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Storm after a lull
After a brief interval, the north-east monsoon made its presence felt through the cyclonic storm Vardah, terrorising both coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Posted on 15 Dec, 2016 01:03 PM

Chennai’s disastrous December run continues for the second year in a row. While the devastating flood of December 2015 remains etched in the city’s collective memory, cyclone Vardah was no less scary and did not lag behind in its severity.

One of the many calamities of cyclone Vardah in Jawahar Nagar near Perambur.
Summer of discontent
A wetland which is one of the Ramsar sites in India, struggles to maintain its character due to lack of water. Posted on 14 Dec, 2016 11:35 AM

On a 29 sq km tract of land in Bharatpur, Rajasthan lies the wildlife reserve, Keoladeo national park, locally known as Ghana. Birds enjoy the open water while wildlife roams freely in this montage of wetland, grassland and forest. The wetland, which is man-made, has a diversity of open water, trees and grasses.

An Indian cormorant dries its wings at Keoladeo national park, Bharatpur. (Source: Aastha Singh, Wikimedia Commons)
Water worried, Ranchi looks for a way out
Ranchi, like many other cities in the country, is reeling under severe water crisis. Managing the existing water bodies is one way of taking care of it. Posted on 13 Dec, 2016 10:23 AM

Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has gained disrepute for the plummeting groundwater level and water shortage in its dams. Once a settlement of the indigenous communities of Munda and Oraon, the city, located in the coal-steel belt of India, witnessed unprecedented growth since 1869.

Harmu, a dirty waterway winds through the centre of the city.
NGT cancels illegal salt pans in Sambhar Lake
Policy matters this week Posted on 13 Dec, 2016 07:19 AM

Good news for Sambhar Salt Lake

Sambhar Lake, India's largest salt lake. (Source: IWP's Flickr photos)
Cyclone Vardah hits TN
News this week Posted on 13 Dec, 2016 07:11 AM

Cyclone Vardah makes landfall in TN, causes massive damage

Tropical cyclone of 2013. (Source: NASA WorldView)
A notification to ensure ecological flow of rivers
Environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta talks about the highs and lows of the new river Ganga notification and how environmentalists can use it to make an impact. Posted on 12 Dec, 2016 11:27 PM

I have objected so many times to the change in the name of Ministry of Water Resources to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. It shows where the priority of the government lies. It says that all the rivers need to be developed except the Ganga which needs to be rejuvenated.

Boys wait to collect coins thrown into the Ganga at Kanchla, Uttar Pradesh.
Breathing life into Baitarani
The river basin of Baitarani is facing many challenges in these changing times. Initiatives are on to protect it. Posted on 12 Dec, 2016 12:13 PM

Pranab Choudhury has been actively engaged with the causes of the poor and the environment for more than a decade.

Pranab Choudhury
For a flood-free Chennai
Chennai’s topography, along with civic apathy, official lethargy and a complete disregard for its natural floodplains see the city reeling under severe waterlogging every year. Posted on 07 Dec, 2016 09:07 PM

Chennai’s drainage system--both natural and man-made--is unparalleled. Three rivers flow through the city--the Kosasthalaiyar to the north, the Cooum cutting right through the centre and the Adyar to the south; around 16 major drains criss-cross the metro in addition to the mammoth Buckingham canal along the coast.

Home to over 300 species of birds, the Pallikaranai marsh is being increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation. (Image: IWP Flickr)
Remembering Amma’s generosity
Apart from her charisma, Jayalalithaa will be remembered for her untiring efforts to make food and water available for the people. Posted on 07 Dec, 2016 06:12 AM

One of Tamil Nadu’s most populist leaders and a big inspiration to women across the state and beyond, J. Jayalalithaa has left an indelible mark on the people as well as the politics of the state. Though detractors objected to the ‘Amma’ prefix in most of her schemes, the people of Tamil Nadu did not seem to mind, given that many of their basic needs stood satisfied to a great extent.

Amma rose to popularity with her many welfare schemes for the poor.
Mining of rare earth minerals poisons land and water
Potential threats of environmental deterioration continue to be ignored in Kollam partly due to the difficulty in regulating an industry that produces resources of high strategic importance. Posted on 06 Dec, 2016 12:49 PM

Mining and processing of heavy and rare earth minerals can produce a tremendously negative impact on the land and environment in the area, the magnitude and intensity of which depends on the kind of chemicals and processes used, the efforts taken in the management of waste as well as on environmental fragility of the location.

Sand mining and environmental pollution (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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