As per estimation carried out in 2013 there had been an increase in population by 4.6 per cent compared to last year, he said adding the number of dolphins last year was 145.
Times of India
BHUBANESWAR: Good news for wildlife lovers from Chilika Lake. The population of Irrawaddy dolphins has increased by 4.6 per cent
compared to last year's census.
"Irrawaddy dolphin population of Chilika lagoon is estimated to be
152 comprising 118 adults, 16 sub-adults and 18-calves & neonates,"
Ajit K Patnaik, the chief executive of Chilika Development
Authority (CDA) said today.
As per estimation carried out in 2013 there had been an increase in
population by 4.6 per cent compared to last year, he said adding the number of
dolphins last year was 145.
The number of calves and neonates observed during the survey carried out
recently is 18. A significant observation of 2013 population estimation was the
sighting of dolphins in Northern sector. Eight dolphins were sighted from
Northern sector, an indication of expansion of their habitat, he said.
Another significant observation is the increase in the number of calves
and neonates, which is 38.9 per cent increase over the last year's figure.
Chilika, about 70 km from here, is the natural abode of highly
endangered Irrawaddy dolphins ( Orcaella brevirostris). The present distribution range of this species is only in Asia - from
Chilika to Indonesia within South East Asia and South Asia.
The total population of these animals in the world is estimated to be
less than 7500 (highest 6400 reported from Bangladesh) and the population in Chilika is considered to be the highest single
lagoonal population, Patnaik said.
A number
of organizations, including state's forest department, were engaged in the
population survey which was carried out following line Transect method.
LUCKNOW: In a bid to make available clean and continuous flow of water in river Ganga during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad next month, the UP government has issued directions for shutting down industrial units that discharge pollutants in the river, officials said today.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani yesterday asked the concerned district magistrates to constitute a committee for inspection of polluting industries and ensure that they are closed within three days, an official spokesperson said here.
He also asked for ensuring that eight industrial units banned by the UP pollution control board, including distilleries and leather units in different districts remain closed.
Uttarakhand government has also assured full co-operation in controlling pollution, the spokesperson added.
The chief secretary has also directed for release of additional 2,500 cusecs of water in the Ganga between January 1, 2013 to February 28 and 1,500 cusecs of water between March 1 to March 7 for the good flow in the river.
NOIDA: The Noida Authority has allocated Rs 104 crore for increasing the green cover in the city in the next one year. It has also increased the fixed budget allocation of the horticulture department to ensure that existing parks and green belts are adequately maintained. The move comes four months after the Authority wrote to the state government, requesting attention to increase the green cover across the district.
Earlier this year, the Authority had changed the land use in the Master Plan 2031, increasing the green cover in Noida from its current 14.9% to 16%. In order to accommodate the change, the Authority has added 300 hectares of green area in the master plan by changing some land use.
Following a meeting with the horticulture department earlier this week, the Authority announced its plan to plant one lakh new saplings in the next one year. It also decided to construct 100 new parks in the next 20 years to increase the total green area to 475 acres by 2031.
The Authority has earmarked additional land, including city parks, residential colonies and institutional areas, where new saplings will be planted. Noida already has around 900 small and medium sized recreational parks.
To begin with, the Authority has begun a survey of land in sectors along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway to identify where new green belts can be developed. Authority CEO Sanjeev Saran said that by 2031, the green belt area will be around 180 acres, while in the residential sectors, new saplings will be planted on 195 acres. Work on new parks will begin by the end of this year.
As per the latest report by the Forest Survey of India, Uttar Pradesh has lost almost two square kilometres of green cover in last two years in spite of there being an increase in the tree cover. According to forest department officials, one of the primary reasons is the increase in construction activity across the state.
Following the report, the Noida Authority had written to the state government drawing its attention to the depleting green cover and announced its plan to plant new saplings and construct new parks in the city.
It's better to use natural products to stop hairfall than to go in for expensive parlour treatments, that may not help the problem.
