Page 4 - The Hindu 2 March 2019 Ad Free

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6 SOUTH SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019
DELHI THE HINDU
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Fires are a crucial component of some forest systems, says group of scientists

‘Complexities of forest fires need to be years ago, ever since mod­ seasonal droughts, which which the Soligas rely upon of large fires later in the sea­
understood and managed better’ ern humans appeared here. are again painted as proble­ for forest produce. son, he said.
matic, are important drivers
But what about large
“If an area is continuously
They added that “forests
that we think are natural of dry deciduous tracts fires, such as the recent one protected from fire, it could
Aathira Perinchery fire.” The letter, signed by and ‘pristine’ have often across Andhra Pradesh­Te­ in Karnataka’s Bandipur Na­ catch fire once in four years
Kochi Dr. Abi Tamim Vanak, Dr. been created by anthropo­ langana, Tamil Nadu and tional Park? or so because of the high ac­
Fires are sprouting in forest Ankila Hiremath and Dr. Ni­ genic burning for thousands Karnataka. Yet, the concept High­intensity fires would cumulation of grass, wood
tracts, especially across tin Rai of the Ashoka Trust of years.” of fires being entirely detri­ have negative effects, agree and twigs,” he said. “But fire
southern India. As harried for Research in Ecology and mental to these ecosystems, the scientists, but they hap­ [as a tool] has to be used ve­
Forest Departments and the Environment (ATREE); Dormant seeds revive argue the signatory scien­ pen only because dry bio­ ry intelligently,” Mr. Dharni
Fire Services personnel Dr. Raman Sukumar of the In fact, several native trees tists, has been derived from mass has been allowed to added.
douse flames, and photo­ Indian Institute of Science and plants in these land­ a colonial concept that build up and low­intensity
graphs of wildlife and trees (IISc); Dr. Jayashree Ratnam scapes have “co­evolved” looked at forests only for controlled burning has been ‘Push for changes’
burnt to cinder make the of the National Centre for Bi­ with fire: fire helps revive their timber potential. As a stopped. In their letter, the signatory
rounds, a group of scientists ological Sciences’ (NCBS); dormant seeds of many spe­ result, fire exclusion and scientists request policy
is asking a question that and Tarsh Thekaekara of cies. A study by Dr. Sukumar suppression is the norm. Fiery issue: Several native trees and plants have ‘co­evolved’ ‘Important tool’ makers and Forest Depart­
would seem almost unbe­ The Shola Trust, says that and Dr. Nandita Mondal More evidence points to with fire, according to scientists. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Fire is indeed an important ments “to push for changes
lievable under the current “there is an urgent need for showed that, in Mudumalai, fires even suppressing inva­ tool in forest management, in legislation that allow for
circumstances: are some a more nuanced view of for­ even young woody trees sur­ sive species. Over a decade stopped their traditional use counts, hairy mistletoe — a said A.K. Dharni, Kerala’s more scientific and thought­
forest fires necessarily as est fires.” vive ground fires and have of working with the Soliga of small “litter fires” just be­ parasitic shrub that affects Principal Chief Conservator ful management of forests”.
bad as we make them out to The reasons for this — higher growth rates imme­ communities at Karnataka’s fore the dry season set in. mature trees — has also of Forests­Forest Manage­ They also suggest that NGOs
be? based on history, ecology, diately post­fire, until they Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Dr. Rai’s work, as well as thrived due to fire suppres­ ment. Controlled fires in and activists engage with
Six scientists who study science and indigenous reach a certain height. Tiger Reserve, Dr. Rai and other studies, link this to the sion. Studies corroborate areas that have huge fuel these complexities and
fire­prone forest systems knowledge — are many. Ac­ Another study, published some of his colleagues at abundance of invasive lanta­ this too: mistletoe­induced loads (dry litter and biomass nuances about forest fires
across India have written an cording to the scientists, for­ just a month ago by Dr. Rat­ ATREE find that the exclu­ na that now chokes other tree deaths are high and on the forest floor) around rather than advocating
open letter on the impor­ est fires have been occurring nam and her co­authors, re­ sion of tribal communities native plants there. have resulted in the decline December can help prevent “blanket ‘stop forest fire’
tance of “fighting fire with in India from at least 60,000 veals that fires, along with from the reserve had in turn According to Soligas’ ac­ of wild gooseberry trees, as well as reduce the impact campaigns.”

