The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
PUNE: The rising temperature and shrinking water stocks in Marathwada region has forced the authorities to increase water supply by tankers. As many as 1,875 tankers are supplying drinking water to 1,646 villages and 749 hamlets in Marathwada. A week back, 1,413 villages and 743 hamlets were receiving drinking water …
Maharashtra is facing a severe drought while there are allegations of a massive scam in the execution of irrigation projects. The white paper on irrigation projects, brought out by the state government, glosses over a number of major concerns. Until there is a fundamental shift in state policy based on …
Farmers in Namakkal district will get the entire drought relief fund of Rs. 56.11 crore. “The package will benefit a total of 1,17,458 farmers who suffered crop or yield loss of more than 50 per cent on an area of 1,80,981 acres, as on January 2013”, Collector D. Jagannathan told …
The Centre on Friday revised its foodgrains production estimate upwards by 5.22 million tonnes for 2012-13 over earlier expectation on account of higher output of rice, wheat and coarse cereals. The total foodgrains output is now estimated at 255.36 million tonnes with wheat production pegged at 93.62 million tonnes and …
Compensation to be credited to their savings bank accounts The State government has sanctioned Rs.60 crore for the distribution of compensation to 1.28 lakh farmers who suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss due to drought, according to Collector N.Venkatachalam. Presiding over a special drought relief meeting at the …
The total area covered under the micro irrigation systems in the district has more than doubled during the last two years as many farmers are adopting effective water management practices in the wake of the drought. In a period of three years starting from 2007-08, the farming community in the …
The number of farmers suicides declined to 346 in 2011 from 565 in 2006 in Vidarbha region The government today said 228 farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra because of agrarian distress during the April-January period of 2012-13 fiscal. "The number of farmers in the six identified suicide …
Assessment by high-level committee based on interactions with farmers A Rs.1,755-crore package of drought relief measures was unveiled on Friday for non-Cauvery delta districts in the State. Of this package, six components were meant for about 17.9 lakh farmers, who had suffered over 50 per cent crop loss. The farmers, …
Reliable forecasts of future ‘megadroughts’ would be a boon to farmers and water managers. But results presented last week at the annual assembly of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna suggest that such forecasts are still beyond the reach of current climate models.
Mumbai: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has unexpectedly secured a whopping financial assistance of Rs2,700 crore from the Centre, as a result of which senior bureaucrats feel that there will be no shortage of funds to tackle the drought. “We are facing a worst-ever drought in 4,000 villages in 12 districts. …
Chandy lays stress on rainwater harvesting Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has directed officials to ensure that rainwater harvesting pits are made compulsory for all new constructions in the capital district, apart from initiating digging of rain pits under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Addressing a drought …
Saurashtra and Kutch regions parched, people battling odds to get even a pot of drinking water Narendra Modi may be on a campaign selling his model of governance but Gujarat is reeling under severe drought that has left Saurashtra and Kutch regions parched and people battling odds to get even …
Recent reports from China and the USA indicate the production of staple foods including rice, wheat and soya are likely to be hit in the coming decades due to increasing incidences of extreme weather. Experts warn that as the world's population and temperatures rise, so added stress will be placed …
With scorching summer pushing Kerala to unprecedented drought, political parties on Wednesday voiced concern in the state assembly over the acute water and power crisis even as the Government said it has already taken all possible measures to tackle the “grim situation.” After a three-hour debate on an adjournment motion …
It is “water politics” in Gujarat now. With nearly 8,000 of the 18,000 villages in the state declared drought-affected as many of the urban centres in the Kutch-Saurashtra and the north Gujarat regions are experiencing acute water scarcity, both Congress and the ruling BJP are planning to confront each other …
Eleven borewells are being sunk in different parts of Golden Rock zone of the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation as part of the drought-relief work in the city, according to Mayor A. Jaya. The corporation is sinking about 50 borewells with hand pumps and 10 others with power pumps in different parts …
Aimed at making Kannur water-rich district in four years The Kannur Water Conservation Society (KWCS) will launch long-term groundwater recharge activities in view of the depletion in groundwater level and contamination of water resources in the district that raise concerns about a severe drought situation. The society, which was established …
Mumbai: Even as politicians are busy criticizing Ajit Pawar’s jeering comment on drought, water stocks in all the dams in Marathwada touched the lowest level ever on Tuesday. Going by the information released by the water resources department on Tuesday, stock in all the dams in the entire Marathwada region …
State Authority, Affected People Not Consulted Mumbai: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar might have apologized for his callous “urinating-in-the-dam” statement that belittled the tragedy of Maharashtra’s farmers facing the worst drought in decades. But his apathy for them predates the blunder by years. Between 2003 and 2011, as the water …
The Centre today formally released the contentious National Water Policy Document-2012 by presenting its first copy to President Pranab Mukherjee who inaugurated India Water Week with a call to make judicious use of the precious natural resource. “Efficient water management: Challenges and opportunities” is the theme of the five-day event. …
