An Environmental Watchdog Newsletter
February 10-16, 2014
No. 290
Editorial Team – Bishal K.C. & Narendra Manandhar
For the 290th issue, we reviewed 35 news reports from 10 sources and selected 13 happenings in four countries.
New species were encountered in Annapurna Conservation area in Nepal while vulture species are at risk due to
poisonous flesh in India. Similarly, cash crop is bringing economic prosperity in Bhutan while illicit cutting of
trees has been banned in Peshawar, Pakistan.
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NEPAL
Illegal Trade of Wildlife
Nepal Ranked Third in Ginger Production
Silt Deposition in Kulekhani
Revised Water Tariff
Government Cut Fees to Lure Climbers
New Species in ACAP
INDIA
Avalanches in Himachal Pradesh
Dead Vulture
BHUTAN
Technology Makes It Easy
Increase in Rice Import
Deforestation Worries Highlanders
Cash Crop Changed the Lives
PAKISTAN
Illicit Cutting of Trees
Nepal-Himalaya
ILLEGAL TRADE OF WILDLIFE
The Cobra Two Operation launched by Nepal Police has revealed that Nepali territory has been used as transit
point for illegal trade of wildlife. During the operation, 14 smugglers were arrested along with six cases of
seizure of endangered species. Of which five smugglers were caught with 34 kilograms of pangolin scales, three
with 64 grams of rhino horn, two with a python and one with 27 endangered bird species.
February 12
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/12/national/smugglers-use-nepali-territory-for-illegal-trade-ofwildlife/385260.html
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/12/capital/arrests-animal-part-seizures-in-operation/385227.html
Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence
……www.resourceshimalaya.org
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NEPAL RANKED THIRD IN GINGER PRODUCTION
Nepal produced 255,208 tons of ginger in 2012 which is 12.18 per cent of the world’s production making it the
third largest ginger producer. Compared to previous year, the ginger farming area was increased from 19,081 ha
to 20,256 ha. The statistics also shows that ginger exports jumped significantly by 162.49 per cent in 2012-13
and earned whopping NPR 1.33 billion in the same period.
February 12
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/12/business/nepal-retains-spot-as-third-largest-producer-ofginger/385246.html
SILT DEPOSITION IN KULEKHANI
The settled silt is decreasing the capacity of electricity generation of Kulekhani Hydropower project. According
to the officials, the capacity of the project was to generate 211.1 million units electricity but now it generates
only 144.7 million units. Meanwhile, the surface level of the reservoir has also increased by 13 meters in the last
31 years, leading to the decrease in its storage capacity.
February 13
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/13/national/silt-deposition--saps-kulekhani-power-output/385275.html
REVISED WATER TARIFF
Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) has revised drinking water tariff according to which consumers have to
pay a minimum monthly charge of NPR 110 (for meter connection) per 10,000 liters of water and NPR 560 per
month (with no meter connection) respectively.
February 13
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/13/top-story/nwsc-hikes-water-tariff/385274.html
GOVERNMENT CUT FEES TO LURE CLIMBERS
Nepal government has slashed the royalty fee for mountaineering including the Mt Everest with an aim to at
attract more mountaineers. For Nepali climbers, the royalty fee has been set at NPR 75,000, NPR 37,500 and
NPR 18,250 per person during spring, autumn and winter/summer season respectively which came into effect
from February 13, 2014 while the revised royalty fee for foreigners will come into effect from January 1, 2015.
February 13
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/13/business/govt-slashes-mountaineering-fee-to-attract-moreclimbers/385297.html
NEW SPECIES IN ACAP
In the past fifteen years, nine new animal species have been recorded in the Annapurna Conservation Area
Project (ACAP) in northwestern Nepal. The new species include Tibetan Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus),
Tibetan Argali, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, a rare species of Pallas’ cat and two new species of butterfly. The nearly
threatened small wild cat species (Otocolobus manul), native to the grassland and steep regions of Central Asia
was also spotted for the first time one and half month ago.
February 16
http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/02/16/national/9-new-animal-species-found-inside-acap-in-last-15years/385406.html
India-Himalaya
AVALANCHES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
Dozens of small avalanches hit Himachal Pradesh northern India due to heavy snowfall in Lahaul valley. The
weather has hindered normal life of the local people, not only the transportation but also the
telecommunication network. Add to that, the water supply and electricity supply has also affected by this
extreme event.
February 11
http://news.oneindia.in/india/avalanches-hit-normal-life-himachal-pradesh-1392756.html
Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence
……www.resourceshimalaya.org
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DEAD VULTURE
Four dead vultures were found at Beltoli near Hakama Beel under Bilasipara subdivision in Dhubri district
situated in Assam north eastern India. The reason behind the death of vulture was found to be the poisonous
flesh of a dead cow.
February 16
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb1714/state07
Bhutan-Himalaya
TECHNOLOGY MAKES IT EASY
Newly installed ropeway in Norgaygan gewog in Samtse district, south west Bhutan, has come as a relief to
villagers. They used to pay 4.04 USD for 0.0551 tons for a pony and 0.08 USD for 0.0011 tons if carried by a
porter. But now, with ropeway in place they only have to pay 0.02 USD per kg and can walk home freely. The
Global Environment Facility had funded USD 49,980 for ropeway installation and it had also donated two
cardamom driers to the community, for which villagers used to spend five truckloads of firewood to dry.
February 11
http://www.kuenselonline.com/changju-gets-gifted-a-ropeway/
INCREASE IN RICE IMPORT
According to the Royal Monetary authority’s annual report, the import of rice has increased from USD 13.7
million in 2011 to USD 19.4 billion in 2012. At the same time, the export of vegetables has also increased three
fold from 973 metric tonnes to 2,822 MT in 2013.
February 14
http://www.kuenselonline.com/rise-in-rice-import/#.UwGtsNKw2Bs
DEFORESTATION WORRIES HIGHLANDERS
Herders of Merak, eastern Bhutan, were disappointed with authorities for issuing timber extraction permits.
Local complains that people from lower valleys were extracting timber. Every day one or two truckloads of
timber are felled in Meark, said one of the herders. Herders also worries that depletion of forest cover was
detrimental to the quality of tsamdro (pastureland) essential for the livelihood of the semi-nomadic community.
Logging of trees has also disturbed red panda habitat.
February 14
http://www.kuenselonline.com/spare-merak-the-effects-of-logging/#.UwGttNKw2Bs
CASH CROP CHANGED THE LIVES
The cardamom cultivation in Norgaygang gewog of Samtse district, southwestern Bhutan, has changed the
lifestyle of villagers. On an average, they earn almost INR 500,000; a few earn almost INR 5M a year. Majority of
the households in the village grow only cardamom whereas few are engaged on paddy and maize cultivation.
February 15
http://www.kuenselonline.com/cardamom-norgaygangs-spice-of-success/#.UwGtn9Kw2Bs
Pakistan-Himalaya
ILLICIT CUTTING OF TREES
Illegal felling of trees has been banned in the Ustarzai forest in Peshawar, northern Pakistan, for a period of two
months in order to save wildlife and prevent forests.
February 16
http://pakistan.onepakistan.com.pk/news/city/peshawar/283456-ban-on-illegal-cutting-of-trees.html
Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence
……www.resourceshimalaya.org
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