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Groundwater depletes in north and east India
Study shows a rapid decline in usable groundwater between 2005 and 2013 leading to the risk of severe food crisis and drinking water scarcity for millions of people. Posted on 23 Apr, 2019 07:12 PM

India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 km3 of groundwater per year, which is over a quarter of the global total. About 85 percent of rural drinking water needs, 65 percent of irrigation needs and 50 percent of urban drinking water and industrial needs are fulfilled with groundwater.

Crop irrigation with groundwater, powered by electricity in Gujarat. (Image: Tesh, Wikimedia Commons, CC-4.0A-ShareAlike-International)
Making water available for all
Civil society activists champion alternatives to conventional water management solutions implemented by the government. Posted on 23 Apr, 2019 06:48 PM

India, the second largest population in the world, is facing a water crisis with over 600 million people facing acute water shortage, as per a report by Niti Aayog, the government think-tank. India’s water crisis is expected to worsen, threatening the country’s food security as over 80 percent of our water is used in agriculture.

The pollution rates of the river Hindon are alarming. Despite work by conservation groups, the efforts on the part of the government to fix the problem remain uncertain. (Image: Hindi Water Portal)
Damaged habitat affects migratory fishermen
Maintaining natural resources is important for the sustenance of aquatic biodiversity and river-dependent livelihoods. Posted on 23 Apr, 2019 12:48 PM

The Siang River is a transboundary river which flows in Tibetan plateau, China in the name of Yarlung Psangpo and after entering India in Arunachal Pradesh, it is known as Siang which meets river Brahmaputra in Assam, 230 km downstream. 

Fishermen with a fishing net near the Siang.
Water management solutions where users have a say
Private provision of water services is most successful where the operation and maintenance contracts are offered by the local water users. Posted on 17 Apr, 2019 10:10 PM

India has, over the last 50 years, spent approximately $50 billion on developing water resources and another estimated $7.5 billion on drinking water, with little to show for the money (Devraj 2002).

Canal irrigation has led to altered crop choice, organisation and techniques of production. (Image: India Water Portal)
NGT forms Central Monitoring Committee for rivers
Policy matters this week Posted on 17 Apr, 2019 02:27 PM

Central Monitoring Committee formed to ensure pollution-free river stretches

Biodiversity monitoring is key to assess the efficacy of river cleaning programmes. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
IMD predicts near-normal monsoon this year
News this week Posted on 17 Apr, 2019 12:53 PM

India could witness near-normal monsoon this season: IMD

Normal monsoon is good news for India's economy. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
In conversation with nature
This study from Bihar shows that official flood prediction systems are often inadequate to understand the true impact of the floods on the population. Local gendered knowledge can help fill this gap. Posted on 15 Apr, 2019 05:42 PM

“There is a special type of black ant that is visible just before (and during) the onset of heavy rains.

Shape of clouds can be an important indicator of weather. Source: Robert Hensley/Wikimedia Commons
Flourishing water markets in Darjeeling
Better governance and equitable as well as sustainable use of water resources are essential to solving the deepening water crisis in Darjeeling. Posted on 15 Apr, 2019 02:36 PM

"Darjeeling today has a thriving water business, with a fleet of 105 trucks plying three or four trips a day from April to June, carrying 5500 to 6500 litres of water on each run"

Private water tankers, a common sight in urban areas. (Source: India Water Portal)
Kerala failed to use dams for flood control: Amicus curiae
Policy matters this week Posted on 09 Apr, 2019 09:32 PM

Kerala government failed to use dams for flood control: Amicus curiae informs high court

The floods in Kerala took 400 lives and displaced around 1.2 million people. (Image: Ranjith Siji, Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 4.0)
Water storage depletes in major river basins: CWC
News this week Posted on 09 Apr, 2019 09:08 PM

CWC data shows water storage in major river basins depleting

Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
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