New
technique develped to detect elusive,
endangered dolphins
NEW
DELHI, Feb 22: A new technique has been developed
to detect accurately the presence of dolphins in
various rivers, which would go a long way in the
conservation of the endangered animal, whose
number in the country has been reduced to just
between 1800 and 2000.
The new method of
counting the number of the elusive animal is
based on accoustic signals and has been developed
by the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)-India and the
University of Tokyo.
The accoustic
survey is as accurate as the visual survey and it
can done by a small set of instruments. It
requires a boat, a set of hydrophones and a
computer and a server. The hydrophones, which are
submerged into water, observe the underwater
behaviour of dolphins in a large area of the
river, and then send the data over the commercial
mobile network to a webserver.
A team, which
tried the technique for the second time in the
Ganga last week, used six hydrophones and could
successfully detect dolphin activity during the
day and night when visual observations were not
possible.
The compact
handheld audio-based click detector was also
tried for the first time, This device can be
operated from a moving boat and is a convenient
aid for the user to quickly locate the presence
of dolphins.
Making a
presentation on the accoustic survey, Prof Tamaki
Ura of the University of Tokyo, who was part of
the team that developed the new technique, said
the method was so simple that even a lay person
could be trained to use it.
He said that 70 to
80 per cent dolphins could be found by conducting
a survey through this technique which is called
Passive Sonar Technique.
Later, talking to
reporters, Dr Sandeep Behera, the coordinator,
Fresh and Wetlands Programme of WWF, said the
technique could do the job of counting the number
and determining the location of dolphins in a few
days, while going by visual method, it took him
20 years to do it.
He said the number
of dolphins had been on a constant decline due to
various reasons, mainly because of the
degradation of their habitat due to construction
of dams and barrages which constrained their
movement and conseqently chances of cross
breeding.
The depleting
water level and excessive fishing has also
responsible for the decline in dolphin
population, he said.
Dr Behera said the
presence of dolphins in water was and indicator
of the freshness of water as the animal could not
survive except in fresh water.
Since it was a
mammal, its presence in water was indicative of
the suitability of that water for human beings,
he said. (UNI)
SC
voices displeasure over Raj Thackeray’s
remarks
NEW
DELHI, Feb 22: The Supreme Court today expressed
displeasure over the recent statements made by
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj
Thackeray relating to the North Indians resulting
in violence in Mumbai and other parts of the
state.
"We
understand the situation there and what is
happening," a three-Judge bench headed by
Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.
"This is one
country and we will not accept son of soil
theory," the bench also comprising Justices
R V Ravindran and Markandey Katju observed.
The bench,
however, refused to pass any direction on two
PILs relating to the incident.
The bench said
since the matter primarily relates to law and
order situation, it could be brought to the
notice of the State Government and petitioners
could approach the Bombay High Court. (PTI)
Alligators
unsafe in river Chambal; toll at 94
ETAWAH,
Feb 22: The
recovery of yet another carcass of an alligator
from river Chambal has sent the forest officials
and wildlife experts into a tizzy.
Since December 8,
2007, 94 alligators had been found dead in the
river under mysterious circumstances.
In 1979, to stem
the mushrooming threat of their extinction,
Government had kickstarted the Alligators
Conservation Scheme, wherby, almost 1,200 such
reptiles were released in Chambal.
Sources said, had
this scheme implemented properly, over 10,000
alligators would have been in the river. Sadly,
only 855 reptiles were found in February 2007
survey.
Besides, Uttar
Pradesh and Central Government officials,
International Wildlife experts were leaving no
stone unturned to detect the cause of their
death.
Kavai fish is
generally found in river Yammuna, however, over
the years, a phenomenal spurt had been witnessed
in their number in Chambal river.
On the other hand,
during a meeting of wildlife experts, including
American doctor Brain Straisi, Dr Paul of Hong
Kong, Alligator Conservation Schemes chairperson
Ram bitakar, wildlife and forest ministry joint
director pramod krishnan, water pollution was the
concluded reason behind the extinction.
