Buried under the French-Swiss border, the Large Hadron Collider has gotten its share of ink--and for good reason. Hearing about the sheer magnitude and price of what's been called the biggest and most expensive scientific experiment in human history is enough to instill fascination and excitement in even the most non-particle-physicists among us. Once it's running at full capacity, the project's researchers say, the $5.3 billion LHC, the biggest particle accelerator ever built, will be able to answer questions physicists never thought they'd get answers to, like why the universe formed the way it did and why matter has mass. Critics of the project say it could have the opposite effect, leading not to knowledge but instead humanity's demise.

Technicians plan to flip the switch on the collider this week, sending bunches of protons around the concrete tube dispersed with supercooled electromagnets, to create the very first collisions. Last month I visited CERN, the international nuclear research lab near Geneva that houses the LHC. The project's vital statistics jump out: an underground ring 16 miles in circumference will propel bunches of protons (about 100 billion at a time) around at almost the speed of light, more than 11,000 times per second. But it's an experiment unlikely to deliver its promised answers anywhere near as quickly as the protons are moving inside it.

From the beginning, a quick turnaround of findings was never the goal. It's fundamental, rather than practical, knowledge that researchers are after, as well as a suspected new particle called the Higgs boson (dubbed "The God Particle" for its potential to answer the most basic questions about existence, such as how anything came into existence) that could have unfathomable uses far into the future. Researchers liken the pursuit of the Higgs to the 1897 discovery of the electron, an atom's charged outermost particle. Its detection aided the harnessing of mass electricity, which has fueled core cultural components of the 21st century: the efficient lights we turn on, the TVs we watch and the phones we talk on. Another advance like that, CERN hopes, could be in store.

The collider will operate around the clock for nine months of the year: about 600 million collisions per second. Two floors of computer servers installed to measure LHC data will keep records of only a fraction of the collisions; the computers will discard the rest. There's also the style of explosion. Very few collisions are the same, so finding the most powerful ones that might show the existence of the Higgs particle or other unexpected effects will take time. By the estimate of Lyn Evans, the LHC's project head, big findings won't come for "a pretty long time." A junior researcher I spoke with was more descriptive. "It will definitely take months at a minimum--years, if nature is not kind to us," he said.

A bigger problem is likely to be collaboration. The number of scientists working collectively on each of the ring's four experiments--about 10,000--has made the project the biggest international collaborative research endeavor in history. It's certainly helpful to have so many qualified, knowledgeable voices, but the size of the roster also brings a downside. Ten thousand geographically dispersed scientists poring over loads of data means more, and longer, squabbling over whether a Higgs really is a Higgs. "We're very lucky to have so many voices on this project, but yes, there could be some extended debating," said James Gillies, head spokesperson for CERN. Even after scientists agree on what they see, it could take years of analysis to agree on what a finding means, and how someone could find a practical use for it.

Until the collider starts, there's plenty of debate to fill that gap. Walter Wagner, a researcher in Hawaii, started a group this year called Citizens Against the Large Hadron Collider, devoted to halting the machine's operation until more testing ensures its safety. "There is a real possibility of creating destructive theoretical anomalies such as miniature black holes, strangelets and deSitter space transitions," Wagner says in a statement on the group's Web site. "These events have the potential to fundamentally alter matter and destroy our planet."

CERN's top researchers see it differently. Says Evans, "Any physical collision that humans are capable of creating on earth has already been happening much more powerfully and frequently in the natural universe." Still, the prospect of creating loads of tiny but quickly growing alternate universes would certainly add a new allure to an experiment that's already pretty enthralling.

