Events

Land of water, no more
Tripura has 35,000 litres of water annually per capita. That is double that of the national average. So why are its people still facing water shortage? Posted on 02 Feb, 2014 10:11 PM

The name Tripura originated from 'Twi' meaning water and 'Para' meaning land. The indigenous population, which is about 32%, refer to Tripura as Twipra, meaning land of water. However, the state no longer seems to be living up to its name.

Soil erosion raises river beds in Tripura
Invite to 'Aimbootham Vizha – a Celebration of Five Elements of Nature', Poovulagin Nanbargal, Chennai
The celebration will document all that must be known in the relationship between nature and the Tamil society, centering on the five Tamil land formations.
Posted on 30 Jan, 2014 01:25 PM

Aimbootham Vizha – a celebration of Five elements of Nature.

Invite to a workshop on 'Wetlands of Assam', Aaranyak and IUCN-India, Guwahati
The focus of the workshop will be hydrological connectivity, climate change, ecosystem services and livelihoods with reference to Deepar Beel, Kamrup (Metro) District, Assam.
Posted on 29 Jan, 2014 04:56 PM

Purpose: 

(i) Take stock of the conservation and management status of the wetlands of Assam in general

(ii) Discuss the significance of good landscape connectivity of flood plain wetlands

(iii) Share the framework and results of Aaranyak-IUCN study on the Deepar beel on wetland connectivity and modelling

Can the effects of mining be undone?
Coal mining in Meghalaya has ruined the landscape and the water sources. Even if there is a will to restore these water bodies, there are several obstacles in the way. Posted on 27 Jan, 2014 02:39 PM

Meghalaya is rich in minerals, especially coal. This has led to rampant mining in the state. Large scale denudation of forest cover, scarcity of water, destruction of water sources, pollution of air, water and soil, and degradation of agricultural lands are some of the conspicuous environmental implications of coal mining.

Coal mines in Meghalaya (Source: The Hindu)
Pesticide 'thali'
A 2010 study by Consumer Voice found that Delhi's fruits and vegetables contain high levels of pesticide residue. Despite the high court getting involved, not much has changed since. Posted on 20 Jan, 2014 09:39 AM

One doesn't have to look far to find pesticide contamination in food and water in India.

Toxins are used as ripening agents in vegetables
Which way will the water flow?
The 12th Five Year Plan recognises that our current methods of water management have led to inequity. It suggests an approach that involves more input from non-government sources. Posted on 15 Jan, 2014 11:07 PM

In the 60-odd years since we began managing our own resources, we have managed to throttle and poison all our rivers, suck our groundwater resources nearly dry and shave our forests bald. This is despite a great deal of effort, time, thought and resources that have gone into this 'management'.

Ramaswamy Iyer, former Secretary Water Resources
Sikkim's citizens say NO! to dams
90% of people living around dams in Sikkim testify to environmental damage, increased hazards and decreased resources. Can their situation be changed? Posted on 13 Jan, 2014 02:18 PM

Hydropower is considered as 'green' power and the Sikkim Government's policy has been to synchronize development imperatives with conscious efforts on environment sustainability. This paper presents the results of a survey carried out among communities living along a 54-km long project affected stretch of the Teesta river.

Dams intensify the impact of earthquakes
Small schemes, big impact
Local knowledge, low cost technology, community participation and maximum conservation of available water from natural sources have helped increase available water in Pauri Garhwal. Posted on 13 Jan, 2014 01:54 PM

Despite being endowed with adequate rainfall, most parts of the Himalayas are considered water-stressed for both agricultural and domestic purposes. This is mainly due to the seasonality of precipitation, which is concentrated to the monsoon months. It remains dry for rest of the year.

A recharge pit under construction (Source: HIMCON)
Resource-rich Sikkim must save for its future
Despite being fed by 84 glaciers, the state fails to optimally use water. Climate change is just one cause for this situation. What can be done to alter this trend? Posted on 13 Jan, 2014 01:30 PM

The term ‘water tower’ has been widely adopted to express the importance of mountains in providing freshwater to downstream areas. In fact, more than half of humanity relies on freshwater from mountain regions (UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation).  

A Mohaan, the source of springs or dharas.
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
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