Uttarakhand

Springing back to life
CHIRAG in Uttarakhand works with communities to revive local springs to achieve water security. Posted on 25 Jul, 2019 12:48 PM

In popular imagination, steeped in consumer culture, the hills are exotic and aesthetically sublime places to find solace away from busy urban life. This kind of imagination conveniently ignores and de-contextualizes the hills and the problems they face today. The Himalayas, often known as the Water Tower of Asia, are revered because many of the world's important rivers originate from them.

Image source: Water Practitioners Network
Go green this Van Mahotsava
The major cause of insufficient forest cover in India seems to be ruthless cutting of trees in the name of urbanization and development. Posted on 08 Jul, 2019 12:44 PM

Van Mahotsava is an annual tree planting festival which was initiated by Shri Kulapati Kanaiyalal Munshi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Food, Government of India, in 1950 to create awareness about the importance of trees and conservation of forests.

Chilepata core forest area in Buxa, Alipurduar district of West Bengal (Image: Tridib Choudhury, Wikimedia Commons, CC-SA 4.0 International)
Environmental implications of Pancheshwar dam
A study assesses risks associated with Pancheshwar dam in the light of environmental impact observed for the Tehri project. Posted on 26 May, 2019 11:47 AM

Mahakali, also known as Sharda in India, gushes through the hilly tracts of Nepal and Uttarakhand, collecting its water from the numerous streams it receives on the way.

The proposed Pancheshwar dam raises concern about safety due to seismicity, slope instability and large sediment mobilization. (Image: Vimal Bhai)
Groundwater depletion: NGT raps green ministry on inaction
Policy matters this week Posted on 15 May, 2019 11:40 AM

NGT raps green ministry for failing to curb depletion of groundwater

Groundwater depletion adds to water woes. (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
NGT forms Central Monitoring Committee for rivers
Policy matters this week Posted on 17 Apr, 2019 02:27 PM

Central Monitoring Committee formed to ensure pollution-free river stretches

Biodiversity monitoring is key to assess the efficacy of river cleaning programmes. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Plastic on the green menu
Expanding tourism has led to increasing generation of garbage and plastic wastes in natural reserves in Uttarakhand. Wild animals feast on this garbage increasing their risk of plastic consumption. Posted on 21 Feb, 2019 10:57 AM

Plastic or non-biodegradable waste can prove to be highly fatal for terrestrial or land-based ecosystems as well as marine ones.

Mountains of garbage can attract a range of animals that feast on it. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
After 40 years, Hilsa migrates to Allahabad again
News this week Posted on 13 Feb, 2019 01:29 PM

Navigation lock at Farakka Barrage redesigned for Hilsa migration

Farakka Barrage by Sudip Burman via Google Maps, Feb 2012
What's killing the Ganga?
Nothing represents India's environmental problems as well as The Ganga river. Polluted to the hilt and sucked dry by dams, the Ganga suffers as the government pays lip service to its clean-up. Posted on 11 Jan, 2019 05:45 PM

"An eternal life free of sins" is the promise that comes attached with the magnificent occasion of Kumbh Mela. The 2019 Ardh Kumbh that takes place once in six years is just around the corner. Starting January 15, crores of people from around the world will take a dip in the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna.

Alakananda near Badrinath temple (Image: Shitha Valsan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY SA-4.0 Int)
Manual scavengers get under-reported
News this week Posted on 07 Jan, 2019 06:55 AM

States resort to under-reporting of manual scavengers in the final verification stage

A manual scavenger at work (Image source: CS Sharada Prasad and Isha Ray)
Saving Ganga: Just clean-up won’t do
River Ganga’s uninterrupted flow is as important as making the river pollution free if the Ganga rejuvenation drive has to show desired results. Posted on 13 Dec, 2018 02:37 PM

Until a few decades ago, the Ganga flowed with gay abandon and descended with rapidity into the plains. Today the waters have withdrawn from its banks and downstream of the hydropower and irrigation projects that have hindered its flow, the Ganga is totally dry.

The Ganga at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Downstream of this, the river flow has reduced due to increased abstraction. (Image courtesy: Manas Chakrabarty; Wikimedia Commons, CC BY SA-4.0)
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