Global warming is the increase in the earth's temperature as a result of the green house effect. Certain gases such as Carbon-di-oxide, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane act as the additional blanket around the earth. They allow sun's heat to reach the earth surface and warm up the earth's temperature. Although, it is the natural phenomena occurring on the planet earth. Than with the increase in globalization, deforestation is the another devastating force behind global warming. It is the second main cause of releasing the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Trees collect the CO2 that we breath and give back oxygen that we breath in. Thus, as the trees dies, it leads to the greater concentration of CO2 into the environment. Global warming is constantly resulting in extreme high temperature of the surface, reduction of snow cover, and rise in the water level.
However the increasing human activities are significantly contributing to the cause of global warming. And the foremost among them is the clearing of the forests and converting them into the agricultural lands. Than the another threat to the environment is the burning of the fossil fuels by the industries, which forms the layer of the Sulphuric and the Nitric acid into the air. In this way the environment is dealing with some of the very serious problems, which are having its considerable effect on the climate too. So it has become really important to reduce the process of warming as soon as possible. Each one of our effort can save the environment from the serious hazards. Here are some of the simplest ways to slow down the system of global warming:-Using recyclable products : Start using recyclable products instead of disposables. By this you can reduce the waste which ultimately leads to global warming. You can buy those products from the market, which can be reused. However there are methods to recycle certain products such as plastic, glass and aluminum cans, paper and newspapers. Purchase energy efficient products : The most efficient way to reduce the global warming is to suggest various measures for the energy conservation. If you are planning to buy a new car choose the one that offers the good gas mileage. Get your car and other vehicles serviced periodically. Than the home energy accounts to biggest cause of global warming. Avoid products that come with the excessive packages, that cannot be recycled. If you save garbage at your house, you can save large amount of carbon-di-oxide annually. Turn off the heaters, air conditioners, coolers when not in use. Tree plantation : Grow trees in and around your house to lower down the temperature of your house. Infact tree plantation is the best possible way to combat global warming. They absorb the carbon-di-oxide and gives off oxygen. They also absorb the harmful gases generated by the vehicles. Reducing pollution : When you have to cover the shorter distance prefer walking or biking, which saves gasoline and reduces pollution caused by the vehicles. As the main reason for the increase in the global warming is the the gases emitted by the vehicles which has severely damage the ozone layer. And due to this the, the ultra violet rays and other harmful rays from the sun reaches out the earth causing the problem of global warming. Another way to reduce the air pollution caused by the industries into the atmosphere is to use the low Sulphur fuels instead of fossil fuels. Than there should be strict control on the emission of harmful gases from the industries.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Shocking Report Says Cigarette Smuggling Finances 'terrorist' Groups
new report has shockingly said that cigarette and tobacco smuggling finances militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and saps about 40 billion dollars a year from government budgets.
The claims were made as 160 countries resumed talks at the World Health Organisation on expanding an international anti-smoking treaty to clamp down on the illicit trade in tobacco. Apart from issues such as enforcement and coordination, the 10-day preparatory negotiations are also examining a possible halt to duty free sales of cigarettes or measures against Internet sales, WHO documents showed. An alliance of some 350 anti-tobacco campaign groups said in a statement that concerted action against the contraband and counterfeit cigarettes trade would far outweigh the 40.5 billion dollars in lost tax revenue. Some 11.6 percent of the global cigarette market was illicit, equivalent to some 657 billion cigarettes a year, the International Union Against Tobacco and Lung Disease estimated in a report. Citing enforcement officials, other researchers also alleged that "half a dozen terrorist" or militant groups rely on black market tobacco and smuggling for revenue. They included the Pakistani Taliban, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Hezbollah, leftwing FARC rebels in Colombia, the Real IRA in Northern Ireland, and a Tutsi rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We believe that tobacco has been second only to drugs as a source of finance to the Pakistani Taliban," David Kaplan, editorial director of the US-based Center for Public Integrity, told journalists
His body's report also highlighted "smuggling hubs" in China, Paraguay and Ukraine, where either illegally produced counterfeits or contraband excess production from legal factories were fuelling black markets around the world. It estimated that 80 percent of counterfeit cigarettes in the European Union and 99 percent of those sold on US streets were among the estimated 400 billion made illegally every year in China.
