January 2013

January 2013 VANA PREMI
53
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JANUARY - 2013
Vol .14
No.1
JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FOREST OFFICERS
ANDHRA PRADESH
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1
1. President : Ex-Officio President of Assn.
2. Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan
Tel : 40121132, 9849233624
e-mail : qamar_asima@yahoo.com
3. Associate
Editor : Sardar Iqbal Singh,
: 040-20081143, 9849909877
4. Member : A.H. Qureshi, IFS (Retd.)
5. Convenor : Ex-officio Secy.of Assn
VANA PREMI
Vol : 14 No.1 January - 2013
Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan Associate Editor : Sardar Iqbal Singh
The Association of Retired Forest Officers,
Andhra Pradesh(Regd. No. 557/1990)
President : Sri. S.D. Mukherji, I.F.S. (Retd.)
Tel : 23551065, 9885236493
Vice President : Sri. Krishna Bhoopal Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.)
Tel : 23743774, 9866307808
Secretary : Sri K. Santokh Singh, I.F.S. (Retd.)
Tel : 27962929, 9848808101
Jt. Secretary : Sri. P. Upender Reddy, Dy. C.F.(Retd.)
Cum Treasurer Tel. 23342582, 9848754778
Editoriral Board
Contents
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VANA PREMI
1
Excutive committee members
1. Sri C. Subba Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9848018796
2. Sri Sultan Mohiuddin,I.F.S. (Retd.), 9440057333
3. Sri M. Padmanabha Reddy, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9849269105
4. Sri J.V. Subba Rao, 9848486146
5. Sri A. V. Govinda Rajulu, 9440764611
Totla pages 52
1. Editorial ..................... QMK 2
2. Letters to the Editor ........ 3
3. Biodiversity Conservation for Sustained
Livelihood....................... S.D. Mukherji 5
4. State - Sponsored Encroachment of
Forests in India ......... J.V. Sharma 12
5. Flamingos .................. 20
6. Invitation ................... 21
7. Twice Across Silent Valley
.................................... P.K. Zachariah 22
8. Birthday Greetings... Secretary 28
9. Story of Tees Maar Khan
.............................Navratan Singh 29
10. General Body Meeting Held on
18-12-12 ..................... Secretary 39
11. A Cup of Coffee on the Wall 41
12. News and Notes ....... 42
13. Tips ............................ 44
14. Feathered Engineering
..................N. Shiva Kumar 36
15. .---a |+- :: .-.. +-
16. e.: +t .-- a--e-
. .+cere +a
+- e.:... .-. -. +a
18. Legal Notes............... 50
19. Obituary ..................... 52
2
Dooms day and New Year: - Since last one year
it was believed that this world will come to an
end on 21
st
of December 2012. Every person
among 10 of us was said to be anxious that 21
st
December would mark the end of the world. This
is mainly because people believe that the Mayan
calendar is ending on 21st day of December 2012
and that will be the last day of our world. Internet
played a great role in spreading this message
throughout the world very fast and free of cost.
The idea of the sudden end of the world due to
any reason is absurd. It is estimated that the Earth
has been here for more than 4 billion years, and
it will be several more billion years before the
gradual brightening of the Sun makes our planet
unliveable. Meanwhile there is no known
astronomical or geological threat that could
destroy the Earth. If at all the world ends before
our planet becomes unliveable due to
brightening of the sun, it will be due to global
warming, Melting of ice, rising of the sea level,
destruction of the forests will deprive the world
of oxygen. There will be more of carbon dioxide,
scarcity of water, periodical droughts and floods
and extinction of wild animals. Once Albert
Einstein a German physicist who later migrated
to America and settled there said, If only one
species i.e. the honey bee becomes extinct, the
human race will also become extinct within 4
years of it. The Honey bee a tiny insect is
responsible for pollinating more than 100
EDITORIAL
species of crops which we cultivate for our food.
Hence we will not be able to produce our grains,
vegetables, and fruits. That will not be sudden
and will be very slow.
Thank God the dooms day of 21
st
December has
passed off without any untoward incident and
we all have survived to read the articles of Vana
Premi.
New Year is the time at which a new calendar
year begins. In many cultures, the event is
celebrated in typical manner. The New Year of
the Gregorian calendar is used worldwide today,
including in India and it falls on 1
st
January. There
are numerous calendars that remain in regional
use that calculate the New Year differently. With
the influence of Western culture spreading to
many other places in the world during recent
centuries, the Gregorian calendar has been
adopted by many countries as the official
calendar, and 1
st
January as the beginning of the
New Year has become global; even in countries
with their own New Year celebrations on other
days (such as India)
January 1 had a long journey of ups and downs
before it became accepted as the first day of
the year in the modern calendar format. It is
believed that Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor,
first proposed the idea of having January 1 as
the first day of the year. This is because the
month of January has been named after the
3
Roman God Janus.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII did away with the
Julian calendar for good and established the
modern day Gregorian calendar where January
1 was re-established as the beginning of a New
Year.
Today however, January 1 is internationally
accepted as the beginning of the New Year
although many countries of the world have their
own New Year celebrations at different times
of the year. We hope on this New Years Day our
readers might have resolved to do many good
things in their life.
Vana Premi wishes its readers a very happy,
prosperous and a healthy New Year and many
more new years to come. QMK
Sir,
I am happy to note that VANA PREMI by its poise and get-up and content is becoming more and
more interesting to its readers and it is doubtlessly growing in stature and popularity. You are
indeed doing a creditable job. Congratulations! Your editorial in the December issue on Anti-
corruption Day is an apt description. The malady of corruption requires a multipronged attack. The
anecdote from the Yadon- ki-Baraat by Josh Malihabadi is informative and interesting.
P.K. Sharmas lifetime story of Martyr Padma Rao is soulful. J.V. Sharmas paper on misuse of
government land is fierce, forceful and fearless. All government lands are property of the nation. If
they are not cared for and if their misuse is continued, it is going to be the Tragedy of Commons.
Padmanabh Reddy and Nooor Ahmed have written well on Bio-Diversity. V.V. Hariprasads Travelogue
and Kamal Naidus narration are informative. I feel the younger generation among the retired
officers and still young generation in service must regularly contribute articles for the benefit of
all. Raghothams Urdu paper on Death at the Threshold concludes: Throughout the life, I could not
reach the destination of peace, yet I kept on asking the Time; Experiences of life have kept me in
good stead from falling victim of cheating. Your wishes to the author are timely.
Hyderabad K.B.R. Reddy
Note. Thank you very much sir. Your letter has given us lot of strength and encouragement. We
need cooperation of all the readers. Editor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
4
Sir,
I had read Mautmeri Dehleez par in November with the help of a mirror and was sorry to note such
a moving write up so near yet so far from the readers. Thanks for reprinting it in December. I would
like to reassure my favourite Dr.Desai that we are also zindadar-e- gaur (alive at the door of a grave).
I was craving for long, to do a love story. But getting this genre printed in Vana premi is an absolute
No No. Hence it is camouflaged as a Science fiction.
Navratan Singh
Note. The proof of Urdu article which was sent for printing was reversed by the person in charge of
the press who do not know Urdu language. The inconvenience caused to Urdu readers is regretted.
Editor
Sir,
Alumni of SFRC retired officers conference was held at Madurai, TN.(16.12.2012to19.12.2012).
Seventy seven couples and twenty two singles have attended. Participants comprised of officers
from A.P 5, Goa 2 Gujarat 4, Karnataka 24, Kerala 3,M.P.17, Maharashtra 32, Odisha1, and TN.10
respectively. As per the convention the host state has made arrangements at T.T.D.C.Hotel. Inaugural
function followed by cultural program was arranged in the evening, which was presided over by
Sri.Y.S.Kadascha Mani who incidentally belongs to 1948-50 batch. Second day 176 participants
proceeded in 10 buses to Rameshwaram and visited the Ramanathaswami, Kothandarama temples
and the surrounding Theerthams Kovilas.
Third day we visited Meenakshi temple and surrounding religious places in the fore-noon and in
the evening attended light & sound show at Thirumalai Naiker Mahal whose dynasty has ruled the
state for two centuries and responsible for the construction of the world famous Meenakshi Temple
Fourth day the valedictory function was presided over by Dr S.John Joseph P.C.C.F of Tamil Nadu
(Retd). Incidentally who was Principal of S.F.R.C.for about 7 years. It is not out of place to mention
that 2012 year happens to be the centenary year of Tamilnadu Forest Academy. In 1912 Madras
Forest College was established, which was renamed as S.F.R.C. in 1955, and the college was upgraded
as Tamilnadu Forest Academy in the year 2005. Further the first principal of Forest College was F.I.C.
Cowley Brown, and E.A. Lodge was instrumental in starting the Madras Forest college .C.R.
Ranganathan was 1st Indian principal. Under the aegis of G.O.I. 31 batches of forest rangers passed
out from the portals of S.F.R.C. after completing vigorous training for 2 years.
On the third night the sudden demise of Mrs Pushpalatha Sharma w/o Mr Y.S.Sarma
(1962-64)batch has sent shock waves and all participants were grieved. The body was transported
by ambulance to M.P.by road.
The next meeting was fixed at Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh..
P.S. Reddy
5
Introduction: Today, poverty and limited
alternative livelihood are two of the main
anthropogenic driving forces behind the
destruction of the natural environment in the
developing world. Faced with the dire need to
feed their families and meet other short term
basic needs farmers, foresters and the fishermen
in the developing world have limited choices
even when they know that their actions are
destroying the very natural resources that they
depend on to survive and prosper. Recent
reports indicate that 80 per cent of the world
fisheries are fully or over exploited but countries
with important fishing grounds find it difficult to
curb fishery permits due to its socio-economic
impact on the fishing community who have no
alternative to survive. The super cyclone Katrina
in 2005 and Sandy in 2012 in United States have
proved even the most developed and powerful
nation of the world cannot escape from the fury
of the nature. Such incidents are expected to
come with increased frequency and ferocity if
the abuse to the nature is continued and not
reversed
International Conventions and action Plans
The need for an international Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) was first proposed in
1974, soon after the establishment of the United
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
FOR SUSTAINED LIVELIHOOD
By
S.D.Mukherji
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The
work on the Convention, starting since 1983,
was actively negotiated throughout 1990 and
1991 under the leadership of UNEP. It was
opened for signature on 5th June 1992 at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (the Rio Earth Summit). Rio 1992
was the most important environmental event
since the landmark Stockholm conference of
1972. The lasting achievement of Rio was the
universal acceptance of sustainable
development as the central tenet of the
environmental policy. It was realized that
Economic development and environmental
protection are mutually reinforcing, not
mutually exclusive. Two major conventions
signed at Rio were the Climate Change Accord
and the Biodiversity Accord. The worlds leaders
recognized climate change and global warming
as an imminent threat to the future of planet
earth. The world recognized that conserving
biological diversity had become an urgent
global issue. Biodiversity nurtures life and
produces a wealth of environmental by-
products upon which our ecosystem, our health,
and our prosperity depend. For example a large
number of pharmaceutical products have
ingredients derived from plants. Rio conference
6
resulted in Agenda 21, an ambitious
environmental Action Plan for the 21
st
century.
The Rio Declaration, the Convention on
Biodiversity and the Framework Convention on
Climate Change were all land mark events.
Awareness of Biodiversity
Twenty years ago only the specialized experts
in the field of natural sciences were aware of the
critically important role biodiversity plays in the
ecosystem. There was limited understanding of
the value and functions of biological diversity
by public and private sector planners and
decision makers, legislators and even less by the
general public. The world community has since
got to know that the effect of massive
biodiversity destruction and loss now occurring,
will have consequences as dire as a nuclear
holocaust, not immediately as visible, dramatic
and awesome, but surely and insipidly.
Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020)
Twenty years on, the United Nation has declared
2011-2020 as the decade on Biodiversity. We do
not inherit the world from our fathers; we borrow
it from our children. Biological diversity
represents the natural wealth of the earth and
the lifeline of the poor. Poverty reduction
programmes rely on biological resources and
restoration of degraded ecosystems, given that
the poor are the most vulnerable to the loss of
biodiversity and ecosystems, now increasingly
caused by climate change. The project: The
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
(TEEB), show the global economic benefits of
biodiversity, and the growing cost of
biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
Genetic Biodiversity and Drug Discovery
An example of the value of genetic biodiversity
is the discovery of drug Cyclosporine. The soil
fungus Tolypocladiuminflatum, found in soil
samples from Norways Hardangervidda
National Park in 1969, turned out to produce a
compound called Cyclosporine A, which is now
used in organ transplants to reduce the risk of
organ rejection. In 1997 the annual sales
revenue from Cyclosporine-based products
totaled US$1.2 billion. In the absence of the
benefit sharing legislation of that time, Norway
was not able to capture a share of these
financial benefits. This is a situation many
developing countries find themselves in today.
A global instrument to regulate the access to
such genetic resources and the benefit sharing
from their use is now in place through the
Nagoya Protocol to CBD. Hopefully, this will turn
out to be a successful financial instrument for
many developing countries that have abundant
genetic resources. Reducing Emission from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)
is another mechanism based on sustainable
management of biological resources. REDD+
will channel large funds to developing countries
for their deliveries of the ecosystem service of
climate regulation produced by forests.
