DownToEarth

16-31 JANUARY, 2016 SPECIAL ISSUE

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT FORTNIGHTLY Subscriber copy, not for resale `45.00

Jumping spider,
found in the tea
gardens of Dooars,
West Bengal
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

SAY
HELLO
TO STUNNING NEW
SPECIES JUST
DISCOVERED

01Cover.indd 1 11/01/16 3:18 PM

 Farmer
ORG

s'
ANIC
M
arket
Saturday, January 30
10:00am - 3:00pm
Margosa Lawn, Habitat World, IHC
(Entry from Gate no. 2)
A family day out to indulge in natures best.Bring back
the goodness of traditional,chemical-free food into your lives at
the Organic Farmers Market.

Highlights:
Freshest organic farm produce of vegetables, fruits, pulses and
staples, healthy diary-milk and milk products, artisanal cheese,
whole grain and Millet breads and more.
Learn about Good Food through Workshop on Millets.
At kids' experiential corner, let children explore Tastes of Foods.
Get to know about kitchen & roof top gardening and
composting.

Organised by:
Centre for Science and Environment
For details, please email ranjita@cseindia.org

Entry
free

02Organic farmers ad.indd 2 11/01/16 4:25 PM


WHEELS ARE TURNING
E
ARLY THIS month, I was in the Delhi High Court, where
a battery of lawyers had filed separate petitions against
the odd-even scheme of the Delhi government. This is a
scheme to ration car usage so that in the critically pollut-
ed winter months only half the vehicles are on the road.
Their arguments were that the scheme had led to enormous incon-
venience and worse, daily pollution data showed no impact on air
quality. Cars, they said, were not responsible for pollution.
I had heard this argument earlier in the Supreme Court. The court
was listening to our urgent appeal to take steps to reduce toxic air pol-
lution in the city. It was packed with the countrys most powerful law-
yersmostly former ministersall representing automobile com-
panies. They were agitated about the courts direction to stop the sale
of new diesel vehicles above 2,000 cc in the National Capital Region,
the area contiguous to Delhi and where work and offices are seamless-
ly spread. Their vehement argument that their diesel-fuelled luxury
vehicles are so clean made the otherwise sober and restrained Chief
Justice of India to remark, So do they emit oxygen?
The sum of their argument goes as fol-
lows: vehicles are not responsible for air pol-
lution; even if they are, then cars are not re-
sponsible, and trucks and two-wheelers
contribute the bulk of emissions. But even if
cars are responsible, then our new diesel
vehicles are not responsible. So, go do some-
thing else to clean up Delhis air. Leave us to
sell and leave us to drive.
Lets understand the facts. It is more certain today that two ma-
jor causes of air pollution in Delhi are road dust and vehicles. The oth-
er source of pollution is burning of coal in power stations, other indus-
trial units and houses, but this is still much less in this region than the
first two. This is not to say that action is not to be taken against all. This
is to say that no plan for air pollution control can succeed without hard
steps to restrain the growth of vehicles, particularly the grossly pollut-
ing kinds. It is also clear that controlling road dust will demand mul-
tipronged action to pave, green and water the sidewalks. But road dust
generation is also a function of the vehicles because the more we drive
the more dust is raised and re-circulated. Worse, the coating of vehi-
cle fumes makes the dust toxic. So, urban road dust is not just dust,
but poison.
Of all vehicles, are cars and diesel to blame? Yes, and let me ex-
plain why. There are three major segmentstrucks, two-wheelers
and cars. In Delhi, buses and three-wheelers have already switched
to compressed natural gas, which emits less particulates than die-
sel vehicles. Trucks are bad news for pollution. They are old, most-
ly overloaded and still operate on even dirtier diesel and technolo-
gy. This is because cleaner diesel is not available across the country,
and truck makers make profit by selling vehicles with really bad
technology in the name of public goods transport.
16-31 JANUARY 2016
03Editors.indd 3
EDITORS PAGE
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 chang-
er. 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 60-
90 per cent of the PM 2.5tiny particulates that
are most toxic. It also finds that secondary par-
ticulatesformed from gases like nitrogen ox-
ides and emitted from diesel vehicles and coal
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
burningare a big cause of air pollution in
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 win-
ter Delhi has seen weather conditions that are horrendous for pol-
lutionstill air, high moisture levels which trap particles and win-
ter 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 al-
ready 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
FOUNDER EDITOR Anil Agarwal
EDITOR Sunita Narain
SPECIAL COVERAGE
MANAGING EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Richard Mahapatra
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Delhi's great experiment
Vibha Varshney, Archana Yadav, For two weeks, Delhi regulated the flow
S S Jeevan of cars on its roads according
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Arnab Pratim Dutta to the last numbers of their number
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ajit Bajaj plates, the odd-even experiment as the
GRAPHIC EDITOR Sorit Gupto national media called it. The results
REPORTING TEAM were encouraging on the first day of
Anupam Chakravartty, Jitendra Choubey, the year itself, when the scheme came
Kundan Pandey, Jyotsna Singh, Rajeshwari into force. According to a study done by

MEETA AHLAWAT / CSE

Ganesan, Shreeshan Venkatesh, Karnika
Bahuguna. Jigyasa Watwani the Centre of Science and Environment
COPY DESK
(CSE), PM2.5 levels came down on
Snigdha Das, Rajat Ghai, Jemima Rohekar, January 1, proving that Delhi's air can be
Aditya Misra, Vani Manocha, Rajit Sengupta, purified if it lowers its vehicle numbers.
Deepanwita Niyogi, Aakriti Shrivastava,
Priya Talwar
DESIGN TEAM
SPECIAL FEATURE BLOG
Chaitanya Chandan, Shri Krishan,
Raj Kumar Singh, Tarique Aziz, Ritika Bohra
PHOTOGRAPHER Vikas Choudhary
Arsenic production mystery solved From western
PHOTO LIBRARY Anil Kumar
disturbances to the
monsoon, Akshay
WEB TEAM
Rajendra Rawat, Jaidev Sharma Deoras examines various
PRODUCTION
likely weather phenomena
Rakesh Shrivastava, Gundhar Das in India in 2016
INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT
Kiran Pandey POPULAR
www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in team
SCOTT FENDORF

CONSULTING EDITORS On web

Chandra Bhushan, Anumita Roychowdhury Sunita Narain highlights
Vol 24, No 17; Total No of Pages 60
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04Web and Credits.indd 4 07/01/16 4:22 PM

letters

THINKSTOCK PHOTOS
Better management needed
The human-animal conflict is age-old (Lurking in danger zone, 16-31 December,
2015). The loss of habitat is a major reason wild animals stray into human
habitations. One possible solution is to dig trenches and have mildly electrified
fencing around vulnerable villages. Moreover, there is a need for constant
vigilance by forest staff to monitor the movement of wild animals, especially
elephants which go in search of food and water to neighbouring areas. Personnel
should take steps to divert wild elephants from habitations by using various
techniques, including the use of trained elephants. It is also the duty of wildlife
sanctuaries to keep a tab on the predator-prey ratio. That would facilitate
relocation of wildlife.
Moreover, in a drought year, the authorities must be proactive to make water
available inside sanctuaries. We need to keep animal migration corridors safe
and free of encroachments. Periodic census of endangered species would help
take appropriate measures for their protection. Wildlife management should
be regularly upgraded so that we learn from the experience of internal as well
as external sources. Wildlife protection staff is a neglected lotpoorly-paid
and poorly-equipped. Salaries too should be hiked to attract better trained
and educated personnel who have a love for wildlife. Their transport and
communication infrastructure must be state-of-the-art to counter greedy
poachers. Problems of each wildlife protection centre should be studied by
experts, including foreign experts, for improvement. We should demonstrate our
commitment to love and protect wildlife by visible action on the ground.

D B N MURTHY
BENGALURU

16-31 JANUARY 2016 www.downtoearth.org.in 5

05-07Letters.indd 5 07/01/16 12:07 PM

letters Thanks, DTE
It was a pleasant surprise
to read about the Churu
sanitation campaign in Down
To Earth (Churu says yes to
hygiene, 1-15 April, 2015). I
got the opportunity to work in
Churu some time ago, and the
period I spent in that district,
remains one of the sweetest
memories of my career, not
the least because of the local
community's participation
in government initiatives.
Thanks for the coverage and
highlighting people's power
which I believe is the most
crucial difference between
a successful and a failed
scheme.
R OHIT GUPTA
UDAIPUR
VIKAS CHOUDHARY / CSE
Sunita Narain replies: oceanography, I appreciate the standard meteorological
Thank you for your mail and I efforts taken by Down To Earth institutes like the India
am glad you found the article to bring out a comprehensive Meteorological Department
interesting. I was delighted series on the monsoon. (IMD) which has been catering
to know about this good But at the same time, to the needs of all with their
initiative. meteorologists are worried sincere forecasting every
about the crop of private year since the British Raj. The
Monsoon muddle meteorological companies IMD network is quite strong,
This refers to the article that have mushroomed and with improved scales of
Monsoon mechanism (16- are forecasting weather, forecasting. I shall appreciate
30 September, 2015). Being a particularly the monsoon. In if Down To Earth can bring
scientist of meteorology and the process, they have eclipsed 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.
DAWA GYALMO
Will Delhi's odd- LACHUNGPA
even experiment The odd and even formula is
revive its bus an opportunity for Delhi to
put in place a plan to improve
system? public transport services
to meet the additional
commuting demand due
to halving of personal cars
on roads and which can
be sustained and carried
forward even after the trial
is over.
VIBHOR BOTHE
This is indeed an excellent
opportunity for Delhi to
cover-up the mistakes of
its past vis-a-vis buses by
providing new, better,
state-of-the-art buses to the
existing fleet.
FAIZAL SAIFI
I do not think this will happen.
The biggest factor is political
will. Until that is lacking, we
cannot hope for a better bus
system in Delhi.
RAGHUVANSH SINGH
Yes, the opportunity has
presented itself. But even if
the Delhi government is able
to provide the extra buses,
will that coax Delhites to start
using them regularly?
MITA CHIBBER

6 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

05-07Letters.indd 6 06/01/16 3:05 PM

 the forecasting methods, percentage
of accuracy and standardisation of the
weather instruments of the IMD, private
weather agencies and autonomous
weather organisations of the government
and feedback from members of the public
like farmers and research scholars as a
comparable study. I also want to point
out that the Inter Tropical Convergence
Zone (ITCZ) is formed around the equator
between 5N and 5S, and not between
45 N and 45S as reported.
K K NATHAN
VIA EMAIL
The author replies :
While on an average over the year, the
limit of 5N and 5S is accurate, since
the ITCZ is not a static phenomenon and is
affected by land and ocean distribution as
well as other global climatic factors, the
intention was to state the extreme limits
which are reached during the course of
the year45N and 45S.
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 (16-
30 November, 2015) supporting meat
llege The Bhoomi College
Future Holistic Science and Complexity
4 - 8 January 2016
th a
ducation
An introduction to the Science of Complexity
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and work towards a sustainable future.
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t macro Learning from living in the Sharavathi
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e affecting and explore our inner and outer ecology.
mail.com Register: bhoomiprogrammes@gmail.com
rg www.bhoomicollege.org
16-31 JANUARY 2016
05-07Letters.indd 7
intake for human health. I am a vegetarian
and would like to argue against the
rationale the author has used against
vegetarian diet. Firstly, though humans
have been eating meat since 2.5 million
years, as the author says, human teeth
and intestines have developed similar to
those of herbivores. Is this not a clear sign
that while going forward, humans should
aspire to be near-total vegetarians?
Secondly, the closer the animal is to
humans in the foodchain, their kinship
to us is more. The pain the animals feel
is nearly human and the slaughter (or
eating of the flesh) is morally indigestible.
The more brain-developed the animal
is, the more we should avoid eating it.
Thirdly, the author's argument that to feed
a billion starving poor, we should relax
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our vegetarian (animal-loving) nature is
specious and coldly calculative, reducing
the value of animals to mere commodities.
Lastly, regardless of research evidences
showing deficiencies of nutritional content
found in plant-based foods vis-a-vis meat
foods, I would like to say that some of the
noblest human beings that have lived
on our planet have managed healthy,
satisfying lives on vegetarian food.
K BHARATH KUMAR
CHENNAI
ERRATUM
In the cover story Why this abandoned
village is a threat to Uttarakhand (16-31
December, 2015), the word `plains' is
spelled as `planes' in the state map
(Vicious cycle). We regret the error.
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Shop online at
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www.downtoearth.org.in 7
06/01/16 5:13 PM
 contents 9
THE FORTNIGHT
A dime for health
Disaster at
Nairobi
Development
agenda of the Doha
round given a
Just 0.21 per cent of new infrastructure 12 quiet burial at the
projects in India are in the health sector,
says the government WTO talks

16
A second
chance 18 COVER STORY
Nepal has a chance to adopt
cleaner building technology A new Rosetta
given that its polluting brick Stone
kilns got destroyed in last Scientists discover new
year's quake plant and animal species
across India

SCIENCE
HEALTH New source of
Delivery debate antibiotic resistance
Caesarian deliveries rise Nuclear contaminants could lead
in India due to a lack of to a rise in antibiotic resistance in
enforcement protocols bacteria, says a new study
45
46
It is all in the mind
Israeli study challenges gender 48
stereotypes 50 FOOD
The magic of mud
Earthenware is staging a comeback in
52 our kitchens
BOOK Flip side
No taking What would our
sides world be like
A new book explains were certain
why growth at the cost 55 inventors to claim
patents for
of environment makes
their inventions? 56 HISTORY
no sense
Oz's true
58 conquerors
People power How Australia came to have the
Delhi's anti-pollution drive is largest number of feral camels
a shining example of soliciting
public participation

08Contents.indd 8 11/01/16 11:12 AM


CROSS HAIRS
Just 0.21 % of new projects in health
THE UNION Ministry of Finance
recently published data, according
to which of the 4,000 multi-crore
infrastructure projects in India only nine
(0.21 per cent)having an investment
of `938 croreare in the health sector.
Investments in the health sector were far
lower compared to those in the transport
and energy sectors. India spent US $69
16-31 JANUARY 2016
09-11The Fortnight.indd 9
THE FORTNIGHT
POINT
per capita on health in 2013, the lowest
among developing nations. Even poorer
economies like Indonesia and Mexico did
`1,00,000
Cash award to anyone who provides
better, according to the data published
by the Organization for Economic Co-
information on clinics conducting
operation and Development (oecd). The pre-birth gender tests in Panchkula,
government heath expenditure is also low Haryana
compared to other brics countries, South
Africa, Brazil and China. Source: Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula
www.downtoearth.org.in 9
07/01/16 12:00 PM
 THE FORTNIGHT
E VO LU T I O N

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

`Agriculture did not spur population growth'
G L O B A L C L I M A T E change and biological factors such as
diseases, rather than the advent of agriculture, controlled the
long-term growth of human population for most of the past 12,000
years, says a new study, Agriculture, population growth, and
statistical analysis of the radiocarbon record. The researchers,
from the University of Wyoming and the Harvard-Smithsonian
Center for Astrophysics, found that prehistoric populations of
hunter-gatherers in a region of North America grew at the same
rate as farming societies in Europe. The scientists analysed
radio carbon records from the US states of Wyoming and Colorado
that were recovered from charcoal hearths, which provide a direct
record of prehistoric human activity.

