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A peak at the future: Simulating Coonoor’s water situation
Using computer simulation, Keystone Foundation demonstrates the impact of domestic use, tourism, plantation and farming on the water situation in Coonoor in the Nilgiris. Posted on 23 Dec, 2013 03:40 PM

The Nilgiris have undergone an incredible amount of change in the last 10 years. Coonoor, an area well endowed with natural resources, is the second largest tourist destination here. However, over the last year (2012-13), the town has been reeling under a water crisis [1].

Coonoor Land Use Map
Coca Cola plant in UP lowers groundwater level
Policy matters this week: Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj lowers groundwater level, Haryana plans water misuse bill and Punjab makes water recycling compulsory for water consuming industries. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 08:41 PM

Coca Cola plant in Mehdiganj lowers groundwater level

Mehdiganj protest (Source: AID Kolkata Newsletter)
Bihar villagers against asbestos plant
News this week: Bihar villagers oppose asbestos plant, J&K government restricts civilian movement near Kishanganga dam site and dams for Mumbai result in tribal displacement. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 08:40 PM

10,000 Bihar villagers file petition against asbestos plant

Asbestos inflammation (Source: Adam Cohn, Flickr)
Yamuna Nama: a book review
Born out of citizens' concern for the Yamuna, the bi-lingual Yamuna Manifesto presents a lucid and succinct snapshot of the river, it's troubles, and the potential for its resuscitation. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 05:51 PM

The Yamuna Manifesto -or Yamuna Nama- is a bilingual book with passages in both Hindi and English, published as part of the Yamuna Elbe project. In five deceptively short sections, the book takes us from the birth to the river to its future.

Yamuna river (Source: www.pilgrimageindia.net)
1 dam, 2 projects, many fools?
Two different hydroelectric projects on a single dam built on the Nethravathi hide under the guise of a mini-hydel project and blatantly flout green norms. Is this another scam? Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 05:49 PM

I was looking for Greenko’s 24.75 MW Perla Mini Hydel Project at Perla village near Bantwal, Mangalore. One would think that you wouldn't really have to search for a hydel project site given its size and scale but the villagers at Perla were puzzled when I asked them to take me there as the Project Design Document had noted the project location as Perla village.

AMR dam across Netravathi (Source: Jerry Pinto)
Batting for the environment
Jaideep Hardikar, recipient of 2013 Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in environmental reporting, talks about his journey and how failure pushed him to take the road less traveled. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 04:46 PM

By his own account, Jaideep Hardikar, is simply a chronicler of the times around him. His foray into writing and reporting was neither easy nor his first choice. Like many children of his time, he dreamt of being a cricketer but stumbled into journalism and in it, found his true calling. 

Jaideep Hardikar, 2013 Prem Bhatia Award recipient
Digital tools as a catalyst for change
The Manthan Award 2013, commemorated NGOs who used Information & Communications Technology (ICT) tools to deliver their stories to a wider audience. Posted on 22 Dec, 2013 04:39 PM

Can a mobile or an internet connection improve the visibility and prospects of an organization? Will it help create exposure and result in further outreach?

Digital Tools (Source: Tech Transformation)
Where are the toilets?
Policy matters this week: Ministry sets up committee to investigate discrepancy in toilet data and India and Asian Development Bank fund embankments in Nepal and Assam. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:23 PM

Committee to investigate discrepancy in data on toilets

Open defecation due to lack of toilets
Climate change hits Northeast bamboo crop
News this week: Climate change hits bamboo crop in the Northeast, people in Himachal reject EIA report on dams on the Satluj and marine pollution results in economic losses. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:18 PM

Climate change affects bamboo production in the Northeast

Bamboo hit by climate change Source: Wikimedia
South Delhi gets 'smoked'
The Timarpur Okhla Waste to Energy (WtE) power plant, lauded as the most successful in India, brazenly pollutes the environment. Residents' plea to the Government and NGT falls on deaf ears. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:17 PM

Blue facades line the Sukhdev Vihar colony in South Delhi, considered plush by Delhi standards. They are in place to shield houses from layers of soot that would otherwise settle on their walls and grills. Soot from a power plant that began operations almost two years ago.

Facades protect houses from soot
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