6 October 2001
WHAT BIOTECH PARK PROTESTERS ARE SEEKING TO PROTECT
"On the Sep 27th, when students, staff and faculty went on to hug the
trees in the forest land, which the Government forcibly wanted to capture
for the Bio Tech park, hundreds of innocent students, including girl students
and women faculty, were caned by the Police. Even the Dean of the college
of Agriculture Dr PG Chengappa was badly hit by the police when he tried
to protect a student from being hit. The Police chased several girl students
and even as they could not cross barbed wire fence, they were beaten mercilessly."
---
Dear Jonathan,
I had sent you the Bangalore University report. The following is the impressive list of the flora and fauna that is found on the Bangalore University campus. Much of it would have been destroyed if the Karnataka government had bulldozed its biotechnology dream through.
I don't think any agriculture university in the world can boast of such a huge biodiversity available within the campus premises??
Regards
Devinder Sharma
****************
BIODIVERSITY OF GKVK CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE,
INDIA. (Incomplete)
FLORA OF GKVK CAMPUS
530 plant species have been recorded at GKVK by Fathima et.al. (1974).
Of these,
46 species are medicinal plants
24 species have high medicinal value
6 are rare plant species
4 species are endemic (to deciduous forest) species
1 is an endangered species (Albizia odoratissima)
GKVK has a very high density of Sandalwood growth and the conditions
are ideal for its natural regeneration.
LIST OF MAMMALS OF GKVK
Macaca radiata Bonnet Macaque
Loris tardigradus Slender Loris
Felis chaus Jungle Cat (Three seen on the same
day, there must be more)
Herpestes edwardsi Common Mongoose
Canis aureus Jackal
Pteropus giganteus Flying Fox
Cynopterus sphinx Shortnosed Fruit Bat
Pipistrellus coromandra Indian Pipistrille
Fanambulus palmarum Three-striped Palm Squirrel
Bandicota benghalensis Indian Mole-Rat
Bandicota Indica Badicoot
Lepus nigricollis Black-naped Hare
Sus scrofa Wild Bore (150 in number)
CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF GKVK CAMPUS
PODICIPEDIDAE
1 Podiceps ruficollis Little Grebe
PHALACROCORACIDAE
2 Phalacrocorax niger Little Cormorant
ARDEIDAE
3 Ardeola grayii Pond Heron
4 Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret
5 Egretta intermedia Smaller Egret
6 Egretta garzetta Little Egret
7 Anastomus oscitans Openbill Stork
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
8 Threskiornis aethiopica White Ibis
9 Pseudibis papillosa Black Ibis
ACCIPITRIDAE
10 Elanus caeruleus Black-winged Kite
11 Pernis ptilorhynchos Honey Buzzard
12 Milvus migrans govinda Pariah Kite
13 Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite
*14 Accipiter gentilis Goshawk
15 Accipiter badius Shikra
16 Accipiter nisus Sparrow Hawk?
17 Butestar teesa White-eyed Buzzard
*18 Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle
19 Aquila clanga Greater Spotted Eagle
20 Gyps benghalensis Whitebacked Vulture
21 Neophron percnopterus Scavenger Vulture
22 Circus pygargus Montague's Harrier
23 Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier
24 Circaetus gallicus Short-toed Eagle
FALCONIDAE
*25 Falco tinnunculus
Kestrel
PHASIANIDAE
26 Francolinus pondicerianus Grey Partridge
27 Perdicula asiatica
Jungle Bush Quail
RALLIDAE
28 Amouronis phoenicurus Whitebreasted Waterhen
CHARADRIIDAE
29 Vanellus indicus
Red-wattled Lapwing
30 Vanellus Malabaricus Yellow-wattled Lapwing
31 Charadrius dubius
Little Ringed Plover
32 Trings stagnatilis
Marsh Sandpiper
33 Tringa nebularia
Greenshank
34 Tringa ochropus
Green Sandpiper
35 Tringa glareola
Wood Sandpiper
36 Actitis hypoleucos
Common Sandpiper
37 Gallinago stenura
Pintail snipe
38 Gallinago gallinago
Fantail Snipe
39 Rostratula benghalensis Painted
Snipe
*40 Burhinus oedicnemus Stone Curlew
COLUMBIDAE
41 Columbas livia
Blue Rock Pigeon
42 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove
43 Streptopelia senegalensis Little Brown Dove
PSITTACIDAE
44 Pstittacula krameri Roseringed Parakeet
*45 Psittacula cyanocephala Blossmheaded Parakeet
*46 Psittacula columboides Bluewinged Parakeet
CUCULIDAE
47 Clamataor coromandus Redwinged Crested Cuckoo
48 Clamator jacobinus Pied Crested Cuckoo
*49 Cuculus varius Common Hawk-cuckoo
*50 Cuculus micropterus
Indian Cuckoo
*51 Cacomantis sonneratii Baybanded
Cuckoo
52 Surniculus lugubris Drongo Cuckoo
53 Eudynamys scolopacea Koel
54 Rhopodytes viridirostris Small Greenbilled
Malkoha
55 Centropus sinensis Coucal
STRIGIDAE
*56 Tyto alba Barn Owl
57 Otus bakkamoena
Collared Scops Owl
58 Bubo bubo Great Horned Owl
59 Athene brama Spotted
Owlet
CAPRIMULGIDAE
60 Caprimulgus asiaticus
Common Indian Night jar
*61 Caprimulgus affinis
Franklin's (Allied) Nightjar
APODIDAE
62 Apus affinis House Swift
63 Cypsiurus parvus Palm Swift
ALCEDINIDAE
64 Ceryle rudis Pied
Kingfisher
65 Alcedo Atthis Small Blue Kingfisher
66 Halcyon smyrnensis Whitebreasted
Kingfisher
MEROPIDAE
67 Merops orientalis Small Green
Bee-eater
CORACIIDAE
68 Coracias benghalensis Indian
Roller
UPUPIDAE
69 Upupa epops
Hoopoe
CAPITONIDAE
70 Megalaima viridis
Small Green Barbet
71 Megalaima haemacephala
Crimsonbreasted Barbet
PICIDAE
72 Dinoplium benghalense Goldenbacked Woodpecker
73 Chrysocolaptes festivus Blackbacked Woodpecker
PITTIDAE
74 Pitta brachyura
Indian Pitta
ALAUDIDAE
75 Mirafra Jalvanica Singing Bush Lark
76 Eremopterix grisea Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark
77 Ammomanes phoenicurus Rufous-tailed
Finch -lark
78 Alauds gulgula
Skylark
HIRUNDINIDAE
79 Hirundo concolor Dusky Crag Martin
80 Hirundo rustica Common (Barn)
Swallow
81 Hirundo smithii Wire-tailed
Swallow
82 Hirundo daurica Red-rumpled (Striated)
Swallow
LANIIDAE
83 Lanius excubitor Grey Shrike
84 Lanius vittatus Baybacked Shrike
85 Lanius schach Rufousbacked Shrike
86 Lasnius cristatus Brown Shrike
ORIOLIDAE
87 Oriolus oriolus Golden Oriole
88 Oriolus xanthornus Blackheaded Oriole
DICRURIDAE
*89 Dicrurus adsimilis Black
Drongo
90 Dicrurus leucophaeus Grey Drongo
91 Dicrurus caeruleascens White-bellied Drongo
92 Dicrurus hottentottus Haircrested
Drongo
93 Artamus fuscus Ashy Swallow shrike?
STURNIDAE
94 Sturnus malabaricus malabaricus Greyheaded
Myna
95 Sturnus Pasgodaraum Blackheaded
Myna
96 Sturnus roseus Rosy Pastor
97 Acridotheres tristis Indian Myna
98 Acridotheres fuscus Jungle Myna
CORVIDAE
*100 Dendrocitta vagabunda Indian tree
Pie
101 Corvus splendens House Crow
102 Corvus macrorhynchos Jungle Crow
CAMPHEPHAGIDAE
103. Tephrodornis pondicerianus Common Wood Shrike
104 Coracina novaehollandiae Large Cuckoo-Shrike
105 Coracina melanoptera Blackheaded Cuckoo-shrike
106 Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Small Minivet
IRENIDAE
107 Aegithinia tiphia Common Iora
108 Chloropsis cochinchinensis Goldmantled Chloropsis.
PYCNONOTIDAE
109 Pycnonotus Jocosus Redwhiskered
