchers are losing In the next 22 pages Down To Earth profiles a
interest in taxonomy, which deals with the science select group of new plant and animal species.
16-31 JANUARY 2016
18-44Cover Story.indd 21
STORY
523 reasons
to feel happy
Taxonomists in India have
discovered 277 plant and
246 animal species
New plant species
Seed plants
118
Fungi
52
Microbes
Lichens
36
Algae
33
Bryophytes
24
Pteridophytes
Insects
118
Fish
27
Amphibians
24
Archnidans
19
16
14
10
11/01/16 2:46 PM
STORY
COURTESY: TAIBIF.TW
COVER
18-44Cover Story.indd 22
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
Fluke encounter
PARASITIC FLATWORM
Gorgoderina spinosa
18-44Cover Story.indd 23
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
MARIO MADRONA
Of a different hue
24 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 24
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 25
www.downtoearth.org.in 25
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
Friendly parasite
Announcing presence
26 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 26
11/01/16 2:46 PM
COVER
STORY
Hidden in trees
Serpentine fish
COURTESY: NOVATAXA.BLOGSPOT.IN
REPORTED BY:
M Arunachalam, M Raja,
P Malaiammal and
R L Mayden from Manonmaniam
Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu
LOCATION OF FINDING: Hong
village, Upper Subanshri district,
Arunachal Pradesh
18-44Cover Story.indd 27
www.downtoearth.org.in 27
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
28 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 28
11/01/16 11:27 AM
Advertisement
29 JAN 31 2016
29NBA ad.indd 29
11/01/16 3:55 PM
COVER
STORY
It's a genus
FRESHWATER CRAB
Ghatiana aurantiaca
30 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 30
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
A voracious coral
COURTESY: CLUBPLONGEEMASK.BLOGSPOT.IN
18-44Cover Story.indd 31
11/01/16 11:27 AM
COVER
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 32
11/01/16 11:27 AM
Advertisement
33 JAN 31 2016
33GAIL ad NG.indd 33
11/01/16 3:55 PM
COVER
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 34
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
STORYY
Purple surprise
Hemidactylus acanthopholis
18-44Cover Story.indd 35
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 36
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
ABHIJEET BAYANI
STORY
Hiding in India
18-44Cover Story.indd 37
www.downtoearth.org.in 37
11/01/16 11:35 AM
COVER
STORY
Standing out
18-44Cover Story.indd 38
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 39
www.downtoearth.org.in 39
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
STORY
Forgotten flower
40 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 40
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
STORY
SHADE TREE
Glochidion tirupathiense
DISCOVERED BY: Alok R Chorghe,
L Rasingam, P V Prasanna and
M Sankara Rao from BSI, Hyderabad
LOCATION OF FINDING: Tirumala
hills, Andhra Pradesh
It was right there, along the bank of
a stream on Tirumala Hills, which is
visited by tens of thousands of pilgrims
every day. But unique features of this
shade tree remained unnoticed until
a group of scientists visited moist
deciduous forests on the hills. Known
as Seshachalam, the forest is the first
biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh.
They named the tree after the locality,
the famous temple town of Tirupathi.
As per the iucn guidelines, the species
is data-deficient since only a few
individuals could be located.
Lone beauty
18-44Cover Story.indd 41
11/01/16 2:46 PM
COVER
STORY
Gourd of confusion
A VARIETY OF GOURD
Herpetospermum operculatum
COURTESY: BLUMEA
Lost in garden
18-44Cover Story.indd 42
11/01/16 11:28 AM
COVER
Wonder mushroom
COURTESY: PHYTOTAXA
A FUNGUS Dermoloma
keralense
DISCOVERED BY: K Anil Raj, K P
Deepna Latha, Raihana
Paramban and P Manimohan
from University of Calicut, Kerala
LOCATION OF FINDING:
Thenmala Shenduruni Forest
Division, Kollam district, Kerala
STORY
18-44Cover Story.indd 43
12/01/16 5:56 PM
COVER
STORY
In the past decade, scientists have discovered over 560 new species
from the region where climate and vegetation vary at every step
44 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 44
11/01/16 11:28 AM
SCIENCE
BYTES
DAMS
Effect on species
provide evidence on how
dams impose stress on a species' survival.
