Latest news with #MongabayIndia
Scroll.in
02-07-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
The return of endangered turtles in the Ganga
The red-crowned roofed turtle or batagur kachuga, which was almost on the verge of extinction in the Ganga river, has made a comeback after 30 years. In April, 20 turtles were translocated from the Garheta Turtle Conservation Centre – located within and under the supervision of the National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh – and released at the Haiderpur wetland, a Ramsar site located in the state, part of river Ganga. In collaboration with Namami Gange – the Ganga conservation mission by the Indian government, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, and the India Turtle Conservation Program, the critically endangered red-crowned turtles have been released and these turtles have been tagged with sonic devices to monitor their safety and migration. Rehabilitation Red-crowned roofed turtles were once found in the Ganges river and its tributaries. But in the past 30 years, their numbers have decreased due to excessive hunting, illegal trade, loss of habitat and change in the flow of the river. The turtle is endemic to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is also found in the Brahmaputra river region. Now, the only place in the country where a good number of these turtles are left is the National Chambal Sanctuary. And now, this area which is its natural home, is also in danger. It is estimated that less than 500 female turtles are left here. In May 2021, a resident of Duhri, a village in UP's Hapur district spotted a large turtle. When experts examined it, they found that it was the same Batagur kachuga which had not been seen in the Ganga river for 30 years. Then, in March 2023, two nests were found in another village nearby, where 21 babies were born and released into the river after rearing. This was a clear indication that some turtles are still alive in the Ganges. For the rehabilitation process, the turtles were divided into two groups – one group was released above a barrage at the Haiderpur wetland, while the other group was released into the mainstream of the Ganga river. The aim was to determine which method is the most effective for the rehabilitation of turtles. There are 12 species of turtles found in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, of which four are part of conservation efforts. 'Our effort is to conserve flagship species in the Ganga such as gharials, dolphins and turtles,' Rajesh Kumar, former Divisional Forest Officer of Meerut Forest Division, told Mongabay India. 'Twenty red-crowned roofed turtles were brought from Chambal and divided into two groups. Out of this, five males and five females were released in the Haiderpur Barrage and the same number of pairs were released in the (mainstream) Ganga river,' he added. Telemetry study 'This study is the first telemetry-based monitoring effort of these turtles in the Ganga river,' said Pawan Shantiprakash Pareek, a researcher with the Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India, who is coordinating the project and monitoring the movement of turtles. Explaining the technology to Mongabay India, he said, 'The transmitter fitted on each turtle gives information to the scientists about which direction the turtle is moving in, which place it is adopting to and how it is behaving. From this data, it will be analysed how this species is adapting itself to the circumstances after entering the Ganga and what threats it is facing.' The turtles that were released were carefully selected based on health, sex and body parameters. Scientific procedures such as rehydration, stress reduction, and transporting during the night to avoid heat, were followed during the translocation. Elaborating on the precautions taken in attaching the transmitter, Pareek said, 'It has plates made of keratin on its back, which are similar in structure to human nails, making it easier to attach the tag. Our team, very carefully, glued these transmitters in a way that the turtle does not suffer any injury or discomfort. We ensured that the device is well attached and the chances of any kind of harm are minimal.' The acoustic tags used in this study were attached externally to the back (dorsal carapace) of these turtles which essentially are hard-shelled freshwater turtles. He explained, 'Conservation work on three turtle species in the Ganga has been going on with the World Wide Fund for Nature-India since 2010. Earlier, we used to do soft release – turtles were released into the water from time to time.' He added, 'Apart from Meerut, a hatchery has also been built in Bulandshahr for three species of turtles. However, this time, the Batagur (kachuga) turtle will be monitored with the help of technology, which will help in conservation.' Real-time monitoring All turtles have been fitted with a transmitter that emits signals at a specific frequency. This has made it possible to identify each turtle individually and track its activities. 'This system allows us to continuously monitor each turtle's movement, habitat choice and behavioural patterns,' explains Pareek. 'This process will help understand how the turtles are responding after their reintroduction, adapting to the new environment, and dealing with ecological challenges. Future conservation and management strategies will be formulated based on these data,' he added. A special team is monitoring these turtles daily to understand how many turtles are alive and how they are spreading in the new environment. This monitoring focuses particularly on the turtles' habitat preferences, their movement patterns, and potential threats that may affect their survival and movement. 'This information will help us plan for the future and understand what is working and what is not while rehabilitating these turtles,' says Pareek. Today, human activities as well as climate change are emerging as the biggest threats to these turtles. Pareek elaborates, 'In all turtles, the sex is determined by the temperature of the eggs. If the temperature is high, then more of the same sex, ie, females will be born. This can disturb the balance of the entire population.' Additionally, changes such as unseasonal rains and sudden water releases can destroy nests and disrupt the breeding cycle. Public participation Sadhus and saints living on the banks of the Ganga have also been included in conservation efforts. 