News and Articles
Prospects and policy challenges in the Twelfth Plan: A special article by Montek Singh Ahluwalia in EPW
Posted on 14 Jul, 2011 08:55 AMThe year 2011-12 is the last year of the Eleventh Plan and this is therefore an appropriate time to review what has been achieved with a view to identify weaknesses in the strategy that need to be corrected, and also identify new challenges that may require new initiatives. The paper is presented in the hope of spurring a broader discussion on these issues.
PLC & SCADA based water quality, treatment & distribution management system for 428 MLD PCMC water supply system
Posted on 12 Jul, 2011 04:16 PMObjective: To monitor and control from a single point the water quantity, quality, treatment and distribution process in real time for the entire city.
This project caters to the need for a real time water auditing, monitoring and control system for the entire city of Pimpri Chinchwad spread over 171 sq.kms with a water supply of 428 ML per day.
Floods and heavy downpour in West Bengal in June 2011 - A rapid assessment report by Oxfam and Save The Children
Posted on 12 Jul, 2011 02:23 PMArticle courtesy: Corporate Disaster Resource Network
Assessment team:
Oxfam India – Mr. Pradeep Bharwad (Technical Assistance), Mr. Bhaswar Banerjee, Mr. Amit Sengupta
Save the Children - Mr. Abinash Lahkar, Mr. Piyush Kumar
Kajla Jana Kalyan Samity - Tapas Jana and Dipak Banerjee
Areas assessed: Moyna & Panskura Block of East Midnapore District of West Bengal
Assessment date: 24th June, 2011
A functional Green Tribunal - Article by Kanchi Kohli in mylaw.net
Posted on 12 Jul, 2011 02:08 PMThe Delhi High Court in its order in C.M. No. 15895/2005 in Writ Petition Number 17682/2005 relating to the National Environment Appellate Authority (“the NEAA”) had vehemently said the following.
Justice (retd.) N. Venkatachala of the Supreme Court headed the NEAA for three years
The image above and on article thumbnail is from the website of the Supreme Court of India
“The numerous orders passed by this court in the past three years reflect both the concern of the court and the considerable restraint exercised by it in refraining from proceeding against the concerned officials for disobeying its binding orders. However, the government has failed to take satisfactory steps to address the concern expressed by this court. It has failed to comply with the court's orders and has left it with no choice but to issue further mandatory directions to ensure that the legislative mandate contained in the NEAA Act is not frustrated by executive apathy. The government has to be made accountable in law for its disobedience of the court's orders…”
Analysing the role of geomorphic features in Kosi flood – An article in Geospatial World
Posted on 12 Jul, 2011 10:45 AMKosi is known as the sorrow of Bihar due to its frequent and often disastrous floods. The major geomorphic units of flood-inundated area in Kosi fan (terrain of Kosi river in India) are sand bars in the form of inter-connected drainage networks, an ox-bow lake and its meandering cut-off and imprint.
National Water Policy - An alternative draft for consideration by Ramaswamy R Iyer - Economic and Political Weekly
Posted on 10 Jul, 2011 08:31 AMThe paper sets forth for consideration a broad national perspective on the nature of water and on its prudent, wise, sustainable, equitable and harmonious use. The Ministry of Water Resources is at present engaged in revising the National Water Policy 2002. Iyer is of the opinion that instead of trying to make changes in the 2002 Policy, the Ministry should put it aside and draft a new policy, starting from first principles.
Farmers on crop holiday in Andhra Pradesh: They shun growing paddy this kharif season
Posted on 09 Jul, 2011 01:28 PM
Andhra Pradesh produced 14 million tonnes of rice this year. In absence of storage space many schools function as godowns
Photo: M Suchitra
Minister for Water Resources addresses India business forum at the Singapore International Water Week - PIB release
Posted on 08 Jul, 2011 04:06 PMThe theme of the forum was: ‘Sustainable water solutions for a changing urban environment’.
MP Government believes that thermal power plants are more important than farmers' livelihoods.
Posted on 04 Jul, 2011 09:41 AMA company is establishing a thermal Power project in the Niwari Block of Tikam Garh. It is one of the poorest and most backward districts of the country. Another agency has been engaged to the job of mediation and preparing the local farmers. Through their communication skills they are convincing the local population to sell their land. The plant will change the overall picture of the area. Not all promises will be fulfilled. They tell that if you give your land, you will get a free world class hospital, and the best education for your children.
It will need about 1500 to 1700 acres of land in Niwari Block of Tikam Garh about 35 km from Jhansi. Land acquisition has started and should be completed in one to two years time. Farmers are being told to cooperate, or their land will be taken by force. SDM Shri RK Gohat is telling the local people that an MOU has been signed between the company and the state government, and that the district administration has nothing to do with this.
Farmers are free to sell and negotiate. The Government has not decided any rate. These are small farmers. Their number will be around 1500. Some even have half a bigha land. Two hundred acres of land has already purchased. It is good agriculture land close to Pareechhka Dam in Jhansi, UP. There is already a power station at the dam. Jhansi is in UP and Tikam Garh is in MP. Distribution of power is yet not known. Orcha, famous tourist place is in Niwari Block.
Sharing the wealth of minerals – A report by Centre for Science and Environment on profit sharing with local communities
Posted on 03 Jul, 2011 08:57 AM
The report submits the idea that proposal will go a long way in reducing poverty and deprivation in the mining affected areas. It states that the mining industry’s opposition to the proposal has no basis - statistics prove that sharing profits will not dent the industry’s profitability.
The central government has come out with a draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010 (MMDR Bill) to replace the 1957 Act. The draft bill which has been vetted by a GoM, includes this provision of sharing benefits. The CSE analysis comes out in strong support of this proposal, and clearly establishes how timely and necessary this provision is.
Mining companies and industry in general have been opposing the government’s recent proposal. Their contention is that this provision, if passed by Parliament, would drastically dent their profitability.