Political

This report on Planning Commission site by Research and Development Initiatives presents the findings of a study that aimed at evaluating/examining the government run rural development programmes for community development implemented in the country by:

• Documenting best practices in rural planning and implementation.
• Suggesting ways and developing systems for replication of these good practices at a larger level

The Greenpeace have undertaken a lot of commendable work in the field of climate change. This link takes you through their climate change campaigns involving the masses.

When stakeholders come together, they can address critical water related issues.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Technology for Sustainable Development and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne EPFL have produced a report titled Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Development in Water Resources Sector.

The World Business Council For Sustainable Development has developed a Global Water Tool which organizations can use to map their water use, and get a perspective on its use in their work.

Sensitizing children about environmental issues and green habits is important as they can reduce or prevent various types of environmental pollution in daily life.  Edugreen, an initiative of TERI, makes this learning fun and interactive for the children.

A presentation titled Water Quality Issues in India by Dr. R C Trivedi of Central Pollution Control Board gives a comprehensive understanding of issues related to water quality. This includes the reasons responsible for degradation in water quality, to the coverage area of the national water quality programme.

The Environmental Information Centre & Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has prepared water quality monitoring maps that, at a glance, reflects the various water sources and their locations.

This presentation by Arghyam deals with filters used in a rainwater harvesting system as also in other sources to remove suspended pollutants from rainwater collected. In a rainwater harvesting system, the water comes in contact with several surfaces, such as the roof or gutters. Water sources too are contaminated by various minerals and chemicals. These affect the colour, odour, taste and composition of water.Its flow becomes possibly mixed with leaves or dust.

Do a fish count in your local water body and understand the different rhythms of ecological life in your neighbourhood.

Dr Latha Bhaskar and ATREE attempted to do exactly that in their Vembanad Fish Count Program. Download the report, their methodology and tools here.