Governance
Why participatory groundwater management is no longer an oxymoron: The story of Randullabad
Posted on 15 Apr, 2013 06:04 PMIndia is heavily dependent on groundwater use. Domestic use, agriculture and industry all rely on groundwater extracted by means of pumps, wells and tanks. This dependence is illustrated by falling groundwater levels. Frequently, this overuse and consequent decline trigger conflicts.
The story of how blissful ignorance allows Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages to deprive Mehdiganj, Varanasi of its water
Posted on 01 Apr, 2013 11:39 PM
Bottled drinks are commonplace and we often reach for them without a thought. We may even feel good about our purchase as we read about the companies' commitment to water security' printed on the label.
What does 'being water positive' really mean for the villages where manufacturing plants are situated ? This article examines the case of one such plant in Mehdiganj, PO Benipur, Arajiline block, Dist Varanasi and its effect on the groundwater levels in the area. The village has led an agitation against 4 specific negative impacts of the plant, acheiving moderate but measurable success.
This year, the movement comes to a crisis point as despite a warning by the Central Groundwater Development Board, the plant applies for a four-fold expansion.
Reviving dying springs in Sikkim
Posted on 28 Mar, 2013 11:48 AMPure and beautiful, mountain springs confer lives. With change in climate conditions and rainfall patterns, rural habitations in Sikkim face drinking water shortages. Many of these springs are drying up or their discharge declining. But there is hope at the end of an endeavour, where science, government and community come together to revive springs of their local region.
Safe water for all - Some ways we can preserve this natural resource
Posted on 21 Mar, 2013 09:36 PMWater rights are being discussed today as a possibility. This will lead to civil war in this country. Rights are meaningless without paying attention to duties. It is our constitutional duty to preserve and heal our environment.
If we pay attention to freeing our waters:
Residents of Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, resist public private partnership in their water supply project- A press release by Manthan Adhyayan Kendra
Posted on 20 Mar, 2013 09:58 AMThe bad track record of the public sector to provide water has increasingly led to private sector participation in water supply system. The proponents of privatization state that private sector would increase efficiency, bring adequate finance and help build the infrastructure that is required to run the utilities properly in an effective manner.
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme given near-exclusive priority in 12th five year plan, but will it solve India’s water problems?
Posted on 16 Mar, 2013 09:04 PMThere is a palpable sense of a looming water crisis in India. Conflicts across competing users and uses are on the rise. In the irrigation sector, it is widely felt that “paucity of resources and poor performance of existing major and medium irrigation systems are the two main problems”(1).
Online course: Increasing transparency, accountability and participation in the water sector, Water Integrity Network, April - June 2013 - Register by March 31, 2013
Posted on 16 Mar, 2013 05:45 PMAbout Water Integrity Network
The Water Integrity Network (WIN), hosted by Transparency International, was formed in 2006 to respond to increasing concerns among water and anti-corruption stakeholders over corruption in the water sector.
About the course
In partnership with the Virtual School of UNDP, WIN is organizing online course on increasing transparency, accountability and participation in the water sector.
The course targets water sector practitioners interested in deepening their knowledge and sharing their experiences in the area of anticorruption; and people working on projects and initiatives in the water sector related to anti-corruption, transparency and human development issues in the water sector.
Refugees of the Kosi embankments – A booklet by Dinesh Kumar Mishra
Posted on 13 Mar, 2013 02:44 PMKosi, one of the most vibrant rivers of North Bihar begins its journey at a height of about 7000 m in the Himalayan range. After entering the plains, the bed of the Kosi widens drastically and it spreads over 6 to 10 km.
Conference report: The Anil Agarwal Dialogue on "Excreta does matter", organised by Centre for Science and Environment on 4-5 March 2013 at New Delhi
Posted on 12 Mar, 2013 03:23 PMA close examination of these two issues shows that the water and sewage challenge is already grave and could get worse. With this as the backdrop, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi, organised a two day conference called the Anil Agarwal Dialogue on “Excreta does matter”. The conference took place at the Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on 4 and 5 March 2013.
The dialogue aimed at furthering the agenda of CSE’s seventh State of India’s Environment report titled Excreta Matters. This report is a comprehensive survey of the situation of water and wastewater management in 71 Indian cities. The study found that most cities lack a basic policy direction on how best to tackle issues of demand, supply and treatment of water, and of management of sewage.
The Dialogue being the first of its kind brought together a wide range of professionals, activists, practitioners, policy makers, academicians, researchers and administrators from the water sector. The event was aimed at drawing attention on the critical issues of how cities will get affordable and sustainable water and waste systems that can supply to all and take back and treat the sewage of all.
How have India's flagship development programmes fared ? - Budget briefs on the TSC, JNNURM and MGNREGS by the Accountability Initiative
Posted on 12 Mar, 2013 11:40 AMGovernment of India’s development programmes are aimed to bring in much required inclusive development and pave a way towards an equitable and socially just society. With this motive the Centre had introduced several programmes in social sectors and allocated a fixed amount for achieving the set goals.
An analysis on the performance of the programmes shows how far the targets have been achieved, the shortcomings and the steps that are to be taken to strengthen the programmes.
