Table Of ContentBOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Hornbill House, Dr.Salim Ali Chowk, S.B. Singh Road, Bombay 400 023.
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
111th
FOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 1994 TO 31ST MARCH 1995
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR
1994-1995
President Mr. B.G. Deshmukh, ias (Retd.)
Vice Presidents Mrs. D.S. Variava Dr. P.R. Saraiya Mr. D.S. Chavda
Hon. Secretary Dr. A.M. Bhagwat
Hon. Treasurer Mr. Sunil Zaveri
Director Dr. Jay S. Samant
MEMBERS FROM
1994-1995
Mr. M.R. Almeida, Mr. Yogi Andley, Dr. B.F. Chhapgar, Mr. J.C. Daniel
Dr. Arun Joshi, Dr. A. Kothari, Mr. K.P. Karamchandani, Dr. Shashi Menon
Dr. A.N.D. Nanavati, Mr. Ulhas Rane, Dr. Rajendra Shinde, Dr. V.S. Vijayan
The Secretary, Ministry ofEnvironment
&
Forests, Govt, ofIndia
The Director ofArchaeology
&
Museums, Govt, ofMaharashtra.
SPECIAL INVITEE
Mr. Humayun Abdulali
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Dr. D.K. Lahiri Choudhury, Prof. Raghavendra Gadagkar, Dr. Anil Gore, Prof. K.C. Malhotra,
Lt. Gen. Baljit Singh, AVSM, VSM, Mr. Samar Singh, Mr. Romulus Whitaker.
AUDITORS
M/s Habib and Company, Chartered Accountants, Bombay.
186 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The following office bearers were Ex-officio members of all the Sub-Committees.
Hon. Secretary Dr. Ashok M. Bhagwat
Hon. Treasurer Mr. Sunil Zaveri
Director Dr. Jay S. Samant
PUBLICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Dr. Jay Samant (Director)
Members Dr. Pratap Saraiya (Vice President)
Mr. B.F. Chhapgar
Mr. J.C. Daniel
Convenor Dr. Gayatri Ugra (Publication Officer)
The Publications Section has adhered to its and (4) and 1994 (1) and (2) were published. Of
policy ofself-sufficiency with the sale ofits popular the Journal, Vol. 90:3(1993), Vol. 91:1,2 and 3
titles such as the Book of Indian Birds, Book of (1994) have been published.Hornbill and Journal
Indian Animals and the Book of Indian Reptiles. continue to be a resource drain, though some
Also popular were Pictorial Guide to the Birds of advertising support has been obtained for the
the Indian Sub-Continent and Some Beautiful Hornbill, as well as grants from the Mehta
Indian Trees. The books are marketed through the Scientific Education and Research Trust and Seth
Oxford University Press. The royalty from sale of Purushotamdas Thakurdas and Divaliba Charitable
books for the year 1994-95 was Rs. 9,10,995. The Trust. The Department of Science and Technology,
revised edition of the Pictorial Guide to the Birds Govt, of India released a grant of Rs. 50,000 for
of the Indian Sub-Continent and the Book of this financial year. The shortfall for Hornbill and
Indian Birds are nearing completion. Several new Journal is met by the Society as these publications
titles are being worked on, including books on are crucial in dissemination of scientific
Indian trees, wetland flora and a field guide to information, which is one of the main activities of
Indian sea shells. the Society.
The Hornbill Series booklets published by One Sr. Computer Operator and a Publication
the NCSTC in collaboration with the Society are Assistant were recruited in March 1995. A new
intended to popularize various aspects of natural computer (486DX2 - assembled) installed with
history. Six titles are now ready for the press. Pagemaker 5.0 was purchased for the Publication
The Section has succeeded in tightening up Section.
the schedule of publication of Hornbill and The Publication Officer conducted a one day
Journal. In this financial year, Hornbill 1993 (3) workshop on Print Media for the CEP staff.