7
Benefits from Coastal and Marine regions
(biodiversity)
The importance of coastal and marine
biodiversity was not generally recognized two
decades ago. Ocean covers 71 per cent of surface
area of the globe and constitutes 90 per cent of
the habitable space. It contains Blue Whale, the
largest animal on the earth, as well as micro
organisms. Coastlines supporting fragile
ecosystem include- mangroves, coral reefs, and
sea grass and sea weeds. Mangrove forests host
a unique variety of fish and crabs, birds, monkeys,
deer and even tiger among large number of
other living being. Coral reefs are known as the
rainforests of the sea. Even though coral reefs
occupy only 0.1 per cent of the sea, one third of
all marine species live on them. Sea grasses
support different aquatic lives including marine
turtles and juvenile prawns. One square
kilometer of sea grasses absorbs approximately
the same quantity of carbon dioxide as 50 square
kilometers of tropical forests. Sea weeds are
important marine living resources with lot of
commercial value. At present about 41 per cent
of the worlds population reside within 100 km.
of sea coast. Life in the sea produces a third of
the oxygen we breathe. Ocean absorbs about
30 per cent of carbon dioxide, helping to control
global warming. Fisheries employ about 200
million people and provide over 15 per cent of
the dietary intake of animal protein.
Conference of Parties (CoP-11) in Hyderabad
Conference of Parties (CoP) - 11 in Hyderabad
was the CBDs 20
th
birthday: a time for
celebration, and a focus to resolve. 193
countries, 192 countries and the European
Union assembled and worked hard to agree on
the Aichi targets that were set in CoP-10, held
in Aichi, Nagoya, Japan in 2010. The twenty
Aiche Biodiversity Targets included in the 2011-
2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity are
ambitious but realistic. Ensuring truly
sustainable development for our growing
human family depends upon biological
diversity and the vital goods and services it
offers. While the poor suffers first and worst from
biodiversity loss, all of society stands to lose
from this mass extinction. There is also the
opportunity cost: what cures for disease, and
what other useful discoveries might be we
never know when a habitat is destroyed forever,
or land is polluted beyond use. For too long, our
natural capital has been seen as an endless
reserve, instead of the limited and fragile
resource we now know it to be. Fortunately, it is
not too late to stem the tide
Biodiversity and Human Welfare
During the past two decades, awareness of the
importance of biodiversity in ecosystem
services for human welfare and wellbeing has
increased very significantly. The data base is
improving. New and powerful scientific tools
are providing large amount of data at all levels
of biological systems: molecular, organism,
population, improving understanding on
species, ecosystem, genetic and molecular bio
8
diversities. Data from the highest mountains to
the deepest oceans are now providing new
information on the existence of extraordinary
organisms and life forms. An increasingly
improved knowledge of the complex
interconnectedness of the atmosphere,
lithosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere and
their influence on andby biodiversity is
emerging.
The indispensable role of biodiversity in nutrient
recycling, photosynthesis, carbon dioxide
sequestration, water purification, regulating
climate systems, soil erosion, agriculture and
food production, pharmaceuticals and countless
other services, are beginning to be recognized.
The value of biodiversity is being quantified,
providing a much needed determinant for
planning and decision making. Current
estimates in the range of US$ 33 trillion per year,
at best a low estimate, is double that of global
GDP. This figure provides a starting point to refine
and improve knowledge on the intrinsic value
of biodiversity to enable a better pricing of its
unique services.
The ecological footprint of humanity exceeds
the biological capacity of the earth and the gap
is widening that needs to be closed. Action on
the implementation of Convention on Biological
Diversity has not been taken on a sufficient scale
to address the pressure on biodiversity on most
places. There has been insufficient integration
of biodiversity issues into broader policies,
strategies and programmes, and the underlining
drivers of biodiversity loss have not been
addressed significantly. Action to promote the
conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity receive a tiny fraction of funding
compared to activities aimed at promoting
infrastructure and industrial developments.
Moreover, biodiversity concerns are often
ignored when such developments are designed
and opportunities that minimize negative
impacts on biodiversity are missed.
Most future scenarios project continuing high
levels of extinctions and loss of habitats
throughout this century, with associated decline
of some ecosystem services important to
human well-being. Well targeted policies
focusing on critical areas, species and
ecosystem services are essential to avoid the
most dangerous impacts on people and
societies. Preventing further human-induced
biodiversity loss for the near term future will
be extremely challenging, but biodiversity loss
may be halted and in some aspects reversed in
the longer term, if urgent, concerted and
effective action is initiated now in support of
agreed long-term vision. Better protection of
biodiversity should be seen as a prudent and
cost-effective investment in risk-avoidance for
the global community.
The action taken over the next decade or two,
and the direction charted under the CBD, will
determine whether the relatively stable
environmental conditions on which human
civilization has depended for the past 10,000
9
years will continue beyond this century. If we
fail to use this opportunity, many ecosystems on
the planet will move into new, unprecedented
states in which the capacity to provide for the
needs for the present and future generations is
highly uncertain.
India with about 4.7 per cent land area of the
world, 18 per cent of the worlds population and
8.5 per cent of diversity has taken over the
Presidency of Conference of Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity for the next
two years. It has a huge responsibility to ensure
the implementation of Aichi targets. It is time
for action and show to the world by example
how to conserve the biodiversity with
sustainable livelihood
Forest Biodiversity
Since forest has a major share of biodiversity, it
would be worthwhile to know what action has
been taken by India and the future course of
action needed to improve the livelihood of the
forest dependent communities and save the
forest biodiversity for the future generations.
Management of Forests - Pre independence
Scientific management of forest was started by
the British government that wanted the
exploitation of the forests to meet their demand
of timber for the expanding railways, ship
building and other wood based industries. It also
wanted the forests to be reserved for their
recreation, mainly hunting of wild animals. The
best forest blocks with timber trees and wildlife
population were declared as reserved forests,
where even trespassing was prohibited. The
opposition by the local population to such
reservation of their forests was put down with
iron hand. However, even after declaring certain
forested blocks as reserved forests there was
plenty of forest left for the enjoyment of the
local population. The silviculture principle
adopted for the management of forest was
generally selective felling of mature timber
trees Teak, Sal, Deodar, Chir pine, Spruce, Fir,
Oak, etc.- that would allow its natural
regeneration in due course. The hunting of tiger
was the most coveted game. It was estimated
that India had about 40,000 tigers and a much
larger population of deer, wild boars and other
wild animals.
Management of Forests - Post
independence
After independence the forest management
continued on similar lines. The National Forest
Policy adopted in 1952 fixed 33 per cent of the
land area - 60 per cent on the hills and 20 per
cent in plains- under forests to maintain the
ecological balance. This started the process of
bringing more forested lands under Reserved
Forest category. There was provision to settle
the rights of the people but majority of the forest
dwellers, mostly the tribal population living in
remote forests, had no legal documents to claim
their rights. Therefore, the forest dependent
community was left high and dry with no
alternative source of livelihood. To eak out their
10
livelihood they moved further deep into the
forests and were designated as encroachers.
National Commission on Agriculture As the
population of the country increased the demand
of land also increased. As time passed the
pressure was building on the forestland,
especially the forestlands located close to the
populated areas. State governments started dis-
reservation of forest lands to provide land for
agriculture and industries, especially on the eve
of elections, which shifted pressure on the
balance forests that started degenerating
because of illicit tree felling and encroachments.
The National Commission for Agriculture in
1975 created forest Development Corporations
in the States to increase the forest production
by taking large scale plantations of fast growing
species - like Eucalyptus and bamboo to meet
the growing demand of wood based industries.
In the process large extent of forests were clear
felled, uprooted and ploughed for raising
successful plantations. This added to the misery
of the forest dwellers as the trees yielding non
timber forest products (NTFP) that was catering
to the food and income of the forest dwellers
were eliminated. This was also a major loss to
the biodiversity of the forests. This also resulted
into more encroachment into forests as interior
areas were opened up. In order to prevent the
degradation and diversion of forestlands,
government of India brought the management
of forests in the concurrent list and passed Forest
(Conservation) Act of 1980 that took away the
power of the State governments to divert forest
land for non forestry purposes. This action did
prevent the official diversion but could not stop
the encroachment on forestlands, illicit felling
and poaching, since the local population
perceived the forest department as their
enemy. The naxalite movement that was gaining
ground exploited the situation and aligned with
the forest dwellers to safeguard their interest
by permitting them to cultivate forest lands and
threatening the front line forest staff against any
action against the local people. Along with the
destruction of forest the wildlife population was
coming down drastically. The tiger population
had come down to close to 1000 tigers as
against 40,000 in the beginning of the century,
highlighting the pace of destruction of our
forests.
Role of National Forest Policy 1988 in Forest
Development
The continuous degradation of forests and poor
state of forest dwellers was an unacceptable
development. The government realized its
mistake of neglecting the forest dwellers and
taking up unsustainable forest development
activities such as clear felling of natural forests
and plantation of fast growing species of short
rotation sacrificing the NTFP yielding plants.
Therefore, National Forest Policy 1988 stopped
11
clear felling and recognized the role of the forest
dwellers, especially the tribal population, living
in and around the forests in the protection and
development of forests. The forest policy was
revised to involve the local people in the
protection and development of forests and to
provide them gainful employment along with
integrated development of tribal villages. This
arrangement was termed as joint forest
management (JFM). However, its
implementation was not that easy as the years
of suppression of local rights had estranged the
relation between the forest dwellers and the
forest department. While the local people
looked at the department as exploiter of the poor
people the forest department perceived the
forest dwellers as encroachers, poachers and
cause for the degeneration of forests. It took a
good deal of effort and time to bring
reconciliation between the two parties
suspecting each other. It is heartening to report
that Andhra Pradesh State did very well in
promoting JFM and regenerate large extant of
degraded forests. This was achieved under the
World Bank Forestry Project from 1994 to 2000.
The success of the project under JFM gave way
to a second W.B. Forestry Project from 2003 to
2009 where JFM was promoted to community
forest management that gave more power to
the local people to take decision on the matters
of forest management. It also gave lesson that
for the success of the effort of forest
conservation there should be continuity of the
programme uninterrupted as any break derails
the achievements much faster than the time
taken to achieve it
Conservation of Biological Diversity for
Enhanced Livelihood
To present the achievement of India in the
Conservation of Biological Diversity, the
National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai,
supported the Centre for Forest and Natural
Resource Management Studies, Andhra Pradesh
Forest Academy, Dulapally, Hyderabad to carry
out studies highlighting the Biodiversity
Conservation for Enhanced Livelihood. A team
of consultants covered the State of Andhra
Pradesh and documented 25 case studies
highlighting the effort of the local people and
forest dwellers in the conservation of forest and
enhancing the livelihood. The findings of the
study were presented in the side events to CoP-
11 on 8
th
of October 2012. The study brought
out that wherever the implementation of JFM
was done successfully and continued
uninterrupted both the people and the forests
have benefited. This is a win, win situation that
needs to be replicated for achieving the goal of
Biodiversity Conservation in forest areas.
12
A news item published in Deccan Chronicle dated 03.12.2012 revealed that according to a new
government document, nearly 1.25 million hectares of ecologically fragile areas have been illegally
occupied by humans. Forest areas under encroachment/illegal occupation given in the document
are:
STATE-SPONSORED ENCROACHMENT
OF FORESTS IN INDIA
By
J. V. Sharma
No. State Area
1 Assam 2,59,700 ha.
2 Andhra Pradesh 2,56,000 ha.
3 Chattisgarh 1,18,494 ha.
4 Karnataka 96,014 ha.
5 Maharashtra 85,388 ha.
6 Kerala 44,420 ha.
7 Gujarat 34,791 ha.
8 Tamil Nadu 14,352 ha.
The report while emphasizing that the forest encroachment menace assumed alarming proportions
in Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh States, also revealed that the illegal mining in biodiversity
hotspots is rampant in areas of Maoist insurgency of Chattisgarh. The most important and
ecologically sensitive biosphere of Western Ghats region is also faced with imminent threat.
Seeing the news report, a doubt arose whether these figures of forest encroachments are inclusive
of the illegal occupations regularised under Forest Rights Act. The particulars of extent of forest
land for which occupation claims were admitted and title deeds issued in the respective States as
on 31.10.2012 put up on Ministrys website are as follows:
No. State Area % claims % claims
Disposed Admitted
1 Assam 77,609 Ac. ( 31,043 ha.) 73.9 27.49
2 Andhra Pradesh 14,51,223 Ac. (5,80,489 ha.) 97.2 50.77
3 Chattisgarh 5,38,076 Ac. (2,15,230 ha.) 99.0 43.78
4 Karnataka 10,571 Ac. ( 4,228 ha.) 99.0 03.85
5 Maharashtra 6,35,915 Ac. (2,54,366 ha.) 97.0 28.85
6 Kerala 32,091 Ac. (12,836 ha.) 73.0 61.71
7 Gujarat 43,098 Ac. (17,238 ha.) 31.0 20.89
8 Tamil Nadu - - -
13
The comparison is confined and restricted to only these States because of the availability of
comparable figures. It needs to be clarified that the Certificates of Title were not issued in Tamilnadu
because of a restrictive order of the State High Court. That leaves only the remaining seven States
for study and comparison on the encroachments reported in the media.
