/topics/ecology-and-environment
Ecology and Environment
Economics of River Flows - A book by Dr.Bharat Jhunjhunwala
Posted on 09 Aug, 2010 06:06 PMThis book is essential reading for economists, power sector officials, power generation companies and environmentalists alike.
Dr.Bharat Jhunjhumwala holds a BSc degree in physics, chemistry and mathematics. He earned his PhD in food and Resource Economics from University of Florida at a tender age of 23 years. He joined Indian institute of management, Bangalore as Assistant professor immediately thereafter. He lived in a slum for two years to understand poverty and organized the Trade Union at IIM during the Emergency. He resigned from the IIM and became a consultant to donor agencies like Swiss Development Cooperation, Oxfam, Care, Overseas Development Institute and others mainly on rural development and watershed issues. He writes a column on economic issues for about 50 newspapers in india. He lives on the banks of River Alaknanda in uttarakhand on the feet of Lord Badri Vishal.
Odisha Flood Alert - II issue 2010
Posted on 09 Aug, 2010 05:14 PMThis initiative is an attempt to provide daily updates on Flood Situations and related events/news to water enthusiasts, professionals and citizens concerned about flood in Odisha. News and information collected from Odia news papers, English media (internet editions) and web site of Department of Water Resources, Govt of Odisha are put together at one place to provide an overview of flood in Odisha on a daily basis.
Inland fishery in a traditionally vegetarian state: A Gujarat story by CAREWATER
Posted on 07 Aug, 2010 08:12 PMFloods, drinking water contamination, mining and waterbodies, water bills, water conflicts - News roundup (1-7 August 2010)
Posted on 07 Aug, 2010 04:51 PMFloods: lessons to be learnt from the massive flooding in Surat city
A report by IIM criticises the way in which dams are managed in the country and calls for the need to apply Management Science / Operations Research techniques and information technology to improve dam management and prevention of floods
Piramal Water Private Limited (Sarvajal) is looking for Chief Sustainability Officer
Posted on 06 Aug, 2010 10:27 AMContent and Image Courtesy: Piramal Fellowship
UN affirms the right to safe and clean drinking water
Posted on 02 Aug, 2010 02:56 PMA remarkable piece of water history should have been headline news everywhere this week.
India WASH forum e-newsletter - Update 13 July 2010
Posted on 02 Aug, 2010 11:56 AMWe see this newsletter as a platform for independent credible voice in the water and sanitation sector. Our emphasis is on bringing together critical news and information with analysis. In this issue we share news and analysis on topical issues and developments.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation(DDWS) has simultaneously invited inputs to Discussion Papers on Drinking Water and Sanitation, circulated on Solution Exchange. Inputs given by India WASH Forum, on this, is enclosed in this Update. We have pointed out the missing elements of sanitation improvement strategy that include, criticality of providing water as an inseparable component to household sanitation, the tendency to see behavior change as a lifestyle issue and not linked to the hardware components, peoples livelihoods and living conditions. Suggestions for what needs to be done to strengthen the implementation mechanism of the flagship sanitation programme(TSC) and partnerships.
A preliminary ecosystem services assessment of likely outcomes of the proposed Pancheshwar dam in India/Nepal - An IES report (2010)
Posted on 02 Aug, 2010 02:24 AMThis report by the IES presents the findings of a study that explores the likely impacts of the recent proposals in India to build a dam at Pancheshwar in the Himalayas on the river ecosystems and the surrounding areas and people involved. This dam will be the world's second tallest structure intended to harness hydroelectric power and water by controlling the flow of the Kali river and its tributaries.
The document argues that although there are many benefits of the dam in terms of energy and water, the wider ramifications of the dam and its consequences for the people staying around the area have not been thought about in the planning process. The planning process has not engaged local people in the decision-making process, there is paucity of published information and the environmental and social consequences have been considered belatedly in the planning process.
More rice for people - More water for the planet - A WWF-ICRISAT report about System of Rice Intensification
Posted on 02 Aug, 2010 02:08 AMThis project report by WWF-ICRISAT begins by highlighting the importance of rice as a major source of calories for half the world’s population and also as the single largest source of employment and income for the rural population.
It makes connections between rice production and its impact on the environment and argues for need to adopt techniques such as System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to improve produce and reduce the damage to the environment.
For example, current practices at genetic uniformity can make crops more vulnerable to pests and diseases. They are also wasteful of increasingly scarce and costly resources such as water and fossil fuels. Heavily fertilised, continuously flooded rice fields produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, and misuse of inorganic fertilisers and agrochemicals results in soil and water pollution. Evidence indicates that there has been a gradual slowdown in the yield gains of rice in many countries.
Rapid assessment survey of Kodaikanal lake - ENVIS Centre (TN) (2009)
Posted on 02 Aug, 2010 02:02 AMThis document by the Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu highlights the importance of the Kodaikanal lake as an important tourist destination and warns that this freshwater lake is under the threat of getting polluted and its biodiversity endangered.
The document presents the findings of the study that aimed at assessing the physico-chemical and biological quality of the Kodaikanal lake.
Evidence indicates that unrestricted tourism activities have led to high use of plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic bags, causing high levels of pollution and silting of the lake. Damaged fibreglass boats left inside the lakes also pose a serious threat to the lake ecosystem.