'People listen to these sadhus. If they say that the turtles are sacred, people will stop fishing and hunting. Currently, more than 20 sadhus are helping in this work. Illegal activities have reduced considerably in the areas around their ashram,' says Pareek. Kumar says, 'There is a lot of awareness among the local people about these aquatic creatures. Our efforts with WWF-India involve creating awareness among farmers to save turtle eggs in the fields. Farmers are so aware that they have started protecting turtle nests. Sadhus, saints and school children are also cooperating in this effort.' 'AI cameras and drones are also used for monitoring, but sonar technology is very effective for underwater creatures. These were also used in the dolphin surveys,' Kumar said. Raman Kant Tyagi, a river expert and the director of Neer Foundation that works on grassroots level activities for environmental awareness, told Mongabay India, 'The return of the red-crowned roofed turtle to the Ganga after 30 years is not just a biological event, but it is a sign of the success of river conservation efforts. The health of any river can be judged by the aquatic life living in it.' He added, 'Thanks to government efforts like Namami Gange, crocodiles and turtles are being released. Sewage Treatment Plants are being built, biodiversity parks and awareness campaigns are also being initiated. However, the impact of these efforts on the ground is limited because there is a lack of proper engagement with society. There is a need to encourage the participation of saints and students.' He elaborated and said, 'Organisations such as the Bhartiya Nadi Parishad are acting as a bridge between society and the government. In the future, obstacles like corruption, bureaucracy and lack of public participation will have to be overcome to make river rejuvenation successful at the grassroots level.' Commenting on the quality of the water in Ganga, Kumar said that since Meerut is a rural area, there is less pollution in the river here. 'Cities like Banaras have the problem of sewage but here, the water of Kali river, a tributary of Ganga, is received indirectly. This area is protected, so sewage is not received directly.' He added, 'Two sewage treatment plants of 220 megalitres per day and 65 MLD are proposed in the city, due to which, in the near future, the drain water will reach the Ganga river only after being cleaned.'
Scroll.in
28-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Arunachal Pradesh: Threatened by dam, Siang Valley is home to staggeringly diverse number of species
On July 16, 1912, the British Army published a notification announcing the success of its expedition into the heart of present-day Arunachal Pradesh. The upper reaches of the region had been a fortress for colonial forces until then, and the completion of the exercise was announced with much celebration. 'Although it proved impossible to explore the valley of the Dihang (present-day Siang Valley), where it breaks through the main mountain range on the confines of Thibet… in spite of great physical difficulties the main objects of the expedition have been accomplished,' the notification reads. The expedition was a punitive mission prompted by the murder of a British officer, Noel Williamson, by the tribes living in the Siang valley, referred to as the 'Abors' (translating to 'unruly'). Williamson arrived in the village of Komsing expecting a night's stay but was killed for humiliating the village head on another occasion. To avenge Williamson's death, British forces decided to invade the valley with two objectives in mind: to gather as much information about the region as possible, and to 'punish' those culpable in his murder. An almost-forgotten legacy of this brutal mission was an unusual catalogue of animals, plants, insects, and birds found in the valley. Little was known about the catalogue, which surfaced decades later while filmmaker Sandesh Kadur was researching for his book, Himalaya: Mountains of Life. 'I found that many species were named and discovered around 1911 and 1913, and I thought, what was going on a hundred years ago?' he told Mongabay India. 'I started to dig deeper and then I found this huge 1,000-page report, and I thought to myself 'wow, this is fascinating'.' The report was a scientific gold mine. Led by marine biologist Stanley Kemp, the scientific component of the expedition discovered 14 new genera in the Siang valley. The findings described 244 amphibians, birds, insects and one of the world's oldest living fossils – a velvet worm called the onychophora. The Wildlife Institute of India called this expedition 'one of the most comprehensive one-time biological, geographical and anthropological documentations ever conducted for any particular region in India.' Even more remarkable is that, over a century later, several species from Kemp's survey can still be found in the state, according to Kadur. Beginning in 2022, researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, ATREE, collaborated with National Geographic and Kadur's film production company, Felis Creations, and retraced the route of the 1912 expedition, venturing deeper into the valley and making an even wider record of species than before. A century after the British left the Siang valley, it remains a sanctuary. On the horizon, however, a large dam project and other changes in land use threaten to alter the landscape forever. Play The Siang Valley The Siang river, upstream from Assam where it becomes the Brahmaputra, served as the compass for both expeditions. It is the biggest of Arunachal Pradesh 's seven major rivers and flows freely through its entire 293.9-kilometre stretch. The river was a significant migratory route for the Adi tribe (called the Abors by the British), who descended from Tibet generations ago and settled along the river valley. 