As for the doubt whether the extent of encroachment of forest lands reported in the press include
the encroachments which were regularised under FRA, it can be seen that the corresponding
figures do not tally or compare at all for any State. Moreover, if the claims over encroachment/
illegally occupied forest land are admitted and certificates of title are issued under FRA, the said
forest lands cannot legally be classified as encroachments any longer. Therefore, it has to be
necessarily construed that the forest lands said to be under encroachment reported in the media
are indeed the illegal occupations which do not even attract the provisions of FRA. It also means
that all these illegal occupations are post -13.12.2005, or in the event they being of earlier period,
the offenders are neither Scheduled Tribes nor Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.
By now it should be apparent that the real issue is of encroachment of forest lands despite the fact
the Government chose to bring in a law (FRA) to legitimise some of the encroachments. The
encroachment of forest lands has been a nagging problem for decades. It is significant to note that
encroachments of forest lands were unheard of in British and Feudal dispensation before
Independence. People respected the law and did not resort to illegal occupations for quite some
period even after Independence. Thus the menace of forest encroachments started in popular
regime and flourished in popular regime. It is an irony in democracy.
I am reminded of an article by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru written long before India became
independent. To impress upon the responsibility of citizens in a free nation, he cited the incident
of an old lady walking in the middle of a busy road in a Russian city, the day after the Emperor Czar
was dethroned during Russian revolution. When a policeman stopped her and asked her not to
obstruct the traffic, the old lady was very furious and chided the cop that the Czar had gone and she
won the freedom. She asserted her liberty to walk anywhere she liked and do anything she wanted
and none, much less the policeman, could interfere with her freedom. She sternly told the
policeman to mend his old habits of Czar Regime. Citing the incident, Nehru conveyed the message
that liberty is not a licence but a social responsibility and should not be enjoyed at the cost or
inconvenience of fellow citizens.
14
Inception of the culture of encroachment of forests and its proliferation in Independent India seen
in the context of Nehrus advice drives us to conclude that (a) Respect for law had eroded in society
to low levels; (b) there is steep decline in ethical values in the society at large; (c) These negative
and harmful trends are becoming more and more pronounced with accelerated pace with time;
(d) No preventive or corrective mechanism is in place to address the unhealthy trends; (e) Absence
of commitment and increasing attitude of compromise among the regulatory agencies and
bureaucrats, and (f ) the Governments or the political class who are responsible to ensure good
governance have no will or the moral fibre to guide the society as Nehru wanted and instead,
become active players in all nefarious deeds. Winning next election and staying in power is their
top-most priority and they go to any any extent to achieve this objective. Means adopted or
the larger interests of the society do not matter anything to them.
The governance and societal behaviour are brought into discussion to highlight the fact that an
essentially law-abiding society under colonial rule had degenerated into a value-less society in
freedom. It is an ironical aberration of functional democracy. If a Prime Minister thinks that it is
more important for him to stay in power than the national interests of protecting and preserving
the natural wealth for the health & well-being of future generations and goes to the extent of
making a law which condones a crime and rewards a criminal, it is only logical that lesser
functionaries, like pet dogs, bend over backwards to abuse the system in all conceivable manner.
I do not know how to put it -whether it is a service to nation or disservice. A Nehru would not have
compromised over the issue. The difference is very apparent. Nehru would have guided the society
to be on the right path as he said about the Russian lady whereas the present Prime Minister
allowed himself to be guided to choose the prohibited territory. The Nation has great respect for
the impeccable integrity of the PM but personal integrity is no substitute for good governance nor
is it a license for committing indiscretions that hurt the interests of the country.
Coming back to the issue of forest encroachments, it may be seen that the forests which were safe
and secure till Independence came under pressure resulting in degradation of growing stock as
well as decrease in extent. Uncontrolled explosion of population is surely one of the main causes
but it is the responsibility of the State to address the problem effectively. The successive
governments have failed to act positively and firmly in this regard and allowed matters to drift
away giving scope for unhealthy trends. People started disobeying the law encroaching upon the
govt. lands particularly the forest lands with impunity. The culture of illegal occupations spread
15
like cancer and the governments in power did not see the problem in right perspective and did
not take the steps to ensure rule of law. Instead, efforts were made to appease the encroachers in
the name of human factor and the encroachments were even regularised on some occasions. The
regularisation of encroachments proved to be an incentive for further encroachments. Even after
Forest Conservation Act came into force, no decisive action was taken to evict the encroachers and
the issue was always soft-pedalled. Instead of displaying the necessary political will to deal with
encroachments sternly as per law, the Forest Departments were not allowed to act effectively
even under the existing provisions of Forest Act. The situation proved to be an ideal ground for
operation by the nexus of unscrupulous politicians, antisocial elements, land mafia, opportunist
bureaucrats, self-styled social activists and inept, pliable & spineless forest force to aid, abet and
perpetuate the illegal activity. Alarming situation of forest encroachments reported in the media
is thus the consequence of lenience, apathy and collusion of the governments in power. The political
class extracts the protection money of the kind of much hated organised crime from the encroachers
in the form of votes.
The mind boggling figures of illegal occupation of forest lands obtained from govt. source are of
grave concern for the reason that the nation having lost substantial extents of forest land under
FRA cannot afford to lose any more. These encroachments should be retrieved and restored with
vegetation. Given their track record, it is perhaps too much to expect meaningful constructive
initiatives from the governments of the day.
Discussion on encroachments cannot be complete without going into its populism aspect. Further
clarification on implementation of FRA is furnished below in respect of the States under discussion:
1. Andhra Pradesh: After disposing off 97.2% of the total claims received, Certificates of title over
an extent of 5, 80,489 ha.of forest land have been issued to 50.77% of the claimants. The State
stands first in the Country for sheer quantum of forest lost. The process of implementation should
normally be deemed nearly over with mere 2.8% claims remaining un-disposed. But it is not so.
The Government, obviously under the pressure of vested interests, have initiated the second phase
of implementation on the plea that all the villages with interface with forests were not covered
earlier. FRA apart, for academic discussion the entire 5.805 lakh hectares of forest land should be
deemed to be under encroachment as on the cut-off date.
2. Assam; Disposing 73.9% of total claims received, certificates of title were issued to 27.49% of
16
the claimants considered eligible alienating 31,043 ha. of forest land. Nearly 26% of claims are still
pending and the percentage of the eligible claimants appears moderate. Real position can only
be known after all the claims are disposed off. It needs to be remembered that Assam is besieged
with serious problems of influx of foreign nationals and forests are the soft targets for settlement
and occupation.
3. Chattisgarh: The State is rich in forests and has substantial tribal population. Backwardness of
the population is never in dispute. But unfortunately the gravest challenge is Maoist extremism.
The State Government has been doing everything possible to wean away the tribal population
from the influence of extremists which is amply reflected even in implementation of FRA. Almost
all the claims (99%) have been processed and 43.78% of the total claims were found acceptable
and title deeds were distributed for 2,15,230 ha. of forest land. That the State Governments walking
the extra mile to win over the tribals did not bring the matching dividends is another story. Ironically,
the State Government is being faulted for rejecting the remaining 64% of the claims!
4. Karnataka: The least affected among the States implementing FRA could be Karnataka. There
appear no complicating factors either. Like Chattisgarh, almost all the claims i.e. 99% of the total
claims received have been processed of which only 3.85% claims were found genuine and title
deeds for an extent of 4,228 ha. have been issued.
5. Maharashtra: The State had processed 97% of the claims received of which 28.85% of the
claims were found acceptable and the forest land alienated is 2,54,366 ha. The State Tribal Research
Institute developed an almost foolproof procedure using spatial technologies to guard against
misuse of the legislation. Obviously due to rejection of large number of bogus claims, there was
pressure on the Government from the politicians and advocates of populism to go soft on eligible
criteria. That the Chief Secretary of the State had even issued orders to grant title deeds dispensing
with the very basic criterion of survey of the claimed land is an eloquent proof of the bureaucracy
abdicating its primary responsibility of good governance acting as private domestic servants of
political bosses.
6. Kerala: The State completed verification of claims in 73% of the claims of which 61.71% were
found to be admissible. Forest land lost in the process is 12,836 hectares.
7. Gujarat: Only 31% of the claims received are processed so far of which 20.89% found acceptable
resulting in alienation of 17,238 hectares of forest land.
17
I furnish below a table with information in respect of 10 States where the Act has been implemented
zealously and where the process of verification of claims has been completed in nearly 80% and
above of the claims received to arrive at fairly accurate trends:
State % of STs % of area % of forest % of bogus % of ST pop
in the State under forests area lost claims of country
A. P. 06.6 23.2 09.20 49.23 05.96
Chhattisgarh 31.8 43.8 03.64 56.22 07.85
Jharkhand 26.3 29.61 00.62 61.77 08.40
Karnataka 06.6 20.19 00.09 96.00 04.11
M. P. 20.3 30.89 02.16 64.92 14.51
Maharashtra 08.9 20.13 03.33 71.83 10.17
Orissa 22.1 37.34 03.73 59.65 09.66
Rajasthan 12.6 09.49 00.56 53.23 08.42
Tripura 31.1 60.19 26.78 33.51 01.18
West Bengal 05.5 17.49 00.57 78.82 05.23
Till now, we are seized with figures of loss of forest land either due to illegal encroachments or by
alienation under FRA. The true impact of these losses can be understood clearly only when compared
to the extent of forest land that originally existed as asset. According to official sources, the recorded
forest area in the country was 768436 sq. km. out of the total geographic area of 3287263 sq. km.
But all the area recorded as forest land did not contain well-stocked tree growth. There were dense
forests over 416809 sq. km. and open forests in 258729 sq. km. The remaining area of 92898 sq. km.
of recorded forest was, in all probability, under encroachments. Another set of figures, also from
Govt. sources, indicate that forests existed over 23.38% of the total geographical area of the country
but forest cover existed over only 20.55% of TGA. All these figures correspond to the period when
FRA was being brought in.
The above statistics throw up a different dimension to the already confused picture of forests in
India. Area under forest cover does not mean the recorded forest area. Significant tree growth also
exists over lands outside the recorded forest areas which will boost the tree-cover figures to
conceal and camouflage the bitter ground realty of degrading forests and shrinking forest areas.
A close examination of the available figures reveals that:
18
1. The North-East States contain larger extents of forests and also the larger percentage of tribal
population compared to the rest of India. It is also seen that the forest cover exists on larger areas
than the recorded forest areas. Percentage of recorded forest area to that of States geographical
area, with the corresponding figure of forest cover in the State in brackets, for these States are;
Arunachal Pradesh 61.55 (81.25), Assam 34.45 (35.33), Manipur 78.01 (75.81), Meghalaya 42.34
(69.48), Mizoram 75,59 (82.98), Nagaland 52.05 (80.49) and Tripura 60.01 (67.38). Assam has
comparatively lesser forest area because of the special socio-political conditions prevalent in the
State and so is the case for not much of wooded tracts outside the recorded forest areas in Manipur.
It is also significant to note that barring Assam, land management & ownership systems are different
in these States because of which Forest Rights Act had become irrelevant there.
2. The States in rest of India, with substantial population and varying extents of forests (not
necessarily more than the desired one-third area under forests), paint a different picture. The
percentages of recorded forest area and that of forest cover (in brackets) to the TGA of the respective
States are; A.P. 23.2 (16.23), Bihar 6.45 (6.07), Chattisgarh 43.85 (41.85), Goa 33.87 (56.59), Gujarat
9.65 (7.73), Haryana 3.51 (3.91), Himachal Pradesh 66.52 (25.79), Jharkhand 29.61 (28.40), Karnataka
20.19 ((19.29), Kerala 28.87 (40.04), Madhya Pradesh 30.89 (25.07), Maharashtra 20.13 (15.43), Orissa
37.34 (31.36), Punjab 6.07 (4.83), Rajasthan 9.49 (4.78), Sikkim 81.24 (45.00), Tamilnadu 17.59 (16.52),
UP 6.98 (5.71), Uttarakhand 64.81 (44.76) and West Bengal 13.38 (12.05)).
3. It may be seen that only Goa, Haryana and Kerala have larger tree cover on more than recorded
forest areas. These three States have their own reasons to be out of step with other States; Goa with
its colonial legacy had good forests and also tree growth outside while Haryana had been woefully
deficient in forests from the beginning and the larger tree cover shown in brackets is attributable
to social forestry activity. As for Kerala, it has an excellent history of rich forests and the general
attitude or bias of the people for greenery provides a better picture of larger tree cover, the
encroachments notwithstanding.
4.All the other States of the Himalayan region, Gangetic plains, Western, Central and Peninsular
India conform to the general pattern of visible erosion in the recorded forest area. These are the
States which hold the key to political power because the bulk of Indian population lives in this
area. As populism is the most effective tool to win political power, the political parties always try
to win over the people through appeasement rather than governance.
19
5. It may also be seen that the excess tree cover of the North-East and a few other States elsewhere
has also been offset by the substantial decrease of forest areas in other States. This overall loss of
forest extent from out of recorded forest area for the entire country works out to 3% even before
the FRA was made.
6. As stated already, this loss is entirely due to apathy and inaction of the governments. No effective
action has ever been taken to prevent or curb the tendency of encroachment of forests.
