Governance
Between the city and the salty sea - The wells of Bhuigaon, Thane, Greater Mumbai - Guest post by MS Gopal
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 05:57 PMAs the concrete jungle of Greater Mumbai reaches Bhuigaon and overuse of groundwater sucks in the sea water, the traditional wells are under threat.
‘SACOSAN IV special issue’ - WASH news and policy update: Bi-monthly e-newsletter of India WASH Forum, Issue 17, March 2011
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 05:31 PM- SACOSAN IV Sri Lanka
The South Asia Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN IV) is scheduled for Sri Lanka from 4th to the 7th April in Colombo. The Conference is a unique bi-annual inter-ministerial meeting that has an exclusive focus on sanitation and hygiene in south Asia.
National Green Tribunal (NGT) – Relevant notifications from the Ministry of Environment and Forests
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 05:16 PMInviting endorsements on a submission to the WGEEP for declaring the rivers in the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 12:58 PMDear friends,
We are all aware of the immense ecological, cultural and social significance of rivers originating and flowing through the Western Ghats. This includes source regions of East flowing rivers like Krishna, Godavari and Cauvery and the source, riparian and estuarine region of all West flowing rivers.
We are lucky to still have some of the very few and very rare 'free flowing rivers' in the country. Most of the rivers in our country have been dammed and diverted. This has changed the ecological and physical characteristics of these rivers completely. Today, it is difficult for us to visualise the amazing range of ecological goods and services that an undammed, free flowing river can provide. Some such rivers in the Western Ghats are Shastri, Aghanashini, Gargai and Seetha Nadi.
Hydrogeological investigations in and around JSPL plant area in Angul district, Orissa - A report by Green Systems
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 11:55 AM The area's geological, hydrological and climatic facets are studied to arrive at a series of recommendations, which not only include the type of recharge structures and their design but also their location.
The report is divided into 9 chapters which are
‘Revival of Siddh Baba Kodiya talaab’ - Janhit Foundation's e-newsletter of March 2011
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 11:39 AMThe Janhit Foundation's newsletter of March 2011 focuses on the following topics:
Irrigation system operation practices - A handbook by Central Water Commission (1990)
Posted on 21 Apr, 2011 10:36 PMFor increasing agricultural productivity from existing irrigation systems, improved operation of the systems coupled with timely maintenance of the systems has a major role to play.
The Water Footprint Assessment Manual: Setting the global standard – Methods for water footprint accounting by the Water Footprint Network
Posted on 21 Apr, 2011 10:14 PMThis book by Earthscan contains the global standard for ‘water footprint assessment’ as developed and maintained by the Water Footprint Network (WFN). It shows how water footprints are calculated for individual processes and products, as well as for consumers, nations and businesses. It also includes methods for water footprint sustainability assessment and a library of water footprint response options.
A shared standard on definitions and calculation methods is crucial given the rapidly growing interest in companies and governments to use water footprint accounts as a basis for formulating sustainable water strategies and policies. The current manual is an updated, revised and expanded version of Water Footprint Manual: State of the Art 2009, published by the WFN in November 2009 (Hoekstra et al, 2009a). This new edition has been produced after intensive consultations with partners and researchers worldwide. Directly following the publication of the Water Footprint Manual, all partners of the WFN were invited to provide feedback on the manual.
Eradication of inhuman practice of manual scavenging and comprehensive rehabilitation of manual scavengers in India – A report by Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan
Posted on 21 Apr, 2011 09:15 PMThe practice continues in the country in spite of efforts of several people, implementation of government schemes such as the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers since 1992 and Self Employment Scheme
Energy from Water
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.