Category Archives: Nature

Madras Christian College hosts conference on tribal development

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature

Chennai :

Tribal children from Wayanad got their first experience of a train ride when they travelled from Nilgiris to Chennai on Thursday to give cultural performances in front of academics and biodiversity authorities at a national conference on Forest, Livelihood and Tribal Development.

The conference, organized by the department of social work at Madras Christian College in Tambaram here saw researchers, academics and students from 15 states, including the northeast, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, discuss issues impacting tribals in different parts of the country.

Speaking on the Tribal Rights Act and its Implementation on Forest Dwellers, former Tamil Nadu principal chief conservator of forests C K Sreedharan said that if the concerned machinery expected to implement the Act did not believe in it, then the whole thing was bound to be a failure. “After a policy decision is made, the officials in charge of implementing it should accept the decision. Tribals need a lot of support from everybody. A lot depends on the sincerity and commitment of civic servants and local implementation organizations,” he added.

Responding to a question from the audience after his talk, Sreedharan said there were no loopholes in the Forest Rights Act 2006 but a lot had been denied to the tribals for a number of years.

Conference coordinator D Prince Annadurai said that the tribal population in India was at the receiving end because of several big corporate projects and that there was an increasing need to bring them to the limelight to provide intervention so that they could reap the benefits of development and to learn from their practices and ways. It was not an attempt to change their lifestyle overnight, he said.

Peter Ronald, project manager of the Nilgiris Wayanad Tribal Welfare Society, said that the trip gave the children, representing Paniya and Kaatunayaka communities of Wayanad, exposure to the world outside their communities. “After seeing the college, one of the children told me that he wants to study in MCC after he finishes school. That’s the kind of experience we want to give these children,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Tribals / M. Ramya, TNN / October 03rd, 2013

Exporters’ rush to secure space in Spices Park

Business & Economy, Nature, Science & Technologies
A view of Spices Park at Muthupatti, near Sivaganga. / Photo: L. Balachandar / The Hindu
A view of Spices Park at Muthupatti, near Sivaganga. / Photo: L. Balachandar / The Hindu

The park has come up on a sprawling 75.73 acres near Sivaganga

Exporters of spices in southern districts vie with one another to get a coveted space in the maiden Spices Park at Muthupatti near here.

When Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram laid the foundation stone for the park in the nondescript Muthupatti on the outskirts of Sivaganga in August 2008, not many exporters were aware of the facility on the anvil. And when he inaugurated the park on October 6 exporters started making a beeline to set up their units.

“Soon after the inauguration there was overwhelming response from the exporters and 25 units were booked in no time. There were more than 25 applications for the remaining 12 slots and they will be allotted on the first-come first served basis,” Mr S. Nallakannu, Deputy Director, Spices Board, Sivaganga, told The Hindu. The allotment process would be completed in the next two weeks, he added.

Each unit, measuring one acre and above was being allotted at the rate of Rs. 5 lakh per acre to the exporters, who were registered with Spices Board India. The exporters should set up the facilities within the stipulated two year period and those who failed to do so would forfeit the allotment, he said.

The Madurai based M/s Devi Industries has been allotted four units and it expected to commence the work shortly, he said. In the next two years, the park would be buzzing with activity, providing direct and indirect employment to as many as 2,000 people in this area, Mr Nallakannu said.

The park had been created mainly to empower the farmers who grow spices in and around the district and ensure better price realisation besides helping exporters to process the products and export after adding value, he said. Farmers from Ilayankudi, Kalayarkoil, RS Mangalam, Kamudhi could benefit from the park.

Established at a cost of Rs. 20 crore, the park has come up on a sprawling 75.73 acres. It was divided into two zones – facilitating zone and exporters’ zone. In the facilitating zone, two semi-automatic plants had been set up to process and add value to chilli and coriander (in one plant) and turmeric.

