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Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Siachen to Shyok: Green nods for defence projects on borders
Significant first round of green nods for key defence projects off Siachen, Eastern Ladakh and the North East -- across India's borders with China and Pakistan -- have recently come from Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh wildlife authorities. They now await Central approval. These aim at bolstering defence presence off the Siachen glacier besides significantly ramping up air-defence in Ladakh and on critical border links, ET has learnt. The Ladakh State Board of Wildlife (SBWL), at an April 24 meeting, has given its approval for setting up of new missile units in the border region besides a forward aviation base off Shyok and ammunition storage facilities at key border locations to enable quicker mobilisation during active operations, ET has learnt. Authorities in Ladakh are learnt to have cleared the decks to facilitate reconnaissance and observation (R&O) flights and holding of helicopters for flying operations to the Siachen Glacier. The final nods for these projects are expected to come through over the next few weeks once the Union environment ministry's expert panels on wildlife and forest clearances grant full approvals. The green nod for the ramp-up off Siachen is significant as it remains the world's highest battlefield and oversees the strategic China and Pakistan road axis. GIF89a����!�,D; Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025년 최고의 전설적인 로봇 전투를 경험해보세요 기계 경기장 Undo Siachen apart, Eastern Ladakh remains a vital focus amid the continued build-up of infrastructure on the Chinese side. Improved connectivity around Daulat Beg Oldie, India's northernmost military base off Karakoram Pass, has been a consistent focus area. Linkages to BPM huts -- designated sites related to Border Personnel Meetings -- at DBO and Chushul to keep communication channels open between India and China on the LAC have been approved at a meeting last month by authorities at Ladakh. Similarly, road linkages, border outposts and infrastructure improvement at strategically significant border villages in Ladakh have been approved, besides housing areas for troops and personnel. Several operational tracks to critical border posts have also been approved in the North East -- from Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh. Live Events Some of these are currently only reachable by foot and over several days. The Arunachal Pradesh State Board of Wildlife (SBWL) on March 25 approved road linkages from Malinye to Kapuda and Phuphu. Construction of a new operational track from Bheem Base to Bheem Top in Doka La Sector, at the edge of the disputed Doklam plateau, is also under discussion with the Sikkim SBWL seeking more details at its April 23 meeting. Sikkim SBWL, however, has cleared the decks for air defence installations at the Doka La and Bheem base-crucial given significant the ramp-up on the Chinese side. The strategic Rishi-Rongli-Kupup road has also got a go-ahead.
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Silica mining proposed inside eco-sensitive zone of Ramsar-recognised Kazhuveli bird sanctuary
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) has proposed a new silica sand mine within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Kazhuveli Wetland Bird Sanctuary in Villupuram, one of the biodiversity-rich Ramsar wetland sites. An application seeking clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) was submitted in March this year and is currently under process. In 2021, the State government declared 5,151 hectares of swamp/wetlands in Villupuram district as the Kazhuveli Wetland Birds Sanctuary. The Kazhuveli wetland system is one of the largest waterfowl congregation sites in Tamil Nadu and is a well-known raptor roosting site for species such as the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Red-necked Falcon and several harriers. The Grey-tailed Tattler, a rare migratory wader, has been recorded only here and in Pulicat across the country. The Kazhuveli sanctuary is connected with the Yedayanthittu estuary and Uppukali creek, an Important Bird Area (IBA) identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme. Despite its ecological significance, Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited has sought to establish an opencast semi-mechanised silica sand mine only 480 metres from the sanctuary boundary, which falls within the ESZ, the designated area around protected sites that acts as a buffer. Curiously, the Tamil Nadu State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted environmental clearance in 2023, and subsequently, the State government leased 3.73 hectares of land for a period of 10 years, according to documents available with The New Indian Express. Ironically, around the same period, the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary received the coveted Ramsar recognition. Environmentalist and bird expert M Yuvan told TNIE, 'The environmental impact of open-pit silica mining is large amounts of silica dust turning into suspended particulate matter. The mine is proposed within the ESZ of Kaliveli Bird Sanctuary, where tens of thousands of birds will be put at risk of silicosis and disorientation due to pollution. Post-mining, large amounts of water will be used for washing silica sand, which will create stress on the existing aquifers and wetlands, deteriorating the habitat's quality, along with creating surface runoff which will both contaminate and choke the wetlands in and around the bird sanctuary.' Official documents reveal that in the first five years, a total of 39,986 tonnes of silica sand will be mined. Officials from Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited claim that the mining activity is proposed to be carried out without any blasting or drilling. It is an opencast semi-mechanised mine and there will be negligible disturbance to the flora and fauna. When contacted, a senior official from the Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department told TNIE, 'The proposal was not yet appraised by the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL). We will critically evaluate the proposal when it comes before the SBWL and reject it if found adverse to the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary.' The SBWL recommendation is a prerequisite for obtaining clearance from the NBWL. Timeline: March 16, 2017: TAMIN files application for silica sand quarry lease. June 12, 2021: Industries Department gives approval. July 7, 2021: Directorate of Geology and Mines approves the mining plan of TAMIN. December 6, 2021: Government declares Kazhuveli wetland as bird sanctuary. The proposed mine is under half a kilometre from the sanctuary boundary. August 21, 2023: State Environment Impact Assessment Authority grants environmental clearance for silica sand mine. March 25, 2024: State government grants lease to TAMIN for mining silica sand mineral over an extent of 3.73 ha of government poramboke land in Vadaagram village in Marakkanam for a period of 10 years under Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959. The lease period is valid up to March 2034. March 19, 2025: TAMIN files application on Parivesh seeking clearance from National Board for Wildlife. Quantum of silica sand proposed to be mined in first five years. Year Recovery (Tonnes) 1 8,326 2 8,514 3 8,748 4 9,363 5 5,035 Total 39,986
