Sustainability

Featured Articles
December 6, 2022
The water that you eat
Need to shift to a more sustainable diet without compromising on major nutrients and calories
Historically, India has been a net exporter of virtual water (Image: PxHere)
November 6, 2022
Protecting children from climate change impact not child's play
In 2020, 559 million children were affected by four to five heatwaves a year; numbers could increase four-fold by 2050, as per a report by UNICEF
Heat-related mortality is four times higher among children under 1 year of age than in persons aged 1–44 years (Image: Taqver, Wikimedia Commons)
April 26, 2022
Making the invisible, visible
The water stewardship initiative by WOTR that developed a tool to visualise aquifers has not only helped farmers understand groundwater as a shared resource, but also led to a behavioural change among water users and helped implement groundwater laws and policies.
Groundwater, a fast disappearing resource (Image Source: India Water Portal)
December 6, 2021
Leaving no one behind!
Will it be possible to ensure equity and justice while balancing climate action goals with economic progress?
Taking everyone along while achieving a balance between economic growth and climate goals is crucial (Image Source: Good Energies)
March 22, 2021
Water governance standard and certification system – An answer to the water problems of agrarian India
The recent 'Water governance standard and certification system' developed by WOTR can greatly help villages to develop good governance practices and manage their water needs equitably and sustainably.
Long queues waiting for tankers are common in different parts of Maharashtra during water scarcity (Image Source: WOTR)
December 29, 2020
Challenges to India’s urban water security and future growth patterns
Water resources in most Indian cities are overworked and overused, and not adequately replenished.
Cities in India are marked by unequal distribution of water, lack of access, outdated infrastructure and minimal enforcement of rainwater harvesting and other means of supply. (Image: Anish Roy, Pixabay)
A training manual on integrated management of watersheds by ICRISAT
Watersheds are natural. Human intervention forces the changes in ecology and management practices . The training manual provides an account for socio-technical aspects of watershed.
International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
S P Wani
T J Rego
T Pathak
Posted on 05 Nov, 2010 12:05 PM

The training manual by ICRISAT on integrated management of watersheds is meant for watershed development practitioners and provides an account of the socio-technical aspects of watershed. To begin with, the definitional aspects of watershed are spelt out -

  • The term “watershed” strictly refers to the divide separating one drainage basin from another. However, over the years, the use of the term watershed to signify a drainage basin or catchment area has come to stay.
  • Hydrologically, watershed could be defined as an area from which the runoff drains through a particular point in the drainage system.

News roundup (22 - 31 October 2010) :" India: Land of many cell phones, but fewer toilets"
Stories that made news in the week
Vineeta Pandey
Ravi Nessman
Tapas Chakraborty
Henry Foy
Ajith Athrady
Mahesh Joshi
Katherine Sola
nitya Rana
Abhijeet Chattejee
Pankaj Sarma
Posted on 03 Nov, 2010 08:50 AM

Wastewater/Sanitation

"Gujarat farmers fight against climate change: Adopt technoloxxgy to conserve resources and maximize benefits" : News roundup (15-21 October 2010)
News concerning water and related issues from across the country
Vijaysinh Parmar
Lyla Bavadam
AFP
Juliette Jowit
The New Indian Express
Padmaparna Ghosh
Anjli Raval
IANS
Pandurang Mhaske
The Assam Tribune
Viju B
Business Line
Sharad Vyas
Vinaya Deshpandey
Zee News
PTI
Deccan Herald News Services
Poornima Nataraj
Paul Fernandes
Aparna Pallavi
Governance Now Bureau
Hueiyen News Service / M Karnajit
Khelen Thokchom
DNA
Posted on 22 Oct, 2010 11:25 AM

Climate Change

Tank irrigation in semi-arid tropical India: Economic evaluation and alternatives for improvement - A report by ICRISAT
A report that analyses the tank=irrigation density in the two semi-arid tropic states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics
K V Subba Rao
M von Oppen
Posted on 20 Oct, 2010 10:03 PM

This report by ICRISAT deals with a survey of thirty-two tanks and farm data from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states to assess the economic performance of irrigation tanks in semi arid tropics of India. It uses district-wise data on climatic and institutional variables to analyze the factors affecting tank-irrigation density. Results indicate that the spatial distribution of irrigation tanks is determined primarily by physical factors—hard rock substratum, post-monsoon rains, low moisture-holding capacity of soils and by population density.