The plant for processing chilli and coriander had the capacity to grind the two products at 500 kg an hour and automatically pack the powder in 50 gm to 5 kg in retail packing and 5 kg to 50 kg in bulk packing. The plant also had the capacity to process two tonnes of whole chilli in an hour and pack them in 25 and 50 kg bags, he added.

The two plants were in operation and farmers could make use of the facilities to process their spices products and sell them after value addition and for better price realisation, he said.

The facilitating zone also had two godowns for keeping raw material and finished goods, a sterilisation plant, administrative office building, building for bank, fire fighting system and a power house, he said. The export zone had facilities like a 1.6 lakh litre capacity water tank, roads, underground water lines, stormwater drainage and weigh bridge, besides external lightings, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> TamilNadu / by Walter Scott / Sivaganga – October 27th, 2013

Donkey’s milk still in demand in Chennai

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies
The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400. / Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400. / Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu

Many continue to believe that donkey’s milk boosts immunity in newborns; doctors disagree

Vijaya, a resident of Perambur, recently gave her five-day-old great grandson donkey’s milk believing it would clear his throat and cure his cold. She said this was an accepted practice with her family.

Like Vijaya and her family, many others in the city hold on to this age-old “belief” that donkey’s milk boosts immunity and gives clarity of voice to newborns. Doctors decry this practice.

K. Githa, former professor of neonatology of Madras Medical College, said donkey’s milk had no proven benefits. Many other doctors agree with her. They have come across newborns with complaints of infections due to poor handling of the donkey’s milk administered to them.

“Some say donkey’s milk is equivalent to mother’s milk but unhygienic handling could lead to infections. I have heard of babies getting aspirated when the milk is forcibly fed by elders,” V. Kalaivani, superintendent of Government Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar (RSRM) Lying-in Hospital, said.

“Mothers should feed colostrum (first milk) to their babies. The constituents of donkey’s milk, such as proteins and sugar levels, vary. There are chances of the newborns developing infections. We advise them not to give donkey’s milk, sugar water and honey,” Dr. Githa said.

The infections could manifest as diarrhoea leading to dehydration especially if the baby was not exclusively breastfed, said T. Srikala Prasad, senior assistant professor of Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children.

The sale of donkey’s milk is now limited to a few pockets in the city such as Perambur, Royapuram and Mylapore. But the milk is expensive and a few millilitres cost Rs. 200 to Rs. 400.

The family of Duraikannu, who works at the Chennai Corporation’s dhobi ghat on Veeraperumal Koil Street in Mylapore, sells donkey’s milk regularly.

“My uncle’s son owns a donkey and we sell milk in the morning. A “paladai” (a small feeding device) of milk costs Rs. 350 to Rs. 400. On certain days, we get five customers and there are lean days when we get just two,” he said. He cautioned that some unscrupulous sellers mixed donkey’s milk with cow’s milk.

Porkodi of Washermenpet regularly sells donkey’s milk near RSRM Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram in the early hours of the day. “I milk the animal in front of the buyers. Sometimes, there are 10 customers, mainly from the nearby maternity hospital,” she said. She claimed the milk was good for children suffering from fits and cold.

A resident of Mylapore said two families owning donkeys regularly sold the milk on P.S. Sivasamy Salai, Mylapore, but stopped recently. “Several persons used to come for the milk. Some sellers purchase milk from Perambur and sell it here. Nobody knows if it is donkey’s milk,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Citites> Chennai / by Serena Jospehine. M / Chennai – October 24th, 2013

Mahabs shell museum houses 40,000 varieties

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Records, All
K Raja Mohamed explains his collection of seashells to two tourists from UK at his India seashell museum at Mahabalipuram on Sunday. An avid collector of seashells, his find of 40,000 shells is on display at the museum all round the week. —DC
K Raja Mohamed explains his collection of seashells to two tourists from UK at his India seashell museum at Mahabalipuram on Sunday. An avid collector of seashells, his find of 40,000 shells is on display at the museum all round the week. —DC

Mahabalipuram:

For the first time in the country, an exclusive museum has been set up in the coastal town of Mahaba­lipuram to conserve and document marine life, particularly seashells and their biodiversity.