7. It can be safely assumed that the loss of forests has accelerated after the FRA came into existence.
The handling of the issue from the beginning by the government smacks of covert support to
illegal occupants and there are many instances of fresh encroachments to plead for regularisation.
The alarming picture of encroachments extracted from government sources and mentioned in
the first para above can be taken as a hint for more damage to forests in future.
1. After completing the implementation of the FRA and alienating as much as 9.20% of the State
Forests, the A P Government ordered for second phase of implementation. There is reason to
apprehend that the other States too may emulate and it may snowball into a never-ending process.
2. Some public representatives and social activists have already started a campaign that all rejected
claims should be admitted irrespective of the procedure stipulated. There are already 14,85,095
claimants waiting at governments counter whose claims were rejected and they constitute ready
customers for land distribution melawith nearly 60 lakh hectares of forest land at risk.
3. The example of Andhra Pradesh is a precursor for things to happen in future. The recorded forest
area is 23.2% of the States geographical area but the forest cover is only 16.23%. With alienation of
9.20% of forests under FRA, the State forest area comes down to 14%. There are encroachments to
a tune of 2.56 lakh ha. (reported in the media) to contend with.
Thus, none need have any doubts that this malady of encroachments is State-sponsored. Where
does all this lead to?
Breaking News
End of the world which was scheduled for 2012 is
postponed to3012 due to some technical problems
and continue living with sprit. Keep smiling
20
Flamingos are a type of wading bird in the genus
Phoenicopterus meaning purple wing), the only
genus in the family Phoenicopteridae. There are
four flamingo species in the Americas and two
species in the Old World. Flamingos often stand
on one leg, the other tucked beneath the body.
The reason for this behaviour is not fully
understood. Some species of Flamingos have the
ability to have half of its body to go into a state of
sleep, and when one side is rested, the flamingo
will swap legs and then let the other half sleep,
but this has not been proven. Recent research
has indicated that standing on one leg may allow
the birds to conserve more body heat, given that
they spend a significant amount of time wading
in cold water. As well as standing in the water,
flamingos may stamp their webbed feet in the
mud to stir up food from the bottom.
Young flamingos hatch with greyish reddish
plumage, but adults range from light pink to
bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta
carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-
fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly coloured
and thus a more desirable mate; a white or pale
flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or
malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable
exception; many turn a pale pink as they are not
fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild.
This is changing as more zoos begin to add
prawns and other supplements to the diets of
their flamingos.
Feeding: -Flamingos filter-feed on brine shrimp
and blue-green algae. Their beaks are specially
FLAMINGOS
adapted to separate mud and silt from the food
they eat, and are uniquely used upside-down.
The filtering of food items is assisted by hairy
structures called lamellae which line the
mandibles, and the large rough-surfaced
tongue. The pink or reddish colour of flamingos
comes from carotenoid proteins in their diet of
animal and plant plankton. Flamingos whose
sole diet is blue-green algae are darker in
colour compared to those who get it second
hand (e.g. from animals that have digested blue-
green algae).
Lifecycle: - Flamingos are very social birds that
live in colonies that can number in the
thousands. These large colonies are believed
to serve three purposes for the flamingos:
predator avoidance, maximizing food intake,
and exploiting scarce suitable nesting sites. The
most basic and stable social unit of flamingos
are pair bonds which are made up of one male
and one female. The bond between them tends
to be strong; however, in larger colonies (where
there are more mates to choose from), mate
changes will occur. In pair bonds, both the male
and the female contribute to building the nest
for their egg and defending it. Before breeding,
flamingo colonies, split into breeding groups
of around 1550 birds. Both males and females
in these groups perform synchronized ritual
displays. These displays serve to both stimulate
synchronous nesting and establish pair
formation for birds that do not already have
mates. A flamingo group stands together and
21
display to each other by raising neck, followed
by calling with head-flagging and then wing
flapping.
Flamingo pair bonds establish and defend
nesting territories. They locate a suitable spot
on the mudflat to build a nest, which is usually
chosen by the female. After the chicks hatch, the
only parental expense is feeding. Flamingos
produce crop milk, like pigeons and doves, due
to the action of a hormone called prolactin. It
contains more fat and less protein than the latter
does, and it is produced in glands lining the
whole of the upper digestive tract, not just the
crop. Both parents nurse their chick, and young
flamingos feed on this milk, which also contains
red and white blood cells. In the first six days,
the adults and chicks stay in the nesting sites.
At around seven to twelve days the chicks begin
to move and explore their surroundings. After
two weeks, the chicks join groups called micro
crches and their parent soon leave them in
these groups. Later, many micro crches come
together to form crches which contain
thousands of chicks. Chicks that do not stay in
their crches are vulnerable to predators.
In our state Flamingo festival is celebrated every
year at Sulurpet. This year it will be celebrated
on 7th & 8th of January 2013
INVITATION
The Association of Retired Forest Officers, Andhra Pradesh, Congratulates the following Forest
Officers, who are retiring from service on attaining the age of superannuation on the dates
mentioned against their names and cordially invites them to join the Association of Retired Forest
Officers to keep in touch with their old colleagues and to keep themselves occupied.
Name of SFS Officer Date of Retirement Name of I.F.S. Officer Date of Retirement
-NIL- 1. Sri P.Bhaskar Reddy 31-01-2013
For further details they may contact the following
Sri. K. Santokh Singh, Secretary Mobile Number 9848808101
Sri. P. Upender Reddy, Jt.Secretary Mobile Number 9848754778
Crossed Cheque for Rs.2000/= drawn in favor of The Association of Retired Forest Officers may be
sent to the following Address towards Life Membership of Association
P.UPENDER REDDY, Jt.Secretary cum Treasurer Quarter No.2/B ,P.S.Nagar, Vijay Nagar Colony,
HYDERABAD- 500 057
Crossed Cheque for Rs.2000/= drawn in favour of Editor, Vana Premi may be sent to the following
Address towards Life Membership of Vana Premi
Editor , Vana Premi, Room No. 514, Aranya Bhavan, O/O Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Saifabad, Hyderabad- 500 004 - SECRETARY
22
It was an order. The Head of the Department
(HOD-CCF) wanted the Working Plan Officer
(WPO), Palghat to walk along a disused mule path
marked in the Survey of India Map.
I, as WPO, could perceive that HOD was
pondering over this trekking even before I
joined as WPO in September, 1977. My
predecessor assessed the situation and managed
to postpone the trekking till he relinquished
charge, probably for want of an assertive order.
The order was received by the middle of April,
1979. The intention of the HOD was to schedule
his trekking by the middle of May, before the
South West monsoon becomes vigorous.
I had my apprehensions about the rigours of
trekking. Yet, I conferred with the WP Range
Officer, the late R K Achuthanand (SFRC Alumnus
1965-67 who passed away on September 8,
2010 after his retirement in 1999 as ACF) and
the party of 4 Foresters who, after completion of
the previous WP covering the area where the
proposed trekking path lay, were continuing
with me. These field staff had occasion to
perambulate portions of the path while doing
field work for the WP prepared by my
predecessor. We examined the relevant Survey
of India Maps. We assessed roughly that the
length of trekking would be around 44 kms.
TWICE ACROSS SILENT VALLEY
By
P K Zachariah
Early morning the next day, we the six of us,
started by Jeep. By evening, we reached Upper
Bhavani Hydro Electric Project Rest House, our
route being via Coimbatore and Ooty. En-route,
we collected a few loaves of bread and few
bananas. We huddled together in one of the
rooms in the rest house. Owing to difficulties in
contacting in advance those in charge of the
Rest House, we had to be contented with a frugal
supper and accommodation.
We decided to travel light. Each of us carried in
a shoulder cloth bag, one blanket, toilet kit, 2
loaves of bread, 3 bananas and a water bottle.
We could fix up a guide who was conversant
with that part of the path running through Tamil
Nadu territory.
After finishing morning ablutions, we started
trekking at day break next day. We directed our
Jeep driver to reach Poochakuthu (in Kerala)
where our trekking would end.
Our first obligatory point was Sispara peak on
the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We
assessed from the map that the path up to
Sispara peak was more or less level. Sispara is
around 2100 meters (7000ft.) above mean sea
level. The distance from Upper Bhavani to
Sispara was assessed to be roughly 10 kms. After
covering 3 kms, we saw remnants of an old rest
23
house which was marked in the map. By 9 am,
we came across a mountain stream and there
we had our frugal breakfast. We continued to trek
and by about 10.30, we reached Sispara, on the
inter-state border. The guide who accompanied
us from Upper Bhavani told that he is not familiar
with the track beyond Sispara. However, we asked
him to keep company as we felt that sending
him back alone was unfair.
Our next obligatory point was Walakkad where a
rest house existed in the pre- independence days
as could be seen from the map. The altitude of
Walakkad was around 950 m(3000 ft) The descent
from Sispara to Walakkad was quite steep as the
distance between those places was about 3 kms.
The old mule path is non-existent. The non-
timber forest produce (MFP) collectors paved a
foot path making the distance shorter and
steeper. There was no other way for us, but to
trek along this new steep path. This path was
very steep and interspersed with loose stones
and rills formed by severe erosion and also
trunks of fallen trees of girth more than 200 cmt.
This means that one could not anticipate as to
when one would trip and slide along the path.
The interfering logs were strewn helter kilter.
The area receives very heavy rainfall in most of
the afternoons and the erosion along the path
was quite severe. The surrounding forest is
typical wet evergreen.
We started descending and I was the first to skid
and fall. As I scrambled to walk again, I could
see each of my team mates getting up after a
fall. Wind fallen huge logs lying across the path
were a real impediment for trekking. Diameter
of most of the logs was so large that one has
either to sit astride and slide to the other side of
or crawls beneath each log, for moving forward.
This exercise was so tiresome that by the time
we reached Walakkad, all of us were complaining
about pain in our leg muscles.
Around 2 pm, we reached Walakkad and saw
the remnants of the rest house and its elephant
proof trench. We sat by the stream running near
the old rest house and ate from our provision of
bread and bananas. Took rest for about 15
minutes and proceeded towards our final
destination, viz., Poochakuthu, nearly 21 km
away.
The terrain was undulating and the trekking was
much easier than our forenoon exercise. We
could hear occasional trumpeting of elephants
and came across steaming elephant dung. In
order to avoid direct confrontation with wild
elephants, we kept our eyes and ears open.
Listening to chirping of birds was exhilarating.
On intense search, Lion tailed macaques could
be seen peeping through foliage of tall pristine
Culleniatrees. (Editors note:Cullenia is the best
indicator plant species of evergreen forest with
Lion Tailed Macaque,a genus of flowering plants
native to India and Sri Lanka.Culleniaexarillatais
24
found in Western Ghats. Earlier classification
schemes place the genus in the Kapok-tree
family (Bombacaceae), but the Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group places it in the Malva family
(Malvaceae). The name is after General William
Cullen (17851862), a Resident in the court of
the Maharaja of Travancore who also served as a
botanist and meteorologist.)We waked and
walked and felt that we were nearing
Poochakuthu where our Jeep was awaiting our
arrival. The day light started to fade and to our
surprise, dusk fell. Tall grass made it difficult for
us to track the correct trail. We found that we
were disoriented and we could not track the trail.
In the fading light we were unable to read the
map for re- orientation.We scrambled to find a
safe camping place. We anticipated two prime
dangers. One was from wild life and the other
from flash flood.
We located in the middle of a stream, a solitary,
sufficiently elevated rock, large enough for all of
us to stretch ourselves to spend the night. We
assumed that our camping place was above flash
flood level and inaccessible for wildlife. We could
gather some firewood and light up few fire points
to prevent straying wild life. We ate from our
provision prayed to God for divine protection
and stretched ourselves. My team mates took
turn to keep alive the fire.
Under the wings of the guardian angels, we spent
the night without events.
At day break, we took out the maps and
oriented ourselves. By 8 am, we reached
Poochkuthu where the driver of our Jeep
awaited us. The driver spent the night in a
nearby camp set up for collecting non timber
forest produce.
But for the disorientation at dusk of the previous
day, we could have completed the trekking
along a 44 km path from Upper Bhavani in Tamil
Nadu to Poochakuthu in Kerala in about 13
hours.
By the time we reached Palghat, our leg muscles
were in severe pain. All of us, in our respective
homes, nursed bitterly painful leg muscles for
a few days.
I drew up a factual report and indicated therein
that all of us who were under 40 were nursing
bitterly painful leg muscles, owing to the
rigours of trekking.
On reading my report, the HOD got annoyed. It
appears that the HOD assumed that I cooked
up the report in order to dissuade him from
trekking along the trail and at the same time to
save myself t of the trouble of trekking. The HOD
was on the verge of his retirement on
superannuation.
The HOD was in the habit of walking every
morning through the Royal High way in
Thiruvananthapuram City for exercise. The then
Additional Chief Secretary used to join the HOD
for exercise.
25
The HOD told the Addl. CS that there is a mule
path from Upper Bhavani to Poochakuthu and
even wives of British Forest Officers used to walk
along that path quite often.
The HOD had to his credit the experience of
assaulting almost all the peaks (usually avoided
by other Forest Officers) whenever he visits any
forest area. In fact assaulting peaks was his
passion.
