How does a city-state that has no natural water body, very little groundwater and even less land to store rainwater quench the thirst of its five million people? Singapore faces this question just as one of its 50-year water import agreement with Johor, now a part of Malaysia, expires in …
We were standing at the edge of what looked like a swamp—grass and pools and streams. On one side was heavily barricaded land with high walls, barbed wires and armed security. A board read: East Coast Energy, Kakarapalli. This was where a bloody battle had taken place a few months …
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Comprehensive Mission Document of the National Water Mission. The objective of National Water Mission is "conservation of water, minimising wastage and ensuring its equitable distribution both across and within states through integrated water resources development and management
Jai Sri is a common greeting in the Koraput countryside these days. A Paraja tribal woman working in her fields, a passing motorcyclist driving through the rutted lanes, a teacher heading for his school, they all greet each other and visitors with a Jai Sri. It has nothing to do …
Tapasya Mohan, a 29-year-old executive in a telecom company, recently purchased a refrigerator. She did not go by looks but the five-star label on the fridge for energy efficiency. She did not mind paying more; the salesman convinced her she would save more in the long run on her electricity …
He is a former MLA, a khandani landlord and owns more than 121 hectare (ha) apart from many local businesses. Known as the ‘sarkar’ of Sonkachch tehsil of the dry Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajendhra Singh Baghel met natural farming guru Subhash Palekar about 10 years ago. Today, …
The traditional management of Mudiyanur tank provides an interesting example of a system of management that ensured fair distribution of water to the land of all households, promoted respect for different roles in society, and sought to resolve conflict between different parties in as harmonious a manner as possible. The …
MAHABUBNAGAR A Shekhar, 25, committed suicide a year ago. A resident of Burgupalle village in Andhra Pradesh’s Mahabub - nagar district, he had bought half a hectare (ha) for growing paddy. He borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh to sink three borewells but did not find groundwater. Shekhar could not repay the …
The million-odd users of groundwater in Andhra Pradesh need a new form of regulation, everybody agrees. The system based on permits—under WALTA—only adds to the transaction cost of farmers. The fact is there is a desperation to dig and then dig deeper. There is no estimation how much the farmers—private …
The Pushkar lake dried after dredging last summer. The dredging was part of a lake conservation project funded by the Centre and the Rajasthan government. The Rs 48-crore project aims to spruce up the catchment and concretize existing channels that carry the run-off. The latter is to curb losses through …
Water is an essential commodity for survival and development. But the ever-increasing human population, technological modernization, changing life patterns and erratic monsoons are likely to lead to water crisis in this millennium. In the study, indigenous water conservation systems of Himachal Pradesh have been studied. The villagers had developed different …
Groundwater, which has emerged as India's prime adaptive mechanism in times of drought, will play a crucial role this year since the aquifers were recharged in 2006-08. The impact of the drought of 2009 will therefore be less severe than the drought of 2002. Beyond the immediate response, we need …
Water is one of the most valuable resources. The agriculture sector is the largest consumer of water resources in the developing countries. Assured supply of water is necessary for sustainable agriculture.
San Francisco may soon boast the greenest buildings in the US. Last week, the local government took a decisive step towards agreeing what are probably the toughest environmental construction standards in the country. Families and companies planning to build offices and homes will be required to earn green points by …
In a study by the Central Pollution Control Board, the Bharalu and Kolong rivers of Assam have featured among 71 most polluted in the country. In the North-East, the Kharkhala in Meghalaya also figures in the list. While the enlisting does give us a wake-up call, we hardly require a …
The United Nations has announced 2008 as the Year of Sanitation. This is at a time when at least 2.6 billion people - 41 per cent of the global population - do not have access to latrines or any sort of basic sanitation facilities. Sanjay Krishna, a volunteer, NGO Dhan …
In parts of the world already facing unreliable food supplies, an uncertain climate adds to the future stress for soils, plants and people. March 20, 2008
The water shortage that threatens humanity will have wide-ranging consequences for agriculture and energy production, requiring significant shifts in the way this precious resource is managed. (editorial) 20 March 2008
Global energy consumption is expected to grow by 50% by 2030, squeezing already scarce water resources. Mike Hightower and Suzanne A. Pierce recommend ways to integrate water and energy planning. March 20, 2008
