Droughts and Floods

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December 12, 2022 Study looks at behavioral biases in crop insurance adoption
Adoption rate of crop insurance low in India despite government efforts (Image: PxHere, CC0 Public Domain)
October 30, 2022 This book by Dr. Mitul Baruah presents a fascinating, ethnographic account of the challenges faced by communities living in Majuli, India, one of the largest river islands in the world, which has experienced immense socio-environmental transformations over the years, processes that are emblematic of the Brahmaputra Valley as a whole. This is an excerpt from the book.
Floods are recurrent phenomena in Assam (Image: Mitul Baruah)
September 13, 2022 Heavy rains and floods have battered Bengaluru yet again. Uncontrolled and unregulated development and concretisation of the city that pays no heed to the ecology and hydrology of the region needs to stop!
Urban flooding in Bangalore (Image Source: Thejas via Wikimedia Commons)
August 21, 2022 Floods are not feared, but rather welcomed by the Mishing communities from Majuli island in Assam as they bring bountiful fish- a rich source of food, nutrition and livelihood for the community.
The Majuli island, a haven for fish (Image Source: Usha Dewani, India Water Portal)
August 10, 2022 The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today.
Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
August 2, 2022 The frequency and intensity of floods is on the rise in Assam spelling doom for fish biodiversity.
Life during floods in Assam (Image Source: Kausika Bordoloi via Wikimedia Commons)
Water Aid launches tool to track Swachh Bharat Mission
News this week Posted on 25 Nov, 2014 11:15 AM

An interactive tool to monitor progress of toilet construction launched

Toilet under construction in Karnataka
The connection between weather and malaria explained
Combined daily values of temperature, rainfall and humidity were found to influence the mosquito load and the risk of malaria incidence. Posted on 22 Nov, 2014 04:30 PM

A recent World Bank report on climate change has predicted a grim outlook for India by outlining its impacts that include:

Mosquitoes and malaria (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
A science-policy nexus to combat disasters in India
Disasters aren't always inevitable. Scientific perspectives when used to formulate policies, could help with being better prepared and also reducing the damage and devastation. Posted on 19 Nov, 2014 05:37 PM

The Uttarakhand floods last year, cyclones Phailin and Hud Hud, the untimely hailstorms in central India and the Malin tragedy in Pune – all examples of the many disasters that have hit the country.

Floods in Bihar
Local weather stations greatly improve local crop production
Area- and crop-customised agro-advisories in Sangamner taluka of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, have helped farmers deal with weather-based events and minimise their related losses. Posted on 19 Nov, 2014 05:06 PM

“In gram crops to control gram-pod borers, use pheromone traps”. While a statement like that most likely won't make sense to average people, it does to the farming community in the Sangamner taluka of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. They have been trained to make sense of the agro-advisory provided by Vasundhara Sewaks.

Onion seeds in farms (Source: WOTR)
The past is not a foreign country...we still do the same things for water here
Communities in semi-arid, desert-like Kutch, Gujarat, have managed to create their own water security plans with a little help from local organisations. Even the State is taking notice now! Posted on 26 Oct, 2014 11:03 AM

Raujibhai came to Dholavira with the excavation team of the Archeological Society of India when he was 19 years old.

Ancient water structures at Dholavira
A miracle in Mahewa
Residents of one ward in Gorakhpur, UP, did a few things to reduce their vulnerability against climate change, which is causing crises in many areas. Posted on 08 Oct, 2014 09:14 PM

There is nothing special about Mahewa. It is a small ward in the town of Gorakhpur, far enough on the outskirts of the city, and it hasn't seem to have made up its mind on whether it is a city or a village. Part of it is in the form of 'bungalow colonies', part in the form of small farms. Small share-autos service the area.

The impact of the Waste Management Committee
Gujarat allocates 3 MLD of Narmada water to upcoming Coca Cola plant
News this week Posted on 21 Sep, 2014 10:27 PM

Gujarat Government allocates Narmada water to Coca Cola plant at Sanand

Coca Cola bottling plant (Source: S. Subramanium)
The Ganga has its own website!
News this week Posted on 15 Sep, 2014 09:36 PM

Water Ministry launches a portal on the Ganga river

Ganga river at Kaudiyala
Furious Jhelum claims 160 lives
News this week Posted on 08 Sep, 2014 06:19 PM

J&K reels under the worst flood in 60 years

Floods wreak havoc in Jammu & Kashmir
Well revival effort sees many other benefits
A community drive to revive wells in Mokhla talab near Udaipur results in water security for longer periods of time as well as making leaders out of women. Posted on 05 Sep, 2014 12:59 PM

The name of a place can tell one much about its history. Take Mokla talab, a village 62 km southeast of Udaipur for example. Mokla means sufficient in Rajasthani and talab means pond. The village was named after its overflowing talab. But what happens when the talaab is overflowing no more?

Well lining has improved water availability
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