THE PALNI HILLS CONSERVATION COUNCIL 'Endhawin', Lowershola Road Kodaikanal - 624 101 INDIA 07th ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PHCC The Palni Hills Conservation Council (PHCC)'s Executive Committee met 10 times between June '91 and May '92. In the last Annual General Body Meeting(AGM) the following members and office bearers were selected for 91-92. They are: 1. Mr.Zafar Futehally .. President 2. Fr.K.M. Matthew .. Vice President 3. Mr.Navroz Mody .. Vice President 4. Mrs.Zai Whitaker .. Secretary 5. Mr.C.Jeyakaran .. Treasurer 6. Mr.M.S.Viraraghavan .. Executive Committee member 7. Mrs.Girija Viraraghavan .. " 8. Mrs.Laeeq Futhehally .. " 9. Mrs.Pippa Mukherjee .. " 10. Mr.R.Kannan .. " 11. Mr.Romulus Whitaker .. " 12. Mr.Jean Pouyet .. " 13. Dr. Rauf Ali .. " 14. Mr.T.Rajkumar .. " 15. Mr.J.Nath .. " 16. Mrs.Jaima Mani .. " 17. Mr.Robert William Stewart .. " Membership: The total membership of the PHCC as on 31st March '92 is as follows: Life members .. 100 Ordinary members .. 72 Institution members .. 2 ----- 174 ----- Now that the PHCC has been in existence for the past 7 years the opportunity is taken to review its main acitivites not only for the past year but from its inception in 1985. Since the beginning the attempt has been to persuade the authorities to ensure that any development which taken place in the hills is compatible with the special ecology of the region, and that its natural properties and potential is not destroyed. For this reason a continuous dialogue has been maintained with the Forest Department with Director, Town and Country Planning, with the Secretary Urban Development and Water Supply, and ofcourse with the Collector, the D.O. and the Police. Obviously much importance was given to the creation of a Master plan for Kodaikanal. The Draft Master Plan for Kodaikanal was received in 1986 and our members made a careful study of the proposal and submitted it to the Government. Our main concern was to ensure that urban development proceeded on ecologically appropriate lines avoiding the mistakes which have occured in other hill stations. Palni Hills National Park: As it quite obvious, it is essential to leave large areas of the Palnis completely free from human disturbance for protection of indigenous wildlife as well as for the various reasons internationally accepted for the creation of National Parks. Our Council submitted a detailed proposal for designating a Palni Hills National Park and several discussions took place with the authorities including a meeting with the wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun. One Suggestion was that the proposed park should be linked with the Anamalais. We were given to understand that some decision would be taken during the 8th Fiver Year Plan but so far this has not been done. Exotic Commercial Plantations: Our Council has attempted through representations to the Company Law Board that commercial plantations should not be permitted in the Palnis. Eucalyptus, wattle and pine do not have the same ecological properties as the native species of trees, and as a result there is considerable erosion of soil during the monsoon. We have also brought to the notice of the authorities that the open grass lands are an important ecological unit of the entire ecosystem and this should not be planted with trees. The grass lands also provide valuable fodder for wild herbivorous like bison, deer and elephants as well as cover for the smaller mammals and birds. Which have an important part to play in keeping the environment in a natural and healthy state. In this connection the letter from the Chief Conservator of Forest is of relevance. Tree Planting: From the point of the direct action the PHCC has played a significant role in tree planting from funds received principally from the National Wastelands Development Board of the Ministry of Envrionment and Forests, and also from Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and Indo German Social Service Society (IGSSS). These grants have made it possible for plantations to be undertaken in 16 centres, 7 in the hills and 9 in the plains. Apart from the benefits of tree planting and land shaping in sensitive areas, this activity has been of great educational value to agriculturists of the region. They are being provided with saplings of appropriate species and many have began to realise the importance of trees not mearly for the direct benefits they provide, but also as shelterbelts for protecting their crops. Water Supply: Our council has been concerned with the overall watersupply position of Kodaikanal Township because of the rapaidly increasing tourist population and the frequent shortages of water whenever drought conditions prevail. A detailed plan was submitted for reafforestation of the catchment area of the New Reservoir but so far apart from sporadic planting by the Forest Department not much has been achieved. It is evident that unless the catchment area is fully covered with trees and vegetation, siltation of the reservoir will reduce its capacity very rapidly in the years to come. With its experience in tree planting, the PHCC is in good position to undertake this work. Root Zone Cleaning System: German BUND Sponsored project experimenting with the treatment of waste water using the Root Zone Cleaning Systems (RZCS) is a unique venture for India. The essence of this research project is to treat sewage through a specially prepared reed bad. As the Sewage passes through the roots of the reeds, the pollutants break down and the water coming out of the reed pond can be let out safely. The PHCC inspired by the concern shown by Mr.Jurgen Becker Sparenberg to purify the polluted Pambar Stream of Kodaikanal wanted to experiment with this new idea. There were many discussions and meetings held regarding this project by the members of the PHCC during 1988 to discuss Mr.Jurgen Becker, Process Engineer has seen similar was drafted and submitted to BUND in Germany for funding. Mr.Jurgen Becker who is now living