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Saving some last remaining free flowing rivers - Novel conservation reserves on Kali, Bedthi and Aghanashini in the Western Ghats
Guest post by: Parineeta Dandekar
A landmark decision taken for conserving biodiversity-rich rivers and basins is the declaration of three conservation reserves in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, namely the Aghanashini Lion Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve spanning 299. 5 sq. Km, Bedthi Conservation Reserve, spanning 57.3 sq Km and Hornbill Conservation Reserve over 52.5 sq Km, on 31st May 2011 by the state government's forest, ecology & environment department
Above: KaliNadi in Karnataka
Source: Divya
Background
In the Western Ghats, rivers arising from the mighty mountains and flowing towards the east are worshipped as Dakshin Vahini or Purva Vahini Ganga. And understandably so. While rivers which flow west of the water divide flow for mere 80-100 km before meeting the Bay of Bengal, rivers like Krishna and Godavari that fall to the south-east flow for thousands of kilometers, meeting...
Posted on: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 06:38 | Responses: (0)
Tipaimukh dam: Bangladesh perspectives
Guest Post : Md. Khalequzzaman
The Indian government and two other Indian authorities have signed an agreement on October 22, 2011 regarding construction of the Tipaimukh Dam. Since the announcement was published in the news media, there has been a lot of discussion and debate about the potential impacts of the proposed Tipaimukh dam on the economy and environment of Bangladesh in general, and on the haor (wetlands that are breeding ground for fish and are cultivated for rice crops) region in particular.
This debate has intensified following publication of an article by Adviser Gawher Rizvi in the Daily Star on December 13, 2011 (http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=213834) in which he called for a science-based analysis of the proposed project and its potential impact on Bangladesh.
For lack of field-based data and paucity of cooperation between India and Bangladesh on information about the project, it is difficult to make a sound judgment on the impact of this project. However, based on other experience and track record on impacts of large dams on the environment and ecosystem in downstream regions, some inferences can be made. The following points about potential negative impacts of the...
Posted on: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 23:33 | Responses: (0)
Changing currents: Plumbing the rights: A film highlighting water as a common good
Source: Culture Unplugged
Directed by Amber Delahooke & Rob Sullivan “Plumbing the Rights, Part I” focuses on the issue of water as common property and a right that is indistinguishable from the right to life. The film documents local communities from India and South Africa striving to maintain this right in the face of official opposition. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, where community efforts have revived traditional water harvesting structures, called johads, villagers of Lava ka Baas are resisting the state government's move to destroy their johad. In South Africa, official curb on access to water for people who cannot pay for it is forcing communities take the water illegally.
Watch the movie online...
Posted on: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 20:55 | Responses: (0)
Living rivers, dying rivers: Bagmati river in Nepal - Lecture at IIC, New Delhi by Ajaya Dixit and Dipak Gyawali
Guest post: Amita Bhaduri
The fifth lecture in the ten-part series titled "Living Rivers, Dying Rivers" was delivered on the subject “Bagmati River” by Dr. Ajaya Dixit, Nepal Water Conservation Foundation and Dr. Dipak Gyawali, Former Minister for Water Resources in Nepal and Vice-Chair of the Technical Committee of the UN’s World Water Assessment Programme. The lecture held on November 18, 2011 by the India International Centre, New Delhi highlighted the complex challenges faced by the much abused river because of untreated sewage, solid waste, industrial effluents, illegal encroachments and rampant construction along the river banks.
Posted on: Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 18:07 | Responses: (1)
Peoples' Science Institute’s new calendar-planner for 2012
Forwarded to the portal by: Peoples' Science Institute
Peoples' Science Institute’s (PSI) activities are spread all over India with a focus on the central-western Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the poverty-ridden districts of western Orissa. Its operational headquarters are located in Dehra Doon, Uttarakhand.
Posted on: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 - 08:34 | Responses: (0)
A plan for resolving Mullaperiyar conflict - Open letter to the Prime Minister - Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
Guest Post: Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India has been closely following the Mullaperiyar issue for the last several years. The polarisation of views around the Mullaperiyar has hardened over the years. The Tamil Nadu government insists that the Mullaperiyar dam is safe and that the water level must be maintained at the maximum level as per the agreement. The Kerala government insists that a new dam, downstream of the present dam, must be built because the present dam is unsafe. The recent tremors with their epicentres near the dam and the already diminishing trust and rising fears and apprehensions on both sides have created a grave situation needing immediate intervention and your initiative in getting the two parties together is a welcome move.
Posted on: Saturday, December 31, 2011 - 12:56 | Responses: (1)
'15 tanks and 151 toilets built in 2011 to provide schools with water and sanitation': bRAINstorming - Newsletter of International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance - N° 42 – December 2011
Article and Image Courtesy: International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)
The newsletter focuses on all activities concerning rainwater harvesting, the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) and its partners. This issue summarizes work done during 2011.
Posted on: Friday, December 30, 2011 - 14:34 | Responses: (0)
'First international advocacy planning meeting for water and sanitation activists'- 'WASH news and policy update: Bi-monthly e-newsletter of the India WASH Forum, Issue 21, December 2011
Content courtesy: India WASH Forum
'First international advocacy planning meeting for water and sanitation activists'- WASH news and policy update: Bi-monthly e-newsletter of the India WASH Forum, Issue 21, December 2011 focuses on the following:
- The Times Magazine has named The Protestor” as the Year 2011 Person of the Year, in recognition of the pro democracy protests against governments the world over.
- The forum brings together a collection of reports and papers on the subject of manual scavenging compiled by the Network Jivika
- Government of India launched the National School Sanitation Initiative recently that makes it compulsory for schools to focus on the practical aspects of sanitation including personal hygiene, clean toilet habits, waste segregation, etc.
- ...
Posted on: Friday, December 30, 2011 - 12:31 | Responses: (0)
Ramaswamy Iyer's Draft National Water Policy – Comments by Rahul Banerjee
Guest Post: Rahul Banerjee
Ramaswamy Iyer has made a commendable effort to draft a National Water Policy that tries to reform the current unsustainable approach to water resource management in this country (EPW Vol XLVI Nos 26&27 Supplement pp 201). Assuming that this draft is an invitation to a larger public debate on the issues involved I would like to make a few comments on it.
Posted on: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - 14:24 | Responses: (0)
National Alliance for People’s Movements condemns arrest and harassment of anti-dam protesters in Assam – A press release demanding scrapping of big dams in Brahmaputra River Valley
Content courtesy: National Alliance for People's Movements
On the 26 December, 2011, at 2:15 am, Assam Police in collusion with other security forces swooped down on the protesters at Ranganadi who have been blockading the Highway since December 16 and thwarting state’s attempt to carry turbines and dam materials to project site of Lower Subansiri Dam. Nearly 200 people have been arrested and earlier also security forces have been harassing the protestors. In past too, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti fighting against the big dams on Brahmaputra have faced government’s ire and often been attacked and jailed. NAPM stands in solidarity with KMSS and other students groups of the region who have been consistently opposed to the big dams in highly sensitive seismic zone. We condemn the sustained action and harassment of KMSS and their activists and targeting of Akhil Gogoi for constantly opposing the destructive development policies and corruption of the government machinery.
Posted on: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - 12:10 | Responses: (1)
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