Waikato, New Zealand. April 9, 2008 20th anniversary of Balloons over Waikato festival Starts
The 20th annual “Balloon over Waikato festival” starts in Hamilton Lake in the Waikato region of New Zealand that is termed as the Ballooning capital of New Zealand. The festival that ends on April 13, 2008 is set to attract visitors and tourists from across the world mainly from United States. As a part of the 20th anniversary celebrations six Australian balloonists and an American pilot would be travelling to New Zealand to participate in the event as per the information provided by “Balloons over Waikato Charitable Trust”. Besides balloons from across the world is set to come. Waikato0
Other attraction during the festival would be two new balloons named Darth Vader Balloon from Belgium and Nightmare House from Brazil. The Festival is set to attract an estimated 100,000 visitors.
Flight paths would over the picturesque Waikato River which is the longest river in New Zealand and farming land near the river. The cost of the Balloon ride ranges from NZ$230 – NS $275 for a flight and the ride lasts for one hour. The festival begins with mass ascents in the early morning. The tourist from across the world would enjoy five days of entertainments, dances, concerts, musical performances and a big street parade, in and around Waikato.
The annual Balloons over Waikato festival got started in 1988 and then the Wairarapa International Balloon Fiesta had been a regular event in Hamilton from 1999. The sport of ballooning in New Zealand is governed by Civil Aviation Authority regulations and co-ordinated by the Balloon Association of New Zealand.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Bhil tribals in Jhabua
Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh – which became so popular to the outside world for its water shed management is back now in news again. But for something bad. Farmers of Jhabua nearly upto 1700 went to the legislatative assembly in Bhopal and threatened to commit suicide. They also met governor Balram Jhakar and handed him a letter of protest. What made them to do so? It was because of the loans lend by cooperative banks for lift irrigation scheme are tightening the noose on the neck of the farmers. But when it all got started? The district administration all along with the government of Madhya Pradesh came with out an ambitious plan for the drought prone region with this lift irrigation in the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s. Jhabua is basically a dry region with the most scarcity of water. Jhabua is pre-dominantly tribal district. The district comes under Scheduled Area and fifth Scheduled of the Constitution of India . The population of Jhabua is around about 14 lakh. Out of the total population 85% are Bhil tribals . Under the disguise of improving the live hoods of the people in the district administration performed mircaculaious well documented scam. It installed unto 1195 lift irrigation projects out of which 1025 had been duplicated The construction work for the Lift irrigation was given neither given to any government agencies or by done any NGO’s for that matter it was all to the private contractors who along with the middlemen swindled the money. The state government on its part had agreed to give a 50 percent subsidy on the total cost. Of the total number of projects about 229 were situated in Poltava tehsil division alone. According to the district administration the total cost of the project when installed was 22.80 crore. Loan given by the co-operative banks all along with some national banks 11.20 crore. Subsidy on the part of the government = 11.60 crore. Loan paid back by the farmers is just 4.74 crore. Now the bankers have started threanting the farmers to pay back the lone which the farmers cannot afford to do. The irony is that interests have crossed the principal itself. Loans were offered against the lands in which the farmers were cultivating. Being poor farmers i.e. tribal they opted for it without knowing anything about it. Says the Balaram -village sarpanch of paudii village in Petlavad tehsil of Jhabua “ We wanted water at that time. Migration of poor farmer tribals from this region was there and it is there even now due to non-availability of water. The district administration came out with this ambitious plan. We were literally cheated. We were said the lift irrigation scheme was a project of the government aimed at providing water facilities for us (tribals) and got aankut (thumb impression done in blank paper)
From us. But later only we got to know that it was done against our land. “
.” We accepted for that. In this scheme a part of hamlet was to be approached to accept the scheme and accept the condition of bank loan as part of the capital cost was to be given by the beneficiaries. But right from the day one not even a single drop of water was coming through the pipe. The woo is multiplied by the fact we don’t get free electrictiy. That was the reason why our gram sabhas rejected the plan as early in 1990’s itself,” Asked about the question the disunity among the tribals being one of the reasons he rejected negatively if there is no water in the river where the question arises over its usability. “
But to the question of why it was proposed. Another village Dharmal Palji “We never understood the technique of the lift irrigation project the other problem is because of the power supports his views. We don’t get bijili (electricity) properly so there was installing this project. But the police now are taking action against us because of non-payment of dues of loans. They used to come in jeeps to our houses. But at that time we used to run to the jungles and hide ourselves and come when the police leaves” he said jokingly.
SEE Box:
The basic design of the project was a flaw and it aimed at performing a scam. The lift irrigation project mainly was such that it would draw water from rivers of Jhabua like Mahi,Anas,Kunda, a few tallavs and Nallas, which are not perennial by any way. The design was badly thought and the execution was done primarily to favour the needs of middlemen and contractors.
