Ganga

Impact of climate change on river deltas and other coastal areas in India
While global warming is a matter of worldwide concern, among the most vulnerable areas are the coastlines of less developed tropical countries such as India. The river deltas, in particular, are already facing the brunt of climate change and these adverse impacts can be expected to increase dramatically in the course of this century. Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 04:23 PM

The effects are most visible in the Sunderbans. Literally the 'beautiful forest', these wetlands at the mouths of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems are among the largest mangrove forests in the world. About 62% of this area of some10000sq km lies in Bangladesh but there is a significant Indian portion in the state of West Bengal.

Maps depicting the arsenic contamination in the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra plains between 1976 and 2008
Arsenic is one of the major contaminants of Groundwater in India today, posing a severe health risk to a majority of the population. Posted on 20 Aug, 2009 06:11 PM

The School of Environmental Studies - Jadavpur University (SOES-JU), has done path-breaking research in reporting and documenting the issue of Arsenic contamination in the country.

Map: Location of water resource projects across river basins in India
This map from the National Institute of Hydrology shows the location of the various water resources projects in each river basin in the country. Posted on 20 Aug, 2009 03:23 PM

The map indicates that across the main 19 river basins of the country, water resource projects with a total live storage of 174 BCM (Billion Cubic Metres) have been completed, 75 BCM are ongoing, and 132 BCM are being planned.

Central Ground Water Board's hydrogeological survey of West Bengal
A map of West Bengal from the CGWB showing groundwater yield prospects Posted on 12 Aug, 2009 01:26 PM

Courtesy: CGWB

West Bengal at a glance

The status of water resources in West Bengal: A report by Kalyan Rudra
The report by Kalyan Rudra discusses how the management of spatially uneven and temporally skewed rain-water in India is the most serious challenge for the water-managers Posted on 12 Aug, 2009 12:58 PM

The availability of water, water requirement versus supply, water requirements for some major crops, groundwater exploitation, growth of population, and declining per capita water in the state of West Bengal are presented.

Groundwater information booklet of arsenic affected Murshidabad district of West Bengal
This information booklet from the Central Ground Water Board (Eastern Region) deals with groundwater related information for the arsenic infested district of Murshidabad in West Bengal Posted on 12 Aug, 2009 11:32 AM

The groundwater related issues and problems the distrcit include:

River basins and river basin organisations in South Asia
The research study will help in providing the basis for planning for future strategic interventions in the river basins mentioned in the study, and to encourage similar exercises in other regions Posted on 22 Jul, 2009 03:12 PM

As part of the research study, River Basins and River Basin Organisations in South Asia, done by the Society for Participatory Development Hyderabad, CapNet South Asia (Read More) and Gomukh Environmental Trust for Sustainable Development Pune (Click Here), data about individual river basins has been collected for the river basins in South Asia.

Dr. GD Agarwal's fast to resume
A press release on Dr. GD Agarwal's resuming his fast Posted on 09 Jul, 2009 01:57 AM

 

  1. The state government of Uttarakhand promised immediate suspension of all works on the two projects Bhairoghati and Pala-Maneri in its letter of 19th June, 2008 and expressed its full commitment for conservation of River Bhagirathi in its natural form ‘from Gangotri to Uttarakashi’. However construction work on the projects (particularly on Pala Maneri project) leading to destroy Gangaji is going on in full swing. The above makes all assurances to us and to Maa Gangaji look as mere jokes.
  2. The Government of India committed immediate stoppage of all work on its project Loharinag-Pala in its letter on 19th February, 2009. But the construction work on the site has gone on un-stopped and on an accelerated speed. This again is an act of cruel deceipt.
MWR directed to make the Ganga basin studies public : SANDRP
A follow up on the Union Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) directive that “any study about water-flow in the river systems of the country must be made available to the general public Posted on 07 Jul, 2009 02:16 AM

In order that is likely to have far reaching implications on water governance in India, the Central Information Commission(CIC) has directed the Union Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) that “any study about water-flow in the river systems of the country must be made available to the general public for its information and education. It is not open to the public authority to hold secret critical information with which lives of millions may be related. Publication of this data informs the people about how the public authority is discharging its appointed functions and whether it was acting accountably about a matter so critical as the nation’s water resources in general and the river systems in particular.” Following an appeal by SANDRP, the CIC has asked the MWR make public the reports of the Central Water Commission & National Institute of Hydrology on the impacts of the hydropower projects on Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand and for portions that the ministry decides not to make public, “Reasons for holding these parts of the information confidential will have to be recorded, which should be open to scrutiny.” This entire task is to be completed in three months.

Suggestions for a modified approach towards implementation and assessment of Ganga Action Plan
The paper examines the need for an alternative implementation and assessment methodology of River Action Plans in India, through an illustration of ‘Ganga Action Plan' (GAP). Posted on 11 Jun, 2009 03:20 PM

This paper is written by Vinod Tare, Purnendu Bose and Santosh Gupta of IIT Kanpur to examine the need for an alternative implementation and assessment methodology of River Action Plans in India. The paper illustrates of ‘Ganga Action Plan' (GAP) and its implementation near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to assess the methodology.

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