On February 5, a
rare species dolphin was also found dead in the
river. (UNI)
Coolie?
Why not call us porters instead?
NEW
DELHI, Feb 22: The demand is feeble, not even
listed in the charter of demands that they would
present to the Railway Minister. But they plan to
broach the issue at an appropriate time- why call
us ‘coolie’?
"It is one of
our several demands including a forth grade
employee status to coolies and a pension scheme
for those coolies attaining age of 60," says
Mangat Ram Saini, Chairman, All India Railway
Coolie Organisation.
Coolies, the
inseparable entity of one of the world’s
biggest railway network and the biggest
Non-Governmental structure supporting the Indian
Railways have come up with these demands during
their "sansad ghero abhiyan" in the
capital.
"This name,
`Coolie’ smacks of the British Raj and still
gives us a sense of `slavery’," says
Saini adding a better calling name was much
required to uplift their social status.
"Being called
as `Coolie’ is a little degradation of the
kind of service, we provide to the millions of
passengers everyday," he says.
After a long gap
of 25 years when ‘Coolies’ were heard
and their role was recognised in the society with
the Bollywood ‘icon’ Amitabh Bachhan
giving a voice to their plight through the hit
film ‘Coolie,’ the coolie fraternity
has decided to voice its demands on their own.
"We are going
to put our demand before the Government for not
only changing this name but also to consider us
as the fourth grade employee under Indian
Railways and providing pension scheme for our
colleagues who cross 60 years of age" says
Charan Singh, who has worked as a Coolie on the
New Delhi railway station for last 35 years.
"I have seen
the Governments and Railway Ministers changing
for last 35 years, but have not felt any change
in my living condition throughout my life as
coolie," he says.
"Though,
Amitabh has portrayed our problems in a very
forceful and beautiful manner on the big screen,
our condition largely has remained the
same," says Balwant, a coolie from the
Kanpur Railway Station.
"The more
disheartening is the apathy of the Government
towards the problems of 17 lacs of these
`Coolies’ across the country", he rues
adding Government had never been serious with
their living condition and daily problems.
Criticising the
Railway Minister on his new proposals of
replacing coolies with the self-service-trolleys,
he says "Lalu has been a leader of the poor
people, but even he has not done any thing for
us".
Why should not we
given attention, especially when the railway
profits is growing in hundreds of crores every
year? he asks.
Instead, the
railways have put a plan to give contracts to
Indian Railway Tourist Corporation (IRTC) for
transporting the passenger luggage, he says. This
is to deprive us of our livelihood and will leave
us with no option but to die, says aftab, the
president of the Coolie Council at Kanpur
Station.
"This
proposal is scheduled for trial at the Kanpur
Railway Station from the April 1 this year, which
we will not let to go on. Its the matter of the
survival of our families", he says.
"However, we
are very optimistic with the assurance of
assistance and cooperation from the Congress
secretary Rahul Gandhi," said Mangat Ram
Saini, the Chairman of the Union.
"To ensure
our voice more collective and forceful, thousands
of Collies from across the country have gathered
at the national capital," he adds. (PTI)
Nurse
accuses doctor of "sexual harassment"
SIRSA,
Feb 22: A
resident of village Bugu of the district and as
present posted as a nurse at village Nathusari
Chopta has alleged that Dr Jaiveer now posted at
Tosham has been sexually exploiting her for the
last over 3 years under threats and also got her
aborted twice.
Rano Devi alleged
that the accused used to browbeat her with
threats of exposure and in the end he pressurized
her to enter into wedlock with him.
The matter came to
light when her suspicious neighbour Ram Bhagat
questioned one Dinesh resident of village Igra
(Jind) who visited her on Thursday,and Dinesh
failed to give any cogent reply regarding the
purpose of his visit, police said today.
In the meantime
her brother also arrived. During the questioning
of Dinesh, she claimed that Dinesh was her fiance
and that the proposal of their marriage was being
discussed between their respective guardians.
The accused doctor
has been summoned by the police for his
interrogation and further investigations. (PTI)
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