PRODUCTS SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairperson Mrs. D.S. Variava (Vice President)
Members Mr. Atul Mathur
Mrs. Meenu Kamat
Mrs. Juliet Mendonca
Mr. Francis D’Costa
Convenor Mr. Joslin Rodrigues (Product Executive)
A.G.M. 1994-95 - PROCEEDINGSAND ACCOUNTS 187
The Product Section continued to fulfill its calendarby using lithographs ofHimalayan flowers
objective of producing cards and calendars that for a new series entitled “Gems from Nature”. The
reflected the Society’s commitment to excellence idea of this series is to make available to members
in quality and reasonable prices. and otliers, pictures which may not otherwise be
Due to problems in production of the easily available because the pictures are from rare,
catalogue, the season started late, but in all, out of print books. Eventually, the Society may be
approximately 1,35,000 cards and 15,000 calendars able to use these prints for publication in book form.
were sold along with other products, leading to a The Product Committee appreciates the co-
net surplus of approximately Rs. 4.47 lakhs. operation ofall concerned members ofthe staffand
A new concept was introduced in the table volunteers to produce high quality products.
NATURE EDUCATION, PROGRAMME & MEMBERSHIP SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Mr. Ulhas Rane
Members Dr. Ashok Kothari
Dr. Arun Joshi
Dr. Shashi Menon
Mr. T.V. Sowrirajan
Mr. V.K. Paralkar
Mr. Vilas Shingre
Mr. Naresh Chaturvedi (Curator)
Mr. Deepak Apte (Nature Education Officer)
Convenor Ms. Caroline Vincent (Membership Officer)
MEMBERSHIP
This year ordinary membership showed a The Environment Workshops organised for
slight increase. Similarly, Life Members increased the Armed Forces have yielded good results in the
to 1421 from 1345. It was observed that several form of new membership. More such workshops
Ordinary members converted their membership to should be organised. We also conducted special
Life membership. An attempt to increase membership drives for the Bombay Chartered
membership during the celebration of Dr. Salim Accountants’ Society and IAS & IPS Wives'
Ali’s Birth Centenary will be undertaken with the Association, which was very successful in enrolling
help of members, along with other BNHS new members and enabled the BNHS to publicise
departments like Nature Education, SANCF, Public its activities.
&
Relations Products.
Membership for the year 1994 - 95
Type of membership Year
1992 1993 1994/95
Ordinary (Indian) 1527 1663 1677
Student 403 480 409
Life (Indian) 1305 1345 1421
Corporate 32 54 7
Compound Corporate 111 ill 111
Family 57 8 0
Ordinary (Foreign) 15 24 25
Life (Foreign) 211 211 192
Institutional 0 0 77
1 )
188 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94(1997
PROGRAMMES
Annual Nature Camps Film/Slide Shows
mm
Several annual nature camps were arranged, Video as well as 16 films on various
out of which camps at Har-Ki Doon in Garhwal natural history subjects were screened during the
Himalayas, Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh, year. Talks illustrated with slide shows were given
Kanha National Park nearJabalpur, DajipurWildlife by invited guest speakers, BNHS members and staff.
Sanctuary near Kolhapur, NanajWildlife Sanctuary Altogether, 72 shows were held.
near Solapur and a combined visit to National Parks Wildlife Week
and Sanctuaries ofVidarbha were some ofthe more Wildlife Week was celebrated from 3rd to
successful camps. 8th October during which an exhibition of nature
on postal stamps was organised. Postal stamps on
Overnight Nature Camps
birds, mammals, marine life, butterflies and other
These camps were arranged with a duration
insects from the collection of the Curator, Mr
from 2 to 4 days at Mahabaleshwar, Ransai Lake,
Naresh Chaturvedi, were exhibited.
Nandur-Madhmeshwar and Kelwe Dam.
An exhibition of wildlife photographs was
organised by the BNHS members at Panvel.
Nature Walks
These walks were held during weekends. The World Forestry Day
outings were arranged at Sanjay Gandhi National World Forestry Day was celebrated on 21st
Park. Yewoor Trail, Tungareshwar, BNHS land and March. On this occasion the beautified footpath of
Jijamata Udyan (Bombay Zoo) for study of flora Hornbill House was inaugurated by the Municipal
and fauna. In all, 30 such nature walks were Commissioner, Shri Sharad Kale. The inauguration
organised. was followed by tree planting by the Commissioner.
