Surface Water

This working paper by the University of Bonn attempts to give a spatial and temporal overview of water management in India. It traces how people and the successive regimes made choices across space and time from a wide range of water control and distribution technologies. The paper divides the water management in India into four periods –

• the traditional system of water management before colonial times;
• response from the colonial rulers to manage the complex socio-ecological system;
• large scale surface water development after independence; and
• finally, the small-scale community and market-led revolution.

Government of Nepal has asked the Government of India to compensate its citizens badly affected by embankments and other flood control measures taken on river Gandak. Will this not lead to a flood of demands for compensation by the victims of similar problems in other river basins like the Bagmati, the Kamala and the Kosi?

23rd November 2010, New Delhi

• Seeking a moratorium on clearances for large dams in Northeast India
• Withdrawal of clearances granted to 2000 MW Lower Subansiri, 1750 MW Demwe Lower & 1500 MW Tipaimukh dams
• Future steps on hydropower projects and dams only after full, prior and informed consent of people in the region
• Protect the Brahmaputra river basin as a cultural and ecological endowment

Lake 2010: Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Theme: Wetlands Conservation and Management

Article and Image Courtesy: Ground Report

Many in India, perhaps, are not able to foresee how lack of governance, virtually, in every sphere is going to hit them in not too distant future. Take for instance mining. Illegal mining of mineral resources, with generous help of political and bureaucratic big wigs, is so rampant that not only are the country’s precious natural resources being purloined in a big way, its forests are being clean-felled, land degraded and its rivers threatened with extinction.

This report of the Working Group to advise Water Quality Assessment Authority (WQAA) on the minimum flows in the rivers outlines the principles behind environmental flow assessments, provides a description of methods that have been used to assist with such assessments, and highlights the features that will increase the chance of successful implementation of environmental flows. 

Wildlife Wetlands Photography Contest by WWF & Young Environmentalists Programme in association with Meluha-The Ferns ecotel, Hiranandani Gardens Powai, Mumbai-400076 on 2nd February 2011.

World Wetlands Day Photography Submissions

A brand new photography international competition is here, the WWF & YEPT in association with Meluha-The Ferns ecotel awards celebrates and recognizes the talents of photographers of all nationalities highlighting the great wealth and diversity of wetlands and wildlife on Planet Earth.

This study attempts to develop a case study of the Western Yamuna Canal Command in Haryana with the purpose of developing a general picture of the institutional environment and arrangements related to water resource development and use in the State of Haryana. It is based on a review of water law, policy and administration and helps draw conclusions on whether the existing governance systems are meeting the current needs and suggests alternate options. The study has attempted to test the following hypothesis –