News and Articles

.

Introduction

Irrigation development is essential to ensure water and food security on a sustainable basis. Large scale development of irrigation infrastructure is the key to achieve these objectives. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) was launched by Government of India during 1996-97 to provide financial assistance to State Governments with the aim of speeding up the implementation of on-going irrigation / multi-purpose water resources projects. Monitoring of the projects covered under the AIBP is periodically done by the Central Water Commission / Ministry of Water Resources with the help of its regional offices situated all over the country. In the absence of real time maps during construction, the conventional monitoring is done through discussions with field authorities and random field checks. The monitoring reports with non-spatial information generally lack in the synoptic view of the critical gaps and the quantitative progress achieved in irrigation potential creation.

The availability of data from Cartosat - 1 and Cartosat - 2 high resolution satellites has enhanced the scope of infrastructure mapping and monitoring. This data has immense potential for assessment of progress of Irrigation works and closer visualization of spatial irrigation network.

The incentive for one unit of Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) has been raised from existing Rs. 2,200 (Rs. 2,700 for difficult and hilly areas) to Rs. 3,200 (Rs. 3,700 for difficult and hilly areas). The central share out of this shall be Rs. 2,200 (Rs. 2,700 in case of hilly and difficult areas) and State Government share shall be Rs. 1,000. Minimum beneficiary share shall be Rs. 300. State Governments are allowed the flexibility to provide higher incentive for a household toilet, of the same or higher unit costs from their own funds.

Guest post by Priya Desai

Background

This was organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Held on May 26th 2011, we were joined by around 150 to 200 student volunteers from various higher educational institutions in Kerala, such as the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, St. Albert's College in Ernakulam, School of Applied Life Sciences in Chuttippara and the School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University.

 It is an innovative version, and has been appreciated in many seminars and national workshops. It gives a logical treatment of mother earth based on human therapy.

For more information, please visit Awadhesh Nema's Blog.

Hkw&ty laxzg nksgkoyh

ty laxzg.k orZeku le; dh lcls cM+h ekax gS A ty dh izR;sd cwan dk laxzg.k vko';d gh ugha cfYd ,d vfuok;Zrk gksrh tk jgh gS A ty laxzg.k dk ;g iz;kl lekt ds izR;sd O;fDr ds }kjk fd;k tkuk pkfg;s A ty laxzg.k gsrq lekt dks tkx`r djus dh rFkk mUgsa blds fofHkUu mik;ksa dks le>kus dh ije vko';drk gS A ;fn lekt dk izR;sd O;fDr ty laxzg.k ds fofHkUu rduhdh rjhdksa ls voxr jgsxk rks og mUgsa vklkuh ls viuk ldsxk vkSj lekt ds fgr esa rFkk Lo;a ds fy;s Hkh ty laxzg.k ds bl ;K esa viuk ;ksxnku ns ldsxk A

 the small ponds, the lakes, the rivers flows into backwaters, the sea, and the wells catching the abundant rain water enabling such vegetation and greenery all around……

Water – also the factor, which brings the biggest of problems to urban life –

• mosquitoes,
• bad stench from clogged dirty canals,
• floods and water logging especially in the monsoons,
• roads breaking up because of poor drainage,
• drinking water scarcity in many parts of the city,
• water borne diseases and health problems

Overview

It is surprising that fluoride was found even in surface water bodies like ponds, because fluoride is generally found in deep aquifers. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the deeper layers of rock beneath the earth's surface, so it was unusual to find it at such high levels even in surface water sources, leading to the conclusion that intensive agriculture in the area has spread the fluoride to the surface.

As the elevated tracks come up over the city a mass transport network called the metro is being built all over the city. In phases it is likely to cover over a 100 kilometre and become one of the prime modes of transport to the city. Apart from the transport benefits it will bring to the city there is one other potential benefit that could accrue to the city due to its construction.

The metro rail track offers a tremendous potential for rainwater harvesting. A total length of about 45 kilometres and a width of about 12 metres mean that the endowment of rainwater on the relatively very clean track with Bangalore’s rains of 970 mm annually is about 523 million litres. Considering a coefficient of runoff of 0.90 the harvestable rainwater is around 471 million litres annually. This could provide about 13,000 people with their annual requirement of water at 100 litres per day. A substantial sum.

Main highlights in this update:

• NREGA implementation in State not satisfactory: The report card on implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a mix bag for Assam, with at least 62 per cent households being provided employment under the flagship schemes, while ombudsman has not been constituted for any district and State fund.

 Rainfed areas account for nearly 57 per cent of the agricultural land in India. These areas assume special significance in terms of ecology, agricultural productivity and livelihoods for millions. With proper management, rainfed areas have the potential of contributing a larger share to food grain production.