Rivers

Big steel firms illegally mined Rs. 45,000 Cr worth
News this week: Commission finds that big corporates mined Rs. 45000 Cr worth iron ore, Delhi residents protest waste incinerator and POSCO's clearance to be revalidated. Posted on 14 Jan, 2014 06:40 PM

Corporates like Tata Steel, Essel Mining violate green laws in Odisha

Illegal Ironore mining in Odisha (Indialatest.org)
Despite government funding, only 30% urban slums have toilets
News this week: Toilets in only 30% urban slums, pipeline being laid close to Golconda fort and 99 illegal dyeing units unearthed in Tirupur Posted on 08 Jan, 2014 12:03 PM

Welfare schemes not of much use to urban slums

Toilet-less in urban slums (Source: bbc.co.uk)
Water News: 2013 in review
Beginning with the Kumbh Mela and moving on to natural disasters like the floods in Uttarakhand and the cyclone in eastern India, water made big news throughout 2013. Posted on 06 Jan, 2014 12:16 PM

Kumbh Mela left its trash behind

Shiva statue, Kedarnath (Source: ibtimes.co.uk)
Damming Bhutan affects India
Could there be a repeat of the 2004 dam breach caused by the bursting of the Tsatichu lake that resulted in flooding areas of Assam? Posted on 06 Jan, 2014 08:54 AM

Hydropower development in Bhutan has gained considerable ground as a sector capable of contributing to the development of the country. In 2012, Bhutan earned $177 million through energy export. However, these developmental activities are also prone to natural hazards like landslides since the region lies in a high risk earthquake prone zone and also registers heavy rainfall.

Manas river flowing through wildlife sanctuary
Drinking water quality worst in Kerala: Report
News this week: NSSO says drinking water quality worst in Kerala, migratory birds desert flooded wetland and villagers protest against hydel project in Uttarakhand. Posted on 29 Dec, 2013 04:50 PM

Kerala scores worst in access to potable water: NSSO

House wells not safe? (Source: Wikimedia)
Coca Cola plant in UP lowers groundwater level
Policy matters this week: Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj lowers groundwater level, Haryana plans water misuse bill and Punjab makes water recycling compulsory for water consuming industries. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 08:41 PM

Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj lowers groundwater level

Mehdiganj protest (Source: AID Kolkata Newsletter)
Bihar villagers against asbestos plant
News this week: Bihar villagers oppose asbestos plant, J&K government restricts civilian movement near Kishanganga dam site and dams for Mumbai result in tribal displacement. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 08:40 PM

10,000 Bihar villagers file petition against asbestos plant

Asbestos inflammation (Source: Adam Cohn, Flickr)
Yamuna Nama: a book review
Born out of citizens' concern for the Yamuna, the bi-lingual Yamuna Manifesto presents a lucid and succinct snapshot of the river, it's troubles, and the potential for its resuscitation. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 05:51 PM

The Yamuna Manifesto -or Yamuna Nama- is a bilingual book with passages in both Hindi and English, published as part of the Yamuna Elbe project. In five deceptively short sections, the book takes us from the birth to the river to its future.

Yamuna river (Source: www.pilgrimageindia.net)
1 dam, 2 projects, many fools?
Two different hydroelectric projects on a single dam built on the Nethravathi hide under the guise of a mini-hydel project and blatantly flout green norms. Is this another scam? Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 05:49 PM

I was looking for Greenko’s 24.75 MW Perla Mini Hydel Project at Perla village near Bantwal, Mangalore. One would think that you wouldn't really have to search for a hydel project site given its size and scale but the villagers at Perla were puzzled when I asked them to take me there as the Project Design Document had noted the project location as Perla village.

AMR dam across Netravathi (Source: Jerry Pinto)
Climate change hits Northeast bamboo crop
News this week: Climate change hits bamboo crop in the Northeast, people in Himachal reject EIA report on dams on the Satluj and marine pollution results in economic losses. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:18 PM

Climate change affects bamboo production in the Northeast

Bamboo hit by climate change Source: Wikimedia
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