"Renegade factories, multinational companies and weak enforcement all play a role in fuelling this massive illegal trade, whose profits rival those of narcotics," said Bill Buzenberg, executive director of the Center. Legitimate cigarette factories in Ukraine helped feed a two billion dollar black market in the European Union, according to the report. "Ukraine... is overproducing and flooding the market," said one of the authors, Marina Walker Guevara. Meanwhile, plants in Paraguay produce 20 times what can be consumed in the country, and local officials estimated that some 90 percent of output -- one billion dollars -- disappeared into the black market, especially in South America. The report was produced by the center's International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, backed by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Washington. The WHO negotiations are aimed at expanding the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, that strengthened measures against smoking, possibly next year. One of the measures being considered is a ban, or restrictions, on duty free sales that are "often diverted into illicit trade," according to official reports for the meeting. They concluded that there would be no legal obstacles to such a ban, while a "track and trace" system on tobacco to prevent contraband was "feasible".
The claims were made as 160 countries resumed talks at the World Health Organisation on expanding an international anti-smoking treaty to clamp down on the illicit trade in tobacco. Apart from issues such as enforcement and coordination, the 10-day preparatory negotiations are also examining a possible halt to duty free sales of cigarettes or measures against Internet sales, WHO documents showed. An alliance of some 350 anti-tobacco campaign groups said in a statement that concerted action against the contraband and counterfeit cigarettes trade would far outweigh the 40.5 billion dollars in lost tax revenue. Some 11.6 percent of the global cigarette market was illicit, equivalent to some 657 billion cigarettes a year, the International Union Against Tobacco and Lung Disease estimated in a report. Citing enforcement officials, other researchers also alleged that "half a dozen terrorist" or militant groups rely on black market tobacco and smuggling for revenue. They included the Pakistani Taliban, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Hezbollah, leftwing FARC rebels in Colombia, the Real IRA in Northern Ireland, and a Tutsi rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "We believe that tobacco has been second only to drugs as a source of finance to the Pakistani Taliban," David Kaplan, editorial director of the US-based Center for Public Integrity, told journalists
His body's report also highlighted "smuggling hubs" in China, Paraguay and Ukraine, where either illegally produced counterfeits or contraband excess production from legal factories were fuelling black markets around the world. It estimated that 80 percent of counterfeit cigarettes in the European Union and 99 percent of those sold on US streets were among the estimated 400 billion made illegally every year in China.
"Renegade factories, multinational companies and weak enforcement all play a role in fuelling this massive illegal trade, whose profits rival those of narcotics," said Bill Buzenberg, executive director of the Center. Legitimate cigarette factories in Ukraine helped feed a two billion dollar black market in the European Union, according to the report. "Ukraine... is overproducing and flooding the market," said one of the authors, Marina Walker Guevara. Meanwhile, plants in Paraguay produce 20 times what can be consumed in the country, and local officials estimated that some 90 percent of output -- one billion dollars -- disappeared into the black market, especially in South America. The report was produced by the center's International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, backed by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Washington. The WHO negotiations are aimed at expanding the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, that strengthened measures against smoking, possibly next year. One of the measures being considered is a ban, or restrictions, on duty free sales that are "often diverted into illicit trade," according to official reports for the meeting. They concluded that there would be no legal obstacles to such a ban, while a "track and trace" system on tobacco to prevent contraband was "feasible".