But it is not as if the project has not got success anywhere. Take for the instance of Kothilli gaon in Peltavad tehsil division “ The success is mainly due to the fact it was proper maintained from us.” He was also to accept to why it got failed “ During the contemplation of the project we were there to make sure that the pipelines are properly fitted we also fought with the contractors and were on vigil so that they were not able to cheat us and we are also very much near the command area of the Mahi river. But the tribals never had this favour on their part.” That is very much attributed to the fact that paid back money for the loan of 4.74 crore is done rich farmers
Nilesh Desai of the Lok Jagirithi Manch an NGO working in Jhabhua has the answer “ First the question arises over the source the lift irrigation project was brought mainly because for its source from Mahi and Anas rives which are not a perennial river at first place. But how is that they have able to do it. Question also arises over the technology of the project how could provide 20-30 HP and at times even 150 HP to the illerate tribals who don’t how to use it. The project as on a whole is nothing but a scam “
S.NO
Tehsil
1
Jhabua
2
Peltlawad
3
Thandla
4
Jobat Bhabria Udepur
5
Ranapur
6
Meghanagar
7
Alirajpur, Sondawa Kathiwada
Jhabua being dry region needs water but is being pretty much a problem in Jhabua due to the scarcity of water. But the reason why Jhabua was put on map was because of the water shed management that needs to tightened The pace or the acceleration at which the Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management which was a boon for the people of Jhabua in their for thirst for water.
The question arises what would be the fate of the farmers for that Malji Medda – Sarpanch of the Kothilli gaon in Petlavad division has the answer “ We want the increase in the thalabs,stop dams and nallas. The Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management ensured the best way. But once the change of government in Madhy Pradesh in 2003. The pace at which it was working got stopped which ensured shortage of water which aggrevated the crisis of water. The government needs to ensure the source of water, which is depleting by once again giving new life to the Watershed management programme to ensure the livehoods of the farmers. “
The whole episode has now turned into a political gambit with usual blame “ The opposition is trying to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the farmers. “ As far the failure of the lift irrigation he added we have asked the district administration to look into the matter. Playing the same tune Collector Ram Kumar Pathak said, “ We have formed a two member committee to look into the matter related to the failure of the lift irrigation project. The infarious role played by middlemen who influenced the farmers to buy sub-standard material at inflated prices. Meanwhile the government has pleaded the bankers not to harass the farmers” But the million dollar question whether the state government of Madhya Pradesh has got any comprehensive plan to do anything to improve the water scarcity as of now. The problem in Jhabua as mentioned above is that the people there need water. It was the quest for this that made the tribals to be fooled by others (including then district administration, contractors and middlemen). Then where lies the solution for this. For that one needs to go to the history of Jhabua. The Bhils of the Vindhyas and Satpuras flanking the river Narmada have traditionally practised shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation was banned and the Bhils were permanently settled on the land they were cultivating. The management of forests was handed over to the forest department. The latter promptly began commercial exploitation of forests. This combination of being forced to settle permanently on inferior lands with steep slopes and the destruction of their forests severely affected animal husbandry and forests disturbed their subsistence economy. With the tribals getting their movement confined with more lands at the hands of the forest department never really made the solution for the depleting water resources with more and more land being converted into denounced forest and degraded forestland. The real step would that these lands can be converted into fertile lands by giving boost to water shed management programme like the Rajiv Gandhi Water shed Management Programme which aimed at developing the level of the water bodies. Box:
Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management: Started in October 1994 the water shed management programme mainly was directed at getting the water from its source itself i.e rain itself. It made sure that Thalavs and stop dams being constructed by which the collected water could be channelised for the cultivatable land. This project got completed in 2002 and then the project was given to the village watershed management committees. Then the change of government in 2003 November was like a death kneel to the water shed programmes the government not initiating any steps for it improve the water level of the depleting water bodies. Giving more boost to it by allocating funds from the state government and handing over of the watershed management to the gram sabhas would an excellent step to improve the water levels in the dry region of Jhabua. (See Down To Earth August15 2001, June 15 2001)
Rahul Banerjeee an activist with Adivasi Morcha Sangatan summoned up and said, “ Lift irrigation where assured of surface and ground wate are not there and where there is deforested environment is primarily wrong. For the solution of scarcity of water in Jhabua the best way is water shed development. There are about 645 sq.km of forest area in Jhabua, which could be used for water shed development programmes. This can be ensured through community involvement in watershed development. Panchayat Extension in Scheduled Area Act 1996 could achieve that with utilisation of the legal environment.
From us. But later only we got to know that it was done against our land. “
.” We accepted for that. In this scheme a part of hamlet was to be approached to accept the scheme and accept the condition of bank loan as part of the capital cost was to be given by the beneficiaries. But right from the day one not even a single drop of water was coming through the pipe. The woo is multiplied by the fact we don’t get free electrictiy. That was the reason why our gram sabhas rejected the plan as early in 1990’s itself,” Asked about the question the disunity among the tribals being one of the reasons he rejected negatively if there is no water in the river where the question arises over its usability. “
But to the question of why it was proposed. Another village Dharmal Palji “We never understood the technique of the lift irrigation project the other problem is because of the power supports his views. We don’t get bijili (electricity) properly so there was installing this project. But the police now are taking action against us because of non-payment of dues of loans. They used to come in jeeps to our houses. But at that time we used to run to the jungles and hide ourselves and come when the police leaves” he said jokingly.