Try the following easy tips at home and see how effective they are in reducing hair loss!
1. Hot oil treatments: Take any natural oil - olive, coconut, canola - and heat it up so that it is warm, but not too hot. Massage it gently into your scalp. Put on a shower cap and leave it on for an hour, then shampoo your hair.
2. Natural juices: You can rub your scalp with either garlic juice, onion juice or ginger juice. Leave it on overnight and wash it thoroughly in the morning.
3. Get a head massage: Massaging your scalp for a few minutes daily will help stimulate circulation. Good circulation in the scalp keeps hair follicles active. Circulation may be improved through massage by using a few drops of lavender or bay essential oil in an almond or sesame oil base.
4. Antioxidants: Apply warm green tea (two bags brewed in one cup of water) on your scalp and leave this mixture on for an hour and then rinse. Green tea contains antioxidants which prevent hair loss and boost hair growth.
5. Practice meditation: Believe it or not, most of the times, the root cause for hair loss is stress and tension. Meditation can help in reducing that and restore hormonal balance
AHMEDABAD: Junagadh district has received only 10 per cent of the rain
it normally gets, forcing the forest department to put in place its contingency
plan to ensure that lions' thirst is quenched.
The forest department has to keep replenishing more than 500 artificial
waterholes in the Gir National Parkand its periphery. However,
the department is worried because there are no such arrangements for lion zones
in Amreli, Bhavnagar and coastal areas.
Foresters said that due to deficient rainfall this year, water levels in
rivers, ponds, and wells are plunging. The Gir Forest National Park and
Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is the only abode of the Asiatic
lions — their current population is 411. Other animals in the sanctuary include
leopards, spotted deer, Nilgais, wild boars, and thousands of bird species and
various reptiles. In the normal course, forest authorities stop filling the
artificial waterholes in and around Gir by June 15 every year — unless it is
required in summer. But nearly after a decade, the authorities are being forced
to fill these ponds in August. The waterholes are filled twice a day.
hief conservator of forests R L
Meena said that the
main worry is that the waterholes filled using wind and solar power will be rendered useless because the water
level is falling drastically. He said that there are about 55 waterholes which
are filled automatically. The department may have to provide supply to these
waterholes too. "A water tanker of the forest department is making eight
to ten trips a day," he said.
Senior officials said that with natural water getting exhausted, the forest
department will have to get water from distant places. The department may have
to call in more tankers to meet the demand. The water situation deteriorated
when seven rivers — Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavadi,
and Raval — passing through the sanctuary started drying up.
IPSHITA MITRAIPSHITA MITRA| Aug 6, 2012, 12.00AM IST
Yoga: It is this ancient form of exercise that has
contributed in the holistic living of individuals in the most natural and
trusted way since years. Yoga is like a
spiritual route to a relaxed mind and healthy body.
In times of
pregnancy, when women are battling
mood swings at varying levels, fatigue and sickness, painful leg cramps and breathing
problems; yoga exercises, techniques and postures ease all such conditions
ensuring a period of relieved nine months followed by an easier labour and
smooth delivery.
Former Miss Universe
and Bollywood
actress Lara
Dutta who recently became a mother of a baby girl launched her prenatal yoga
DVD titled 'Heal with Lara' under pre-natal yoga expert Tonia Clarke. Her
initiative is just another example of stating the significance of pregnancy yoga
that is developing as an important fitness trend among would-be mothers.
Women who are regulars would require minor modifications to their yoga
routine during pregnancy months when the body is undergoing hormonal changes.
The aim of pregnancy yoga is to help the mother bring the unborn into the world
with minimum hassle and completely no health complications. Positions and
exercises practiced across the three trimesters of pregnancy differ with every
phase. It isn't just about yoga; it is about doing it under expert supervision
and favourable environment.
