News and Articles

Harnessing runoff to cope with droughts in South India
With north east monsoon playing truant, understanding the reasons for droughts in South India is crucial. Can harnessing runoff help to cope with the increasing dry spells that south indian cities are facing? Posted on 01 Jun, 2021 11:54 AM

The years 2016 to 2018 saw a major drought in the South of India due to low winter rainfall from the northeast monsoon – rainfall crucial for water availability, agriculture and livelihoods for the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The scramble to collect water: Can it be prevented? (Image Source: India Water Portal)
The lessons learnt from Cyclone Yaas
Tropical cyclones are expected to increase in intensity with climate change Posted on 31 May, 2021 11:03 PM

On May 26, Cyclone Yaas from the Bay of Bengal hit the coast in Bhadrak district near the Bahanaga block north of Dhamra port

Cyclone Yaas slammed into the north Odisha coast near Balasore on May 26, 2021 (Image: NASA Earth Observatory)
From water carriers to water entrepreneurs
Women become active leaders in the iJal value chain Posted on 31 May, 2021 04:16 PM

Imagine having to travel 7 to 8 kilometers every day to fetch water from a village because t

iJal bridged the gender gap through economic empowerment and reduced the water collection drudgery for women (Image: Safe Water Network)
Challenges in planning faecal sludge management systems
Containment design and construction deviations from norms impact sanitation chain Posted on 30 May, 2021 12:02 PM

Sanitation targets for SDG 6 can only be met if the focus expands from just access to the full cycle of sanitation – access, conveyance, treatment and re-use.

Empty faecal sludge drying bed (Image: Lars Schoebitz; Flickr Commons)
Second wave, new challenges: Civil society on the frontlines
How community radio is helping in times of COVID Posted on 29 May, 2021 02:26 PM

The onset of a second wave of COVID-19 has inflicted havoc in urban centers and even in the national capital which has somewhat sound state-of-the-art health system.

Involved in COVID relief (Image: SM Sehgal Foundation)
Amidst Covid-19 second wave, two cyclones hit the Indian coasts
News this fortnight Posted on 27 May, 2021 09:26 PM

Cyclone Tauktae hit the west coast, while Yaas batters the east coast

Fallen lampost and trees lay sprawled across the road after a cyclone (Image Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Centre releases funds to states under Jal Jeevan Mission
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 27 May, 2021 06:59 AM

Jal Jeevan Mission: Centre releases funds to states and asks states/UTs to digitise water supply infrastructure in rural India

A roadside tap in a village (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Investing in “local water professionals” for the country’s water security
India needs water professionals to manage its water resources locally to be water secure. This needs focus and investment. Now. Posted on 26 May, 2021 03:17 PM

For decades, governments, philanthropies, CSRs and CSOs have been exploring ways to ensure water security for both lifeline activities and livelihoods.

Frontline workers get trained and acquire invaluable skills in the process of fulfilling their roles within one or multiple programs
Crop diversification to address the water crisis in Punjab
While borewells and aggressive irrigation practices continue to suck Punjab dry, can crop diversification rescue the state from turning into a desert? Posted on 25 May, 2021 04:48 PM

Punjab, sucked dry

Unsustainable agricultural practices in Punjab (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)
Protecting India from maritime disasters
The Arabian Sea is also turning into a hotbed of cyclonic storms Posted on 25 May, 2021 04:41 PM

On May 17, 2021 Cyclone Tauktae, the first extremely severe cyclone from the Arabian Sea in over two decades, barrelled up the country’s western coast, making its landfall in Gujarat.

Cyclone Tauktae intensified into an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ and made a landfall on coastal Gujarat leaving a trail of destruction behind. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
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