SEE Box:
The basic design of the project was a flaw and it aimed at performing a scam. The lift irrigation project mainly was such that it would draw water from rivers of Jhabua like Mahi,Anas,Kunda, a few tallavs and Nallas, which are not perennial by any way. The design was badly thought and the execution was done primarily to favour the needs of middlemen and contractors.
But it is not as if the project has not got success anywhere. Take for the instance of Kothilli gaon in Peltavad tehsil division “ The success is mainly due to the fact it was proper maintained from us.” He was also to accept to why it got failed “ During the contemplation of the project we were there to make sure that the pipelines are properly fitted we also fought with the contractors and were on vigil so that they were not able to cheat us and we are also very much near the command area of the Mahi river. But the tribals never had this favour on their part.” That is very much attributed to the fact that paid back money for the loan of 4.74 crore is done rich farmers
Nilesh Desai of the Lok Jagirithi Manch an NGO working in Jhabhua has the answer “ First the question arises over the source the lift irrigation project was brought mainly because for its source from Mahi and Anas rives which are not a perennial river at first place. But how is that they have able to do it. Question also arises over the technology of the project how could provide 20-30 HP and at times even 150 HP to the illerate tribals who don’t how to use it. The project as on a whole is nothing but a scam “
S.NO
Tehsil
1
Jhabua
2
Peltlawad
3
Thandla
4
Jobat Bhabria Udepur
5
Ranapur
6
Meghanagar
7
Alirajpur, Sondawa Kathiwada
Jhabua being dry region needs water but is being pretty much a problem in Jhabua due to the scarcity of water. But the reason why Jhabua was put on map was because of the water shed management that needs to tightened The pace or the acceleration at which the Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management which was a boon for the people of Jhabua in their for thirst for water.
The question arises what would be the fate of the farmers for that Malji Medda – Sarpanch of the Kothilli gaon in Petlavad division has the answer “ We want the increase in the thalabs,stop dams and nallas. The Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management ensured the best way. But once the change of government in Madhy Pradesh in 2003. The pace at which it was working got stopped which ensured shortage of water which aggrevated the crisis of water. The government needs to ensure the source of water, which is depleting by once again giving new life to the Watershed management programme to ensure the livehoods of the farmers. “
The whole episode has now turned into a political gambit with usual blame “ The opposition is trying to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the farmers. “ As far the failure of the lift irrigation he added we have asked the district administration to look into the matter. Playing the same tune Collector Ram Kumar Pathak said, “ We have formed a two member committee to look into the matter related to the failure of the lift irrigation project. The infarious role played by middlemen who influenced the farmers to buy sub-standard material at inflated prices. Meanwhile the government has pleaded the bankers not to harass the farmers” But the million dollar question whether the state government of Madhya Pradesh has got any comprehensive plan to do anything to improve the water scarcity as of now. The problem in Jhabua as mentioned above is that the people there need water. It was the quest for this that made the tribals to be fooled by others (including then district administration, contractors and middlemen). Then where lies the solution for this. For that one needs to go to the history of Jhabua. The Bhils of the Vindhyas and Satpuras flanking the river Narmada have traditionally practised shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation was banned and the Bhils were permanently settled on the land they were cultivating. The management of forests was handed over to the forest department. The latter promptly began commercial exploitation of forests. This combination of being forced to settle permanently on inferior lands with steep slopes and the destruction of their forests severely affected animal husbandry and forests disturbed their subsistence economy. With the tribals getting their movement confined with more lands at the hands of the forest department never really made the solution for the depleting water resources with more and more land being converted into denounced forest and degraded forestland. The real step would that these lands can be converted into fertile lands by giving boost to water shed management programme like the Rajiv Gandhi Water shed Management Programme which aimed at developing the level of the water bodies. Box:
Rajiv Gandhi Water Shed Management: Started in October 1994 the water shed management programme mainly was directed at getting the water from its source itself i.e rain itself. It made sure that Thalavs and stop dams being constructed by which the collected water could be channelised for the cultivatable land. This project got completed in 2002 and then the project was given to the village watershed management committees. Then the change of government in 2003 November was like a death kneel to the water shed programmes the government not initiating any steps for it improve the water level of the depleting water bodies. Giving more boost to it by allocating funds from the state government and handing over of the watershed management to the gram sabhas would an excellent step to improve the water levels in the dry region of Jhabua. (See Down To Earth August15 2001, June 15 2001)
Rahul Banerjeee an activist with Adivasi Morcha Sangatan summoned up and said, “ Lift irrigation where assured of surface and ground wate are not there and where there is deforested environment is primarily wrong. For the solution of scarcity of water in Jhabua the best way is water shed development. There are about 645 sq.km of forest area in Jhabua, which could be used for water shed development programmes. This can be ensured through community involvement in watershed development. Panchayat Extension in Scheduled Area Act 1996 could achieve that with utilisation of the legal environment.
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