A pregnant woman must take into
consideration her health history before beginning with the exercises. For those
who are doing yoga for the first time and have not been following a regime
otherwise should not rush into the same without prior medical consent. The first
three months are the most crucial and chances of miscarriage are high; therefore
utmost caution is paramount during this time.
With all clauses and
health tips in mind, let us now move forward to the 'asanas' most recommended
for would-be-mothers. Yoga postures mentioned below focus on strengthening the
pelvic muscles that help enhance the womb space for the healthy growth of the
foetus. Yoga teacher and nutritionist Abhilasha Kale believes that, "The
benefits of asanas are many. By doing regular exercises, a lot of happy hormones
are released called 'endorphins' that keep a mother energetic and positive sans the deterring and erratic mood
swings coming in way."
Here's a list of the top exercises that Abhilasha
suggests women to attempt during pregnancy months. She also guides us on doing
them correctly:
Vakrasna (Twisted
pose)
-Sit erect with feet stretched in front (parallel).
-Inhale and raise your arms at shoulder level, palms facing down.
-Exhaling, twist your body from waist towards your right moving head and
hands simultaneously to the same side. Swing arms back as much as possible. Do
not bend your knees.
-Inhale and come back to original position
maintaining your hands shoulder level and parallel to each other.
-Repeat on other side.
Benefit-Your spine,
legs, hands, neck are exercised along with gentle massage to abdominal organs.
Utkatasana (Chair pose)
- Strengthens thigh and
pelvic muscles
-Stand erect with feet 12 inches apart. Keep your feet
parallel to each other.
-Inhale for 2 seconds and raise your heels and
arms at shoulder level, palms facing down simultaneously.
-Exhale
slowly; sit in squat pose, on your toes. If not comfortable standing on your
toes, stand normally keeping feet flat on the ground.
-Keeping your
hands in the same position, inhaling, get up slowly and stand on your toes.
-Exhale, hands down and heels down simultaneously.
Konasana (Angle pose)
- Flexibility of waist
and fat remains under control in the waist region
-Stand erect with feet
24 inches apart. You can do this asana with the support
of wall.
-Raise your right hand up keeping elbow straight. Give a
nice upward stretch and while you inhale, bend sideward towards your left.
Exhale and come back and put your hand down.
-Repeat the same with other
side.
Paryankasana (Ham's
pose with one leg)
- Strengthens abdominal, pelvic and thigh
muscles
-Lie down on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your knees
together.
-Now, fold your right leg in the knee at the side of your
posterior. Breathe normally. Hold the position as long as you're comfortable and
repeat the same on other side. Straighten your leg.
-Repeat with the
left leg.
Hast Panangustasana (Extended hand to big tow
pose)
- Strengthens pelvic and thigh muscles
-Lie down
on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your body in one line.
-Your
hands in T-position, palms facing down.
-Slide right leg towards your
right side. Don't try very hard. Hold toe with your right hand if possible.
-Sliding your leg come back to original position.
-Repeat the
same on left side.
Bhadrasana (Butterfly pose)
- Strengthens inner thighs and pelvic region
-Sit on the mat
with legs fully stretched.
-Keeping the legs in contact with the mat,
form 'Namaste' with your feet. -Sit erect, without leaning forward. Place your
hands on knees or thighs. Hold the posture till the time you feel comfortable.
-Straighten your legs and repeat again.
Parvatasana
(Mountain pose)
- Improves body posture, relief in backache
-Sit on the mat in sukhasna, padmasana or ardhapadmasana.
-Sit
straight and while you inhale, raise your arm and join your palms in 'Namaste'
position. Keep your elbows straight. Hands are near to your ears. Hold the
position for a few seconds and come back to normal position again.
-Repeat 2-3 times
Yastikasana (Stick pose)
- Corrects posture, body gets stretched, relieves body tension
-
Lie down on your back. Straighten your legs. Keep your body in one line. Knees
and feet are together. Feet point upward. Hands rest on the sides.
-Inhale and raise your hands; rest them on the floor and stretch upward.
Push your toes out simultaneously.
