Aarti Kelkar Khambete

When the Ganges spews plastic!

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear not only forms a large portion of plastic waste that the Ganges pours into the sea, it also poses a major threat to the environment and biodiversity! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 4 months ago

Ganga river at Gadmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Harnessing runoff to cope with droughts in South India

With north east monsoon playing truant, understanding the reasons for droughts in South India is crucial. Can harnessing runoff help to cope with the increasing dry spells that south indian cities are facing? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 4 months ago

The scramble to collect water: Can it be prevented? (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Crop diversification to address the water crisis in Punjab

While borewells and aggressive irrigation practices continue to suck Punjab dry, can crop diversification rescue the state from turning into a desert? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 4 months ago

Unsustainable agricultural practices in Punjab (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)

Water, at a price!

The water woes of Darjeeling continue to grow with unreliable public water supply and highly elastic private water markets. Is there a way out? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 5 months ago

Darjeeling, in the grip of a water crisis (Image Source: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons)

Fifty million people in Indian cities lack access to safe drinking water

News this week Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 5 months ago

Bathing spaces for women - crucial for WASH!

Bathing spaces and not toilets alone, aid women in maintaining health and hygiene. It is time the Swachh Bharat Mission pays attention to bathing spaces as well! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 5 months ago

A temperory bathing space with no water and privacy in a fishing village in Tamil Nadu (Image Source: India Water Portal)

A river's story

This is the story of the river Kanari and her struggle for survival against all odds! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 6 months ago

The river Kanari and her story (Image Source: Ayushi Trivedi)

Reducing air pollution due to stubble burning in Northwest India

Philanthropy can play a role in mitigating air pollution and environmental degradation caused by agricultural practices in Punjab and Haryana. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 6 months ago

A large amount of crop residues are available in western UP and most of these are burnt in the field (Image: Ed Dunens, Flickr Commons)

The first mile goes a long way

Rural youth are a valuable asset. Bringing them on as frontline cadres in the water and agriculture sectors can strengthen rural development. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 6 months ago

Agriculture and rural farms in India (Image Source: Rajarshi Mitra Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/61732052@N02/94217 via Wikimedia Commons)42217

Will Andhra Pradesh’s free bore well scheme deplete groundwater?

Under the YSR Jalakala scheme, the Andhra Pradesh government will dig free bore wells to provide small and marginal farmers access to water. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 6 months ago

Groundwater depletion, a growing problem in India (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Roadmap for nature-based and climate resilient livelihoods in Maharashtra

State-level consultation on a roadmap for nature-based and climate resilient livelihoods in Maharashtra ends with a consensus. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Nature based climate resilient livelihoods (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Mosquito fish – invaders in disguise!

Gambusia or Mosquito fish, inspite of being recognised as highly invasive species, continue to be introduced in freshwater bodies for mosquito control in India. This needs to stop! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Gambusia spell doom for freshwater diversity (Image Source: Gambusia affinis, NOZO via Wikimedia Commons)

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. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Long queues waiting for tankers are common in different parts of Maharashtra during water scarcity (Image Source: WOTR)

Enhancing water security through responsible tourism

While tourism is on the threshold of expanding in India, water scarcity and quality issues could hinder progress. What could be the way out? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Water tankers cater to the needs of populations in tourist destinations in India (Image Source: India Water Portal)

The threatened traditional tank systems of Madurai

While traditional tanks systems in Madurai continue to fulfill the drinking water and irrigation needs of the rural population, rapid urbanisation is gradually destroying them! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

The dying tanks of Madurai (Image Source: Seetha Goplalakrishnan)

Meandering waterways: the interconnectedness of people’s action on water availability

Water demand and availability cannot be viewed in isolation. It is rather an outcome of the whole set of actions that people undertake to improve their lives and enhance their livelihoods. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Improving water availability in Mogras. Image used for representation only (Image Source: WOTR)

Managing groundwater demand: the way forward

Substituting groundwater irrigation by canal irrigation will not help in maintaining the current levels of food production in India. Managing groundwater demand will, finds a study. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

Groundwater, a valuable resource! (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Baravas - Unique water harvesting structures of Maharashtra

Baravas, the unique water harvesting structures of Maharashtra continue to stand the test of time. Urgent efforts need to be made to conserve them and learn from them! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 7 months ago

A barav from Limb village in Satara district, Maharashtra (Image Source: Aarti Kelkar Khambete)

Dams and distress in the Himalayas!

Hydropower projects and compensatory afforestation plantations are spelling doom for the fragile Himalayan forest ecosystems. Urgent action is the need of the hour! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 8 months ago

100 MW Tidong-I project, Kinnaur HP (Image Source: Manu Moudgil)

Living glasshouses - in the water!

Diatoms, that abound in freshwater ecosystems not only generate 25 percent of oxygen we breathe, but also help save freshwater bodies by detecting pollution! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 years 8 months ago

Diatom (Nitzschia sp. - a pollution indicator) along with other algae from a stream (Image Source: Karthick Balasubramanian)