'Unlike other places in northeast India, the British were relatively absent in Arunachal Pradesh. Apart from the Abor expedition, there's been virtually no sustained biodiversity assessments at all in this region,' said Sanjay Sondhi, a naturalist and founder of conservation nonprofit Titli Trust. He contributed to the new expedition's findings on moths and butterflies. The 2022 expedition into the Siang was not only an opportunity to reclaim colonial history, but also to make up for all the lost time in which systematic biodiversity research remained absent. The Siang river system is particularly interesting. The river traverses elevations ranging from 100 metres to 5,800 metres and the river basin hosts 12 different types of forests, including tropical semi-evergreen forests, alpine scrub forests, wet temperate forests and alpine pastures. It's because of this diversity of habitats that the Siang valley fosters rich biodiversity. Over several trips made between 2022 and 2024, the latest expedition recorded a staggering number of species – more than 1,500 – over an expanse covering the Upper Siang, Siang, and East Siang districts. These species included mammals, reptiles, birds, plants, insects, molluscs, and fish that were recorded by a team of 25 researchers, camera people, and field assistants. Much of the research from the expedition is yet to be published, but studies that have emerged so far reveal new facts about species behaviour, habitats, and ecosystem services provided by the Siang river. Take, for example, the Paraparatrechina neela – a tiny, two-millimetre long ant found in a tree trunk hole, whose exoskeleton shines a brilliant electric blue. Metallic blue ants are a rarity anywhere in the world, and this unique physical appearance is likely an evolutionary trait to ward off prey. The expedition also yielded discoveries of species new to science, such as four new species of the Darwin wasp subfamily (Microleptinae). But among the more remarkable findings is the rediscovery of the velvet worm, the onychophora. 'This ancient species goes back 170 million years, and it's not known from anywhere else in India except in this tiny corner,' said Kadur, adding, 'It connects India to the rest of the world, biologically and biogeographically, since it was part of the ancient Pangaea. And what's amazing is it hasn't really evolved much since that time.' The team also found evidence of the Siang river as a migratory corridor for birds like the common crane, never seen before to be travelling across the river in large hoards of 300 individuals. 'We mostly recorded the return journeys of the common crane, which happens when they are going back to the northern Arctic Circle. These birds were never reported from the Siang valley before, and it establishes the Siang valley as an important migratory corridor,' said Rajkamal Goswami, Fellow in Residence at ATREE's Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation. Goswami was part of the expedition team that focussed on how human interactions shaped biodiversity in the Valley. At a time when insect populations have plummeted by 45% globally over the past 40 years, and most bird populations in India are on the decline, the Siang expedition's findings are important. 'During the Siang expedition and in subsequent visits, we've recorded around 400 different species of birds,' said Goswami, adding, 'For perspective, the state of Meghalaya has 600 birds. India's total bird population is something like 1,300. Around 30% of the country's bird population can be found in this single valley.' Threatened landscape Arunachal Pradesh is the least densely populated state in India, with just 17 people per square kilometre, according to the 2011 census. Despite its small population, changes in land use and large development projects could permanently alter the Siang landscape. Historically, these regions have practiced jhum (shifting) cultivation, particularly in higher elevations. Since the 1970s, the state government introduced schemes to discourage jhum in favour of settled cultivation. Schemes such as the Jhum Control Scheme and the centrally-sponsored Technology Mission on Agriculture and National Horticulture Missions also encouraged home gardens and the cultivation of fruits, aromatics, flowers, and vegetables. Settled cultivation tripled in area between the 1970s and 1990s, according to an agriculture survey. While paddy cultivation is common along the banks of the river, mixed cultivation and orchards with fruits like orange are increasingly common on the hillslopes. The biennial Indian State of Forest Report also shows considerable deforestation in the districts along the Siang river. In 2019, the districts of East, West, and Upper Siang saw a combined deforestation rate of 75% compared to 2017. Between 2021 and 2023, forest loss in East Siang, Lower Siang, and West Siang decreased by another 32%, while Upper Siang district saw a growth in forest cover by 2.45% over the same period. 'The biggest threat right now is the disappearance of habitat,' said Goswami. 'As long as habitat is there, animals can recover from other threats like hunting, because population density is relatively much lower in Arunachal Pradesh. If habitats are not converted to cash crop, agriculture or big infrastructure projects, animals and other species can still bounce back.' Another looming threat over the landscape is the 11,200-megawatt Upper Siang Multipurpose Project, a dam whose construction would sink the district headquarter of Yingkiong and alter the river's flow dynamics forever. An outdated cumulative impact assessment of 44 proposed dams along the Siang river said silt trapped in the reservoirs of dams would 'deprive the downstream Siang river ecosystem of maintenance materials and nutrients that help in maintaining the productivity of Siang and Siyom river ecosystems.' Populations of important migratory fish species like the golden mahseer – an endangered fish with a golden hue that can