Works to rejuvenate polluted Kolavoy lake to be taken up under Central plan

After several years of negligence, the much-abused Kolavoy lake, one of the largest water bodies in Kancheepuram district, might soon be rejuvenated. The lake, also known as Chengalpattu lake, will be the first water body in the Chennai region to get a new lease of life under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Union ministry of forests and environment.

Many Of Bangalore’s Open Wells Are In The Throes Of Death Today

Bangalore: Today, abandoned open wells across the city are nothing but a repository of the dry treatment meted out to them for years. What once seemed inexhaustible water sources have fallen into disuse, thanks to unbridled exploitation and lack of attempts to revive them. TOI tracks down three wells that were once well-springs of life but now embody our half-hearted approach to water conservation.

Understanding the immediate need to address the issue of decreasing ground water levels in parts of the district, the Ground Water Department is taking active steps to spread awareness about ground water conservation.

The ground water resource estimation committee report prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources jointly by the Centre and state government has identified Paravur, Parakkadavu and Vyttila, which includes Maradu and Kumbalam blocks, as semi critical areas in terms of fall in ground water levels in Ernakulam district.

Cabinet panel to frame rules

The government has, in principle, decided to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for new buildings and houses as part of efforts to conserve water and overcome its shortage, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said. Briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, Mr. Chandy said a Cabinet subcommittee comprising Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph, Panchayats and Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneeer, and Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali had been set up to frame rules in this regard. Later, rainwater harvesting would be made mandatory for old buildings.

At a time when neighbouring Maharashtra is facing the worst drought in 40 years, Gujarat is gearing up to conserve water on a war-footing: About five lakh people will gather in Rajkot district on M

A high-level Environment Ministry panel has recommended granting green clearance to the proposed international airport at north Kerala’s Kannur district.

SHILLONG: With the annual demand of fish in the State reaching around 33000 metric tonnes, the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission (MSAM) is expected to produce around 20000 mt of fish thereby reducing the demand and supply gap.

The Mission has been divided into mini missions and under the mini mission 1, the Government plans to construct 5618 fish ponds. Sources said that so far around 4300 fish ponds have been sanctioned even as the Government under the mission plans to construct 1 lakh fish ponds in the five years of the project.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said the Delhi Government was eagerly awaiting the commissioning of Munak Canal, which will result in saving 80 MGD raw water, to help the city meet its demand for drinking water. Moreover, three water treatment plants lying idle at Dwarka, Okhla and Bawana are expected to become functional soon with the availability of more raw water.

Speaking at a function to lay the foundation stone for rehabilitation of sewers at Harsh Vihar in North-West Delhi, Ms. Dikshit, who is also the Chairperson of Delhi Jal Board, said she has taken up the issue of early commissioning of the Munak Canal with Prime Minister’s Office and Union Water Resource Ministry.

Work on underpasses to create long-term assets

The UPA government's flagship social sector programme — the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) — will now be able to create permanent infrastructure assets, giving the seven-year-old scheme providing livelihood to almost 5 crore families annually an altogether new direction. The rural development ministry has decided to include building railway underpasses under the ambit of NREGS. An official announcement is expected shortly.

China has conducted investigations and research on the condition of underground water to determine the extent of pollution, a senior official from China's top economic planning agency said Thursday