As climate change intensifies, it is imperative for policymakers to address the escalating loss and damage it inflicts on vulnerable communities in developing countries. In India's Maharashtra state, these impacts are forcing rural families into life-altering decisions and migrations to work in sugarcane fields, where exploitative practices by contractors, including …
An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday approved Rs 511-crore assistance for Rajasthan, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh - the states affected by floods and droughts in 2012. Further, an additional grant of Rs 256 crore was given to Maharashtra for rejuvenation …
The water levels in reservoirs of dams in the state are depleting at an alarming rate with the summer season making its presence felt. As per official figures, the stocks were down to 22% of the reservoir capacities on an average. Water shortage is scary in the drought-hit Marathwada region …
Implementation of MGNREGS works such as water conservation and harvesting works, drought proofing and renovation of traditional water bodies have contributed to improved ground water levels finds this study conducted by IISc, Bangalore. The study on the environmental benefits of MGNREGS and reduction of vulnerability to climate risks was initiated …
The government and World Bank today signed two new project agreements with a combined value of $77.6 million. “Strengthening climate resilience, building adaptive capacity and improving food and nutrition security, especially for at-risk women, are key pillars of the World Bank’s development partnership with Nepal,” said World Bank country manager …
The government's 350-billion-baht flood prevention and drought mitigation projects look set to go ahead, despite widespread criticism. Amid protests and threats of litigation by green and civic groups, bidding for the projects will go ahead tomorrow as scheduled. Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, in his capacity as chairman of the …
Nearly 260,000 people died during the famine that hit Somalia from 2010 to 2012, a study shows. Half of them were children under the age of five, says the report by the UN food agency and the US-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network. The number of deaths was higher than …
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Thursday that the year 2012 was the ninth warmest on record despite the cooling influence of a La Nina episode early in the year. The WMO's Statement on the Status of the Global Climate said that the global land and ocean surface temperature in …
Australia's iconic marsupial is at risk from shrinking habitats, road traffic and dog attacks – and increasingly, global warming Australia's iconic marsupial is under threat. Formerly hunted almost to extinction for their woolly coats, koalas are now struggling to survive as habitat destruction caused by droughts and bushfires, land clearing …
Industrialized nations' greenhouse gas emissions dipped 0.7 percent in 2011, helped by a U.S. shift from high-polluting coal in power plants and by Europe's economic slowdown, data compiled by Reuters showed on Friday. For many years it has been a mantra that rich nations, historically the top polluters, should make …
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 prone districts of Vidarbha region who committed suicide due to agrarian distress is 228 during the last …
Residents of Jalna, who are reeling under severe drought, have found a way to beat the perennial water crisis. A group of traders, industrialists and residents have decided to replicate the famous Shirpur pattern on the Kundalika river. The group has asked geologist and water conservation Suresh Khanapurkar, who brought …
MNS has now decided to target the Rs 1,500-crore bottled water industry in the state. Questioning its profits, the party wants bottled water manufacturers to adopt drought-hit districts or supply water to such villages. MNS workers led by Rita Gupta, vice-president of the party women wing, gheroed the Bisleri head …
Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosale on Wednesday contributed Rs five lakh towards the Maharashtra Chief Minister's drought relief fund. She met CM Prithviraj Chavan at his official bungalow "Varsha" in South Mumbai and handed over the cheque to him. The singer said it was the duty of each and every …
The state government has increased the crop loan limit of farmers by 15% which will come into effect from the coming kharif season starting from mid June this year. The government has also decided to conduct meetings with the banks that give credit to farmers. The government has identified 15 …
Bombay High Court (HC) asked Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) Wednesday to hear Solapur farmers aggrieved by the parched Ujjani dam that has allegedly created a drought-like situation in the district. On April 15, HC had pulled up the state government for failing to appoint members to MWRRA. Last …
Taking into account the rising mercury and the drought crisis in Maharashtra, the state government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1 crore to supply water for wild animals in the forests. Forest minister Patangrao Kadam said, "The state is facing one of the worst drought crisis and forest …
A parched paddy field at Puzhakkal near Thrissur.— PHOTO: K.C. Sowmish Many places in the district are facing acute water shortage as the mercury level is soaring. Water shortage is severe in Engandiyur, Nattika, Thriprayar, Chenthrapinni, Cherpu, Thannyam, Chazhur, Chalakudy, Anthicaud, Chelakkara, Vallathol Nagar, Desamangalam, Varavur and Panjal panchayats. Long …
Taking into account the rising mercury and the drought crisis in Maharashtra, the state government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1 crore to supply water for wild animals in the forests. Forest minister Patangrao Kadam said, "The state is facing one of the worst drought crisis and forest …
Says total of about Rs 7,000 cr-worth loans in 11,809 villages will be restructured Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday said that crop loans in the 15 drought-affected districts in the state would be restructured. "As per the existing crop loan scheme, there is zero per cent interest for …
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has said that agriculture loans to farmers in the State in the current financial year would be extended to the extent of Rs.72,000 crore as against Rs.52,000 crore in the last financial year. Launching the ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatralu’ at Jadcharla on Monday, the Chief …