The museum is a now home to about 40,000 types of shells collected over a period of 33 years from different seabeds of Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and Japan. The rib cages of whales and teeth fossils of sharks have also been preserved in the museum which is now a hit with foreigners.

“Since my childhood, I have been collecting shells as a passion. It all started from the coastal waters of Cuddalore and then extended to the shallow waters of Kasimedu and Rames­waram coast,” says a beaming Raja Mohammad, founder of India Seashell Museum.

“There have been days when I had to cough up my day’s food expense to buy a shell or a marine fossil that cost several lakhs. The museum is now open to the public at a nominal charge and we have approached former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, seeking his expertise on converting the museum into an interpretation centre for children and a place for studies on seashells and marine organisms. He has responded positively and will soon visit the centre.”

“The shell museum is a dream come true and I want to convert the centre into a resource place for those who want to explore marine shells and their anatomy and biology. This is the biggest museum in south Asia for shells and the process of collecting more specimens is under way,” says Mohammad who is a school dropout and depends on marine biologists for technically supplementing his museum.

“The collections are amazing. I never thought that seashells were so rich in colour. It is a beautiful experience to gaze at the specimens collected from the seabed,” says foreign tourist Anne Hallam from the UK.

“The museum with expensive pearl varieties and rare exhibits from different parts of the world is highly informative,” says another foreign tourist, Meryl Prothero.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by C.S. Koteswaran / October 28th, 2013

A basket of 12,000 surprises

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature, World Opinion
Sathya Narayanan sells exotic vegetables and fruits at Anna Nagar. /. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
Sathya Narayanan sells exotic vegetables and fruits at Anna Nagar. /. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu

Sathya Narayanan imports a bewildering array of exotic fruits and vegetables. Vipasha Sinha does a quick count

It always happens to cooking enthusiasts. They keenly watch the master class of Master Chef Australia and drop the pen the moment they hear about the ingredients. The problem: half the ingredients they use are not available here and often, they have no substitutes. Here is where Sathya Narayanan chips in.

His basket of surprises are 12,000 exotic fruits and vegetables from across the world that include artichokes, all kinds of avocados, baby leeks, baby patty pan, berries of all kinds, kiwis, kohlrabi, kumquats, laos, leeks, shimiji mushroom, eryngi/king oyster mushroom, enoki mushroom, portebello, chive flowers and the list continues.

Sathya has been importing international fruits and vegetables for a year now. “I realised that there is a niche market for exquisite fruits and vegetables. I supply appropriate ingredients for international menu to several five-star hotels,” says Sathya.

He says, “For those who live abroad, the very name of an Indian vegetable or ingredient makes them excited. Likewise, the expats here long for ingredients from their country. There is a considerable amount of Korean people living here and I supply them necessary ingredients.”

As these fruits and vegetables are imported, quality is an important concern. “Fresh stock arrives every week and are kept in cold storage under hygienic condition and they are supplied immediately, therefore preventing wastage,” he says.

Sathya has plans to supply items to two hypermarkets in Chennai.

He also says these ingredients can change the taste of the regular food.

“Many of these produce can be used instead of the regular vegetables and the taste changes completely,” he says.

You can get in touch with Sathya at fruitmarx@gmail.com or call 24798385.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> DownTown / by Vipasha Sinha / Chennai – October 26th, 2013

Minister inaugurates cane grinding works

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature

With three months to go for the Pongal festival, known for sweet Pongal,  the sugarcane grinding season has commenced in the district.

Rural Industries Minister Mohan initiated  the sugarcane grinding process here on Friday in Periyasevalai Sengalvarayan Sugar  Mill. The function was presided over by Villupuram Collector Sampath and joint chairman Gnanamurthi.

