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The hundredth farmer
In a situation where 99 out of 100 farmers would've been stumped, Soban Singh waters his fields and inspires his fellow farmers using a tiny bit of seepage and a massive amount of perseverance. Posted on 20 May, 2014 11:22 PM

I remember a farm pond that I once visited in Maharashtra. It shone like a square sapphire in that dry land, securely held by tall earth embankments. On the other side of one of those embankments was a parched and dying field. When I asked the farmer why it wasn't irrigated, he asked me to give him a pump.

Carefully mulched and fed by drip irrigation
Environmentalists wary of Modi's green agenda
News this week Posted on 20 May, 2014 10:47 PM

Environmentalists wary of Modi's green agenda

Launch of Narmada-Kshipra interlink (The Hindu)
Open Happiness' or open a can of worms?
Nandlal Master has been waging a decade-long struggle against the many injustices carried out by the Coca Cola factory in Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh. Listen to his story. Posted on 16 May, 2014 08:11 PM

1999 was an interesting real estate year for Mehdiganj village in Uttar Pradesh. Someone began buying up land adjoining a soft drink factory owned by the Parle Company. They also began buying land from the farmers except the farmers had no idea as to whom they were selling the land to. As the boundary wall rose up, problems arose too.

Nandlal Master - fighting Coca Cola since 2002
More crop per drop in the predicted weak monsoons
The monsoon is often regarded as the driver of Indian agriculture. What farmers need are simple solutions to reduce their vulnerability to the fickle rains. Posted on 15 May, 2014 03:28 PM

Water and agriculture are closely linked in our country where 60% our net sown area is rain-fed. Indian agriculture is undoubtedly dependent on the monsoon where good rains have meant enhanced agricultural production, and a weak or bad monsoon has lowered production thereby impacting the economy.

Water and agriculture ( Source: Wikipedia)
The lost Khazans of Goa
A traditional form of agro-aqua culture practiced in Goa is dying a slow death thanks to disinterest in farming as well as an increased interest in Pisiculture. Posted on 13 May, 2014 10:46 AM

Khazans are reclaimed lands from the river or the sea. A created network of bunds protects the agricultural fields and adjoining villages from tidal flows. Khazan lands have three main features: sluice gate, poim and two types of bunds.

Bunds

Aerial view of Khazan seen in Zuari river
10% of Odisha coast prone to erosion
News this week: 10% Odisha coast highly prone to erosion, reveals study; Unseasonal rain destroys agriculture in Andhra; Centre plans to conduct socio-economic survey of forest villages. Posted on 12 May, 2014 08:38 AM

10% of Odisha coast prone to erosion: Study

Coastal erosion (Source: GFGD)
UP Pollution Control Board issues notice to 956 units for polluting Ganga
Policy matters this week: NGT seeks to examine 956 units for causing pollution in Ganga; POSCO allowed to draw water from Mahanadi and Hansua rivers; SC favours TN in Mullaperiyar dam case. Posted on 12 May, 2014 08:19 AM

956 units in UP gets notice for polluting Ganga

Ganga river in Varanasi, UP (Source: Wikipedia)
Small steps to win the big battle against water scarcity
Communities across India have created many initiatives to tackle water scarcity. While costing lesser than govt programmes, these measures have also created a bigger local impact. Posted on 11 May, 2014 09:29 PM

The recent World Water Development Report by the United Nations has projected that India's demand for water is likely to surpass availability by 2050.

Every drop counts (Vinoth Chandar via Flickr)
Will the Rs. 392 crore fund help Raipur's growing slums?
A report on the status of Raipur's many slums released in February 2014 shows that providing basic amenities to slum dwellers is still a challenging task for the Chhattisgarh government. Posted on 10 May, 2014 12:11 PM

"The life of the people living in slums in any part of the country is a curse", says Rohit Jagat, a 30 year old resident of Shakti Nagar slum in Raipur. 

Tankers supply water to Maharajh Bandh
Tulsi leaves as a purifier or a Reverse Osmosis filter? Which would you choose?
Different types of water purification techniques are available today. Which one is better and what are the pros and cons of each? Read on to find out. Posted on 09 May, 2014 01:43 PM

Summer temperatures and water-borne diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and gastroenteritis go hand in hand. So besides maintaining good hygiene, it is also important to monitor and maintain the quality of drinking water to prevent these diseases.

Drinking water sources

Tulsi leaves can purify water (Source: Wikipedia)
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