Bangalore Urban and Rural District

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) moved forward on developing a GIS in 1998-99 and along with other civic bodies of Bangalore (BDA , BMP, BESCOM and others) pooled resources for obtaining aerial photography and photogrammetrically compiled base map covering an area of 290 Sq Kms of Ban

Bangalore Film Society, Arghyam, Svaraj- Society for Voluntary Action Revitalization and Justice, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca College, USA (FLEFF) Mountainfilm in Telluride, USA, Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore, Charter of Human Responsibilities and Water Journeys - Campaign for Fundamental Right to Water are organizing the fourth edition of the largest international film festival on water - Voices from the Waters 2009 from Friday 4th September, 2009 to Monday 7th September, 2009. Established in 2005 to promote among the public an awareness of the myriad water-issues affecting our everyday lives either directly or indirectly and as a platform for alternate voices and views rarely heard in mainstream, Voices from the Waters started as a Bangalore-based Environmental Film Festival and over the 2007 and 2008 editions grew to be one of the largest, most diverse and dynamic platforms of debate, dialogue and celebration of the precious resource, the blue gold, life itself - water.

The collection includes the following four case studies from India:

India's dependence on the underground aquifer especially deep bore wells are well known. With over 22 million wells India has perhaps one of the largest such structures in the world. Since most of peninsular India is hard rock with basalt/granite/gneiss underlying they present a particular challenge for understanding.

Arghyam is looking for a dynamic individual to join our Urban Water Initiative in Bangalore as a Consultant - Social Development. Arghyam is a not-for-profit organization working in the water sector in India. Arghyam's vision is "Enough water, safe water….always and for all". Through partnerships and grants we support strategic efforts that address issues relating to equity and sustainability for all citizens. We are a small, diverse team comprising individuals who have come together sharing the same dream and passion for making a difference to the people of India. The core members have had decades of experience in running projects in the social, corporate and Government settings. Under Arghyam's Urban water Initiative we are taking up Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) in a pilot town in Karnataka through a collaborative and participative process. It involves working with the town and all its stakeholders to facilitate integrated management of water resources, water supplies, sanitation, storm water drainage, wastewater treatment etc in a sustainable manner. The objective is to develop a model town that manages its water in a manner that is socially, technically, environmentally, and financially sustainable.

The Water Portal will be participating in an event at Madiwala Lake in Bangalore on Sunday March 22nd. The event will raise awareness about the benefits of Madiwala Lake and the problems facing the lake. A proposal will be made to construct a bicycle track around the lake which will have several benefits including reducing encroachment.

Dear Member Suchitra Film Society celebrates World Water Day with screenings of films on the theme of "Water"on 22nd and 23rd March 2009 at Suchitra Auditorium at 6.45 pm. The films are: > Jalatharangini, > Life in The River > Let's not Disturb The Water > Village of Dust, City of Water > Films on 'Ganga'.

Vishwanath calls on all to set aside the "yuck" factor and take a rational view of the use of urine as a fertilizer. From a open discussion he goes on to list out the advantages of using plant nutrient rich urine as fertilizer and provides the maths behind his validation!! Write in with your take in the comments!

Bangalore's sprawling expansion outpaces the public utility's ability to accommodate skyrocketing demand for water and sanitation services, and it is increasingly common for new residential communities to assume total management for their own water and sanitation services through their resident welfare associations.