Researchers studied Washington's Olympic
National Park and the surrounding areas.
The Elwha River winds through the park
and is the site of the largest dam removal
in historyElwha and Glines Canyon dams
were dismantled in 2011 and 2014. These
areas, previously depleted of salmon, are fast
recovering. A songbird species that flourishes
on the salmon is back in the ecosystem.
Biological Conservation, December 2015
TWO STUDIES
PESTS
Nuclear trail
Environmental contamination could
increase antibiotic resistance
LINDA LEE / UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
45S&T Bytes.indd 45
H E A LT H
R E S E A R C H E R S S AY
www.downtoearth.org.in 45
07/01/16 12:07 PM
HEALTH
Umbilical
discord
Lack of enforcing protocols
is pushing up cesarean
deliveries in India
MANUPRIYA
a newborn, then you must have heard about the cesarean-section (C-section) v normal delivery debate. Elderly women often
lament how these days one always sees cesarean deliveries, sometimes even when they arent needed.
These concerns are not imaginary. The C-section rate in Delhi is
over 23 per cent in public and nearly 54 per cent in private hospitals,
says a study by the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research
(sbisr), New Delhi. A study by Tiziana Leone of the department of social policy, London School of Economics, the UK, found that in some
regions in India, C-section rates were over 30 per cent, far higher than
World Health Organizations (who) recommended rate of 1015 per
cent. It is over 41 per cent in Kerala and 58 per cent in Tamil Nadu, says
the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai. Worse, C-section
rates are increasingfor instance, it has gone up from 17 per cent in
2001 to nearly 29 per cent in 2011 in Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas
Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
46 DOWN TO EARTH
46-47Health.indd 46
06/01/16 3:08 PM
46-47Health.indd 47
enough necessary cesareans are happening, says Vandana Prasad, founding secretary, Public Health Resource Network, New
Delhi. The rates 10 and 19 per cent are not
so important for India. What is needed is
to regulate and nationalise care (maternity) and set up systems and processes for
monitoring and surveillance so that cesareans happen where they are needed and not
where they are not needed, she adds.
`There is no clarity
on how to optimise
C-section rates'
lex B Haynes,
professor of
surgery at the
Harvard Medical
School, speaks on the
study on the relationship
between C-section
rates and maternal and
neonatal mortality in 194
countries. Excerpts
How can C-section rates be
brought down?
We are facing similar questions in
the US and other parts of the world.
There is no clear answer as to how to
optimise C-section rates. Our
population data suggests the benefits
to neonatal and maternal mortality
are not likely to exist above 19
per cent. Our study looked only
at mortality, but there may be
other reasonsreducing birth
asphyxia, decreasing obstetrical
fistula rates or avoiding abdominal
wall hernia, placenta acreta and
other complications of subsequent
pregnancies. Additionally, we do not
know what happens when a country
raises or decreases its C-section rates.
What are the reasons for the
difference between your figures (19
per cent) and those proposed by
WHO (10-15 per cent) for optimal
C-section rates in a population?
Our study was intended not to make
a firm recommendation, but rather
to provide a scientifically rigorous
analysis of the current state of the
relationship between C-section and
mortality. WHO's recommendations
are not based on research alone,
and the previous 10 per cent
recommendation was based largely
on expert consensus. Our study can
help policymakers devise informed
policy to optimise health outcomes.
www.downtoearth.org.in 47
07/01/16 12:07 PM
FOOD
Pots of wisdom
Earthenware is staging a comeback in
our kitchens with a new fervour
SANGEETA KHANNA
SANGEETA KHANNA
Regional versions
Earthenware have numerous regional interpretations. For instance, the teacups from
Azamgargh have a shiny black colour. A
potter reveals the technique: the terracotta
vessels are fired till they become fully baked
and strong. In the last stage of firing the pots,
they smoke the furnace by adding dried
leaves. The smoke and soot coats the pots
and gets baked along, making the pots sooty
black. After the first baking, mustard oil is
smeared on the pots, and then, a second
round of firing fixes the black colour and the
pots become shiny. The tradition of black
pottery of Azamgarh is little known.