HFCs - Protect The Ozone But Raise Global Warming
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), known for protecting the ozone layer from destruction, may also be responsible for global warming, a recent research has held. The research was conducted by scientists from NOAASHFC earth system research laboratory and theircolleagues, which do not contain ozone-destroying chlorine or bromine atoms, are used as substitutes for ozone-depleting compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in such uses as refrigeration, air conditioning, and the production of insulating foams. The researchers took a fresh look at how the global use of HFCs is expected to grow in coming decades. Using updated usage estimates and looking farther ahead than past projections (to the year 2050), they found that HFCs, especially from developing countries, will become an increasingly larger factor in future climate warming. "HFCs are good for protecting the ozone layer, but they are not climate friendly," said David W. Fahey, a scientist at NOAA and second author of the new study. "Our research shows that their effect on climate could become significantly larger than we expected, if we continue along a business-as-usual path," he added. HFCs currently have a climate change contribution that is small (less than 1 percent) in comparison to the contribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The researchers have shown that by 2050, the HFCs contribution could rise to 7 to 12 percent of what CO2 contributes, and if international efforts succeed in stabilizing CO2 emissions, the relative climate contribution from HFCs would increase further.NOAA's Earth System ResearHFCs, which do not contain ozone-destroying chlorine or bromine atoms, are used as substitutes for ozone-depleting compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in such uses as refrigeration, air conditioning, and the production of insulating foams. The researchers took a fresh look at how the global use of HFCs is expected to grow in coming decades. Using updated usage estimates and looking farther ahead than past projections (to the year 2050), they found that HFCs, especially from developing countries, will become an increasingly larger factor in future climate warming. "HFCs are good for protecting the ozone layer, but they are not climate friendly," said David W. Fahey, a scientist at NOAA and second author of the new study. "Our research shows that their effect on climate could become significantly larger than we expected, if we continue along a business-as-usual path," he added. HFCs currently have a climate change contribution that is small (less than 1 percent) in comparison to the contribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The researchers have shown that by 2050, the HFCs contribution could rise to 7 to 12 percent of what CO2 contributes, and if international efforts succeed in stabilizing CO2 emissions, the relative climate contribution from HFCs would increase further.
ch Laboratory and their colleagues.
ch Laboratory and their colleagues.
India has only around 1,500 tigers: govt survey
While the new survey shows a marginal decline in tiger numbers inside sanctuaries and protected areas, the tiger population outside them appears to have fallen drastically
There are only between 1,300-1,500 tigers left in India, according to a new study commissioned by the government. This figure is less than half the reported figure from the last official tiger census conducted in 2001, although many experts had questioned those numbers. The prime minister has promised action to tackle the alarming decline in the country?s tiger population.
The Wildlife Institute of India, which carried out the survey with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said the tiger population in reserves and protected areas had dropped marginally but had declined sharply in unprotected forest areas.
?Today?s presentation has brought home the fact that we may have made a mistake about wanting to have people co-exist with tigers, and become dinner. And it wasn?t such a good idea for people. The idea was to try and find ways to remove them from those areas and let nature rejuvenate itself,? said conservationist Prahalad Kakkar.
The survey was presented to a National Wildlife Board meeting, chaired by India?s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The new numbers confirm fears expressed when initial results from the study were reported in May. ?The earlier tiger census figures were exaggerated because there was a tendency that if you are a manager of a tiger reserve, if you did a census and showed a lower number, your knuckles were rapped,? added Belinda Wright, director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
The last major tiger census relied on estimating the population by examining tiger pugmarks; the current study is far more extensive and accurate, using camera ?traps? triggered by passing animals, as well as hundreds of wildlife officials tracking the animals through droppings and pugmarks.
Listing urgent measures that have been taken to bolster tiger conservation in India, the NTCA said, while releasing the study on November 2, that central assistance is being provided for the creation of a ?tiger protection force? comprising ex-army personnel and local people. This will complement the efforts of field staff and existing protection initiatives.
Meanwhile, renowned conservationist Valmik Thapar said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised prompt action to deal with the dwindling tiger population. ?Yesterday?s National Wildlife Board meeting headed by the prime minister was excellent. He came up with three solutions -- one, a sub-committee should be formed to look into tiger conservation; second, a tiger population force must be formed which should be headed by various state governments to check the number of tigers in every state; and third, a senior policeman should head a wildlife crime bureau that has been headless for quite some time now. These three ways will affect the tigers in a positive way. This could be the beginning of a new era in wildlife conservation. Government, NGOs and individuals can partner much better. The prime minister was very much in tune with the problem and is doing what needs to be done. So we are keeping our fingers crossed,? Thapar concluded.
A century ago, India?s tiger population was believed to number in the tens of thousands. But unchecked development, rampant poaching and population pressure on tiger habitats have rapidly depleted their
There are only between 1,300-1,500 tigers left in India, according to a new study commissioned by the government. This figure is less than half the reported figure from the last official tiger census conducted in 2001, although many experts had questioned those numbers. The prime minister has promised action to tackle the alarming decline in the country?s tiger population.
The Wildlife Institute of India, which carried out the survey with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said the tiger population in reserves and protected areas had dropped marginally but had declined sharply in unprotected forest areas.