The Addl. CS told HOD that while he was Sub
Collector, Calicut, he climbed Banasuran Hill (an
ascent of about 1000m) in spite of dissuading
remarks by his Tahsildar who did not want the
Sub Collector to inspect some sore spots in that
locality.
From the middle of 1970s, the Silent Valley was a
favourite item in the media. The Addl. CS felt
that he must also walk through that mule path,
frequented by British ladies so that he can also
be familiar with Silent Valley. The HOD and the
Addl. CS decided the dates for their visit and
alerted the field staff accordingly for preparing
for the visit. The Wildlife wing of Kerala Forest
Research Institute was also asked to join the
party.
In those days, there were 2 Forest circles with
Kozhikode as the H Q, one in control of the
Reserve Forests and the other, of those Private
Forests vested with the Govt. since 1971. Two
Forest Dinswere functioning with Palghat as the
HQ. My predecessor wrote the Working Plan for
the Palghat Forest Dn. looking after the Reserve
Forests. I was assigned the task of preparing 2
First Working Plans, one for Vested Forest in
Palghat Dt. and the other for that in Malapuram
Dt. (By Gods grace staff and I could complete
the preparation, of the two plans, and I could
get approval, of the Government by 1980 i.e.,
within a span of 3 years.)
The mule path from Sispara to Poochakuthu
passes through Reserve Forests and so the task
of making arrangements for the visit of the HOD
& the Addl. CS was assigned to Mannarghat
Range Officer who was in charge of the Reserve
Forests through which the mule path runs. They
erected temporary sheds at Walakad and
cleared the path to the extent possible in the
short span of time available.
In a stern order, I was directed to accompany
the party during trekking.
On the appointed day, by the middle of May,
1979, the HOD and the Addl. CS and the
Conservators with their staff assembled in
Olavakkot Forest Rest House, located very near
Palghat Railway Stn.
The HOD gave a bit of his mind to me. He said
he had occasion to climb many peaks in India
and that he had taken it as a challenge that he
would finish the trekking ahead of me. The Addl.
CS was keen to add that he had climbed
Bansurankota, a hill in Kozhikode Dt., against the
will of his subordinates. I said that the remarks
26
were premature.
Early morning the HOD, the Addl. CS and Forest
Officers of all levels and their respective Staff,
each in their respective departmental vehicle
moved in convoy, reached Upper Bhavani Rest
House by evening and settled down for the night.
The vehicles were directed to report at
Poochakuthu by the evening of the day next to
that.
The party consisting of around 50 khaki clad
Foresters of all levels, man mazdoors for carrying
minimum luggage, a cook and 2 helpers started
walking towards Sispara. The terrain was almost
level and the HOD & Addl. CS were conjecturing
that the report on my reconnaissance trekking
was cooked up. The pace of walking was such
that the party had their lunch at the spot where
my teammates & I took our breakfast, the other
day,
By 3 pm, the party reached Sispara and started
to descend. One by one, all the members of the
party, started to skid and fall as the steep path
was full of loose stones and rills created by soil
erosion. Soon each one of the party started
feeling exhausted and started to perceive that
the trekking ahead was true to my narration.
The Addl.CS was blaming the HOD that he was
tricked into this difficult situation by the
assurance of the HOD that the path used to be
frequented by even the wives of British Foresters.
As the descend to Walakkad progressed, the HOD
tried to balance himself with a make shift
walking stick. The Addl CS was ably supported
by the two accompanying Conservators. In his
exhaustion, the Addl. CS was remarking jokingly
that I (the author) would be mocking the senior
officers at least in my mind.
By dusk, the party was approaching Walakkad
temporary camping area. All on a sudden, the
Addl. CS passed out uttering the word sugar.
Knowing that the blood sugar level of the Addl.
CS had dipped, the HOD pulled out sugar from
his ever present lunch-basket and
administered sugar into the mouth of the Addl.
CS. To everybodys relief, the Addl. CS responded
to the treatment and continued to limp, leaning
on to the two Conservators towards the nearby
camping shed.
Soon, day light faded and each settled in their
earmarked temporary shed. As night
progressed, I could overhear the conversation
between the HOD and the Addl. CS. They were
accommodated in the hut close to the shed
where other senior Officers and I were housed.
The Addl. CS was heard remarking that the
report I sent after the reconnaissance trekking
was factual and that his bureaucratic
experience led him to think that the report was
cooked up.
On the next morning, after breakfast, the camp
was packed up and the trekking continued. The
HOD was exhausted, but he plodded on ahead
27
of others who were watching the progress made
by the Addl. CS. Depending totally on his will
power and on the support given by the two
Conservators, the Addl. CS, inched forward along
the trekking path step by step. The Addl. CS was
pointing out that he could not see any Lion Tailed
Macaque or other Wild animals. The Foresters
remarked that wild life would not tolerate our
50 strong party and they would move away for
shelter.
Will power of the Addl. CS prevailed and all the
others were confident that the Addl. CS would
be reaching the finishing point.
It was about 5 pm and Poochakuthu, our
finishing point was within sight and suddenly, it
started to rain. While I was observing the
progress made by the Addl. CS, I looked up and
saw the HOD nearing the finishing point. I was
reminded of the challenge made by the HOD
that he would be finishing ahead of me. I did not
want that challenge to materialise. I ran and ran
past the HOD who was shivering by the cold
weather, aggravated by exposure to the rain. As
I ran past the HOD, I told him that I was finishing
ahead of him. The HOD remarked that I had
tricked him in to the trekking.
P.S; Sri C K Karunakaran IFS, CCF (Retd.), SFRC
Alumnus, 1956-58 batch and IFC Alumnus 58-
60 batch, was the territorial Conservator who
supported the Addl. CS in this trekking. Two
months ago, there was a news item in the
Malayala Manorama daily that he had won an
award for publishing a book in Malayalam on
environment. On reading that news item, I felt
that I must congratulate him on his
achievement. The telephonic talk slipped into
reminiscing events shared by both of us and
hence this narration.
The Additional CS retired on superannuation
and passed away. Most of the others exceptthe
then Range Officer, R K Achuthanand live to
reminisce the event.
The author is an alumnus of 1960-62 SFRC batch
and was an Assistant Instructor, Southern Forest
Rangers College from 1972-1977 prior to his
appointment to the Indian Forest Service
(Kerala Cadre) He retired on superannuation in
2001.
A society grows great when old men plant tress
whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
(Mahatma Gandhi)
28
We wish the following born on the dates mentioned
A very Happy Birth Day
Birthday Greetings
S.No. Name of the member D.O.B.
Sarva Sri
1. D.V.Rao 09-01-1931
2. K.Koteshwar Rao 10-01-1933
3. R.D.Reddy 14-01-1938
4. K.Mohan Reddy 16-01-1934
5. H.K.Desai 23-01-1936
6. V.P.Adinarayana 23-01-1940
7. P.Gracious 24-01-1949
8. Dr.C.N.Rao 26-01-1938
9. T.Narayana Swamy 30-01-1933
10. C.Jagannath Reddy 03-02-1930
11. P.Upender Reddy 05-02-1942
S.No. Name of the I.F.S. Oficer D.O.B.
Sarva Sri
1. M.Prutviraj 09-01-1960
2. M.Sudhakar 10-01-1957
3. R.G.Kalaghatgi 20-01-157
4. B.Sunder 20-01-1970
5. P.Bhaskar Reddy 21-01-1953
6. Dr.Manoranjan Bhanja 22-01-1958
7. Dr.K.Tirupathaiah 23-01-1959
8. Dr.P.Subbaragavaiah 25-01-1961
9. Rameshkumar Suman 03-02-1966
10. A.K.Jain 05-02-1959
S.No. Name of the S.F.S. Oficer D.O.B.
Sarva Sri
1. P.Samuel 07-01-1964
2. I.Prakash 09-01-1977
3. R.Kondal Rao 15-01-1970
4. M.Nagarjuna Reddy 30-01-1965
5. S.Narender Reddy 05-02-1959
Secretary
29
He was never a good athlete and abhorred
physical slog. During the halcyon days of Forest
College, he opted for Tennis to avoid the rough
and tumble of Football or Hockey. Tennis was
aristocratic and bourgeois. It gave him a lot of
time to sit and admire others shots and make
cryptic comments on them. End of the training
gave an abrupt end to his honeymoon with this
sport. A couple of years later it was the advent of
technology in the form of the small screen which
got him back to his lost interest. He was simply
blown over by the telecast of ladies tennis
matches.
Whenever he looked at the members of fair sex
around him he was filled with disgust. They huffed
and puffed dragging their quintal loads, crawling
with great difficulty like seals on a beach. In
glaring contrast were these celestial figures
carved in marble, sprinting like does and
jumping like gazelles on the giant wide screen
of his very bedroom. He was simply floored by
them .There was a steady supply of these
beauties. From Tracy Austin, Chris Evert,
Sabbatini and steffi graf to the very current
Sharapovas Azarenkas and Kournikovas. No
wonder these charmers charged the same
amounts for their three sets as for five of their
male counterparts because of their viewership.
Ironically for him there were agonizing
STORY OF TEES MAAR KHAN
By
Navratan Singh
interruptions to this joyful activity. That too by
mosquitoes, creatures shamefully minute and
often ridiculed for their being weaklings. They
turned his life in to a hell changing ecstasy to
agony.
Imagine him sitting relaxed in his bedroom,
eyes glued to the wide screen of the TV. His
favorite Ana Ivanovich is on the court. She has a
face that brightens his own with joy. His eyes
are devouring her magical movements all over
the court and he is in ecstasy. Suddenly he feels
a painful sting in a very unreachable niche of
his back. He looks around and finds the
miscreant has already taken off. He wonders
why he did not feel the prick before the culprit
was air borne. He had been injected an
anesthetic fluid like an expert surgeon. He is
mad with rage now. He chases clapping
feverishly behind the insect, his anger jumping
up with every stroke. His frenzy increases with
every failure. He is almost mad now. After some
smart moves the intruder vanishes in thin air.
Incidences like this started happening more
and more often and making his life intolerable.
He started using every conceivable tool, books
pads, wedding cards or hand fans to hit them
with success rate, never to satisfy him. His
ingenuity was put to maximum use in devising
different tools. He used to wrap his middle with
30
news paper with a 2" hole in the soft sides of his
of under belly using it as a bait, and hitting
them.
Then he got his first look at an electrical
mosquito swatter and went head over heels for
it. The Chinese made contraption marketed
surreptitiously in India and sold by road side
venders at several traffic signals was the answer
to his ever increasing woes. It was sleek and
handsome. It came in a myriad of attractive
colors. It was robust and strong. The spark it gave
out delighted him. The gun shot sound thrilled
him. Now he could keep an account of his kills.
He bought a couple of them in different colors
and hanged them in the rooms. As he moved in
his house, seeing them overwhelmed him in the
nostalgia of days gone by when his tennis was
alive. He held them in his hands, the feel was
reassuring. There was lot of tennis still in him. He
made a few shots in the air and marveled at the
flare with which he did it.
He started using this weapon of mass
destruction with infinite zeal. He would lie on
his bed with the WMD and ambush the enemy
with different strokes he had learnt in the past.
His base line shots would take the invaders
marching from the top. His ground strokes would
annihilate the forces emerging out from under
the bed. His shots down the line terminated the
troops attacking from sides. He improvised his
strokes by a combination of chip or slice as the
need be. He found his backhand equally
punishing.
He executed the slaughter with a relish which
spread a gloom and scare in the Mosquito world.
His reputation as a dreadful butcher spread far
and wide. A message spread through the word
of, buzz in their thoraxes that this serial killer
would not relent till he gets a target of thirty
kills in every round of carnage. And thus he got
his title of Tees Mar Khan. The name itself made
them shiver with fear. In the air coolers fifty fifty
meters all around, this way or that, in the vicinity,
if a pupa started crying, its mother would say
Keep quiet child or TMK would be here.
Intense fear and hatred were not the only
sentiments for TMK. He had the reputation as a
source of providing the most sumptuous and
delicious blood meal to them. It was not only
wholesome nutritionally It made them fly on
cloud nine. They were more expressive
uninhibited and forthright in opening up their
inner feelings. Their partners simply loved the
way they were receptive to their advances. The
intoxication gave a sway to their flight and made
them fly as an aircraft in turbulence. It was
exhilaration of the highest order. And if they
were giving a ride to their partners it would be
an orgasmic experience of a life time.
Now TMK was a connoisseur of good food and
ample intake of drinks. The high content of
alcohol in his blood made him unique for the
special flavor. He was also hypertensive and a
feather touch by their proboscises would throw
31
out a fountain of the delicacy which found its
way to their abdomens with a minimum of effort.
They need not even suckle it. Every meal on him
was a feast and mothers used to implore their
daughters to go for it even if they had to lose a
leg in the tussle.
Intense hatred and malice against his aerial
adversaries made TMK deeply interested in
them. He started studying them in great detail
and documenting his finding. He was able to
identify them by the color of abdomen and the
buzz of their wings. He started giving them a
number, an identification number, starting with
a prefix, Mos for males and Fos for females. After
a much deeper study he could decipher their
language basing on the frequency of the buzz
which was how they communicated among
themselves. He noted that females were bigger
in size and only they sucked blood, whereas
males lived off sucking nectar from fruits, flowers
and vegetables.
