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Public Infrastructure and Services
Water for Profit: Experiences from America and India
Posted on 27 Feb, 2016 12:15 PMIn January 2016, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Employees Union and residents of Nagpur yet again protested the privatisation of water services in the city.
![NMC Employees Union and residents of Nagpur protest water privatisation](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/img-20160202-wa0006.jpg?itok=zdavytl4)
5 crore people cleanse themselves at the cost of 5000
Posted on 24 Feb, 2016 09:38 PMThe Ujjain Simhastha (Kumbh Mela) in Madhya Pradesh will begin on April 22, 2016 and go on for a month. The event, held once every 12 years, holds religious significance to Hindus, and throngs of people--approximately 5 crore over the month--take a holy dip in the Kshipra river during this time.
![Early morning at Ramghat, Ujjain](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/24524490811_206362fc69_o.jpg?itok=QnmHHdrP)
Preparing for the Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh Mela
Posted on 24 Feb, 2016 09:37 PMThe Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh Mahaparva is one of the four Kumbha Melas, which is held once in 12 years.
![Diwakar Natu, Chairman of Simhastha Fair Authority](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/diwakar_natu-s.jpg?itok=4cyRNC5i)
4 billion global population affected by severe water scarcity: NASA
Posted on 23 Feb, 2016 12:16 PMGroundwater levels are reducing all over the world: NASA analysis
![A tubewell in Rajasthan (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/2971048985_7ded9f8fed_z.jpg?itok=eILAfkY1)
Ken-Betwa river link project hits a roadblock
Posted on 23 Feb, 2016 12:09 PMNo clearance to Ken-Betwa river link project till wildlife issues are addressed
![Map showing Ken-Betwa river link (Source: Shannon via Wikipedia)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/yamunarivermap_2.jpg?itok=IN2H5leE)
Eight ministries now responsible for Ganga clean up
Posted on 09 Feb, 2016 12:39 PMSeven ministries other than the Water Ministry to help revive the Ganga
![Ganga at Gadmukteshwar (Source: India Water Portal Flickr Photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/6172024170_3151074271_b.jpg?itok=bHHUHf8O)
Agriculture and informal sector labour need a budgetary push
Posted on 08 Feb, 2016 08:46 AMRecent data from the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) as well as the Agriculture Census highlighted the plight of Indian farmers. Around 85 percent are small and marginal farmers with an average monthly income of only Rs. 4653, which is lesser than their monthly expenses. Debt rates are very high among farmers with an average loan of more than Rs.
![A farmer in Jhansi, Bundelkhand](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/farmer_in_bundelkhand.jpg?itok=yufC_z2C)
Water and sanitation sector needs a budget push
Posted on 30 Jan, 2016 12:56 PMWhile the WatSan sector has been prioritised in the country’s policy agenda through the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission, last year’s budgetary outlay was way below desired levels.
![Handwashing at a Karnataka school](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/handwashing_in_a_karnataka_school_0.jpg?itok=DFnpKoyP)
Pumping up hopes the solar way
Posted on 28 Jan, 2016 03:29 PMHaryana's agriculture sector uses seven lakh tubewells, most of which are connected to the grid as the state has a policy of providing highly subsidised electricity to farmers costing Rs. 6200 crore a year. As a result, groundwater exploitation is rampant.
![Better incentives needs to be provided to farmers to use solar pumps for tubewells in Haryana](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/image_14.jpg?itok=8Ww2QUZ-)
Government sets ambitious targets for MGNREGS
Posted on 26 Jan, 2016 02:09 PMAiming for an outcome-oriented programme, Government sets ambitious targets for MGNREGS
![Labourers building check dams under MGNREGS (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/5498477595_b432f838e5_z_0_1.jpg?itok=7mRSfDtn)