A recent study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) shows that the number of people in rural areas employed in agriculture and allied sectors have reduced from 11% to 49% during the last decade. In 2011-12, only 231 million people were engaged in agriculture as against the 261 million in 2009-10. Rural employment shows an improvement in the other sectors such as manufacturing, mining, construction or services, but has declined in agriculture.
The Society for Conservation of Nature (SCON) has initiated the 'Save Wetland Save Sarus' campaign, for protection of the Sarus crane (Grus antigone) in Etawah and Manipuri districts. The organisation has demanded that authorities declare the 35 km stretch spread across the five wetlands in the two districts as 'Sarus Safari'. Sarus crane, the state bird of Uttar Pradesh, is under threat as the state government takes no actions to protect the wetlands from being encroached upon by land mafia in the region.
285 people in Karnataka died of diseases caused by drinking contaminated water between 2010-2013. The deaths were the highest in 2012, informs the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Another survey by Eureka Forbes and research institution GFK found Bengaluru's drinking water as the most contaminated than other cities. Acute diarrhoeal diseases, enteric fever (typhoid), viral hepatitis, cholera and acute encephalitis are the five diseases attribting to deaths in the state.
The expansion of Khaparkheda power station of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) in Nagpur poses a serious threat to the Kanhan river. The plant has started construction of a new ash bund for the disposal of fly ash without any approval from a competent authority and within the river's no development zone. The matter has come into the notice of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, which will be issuing a show cause notice to the state-run plant for violation of norms.
The Rivers of the World Foundation (RWF), a US-based organisation, is all set to rejuvenate lakes in Bengaluru and Mysore by suggesting environmental measures and simple corrective steps for the lakes' revival. RWF's senior scientist has visited Kukkarahalli Lake in Mysore and various lake in Bengaluru and will be recommending simple techniques to clear the space around the lakes. Looking at its past success in cleaning the rivers around the world, RWF is hopeful of reviving lakes in Mysore and Bengaluru.
This is a weekly roundup of important news from January 26-February 1, 2014. Also read last week's policy matters updates.