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News and Articles
Understanding gender, water and sanitation through my internship with Arghyam
Posted on 14 Jan, 2010 06:15 AMFrom September until December 2009, I completed an internship with Arghyam through my master's studies at Oregon State University to better understand gender, water, and sanitation in rural locations in South India.
Barrages would prevent Polavaram dam from being an economic and environmental disaster : Analysis reveal
Posted on 12 Jan, 2010 02:20 PMProf.T.Shivaji Rao,
Director, Centre for Environmental Studies,
Gitam University, Visakhapatnam.
Historical Developments: Initially the Polavaram project was proposed as a storage reservoir with FRL at +150ft with a water storage of about 150TMC in 1941. Subsequently many changes were made and in 1948 it emerged as Rampada Sagar dam with FRL at +208ft. with water storage of 836 TMC including 150 MW of hydro-power generation at an estimated cost of 129 crores (at 1948 rates) This scheme was abandoned because it was too costly and was bristled with foundation and construction problems. Subsequently several expert committees were appointed by the Government of India to study the problems of Godavari water utilisation. These committees under the Chairmanship of Dr.A.N. Khosla (1953), Mr.Gulhati (1963) and Mr.A.C.Mitra (1965) suggested to the state Government to build a barrage at Polavaram for improving the irrigation facilities and also to divert Godavari flood water into Krishna river. https://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/02/stories/2009050260540600.htm
The solar power generator in future:Barmer, Rajasthan
Posted on 11 Jan, 2010 06:28 PMBarmer district is situated at the 71° 23' East Longitude and 25° 45' North Latitude in west of state Rajasthan and country India. Total area is 28387 km2. Even 1% of this area can produce 24GWh electrical energy per year. The average sun shines for 340 days a year. The Sun gives light energy @ 1KW per square meter at 25 ° cell (solar cell) temperature and 1.5 air mas The solar insolation is 2400KWh per year. This means that if we install 1KW solar power plant at home, we can get energy of 2400KWh per year. This amount of energy is sufficient for average house hold. Besides this small power plant we can construct big plants in the range of 1MW to 500MW or more. These big plants can be grid connected for further supply to destinations. Though the energy cost of generated electricity is Rs.15/- per KWh, but it is pollution free energy. 1KW solar plant saves 0.8tones carbon. The solar energy is not only environmental friendly, but it also generates employments. The land owners can be made partner for that power plant.The secret of solar power plant is that it can be constructed in 1KW, 2Kw, -----1MW, 10MW ,100MW and so on
Mulla Periyar dam: Safety aspects to save farmers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Posted on 09 Jan, 2010 01:17 AMEXPERTS MUST HOLD TIMELY DEBATES AND RESOLVE ON SAFETY OF MULLAPERIYAR DAM TO HELP THE FARMERS ?
Prof.T.Shivaji Rao,
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) - The Himalayan tsunami in a village in Nepal
Posted on 29 Dec, 2009 04:47 PMIt was an uncharacteristically sunny day for the monsoon, with blindingly clear skies. Namgye Chumbi was weeding his potato garden in Phakding by the Dudh Kosi on the morning of 4 August 1985.
There weren't too many trekkers on the trail. The Dudh Kosi was tumbling noisily over boulders nearby. Around two in the afternoon, the river went quiet. Namgye sensed danger.
"I noticed that the white water had turned muddy brown, and in the distance I heard a thundering sound like an approaching helicopter," recalls the 50-year-old farmer. "I looked upstream and saw this huge wall of dark brown water approaching very fast."
Interim Report on organic farming initiatives in AILA affected areas
Posted on 28 Dec, 2009 06:19 PMCyclone Aila hit the coasts of Bengal on May 25th displacing millions from their homes and livelihoods in the Sundarbans. AID responded immediately working with Baikanthapur Tarun Sangh (BTS), Mukti and Rights & Equity for All (REFA). Relief & Rehab efforts reached out to 150,000 people in 7 blocks of 2 districts in West Bengal.
Overarching conclusions during World Water Week- Stockholm International Water Institute
Posted on 28 Dec, 2009 04:58 PMThis section is based on Stockholm International Water Institute’s conclusions and what we consider as the key threads that emerged from the week. These overarching conclusions are also based on the summary reports from workshops and seminars and the rapporteur theme reports (see next section of this publication). Our interpretation of issues raised from over 100 substantive sessions are intended to provide meaningful messages for both participants who were at the week and other stakeholders unable to attend. The overall aim is to maintain a dialogue beyond the intense and fruitful discussions during the World Water Week itself.
Access to water
Water scarcity, poverty in its multiple manifestations, conflicts and political circumstances influence people’s ability to access water, particularly for the daily requirements for drinking water and household needs. Water may be available in aquifers, in nearby streams or even in village ponds, but due to technical, economic, cultural and other reasons many people may not have access to water sources or to the services that are organised by the public sector or other providers. Not having access to the most basic necessity of life is causing dramatic and detrimental consequences for the people concerned. Detailed statistical accounts and a large number of illustrated cases of people affected from a lack of access to drinking and household water, are repeatedly presented in literature and media. It is, indeed, mindboggling that in spite of repeated high level commitments and the fact that there are few, if any, political disagreements, the efforts to substantially reduce the plight of the 1.1 billion who lack access to household water are not enough. It is essential to recognise that it is not only the 1.1 billion who are affected. Families and relatives of those who are affected, their farms or work places and society at large also bear the brunt of this lingering tragedy. For various reasons, there is less evidence of these wider costs to society.
A village in Tamil Nadu realises the necessity of hygiene and sanitation for health and dignity of women
Posted on 23 Dec, 2009 03:36 PMThrough a maze of winding, curving roads off a main highway in Tamil Nadu, one must travel to reach the small, agrarian village of Muthampatti.