Industrial Pollution

The reports titled 'Status of groundwater quality in India (Part I and Part II) present the results of a detailed survey of groundwater quality in metropolitan areas (population >100,000) in India. The report recognises that most groundwater quality problems are anthropogenic in origin, caused by a combination of over-exploitation and infiltration of wastes. Inadequate infrastructure and resources mean that waste generated by cities and industrial areas is not properly collected, treated and disposed, thus leading to grondwater contamination.Read More

The  mission of the Rajasthan Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (RUHHP - 06) is:

• To provide shelter to all the sections of the population
• To ensure sustainable development of human settlements
• To ensure a better quality of life for the population
• To adopt a multisectoral approach and involve and use the potential of all levels of stakeholders.

The RUHHP-06 is broadly in consonance with latest National  Housing and Habitat Policy-2005 (Ist draft has been issued). The document goes on to highlight the present urban and  rural situation in Rajasthan, the increasing population density in the urban areas because of migration of people from rural to urban areas and the housing issues arising because of this increased density of population in urban areas.Read More

The policy thus focuses on balanced development, promotion of in situ-urbanisation, vertical construction and the use of sustainable development models.

This article by Collaborative for the Advancement of the Study of Urbanism through Mixed Media (CASUMM) presents the case of Bellandur Tank in Bangalore city and highlights how rapid unplanned urbanisation has led to the destruction of one of the biggest water bodies in Bangalore Urban district.Read More

The tank provided sustenance for people who lived in the areas surrounding it and provided water for irrigation, household purposes such as drinking, washing and cleaning, besides providing ample supply of fish. The tank was thus an integral part of the society and had a relationship with the communities residing around the tank.

This is the fourth in a decadal series of reports published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), previous ones published in 1978-79, 1989-90 and 2000, which provides basic information about the status of water supply and sewage generation and treatment of 498 Class-I cities and 410 Class-II towns, along with information on 53 coastal Class-I cities and 35 coastal Class-I towns, besides Ganga Basin as a separate subsection.Read More