Cyclone Gaja is expected to make landfall between Pamban and … Unlike their counterparts abroad, Indian avian experts cannot track migratory birds across space by tagging them with transmitters as it is not allowed by the government citing national security. The Cyclone has left a trail of destruction in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu claiming lives of at least 63 people. Chennai: Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry have been bracing for Cyclone Nivar. Fertile lands, adorned with lush paddy and coconut trees — this is the picture that would flash before my eyes at the very thought of the Cauvery Delta districts in Tamil Nadu. Conservation is to let nature be as human presence is the biggest disruption. The impact was not considered to have been this severe in the initial days after the cyclone stuck as the death toll was relatively low. Updated: 21 Nov 2018, 05:28 PM IST Dharani Thangavelu. The marshland proposal to develop infrastructure for flood mitigation in the southern parts of Chennai is not to dredge but only reduce the quantity of water that reaches the marshland from other areas through baby canals that will divert the water directly to the Buckingham Canal,” J. Meghanatha Reddy, Deputy Commissioner (Works), Chennai Corporation told Mongabay-India. The impact… Cyclone Gaja has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and currently lies very close to the Tamil Nadu coast. “Deterioration in stopover zones, which are important for refueling, can limit the population of migratory birds on that flyway, similar to the decline in shorebirds which relied on the Yellow Sea. While Cyclone Nivar ushered neither damage nor relief, cyclone Burevi ensured 40 cm rainfall in just two days. Gaja was the sixth cyclone among the series of cyclone that hit the coast of Tamil Nadu in 2018 which was initially formed as a low pressure and intensified as a depression On the other hand, 2019 saw a sharp decline in migratory birds but following Nivar, they resumed their visits to the sanctuaries in Udayamarthandapuram and Vaduvoor. The weak system intensified into a depression over the Bay of Bengalon November 10 and further intensified to a cyclonic storm on November 11, being classified '… Tamil Nadu govt under attack over cyclone Gaja relief 21 Nov, 2018, 11.01 AM IST Palaniswami said the November 15 cyclone brought over one lakh electric poles and at least 40 lakh coconut trees to the ground, indicating the magnitude of impact. Poisoning by cattle herders is another problem. Kick off each morning with coffee and the Daily Brief (BYO coffee). NAGAPATTINAM: Sunday marked the second anniversary of Gaja cyclone which left a trail of destruction in the coastal town of Nagappatinam. , secretary of the NGO said that new concerns keep cropping up. CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government has asked private employers in the state to consider closing business—in select districts—for the day by 4 pm on Thursday in view of the approaching cyclone Gaja. Photo: PTI. Kumaraguru, conservation scientist and Honorary Wildlife Warden at Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu Forest Department said that following every cyclone, the focus is solely on lack of electricity, waterlogging, and other utilitarian issues. The sanctuary, home to 166 species and declared as one of the 93 significant wetlands in Asia by the Asian Wetland Bureau, had recorded a major drop in the most common bird species in January, this year. He has also directed to help them in any kind of situation. “There would have been no floods if Pallikaranai’s topography was retained. “Drugs similar in composition to the banned diclofenac like Ketoprofen, Aceclofenac, Flunixin, and Nimesulide continue to be in use. Residents of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu try to get their lives together in the after effects of cyclone Gaja. The annual visitors including flamingos, pelicans, sandpipers, bar-headed geese, garganey, pin-tailed ducks, black-winged stilt, Northern shoveler, and gull-billed tern have begun to flock to the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Nagapattinam. Cyclone Gaja: Several villages in Tamil Nadu yet to get food, water 3 min read. Here’s how the southern states have fared so far: The state government has estimated that the cyclone uprooted over 170,000 trees and damaged about 117,000 houses. The much-needed rains poured only during cyclone Nivar in November but by that time, the birds had left. Enjoy! Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Gaja was the sixth named cyclone of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, after Cyclones Sagar, Mekunu, Daye, Luban, and Titli. With COVID-19, dead bodies are also sprayed with strong chemicals, the repercussions of which in vultures should be looked into,” he said. The cyclonic storm will hit the Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Pamban. He has also directed to help them in any kind of situation. Cyclone Gaja heading towards coastal Tamil Nadu, expected to make landfall on Nov 15. There is a requirement for a strong database about local birds and their migration habits instead of reliance on sporadic eyewitness accounts,” he observed. Before roosting, breeding, and settling at a place, migratory birds survey the habitat, and only if they find it conducive, do they stay else they disperse. After cyclone Gaja in 2018, this will be the second cyclone to cross Tamil Nadu in the last two years. The initial week of October saw the grey-headed lapwing from South Korea turn up unfailingly and also marked the first sighting of Eurasian cuckoo,” he said. When Cyclone Gaja made landfall on 16 November, 2018, between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, it left a trail of destruction, uprooting nearly 50 lakh coconut trees, more than a … Regular, continuous monitoring, and study of cyclonic behaviour of birds must be undertaken. Gaja made landfall with higher wind speed than forecast by the India Meteorological Department. Around 250,000 people have been evacuated in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, where wind speeds reached 120kmph when the storm made landfall on Nov. 16. A bulletin released by the IMD at 00230 HRS said, ''The Cyclonic storm ‘GAJA’ over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved further west-southwestwards with … “We lack records of birds that arrive before and after a cyclone at public tanks and pond ecosystems. About 1 lakh electric poles, 1000 transformers, 201 electricity substations and 5000 boats were destroyed by the cyclone.1000s of cattle, birds died due to the cyclone. Shortly after hitting the coast, Gaja would weaken into a deep depression and would continue to travel over land in west-southwest direction towards South Kerala. The carcasses of several animals from the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby Tamil Nadu were also found washed up on the coast of Karaikal on Nov. 17. Nagapattinam and Pattukottai districts had lost 50 percent of their green cover with Gaja and it would take a decade to make up for even half of it. Minimal rainfall in the last two years had hit hard, both Vedanthangal and Karikili bird sanctuary. In a number of affected areas, including the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts, schools remain closed today (Nov. 19). 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