ngin - Norfolk Genetic Information Network

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

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