The “Zenrainman” channel on YouTube
Posted on July 3, 2009 | Filed Under Guest Posts, Photos and movies on current water topics in India
Guest post from S.Vishwanath of the Rainwater Club and Arghyam
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Dear All,
The Water and Sanitation Channel on youtube-
http://www.youtube.com/user/zenrainman- reached a landmark today with
the number of videos uploaded reaching the 300 mark.
This has been an initiative to document and highlight efforts ongoing
in such fields as rainwater harvesting, eco-san, grey-water reuse,
groundwater recharge , ecological flows in rivers and such allied
issues.
It has now hit a steady view rate of 400 a day and has overall been
viewed nearly 200,000 times . It is the 20th most viewed ALL time
channel from India in the Reporters section and the 20th most
subscribed in the Reporters section ( with such other eminent channels
ahead such as bodybuilding and punjabi cute boy 
)
The latest video uploaded is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEwiG9tAacs&feature=channel_page
on the Chalakudy river in Kerala and to understand the construct and
imagination of a river in modern times.
One of the most popular videos has been on the guppy fish and it has a
young audience to thank that for
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7V76FcL2QQ&feature=channel_page
The channel has been the first to highlight such technologies and efforts as
Read more
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AQUA 2009 and BHAGEERATH awards
Posted on July 3, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Awards/RFPs/Competitions, Conf, Wkshop, Training
Forwarded to the Portal of Sangeeta Deogawanka
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The Mumbai Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE-MRC - Mumbai Regional Chapter) is organizing AQUA 2009 at Goa, on 4th & 5th July.
It shall be a two-day seminar on Water and Wastewater Management with technical sessions featuring new technologies and product presentations.
With AQUA 2009, the water and wastewater treatment industry gets another fillip. A technolgy-solution driven seminar with focus on the corporate sector, AQUA 2009 has drawn on the expertise of some of the renowned experts in the field of wastewater management. With participation of key professionals from the water and waste water treatment domain, AQUA 2009 aims at starting a new trend with a first of its kind BHAGEERATH AWARD . The focus is on techno savvy sustainable solutions that can serve the industrial and corporate needs of wastewater treatment and recycling. Starting with July 2009, AQUA shall evolve as a annual event showcasing the state-of-the-art and latest product and process know-hows suited to the Indian environment.
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Post-doctoral research positions: UNESCO-IHE
Posted on July 3, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Awards/RFPs/Competitions, Climate Change
Forwarded to the Portal by Ewoud Kok, UNESCO-IHE
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The UNESCO-IHE Partnership Research Fund announces an interdisciplinary post-doctoral research programme to investigate the many challenges of adapting to climate change from different water related perspectives.
The programme has identified a number of interrelated research topics and intends to provide 7 post-doctoral research fellowships, each for an estimated duration of 18 months.
During this period, the researchers are expected to spend almost 100% of their time on the project.
The researchers will work in close collaboration with key staff members of UNESCO-IHE and the partner institutes.
All researchers will be based part-time at a partner institute in their home country or another country and part-time at UNESCO-IHE in The Netherlands (generally 4 months).
More details here:
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/About/News/Post-doctoral-research-positions-Invitation-to-apply
The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education is an international institute for water education that was established in 2003. More information at www.UNESCO-IHE.org
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“As It Flows” flows again !
Posted on July 3, 2009 | Filed Under "As It Flows", Humour
Long-time blog readers may remember Madhu Ramaswamy’s series of water cartoons:
http://www.indiawaterportal.org/blog/category/as-it-flows/
We are pleased to restart the series
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Click on the image for fullsize picture
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National Water Academy: Short-duration program for NGOs and media
Posted on July 3, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized
National Water Academy (Khadakwasla, Pune, India) will conduct a three day “Introductory Program” for NGOs and media persons active in water and environment sector, from 29 to 31 July 2009.
This program will cover basics of hydrology – surface and ground water processes; India’s water budget – availability & requirement; Putting water to use - introduction to dams, barrages, canal, hydro-power structures, etc.; Extreme events - flood and drought management; Water quality and environmental flows in rivers; Trans basin transfer of water (ILR); National Water Policy; Social & environmental impacts of hydraulic infrastructure; and Water Sector Reforms, and a “familiarization visit” to a dam.
This is a short duration program and is designed mainly for the participants from and near Pune area, though participants from elsewhere are also welcome. (later this year there will be a longer duration and more exhaustive program, which the participants coming from afar will find more worthwhile)
There is no program fee, but there are only limited number of seats available.
