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Vasundhra unhappy with PM's decision on Sariska

     Jaipur: The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhra Raje Scindia, has expressed her unhappiness over the Prime Minister's decision of a CBI inquiry into the reports of the dwindling number of tigers at Sariska Tiger Reserve. Alarmed by the frequent reports of rapid fall in the number of tigers at the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, the PM, Manmohan Singh, ordered a CBI probe and created a new taskforce to save the endangered species. Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara, expressed her unhappiness over the central government not consulting her administration before ordering a CBI pobe into the affair. She said that she doubted whether the tiger population could have disappeared within a year only. "We were not consulted. But I feel that as the order of inquiry comes from the PM, I should welcome it. After the inquiry the truth will come out, as to whether there were 25 tigers five years ago. Actually I doubt that they were so many in number, because within 10 months such a situation cannot arise," she said.

     Environmentalists say a clearer picture of the decline in the tiger population across India would come in April when an expert panel finishes its own investigation. Indian media and wildlife activists have reported a dramatic drop in the number of tigers and an increase in poaching. On Thursday, Singh chaired a meeting of the national wildlife board -- it's first in 17 months -- and ordered a new taskforce of forest officials, wildlife experts and community leaders to report on the status of Project Tiger and the tiger population. He also banned giving tigers to foreign dignitaries and established a powerful wildlife crime prevention bureau. Officials say tigers may have been wiped out entirely in the Sariska sanctuary in the desert state of Rajasthan -- where the Project Tiger conservation programme began in 1973 and where there were as many as 16-18 big cats a year ago. Activists fear the story may be the same in sanctuaries across India, which have almost half the world's surviving tigers.

    Officials from the CBI are due in Sariska as part of the police probe. Trade in dead tigers is illegal, but a single one can fetch up to 50,000 dollars in the international market. Their organs and body parts are used for preparing medicine in China. Even the bones of the endangered species are worth about 400 dollars per kilogram, a penis almost 850 dollar, tooth 120 dollars and claws 10 dollars. A century ago, there were nearly 40,000 tigers in India. Now, according to some wildlife experts, there are barely 2,000, while the official census putrs the figure at about 3,700. However, getting the exact figure of the tigers is almost impossible because of the shy nature of the big cats. The government keeps no detailed records on poaching, most of which goes unreported anyway. In Sariska, about 900 vehicles enter the reserve every day, while the recommended number of vehicles is 35-40 per day. For decades, hunting tigers was a popular sport with British colonial rulers and Indian maharajas. In some areas, tigers were once so common they posed a serious threat to villagers and explorers and people rarely ventured out in the evening unarmed.

Urdu University Bill passed in UP assembly (Go To Top)

     Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly today passed the Urdu University Bill by voice vote amidst a walkout by BJP members. The new amended bill,which seeks to establish the Mohammed Ali Jauhar Urdu University at Rampur under a private trust, was tabled in the house on Thurday by the Minister for Minority Welfare, Haji Yaqoob Qureshi, after removing the word 'Maulana' from its title. The previous bill provided for nomination of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mohd Azam Khan as the University's pro- chancellor for life, but it failed to get Governor T V Rajeswar's nod for the past three months, the new one has no mention of Khan. The new bill provides that the president of the trust, which will run the university, would be the chancellor of the proposed Urdu university.

Synthetic colours flood markets ahead of Holi (Go To Top)

     Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): With the Hindu festival of colours, Holi, just over a week away, doctors have issued warnings to potential buyers to avoid cheap synthetic colours flooding the markets, which they say could be harmful to the skin. While eco-friendly herbal colours are available over the years but their steep prices have kept them out of the reach of the common man. In India's northern Kanpur city, people can be seen thronging stalls selling colours, a deadly cocktail of acids and chemicals which can lead to various skin diseases and sometimes blindness. Shopkeepers however say all colours are basically chemicals and the only difference is the extraction process. "There is nothing of that sort, all colours are made of chemicals only. The original colours are made of chemicals which are sold in Bombay and other cities. This is the only way we make colours," said Braj Lal.

     Shopkeepers say as herbal colours are expensive, people prefer buying synthetic colours, even after knowing the harmful effects. Most of the colours sold in markets are oxidised metals or industrial dyes. Residents say despite their repeated requests to the authorities, nothing has been done to check the chemicals. "We have been constantly complaining to the authorities, even local journalists have written about it, but nothing is happening. These people do not pay any taxes and make these colours illegally," said Gyan Prakash. S.Banerjee, a skin specialist, said the synthetic colours are toxic and can result in anything from skin allergies to cancer, eye irritation and blindness. "These chemicals can lead to irritation in the skin, boils and allergies. Sometimes if it happens near the eyes, it can lead to partial blindness or conjunctivitis. One should always take care of the face," he said. Reports say at least 20 people of one family were admitted to a hospital in the city when they complained of severe eye irritation, after playing Holi with chemical colours. The annual festival, which marks the onset of spring, symbolises the victory of good over evil.

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