Government revises norms for coal-run power plants

TO MINIMISE pollution,
the government has notified
revised standards for coal-
based thermal power plants
and made it most stringent
for those plants which will be
installed in the future. Coal-
based thermal power plants
have now been put into three
categories: those installed
before 2003, those after it
RAMKUMAR
till December 31, 2016, and
those that will be installed
after December 31. According
to the environment ministry,
the new standards are aimed
at reducing emission of PM10,
sulphur dioxide and oxides of
nitrogen, which will bring about
an improvement in the ambient
air quality (aaq) in and around
thermal power plants.

10 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

09-11The Fortnight.indd 10 07/01/16 3:00 PM

 THE FORTNIGHT

I N FO C U S I N CO U RT On December 23, the NGT said that all

illegal bridges constructed over the
Fog can be deadly, On December 31, the Delhi High
Court asked for data in response to
Yamuna by legal or illegal miners would
be demolished by Haryana and Uttar
says study a pil challenging the exemptions Pradesh within three days
granted by the government to two-
wheelers and women drivers from
the odd-even scheme On December 23, the NGT ruled
On December 15, the that there should be no mining,
Supreme Court directed which is banned in Meghalaya
companies to continue and ordered stopping the
contributing to the Goa Iron transportation of coal
THINKSTOCK PHOTO

Ore Permanent Fund (gpf)

and District Mineral
Foundation (dmf) until it
Delhi On December 14, the NGT
passes a final order
ordered a show cause notice
Uttar Pradesh
On January 4, the High Meghalaya be issued to hotel owners as
A recent session on fog in the 48th annual fall Court of Judicature at to why a penalty of `10 lakh
meeting of the American Geophysical Union
Odisha
Hyderabad adjourned the shouldn't be imposed upon
(AGU) has revealed that fog water contains case related to farmers' them for operating illegally
nearly 20 times more monomethylmercury suicides in Telangana and Goa Telangana/ without obtaining a consent-
(MMHg), the most neuro-toxic form of mercury, Andhra Pradesh for six Andhra Pradesh to-operate certificate from the
than rain water. weeks and asked for a Tamil Nadu state pollution control board
decision on implementing
The findings were reported by scientists farmer bodies' suggestions
working on FogNet, a fog water collection Number of environmental cases
network along the Pacific coast of the On December 22, the National
Green Tribunal (NGT) directed reported last fortnight*
United States.
officials to ensure that no SUPREME HIGH NGT
Scientists working on the programme at eight construction activity was COURT COURTS
undertaken in the Porur lake. It
coastal sites in California collected coastal/
marine fog via active and passive collectors to also banned private parties from
07 08 58
carry out chemical analyses and drawing water from the lake *(During December 10, 2015 and January 5, 2016)
volumetric determination.
Compiled by DTE/CSE Data Centre. For detailed verdicts, visit www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in

Largest-ever wildlife census to end in March V E R B AT I M

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, "Those who had
90 researchers from various organisations worked with the
joined aerial teams in sorties in 18 elephant intention of
range countries. The teams have covered a destroying a Tamil
distance of 460,000 kilometres. The central
cultural event are
maligning our
database of the survey is being developed efforts to revive it"
THINKSTOCK PHOTO

by the philanthropic wing of Allen's Vulcan Pon Radhakrishnan,

Inc in Seattle. The non-profit, Elephants Union Minister, on
Without Borders, is the project's Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu's
principal researcher. traditional bull-fighting

16-31 JANUARY 2016 www.downtoearth.org.in 11

09-11The Fortnight.indd 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
T
HE NAIROBI ministerial meeting of
the World Trade Organization
(wto) in Kenya last month was
the chronicle of a disaster
foretold. In the run-up to the 10th
ministerial meeting in the Kenyan capital,
it was clear that the long-running and
hugely contested development agenda of the
Doha round of negotiations would be given
a quiet burial. And so it has transpired.
Almost all the issues that would have
benefited the worlds poorer and least
developed countries have been shelved or
ignored. Instead, new issuesinvestment,
government procurement and competition
policythat will open up their markets tailspin, says Dhar.
further to the onslaught of the powerful
economies, have been edged in.
Yes, I did tell you that the Doha round
issues are almost dead in water on the eve of
the Nairobi ministerial, admits Biswajit
Dhar, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru
Universitys Centre for Economic Studies
and Planning in a conversation with this
writer. But even so I did not expect such a
disastrous outcome, adds the economist
and a respected trade analyst. Dhar warns
that the emerging trade regime is far more
unjust and disempowering of the poor than
at present. Developed countries are
12 DOWN TO EARTH
12-13World Trade.indd 12
LATHA JISHNU | new delhi
determined to fast track pending libera-
lisation measures while brushing aside
the development dimension of trade. For
India in particular, the outlook is far from
reassuring. Not only did it fail to get any
work plan on a permanent solution to the
contested public stockholding of grains for
food security (see Fighting a flawed wto
regime, Down to Earth, November 15-30,
2013) but it also conceded ground in several
areas. One such is the agreement on elimi-
nating export subsidies. This will further
aggravate the crisis in our sugar sector. As it
is the entire sugar economy is in distress and
the end of subsidies means it will go into a
Civil society organisations squarely blame
Another area of concern is the lack of
movement on the demands made by deve-
loping countries on the Special Safeguard
Mechanism (ssm) which gives them some
flexibility to act in case of sudden import
surges and price dips on products that are
critical to their economy. But wto analysts
say the bland reiteration of this right reveals
that developing countries are trapped in a
dangerous status quo. The warning bells on
ssm had been sounded in 2008 when talks
broke down in Geneva on their impleme-
ntation. At that meeting, the US had said
ssm should come into force on a volume
REUTERS
trigger, that is when imports surge more
than 40 per cent over normal levels. It
means ssm is useless, points out Dhar.
Why did Nairobi end so dismally?
India for not showing enough spunk in
the Kenyan capital. Although Commerce
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman went in with
all guns blazing by insisting that the
development agenda had to be implemented
before the 162-member wto moved on to
new issues, she failed to keep her powder dry
when the actual negotiations got under way.
The notorious green room negotiations
this is how the backroom deals cut by a few
countries are describedappear to have
been at play once again. The four-day
ministerial scheduled from December 15
was extended by a day but to no avail for
16-31 JANUARY 2016
06/01/16 3:07 PM

India or other developing countries. These
negotiations took place between the worlds
largest trading blocs, the US and the
European Union (EU), along with China,
Brazil and India.
Reports from Nairobi show that
Sitharamans initial strong positionjust
grandstanding, insist critics like Dinesh
Abrol who heads the National Working
Group on Patent Laws and wtogave way
to an ominous silence on key issues and a
virtual withdrawal from the arena
ultimately. At the open session on
agriculture, the minister was categorical
that the farmers interests would be
protected by invoking ssm. Yet what
happened at the committee meetings tells a
different story.
16-31 JANUARY 2016
12-13World Trade.indd 13
Farmers from developing countries protest opening up of local markets to foreign imports at the WTO meet
The most intriguing is Sitharamans
failure to bring up Indias demand for a
permanent solution for public stockholding
programme at a meeting convened by the
facilitator, Lesothos Trade Minister Joshua
Setipa. More baffling to wto watchers is her
failure to show up for a meeting that Setipa
had convened at her request to discuss ssm.
That left in question Indias firmness of
purpose in pushing its stated agenda. As a
result, the draft put together by the
facilitator had nothing concrete on these
two critical issues: no timetable for resolving
the public stockholding programme or
anything new on ssm. This is reflected in the
unremarkable ministerial declarations rele-
ased on December 19.
It would appear that in the backroom
WORLD TRADE
talks, India was unable to stand up to the
might of the trading giants and the loss of an
ally. Brazil, once the spearhead for
developing country battles, has distanced
itself rather markedly from such concerns
after its nominee Roberto Azevdo became
the wto director general two years ago. As
for China, it did provide strong support but
the country has its own problems as a newer
member of the wto and its priorities could
have been divided.
Some reports have hinted at some
dramatic backroom developments on the
scheduled final day of the Nairobi meeting
when Sitharaman called off a press confe-
rence and the ministers agreed to extend
their meeting by a day to cobble together an
agreement. A host of civil society organi-
www.downtoearth.org.in 13
06/01/16 3:07 PM
 WORLD TRADE

COURTESY: WTO
sations and trade experts have characterised
the agreement as a sellout by the bjp
government of Narendra Modi.
To understand what could have resulted
in Indias abject surrender, as many analysts
have described it, one should look at the
emerging geopolitics and changing strategic
interests in South Asia. Foreign policy
analysts have been pointing out that the
Modi governments equation with the US is
a key to understanding the sudden shifts
and turns in regional politics and policies.
One pointer to the sudden change in
Indias stance from aggressive to compliant
in Nairobi is that Modi was preparing for his
Lahore stopover just a week down the line.
Although the spin doctors have called it an
impromptu decision by the prime minister
to end the standoff with Pakistan,
diplomatic analysts have said the trip was
decided earlier and apparently at the behest
Representatives from at least 25 countries attended the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference
of Washington. A leading commentator
on Indias foreign policy moves, ambassador
M K Bhadrakumar, has written that the Modi. Although the agreement largely on industrial goods. To use Azevdos own
Modi government is proving to be far more restated the original Bali agreement, the words, the domestic subsidies on farm
willing than any previous government in important change was that instead of a four- products have had an enormous distorting
Delhi to hitch Indias wagon to Americas year peace clause on agricultural stock- effect on the market.
regional strategies. piling, the agreement not to challenge It is not as if India alone is to blame
Besides, the new regime in Delhi seems Indias subsidies would last until a perma- for the Nairobi outcome. Developing
to believe it can do better for itself in bilateral nent solution was found. countries did not make a stand or stick
deals with Washington than in multilateral Such calculations on cutting deals with together to exercise their legal rights. And
negotiations. For instance, the peace clause the US could explain why Sitharaman chose India chose not to mobilise developing
that it secured on the public stockholding to support the Nairobi declaration even if it countries, laments S P Shukla, who was the
issue was one such, according to former erodes Indias credibility further with other countrys top negotiator to gatt, the
US deputy assistant secretary of state developing countries. predecessor to wto. Worse still, India
Teresita Schaffer. There are few takers for Azevdos did not show the courage that a small
After the Modi government came to claims on the outcome of the Nairobi country like Nicaragua did in the Paris
power, Delhi had said it would not allow the ministerial, much of it hyperbolic. The Climate Conference in raising its flag in
Trade Facilitation Agreement reached in decision on export competition is truly questioning the arbitrary, stealthy and
the Bali ministerial of wto in December historic and it is the wtos most significant undemocratic change intro-duced in the
2013 unless sufficient progress was made outcome on agriculture, claims the wto final draft at the last moment. Shukla
towards a permanent solution on its chief who also states that the elimination of contends that it would have been impossible
contested public stockholding programme. agricultural export subsidies is particularly to ignore India in Nairobi if it had stood firm
Schaffer says the agreement on ending significant. That an agreement which was on the Doha agenda.
their four-month standoff in the wto was supposed to come into effect two years ago That is debatable. As it stands, what the
reached by the US and India on the margins gets a fresh lease of life till 2018 can hardly developing countries are left with are the
of a meeting of two East Asia-centred be termed a significant breakthrough, since remains of the day. The multilateral system
organisations in Myanmar, attended by the task has been hanging for more than half of trade, too, is hanging by a thread, with the
both President Obama and Prime Minister a century after export subsidies were banned Nairobi declaration noting that wto mem-
bers have also successfully worked and
reached agreements in plurilateral formats.
To understand what could have resulted in India's abject The reference is to pacts such as the tpp or
surrender, as many analysts have described it, one the Trans Pacific Partnership which will
should look at the emerging geopolitics and changing override wto agreements. That is the mena-
strategic interests in South Asia cing shadow looming over the world. n

14 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

12-13World Trade.indd 14 06/01/16 3:07 PM

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p15 jan31,16
 WAT E R MANAGEMENT
Cleaning Nepal,
brick by brick
The 2015 earthquake
A
CCORDING TO a 2015 World
Bank report, Nepal would need
has given Nepal an one billion bricks to reconstruct
650,000 buildings damaged
opportunity to adopt by the massive earthquake in April last
cleaner brick kiln year. For the purpose of reconstruction, the
brick production in Nepal in 2016 alone
technologies will increase by 1.5 times from what it was
last year.
ALOK GUPTA | kathmandu But a substantial number of kilns have
been damaged in the quake. Most of these
were coal-fired and based on highly pollut-
ing old technologies. The owners now have
the opportunity to adopt cleaner technolo-
gies. The production of one billion bricks
with older technology kilns would emit
39,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, estimates
16 DOWN TO EARTH
16-17Brick Kiln.indd 16
ALOK GUPTA
The 2015 quake destroyed
108 of the 112 brick kilns in
Kathmandu
the report. Here lies the challenge for the
government of Nepal: to rebuild the coun-
try without causing severe pollution.
In Kathmandu, for instance, 108 of the
112 kilns were destroyed, says the
Federation of Nepal Brick Industry (fnbi).
Kathmandu-based International Centre
for Integrated Mountain Development
(icimod) says that over 350 kilns across the
country were damaged in the quake,
leading to a 30-40 per cent fall in brick
production. Kiln owners can now upgrade
to newer technologies that also promise
better quality bricks and more profits.
One such technology is the brainchild
of icimod. In 2012, icimod and the Nepal
government joined hands with kiln owners
16-31 JANUARY 2016
11/01/16 1:22 PM

