Rural Water

This document  is a discussion paper for the preparation of the strategic plan for the rural drinking water sector by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

This background report on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation by the World Bank, as a part of the Water Resources Management sector review, dwells on the policy and constraints of this sector, institutional and financial issues related to sector reform process and advocates an approach/plan to bring about radical reforms in the sector.

Sanitation/Wastewater

• India tops the list of nations lacking toilets
• India hunts for a Rural Toilet Design, 1000 Euros up for grabs
• 82% of rural India deprived of three basic necessities of life — tapped drinking water, electricity connection and sanitation
• There are 700 million cell phone connections in India, but only half this number of Indians have access to private toilets, says a UN study

Dr. Brij Gopal, Vice President, National Institute of Ecology and former Member, Working Group on Minimum Flows, constituted by the Water Quality Assessment Authority, talks to Parineeta Dandekar, India Water Portal about the urgent need of freshwater flows in Indian rivers, and the legal and institutional set ups required to ensure this.

As part of the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), the Ministry of Rural Development under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission and UNICEF have brought out a compedium that details the various sanitation technologies available to above and below poverty line households .

The authors have divided the report into three subjects - the first being the need for household sanitation and the extent of the problem in rural India. The second section looks at sanitation technology in general with a focus on rural areas and technologies for different conditions. The third part deals with operation and maintenance of  such technologies  and  includes a chapter on components of a toilet.

Recent news indicates extensive reports on the threat and destruction unleashed by cyclone Jal in the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka being affected the most. Cyclone Jal has led to heavy rainfall in both these states leading to floods and a heavy death toll in the coastal districts of both the states, besides reports of destruction of agricultural produce in the state of Karnataka.

South India

• 'Cyclone Jal' hits South India leaving nearly 30 dead and scores injured

Andhra Pradesh

• Administration on high alert with the threat of cyclone Jal approaching the Andhra Pradesh coastline
• Cyclone 'Jal' claims lives in Andhra Pradesh
• Cyclone 'Jal' claims five lives in Andhra Pradesh
• Cyclone threat in Andhra, rains kill 20
• Andhra rains cause havoc, death toll rises to 25
• Rain claims 4 lives in Vizag, 2 in East Godavari
• Rain fury continues in Andhra Pradesh's coastal districts
• Heavy rains wreak havoc in coastal Andhra Pradesh