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Karnataka set to get its first marine sanctuary near Karwar
Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to get its first marine sanctuary in Uttara Kannada district, with a key committee of Karnataka State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), headed by forest minister Eshwar Khandre , greenlighting the proposal. Formally called Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary , the proposal now awaits the formal nod from the state cabinet. The sanctuary near Karwar will sit over 5,960 hectares, of which 835 hectares comprise the territorial waterbody of Arabian Sea, extending up to 6km from the shore, and another 835 hectares will be laterite plateau. Sources said the proposal has been pending before the state cabinet ever since it was approved by SBWL headed by then CM BS Yediyurappa. The proposal suffered delays due to Covid. In 2022, it was brought back to the front burner. This will be India's seventh marine sanctuary after the two in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one each in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The Karnataka sanctuary will have 5,400 hectares of mangrove forests, along with endangered species such as humpback whales, spot-tail sharks, olive-ridley turtles, and 80 species of sea birds. The 14 species of coral reefs found around Netrani Island, over 50 phytoplankton, and more than 100 zooplankton species, along with two species of sea grass and 100-plus species of seaweeds, will also be part of the sanctuary, according to forest department. Bhimgad villagers to be rehabilitated on May 17 The SBWL standing committee has resolved to complete the controversial rehabilitation of villagers from Talaiwadi village in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district. This is the first non-tiger reserve rehabilitation project, which courted controversy over disparity in providing financial packages. While the state govt resolved to pay each of the 15 families Rs 15 lakh, villagers demanded more along with other facilities. Forest minister Eshwar Khandre had held a meeting with them in Dec 2024 and convinced the villagers to voluntarily relocate outside the forest. Officials said the villagers will be given cheques at a function in Bhimgad Sanctuary on May 17.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Karnataka, a step away from declaring its first marine sanctuary at Apsarakonda near Karwar
A draft estimation of the boundary of the Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary close to Honnavar, Karnataka. BENGALURU: Resolving hurdles for declaring Karnataka's first marine sanctuary, the standing committee of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), headed by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre , on Wednesday gave its approval to declare ' Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary ' as Karnataka's first marine sanctuary. Deferred multiple times previously, the proposal now awaits the state cabinet nod to be formally notified as the state's first marine sanctuary. Deliberating on the long-pending proposal, the committee unanimously resolved to recommend the project for final approval by the state cabinet. 'The sanctuary will cover an area of 5,960 hectares, out of which 835.02 hectares comprise the territorial water body of the Arabian Sea extending up to 6 km from the shore, and another 835.302 hectares of laterite plateau will be part of the marine sanctuary,' explained a forest official who was part of the meeting. The proposal to declare the first marine sanctuary of Karnataka was pending before the state cabinet ever since it was approved by the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), headed by then CM BS Yediyurappa. He even announced in his budget speech an allocation of Rs 1 crore for setting up the marine sanctuary. However, the proposal was deferred due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, in 2022, the official announcement was deferred yet again. However, the project finally gained momentum and was placed before the cabinet on Thursday. Once declared, this will be the seventh marine sanctuary of India after the two in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one each in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Out of the 5,960 hectares, the Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary will have 5,400 hectares of mangrove forests along with endangered species such as humpback whales, spot-tail sharks, olive-ridley turtles, and 80 species of sea birds. The 14 species of coral reefs found around Netrani Island, over 50 phytoplankton, and more than 100 zooplankton species, along with two species of sea grass and 100 plus species of seaweeds, will also be part of the sanctuary, according to senior officials from the Forest Department. Bhimgad villagers to be rehabilitated on May 17 The standing committee of the SBWL also resolved to complete the controversial rehabilitation of villagers from Talaiwadi village in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district. This is the first non-tiger reserve rehabilitation project which courted controversy over disparity in providing financial packages. While the state government resolved to pay each of the 15 families Rs 15 lakh, villagers demanded more money along with other facilities. However, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre held a midnight meeting with the villagers in December 2024 during the winter session of the legislature at Belagavi and convinced the villagers to voluntarily relocate outside the forest. Officials revealed that on May 17, the villagers will be handed over cheques at a function in Bhimgad Sanctuary.
