Surface Water

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October 11, 2022 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)
August 9, 2022 Ensuring irrigation through farm ponds in tribal Chhattisgarh
Many tribal farmers opted for individual farm ponds under MGNREGA ensuring protective irrigation. (Image: Meenakshi Singh)
November 8, 2020 The National Hydrology Project has created a national platform for water data and is working to enhance the technical capacities of agencies dealing with water resources management.
Breakthrough cloud computing facilities and remote sensing applications have helped showthe filling pattern of a water body (tank or reservoir) through freely available satellite imagery at an interval of five days.  (Image: Maithan dam, Wikimedia Commons)
December 26, 2019 Policy matters this week
The Mandovi river disputed between Karnataka and Goa (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Why is Lukha feeling blue?
Heavily polluted and poisoned at its confluence with the Lunar river, the Lukha turns mysteriously blue as it flows downstream. The studies are on to know the cause. Posted on 24 Sep, 2016 09:07 PM

Meghalaya in the northeast of India is richly endowed with natural resources such as streams and rivers as well as mineral resources such as coal, limestone, clay, sillimanite, uranium, and more. The estimated coal reserve in Meghalaya is around 576.48 million tonnes while limestone reserves are around 15,100 million tonnes.

The Lukha river in Meghalaya. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Heavy metals and pesticides pollute Ganga: CPCB
News this week Posted on 19 Sep, 2016 09:40 AM

Ganga polluted with heavy metals and pesticides: CPCB

Ganga near Gadmukteshwar. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Release 12,000 cusecs of water to TN: SC to Karnataka
Policy matter this week Posted on 19 Sep, 2016 09:20 AM

Cauvery river dispute: Karnataka to share less water, SC raps the two states over protests

Cauvery river in Karnataka (Source: AmyNorth via Wikipedia)
Cauvery row: When source is the cause
Karnataka and TN are sparring over the dwindling Cauvery water. Kodagu, where the Cauvery begins its journey, is witnessing landscape changes which is impacting the water inflow to the river. Posted on 17 Sep, 2016 09:27 PM

Even as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu fight over their rights on Cauvery water, not much thought has gone into the place where the river originates. Kodagu district, earlier known as Coorg, lies on the eastern slope of Western Ghats, a biological hotspot which is home to the Cauvery and is also the primary catchment area of the river.  

Cauvery river at Kodagu. Source: Rameshng/Wikimedia Commons
A river on fire
Communication, based on sound scientific information, involving farmers as well as other stakeholders, is the only way to solve the Cauvery dispute. Political mandate, too, is important. Posted on 17 Sep, 2016 05:52 PM

River Cauvery has been in the epicentre of agitation and violence in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu--both fighting over their share of the Cauvery water. Thanks to the deficit monsoon this year, the Cauvery basin reservoirs in both these neighbouring states are only filled half as much as they should be![1].

Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)
When Osaka comes to Lucknow
The UP government is on a mission to replicate Osaka's riverfront in Lucknow. This spells doom for the families dependent on the Gomti for sustenance. Posted on 14 Sep, 2016 10:14 AM

Raghunath Lakhpat is a terrified man. He can only watch warily as the land on either side of his modest home is being dug up by huge earthmovers. “We are stuck in the middle. Sooner or later, we will have to leave. But where will we go? What will we eat?” he asks helplessly.

Earth movers cluster on the riverbed of the Gomti, engaged in channelizing the river
Crores of rupees to be raised for irrigation projects
Policy matters this week Posted on 11 Sep, 2016 08:43 PM

NABARD to raise Rs 77,000 crore to fund 100 prioritised irrigation projects

Irrigation canal from the Bhima dam. (Source: Nvvchar on Wikipedia)
Majuli, world’s largest river island
News this week Posted on 11 Sep, 2016 08:34 PM

Guinness World Records names Assam’s Majuli world’s largest river island

The Majuli river island in Assam. (Source: IWP Flickr Photo)
Power crisis: Time to go green
Hydro energy is a leading source of power in India. With severe water crisis looming large, isn't it time for us to look at renewable energy options? Posted on 08 Sep, 2016 06:33 PM

Despite the severe water management crisis India is going through, hydro energy continues to be the second leading source of power, next only to thermal-based energy in the country. Hydropower generates over 16 percent of India’s electricity.

Tehri, a hydropower dam in Uttarakhand (Source: Mayank Gupta, Wikimedia Commons)
Water for everyone
How can we regulate water resources in an equitable way? Expert Pradeep Purandare speaks to India Water Portal. Posted on 08 Sep, 2016 05:55 PM

The management of water resources in India has always been a challenge. From the British era till now, the various governments that ruled India have grappled with the fundamental issue of water equity. 

Pradeep Purandare
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