Carbon guzzlers
Brick kilns contribute to 40 per cent of
air pollution in Nepal
Black carbon (g/kg, or grams of black
carbon produced per kg of coal)
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) (g/kg)
Energy (mega joules/kg)
Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln*
0.01
0.10
0.95
Zig Zag Natural Draft*
0.02
0.21
1.20
Zig Zag Forced Draft*
0.03
0.23
1.00
Tunnel Kiln*
0.05
0.10
2.00
Fixed Chimney Bull's Trench Kiln**
0.16
0.80
1.40
Source: ICIMOD
* New technology
** Old technology
and started a clean brick kiln project. The
project brought together experts and kiln
manufacturers for the first time, claims
Bidya Banmali Pradhan of icimod. The aim
was to introduce a cost-effective technology
to control emissions. Pradhan says that the
basic guiding principle of all kiln technology
is optimum utilisation of heat in the kilns
oven. icimod developed a new technology
called natural draft zig zag and forced draft
zig zag. This technology adds a fan in the
oven and calculates the exact air flow
needed to burn coal. It also reinforces the
chimney to control heat loss. This ensures
optimum heat generation and uniform
baking of bricks, says Pradhan.
After the manufacturing process is
over, the bricks are segregated into three
categories of A, B and C. A is the best qual-
ity and is sold at Nepalese Rupees (npr) 15
per brick, B fetches npr 12 and C gets npr
8-10 (1 npr equals 62 Indian paise). icimod
claims that its technology ensures that 90
per cent of the bricks are of the best quality.
David Molden, director general, icimod,
16-31 JANUARY 2016
16-17Brick Kiln.indd 17
says that the new technology reduces black
carbon emissions by 85-90 per cent. Black
carbon is a component of particulate mat-
ter that causes global warming. The tech-
nology also saves up to 30 per cent of coal,
which is equivalent to saving 125 tonnes of
coal annually in the country.
According to the US Energy Inform-
ation Administration, Nepals coal con-
sumption nearly doubled from 227,000
metric tonnes in 2002 to 496,000 metric
tonnes in 2012. Of this, brick kilns con-
sumed nearly 50 per cent, according to data
provided by Nepals department of envi-
ronment. Normally, brick kilns contribute
to 40 per cent of the air pollution in
Kathmandu, leading to poor visibility and
health problems in the valley, says
Jagadish Bhakti Shrestha, director gener-
al, Nepals environment department.
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 1.2-
1.5 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 tech-
nology, he will be able to recover his invest-
ment in two years by producing high-qual-
ity bricks.
The government is not disappointed
with the low number of brick manufactur-
ers 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.
BRICK 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 tradi-
tional Bulls Trench Kiln technology and
the Fixed Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln tech-
nology that consume large amounts of coal
and emit massive amounts of carbon (see
Carbon guzzlers).
In 2002, Kathmandu-based non-prof-
it 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 (March-
December) to 603 mg/m3 during the oper-
ational season (January-March) of brick
kilns. After massive public protests follow-
ing the report, the government banned the
Movable Chimney Bulls Trench Kiln tech-
nology 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, hospi-
tals and tourist spots.
Between 2003 and 2006, the govern-
ment collected npr 36 lakh through penal-
ty and shut down 22 brick kilns. The strin-
gent 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 increas-
ing. Mahendra Chitrakar, president of the
Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, re-
calls with a hint of anger how brick manu-
facturers became the biggest villain during
2006-08. A new method of brick manu-
facturing, 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 en-
vironment-friendly technologies at afford-
able prices and also provide incentives to
the kiln owners who adopt such technolo-
gies. 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 n SNIGDHA DAS n CHAITANYA CHANDAN

I
N THE mid-18th century, when Swedish
botanist Carl Linnaeus established the
modern system of classifying all organisms
known to the human being, he believed that
the boundaries of life were just around the
corner; there would be hardly 10,000 plant
species in the world, he used to say. But 260
years later, and after identifying 17 million
species of plants, animals, fungi and microbes
scientists are nowhere close to knowing the
basic kinds of organisms, let alone understanding
them or naming them. Worse, they do not even
know how much is left to discover.
Probably, this is the reason every year biodi-
versity enthusiasts and some determined, even
obsessed, scientists from across the world scan
unknown terrains, from the most inhospitable of
places to deep seabeds, and comb through a billion
museum collections and fossils to look for new
species. And when they stumble upon onebe it
a bizarre-looking animal, an unimaginably small
insect or a plant from the Jurassic eranational
and international institutes and scientific journals
publish the finding with great enthusiasm, and
add it to the inventory of living species and fossils.
In 2015, India added 523 new living species
to this ever-expanding inventory. According to
the documentations released by the countrys two
premier institutes engaged in the exploration of
flora and faunathe Zoological Survey of India

18 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

18-44Cover Story.indd 18 11/01/16 1:21 PM


(zsi) and the Botanical Survey of India (bsi)and
non-profit World Wide Fund for Nature (wwf),
scientists and taxonomists have identified 246
animal species and 277 plant species in 2014.
Seed plants (118) have accounted for more
than 40 per cent of the new plant species
discovered. And as every year, insects (119) have
outnumbered other groups of animals (see 523
reasons to feel happy, p21). The list, however, does
not include any species of mammal.
We have a fair idea about the absolute
diversity of mammals as well as birds, says K C
Gopi, scientist at zsi. That is why discovery of new
mammal species is touted as the discovery of the
decade, or even the century. On the other hand,
16-31 JANUARY 2016
18-44Cover Story.indd 19
COVER STORY
insects are hardly well-documented
because of their small size, and we
discover hundreds of them every
year, Gopi explains.
At least 185 of the new animal
species reported last year are new discoveries, or
new to science; and 61 are new records, meaning
spotted for the first time in India. Similarly, of the
249 plant species reported by bsi alone, 148 are
new discoveries and 101 new records.
In either case, new species are significant
as they indicate the richness of Indias biodiversity.
Kailash Chandra, director-in-charge of zsi, says
India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries,
encompassing four biodiversity hot spotsthe
www.downtoearth.org.in 19
11/01/16 11:26 AM
 COVER STORY
FOR THAT LUCKY
ENCOUNTER
Nobody goes to the field thinking that
they are going to discover new species.
It is purely accidental. But turning an
accident into a discovery requires a
prepared mind and thorough follow-up
Look for novel features
A specimen with hitherto unseen
characteristic is recognised as a new
discovery. So sensible scouting must be
followed by careful comparison. The
morphological (external and anatomical)
features of a specimen
suspected to be a new
species are studied, and
compared with the
morphological
features of other
species in the
genus.
Or, try genetic study
In some cases morphological
differences are difficult to
observe. In such cases,
scientists compare molecular/
genetic features of the
specimen suspected to be a
new species with those of
other species in the genus. A
20 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 20
Needed: eye for detail
Expeditions to find out new
species are usually carried
out in biodiversity hot spots,
but species can be found
anywhere. "All you need is the
basic knowledge of taxonomy
and plant/animal nomenclat-
ure," says D K Singh, scientist
at Botanical Survey of India
(BSI). Only an eye for detail
leads one to a new species.
Join an expedition photographs of what they think is
One can be part of expeditions a discovery. We collect samples
conducted by Zoological Survey of from the spot and compare their
India (ZSI) and BSI every year. The morphological characteristics
group is led by a senior scientist, with those of other species in the
and assisted by a junior officer, genus," says S K Pati, scientist
field collectors and lab assistants with ZSI.
who store collected specimens.
The specimens are then sent to
ZSI's National Zoological Centre
(NZC) or BSI's Central National
Herbarium (CNH). As of now, NZC
has four million animal specimens
and CNH houses two million plant
specimens. "Independent
researchers also send us
hitherto unknown molecular/ Get the findings published
genetic feature translates into Approach ZSI and BSI to catalogue the discovery in
a new discovery. Since 2012, their annual publications released on June 5, the
ZSI has been conducting World Environment Day. These publications are
molecular taxonomic studies, recognised as referrals for biodiversity and
which include chromosomal taxonomic studies, says Paramjit Singh, director of
mapping and DNA barcoding to BSI. One can also approach other national
genetically characterise institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Science,
species and their variations in Bengaluru, and Wildlife Institute of India,
the natural population. ZSI Derhadun, or international institutions such
already has its molecular as International Union for
systematic laboratories at its Conservation of Nature
headquarters at Kolkata and to get the findings
regional centres of Chennai published. One can
and Dehradun. It is now setting also get the findings
up new laboratories in published in any
Hyderabad and Pune. BSI's standard national/
laboratory for molecular international scientific
studies is located in Howrah. journal, say ZooTaxa.
ILLUSTRATIONS: TARIQUE AZIZ AND RITIKA BOHRA / CSE
16-31 JANUARY 2016
11/01/16 2:46 PM
 COVER STORY

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
523 reasons
Every year, as zsi and bsi carry out nearly 100 task, they are more interested in species already to feel happy
countrywide expeditions, these regions spring discovered, says Mohite. Taxonomists in India have
the maximum number of surprises, particularly And the result is evident. There has been a
discovered 277 plant and
related to plant species. In fact, these are among decline in the size of new discoveries and records.
the 37 most biodiverse regions in the world. In 2013, zsi and bsi documented 302 new
246 animal species
In 2014, the Western Ghats, which has animal species and 347 new plant species. In New plant species
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. Seed plants
11 per cent in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; But scientists of zsi and bsi are hopeful. 118
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. Fungi
senior researcher at the Biodiversity Research One such species is a palm-like plant, Cycas 52
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
these species live and how they interact shade tree, Glochiodion tirupathiense, Microbes Lichens Algae
with the ecosystem, it helps us which scientists have discovered 36 33 24
design effective conservation Biodiversity not from a less visited site but
Bryophytes Pteridophytes
measures. Their unique attri-- hot spots of India from the pilgrimage site of
butes also help expand our Tirumala hills, on the way to 8 7
knowledge about the origin Himalayas Kumaradara Pusupadara
and evolutionary history of Dam (see p41). However, New animal species
life on earth, says Mohite. Northeast they could locate only a few
India
Though all species are plants of the species. Then
Western
significant in their own Ghats there are freshwater crabs
ways, some assume greater (Ghatiana aurantiaca and Insects
Andaman and
importance to humans owing Nicobar Islands triangulus)
Gubernatoriana triangulus 118
to their economic or ornamental that are considered ecologically Fish
significance, or ability to boost and economically important.important 27
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
used for consumption or medicinal purposes. mammals. Local tribal communities are known to
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)
Amphibians Archnidans
Take the case of Thrips parvispinusa pest and 10 species of orchids (see p40).
recorded for the first time in India in August 2015. Down To Earth roped in the countrys top 24 19
Earlier, it was recorded infecting papaya plants scientists, who supervised these incredible Cnidaria Crustaceans Collembola
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 institut-
16 14 10
The identification of a pest is the first step which ions complete data on species discovered during Mollusca Nematode Reptiles
unlocks the barriers for further research in 2014-15, and the authors spent hours with the 7 4 3
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 Birds Trematoda Polycheata
about T parvispinus in Journal of Insect Science. species, they discovered a fascinating new world. 2 1 1
Unfortunately, young researchers are losing In the next 22 pages Down To Earth profiles a Source: Botanical Survey of India,
interest in taxonomy, which deals with the science select group of new plant and animal species. Zoological Survey of India, World Wide
Fund for Nature

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 COVER
COURTESY: TAIBIF.TW
18-44Cover Story.indd 22
STORY
Lark comes home
GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK
Calandrella brachydactyla dukhunensis
REPORTED BY: S Rajesh Kumar and
C Raghunathan from Zoological Survey
of India (ZSI), Port Blair; G Maheswaran
and K Venkataraman from ZSI, Kolkata
LOCATION OF FINDING: Landfall Island
Wildlife Sanctuary, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands
One winter afternoon, a scientist with
zsi was taking a stroll on the seashore
of Landfill Island Wildlife Sanctuary,
one of Indias endemic bird areas. He
suddenly spotted a sparrow-like bird
actively foraging in the sand; it walked
quickly and sporadically picked up items
from the ground. The scientist could not
identify it immediately, but was able to
take several photographs. Later review
showed that the bird had fine streaks
on its forehead, its bill was pale pinkish,
cylindrical and shorter, and underparts
were white. The features suggested
that it is the eastern race of the greater
short-toed lark. The bird, Calandrella
brachydactyla dukhunensis, is not new
to ornithologists. It has an extremely
large range, and breeds across southern
Europe, North Africa, Turkey, southern
Russia and Mongolia. As winter
approaches, the race dukhunensis
migrates in compact flocks southwards.
This is for the first time the bird has
been recorded from the Andaman and
Nicobar islands. Based on old records of
dukhunensis from southern Myanmar,
scientists say the bird might have arrived
on the Andamans via Myanmar.
11/01/16 11:27 AM
 COVER STORY

Last guard of a singer's family

SPOTTED WREN-BABBLER Elachura formosa
DISCOVERED BY: Per Alstrom from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala
LOCATION OF FINDING: Arunachal Pradesh

It looks like any other songbirdwrens and vocalisation patterns. It

and wren-babblersand is so shy that it
remains hidden in dense forests throughout
the mountains of eastern Himalayas
and southeast China. This is the reason,
ornithologists had for decades thought it
was a variant of wren-babbler and clubbed
it under the genus Spelaeornis and named
it S formosus. They realised its distinct
identity in 2014 while studying evolutionary
history of Asian songbirds using a computer-
enabled technology that analyses large
dna data sets to reconstruct family trees.
The data shows that spotted wren-babbler
is neither a wren nor a wren-babbler. In
fact, it has no close living relatives at all.
Further investigations showed that the
bird has distinct morphological features
measures about 10 cm and has
a short tail. It is brown above,
white below, with rufous wings.
It has white speckles all over its
body and black stripes on its
wings and tail. During breeding
season, the males sing their
characteristic, high-pitched
song, which does not resemble
any other continental Asian bird
song. The researchers concluded
that the spotted wren-babbler is
the sole representative of a unique
avian family that is the earliest COURTESY: WWF INDIA
surviving evolutionary offshoot
in perching birds, and named it
Elachura formosa.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY: ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

Fluke encounter
PARASITIC FLATWORM
Gorgoderina spinosa
DISCOVERED BY: Charles R Bursey from
Pennsylvania State University, USA;
Anjum N Rizvi and Pallab Maity from
ZSI, Uttarakhand
LOCATION OF FINDING: Budhna village,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
It came to notice during a routine study
of parasitic worms in a frog, Euphlyctis
cyanophlyctis, in Dehradun. The frog is
common across eastern and northeastern
India and other neighbouring countries.
Scientists found one frog harbouring
four individuals of an undescribed
species of a parasitic flatworm,
Gorgoderina. They isolated the parasite
from its urinary bladder and named it
G spinosa because of the spiny covering
on its body and its distinct morphology of
vitelline glands that produce yolk cells.
With the discovery of G spinosa, Indian
amphibians are now host to six of the 55
Gorgoderina species found worldwide.
The parasite is known to have a complex
life cycle, involving several hosts, right
from mollusks to amphibians. It usually
infects a frog when the latter ingests an
infected organism. The parasite quickly
invades its kidneys and bladder and kills
it within a few days. It is feared that with
landscape alterations, the parasite may
change its transmission pattern and
infect humans.

