Tank irrigation in Karnataka, authored by GS Dikshit, GR Kuppuswamy, SK Mohan, and first published in 1993, provides a historical overview of this ancient method of water management. The book covers entire eras from the ancient to the current period. It also gives information about the structural, financial and institutional aspects of tank construction and management.
The full book is available for download on the India Water Portal. Please right-click on the cover page image of the book, and select 'Save link as', to download the full book.
This article by Kishore C Samal in the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) discusses how in the natural disater prone state of Orissa the authorities have not been able to draw up an effective disaster management plan and politicians continue to play politics with relief works. It argues that for dealing with these disasters and the relief and rehabilitation work that follows what is needed is the participation of the local community and functionaries of panchayati raj institutions, and coordination with national and international bodies.
The document describes the Maharashtra Groundwater Act, which is an Act to regulate the exploitation of groundwater for the protection of public drinking water sources and includes the details of :Read More
Declaration of water scarcity area
Regulation of extraction of water from wells in water scarcity areas
Declaration of over exploited watershed
prohibition of sinking of well in over exploited watershed
Prohibition of extraction of water from an existing well for certain period
Closing down existing well
Power of entry upon any land for obtaining information
Power to stop contravention of the provisions of section 3, 5, 7, 8 or 9
Payment of compensation
Bar to claim compensationThe document describes the Maharashtra Groundwater Act, which is an Act to regulate the exploitation of groundwater for the protection of public drinking water sources and includes the details of :
Short title and commencement of the Act
Definitions of the terms used in the Act
Protection measures for public drinking water sources
Prohibition of construction of wells within certain limits
Declaration of water scarcity area
Regulation of extraction of water from wells in water scarcity areas
Declaration of over exploited watershed
Prohibition of sinking of well in over exploited watershed
Prohibition of extraction of water from an existing well for certain period
Closing down existing well
Power of entry upon any land for obtaining information
Power to stop contravention of the provisions of section 3, 5, 7, 8 or 9
This is a very important Act that calls for the prohibition on employment of manual scavengers as well as on the construction or continuation of the use of dry latrines. The Act also calls for the need to regulate, construct and maintain water-seal latrines.Read More
The manual is a revised version of the earlier one, which was developed in 1977 and was widely used by field engineers engaged in sewerage and sewage treatment. However, a need was felt to revise and update the earlier manual taking into consideration the advancement in technology.Read More
The Maharashtra Groundwater (Regulation for Drinking Water Purposes) Act, 1993 aims to regulate the exploitation of groundwater for the protection of public drinking water sources. Protection measures have been taken for public drinking water sources such as prohibition of construction of wells within certain limits.Read More
In Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab, Shri Anupam Mishra documents the life and work of several individuals and communities, across the country, in setting up water harvesting and management systems through talaabs (lakes / tanks).
These traditional water bodies are the lifeline of many villages and towns in the country even today. Their work serves as a guide, in organising to face and tackle the current water crisis in the country.
Shri Anupam Mishra has worked in the field of environment and water conservation for many decades, and currently works with the Gandhi Peace Foundation New Delhi.
His books on the work of people/society organising themselves, to harvest and manage water - Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab and Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein, are considered landmark works in the field, and continue to inspire several individuals even today, to take up work on setting up and reviving these time-tested water harvesting systems.
Shri Anupam Mishra does not hold any copy right over books written by him. Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab has thus been translated through the initiatives of several inspired readers, into 19 languages. It is one of the only books after Gandhiji's autobiography "My Experiments with Truth", to be available in Braille. The total number of prints of Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab, has crossed 100,000 copies as of 2009.
Readers are thus welcome to further reprint, digitise, store, extract, copy, translate, transmit or use the books in any form they wish. Please do tell us about any such efforts you make or feedback you have on the books, at contact@indiawaterportal.org, and we will forward your mail to the author.
India Water Portal acknowledges the support of Sambhaav Trust and Anand Kumar Naidu Bangalore, in making this publication available in an electronic form.
Related Content
Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein, is available on the India Water Portal here.
"The Wisdom That Was!", a talk (in Hindi) by Anupam Mishra can be viewed on the India Water Portal here.
His talk at the TED India 2009 Conference, can be viewed here.
Other articles, interviews and booklets edited / authored by him are available here.
