News and Articles

Prayasam-Using children as a vehicle for change
Prayasam is a non-governmental organization that works on improving the environment by working along with children Posted on 17 Oct, 2012 12:47 PM

Amlan Kusum Ganguly started Prayasam  to touch lives and and make a difference. Troubled by the plight of children in brick kilns and slums  and the widespread indifference towards sanitation, clean drinking water and health,  Amlan Ganguly and his organization decided to target the young to educate slum –dwellers.

The traditional fisherfolk of Kerala - Part II - An article describing the economy of fishing and the role of women in the activity of fishing
Kerala fisherfolk are known to be highly skilled, but live in dire poverty. This article describes the economy of fishing and the role of women in fishing activities Posted on 16 Oct, 2012 04:02 PM

The economy of fishing among the traditional fisherfolk of Kerala is based on three operations such as harvesting or catching of the fish, the processing of fish and the marketing of fish.

Fisherfolk of Kerala (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Kerala and Karnataka's lesser known rainwater harvesting structures
Madakas are being replaced more and more by borewells. Efforts need to be made to restore these structures, create awareness, and preserve local knowledge. Posted on 16 Oct, 2012 03:09 PM

Madakas are one of the fast disappearing traditional rainwater harvesting structures found in the laterite belts of Karnataka and Kerala. They are naturally occuring depressions with high terrain on the three sides where water from the surrounding laterite slopes, mainly runoff from the rains, is accumulated.

Madakas: Water harvesting structures in Kerala and Karnataka
India disaster report- A document by National Institute of Disaster Management (2011)
This report is a compilation of both, natural and human induced disasters that took place in the year 2011 Posted on 15 Oct, 2012 05:14 PM

Published by the National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs and being the first of its kind, the reports hopes to stimulate better collection of data and research that can identify gaps in the management of disasters and be helpful to deal with them in the future.

"Bandipur Tiger Reserve becomes India’s first to demarcate eco-sensitive zone”-Roundup of the week's news (8-14 October, 2012)
The news round up this week informs that Bandipur Tiger Reserve has been recognised as an ecosensitive zone along with that on mining, earthworms and the greening plan for Amritsar Posted on 15 Oct, 2012 02:42 PM

Bandipur Tiger Reserve becomes India’s first to demarcate eco-sensitive zone

Living rivers, dying rivers:Rivers of West Bengal, Orissa & Indus system
The eleventh lecture in the series titled "Living rivers, dying rivers" was on rivers of West Bengal, Orissa and the Indus system,by Dr. Kalyan Rudra, Mr. Ranjan K Panda and Prof. Shakil Romshoo. Posted on 13 Oct, 2012 11:15 PM

West Bengal rivers

The Indus river (Source: Wikipedia)
Spring water recharge programme: A study of the post-programme impact in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand by CHIRAG
This report presents the impact of the work done by CHIRAG in the Kumaon region on recharging of springs Posted on 12 Oct, 2012 07:43 PM

CHIRAG has been working in the Kumaon area for the last 25 years, and is working on recharge springs.

Bikramgarh Jheel in Kolkata, gets a new lease of life
This article by Rina Mukherjee describes the efforts made by the non governmental organisation Nature mates to restore Bikramgarh Jheel in Kolkata Posted on 12 Oct, 2012 12:15 AM

In a city where land prices are climbing up by the day, and homes must be constructed for a growing population on scarce land, water-bodies are falling prey to the avaricious schemes of land-sharks. But as water-bodies disappear, groundwater levels fall.

Damaged rivers, collapsing fisheries: Impacts of dams on riverine fisheries in India - Article by SANDRP
THis article looks at the devastating impacts of dams, barrages and hydrological modifications on the fisheries sector in India Posted on 11 Oct, 2012 09:55 PM

More than 10.86 million Indians depend on rivers, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, ponds and tanks for subsistence and market-based fisheries. Though the absolute contribution of riverine fisheries may not be huge in economic terms, it is a very crucial component in livelihood and nutritial security of the rural poor.

National register of large dams- A compilation of state-wise large dams in India by Central Water Commission
This document provides basic information on a dam, the technical details regarding the construction of dams and details of dams in different states Posted on 11 Oct, 2012 09:56 AM

This document by Central Water Commission is a compilation of large dams in India. It provides basic information about a dam. The document first spells out the meaning of a large dam, which is based on the height of a dam and also complies with any one of the following conditions:

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