NATURE
Summer Camp New topics like rain forests, remote sensing
techniques and snake show were covered along with
The annual programme began with a summer
other activities.
vacation camp for students at Tansa Wildlife
Sanctuary. Thecamp washeld from 21st to23rd May. Post Monsoon Camp
Tansa, a dry deciduous forest is ideal for watching To study the breeding habits of Great Indian
birds in summer. A total of 60 species of birds were Bustard and the grassland habitat, a four day camp
A
seen during thethreedays stay. leopard was sighted was organised at Nanaj Sanctuary at Solapur from
by a few students. Tracks of various animals were 20th to 24th August 1994. 22 participants attended
observed. Demonstration of how to take pug mark the camp.
casts was also given. Since it was summer, all Rural Camps
afternoon programmes were held indoors, which
TheNatureEducation Scheme has always had
included sketching, quiz competition and a session
a special interest in rural camps. This year a rural
on nature education and students’ participation. In
camp at Pirangut in Mulsi Taluka, District Pune,
all, 17 students participated in the camp.
was sponsored and held from 14th to 18th
Monsoon Camp November. 120 students and 15 teachers attended
Nature orientation camps conducted regularly the camp. A rural camp was also arranged for
at the IFF had been discontinued for a couple of Kamalabai Nimbkar Balbhavan at Phaltan, in
years. This year the camp was held at the IIT from Satara district at Mahabaleshwar for two days. 22
26th to 30th June, in which 30 participants attended. students participated in this camp.
A.G.M. 1994-95 - PROCEEDINGSANDACCOUNTS 189
Nature Rambles conducted at Tansa, Suryamal and Shahapur.
In all, 40 field trips to various places like Another Seminar conducted by the CEP was
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Tungareshwar, attended by the Education Officer as participant.
Karnala and Prabalgad and Juhu beach were Later, a half day nature trail was led during the
conducted. Out of these 40 trips, 5 were arranged seminar at the BNHS land.
for college students while the rest were for school
Special Programmes
students of stds. 8-10. Altogether 1734 students A Shramadan was arranged for six
participated in nature rambles throughout the year. BNHS
consecutive Sundays at the land to build an
Talks illustrated with slides/films earthern bund for soil and water conservation.
Various schools were visited for slide shows On an average 10 members participated every
on different aspects of natural history and nature Sunday.
A
education. In all, 22 slide shows were held. special programme was arranged at the IIT,
Five film shows were held at schools and one as a part of the Wildlife Week celebration. Four
at an organisation (SOCLEEN). Besides these film shows and one slide show were held for the
activities, seven snake shows, two visits to the IIT students and general public.Around 100visitors
natural history section of the Prince of Wales attended the shows.The BNHS stalls were arranged
Museum and two visits to the BNHS collections at the IIT campus. The BNHS stall was also
were also conducted. Of these, snake shows were arranged at St. Xavier’s College during the Malhar
the most popular and were attended by maximum festival. Besides being educational, these activities
number ofstudents. 3714 students attended various were conducted as membership drive also.
slide shows, film shows and snake shows, visits to As resource person, the Education Officer
YMCA
zoo and museum. attended a camp at Junnar in Pune for the
secretaries from all over India. Three sessions on
Programme for Forest Guards
nature education and people’s participation were
An awareness programme was conducted for
held and a morning nature trail was arranged.
the forest guards of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tree plantation was undertaken to celebrate
Importance of proper documentation of field data
World Environment Day at the BNHS land.
and data entry methods were explained. 30 forest
guards participated in the programme. Competitions
A
painting competition for school students
Workshop
was arranged on the eve of Late Dr. Salim Ali’s
A Nature Orientation Workshop for teachers
birthday. 220 students participated in the
BNHS
was organised at the from 9th to 11th January
competition. Paintings were judged by a panel of
1995. A grant was received from Ministry of
judges. The prizes were distributed on 23rd
Environment and Forests, through the BAIF for this
November 1994 by the President, BNHS.
programme. Though 18 teachers had registered
An all-India essay competition was held in
for the workshop, only 10 of them were able to
which 140 essays werereceived. The final selection
attend. Lecture-cum-slide shows were presented by
of the prize winning essays was done by a panel of
various resources persons from the BNHS. A one
judges. The prizes will be distributed on a special
BNHS
day nature walk was arranged at the land at
occasion.
Goregaon.
In all, a total of 6224 students and others
Seminar participated in various activities like camps, nature
A
seminar organised by Paryavaran Vahini, rambles, slide/film shows, snake shows, workshops,
Thane unit was attended by the Education Officer painting competition, essay competition training
at Thane as resource person. A one day trail was programmes and other activities.
190 JOURNAL BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROJECT SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Dr. Shashi Menon Convenors Mr. Arvind Karandikar (Proj. Mgr.)
Members Mr. Ramesh Dandekar Mr. T.K. Bharatan (Proj. Adm. Mgr.)
Mr. P.V. Bole (Sp. Invitee)
Activity Report organisations like Royal Botanic Gardens.