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 COVER STORY

The new water sentinel

POND SKATER Amemboa bifurcata
DISCOVERED BY: Srimoyee Basu and
K A Subramanian from ZSI, Kolkata; Dan
A Polhemus from Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Museum, USA
LOCATION OF FINDING: Kalikhola,
Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal

Though extremely small, pond skaters or

water bugs have constantly attracted the
attention of scientists for their unique
ability to walk on water while staying
completely dry. So far, scientists have
identified more than 1,700 species of
this family, Gerridae. Recently, they have
identified one more in Jalpaigudi.
Named Amemboa bifurcata, it is small,
oval-shaped and can be easily identified
by the silvery markings on the dorsal
surface of the body. Unlike other
Gerridae species whose front legs are
shorter and middle and hind legs are
elongated, the hind legs of A bifurcata
MARIO MADRONA

are relatively shorter than its middle legs.

Understanding Gerridae insects is
important as they reflect the concentr-
ation of contaminants in their aquatic
habitat. Pond skaters have the ability to
accumulate high mercury levels. Due Of a different hue
to their ubiquity, long life span and A TYPE OF MOTH Capissa alba
predatory nature, scientists often analyse DISCOVERED BY: Jagbir Singh Kirti and
their body to measure mercury build-up Rahul Joshi from Punjabi University,
in aquatic food chains. Patiala; Navneet Singh from ZSI, Patna
LOCATION OF FINDING: Patnitop,
Jammu and Kashmir

When scientists spotted the moth in

Patnitop, a hilltop tourist location
in the Siwalik belt of the Himalayas,
they could easily notice its distinctive
features. It differs from other moths due
to creamish white wings and triangular
lower body. Understanding the diversity
of moth species and the density of
their populations is important as this
nocturnal insect acts as a significant link
in the food chain as a prey organism,
and innumerable birds, rodents and bats
predate on them. They are indicators
of the health of an ecosystem as they
symbolise the biodiversity richness.

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 COVER STORY

Staring from the web

JUMPING SPIDER Evarcha flavocinta
REPORTED BY: Tapan Kumar Roy, Dhruba Chandra Dhali and Dinendra
Raychoudhury from University of Calcutta, Kolkata; Sumana Saha from Darjeeling
Government College, West Bengal
LOCATION OF FINDING: Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Nepuchapur Tea Estate and
Kailashpur Tea Estate, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal

The species belongs to a family
Salticidae, which is represented by 207
species. Scientists spotted the spider
while surveying the tea ecosystem of
Dooars and its adjoining reserve forests.
The remarkable feature of the spider,
which actively hunts its prey rather than
trapping it in webs, is its four pair of eyes
that are arranged in three transverse
rows. The anterolateral (first row) eyes
are surrounded by horn-like tuft of long,
stiff, slightly curved bristles.

Tale of a farmer's insect Desert Expedition of zsi. The scientists

A SPRINGTAIL Entomobrya diskitensis
DISCOVERED BY: Enrique Baquero and
and Rafael Jordana from University of
Navarra, Spain; Gurupada Mandal from
ZSI, Kolkata
LOCATION OF FINDING: Ganglatok
village, Diskit district, Ladakh, Jammu
and Kashmir
It is one of the seven wingless insects,
commonly called springtails, that
scientists had found during a trip in
2008 to Ladakh as part of the Cold
had found the species in the leaf litter of
agricultural products in one of the
localities in Ladakh.
With eight eyes and a length
of 2.6 mm, excluding antennae,
E diskitensis is typically pale yellow.
Its dorsal body is covered with lateral
violet-blue irregular lines. Like several
other springtails, E diskitensis is
beneficial for agriculture. Being a litter
dweller, it is responsible for the control
and dissemination of organic matter and
microorganisms in the soil.

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 COVER STORY

Friendly parasite
BEE-LIKE INSECT Mischotetrastichus
keralensis
DISCOVERED BY: T C Narendran, C Bijoy
and K Rajmohana from ZSI, Kerala
LOCATION OF FINDING:
Mannavanshola, Idukki district, Kerala

Hymenoptera is the third largest order of

insects and comprises wasps, bees and
ants that may be parasitic, carnivorous,
phytophagous or omnivorous. The
recently discovered Mischotetrastichus
keralensis is a Hymenopteran parasite. It
acts as an important biological control
agent as it feeds on insect pests, such as
parasitic wood wasps that attack
wood-boring beetles; and a variety of
wasps that parasitise many moths,
butterflies, wood-boring beetles, several
crop pests, orchard pests and scale insects.

Announcing presence
FASCIOLARIID SNAIL Granulifusus
poppei
REPORTED BY: Ravnish R, A Biju Kumar
and K V Dhaneesh from University of
Kerala; K Preetha from Christian College,
Kerala; S George from Rajeev Gandhi
Centre for Biotechnology,
Thiruvananthapuram
LOCATION OF FINDING: Kerala coast

Though exact range of geographical

distribution of this species of sea snail is
not known, it had never been recorded
from the Indian coast before. In 2013
three specimens of G poppei were
collected by bottom trawlers at an
average depth of 100 m off the Kerala
coast. dna analysis confirmed that the
shell, which is whitish to light brown in
colour, is of G poppei.
COURTESY:DEEPNREEF.COM

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 COVER STORY

PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY: JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA

Hidden in trees
TREE BARK-DWELLING SPIDER
Hersilia aadi
DISCOVERED BY: G B Pravalikha,
Chelmala Srinivasulu and Bhargavi
Srinivasulu from University College of
Science, Osmania University,Hyderabad
LOCATION OF FINDING: Osmania
University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Species of genus Hersilia are typically

long-legged, medium-sized spiders. They
are commonly found on tree trunks, and
are known as bark spiders or two-tailed
spiders. Though first identified in 1820
and is known to be present across Asian
and African tropical regions, only six
species of Hersilia are known to scientists.
Recently scientists have spotted another
species, Hersilia aadi, on the bark of
neem (Azadirachta indica) and
Polyalthia cerasoides trees in the
Osmania University campus, Hyderabad.
The scientists say the species diversity in
the family Hersiliidae is under-
represented and future research can result
in the discovery of more species.

Serpentine fish
RAY-FINNED FISH Aborichthys
cataracta
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
The genus Aborichthys was first
described in 1913 based on
specimens in streams and rivers of
Abor hills in northeastern India.
The type species was described as
Aborichthys kempi. Since then, five
additional species have been added
to the genus from northeastern
India, with the latest being
A cataracta. Scientists found it in a
small creek near a waterfall in
Upper Subanshri district. This
serpentine-shaped fish grows up to
9. 3 cm and has elongated snout.
Its caudal fin (tail) is round and
wide; dorsal fin has nine rays and
the anal fin has six rays. Females
are larger than males. Its sand-
coloured body is covered with thin
wavy stripes.
COURTESY: NOVATAXA.BLOGSPOT.IN

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 COVER STORY

Why this pursuit of

new species
Discovering new species is crucial to understanding evolutionary
processes and ensuring food security and human welfare

W
ITH VARIED ecological and Since common names vary from
climatic conditions, India is region to region, organisms are assigned
one of the 17 mega-diverse scientific names, which are uniform
countries. With only 2.4 per and universal. In most cases, these are
cent of the worlds landmass, it harbours binominalmeaning, they have a ge-
7-8 per cent of the species known world- neric and specific name. Sometimes,
wideover 45,000 species of plants and the names are trinomial, and the third
96,891 species of animals. But increasing name refers to the name of subspecies,
developmental activities and changing variety or form. Names are given to organ-
climate in recent decades are threatening isms according to the international codes
KAILASH
Indias rich biodiversity. Its natural habi- of zoological, botanical and bacteriologi-
CHANDRA
tats and ecosystems are being reduced, re- cal nomenclature.
placed or modified to the extent that they Director-in-charge of At the core of these codes is the type
can no longer support the original poten- Zoological Survey of specimena particular specimen based
tial of biodiversity. Large-scale extinction India, Kolkata on which the discoverer describes the spe-
of species and the loss of genetic diversity cies and fixes its scientific name. This is
have become a harsh reality. followed by inventorying and monitoring of biodiversi-
This loss has far-reaching implications for food se- ty. Preparing the inventory includes surveying, sorting,
curity and economy. A significant number of people in cataloguing and mapping of entities, such as species,
the country directly or indirectly depend on the bio- populations, habitats, ecosystems or their components,
diversity for food security and livelihood. The biolog- and synthesis or analyses of the information into pat-
ical resources also constitute the feedstock for indus- terns and processes. Whereas monitoring refers to the
tries like biotechnology. To conserve these biological process of making repeated inventories over time and
resources and to ensure their sustainable use and fair space and measuring change in the patterns or process
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of utili- of biodiversity.
sation of resources, India has ratified the United Nations The Zoological Survey of India (zsi) has been active-
Convention on Biological Diversity and has passed the ly documenting animal diversity of the country since its
Biological Diversity Act, 2002. inception in 1916. Every year, it carries out systematic
It is also imperative to document changes in the surveys and explorations to discover and describe new
diversity, distribution and composition of animal and species. So far, zsi has described more than 5,000 spe-
plant communities. For this, it is important to dis- cies new to science from diverse ecosystems and habitats
cover, identify and name species across the world and of India and its neighbouring countries. It has also pub-
prepare a complete inventory, if not the absolute one. lished over 1,500 scientific documents on fauna of India,
Remember, new species is a resource to the nation and including documents on fauna of 22 states, many pro-
humankind. Called taxonomy in scientific lexicon, this tected areas and ecosystems, and status surveys. zsi is a
system of naming and classification is essential to un- major repository of the National Zoological Collections
derstand the evolutionary process that produced the di- of voucher specimens, including nearly 20,000 type
versity of life. At a broad functional level, taxonomy is specimens, of all faunal groups, from protozoa to mam-
also an applied science basic to human welfare. It is es- mals, known from India and the adjacent countries.
sential to know the identity and name of an organism After all, scientific documentation of fauna at lo-
before undertaking any kind of research on itbe it re- cal, regional and ecosystem levels is essential for long-
lated to biodiversity, conservation, ecology, agriculture, term conservation and sustainable utilisation of biolog-
fisheries or medicine. ical resources.

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29 JAN 31 2016
29NBA ad.indd 29 11/01/16 3:55 PM
 COVER STORY
It's a genus
FRESHWATER CRAB
Ghatiana aurantiaca
DISCOVERED BY: S K Pati and
R M Sharma from ZSI, Pune
LOCATION OF FINDING: Phansad
Wildlife Sanctuary, Raigad district,
Maharashtra
One monsoon, when people living in the
vicinity of the Phansad wildlife sanctuary
spotted small orange-red crabs, they
thought it was an invasive species from
Australia. When zsi scientists
investigated the claims, they discovered
that the truth was more fascinating than
the story the locals reiterated. A closer
look at the crustacean revealed that not
only was it a species that had not been
recorded so far, but also its characteristics
were so distinct that it could not be
Small and shy
FRESHWATER CRAB Gubernatoriana triangulus
DISCOVERED BY: S K Pati and R M Sharma from ZSI, Pune
LOCATION OF FINDING: Mahabaleshwar, Satara district; Bhimashankar Wildlife
Sanctuary and Tamhini Ghat, Pune district, Maharashtra
Measuring less than 2 centimetres, this
tiny crabs unique features are its smooth,
squarish and brown carapace (chitinous
case covering its back) and a triangular
subterminal segment of male gonopod
(specialised appendages modified for
reproduction). So far, the species has been
found only in the Western Ghats. They are
active mainly during rainy season (June to
September) and usually dwell under small
30 DOWN TO EARTH
18-44Cover Story.indd 30
classified under any of the existing genera
of crabs. It was a species from a new
genus. Since the crab was found in the
Western Ghats, the scientists named the
genus Ghatiana and the species Ghatiana
aurantiaca after its red-orange colour.
Locating the crabs is difficult as the
species is usually active during the rainy
season and at night. Most of the time they
crawl into crevices of rocks and tree
trunks or remain hidden in burrows
near streams.
Scientists say the newly described
crab is both ecologically and economically
important, as it plays a significant role in
nutrient cycle and water quality
monitoring. They also play the role of an
intermediate link in the food chain of
natural habitat; they prey upon small
aquatic organisms, and, at the same time,
are predated by birds and mammals.
stones along stream banks. Local tribal
communities eat it. The finding is
important because the Western Ghats
remains largely under-explored for
crustacean species. In fact, a large number
of freshwater shrimps and crabs in the
region are in danger of becoming extinct
due to increasing human activity in their
habitat and irregularities in their
classification and documentation.
11/01/16 11:27 AM
 COVER STORY

A voracious coral
A TYPE OF CORAL Nemalecium lighti
RECORDED BY: Pooja Nagale and
Deepak Apte from Bombay Natural
History Society, Mumbai
LOCATION OF FINDING: Poshitra,
Gujarat

The coral is quite common in tropical

shallow waters. But this is for the first
time the species has been recorded in the
Indian waters. In fact, this is for the first
time scientists have recorded any
Nemalecium species from Indian waters.
They found N lighti in Poshitra, a
relatively pristine coral reef flat in the Gulf
of Kachchh. This live hard coral is present
in erect colonies, both branched and
unbranched. Its unique feature is its large
and elongated polyps, armed with
nematocysts, which help the coral feed on
a variety of small organisms. The species
is also known for its fast growth and high
production rate.

