Aarti Kelkar Khambete

The Yamuna chokes as Delhi drains spew plastic

The flow of high loads of microplastics through the Najafgarh drain into the Yamuna are poisoning the river and threatening its ecosystem. Urgent action is needed! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 1 week ago

The polluted Yamuna at Agra (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Dhangars, traditional pastoralists of Maharashtra demand dedicated grazing lands

News this fortnight Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 2 weeks ago

Dhangars of Maharashtra (Image Source: India Water Portal)

AquaWISE - A decision support tool for greywater treatment solutions

This article introduces AquaWise, an evidence based decision support tool developed by ATREE for implementing site specific greywater treatment solutions for schools in arid and semiarid regions. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 2 weeks ago

Greywater from kitchen and toilets (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)

Finding scalable and financially viable water solutions

How are Indian water startups and water-preneurs coming up with innovative ideas and attempting to find scalable water solutions? Read this compilation of efforts made by the modern day 'young India' Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 2 weeks ago

Finding scalable and sustainable water solutions (Image Source: José Manuel Suárez via Wikimedia Commons)

India’s efforts at water pollution control: Legislative frameworks and real-world impacts

This article traces the evolution of the legislative framework for water pollution in India and its implications for wastewater treatment standards in the country. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 3 weeks ago

Open drains in Alwar (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Wastewater discharge v/s reuse: Understanding standards and impact on water resources

Wastewater treatment has to be feasible and financially viable in the long run. Understanding standards and choosing the right one depending on proposed uses of wastewater can greatly help in achieving that. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 3 weeks ago

Wastewater treatment plant. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: SuSanA Secretariat via Wikimedia Commons)

Agrivoltaics set to gain a fresh boost in India

News this fortnight Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 4 weeks ago

Agrivoltaic installation using vertical bifacial solar panels. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: Marta Victoria via Wikimedia Commons)

Open drains and garbage attract dengue spreading mosquitoes in Delhi slums

A recent study from a low income setting in Delhi found that open drains, stored water and poor garbage management practices attracted dengue spreading mosquitoes in Delhi slums. However, community awareness and preventive steps helped to reduce dengue cases significantly. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months ago

Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for Dengue (Source: James Gathany via Wikimedia Commons)

Open drains drain health

A recent study finds that majority of the poor in India are likely to have open drains or no drainage systems to convey and treat their waste flows, threatening their health. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months ago

Open drains, harbingers of illhealth. Image for representation only (Image Source: SuSanA Secretariat via Wikimedia Commons)

Dry summer monsoons drain groundwater and strain India's food basket

How does climate change induced summer monsoon drying and winter warming affect groundwater abstraction and food production in India's food basket? A study explores. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 1 week ago

A dried borewell in Punjab (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Rivers in the sky are triggering extreme flood events in India

Did you know that atmospheric rivers - rivers in the sky influence the monsoon and occurrence of floods? Let us understand how. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 1 week ago

Rivers in the sky can cause extreme flooding in India (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Assam's Jaldoot campaign to be implemented in schools across India

News this fortnight Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 1 week ago

Student champions and safe drinking water in Assam. (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Changing waterscapes trigger the spread of Zika in urban India

While citizens need to play their part to prevent diseases such as Zika, municipal bodies/urban area authorities need to pull their socks up and set right the poor governance mechanisms that are slowly turning cities into hotbeds of diseases, filth and mismanagement. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 1 week ago

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the culprit for causing Zika (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Building community resilience to deal with landslides

Landslides occur in different parts of India every year. How can community involvement help in resilience building to landslides? What do real life experiences show? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 2 weeks ago

Landslides can destroy property and lives. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: Sridhar Rao via Wikimedia Commons)

Improved gully erosion map needed in India!

Gully erosion is a serious problem that can affect agriculture, livelihoods and lives in India. Having accurate maps to know its present extent is crucial. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 3 weeks ago

Gully erosion maps, the need of the hour (Image Source: Dehaan via Wikimedia Commons)

Untreated wastewater pollutes Bihar's groundwater with superbugs

Antibiotic resistant genes are now invading groundwater in India and wastewater is the culprit. India needs to up its game to prevent waste from getting into surface and groundwater – fast!
Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 3 weeks ago

Resistant bacteria invade groundwater in Bihar (Image Source: Immage reconstructed from NIAD E coli Wikimedia Commons images and IWP Flickr photos)

Groundwater increases the risk of kidney stones in Rajasthan

Is groundwater in Alwar, Rajasthan safe to drink? A study explores Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months 3 weeks ago

A well in Rajasthan (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Karnataka to launch floating solar energy parks on its lakes

News this fortnight Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 5 months ago

Floating solar. Far Niente vineyard in Napa Valley, California. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: Solarwriter via Wikimedia Commons)

Banni grasslands, a lifeline for Maldharis from Kachchh district of Gujarat

Pastoralism is not just an economic activity for the Maldharis residing in the Banni grasslands, but a way of life in which pastoralists, livestock, land and culture are inseparable parts of a dynamic ecosystem. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 5 months ago

Maldharis grazing buffaloes on grasslands (Image Source: A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF via Wikimedia Commons)

Meter, Measure, Manage: Engineering a data-based approach for water conservation

Kritsnam where engineering meets hydrology, founded by K. Sri Harsha focuses on developing accurate, easy to install, tamper-proof, and weather-proof smart water metering solutions to deal with the growing water crisis in India. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 5 months ago

An AI generated image, highlighting water shortage and use of tankers to provide water but water being wasted when available (Image Source: Praharsh Patel)