grow up to 2.74 metres in size – are at risk of depleting considerably, according to the cumulative impact assessment. The golden mahseer swims upstream along Siang river in April and May, and uses the river's tributaries for breeding, feeding and as refuge location. Emerging community In the face of the anthropogenic pressures facing the Siang valley, residents of Gobuk in Upper Siang district are trying to forge a path ahead. Since 2022, an NGO led by residents of the village, Epum Sirum Welfare Society, along with Titli Trust, are creating a model of community-based conservation to safeguard the area's wildlife. In the 1912 expedition, several rare species of butterflies were recorded, including one called the dark freak (Calinaga aborica) in 1915 – an endemic butterfly with brown and white patterned wings and a red body. For a century this species hadn't been seen anywhere, save for one chance sighting made by Sondhi of Titli Trust in 2015, in western Arunachal Pradesh. Unbeknownst to them, the residents of Gobuk had been living among hundreds of dark freak butterflies in their backyards. 'Before we learned about how rare these butterflies were, we never really paid attention,' said Anand Tekseng, a resident of Gobuk and member of the ESWS, where he works as a river guide. The residents were made aware of the value of these butterflies – and the other wildlife in the area – through workshops with Sondhi. 'In 2022, we were looking for opportunities to start a community conserved area project. When we reached Gobuk, we realised the Epum Sirum had been engaged with similar work and were looking for more support. They've been fantastic partners,' Sondhi said. The Adi are a hunting tribe, where rituals are considered incomplete without game. But over a span of two and a half years, residents say hunting has reduced considerably. 'We used to hunt widely, whether it was squirrels, bear, deer, or birds,' said Dengwan Miyo, another resident who isn't a member of the nonprofit. 'We only hunt for a few festivals now. Many people have given up. It's become a matter of pride for us that people come from so far away to see what our village has,' he said. The dark freak (Calinaga aborica) is now a flagship of the village, and residents are building opportunities for ecotourism around the sightings of this species and the dozens of others that are found there, like the red lacewing (Cethosia biblis), blue peacock (Papilio arcturus), and the great nawab (Polyura eudamippus). With support from Royal Enfield, Gobuk hosted its first Biodiversity Meet last year, earning around Rs 10 lakh from paying guests who travelled to the village and stayed in newly set up homestays to see the butterflies. Gobuk was praised by chief minister Pema Khandu for its approach to conservation. Pamphlets with photos of moths and butterflies – taken by residents and Titli Trust together – were distributed to visitors and installed in the village's library. Near Mouling National Park in Upper Siang, ATREE too is collaborating with villages to build community-led conservation areas. The Park is located deep in the Upper Siang district without an all-weather road, cutting the area off during the monsoons. 'What we're aiming to do is actually prevent future biodiversity loss once the area becomes better connected,' Rajkamal said. Researchers from ATREE are encouraging villages near the Park to work with the understaffed forest department and patrol the Park's borders and foster a sense of ownership over its natural resources. 'The jury is still out on whether community-conserved areas are effective, because there are so few in Arunachal Pradesh,' said Sondhi. 'But what are the alternatives? Handing land over to the government, whose forest departments are understaffed, isn't always effective. Large infrastructure projects end up hurting communities the most. We're still learning so much about the Siang landscape. What better way forward than to empower communities to participate in this learning too?'
Scroll.in
23-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
India's female agricultural labour force has swelled
Across rural India, agriculture is undergoing a quiet transformation – one increasingly shaped by women. With rising male migration driven by reasons varying from climate stress, shrinking farm returns, and industrial employment, women are stepping in to manage farms, livestock, and household food systems. This feminisation of agriculture has been slowly unfolding yet remains largely invisible in policy and undercounted in data. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2024, women now constitute over 42% of the agricultural workforce and in some states they make up the majority of full-time agricultural workers. Despite this, their labour remains unrecorded, wages continue to remain lower than men's, and their decision-making power is constrained. Land ownership – key to recognition and entitlements – largely eludes them. As India continues to define a farmer through ownership, women's labour, expertise, and agency are not accounted for. Decision making Against this backdrop, a newly published study from rural Karnataka offers critical insight into women's decision-making in agriculture. Drawing on the Karnataka Household Asset Survey data from 4,110 rural households in the state (2013), the study compares men's and women's perspectives on who manages and makes key decisions in farming – particularly in households affected by short-term male migration. Part of a larger multi-country research initiative across India, Ecuador, and Ghana, the study investigates the gender asset gap, using rigorous data to unravel how control over resources, knowledge, and decisions is distributed within rural households. Lead author Hema Swaminathan tells Mongabay India that the study stemmed from a broader concern around the lack of gender-disaggregated data in India. She points out that poverty is typically measured at the household level, overlooking intra-household inequalities and individual ownership of assets. Even large-scale surveys like the National Sample Survey, she notes, record land or house ownership in the name of the household, failing to identify which member actually owns it – a critical gap when addressing gendered economic disparities. 