Well....personal opinions about a species of plant may differ. There is no doubt that Jatropa can be a potential threat to children who unknowingly consume the seeds of the plant. At the same time, the economic importance of the species cannot be denied. Jatropa can be used for making the bio-diesel, which is very much necessary in a country like India, where the demand for energy and fuel is very high, but the resources are very limited. We have to import most of the petrol from the South-West, and thats creating a huge burden on our economy. So its not bad to grow a plant from which we can get fuel to meet up our requirements.
But that does not mean that we have to plant this 'bio-toxic species' in human habitations and school gardens. I think the plantation of Jatropa can be encouraged, but the trees should be grown in areas out of the reach of people. especially children. These trees should be considered as a 'petroplant' only, and should not be treated as an ornamental or avenue tree. regards Shantanu : ) On Aug 28, 2:33 am, Vijayasankar <vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote: > Well researched article Oudhia ji, thanks for sharing. Its sad to know that > the Jatropha plan was a failure. In that case what will happen to the > existing plantation if the seeds no longer in use as biodiesel and if the > project is abandoned? Have you observed naturalization of this species > anywhere? > > With regards > > Vijayasankar > > On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoud...@gmail.com>wrote: > > > > > Thanks for your message. Jatropha poisoning in Children is only one of > > negative aspects > > of Jatropha. Please read this write up with cross references for more info > > > Bare Facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas > > >http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=877&page=-2 > > > Jatropha toxicity is well known and researched. When Jatropha promotion > > started we suggested the authorities to aware the > > public<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_twhdJg4SEPM/S0r0_bz3-VI/AAAAAAAAAR0/EIiX9Q4...>about > > its > > harmful > > affects<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_twhdJg4SEPM/S04W5uVB5II/AAAAAAAAAgE/SJOhODv...>so > > that accidents can be avoided. But it was ignored. Our past president was > > great promoter of this plant. He encouraged the children about Jatropha and > > as result authorities planted it in school compounds and near to human > > colonies. Children were not made aware about its toxic seeds. Within few > > months thousands of cases of Jatropha started coming in surface. > > > In Meerut over school 20 children reached to hospital and seeing anger of > > residents the authorities ordered to destroy Jatropha. > > > It is common obervation with Exotics. There must be full prepartion before > > introducing the species unknown to natives. > > > We know Jatropha's effect on human population within short time of its > > large scale plantation but imagine the condition of wildlife as Jatropha is > > planted inside forest even by cutting indigenous forest. There are endless > > stories about harms of Jatropha. Now last month when FAO officially declared > > about its failure now authorities are releasing that the basic plan was > > wrong. > > > regards > > > Pankaj Oudhia > > > On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 1:16 AM, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com>wrote: > > >> Dear Oudhia Sir, > > >> I dont intend to offend you, but I think, parents should stop their > >> children from eating Jatropha rather than uprooting the plant itself. There > >> are many indigenous plants which are poisonous, what does that mean its the > >> fault of the plant or the person who ate is purposefully or by mistake. > > >> A kid fell down in the well, should be stop digging wells? > > >> Regards > >> Pankaj > > >> On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 1:12 AM, Pankaj Kumar > >> <sahanipan...@gmail.com>wrote: > > >>> Dear Vijay, > >>> I see another reason for planting this. When you see it from satellite, > >>> India looks green. Hope you understand what I meant!! Its just the > >>> tendency > >>> of the plant to grow well in worst conditions and be in happy green shape > >>> ever after...:)) > >>> "Very poor soil conditions", I think the better sentence would be, "IN > >>> WHATEVER SOIL CONDITIONS", meaning they are not so choosy about where they > >>> should grow!! > >>> Pankaj > > >>> On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 1:05 AM, Pankaj Oudhia > >>> <pankajoud...@gmail.com>wrote: > > >>>> Well said Vijayashankar ji. I commonly face such arguments when I give > >>>> lectures in support of indigenous species. I humbly reply to them that > >>>> the > >>>> error rather crime committed in the past should not be used as reference > >>>> to > >>>> commit mistake again. > > >>>> From "Down to Earth" to BBC everyone supported my campaign "Say No To > >>>> Jatropha" but still Jatropha is under promotion in large scale. Jatropha > >>>> seeds have killed five children and thousands of children are reaching to > >>>> hospitals not only in India but also around the world. The Jatropha > >>>> supporters argue that electricity has taken more lives than Jatropha but > >>>> still we are using it. > > >>>> So there is no end of arguements. I have met the family members of > >>>> children died due to Jatropha. A Jatropha promoter was with me. I > >>>> requested > >>>> him to put his arguement. He remianed silent. > > >>>> Potato, Tomatoes are no doubt exotic but not causing harms like Water > >>>> Hyacinth, Lantana, Ipomoea carnea etc. That is why I say adopt exotic if > >>>> there is no alternative but at first check its possible impact on flora > >>>> and > >>>> fauna. While introducing Eucalyptus, Austalian Acacia and Rain tree like > >>>> exotics such studies were not done and native alternatives were ignored. > > >>>> As