-Exhale, raise your hands and come
back into normal position.
-Repeat 3-4 times with in between breaks.
Some important reminders/safety measures:
-
Mothers with condition of asthma can try the
above mentioned asanas but shouldn't hold or suspend breath during the practice
of pranayams/asanas.
- On the basis of pregnancy trimesters there are
certain exercises that cannot be carried throughout all pregnancy months.
Konasana (angle pose) for instance should not be continued post seven months of
pregnancy. Once the mother feels uncomfortable doing an asana, it is advisable
to stop immediately without further straining the muscles.
- Avoid
forward bending asanas (strong back bends, such as the boat pose), inverted
poses and exercises that might put pressure on the abdomen. Asanas that require
lying down on the weight of your stomach should be strictly avoided.
-
Exercises involving balance should be done with utmost care.
- Please
avoid hurrying into weight-loss exercise regime immediately after delivery.
Post-natal yoga (post six weeks after birth) and exercises should be practiced
only when the mother's body is fully ready and relaxed.
- Simple
stretching exercises encourage circulation,
help fluid retention, and relieve stress
- If
mothers feel pain or nausea doing any of the exercises, then they should stop
immediately and consult doctor.
Imágenes de la exposición 'India.
Virginidad rasgada', de Ana Palacios
·Ana
Palacios, coordinadora de producción, viaja a misiones en sus vacaciones
·La
exposición 'India. Virginidad rasgada' muestra los 3 meses que pasó allí
·Acompañada
de 'las Anas', recorrió escuelas, orfanatos, leproserías y 'slums'
Isabel
Espiño | Madrid
Apenas
unos días después de terminar el rodaje de 'Intruders' -el último filme de Juan
Carlos Fresnadillo-, Ana Palacios aterrizó en Bombay. Durante tres
meses recorrió, cámara en mano, una decena de misiones por toda La India. De
los 'slums' de Bombay a una escuela en Kanniakumari. Ahora, una exposición en
Madrid muestra las imágenes de aquel país "pacífico y amigable" que
le hechizó.
Todo
comenzó con un e-mail de dos líneas. "Tú ven, lo ves y lo cuentas.
Te iremos a recoger con el 4x4 de la congregación al aeropuerto", leyó.
Era abril de 2010, seis meses antes de su viaje.
Movida
por el deseo de "hacer algo útil" -aunque sin saber "lo
que me iba a encontrar ni cómo ayudarles"-, esta coordinadora de
producción se había puesto en contacto con "las Anas" -como llama
cariñosamente a las Hermanas de la Caridad de Santa Ana-, con base en su
Zaragoza natal. Aquel escueto correo electrónico era la respuesta de la hermana
Primi Vela, responsable de la congregación en La India.
Guiada
por "las Anas", entre octubre y diciembre de aquel año visitó sus
orfanatos, hospitales, dispensarías, casas de mujeres desahuciadas,
colegios, 'slums', asilos... Todo un contraste para alguien que se define como
atea e hipocondriaca.
'Virginidad
rasgada'
Sin
embargo, lo más chocante era la soledad. "La enfermedad me impactaba, pero
me impactaba mucho más ver a un niño de meses solo, sentado en el barro".
De ahí el título de la exposición: 'India. Virginidad rasgada'. "India ya
nace sabia. Los niños tienen que funcionar con independencia desde muy
pequeños. Desde el principio ya no hay virginidad", explica.
'Slum' de
Bombay. | Ana Palacios
Esa
sabiduría queda retratada en las miradas directas de los protagonistas de su
exposición. Un joven en un cafetal, dos hermanos en un 'slum', tres niñas en
una clase de yoga, una anciana con la única compañía de su rueca…
Sin
embargo, advierte, ha "tratado de evitar la miseria violenta". "Quiero
que sea una exposición amable de ver", prosigue. El 'slum' muestra así
sus colores más brillantes -"Las mujeres indias son muy presumidas. Es todo
muy delicado y muy estético, aunque no tengan para comer ese día",
explica-, a un vendedor ambulante, a un joven sonriente tiempo después de que
'las Anas' tratasen su gangrena o a una madre acicalada con su hijo en brazos,
mirando fijamente con sus grandes ojos oscuros.
