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Forts of fortune: How the Marathas saved water
The hill forts of Maharashtra provide valuable lessons in water harvesting and conservation. Posted on 20 Aug, 2016 02:27 PM

In the olden times, people knew the importance of water and had devised a number of techniques to manage and conserve water resources. These efforts not only met the drinking water needs of the people, but also helped the survival of livestock and agriculture in areas where perennial rivers were absent and the population depended on rains and often faced water scarcity or droughts.

One of the hill forts in Maharashtra. (Source: India Water Portal)
Honestly, not the best policy changes
Changes have been proposed to existing environmental laws. We look at three such policy changes that could affect the ecosystem and local communities negatively. Posted on 19 Aug, 2016 04:19 PM

Saileena Sarkar's introduction to the East Kolkata Wetlands began as soon as she moved to the city. She says, “The Kolkata wetlands have been a point of interest since I came to the city.

An earthmover submerged downstream of the Srinagar Hydroelectric project, Uttarakhand. By permitting contractors to begin construction on a project before the EIA is approved, the government is enabling disasters in the future.
Staying afloat, one stepwell at a time
Jodhpur has a unique problem. Unlike other cities, it is dealing with excess groundwater. Reusing its traditional water structures is the way forward. Posted on 19 Aug, 2016 01:09 PM

"Jatene dekho utene bawri" (wherever you look, there’s a stepwell). This is how the woman standing on the threshold of her house, in the walled city of Jodhpur, told us when we asked where we could find stepwells in her neighbourhood. 

Toorji ka jhalra, one of the step ponds that attracts tourists in Jodhpur.
Art of Living guilty of damaging Yamuna floodplains
Policy matter this week Posted on 16 Aug, 2016 09:57 AM

World Culture Festival damaged Yamuna floodplains, concludes NGT

The front view of the giant stage under construction for the World Culture Festival. (Source: Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan)
Interlinking project needs reanalysis: IIT Study
News this week Posted on 16 Aug, 2016 09:53 AM

Not enough water available for interlinking rivers: IIT study 

Interlinking of rivers (Source: NIH)
Of lives bruised by water
The once pristine island of Munroe Thuruth in Kerala is sinking. As some villagers leave the island for greener pastures, the others wait for the government help to rehabilitate them. Posted on 11 Aug, 2016 01:40 PM

Sexagenarian Radha Madhavan's (name changed) voice carries a shade of gloom even as she rationalises her children's decision to leave their parental home for good. “My husband and I totally understand it. Do they not have a point when they say they do not wish to return to this wretched island, considering their own families’ safety?

One of the sinking houses of Munroe Island.
Water sharing: In China’s defence
Mutual trust and not the fear of an imaginary war is needed to improve the Sino-Indian relation over the sharing of Brahmaputra. Posted on 09 Aug, 2016 11:41 PM

When two powerful and populous countries share a river to quench the thirst of its people, some amount of friction between the countries is bound to happen. The water of Brahmaputra, that flows through India, China, Bangladesh and Bhutan, has been a bone of contention between China and India for long.

The Brahmaputra river (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Children of a lesser God
Underprivileged children are the most affected by Assam’s annual floods. Their schools washed away and health affected, they also fall prey to nefarious activities. Posted on 09 Aug, 2016 10:32 PM

In what is considered the worst flood in a decade, the flood in Assam this year has swept over 2,800 villages away and submerged more than two lakh hectares of crop. More than 26 lakh people have been affected in 28 out of 34 districts of the state.

Children take refuge in temporary shelters.  (Photo source: Jhai Foundation)
UP unable to protect Yamuna, Taj Mahal: NGT
Policy matters this week Posted on 08 Aug, 2016 11:37 PM

NGT raps UP government over Yamuna's pollution near the Taj Mahal

Yamuna river near the Taj Mahal. (Source: Ekabhishek via Wikipedia)
Assam, Bihar reel under severe flood
News this week Posted on 08 Aug, 2016 11:13 PM

One of the worst floods in Assam and Bihar

Flood in Bihar. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
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