During the function, the Rural Inustries Minister said, starting on Friday, the sugarcane grinding process would continue till March 15, in Periyasevalai Corporation Sugar Mill. The sugarcane cultivated in the regions of Thiruvannainellur,  Sithalingamadam, Ulundurpet, Arasur, Enadhimangalam and Pillayarkuppam, which has been partitioned as  mill site-I and mill site-II, is ground in Periyasevalai Corporation Sugar Mill .

As many as 4,14,995 metric tonne of sugarcane which has been cultivated on 15,030 hectares is to be ground in the Sengalvarayan Sugar Mill. The minister affirmed that the 9,000 villagers in these regions would be benefited by this process of grinding sugarcane.

Executive director of the Corporation Sugar Anbarasu presided over the function and he was accompanied by other officials.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / Express News Service – Villipuram / October 19th, 2013

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University releases 4 new maize varieties at national level

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Four maize varieties have been recently released by the maize department of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at the national level this year.

All of them have passed rigorous field trials held across various states. “These varieties have passed tests proving that they have a higher productivity than 4 high varieties,” said G Nallathambi, professor of maize breeding, department of millets at TNAU. These maize varieties were developed with the support of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). A variety tested successfully in 4 states can be released at the national level.

Nallathambi said that maize is considered to be a crop which would replace rice at the global level. “With temperature rise, paddy is becoming tough to cultivate, whereas maize is an ideal substitute,” he said. Moreover, without any support mechanisms, farmers are able to get attractive rates.

Thousands of products can be developed from maize. This includes food, poultry feed and industry products. “The uses of maize are growing. Glucose and starch can be made from maize. Maize is even used to build the outer body part of airplanes. United States is focusing on developing bio-fuels from maize. Maize takes around 75 to 110 days to mature.

In 2005-06, maize was cultivated across 2 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu, generating an annual production of 2.41 lakh tonnes. In 2011-12, when the latest study was held, the cultivation area was 2.81 lakh hectares and productivity stood at 16.95 lakh tonnes. While in 2005-06, the average productivity was 1,189 kilos per hectare, it increased to 6,042 kilos per hectare in 2011-12. “This jump in the productivity levels can be attributed to improved varieties of crops from both the public and private sectors.

Nallathambi said that many crop varieties are in the pipeline. Meanwhile, one of their varieties released last year, CO6, which is known as CMH08-282 at the national level has begun to receive acceptance from other states. Two weeks ago they received a letter from the Gujarat State Seeds Corporation (GSSC) saying that they wanted to take up the production of CO6 variety of seeds and sought seeds from the centre. “We hope our efforts will help fulfill the food requirements of the nation,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Maize / by Arun P. Mathew, TNN / October 07th, 2013

State gets exclusive sanctuary for spotted deer

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature
Spotted deer roaming freely at Gangaikondan reserve forest./ Photo: A. Shaikmohideen / The Hindu
Spotted deer roaming freely at Gangaikondan reserve forest./ Photo: A. Shaikmohideen / The Hindu

Gangaikondan sanctuary in Tirunelveli notified

Tamil Nadu now has an exclusive sanctuary for spotted deer with the State government notifying the formation of Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary.

An order from the Environment and Forests Department said this follows an announcement this May by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the Assembly that the sanctuary in Tirunelveli district would be formed in the current fiscal.

With this, there would be 11 wildlife sanctuaries in the State.

Subsequently, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden sent necessary proposal for declaration of Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and it was accepted by the government with effect from October 1.

According to the notification, the Gangaikondan reserve forest is an important habitat for spotted deer. This is the southern most habitat of spotted deer outside the Western Ghats. It is also a habitat for peafowls, mongoose, varied reptiles, avifauna.

There is adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological, natural and other zoological significance for the purpose of protection, propagation and management of the wildlife and its environment.