While some potters are really poor and
48 DOWN TO EARTH
48-49Food.indd 48
06/01/16 3:08 PM
48-49Food.indd 49
Enhanced taste
Apart from their aesthetic beauty, earthenware enhances the quality of food cooked.
The terracotta tea pots and cups are a lot
better than bone china and ceramic or even
glass tumblers. Just take care to buy wellfired earthenware. Terracotta pots are also
great for the dum cooking technique. In
Kerala, chattis (pans) are still used for
cooking fish and prawn curries, though it
has become less frequent. Once heated, the
terracotta pots need lesser flame heat to
cook. People line the pots with banana leafs
to slow cook food in minimal oil in Kerala.
In urban kitchens, the terracotta pans can be
lined with aluminum foil. In earlier days,
each pot was filled with water for a few days
so that the pores got filled with minerals in
water. This way the pots did not absorb the
aroma of foods being cooked, and the next
RECIPE
Rajasthani khatta saag
INGREDIENTS
06/01/16 3:08 PM
COLUMN
H E D G E H O G TA L E S
RAKESH KALSHIAN
50 DOWN TO EARTH
50Hedgehog Tales.indd 50
06/01/16 3:08 PM
11/01/16 3:56 PM
BOOKS
Growth or
Environment
In his book, T N Ninan
underlines the importance of
the environment for an
ambitious growth agenda.
Exclusive excerpts
SORIT / CSE
52-54Book.indd 52
06/01/16 3:09 PM
52-54Book.indd 53
Solutions exist...
Punjab and Haryana need to change their
choice of crops and reduce growing waterhungry rice. Paddy cultivation itself can be
made less water-intensive. Growing sugar
cane, even more water-hungry than paddy,
in water-scarce Maharashtra is equally
contraindicatedespecially since the
coun-try happens to be surplus in sugar
most of the time, and exporting sugar
amounts to exporting water. While economizing on water use is vital, water will also
have to be repricedsubstantially. Canal
water is priced too low to cover even
maintenance costs. Electricity for pumping
out groundwater is provided free to farmers
in many states or at fixed tariff irrespective
of extent of use.
While it may be too early to judge the
results of privatized water supply in Nagpur
and parts of Delhi, experiments in some
Karnataka towns have shown that supply
has improved. Given the extraordinarily
high levels of water wastage, improvement
should not be difficult if a system approach
is followed, along with the application of
contemporary technology. Rainwater harvesting is gaining momentum and is mandatory in new buildingsfor which green
ratings and standards are now available.
More can be achieved if taps flush tanks and
other household fittings shift to watersaving designs and if the excess use of water
were to attract penal tariffs. Meanwhile,
projects aimed at connecting river basins,
for the better use of their water, have made
little headway, and inter-state disputes over
water-sharing have proved even more intractable (a sure sign of water stress).
On other fronts, cities need to plan for
www.downtoearth.org.in 53
07/01/16 12:02 PM
52-54Book.indd 54
06/01/16 3:09 PM
COLUMN
PAT E N T LY A B S U R D
L AT H A J I S H N U
55Patently Absurd.indd 55
06/01/16 3:09 PM
HISTORY
Back of
Australia
First appearance
The first camel was Harry, a survivor from a group imported from
the Canary Islands in 1840. Harry was used by the John Horrocks
Expedition, which explored the west of Lake Torrens in south
Australia in 1846. The expedition established the value of camels
for exploration. By 1858, after explorer Benjamin Herschel Babbage
found himself stranded near Lake Torrens with his horses, due to
a drought, prominent citizens joined the chorus for the introduction of camels.