A visit to the different wild life sanctuaries gives one an idea of the rich wild life of India. The Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is also home to a variety of wild animals and birds. Do make sure to make it a part of your tour itinerary of Maharashtra.
If you belong to the group who loves watching animal planet on television, is fond of reading about books on animals, is very keen on seeing these wild animals in their natural habitat and capturing those priceless moments on camera, then the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is definitely well worth a visit. You are sure to be amazed by the wide array of wild animals that have made the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary their home.
The Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary covers an extensive area of 139.44 sq km and reserved forests form a major part of it. Patches of grasslands are found in this thick forest cover which is bordered in the west by the perennial Pranhita River.
The fauna of the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary includes several exotic and endangered species. Some of the animals that can be sighted here are tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs and jungle cats in addition to reptiles like the famous Indian python and the common Indian monitar.

The list also includes inhabitants like wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, blue bull, jungle cat, jackal, peacock, jungle fowl and flying squirrel. The greatest attraction however remains the Giant Indian squirrel which is the state animal of Maharashtra. Unfortunately its number is steadily on the decline.
It is best to visit the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary between February and May. Other times of the year, the weather is too extreme and not conducive for a visit. A visit in the rainy season should definitely be avoided. The Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible from the important places of Maharashtra.

Naxal Attack In Gadchiroli

In a massive setback to the Maharashtra government’s counter-Naxal campaign, particularly in its eastern belt, a group of over 150 Naxals laid an ambush on a police party near the Markegaon village in Gadchiroli district bordering Chhattisgarh on 1 February resulting in the death of 15 policemen. Although Gadchiroli has been a hotbed of Maoists for a long time, the unprecedented scale of the attacks took the Maharashtra police by surprise. According to the central government’s Ministry of Home Affairs records, the state has witnessed a decline in Maoist activity and violence in the past years. What then explains the near-perfect execution of such a large attack? What are the implications of the attack and what are the likely outcomes of the attack on the nature of Naxal conflict in the state? The spread of Maoists in Gadchiroli along with its adjoining districts in Maharashtra is seen largely as a spillover from neighboring Naxal-affected districts of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh with the terrain and demography of the region (over 90 per cent of Gadchiroli district is designated as forest area and has close to 40 per cent of its population made up of tribals) providing a fertile ground for the growth of Maoists. In recent times however, the Maoist cadre came under severe strain due to the dual strategy of the Maharashtra police – that of targeting the armed cadres while at the same time engaging with the local population through welfare programmes. Through sustained combing operations and surrender policy (implemented in August 2005), the Maharashtra police boasted of arresting at least 656 Naxalites including some of the top commanders of the outfit while securing the surrender of at least 320 since 2005, resulting in the winding down of many dalams. At the same time, programs like the Jan Jagran Abhiyan initiated activities like free medical services, cultural shows, sports activities, organized marriage ceremonies and camped with the villagers with the intention of breaking the support system of the Maoists among the villagers and winning their confidence and trust.Given this, do the attacks then reflect a desperate last attempt by the Maoists to make their presence felt or a manifestation of their revival in the region? A couple of factors indicate the latter. According to media reports, the CPI (Maoist) held a meeting sometime in early January and decided to merge its Maharashtra operations with the Dandakaranya cell in an attempt to revive their presence in the region. The fact that these attacks involved cadres from Chhattisgarh as confirmed by the local police lends credence to such reports. However, it seems unlikely that a joint plan to carry out the attacks was made and implemented in such a short duration, giving the impression that the efforts to combine the forces have indeed been ongoing for a while without the knowledge of the police. Coupled with this, several shortcomings in the government’s implementation of its counter-Naxal policies such as shortage of funds for the surrender schemes, further punctuate the police claims of success. This is also borne out by the betrayal of the ‘police informer’ who with false information, was able to lure the police into the jungle where the attack took place. What are the implications of the attacks? To begin with, this reflects a shift in the tactics of the Maoists in Maharashtra. In the past three years, their main target has been civilians including suspected police informers, surrendered Naxals, traders, and contractors. Attacks on security forces have however, recorded an upward trend since October 2008 with at least two Naxal attacks on police parties resulting in the death of four policemen. Second, a trend of joint operations between cadres from different states has been noted in some of their big attacks such as the Nayagarh attack in Orissa in February last year. This further complicates the fight against Maoists across the heartland with law and order being a state subject and highlights the need for a coordinated approach among the states. Lastly, this attack will propel the state to review its counter-Naxal policies likely pushing it towards a more belligerent stance against the Naxals. This in turn would imply that more violence can be expected from this region for it can be safely assumed that in carrying out this attack, the Naxals would have factored in the prospect of a crackdown by the state and are indeed prepared to engage with the state. In doing so, however, the state must take precautions in ensuring that its policies do not become part of the problem itself, as in the case of Chhattisgarh with Salwa Judum, and only ends up reinforcing the very factors that are sustaining the Naxal movement. The past few years has seen a systematic strengthening of the people’s war being waged and led by the CPI (Maoist). From Chhattisgarh in 2005-06 to Bihar-Jharkhand in 2006-07 and the Orissa-Andhra border in 2008, the people’s war has moved from the stage of mass mobilization to protracted armed struggle in these states. With the latest attacks, the possibility of a similar transition in Maharashtra cannot be ruled out.

