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All is 'well'
By reviving abandoned wells, a community in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, solves the problem of arsenic contamination in its drinking water. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:15 PM

Dilip from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has finally rid himself of the itchy, black spots on his skin that bothered him for many years. How did he do it? He cleaned a dug well in his village! Seems a little disconnected, doesn't it? Dilip also failed to see this connection and did not realize that the water he drank was silently causing his own body to turn against him.

Reviving wells in Ballia,UP (Credit:Saurabh Singh)
Troubled waters of the Northeast
Modern development models for the remote hills of the Northeast are replacing age-old conventions thereby creating inequity in the distribution of water. Posted on 15 Dec, 2013 09:12 PM

On a train journey from Nagaland, a friend and I began talking on the subject of water. He said to me, "You have so much water in the Brahmaputra Valley and your lands are always flooded but we have to struggle for a drop of water in the hills".

Hills of Northeast India Source: Wikipedia
Indian troops polluting Siachen glacier: Pakistan
Policy matters this week: Pakistan says its main source of water supply is affected by Indian troops polluting the Siachen glacier, and Karnataka to increase the height of Almatti dam. Posted on 09 Dec, 2013 08:24 AM

Remove troops from Siachen: Pakistan

Indian Army, Siachen Source: defenceforumindia.com
Migratory birds return to Sultanpur lake
News this week: migratory birds return to Sultanpur lake (Gurgaon district), groundwater level dips in Maharashtra and Kerala grows saline-resistant rice after 25 years. Posted on 09 Dec, 2013 07:00 AM

At Sultanpur, migratory birds visit an artificial lake

Sultanpur bird sanctuary Source: Wikipedia
Drilling the hills to devastation
Thirty hydroelectric projects have been planned in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. There is an immense cost to the environment and to the residents but the government isn't letting up. Posted on 08 Dec, 2013 10:50 PM

Clear blue skies, natural springs and glacial peaks-tranquility. Falling stones, landslides and debris-chaos! Kinnaur, located on  the northeastern side of Himachal Pradesh, lets you experience both. It falls in seismic zones IV and V, which means it runs the the risk of damaging and destructive earthquakes.

100 MW Tidong-I project, Kinnaur HP
Tips for working with spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are ubiquitous and a popular choice for data entry. Here are some tips to use them effectively and to avoid common mistakes. Posted on 08 Dec, 2013 10:14 PM

Working with spreadsheets
Stellar, yet inadequate
Manipal University has a comprehensive environment management programme but its water conservation efforts could be better. Involving students could give it the extra punch it needs. Posted on 08 Dec, 2013 10:11 PM

Manipal University has a well-thought out, multi-pronged approach towards reducing its environmental footprint. This includes a comprehensive waste management policy and a programme to reduce energy consumption.

Manipal University campus, Manipal
Hidden cost to cheaper alternate energy
Shale gas has recently made headlines the world over. How good is it for the environment and what is its water footprint, especially in the Indian context? Posted on 08 Dec, 2013 10:01 PM

Shale gas, like other petroleum products such as oil and coal, is formed from the remains of plants, animals and micro-organisms that lived millions of years ago. However, this natural gas is made up of shale formations, a common name for rock that was once layers of clay or mud. Since these rocks aren't very permeable, gas is trapped in it due to its inability to travel.

Fracking in shale gas production Source: Wikipedia
Digging them into a hole
20 years ago, Amatikra village in Chhattisgarh wasn't full of fluorosis-affected residents. Today, they walk with bent backs and have severe dental issues. What has caused this situation? Posted on 08 Dec, 2013 10:00 PM

45 year old Ved Prasad, a farmer in Amatikra village in Korba district, Chhattisgarh, didn't always have a bent back. 20 years ago, he walked in an upright manner but over the last five years, he's had severe back pain, which has affected his gait. 50 year old Bhola Singh from the same village has an identical story to tell.

Amatikra residents with skeletal fluorosis
Are there greener pastures for pastoralists?
With grazing lands being utilised for development projects, more and more livestock-dependent communities are being impacted and the huge diversity of grazing practices is disappearing. Posted on 01 Dec, 2013 08:34 PM

Pastoralist communities are those that depend primarily on livestock (domesticated animals in an agricultural setting) for their living. India has the world’s highest livestock population with 440 million livestock heads distributed over 100 million households (1) but in recent years, pastoralists have been facing threats to their way of life.

Goat rearing in Udaipur
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