Political

Therapy for India's distressed farmers
VISHRAM's psychological interventions to farmers under mental stress in rural Vidarbha provide a fitting solution to increasing farmer suicides in the country. Posted on 12 Sep, 2017 10:40 AM

Large swathes of cotton farms in the central India have been the epicentre of a debt crisis that has gripped the rural population. For years now, it has driven thousands of farmers to commit suicide.

Psychological intervention can help reduce farmer suicides. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Let’s buck up and deal with deluge
Massive floods have made a comeback this year. What can we do to be better prepared for this new normal? Posted on 12 Sep, 2017 06:00 AM

It was supposed to be a normal monsoon as Indian Meteorological Department had predicted. But barring the central plateau, the rest of India may be forgiven for thinking that the Biblical deluge has come a second time.

Members of the national disaster response force evacuate residents of a flooded village in Bihar. (Source: NDRF)
Tel Aviv, we are looking for water
Wondering why India went to Israel for water? Here’s the reason and why we should be worried. Posted on 09 Sep, 2017 08:23 PM

After a gap of 67 years, the Indian Prime Minister made an official visit to Israel this year.

The prime ministers of the two countries, Netanyahu and Modi at Olga beach to attend a demonstration of Israeli mobile water desalination technology. 06/07/2017 Photographer- Kobi Gideon/ GPO
Removing chromium from polluted water using hyacinth
A new method for removing chromium-6, a highly toxic heavy metal, from waste water has been developed by a group of scientists from India and Ethiopia. Posted on 07 Sep, 2017 04:59 PM

Heavy metal poisoning is a growing concern in many parts of the country. A new method for removing chromium-6, a highly toxic heavy metal, from waste water has been developed by a group of scientists from India and Ethiopia. They claim it to be low-cost and safe.

Water hyacinth. Image courtesy India Water Portal.
Forecasting dengue spread now easy
Scientists develop a new method to forecast dengue spread in various climatic zones by studying the extrinsic incubation period of the virus. Posted on 06 Sep, 2017 08:41 PM

Given its close links to both temperature and rainfall, it is possible to forecast the outbreak of dengue. But for such disease forecasting to be effective, it should be based on models specific for different climatic zones in the country, a new study has shown. 

Dengue mosquito. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Dew as a source of drinking water
Indian scientists develop technology for harvesting water from dew. Posted on 06 Sep, 2017 03:34 PM

We often notice dew drops on leaves, grass and some sloping surfaces in the morning hours. These dew drops can actually be a source of drinking water. 

A view of the dew harvesting plant at Kothara.
A Data Journey in Odisha
How Balasore became recognised as a fluorosis-affected district in Odisha Posted on 06 Sep, 2017 02:22 PM

Back in 2015, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Balasore, Odisha got to know about a strange problem in his constituency. There were reports of a number of bone deformities and crippled people in areas surrounding Patripal village of Remuna block. They seemed to be related to fluoride in water, causing a disease called Skeletal Fluorosis.

2015–16 Fluoride data of Remuna, Balasore, Odisha
Mumbai drowns in flood water
News this week Posted on 05 Sep, 2017 09:28 PM

Destruction of river and mangroves blamed for Mumbai floods

Heavy rains flood Mumbai. (Source: Flickr photos)
India gets new water resources minister
Policy matters this week Posted on 05 Sep, 2017 09:10 PM

Nitin Gadkari takes charge of water resources and Ganga rejuvenation

Yamuna river in Delhi (Source: Sudhanshu Malhotra via IWP Flickr Photos)
New way to remove harmful drugs from wastewater
Researchers have developed a slurry photocatalytic membrane reactor to remove harmful drugs from hospital wastewater to make it safer for the environment. Posted on 05 Sep, 2017 12:13 PM

Hospital wastewater, which includes drugs, is a major environmental problem. A group of researchers from Belgium and India has developed a novel method of treating wastewater to get rid of such harmful substances from hospital waste.

Hospital wastewater can be dangerous to the environment. (Source: IWP Flickr photos--photo used for representation only)
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