'The land ownership data doesn't reveal who owns land within a household. In reality, there is significant disparity in how resources are distributed, and this often plays out along gender lines. Women are highly marginalised when it comes to ownership of valuable property,' she explains. During data collection, Swaminathan says the team explored various dimensions of women's voice and agency – of which decision-making surfaced as a particularly telling indicator. Combining qualitative fieldwork with quantitative methods – including surveying both spouses with identical questions on decision-making – the researchers were able to compare and triangulate responses, revealing discrepancies in perceived agency. The study found that assumptions around joint decision-making within households often did not hold up. In some cases, men claimed women were involved in decisions, while women denied this — suggesting either a social desirability bias among men or internalised patriarchy among women. 'In most domains though, both men and women agreed that men controlled decisions,' says Swaminathan, underscoring persistent gendered power imbalances. These disparities extended beyond the household into agricultural decision-making. These findings take on added significance in the context of rising male outmigration from rural India, a trend accelerated by climate change and economic pressures, which is steadily rendering farming a female-driven sector. As experts Mongabay India spoke to say that a lot of decision-making hinges on land ownerships that have been historically denied to women. Land ownership Debottam Saha, research assistant at Welthungerhilfe India, who has studied women's land rights across Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, shares a telling case from West Bengal. A widow, he recounts, independently managed a substantial piece of land and all farming decisions – solely because the land was in her name. 'She was making all the decisions primarily because she owned the land,' Saha notes. Still, she said she planned to transfer ownership to her son once he came of age. Saha also observed that while women exert control over kitchen gardens, men dominate decisions over larger, cash-crop farms. While there is considerable consensus on the increasing feminisation of agriculture, data reveals that this shift often translates into women shouldering more unpaid labour, further entrenching their invisibility in the agricultural economy. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2024 also points to an increase in work participation rate of women – from 24.8% in 2017 to 42% in 2023 – resulting from a surge in self-employment, which in many rural contexts, equates to unpaid work in family-run farms or enterprises. Soma KP, founding member of the Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, highlights that even when men migrate away from farms, land ownership and control over agricultural decisions typically remain with them. Moreover, she notes, the poor and marginal women farmers have a better understanding of soil health and resource use and have historically been in charge of minor irrigation works on their land. 'However, when irrigation is upscaled and newer technologies are introduced, men often take over, denying women access and control of the resources they have been managing,' she says. Navigating systemic barriers This disconnect is compounded by structural barriers: agricultural systems are largely tailored to male farmers. Women often struggle to access quality seeds, fertilisers, training, and extension services, which remain oriented towards men. Karnataka-based social anthropologist AR Vasavi of Punarchith observes a deeply gendered division of labour – while men dominate activities like ploughing, sowing, and spraying pesticides, women take on more physically demanding tasks such as harvesting and livestock care. She highlights that limited access to modern agricultural technologies and essential information – such as the India Meteorological Department weather forecasts – makes farming especially challenging for women. Soma KP concurs, noting that many women, particularly those without phones, are cut off from timely updates and information in the farming sector. 'Decision-making may increase in men's absence, but it doesn't necessarily lead to empowerment,' she cautions. In Maharashtra, the outmigration of men has seen women take over farm operations – some finding a sense of autonomy. Yet, those who challenge traditional norms often face social stigma and isolation. Seema Kulkarni of Pune-based SOPPECOM points out that newer technologies and agribusiness services remain largely inaccessible to women. With government extension officers replaced by private companies of chemical fertilisers and pesticides primarily engage with men, even women landowners are sidelined. 'Women often depend on local traders for advice and credit, creating a cycle of dependency,' says Kulkarni. Lacking collateral, they are forced to sell their harvest at rates dictated by these traders, locking them out of fair market access. Saha notes that in West Bengal, there are isolated instances where women hold land titles, mainly attributed to recent state policies encouraging homestead land registration in women's names. While these initiatives suggest the promise of gender-responsive policymaking, they often fall short by excluding cultivable land, limiting real empowerment. The study recommends that there is an urgent need for India to regularly gather individual-level data on agricultural decision-making and asset ownership. Without robust, gender-disaggregated data, women's contributions to farming will remain undervalued and invisible in policy frameworks. This becomes especially critical as women's participation in agriculture continues to rise amid broader socio-economic and climate-driven transformations in rural India.