?Today?s presentation has brought home the fact that we may have made a mistake about wanting to have people co-exist with tigers, and become dinner. And it wasn?t such a good idea for people. The idea was to try and find ways to remove them from those areas and let nature rejuvenate itself,? said conservationist Prahalad Kakkar.
The survey was presented to a National Wildlife Board meeting, chaired by India?s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The new numbers confirm fears expressed when initial results from the study were reported in May. ?The earlier tiger census figures were exaggerated because there was a tendency that if you are a manager of a tiger reserve, if you did a census and showed a lower number, your knuckles were rapped,? added Belinda Wright, director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
The last major tiger census relied on estimating the population by examining tiger pugmarks; the current study is far more extensive and accurate, using camera ?traps? triggered by passing animals, as well as hundreds of wildlife officials tracking the animals through droppings and pugmarks.
Listing urgent measures that have been taken to bolster tiger conservation in India, the NTCA said, while releasing the study on November 2, that central assistance is being provided for the creation of a ?tiger protection force? comprising ex-army personnel and local people. This will complement the efforts of field staff and existing protection initiatives.
Meanwhile, renowned conservationist Valmik Thapar said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised prompt action to deal with the dwindling tiger population. ?Yesterday?s National Wildlife Board meeting headed by the prime minister was excellent. He came up with three solutions -- one, a sub-committee should be formed to look into tiger conservation; second, a tiger population force must be formed which should be headed by various state governments to check the number of tigers in every state; and third, a senior policeman should head a wildlife crime bureau that has been headless for quite some time now. These three ways will affect the tigers in a positive way. This could be the beginning of a new era in wildlife conservation. Government, NGOs and individuals can partner much better. The prime minister was very much in tune with the problem and is doing what needs to be done. So we are keeping our fingers crossed,? Thapar concluded.
A century ago, India?s tiger population was believed to number in the tens of thousands. But unchecked development, rampant poaching and population pressure on tiger habitats have rapidly depleted their
India will not take on emission reduction targets: Ramesh
India will not sign any treaty that legally binds it to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh reiterated here Tuesday, attacking a proposed US legislation that seeks to financially punish countries that refuse to take on such targets.
At a time when climate change - along with terrorism and the economic downturn - is dominating the international agenda, Ramesh told the media that India 'must stop looking at climate change purely as an international issue'.
'It is most fundamentally a domestic and local issue, as it impacts water security, land productivity, agricultural yields and energy consumption.'
All countries are now negotiating an agreement to tackle climate change. They are scheduled to do so by this December, when the next climate summit will be held in Copenhagen.
Industrialised countries, which are already committed to reducing their GHG emissions by 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012, are putting immense pressure on India, China and other emerging economies to commit to GHG emissions reductions or at least caps.
These emissions - 75 percent of them of carbon dioxide - are warming the atmosphere and leading to climate change.
In this fractious atmosphere, Ramesh reiterated India's 'eight non-negotiable basic principles':
* India's per capita emission levels will never exceed the per capita emission levels of developed countries.
* India cannot and will not take on emission reduction targets because poverty eradication and social and economic development are the first and over-riding priorities; each human being has equal right to global atmospheric resources; 'common but differentiated responsibility' is the basis for all climate change actions.
* India will continue to be a low-carbon economy.
* India's primary focus is on adaptation (to climate change), with specific niches for mitigation (of GHG emissions).
* India has already unveiled a comprehensive National Action Plan on Climate Change, whose activities are in the public domain. Work on the action plan has been initiated.
* Only those 'nationally appropriate mitigation actions' can be subject to international monitoring, reporting and verification that are enabled and supported by international finance and technology transfer.
* India wants a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and advocates REDD+ that includes conservation, afforestation and sustainable management of forests.
* India advocates collaborative research and future low-carbon technology and access to intellectual property rights as global public goods.
Ramesh said industrialised countries that were responsible for almost all GHG in the atmosphere today should be far more proactive in reducing emissions. He described the bill passed by the US House of Representatives Monday as 'anaemic. The targets are very unambitious. And the most pernicious part of it is the climate tax.'
He welcomed US President Barack Obama's call to the US Senate to reject this part of the bill and said: 'India rejects the use of climate as a non-tariff barrier and will oppose the introduction of climate change talks in World Trade Organisation negotiations. We want barriers to trade environmental goods and services to be removed.'