The three field teams conducted educational Technical coordinator and a resource person
programmes in selected villages on identified from the RSPB came during the year. Draft of
issues, initially using available material from other promotional plan for Conservation Education
sources. Later, based on theirexperience in the field, Centre has been prepared and circulated among
they initiated development of project’s own experts for comments.
educational material. This is being field tested. The local population including women in all
Results obtained till now are very encouraging. the three project areas responded well to the
NGOs
Joint activities alongwith and educational programmes, meetings and discussions.
individuals working in the project area were Similarly, there has been good cooperation from
initiated in all the three field areas. In Gudalur about the local forest officials, who participated in the
20 NGOs have been brought together for project activities along with local NGOs.
formalising ‘Network’ specifically to handle From the experience of implementing the
environmental issues. project, BNHS identified many areas where the
Trainings and Workshops RSPB experts can provide inputs through
Trainings were conducted in development workshops and seminars. The BNHS senior
activities, communication techniques and production scientists and members now take part in meetings
of educational aids like puppets, flannel talk. and discussions for designing the education centre
Six staffs from theproject team visited United and other programme related aspects.
Kingdom for two weeks in September 1994. The Conservation Education Centre
visit was organised by the RSPB. The team could The frame structure was completed along
study and analyse different interpretation with slabs and plastering in parts. Civil work will
techniques at centres in the UK. be completed by September 1995. Simultaneously,
The Project Co-ordinator and Project Field work on interiors and products of the Centre will
Manager spent about two weeks in the UK on be initiated in May 1995. It is hoped to have the
invitation of the Overseas Development Centre to be operational by the end of 1995 after
Administration (ODA) and Royal Society for the which production, multiplication and dissemination
Protection of Birds (RSPB), visiting various of materials useful for educational activities will
interpretation centres and holding discussions with be taken up. These include brochures, educational
other organisations for possible new activities by kits, games, slide sets and booklets. All such
the BNHS. They got good insight in centre materials have been designed to suit the specific
management and good response from important needs of the Indian audience.
UNIVERSITY STUDIES SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Dr. Jay Samant (Director) Convenor Mr. DeepakApte (Education Officer)
Members Mr. M.R. Almeida
Prof. P V. Bole
Dr. B.F. Chhapgar
Mr. J.C. Daniel
Mr. N. Chaturvedi (Curator)
.
A.G.M. 1994-95- PROCEEDINGSANDACCOUNTS 191
At present following students have registered for M.Sc. (by research) and Ph.D, in Zoology and Botany:
Name Guide Course
Ms. Hema Somnathan Dr, Jay Samant Ph.D. Zoology
Mr. Subash Mali 79 99
Mr. A.G. Sekar 99 99
Mr. A.S. Brar 99 99
Ms. Nikita Prakash Mr. J.C. Daniel M.Sc Z—oolo—gy
Mr. Prakash Rao 99 Ph.D. ”
Mr. N. C. Chaturvedi 99 99
Mr. AsadAkhtar 99 99
— —
Ms. Deepika Bhardwaj Dr. B. F. Chhapgar M.Sc. — ”—
Ms. Vidya Ullal 99 Ph.D. ”
— —
Mr. P .D. Vivek Dr. R. B. Grubh M.Sc. — ”—
Mr. Alagar Rajan 99 Ph.D. ”
— —
Ms. V. Subhalakshmi Mr. N. C. Chaturvedi M.Sc. ”
^^^^ ^^^
Ms. T. Sinh Dr. Mrs.Almeida Ph.D. Botany
A
Ph.D. in Zoology and major research institutes all over India.
Mr. Bharat Bhushan successfully completed press release was also given. In response to this,
Ph.D. in Zoology and the degree was awarded. 30 applications were received for both the
A
circular on the M.Sc. (by research) and courses, out of which following candidates were
Ph.D. courseswas sentto all thecolleges in Bombay selected
No. Name Guide Course
Yogesh Gokhale M.R. Almeida M.Sc. Botany
1
.
2. Utkarsha Ghate M.R. Almeida M.Sc. Botany
3. Ajay Gramopadhyay Dr. R. Borges M.Sc. Zoology
4. Navneet Manj Dr. R. Borges M.Sc. Zoology
5. B.S. Swamy Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Ph.D. Zoology
6. Vivek Kulkarni Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Ph.D. Zoology
Diploma Course in Conservation Biology Reserve covered various aspects of ecology,
This vocational course was successfully political issues involved in biological diversity
conducted at the BNHS. The course was conservation, protected area network, wildlife trade
coordinated by Nature Education Officer and and sustainabledevelopment.The course was found
Principal Scientist with help from faculty members to be ideal foundation to wildlife enthusiasts and
and visiting experts. This intensive course, with 72 students wishing to pursue post-graduate studies in
lectures and a seven day field visitto MelghatTiger ecology and environmental sciences.