In the study of these diminutive creatures he
found that, one individual clearly stood up and
under lined its presence. Named Mos48 this
character was different from the rest . However
TMK had no clue to know further. The ancestors
of Mos 48 had travelled to the shores of India in
an Arabic trade ship. Their descendants travelled
inlands trailing the hospitable paddy lands. His
earlier ancestry was feeding on the Oxy rich
blood of Norwegian Vikings, Spanish gladiators
and English Pirates. He was a great strategist and
an expert in matters of warfare. His flying skills
were marvelous. He could make swift moves
vertically up wards and downwards. He could
perform puzzling feats of somersaults and cart
wheel. He had made TMK eat his boots on
several occasions and mocked his defeats with
a humiliating wag of his tail.
TMK in frustration developed a compulsive
obsession to crush him between his palms.
Once there was an opportunity for TMK to get
him. TMK having a nap, happened to just open
his eyes, and saw Mos 48 riding on a female and
navigating her flight. His partner carried a pink
shine on its abdomen. There was no one around.
It must be my blood. TMK frowned. Luckily the
swatter was handy. He held it firmly. The couple
was gliding slowly. Perhaps Mos48 was
oblivious to his waking up. Soon they were
within the range. TMK made a hard shot with all
the viciousness at his command, taking them
right in the middle of his bat. Mos 48 thought
that at last the inevitable has happened. They
were caught in the tangle. TMK was briskly
moving the bat back and forth. Mos 48 gently
stroke the head of his beloved with his antenna
and told with a kiss. Go to sleep my dear. This is
our end.
Then the swinging of the swatter stopped. Mos
48 amazed at being alive had the quick thinking
to assess the situation. He briskly freed his
partner from the mesh of wires and asked her
to fly away. He started circling around TMK,
32
Laughing and mocking at him, waving his tail.
TMK realized that in his fury he had forgotten to
switch on the bat.
Mos48 had an enormous hatred for humans and
on top of it for TMK. TMK had slain his mother
soon after she laid a raft of about three hundred
eggs, in one of which he was kicking. He was a
veggie like all other males of his kind. He had
the desire to wipe out humans. The only restraint
was that the females, his females, loved the blood
meal of the humans. Human blood was rich and
delicious. No wonder as they eat a variety of plant
and animal foods. They had no tails, for their
uninvited guests to be wary about. Many of his
girls had lost their proboscises piercing the hard
hoods of oxen and cattle and later died starving.
Human skin was soft and bereft of irritating hair.
It opened up its treasures on a gentle tap by
their snouts.
TMK was an admirer of St.Valetine The tales of
the valor of the lovers in the days of the yore
inspired him. There were times when a lover
sighing like a furnace with a woeful ballad made
to his mistress eye brow would bare his heart
to half a foot of steel. A knight in shining armor
would brave rocky fortresses, and put his neck
to the edge of a sword to rescue a damsel in
distress. He felt, if you have not loved someone
deliriously you have not lived. His advice t o
young folks was ,keep the spark alive in your
hearts and wait. Lightning will strike sooner or
later. But now what he saw was conspiring , lying
and conniving young suitors who first asses the
possessions and connections of their sweat
hearts before moving ahead with the business
of love. They make sure that their future mate is
sufficiently reinforced with material assets
before claiming her hand. TMk found only MoS
48 measuring up to his expectations.
Mos 48 had an exceptional command in flying.
He could perform amazing twists and turns up
and down and side to side. He used this mastery
to survey and recce the threat situation and
lead the ladies, his ladies to a safe blood meal.
He knew that the blood meal was necessary for
the seeds sown in the females to survive. He
used his artistry mostly to get them back safely.
In the event of an ambush he would move ahead
of them and attract the assailant with his antics.
The confused aggressor got diverted towards
him, meanwhile the mothers would escape
with their brood. The assailant feverishly chasing
him would be no match for his acrobatics. In
this way he had escorted back dozens of females
bearing thousands of eggs. He knew that his life
was short and he had to complete the mission
he had assigned himself at the earliest. He had
to communicate the skills of safe flying to the
females in the Gen next.
He had a way with the ladies. In fact he was a
ladies Mos, daring, chivalrous and kind. His songs
of lust and passion made them swoon and sigh.
They secretly giggled at the lascivious hints he
made in the wrap of humor. Mos48 had other
33
attributes. The buzz of his wings produced
melodious ballads in a Spanish tinge drawn from
his ancestry. Full of passion and lust they could
sweep any lady off her feet. The thrilling whine
in his love calls was irresistible. His ode to their
charm and beauty would break all their
defenses. However modesty is the jewel of a
female. Nature puts on the females the burden
of guarding against life, getting spoilt by
promiscuity.
He personally did not like the idea of swarming
and never participated in it. This tradition
involved the swarms of their males raiding on
the freshly matured female en mass and sowing
the seeds of life. The process caused physical hurt
and is devoid of the finesse and romance which
he idealized. He flew over to the raft where a
fresh crop of larvae had emerged a few hours
back. They were waiting in their wings to take
off. He addresses them.
Dear ladies, Welcome to life and to this world. I
invite you for a rave party, at a joint, flooded with
the most nutritious food, fortified with rarest of
spirits. I assure you the spike will add a glow to
your charming faces and attract the best of the
suitors. It will be an experience of a lifetime. This
is a beautiful world and the only place capable
of holding life. As insects we are committed to
make life sustain here. You should know that
every blood meal is essential for the eggs in your
bodies. But the flight to every meal is fraught
with great risk to your own life. Please follow
some safety rules which will if you are lucky get
you back alive and deposit your beloved eggs
in life giving water.
In flight try to either point your face or your tail
at your hosts. Never give them your broadside
where you will be surely spotted. See that you
are positioned between your host and the
source of light. The glare of light will make you
invisible. If you are on the opposite side you
are a sitting duck for the host. These rules of
caution apply only for humans. Humans are the
only kind that kills indiscriminately. Other living
beings do not kill without reason and if you do
not bother them. After your meal your
abdomens will get a pink complexion. You look
as if you are wearing a gem like a ruby, giving
you an irresistible beauty. It will also slow you
down. Remember this is the most dangerous
situation for your survival.
Now I will tell you some facts about humans.
Except for making a delicacy of their blood there
is nothing that is nice or fair about them. They
are the meanest and the most selfish of all the
creatures that ever trod on the face of Earth, and
the dumbest. Their stupidity may destroy all life
from this planet. In nuclear fallout they will
sooner or later wipe out life making a Mars out
of Earth. It is the responsibility of the insect
world to keep life alive.
Humans with the help of some gadgets think
that they are the strongest of all while the fact
is that they are the weakest. Every one of you
34
can exterminate their whole localities. You spot
a sickly puking rat. Take a small gulp of its blood.
It may be a bit nauseating. Do not worry. It will
do you no harm. Now hop on to your human host,
any one of them. Have a great meal with your
snout stirring his blood. Now forget it and go
ahead with your normal business. Your great
grand children will find, them coughing blood,
and falling dead. With every sting on them their
proboscises will spread the disease in a ripple
effect. Soon the people would be dying by the
wayside in multitudes. It would be great fun but
only you will have to find alternate source of
feeding. Its only this consideration that we are
keeping them alive and getting on with their
destructive activities.
Humans are the most greedy, selfish and
destructive predators that the Earth had ever
seen. They either eat or utilize body parts of
almost every living being animate or inanimate
,plant or animal. They have already made several
of them extinct. Soon they would use up all the
resources and make our Earth sterile. They create
noise and burn up Earths chemicals for their
infantile pleasures on their festivals. When these
imbeciles laugh we feel like crying and cry when
they laugh. Of course we neither cry nor laugh.
They lack the character to accept the natures
programming of, life cycle and cleansing of life.
They try to cling on to living while they should
be dead. In this quest they created a class of
dubious credential called doctors, and an
unreliable science called medicine. We insects
have the character to get through our life cycles,
welcome and celebrate our end with poise and
dignity. Look at these cowards, mourning and
making a hue and cry in morbid fear of Death.
This world is not safe in their charge. For your
immediate caution I tell you that the man on
whom you are partying today is the meanest
serial killer, even among the humans. So ladies
keep these suggestions in mind and take off on
your first flights. If you find some human
clapping behind you do not flatter yourselves
that he is applauding you. His intention is to
kill you. Have a pleasant and safe flight. Please
do not forget the rave party to night. Bon voyage.
The newly emerging adult females carefully

listened to the cautions. The males among
them had strange sensations of pubescent
changes in their bodies, like the rotation of life
creating organs. Adolescence had brought
huge rebellious upheavals in their feelings .
One of them told his motherDont kid me
,Mom. I am no longer a larva. The churnings in
their minds made them excitedly flap their
wings anticipating an adventurous swarming.
As he spoke he looked at her. She was listening
with eyes lowered in total concentration. A girl
almost twice his size with an exquisite figure
and with a unique complexion of grey with
charming yellow spots, she looked up at him,
stars in her eyes. As their eyes met, he was dumb
struck. All his eloquence was lost. His eyes
35
stopped blinking. She turned back and with
slow and measured steps flapped her wings and
started walking away. He stood still mesmerized
by her looks and watched her moving with the
grace of a ballet dancer. He loved the way she
had looked at him. She walked a few steps and
took off. His eyes glued on her he was floored by
the majesty with which she lifted up herself and
held herself in the air. She turned and looked at
him again. He was staring at her without batting
an eyelid. With a mild smile in her eyes she sped
away. He kept staring motionless in the direction
she disappeared. TMK had later named her
Fos84.
Fos 84 heard the roar of storm. The swarm was
coming from behind. She noticed one fellow
chasing her. She tried to dodge left and right. He
did not relent. Behind him were five more
following him. She speeded up .The gang was
close upon her. The leader suddenly took a brisk
leap and pounced upon her. He grabbed her
with two pairs of legs and was moving another
. Before he could tighten his grip she took a
sudden turn and slipped away. Flying upside
down she gave a massive kick to the assailant. It
broke his left wing and he fell on the ground.
Seeing his fate, accomplices of the unlucky suitor
dispersed away. In next lap of her flight she saw
her attacker being shredded bit by bit by ants
on the ground with a disdain, free of any remorse.
In TMKs drawing room Mos48 was restlessly
clinging to a flower with a grave fear for the life
of Fos84. Lightning had struck him leaving a pang
of pain he had never felt in his earlier existence.
Batch after batch of the marching fliers were
returning , a number of them were
triumphantly carrying a rider on them. There
were few casualties which reassured him. He
waited with baited breath and a dreadful worry
lurking within him. The piercing eyes which
caused such a tumultuous storm in his soul were
nowhere to be found. He went on with his
feverish search, peeping in to every nook and
corner to find the throb of his thorax.
Then at last he spotted her. The noble beauty
was trying hard to disentangle her friend stuck
up in a wire mesh with her mate. The job was
tough and she was breathing heavily. The
workout had brought a glow over her thorax
making her looks irresistible. Another look at
the wire mesh, and he was terrified. The mesh
she was working on was that of a swatter. She
was on a mine field oblivious of the dangers .
The very thought of losing her for ever sent a
cold shiver down his back. He rushed towards
them. Fos84 looked up ,cheered a smile and
resumed her work. Two rear legs of her friend
and one of her mates were enmeshed. They
were in excruciating pain but their faces were
brightly shining with the glow of consummate
love. Mos48 took stock of the situation. The
swatter was not live. But it could be ignited
any time. They would have no escape if they
were not freed. His lady love was dangerously
moving, getting her own limbs into the trap.
He dreaded to think about the possibilities.
36
He moved to her side planted his legs firmly on
the wires and began lifting the trapped legs. His
tentacles were now scrapping hers. Fos84 got a
whiff of odor coming from the body of Mos48,
sending sparks in her body. The sensation of
touch with every brush of the tentacles and the
scent of a male was a pleasant mix. She was in
a spell. They freed the couple. They limped away
a few steps, bowed with gratitude and flew away.
Mos48, his tentacles still brushing up Fos84, was
lost in a dream world. In the ethereal world of
fantasy they went on caressing each other long
after the couple was rescued. Fos84 could not
understand what made her act so differently. She
was overwhelmed in is presence. He was a pillar
of strength and a fountain of wisdom. Puzzled to
decide the right or wrong of it, she was now a
bundle of contradiction. She surrendered to his
leads. What she only wished was, ,the time to
stop and the happenings to go on and on.
Suddenly Mos48 woke up to realize the clear
and present danger they were in. Keeping his
cool he told her to come out of the booby trap
and have a good look at the dangerous weapon.
They got air borne and flied around it. He
cautioned her to be as far away from it as
possible. Fos84 was in a spell. She had no idea
why she did what she was doing and why she
was following him. He led her to land at a cool
fragrant spot, near the flower vase. He placed
himself at a distance. His wings were flapping.
Fos84 felt her wings too were fanning the air
around her. She looked up into his eyes and felt
she could not take them off. Their wings were
now creating a buzz with the same intensity.
