Environment / Assam

Jorhat, March 5: Concerned over the drastic reduction in bird population over the past few months, the state forest department will soon carry out a survey on the avian population. The department has sought help from NGOs to carry out the census on birds. Honorary wildlife warden of Assam Santa Sharma said there had been a drastic decrease in the number of birds during the past few months.

This is in sharp contrast to the increase registered in the last couple of years in the state, she added. ?The main factor responsible for the decrease in bird population is poaching,? she said, adding that...

New Delhi, March 3: There is finally hope for Majuli. The Jorhat-based Rain Forest Research Institute has decided to implement an anti-erosion project, based on unconventional methods, to stop the riverine island from being gobbled up by the Brahmaputra.

The scheme, jointly sponsored by the National Mission for Bamboo Applications and the Jorhat Zilla Parishad, envisages planting of different species of bamboo and grass in the affected zones of the island, as they are known to have properties that help check erosion.

The project not only promises to be effective, but is also likely to open up...

Kokrajhar, March 1: Nature conservation as the subject of a small regional film is considered a poor commercial bet. But it did not stop the fledgling Kokborok film industry?s hottest director from choosing his theme.

Hiralal Debbarma, who has such successful films as Aichkni Bwkhwrui (2002) and Serek (2003) under his belt, chose to deal with environment preservation in his latest movie, Suari (The Earth Defender). The film, which was released recently, tells the tale of three city-bred students who venture into the forest and return metamorphosed into green activists.

The film?s title...

New Delhi, Feb. 19: Assam forest minister Pradyut Bordoloi was today conferred the prestigious Venu Menon National Animal Award for Leadership in Conservation.

The award for the current year, which carries a citation and a statuette, was given away by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which has also declared the minister the ?animal welfare politician of the year.? Bordoloi is the first politician in the country to be given the award.

?This is a recognition that will induce me to work harder for conservation. Whether I?m forest minister or not is immaterial. My efforts to...

AZARA, Feb 15? Brick industries located at different parts of south Kamrup area have been creating environmental pollution during the winter season every year. It may be noted here that about 50 brick industries are located at Dharapur, Khanamukh, Azara, Garal, Palasbari, Nahira etc in south Kamrup.

The pollution level of the brick kilns is increasing so much so that it has affected most of the agricultural lands in entire south Kamrup. Over 20,000 acres of prime agricultural lands are being annually lost to accommodate these industries. Unfortunately, the black smoke emanating from a jet...

CHAPAR, Feb 7 ? The river Manas is creating havoc in North Salmara subdivision of Bongaigaon district for the last few years. It has eroded villages, educational and religious institutions, cultivating land and fisheries in Mererchar, Dubachuri, Sikatari and Madhufal areas.

The river which flows through a densely populated area here, has been changing its meandering course every year, and in the process swallowing up hundreds of bighas of land every year. In Dubachuri, it has eroded the villages, the paddy and horticultural fields fisheries out of which the masses earn their daily bread...

New Delhi, Feb. 5: The ministry of water resources, which is looking for a long-term solution to erosion at Majuli, has asked the Brahmaputra Board to conduct model studies. The ministry has also decided to ask the Assam government for clarification on the proposal submitted by the latter to protect the Hatimura dyke in Nagaon.

Sources in the ministry said the Brahmaputra Board had submitted a project report on erosion three months ago, which was examined by the Central Water Commission.

?The model studies advised by the ministry are based on this project report. The idea is to ensure that the...

Guijan (Dibrugarh), Feb. 3: Not long ago, Joinal Abedin roamed the dense forests of the Dibru-Saikhowa reserve, rifle in hand, to kill wildlife. The 39-year-old still roams the forest, but to protect the very animals he once stalked.

In a way, his story resembles that of the legendary forest brigand Ratnakar, who used to maim and kill people before metamorphosing into Valmiki and writing the Ramayan.

One incident changed Joinal?s life forever. A few years ago, he was virtually coerced by a ?high-ranked man in uniform? to escort him on a hunting trip to the Dibru-Saikhowa reserve, which is...

Jorhat, Jan. 29: The ethos of conservation and the commercial considerations of tourism will find a meeting ground during the second edition of the Assam Elephant Festival, which gets under way at Kaziranga National Park tomorrow.

The issue that is expected to dominate the seminars organised as part of the festival is the man-elephant conflict in the vicinity of wildlife habitats. UK-based elephant conservationist Mark Chan, whose surname might attract more attention than his pioneering work, has been invited to the three-day festival as a state guest. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi will...

Shillong, Jan. 28: Environment activists and several wildlife organisations have demanded a proper investigation into the death of four elephants near Belguri along the Assam-Meghalaya border on January 18.

Four elephants died after colliding with an electric pole near Belguri village under West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. All four were electrocuted on the spot. Forest department officials later declared the death of the four elephants as an accident.

However, Shillong based-environment activists refuse to buy the forest department argument. ?It is not convincing and we are sure...