Chennai

When wetlands refuse to wilt away
The revival of Narayanapuram wetland is a fitting example that good things can come out of government’s willingness to associate with independent organisations for the betterment of the society. Posted on 19 Mar, 2017 03:58 PM

Once home to over 400 water bodies, Chennai’s development story is similar to most metropolises across India. Urbanising at a hurried pace, the concrete city spilled over its waterways and wetlands, leaving behind a sorry tale of ecological destruction.

The desilted Narayanapuram wetland.
A sip of seawater
Desalination is considered a solution to increasing water shortage in the world. A few functional desalination plants in Tamil Nadu, however, show a different picture. Posted on 11 Mar, 2017 09:15 PM

Population growth estimates suggest that India will be supporting over 1.5 billion inhabitants by 2050 if the present growth rate of 1.9 percent per year continues.

A view of the Nemmeli desalination plant in Chennai. (Image courtesy: Business Today)
Budget for water ministry increased
Policy matters this week Posted on 06 Feb, 2017 08:19 PM

Budget up by 11 and 19 percent for water and environment ministries respectively

Budget 2017 (Source: Sourabh Phadke via IWP Flickr Photos)
Chennai takes the wooded road
Better green cover could be a way to reduce the extent of disaster a Vardah could bring. Here’s a lowdown on the trees that Chennai must have. Posted on 16 Jan, 2017 10:45 PM

 

One of the many trees uprooted by cyclone Vardah in Chennai (Image: Seetha Gopalakrishnan, IWP)
Changing coast affects livelihood
While sundry development and infrastructure projects beautify the Chennai coastline, fishermen are left to fend for themselves. Posted on 07 Jan, 2017 07:05 AM

Going by the statistics from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Tamil Nadu’s coastline is densely populated with 573 fishing villages along 13 coastal districts. The story is slightly different around the urban and peri-urban coastline, thanks to the ongoing gentrification of the coastline in most parts of urban India.

Chennai coast on a busy day.
Storm after a lull
After a brief interval, the north-east monsoon made its presence felt through the cyclonic storm Vardah, terrorising both coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Posted on 15 Dec, 2016 01:03 PM

Chennai’s disastrous December run continues for the second year in a row. While the devastating flood of December 2015 remains etched in the city’s collective memory, cyclone Vardah was no less scary and did not lag behind in its severity.

One of the many calamities of cyclone Vardah in Jawahar Nagar near Perambur.
For a flood-free Chennai
Chennai’s topography, along with civic apathy, official lethargy and a complete disregard for its natural floodplains see the city reeling under severe waterlogging every year. Posted on 07 Dec, 2016 09:07 PM

Chennai’s drainage system--both natural and man-made--is unparalleled. Three rivers flow through the city--the Kosasthalaiyar to the north, the Cooum cutting right through the centre and the Adyar to the south; around 16 major drains criss-cross the metro in addition to the mammoth Buckingham canal along the coast.

Home to over 300 species of birds, the Pallikaranai marsh is being increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation. (Image: IWP Flickr)
Flood risk to Himalayan hydropower projects: Study
News this week Posted on 28 Nov, 2016 11:57 AM

Glacial lakes pose flood risk to 441 hydel projects in Himalayan region

A glacier-fed stream in Himachal Pradesh. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
New paradigms in WASH service delivery: Roundtable discussion, IIT Madras
This round table aims to discuss new paradigms in WASH service delivery among various stakeholders such as WASH experts, policy makers, private sector, funders and researchers
Posted on 16 Nov, 2016 10:06 AM

About: IIT Madras will be conducting a round table discussion titled 'Emerging Paradigms in Water,Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery' on 23rd November, 2016

Yettinahole project clearance hits a roadblock
Policy matters this week Posted on 31 Oct, 2016 10:46 PM

Forest clearance to Yettinahole project gets challenged

River Nethravathi (Source: Parineeta Dandekar via SANDRP)
×