B. N. Bandodkar College of Science, Thane
REPORT ON THE THREE DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON CREEKS, ESTUARIES AND MANGROVES - POLLUTION AND CONSERVATION ORAGANISED BY ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT,
28th to 30th November 2002.
Seminar, Symposia, Workshop or exhibitions are considered a useful tool in developing or brushing up interpersonal skills and even help in reaching out to the public at large. As we at the zoology department, V.P.M.’s B.N.Bandodkar College of Science, were working consistently on Thane creek and presently doing a project on Thane creek and Ulhas river estuary financed by MMR-EIS Mumbai, to assess pollution status and decide mitigation strategies; we felt it justified to arrange a National Seminar on these topics so as to have a dialogue and discussion with eminent scientists and environmentalists. This we thought would help us in creating awareness about the two ecosystems and deciding mitigation strategies. The topic had to be specific and relevant to the work carried out by the department hence we decided it to be “Creeks, Estuaries and Mangroves – Pollution and Conservation.” At the onset we decided that we have to come out with the proceedings of the seminar, announce it in the first circular and stick to our promise. Our joyous decision was met with a lot of mixed feelings of hope and uncertainty, cause the dates finalized for the seminar were 28th, 29th and 30th November, 2002 with just 3 odd months to go. But our Principal Prof. C.G. Patil, gave us the green signal and also accepted the mantle of the chief coordinator.
From the very beginning we knew what we were up to and stuck to our guard. We approached and informed the chairman of V.P.M, Dr. V.V. Bedekar, of our venture. He lauded our efforts and guided us like a fairy god mother would and cleared the cob webs in our mind for good.
Now with the chairman’s backing we pursued along with renewed vigour. We came out with a circular and mailed them outright. The next task at hand was the daunting hunt for sponsors, but we persisted with expectation and not giving up. The initial response to the first circular was not very pleasant but we received a truck-load of queries and research papers as the dead line of 20th October 2002 for submission of papers approached. Which seemed fictitious but true. Then started the process of screening, accepting and rejecting papers, which had to be handled with care and precision so as not to be bias or unjust. Finally we settled for 65 research papers with reasonable and relevant content, in addition to the 18 invited talks.
As the days became numbered the atmosphere in the department got electric, with departmental meeting arranged and work distributed, banners and signage’s set, Publication proof’s read and reread, reception committee formed and work organized. In the mean time the students and staff discussed, argued and settled at making the posters, thus every one in the department contributed in his/her own way, always praying for the success of the seminar.
At last the D-day (i.e. 28th Nov. 2002) had arrived and to every ones surprise we all had gathered in the college all decked up at 7.00 a.m. sharp. Finished tying the loose ends and by 8.00 am started receiving the guests (50 of them) and delegates (103 pre registered and 25 gate crashers) who came from Tamilnadu, WestBengal, Orissa, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Mumbai, etc. The breakfast was served and on the dot of 9.00 a.m. proceeded for the Inauguration. The inauguration turned out to be a gala event, as we started by a humble prayer sung by the students of our college, followed by lighting the lamp and releasing the proceedings in style. The chief guest Dr. A.G. Untawale(Executive Secretary of Mangrove Society of India), Dr. V.N. Bedekar (President - V.P.M), Mr. Karaindikar (Vice-President – V.P.M.) Dr. V.V. Bedekar (Chairman – V.P.M.) and the other invities were in for a surprise when they saw the proceedings encased in a pearl oyster shell. The delegates were completely thrilled on seeing the proceedings which is a nonentity at most of the regular seminars, and totally stunned when they saw the CD version of the proceedings as a bonus.
The inauguration was followed by a plenary address by Dr Untawale in which he highlighted the importance of mangrove conservation that form the feeding and breeding grounds for the organisms, calling mangroves the lungs of our society.
Dr. R.P. Athalye, Reader of Zoology and the convener of this National Seminar spoke about the organizers view and the work done in the past 20 years and under the project sanctioned by MMR-EIS.
After a short tea break the next session was started by a plenary lecture given by Dr Sanjay Deshmukh a scientist working as a Director at the Rambhau Mhalgi Pratishthan. He discussed the hazards of ballast water and its treatment. Following this was the first Technical Session that started with various papers on Hydrology presented by different researchers. All the technical sessions were chaired by eminent scientists helped by a raporteer.
After the 1st technical session there was a plenary lecture given by Dr. A.N. Kadam a scientist at NIO upon the status of oil pollution along the Indian coast.
After the lunch break there was again Technical session on sediment which was followed by a plenary lecture by Dr. Vinay Deshmukh a scientist at Central Marine Fishery Research Institute. He spoke regarding the status of fishery and the woes of Indian fishermen. Technical sessions on Biodiversity and fishery, followed in which papers were presented by researchers coming from Karnataka and Gujarat.
In the afternoon there was plenary talk by Dr. P.V. Joshi of Pune. He talked about he insect fauna of mangroves and the various techniques of collecting and preserving them. He the chaired the following Technical session on Insects and the Avian fauna A presentation given by Shriharsh Nitsure of HOPE an NGO tried to explain how a base line data of the bird count can be obtained for a given area.
The days session was concluded by a lively presentation given by a clinical psychologist Ms.Indira Bhende upon the dying Dahisar nadi, in her presentation Nadi to Nallah.
