Rajasthan
Raptors: Birds Continue To Die Despite Court Order For Underground Power Lines | Jaipur News
Jaisalmer: Tragic incidents of birds colliding with high-intensity power lines continue to plague the grasslands and Orans habitats of Jaisalmer, despite a Supreme Court order mandating the undergrounding of these power lines. On Thursday, a Short Toed Snake Eagle, one of the largest raptors, lost its life after colliding with these wires. Just a few days earlier, a peacock met a similar fate due to electrical current on a pole in the rich habitat surrounding Shree Degrai Temple Oran, as reported by local environmental activists Sumer Singh Bhati and Parth Jagani.
Jagani highlighted that Jaisalmer’s dry grasslands are home to more than 30 species of raptors, yet there are insufficient safety measures to protect their habitats.He emphasized the need for research studies to determine the exact numbers of raptor species and the consequences arising from changes and developments in these grassland ecosystems.
Sumit Dookia, the Chief Honorary Scientist at the ERS Foundation, shed light on the fact that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by renowned conservationist Dr. M. K. Ranjitsinh in the Honorable Supreme Court, along with others. In April 2021, the Court identified high-energy powerlines as a direct threat to bird species and directed all stakeholders to prioritize efforts in this regard. Two areas in Rajasthan were designated as Priority Areas and Potential Areas, with specific directives for new power lines not to be commissioned in the Priority Area, and all existing power lines up to 33 KV to be undergrounded, while lines above 33 KV must be equipped with bird diverters.
Dookia elaborated, “A rapid survey conducted by the ERDS Foundation between April and June 2023 revealed that none of the power lines have been moved underground. Only a few stretches of certain lines were found to be equipped with bird diverters, which amounts to less than 20% of the entire network of powerlines in Jaisalmer district alone. Furthermore, in areas where bird diverters were placed, more than 30-60% of their functional reflecting discs were broken or had fallen to the ground, indicating the poor quality of these Bird Diverters.”
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Jagani highlighted that Jaisalmer’s dry grasslands are home to more than 30 species of raptors, yet there are insufficient safety measures to protect their habitats.He emphasized the need for research studies to determine the exact numbers of raptor species and the consequences arising from changes and developments in these grassland ecosystems.
Sumit Dookia, the Chief Honorary Scientist at the ERS Foundation, shed light on the fact that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by renowned conservationist Dr. M. K. Ranjitsinh in the Honorable Supreme Court, along with others. In April 2021, the Court identified high-energy powerlines as a direct threat to bird species and directed all stakeholders to prioritize efforts in this regard. Two areas in Rajasthan were designated as Priority Areas and Potential Areas, with specific directives for new power lines not to be commissioned in the Priority Area, and all existing power lines up to 33 KV to be undergrounded, while lines above 33 KV must be equipped with bird diverters.
Dookia elaborated, “A rapid survey conducted by the ERDS Foundation between April and June 2023 revealed that none of the power lines have been moved underground. Only a few stretches of certain lines were found to be equipped with bird diverters, which amounts to less than 20% of the entire network of powerlines in Jaisalmer district alone. Furthermore, in areas where bird diverters were placed, more than 30-60% of their functional reflecting discs were broken or had fallen to the ground, indicating the poor quality of these Bird Diverters.”
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Workers few, waste mounds still line streets
Residents in Gurgaon have complained that private agencies hired to handle garbage collection and street sweeping are not working efficiently. They claim that fewer workers are being deployed, resulting in irregular cleaning of colonies. The private agencies took over the work in September, but residents say that the agencies have not assigned duties to their sanitation staff area-wise, leading to irregular services. MCG officials have imposed penalties on the agencies and given them 10 days to improve their work or face blacklisting.
Residents in Gurgaon have complained that private agencies hired to handle garbage collection and street sweeping are not working efficiently. They claim that fewer workers are being deployed, resulting in irregular cleaning of colonies. The private agencies took over the work in September, but residents say that the agencies have not assigned duties to their sanitation staff area-wise, leading to irregular services. MCG officials have imposed penalties on the agencies and given them 10 days to improve their work or face blacklisting.
‘Singing’ national anthem and ‘reciting’ certain words or lines out of it are two different things: Court
A magistrates court in Mumbai dismissed a complaint against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging she disrespected the national anthem. The court stated that singing and reciting certain words of the anthem are not the same and cannot be equated. The court also mentioned that it would not be the intention of legislation to prosecute someone who explains the anthem to an audience. The complaint was made by a BJP secretary, who claimed that Banerjee sang the anthem in a sitting position and abruptly stopped. The court observed that the video footage did not support these allegations.
A magistrates court in Mumbai dismissed a complaint against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging she disrespected the national anthem. The court stated that singing and reciting certain words of the anthem are not the same and cannot be equated. The court also mentioned that it would not be the intention of legislation to prosecute someone who explains the anthem to an audience. The complaint was made by a BJP secretary, who claimed that Banerjee sang the anthem in a sitting position and abruptly stopped. The court observed that the video footage did not support these allegations.
These areas of Chennai to face power cut on Friday
Power supply will be temporarily cut off in Madipakkam and Ambattur in Chennai for maintenance work. The affected areas in Madipakkam include Ram Nagar North and South, Bazaar Road, Srinivasa Nagar, Kaveri Street, Gomathi Nagar, J K Salai, Thirunanasambandar Street, and Guberan Nagar. In Ambattur, JJ Nagar – Mogappair East 6th Block, Valayapathy Salai, and Padi Industrial area will be affected. The power supply is expected to be restored before 2pm if the maintenance work is completed earlier.
Power supply will be temporarily cut off in Madipakkam and Ambattur in Chennai for maintenance work. The affected areas in Madipakkam include Ram Nagar North and South, Bazaar Road, Srinivasa Nagar, Kaveri Street, Gomathi Nagar, J K Salai, Thirunanasambandar Street, and Guberan Nagar. In Ambattur, JJ Nagar – Mogappair East 6th Block, Valayapathy Salai, and Padi Industrial area will be affected. The power supply is expected to be restored before 2pm if the maintenance work is completed earlier.
