Photos, Illustrations and other Images

Harvesting and using roof-top rainwater - Part 2
Are the filters used for rainwater harvesting easy to maintain? More importantly, how efficient are they in terms of minimising the waste water that flows out? Posted on 22 Jun, 2013 05:18 PM

This short note is a sequel to my earlier article which analysed the functioning and performance of my Roof-top Rainwater System using Rainy filter. While the earlier article narrated my initial observations on using the Rainy FL-100 filt

Rain rain go away, our cities can't keep the water at bay!
Poor urban planning and reckless construction leave India incapable of welcoming the much-needed monsoon. Posted on 17 Jun, 2013 06:32 PM

Breaking news! The monsoon is here! It hit Kerala on June 1 and with that put an end to newspapers stories on drought in India highlighted by pictures of farmers standing on cracked earth and staring up at the sunny skies. However, very soon there will be Page-1 picture spreads of water-logged cities with traffic jams and harried people titled "The city is drowning"!

Water logging on city streets
Crop cultivation or construction - tough choice in Andhra Pradesh
Excessive sand quarrying to meet the demands of the construction industry is destroying local irrigation systems in Anantapur. Which will prevail - agriculture or construction? Posted on 17 Jun, 2013 05:29 PM

The construction industry went through a boom in the 1990s due to more people demanding and affording houses. This put a lot of pressure on the Pennar area in Andhra Pradesh. Sandmining, which is the process of taking sand, became rampant at that time.

Gonchi irrigation system in Anantapur
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
From green to bare in New Delhi
Beautiful green canopies to brown and barren stumps – has Delhi traded down in the name of development? Posted on 09 Jun, 2013 01:00 PM

The pavement burns the skin of my soles through my thick shoes, and the merciless sun blazes through my sunglasses making me squint in the blinding light. I look around for some shade but the tiny umbrella in my bag, my only saviour, proves useless. Delhi’s tree-lined streets are barren, the beautiful green shady canopies scarce .

Beautiful green canopies to brown, barren stumps
Step into the Chand Bawdi, an architectural wonder in Rajasthan
Chand Bawdi, an ancient well in Rajasthan is a testimony to the ingenuity and grit of the desert people. They realized the worth of every drop of water and built themselves a magnificent water source. Posted on 09 Jun, 2013 12:14 PM

A stepwell or ‘bawdi’ or ‘baori’, is exactly what the name suggests – a well with steps that lead down to the water. About 1000 years ago, a 13-storey deep water reservoir boasting 3500 steps was built to ensure that people in the arid Abhaneri region of Rajasthan had a dependable water source.

Chand bawdi, an ancient stepwell in Rajasthan
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
Cool off at Kuruvadweep island
This photo essay showcases Kuruvadweep island, a picture- perfect summer getaway in Kerala. Posted on 05 Jun, 2013 12:09 PM

Wayanad Map - Kuruwa DweepWhat’s the best way to find out if a spot is ‘touri

The Kabini as it flows through Wayanad (Source: Seetha Gopalakrishnan, IWP)
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
Delhi’s ground water hits rock bottom
Too many people, too much pollution and too little water – that's Delhi’s water supply situation in a nutshell. Posted on 20 May, 2013 12:40 PM

Green pastures and meadows, tall trees, lakes, wells and the river…those are my memories of Delhi. It wasn’t too long ago that one woke up early to the sounds of lawns being watered, children running off to school and people walking in the parks. A flurry of activity but quite different from what it is today.

A baoli (step well) in ruins
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