Amita Bhaduri
Refugees of the Kosi embankments – A booklet by Dinesh Kumar Mishra
Posted on 13 Mar, 2013 02:44 PMKosi, one of the most vibrant rivers of North Bihar begins its journey at a height of about 7000 m in the Himalayan range. After entering the plains, the bed of the Kosi widens drastically and it spreads over 6 to 10 km.
Videos: Resurgence of the ahar pynes - Magadh Jal Jamaat helps revive 2000-year old flood water harvesting systems in Gaya, Bihar
Posted on 13 Feb, 2013 10:34 AMMagadh Jal Jamaat, a loose network of progressive individuals in Gaya has been successfully able to revive over a dozen abandoned water sources and have instilled in people the need to create, clean up and conserve several lakes and ponds in the region.
An exhibition at Studio Safdar in Shadi Khampur traces the history of the urban village and its water systems
Posted on 10 Feb, 2013 07:12 PMGuest post: Amita Bhaduri
West Delhi’s dusty neighbourhood, Shadi Khampur now has its own museum, in the traditional brick-and-mortar sense. I live nearby, have worked out of an office here and am familiar with the alleyways. But I got to know only now, what life in the neighbourhood was like. Its rich history and its connect to larger narratives from the past, like the series of land acquisitions in Delhi, the Emergency, and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 which had gone largely undocumented and unarchived have been chronicled in the Neighbourhood Museum of Local History of Shadi Khampur, at Studio Safdar, a cafe cum bookstore.
Neighbourhood Museum at Studio Safdar
Source: Facebook page on “Public Art Project at Studio Safdar”
Ahar pynes, traditional flood water harvesting systems can help revive agriculture in south Bihar
Posted on 26 Jan, 2013 07:48 PMAhar pynes are traditional floodwater harvesting systems indigenous to South Bihar [1], and have been the most important source of irrigation in this region.
Ahars are reservoirs with embankments on three sides and are built at the end of drainage lines such as rivulets or artificial works like pynes. Pynes are diversion channels led off from the river for irrigation purposes and for impounding water in the ahars. It is mostly to the credit of these that paddy cultivation has been possible in this otherwise relatively low rainfall area, when compared to North Bihar. The system attained its highest development in the district of Gaya [2].
This article provides an account of the ahar-pyne systems of South Bihar and the need to build organizational and institutional capacities of civil society and government agencies to undertake ahar pyne renovation and management.
Ahar Pyne system in Gaya, South Bihar
Image courtesy: Hindi Water Portal
Videos: Lovraj Kumar panel discussion focuses on the challenges to biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and ecological sustainability
Posted on 26 Jan, 2013 04:14 PMGuest post: Amita Bhaduri
Traditional diversion-based phad irrigation systems help mitigate risk of crop failure in the drought-prone farmer suicide belt of Vidarbha, Maharashtra
Posted on 11 Jan, 2013 11:56 AMMany of these systems (1) continue to function and are often more sustainable, cost-effective and successfully managed by local institutions. Phads are one such community-based and managed diversion irrigation management system (2) prevailing in the north-western part of Maharashtra and date back to the early 16th century as per historical accounts. The system is prevalent in the Tapi basin on rivers the Panjhra, Mosam and Aram in Dhule and Nashik districts (3).
Phads or diversion-based irrigation systems, are being revived and promoted in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra by Dilasa, a Yavatmal-based voluntary development organisation (Video courtesy: Dilasa)
Climate change adaptation in water management for food security - A consultation meeting by India Water Partnership
Posted on 19 Dec, 2012 09:20 AMThe meeting held on 22nd November, 2012 at the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi was followed by a discussion which included comments and suggestions of the experts and participants. The meeting was chaired by Prof. S R Hashim, President, India Water Partnership who was accompanied by Dr.
Seminar by CGWB on National Project on Aquifer Management stresses the need for a paradigm shift in groundwater sector from development to management
Posted on 10 Dec, 2012 05:39 PMInaugural session chaired by Dr. Mihir Shah
Image courtesy: www.readandknow.org