192 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
LIBRARY SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Dr. Ashok Kothari
Members Dr. B.F. Chhapgar
Ms. Mehru Dubash
Ms. Doreen D’sa
Mr. V.K. Paralkar
Mr. Vilas Shingre
Mr. N. Chaturvedi (Curator)
Mr. Isaac Kehimkar (PRO)
Convenor Ms. Shubhangi Puradkar (Asst. Librarian)
This year altogether 2050 new titles were purchased. Till date about 1000 titles have been
added to the library, including 505 books from late computerized. To clear the backlog, a library
Dr. Salim Ali’s collection, and 70 books purchased, assistant was appointed.
15 received for review and 1460 received as Every month, members and staffare informed
donation and complimentary. Eight new journals of the new books received for approval and those
were subscribed bringing the total to 170 national added to the library. The list is displayed on the
and international journals that are received in the library notice board. Clippings of current news
A
library. majority of the journals are received in appearing in leading newspapers on natural history
exchange for the Society’s Journal. A revolving and conservation are displayed on the notice board.
display rack was purchased to display the latest
As an insurance against loss and damage of
periodicals received in the library.
library books, a deposit of Rupees 250.00 was
The objective of the library is to provide
introduced.
correct information from right the source to a
person at the right time. However, with ever The Assistant Librarian attended a six-week
increasing collection of information, the retrieval training course on Paper Conservation and
ofinformation has become more and more complex. Preventive Maintenance in Libraries, organised
Therefore, for efficient handling of information, a by INTACH and Indian Conservation Institute at
library management software package, SLIM was Lucknow.
RESEARCH AND COLLECTION SUB-COMMITTEE
Chairman Mr. M.R. Almeida
Members Dr. Pratap Saraiya
Mr. K.P. Karamchandani
Dr. B.F. Chhapgar
Mr. J.C. Daniel
Dr. Shashi Menon
Dr. Rajendra Shinde
Mr. H. Abdulali (Invitee)
Dr. Renee Borges (Pricipal Scientist) till 8.4.1995
Mr. N. Chaturvedi (Curator)
Convenor Mr. S.R. Nayak (Project Secretary)
A.G.M. 1994-95 - PROCEEDINGSANDACCOUNTS 193
COLLECTIONS
A
Post graduate students from various colleges were treated, registered and are kept separately.
in and around Bombay, from the J.N. University, specimen ofFrigate Bird, Fregata arieliredalei was
Jodhpur, College of Agriculture, Dapoli and added to the collection. 60 specimens ofbutterflies
participants of the Refresher Course for zoology from thecollection ofRogerAshton werealso added
teachers visited the collections. They were told to collections.
about the collection and preservation methods and
Computerisation
use of collection for various purposes
. Computerisation of the specimens listing of
Minister ofState for Environment and Forest,
mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians was over.
Govt, of India, Directors from the MOEF, Delhi,
Bird specimens are being catalogued and has been
Director, Zoological Survey of India, visitors from
completed up to pipits and wagtails.
organisations like Bombay Chartered Accountants’
Society, ICICI, and IPS and IASWives’Association Survey
visited the collections. The collection was also Scientists of the section undertook a status
referred to by members and scientists. Some of the survey of flora and fauna of Rajbhavan. Phase one
prominent were Dr. Indra Neil Das, Mr. T.N. S. of the survey commenced in January 1995 and was
Murthy, Dr. K. K. Tiwari, Dr. K. Padhyan, completed in March 1995. During the Survey, 117
University of Bradford, U.K., Dr.William Oliver, species of plants, 36 species of birds, 32 species of
Conservation Officer, Jersey Wildlife Trust, butterflies and 12 species of molluscs were
Channel Islands and Dr. Dolttinger from Germany. recorded.
Ms. Pamela Rasmussen of Smithsonian Institution,
Maintenance
Washington visited the collections for reference.
