This paper published in the Journal of Global Health sheds light on the grave water scarcity that the country could face in the coming years and warns that this could happen in as few as twenty years as the demand for water continue to exceed the sources of supply. The paper argues that this will have a negative effect on the public health and sanitation situation in the country and urgent steps thus need to be taken to deal with this situation.
Megh Pyne Abhiyan, supported by Arghyam, has been working towards self-reliance and access to safe drinking water and secure sanitation, in 22 panchayats of five flood-prone districts of north Bihar. Included below are four briefing papers that describe innovative localised solutions implemented by Megh Pyne Abhiyan to deal with the problems arising out of the recurrent flood situation in the state of Bihar
This book by Shankar Sharma sheds light on the tremendous difficulties faced by people in India because of the ill-conceived power projects. It provides a holistic set of credible alternatives, to counter the arguments given by project proponents and central and state governments. It also provides further information in the form of a number of references and statistical information on this issue.
A two day course on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was conducted as part of the Saph Pani project, funded by the European Commission, at the Anna University in Chennai between the 11th and 12th of December. The event saw the coming together of experts in the field from across the world – Saph Pani partners from Europe, Australia as well as those from within India. The two day event witnessed a series of interesting presentations and deliberations that ranged from sustainability of MAR structures to impact assessment and not to forget, the Indian experience.
With the increasing threats to our landscapes, biodiversity management can no longer afford to be part of a polarized 'yes or no' argument. Instead,it is vital to seek out and implement a bouquet of negotiated approaches. The diversity of India's landscapes as well as conservation approaches make it a valuable learning tool. This report presents some of these approaches
Control over land and natural resources has recently become a subject of heated debate in India, and is, today, one of the central fault lines of Indian politics. New research released on December 18, 2012 on the eve of an international conference on land and forest rights by the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), New Delhi and the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), Washington predicts massive resource takeover spurring conflict in 130 districts of India. The research indicates that India is a leader among land-grabbing emerging nations. Not only are rights flouted at home but Indian firms risk some mistakes abroad.
A national workshop on ‘Reducing vulnerabilities to climate change and disaster risk through Integrated Water Management ‘ was organised by the United National Development Program (UNDP) at ‘The Claridges’, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi on 17th December, 2012.It facilitated discussions and interaction among various stakeholders that included bureaucrats, technocrats, experts and NGOs.
The seminar participants deliberated on interlinked issues of climate change adaption, disaster risk reduction and water management, and how an integrated approach is required to enhance the adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities.
This first e-newsletter, launched by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, titled - 'Swajal Nirmal Bharat' begins with a renewed focus on the achievement of sanitation outcomes. It discusses the Working Group’s review of the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), now called the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) or the Clean India Campaign and its suggested strategies, priorities, and allocation for implementation in the 12th Five Year Plan. It talks on how the new strategy is aimed at transforming rural India into ‘Nirmal Bharat’ by adopting the community saturation approach.
The news this week is dominated by reports on the severe water storage level in the south of India followed by news on water conflicts between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the irrigation scam in Maharashtra and the Ganga cleaning initiative launched by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board
The focal theme of the 8th Kerala Environment Congress was Agriculture and Environment. The congress aimed at providing a platform for scientists, researchers, students and members of the community to deliberate on the issues pertaining to the agricultural sector and their impacts on the environment.
This document includes the proceedings of the Kerala Environment Congress organised at Thiruvanathapuram that included twenty three presentations that focused on the issue of solid and liquid waste management
The simultaneous attainment of financial, environmental and social sustainability of urban services is an important requirement of development. Given the huge investments that are being made in the improvement of urban infrastructure and services in India, it is of the utmost importance that these investments are made in a manner that brings about the greatest good of the greatest number in a sustainable manner. Within urban infrastructure the supply of water and its disposal after use in cities has become one of the most problematic aspects of planning and management.
This article discusses the introduction of green revolution in India and how this high-yield technology was environmentally harmful and bypassed small and marginal farmers
The Chambal River and the surrounding landscape comprise a unique ecosystem. Although known largely for its notoriety, the region is incredibly rich in biodiversity. The single largest population of the Gharial, a critically endangered crocodile is found here. Sadly, the Chambal ecosystem and its inhabitants face numerous threats.
More than 100 participants hacked on for over 2 days in Pune to develop projects to address challenges facing the sanitation sector as part of the 'Sanitation Hackathon' that was held simultaneously in 13 cities across the world. The hackathon was hosted by Infosys between the 30th of November and the 2nd of December
The Habitat Agenda, adopted by consensus of 171 States at the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, declares that everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing, housing, water and sanitation. And the irony surrounding this issue is perhaps never more evident than it is in India. We have a mobile phone penetration rate of 74% but more than half the households don’t have basic sanitation and toilet facilities.
Besides being a professor of International and Environmental law, Philippe Cullet is the Convenor of the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC), a non-profit research organisation that seeks to establish frameworks that foster sustainable conservation and use of natural resources in an equitable international context. In a conversation with The Alternative, he sheds light on the sanitation situation in India
Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia motivates students-the inheritors of this carbon-wounded Earth- at TEDxASB organised at the American School of Bombay in April 2012. His message is simple- conservation is necessary for our survival; the children of today need to remind decision makers that it is tomorrow's planet that they are ruining.