History Of Gadchiroli District

Gadchiroli was a subdivision of the erstwhile district of Chandrapur and was carved out as a separate district of the state on 26th August, 1982. The district is located in the north-eastern part of the state bordering Durg, Rajnandgaon of newly created Chhattisgarh State on the east, Chandrapur on the west, Bhandara on the north and Karim Nagar, Adilabad of Andra Pradesh & Jagdalpur(Chhattisgarh State) on the South.The district is categorized as Tribal and undeveloped district and most of the land is covered with forest and hills. The main river basin of the district is Godavari which borders the southern boundary of the district and flows west to East. Due to proximity towards Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh it is worst affected by Naxalites taking shelters in the dense forest & hills of this district. The District Head-quarter is situated at Gadchiroli which is 180 Kms away from Nagpur and 80 Kms away from Chandrapur and 200 Km from Bhandara. The prime visiting places in Gadchiroli are: Shiv Temple at Markanda (Ta-. Chamorshi), Hanuman Temple at Chaprala (Ta- Chamorshi) and Markanda etc.

Gadchiroli District

Gadchiroli district was created on August 26, 1982 by bifurcating the Chandrapur district, which is part of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In ancient times the region was ruled by the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Yadavas of Deogiri and later the Gonds of Gadchiroli. In the 13th century Khandkya Ballal Shah founded Chandrapur. He shifted his capital from Sirpur to Chandrapur. Chandrapur subsequently came under Maratha rule. In 1853, Berar, of which Chandrapur (then called Chanda until 1964) was part, was ceded to the British East India Company. In 1854, Chandrapur became an independent district of Berar. In 1905, the British created the tehsil of Gadchiroli within Chandrapur. It was part of the Central Provinces till 1956, when with the reorganisation of the states, Chandrapur was transferred to Bombay state. In 1960, when the new state of Maharashtra was created, Chandrapur became a district of the state. In 1982 Chandrapur was divided, with Gadchiroli becoming an independent district.

Gadchiroli was a subdivision of the erstwhile district of Chandrapur and was carved out as a separate district of the state on 26th August, 1982. The district is located in the north-eastern part of the state bordering Durg, Rajnandgaon of newly created Chhattisgarh State on the east, Chandrapur on the west, Bhandara on the north and Karim Nagar, Adilabad of Andra Pradesh & Jagdalpur(Chhattisgarh State) on the South.The district is categorized as Tribal and undeveloped district and most of the land is covered with forest and hills. The main river basin of the district is Godavari which borders the southern boundary of the district and flows west to East. Due to proximity towards Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh it is worst affected by Naxalites taking shelters in the dense forest & hills of this district. The District Head-quarter is situated at Gadchiroli which is 180 Kms away from Nagpur and 80 Kms away from Chandrapur and 200 Km from Bhandara. The prime visiting places in Gadchiroli are: Shiv Temple at Markanda (Ta-. Chamorshi), Hanuman Temple at Chaprala (Ta- Chamorshi) and Markanda etc.

