Political

The Centre for Atmospheric Sciences(CAS), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is organising this programme which is sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Forty candidates will be selected from all over the country. The programme will be held at CAS, IIT, Delhi.

Eligibility:

M.Sc./M.Tech. degree in Physics/ Meteorology/ Atmospheric Sciences/ Geophysics/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Oceanography / Computer Science with overall good academic record with at least one year working experience/ exposure relevant to the field of Atmospheric Science. Those who have Ph.D. Degree and working on monsoon related problems will be given preference.

Programme period: 27th June–20th July 2011

Age limit: Less than 35 years as on 31st March 2011.

The Western Ghats Biodiversity Open Collaborative Information System or Western Ghats Portal (WGP) is a joint project between French Institute of Pondicherry and Strand Life Sciences, representing India Biodiversity Portal. WGP is being funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. CEPF is a global programme that works towards safeguarding biodiversity hotspots by providing strategic assistance to non-governmental organizations, community groups and other civil society partners. ATREE is the Regional Implementation Team to implement the conservation strategy outlined in the Western Ghats Ecosystem profile in partnership with CEPF.

Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) is conducting a Wildlife Census for Nilgiris North, Nilgiris South and Gudalur Forest Divisions from February 25 -27. This is a count for all mammals.

Over 100 volunteers are needed for this count which is simultaneously done in  three Forest divisions with support and guidance of the Forest Department.

A National Seminar on Water and Culture was organised by Sahayoga and Kannada University between June 25-27 2007. The seminar was intended to provide useful documentation to those working on water and agricultural management systems, those interested in integrating these traditional techniques with modern practices and to those working towards providing sustainable access to water and food, for all common citizens.

Beginning with the need for a such a shipping lane, the author compares its importance to the Suez and Panama canal. Currently ships have to go round Sri Lanka to go between the two India coasts. This increases the passage time and fuel costs.The canal would lead to a saving of 254 to 424 nautical miles and reduce sailing time of ships by 21 to 36 hours.

This paper studies the water supply, distribution, collection and storage in the forts around Nashik with the idea of testing the viability of implementing such systems in areas of similar topography. The history of forts in Maharashtra and the forts around Nashik and the water collection and distribution systems thereof are described.

This paper discusses river linking, as a part of an ancient tradition, and suggests how NGOs can play a role in this attempt. The example of the Koyna dam is taken, and the effective handling of the technical and human angle of the dams construction is detailed through in-depth study and detailed field visits.

This paper attempts to discuss farm water conservation techniques and multiple  cropping patterns with the idea of minimising water use. The authors provide a glimpse of agricultural facts that include total geographical area, net sown area etc. They provide population trends in the country to point out to the water and food stress.

This paper presents the case of Khazana Bawali - a large ancient well that irrigated around 1000 acres in the past but is now in disrepair. The well is about 20 metres in diameter which stores rainwater from the neighbouring hills. The water is brought through underground tunnels that have ventilators at regular intervals to ensure fresh air and also to help in its manual cleaning. This well today irrigates only about 525 acres. It was built by the Jagirdar of Beed in 1582.