Sustainability
The rape of Goa - A photo documentary by Rajan Parrikar (2008)
Posted on 17 May, 2011 05:41 PMGoa, the last remaining redoubt of the pleasant, civilized life in India, now faces environmental ruin from indiscriminate construction and exploitation of its natural resources. Concomitant with this ruin is the imminent erasure of its sui generis identity and culture wrought by the uncontrolled influx of migrants from all over India. First released in May 2008, this documentary was screened in towns and cities all across Goa.
Gujarat’s agricultural growth story: Reality check and important lessons for water management – A paper by Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy
Posted on 13 May, 2011 07:57 PMThe agricultural ‘growth’ seen in the recent past in Gujarat is nothing but a good recovery from a major dip in production occurred during the drought years of 1999 and 2000, because of four consecutive years of successful monsoon and bulk water transfer through the Sardar Sarovar project. The real ‘miracle growth’ in Gujarat’s agriculture appears to have occurred during the period from 1988 to 1998.
Groundwater: From mystery to management - An article by TN Narasimhan
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 12:07 PMGroundwater has been used for domestic and irrigation needs from time immemorial. It is a component of the hydrological cycle, vital for human sustenance. Unlike surface water, groundwater cannot be readily observed. Consequently, it was long considered to be mysterious or even occult in nature, influencing legal decisions relating to groundwater ownership and use.
Adapting to the global groundwater crisis - Its usage needs to be regulated and monitored
Posted on 22 Apr, 2011 12:03 PMThe global groundwater crisis centers on withdrawals notably exceeding short term renewable storage. The current global groundwater crisis reflects the fact that over the past century, groundwater withdrawal has grown to exceed natural renewable groundwater storage. The single most important cause is the deep well turbine pump. Groundwater depletion is very high in both the United States and India.
The Water Footprint Assessment Manual: Setting the global standard – Methods for water footprint accounting by the Water Footprint Network
Posted on 21 Apr, 2011 10:14 PMThis book by Earthscan contains the global standard for ‘water footprint assessment’ as developed and maintained by the Water Footprint Network (WFN). It shows how water footprints are calculated for individual processes and products, as well as for consumers, nations and businesses. It also includes methods for water footprint sustainability assessment and a library of water footprint response options.
A shared standard on definitions and calculation methods is crucial given the rapidly growing interest in companies and governments to use water footprint accounts as a basis for formulating sustainable water strategies and policies. The current manual is an updated, revised and expanded version of Water Footprint Manual: State of the Art 2009, published by the WFN in November 2009 (Hoekstra et al, 2009a). This new edition has been produced after intensive consultations with partners and researchers worldwide. Directly following the publication of the Water Footprint Manual, all partners of the WFN were invited to provide feedback on the manual.
Assessing acute Gastroenteritis risks associated with water quality and sanitation in Hyderabad city - A paper by the Institute of Health Systems (IHS)
Posted on 19 Apr, 2011 11:35 PMThe quality of drinking water is a vital element of public health and well-being. The most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of a drinking-water supply is through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer.
WHO guidelines on water quality term these approaches as water safety plans (WSPs), developed to organize, systematize and apply management practices in drinking-water quality.
River Mandovi cries for help - Video report from WAVE
Posted on 14 Apr, 2011 10:53 AMArticle and Video Courtesy: WAVE India
Author:
Mines in Goa deplete water supply - A film from India Unheard Video Volunteers
Posted on 14 Apr, 2011 10:35 AM
Deep wells and prudence - Towards pragmatic action for addressing groundwater overexploitation in India - A World Bank document (2010)
Posted on 12 Apr, 2011 01:51 AMIndia 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.
Role of civil society in sanitation improvement - A case-study from the work of Parivartan in Uttar Pradesh (2010)
Posted on 11 Apr, 2011 12:33 AMThis presentation prepared by the founders of Parivartan, a Kanpur based NGO, deals with the organisation's efforts to improve the sanitation system of the town by involving local citizenry.
Captain SC Tripathi, the founder of Parivartan explains that his organisation is based on a 'collective' model where in all aspects from ideation to implementation is a collective effort. This model seemed appropriate considering the different problems that Kanpur was facing ranging from sanitation issues to drainage, power outages etc. Added to this was political and official apathy, indifference and cynicism of citizenry.