Bihar

Monsoon’s withdrawal likely to begin around October 10: IMD

Government to 3D map aquifers in all villages

Bihar and northeast India reel under floods

The threat of desertification increases in 26 of 29 states

India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 km3 of groundwater per year, which is over a quarter of the global total. About 85 percent of rural drinking water needs, 65 percent of irrigation needs and 50 percent of urban drinking water and industrial needs are fulfilled with groundwater.

“There is a special type of black ant that is visible just before (and during) the onset of heavy rains.

CWC data shows water storage in major river basins depleting

Agriculture in Bihar has languished primarily because of high input costs, especially that of energy due to inadequate grid electricity supply and a high price of diesel. Rural electrification through grid supply is not happening in Bihar due to lack of public investment. Also, the existing groundwater markets are neither increasing irrigation nor achieving equity.

In a decade, only a quarter of centrally funded major to medium irrigation schemes completed: Report

As we enter the narrow lanes of Muskan gali, after wading through the unruly traffic in a rapidly urbanising Muzaffarpur, we are greeted by Noorjehan outside her house. Between the gali and the main road, the city has grown. It has a population of 3.5 lakhs as per 2011 Census. This has risen now to five lakhs, say estimates.