Maharashtra village overcomes its water woes through collective action

Maharashtra village overcomes its water woes through collective action

Konambe village in Sinnar taluka of Nashik region in Maharashtra and situated in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, received meagre rainfall despite being in close proximity to water resources, and villagers had to depend on water tankers to meet their water needs. The farming practices in the region further worsened the situation as farmers installed water pumps to irrigate their fields leading to groundwater exploitation. 

However, the situation in the village changed when the community got together for a unique water conservation initiative. The change was spearheaded by the former village sarpanch who worked with villagers, urban supporters, government agencies and NGOs, experts and started watershed works in the village.

The villagers also benefited from state government initiatives such as the Jalayukt Shivar Yojana, a water conservation scheme, and Gaalmukt Dharan Yojana, focusing on silt-free water reservoirs. Desilting of tanks increased groundwater tables and improved water availability during summer.

While the Konambe dam, built in 1971 existed on the Dev River in the village, the dam’s capacity had reduced due to accumulation of silt. The desilting activities conducted by villagers improved water availability  and produced around 20,000 cubic metres of soil, which was spread across 500 acres of fallow land and reclaimed for cultivation. Social mobilisation played an important role in these efforts.

The villagers also started a tree-planting initiative and planted around 18,000 trees of various varieties leading to an increase in biodiversity. The village now witnesses the presence of monkeys, rabbits, foxes, porcupines, deer and peacocks, with occasional sightings of leopards (Village Square).

IIT Madras researchers develop aerogel adsorbent that removes pollutants from wastewater

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Tel Aviv University, Israel, have developed an aerogel adsorbent that can remove trace pollutants from wastewater. This graphene-modified silica aerogel removes 76 percent of trace pollutants (PPM level) in continuous flow conditions sustainably and can be useful for large-scale water purification initiatives.

Aerogels are lightweight solids composed mostly of air and are excellent adsorbents (a solid substance used to remove contaminants). They can be customised to target specific contaminants by modifying their surface chemistry, they can be regenerated and reused multiple times, reducing waste and operational costs, thus making them a sustainable solution for water purification. They have adjustable surface chemistry, low density, and a highly porous structure. These materials are often referred to as 'solid air' or 'frozen smoke', and can be easily fabricated.

Indigenous techniques for wastewater purification can be crucial in dealing with pollution and to preserve water quality, protect ecosystems and mitigate health risks associated with contaminated water (India Today).

Citizens in Ladakh work together for conserving wildlife 

Ladakh is characterised by extreme temperatures and limited rainfall, and harbours unique biodiversity with approximately 318 bird species and 31 mammal species. However, the region is witnessing the impacts of rising temperatures and anthropogenic pressures such as tourism that are posing a threat to the biodiversity of the region. 

To safeguard the region’s wildlife, the indigenous people of Ladakh have now formed a grassroots initiative named 'Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh' (WCBCL) that collects photographs, data and vital information regarding Ladakh’s unique birds and animals. 

The primary objective of the initiative is to educate the public about these species and promote their conservation. WCBCL has conducted numerous awareness programmes for wildlife conservation. Periodic bird censuses are also carried out in Ladakh, leading to the discovery of several new species in the region. 

Photographers associated with the club organise several photo exhibitions in Leh, showcasing local wildlife. The club also  creates awareness about wildlife behaviour. They not only work to protect wildlife but also collaborate with the forest department by reporting instances of rule violations. WCBCL now plans to create an indigenous checklist of birds and animals in Ladakh (Mongabay, India).

A Kashmiri resident turns plastic waste into a thriving industry

Plastic bottles and bags of chips are now increasingly littering the nooks and crannies of Kashmir's landscape in recent years. However, a solution has arrived in the form of a  50-year-old visionary entrepreneur Manzoor Ah Dar, a 50-year-old visionary from Turka-Tachloo village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Manzoor decided to turn discarded plastic into a thriving industry by investing with his brother Bashir Ah Dar in two essential machines – a grinder capable of reducing plastic of various colours into small pieces and a compressor for squashing plastic bottles. 

The Dar brothers encountered a number of obstacles such as inadequate supply of plastic and poor availability of skilled workers, but they expanded their operations gradually and connected with a network of suppliers and buyers. Their plastic venture aimed at cleansing the environment by reducing plastic waste and providing  jobs to their fellow community members. 

Following the success of his recycling venture in Turka-Tachloo village, Manzoor founded another plastic factory in the Vessu area, about 12 km from his home. Both of his plastic units are filled with bundles of scrap collected by two categories of people, people who visit littered areas for plastic and those who go door to door, purchasing plastic from households.

They also collaborate with individuals who have set up their own shops, where they purchase plastic from those who collect it through village-to-village travel. This has not only helped in acquiring raw materials, but also provided livelihoods of many involved in this eco-friendly supply chain. (Village Square). 

A new technique utilises banana peels to remove fluoride from drinking water

A chemistry teacher at Dhubri Bhola Nath College in Assam has successfully reduced the fluoride content in drinking water through an innovative experiment involving banana peels. An expert in wastewater treatment, Dr Sen Gupta introduced critical parameters and mechanistic modifications using banana peels for defluoridation thus providing a ray of hope for a cost effective and organic way forward in developing this unique water purification technology.

The proceedure includes three varieties of bananas (Bhim - musa balbisiana colla, Malbhog - Musa paradisiaca, Jahaji - Musa chinensis) and utilises their peels dried under sunlight for nearly six to seven days. The dried banana peels are then ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to initiate the defluoridation process. The method requires thirty minutes to complete and effectively eliminates excess fluoride ions from the drinking water.

Excessive levels of fluoride ions in drinking water can lead to a range of serious health issues such as dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, arthritis, bone damage, osteoporosis, muscular damage, fatigue, joint-related problems, and chronic health concerns. While various methods for purification exist, this organic-based approach demonstrates significant promise. However, additional research  to enhance cost efficiency and reliability is needed before the technique can be used in the community (India Today). 

This is a roundup on important news updates from 1st November to 15th November 2023. View the policy updates here.