Video, Audio and other Multimedia

Hydrology and quality of groundwater in and around Bangalore city - Review and excerpts from the report released in March 2011, by the Department of Mines and Geology (Govt of Karnataka)
The Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka recently released a report on the hydrology and quality of groundwater in and around Bangalore city. Posted on 10 May, 2011 08:34 PM


 A welcome and important document, it brings up-to-date our understanding of the rapidly changing groundwater situation in Bangalore.

MonthNew borewells added each monthBorewells registered with BWSSBMonthly % growth
Jan-09 91018 
Feb-09924919421.02
Mar-09705926470.77
Apr-09965936121.04
May-091136947481.21
Jun-09748954960.79
Jul-09904964000.95
Aug-09868972680.90
Sep-092062993302.12
Oct-098381001680.84
Nov-098751010430.87
Dec-0926991037422.67
Jan-1017591055011.70
Total as on Jan-20101448310550115.91

Growth of bore wells during February 2009 to January 2010 in Bangalore city

"Media getting sensitive towards water and sanitation issues in North Bihar"-Recent updates from the work of Megh Pyne Abhiyan
The effort of Megh Pyne Abhiyan (MPA) since 2006 has started to impact different sections of the society differently Posted on 10 May, 2011 06:41 PM

. I had shared how Megh Pyne Abhiyan through its local partner - Samta in Khagaria (supported by Gramyasheel, Kosi Seva Sadan, Ghoghardiha Prakhand Swarajya Vikas Sangh and Water Action) has been able to collaborate with the district administration to mainstream issues concerning water and sanitation for the flood prone areas.

In Supaul, the district administration requested our local partner, Gramyasheel to write about alternative drinking water practices (appropriate for the district) for a publication - Supaul Zila Ki Smarika, brought out by the district administration. A definite indication of the WATSAN practices being recognized at the local level. Though the collaboration is an ongoing process which would lead to positive results if time, ideas and perseverance are invested appropriately.

Sugarcane cultivation - Videos in Tamil from Makkal Television
Watch Mr.Thirunarasu, General Manager of Thiru Arooran Sugar Mills speak about sugarcane cultivation in this edition of 'Malarum Bhoomi', on Makkal Television. Posted on 27 Apr, 2011 02:52 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between the city and the salty sea - The wells of Bhuigaon, Thane, Greater Mumbai - Guest post by MS Gopal
Bhuigaon’s fields are watered by small rain- fed Bhowkal (large wells) maintained by women. Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 05:57 PM

 As the concrete jungle of Greater Mumbai reaches Bhuigaon and overuse of groundwater sucks in the sea water, the traditional wells are under threat.

 

Energy from Water
What is the chain of technology development and delivery that enables small scale decentralised electrification of unelectrified rural areas? Posted on 21 Apr, 2011 10:49 AM

 

An example technology is pico-hydro that uses local streams as a resource.

  • The technology is transferred as an asset to households of farmers with access to streams, in the Western Ghats region.
  • Most critically, the households decide the allocation of water between electricity generation and irrigation - they manage their demand for electricity based on water availability. The entire system retrofits into their current irrigation infrastructure.
  • At the same time, there is an entire value chain of enterprises that develop the technology and deliver it to the farmer's doorstep, integrating access to MNRE subsidies and loans as necessary. 

Vedanta’s red mud pond leaks into Vamsadhara river, Lanjigarh, Orissa - A Down To Earth report
Reports from Lanjigarh say a crack in the western part of the red mud pond of Vedanta Alumina refinery has leaked into the Vamsadhara river. Posted on 18 Apr, 2011 05:23 PM

This happened following a thunder burst on April 5.

According to Mahammad Ashlam of KBK Samachar, the local news agency, the downpour lasted 45 minutes and resulted in a huge run-off of the toxic waste into nearby water bodies from a crack in the pond wall of the one-million-tone refinery. Red mud or bauxite residue is a waste product of the alumina manufacturing process.

Dam cost Rs. 1 crore but village in Dantewada, Chattisgarh depends on dying hand pump ! - An audio update from CGNet Swara
Yashwant Ramteke from Dantewada says as the summer is just arriving the water problem is again becoming severe. Posted on 18 Apr, 2011 01:28 PM

He gives example of a village near Dantewada where Public Health department has made a check dam spending Rs 1 crore.

Click here to read the entire article

Lives wasted in gutters - A film from Video Volunteers
Two manual scavengers were killed while working without any safety masks or gloves which necessarily have to be provided by the government. Posted on 18 Apr, 2011 12:26 PM


 

Bhisti community in Kolkata usurped by taps - A film from Video Volunteers
Bhisti Community, who used to provide water to Kolkata’s inhabitants, is slowly disappearing. Posted on 18 Apr, 2011 12:15 PM

 

 

"I want my father back" - A 50-min film by Suma Josson on farmers' suicides in Vidarbha
I Want My Father Back' is a 50 minutes film on the suicide of farmers in Vidarbha. Vidarbha is in the eastern region of Maharastra State in India. Posted on 15 Apr, 2011 05:23 PM