Political
Chemical characteristics responsible for the higher concentration of fluoride in groundwater - A paper in Springer Science
Posted on 21 Jun, 2011 01:42 PMFluoride is essential for normal bone growth, but its higher concentration in drinking water poses great health problems and fluorosis is common in many parts of India.
Precaution in coastal regulation - From principle to practice – A report by Dakshin Foundation
Posted on 21 Jun, 2011 11:45 AMThe decision to act or not act, and further how to act in the face of unknowns or uncertainties is the subject matter of the precautionary principle (PP). It is against this historical backdrop of unknowns in environmental governance that the present study on the precautionary principle was conducted.
The present framework for environmental governance provides a number of areas where precaution can and must be applied. In addition to these areas, the present report is the outcome of a descriptive study that shows the extent to which key elements of the precautionary principle are embedded in the specific case of two environmental laws related to coasts. The study examines key areas of the clearance continuum (law-making, clearance and monitoring) through a single broad question: To what extent is the approach of precaution embedded in decision-making under the CRZ Notification 1991 and the Water Act, 1974?
Sridhar attempted to examine this question on a continuum that examines a) the text of the law, b) the conditions under which projects are cleared or rejected and c) issues related to the monitoring of these conditions. The Asia and Pacific Workshop Report of the Precautionary Principle Project declared that there are both explicit and implicit uses of the precautionary principle. It states that there are some instances where the PP’s application is explicit and unambiguous whereas in other decisions the PP is implicit. They also raise an important point that to actually determine whether a decision was indeed precautionary or not (where it is not explicit) requires an examination of the context and motivations for decisions and management interventions.
Down the drain – Exploring traditional water systems - A film by Tarun Jayaram
Posted on 21 Jun, 2011 10:41 AM
down the drain from tarun jayaram on Vimeo.
These are some of the questions which led Tarun Jayaram, the film-maker to explore traditional water systems in the country. From the documentary’s opening moments, the director engages us with a beautifully shot array of footages ranging from pilgrims taking a holy dip of Ganges to beautiful baolis and tankas of Rajasthan to the ancient town of Hampi in Karnataka, while establishing how rivers have been an integral part of Indian culture and how its rich tradition of harvesting rainwater needs to be re-established to deal with the present day water crisis. Over the refreshing images and soothing audio, it advocates the need for community participation in rejuvenating the traditional methods of rainwater harvesting.
Water governance guidelines for practitioners - Sahjeevan's experiences in decentralised drinking water management
Posted on 20 Jun, 2011 08:50 PMThis report is based on the experience of women’s collectives promoted by Sahjeevan and of several member organizations of Abhiyan on local water governance, in particular on the demonstrated models of decentralized drinking water that they have taken up in several villages.
Water has been the central theme for development in Kutch. In the last two decades, a scaling up process of decentralized drinking water, popularly known as Pani Thiye Panjo, has been initiated in around hundred villages of Abdasa taluka in Kutch district of Gujarat focusing on development of local drinking water sources, their strengthening and building capacities of communities for maintenance and management of the systems to develop drinking water security at the village level.
The concept of Pani Thiye Panjo, has been well accepted as Abdasa model, which besides providing drinking water security, initiated policy dialogues at the local level on issues such as protection of groundwater, pricing mechanism of water (local vis-à-vis external sources), role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in water governance, role of local youth in developing their technical capacities and development of social capital in management of drinking water systems.
Water seminar on 'Partnerships for sustainable water management': 4th edition of the Gujarat Water Summit, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry on July 16, 2011 in Ahmedabad
Posted on 20 Jun, 2011 05:16 PMOrganizer: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Venue: Hotel Grand Bhagawati, Ahmedabad
Background
Water is fast emerging as the key resource of the future. The demand for fresh water is growing at a tremendous pace, aided by a growing population and increased levels of industrialization. Discharge of untreated industrial and domestic waste water to existing fresh water bodies is another cause of concern, as it diminishes the availability of fresh water resources. Both the State and Central Governments have taken cognizance of this need to augment water availability, which is reflected in the growing investments in the water and sanitation sector.
Where our rivers begin - Water literacy for urban India
Posted on 20 Jun, 2011 12:37 PM
Fisherman on Hessarghatta Lake on the Arkavathy River
It is here in a small pond that the Arkavathy river is famously said to originate. It moves down the hill in the form of a spring and enters the first of the man-made reservoirs, called ‘tanks’, the Chikkarayyappanhalli Kere. From thence begins the journey of this tributary to the Cauvery. Passing through a series of tanks built to hold its water for irrigation it comes to the large ‘Nagarakere’ at Dodballapur. The entire drinking water for the town of population 100,000 used to come from this large tank. Moving further on the river comes to the almost 7 sq.km. Large Hessarghatta tank. In 1894 this tank was enlarged and became the first external source of water supply to the city of Bangalore.
Commons, resources, rights and livelihood' - National consultation on traditional communities, livelihood rights & need for strategic alliances, Programme for Social Action, June 24 – 26, 2011, Banjar, Himachal Pradesh
Posted on 20 Jun, 2011 12:30 PMOrganizer: Programme for Social Action
Venue: Community centre, National Park, Banjar, Sai Ropa, Kulu Dt., Himachal Pradesh
Description:
The event aims to bring together grassroots movements and enable the evolution of a collective process to address the impending crisis. Additionally, it also attempts to address issues of building solidarity within diverse movements. This consultation will also specifically look at national legislations such as PESA, FRA, NREGA in order to strengthen their implementation on the ground in order to empower communities, especially women and adivasis.
Long range forecasting of the South West Monsoon for 2011 - A report from India Meteorological Department
Posted on 19 Jun, 2011 10:04 PMIn India, SW monsoon is the principal rainy season and it receives about 80 per cent of its total annual rainfall during the summer monsoon season, from June to September.
From dreams to reality - Compendium of best practices in rural sanitation in India - A document by the Water and Sanitation Programme and the Ministry of Rural Development
Posted on 19 Jun, 2011 05:50 PMThis compendium by the Water and Sanitation Programme and the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India presents case studies about the achievements and experiences of different situations, institutional models, community mobilisation approaches, supply chain management techniques, capacity building methods, convergence of various programmes, school sanitation, innovative approaches etc from different states and regions in the country.
After a decade of launching the Total Sanitation Campaign, India has seen significant successes in terms of the sanitation coverage, creating open defecation communities/GPs and solid and liquid waste management. Thousands of success stories have emerged across the country while still there are many challenges in making the entire rural India Nirmal and sustaining the changes achieved.
Training announcement on ‘Water supply distribution modelling’, July 9, 2011, Pune
Posted on 19 Jun, 2011 04:01 PMOrganizer: The Community Engineer
Venue: Pune
Description:
Training will include presentations, work out problems, step to step guide to modelling and hands on experience in using the software.
Training focus on students/graduates, consultant, contractor, municipal/department engineers.