At Bonn earlier this month, during the most recent preparatory talks for the Copenhagen summit, India, China and 36 other countries had submitted a proposal that industrialised countries be legally obliged to reduce their GHG emissions by at least 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Referring to this proposal, Ramesh told IANS: 'We don't want the developed countries to push back their commitments to 2050, when none of us here will be around. We want them to reduce their emissions by 2020, and to do it from 1990 levels, instead of pushing the baseline to 2005 as some of them are trying to do.'
At a time when climate change - along with terrorism and the economic downturn - is dominating the international agenda, Ramesh told the media that India 'must stop looking at climate change purely as an international issue'.
'It is most fundamentally a domestic and local issue, as it impacts water security, land productivity, agricultural yields and energy consumption.'
All countries are now negotiating an agreement to tackle climate change. They are scheduled to do so by this December, when the next climate summit will be held in Copenhagen.
Industrialised countries, which are already committed to reducing their GHG emissions by 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012, are putting immense pressure on India, China and other emerging economies to commit to GHG emissions reductions or at least caps.
These emissions - 75 percent of them of carbon dioxide - are warming the atmosphere and leading to climate change.
In this fractious atmosphere, Ramesh reiterated India's 'eight non-negotiable basic principles':
* India's per capita emission levels will never exceed the per capita emission levels of developed countries.
* India cannot and will not take on emission reduction targets because poverty eradication and social and economic development are the first and over-riding priorities; each human being has equal right to global atmospheric resources; 'common but differentiated responsibility' is the basis for all climate change actions.
* India will continue to be a low-carbon economy.
* India's primary focus is on adaptation (to climate change), with specific niches for mitigation (of GHG emissions).
* India has already unveiled a comprehensive National Action Plan on Climate Change, whose activities are in the public domain. Work on the action plan has been initiated.
* Only those 'nationally appropriate mitigation actions' can be subject to international monitoring, reporting and verification that are enabled and supported by international finance and technology transfer.
* India wants a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and advocates REDD+ that includes conservation, afforestation and sustainable management of forests.
* India advocates collaborative research and future low-carbon technology and access to intellectual property rights as global public goods.
Ramesh said industrialised countries that were responsible for almost all GHG in the atmosphere today should be far more proactive in reducing emissions. He described the bill passed by the US House of Representatives Monday as 'anaemic. The targets are very unambitious. And the most pernicious part of it is the climate tax.'
He welcomed US President Barack Obama's call to the US Senate to reject this part of the bill and said: 'India rejects the use of climate as a non-tariff barrier and will oppose the introduction of climate change talks in World Trade Organisation negotiations. We want barriers to trade environmental goods and services to be removed.'
At Bonn earlier this month, during the most recent preparatory talks for the Copenhagen summit, India, China and 36 other countries had submitted a proposal that industrialised countries be legally obliged to reduce their GHG emissions by at least 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Referring to this proposal, Ramesh told IANS: 'We don't want the developed countries to push back their commitments to 2050, when none of us here will be around. We want them to reduce their emissions by 2020, and to do it from 1990 levels, instead of pushing the baseline to 2005 as some of them are trying to do.'
Nano to rule cities as green norms push M800 off road
THE world’s cheapest car, Nano, is likely to wrest the leadership position in the small car segment within a year as the ruling market leaders — Maruti 800 and Omni — will no longer be sold in 11 of India’s biggest cities from January 2010 because of failure to meet current emission norms. These cities account for one out of two cars sold in the country. “This (absence of Maruti 800 and Omni) would mean no direct competition to Nano. The important question is whether Tata Motors would be able to manufacture enough units of Nano that would meet the demand.” said Kapil Arora, Partner (Automobile), Ernst & Young. Although Nano could become the highest selling car in its segment, it would take some time to contribute to Tata Motors’ sagging bottomline. Mr Arora said Tata Motors, which suffered a Rs 2,500-crore loss last year largely due the tribulations of its UK subsidiary Jaguar and Land Rover, needs to sell at least 2.5 lakh units of the Nano to make money from the world’s cheapest car. The company may be in a position to produce the Nano in these numbers only by the end of 2010 once its plant at Sanand, Gujarat becomes operational. The entry-level Maruti 800, the flagship product of Maruti Suzuki India, is priced at Rs 2.15 lakh. The basic version of the Nano is pegged at Rs 1.35 lakh though other version with more more features cost more. “The pricing strategy of the product is not decided yet. The price of the Nano could go up. The margin at the moment is wafer thin, “ he added. The company spokesperson said: “The first one lakh allotments (of the Nano) are price-protected as prices were declared at the launch. For others, should circumstances require any pricing decision, it will be intimated to them (customers who have booked the car) at the time of delivery.” The company is also planning to launch the diesel version of the Nano. There has been speculation that the diesel Nano could cost around Rs 2 lakh, making it the cheapest car in the category.
