Research Papers

Access to water data: Implications for transboundary relations in the Ganges river basin
Despite the enactments of RTI laws and insistence for openness in the government, access to information regimes on transboundary rivers has not changed at a fundamental level in South Asia. Posted on 05 Sep, 2015 12:21 PM

Citizens right to access information on water, climate and environmental issues

A view of the Sharada river at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The poisoned waters of Punjab
A study found that drinking water samples in SW Punjab were highly contaminated with uranium, thereby increasing the radiological and chemical risks to human health. Posted on 29 Aug, 2015 10:11 PM

Uranium in drinking water

Safe drinking water, a scarce resource (Source: India Water Portal)
Groundwater: A few ignored issues
Does the root of India's groundwater problem lie in our Constitution, National Water Policy or the lack of an integrated approach?', asks KG Vyas former advisor to the Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission. Posted on 29 Aug, 2015 06:25 PM

Groundwater in our country is rapidly depleting. Inspite of the vision of water managers in planning and investing in the water sector, there are a few issues in the field of groundwater that seem to be partly responsible for this deteriorating groundwater scenario in the country, and these are largely ignored. Where does the problem lie?

Contaminated water in Bhalaswa resettlement colony (Source: India Water Portal)
Water poverty in Mumbai slum
Water service delivery failures can negatively impact household economy, employment, education, quality of life, social relationships, community cohesion, and people’s sense of political inclusion. Posted on 27 Aug, 2015 01:42 PM

One characteristic of most Indian slums is their inadequate access to water, which has a serious impact on the health of its residents. Most of the research on water service delivery in slums until recently has focused on water quality and health outcomes, especially diarrhoeal illnesses.

An illegal settlement (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Creaking cities, vanishing ecosystems
An ecosystems-approach based on an understanding of the importance and contribution of ecosystem services is needed if both urban and peri-urban areas are to be developed sustainably and inclusively. Posted on 14 Aug, 2015 12:43 PM

Ecosystems are complex functioning units that include living as well as non living entities and build on interdependent relationships among these living resources, surrounding habitats and reside

Ecosystems and their role in climate change resilience
Poor sanitation causes psychosocial stress among women
Environmental barriers, social factors and fears of sexual violence contribute to sanitation-related psychosocial stress among women. Gender sensitive policies need to be strengthened to tackle this. Posted on 02 Aug, 2015 07:45 AM

Sanitation in India is at a critical juncture. The Indian government has been contemplating new strategies to deal with the country's sanitation crisis by making massive investments under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Poor sanitation and psychosocial stress - The linkages (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Does poor sanitation behaviour adversely affect pregnancy?
670 pregnant women from coastal and inland Odisha were interviewed to examine the relationship between maternal sanitation behaviour and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results confirm the hypothesis. Posted on 29 Jul, 2015 12:12 PM

A number of studies have linked water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions to improvements in health outcomes such as diarrhoeal diseases, helminth (parasitic worm) infections and childhood stunting.

The connection between sanitation and pregnancy outcomes
The invasion of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
Many locals express feelings of regret for the support they initially showed to the hydropower projects in the hope of getting jobs and contracts, but development still continues. Posted on 28 Jul, 2015 07:02 PM

Hydropower development has been given topmost priority in the resource rich state of Himachal Pradesh.

100 MW Tidong-I project, Kinnaur HP
India, China and the Brahmaputra tangle
India needs to be consistent in its approach towards its downstream neighbours while negotiating with its upstream neighbour China over the Bramhaputra's waters. Posted on 19 Jul, 2015 09:22 PM

Recent news indicates that the Brahmaputra could be a bone of contention between two important countries in South Asia -- India and China. This is because there are unconfirmed but continuing and alarming reports in recent years on China's plans to divert the waters of the Brahmaputra northwards, potentially creating a water crisis in India since it is located downstream to China. 

The Brahmaputra (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Harness the sun to drought proof agriculture in Bihar
Are solar pumps a drought mitigation strategy for farmers in Bihar? This research paper looks into the interplay between droughts, subsequent distress and government interventions. Posted on 19 Jul, 2015 09:22 PM

Since 1999, Bihar has borne the brunt of four droughts. Rainfall scarcity has affected farmers, depleted groundwater levels significantly, and led to an increase in the number of poor people in the state. What measures has the government taken to mitigate the impact?

Solar panels in a farm (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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