Ecology and Environment

Featured Articles
December 16, 2022 Soil research must focus both on technology development and implementation
The ability of soils to support soil functions or services is decreasing (Image: Katrin Park/International Food Policy Research Institute)
November 25, 2022 These maps at the watershed scales have been made to not only ensure inclusion of different freshwater ecosystems, their connectivity and hydrological processes, but can also provide a spatial context for conservation decisions.
A stream at Anini, Arunachal Pradesh (Image Source: Roshni Arora)
November 16, 2022 Adoption of hybrid solutions - grey and green structures appropriate for resilience building
Healthy wetland ecosystems help in reducing disaster risks and managing climate risks (Image: Pxhere)
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)
October 6, 2022 Rapid urbanisation and faulty land use policies are rapidly destroying forests, grasslands and wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir, India and the ecosystem value services they provide. Can these valuable ecosystems be saved?
Deteriorating ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Image Source: tkohli at Flickr via Wikimedia Commons)
July 14, 2022 The river is faced with the dual problem of flood plain encroachment and growing levels of water pollution
Illegal transverse check dams (Badhals) built on Ichamati near a village in Basirhat (Image: Prithviraj Nath @ TheWaterChronicles)
Heat wave claims 300 lives; Telangana, Odisha and Andhra worst hit
News this week Posted on 03 May, 2016 11:37 AM

Heat wave claims 300 lives across the country

Heat wave engulfs the country (Source: PTI)
NGT seeks complete list of wetlands from States
Policy matters this week Posted on 26 Apr, 2016 05:16 PM

Submit complete list of wetlands: NGT to States

Deepor Beel in Assam (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
33 crore people across 10 States hit by drought: Centre
News this week Posted on 26 Apr, 2016 12:25 PM

Drought has hit 33 crore people across 10 states, informs Centre

Drought in India (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Government schemes converge at Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha
Thanks to the successful implementation of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) scheme, villagers began to believe in collective action and community development. Posted on 24 Apr, 2016 11:41 AM

Since India became independent in 1947, the central and state governments have introduced various rural development schemes, and have been trying to get them to converge. While this effort hasn't been as impactful on a large scale, there are some success stories. Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha is one.   

View of Sarda village, Odisha
Draft of new Wetland Rules 2016 is out
Policy matters this week Posted on 12 Apr, 2016 12:37 PM

Environmentalists unhappy with the draft of new Wetland Rules 2016

Deepor Beel in Assam (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Environmental regulation in India: The need to move beyond procedural lacunae
The paper questions the EIA process and says that unless the issues are resolved, it could erode the very legitimacy of the government to regulate and deliver dignity and equality to all citizens. Posted on 08 Apr, 2016 01:03 PM

One of the tasks that the current government had promised to work on is the fast tracking of the process of appraisal of projects seeking environmental approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The article titled 'Environmental regulation in India: Moving 'forward' in the old direction' published in th

Environmental regulation and citizen participation (Source: India Water Portal)
NGT slams Railways for using groundwater illegally
Policy matters this week Posted on 05 Apr, 2016 09:47 AM

Railways using groundwater 'indiscriminately and illegally': NGT

Indian Railways (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
The Dying Springs of Chirimiri'
Blasting and drilling around Chirimiri's coal mines have taken a toll on the area's water resources and environment. The film presents the community's perspective on this issue. Posted on 01 Apr, 2016 06:04 PM

Chirimiri Coalfield is a part of Central India Coalfields, located in Koriya district, Chhattisgarh.

Coal mining in Chirimiri
Letting rivers flow in Nepal
Nepal, like India, is just learning of environmental flow releases. Dr.Hari Shrestha speaks of the efforts being made to increase awareness about healthy rivers in the country Posted on 29 Mar, 2016 04:07 PM

Dr Hari Kumar Shreshta is an engineer, teacher, and a passionate crusader for healthy rivers. On a recent visit to India, he spoke with India Water Portal about the efforts to introduce the concept of environmental flows in hydropower-focused Nepal.

Prof. Hari Shreshta works towards creating awareness about environmental flows in Nepal
4 crore native tree species to be planted along the stretch of the Ganga
Policy matters this week Posted on 29 Mar, 2016 11:24 AM

Centre releases DPR on forestry intervention for Ganga river

Ganga river near Gadmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
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