Both ‘lotus’ and ‘conch’ are found in tropical climate within the Indian sub-continent. The lotus is an aquatic plant generally noticed in fresh water silt deposits of wetland. Its leaf is round, smooth and floats over the water.
The lotus eater is known as an indolent person, who enjoys luxuries of life. The lotus position is a seated position used for yoga which is a cross legged position. The lotus is any one of the several water lilies of tropical Africa and Asia. White lotus is regarded sacred in India, China and Tibet.
The medical value of this species is that its flowers have a cooling effect. It is also used to treat diarrhoea, cholera, fever and liver diseases. Its seeds are used to check vomiting and given to children as medicine for skin diseases and leprosy. It is considered as antidote to poisoning. Its root in powder from is prescribed to treat piles, dysentery and dyspepsia. Its leaf, pedicles and embryo contain alkaloid and nelumbine.
For various reasons, the species is now more or less going to be extinct. The eco-system of the lotus is lost. Particularly, this flora does not allow any other plant species to come up within its habitat.
The kings and former estate owners were raising lotus in their ponds and swamps for rituals and other uses. But at present ponds and swamps are lost due to encroachments and expansion of human settlements.
Where ever they are found, they are left unused with silt deposits or without water. Very powerful people are involved in the land grab. An example is Cuttack city where hundreds of ponds and water bodies from Darbar period are increasingly under occupation of private persons. Not only within Cuttack or Bhubaneswar city, this happens throughout the State of Odisha with the help of venal officials. The Government and its Vigilance department should take these people to task.
Padma flowers provide shelter to varieties of reptiles and mollusks. This is a highly commercial species and there is a great demand for it among the Hindus, Buddhists and Egyptians. Now the lotus is the emblem of the Bharatiya Janatta Party who rule at the Centre.
Their Government has been placing emphasis on Swachha Bharat Abiyan. Now, the Central Government should take appropriate steps for conservation of the species and its habitats.
Conch is a heavy shell animal found in the ocean, as against lotus, which is a flora found in land mass alone. It is a sacred and prized shell in India. The conch is also associated with festivals, pujas and in different ceremonies.
The sound produced by blowing conch is considered auspicious by the Indians and Buddhists. The shell has a wide mouth ending on a beak like position. The sandy sea bottoms are the place where a variety of warm tubes are available. The conch is found only in the Indian Ocean.
Now this is an endangered species like lotus. As the land mass, oceans are heavily polluted.
Not only conch, but also other shell fishes are at danger. Species like Muricid, Periwinkles, Whelk, Cones, Turbo, Turrids, Tritons, Aeager etc. which live in the sand beds of Indian Ocean, are endangered and need protection from oceanic pollutions.
There are also other shells in the shallow oceanic body, which need protection. Such shells are classified as paired shells, spiral shells, unequal shells and cone-like shells. In past, we used to collect plenty of different kinds of shells from sea beaches but at present they are rare because of sea pollution. Many oceanic species are also extinct due to loss of habitats and environmental instabilities. There are various types of marine mollusks and their shells are used as a trumpet.
These species have rich economic values. long before, cowrie, which is another type of shell, were used as money and they still are used as such in some parts of the world. Even now the cowries are valued for their beauty and decorative bodies. There is a wide market for shell product in the globe.
The animal within the cowrie shell is very handsome. They can be found in coral sea-weeds. They feed on tiny animals and plants. The Mumbai coast is very much known for cowries in Pamban areas. Sea pollutions as well as the fishing by mechanized boats besides different types of explosions within the oceanic body spoil the habitats of these species. Oil spills, ship wrecking, different kinds of navigations, city sewages, coral mining destroying the reefs and excavation of rare earths are the threats of survival of these shell animals.
The conch is the political emblem of the ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha. The BJD Government therefore should take measures for protection of the conch families as a whole from extinction and from various threats of pollutions.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)