Policies, Laws and Regulations

Forest panel rejects highly opposed dam projects in the Northeast
Forest panel rejects dams in the Northeast, government releases new poverty statistics and citizens' refuse the '24x7' water supply scheme are the highlights of this week's news. Posted on 28 Jul, 2013 04:22 PM

Forest Advisory Committee rejects the controversial Tipaimukh and Dibang hydro-electric projects

The idyllic Barak river (source: Wikimedia)
Beware of genetically modified crops!
The passing of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India bill will hasten the arrival of genetically modified (GM) crops in India. Are we aware of all the facts around it? Posted on 25 Jul, 2013 01:36 PM

When the DNA of a plant is modified using genetic engineering techniques or biotechnology, the plant is said to have been genetically modified (GM). What does this mean to you and I? Quite simply, it means that the crop could have undergone this process in order to become something that it wasn't in the first place. 

Protest against BRAI bill Source: Greenpeace
Water for sale - to the highest bidder!
Water is a natural resource that should be 'free' for all or at least easily accessible but why is India allowing more and more companies to privatise it? Posted on 25 Jul, 2013 01:02 PM

Did you know that the planet would die in three days if it ran out of water? Water is a basic necessity and the United Nations recognized the right to it as a basic human right in 2010. Isn’t it ironic that we are still allowing a few utility companies privatise it, speculate over it and control it?

Rising cost of water Source: K.N. Balraj
The Dongria Kondhs' tribals bring the judiciary down on its knees
Niyamgiri tribals' decision to veto mining, environment degradation's effect on the country's GDP and Maharashtra's carbon trading scheme are the highlights of this week's news. Posted on 22 Jul, 2013 01:40 AM

Dongria Kondh tribals stand firm against mining of Niyamgiri

Celebration Dance (Source: Wikimedia)
Fighting the good fight using the Right to Information Act (RTI)
Sanjay Jaiswal of the Lok Vikas Samiti educates Mehdiganj (near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) to use the RTI in their fight against Coca Cola. Posted on 20 Jul, 2013 11:21 AM

What exactly does a 'campaign' look like? What do people actually do when they 'protest' against something? And how do the protesters get hold of all the facts that they quote? These questions surfaced every time I read about a campaign or a protest on environmental or human rights issues but I never got any answers that made me wiser. Until this summer.

Sanjay Jaiswal in Mehdiganj
Nalanda farmers get organic certificate; export veggies to Europe
Nalanda farmers' organic certification, Orissa government action against mining and SMS advisory for farmers are highlights of this week's news. Posted on 14 Jul, 2013 09:20 PM

Nalanda farmers set to go global with their veggies

Organic Awards (source: Wikimedia)
Invite to the ‘India Water Forum (IWF 2013)', The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi
A deliberation on the various aspects of water use efficiency to develop a consensual understanding on the water use management
Posted on 08 Jul, 2013 05:09 PM

Organisers 

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

About the conference

TERI
Floods in Assam affect one lakh people - Dhemaji worst hit
Floods in Assam, bio-toilets in Konkan railway stations and damage of hydropower project in Uttarakhand are highlights of this week's news. Posted on 08 Jul, 2013 11:31 AM

 Flood fury hits Assam

 

The flooded plains of Brahamputra
Toilet under the open sky for 73% of rural India
Continuing open defecation in rural India, possible epidemic outbreak in Uttarakhand and draft bills on water laws are the highlights of this week’s news. Posted on 01 Jul, 2013 10:00 AM

Toilet under the open sky for 73% of rural India

The Planning commission has found that 73% of rural India practices open defecation despite many sanitation programmes encouraged by the government. The main reason for this is the unavailability of toilets.

Open defecation continues due to lack of toilets
Another Bangalore lake becomes a garbage dump
The Sarakki lake, once a year-round water recharge area is now a garbage dump. Its Lake Trust calls on the Karnataka government and people to save the lake. Posted on 27 Jun, 2013 03:48 PM

Sarakki Lake is one of the bigger stand-alone lakes in Bangalore, and was once a great year-round recharge area for Sarakki, Jaraganahalli, Puttenahalli, Chunchagatta and Kothanur. It is now a cesspool of sewage, and is polluting the air, water and land around it. India Water Portal volunteer Sucheta Ramprakash covered

Garbage fills Sarakki Lake
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