Interviews

Why seeds sprout 'hope'
Seeds are not a just a gateway to the future but also a link between our today & tomorrow, and a harbinger of hope, says Biju Negi of Beej Bachao Andolan. Posted on 31 Oct, 2015 05:09 PM

Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the Seed Movement) is not an organisation nor is it a registered entity. It does not take on projects nor does it crave funding.

Forests, water & seeds are all interconnected (Source: India Water Portal)
Adapting to floods and improving lifestyles could give us some clues to finding an alternative to embankments
Dr David Molden, Director General, ICIMOD, talks to Monoj Gogoi on his visit to flood-affected Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam and Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Posted on 29 Oct, 2015 01:46 PM

Dr Molden, you have visited Dihiri in Dhemaji district and Borsala in Lakhimpur districts. Both these villages are the worst flood affected villages of the region. You also interacted with the communities in these two villages. What was the purpose of this visit? Please share your experiences.

In conversation with Dr Molden (Source: Monoj Gogoi)
Bangalore needs to break class barriers if its lakes are to be saved
The govt. has started reclaiming encroached lake beds in the IT city but unless citizens interact across class divides, these urban water bodies will continue to spew foam, says Leo F. Saldanha. Posted on 25 Oct, 2015 12:15 PM

Lakes spewing foam and catching fire in Bangalore made big news for several weeks but this is just an indication of the times to come as we fill up water bodies with effluents or turn them into sewage dumps in most cities across India. India Water Portal talks to Leo F. Saldanha of Bangalore-based Environment Support Group on how to manage these precious resources. 

Foam from lake engulfs vehicles in Bangalore. Source: Yoga Priya
Respect tribal goverments; conserve forests
Tribal governments can manage village natural resources better than elected Panchayats. Jarjum Ete, President of the All India Union of Forest Working People, explains why. Posted on 24 Oct, 2015 04:31 PM

The Galo tribe has lived in the Eastern Himalayan forests for centuries. Like their neighbours, this tribe had a well-defined territory, the boundaries of which were marked by various topographical features such as rock formations or mountain ridges.

Arunachal's tribes have a tradition of managing their natural resources (Source:Wikimedia Commons)
Reel Art: Interview with Usha Dewani-Das, 2015 CMS VATAVARAN film entry nominee
Water is one subject that is local, and touches each one’s life differently but significantly. Usha Dewani-Das shares how she brings her art into her films. Posted on 05 Oct, 2015 06:05 PM

The 8th CMS VATAVARAN Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum received a total of 178 film entries from 27 countries in 8 varied categories.

 Usha Dewani-Das,doing what she loves best: Reel Art (Source: India Water Portal)
Interview with Manu Moudgil, 2015 CMS VATAVARAN 'Young Environmental Journalism Awards-Online' Winner
"There can't be more important work than water": Manu Moudgil speaks on how and why water influences his outlook as well as his writings. Posted on 05 Oct, 2015 06:04 PM

We are pleased to interview Manu Moudgil, India Water Portal's team member, who has won the prestigous 'Young Environmental Journalism Awards-Online', in the 8th CMS VATAVARAN - International Envir

Manu Moudgil, on a field trip to Rajasthan.
Nepal earthquake affected women more than men
Disadvantaged groups suffered greater death, injury and livelihood asset losses. Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal, Hon’ble Member Planning Commission of Nepal says it is possible to reduce this vulnerability. Posted on 05 Sep, 2015 12:32 PM

April 25, 2015 dawned as any other ordinary day in Nepal. Until 11.56. Then, a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.9 rattled the country and shook its very foundation. The tremors travelled outwards from the epicentre at Barpak Gorkha district moving the earth, distorting buildings, causing convulsions on the ground and creating panic and mayhem all around.

A family beside a damaged house near Naglebhare, Nepal (Source :Asian Development Bank)
The curious case of Kolkata's missing water bodies
The city which has close to 5000 water bodies has lost 44% in the last two decades, says Mohit Ray of Vasundhara, a group working on environmental and human rights issues in an interview. Posted on 25 Aug, 2015 12:26 PM

Mohit Ray of Vasundhara has written two books--"Five Thousand Mirrors: The Water Bodies of Kolkata”

Bhukailash - a water body in Kolkata; Image: Mohit Ray
People in Kinnaur are making all efforts to stop further destruction'
The Environics Trust collaborated with Himalaya Niti Abhiyan to assess the impact of hydropower projects in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. R Sreedhar of Environics Trust talks about this to IWP. Posted on 24 Aug, 2015 01:01 PM

Around 21 major hydropower projects are proposed in the upper Satluj catchment area of Himachal Pradesh. In 2013, The Environics Trust collaborated with Himalaya Niti Abhiyan to assess the impact of these projects on the people and ecology of the geographically-fragile Kinnaur region.

At Pangi village, several houses have suffered damage due to a hydel project.
From abandonment to water abundance: Is it possible?
People know that water is crucial, and yet apathy abounds. Dr. Indira Khurana talks candidly on the issues concerning water and how this precious resource can be better managed. Posted on 06 Aug, 2015 05:39 PM

Dr.

The earth is water rich, but water is still scarce (Source:India Water Portal)
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