in Germany, was instrumental in getting the project approved for implementation by the PHCC. Mr.C.Jeyakaran, the project Co-ordinator visited two RZCS projects in Germany during 1990, and met Professor Kickuth at the University of Kessel. A door to door household survey of 150 houses along the Pambar stream in Kodaikanal was conducted. The idea was to establish a common community toilet, bathing place, a washing place, and to treat the sewage from this unit in a RZCS pond, so that the treated water could be allowed to join with the Pambar stream. This will reduce direct pollution of the Pambar stream and keep the water clean. It took over 3 months to complete the house hold survey and for preparation of maps of Pambar stream. Government officials were approached to sanction land along the stream to set up this community asset. Unfortunately, since the entire stream bank was encroached by people, it was difficult to get land to establish the RZCS trial area. During 1991, it was decided to try out the system at the Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur at the Anglade Institute of Natural History. A detailed map of the area was prepared and a survey of the occupancy in this campus was undertaken. The sewage from the Environmental Centre is let into the adjoining stream through the Jesuit Farm below the Madurai Ghat Road. Mr.Jurgen Becker came from Germany to India for two weeks in January 1992. The area where the RZCS could be tried out was surveyed and a decision taken on how to construct and implement the project. Mr.N.K. Charles has joined the PHCC team since December 1991, and we believe that with the great enthusiasm shown by Mr.Charles this Project will be implemented successfully. An experimental RZCS sewage treatment plant at Brooklyn was repaired during Mr. Jurgen's visit. Thus the project field staff have a working knowledge of how to work on the bigger system at Shenbaganur. There are many other people who have expressed interest in treating their sewage using this technique. Ours being a preliminary research project where a lot of information and experience has to be gathered as pertaining to the Indian situation. It is premature to take on more areas before implementing the present programme. We are confident that in the coming financial year, the Shenbaganur RZCS project will be completed and hopefull, we Should have a smaller RZCS system at our Environment Centre in Genguvarpatty. Audio Visuals: Recognising the importance of publicity and education PHCC has produced three films a) Green Belt Around the Palnis b) Drying Watershed and C) Vanishing Sholas. These have been well used and in fact have been occasionally shown on Doordharshan. Seminar on Ecological Management: In March 1988 with the financial assistance of INTACH, our council organised a seminar on "Conservation and ecological management of the Western Ghats through land use planning". As will be seen from the report of its proceedings it consists of valuable articles on the subject from a wide range of NGOs and Govt. officials. Possibly the time has come to have a follow up meeting to check on whether the recommendations havebeen given the attention they deserve. Vilpatty Village Project: As a result of a substatial grant from INTERCARE in U.K. and the direct involvement of their representative Ms.Christine Cox, a multifarious project has been developed in Vilpatty. The Vilpatty Women's Project has come a long way. It has almost totally moved to the new site, the buildings overlook distant misty peaks, the place is almost tranquil. Tranquility is not totally possible with sixty creche kids, twenty seven tailoring trainees, ten tailoring production workers and one hundred kids all attending the After School Club. Next month the carpentry training starts, 15 youths on the site will need some managing!! Candlemaking is still in the main village, we hope to move it soon and 3-4 women are employed there. We are slowly moving to our goal of self sufficiency. Oxfam visited us during March and have asked us to send samples of our products. We hope that they will ask for orders. The tailoring production unit and the candlemaking workshop are both working hand to prepare samples. At this time we are preparing things - candle, table cloths, clothes etc.,- for the season sale at Cottage Craft. Life here is still never boring, changing, perfecting, learning, we all need to enhance our abilities, a never ending process. Small Farmers Tree Planting Project: INTERCARE has also funded the Small Farmers Tree Planting Project. The project located at Viruveedu managed to plant trees in 170 acres of land belonging to marginal and poor farmers. Due to absence of rain for the past 4-1/2 months, it is feared that we may lose 25% of the tree seedlings out of a total of 50,000 which have been planted. At present, nursery work is in progress to fill the gap in the coming rainy season. Already 40,000 polybags are filled with potting mixture and out of these 27,00 have seedlings growing in them. The project regular employment to 18 village women at the nursery. Six acres of land have been bought in the name of PHCC. This will be used to grow trees and fodder grass with such irrigation as is possible. Sewage water will be used to irrigate the trees and grass, thus stagnant and disease spreading cesspools of sewage in the village will be reduced. Work at the site has begun and the project is slated to achieve self-sufficiency in about two years. It will provide fodder at cost price to the local villagers. Sustainable Development Project: In August 1990, PHCC approached Development Alternatives (DA) of Delhi to consier whether they would joint hands in evolving and participating in a Sustainable Development Project for the Palnis. They accepted the proposal and the project is now well underway. Work on the Sustainable Development Programme started in April, 1991 advance funding from both PHCC and D.A. was received to enable work to begin. A formal Protocal of understandind was signed