Aarti Kelkar Khambete

Water poverty in Mumbai slum

Water service delivery failures can negatively impact household economy, employment, education, quality of life, social relationships, community cohesion, and people’s sense of political inclusion. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 3 months ago

An illegal settlement (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Half of India's interstate rivers plagued by pollution and poor water quality

While the Central Pollution Control Board's recent study highlights the problems with rivers today, it does not have clear cut recommendations or actions to resolve them. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 3 months ago

Creaking cities, vanishing ecosystems

An ecosystems-approach based on an understanding of the importance and contribution of ecosystem services is needed if both urban and peri-urban areas are to be developed sustainably and inclusively. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 4 months ago

Ecosystems and their role in climate change resilience

Poor sanitation causes psychosocial stress among women

Environmental barriers, social factors and fears of sexual violence contribute to sanitation-related psychosocial stress among women. Gender sensitive policies need to be strengthened to tackle this. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 4 months ago

Poor sanitation and psychosocial stress - The linkages (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Does poor sanitation behaviour adversely affect pregnancy?

670 pregnant women from coastal and inland Odisha were interviewed to examine the relationship between maternal sanitation behaviour and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The results confirm the hypothesis. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 4 months ago

The connection between sanitation and pregnancy outcomes

The invasion of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Many locals express feelings of regret for the support they initially showed to the hydropower projects in the hope of getting jobs and contracts, but development still continues. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 4 months ago

India, China and the Brahmaputra tangle

India needs to be consistent in its approach towards its downstream neighbours while negotiating with its upstream neighbour China over the Bramhaputra's waters. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

The Brahmaputra (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Poisoned waters: Which Indian rivers contain trace and toxic metals?

The Central Water Commission studied 355 water quality stations and 32 gauge stations covering all river basins in the country. Only mercury and zinc levels were within BIS acceptable standards. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Integrated watershed management and public health

According to this study, implementing a watershed management programme in water scarce areas can lead to both improved water availability and health outcomes. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Velvety green mountains, catchment areas for the Khadakwasla dam near Pune

The poop scoop: Diarrhoea data in graphs

The coverage of 'safe drinking water' in India increased from 62.3 percent in 1991 to 94 percent in 2011 but why has the incidence of diarhoeal diseases not reduced? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

There is a link between the quality of toilets and incidence of diarrhoeal diseases.

Solar irrigation pumps: A boon and bane

Karnataka's Surya Raitha scheme provides farmers with cash income for “growing” solar energy as a remunerative cash crop, to prevent overusing solar powered pumps for groundwater extraction. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Solar power use in a Tamil Nadu farm (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Can MGNREGA come to the rescue of rainfed agriculture?

With water harvesting, conservation, drought proofing & renovation of traditional water bodies as core activities, MGNREGA has the potential to improve rainfed agriculture in India. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

The future of rainfed agriculture in India

The link between climate change, drought and migration in Chhattisgarh explained

Erratic rainfall is forcing farmers to migrate to urban areas but officials under-report drought-induced migration due to the fear that this would be viewed as a failure of government mechanisms. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 5 months ago

Climate change, poor rainfall and drought (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Poisoned by water

Endosulfan, a harmful pesticide, is banned in Kerala but other such chemicals continue to be used. Groundwater contamination leading to unsafe water supply is but one of its consequences. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Farmer spraying pesticide (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Chennai fisherfolk explain the connection between climate, oceanographic factors and fish catch

Understanding how fishing communities cope with and adapt fisheries to climate change can be useful to develop broader adaptation strategies. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

How can growing groundwater crisis be dealt with?

A regulatory framework that protects the resource and good practices of participatory groundwater management -- both essential features of groundwater governance -- are necessary to manage the crisis. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Bangalore's water mafia explained!

Water mafias do not comprise only independent, small-scale players operating outside the state but also large-scale utility companies, which too operate through the water mafia and its strategies. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Private lorry tankers getting their fill

Does 24x7 water supply help reduce water storage or hoarding in urban areas?

A study at Hubli Dharwad found that there could be limits to how formal a city's water supply systems is. These depended on consumer habits, the history of a city’s water supply and infrastructure. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 6 months ago

Water, a valuable resource (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Standing Committee Report: Safe drinking water and sanitation

The report is scathing and points at many gaps in the planning and implementing process of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) & the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) SBM (G) programmes. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 7 months ago

Watershed development in India: Learning through experience

Implementing good watershed management practices can go a long way in dealing with the increasing water crisis in India in recent years. Lessons learned from three World Bank projects are detailed. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 9 years 7 months ago