Bulbul
110 Pycnonotus Cafer Redvented Bulbul
111 Pycnonotus luteolus Whitebrowed Bulbul
MUSCICAPIDAE
112 Dumetia Hyperythra Whitethroated
Babbler
113 Chrysomma sinense Yelloweyed
Babbler
l14 Turdoides caudatus Common
Babbler
*115 Turdoides malcolmii Large Grey Babbler
116 Turdoides affinis Whiteheaded Babbler
117 Muscicapa latirostris Brown
Flycatcher
118 Muscicapa parva Redbreasted
Flycatcher
119 Muscicapa Whitethroated Fantail Flycatcher
*120 Prinia subflava Plain Prinia
121 Prinia socialis Ashy Prinia
122 Prinia sylvatica
Jungle Prinia
123 Orthotomus sutorius Tailor Bird
124 Acrocephalus aedon Thickbilled
Warbler
125 Acrocephalus stentoreus Indian Great
Reed Warbler
126 Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth's Reed
Warbler
127 Hippolais caligata Booted Tree Warbler
128 Phylloscopus affinis Tickell's
Leaf Warbler
129 Phylloscopus occipitalis Largcrowned Leaf
Warbler
130 Phylloscopus trochiloides
Greenish Leaf Warbler
131 Erithacus svecius
Bluethroat
132 Erithacus brunneus Bluechat
133 Copsychus saularis Magpie-Robin
134 Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstarat
135 Saxicola torquata Stone Chat
136 Saxicola caprata Pied Bush
Chat
137 Saxicoloides fulicate Indian Robin
138 Monticola cinclorhynchus Blueheaded
Rock Thrush
139 Monticola solitarius Blue Rock Thrush
*140 Zoothera wardii Pied Ground Thrush
141 Zoothera citrina Whitethroated Ground
Thrush
142 Turdus Merula Blackbird
PARIDAE
143 Parus major Grey Tit
MOTACILLIDAE
145 Anthus trivialis Tree Pipit
146 Anthus novaeseelandiae Paddyfield
Pipit
147 Motacilla indica Forest Wagtail
148 Motacilla flava thunbergi Greyheaded Yellow
Wagtail
149 Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail
150 Motacilla alba White Wagtail
151. Motacilla maderaspatensis Large Pied
Wagtail
DICAEIDAE
152 Cicaeum agile Thickbilled flowerpecker
153 Dicaeum erythrorhynchos Tickell's
Flowerpecker
NECTARINIIDAE
154 Nectarinia zeylonica Purplerumped
Sunbird
155 Nectarinia lotenia Loten's Sunbirad
156 Nectarinia asiatica
Purple Sunbird
ZOSTEROPIDAE
157 Zosterops palpebrosa
White- eye
PLOCEIDAE
158 Passer domesticus House Sparrow
160 Ploceus philiplpinus Baya Weaver Bird
161 Estrilda amandava Red Munia
162 Lonchura malabarica Whitethroated
Munia
163 Lonchura striata Whitebacked
Munia
164 Lonchura punctulata Spotted Munia
165 Lonchura malacca Blackheaded Munia
LIST OF REPTILES OF GKVK (incomplete)
Psammophilus dorsalis Peninsular Rock Agama
Calotes versicolor Garden Lizard
Chaemeleon zeylanicus Chameleon
Python molurus Indian Python
Eryx jhoni Red Sand Boa
Ptyas mucosus Rat Snake
Athaetulla nasutus Green Vine Snake
Bungarus caerulescens Common Krait
Naja naja Cobra
Vipera russeli Russel's Viper
CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLIES OF GKVK
Family PAPILIONIDAE
1. Troides minos Southern Birdwing
2. Ploydorus hector Crimson Rose
3. Ploydorus aristolochiae Common Rose
4. Papilio polymenstor Blue Mormon
5. Pailio crino Common Banded Peacock
6. Papilio polytes Common Mormon
7. Papilio demoleus Lime Butterfly
8. Graphium sarpedon Common Bluebottle
9. Graphium doson Common Jay
10. Graphium Agamemnon Tailed Jay
Family PIERIDAE
11. Leptosia nina Psyche
12. Delias eucharis Common Jezebel
13. Cepora nerissa Common Gull
14. Anapheis aurota Pioneer
15. Ixias marianne White Orange Tip
16. Colotis eucharis Plain Orange Tip
17. Colotis danae Crimson Tip
18. Hebomoia glaucippe Great Orange Tip
19. Veleria veleria Common Wanderer
20. Catopsilia crocale Common Emigrant
21. Catopsilia pyranthe Mottled Emigrant
22. Eurema blanda Three Spot Grass
Yellow
23. Eurema hecabe Common Grass Yellow
Family DANAIDAE
24. Danais plexippus Common Tiger
25. Danais chrysippus Plain Tiger
26. Danais limniace Blue Glassy Tiger
27. Danais melissa Dark Blue Tiger
28. Danais aglea Glassy Tiger
29. Euploea core Common Indian Crow
30. Euploea coreta Double-brand Black Crow
Family SATYRIDAE
31. Mycalesis perseus Common Bushbrown
32. Mycalesis subdita Tamil Bushbrown
33. Leeuropa Bamboo Treebrown
34. Ypthima asterope Common Threering
35. Ypthima baldus Common Fivering
36. Melanitis leda Common Evening Brown
37. Elymnias hypermnesta Common Palmfly
Family NYMPHALIDAE
38. Euthalia garuda Baron
39. Euthalia nais Baronet
40. Neptis hylas Common Sailer
41. Hypolimnas bolina Great Eggfly
42. Hypolimnas missipus Danaid Eggfly
43. Precis hierta Yellow Pansy
44. Precis orithya Blue Pansy
45. Precis lemonias Lemon Pansy
46. Precis almana Peacock Pansy
47. Precis iphita Chocolate Pansy
48. Atella phalantha Common Leopard
49. Ergolis ariadne Angled Castor
50. Ergolis merione Common Castor
Family ACRAEIDAE
51. Telchinia violae Tawny Castor
Family ERYCINIDAE
52. Abisasa echerius Plum Judy
Family LYCAENIDAE
53. Talicada nyseus Red Pierrot
54. Castalius rosimon Common Pierrot
55. Castalius caleta Angled Pierrot