Forest officials said the sanctuary is spread over in 250ha and surrounded by patta lands. Due to this a perimeter wall has to be built around the sanctuary area. The forest type is dry deciduous and scrub jungle, which is strategically located on the National Highway 7 and 10km away from the Tirunelveli town.

The department proposes to introduce eco-development activities by involving the locals. The activities included skill development for youth, asset creation and micro enterprises for livelihood, the authorities added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> TamilNadu / by P. Oppili / N. RaviKumar / Chennai – October 09th, 2013

Here’s rice that your doctors won’t object to

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
Dr Mohan’s high fibre rice could be the answer to the rice craving of diabetics. | Martin Louis/File
Dr Mohan’s high fibre rice could be the answer to the rice craving of diabetics. | Martin Louis/File

The first thing that your doctor will do the minute your blood sugar levels inch above 120 mg/dL, is probably look at you reproachfully, shake his head and tell you to lay off rice for lunch and dinner.

In fact, most new diabetics will admit that laying off the rice in ‘meals’ and switching to chappatis is one of the most trying things about being a ‘sugar’ patient. All that could very well change, if diabetologist Dr V Mohan’s new variety of rice lives up to its promises.

Launched in the city on Wednesday, Dr Mohan’s Jeevan Dharini High Fibre Rice and Rice Rava could be the answer for the rice craving of diabetics. Though the carbohydrate content in Dr Mohan’s rice is just a shade lower than your regular Ponni varieties, the difference is in the glycemic index and the fibre content, says the diabetologist. “Where normal varieties of rice have only 0.8 gms of dietary fibre, our rice has 8.3 gms of fibre making  it an extremely healthy and safe option,” says Dr V Mohan. For daily consumption? “Of course, with a little bit of smart moderation,” he adds.

This variety of rice has been developed after years of research and researching over 200 varieties of rice, he states. “We finally found this hybrid variety that comes from a cross with the local ponni variety that is extremely tasty and yet has some great nutritional numbers,” says Dr Mohan. This is the second rice product that they have rolled out – their brown rice variety didn’t quite set the ball rolling because it wasn’t quite attractive to look at nor was it exceptionally tasty, “People need rice to appeal to their senses – it has to be white, tasty, fragrant and still be healthy. That’s the combination we’ve managed to work out here,” said Dr R M Anjana, VP of Dr Mohan’s Institutions, as she rolled out a whole bunch of recipes that were moulded around this rice.

The rice varieties were tested and perfected at their research centre in collaboration with Dr M S Swaminathan’s Research Foundation (MSSRF), explaining why he was the first to receive the rice, “There are over 1.5 lakh varieties of rice in the world,” he says, “I know because I’ve worked with lots of them. Many of them are yet to be tapped for their true medicinal properties and their dietary structure. I hope that Dr Mohan will look into some more research in this field,” said Dr M S Swaminathan. Foodking Sarathbabu E and Bindu Sharma, patent attorney were also present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / July 18th, 2013

Ragi dish, 2 others win in CMC contest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Food items like ragi paniyaram, green gram fry, fenugreek mixed salad and green gram modak were among the food items cooked by the winner of the first prize in the diabetic cookery competition, conducted by the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism attached to the Christian Medical College here on Sunday.

According to Dr Nihal Thomas, head of the department, the competition was conducted to commemorate World Diabetes Day, to create awareness on the nutritional aspects of diabetes management.

A total of 10 teams presented their culinary skills in the cooking competition with the theme “Diabetic sweet and diabetic salads”. Maheshwari from the Dietary department, CMC Vellore, who prepared ragi paniyaram, green gram fry, fenugreek mixed salad and green gram modak, won the first prize. The judges for the event were Mahendri, Head of the Department of Dietetics (CMC), Dr Renu George from the Department of Dermatology (CMC) and Dr Anitha Alfred.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> TamilNadu / by Express News Service – Vellore / October 02nd, 2013