/topics/chemical-pollution
Chemical Pollution
Pest gene to kill pesticides
Posted on 11 Jan, 2018 03:09 PMPersistent use of chemical pesticides to increase crop productivity has led to their accumulation in soil, water and even food. Now a group of researchers from Pune have isolated an enzyme from a pest and found that it can be used to clean up pesticide residues from food and environment.
![A new gene from pests can destroy the pesticide residues in food and environment. (Source: IWP Flickr photos; photo for representation only)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/14358487372_059af7d5bb_z.jpg?itok=OFc0z01q)
Stubble burning banned, farmers stumped
Posted on 07 Jan, 2018 06:20 PMAmar Singh sits in his huge courtyard at the centre of his home in the village of Atraula in Meerut. Lying in the far west part of Uttar Pradesh, this is a flourishing sugarcane belt. An important agricultural region, its demographic, economic and cultural patterns are similar to that of nearby Haryana and Rajasthan.
![A large amount of crop residues are available in western UP and most of these are burnt in the field (Image: Ed Dunens, Flickr Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/ed-dunens.jpg?itok=kyOhqF3V)
Hotels and industries polluting the Ganga to be sealed
Posted on 27 Dec, 2017 11:43 AMHotels, industries, ashrams polluting the Ganga to be sealed
![Ganga river at Sangam, Allahabad (Source: IWP Flickr photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/ganga_river_sangam_0.jpg?itok=7gH9p0KB)
Cauvery loaded with toxins
Posted on 27 Dec, 2017 11:10 AMCauvery found to be the most toxic river in the country
![Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/cauvery_river_1.jpg?itok=0HLtLmcI)
Farmer suicide cases decrease: Govt data
Posted on 20 Dec, 2017 11:22 AMGovernment data shows decreasing suicide trend among farmers for the second consecutive year
![A farmer in his field. (Source: India Water Portal)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/farmer_8_0_0.jpg?itok=r_FRCyNI)
India faces superbugs
Posted on 20 Dec, 2017 10:53 AMThere is a huge dearth of cleanliness in India--open defecation is rampant; garbage management in most cities is in shambles; toxic hospital and industrial wastes and sewage are allowed to drain into water sources and food products are laced with chemicals.
![Highly polluted rivers such as the Yamuna can breed superbugs. (Source: IWP Flickr Photo)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/yamuna_garbage.jpg?itok=9ewv5Tgy)
Is it worth the salt?
Posted on 12 Dec, 2017 12:22 PMThe fields are silvery white with raw salt crusts in the vicinity of Nawa, a small town on the northwestern banks of Sambhar lake, India’s largest inland lake. Nawa lies about 90 kilometres east of Jaipur. Also an extensive saline wetland and a Ramsar site, the blinding white salt flats stretch as far as one can see.
![Ramachander Singh, a salt worker who has been raking salt for decades now at this salt pan or kyari dotting the lake bed of Sambhar, Rajasthan.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/salt-sambhar1.jpg?itok=B6NXpcYP)
Cyclone Ockhi hits south-west India
Posted on 05 Dec, 2017 03:51 PMCyclone Ockhi makes landfall, affects Lakshadweep islands, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
![A severe cyclonic storm in progress. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/31642433665_20dc424529_z.jpg?itok=rr94aMvd)
For a better Bandi
Posted on 01 Dec, 2017 05:12 PMA seasonal river in Pali, Rajasthan, the Bandi is nothing short of a sewer. The textile town has witnessed rampant industrial growth, raw sewage discharges and toxic contamination of its waters. The river, which is devoid of lean season flow, is polluted up to 55 km downstream. The river water is unfit for drinking as well as irrigation.
![Mahaveer Singh Sukarlai speaks at the India Rivers Day.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/mahaveer-lead.jpg?itok=nliH7Zo7)
Study claims railways biodigesters ineffective
Posted on 28 Nov, 2017 01:50 PMRailways biodigesters are not better than septic tanks: IIT study
![A rail coach fitted with bio toilet. (Source: India Railway Info)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/1370953633942-dsc_1365_bio_toilets_are_seen_fitted_to_coach.jpg_0.jpg?itok=XVEmLBHj)