Mos48 now started moving around her with one
of his wings tilting towards her. He was dancing
around her in a Shivas Tandav. The pace of the
dance was increasing . The sound had now
grown in a melodious whine creating a storm
in her. He moved towards her now. The buzz
was on, sending signals into the depths of her
desires. He looked into her eyes and in a firm
buzz told, My beautiful lady, I want to father
your children and then go to die.
Fos84 felt as if struck by a missile. She felt like
fainting with her wings stopping for a moment.
Now Mos48 was behind her whining loudly in
a frenzy. She took a few steps and jumped in
the air. Mos48 flying above suddenly clutched
her in a soft grip with his three pairs of legs.
They started flying. Their wings were moving in
rhythm. Mos48s limbs tickled her for a while.
Then they started moving all across her body .
They were digging into the lobes of her
abdomen igniting sparks of libidinous desire
and passion. They were flying with a cushion of
air brushing between their bodies. She was
amazed to feel how easy and delightful flying
with a mate could be. With the resonance of
their wings they could raise their pace to any
level. Then he landed upon her firmly
squeezing her to himself. Fos84 felt the warmth
of his embrace . She thought this was the
37
ultimate moment for which she had lived
through the different stages in her life. Suddenly
she felt the climax, the exhilaration of life flowing
into her body in a stream of several lives. She
was in a trance unchartered in her previous
existence.
It was getting late and TMK had not arrived . The
group Mos48 invited was getting hungry and
wondering what he was waiting for. Most of them
had a crush on him. The reputation of siring large
broods of strong and healthy eggs associated
with his lineage had spread far and wide through
buzz of wings. They had missed him in the
swarming . They had no idea that his priorities
were different. Then TMK entered , went straight
to his bed and threw himself on it. Food had
arrived but the host was missing.
They flew home clinging together in an embrace
, making waves in a melodious note. They heard
a roar. The group had burst into an applause on
seeing them. At last Fos 84 had taken a mate.
They looked adoringly at the astonishing couple
and the ravishingly beautiful Fos 84 blushing in
the glow of consummate love. Their admiration
doubled up at the pleasant thought of a
sumptuous dinner and a delicious end to their
pangs of hunger.
Mos48 riding with his lady love made a
surveillance of whole anatomy of TMK. He
started distribution of batches to the various
banquets which were scattered all over the
body of TMK. He told them to avoid his middle.
It was within the firing range of the enemy
battery. He assessed the inebriation status of
his host and directed them towards his legs,
back of his elbows and even under his chin. His
nose was also a safe niche for those with
acrobatic skills, because he dared not hit his
own nose. At last he dismounted himself from
Fos84 after making her land in the back of
TMKS ankle. He moved away a little, watched
her lovingly from a distance, covering up for her
safety
Fos84 looked at him gratefully. She tapped
TMKs skin and pierced it. Anticoagulant
anesthesia began flowing through her snout
She probed deeper and reached the streams
of delicious warm blood. The delicacy began
to flow in to her body out of its own thrust. She
went on imbibing the life giving liquid. She
guessed , hundreds of lives craving with hunger
in her abdomen would be hailing the arrival of
food with joy.. A strange effect of psychedelic
drowsiness had been growing in her with every
gulp of the divine fluid. The spiked blood meal
was inebriating her. She could hardly know for
how long she went on with the feast. Mos48
was patiently waiting in the pyjama sleeve of
38
TMK. He was loving every moment, while he
watched her. He saw her stomach getting a
pinkish tint first and then slowly getting more
and more reddish. It was also growing larger.
At last she withdrew her snout. It was dripping
with red hot blood. She looked enchanting. Now
Mos48 realized why the human females used
bright red lip stick to lure their men folk. After
all humans also were hunters in their past. He
had so far done the job as per the script. Now
he wanted to take her to a safe hiding corner
and leave her to feed and bring up the crop of
eggs growing in her womb. That was the object
of his life. The raison d etre for his existence.
Fos84 was in no mood to let go these moments.
She made a nod at Mos48. He rushed at her and
mounted himself firmly on her. He implored her
to hurry and get out of the scene. They took on
their flight swinging and swaying. She would not
heed to his cautions and reminders of safety
measures . My lover why bother about living ,
these moments of your love are worth a
hundred lives. I know once you leave me I may
not find you. They continued circling around
TMKs bed flying at dangerously low levels. He
tried to prevent her from the misadventure.
His protest getting feebler he could not resist
her seductive charm. He succumbed to it.
Exhausted with their love play they were
dangling in the air forgetting all the safety
rules ,not knowing how close they were to
their mortal fate. Now Mos48 conscious of the
threat told her sternly. Please, for sake of our
children in your inside I ask you to leave this
place immediately. She yielded Ok Dear, your
wish is my command, Here we go.
TMK had just woken up after a bad dream. He
looked up. He saw the pair of mosquitoes flying
very slowly just above him. He looked carefully.
He could identify his old foe. His eyes now
riveted on the prey, his hands drew closer. As
soon as he found them in range he attacked with
bare hands. He was on target. A splash of blood
burst with the sound of his clap crushing the
lovers to their final destination.
Incidentally TMKs TV was playing a Hindi song.
Tu jo saath ho, phir kya ye jahan. Tere pyaar
men ,ho jaoon fanaa
When you are with me, does the world mean a
thing? In your love even death, would I embrace.
The valiant lover used to say ,humans are silly
enough to kill or die for, money, possessions,
pride, power, fear , fame or honor. These morons
also kill for pleasure or even for no reason at all.
Dying in the cause of love only made sense. It
makes a world of difference in the quality of
life.
39
At the outset Sri K.Santokh Singh, Secretary of
the Association, welcomed the Members;
Ladies, Staff members & Trainees of Forest
Academy to the 66
th
General Body meeting cum
Interactive Session with Trainees. The President,
Vice President, Jt. Secretary and Editor, Vana
Premi were requested to occupy their seats on
dais. The Director of the Academy was specially
invited to occupy his seat on the dais and placed
the agenda before the President with a request
to initiate the meeting.
1. Shraddanjali- The members & Trainees paid
homage to the departed souls of Sri K.Papa Rao,
Associate member of the Association and Sri
Guru Reddy, retired Forest Officers.
2. Felicitations- The Association felicitated the
following officers for their outstanding
performances.
A. Sri T.Krishna Murthy retired Prl.C.C.F, for his
contribution to the cause of Forests &
Environment and more particularly to Minor
Forest Products. Apart from Forest
Department, his sincere works were
MINUTES OF INTERACTIVE SESSION OF
RETIRED FOREST OFFICERS WITH TRAINEES
OF A.P. FOREST ACADEMY, DULAPALLI& 66
TH
G.B.M. HELD ON 18-12-2012
recognized by many organizations, such as
Indian International Friendship Society
which conferred BHARATH JYOTHI award
on him & The International Publishing
House also honored him with BEST
CITIZEN award. Sri Krishna Murthy thanked
the Association for the honor bestowed on
him and shared his experiences with the
members & Trainees.
B. Sri K.Buchiram Reddy for his exemplary
work in bringing out a book on Forest
Martyrs, which was released on Forest
Martyrs day 2012(10
th
November,2012).Sri
KBR Reddy, thanked the Association for the
felicitation & became emotional while
introducing his three brothers, who
witnessed his felicitation.
C. Sri P.Raghuveer Director, A.P.Forest
Academy, Dulapalli, was felicitated for his
untiring work in totally transforming the
activities of the Academy, and its
recognition by the International
Organizations Award for EDUCATIONAL
40
EXCELLANCE in the field of ENVIRONMENT
& NATURAL RESOURCES to Dulapalli Forest
Academy was presented by the Prestigious
INDUS FOUNDATION, New Jersey, U.S.A. on
9
th
September,2012. Sri P.Raghuveer
thanked the Association for his felicitation
and shared his experiences in transforming
the affairs of the Academy.
3. Sri T.Narayana Swamy, Sri J.V.Sharma, Sri
M.Padmanabha Reddy and Sri S.D.Mukherji
addressed the trainees and advised them on
various aspects of their duties. Sri
Padmanabha Reddy and Sri S.D.Mukherji
answered certain questions posed by the
trainees.
4. Felicitation of Kumari Lalitha, who exhibited
her extraordinary paintings on Nature & Wild
Life was greatly appreciated & felicitated by
the President of the Association.
5. One of the lady trainee rendered melodious
song, praising the contributions of Retired
Forest Officers for the cause of Forest&
Environment, which was applauded by one
and all.
6. The forenoon session was concluded
with the vote of thanks extended by the
Secretary, thanking the Director and his
staff for making all arrangements to
conduct the meeting.
7. Action taken report of the Secretary- The
afternoon session was started soon after
Lunch in which the Secretary introduced
new members and presented his action
taken report on the deliberations of 77
th
EC meeting held on 28-10-2012 and 65
th
G.B. meeting held on 23-09-2012.
8. Pensioners Day- Sri T.Narayana Swamy
explained the members the significance
of celebrating PENSIONERS DAY on 17
th
December every year.
9. Vote of Thanks- Sri P.Upender Reddy,
Jt.Secretary cum Treasurer proposed vote
of thanks to ladies and members who
attended the meeting braving longtravel
Secretary
Dont walk behind me: I may not lead. Dont walk in
front of me: I may not follow. Just
walk beside me and be my friend.
41
I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop
in a neighbouring town of Venice, the city of lights
and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a
manentered and sat on an empty table beside
us. He called the waiter and placedhis order
saying, Two cups of coffee, one of them there on
the wall.
We heard this order with rather interest and
observed that he was served with one cup of
coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the
waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying
A Cup of Coffee.While we were still there, two
other men entered and ordered three cups of
coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They
had two cups of coffee but paid for three and
left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he
pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, A
Cup of Coffee.
It seemed that this gesture was a norm at this
place. However, it was something unique and
perplexing for us. Since we had nothing to do
with the matter, we finished our coffee, paid the
bill and left.
After a few days, we again had a chance to go to
this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our
coffee, a man entered. The way this man was
dressed did not match the standard or the
atmosphere of this coffee shop. Poverty was
evident from the looks on his face. As he seated
himself, he looked at the wall and said, one cup
of coffee from the wall. The waiter served coffee
to this man with the customary respect and
A CUP OF COFFEE ON THE WALL......
dignity. The man had his coffee and left without
paying. We were amazed to watch all this when
the waiter took off a piece of paper from the
wall and threw it in the dust bin. Now it was no
surprise for us -the matter was very clear. The
great respect for the needy shown by the
inhabitants of this town welled up our eyes with
tears.
Coffee is not a need of our society neither a
necessity of life for us. The point to note is that
when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe
we also need to think about those people who
appreciate that specific blessing as much as
we do but they cannot afford to have it.
Note the character of this waiter, who is playing
a consistent and generous role to get the
communication going between the affording
and the needy with a smile on his face.
Ponder upon this man in need he enters the
coffee shop without having to lower his self-
esteem, he has no need to ask for a free cup of
coffee. Without asking or knowing about the
one who is paying for this cup of coffee to him.
He only looked at the wall, placed an order for
him, enjoyed his coffee and left.
When we analyse this story, along with the other
characters, we need to remember the role
played by the wall that reflects the generosity
and care of the dwellers of this town.
Can we do something like this in our little
areas??????
42
The worlds least corrupt nations: - Denmark,
Finland and New Zealand are leaders when it
comes to the worlds least corrupt countries,
according to Transparency Internationals
Corruption Perceptions Index 2012. The
Corruption Perceptions Index is presented on a
scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very
clean).India secures the 94th position in the
index with a score of 36.
1. Denmark:-With a large welfare state and a
highly prosperous economy, Demark is ranked
as the least corrupt country in the world.Score:
90.
2. Finland: -Finland is known to have a very low
number of corruption charges. It is believed that
the nation has successfully fought against
government corruption and now Finlands
records are among the worlds most
transparent.Score: 90.
3. New Zealand: -New Zealand is very well
known for its democratic institutions strength,
government transparency and lack of
corruption.Score: 90.
4. Sweden: -Sweden is considered to be one of
the most highly developed states in the world.
The country is ranked among the top 10 least
corrupt countries in the world.Score: 88.
5. Singapore: -Singapore is consistently rated
as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.
NEWS AND NOTES
Singapore is known for its freedom of speech,
effective criminal justice, order and
security.Score: 87.
6. Switzerland: -Switzerland has the best
environment records among nations in the
developed world. It is among the oldest
constitutions in the world and ranks as one of
the top 10 countries with least
corruption.Score: 86.
7. Australia: -With an organized political
culture, Australia is listed among the worlds top
10 countries which are known to be transparent
and least corrupt.Score: 85.
8. Norway: -Norway uses a civil law system and
features a free market activity. The country is
one of the least corrupt countries in the world
and a notable participant in international
development.Score: 85.
9. Canada: -The Canadian government
guarantees basic rights and freedoms that is
usually not overridden. This makes Canada one
of the least corrupt countries in the world.Score:
84.
10. Netherlands: -Netherlands characterized
by its neutrality and has a long tradition of social
tolerance. The country is listed among the
worlds least corrupt countries. Score: 84.
43
Did you know there was a Two and a Half
Rupee Note?: -Sounds funny and strange but it
is a fact that some times during the British Raj,
there was a Two and a half Rupee Note(in use in
Indian Currency ! please see last cover page.
