Governance

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November 6, 2022 In 2020, 559 million children were affected by four to five heatwaves a year; numbers could increase four-fold by 2050, as per a report by UNICEF
Heat-related mortality is four times higher among children under 1 year of age than in persons aged 1–44 years (Image: Taqver, Wikimedia Commons)
October 22, 2022 Role of MGNREGA in the year after the 2020 lockdown: Survey findings from Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
MGNREGA provided income support or security to vulnerable households during the pandemic (Image: UN Women)
October 14, 2022 Arthan organizes a fireside chat to highlight the need for more data talent for social impact
There is a need to integrate data science into the existing education system (Image: Mohamed Mahmoud Hassan, Public Domain Pictures)
September 9, 2022 Highlights from a new report released by iFOREST
An old coal-fired power plant has been dumping vast quantities of ash out in the open for many years. (Image: Lundrim Aliu/ World Bank; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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)
July 10, 2022 People in India fleeing disasters like drought more likely to have experienced trafficking or modern slavery than those fleeing floods or cyclones
The country's climate change assessment suggests things are only going to get worse (Image: Saurav Karmakar, India Water Portal Flickr)
Sailing the ocean to save marine life
Our oceans are facing a bleak future. Captain Siddharth Chakravarty speaks about his work in controlling poaching, pollution and other criminal activities at sea Posted on 04 Jun, 2016 05:14 PM

He is called Mobi Dick's Avenger.

Captain Siddharth Chakravarty with the illegal driftnets confiscated by Sea Shepherd during Operation Driftnet (Photo source: Sea Shepherd)
Restructuring water governance for future
This paper argues that the recent restructuring of CWC and CGWB can be a good opportunity to introduce changes in the institutional structure for water governance in India Posted on 02 Jun, 2016 12:40 PM

With increasing concern over water security, water governance worldwide is undergoing a gradual change.

Water governance for future water security (Source: India Water Portal)
Release water from private dams: Bombay HC to Maharashtra Government
Policy matters this week Posted on 01 Jun, 2016 10:01 PM

Bombay HC demands release of water from private dams

A dam in Maharashtra (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Kolkata's ponds on shaky ground
About 44 percent of Kolkata city's ponds have disappeared in the last two decades. The importance of preserving these water bodies that serve as a lifeline for people cannot be overemphasised. Posted on 01 Jun, 2016 09:38 PM

Urban water bodies have an important role in the urban ecology. It is not just a source or water collected somewhere but is an integral part of life--a haven for different types of trees, insects, birds and small animals.

College Square tank or Gol Dighi, one of the very old ponds in Kolkata
Bringing potable water to villagers of Dhar
Fluorosis-affected villagers can now heave a sigh of relief. The dream of safe drinking water at their doorstep has become a reality. Posted on 01 Jun, 2016 09:36 PM

Seema Kalu, suffering from skeletal fluorosis (Source:Dalpat & Heena)

Dilip in Bankpura village, Dhar, MP suffers from skeletal fluorosis (Source: Dalpat & Heena)
Watershed management: Still a long way to go
Only 40 percent treatable land has been covered by various government programmes. It calls for better planning. Posted on 31 May, 2016 04:39 PM

With two consecutively weak monsoons, this summer is particularly difficult for India. 

A traditional system practised in Uttarakhand, the circular pits on the slopes store rainwater and allow it to slowly percolate to the drain line, where water is stored in the pond.
Young professionals lead the way in water and sanitation
A fellowship placed young people in villages for a year, implementing good water & sanitation practices. Posted on 31 May, 2016 12:22 PM

Open drainHirehandigola village in Gadag district of North Karnataka is an unsurprising picture of rural India.

Hirehandigola village, North Karnataka
Blessed waters of Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah baoli
A 700-year-old stepwell, built by a 14th century mystic, is reputed to have miraculous powers. It is no surprise then that it attracts thousands of devotees even today. Posted on 31 May, 2016 10:52 AM

The legend has it that in the year 1321-22, mystic and 14th century Sufi saint 

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah 'baoli': An inherent part of a greater spiritual experience
Subarnarekha is dying. Who’s responsible?
The pitiful state of Subarnarekha stands testimony to the changing times. The river is being slowly killed by the greed of the rich and the apathy of the powerful. Posted on 28 May, 2016 05:46 PM

It would not be an exaggeration to say Subarnarekha (Line of gold) is a film that left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. The film, by Ritwik Ghatak, is inspired by a river by the same name and narrates the reality around the river which flows through the present day Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

India’s steel city dumps its waste into Subarnarekha, the river of gold
Identify and notify wetlands in 5-10 districts: NGT to States
Policy matter this week Posted on 24 May, 2016 10:22 AM

NGT gets tough over wetland notification

Deepor Beel in Assam (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
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