Scroll.in
20-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Jharkhand: Stone mining is driving nilgai into fields, destroying harvest
Sirajoodeen Ansari, a 65-year-old farmer, has watched season after season of hard labour go to waste. 'First, I cultivated paddy, but it was completely ruined. Then I planted maize. Again, it was completely destroyed. And when the rabi season arrived, and I sowed wheat, not a single grain was spared by the nilgai,' says the farmer from Murumdag village in Chhatarpur block, Palamu district of Jharkhand. Ansari is not alone. In this arid patch of Palamu, where water is scarce and the soil unforgiving – farmers wage a nightly vigil over their fields. For two and a half months, they lie awake, patrolling the wheat under the moonlight, yet any momentary lapse, 'even the blink of an eye', as one farmer puts it, is enough to miss the speedy descent of the nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) that strips the crop bare. Protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, these animals move with impunity. Mahfooz Alam, another resident of Murumdag, describes their makeshift defence mechanisms, 'I would take four dogs into the fields and tie them at the foot of my charpoys [rope cots] so that if any nilgai comes, the dogs would bark, and it would wake me.' Despite such precautions, Alam lost his entire harvest this year to destruction by the nilgai, sustaining a loss of Rs 1 lakh. Just 10 years ago, such devastation was unheard of. 'Back then, the land yielded so much lentil that after saving enough for our own needs, we used to sell five quintals,' Alam recalls. 'There were no nilgai to worry about; we simply planted and harvested.' The turning point came with the onset of stone-crusher mining in the area, the village residents complain. As heavy machinery tore through the earth, it disrupted the animals' natural habitat and drove them onto farmland. For farmers like Ansari and Alam, the toll is more than financial; it is a loss of security and dignity. 'How long can we guard our fields?' asks Alam. 'If I stay awake all night, I must sleep during the day – and then the nilgai strike', referring to the extent of the problem where they are now concerned about nilgai attacking their fields at all times of the day. Both the farmers have borrowed money from relatives to meet their farming expenses, and they are now trapped in a cycle of debt. With their farms being run over by the nilgai, they have lost any hope of repayment. With mounting debts and diminishing yields, the farmers face an uncertain future. 'Forget about the next generation; from this year, I will not do farming,' says Alam in anger. Alam and Ansari are among the last handful of farmers in their village who are still farming. 'The rest have either left farming and migrated to work as labourers or are doing some other work,' explains Ansari. But these individual losses are part of a much larger trend. According to the latest data obtained by Mongabay India from Jharkhand's District Forest Department, since 2000, when the state of Jharkhand was formed, Palamu district has recorded 4,787 human-animal conflict incidents, with Rs 38.9 million paid in compensation so far. Of these, 586 were crop damage cases – destroying over 300 hectares of farmland – while 23 involved livestock losses and 54 were incidents of house damage. So far, these conflicts have claimed 10 lives and injured 22 people. In case of death due to a nilgai attack, there is a provision for compensation of Rs 4 lakh. For crop damage, compensation ranges from Rs 10,833 per hectare to a maximum of Rs 21,666. However, neither Alam nor Ansari was aware of this compensation. Stone mining 'There are several reasons for the increasing human-animal conflict: population growth, infrastructure development, and mining activities,' says Satyam Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Medininagar, the administrative headquarters of Palamu district. 'Population growth and infrastructure development are purely push factors, but mining acts as both a push and a pull factor,' he adds. He means that mining not only destroys ecosystems and pushes wildlife out but also draws human settlements and activities deeper into forest areas, increasing the likelihood of conflict. The Medininagar Forest Division, which covers all seven forest ranges of Palamu district – Chainpur, Chhatarpur East, Chhatarpur West, Kundri, Manatu, Mohammad Ganj and Patan – spans over 154,000 hectares. 'We have a large, notified forest area, but the quality, density and canopy cover of the forest land itself are not very good,' says Kumar. Of the seven forest ranges in Palamu, only Manatu and Kundri still have healthy tree cover. 'In those two ranges, human-animal conflict is very low,' Kumar explains. 'But in the other ranges, there are so many stone crushers.' Where crushers and mines break up the forest, wildlife moves closer to villages, looking for water and grazing land. 'For tree regeneration, you need water and good soil. You do not want pollution.' When dust from mines settles on leaves and soil, young shoots cannot grow. The hard, polluted ground cannot hold water, and seeds fail to sprout. The mining industry brings more than dust. 'Habitat fragmentation is taking place,' says Kumar. 'The water table is dropping, so forest productivity is going down. Natural ponds and streams are drying up. Even the nilgai cannot find water.' With fewer rainy days and polluted soils, forests lose their natural balance. Plants die, animals wander into farmland, and conflict rises. Early findings To assess the impact of mining and crusher operations on local biodiversity, the Medininagar Forest Division has launched a pilot study at the beginning of 2025 at sites with the highest concentration of extractive activity – Itakdag, Murumdag, Bachkoma, Charai, and others in Palamu district. Under the chairmanship of the Divisional Forest Officer, a dedicated team — guided in part by Indian Forest Service probationer Navaneeth BR — is conducting a preliminary evaluation using Forest Survey of India reports, recent satellite imagery, and on-the-ground observations. 