Coal Mining

The most economical method of coal extraction from coal seams depends on the depth and quality of the seams, and also the geology and environmental factors of the area being mined.
If the coal seams are near the surface, the coal is extracted by either:
strip mining, in which coal is exposed by the advancement of an open pit or strip. As the coal is exposed and extracted the overburden from the still covered coal fills the former pit, and strip progresses.
However most coal seams are too deep underground for open cast mining. Most coal is extracted by either:
bord and pillar, Here mining progresses along the seam, pillars are left to support the roof. These pillars may be removed on retreat allowing the roof to cave in. This method of mining is used principally in the U.S.A.
long wall mining, Here mining is conducted along the seam with the use of self-advancing hydraulic roof supports known as "chocks" or "shields". These supports are placed in a line (up to 400 meters long), known as a "long wall" and as coal is removed from in front of the long wall, the supports are advanced. As the long wall advances, the cavity created behind the longwall known as "the goaf" caves in. Longwall mining is the principle method of underground mining in Australia.
Other methods of mining include continuous highwall mining and highwall auger mining. These methods are generally applied in an open cast mine, once open cut mining becomes uneconomic.
Coal mining historically, has been a very dangerous activity. Open cut hazards are principally slope failure, underground mining roof collapse and gas explosions. Most of these risks can be greatly reduced in modern mines, and multiple fatality incidents are now rare in the developed world. Improvements in mining methods i.e. longwall mining, gas drainage and ventilation have reduced many of these risks. In lesser developed countries, thousands still die in coal mines. China in particular is the world leader in coal mining related deaths, with official estimates of around 6000 fatalities in 2004. Unofficial estimates place the figure much higher, at around 20,000 deaths. China is also the world leader in coal production and consumption.
Chronic lung diseases, such as pneumoconiosis are common to miners, causing a reduced life-expectancy for those in the occupation.
The oldest continuously worked deep-mine in Britain and possibly the world is Tower Colliery at the northern end of the south Wales valleys. This colliery was started in 1805 and at the end of the 20th century it was bought out by its miners rather than allow it to be closed.
Coal mining frequently causes significant adverse environmental impacts. Strip mining typically destroys most environmental value in the land through which it passes. All forms of mining are likely to generate areas where coal is stacked and where the coal has significant sulfur content, such coal heaps generate highly acidic metal rich drainage when exposed to normal rainfall. These liquors can cause severe environmental damage to receiving water-courses. In addition, the waste heaps are subject to slipping, as in the Aberfan disaster which killed 144 people in 1966.

Coal

COAL is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. It accounts for 55% of the country's energy need. The country's industrial heritage was built upon indigenous coal.
Commercial primary energy consumption in India has grown by about 700% in the last four decades. The current per capita commercial primary energy consumption in India is about 350 kgoe/year which is well below that of developed countries. Driven by the rising population, expanding economy and a quest for improved quality of life, energy usage in India is expected to rise around 450 kgoe/year in 2010. Considering the limited reserve potentiality of petroleum & natural gas, eco-conservation restriction on hydel project and geo-political perception of nuclear power, coal will continue to occupy centre-stage of India 's energy scenario.
With hard coal reserves around 246 billion tonnes, of which 92 billion tonnes are proven, Indian coal offers a unique ecofriendly fuel source to domestic energy market for the next century and beyond. Hard coal deposit spread over 27 major coalfields, are mainly confined to eastern and south central parts of the the country. The lignite reserves stand at a level around 36 billion tonnes, of which 90 % occur in the southern State of Tamil Nadu.
Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. It is a readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. It is composed primarily of carbon and hydrocarbons, along with assorted other elements, including sulfur. Often associated with the Industrial Revolution, coal remains an enormously important fuel and is the most common source of electricity world-wide. In the INDIA, for example, the burning of coal generates over half the electricity consumed by the nation.