56. Syntarucus plinius Zebra Blue
57. Azanus jesous African Babul Blue
58. Lycaenopsis puspa Common Hedge Blue
59. Chilades laius Lime Blue
60. Zizeeria putli Southern Grass Jewel
61. Zizeeria lysimon Dark Grass Blue
62. Zizeeria gaika Tiny Grass Blue
63. Zizeeria otis Lesser Grass Blue
64. Euchrysops cnejus Gram Blue
65. Euchrysops pandava Plains Cupid
66. Catochrysops strabo Forget-me-Not
67. Lampides boeticus Pea Blue
68. Jamides bochus Dark Cerulean
69. Jamides celeno Common Cerulean
70. Nacaduba nora Common Line Blue
71. Curetis thetis Indian Sunbeam
72. Spindasis vulcanus Common Silverline
73. Tajuria cippus Peacock Royal
74. Rapala melampus Indian Red Flash
Family HESPERIIDAE
75. Syrichtus galba Indian Skipper
76. Hasora alexis Common Banded Awl
77. Badamia exclamationis Brown Awl
78. Gangara thrysis Giant Redeye
79. Telicota augias Pale Palm Dart
80. Baoris colaca Rice Swift
81. Udaspes folus Grass Demon
SOURCES:
FLORA:
1. Fathima, T., Boraiah, G. and Govindu, H.C. 1974. A check list of
plants from Hebbal Campus and Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra. UAS Tech. Series.
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bagalore.
2. Dr. Balakrishne Gowda, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Botany, GKVK,
campus.
FAUNA:
1. Subramanya, S.
2. Subramanya, S. 1989. Birds of GKVK - An introduction. "Vanasuma":
Forestry Souvenir 1985-89. Dept. of Farm Forestry, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore.
3.*= George, J. (ed.) 1994. ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF BANGALORE.
Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore.1994.
4. Butterflies: P.A. Ullas
---
Norfolk Genetic Information Network (ngin),
http://www.ngin.org.uk
---
Dear Jonathan,
On Sept 27, the Karnataka Government had moved in to take over 100 acres of land in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, for setting up a Biotechnology Park. This had infuriated the students and staff members who protested saying that this would mean that the land which otherwise should have been used for agricultural research will eventually be sold off to private companies. This resulted in a clash between the police and students.
The following is the copy of a representation filed by the Teachers' Association and the Employees Association before the Karnataka Human Rights Commission.
Regards
Devinder Sharma
---
The Human Rights Commission
Sep 28, 2001
Sir:
Sub: Police excess on innocent students, staff and faculty at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore on Sep 27, 2001 - reg
The forcible take over of precious forest land in the UAS GKVK campus by clamping Section 144 is a demonstration of the high handedness of the Government. Police clamped Sec 144 on the evening of the Sep 26th at GKVK without any compelling reason. On the morning of Sep 27th, the students, staff and faculty in the entrance of the campus faced several police jeeps, vans and personnel equipped with arms and ammunitions.
The Government of Karnataka wants to establish a Bio Tech Park by taking over 100 acres of land from UAS. Though the UAS authorities approved to hand over the patch of 100 acres located along the Yelahanka road, since the preferred location by the Government has precious forest cover and allocation of this land would accordingly violate Forest Conservation Act of 1980. Turning a blind ear the Government has initiated felling of trees using several earth moving equipments forcibly.
On the Sep 27th, when students, staff and faculty went on to hug the trees in the forest land, which the Government forcibly wanted to capture for the Bio Tech park, hundreds of innocent students, including girl students and women faculty, were caned by the Police. Even the Dean of the college of Agriculture Dr PG Chengappa was badly hit by the police when he tried to protect a student from being hit. The Police chased several girl students and even as they could not cross barbed wire fence, they were beaten mercilessly. Associate Professors Dr Savithramma of Genetics and Plant Breeding, GKVK, and Dr CP Gracy of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Mudigere, were beaten. The situation was certainly not a reflector of a democratic set up.
We earnestly appeal to the Human Rights Commission, to probe into (i) the land grab for Bio Tech Park by the Government which lead to (ii) all Police excesses on innocent girl students, boy students, women faculty and men faculty and staff at UAS, GKVK immediately.
Sincerely
Teachers Association
Employees Association
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
---
"Witness the infinite justice of the new century. Civilians starving
to death while they're waiting to be killed." Arundhati Roy, The algebra
of infinite justice, September 29, 2001