News and Articles

The comedy and tragedy of the Doddaballapur tanks
Twenty five cascading tanks culminate in the Naagarakere tank in Doddaballapur town in Karnataka. Once a source of water for the region, most of them are dry today. Can we revive them? Posted on 26 Sep, 2013 02:08 PM

1972 was the year. A massive hit, a landmark movie in Dr. Rajkumar's cinema career was realeased: Bangarada Manushya (The Golden Man).

With many melodious and meaningful songs, the theme was something close to one's heart - an urban youth returns to his ancestral village, takes up agriculture and works for the welfare of the village.

Doddaballapur tanks
Gujarat farmers protest proposed nuclear park
News this week - Gujarat farmers oppose nuclear plant, drought hits Bihar and an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi in Surat. Posted on 22 Sep, 2013 08:01 PM

Gujarat farmers oppose Mithivirdi nuclear plant

Nuclear power or people's power Source: Wikipedia
Government bans project clearance in eight critically polluted industrial areas
Policy matters this week - No more project clearance in critically polluted areas, Tamil Nadu government launches 'Amma' mineral water and Guwahati to get 24*7 water supply. Posted on 22 Sep, 2013 06:03 PM

No environment clearance in eight critically polluted areas

Effluent pollutes water Source: Wikipedia
A tale of two STPs
In Lucknow, two sewage treatment plants ostensibly prevent pollution of the river Gomti but are they really doing their job? The photos tell the entire story. Posted on 20 Sep, 2013 04:51 PM

The venerable Imperial Gazetteer says, 'Viewed from a distance Lucknow presents a picture of unusual magnificence and architectural splendour, which fades on nearer view ...' (Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 16, p. 196).

The only working STP in Lucknow -Daulatganj
Sanawar school makes good use of its sewage
The Lawrence School, Sanawar, couldn't meet its water requirements until it implemented a wastewater recycling program within its campus. It is now water-surplus. Posted on 20 Sep, 2013 04:46 PM

If you visit Shimla during the summers, you will notice people being asked to use water judiciously. You will likely see tankers queue up around residential areas as the supply from the municipal corporation declines. Why would a hill station that is fed by mountain rivers and overlooked by glorious snow peaks face water scarcity?

The Lawrence School, Sanawar. Source: Pankaj Sapru
A special yet unequal relationship
Women work hard to get and use water every day but they lack easy access to it and are also not involved in decision making processes. How can we change this? Posted on 20 Sep, 2013 04:36 PM

Images of women balancing pots of water on their heads and walking for miles are commonplace in rural areas. In urban slums, the image is slightly different - women can be seen queuing up before public stand-posts or tankers. In both situations, one thing is clear - women have little or no access to water.

Women walk long distances to fetch water
The Jalsatyagraha of the evicted of Indrasagar and Omkareshwar dam
Villagers in six villages protest standing in water in their fight for Land-for-Land compensation from the government. Posted on 16 Sep, 2013 12:12 PM

Oustees of the Indrasagar and Omkareshwar dam protest in six villages in Madhya Pradesh protest in the form of Jalsatyagraha (mode of Satyagragha is by standing in water). This protest that began on 1st of September is spread across the three districts of Harda, Khanda and Dewas when the backwater that submerged the land of 254 villages caused displacement of 50,000 families.

Jalsatyagrahis
Gulf of Kutch is India's first marine eco-sensitive zone
Policy Matters this week - Gulf of Kutch is India's first marine eco zone, Environment Ministry wants cess for shale gas exploration and NGT directs waste-to-energy plant to control emissions. Posted on 16 Sep, 2013 01:36 AM

Gulf of Kutch will be India's first marine eco-sensitive zone

No more effluent in the Gulf of Kutch (Wikipedia)
Chennai's disappearing 'Kazhiveli'
The swampy area of Pallikaranai, 20 km away from Chennai, has reduced from 5000 to 500 hectares in about 40 years. Despite it being made a partial Reserve Forest, it is under threat of dying out. Posted on 16 Sep, 2013 12:37 AM

The term wetland is a bit difficult to understand. Is it land or water or land that is wet? It is likely this difficulty in comprehending the term that has led to the sad state of affairs for most wetlands in the country today.

Kazhiveli' of Pallikaranai near Chennai
Chromium contaminates Bangalore's drinking water
News this week - Chromium contaminates drinking water in Peenya industrial area, NEERI develops new technology to treat effluents and water crisis hits 22 big cities in India. Posted on 15 Sep, 2013 05:24 PM

Chromium afflicts borewells in India's largest industrial area

Groundwater contamination (Source:Google Images)
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