Kerala

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Shaping river policies with updated environmental flow methods
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 01 May, 2024 09:30 AM

CWRDM to formulate implementing a revised approach to environmental flow calculations

Water necessary to maintain the ecological integrity of rivers (Image: pickpik)
Environmental fund misuse: NGT penalises CPCB, criticises ministry's response
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 31 Dec, 2023 05:41 PM

NGT rebukes CPCB's 'gross misuse' of environmental funds

The NGT highlighted the diversion of environmental compensation funds for unauthorised purposes (Image: Needpix)
Waterbirds, indicators of wetland health
Waterbirds such as Kingfishers play an important role in sustaining the integrity of wetland ecosystems and can be greatly useful as indicators in assessing the health of wetland ecosystems. Posted on 10 Nov, 2023 07:57 PM

Wetlands are unique, complex and sensitive habitats that form a connection between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and provide a range of ecosystem services to humans. They are equally crucial for the survival of birds and provide critical foraging, roosting, nesting, chick-rearing, moulting, stop-over and wintering habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds.

Common Kingfisher in a wetland (Image Source: J M Garg via Wikimedia Commons)
Study indicates no uranium in Kerala’s drinking water
MG University conducted the analyses of water sources across the state Posted on 21 Aug, 2021 11:42 AM

The serious health effects connected with the presence of uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive element in drinking water sources from different parts of the world and more recently in some parts of India (

Drinking water sources can be contaminated with uranium to an extent by certain anthropogenic activities (Image: Pxfuel)
Floods and recurring natural disasters in India
Better regulation of environmentally sensitive areas is needed to avert disasters. Posted on 04 Aug, 2021 09:59 AM

After two weeks of extremely hot and long dry weather, the monsoon winds brought heavy rains to the hilly northern states of India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand) and the south-west coastal states (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala). Cloudbursts and landslides have wreaked havoc.

Floods in Uttarkashi (Image: Oxfam International; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Pollution levels rising post-lockdown in cities in south India
How clean air gains of the lockdown and monsoon periods have been now lost with the reopening of the economy and with the onset of the winter. Posted on 08 Feb, 2021 11:23 AM

An analysis was done by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of winter pollution (until January 26, 2021) in India’s five southern states - a vulnerable but poorly monitored region from the air quality perspective.

Air quality management requires regional approach to implement clean air action plans, says CSE (Image: Pixy)
Groundwater recharge needs grassroots solutions: A study of two techniques in Kerala
Although groundwater is emerging as a critical issue and has managed to encourage new government schemes, a generic solution of rainwater recharge cannot be applied across different regions. Posted on 09 Oct, 2020 12:42 PM

In Kerala, around half the urban population and 80% of the rural population depend on open wells on their domestic water needs. But in the last decade, the majority of observatory wells recorded an average annual decline of half a meter.

Rainwater is captured from the rooftop of the community hall and diverted to the sump before it is pumped into the open well. (Image by Authors)
Decentralised governance key to handling Covid-19
There is a positive correlation between the panchayat raj system and effective handling of Covid-19, says Mani Shankar Aiyar. Posted on 22 Aug, 2020 07:38 PM

Panchayats have been the core of India's rural governance even before they received the constitutional mandate through the 73rd constitutional amendment in 1992, forming the basis of decentralization in the country. There are 2.5 lakh gram panchayats; over 6 lakhs villages; around 4500 urban local bodies and 4000 census towns in the country.

A first time Sarpanch of Lahora Gram Panchayat in Rajasthan’s Tonk District, stands committed, guiding the community with her political acumen. (Image: UN Women;CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Monsoon experiences a countrywide deficit of 10 percent in July
News this week Posted on 12 Aug, 2020 08:27 AM

Monsoon 2020: Countrywide deficit of 10 percent in July; September may have heavy rains

July experiences rain deficit of 10 percent (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Cyclone Nisarga hits Maharashtra coast, causes intense rains in western districts
News this week Posted on 05 Jun, 2020 01:03 PM

Making a landfall in Raigad district, cyclone Nisarga wanes but causes heavy rains in western Maharashtra

In a cyclone in 2016, thousands of trees were uprooted (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
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