Give a 2014-like mandate: Modi are with India, as BJP candidate: Sumalatha
IN BRIEF Islamic nations No question of contesting

Opposition remarks against railway zone anti­people, PM says in Vizag says Rajnath
‘Reports of saffron party support false’
Sumit Bhattacharjee He said the leader of the Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM
State was an expert in taking HYDERABAD MURALIDHARA KHAJANE
A strong government is ‘U­turns,’ in an oblique refe­ Home Minister Rajnath BENGALURU
Leopard on prowl caught needed to protect the inter­ rence to Chief Minister N. Singh on Friday said that Actor Sumalatha, wife of
on camera in Telangana
ests of the nation, Prime Na­ Chandrababu Naidu. Islamic countries were sup­ late M.H. Ambareesh, who
HYDERABAD rendra Modi has said, and “Had he fulfilled all his porting India in its fight has resolved to contest the
The Forest Department on Lok Sabha election only
Thursday captured the first appealed to the people to ex­ promises, there would have against terrorism and un­ from Mandya constituency,
camera trap images of the ercise their mandate like been no necessity to pass the derscored that it was
leopard which is giving they did in 2014, by voting buck to Modi,” he said. wrong to associate terro­ on Friday rubbished specu­
sleepless nights to villagers for the BJP. “I have no fear of any file rism with a religion. lation that she would con­
in Yacharam mandal. It is said He was addressing a pu­ being opened as I carry no He was speaking to offic­ test the polls either as an In­
to have killed about 10 to 15 blic meeting organised by baggage.” The Opposition ers and the media at the in­ dependent with the support Sumalatha meeting
animals. the BJP at the Railway Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public meeting in wanted him out as he was auguration of the National of the BJP or as the saffron Congress workers in Mandya
Grounds here on Friday Visakhapatnam on Friday. * C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM taking strong decisions in Investigation Agency’s Of­ party’s candidate. district on Friday.
Man with monkey fever Ms. Sumalatha told The
dies in Karnataka evening. In his opening re­ the interest of the country, fice and residential com­ Hindu on Friday that she, Independent and taking the
marks in chaste Telugu, the “The NDA government said Mr. Modi. On the Oppo­ the farmers and the poor. plex here. “I am very hap­
SHIVAMOGGA too, was surprised after support of the BJP will not
A 68­year­old man, PM declared his commit­ has fulfilled the long­pend­ sitions parties’ adverse com­ While the whole world py to tell you that Islamic hearing such rumours. “So arise under any circum­
Parshwanath Jain, from ment to the development of ing demand of the people of ments on the zone, he said, was demanding an answer countries of the world are far, nobody from the BJP has stances,” she said.
Kalamanji village in Sagar Uttarandhra. He said Visak­ this region by announcing “The leadership in the State from Pakistan, some of the supporting us fully. At this approached me for extend­ Congress leaders had sug­
taluk who tested positive for hapatnam was a dream city the formation of a new rail­ does not want the children Opposition leaders were time, the Organisation of
Kyasanur Forest Disease for the youth of this region way zone with Visakhapat­ of A.P. to grow and benefit, making statements that were Islamic Cooperation has ing support of any kind. The gested that she contest from
(KFD), also known as monkey and the country and its deve­ nam as its headquarters,” he as they are keen on the deve­ demoralising the armed for the first time invited the reports of the BJP support­ Bengaluru South instead of
fever, died at a private lopment into a smart city said. lopment of their own chil­ forces and being used by the Minister of External Affairs ing me are false and com­ disturbing coalition dynam­
hospital at Manipal in Udupi was the Central govern­ The zone would benefit dren, and that is why they neighbour to make its case in of India as the guest of ho­ pletely fabricated. The ques­ ics in Mandya.
district on Friday. ment’s prime agenda. the people of this region, are spreading lies.” its Parliament, he alleged. nour,” Mr. Singh said. tion of contesting as an
#398299
‘Penkoottu’ to take up ‘right Green comeback 3 States vow
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to curb red
to sit’ campaign in Kerala sanders racket

