News and Articles

Dilemma facing NGO action

Watershed development is not merely a matter of harvesting rainwater. Its success crucially entails:

• working out collective protocols of equitable and sustainable use of surface and ground water

This study is a part of water and democracy programme initiated by the Centre for World Solidarity (CWS) as a joint initiative with Church Development Service (EED) in 2007 involving more than 50 partner organisations in South Asia.

"Going home with more than theerth", is a case study written by Shree Padre in April 2007, on the how the problem of drinking water availability in summer, was solved by the Veera Narayana Temple at Gadag town, through rain water harvesting.

"Plenty on the roof", is a case study written by Shree Padre in August 2005, of how a district panchayat office in Kerala, used rainwater harvesting not just to overcome shortages in piped supply, but to tap the overhead source, so that no other source was needed.

Culture and places of historical significance

The river Cauvery has been the inspiration for various civilizations who have thrived on the banks of the river. This can be seen manifested in the various forms of art, culture and philosophy that have originated along the course of the river.

A couple of years from now, beer, cola, rice, breakfast cereal, cotton T-shirts and many other goods may come with a new logo: a label which says the water used to make this product came from a sustainable source. The scheme, unveiled at the World Water Forum in Istanbul on Tuesday, seeks to make a "Water Stewardship" tag as successful as Forest Stewardship Certification, a fast-growing system that combats illegal or unsustainable logging. "That there is a crisis in water is a given, and that we need to address it is a given. That's why there's so much momentum behind developing a global standard," said Michael Spencer, director of the Water Stewardship Initiative of Australia, part of the project. Access the full article here: Coming soon: 'Sustainable water' certification

The words above are from a user & beneficiary of the Ask A Question Service on the India Water Portal, powered by a collaboration with WES Net.

"If it had not breached at Kusaha, it would have anyway breached at this point," points a villager towards the probable location on the eastern bank in village Rajabaas near Prakashpur in Sunsari district of Nepal, located 14 km upstream of Kusaha where the Eastern Afflux embankment of the Kosi had breached on the August 18, 2008.

Anjal Prakash from SaciWATERs, Hyderabad report on the theme, 'Knowledge, Education and Capacity Development Strategies'.

Coordinated by UNESCO , IHE with about 24 other institutions around the world, the session focused on the issues related to knowledge management and development. This is with in the context of sharing newly gained knowledge through appropriate systems. In particular, the session addressed the need of strengthening the role of education, knowledge and capacity development in sustainable use and management of water resources. Friday witnessed the deliberations of the main theses in three parts , knowledge management and development, institutional capacity building and empowering organizations and people. In his opening remark, Richard Meganck, head of UNESCO , IHE and Kusum of NetWater & WfWp stressed the need to energized actors outside traditional water sector. They called for bridges divides between theoretical and political boundaries. "The capacity building needs go beyond training to develop talent and it starts where training ends"said Ms Athukurala.