The National Water Academy is a premier national institute under the Ministry of Water Resources to impart training to in-service engineers of various Central/State organisations. More information at their website: http://nwa.mah.nic.in
Details of application etc are attached here: short-duration-program-for-ngos-and-media
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WORKSHOP ON “HOW TO SAVE THE LAKES OF BANGALORE ?”
Posted on June 30, 2009 | Filed Under Arghyam, Conf, Wkshop, Training
(Jointly organised by Bangalore Environment Trust and ARGHYAM)
On 4 July 2009 at 1430h at the RAMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
According to the Survey and Settlement Records of the Government prepared in early 1930s, there were 937 Lakes, Tanks and waterbodies in the Bangalore Urban district which largely coincides with the 790 km2 area of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The area of the tank-bed of these waterbodies was 26,468 acres. However, due to encroachments, debris and garbage dumping by vested interests, wilful action of Government in breaching tanks and allotting land to various organizations like ISRO, Medical Colleges, Stadiums, etc, and the illegal action of forming sites and allotting them by civic bodies like the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), letting untreated domestic sewage and even industrial effluents into the lakes, breaching of the stormwater drains, the area lost in the tank beds is a conservative 2,500 acres according to a preliminary survey by the Survey and Settlement and the Revenue Department.
What was once a scientific system of “cascading of lakes” – water flowing from the lakes at higher levels to lower level lakes and ultimately to the natural drainage and river systems – has now become unrecognizable and an urban eyesore. The consequences of destroying lakes are all too evident: flooding after a 50mm rain, drying up of drinking water sources (till 1972 many of these lakes contained potable water),prevalence of water-borne diseases, ending of the “salubrious climate” of Bangalore, disappearance of sanctuaries for birds and fish, etc. A former Chief Minister of Karnataka used to boast he will make Bangalore the “Singapore of India”. From the number of roads which get water-logged during rains, “ Venice of India” is what Bangalore has turned into.
The population of Bangalore has been increasing at a compound rate of 4.9% annually since 1970 (and the vehicle population, especially motorized two-wheelers, at 15%) according to a World Bank Report of 2005. At this rate of growth, by 2018, Bangalore’s present population of 75 lakhs (2008) will increase to 1.15 crore and its vehicle population will increase from its present 35 lakhs to 1.23 crores ( hopfully, the Metro will moderate this rate of growth of vehicles). Even at the modest figure of 150 litres per head per day, Cauvery cannot supply the water then needed by Bangalore. If we want to stave off the looming water shortage, traditional sources such as TG Halli and Hessarghatta have to be revived; borewells will also have to harnessed by arresting the declining ground-water table.
The ineffectiveness in protecting Bangalore’s lakes is due to the large number of government departments and statutory bodies having legal jurisdiction over them:
(a) Revenue Department,
(b) Public Works Dept.
(c) Forest Dept.
(d) BBMP,
(e) BDA
(f)BWSSB,
(g) Pollution Control Board (KSPCB),
(h) Lake Development Authority(LDA),
(i) District Magistrate (Deputy Commissioner)
(j) Tourism Department.
Karnataka was a pioneer in establishing the Lake Development Authority over ten years ago. Its mandate is to protect, preserve and develop lakes. Unfortunately, it has no authority or legal powers to carry out its task. Unlike the other agencies which have a myriad set of tasks to perform, the LDA has only one task but is powerless to perform it.
The Workshop will conclude with a Panel discussion in which all those who matter will take part. It is hoped that the Panel will identify concrete steps to be taken such as :
(a)commitment by the government not to regularise encroachment of waterbodies and storm-water drains and take effective steps to prevent further encroachment.
(b)Government and BDA to desist from utilising partly-dry lakebeds for any purpose whatsoever.
(c)Making rainwater harvesting mandatory even for the older buildings.
(d)Making it mandatory to install Sewage Treatment Plants in all Apartment Blocks and Office Complexes.
(e)Identify the Agency (LDA?) and entrust it with the preparation of a 10 year Master Plan for revival of all lakes in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area and its execution. Technology solutions appropriate for each lake shall be identified.
(f)Constitute a high-level Monitoring Committee headed by the Chief Secretary or Additional Chief secretary which shall have, besides officials, prominent environmentalists, birders and representatives of voluntary agencies. This Committee shall meet once a quarter to review the progress.
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Wanted: Wanted - Monsoon-related stories from different corners of India!
Posted on June 22, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Climate Change, Guest Posts, News, Photos and movies on current water topics in India, Volunteer
Guest Post by: Grace Boyle, Greenpeace India
Greenpeace seeks monsoon related stories from different corners on India, read on to learn more!
