Rivers

Featured Articles
November 25, 2022
Categorising watersheds for freshwater ecosystem conservation in India
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)
October 30, 2022
Slow disaster: Political ecology of hazards and everyday life in the Brahmaputra valley, Assam
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 11, 2022
Visualizing the Vrishabhavathi river to keep it alive
In an effort to inform the general public, especially citizen activists, policymakers, researchers, and students, about the current status of the Vrishabhavathi river, Paani.Earth has created the necessary maps, data, analysis, and information to drive conservation awareness and action around the river.
Vrishabhavathi river (Image Source: Paani.Earth)
October 6, 2022
Deteriorating landscapes and threatened ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir
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)
September 5, 2022
Rivers of Bengaluru: A map-infographic reflects the rivers’ state
In an attempt to present a perspective on how rivers are used and abused, a map of the Bengaluru rivers illustrate how waste flows through natural river corridors, polluting the rivers and altering their status.
Vrishabhavathi river flow at Thagachguppe Bridge, Kumbalgodu (Image Source: Paani.Earth)
August 11, 2022
India’s rivers in trouble due to high fertilizer load and heavy monsoons
This could lead to water quality crisis reinforcing the need for basin-specific management strategies
Around the world, more than a fifth of nitrogen released by human activity ends up in aquatic ecosystems (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Waghadi Bachao: A call for collective rejuvenation of the river
Working together towards restoring the river’s catchment and drainage lines
Nivedita Menon
Posted on 29 Jan, 2022 10:56 AM

Maharastra’s Yavatmal district in the Vidarbha region is home to several tribal communities. Largely rainfed, monocrops like cotton, soybean, wheat, and turmeric, among others, are grown in a majority of the region. However, reduced rainfall, water shortage and soil infertility plague the region, causing crop failures and resulting in severe agrarian distress. 
River flow improved at Jarur since soil and moisture conservation measures along the catchment area were prioritised (Image: FES)
Mekedatu project: Many activists opposing it under Medha Patkar
Policy matters this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 19 Jan, 2022 02:14 PM

Activists stand up against Mekedatu project under the noted activist Medha Patkar
Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)
Goa’s mangrove cover increases while Sunderbans’ shrank: ISFR 2021
News this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 19 Jan, 2022 01:48 PM

Goa’s mangrove cover increases while Sunderbans’ shrank, reports India State of the Forest Report (ISFR) 2021
Mangroves in Sunderbans (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Activists urge Chhattisgarh CM to rethink expansion of mining in Hasdeo Arand forest
News this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 20 Dec, 2021 06:52 PM

Reconsider decision to expand mining in Hasdeo Arand forest: Activists to Chhattisgarh CM
A devastated forest at a coal mining site. Photo for representation only (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Government gives a boost to PMKSY, Renuka ji, and Lakhwar hydro projects
Policy matters this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 20 Dec, 2021 04:00 PM

Centre approves Rs 93,000 crore to PMKSY, Renuka ji and Lakhwar
Yamuna flows under (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Emerging water science for sustainable management
An accessible guide for water professionals and practitioners in India
Sunita Sarkar
Harry Dixon
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Posted on 09 Dec, 2021 06:47 PM

A new book, published as a result of recent collaborations between scientists in India and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, shows why and how emerging scientific knowledge and new technologies can support the management and use of freshwater resources for all, now and for the future.
Rapid changes such as climate change will have significant impacts on our freshwater systems (Image: Srideep, PxHere)
Water contamination grips the country: Centre
News this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 08 Dec, 2021 10:53 AM

Country’s water contaminated with lead, arsenic, fluoride: Centre
Water contamination continues to remain contaminated (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Rajya Sabha passes Dam Safety Bill, 2019
Policy matters this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 07 Dec, 2021 06:49 PM

Rajya Sabha passes Dam Safety Bill after 34 years of drafting
Malampuzha dam in Kerala (Image source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Indore is still very much water minus
Need to abandon costly centralised systems of wastewater management and raise awareness about decentralised systems
Rahul Banerjee
Posted on 07 Dec, 2021 11:22 AM

Recently, the city of Indore was declared the first water plus city in India under the Swachh Sarvekshan programme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for its ostensibly exemplary wastewater management (Hindustan Times, 2021).
Water harvesters cleaning up water hyacinth from the rivers in Indore (Image: Rahul Banerjee)
Increase in extreme flooding events in the Upper Ganga Basin post 1995
Upstream hydrological modifications altered the basin hydrology, says study
Somil Swarnkar
Pradeep Mujumdar
Rajiv Sinha
Posted on 21 Nov, 2021 04:57 PM

Climate change and anthropogenic activities pose serious threats to river basin hydrology worldwide. The Ganga River is the lifeline for close to half a billion people in the northern Indian region.
Kathiya Gaon, Tehri, Uttaranchal (Image: India Water Portal)
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