Ecology and Environment

Madakas are one of the fast disappearing traditional rainwater harvesting structures found in the laterite belts of Karnataka and Kerala. They are naturally occuring depressions with high terrain on the three sides where water from the surrounding laterite slopes, mainly runoff from the rains, is accumulated.

This report by Ministry of Mines spells out the key priorities that will enable transformation of the mining sector in India.

Published in the Economic and Political Weekly, this article sheds light on the issue of privatising the natural resources, which are commonly shared by the rural people. These resources include  forests, pasturelands, wastelands, coasts, lakes and rivers.

Organizers

Centre for Science and Environment

Bandipur Tiger Reserve becomes India’s first to demarcate eco-sensitive zone

West Bengal rivers

In a city where land prices are climbing up by the day, and homes must be constructed for a growing population on scarce land, water-bodies are falling prey to the avaricious schemes of land-sharks. But as water-bodies disappear, groundwater levels fall.

More than 10.86 million Indians depend on rivers, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, ponds and tanks for subsistence and market-based fisheries. Though the absolute contribution of riverine fisheries may not be huge in economic terms, it is a very crucial component in livelihood and nutritial security of the rural poor.

The solid wastes of Delhi, the largest municipal solid waste generator in the country with a production of about 7000 metric tonnes a day is dumped at three landfill sites, namely Bhalaswa, Ghazipur and Okhla.

Protests rock Cauvery basin as Karnataka releases water to Tamil Nadu in keeping with Supreme Court directive