News and Articles

What's in your drinking water?
Water contains naturally occurring compounds such as lead and arsenic among others. How harmful are these and what is the level of contamination we are exposed to? Posted on 19 Jul, 2013 03:11 PM

Both rural and urban India are faced with water problems. People do not have access to good quality, safe drinking water. The source for most drinking water is either rivers or underground aquifers (wells). Since water can dissolve just about anything that it comes into contact with long enough, often the groundwater we get isn’t pure.

Water quality in India Source UNICEF Repository
Shanty City: Mumbai
Resettlement of slum dwellers isn't always the answer to their problems. Dr. Sapna Doshi, a researcher from the USA, presents her findings on the development of slums across Mumbai. Posted on 17 Jul, 2013 10:16 AM

Cities and slums coexist in India. Some view these slums as shanties that destroy the image of a world class city while others view them as informal groups that support the city for its needs.

Mumbai slums Source: Mark Adkins
Sacchidanand Bharti - in his own words
The environmental conservation efforts in Ufrenkhal have been written about for nearly three decades but always by others. Here is the story in the protagonist's own words. Posted on 15 Jul, 2013 07:12 PM

Reams have been written about Sacchidanand Bharti, of Ufrenkhal fame and his work on afforestation and water conservation. However, very rarely does he speak about his own efforts and experiences.

Sacchidanand Bharti in the Ufrenkhal forest
Nalanda farmers get organic certificate; export veggies to Europe
Nalanda farmers' organic certification, Orissa government action against mining and SMS advisory for farmers are highlights of this week's news. Posted on 14 Jul, 2013 09:20 PM

Nalanda farmers set to go global with their veggies

Organic Awards (source: Wikimedia)
Umananda island uncovered
The Umananda island in Assam, which is the smallest inhabited river island in the world, holds people and primates at par. Posted on 14 Jul, 2013 07:42 PM

Not very far from Guwahati city but not too close either, perched on the gigantic Brahmaputra river, is the island of Umananda. It is the smallest inhabited river island in the world and is one with unusual stories beginning with even how it got its name. 

Umananda, an island of wonders
Simple but unique idea revives a pond in Kerala
Pallichal panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district has turned a neglected pond into a clean and beautiful space that is also helping alleviate drought. Posted on 12 Jul, 2013 03:12 PM

Pallichal panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram is one of its best performing panchayats. It has received a number of awards for achieving high literacy levels, keeping up good sanitation practices and for implementing a number of agricultural and irrigation initiatives.

The revived Vetubali pond in Pallichal panchayat
Extreme weather warning!
Climate change is manifesting itself through modified rainfall patterns, extreme events and temperature fluctuations. What effect will these have on water, sanitation and health in India? Posted on 11 Jul, 2013 04:04 PM

We sat in a plush climate-controlled room and deliberated climate change as the outside world collapsed around us..

The flooded Bagmati river
Breaking a centuries-old curse in Uttarakhand
A small village in Uttarakhand stands testimony to the fact that rooftop rainwater harvesting is a reliable, economical and logical way of ensuring self-sufficiency and dignity. Posted on 09 Jul, 2013 11:23 AM

Sudha Gunavante is a contented woman. She has reason to be. After all, she and her husband have managed to prosper on their farm, her children are well-educated and well-settled, and her rhododendron syrup is the pride of the village. If that is not enough, she has also managed to escape a centuries-old curse.

Sudha and Bhuvan at their home in Gauna village
Floods in Assam affect one lakh people - Dhemaji worst hit
Floods in Assam, bio-toilets in Konkan railway stations and damage of hydropower project in Uttarakhand are highlights of this week's news. Posted on 08 Jul, 2013 11:31 AM

 Flood fury hits Assam

 

The flooded plains of Brahamputra
The Bhilai Steel Plant, a symbol of modern India, is running out of iron ore
Once filled with dense forests, the Dalli Rajhara area which supplies iron ore to the Bhilai Steel Plant, is now a reddish vast expanse taking a toll on the villagers and their water resources. Posted on 06 Jul, 2013 09:31 AM

For the last 50 years, the Bhilai Steel Plant, which is India's largest integrated steel plant has got its supply of iron ore from Dalli Rajhara's mines. Dalli Rajhara, a municipality which is also an industrial city is located 90km south of Durg in Chhattisgarh. It is a part of the Rajhara group of mines. Iron ore mined in this area are of two types - hematite and magnetite.

Dalli Rajhara Mines in Chhattisgarh
×