COURTESY: CLUBPLONGEEMASK.BLOGSPOT.IN

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 COVER STORY

Expeditions hold the key

to discoveries
Publication of new plant species with casual approach and inadequate
field experience results in nothing but noise in taxonomic literature
Documentation of plant diversity for the for the last seven years.
sustainable management of biodiversity The Indian flora is primarily concen-
is the need of the hour. And such docu- trated in four hot spotsthe Indo-
mentations are an integral part of taxo- Myanmar region (which covers
nomic studies. Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland,
During explorations, researchers Meghalaya, Tripura and Andaman
and biodiversity enthusiasts usually Islands); the Himalayas (covering
gather specimens of diverse plant species Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
from different areas. These collected Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Darjeeling in the
materials are then segregated as per northern part of West Bengal, Sikkim,
PA R A M J I T
taxonomic hierarchy and compared northern parts of Assam and Arunachal
SINGH
for morphological differences. The ones Pradesh); the Western Ghats (consisting
with novel characteristics are recognised Director, Botanical of Kerala, Karnataka, western parts of
as a discovery. Survey of India, Tamil Nadu, Goa, western parts of
Such findings are of great value and Kolkata Maharashtra and southern Gujarat);
are reported in scientific publications and The Sundaland (which includes the
with great enthusiasm. Authors who Nicobar Islands). These regions are iden-
contribute to such publications remain tified among the 34 global biodiversity
authorities to the species or infraspecific hot spots.
species (sub-species) published. About 25 per cent of Indian plants
Plant explorations result in report- are endemic to the country. J D Hooker
ing of new distributional records which (a British botanist and explorer of the
are usually additions to the region, state 19th century who was the first one to
or even the country under exploration. collect plants from the Himalayas) in
However, reporting of new species his seven-volume work on flora of British
requires great prudence. It requires S S DA S H India wrote about 14,300 species of
expertise in a particular group. And a Scientist, flowering plants. British India then com-
generalist may not be able to evaluate Botanical Survey of prised of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
novelty as perceptively as a specialist in Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Myanmar,
India, Kolkata
specific groups. Sri Lanka and Malayan Peninsula. If one
So, while reporting a novelty, it is considers the present boundary of India,
essential to ensure that the species has consistent as many as 4,381 taxa are endemic to the country. Many
variations which are visible in good populations. Since species once considered endemic to this region is now
the subject is vast, any failing on this would result in being discovered in other biogeographic regions.
great confusion and chaos, and make science an errat- Recent estimates show that a total of 18,159 species of
ic hypothesis. The Botanical Survey of India (bsi), a angiosperms, 77 species of gymnosperms,1,274 species
premier institute on plant taxonomy research in India, of pteridophytes, 14,936 species of fungi, 2,531 species
publishes the compilation of plants discovered in the of bryophytes and 2,434 species of lichens are found
previous year and releases it on the occasion of the in India.
World Environment day every year. This is the only ref- This could be just the tip of the iceberg. The knowl-
erence source on new species and new distributional edge on the flora is improving rapidly by floristic explo-
records of plants reported from across the country. bsi rations and documentations, which is resulting in
has been compiling information on plant discoveries many discoveries for the Indian flora.

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33 JAN 31 2016
33GAIL ad NG.indd 33 11/01/16 3:55 PM
 COVER STORY
A lizard from the old world
LEOPARD GECKO Eublepharis
satpuraensis
DISCOVERED BY: Zeeshan Mirza and
Rajesh Sanap from National Centre for
Biological Sciences, Bengaluru
LOCATION OF FINDING: Pachmarhi,
Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh;
Popatkhed, Amaravathi, Maharashtra
18-44Cover Story.indd 34
It is believed that the lineage that gave rise
to the genus Eublepharis, commonly called
leopard geckos, evolved in Asian forests
some 100 million years ago and likely
invaded India after the accretion of the
Indian plate to mainland Eurasia. This old
world lizard is by far one of the least studied
lizards in India, and so far only three
species have been identified. Scientists
found the new gecko species while studying
amphibians in the Satpura Hills. They
MIRZA AND SANAP
compared the collected specimens with
museum material and concluded that it
belongs to a new species. They named it E
satpuraensis after the region where it was
found. Since the species is nocturnal and
secretive in nature, very few people in the
locality were aware of it. The new species
of Eublepharis from India highlights the
need for dedicated herpetofaunal surveys
across the country and especially in the
Satpura Hills, known for rich biodiversity.
11/01/16 11:28 AM
 COVER STORYY

COURTESY: JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA

Purple surprise
PURPLE-SPOTTED SEA SLUG
Chromodoris aspersa
Recorded by: Deepak Apte and A Vishal
Bhave from Bombay Natural History
Society, Mumbai
LOCATION OF FINDING: Kavaratti,
Lakshadweep

This white sea slug with deep violet spots

on its body can be easily spotted across
the Indo-Pacific region that comprises
the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean,
the western and central Pacific Ocean,
and seas connecting the two. But this is
for the first time scientists have spotted
it in the Indian waters. They spotted
it hiding under dead coral boulders in
the Lakshadweep archipelago during
low tides. Measuring 16-33 mm, all the
specimens were mid-sized, which are
rarely seen. The finding underscores the
need for more intensive surveys around the
archipelago.
MIRZA AND SANAP

Spotted, but not in the wild
THE HOUSE GECKO
Hemidactylus acanthopholis
DISCOVERED BY: Zeeshan Mirza and
Rajesh Sanap from National Centre for
Biological Sciences, Bengaluru
LOCATION OF FINDING: Thirunelveli,
Tamil Nadu
This large rock-dwelling species is
mostly found on large boulders, caves
and forts and is said to be spread across
the Western Ghats. But herpetologists
Mirza and Sanap did not discover the
species in the fields, but in a collection at
the National History Museum in
London. They compared it with other
known species at that museum as well as
at the California Academy of Sciences in
San Francisco; the Bombay Natural
History Society in Mumbai; and zsi,
Kolkata; and found that the species is
indeed distinct. They named it
Hemidactylus acanthopholis due to the
large warty outgrowths on its back. It
grows up to a length of 20-23 cm and
sports a brown shade with dark
undulating bands on its back.

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 COVER STORY
SATHYABHAMA DAS BIJU
Little dancing fighter
DANCING FROG Micrixalus kurichiyari
Discovered by: Sathyabhama Das Biju from University of Delhi
LOCATION OF FINDING: Kurichiyarmala, Wayanad district, Kerala
It belongs to a genus, Micrixalus, that has
been hopping about since the time when
dinosaurs roamed on earth. Scientists spotted
an amphibian belonging to this ancient genus
following a decade-long search across the
Western Ghats. Its small sizemeasuring 13 to
35 mm long, M kurichiyari is no bigger than
a beeand the colour of its skin that acts as a
perfect camouflage makes it more difficult to
spot. Following the annual monsoon, when
rainforest streams reach the ideal level for
breeding, it is relatively easy to find these frogs.
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18-44Cover Story.indd 36
Males can be found calling from surface of
wet rocks, usually near falls and splash zones
of small, fast-flowing streams, with their
noticeable flashy white vocal sacs. During the
breeding season, both male and female species
are seen stretching their hind legs away from the
body and waving a fully extended webbed foot.
While this resembles a dancing pose, scientists
have observed that the frog uses the move to
mark its territory and kick any intruder. Female
dancing frogs also show similar behaviour when
it comes to laying eggs.
16-31 JANUARY 2016
11/01/16 11:28 AM

ABHIJEET BAYANI
Hopping all the way
AMBOLI LEAPING FROG
Indirana chiravasi
DISCOVERED BY: Anand D Padhye and
Nikhil Modak from Abasaheb Garware
College, and Neelesh Dahanukar from the
Indian Institute of Science Education and
Research, in Maharashtra
LOCATION OF FINDING: Amboli,
Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra
This new species was spotted while
scientists were studying the diversity and
COURTESY: JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA
16-31 JANUARY 2016
18-44Cover Story.indd 37
distribution of species under the genus
Indirana in the Western Ghats region of
Maharashtra. Called leaping frog, or
Indirana chiravasi, its unique features
include its longer head and single internal
vocal sac.
The species is often found in the
crevices of the laterite boulders. The skin
colour of male I chiravasi changes from
grey to brown and olive brown with
scattered yellow markings. This helps them
merge into their surrounding environ-
ment, which is usually wet rocks or
COVER STORY
boulders covered with mosses. Males are
mostly seen while calling from these mossy
rocks. Females, however, remain in groups
under logs in the forest or under roadside
stones. They lay eggs under the mosses on
lateritic wet rocks and boulders. Unlike
other amphibians, unhatched eggs show
the embryos with external gills and
hatchlings remain at the egg laying site. In
fact, embryos, hatchlings and tadpoles of
two different stages are observed in the
same habitat and tadpoles are seen feeding
on algal matter on wet boulders.
It is the 11th species of Indirana found
in the Western Ghats. Since these species
are highly threatened, scientists call for
urgent studies to understand their
distribution patterns. Additional
information on ecology and natural
history would help design conservation
measures to save the species.
Hiding in India
MARINE GASTROPOD MOLLUSK Elysia
rufescens
Reported by: Deepak Apte and
A Vishal Bhave from Bombay Natural
History Society, Mumbai
LOCATION OF FINDING: Kavaratti,
Lakshadweep
Though common in shallow exposed reef
areas of Myanmar, Guam, Indonesia,
Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii, South Africa,
the Philippines, Samoa and Japan, this
is for the first time scientists have spotted
the marine shell-less snail in western part
of the Indian Ocean. Ranging between
20 mm and 40 mm, its skin is olive green
in colour, profusely mottled with white
patches. Edge of its parade has red band
and egg case is white. Scientists found
the species under dead coral boulders
and shallow pools from where they had
collected 60 other species from the same
group. This shows that the region could be
home to many more species than thought.
www.downtoearth.org.in 37
11/01/16 11:35 AM
 COVER STORY

Standing out
WILD BANANA Musa argentii
DISCOVERED BY: Rajib Gogoi and
Souravjyoti Borah from Botanical Survey
of India, Arunachal Pradesh Regional
Centre, Itanagar
LOCATION OF FINDING: Lohit district,
Arunachal Pradesh

Wild bananas are native to the humid

tropical forests that extend from India
to the Pacific countries. Unlike other
crops, bananas are difficult to classify as
one cannot make a proper judgement
about them from herbarium specimens
without living material; preparing voucher
specimens is difficult owing to the large
size of the plants; and distinguishing
cultivars from the species is also difficult.
This is the reason, wild bananas have not
received sufficient attention by scientists
although northeastern India is the fruits
microcentre of evolution. Recently,
scientists spotted a different variety of
banana in Lohit district. Based on its
morphological features, they declared it a
new species and named it Musa argentii
in the honour of George Argent of Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who had
described banana family.

18-44Cover Story.indd 38 11/01/16 11:28 AM

 COVER STORY

Long pedicel means more fruits

WILD BANANA Musa nagalandiana
DISCOVERED BY: Santanu Dey from
Nagaland University, Kohima, and Rajib
Gogoi from BSI, Kolkata
LOCATION OF FINDING: Nagaland

Scientists spotted this species in tropical

semi-evergreen forest on the bank of
the river Doyang in Zunheboto district
of Nagaland. Its unique features are:
yellowish-orange pseudostem with
brown or black blotches; male bud that
lifts many bracts at a time; much longer
ovary in male flowers; and longer fruiting
pedicel. The species has been named after
Nagaland, from where scientists collected
it. Its discovery signifies the need for
more research on banana species in the
northeastern India, which is considered
the microcentre of evolution of banana.

Try for its orange pulp

WILD BANANA Musa indandamanesis
DISCOVERED BY: Lal Ji Singh from BSI,
Port Blair
LOCATION OF FINDING: Andaman and
Nicobar islands

Scientists discovered the species in a

remote tropical rainforest, Krishna Nalah
forest, in the Little Andaman island. They
describe it as a distinct global species with
unique green flowers and fruit bunch lux
(axis) thrice the size of a regular banana
species. Unlike the other banana species
that have conical flowers, the flowers of
M indandamanesis are cylindrical. The
fruit pulp is orange, edible and very sweet.
They named the species after joint spelling
of India and the Andamans.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY: BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

16-31 JANUARY 2016 www.downtoearth.org.in 39

18-44Cover Story.indd 39 11/01/16 11:28 AM

 COVER STORY

Forgotten flower
A TYPE OF ORCHID Eria gloensis
DISCOVERED BY: Paul Ormerod from
Australia and D K Agrawala from BSI,
Sikkim
LOCATION OF FINDING: Mishmi Hills,
Kamlang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

It was a sheer accident. Scientists discovered

this species of orchid (Orchidaceae)
among the material kept at the herbaria
of Oakes Ames Orchid Herbarium,
Harvard University, Cambridge, usa, while
preparing a synopsis of the Malesian taxa of
Cylindrolobus, a plant species of the family
Orchidaceae endemic to the Philippines.
The specimen was originally collected from
the Mishmi Hills by Frank Kingdon Ward
in 1949. Following critical observation, the
scientists found that the specimen was an
undescribed species of Cylindrolobus. Its
flowers are cream coloured and externally
pubescent.