What is Rainspotting?
Greenpeace is doing a report on how the Indian monsoons are affected by climate change. We are in the process of putting together a monsoon report for the Prime Minister of India to show how the erratic monsoons are affecting the common man and hence demand for a renewable energy law that will save millions of lives.
As a part of this process, we want to document the trials and tribulations faced by the farming community in the remote parts of India. We’d like your help in putting together this report by sharing your valuable expertise with us.
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A moment for “He who fixes your pipe and She who cleans your home”
Posted on June 22, 2009 | Filed Under Guest Posts, News, Photos and movies on current water topics in India, Urban Water, Volunteer
Image and Content Courtesy: Avinash Krishnamurthy, BIOME Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.,
Meet Muniyappa and his team of well diggers. They have dug over a 150 wells with us in the last two years and perhaps more than a 1000 wells in their life time. While digging Muniswamy (or someone else in the team) is drenched in sweat and is bare chested. He climbs up and down the well which can be upto 40 ft deep on footholds 2 inches deep that he himself digs into the sidewalls of the wells. 
When he is deep down under, digging, and soil has to be hauled up, Srinivasu and Muniyappa are precariously perched on the side of the well pulling up the rope that holds the basket full of soil. And then once the well is dug, concrete rings (each weighing in the range of 75 Kg to 250 Kgs depending on the size of the well) are introduced down from the top with the help of the rope - and the sinews of Muniyappa, Srinivasu or Muniswamy. And during this process, Muniswamy virtually climbs in and out of the well for each ring that is introduced.
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SANDRP : Press Releases - Conflict Of Interest
Posted on June 22, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Dams, News, River Watch, Volunteer
Forwarded to the Portal by: Himanshu Thakkar, SANDRP
PROJECT PROMOTER IS CHAIRING ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE COMMITTEE
LETTER SENT TO ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: TEST FOR UPA’S CLAIMS ON GOVERNANCE
For over two years now, Mr. P Abhraham who is on the Board of several hydropower and dam companies has been chairing the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydropower projects. The committee, set up under the EIA Notification 2006 and EPA 1986, screens proposals for dams and hydropower projects for clearances at various stages. The committee also takes decisions on several very crucial policies governing the clearances for these projects. There is clear conflict of interest here between Abraham’s role as director of companies and as this most crucial regulatory position in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Over the past two years, there has been at least six occasions when a project of the companies where Abraham is a director has come for clearance before the committee he chairs. This is a completely unacceptable situation and a number of social and environment groups have written to the New Union Environment Minister to remove Abraham from this position, before the next meeting of the committee he chairs happens (it is scheduled for June 15-16, 2009).
Among many other power and dam companies, Abraham is on the Board of Lanco Infratech, GVK Industries Ltd, JSW Energy Ltd, PTC Ltd, Nagarjun Construction and Maharashtra Power Generation Company. Some of the projects from such companies that came up before the EAC that Abraham chairs over the last two years include the 3000 MW Demwe Hydropower project (Arunachal Pradesh), the 76 MW Phata Byung HEP (Uttarakhand), the 76 MW Rambara HEP (Uttarakhand), the 170 MW Bogudiyar-Sirkari Bhyol HEP (Uttarakhand), the 200 MW Mapang Bogudiyar HEP (Uttarakhand) and the 260 MW Kuther HEP (Himachal Pradesh). Abraham has been abstaining from the meetings whenever these projects came up before the EAC, but this is clearly not sufficient.
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A Monthly Dose of Odia Water News: “Water Feeder”
Posted on June 22, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, News, Volunteer
Guest Post by: Pranab R Choudhury, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
Find attached the first issue (May 09) of ‘Water Feeder’ – a monthly dose of Water News compiled from Odia news papers.
This is an attempt to compile and analyze water-related news published in Odia dailies with an objective to help water professionals and enthusiasts to capture and comprehend issues and conflicts around water (through eyes of media). It is also going to provide a geographical, seasonal and media perspective of water issues and conflicts in Odisha to stimulate thoughts and actions.
We are beginning this initiative with a Monthly ‘News Analysis’ covering 5 major Odia Dailies. An odia version is also on its way. Each news item have been tagged and put in a searchable database, which will be shortly uploaded in the net along with scanned copy of each news item.
We look forward to your comments and feedback. (Please send your response to baitarani@gmail.com)
The First edition covers news about concerns related to seasonal changes in water concerns from heat wave related shortages to monsoon brought excesses. An unique insight in to Odisha & the unique problems faced therein is provided.
The Odia Water News Edition can be downloaded here: Water Feeder - May 09
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