News and Articles

Life, livelihoods, ecosystems, culture: Entitlements and allocation of water for competing uses
The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India presents a report on water allocation for competing uses. Posted on 27 Dec, 2011 05:10 PM

Water ConflictThis report has been prepared by the members of the working group set up by the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India on the issue of “Entitlements and allocations for livelihoods and ecosystem needs". The introductory chapter sets out the context of the report. The immediate context is the work of the Forum over the last 4-5 years, and the learning that this particular issue leads to many water conflicts in India.

Confessions of an OD boy: The need to achieve a sustainable open defacation free intervention
Mohanasundar Radhakrishnan talks about the need for sustainable open defecation free intervention. Posted on 24 Dec, 2011 07:58 PM

Author: Mohanasundar Radhakrishnan 

Yamuna-Elbe - A public art and outreach project at the Yamuna riverscape in Delhi launched on 5 November, 2011
People in the capital got to “experience the rivers” when the Yamuna-Elbe public art outreach project was organized in Delhi. Amita Bhaduri reports on this. Posted on 18 Dec, 2011 02:02 PM

Guest post by: Amita Bhaduri

The public art outreach project was organized by the Max Mueller Bhavan in association with the Government of Delhi and the Goethe-Institut (Hamburg, Germany) as a part of the “Year of Germany in India” programme opened on 5th of November, 2011. The art exhibition which continued till the 19th of November co-curated by artist Ravi Agarwal who is also a practicing environmentalist (Director, Toxics Link) along with German artist, Till Krauser attempted to create a pulsating synergy between the Yamuna and Elbe rivers.

Gigi ScariaGigi Scaria’s - The fountain of purification

Photo courtesy: Rocky Thongam

This is a 24 ft installation representing a four storey apartment complex that draws Yamuna water, purifies it at various levels and dispenses it from the top in the form of a fountain.

Traditional water bodies of Delhi
Amita Bhaduri reports about the tenth public lecture of the Delhi Heritage City Campaign by the INTACH Delhi Chapter delivered by Sohail Hashmi. Posted on 18 Dec, 2011 01:56 PM

Sohail Hashmi, an author, film-maker, one of the founders of the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) and a true Dilliwala on 5 December 2011 at the India Habitat Center. The presentation woven around photographs of the city's step well

Heavy rains continue in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala - News Roundup (16th to 30th November 2011)
The newsroundup in the last two weeks of November indicates heavy rainfall in the south Indian states. Posted on 14 Dec, 2011 12:14 PM

The most affected will be Tamil Nadu followed by Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala leading to floods, overflowing of dams and damage to property. Assessments of the earthquake in Sikkim are now ready as information is finally available.

The Mullaperiyar dam debate - An issue of safety versus rights?
Aarti Kelkar-Khambete writes about the Mullaperiyar dam debate. Posted on 12 Dec, 2011 10:40 AM

The issue that has been making headlines in the last few days has been that of the continuing debate between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam. This debate has opened  up a number of issues related to the ownership and use of water between the two states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the context of the current changes and the loss of relevance of the laws and decisions made during the colonial rule; the water sharing, irrigation and power generation needs of both the states; and the recent concerns on the safety of the dam in Kerala versus the urgent irrigation needs of the agricultural sector in Tamil Nadu.

Mullaperiyar dam

A view of the Mullaiperiyar dam on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border at Kumili.Photo: Vibhu

Image Source: The Hindu

This article sheds light on the history of the Mullaperiyar dam and the background for the current deadlock between the two states over the dam. The current deadlock between the two states over the dam is essentially not a dispute for water, but has its roots in the colonial times, and has to do with the need to come to terms with the agreements and decisions made in those times with changing economic, political and environmental contexts and concerns about the safety of the dam in Kerala versus the irrigation needs of the farmers in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Ajunhi kordech aad (The wells are still dry) - An article in marathi - Anubhav magazine
This article discusses the problems related to water scarcity. Posted on 03 Dec, 2011 11:53 AM

A large part of the state of Maharashtra continues to face acute scarcity of water due to scanty rainfall, which has had a serious impact on the livelihoods of people who live in these areas. This article "Ajuni Kordech Aad" meaning "The wells are still dry" published in the magazine Anubhav highlights the extreme hardships, lack of employment opportunities, forced migration due to negative impact on agriculture and livestock, and poverty and deprivation that people living in these areas have to face due to this water scarcity.

Thembe thembe samruddhi (Prosperity with every drop) - An article from the magazine Anubhav
This article highlights the situation of acute scarcity of water in the state of Maharashtra. Posted on 02 Dec, 2011 03:23 PM

This article in Marathi from the magazine Anubhav titled 'Thembe thembe samruddhi' meaning 'Prosperity with every drop' highlights the situation of acute scarcity of water in the state of Maharashtra and argues that this has been a barrier to the progress of the state leading to dire poverty and deprivation. 

Encephalitis deaths in India - The same story of poverty, neglect, disaster and disease, how long will this continue ?
Providing temporary fixes to deal with situations such as this epidemic in Gorakhpur cannot help in finding long term solutions. Posted on 02 Dec, 2011 10:15 AM

Guest post by : Aarti Kelkar-Khambete

Initiation workshop in November 2011 - Study on exploring strategies for increasing per capita availability of water in Gingee town (Tamil Nadu) - DHAN Foundation
Aarti reports on the initiation workshop by Dhan Foundation. Posted on 01 Dec, 2011 11:56 AM

This workshop organised by the DHAN Foundation in the Gingee Town Panchayat (GTP) in Tamil Nadu on the 18th of November 2011, aimed at initiating a scientific study titled “Strategy for increasing per capita availability of water for Gingee town, Tamilnadu". Elected representatives of the town panchayat along with the general public and government officials participated in this workshop.

DHAN workshop

×