In 1860, the first commercial shipment of 24 camels and three
56-57History.indd 56
06/01/16 3:10 PM
Torchbearers
These cameleers and their camels did yeoman work for Australia. They carried food
and supplies to the surveying and construction teams working on the Overland
Telegraph Line, which cut across the heart
of the continent between Adelaide and
Darwin. Once the project was completed,
they continued to carry supplies and mails
to settlements and townships which had
sprung up along the line.
They also helped during the construction of rail links. For instance, the rail link
between Port Augusta and Alice Springs,
which was earlier known as The Afghan
Express, and later rechristened as the Ghan.
Today, this train runs between Adelaide and
Darwin. They carried wool bales from sheep
farmers inland to the ports. They even carried water to remote settlements.
A camel train was formed by cameleers, who used to hold the rope tied to the
nose-peg of the head camel. From there,
the rope extended to the nose-peg of every
End of an era
By the 1920s, automobiles heralded the
end of the cameleer era. But there were other reasons too for their disappearance. After
the Commonwealth of Australia came in
place in 1901, negative sentiments among
white Australians towards coloured races surfaced. This manifested itself in the
Immigration Restriction Act, 1901, under
which would-be immigrants were required
to take a dictation test in English. This
act would later form the basis of the nowinfamous White Australia Policy.
Such measures triggered the end of
the cameleer era. Most of them returned to
their home country. The few who remained,
lived out their days in the Ghantowns, neglected and ignored. Rather than killing their faithful camels, they released
them into the wild, where they flourished.
Australia today has the largest feral camel
population in the world. The country would
not see Afghan immigrants till the SovietAfghan war of 1979.
Today, the cameleers are long gone but
their legacy remains. In the crumbling ruins
of Ghantowns in the countrys interior, the
Ghan runs every week from coast to coast
traversing through date palm groves which
were first planted by the cameleers. Their
memory is once again being revived so that
Australians can realise their important contribution in building their nation.
56-57History.indd 57
07/01/16 11:28 AM
LAST WORD
CIVIL LINES
R I C H A R D M A H A PAT R A
N JANUARY 1, I became one of the thousands time, the anti-pollution campaign is turning out to be
of participants in Indias first odd-even num- successful, with never- before-seen public participation.
ber plate system in Delhi to curb vehicular polAt the risk of being termed very simplistic, here is
lution. Being a Delhite, the health burden of an aam admi explanation. It is due to the choice peopollution is definitely a cause of concern for me. But the ple make between convenience and inconvenience. In
success in rolling out such a system has a few fundamen- most cases, corruption is about convenience, like avoidtal lessons in governance. And they are not relevant to ing a long queue at the railway reservation counter by
paying a bribe to the tout. Pollution is
just an urban set-up. The message from
an issue of inconvenience of very seriDelhis experiment is applicable to every
development programme or policy for
ous proportions: our own children sufsuccessful implementation. What are
fering from respiratory problems, northose lessons?
mal lives being crippled due to bad air.
Another successful campaign, polio
Delhis odd-even system seems outvaccination, also enjoyed similar parstanding not for the rigour of the governments implementation plan but
ticipation due to the threat to our wellfor the overwhelming support from the
being. Probably, this is the reason peopublic. From day one, there has been
ple whole-heartedly participated in the
much less violation than expected. It
odd-even system.
means people participated in the govIn situations where people have
the incentive to participate, success
ernments scheme. Personally, I started
depends on the governments back-up
enjoying the car-free alternate day. At
plans. In Delhi, the government emthe same time, I felt happy for my conTARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
barked on a campaign to make people
tribution to clean Delhis air.
Why people participated in this system is the big les- aware, hired extra buses to strengthen public transport
and Kejriwal and his ministers went out seeking public
son for anybody involved in governance.
As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal celebrates support. Their campaign made public participation the
the first anniversary of his unprecedented electoral suc- core of the strategy to fight air pollution.
Now the difficult question: why dont people particcess in February, he should count the success of the oddeven system as his second-biggest win. And also, the big- ipate in other similar programmes having direct benegest lesson in the people-centric governance he has been fits? For example, under the Mahatma Gandhi National
championing.
