Political

As the elevated tracks come up over the city a mass transport network called the metro is being built all over the city. In phases it is likely to cover over a 100 kilometre and become one of the prime modes of transport to the city. Apart from the transport benefits it will bring to the city there is one other potential benefit that could accrue to the city due to its construction.

The metro rail track offers a tremendous potential for rainwater harvesting. A total length of about 45 kilometres and a width of about 12 metres mean that the endowment of rainwater on the relatively very clean track with Bangalore’s rains of 970 mm annually is about 523 million litres. Considering a coefficient of runoff of 0.90 the harvestable rainwater is around 471 million litres annually. This could provide about 13,000 people with their annual requirement of water at 100 litres per day. A substantial sum.

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Main highlights in this update:

• Shit Matters: The Potential of Community-led Total Sanitation: This book looks at the potential and challenges of CLTS by drawing on research in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, as well as experiences in Africa. It includes chapters by leading scholars and practitioners in sanitation policy and practice as well as critical reflections from key players in CLTS. Shit Matters considers CLTS in terms of the social, ecological, technological, financial, and institutional dynamics and draws out wider lessons for sanitation policy and practice.

Main highlights in this update:

• NREGA implementation in State not satisfactory: The report card on implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a mix bag for Assam, with at least 62 per cent households being provided employment under the flagship schemes, while ombudsman has not been constituted for any district and State fund.

Organizer: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

Venue: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi

The programme will cover:

• Exposure to all aspects of EIA, from its theory to the practical – such as better understanding regarding
  
  • What data is required, how this data should be collected and interpreted, and significance of the data
  • Effectiveness of the assessment methods
  • What issues should be addressed in the terms of reference (TOR)
  • Tools and thumb rules available to evaluate the environmental impact of projects

The states of Assam, Bihar, eastern U.P, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal, Orissa were allocated extra funds in the last year for this purpose.

 Rainfed areas account for nearly 57 per cent of the agricultural land in India. These areas assume special significance in terms of ecology, agricultural productivity and livelihoods for millions. With proper management, rainfed areas have the potential of contributing a larger share to food grain production.

The budget allocates Rs 300 crores under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for this scheme. This project will supplement the ongoing work on pulses development under the National Food Security Mission. There is also an emphasis on building institutions that would provide market linkage to the grower of pulses. The states of M.P, U.P, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, and Tamilnadu were chosen for this programme. These states together constitute nearly 96% of area where pulses are grown.

Venue: Venkatappa Art Gallery, Kasthurba road, Bengaluru

Collaborated by: Subramani J, Ravikumar S M Halli & Shivaprasad S

Description:

The study focuses on Bangalore, highlighting its important rivers, lakes and its very lavish natural resources and how it is getting damaged due to its excessive urban growth and ignorance of the people. We started our documentation from Nandi hills to Hosur was our destination. Here we filmed and photographed various aspects of this river, the agricultural landscape and the urban scape. These documentations are archival materials, which have been focused during the process of research. Like how the death of a river takes place, where it used to begin and rebirth of the river due to the excess development of Broad Bangalore’s urban area.

The Centre for Science and Environment, a non-profit institution known for its rigorous and scientific policy research and advocacy on environmental issues is looking for a Team Head to steer its Renewable Energy Programme.