News and Articles

Jalabandhus for sustainable service delivery
Water For People develops a cadre of entrepreneurs delivering critical services for water security. Posted on 09 Feb, 2021 10:31 PM

As a major source of potable water, hand pumps are ubiquitous in rural India.

Bringing life to a dying stream
In Vidarbha, water harvesting restores a nala to a perennial stream Posted on 09 Feb, 2021 08:23 PM

Located in the Ghatanji block in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, Jarur village has seen a good monsoon this year.

The communities are aware of the importance of harvesting and storing rainwater for meeting their needs, and have established several rules and norms for use of common resources. (Image: FES)
Pollution levels rising post-lockdown in cities in south India
How clean air gains of the lockdown and monsoon periods have been now lost with the reopening of the economy and with the onset of the winter. Posted on 08 Feb, 2021 11:23 AM

An analysis was done by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of winter pollution (until January 26, 2021) in India’s five southern states - a vulnerable but poorly monitored region from the air quality perspective.

Air quality management requires regional approach to implement clean air action plans, says CSE (Image: Pixy)
Multi-purpose cyclone shelters in India
A study finds if multi-purpose cyclone shelters within the neighbourhood are considered safe for cyclone evacuation. Posted on 06 Feb, 2021 03:53 PM

An ‘Extremely Severe Cyclone Fani’ made landfall during morning hours on May 3, 2019, near Puri in Odisha. The landfall location was forecast accurately much in advance by India Meteorological Department.

The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department  looks into the repairing of cyclone and flood shelters across Odisha (Image: Odisha TV)
Professor Brij Gopal, a tireless advocate of India’s rivers!
Professor Brij Gopal, a tireless advocate of India’s rivers passed away in Delhi last week. We, at the India Water Portal are extremely saddened by this news. Posted on 03 Feb, 2021 03:06 PM

We best remember Professor Brij Gopal as someone who was very frank in his criticism of river and wetland policies. He strongly voiced the need for conserving river ecology and conceptualised the river regulation zone to offer legal protection to river floodplains from activities that could threaten the health of rivers.

River Ken in Madhya Pradesh (Image Source: Shivamd2d via Wikimedia Commons)
Budget 2021: What does it have for the water and agriculture sector
The allocation in the water and agriculture sector is inadequate to deal with the sectoral challenges. Posted on 02 Feb, 2021 08:24 AM

COVID-19 pandemic brought clean water, basic hygiene practices and sanitation to the centre stage with these becoming crucial to deal with the health crisis.

India’s water resources are getting degraded day by day, be it rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, springs or aquifers but the budget’s focus continues to be source management while neglecting the resource. (Image: PixaBay)
Bengaluru lakes, in crisis!
Urban wetlands are increasingly under threat in cities such as Bengaluru! Community participation and better planning, management and monitoring of urban spaces is the need of the hour! Posted on 01 Feb, 2021 12:40 PM

What are wetlands

Wetland is a place where water covers the soil or is near the soil surface for varying periods of time during the year. Wetlands include a wide variety of habitats ranging from lakes, marshes, swamps, estuaries, tidal flats, river flood plains, mangroves and even rice fields.

Ulsoor lake, Bengaluru (Image Source: Subhashish Panigrahi via Wikimedia Commons)
Economic survey 2020-21: Some highlights
The economic survey recommends integration of agriculture with nutritional outcomes Posted on 30 Jan, 2021 11:20 AM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2020-21 in the Parliament on January 29, 2020 - the first day of the Budget session. The survey has analysed various topics from economic growth, fiscal stance, state of banking and more.

The Economic Survey 2021 pushes for urgent reforms in production and post production in agriculture (Image: PixaHive)
Budget 2021: Will agriculture sector get a boost?
Solutions are needed that will increase productivity while maintaining sustainability Posted on 28 Jan, 2021 10:15 AM

The agriculture sector is confronted with high price volatility, low returns, low productivity and weather risks.

The government could consider a shift from the price support system to an income support system. PM-KISAN is a step in that direction, but the assistance under that is lacking. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Budget 2021: Cash transfer and urban employment guarantee can help blunt the economic blow
Expand Rs 500 per month cash transfer to poor non-farmer and urban households: Prof Santosh Mehrotra Posted on 26 Jan, 2021 11:03 AM

To revive India’s growth story and to cash in on our rapidly closing demographic dividend window, Prof Santosh Mehrotra, a human development economist suggests four essential proposals that must be included in the Budget 2021. This includes an increased expenditure in infrastructure, health sector and an urban employment guarantee programme.

There should be an increased expenditure in infrastructure to create jobs in the construction sector. (Image: PxHere)
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