Rural Employment Guarantee Act (mgnrega), people are
Kejriwal came into the limelight due to his hugely entitled to plan for their villages development works. But
popular anti-corruption campaign. This is similar to the public participation in such planning has been negligible.
anti-pollution campaign: both issues impact common This is despite direct benefits like increase in water availpeople directly and involve both, people and government. ability in villages and assurance of irrigation for farms.
In both cases, political will is vital. Kejriwal invested poPolicy makers have to apply the Delhi lesson more relitical will in both cases equally.
ligiously. Bring out the inconvenience starkly and back up
But why did the anti-corruption campaign fail to the roll out of a scheme with a mechanism that encouragsustain without much public participation? At the same es people to participate.
58 DOWN TO EARTH
58Last Word.indd 58
07/01/16 12:01 PM
Course on
SUSTAINABLE URBAN
WATER MANAGEMENT
COURSE FEES:
`13,500/ ($205)
Limited discounted seats are
available for representatives from
NGOs, students and groups of 2 or
more from same organisation.
Option to attend either of the 2 training
programmes is available on request with
a fee of `8,000/ ($125)
HOW TO APPLY?
Fill up the online application form available at
http://www.bit.ly/1Z0wi9U
VENUE
CSE, Anil Agrawal Environment Training Institute (AAETI)
38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi
We accept demand drafts and cheques drawn in favour of
Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
Send your query by mail or fax to:
Full and part fellowships available for candidates from African and South Asian countries
For more information: http://www.cseindia.org
jan31, 2016
59
New Delhi-110003. Published on 14-15 every month. POSTED ON: 16-17 of the same fortnight.
Training programme on
CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION
COURSE FEES
Rs 10,000 for CSR Foundations,
Companies, Public Sector
Undertakings, Consultants
Rs 7,500 for academicians, NGOs and
researchers, Rs 5,000 for students
Note: Accommodation can be arranged
nearby the training centre, would incur
extra charges
COURSE DURATION
March 7-9, 2016
TIMING
10.00 am to 5.30 pm
COURSE VENUE
CSE, 38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
New Delhi 62
LAST DATE FOR APPLYING
February 15, 2016
OPEN FOR ALL
CSR practitioners, officials from
companies, PSUs, consultants,
academicians, students, NGOs
Selection will
be done on first
come first
basis
entre for Science and Environment (CSE) recognises CSR as a key business
process that helps organisations demonstrate their commitments to being
socially responsible. In fact, after the amendment of Companies Act in 2013 and
promulgation of CSR Rules in 2014, addressing and reporting CSR performance has
become mandatory.
This training programme is designed based on the provisions of the Act and Rules.
The training programme aims at giving practical exposure to participants on CSR
with specific reference to the regulatory framework, formulating CSR strategy and
policy, stakeholder engagement, methodologies for implementation, performance
evaluation and statutory reporting.
The objective of the programme is to build a cadre of CSR leaders and professionals
who would assist in effective development and implementation of CSR activities of
organisations for the benefit of communities as well as business. This training
programme will be relevant and effective for CSR heads, senior and mid-level
managers, CSR practitioners and implementation partners, NGOs, etc.
What participants would learn?
1. Regulatory Framework for CSR
Companies Act 2013 and CSR Rules 2014
International guideline and best practices
2. Developing CSR Policy
SWOT Analysis and Identification of Major Risks & Opportunities
Developing Strategy and CSR Policy
3. Stakeholder Engagement
Identification of Stakeholder
EngagementSocial Need Assessment
Prioritisation of Key Issues
4. CSR Planning and Implementation
Participatory Planning
Implementation (Social and Gender Inclusion)
5. Monitoring, Measurement and Evaluation
6. Grievances Redressal (Processes and Practices)
7. Guidelines for CSR Reporting
Training MethodologyLectures, case studies, class room exercises, discussions and
role plays
For registration:
Kindly email at: saumya@cseindia.org/digvijay@cseindia.org
For details contact: Saumya Ranjan Nath, Programme Officer, Industry & Environment Unit
Jan31,16
BC