Rare and endangered

AN ORNAMENTAL PLANT
Impatiens paramjitiana
DISCOVERED BY: Rajib Gogoi and
Souravjyoti Borah from BSI, Itanagar
LOCATION OF FINDING: Daporijo, Along,
West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh

Scientists came across this species with

deep purple flowers and shiny velvety
leaves arranged in floral shapes, during
an expedition to the Siang valley. They
realised that the species falls in the family
Impatiens but is yet to be described. They
named it Impatiens paramjitiana, giving
honour to Paramjit Singh, director of
bsi, for his contribution to Indian plant
taxonomy. The scientists could find only
50 plants along the road side and saw
that its habitat was disturbed heavily by
urbanisation and agriculture. They say the
species is critically endangered as per the
iucn Red List criteria.

40 DOWN TO EARTH

18-44Cover Story.indd 40 11/01/16 11:28 AM

 COVER STORY

How about a temple name

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
AN ORCHID Habenaria nicobarica
DISCOVERED BY: C Murugan, Joju P
Alappatt from Forest Training Institute,
Port Blair; S Prabhu from BSI, Port Blair;
and W Arisdason from BSI, Kolkata
LOCATION OF FINDING: Little Nicobar
Tribal Reserve, Pulopaha, South Nicobar,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a

repository of diverse species, including 25
endemic orchid species. The genus
Habenaria is estimated to have about
750 species that are distributed across the
world. Of these, 100 are recorded from
India and only one species, H andamanica,
from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This is the reason the species has been
named after its place of collection.
Scientists came across the orchid with
light brown flowers during an exploration
in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and
Little Nicobar Tribal Reserve.

www.downtoearth.org.in 41

18-44Cover Story.indd 41 11/01/16 2:46 PM

 COVER STORY

Gourd of confusion
A VARIETY OF GOURD
Herpetospermum operculatum
DISCOVERED BY: K Pradheep, A Pandey,
K C Bhatt, E R Nayar from the National
Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa
Campus, New Delhi
LOCATION OF FINDING: South District of
Sikkim, Phek district of Nagaland

Researchers came across this gourd variety

while on a survey tour to Sikkim and
Nagaland for germplasm collection of
cultivated cucumbers and their wild
relatives during 2011 and 2012. Though it
superficially resembled a cucumber, Luffa
mill, it had strikingly different flowers,
fruit and seed anatomy. Besides, the
climber had distinct male and female
characteristics. The scientists compared its
features with digital images in online
herbaria worldwide, and found that
similar plants from Myanmar and China
were kept under the name Biswarea
tonglensis and Herpetospermum
pedunculosum. Though the scientists have

COURTESY: BLUMEA
named it H operculatum, they are yet to
determine its vulnerability due to
confusion with two other species.

Lost in garden
INDIAN CYCAS Cycas sainathii
DISCOVERED BY: R C Srivastava from
BSI, Kolkata
LOCATION OF FINDING: Acharya Jagdish
Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden,
Shibpur, Howrah

This is incredulous. With dense foliage on

top, the plant is quite big in girth size and
height (3 m), and grows in a top botanical
garden. Yet, it remained unnoticed by
researchers. Botanist R C Srivastava
studied the specimen closely and realised
that it is a different species of Cycas. He
named it in honour of saint Sai Baba of
Shirdi. He says it was probably introduced
from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
long back but was never studied closely.
The discovery is important as Cycas
happen to be living fossils, existing since
the days of dinosaurs and have undergone
very little evolution.

42 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

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Wonder mushroom
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
18-44Cover Story.indd 43
Scientists spotted the fungus in
small groups among litter on forest
floor. Morphological features
showed that the fungi is part of a
small genus, Dermoloma, which
has only 24 species worldwide.
The scientists have named it after
the state where it was first
observed. While most species of
Dermoloma are found in
COVER STORY
temperate regions, D keralense is
the second known fungi species
found in the wet tropical climate of
Kerala. The other fungi,
D indicum, has been discovered
from the Peechi forest in Keralas
Thrissur district. Both the species
have distinct features from all
other previously reported species
of the genus.
COURTESY: PHYTOTAXA
12/01/16 5:56 PM
 COVER STORY

Eastern Himalayas, the

treasure trove
In the past decade, scientists have discovered over 560 new species
from the region where climate and vegetation vary at every step

T
HE EASTERN Himalayas is a from published papers and reports to
region with unparalleled biodi- show that we are sitting on a rich treas-
versity and stunning landscapes. ure trove of fascinating species waiting to
This is because the region is be discovered.
located at an altitude that ranges from a Its report, Hidden Himalayas:
few hundred metres to over 8,000 metres, Asias WonderlandNew species dis-
with Mount Kangchenjunga as its high- coveries in the Eastern Himalayas,
est peak. This great altitudinal variation Volume II 2009-2014, includes dis-
has contributed to climatic diversity and coveries of 133 plants, 39 invertebrates,
vast range in vegetation across the region, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one reptile, one
D I PA N K A R
which extends from Darjeeling district of bird and one mammal. Some of the fasci-
GHOSE
West Bengal, Sikkim, parts of Assam and nating species include sneezing or snub-
Arunachal Pradesh to central and eastern Director, Species nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri),
Nepal and Bhutan. and Landscapes a shy bird species named spotted
Vegetation types include dry-decid- Programme, wren-babbler (Elachura formosa),
uous forests in the foothills to moist-de- WWF-India Himalayan pitviper (Protobothrops
ciduous, montane sub-tropical and tem- himalayansus), miniature dracula fish
perate in the middle altitude areas to (Danionella dracula), dwarf snake head
sub-alpine and alpine in the high Himalayas. It is a place fish (Channa andrao), and the strikingly blue-eyed frog
where people of different cultural and spiritual heritage (Leptobrachium bompu). Plants discovered include
coexist with a fascinating assemblage of flora and fau- Impatiens lohitensis and a new wild species of banana,
na. For millennia, people have relied on the regions en- Musa markkui.
vironmental services and natural resources. Millions of The report also highlights an important issue:
people in this region and in downstream areas directly how to protect the regions natural heritage from in-
or indirectly depend on the water that flows down from creasing developmental activities in the Eastern
the eastern Himalayas. Himalayan region.
Small wonder that scientists are still discovering There is no doubt that the Eastern Himalayan re-
new species from the region. Between 2004 and 2009, gion is at a crossroads. As we continue to unearth the
researchers discovered 350 new species from the re- treasures of the Himalayas, scientific research shows
gion. These include two new species of mammals that the region is under grave threat from climate
Arunachal macaque (Macaca munzala) and Burmese change and increasing developmental activities. Its
leaf deer (Muntiacus putaoensis), the worlds smallest time we focussed on conservation efforts together as
deer species. Discovery of two mammal species implies a team beyond the borders of our countries to collab-
the rich natural heritage of the region, particularly at a orate and exchange valuable information leading to-
time when cutting-edge science brings latest informa- wards conservation of natural resources in this magnif-
tion from every corner of the world onto a smartphone icent region.
screen, and there are very few places that have not been Its now up to the governments and policy makers
explored by scientists. to decide whether they should follow the current path
The richness of its biological diversity was proved of development that does not take environmental im-
again between 2009 and 2014 when scientists discov- pacts into account, or take an alternative path towards
ered 211 news species from the region. Non-profit World greener, more sustainable and inclusive development
Wide Fund for Nature (wwf) collated information for the region.

44 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

18-44Cover Story.indd 44 11/01/16 11:28 AM

 SCIENCE
BYTES
DAMS

Effect on species
TWO STUDIES 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

PESTS

AMIT SHANKAR / CSE

Studying farmer's response
A C T I O N S O F individual farmers should
be analysed when modelling pest control
strategies. Farmers create a coordinated
response to a pest based on the perceived
threats and guidance from commercial

Nuclear trail
advisers. This coordinated response, though
unintentional, can affect entire ecological
systems. Researchers used concepts of game
Environmental contamination could theory to build a framework to understand
feedback mechanisms between actions of
increase antibiotic resistance humans and the dynamics of pest populations.
Understanding farmer decisions can help
LINDA LEE / UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA manage the system better. PLOS Computational
Biology, December 31

E
NVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS may be to blame for
the rise in antibiotic resistance in bacteria. H E A LT H
Researchers tested water samples in streams
located in the US Department of Energy's Savannah
Effective drug delivery
River Site. The 802.8 square kilometre site near Aiken, R E S E A R C H E R S S AY formulating drugs
as liquid salts may provide an efficient strategy
south Carolina, east of the Savannah River, was closed
for the delivery of topical drug that cause skin
to the public in the early 1950s to produce material
toxicity. Skin toxicity is a major challenge in
used in nuclear weapons. This production led to a legacy of new topical drugs formulations. Many drugs
waste or contamination and impacted some of the must be dissolved in organic solvents which
streams in the industrial areas. The results revealed high are toxic to the skin. Formulating drugs as
levels of antibiotic resistance in eight of the 11 water liquid salt mitigates both sources of toxicity
samples. More than 95 per cent of the bacteria samples and eliminates the necessity of organic
from these streams were resistant to 10 or more of the solvents. Technology, December
23 antibiotics. Environmental Microbiology, November 3

16-31 JANUARY 2016 www.downtoearth.org.in 45

45S&T Bytes.indd 45 07/01/16 12:07 PM

 HEALTH
Umbilical
discord
Lack of enforcing protocols
is pushing up cesarean
deliveries in India
MANUPRIYA
THINKSTOCK PHOTOS
46 DOWN TO EARTH
46-47Health.indd 46
I
F YOU'VE had a chance to visit a maternity clinic or the family of
a newborn, then you must have heard about the cesarean-sec-
tion (C-section) v normal delivery debate. Elderly women often
lament how these days one always sees cesarean deliveries, some-
times 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 so-
cial 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.
Beyond the threshold
There is no denying the utility of C-section as an intervention in
containing maternal mortality and neonatal mortality. Now a new
study published in The Journal of American Medical Association re-
C-sections are more expensiveusually
costing 1.5 to two times more than a
normal delivery
16-31 JANUARY 2016
06/01/16 3:08 PM
 ports that C-section rates can go as high as
19 per cent in a population. Rates higher
than 19 per cent were not found to be asso-
ciated with maternal or neonatal mortality
(see interview). Prakash Trivedi, president,
Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecological
Societies of India, says increased rates are
justified, as the goal is not just to deliver a
baby, but to deliver a healthy baby. He adds
rising numbers of late pregnancies, in vitro
fertilisation (ivf), conception after a previ-
ous C-section surgery, and women with fi-
broids have increased rates.
Diminishing patience among preg-
nant women to bear labour pain is also to be
blamed. Sometimes women themselves opt
for a C-section delivery for superstitious rea-
sonslike wanting to birth the baby on an
auspicious date. Another reason is the trend
in large corporate hospitals, where consult-
ant doctors are not available all the time. So
deliveries are planned in advance to suit the
availability of doctors and patients leading
to higher rates.
In 2015, the department of obstetrics
& gynecology, L G Hospital, Ahmedabad,
analysed 500 C-section cases to find out
why doctors chose C-section. They found
the most common reasons were previ-
ous cesarean operation, followed by fetal
distress and mal-presentations. But it is a
myth that once a woman has delivered via
C-section, all subsequent births must be
through C-section. A woman who has had a
C-section in her first delivery has the option
of a repeat C-section or vbac (vaginal birth
after C-section) in her second pregnancy.
A taskforce set up by the Indian Council
of Medical Research published a study in
the International Journal of Reproduction,
Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology
in 2014 which found: Even though the suc-
cessful vbac is considered safer than routine
repeat cesarean section, the enthusiasm for
vbac is found to be decreasing now due to
several reasons. It adds, Repeat caesar-
ean section and planned vaginal birth after
caesarean section are both associated with
benefits and harms and correct manage-
ment represents one of the most significant
and challenging issues in obstetric practice.
On the one hand, many unnecessary ce-
sareans are happening, and on the other, not
16-31 JANUARY 2016
46-47Health.indd 47
enough necessary cesareans are happen-
ing, says Vandana Prasad, founding secre-
tary, 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 (mater-
nity) and set up systems and processes for
monitoring and surveillance so that cesare-
ans happen where they are needed and not
where they are not needed, she adds.
Driven by supply, not demand
So why do doctors choose this option?
C-sections are more expensiveusual-
ly costing 1.5 to two times more than a
normal delivery. High rates in India are
driven by doctors and lack of protocols.
Reimbursements, private insurance and in-
creasing wealth mean that there is a tenden-
cy to rely on C-sections more in private hos-
pitals, says Leone. There is also a tendency
to believe that more intervention is better.
Leone studied cesarean rates in six Indian
statesPunjab, Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi
and found that cesarean delivery in India
is driven more by supply than by demand.
Her results are corroborated by the sbisr
study, which says prevalent practices devi-
ate substantially from a wide range of na-
tional and international evidence-based
guidelines. This includes private institu-
tions where the patient or insurance provid-
er pays for care and where infrastructure re-
sources may be less limiting.
The sbisr study highlights the overuse
of investigations such as ultrasounds and
interventions such as C-section, induction,
and episiotomy, especially in private facil-
ities, and a deficiency of patient-centered
practices such as counseling and labour sup-
port, particularly in public hospitals.
Similar forces pushed C-section rates to
more than 80 per cent in the private sector
in Brazil. This compelled the Brazilian gov-
ernment to introduce new cesarean birth
rules in July 2015 to bring down the astro-
nomically high rates.
The Indian Government would do
well to take a cue and enforce evidence-
based guidelines stringently. When a doc-
tor chooses to do a C-section, he/she should
be able to justify the decision.
`There is no clarity
on how to optimise
C-section rates'
A
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

T
SANGEETA KHANNA
HE POTTER'S wheel evokes a sense of
mystic bewildermentthe way tho-
se deft hands shape delicate smooth
wet earth over the spinning wheel,
and how the dried earthen pots are then
fired at high temperatures to become tough.
Some pots store water and some overflow
with billowing froth of lentils cooked over
slow fire, while other decorative pots are
used to make yogurt or filled with syrupy ro-
sogollas. A potter from Azamgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, recently explained how potters
have seasons for the kind of pots they
make. During the wedding season, they
make kalash and various shapes of handis
and sakoras (shallow bowls) that are used
for rituals. They make garden pots and dec-
orative pottery thoroughout the year. Potters
have now started innovating with finer fin-
ish, smooth glaze and decorative elements.