"Quiero
tratar de lanzar un mensaje más positivo. Creo que la gente empatiza más
cuando a pesar de ver un drama se lo enseñas de una manera más amable",
prosigue Palacios, al tiempo que relata entusiasmada los
"proyectitos" que han nacido de sus fotografías (las imágenes de la
muestra se venden para recaudar fondos para la Fundación Juan Bonal) y contar su experiencia,
tanto en blogs como en persona.
Una
ambulancia para las barriadas, una depuradora de agua, una operación de un niño
con polio... "Los resultados son tan espectaculares que es adictivo. Mi
otra vida, donde gano dinero, es tan divertidamente frívola que necesito
contrarrestarla con cosas mucho más densas emocionalmente y profundas, que
tengan tres dimensiones", expone.
Una
'turista conventual'
Así, de
los rodajes con Michael Radford, Milos Forman o Ridley Scott (Palacios ha
trabajado en 'La Mula', 'Los Fantasmas de Goya' y 'El Reino de los Cielos',
respectivamente), sigue 'saltando' a las misiones.
El verano
pasado pasó mes y medio en "leproserías, psiquiátricos y asilos de
Macao y China" y en diciembre acompañó a enfermos terminales de
peregrinación en Tierra Santa con una ONG (un proyecto que ahora le gustaría
transformar en otra exposición fotográfica que ya tiene nombre: 'Fe líquida').
"Eres
una turista conventual", le dijo en una ocasión "su monjita
Primi", con la que sigue escribiéndose a diario. "Yo era una turista
en cuanto que ajena a ese universo y me dedicaba a visitar conventos",
resume.
Su
próximo destino es inminente. Hace una semana terminó su último rodaje
-'Libertador'- y ya está con los preparativos para irse a Gana, en menos de un
mes. "No sé cómo de duro va a ser, pero sé que lo que haga allí va a
tener resultados aquí. Y eso es tan poderoso...".
UN designates Western Ghats as world heritage site
PTI | Jul 2, 2012, 01.23PM IST
UNITED NATIONS: India's 1600-km long Western Ghats
mountain chain, which has forests older than the Himalaya mountains, has been
added to list of world heritage sites by the United Nations.
The Western Ghats mountain chain is recognised as one of the world's eight
"hottest hotspots" of biological diversity. The chain's forests, which are older
than the Himalaya mountains influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern.
The ghats, which start at the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra and runs
through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ending
at Kanyakumari, was added to the World Heritage list by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
A historic opera house in Germany, a border town and its fortifications in
Portugal, and 18 interconnected lakes in Chad are some other sites that have
been added to the list.
The Margravial Opera House Bayreuth in Germany, which was built in the 18th
century, is considered a masterpiece of Baroque theatre architecture. It is the
only entirely preserved example of its type where an audience of 500 can
experience Baroque court opera culture and acoustics authentically, as its
auditorium retains its original materials.
The border town of Elvas and its fortifications in Portugal, was also added
to the list, as the site represents the largest bulwarked dry ditch system in
the world. While Elvas contains remains dating back to the 10th century, its
fortification began when Portugal regained independence in 1640.
The World
Heritage Committee meets once a year, and is responsible for the
implementation of the Unesco World Heritage
Convention, which defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be
considered for inscription on the World Heritage List.