The first day was hyperactive as 6 Plenary lectures and 18 research papers were presented and the day for the delegates ended at 7.30 p.m. We as organizers still had miles to cover as on the next morning we were supposed to have the poster inauguration. We had in all 60 posters to arrange on 34 panels, that again called in for a lot of simple discussion and argument, and finally our student volunteers, efficient as they are, organized it all in style and called for the chairs at 9.00 p.m.
The second day started with increased vigour and enthusiasm amongst the participants and the delegates.
The day started with the inauguration of the Poster Exhibition by Dr. Raddi A.G. a retd. Forest Officer. The exhibition had various posters showing the different aspects of the mangrove ecosystem. There was beautiful illustrative poster by Dr. Hrishikesh Samant showing the various contours of Mumbai and Thane highlighting the coastline and the mangroves of the area and also a picture poster by Dr. M.J. Kothari of Botanical Survey of India, Pune.
After the posters were seen and appreciated there was the plenary talk given by the chief guest Dr. Raddi explaining the importance of plantation in conservation of vegetation and mangroves. He suggested to establish a green belt of mangroves along the entire coastline .
The next plenary lecture was given by an eminent scientist. M.D. Zingde from the NIO regional Center, Mumbai. He explained in excellent manner the importance of wetlands. This was followed by the technical sessions on phytoplankton. After this there was a plenary talk given by Dr. S.N. Gajbhiye, also of NIO – Mumbai, he illustrated on the zooplankton and their importance in the food chain which was followed by the technical session on zooplankton. Dr. B.F. Chhapghar, retd. Scientist presently associated with BNHS gave a plenary lecture on the various organisms found in the mangrove ecosystem, showing beautiful and colourful slides. Next came the lunch break. The technical session on Fish toxicology which was chaired by Dr. B.S. Ingole of NIO – Goa. Who also narrated in his plenary talk the remedial measures taken to revive the Chilka lake. After the tea break a plenary talk was given by Dr. K. Govindan a scientist at NIO, he gave a speech on Benthos and their importance in the mangrove ecosystem. This was followed by a technical session on Molluscan toxicology and the benthos.
The day had 6 plenary lectures and 20 research presentations, and with no compromise whatsoever and ended the day for every one including the organisers at 7.30 p.m.
Soon after the breakfast the third day started with the opening plenary talk by Mr. Vivek Kulkarni, Mangrove incharge – Godrej, he gave a talk on the Indian mangroves, and their conservation aspects, then started the technical session on mangroves and their conservation. Research papers were presented by Dr. Dhiren Pania of Reliance industries, lauding their efforts in conservation of mangroves in the arid zone of Jamnagar – Gujarat. Next was an illustrative presentation by Amol Patwardhan of HOPE on the mangrove plantation comparing the site as it appeared in the past with its present status. There were many more such interesting research presentations such as by Dr. M.J. Kothari of Botanical Survey of India, Pune upon the correct identification of mangroves.
After tea break Dr. Manoj Borkar from Goa presented a paper on eco tourism in the mangrove swamps, Followed by the presentation on the economic utility of marine waste in the production of Chitin by Mr. Varad Pradhan.
After the lunch break was the plenary lecture by Dr. K.P.N. Kumaran on the microfossils obtained in mangroves and their palaeo environmental analysis. The next plenary was by Dr. Bhargava of Fishery Survey of India, who briefed on the varying fishery patterns of India. Technical sessions for mitigation was the next event in which papers were presentation by Dr. Sudha Srivastava, HOD of Geography, Mumbai University. She gave the presentation on the Dynamics of Coastal regime. Followed by an interesting presentation by Dr. Hrishkesh Samant of Geology Dept., St. Xaviers’ College of Mumbai. Images obtained by satellite remote sensing of the entire area of Mumbai and Thane region were excellently shown.Mr. Debi Goenka of BEAG gave a talk on the issues of Protecting Indian coast line and the coastal regulating zone.
This was then followed by the valedictory function for which Dr. Mrs. K.S. Gokhale the pioneer personality who initiated this research study at the zoology department, V.P.M’s B.N.Bandodkar College was the chief guest. She gave a comprenhsive talk on Solid waste management with reference to solid waste dumpings along creeks and estuaries. This was followed by an informative lecture by honorable guest Dr. Saranathan of MMR-EIS, explaining the rules and regulations of wetlands and the role of NGO’s in it.
The function was finally concluded by a thanks giving note. Special thanks were given to the full support forwarded by Vidya Prasarak Mandal for the successful completion of this seminar. The locals from Vitawa village who assisted in the field work were felicitated. Some of the participants expressed their views on the conduction of the seminar. Most of the remarks were in praise for the organizing committee of the seminar and the prompt publication of the proceedings.
The president of V.P.M. Dr. V.N. Bedekar, specially thanked the vice-principal & HOD of Zoology department, Dr. (Mrs.) M.K. Pejaver and the convenor Dr. R.P. Athalye and the organizing secretary Dr. Goldin Quadros for taking a lot of efforts to conduct this National Seminar.
Before drawing the curtains on the National Seminar ‘The Thane Declaration’ was drafted recommending efforts towards environmental awareness at the political, beaurocratic, administrative and common man’s level, apart from creating mangrove germplasm centre.
The National Seminar was well received, well managed and appreciated by participants and guests, who carried with them sweet memories. The Media and Press gave an excellent coverage making it all the more successful.
Please note : The proceedings of the seminar is available on sale
Within India - Rs. 600/- including postage + proceeding + CD RS. 750/-
Outside India – $50/- including postage, proceeding, CD.
The payment should be made in the form of demand draft in favour of “ V.P.M. Thane"