The Lalit Blog

Fluorosis strikes rural areas in Madhya Pradesh When contacted for inputs on this vital issue, a state Pollution Control Board spokesman said  that the CGWB findings are based on tests conducted a few years ago. He also pointed out that most the fluoride related tests by his organization have been conducted only in the urban and semi-urban areas. On a broad assessment, he emphasised, the situation would not have improved in the last few years as there has been a progressive increase in demand for ground water mainly for irrigation purpose and the water table has been dropping at a rapid pace.. Excess intake of Fluoride through drinking water and food crops irrigated with fluoride contaminated water causes fluorosis. In the initial stages, moderate ingestion of fluoride leads to dental mottling but long term ingestion affects the bones, body organs and some of the body's critical biological functions. Hence the control of drinking-water quality is critical in preventing fluo

 I have something to say....Just wait and see how by 2030, the great Narmada River, which is at least 350 million years older than the Ganga, will be battling for survival as those who cry from rooftops about India's progress have been squarely responsible for vandalizing, looting and destroying the forests in the catchment of the great Narmada. By 2030 the Narmada river would be mostly dry and the process of desertification in many districts would be complete. On reading this, one might casually remark: "it is only a matter of how you look at a glass, whether you see it half full or half empty." In my opinion it is only this tendency of looking at half the picture that is responsible for most of the malaise we see around us 64 years after Independence. It is high time we bring in focus the total picture and start addressing all connected issues.   Lalit Shastri

World Migratory Bird Day was observed by organising a birding camp at Van ViharNational Park in Bhopal on Sunday, May 15, 2011. On this occasion a documentary on migratory birds titled "Water Birds of Bhopal" produced by Raajshri and Lalit Shastri was screened by CREW, an NGO devoted to wildlife conservation.

Photo: Lalit Shastri Profile by CREW The Laughing Dove ( Stigmatopelia senegalensis ) is a small pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in India, Southern Asia, the tropics in Africa south of the Sahara, and the Middle East. In India it is also known as the Little Brown Dove . Probably as the result of stowaways from Africa or India, the bird is also found in a localised area of Western Australia

Photo: Lalit Shastri Profile by CREW The Jungle Babbler , Turdoides striata , is an old World Babbler found in South Asia. They are gregarious birds that forage in small groups of six to ten birds, a habit that has given them the popular name of Seven Sisters or Saath bhai in Hindi with cognates in other regional languages which means "seven brothers". The Jungle Babbler is a common resident breeding bird in most parts of the Indian Subcontinent and is often seen in gardens within large cities as well as in forested areas.

click here for video>>>>> Ringnecked Parakeet The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Rose-ringed parakeets are popular as pets. This non-migrating species is one of few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in 'disturbed habitats', and in that way withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation.

HT Correspondent Bhopal, June 05, 2006 A number of programmes were organised across the City on Monday to mark the World Environment Day. In a function organised by Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO), Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the State Government was considering formulating an Act to prohibit the use of harmful polythene. In another function, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released a short duration film on ‘Water Bird’ here today. Based on environment, the film has been produced by the journalists Lalit Shastri and Rajshri Shastri .

Photo: Lalit Shastri Profile by CREW Coucal is one of about 30 species of birds in the cuckoo family . All of them belong in the subfamily Centropodinae and the genus Centropus . Unlike many Old World cuckoos, coucals are not brood parasites . On the other hand they do have their own reproductive peculiarity: all members of the genus are to varying degrees sex-role reversed so that the smaller male provides most of the parental care. Coucals generally make nests inside dense vegetation and they usually have the top covered but some species have the top open. Some coucal species have been seen to fly while carrying their young.

Photo: Lalit Shastri Profile by CREW The Purple Sunbird ( Cinnyris asiaticus ) is a small sunbird . Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males appear all black except in some lighting when the purple iridescence becomes visible. Females are olive above and yellowish below. The species is distributed widely from the Persian Gulf through South Asia and into Southeast Asia. They are resident birds in most parts of their range and do not move large distances. They are found mainly on the plains but going up to 2400 m in southern India and up to 1700 m in the Himalayas. They are found in thin forest and garden land, including those in dense urban areas