People and Organisations

Fight water-borne diseases before they happen
Diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery are often rampant after the monsoons. The state of Assam piloted a programme to teach people to prevent their occurrence rather than to treat the illness later. Posted on 25 Jun, 2013 11:07 PM

The monsoon brings with it water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery, which cause suffering and death. Although this is a recurring theme annually, not enough measures are taken to prevent this. The state of Assam decided to take some action in May of this year.

Mobile labs that tested water samples in Assam
Celebrating Uttarakhand
The Uttarakhand Himalayas are home to several small but significant attempts by locals to conserve the region's forest and water resources. Posted on 17 Jun, 2013 05:14 PM

Throughout history, the Uttarakhand Himalayas have been a source of timber and water to the rest of the nation. However, this has led to severe depletion of resources in the state. Today, the mountain communities find it hard to meet their basic needs of fodder, fuel and water.

Soil and water conservation rejuvenates forests
Drought-free in Maharashtra – six small villages, one big lesson
Awareness and community-level action are key to the success of any initiative; these six villages in Maharashtra are testimony to that. Posted on 10 Jun, 2013 02:09 PM

Maharashtra is reeling under a drought – one of the worst in the last 40 years. The state declared drought in 125 out of 358 talukas during kharif 2012-13, and then declared water scarcity in 3,905 villages in rabi 2012-13.

Satchiwadi village used less groundwater this year
Book review - ‘Conserving resources in the Himalayas’
The Himalayas, rich in natural resources is now under stress due to overuse. These 21 essays contain information about conservation efforts made in the region, especially Uttarakand. Posted on 09 Jun, 2013 07:29 AM

Uttarakhand is blessed with an immense amount of natural resources such as forests, wildlife and water, but if you are looking for some research-based information that quantifies, classifies and organizes this information, there isn’t much out there.

A man tries to beat out a wildfire in pine forest
The 15-year old battle for the Shivnath river still rages!
Protests against privatisation of the river pay off but only partially; fisher folk still struggle to make a living. Posted on 03 Jun, 2013 07:53 PM
The Shivnath River, which is 345 kms long, is the Mahanadi’s largest tributary. It originates from the Godari village in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra and flows northeast for 300 kms and joins the Mahanadi river near the town Shivrinarayan in Chhattisgarh.
Dam built by Radius at Rasmara, Chhattisgarh
Are solar pumps the start of an ever-green revolution or the end of our groundwater reserves?
Solar energy might be free but the equipment needed to tap into it is expensive. Can farmers benefit without falling into the subsidy trap? Posted on 02 Jun, 2013 05:51 PM

Indian farmers depend on groundwater for irrigation but often, there is a shortage of electricity that is required to pump out this water. While diesel pumps are an option, they are costly to run. A better alternative is to tap into freely available solar power. However, this technology is quite expensive at present and effective subsidies and incentives drive its usage.

Navigating National Waterway 1 or the Ganga, as we call it
Navigation on the Ganga - how was it in the past, what is the situation currently and what does the future hold? Posted on 17 May, 2013 10:05 AM

Spending a week on a cramped boat with five strangers may not sound like fun to many but it was a dream come true for me. When I found a note in my inbox that said ”I want to travel down part of the Ganga by boat. Would you know of anyone who is interested”? , I jumped at the chance and set off on an unforgettable journey with five others.

Call for entries- FICCI Water Awards, New Delhi, August 6, 2013
An initiative to identify and recognise efforts undertaken to promote water conservation amongst various users
Posted on 11 May, 2013 01:30 PM

A day at the Rainwater Harvesting Park in Bangalore
Sucheta Ramprakash shows her colleagues around BWSSB's Rainwater Harvesting Park Posted on 06 May, 2013 10:53 AM

On World Water Day, India Water Portal organized various events across Bangalore in partnership with The Alternative.

Why participatory groundwater management is no longer an oxymoron: The story of Randullabad
Randullabad village has been practising participatory groundwater management for the last two years with ACWADAM's guidance. This article details this achievement. Posted on 15 Apr, 2013 06:04 PM

India is heavily dependent on groundwater use. Domestic use, agriculture and industry all rely on groundwater extracted by means of pumps, wells and tanks. This  dependence is illustrated by falling groundwater levels. Frequently, this overuse and consequent decline trigger conflicts.

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