Al norte de la India, a los pies del Himalaya, se congregan los viajeros en busca de iluminación interior
NAYADE HILAS - 17/06/2012
Si el caos y el sin-sentido tuvieran que elegir un lugar donde empadronarse, este sería India. Todo puede ser sagrado (holy holy...holy sadu, holy temple, holy money), y todo ocurre por alguna razón...(everything happens for a reason, my friend). Al mismo tiempo que nada importa porque todo lo que nos rodea es ilusorio (Tantra). Los bienes materiales no significan nada pues venimos a esta vida sin nada y nos vamos sin nada..., pero me lo asegura un chaval que no se despega de su smart phone mientras una vieja tiende la mano pidiéndome dinero y se asoma entre su sari una pulsera de plata maciza. Y en ese querer decirle a la vieja que venda su brazalete, y en ese querer reírme del chaval... todo tiembla y empiezo a entender eso de que nada tiene sentido, ni sus plegarias ni mis excusas, ni sus dioses ni mis ideas...
El monastrio de Dip Tse Chok Ling, en McLeod Ganj, en Dharamsala (India).- LUCAS VALLECILLOS
Y en un segundo fractal, crashhhh...todo continúa, la mujer sigue su peregrinación de terrazas y turistas sin darle bola a mi negativa, el tráfico y los cientos de claxons (pitan para adelantar cualquier cosa, moto, persona, vaca....) prosiguen su incansable tortura y los monos esparcidos en las alturas de cada cornisa, y cada poste de la luz observan silenciosos; a la vieja, a mi refresco y al sagrado sin sentido del caos en movimiento....
Al pie del Himalaya, refugio de la cultura tibetana, cerca de McLeod Ganj (pueblo del exilio del Dalai Lama, en Dharamsala), nos acompaña el frío a la tarde, y el agua del deshielo rodea el valle por tres costados terminando en cascadas.
Cada mañana, veo algún águila sobrevolando mi cabeza y los cuervos son negros azulados, preciosos...hoy he visto la mariposa más increíble que voy a ver en mi vida, negra y grande como un gorrión, se desplazaba ligera con un vuelo muy raro, casi sin aletear, como si fuera una mezcla de pájaro e insecto.
Aparte de las montañas, el verde, los templos y las rocas del Himalaya, este sitio también es digno de estudiar antropológicamente, pues se ha convertido en La Universidad New Age Superguay del Paraguay...
Hay una innumerable lista de cursos, workshops, iniciaciones con nombres tan extraños para un no-entendido como Sutra Healing, Trimurti Cooking Classes, Ayurvedic Nutrition, Siddha Kundalini o PanchKarma que se integran en la cotidianidad del lugar en forma de mosaicos encolados en lugares estratégicos con colores fosforescentes e imágenes hipnóticas.
La gente se despierta temprano para tomar sus lecciones, algunos pasan el día en la cantina y otros siguen estudiando después de clase en sus guest-houses.
Entre los acústicos mantras de la gran variedad de aves puedes interceptar tanto el sonido de un grupo de iniciados a la meditación en cantos armónicos como el silbido de una cabrera que estoica al paso del tiempo llama entre graznidos a sus animales, mientras se escucha el grito aplastante de una radial que, cortando la armonía del valle en dos, se precipita sobre el silencio haciéndole saber a este que la construcción de otro hotel les beneficiará algún día.
Por lo visto hace veintiséis años aquí solo habia un pequeño edificio de dos plantas, el templo y la única chai-shop entre un manto de rododendros que entregados a la nada fueron sometidos a la evolución y el progreso.
Hoy, es un Mercado de la Búsqueda Interior al que llegan almas furtivas desde los más recónditos lugares del mundo con la necesidad de encontrarse a sí mismos, con el anhelo de respirar un espacio interior que se privaron encontrar en sus respectivas macrociudades occidentales que, parece, matan la espiritualidad del individuo.
Y entonces, click! en un segundo fractal todo se distorsiona y empiezo a asimilar que nada tiene sentido. Y que El TODO incluye el karma de un monje budista buscando aplicaciones para su i-Phone, y que La NADA (emptiness tantra) nos puede abrazar llevándonos a la iluminación (nirvana) estando en un sofá o en El Mejor Lugar del Mundo.