The Orissa water supply and sewerage board act - Government of Orissa (1991)
This document describes the details of the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act, 1991 published by the Government of Orissa.
Orissa Water Supply and Sewage Board (Government of Orissa)
Posted on 12 Oct, 2010 03:16 PM

This document describes the details of the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act, 1991 and includes:

The short title, extent and the commencement of the Act
The definitions of the terms used in the Act
The details regarding the establishment of the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board, conduct of 
business duties and powers of the board
The details of vesting of property, assets, liabilities and obligations and transfer of property to the board
Contract, finance, account and audits of the board
Fees and charges decided by the board
Definition of supply of water for domestic purposes under the Act
Right of the owner or occupier to obtain sewer connection
Penalties and proceedures
External control
  • The short title, extent and the commencement of the Act
  • The definitions of the terms used in the Act
  • The details regarding the establishment of the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board, conduct of business duties and powers of the board
  • The details of vesting of property, assets, liabilities and obligations and transfer of property to the board
  • Contract, finance, account and audits of the board
  • Fees and charges decided by the board
  • Definition of supply of water for domestic purposes under the Act
  • Right of the owner or occupier to obtain sewer connection
  • Penalties and proceedures
  • External control
The first Professor Satish Dhawan Commemoration lecture : Role of engineering in development of economy, society and people
Aiming towards responsible citizens through better education, and understanding the role of engineering
Y S Rajan
Posted on 11 Oct, 2010 03:34 PM

The first Professor Satish Dhawan Commemoration lecture organized by The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE), Karnataka State Centre delivered on 22nd September 2010 at The Institution of Engineers (India), Karnataka State Centre, No. 3, Dr. B R Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore 560 001.

Dr.Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS/Chairman, Space Commission, Dr.L V Muralikrishna Reddy, Chairman, The Institution of Engineers (India) Karnataka Sate Centre, Dr.S B Ganjigatti, Honorary Secretary and distinguished participants.

Takeaways from NEERI brainstorming workshop - Water technology developers and other stakeholders
Engaging better with different stakeholders involved with bringing scientific innovation in the water sector to reach large numbers of people who need the innovations.
Vijay Krishna
Posted on 11 Oct, 2010 03:21 AM

The National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is a premier CSIR laboratory. On September 7th, NEERI held a brainstorming workshop entitled "Interface between water technology developers and other stakeholders”.  The purpose of the workshop was to engage better with other players involved with bringing scientific innovation in the water sector to reach large numbers of people who need the innovations.  Attendees included scientists from many CSIR laboratories involved with water research, senior central government officials from the Rural Water Supply Department and the Dept of Science and Technology, State government officials, representatives from leading corporate houses including Eureka Forbes and Unilever and NGOs.  

Indian farmers fight billionaire Mittal and Posco, a leading company in steel making, for water rights in Orissa : News roundup (1-7 October 2010)
Indian farmers fight billionaire Mittal and Posco, a leading company in steel making, for water rights in Orissa and other stories in the news roundup for week ending 7 Oct 2010.
IWP
Posted on 08 Oct, 2010 10:24 AM

Water for Industry

Drinking Water/Urban Water/Water Quality

Multi stage aerobic bio reactor for sewage treatment
AN attempt to overcome the problem of clogging and wash out of microbes from reactor, and to enhance the mixing and settlability of microbial granules within the reactor,
Chola Aqua Technologies - CAT
Posted on 01 Oct, 2010 10:13 PM

About CAT “MAR” (Multi Stage Aerobic Bio Reactor)

This reactor was developed with the aim to overcome the main problem associated with SBR, MBR & FABBR, i.e.,

  • The plugging & clogging of filter and
  • Wash out microbes from the reactor        
Analysis of the UN General Assembly's Resolution on Right to Water and Sanitation
Why historic UN General Assembly Resolution declaring Water and Sanitation as a Right, was opposed and vetoed by those who strongly have been professing for human rights
Depinder Kapur
Posted on 30 Sep, 2010 06:47 PM

The historic UN General Assembly Resolution declaring Water and Sanitation as a Right, was passed on the 28th July 2010. 

What is surprising is the complete silence to this UN Resolution from some of the countries who have been traditional champions of human rights, in terms of celebrating it as a historic achievement in advocating a basic right to water and sanitation. Instead some of them went one step short of openly opposing and vetoing the UN Resolution and have heaped criticism on Bolivia for tabling this UN Resolution.

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