between PHCC and DA in November. The first instalment of funds was received from the SWedish Society for Natural Conservation (SSNC) in Janurary, and projects are in full swing at the moment. Five projects are being done at the moment: 1. Animal Corridors: Two corridors used by elephants for movements in the Palnis have been identified. The first comes from the Anamalai National Park through Amaravathy and Kudhiraiyar upto the Palar Dam. Elephants go up the Valley almost upto Ganesh Nagar, below Pethuparai. The second corridor connects Top Station in Kerala to Berijam. The two corridors might be linked in the Kukkal area, and work is going on to establish whether a link exists. The nature and severity of human-wildlife conflicts in the area are also being assessed. Conflicts include cattle grazing, fire, commercial forestry and the disturbance caused by it, firewood collectors and problems caused by tourist. Cropraiding by wildlife and cattle lifting has been noted in a number of places. During the next phase a plan for a protected area in the Palnis will be drawn up. 2. Grizzled Giant Squirrel: Extensive surveys done in the Palnis have resulted in four populations of the highly endangered grizzled giant squirrel being discovered. This is possibly the rarest mammal in the country. A minimum of 115 animals have been estimated, and with this the known populations has more than doubled. The largest single population, of about 75, is located about 20 km from Odanchatram in moist deciduous forest. It is becoming clear that the species is so rare because its habitate has been converted to mono-culture plantations of teak and eucalyptus. An eco-development project will be started up at villages near the largest squirrel population. A project hut is now complete, and preliminary work has started on nurseries there. The Wastelands Development Sub Committee is now expanding these, and socio-economic studies are going on to establish villager dependence on forest resources. 3. Improving fuelwood situation: It has been estimated that about 325 headloads amounting to 11 tonnes of fuelwood come into Kodaikanal daily. The forest department has now estabilshed a fuelwood depot to meet the fuelwood need to the residents of Kodaikanal. While the bulk of this comes from the wattle plantations in some places sholas are under severe threat. One such shola is Vattakanal shola, as is Pambar Shola nearby. Both firewood collection and cattle grazing occur in these sholas. A socio-economic survey of Vattakanal village has been completed. Nearby areas such as Pambarpuram are being surveyed now. A start has been made in converting lands currently under potato cultivation to fruit trees, and in planting fastgrowing fuelwood trees. It is hoped that the pressures on the sholas will reduce as a consequence. 4. Quality of drinking water: The quality of drinking water has been surveyed at several sites. The two main problems that have been identified are the occurence of faecal contamination, and an excess of nitrates and iron in places. Faecal contamination is related to the poor state of hygiene, especially in the Upper Palnis, Mannavanur and Poombarai have their drinking water contaminated. Moolayar in the Middle Palnis is another problem area. An excess of nitrates occures especially in the coffee belt. This appears to be linked to the use of agrochemicals. Effluents from coffee pulping also lead to high nitrate levels at places. High nitrate levels together with high pH can be toxic. Protected delivery systems are being established at places. Chlorination pots to kill bacteria are being tested, as are sand filters, laboratory experiments are being started on simple biological filters to remove nitrates. 5.Beekeeping as on income generation activity: Experimental cum deomonstration beehives have been set up at 6 sites. A total of about 75 hives have been set up. The technical and economic feasibility of beekeeping are being examined. The main beekeeping centre is at Moolayar. The SSNC recently sent a consultant to advise on improving the beekeeping Mr.Pratim Roy accompanied him to Bangladesh and spent two weeks there studying new beekeeping methods that have been developed there. GENERAL: If the Palni Hills are to effectively fulfil their role of a watershed for the Vaigai basin and as a part of the Cauvery basin, ecologically appropriate management of the areas under various types of land use: a) forests, including grasslands, lakes and marshes b) agriculture, and c) land under non-agricultural use is vital. The existing situation in each in each of these areas as well as remedial measures to be carefully analysed before taking up development programmes. It is prudent to remind ourselves that a very serious drought situation exists in the Vaigai basin, largely due to the mismanagement of the watershed. Several successive drought years have served to emphasize this fundamental fact. It should also further be emphasized that the magnitude of the problem within the watershed is to a great extent concealed by the diversion of the westward flowing waters of the Periyar through the Periyar Project; that is, by supplementation from outside the watershed again. We have to keep in mind that the Periyar receives its supplies mainly during the South West monsoon, and the stability of Vaigai basin agriculture during the later part of the year would depend critically on the yield from the watershed in the Palni Hills, which receives the direct benefit of the North East monsoon. Any development programme for the hills will have to keep the above perspecitve in view. Environmental Centre on the Ghat: As a result of a generous donation of Rs.50,000 from Dr.Miss.Fachel Reuben and with other funds from the PHCC, it was possible to purchase a 17 acre plot of dryland at the bottom of the Ghat. It is planned to turn this into the Environmental centre and Arboretum. Plans are underway to make use of this land in an appropriate fashion both for scientific work and for publicity. (ZAFAR FUTEHALLY)