Aarti Kelkar Khambete

How can growing groundwater crisis be dealt with?

A regulatory framework that protects the resource and good practices of participatory groundwater management -- both essential features of groundwater governance -- are necessary to manage the crisis. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Bangalore's water mafia explained!

Water mafias do not comprise only independent, small-scale players operating outside the state but also large-scale utility companies, which too operate through the water mafia and its strategies. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Private lorry tankers getting their fill

Does 24x7 water supply help reduce water storage or hoarding in urban areas?

A study at Hubli Dharwad found that there could be limits to how formal a city's water supply systems is. These depended on consumer habits, the history of a city’s water supply and infrastructure. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Water, a valuable resource (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Standing Committee Report: Safe drinking water and sanitation

The report is scathing and points at many gaps in the planning and implementing process of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) & the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) SBM (G) programmes. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Watershed development in India: Learning through experience

Implementing good watershed management practices can go a long way in dealing with the increasing water crisis in India in recent years. Lessons learned from three World Bank projects are detailed. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Causes of agrarian stagnation: A tale of two regions

Agrarian stagnation was the same in Saurashtra and Vidarbha until 1990. However, Saurashtra’s agriculture has been growing, while Vidarbha’s farmers continue to suffer. Why? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

The Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act 2009

Shashank Deshpande, Deputy Director GSDA, talks to the India Water Portal on the background and features of the recently passed Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act 2009. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Indian wetlands under threat!

Despite their importance to the planet, wetlands continue to be ignored at the policy level. More efforts need to be made at restoring the health of wetlands in India. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Deepor beel, Assam (Source : India Water Portal)

The slow poisoning of the Baitarani river in Odisha

Proper disposal of waste into streams and rivers, and controlling and monitoring human activities near the water sources are some ways by which pollution can be contained. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

The Baitarani, Odisha (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Predicted impacts of droughts on agriculture and food production

The paper presents the findings of a study that attempted to estimate the effect of rainfall on the supply and demand sides of agricultural commodities, and their implications on prices. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Severe droughts (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Water, through an artist's lens

Photographer Arjun Swaminathan speaks to India Water Portal about his journey so far, which includes filming water stories. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 7 months ago

Search for water (Source: Arjun Swaminathan)

Constructed wetlands as a cost effective cleaning option

Water treated using constructed wetlands before being used for irrigation can be a suitable and cost effective option to prevent possible human health risks Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 7 months ago

Punjab's groundwater crisis: A bye product of the govt's short sighted policies?

As long as electricity is improperly priced and farmers get the MSP for rice, they will not take up maize cultivation. This will lead to further deterioration of groundwater. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 7 months ago

Farmer in Punjab (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Slow poisoning of the Harike wetland

Considered a Ramsar site since 1990, the Harike wetland in Punjab is on the verge of a serious crisis, as contamination of its waters from effluents has reached critical levels. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

Harike wetland (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

World's only floating freshwater lake under threat

Evidence shows that the Loktak lake in Manipur, famous for its floating heterogenous masses of vegetation, is getting more and more polluted. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

View of Loktak lake (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Kashmir's lake fisheries are dying a slow death

The decline of local species, aggressive promotion of species such as carp, and emphasis on tourism have led to a decline in fish production in Kashmir's Dal and Wular lakes. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

View of the Wular Lake (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

A 3-year journey from water scarcity to security

Manayali village in Maharashtra not only became water secure but also managed to provide a solution to a small Banjara community that lives 3 km away from it -- through community participation. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

Manyali residents testing water from their well

Empowered TN fisherfolk challenge urbanisation

Should a fishing hamlet be lost to an elevated Beach Expressway? No!, say the fisherfolk of Olcott and Odai Kuppam who claim their rights over coastal commons using community self-mapping. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

Fishermen launching their boat into the sea

Family farming as an alternative to tackle hunger and poverty

With multiple advantages over corporate farming, family farming can play an important role in achieving food security through sustainable agricultural practices. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

Climate change threatens Indian mangroves

Increase in temperatures, carbon dioxide concentration, rise in sea levels and extreme weather events like cyclones and droughts, are predicted to have deleterious effects on Indian mangroves. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 8 months ago

Sundarban mangrove (Source: Wikimedia Commons)