Regional versions
Earthenware have numerous regional inter-
pretations. 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

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48-49Food.indd 48 06/01/16 3:08 PM

 are looking for alternative livelihood
options, others are making enough money
to keep going. Take for instance the
Manipuri potters, who make the traditional
longpi pottery. This beautiful black pottery
is made with a mix of a black stone powder
and clay. The pots are then shaped and fired
the same way as the terracotta pots. Longpi
pottery is interesting as potters have inno-
vated with new shapes and sizes making
baking trays, beautiful kettles, tea cups and
beer mugs, bowls and plates, salad bowls
and serving platters. They also decorate the
edges or handles using cane weaving. The
educated Manipuri potters have made a
mark and Longpi pottery is now available on
some e-commerce websites.
Another interesting place to find ex-
quisite pottery is Gundiyali, a village in
Kutch region, Gujarat. The potters here have
been making the same designs of pots and
pans since 5,000 years, which apparently
emerged from the excavations of Harappa
and Mohenjo-daro. Interestingly, the
potters not only use the spinning wheel to
make perfectly shaped pots, but they also use
a technique called Ghadayi, where they
gently beat the half-made matka (ghada or
round pot for water storage) from the
outside using a flat wooden disc with a
handle. The potters are so adept that they
can create perfect round matkas using this
technique with bare hands.
Some potters from Kutch have evolved
a method to make pots and pans suited for
modern kitchens. Their craft is available on
a website (www.mitticool.in) which sells
various types of kitchen and dining utensils
made of terracotta. Some unorganised
potters also make beautiful water bottles
with lid, water jugs, insulated casseroles and
dinner sets too. Even a tawa (griddle) with a
handle and a metal base has started making
waves among those who love using terra-
cotta pots. Kutch potters are also known for
their beautiful intricate paintings on the
pots, much like the Kutch embroidery.
The sedimentary soil used for making
terracotta pots is a renewable resource and
the process of making pots doesnt burden
the environment with toxic chemicals and
pollutants. Whats more, they are mostly
similarly priced as mid-level ceramic or glass
16-31 JANUARY 2016
48-49Food.indd 49
tableware, sometimes cheaper too. The
lifespan of a terracotta tea cup or a handi can
be as good as a glass utensil. Our festivals
and religious rituals have helped survive the
profession of a potter. Potters across the
country make diyas (lamps) for Diwali,
kalash and matkas for wedding rituals.
I remember the Kuldevta pooja (praying
to the family deity) in our ancestral home
where it was mandatory to cook the prasad
in earthen pots over wood-fired chulhas.
The village kumhar (potter) would be
summoned during religious ceremonies to
make specific sizes and shapes of pots to
store water, milk and ghee and one kadhai in
which the prasad is deep fried in cow ghee.
The traditional art of the kumhar commu-
nity has survived due to the constant
demand of earthen pots throughout the
year. Kumhars are also in demand for
making idols of Gods and Goddesses for
worship, especially during Durga pooja and
Ganesh pooja. Interestingly, these idols are
immersed in the nearest waterbodies after
the festival is over. Imagine the fine sedi-
mentary soil that is collected from dried up
ponds. Hindus have a theory of being born
of panchtatva (the five elements around
which life evolves) and getting merged with
panchtatva after death, and these earthen
idols follow the same path. A potters work is
enchanting indeed.
Enhanced taste
Apart from their aesthetic beauty, earthen-
ware 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 well-
fired 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
1 kilo mixed greens of spinach,
mustard, bathua (Chenopodium) and
some beet leaves
500 ml water
60 g green garlic leaves or chives (or
use chopped garlic)
100 g sour curd
Salt to taste
Finely chopped ginger and green
chilies to taste
METHOD
Wash, clean and drain all leafy
greens and chop them roughly. Chop
the garlic greens finely. Add all the
greens inside the matka along with
500 ml water and cook with the lid on
for 10 minutes on high flame. Then
lower the heat and simmer for about
40 minutes. Whisk the yogurt and
add to the cooking saag. Now mash
the cooking saag using a wooden
mathani (churner). Cook for some
time more till the saag becomes
mushy, but not too smooth. Add
chopped ginger and green chilies.
Mix well and cover. Switch off the gas
stove and let the pot sit for another
10 minutes before serving. Serve
hot with miller rotis, garnishing with
freshly chopped onions and some
fresh white butter.
food being cooked would not carry the
flavours of the previous curry.
To clean earthen pots and pans, just
rinse them with water first and then use a
hard sponge with diluted liquid detergent
before rinsing them thoroughly with run-
ning water. Let them dry completely in
the sun before storing them. No need to sun
the pots if they are being used every day.
One can even dry the cleaned pots in the
oven. So when you plan to make some rustic
daal or saag next time, try to get an earthen
vessel and spend a couple of hours cooking
for the family.
The author is a food and
nutrition consultant
www.downtoearth.org.in 49
06/01/16 3:08 PM
 COLUMN

H E D G E H O G TA L E S RAKESH KALSHIAN

Unbuttoning the gender straitjacket

Attempts at subverting the delusions of gender should begin
with a progressive fashioning of young minds

E
VER SINCE homo became sapient, the human lus of genesfor example, the fact that women are good
mind (predominantly men, actually) has con- in the kitchen and men in the battlefield is a result of eons
jured up various notions of what it means to be a of natural selection. In recent decades, neuroscientists
man or a woman. Barring rare exceptions, most have added another layer to this gender dichotomythey
view them as distinct as chalk and cheesebasically, argue that gender is not just about what lies between the
umpteen variations on men are from Mars, women are thighs, but also and especially about what lies between
from Venus theme. the ears. Sciences current obsession with male and fe-
Science, especially brain research, too has bolstered male brains is yet another play on the timeworn leitmotif.
this gender stereotype by asserting that male and female This straitjacketed view of gender was defied by many
brains are hardwired to perform different skills men feminist scholars and philosophers, who understood gen-
think logically while women intuitively, for instance. der not as stemming from within but rather as something
However, a recent Tel Aviv University survey of over 1,400 constructed from without, a view expressed famous-
brain scans of both sexes found that while some elements ly as one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman in
are indeed peculiar to each, the dom- the French philosopher Simone de
inant type, contrary to received wis- Beauvoirs book The Second Sex. This
dom, is a mosaic of various features, is not to say there are no differences be-
both unique to either sex as well as com- tween male and female brains. The ob-
mon in both. While those who espouse servation that women are more prone
a rainbow position on sex and gender to depression than men or that men
might feel vindicated, it is doubtful if are more likely to suffer from schizo-
it would dethrone a prejudice that has phrenia may have as much if not more
been shaped over centuries and is deep- to do with social conditioning as with
ly entrenched in popular psyche. structural idiosyncrasies in the brain.
Majority of cultures and religious However, the trouble is that even
faiths view men and women as separate though studies often match sex dif-
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
archetypes distinguished by specific ference in the brain to gender stereo-
qualities. Anything in between is seen an aberration wor- types, anyone who confidently claims that men and wom-
thy of paternalism at best and bigotry at worst. Fluid im- en think, feel and act the way they do because of dissimilar
aginings such as the Chinese ying-yang, or the ardhanar- neural architecture is guilty of poetic licence.
ishwara of ancient Hindus, which view the two genders This is because our brains and minds are dunked
as complimentary and inseparable, remain philosophi- deep in a thick social soup, which may often edit the neu-
cal dinosaurs. Ideas about sex and gender remained more ral blueprint. Likewise, there are aspects of our behav-
or less binary in the west until the advent of the feminist iour that are not always amenable to a constructivist ex-
movement in the 19th century. But even feminists, even planation. Nevertheless, the implication of the present
as they fought to claim their legitimate rights, ended up study that our gendered brains are more like a mosa-
sharpening the fault lines further. Sigmund Freud and ic than a chessboard should be welcomed. However, we
Carl Jung added new embellishments to the dogma of cant deny that the gender stereotype is deeply ingrained
gender with their imaginative, but misplaced excursions in our psychethe struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
into the male and female mind. transgender groups against social and legal discrimina-
Science too stamped its imprimatur on the male- tion is a case in point. Any attempt at subverting the de-
female dichotomy. Sociobiologists like E O Wilson ar- lusions of gender should begin with a progressive fash-
gued that social behavior is more an outcome of the calcu- ioning of young minds.

50 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

50Hedgehog Tales.indd 50 06/01/16 3:08 PM

 Body Burden 2015
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51DTE Health book ad.indd 51 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