The collections were checked periodically
Assistance was given to Ms. Malvika Choudhary
and specimens were treated where necessary. The
of Meerut University and Ms. Vidya Athreya in
collection rooms werepainted with antifungal paint.
referring to the collections. Information on
Cupboards having mammal and bird collections
identification of dragonflies belonging to genus
were painted and wooden cupboards were polished.
Orthetrurn and a key for identification of aquatic
, Three ultraviolet lightbaits were installed to prevent
beetles were sent to students from Iran.
insect pests in collections.
Identification
Seminars and Workshops
Photographs, specimenss of plants and
mammal
Scientist in-charge, section
animals (mammals, birds, reptiles amphibians and
, participated in the International Environmental
insects) brought by members and research students
Education Courseconducted in theU.S. during which
were identified and information was given 108
. he also visited Florida Museum and Smithsonian
plant specimens received from the Grassland Project
Institution
were identified. Avicennia marina new secondary .
, Scientist in-charge, herpetology section
host plant was recorded for Teak Defoliator Moth,
presented a paper in the National Seminar on
Hyblaea puera.
Endangered Species held at Kanyakumari.
Additions The Curator at the instance of University of
A specimens of Rusty Spotted Cat, Felis Bombay gave a series of lectures on Taxonomy of
rubiginosa received from Shri Digveerendra Sinh Insects for M.Sc. (Part II) for entomology
was added to the collection. 688 Bird specimens students.
donated by St. Xavier’s College, Bombay from Br. The collection staffalso assisted in conducting
Navarro’s the collection were brought toThe BNHS a diploma course in Conservation Biology.
194 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CELL
The EIA Cell had been set up with the General Terms of Reference for EIA projects have
intention of carrying out Environmental Impact been prepared and list of parameters and analysis
Assessment projects and to undertake laboratory charges have been prepared for the laboratory. A.B.
analysis of physico-chemical parameters of soil/ Inamdar, CRSE-IIT, has agreed to work with The
water regimes. In India, EIA studies are linked to BNHS in remote sensing applications for BNHS-
statutory clearances and the EIA Cell has, through EIA studies on a project-to- project basis.
meetings, correspondence with Department of Application for registration ofthe laboratory
Environment, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, has been submitted to Bombay Municipal
Industrial Associations and other EIAAgencies has Corporation and Central Pollution Control
succeeded in communicating the word to these and Board.The EIA Cell has been registered by the
other peripheral agencies that we have now entered British Council Division as part of the Working
into this specialized field. Group on EIA. There has been ongoing
This being the inception year ofthe EIA Cell, correspondence with bodies like UNEP, Asian
much of the activity was focused on setting up the Development Bank, World Bank, European
environmental analytical laboratory and developing Economic Community and University of
BNHS
its facilities in addition to communicating to various Manchester,U.K. towards inclusion of the
interest groups. We are hopeful of applied research in different working/expert groups for EIA
(EA) projects materialising in 1995-96, indications studies.Contacts have been established with other
of which have already been received by the BNHS EIA agencies (towards collaborative work in EIA
from early 1995. studies.
An Action Plan along with laboratory layout Following an invitation from the Maharashtra
plan and other details for setting up of the EIA Cell Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Bombay, the EIA
MPCB-NGO MPCB
has been prepared and submitted. Interaction with Scientist attended a meeting at
British Council Division and United States Asia HQ in May, to discuss the formation of a MPCB-
NGO
Environment Programme (US-AEP) have been Cell at Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
initiated and is ongoing for access to new EIA to disseminate EIA reports. A meeting to discuss
UK
Legislations/Guidelines in the and the USA. the Environmental Impact Assessment Study of
Laboratory Instruments, chemicals, books and Bombay-Vadodara Expressway, at Collector’s
consumables have been acquired and/or repaired office, Thane was attended. Illrd Gurudas
for the laboratory towards the establishment of a Committee meeting at Mantralaya on the Century
soil and water analytical laboratory. Analytical Rayon accident was attended in July to analyse
equipments have been put under service contracts. technical causes of the accident and to suggest
Guidelines for acceptance of EIA projects by mitigating measures to prevent recurrence of such
industrial project proponents have been prepared. disasters.
RESEARCH
During the year 1994-95 the BNHS had eight phoretic techniques for bird and bat strike remnants
major and minor research programmes. was approved for funding by the ARDB. The
Bird Hazard Research Cell: Identification concerned scientist was deputed by the Director to
New
of bird strike remnants and consultancy service to visit Delhi for discussion with funding
aerodrome officials was continued. authorities for extension.
A project proposal for developing electro- Members of the high level committee of
