Study on Sunderbans reveal that sea level rise has had very little effect

A joint study carried out by scientists from India, Bangladesh and Belgium has found that the 10,000sqkm Sunderbans have lost only 120sqkm (1.2 per cent) land over the past 35 years and this is a negligible loss in relation of the observed annual sea-level rise of 6mm.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 4 March 2017.

The researchers are from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing in Dehradun, Jagannath University in Dhaka and Vrije University in Brussels and they have based their conclusions on a study of satellite imagery study. It has detected significant loss in mangrove forest density but very loss of land.
The Sunderbans are rich in biodiversity and, as per the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), it is home to over 35 reptile species, 120 commercial fish species, 300 bird species and 32 mammal species, including the tiger. The reasons for reduction in the dense mangrove forest cover is more on the Indian side attributed to expansion of human settlements and agriculture on the Indian side. Simultaneously, on the Bangladesh side, it is due to shrimp farming.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Barack Obama enters the league of top US Presidents with ranking of 12

Public tours of the White House will begin again from March 7

Explosion in French nuclear power plant in a non-nuclear zone


Didi caught in the whirlpool of industries (satire)

Moody’s love hate relationship with the raincoat (satire)

The curse of social media – cold blooded murders committed


Mumbai will get to see Justin Bieber in action on May 10

Kangana Ranaut is 'fearless Julia' in Rangoon

Shakti Kapoor holds his audience spellbound in the Khandagiri Yatra


ISIS carries out car bombing in Baghdad - kills at least 55

Suicide bomb attack kills at least 72 in a Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Mayor of London worried about ISIS attacks on the city

Mumbai plans houseboats in the creeks on Mumbai coast to woo tourists

Mumbai has plans on the anvil to operate houseboats in the creeks on Mumbai coast in an effort to woo tourists. It could start between the waters of Marve-Manori and Gorai. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has received 11 proposals from coastal districts to set up houseboats.
It will be on the lines of what Kerala has done - houseboats will be promoted in the backwaters of Maharashtra too. They already operate at Tarkarli in Sindhudurg district and have become a big hit with tourists.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 February 2017.

The proposed houseboat can accommodate two families at a time and MMB would levy a 10% charge on what the operator will charge for each tourist. Besides, there will be a security deposit. The scheme will be implemented in an environmental friendly way and tourists will be taken through the creeks and shown the mangroves.
MMB also has plans to launch water sports facilities at Juhu, Versova, Aksa, Marve, Manori, Gorai, Ghodbunder, Bhayandar and Vasai. The facilities will include kayaking, banana rides, water scooters and speed boats.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Barack Obama enters the league of top US Presidents with ranking of 12

Public tours of the White House will begin again from March 7

Explosion in French nuclear power plant in a non-nuclear zone


Didi caught in the whirlpool of industries (satire)

Moody’s love hate relationship with the raincoat (satire)

The curse of social media – cold blooded murders committed


Mumbai will get to see Justin Bieber in action on May 10

Kangana Ranaut is 'fearless Julia' in Rangoon

Shakti Kapoor holds his audience spellbound in the Khandagiri Yatra


ISIS carries out car bombing in Baghdad - kills at least 55

Suicide bomb attack kills at least 72 in a Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Mayor of London worried about ISIS attacks on the city