THE TURN OF THE TORTOISE

T N Ninan
Penguin Books | 354 pages | ` 699
SORIT / CSE

52-54Book.indd 52 06/01/16 3:09 PM

 S
TRANGELY, MANY Indian cities claim
to supply more than what is pres-
cribed, but little seems to reach
the consumer. Official agencies
assume waste levels of 15-20 per cent, while
some reports talk of 40-50 per cent waste
(this is different from unbilled water supply,
which is water that at least gets used). In the
case of Nagpur, waste is reported to be 70
per cent. Estimating the gap between
claimed supply and demand actually met is
therefore difficult; the only reliable indi-
cator would be the hours of daily supply but
hardly any Indian city gets more than six
hours of supply in a day. The Delhi Jal
(Water) Board, for instance, claims on its
website to supply more than 50 gallons (that
is, 225 litres) per head per day, and Mumbai
claims about the same (4 million kilolitres
per day for 18 million residents, that is about
220 lpcd). Yet both cities restrict civic water
supply to a couple of hours in the day, and
residents live with a sense of irregular
supply. In Delhi, the water board says
demand is 30 per cent more than supply (or
nearly 300 litres per head per day).
Part of the problem is the grotesquely
unequal use of water. Delhis official supply
norm is 225 lpcd in planned colonies, 115
lpcd for other areas (like low income, high
density resettlement colonies), and just 50
lpcd for slums. Actual supply ranges from
several thousand litres a day for ministerial
bunglows in Lutyenss Delhi (the protected
colonial heart of the city) to 50 litres or less
per day in the citys slums. At some stage, the
well-heeled will have to start using water
with a greater sense of civic consciousness.
The problem, it would seem, is not physical
scarcity so much as what is called economic
scarcity caused by mismanagement. In-
deed, the irony is that the Delhi Jal Board,
which is also responsible for sewage
disposal, is a profitable enterprise. It used to
incur massive losses (1,567 crore in 2007-
08) but has been comfortably profi-table
since 2010-11, after water tariffs were
doubled in 2009 (the increase was less at
lower consumption slabs, more at higher
slabs) and an unusually high sewage charge
at 60 per cent of the new water tariff was
slapped on. While making profits, the board
has remained unable to improve the citys
water supply or sewage treatment. A quarter
16-31 JANUARY 2016
52-54Book.indd 53
of the city households dont have piped
water, and barely half the citys sewage is
treated, while only 40 per cent of the water
connections are billed, according to a
damning report by the Comptroller and Au-
ditor General in 2013.
An experiment in the Nangloi area of
south-west Delhi might provide some
answers. The French company Veolia, in
partnership with an Indian firm, has
contracted with the Jal Board to supply
24X7 potable piped water round the year,
and estimates that is it possible to do so with
the existing level of total water supply,
through better engineering and mana-
gement practices. Veolia has similarly cont-
racted to fix all of Nagpurs water supply,
after successfully running pilot projects in
some of the smaller towns of Karnataka. A
site visit showed the companys officials busy
replacing every existing water connection in
If India is to tackle its
development and growth
objectives without
creating an environmental
disaster, it has to tailor its
development strategy
such that nature's assets
are protected and
harvested sensibly
Nanglori (an area with a million-strong
population) plus doubling the number of
connections, so as to cover every household.
If indeed Nangloi and Nagpur get what
they have been promised, it would show city
water supply can be managedincluding
how to maintain constant pressure in the
water pipes so that extraneous matter does
not enter the system and contaminate
the water before it reaches the tap. It is
because of the failure to maintain constant
pressure that E Coli (pointing to the
presence of faecal matter) is today traceable
in virtually every urban water supply system
in the country.
Even so, the alarming development is
that Indias cities, many of which were once
able to more or less manage with nearby
sources of water, are reaching out farther
and farther to draw water for their popu-
lation, sometimes going out hundreds of
kilometers. Delhi, which has the Yamuna
flowing through it, now gets some of its
water from the Tehri dam on the Ganga in
Uttarakhand, over 300 km away. Delhi also
proposes to augment supply by getting a
dam built near the Renuka Lake in
Himachal Pradesh, some 325 km distant. If
the price of water were such that consum-
ption levels dropped, especially for the
better-off, and if the supply system were
better managed, the city would not have to
reach out 300 km for its water.
Solutions exist...
Punjab and Haryana need to change their
choice of crops and reduce growing water-
hungry 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 econo-
mizing 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 har-
vesting is gaining momentum and is man-
datory 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 water-
saving 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 in-
tractable (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
 greater density of population (high-rise,
with public spaces), facilitate energy-
efficient mass transport and prevent the
urban sprawl that comes with private moto-
rized transport. Energy-efficient lighting
and household gadgets can save signi-
ficantly on the demand for electricity
electricity
54 DOWN TO EARTH
52-54Book.indd 54
perhaps 7-10 per cent of total demand.
Retrofitting Rashtrapati Bhavan, for in-
stance, has reduced energy consumption by
23 per cent. Vehicle emission norms should
be further tightened and hybrid vehicles
encouraged. Energy-efficiency ratings
should be mandatorily displayed
for all electrical gadgets, as has
been done for refrigerators and
air conditioners.
Mining regulations should
make it obligatory on mining
companies to return the land to
its original condition within a
specified time frameas has
become standard practice in
many countries. Industry
should learn to locate
projects on smaller parcels of
landthe gmr group set up a
power plant in Singapore on a
fraction of the land that it got for a
similar project in Andhra Pradesh.
Even software service companies like
Infosys have got used to setting up
sprawling campus-style offices that are
far too land-hungry. Environmental
regulations on effluent treatment, and
more broadly on environment impact,
have to be taken more seriously.
None of this is rocket
science, but action to
change a manifestly un-
sustainable situation is
limited and inadequate.
Indias environmental
challenges range across
many other fronts. Whe-
ther it is air, water, waste
management, forest co-
ver or resource misuse, the
challenge is the same: eco-
nomic activity has to grow but
the management of its conse-
quences has to improve. This
The alarming development
is that India's cities, many
of which were once able to
more or less manage with
nearby sources of water, are
reaching out farther and
farther to draw water
underlines once more that the focus of
government activity should be proper
regulation and monitoring, and the
strengthening of the public institutions (like
the undermanned state water pollution
control boards) that are charged with
delivering clean water and air.
The Modi government signaled new
ambition when it upped dramatically the
target for solar energy capacity. The plan
had been to take solar capacity from 3,000
MW in 2012 to 20,000 MW by 2022
which, given the planned sixfold increase,
was already considered ambitious. Seeking
a change of scale, which is a feature of his
approach to his work, Modi has upped the
target to 100,000 MW, while simul-
taneously raising the target for wind-
generating capacity to 60,000 MW (the
countrys total generating capacity from all
sources is currently 276,000 MW). Actual
power generation using the sun and wind
will be less than these numbers suggest
because of lower capacity utilization than in
the case of coal-fired thermal stations. It is
not certain that the numbers will be
achieved. What is encouraging though is
that the cost of solar power has been coming
down steadily as the efficiency of solar
panels has improved.
The price of solar power can become
competitive, especially when compared to
the power tariffs paid by industrial and
commercial users in most parts of the
country. Even if the eventual capacity
increase falls short of an outsize target, it
would be a significant step forward in
adopting low-carbon growth strategies.
If India is to tackle its development and
growth objectives without creating an
environmental disaster (poisonous air,
water scarcity and a breakdown of natural
habitats), it has to tailor its development
strategy such that natures assets are
protected and harvested sensibly. From the
viewpoint of global climate change nego-
tiations too, a low carbon growth strategy is
essential. And ambitious clean energy pro-
gramme would obviously make a big differ-
ence. But that is only a small part of what
needs to be done. Anyone who pretends that
environmental concerns can be pushed into
the background while economic growth is
made the primary focus is asking for trouble,
especially for the poor.
16-31 JANUARY 2016
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
Gifts of the non-patenters
Inventors like Tim Berners-Lee didn't apply for patents on
their innovations, leaving enduring benefits for all of us
E
VERY TIME I click on a website, and I do that doz-
ens of times a day, I send a silent thank you to Sir
Tim Berners-Lee. He was the scientist who cre-
ated the World Wide Web and changed the world
in a fundamental way. The way we operate, the way we
communicate and the way we think because the web
helps us to access so much more information than ever
before in history.
Dont confuse the Internet with the web. The
Internet predates the web but in 1991 Sir Tim created
the World Wide Web which transformed what was
mostly a system used by a few experts into something
that became mainstream in a huge way. But he did not
think it fit to patent his invention. As he explained, and
it is a much-quoted quote,
The original idea of the web
was that it should be a col-
laborative space where you
can communicate through
sharing information.
Remember, there were
quite a few hypertext systems
at the timeall of them pro-
prietary. Sir Tims web, on the
other hand, was an open
standard that helped it to be-
come the primary tool, mainly because no one had to pay
any royalties to implement the system. As the anti-pat-
entees argue, we would still be struggling with a limited
system if the core standards of the web had been patent-
ed. Instead, thanks to Sir Tims vision, we have a system
that is truly worldwide because it can be adopted univer-
sally. As a result, we have the gift of the largest public re-
pository of information and knowledge ever available to
humanity and a powerful communications tool.
Technology expert Mike Masnick says instead of the
open www, we would be limited to proprietary, walled
sites such as aol and Compuserve. And users would
eventually have run afoul of patents since not many
would be willing to pay the licensing fee. Masnick points
out concepts like real time info would not be present or
16-31 JANUARY 2016
55Patently Absurd.indd 55
would be in their infancy. Worse, the ultimate terror of
this generation, there would have been no Google.
Imagine that!
He also believesanother nightmare of the well-
heeled consumersthat there would be no iPhone.
Forestalling those who might beg to disagree, the tech
pro says there wouldnt be the same interest in develop-
ing smart phones without the web. All that might have
emerged would have been limited proprietary phones
with a fragmented market and not as much value. So
while the corporate world sings paeans to Microsoft
founder Bill Gates for his extraordinary philanthropy,
one can speculate how much more Sir Tim might have
made from his royalties and then, perhaps, become the
worlds biggest donator of
personal wealth. It is a fun-
damental difference in how
one views the world.
It is also interesting how
Microsoft, which initially
opposed patents, has be-
come more aggressive in de-
fending its patent right, both
within and outside the legal
system. In fact, an internal
TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE
memo of the company in the
1980s warned of the dangers of intellectual property
rights (iprs) on software. If people had understood how
patents would be granted when most of todays ideas
were invented, and had taken out patents, the industry
would be at a complete standstill today, it said. So thank
goodness for the likes of Sir Tim.
Oddly enough, the founding fathers of the US, which
preaches and practises aggressive iprs, were a different
breed. Benjamin Franklin and George Washington con-
sistently refused patents on their many inventions, be-
lieving instead these should be freely available for the
larger good of society. It was a tradition that would grad-
ually die out but it is thanks to many other like-minded
geniuses that we have FM radio, matches and lightning
rods without iprs. More on such worthies later.
www.downtoearth.org.in 55
06/01/16 3:09 PM
 HISTORY

Back of
Australia
The continent has an
unlikely superlative:
it has the world's largest
feral camel population.
RAJAT GHAI traces their
origin from British India
and Afghanistan

W
HEN THE British colonised Australia
in 1788, they restricted their settle-
ments to the coast. As white colonies
expanded into the interior, the au-
thorities and settlers faced newer challenges: moun-
tains, rivers, creeks and plains. The biggest challenge
was the desertabout 18 per cent of the land area.
Today, this area is known as outback, which can be tra-
versed by roadways, railways and air. But back in those ear-
ly years, it was among the most challenging areas to travel.
Initially, horses, donkeys and oxen were used, which re-
quired water and fodder. But these animals could not sur-
vive in the desert for long. The colonisers then started looking
for a pack animal that could do the job. Their solution: the
camel. As early as in 1830, retired British official, T J Maslen,
wrote: Were a sufficient number of camels imported, an explor-
ing party could, with very little risk, cross over the continent to
King George the Thirds Sound. In 1839, George Gawler, the gov-
ernor of south Australia, also proposed the introduction of camels.

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 introduc-
tion of camels.
In 1860, the first commercial shipment of 24 camels and three

56-57History.indd 56 06/01/16 3:10 PM

 cameleers (camel drivers) from British India
arrived in Melbourne to join the Burke and
Wills expedition. By the late 1860s, most
Australian states were importing camels
and cameleers. It is estimated that between
the 1860s and 1920s, 20,000 camels ar-
rived in Australia along with 3,000-4,000
cameleers. By the end of the cameleer era in
1920s, only 200-300 cameleers remained
in the country, while the rest went back to
their home country. The cameleers were
known as Afghan, though they hailed from
both Afghanistan and British India (todays
Pakistan). All were Muslim and were mid-
dle-aged or young men.
Torchbearers
These cameleers and their camels did yeo-
man work for Australia. They carried food
and supplies to the surveying and con-
struction 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 construc-
tion 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 car-
ried water to remote settlements.
A camel train was formed by camel-
eers, 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
Between the 1860s and 1920s,
20,000 camels arrived in
Australia and they
were an integral part of
scientific expeditions
56-57History.indd 57
camel in the chain. This was called a string.
A string could have as many as 70 camels.
Each animal would carry as much as 400-
600 kilogrammes of material, distributed
evenly on both sides of its back. The cam-
eleers charged the colonisers and local peo-
ple in tonne/per mile. The deliveries were
usually coordinatedcameleers would re-
turn loaded with material different from
what they had carried in the onward jour-
ney. The cameleers took part in almost eve-
ry expedition, and later, they were an inte-
gral part of scientific expeditions between
1860 and 1940.
Social life of cameleers
The cameleers also laid the foundation for
a new culture on the continent. The camel-
eers were mostly single men and brought no
women with them. They usually stayed for
a period of three years. Some would return
later, but the vast majority did not.
Though admired for their skills, the
cameleers were most often the target of
white Australian racism. They usually lived
on the fringes of towns in their own neigh-
bourhoods. In fact, most Australian towns
in this period had three demarcated areas:
for whites, Aborigines and for the cameleers,
which was often called a Ghantown.
They encountered vicious hostility
from white bullock cart drivers who had
previously been the backbone of supply
chains in Australia. Each Ghantown had
a mosque, built with nothing but mud and
tin, around which community life grew.
Many cameleers entered into unions, most-
ly with Aboriginal women and sometimes
with whites. The children of such unions
were raised mostly Muslim, but as time
passed, they were absorbed in mainstream
Christian Anglo-Celtic culture. Some cam-
eleers went on to become entrepreneurs,
while others branched out into other pro-
fessions, including herbalists, miners as well
as hawkers.
End of an era
By the 1920s, automobiles heralded the
end of the cameleer era. But there were oth-
er reasons too for their disappearance. After
the Commonwealth of Australia came in
place in 1901, negative sentiments among
white Australians towards coloured rac-
es 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 now-
infamous 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, ne-
glected and ignored. Rather than kill-
ing 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 Soviet-
Afghan 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 con-
tribution in building their nation.
THINKSTOCK PHOTOS
07/01/16 11:28 AM
 LAST WORD

CIVIL LINES R I C H A R D M A H A PAT R A

When people participate in a

government initiative
Delhi's fight against air pollution is an example
of how citizens' participation can be solicited

O
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 pol- At 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 peo-
pollution 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 avoid-
tal lessons in governance. And they are not relevant to ing a long queue at the railway reservation counter by
just an urban set-up. The message from paying a bribe to the tout. Pollution is
Delhis experiment is applicable to every an issue of inconvenience of very seri-
development programme or policy for ous proportions: our own children suf-
successful implementation. What are fering from respiratory problems, nor-
those lessons? mal lives being crippled due to bad air.
Delhis odd-even system seems out- Another successful campaign, polio
standing not for the rigour of the gov- vaccination, also enjoyed similar par-
ernments implementation plan but ticipation due to the threat to our well-
for the overwhelming support from the being. Probably, this is the reason peo-
public. 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 gov- In situations where people have
ernments scheme. Personally, I started the incentive to participate, success
enjoying the car-free alternate day. At depends on the governments back-up
the same time, I felt happy for my con- TARIQUE AZIZ / CSE plans. In Delhi, the government em-
tribution to clean Delhis air. barked on a campaign to make people
Why people participated in this system is the big les- aware, hired extra buses to strengthen public transport
son for anybody involved in governance. and Kejriwal and his ministers went out seeking public
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.
cess in February, he should count the success of the odd- Now the difficult question: why dont people partic-
even system as his second-biggest win. And also, the big- ipate in other similar programmes having direct bene-
gest 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 avail-
people 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 po- Policy makers have to apply the Delhi lesson more re-
litical 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 encourag-
sustain without much public participation? At the same es people to participate.

58 DOWN TO EARTH 16-31 JANUARY 2016

58Last Word.indd 58 07/01/16 12:01 PM

 SUSTAINABLE URBAN
Course on
WATER MANAGEMENT
RAINWATER HARVESTING AND
DECENTRALISED WASTEWATER TREATMENT
FEBRUARY 2326, 2016
The increase in urbanisation has led to increase in
the fresh water demand along with wastewater
generation. The current water crisis is attributed to
mismanagement of water resources and emphasis
on the energy as well as resource intensive
centralized urban water management. Need is, for
the practitioners and user communities, to
implement sustainable and affordable
decentralised water management practices. This
short term four day course will focus on
designing rainwater harvesting (RWH) and
decentralised wastewater treatment systems
(DWWT) including local reuse. Registration to this
popular course is on first come first basis.

PROGRAMME DESIGN
The two training programmes will include interactive
sessions, presentation on case studies and visit to
successfully implemented RWH and DWWT systems in CSE
campus. The participants will get the opportunity to plan
and design sustainable urban water management systems
as part of Do it youself group exercises.
Urban Rainwater Harvesting
Two day programme will focus on understanding the
potential of water augmentation at building and/or
neighbourhood scale. The training will impart skills on
planning and designing both recharge and storage
structures, techno-economic feasibility, operation and
maintenance etc.
Decentralised Wastewater Treatment
Two day programme will focus on understanding potential
of sustainable and affordable DWWT systems for local
reuse. The training will provide hands on experience in
planning, designing, techno-economic feasibility,
operation and maintenance of DWWTs etc.
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.

WHO CAN APPLY? Send your query by mail or fax to:

Practitioners (engineers / architects / planners /
representatives of non-governmental organisation and
government officials), academicians, consultants,
students, researchers.
Course Coordinator, SUWM, Water Management Unit
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi110062
Ph: 91-11-40616000, Ext: 244/257 Fax: 91-11-29955879
Email: chhavi@cseindia.org / shivali@cseindia.org

Full and part fellowships available for candidates from African and South Asian countries
For more information: http://www.cseindia.org

jan31, 2016 59
 R.N.I. NO. 53588/92 POSTAL REGN. NO. DL(S)-17/3109/2015-2017
ISSN 0971-8079. Licensed to Post without Pre-payment U(SE)-44/2015-2017 at Lodhi Road HO,
New Delhi-110003. Published on 14-15 every month. POSTED ON: 16-17 of the same fortnight.
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
Training programme on
CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION
C 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
Centre for Science and Environment
38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062
Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 251); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879
Mobile: +91 9910532252, +91 9891921959, +91 919899676027 Website: www.cseindia.org
Jan31,16 BC