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The Wire
4 days ago
- General
- The Wire
‘Gruff Genius': Tiger Conservationist Valmik Thapar Dies At 73
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories 'Gruff Genius': Tiger Conservationist Valmik Thapar Dies At 73 Aathira Perinchery 14 minutes ago Thapar authored more than 30 books, including Tigers: The Secret Life (1989), The Last Tiger (2006) and Living With Tigers (2016). Tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar. Photo: Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Bengaluru: Valmik Thapar (73), one of India's fiercest tiger conservationists, and filmmaker and author of more than 30 books, died at New Delhi at his residence on the night of May 30, following an illness. He is survived by his wife and son. Senior Congress leader and former union environment Minister Jairam Ramesh who also was the chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, called it a 'great loss'. 'During my tenure as Chairman of the Standing Committee also he was a constant source of many valuable suggestions and advice. We had arguments but it was always an education to listen to him, full of passion and concern. He was truly an unforgettable one of a kind,' Ramesh added. Stepping into tiger conservation In the mid-1970s, Thapar's fascination for the tiger grew under the tutelage of Fateh Singh Rathore, former park director of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and National Park. Thapar spent a lot of his time at the Park, tracking, observing and studying the tigers he so loved. He also worked closely with Tiger Watch, a non-profit organisation that Rathore set up for tiger conservation in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. In 1987, Thapar founded the Ranthambore Foundation, to work closely with local communities around the Park. The Foundation launched several welfare programmes such as installing biogas plants in villages so that people would not have to go into forests for firewood, which could bring them into close proximity with tigers. Thapar authored more than 30 books, including Tigers: The Secret Life (1989), The Last Tiger (2006) and Living With Tigers (2016). Thapar was also a prolific filmmaker and wildlife presenter, and is perhaps most well-known for narrating the BBC series Land of The Tiger in 1997, in his trademark booming baritone. Thapar spent nearly five decades advocating for the tiger, and was part of more than 150 state and union government committees. Among them is the Tiger Task Force – constituted by the UPA government that was then in power, following the emptying of Sariska Tiger Reserve of all its tigers – of which he was appointed a member in 2005. 'His gruff genius is what it took for India and the world to acknowledge the tiger's magnificence' Thapar was a staunch critic of the way Project Tiger was run, and the bureaucratic hurdles that came in the way of tiger conservation. He didn't mince words, and often wrote to officials – including chief ministers and prime ministers – pointing out concerns and recommending solutions. He was also an advocate of protectionism, and believed that protected areas had to be inviolate of people; that people had to be removed from these areas to really foster tiger conservation. And yet, Thapar was clear that tigers that were dangerous had to be eliminated or taken away from parks. For instance, he was extremely vocal about how dangerous T-24 – a male tiger in Ranthambore that had killed people including forest guards and partially eaten its kills – was. In 2017, the Sanctuary Nature Foundation conferred on him their Lifetime Service Award – one among many he has received over the years. 'Author of 32 books, including four on Africa, presenter of 16 international documentary films, and an excellent orator, Valmik Thapar's gruff genius is what it took for India and the world to sit up and acknowledge the tiger's magnificence, its predicament, and the urgency for conservation. And for this, we honour him,' Sanctuary's note reads. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Two Forests Is RBI's New Plan for Bad Loans Just Another Quick Fix? India's Net Foreign Direct Investment Plummets by 96.5% to Reach Record Low Full Text: India is Getting Re-Hyphenated With Pakistan Because Under Modi We're Democratically Regressing India Needs a Clear National Security Strategy—Now More Than Ever China's Latest White Paper is on National Security in the New Era Rise in Share of Profit in GVA Has Not Translated into Increase in Wages: Report Lone NC MP in All-Party Delegations to Not Join His Group, Cites Urs at Native Village After the NEP Verdict, Education Is No Longer the Union Govt's Weapon About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ministry tells parliamentary panel of Namami Gange successes, gaps in waste management
File photo NEW DELHI: The Namami Gange programme has led to the entire stretch of the Ganga, except two areas in Uttar Pradesh, meeting bathing water standards on three criteria, with no incidence of fish mortality reported in the river's main stem since 2017, an official report has said. The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, in a note on water pollution to a parliamentary committee, has also highlighted a considerable gap in the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) -- a comprehensive policy aimed at disposal of various kinds of waste, obligations and the target achieved. Amid a push for the adoption of green vehicles , the communication noted that the nationwide EPR obligation for battery waste stood at more than 3.35 lakh metric tonnes but the target could be achieved only for 53,755 metric tonnes. The ministry has submitted the information to the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How can a 3-month-old get cancer? Please help! Give Hope India Donate Now Undo Similarly, the EPR obligation for plastic waste was for more than 34 lakh metric tonnes but the target could be achieved for around 19 lakh metric tonnes. The situation was, however, better in e-waste as the corresponding nationwide figures for it stood at more than 2.75 lakh metric tonnes and over 2.54 lakh metric tonnes. In the category of tyre waste, the respective figures were nearly 20.35 metric lakh tonnes and around 17.32 metric lakh tonnes. In its comments on the Namami Gange programme, launched by the Narendra Modi government for conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the note said its waters passed the pH, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand criteria for bathing except in the stretches between Farrukhabad and Purana Rajapur in Kanpur, and Mirzapur to Tarighat. It said no incidence of coloured water discharge and fish mortality in the river's main stem had been reported since 2017. The programme has also led to the saving of about 719 MLD (megalitres per day) of groundwater, annual energy conservation of 1,277 megawatts and reduction in carbon footprint, it added.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ministry tells parliamentary panel of Namami Gange successes, gaps in waste management
The Namami Gange programme has led to the entire stretch of the Ganga, except two areas in Uttar Pradesh, meeting bathing water standards on three criteria, with no incidence of fish mortality reported in the river's main stem since 2017, an official report has said. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in a note on water pollution to a parliamentary committee, has also highlighted a considerable gap in the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) -- a comprehensive policy aimed at disposal of various kinds of waste, obligations and the target achieved. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India much better equipped to target cross-border terror since Balakot India conducts maiden flight-trials of stratospheric airship platform Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships after New Delhi bans imports from Islamabad Amid a push for the adoption of green vehicles , the communication noted that the nationwide EPR obligation for battery waste stood at more than 3.35 lakh metric tonnes but the target could be achieved only for 53,755 metric tonnes. The ministry has submitted the information to the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change. 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 Wife won't let go of dog, husband finds out why and calls police - watch! Happy in Shape Undo Similarly, the EPR obligation for plastic waste was for more than 34 lakh metric tonnes but the target could be achieved for around 19 lakh metric tonnes. The situation was, however, better in e-waste as the corresponding nationwide figures for it stood at more than 2.75 lakh metric tonnes and over 2.54 lakh metric tonnes. Live Events In the category of tyre waste, the respective figures were nearly 20.35 metric lakh tonnes and around 17.32 metric lakh tonnes. In its comments on the Namami Gange programme, launched by the Narendra Modi government for conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the note said its waters passed the pH, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand criteria for bathing except in the stretches between Farrukhabad and Purana Rajapur in Kanpur, and Mirzapur to Tarighat. It said no incidence of coloured water discharge and fish mortality in the river's main stem had been reported since 2017. The programme has also led to the saving of about 719 MLD (megalitres per day) of groundwater, annual energy conservation of 1,277 megawatts and reduction in carbon footprint, it added.
