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By:

Vinod Chavan

30 September 2025 at 3:04:23 pm

Birder Cop finds an Australian tagged bird

Latur: G. Thikanna, serving in the Andaman Police Department as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Communications was posted on one of the most remote and lesser-inhabited islands in the world to complete a one-month tenure. This island lies about 140 nautical miles away from the capital city, far from his family and loved ones in Port Blair. Life there is challenging, with no mobile network and no regular power supply. The only source of electricity is a portable generator that runs for about...

Birder Cop finds an Australian tagged bird

Latur: G. Thikanna, serving in the Andaman Police Department as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Communications was posted on one of the most remote and lesser-inhabited islands in the world to complete a one-month tenure. This island lies about 140 nautical miles away from the capital city, far from his family and loved ones in Port Blair. Life there is challenging, with no mobile network and no regular power supply. The only source of electricity is a portable generator that runs for about three hours a day just enough to charge communication devices and essential equipment. This was his second visit to the island in 2025. On the morning of June 16, 2025, during a routine inspection of the shoreline, he noticed a small bird moving along with the tidal waves. What caught his attention, however, was that the bird was having some colour tags on it legs. The photographs revealed that the bird had three tags: a red flag leg above the knee and a yellow tag under the knee on it right leg. The left leg had a metal ring. The red flag had a code which read DYM. In March 2026, Dr. Raju Kasambe, ornithologist and former Assistant Director at Bombay Natural History Society, and founder of Mumbai Bird Katta, visited South Andaman for a birding trip by his venture. Thikanna shared his observation and photographs with him. Dr. Kasambe took great interest and asked Thikanna to send the photographs. He identified the bird as Sanderling (Calidris alba), which breeds in the extreme northern parts of Asia, Europe and North America. After studying the shorebird Colour Marking Protocol for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) Dr. Kasambe realized that the bird was tagged in South Australia. He informed the EEAF team and Ms. Katherine Leung reverted with the information about the tagging of this tiny migratory wader, which weighs just 40-100gramms. The wader was tagged on 13 April 2025 by Ms. Maureen Christie at the Danger Pt, Brown Bay, near Port Macdonnell, in South Australia. That means the wader had reached Narcondam Island after two months and three days on its return journey back the its breeding grounds in extreme northern parts of Asia. The straight-line distance the bird had flown was an amazing 7472km and it hadn’t yet reached its final destination – the breeding grounds. This is first record of resighting of any tagged bird on the Narcondam Island, as the island remains mostly inaccessible to bird watchers. Interesting, the Island is home to the endemic Narcondam Hornbill, a species which is not found anywhere in the world. Mr. G. Thikanna is associated with the Andaman avians Club which conducted bird watching and towards creating awareness about birds in the Andaman Island. Other members of the club have congratulated him on the great find in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Metro Mayhem

Updated: Feb 27, 2025

The ongoing battle between Systra, the French engineering firm, and Mumbai’s Metro authority, the MMRDA is an indictment of India’s infrastructure governance, exposing how megaprojects are often ensnared in allegations of corruption, bureaucratic maneuvering and diplomatic friction. At stake is not just the fate of one consultancy contract but Mumbai’s ambitious metro expansion and India’s reputation as a credible destination for foreign investment in infrastructure.


What makes the case explosive is Systra’s allegations against senior MMRDA officials who reportedly demanded undue favours, delayed payments and pressured the firm to inflate contractor orders. Systra has even sought diplomatic intervention, with the French embassy stepping in to urge the Maharashtra government to resolve the dispute.


The firm also alleges that similar methods have been used against DB E&C, a German consultancy, which raises uncomfortable questions about how MMRDA deals with foreign firms. If true, the allegations paint a troubling picture of how major infrastructure projects are managed in India’s financial capital.


The MMRDA has retaliated with its own set of accusations. It claims that Systra violated Indian laws, breached contract confidentiality, engaged unauthorized personnel and made engineering and design errors. The agency’s 27-page report to the Maharashtra government outlines multiple deficiencies, extending beyond mere cost overruns. Yet, this counter-offensive does little to mask the glaring governance issues at play. If Systra was so grossly incompetent, why was its contract extended in the first place?


The case exposes a broader malaise in India’s infrastructure sector. The country’s rapid urbanization demands world-class transit solutions, yet project execution is often marred by bureaucratic inefficiency and vested interests. International firms bring technical expertise and global best practices, but navigating India’s often murky procurement and execution processes can be a test of endurance. If credible foreign players like Systra and DB E&C are mistreated, global confidence in India’s infrastructure market will take a hit.


Corruption allegations in large-scale urban transport projects are hardly new. Across India, metro rail contracts have long been fertile ground for rent-seeking. The larger concern is how such controversies affect India’s attractiveness to foreign firms. For Maharashtra’s government, this scandal is a headache it can ill afford. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised transparency, but words will not suffice. The inquiry into MMRDA’s conduct must be swift and impartial. If corruption is found, heads should roll. Likewise, if Systra is indeed guilty of contractual breaches, due process must be followed without vindictiveness. The state’s reputation, and Mumbai’s urban future, depends on how this debacle is resolved.


An obvious lesson for India here is that if it aspires to be a global economic powerhouse, its governance of megaprojects must be above board. Infrastructure-driven economy cannot thrive on shadowy dealings and arbitrary decisions. Otherwise, India risks driving away the very expertise it needs to build its future.

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