Society, Culture, Religion and History

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January 13, 2022
Water management in the times of Gonds of Central India
The water structures constructed during the Gond period continue to survive the test of time and provide evidence of the water wisdom of our ancestors.
Kundeshwar lake, Kundam in Jabalpur (Image Source: K G Vyas)
January 2, 2021
The fast disappearing traditional water harvesting structures of Rajasthan
Lack of community ownership and local governance are spelling doom for the once royal and resilient traditional water harvesting structures of Rajasthan.
Toorji Ka Jhalara, Jodhpur (Image Source: Rituja Mitra)
December 7, 2020
Not in the interest of women farmers!
The new farm related bills will spell doom for women workers who form the bulk of small and marginal sections of Indian agriculture, warns Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch (MAKAAM).
Farm women, overworked and underpaid (Image Source: India Water Portal)
December 11, 2019
Scientists intervene to save dry toilets
Dry toilets have long been hailed as a sustainable solution to the sanitation and waste management crisis facing India today, but have been overshadowed by more modern toilet designs.
A traditional dry toilet. Image: India Science Wire
December 4, 2019
In wake of climate change, prioritise and invest in water security and clean drinking water
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
December 2, 2019
Water stewardship approach to minimizing risks for businesses
Water stewardship is an approach predicated on the concept that water is a shared resource and so water risks are also shared risks that everyone in a catchment will face
Picture credit: Romit Sen
Death of a river - On the Yamuna in Delhi - Article from Kafila
The Final scene in the epic tragedy of the Jamna is being enacted at these very moments.
Sohail Hashmi
Posted on 15 Apr, 2011 08:52 AM

This was first presented as a paper in a seminar on “The River” organised by the Max Muller Bhawan on 11 and 12 December 2010. Photo credits: Gigi Mon Scaria, Himanshu Joshi and Sohail Hashmi.

Maharashtra gifts farmers’ water to industries - Dams, Rivers and People - Newsletter from SANDRP of March 2011
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) news letter of March 2011 (Volume 9 Issue 2), focuses on the following topics.
South Asia Network on Dams Rivers and People (SANDRP)
Posted on 15 Apr, 2011 08:45 AM


South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People

  • Maharashtra gifts farmers’ water to industries
    Between 2005 & 2010, a High Powered Committee was constituted by the Maharashtra Minister for Water Resources which recommended the diversion of 1500 MCM water from 38 dams across Maharashtra to cities and industries.
Please reverse farcical decision of asking developers to do cumulative impact assessment in Sutlej Basin
This article presents the text of an open letter from SANDRP to MoEF
South Asia Network on Dams Rivers and People (SANDRP)
Posted on 14 Apr, 2011 06:57 PM

To
Shri Jairam Ramesh
Union Minister of State (IC) of Environment and Forests,
New Delhi

Respected sir,
The 'arrogant neighbour' - Newly launched Udupi Power Corporation Limited commits gross environmental violations - A two-part report from The Manipal Journal
Ash produced after burning the ‘world’s dirtiest fuel’ found place in an erstwhile fresh-water lake. Low lying fields were water-logged under the hot summer sun.
Garima Goel
Posted on 14 Apr, 2011 10:47 AM


Narmada dam - Land for some, hope for others - A short film from Video Volunteers
VV’s community correspondent Rakesh Khanna is one of the displaced people. In his latest video, Rakesh shares the good news of land distribution
Stella Paul
Posted on 13 Apr, 2011 10:16 AM

After 3 decades of relentless fighting for rehabilitation, 113 tribal families displaced by Sardar Sarovar Dam on the River Narmada in India’s Madhya Pradesh have finally had their demand fulfilled. The families have received land on which they can now build their homes again. Rakesh says that the development has raised the hopes of thousands of others like him who are still awaiting resettlement.

 

 

5 years on: Mohla dam (Chattisgarh) evictees still struggling for compensation - Audio update from CGNet Swara
Bhan Sahu from Rajnandgaon in Chattisgarh says it is 5 years since Mohla dam was built but evicted people are still running from pillar to post for their compensation.
CGNetSwara
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 06:57 PM

Click here to read the entire article
NREGA poster boy in Chattisgarh struggling for late payment compensation - Audio update from CGNet Swara
Pitbasu Bhoi should be a poster boy for National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) for working all the 100 days under the program.
CGNet Swara
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 06:49 PM

 But as you may recall as it was reported before on this forum that his son died in need of attention when he was still struggling to get his wages.

Click here to read the entire article
Water and justice - Peri-urban pathways in Delhi - A video from STEPS Centre on Water Channel TV
This film tells the story of three people and their relationship with water in the towns and villages on the peri-urban zone of New Delhi, India, that has changed dramatically in the past 15 years.
The Water Channel
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 06:02 PM

Article and Video Courtesy: The Water Channel

This film tells the story of three people and their relationship with water in the towns and villages on the edge of Delhi, India. The landscape of these "peri-urban" zones has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. Poor people often do not have good enough access to water, and have to find different ways of getting and using it. 

Deep wells and prudence - Towards pragmatic action for addressing groundwater overexploitation in India - A World Bank document (2010)
India is the largest user of groundwater resources in the world. It is estimated that approximately 230 cubic kilometers per year is used annually, this is more than a quarter of the total world consumption from this resource.
It is in this context that this World Bank report looks at the reasons for this quantum of groundwater usage
World Bank
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 01:51 AM

India is the largest user of groundwater resources in the world. It is estimated that approximately 230 cubic kilometers per year is used annually, this is more than a quarter of the total world consumption from this resource.

It is in this context that this World Bank report looks at the reasons for this quantum of groundwater usage.

The report delves into socio-economic and political reasons and looks at policies which inadvertently promote so much extraction. The report also analyses various attempts to manage this resource. These attempts range from government and international agency efforts directed to grassroots mobilisations. Finally the report comes out with suggestions to deal with this crisis.

Saraswati – The ancient river lost in the desert - A paper from Current Science
This Current Science paper discusses the disappearance of the river Saraswati. The enigma that was the disappearance of this river, which according to the author once upon a time greened Rajasthan and had nurtured civilizations on its shore, brought archaeologists, geologists, geophysicists, and climatologists to find answers.
AV Sankaran
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 01:26 AM

This Current Science paper uses secondary data to discuss the disappearance of the river Saraswati. The enigma that was the disappearance of this river, which according to the author once upon a time greened Rajasthan and had nurtured civilizations on its shore, brought archaeologists, geologists, geophysicists, and climatologists to find answers. The author uses the body of work created by these scientists to solve the puzzle of the disappearance of the Saraswati.

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