A survey of samples collected from rivers surrounding the Enron's Dabhol power project in Guhagar Taluka of Ratnagiri district has indicated that the water was either contaminated or polluted due to faecal matter or high salt content, the Mumbai High Court was informed recently.

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had conducted the survey in keeping with directives of High Court which was hearing a public interest litigation alleging loss of livelihood to fishermen and agriculturalists of Anjanvel, Kathalwadi, Veldur and Ranvi villages of Guhagar due to river pollution caused by the Dabhol power project.Counsel for petitioners, Mahroukh Adenwalla, pointed out that five of the nine samples collected by NEERI were found to be either contaminated or polluted due to faecal matter or high salt content.

On February 25 last, the court had ordered Dabhol plant to ensure that it did not release untreated sewerage in Veldur river. It alsodirected NEERI to constitute a team of experts for inspecting the plant and visiting the villages to analyse water for tracing contamination. Accordingly, NEERI carried out inspection from March 31 to April 3.

NEERI also observed that on the days they collected samples, the cooling tower of the plant was not in operation. It, however, felt that in order to study the phenomenon of infiltration of salts and bacteriological contamination they would need to carry out tracer studies which is a time-consuming exercise.

Jute holds promise for Sunderban islands

The saline water belt of Sunderban mangrove islands, which hardly sustains any other crop, offers tremendous potential for jute cultivation, scientists have found.

Soil and crop researchers at the Jute Research Institute say that the eco-friendly fibre, which can work wonders for the livelihood of these alternative resource-starved islands, also maintains the soil health keeping its fragile ecological balance intact.

In an experimental plot atthe Gosaba Research Centre in Sagar islands, the team found that the kenap variety was more suitable and resistant to the soil salinity of the region.

"Large scale cultivation projects in Hingalban, Hasnabad, Harwa, Santoshkhali and Minakha have revealed that the total yield in these islands stands around 11 bails (a bail is equal to 120 kg) per hectare, nearly surpassing the national average of jute production," says institute director S Pathak.

Due to diversified products in the jute sector and the rising demand from European countries for the eco-friendly yarn, the fibre could prove to be a money churner for the poor islands, he said.

Infant mortality under control in Melghat

Maharashtra government has succeeded in bringing under control infant mortality, due to malnutrition, in tribal areas in Melghat in Amravati district by initiating effective measures, minister for Tribal Development, Vishnu Sawra said.

Addressing a meeting of officials from Tribal Development department, districtcollectors and divisional commissioners of Nagpur and Amravati division recently, Sawra said anganwadi workers were provided with sufficient stocks of medicines to respond to calls from tribals immediately. Nutritious food in extra quantity will be provided at all remote villages, he stated.

Tension heightens in Chilka

Tension in Chilka lake, where traditional fishermen are agitating against `prawn mafia,' has been heightened with Chilka Matsyajibi Mahasangh alleging that 13 fishermen were kidnapped at gunpoint recently near Krushna Prasad block.

The Mahasangh, spearheading the agitation to ban prawn culture, charged that armed hired goons of the prawn mafia attacked 25 traditional fishermen and forcibly took away 13 of them.

When the others tried to rescue the kidnapped fishermen, they were fired upon, Mahasangh secretary Anadi Behera said in a letter to Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang.

The attackers assaulted the kidnapped fishermen and ordered them not to protest against prawn culture inChilka lake, the letter alleged.