Please see last coverpage for photograph
Top 10 Critically Endangered Animals: -It is
undeniable that it is hard to make a list of
endangered animals because of the number of
animal species that are currently facing
extinction. As this might be the case, it is only
fitting to write this article according to World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) list.
10. Mako Shark; Mako shark is killed primarily
because of its tender meat and fin. To make things
worse, the shark fin is considered to be of great
value medicinally. Some poachers will just strip
off their fins and throw it back to the sea and
leave it to die there.
9. Green-Cheeked Parrot;Because of its
beautiful colours and intelligence capabilities,
the green-cheeked parrot is being sold across
the United States and Mexico. The great demand
for these birds has made its population rapidly
decrease.
8. Tiger;the numbers of tiger in the wild is
getting lesser each year because of poachers.
Tigers are just occupying 7 percent of their
original habitats and if this will continue, they
will soon face extinction like their relatives in
Asian countries.
7. Hawksbill Turtle; An adult hawksbill turtle
can measure as long as 1 meter. Because of the
low birth rate of these turtles combined with
the illegal trade of its shell, the hawksbill is now
exponentially vulnerable to extinction.
6. Alligator Snapping Turtle; The meat of
alligator snapping turtle is considered to be an
exotic food. Due to international market
demands for an alligator snapping turtle and
the deforestation that is taking place in North
America, this turtle is now rapidly decreasing
in numbers.
5. Polar Bears;The polar bears are among the
earliest species that were threatened by the
escalating global warming issue. With ice caps
melting, it is estimated that within the next
century the polar bears will be completely
wiped off the face of the icy arctic.
4. Beluga Sturgeon;Once believed to be
extinct until one beluga sturgeon was found
alive in the Caspian Sea, it is now considered to
be an ancient living fossil. Because of its
delicious meat, it is highly in-demand at exotic
restaurants. Because of it is so expensive, many
poachers are tempted to hunt down beluga
sturgeon.
3. Giant Panda;This is one of the iconic animals
that represents all the endangered species of
the world. There are now only less than 1,000
pandas in the wild. Because of their beautiful
and soft fur, they are sought after by poachers.
44
In addition to this, their natural habitats are now
disappearing because of deforestation.
2. Mountain Gorilla; Sad to say, there are only
about 720 surviving gorillas in the wild and
another 200 of them are living in the Virunga
National Park. Thankfully, the active conservation
efforts of the Democratic Republic of Congo have
paid off. There had been a 14 percent increase in
its population for the last 12 years.
1. Black Rhino; During the last few decades, the
population of black rhinos has decreased by 90
percent. There are now about 3000 rhinos in the
world today and if poaching continues, they are
Ants hate cucumbers. Find the ant hole and leave
cucumber skin next to it, they wont poke their
little heads out!
If you want clear ice, just boil the water before
you freeze them and keep them isolated, its the
other particles in the water that makes it look
dirty
If you have chewing gum stuck to your clothes,
put them in the freezer for about an hour. Then
you should be able to simply remove the frozen
chewing gum by hand
Spill some black pepper where ever you find
mice or rats, they will take one sniff and head for
the hills!
believed to get extinct within the next few
years.
The list above may change. Some may increase,
and other may decrease even more. May be, by
the next time someone will make a list of these
endangered species, one of the animals listed
here may be officially extinct. This is the sad
state of our Mother Earth. While there are efforts
made to salvage these animals, it is never
enough as long as there are greedy people who
are motivated by their selfish ambitions. It is
time to make a stand. It is time to make a change
and the change starts with you.
TIPS
If you want lustre in your hair (personally I
prefer distinguished grey hair), add a spoon of
vinegar and then wash really well. The lustre
and shine will reappear!
Soak the lemons in hot water for one hour,
and then youll easily squeeze out all the juice.
Get some toothpaste and rub it on the ink
stains. Then let it completely dry and take it to
the wash. If you acted fast enough, you just may
get a clean shirt back.
There are several ways. First you can cut the
onions under cool water, and surprisingly,
chewing gum while cutting will sometimes
lower the need for tears.
45
By
N. Shiva Kumar
It is monsoon again and bayas or weaver birds
are back to their frolicking mood mating,
building artistic nests and bringing up families
In recent months, the house sparrow has hogged
all the limelight and even nominated as the
Delhi State Bird. On the other hand, a similar
lookalike sparrow survives in obscurity and is
relegated to the wilderness. In fact, it disappears
into thin air for
most part of
the year and
appears on the
horizon like a
pop-up on a
c o m p u t e r
screen only in
the rainy
season.
The dull
brown weaver
bird, commonly known as baya, has
inconspicuous hues in the off-season. However,
when the monsoon begins and the parched
earth turns emerald they dramatically arrive on
the scene. This small bird gets into the breed
and brood mood and their subdued brown
feathers turn brilliant yellow with contrasting
dark chocolate. Only the male turns attractive
though, donning a yellow crown and chest for
the love season, while the female retains its
original color.
The baya weavers nest is an architectural
achievement which dangles from tree branches.
The nest looks like a long pipe with a bulge in
the middle with an entrance pointing
downward. The bulbous structure is the nesting
area with a long
entry tube which
makes it difficult
for snakes and
lizards to attack.
Although the
latticed nest looks
delicate and
precarious, they
are sturdy and
fastened taut to a
twig so much
so they are impossible to be dislodged even
by high winds, storms and cloudburst. Most
nests endure through the four-month breeding
season and sometimes even up to a year. After
the breeding season, smaller birds and rodents
take advantage of the readymade abodes and
roost in the abandoned nests. The hardy nests
are made entirely out of strips of grass or thin
FEATHERED ENGINEERING
46
ribbons of palm leaves
which the birds assemble
by cutting a notch in blade
of long grass, then
stripping off a 30 to 60cm
length. The strands are
woven into cozy one-
bedroom apartments for
the mom and children to
thrive.
As a passionate
birdwatcher, I was
fortunate to observe and
photograph a large colony of 70 baya nests some
years ago in the heart of Noida when natural
trees and open spaces existed (see picture).
Todays young generation living in cities rarely
gets such opportunities because bayas no more
nest in urban areas. Even if they do, they have to
put up with unruly situations as the one I noticed
in Sector 14 in Faridabad. They have hazardously
chosen a lonesome palm tree in the parking area
of a shopping Centre and made 20 nests despite
a lot of commotion.
Strangely, the male and female bayas have their
works distinctly demarcated. While the male has
the onus of building the intricate nests, the
female brings up a hungry brood of chicks. The
male baya, being a polygamist, is capable of
acquiring many partners; he painstakingly
weaves a splendid nest that is half-finished and
invites a lover to inspect the
construction. If the female is
dissatisfied, the male has to
engineer another improved
version. Once the female is
satisfied, they make love and
the male goes scot-free to
find another lover and
repeat the laborious nest-
building activity. The male is
capable of playing husband
and father to four or five
families all at once. More
nests mean more wives but it is not an easy
venture as scientists have found out that a single
completed nest comprises an incredible 3,437
grass strips.
According to Dr. R. Nagarajan at the
Department of Wildlife Biology at AVC College
in Tamil Nadu, Bayas are ingenious and construct
nests above natural water surface like lake, pond
and even inside abandoned wells. In desperate
situations, they even use telephone lines and
electric power line wires in the middle of
sugarcane fields or streams to hang their nests.
They only choose safe spots which are not easily
accessible to predators, including man.
Incredibly, the baya has the stamina to make a
minimum of 500 trips to complete one nest in
about 18 days.
47
48
49
By CH. Prakash Rao
50
In Kerala State, two sets of Laws are in operation,
viz. Kerala Forest Act and Wildlife (Protection)
Act.
After the commencement of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act in the State of Kerala, the State
Forest Act was amended by Amendment Act 23
of 1974. By the amendment, the following clause
occurring in the definition of Forest Produce in
Section 2 (f ) of the Forest Act was deleted.
Wild animals and tusks, honey, wax and all other
parts or produce of animals
The effect of the amendment is that the items
mentioned in the said clause cease to be forest
produce.
While so, a case was registered in 1990 in
Vazhachal Range and Vazhachal Forest division
of Kerala State for illicit killing of a wild elephant.
During the course of investigation, the following
three persons were taken into custody:
1. Nelladan George,
2. MadhuraJohny, and
3. Chirayath Jose.
On interrogation, the aforesaid persons admitted
to the fact of killing elephants and the following
details have come to light in their statements
made to forest officers.
LEGAL NOTES
State of Kerala and Anothervs. P.V.
Mathew (Dead) by L.Rs
On 01.04.1991, Neeladon George and
MadhuraJohny gave their statements before
the D.F.O. Chalakudy and Chirayath Jose made
his statement before the Flying Squad Range
Officer, Thrissur. They admitted to having gone
into the forest for killing elephants. The
investigation revealed that about seven months
ago they went into the forest by engaging a car
bearing No. KL8 6755, for shooting elephants.
They returned the car; and the poachers stayed
back in the forest for a few days. MadhuraJohny
sighted two tuskers: one big and another small.
After killing the elephants, they removed the
tusks and put them in a cave. They then
returned to Thrissur by bus.
Again they went into forest by engaging the
same car and collected the tusks from the cave
They sold the tusks to Chirayath Jose for Rs.
72,000/- and paid Rs. 3,500/- to the owner of
the car.
The car was later seized and it was subjected to
confiscation proceedings under the Kerala
Forest Act by Authorized Officer (D.F.O.,
Chalakudy). A Notice for confiscation of the car
was issued and after holding an enquiry, the car
was confiscated on 20.12.1996.
The owner of the car P.V. Mathew appealed to
51
the District Court, Thrissur and the District Court
allowed the appeal on 04.12.1998. State
preferred a revision to the High Court of Kerala
and the High Court passed the judgment on
02.12.2005 dismissing the revision petition of
the State.
Aggrieved by the judgment of the High Court,
State of Kerala preferred appeal by special leave
to the Supreme Court. The High Court dismissed
the revision petition of the Forest Department
because the High Court found that the ivory was
not forest produce any more after the
amendment of the Forest Act deleting the tusks
from the definition of the forest produce. The
Supreme Court Bench comprising, P. Sathasivam
and Chalmeswar,JJ heard the matter and held
that the present definition of forest produce
does not include Tusks. The Court held that even
the seizure of the car was not justified. The
confiscation it was held was beyond the
jurisdiction of the Authorized Officer. The Court
was unable to agree with the stand taken by
the State and consequently the appeal failed.
A.I.R.2012 Supreme Court 1502
K.B.R
Note: It is considered that the proper course of
action for the Kerala Forest Department would
have been to deal with the matter entirely
under Section 51 (1) and 51 (2) of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act for punishment of the accused
as well as for forfeiture of the Vehicle.
Lets hope and pray that, the coming year brings
health, happiness and peace to all of
us, our families and the rest of the world. Vana Premi
52
Sri K.Papa Rao (IFS),
RetiredDy.Conservator
of Forests passed away
in the early hours of 5
th
December, 2012. He
had been suffering
from Alzheimer disease
for the past few years.
Sri Rao was born on 28-08-1941 in
Peddamaddala village of Krishna District to Sri
Kanakamedala Basavaiah and Smt.
Kanakamedala Sita Mahalakshimi. He had his
education from Hindu College, Machilipatnam
Mr Rao was selected as Forest Range Officers in
the year 1964 from Gujarat State and under gone
two years training in Southern Forest Rangers
College, Coimbatore during 1964-66 and passed
out with flying colours. He secured GOLD medal
in Forest Utilisation. He was very serious in
studies and equally active in all competitions
including Drama. He was greatly admired by all
trainees and liked by all Instructors.
After completing training and appointment as
Range Officer, Mr. Rao married Smt.
Ratnamanikyam in the year 1967 and blessed
with a son & Daughter. His son, Dr.K.Basu
Chakravarthy did post-graduation in Surgery and
OBITUARY
K.PAPA RAO
28-08-194105-12-2012
presently working as Professor in Mamatha
Medical College Khammam. His daughter-in-
law, DrRekha is also working in the same
medical college.
Papa Rao served forest department of Gujarat
in various capacities as Range Officer, Asst.
Conservator of Forests & Deputy Conservator
of Forests and was appointed by promotion to
Indian Forest Service for his meritorious service
in the year 1985. He was honoured with very
prestigious award of VRIKSHA MITRA in the
year 1989 and was presented to him by none
other than Honourable Prime Minister of India,
Sri Rajiv Gandhi, for his extraordinary
contribution to SOCIAL FORESTRY. Mr.Rao was
highly respected by his subordinates & as well
as Superiors for his good manners, hard work
and honesty .He finally retired on
superannuation in the year 2001, as
Dy.Conservator of Forests, Sardar Sarovar Project,
Gujarat.
Mr Rao is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter,
Grand Children and host of Relatives & Friends.
MAY GOD BLESS HIS NOBLE SOUL TO REST IN
PEACE
53
Registered with RNI R.No. Apeng/2002.2185
Postal Regn. No.LII/RNP/HDC/1154/2012-14
BOOK POST
To
If Undelivered, Please return to : Editor : VANA PREMI
Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Aranya Bhavan,
5th Floor, Room No. 514, Saifabad, Hyderabad - 500 004, A.P.
For details please see page no.43
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January 2013

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