Delhi’s draft water policy released - Roundup of the week’s news (January 21 -27, 2013)

Delhi’s draft water policy

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has proposed several measures in its draft policy that aim to provide more water to the city through recycling and reuse of wastewater. It also proposes demand management which the DJB intends to roll in through gradually raising water charges in the city and proposes steps to bring down the non-revenue water.

Drought in Maharashtra more severe than the famine in 1972

Stating this, the Union agriculture minister said that the state government has planned a meeting with the Centre to seek funds from the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) to be used for drought mitigation and water conservation projects. Maharashtra is battling its worst drought in 40 years, with growing fears that even drinking water could become scarce this summer in many cities and villages.

Tamil Nadu to sue Karnataka over Cauvery issue

Tamil Nadu government will file an original suit claiming damages from Karnataka in view of the “intransigent attitude” of the government which is likely to deepen the legal battle over the Cauvery dispute between the two states. This petition would be filed, citing the Karnataka government’s refusal to release Tamil Nadu’s quota of water as per orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Cauvery Monitoring Committee recording this.

Ganges river pollution rises during Kumbh Mela

Pollution levels rose alarmingly in the river Ganges in Allahabad on the first day of the Kumbh Mela festival when eight million people bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers .

Luhri hydel project gets the green signal

Despite facing opposition from environment groups, the Luhri hydel project, proposed at Satluj river, is set to get environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Water as a daylight source

‘Liter of light’, a clear plastic soda bottle filled with water and installed in the roof as a skylight, refracts the sunlight as it streams through the bottle, dispersing the rays 360 degrees, thereby illuminating the entire room. It provides informal settlements in Phillipines with a cheap daytime lighting.