Drive by women’s group to be held from March 8 to May 1 Special Correspondent
TIRUPATI
Officials of the police and
Aabha Raveendran blem, the employees will be ment to the Kerala shops forest departments of And­
Kozhikode sensitised regarding their and Establishments Act in hra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
‘Penkoottu’ is planning a rights and the employer will July 2018, which made it and Karnataka have com­
two­month campaign to en­ be warned. In case of oppo­ mandatory for employers to mitted themselves to pro­
sure that the women work­ sition, the organisation provide a chair or stool to tecting the red sanders tree
ers’ right to sit, which they plans to take the issue to the employees and also limit wealth and curtail their illi­
earned through a relentless court and present the find­ their working hours to eight. cit felling and smuggling
struggle, becomes a reality ings before the authorities. from Seshachalam forest.
in all shops across the State. ‘Penkoottu’, an organisa­ BBC recognition At an inter­State meeting
The campaign will start tion of women working in P. Viji, secretary of ‘Penkoot­ here on Friday, the officials
on March 8, International SM Street, the commercial tu’, was recognised by the came out with a blue print
Women’s Day, and end on hub of Kozhikode, has been BBC as one of the 100 wo­ for curbing the internation­
May 1, Labour Day. It may be in the forefront of the ‘right men who created positive al racket by roping in agen­
noted that the ‘right to sit’ to sit’ campaign as it was changes in the world for her cies such as Customs and
campaign gained strength found that employees, most­ role in the campaign. Revenue Intelligence.
during the same period in ly women, in many shops, “We found that despite Principal Chief Conser­
2014. especially textile shops, the amendment to the Act, vator of Forest (A.P.) Mo­
During the two months, were not allowed to sit dur­ many employees in textile hammed Ilyas Rizvi offered
‘Penkoottu’ volunteers will ing their working hours. shops are still not allowed to to enhance manpower
monitor shops to see if the Its relentless struggle re­ sit. They keep a stool to ap­ strength, arms and ammu­
‘right to sit’ is being imple­ sulted in the State govern­ pease the authorities,” P. Viji Vegetable farming is back in full swing in Vellayani near Thiruvananthapuram. Following the unprecedented floods in August nition and protective gear
mented. In case of a pro­ ment enacting an amend­ told The Hindu. last year, these fields had remained submerged for months, causing losses to farmers. * S. GOPAKUMAR to the guards.

Drought situation ‘grim’ in Karnataka Mukti, an alliance to combat bonded labour

156 of 176 taluks reeling under severe water crisis due to deficient rainfall Several people rescued from bonded labour yet to get government facilities