'The initial findings reveal that mining and crusher operations have had clear negative effects on flora, fauna, and water bodies – damage that is already exacerbating human-wildlife conflict in the region,' says Navaneeth BR. As part of this preliminary investigation, a comparative study is being carried out between villages located in mining zones and those outside them. Initial observations indicate that areas with rampant illegal mining have experienced greater biodiversity loss, reduced water bodies, and increased human-animal conflict. In contrast, villages without illegal mining have shown improvements in biodiversity, an increase in water bodies, and a decline in human-animal conflict. Mongabay India also visited three villages where the study is being conducted, Murumdag, Cherai, and Bachkoma and documented the same patterns of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. As one crossed the rural roads of Chattarpur block, clouds of dust, the distant roar of crushers, and convoys of laden lorries made it impossible to ignore the scale of disturbance to both wildlife and local communities. Current mining laws Kumar says current mining laws aren't strict enough. Companies only need to stay 250 metres from the forest edge – too small a distance since dust still drifts in and stops young trees from growing. He argues the buffer should be at least one kilometre. The law also calls for a green belt around each mine and sprinklers to control dust. In Palamu, though, most mines and crushers ignore these rules: they remove green belts, skip dust systems, and over-pump groundwater, says Satyam Kumar. Without strong oversight, forests bear the full brunt of mining. 'And with only a 250-metre buffer, the forest remains under constant pressure from illegal mining,' he adds. The impact is visible. According to Forest Survey of India data, between 2011 and 2021, Palamu's water bodies shrank from 6,929.21 ha to 4,985.54 ha – a decline of 1,943.67 ha (about 28.1%). Over the same decade, very dense forest cover fell from 5,369.35 ha to 5,149.01 ha, a loss of 220.34 ha (about 4.1%). When asked about the decline in very dense forests, Harsha Kumar – a GIS expert with the Palamu Forest Division – points to deeper structural issues. 'It's not just about dense forest – there's hardly any regeneration happening,' he says. 'Let's say in 2011, there was open forest, and plantation work was underway. The division covers 1,688 sq km, but how much can we realistically plant? Even if we manage one sq km per year, in 10 years, that's only 10 sq km added through plantations. Meanwhile, mining can destroy 25 sq km in the same period. So even if we gain ten square km through planting, we lose far more to mining.' Forest guards are also ill-equipped to deal with illegal mining. 'Each forest guard is responsible for nearly 30 sq km of forest territory, but it isn't one contiguous block – 2 sq km here, 4 sq km there, 8 sq km elsewhere… that's how fragmented it is,' says Kumar. Most guards are unarmed and poorly equipped, leaving them vulnerable to periodic attacks by the mining mafia. In one recent incident, five forest guards were brutally beaten, according to the FIR registered at the Chhatarpur Block Police Station on March 23, 2025. When contacted, forest guard Ashutosh Tiwari explained, 'All of us live in fear of the mafia – none of our attackers have been arrested. We have no weapons, so when we're beaten, there's no justice.' Palamu currently has over 300 legally registered stone-crusher units, according to the Jharkhand Department of Mines and Geology. But those official numbers may only be the tip of the iceberg. Village residents and Satyam Kumar both estimate that unlicensed – or outright illegal – crushing units could outnumber the legal ones by a wide margin. 'All night, you can hear tractors roaring from the forest edge, blasting loud music and crushing stone,' says Kanhai Prasad of Charai village. He shows the damage, and even his mesh netting can't stop. 'Ours was once a prosperous village, but not anymore.' He has set up a mesh net around a plot near his house to protect the vegetables he is already growing from nilgai. The 64-year-old farmer owns six acres of land, but it isn't all in one place. As the nilgai invasion intensified in his village, his cultivated area kept shrinking. Now, he can only farm the three bighas (about 2.2 acres) right next to his home. 'How can I possibly guard all of it by myself?' he says in frustration. Way forward 'To combat man-animal conflict, we're zoning the entire Medininagar Forest Division into three distinct areas. First, zones that are comparatively richer in biodiversity and already have water sources will be developed further to create even better habitats,' says Kumar. Second, in the scrub and open-forest zones, we will carry out massive plantations of native species under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, or CAMPA, and Green Credit Scheme, alongside grading operations and the creation of new water bodies. Third, for the completely rocky areas, we will consult expert institutions – such as the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and the Institute of Forest Productivity in Ranchi, as well as other specialised bodies – to advise us on the best grading techniques.' 'Even if the government gives us nothing more,' Ansari sighed, 'just enough mesh fencing per acre – and we'd stand a chance.'