you know, Parthenium hysterophorus is exotic species. To manage it > >>>> Mexican beetle has been introduced. It is under promotion in full swing > >>>> but > >>>> the traditional bird catchers claim that when native birds feed on these > >>>> exotic beetles they get sick and become unfit for consumption. I have > >>>> written about it through my writings but researchers say that no one will > >>>> give fund to conduct research on it. > > >>>> Thanks for the address. I will try to get the details of " Very poor > >>>> soil conditions." > > >>>> regards > > >>>> Pankaj Oudhia > > >>>> On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM, Vijayasankar < > >>>> vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>>>> Thanks Pankaj ji for the response. > >>>>> The forest which i mentioned is called 'Pitchandikulam Forest'. Here is > >>>>> the link:http://www.pitchandikulamforest.org/cms/content/view/95/218/ > >>>>> Contact details are provided in the webpage for further details like > >>>>> soil analysis etc. > > >>>>> You rightly said that India is rich in biodiversity. No doubt. We have > >>>>> habitats from 0 m altitude to one of the world's highest mountain > >>>>> systems. > >>>>> We have desert (with poor soil nutrients) to world's highest rainfall > >>>>> areas > >>>>> in our country. These diversified climatic/soil/rainfall conditions > >>>>> support > >>>>> a diversified flora in our country. That's why India is regarded as one > >>>>> of > >>>>> the 'Mega Biodiversity' countries of the world. > > >>>>> By the way, when are we going to stop eating exotic vegetables incl. > >>>>> Carrot (Afghanistan origin), Potato (originated in Peru), Tomato > >>>>> (S.America), etc etc???? > > >>>>> With regards > > >>>>> Vijayasankar > > >>>>> On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 1:37 PM, Pankaj Oudhia < > >>>>> pankajoud...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>>>>> Please explain "very poor soil conditions" Vijayashankar ji. I feel we > >>>>>> live in India rich in biodiversity and Mother Nature has given us > >>>>>> native > >>>>>> plants for each and every condition. We have never ending list of > >>>>>> choices. > > >>>>>> If possible please send the soil analysis report of plot developed by > >>>>>> Joss ji. Or simply inform that during rainy season when anyone goes to > >>>>>> that > >>>>>> plot whether his or her bike skids or not OR just inform the size of > >>>>>> termite > >>>>>> mounds in that place I will suggest tens of native plants. > > >>>>>> Few months back I was in Bengaluru and observed planner's love towards > >>>>>> Rain tree. We have number of species far better than this exotic > >>>>>> species but > >>>>>> still we are running for tree of Amazon. And no one is opposing it. > >>>>>> Whether > >>>>>> any one is there to study the harmful effects of rain trees in such > >>>>>> large > >>>>>> number on native flora and fauna? Then without any such studies who > >>>>>> permitted the monoculture of raintree. Why not Bengaluru > >>>>>> administration is > >>>>>> simply planting Neem trees? > > >>>>>> We must not support exotic flora any more. Austalians are very strict. > >>>>>> Our previous generations has done lots of mistake like introducing > >>>>>> Water > >>>>>> hyacinth as ornamental , this generation is also doning by promoting > >>>>>> monoculture of exotic Jatropha curcas. They simply ignored that > >>>>>> biodiesel > >>>>>> can be prepared from native Pongamia, i.e Honge in your region, but in > >>>>>> India > >>>>>> foreingers are always welcomed and indigenous are kept aside. Am I > >>>>>> wrong? > > >>>>>> Waiting for the soil analysis report/other observations. > > >>>>>> regards > > >>>>>> Pankaj Oudhia > > >>>>>> On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 11:38 PM, Vijayasankar < > >>>>>> vijay.botan...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>>>>>> May be because of its ability to grow even in very poor soil > >>>>>>> conditions. > > >>>>>>> In Auroville near Pondicherry, Joss has 'created' a very good forest > >>>>>>> (i guess it took about 2 decades for him) with all native species in a > >>>>>>> wasteland which was initially barren and had nothing in it to support > >>>>>>> a > >>>>>>> vegetation. He grew this Acacia as a primary succession species that > >>>>>>> provided shade and leaf-litter and from which he gradually introduced > >>>>>>> native > >>>>>>> elements and developed the forest. After establishment of natural > >>>>>>> vegetation, he carefully removed all Acacia plants from the > >>>>>>> community. That > >>>>>>> way this species was very helpful. If you want to create a green > >>>>>>> cover in > >>>>>>> poorest soils, you can opt this species. Of course there are certain > >>>>>>> native > >>>>>>> species for the purpose such as Neem, Calotropis, Amla etc but Acacia > >>>>>>> is > >>>>>>> comparatively fast-growing. > > >>>>>>> With regards > > >>>>>>> Vijayasankar > > >>>>>>> On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Shantanu <shnt...@gmail.com>wrote: > > >>>>>>>> I agree with you Pankaj ji... > >>>>>>>> These trees are of no such importance, and they absorb a lot of > >>>>>>>> moisture from the ground thereby turning the soil dry, and not > >>>>>>>> allowing other smaller plants to grow around it. > >>>>>>>> Inspite of all these disadvantages, I dont know why the planting of > >>>>>>>> these useless exotics are encouraged in our country. > >>>>>>>> Moreover the pollens of these trees are known to cause allergies in > >>>>>>>> some people. > > >>>>>>>> Shantanu. > > >>>>>>>> On Aug 27, 6:17 am, tanay bose <tanaybos...@gmail.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>> > Nice catch but a too long shots > >>>>>>>> > Tanay > > >>>>>>>> > On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 1:29 AM, Pankaj Kumar < > >>>>>>>> sahanipan...@gmail.com>wrote: > > ... > > read more »- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