Special Correspondent pending before the KSHRC.
Special Correspondent mated loss during rabi was Bengaluru “When I inquired what the
BENGALURU about ₹22,384.47 crore, the Although labourers rescued problem was, I learnt that
The Karnataka government Minister said. from bonded labour have bonded labour cases are not
has described the drought been issued release certifi­ reported. All officials tend to
situation in the State as Relief funds cates by their jurisdictional be in denial mode,” he said.
“grim and devastating” as He said the deputy commis­ tahsildars, they continue to Asserting that the com­
156 of the 176 taluks are faced sioners had over ₹647 crore live in poverty as they are mission is ready to take up
with severe water crisis. at their disposal to take up unable to to receive govern­ cases, he said, “We are ready
With deficient rainfall during drought relief works in their ment benefits without an to take up suo motu cases
both kharif and rabi seasons respective districts. Over 370 Aadhaar card, BPL ration even if it is reported in the
in 2018­19, the condition of villages were being provided card, and voter identity media.”
farmers has deteriorated. drinking water through 706 cards. Pointing out that it is a
Revenue Minister R.V. tankers and 401 villages This was the common Shaking off shackles: Justice D.H. Waghela launching the “shame” that bonded labour
Deshpande, Animal Husban­ Assessing loss: The Central team visiting drought­hit areas in through hired private bore­ grouse of most rescued la­ Mukti alliance in Bengaluru on Friday * V. SREENIVASA MURTHY exists even in suburban
dry Minister Venkatarao Na­ Yadgir district on Wednesday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT wells. In urban areas, 181 bourers, who participated in areas, Mr. Atheeq said, “This
dagouda, and Rural Develop­ wards were being provided the launch of Mukti, an al­ owner was sentenced to 10 ven following the rescue,” he is a crime we need to tackle,
ment and Panchayat Raj Response Fund (NDRF) to tance from the Centre,” Mr. drinking water through liance to end bonded labour years in prison. Four years said. address and prevent. Several
Minister Krishna Byre Gow­ the State. Deshpande said. tankers. and human trafficking that have gone by, and we do not Mukti was launched by government agencies con­
da on Friday held a review It is estimated that the loss The team, which had inte­ About 10.68 lakh works was held at the Vikasa Soud­ have Aadhaar card, ration D.H. Waghela, chairperson cerned with the issue must
meeting on the drought sit­ owing to natural calamities, racted with farmers and had been provided and more ha on Friday. Over 60 non­ card, or any other govern­ of the Karnataka State Hu­ come together with civil so­
uation along with a nine­ including floods/landslips farm labourers during its vi­ than nine crore man­days governmental organisations ment identity card.” man Rights Commission ciety and NGOs to address
member Central team that and drought during both sit to villages, will submit a have been generated till date (NGOs) from across Karnata­ Urging the government to (KSHRC), and L.K .Atheeq, this crime.”
visited 14 districts. kharif and rabi seasons is report to the Centre soon, under the Mahatma Gandhi ka came together to form provide facilities to them, M. Principal Secretary, Rural Cynthia Stephen, director
₹32,335 crore. The Centre so the Minister said. National Rural Employment Mukti, Raju, who was rescued from Development and Panchayat and founding member of
Release of funds sought far has released just ₹949.49 The State had suffered Guarantee Act. Narrating her ordeal a stone quarry in Kolar three Raj (RDPR), the nodal de­ Mukti, said the alliance is an
Mr. Deshpande told repor­ crore as against the NDRF agricultural crop loss on A total of 19.58 lakh hou­ when she was under the years ago, said he and his fa­ partment for rehabilitation excellent example of how va­
ters after the meeting that norm of ₹4,460 crore, the about 19.46 lakh hectares seholds had been provided clutches of a brick kiln own­ mily members were yet to of rescued bonded rious institutions of govern­
the government had urged Minister said. while horticulture crops on employment while 1.37 lakh er in Harohalli of Kanakapu­ get the release certificates. labourers. ment, civil society, and con­
the Centre to immediately “We have apprised the 23,313.37 hectares too had households had completed ra taluk, Papamma, who was “Without the certificates, we Speaking at the launch, cerned citizens have come
release funds as stipulated Central team about the non­ dried up during the 2018–19 100 days of employment, Mr. rescued four years ago, said, won’t even get the initial Mr. Waghela said there are together to collaborate and
under the National Disaster release of financial assis­ rabi season. The total esti­ Deshpande said. “After we were rescued, the amount of ₹20,000 that is gi­ no bonded labour cases address the issue.
CM A ND-NDE
YK