Rajasthan

Budget cuts for Water and Environment Ministry
Policy matters this week Posted on 02 Mar, 2015 09:29 PM

Union Budget 2015-16 reduces funds for Water and Environment Ministry 

Budget allocation and planning
RWH: A tale of two successful states
Rainwater harvesting is a cost effective solution to bridge the gap between water availability and demand. Jodhpur and Goa, areas with low and high rainfall, have shown how. Posted on 16 Feb, 2015 09:11 PM

As the race to bridge the gap between limited water availability and increasing demand for water narrows in India, rain water harvesting has been increasingly recommended in urban areas to harness the available water, rather than relying on expensive and unsustainable means of procuring water.  

Urban Rainwater Harvesting
Bihar Government bans plastic packaged water bottles in all its departments
Policy matters this week Posted on 09 Feb, 2015 01:35 PM

Bihar's government offices to soon become free of plastic bottles

Plastic water bottles (Source: Pixabay.com)
Mission to clean Yamuna in Delhi by 2017
Policy matters this week Posted on 19 Jan, 2015 09:08 PM

NGT announces heavy fines, bans farming to clean up Yamuna

Yamuna river in Agra
Porous pavements to save concrete jungles!
Cities may not be able to lessen their 'concrete footprint', which prevents groundwater from entering the soil but maybe more city spaces can use porous surfacing to deal with this problem. Posted on 08 Jan, 2015 10:20 PM

Despite its shrinking greens, Delhi has significant tree diversity. Pradip Krishen, a naturalist, author and filmmaker, identifies around 250 tree species in the concrete jungle, in his book titled ‘Trees of Delhi’ published in 2007. But these trees do not have the breathing room they need as the Public Works Department's (PWD) pavement tiling projects enclose trees completely in concrete.

Porous tiles act as flood absorbers in the city
Rajasthan village united by water
Baadi near Jodhpur turned its weakness into strength to halt distress migration and reduce its dependence on rains. Posted on 06 Jan, 2015 10:34 PM

Big sandstone hills cover the landscape dotted by little grass, while the land below is covered with Israeli babool (akesia tortlis), an invasive species which does not let any other vegetation grow. Amidst this, Baadi village with its lush green fields full of cabbage, pepper and groundnut seems out of place.

Baadi's lush fields amidst barren landscape
From wasteland to wonderland
Aravali Institute of Management in Jodhpur shows how high soil salinity, which eats into cement structures, can be dealt with through harvesting water and using native plant species. Posted on 04 Jan, 2015 09:32 PM

As you drive from Jodhpur to Jaipur, the barren and desolate terrain underscores the harsh environment. The land is bleached due to high soil salinity, and there are no water sources in sight. This guarantees that there is no vegetation other than weeds like Israeli babool (akesia tortlis). 

Around 15 lakes helped deal with soil salinity
Food hub deserts water legacy
Only a few of Bikaner's over 100 ponds are well-maintained today, some thanks to the efforts of citizens, and another due to rooftop rainwater being channeled. Could the remaining get as lucky? Posted on 10 Dec, 2014 10:23 AM

Water connects food and religion. Religious ceremonies often involve taking a dip in a water body, and any food or meal is incomplete without water. The same two things - food and religion - stand out in Bikaner. While hot kachoris and samosas line street stalls, Mata Karni Devi and Baba Ramdev (not the yoga guru) shower their blessings from billboards and wall paintings.

Harsholaav pond in Bikaner
Swachh Bharat Mission launched on Gandhi Jayanti
Policy matters this week Posted on 06 Oct, 2014 11:09 PM

PM launches the nationwide cleanliness campaign

Swachh Bharat Mission (Source: Economic Times)
3000 MW Dibang mega project approved without public consultation
News this week Posted on 29 Sep, 2014 10:26 PM

Dibang hydel project gets Centre's nod

People protesting Dibang Project (Source: SANDRP)
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