Pollution control board officials collect samples from Sewree mudflats to check toxicity
Following the case of a flamingo’s collapse in the swamps of the highly polluted suburb of Sewri last week “due to toxicity in the water”, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has collected water samples from the mudflats for thorough chemical analysis.
BD Wadde, MPCB regional officer in Mumbai, said that on May 19, immediately after the incident, his officials visited the spot where the migratory bird was found, and collected about two-and-a half litre of water to carry out detailed tests. The samples have now been forwarded to the MPCB labs and results will be out in a month.
“We have to ensure that dissolved oxygen (DO) has not fallen below 5 mg per litre. If that happens, the aquatic animals may die due to suffocation,” Wadde said.
The pH level, DO levels, turbidity, total dissolved solid, ammonical nitrogen content, nitrate, phosphate, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) as well as the total and faecal coliform contents in the water will also be checked.
A separate micro pollutant test will also be carried out to rule out pesticide content in the water. This test will check for DDT, endosulphan, aldrin, diedrin, methyl parathion, chloropyriphos etc in the water. Existence of toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and iron will also be checked.
However, pollution control board officials suspected that high effluent contents in the water may not have caused the bird’s collapse. “There are very few industries within the city and there is a stringent check on waste disposal. It is not possible that the mudflats are so polluted. This seems like a one off case and it is possible that the bird could have had a bad health condition,” he explained.
Flamingo still not wellThe flamingo found at the mudflats two weeks ago is still battling to recover at the SPCA Hospital. The bird, which had diarrhea and was vomiting blood, when it was hospitalised, is now finding it difficult to walk or fly. “The flamingo has been put on a treatment of vitamin tonics and supplements. The toxins seem to have damaged its nerves. It is lying prostrate and not standing up, said Dr Y Kaginkar of the SPCA Hospital. The toxins in the bird’s system cannot be checked as the veins of the bird are delicate now. “When the bird becomes strong, I shall conduct further tests,” adds Kaginkar
BD Wadde, MPCB regional officer in Mumbai, said that on May 19, immediately after the incident, his officials visited the spot where the migratory bird was found, and collected about two-and-a half litre of water to carry out detailed tests. The samples have now been forwarded to the MPCB labs and results will be out in a month.
“We have to ensure that dissolved oxygen (DO) has not fallen below 5 mg per litre. If that happens, the aquatic animals may die due to suffocation,” Wadde said.
The pH level, DO levels, turbidity, total dissolved solid, ammonical nitrogen content, nitrate, phosphate, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) as well as the total and faecal coliform contents in the water will also be checked.
A separate micro pollutant test will also be carried out to rule out pesticide content in the water. This test will check for DDT, endosulphan, aldrin, diedrin, methyl parathion, chloropyriphos etc in the water. Existence of toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and iron will also be checked.
However, pollution control board officials suspected that high effluent contents in the water may not have caused the bird’s collapse. “There are very few industries within the city and there is a stringent check on waste disposal. It is not possible that the mudflats are so polluted. This seems like a one off case and it is possible that the bird could have had a bad health condition,” he explained.
Flamingo still not wellThe flamingo found at the mudflats two weeks ago is still battling to recover at the SPCA Hospital. The bird, which had diarrhea and was vomiting blood, when it was hospitalised, is now finding it difficult to walk or fly. “The flamingo has been put on a treatment of vitamin tonics and supplements. The toxins seem to have damaged its nerves. It is lying prostrate and not standing up, said Dr Y Kaginkar of the SPCA Hospital. The toxins in the bird’s system cannot be checked as the veins of the bird are delicate now. “When the bird becomes strong, I shall conduct further tests,” adds Kaginkar
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