Scroll.in
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Scroll.in
Jammu & Kashmir: Ramban downpour devastation was made worse by construction
On April 19, Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, was carrying a load of 600 apple boxes in his truck when he left from Shopian district. While on his way, heavy rainfall began to lash the region, forcing the closure of roads. Bashir parked his truck near Ramban town, hoping to resume his journey once the weather cleared. However, on the intervening night of April 19 and 20, landslides triggered by incessant rains struck the region. 'My fellow driver and I were sleeping in the truck when we heard a loud rumbling noise – landslides and stones crashing down from the mountains,' he said. 'We immediately ran to a safer place.' When daylight broke the next morning, Bashir was distraught to find his truck buried under debris. 'The truck along with the apples was completely damaged,' he said. The truck, valued at around Rs 20 lakh, was carrying apples worth Rs 5 lakh scheduled for delivery in Delhi. Bashir's story is just one among hundreds affected by the massive natural calamity that struck the hilly district of Ramban. On April 19 and 20, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and cloudbursts triggered flash floods that wreaked havoc across the district, particularly affecting the Ramban town and its surrounding villages. The flash floods caused widespread destruction, particularly to a 10 kilometre stretch of the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, cutting off traffic movement for days. According to the India Meteorological Department, Ramban district received over 117 millimetres of rainfall between April 19 and the morning of April 21, with the heaviest downpour recorded during the intervening night of April 19-20. Widespread destruction Brijesh Kumar, a resident of Ramban, vividly recalled the terrifying night. 'It felt like there was a massive explosion around 3 am during the intervening night of April 19-20,' he said. 'Mud and rocks came crashing down from the mountains, blocking the highway and burying dozens of vehicles. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and many were completely washed away.' Another local, Ravi Kumar, spoke of his personal tragedy. 'Both my shops were swept away by the flash floods,' he said. 'I lost my entire livelihood in just one night.' The devastation left residents in shock, struggling to comprehend the scale of destruction. Ramban legislator Arjun Singh told Mongabay India that 80% of the town had been affected. 'We have never seen such devastation in our lives,' he added. 'Many villages were left without electricity or mobile connectivity for days. Several areas remained inaccessible due to debris and damaged roads.' Preliminary figures of the government reveal the staggering scale of the damage. Three people died and nearly 10,000 livestock – including sheep, goats, and cattle – were killed. At least 109 residential homes were completely destroyed, while 227 others suffered partial damage. A total of 67 commercial structures, including shops, business establishments, and hotels, were fully damaged, and 78 others sustained partial damage. The floods also destroyed 96 private vehicles and 126 commercial vehicles. Additionally, over 3,000 vehicles were stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for several days due to landslides and avalanches. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the areas and assured proper rehabilitation and compensation to victims. Director of the Meteorological Department Kashmir, Mukhtar Ahmad, said that they had issued an advisory warning of a western disturbance impacting Jammu and Kashmir from April 18. 'We had already advised that inclement weather could lead to a rise in water levels in rivers, streams, and nallahs – and unfortunately, that is what happened,' he said. According to a Jammu & Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority report, the Union Territory has long been vulnerable to both natural and human-induced disasters due to its peculiar topography, rugged terrain, extreme weather conditions, and underdeveloped infrastructure. 'Hazards such as earthquakes, flash floods, fires, droughts, avalanches, and landslides frequently result in the loss of human lives and extensive damage to public and private property,' the report says. Construction, human activity Experts believe that the scale of the recent disaster was worsened by human activities, particularly unplanned construction and infrastructure development. Yudhbir Singh, a geologist at the University of Jammu, pointed to a combination of natural and human-induced factors behind the devastation. 'It was undoubtedly a natural calamity, but the magnitude of the damage was amplified by human interference,' he said. 'We have witnessed a tremendous surge in construction activities, including road development and private infrastructure projects.' He explained that many natural water channels in the region have been blocked by construction. 'When rainfall occurs and these channels are blocked, there is no path for the water to flow,' he told Mongabay India. 'As a result, water levels rise uncontrollably, flooding villages and triggering flash floods. There are several places where buildings have been raised directly on old water channels, blocking the natural drainage paths.' He further stressed the urgent need for comprehensive planning, including the construction of concrete embankments along rivers and the proper diversion of floodwaters. 'Without proper flood channel management, we are inviting future disasters,' he said, pointing out that the construction of the four-lane highway had further increased vulnerabilities. 'At several places, debris from mountain excavation was simply dumped to construct roads over it. These makeshift foundations are prone to collapse during heavy rains, triggering landslides.' Citing an example, he noted that in one area where a landslide had occurred years ago, people built houses over the unstable land, resulting in a land-sinking incident last year. 'Blasting and drilling during construction have also weakened the soil in several areas,' he added. Another geologist, SK Pandita of Jammu University, said that while the construction of tunnels on the highway was largely carried out using drilling and boring, with minimal use of blasting, the problem lay elsewhere. 'Massive damage occurred due to the construction of hotels, houses, and shops without proper planning,' Pandita said. 'When we block natural drainage systems, where will the water go during rainfall? The water naturally overflows into settlements.' He added that while the recent disaster was triggered by rainfall and a cloudburst, the lack of proper drainage infrastructure turned what could have been a manageable event into a catastrophe. Mohammad Rafi, a researcher, said the recent tragedy in Ramban serves as a wake-up call for the region. 'While natural factors like heavy rainfall and cloudbursts are inevitable, proper urban planning, strict regulations on construction, preservation of natural drainage systems, and scientific road development are crucial to minimising the impact of such disasters,' he said. He also pointed out that there are many hydro power projects in the area. 'If there are flash floods, the dams could also burst at any time,' he added. 'We need proper planning to meet any eventuality in the future.'
