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December 4, 2019 To adapt well & build resilience, climate change strategies need to factor in efforts towards water security, writes Vanita Suneja, Regional Advocacy Manager (South Asia), WaterAid.
Image credit: WaterAid/Prashanth Vishwanathan
November 13, 2019 Policy matters this week
A domestic RO water purifier
October 1, 2019 Green capital at scale urgently needed for the energy transition and climate action in emerging economies - CEEW Centre for Energy Finance
Image credit: CEEW Centre for Energy Finance
September 30, 2019 The recently concluded 4 day conference in Bangalore looked at the current state of global water resource challenges & future pathways to achieve the SDGs, while ensuring equity in access to all.
Charles Vorosmarty, Chair, COMPASS Initiative, Water Future at the opening plenary on advanced water system assessments to address water security challenges of the 21st century.
September 24, 2019 Policy matters this week
Despite the ban, manual scavenging continues. (Image courtesy: The Hindu)
Poachers turned protectors fight for their survival
Locals who protect the migratory birds that come to Chilka lake in Odisha struggle to make a living as the lake has shrunk, thereby shrinking their revenues from fishing. Posted on 23 Nov, 2014 01:46 PM

Nature and wildlife can be better conserved if local communities are duly educated and motivated. Nearly 70 km south of Bhubaneswar, the Mangalajodi village on the edge of Chilka lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, is a testimony to that argument.

Chilka lake, Odisha
Black life: Impact of coal mining in Jharsuguda
Agricultural lands of thousands of people have been destroyed in Odisha and the growing need for power is trumping over the environment. Better regulation can help but it needs to happen soon. Posted on 02 Oct, 2014 04:08 PM

"The agricultural production in our region has deteriorated due to pollution. Haphazard mining has lead to serious drinking water problems in the area", says Indar Bilas Shah, a 56- year old resident of Obada village, Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda, Odisha. He's not the only one. Thousands of villagers in Jharsuguda echo these sentiments. 

Who's to blame?

Work in progress in coal mines in Jharsuguda
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)
Ken-Betwa river link to divert 6,000 hectares of Panna Tiger Reserve
News this week Posted on 01 Sep, 2014 10:06 PM

Ken-Betwa river link to take away 10% of MP's Panna Tiger Reserve

Map showing Ken-Betwa river link (Source: Shannon)
Indian monsoon under recovery mode
News this week Posted on 22 Jul, 2014 02:01 PM

Monsoon covers entire nation, raises hopes of recovery

Heavy rainfall in Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Himachal govt to restrict commercial activities on Rohtang
Policy matters this week: Commercial activities on Rohtang to be restricted; SC orders Centre to set up National Regulator by April 30; Warning to Pollution Control Boards over pollution in Ganga. Posted on 28 Apr, 2014 10:10 PM

No more commercial activities on Rohtang pass after May 6: HP govt

Rohtang pass (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Water privatisation, a failed model?
JUSCO, India's largest water supply developer, has failed to provide water connections in many parts of India. Water must be treated as a non-commercial entity if there is to be equity in access. Posted on 05 Apr, 2014 03:12 PM

Since water reforms were introduced in India in the 1990s, water privatisation has been propagated as a panacea to the sector's problems. 

JUSCO disconnected Nirmal Basti's water connection
India's dykes on Kaliganga cause misery to Nepal
News this week: Nepal blames India for causing floods in former's territory; Study says Ganga is loaded with superbugs; Slowdown affects water use in Pune industries. Posted on 24 Feb, 2014 04:18 PM

 

India builds dykes on Kaliganga, causes misery to Nepal

Floods in Darchula in Nepal (Source: Wikipedia)
Which way will the water flow?
The 12th Five Year Plan recognises that our current methods of water management have led to inequity. It suggests an approach that involves more input from non-government sources. Posted on 15 Jan, 2014 11:07 PM

In the 60-odd years since we began managing our own resources, we have managed to throttle and poison all our rivers, suck our groundwater resources nearly dry and shave our forests bald. This is despite a great deal of effort, time, thought and resources that have gone into this 'management'.

Ramaswamy Iyer, former Secretary Water Resources
Free water for the Capital
Policy Matters this week: AAP government in Delhi announces free water, nuclear plant in Haryana and hydel projects in Arunachal get green nod. Posted on 08 Jan, 2014 12:04 PM

Two days into power, AAP announced free water

Free water but for how long? (Source: Wikipedia)
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