Aarti Kelkar Khambete

Understanding floods to prevent them!

While floods are a normal part of the river ecology, can their impacts be minimised by understanding them better and changing our current practices? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 day 7 hours ago

Flooding in cities is getting common in India! (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)

Will urban India gain respite from its water woes?

Urban India is hurtling towards a major water crisis. What are the important considerations that the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) should take into account to meet the water needs in urban areas? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 5 days ago

Will urban India get respite from its water woes? (Image Source: Aathavan Jaffna via Wikimedia Commons)

Did the moody monsoon shrink forests in peninsular India?

A study finds that while forests existed in peninsular India, they were replaced by savanna grasslands over time. And the weakening monsoon was the culprit! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 2 weeks 5 days ago

Savanna grasslands at Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary, Solapur, Maharashtra (Image Source: Raju Kasambe via Wikimedia Commons)

When monsoon plays truant!

While the monsoon will become more unpredictable, the accompanying hot and dry extremes due to temperature rise will greatly threaten food production in India, warn these studies. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 weeks 3 days ago

When the monsoon plays truant (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Urban waterbodies, treasure troves of biodiversity

A study on the Mula-Mutha river stretches in Pune reveals rich biodiversity with presence of a large number of freshwater invertebrate species, including a few reports to the region! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 weeks ago

Mula-Ram river confluence stretch at Aundh-Baner link road, Pune (Image Source: Jeevitnadi)

East Kolkata Wetlands – fast turning death traps for aquatic ecosystems?

Freshwater ecosystems in India are known to harbour rich biodiversity, but their health is being increasingly challenged in recent years. And the East Kolkata Wetlands are no exception! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month ago

Fishermen use wastewater from Kolkata to rear fish (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Tropical rainforests of the sea, under threat!

The World Ocean Day this year has come with a dire warning, of the threat posed to coral reefs, important for ocean health as well as the livelihoods of millions of people! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 1 week ago

Coral reefs in the Andaman Islands (Image Source: Ritiks via Wikimedia Commons)

Floods, a boon or a bane?

News on floods often triggers panic and dread in the minds of the people. But, was this always so? Are floods something to be dreaded? Our ancestors did not think so! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 2 weeks ago

What is the price of water in the city of Mumbai?

Poor water governance has cut off several residents from Mumbai's water system, making equal access to all a distant dream. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 2 weeks ago

Water a rare resource in the informal settlements in Mumbai (Image Source: Suraj Katra)

When the Ganges spews plastic!

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear not only forms a large portion of plastic waste that the Ganges pours into the sea, it also poses a major threat to the environment and biodiversity! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 2 weeks ago

Ganga river at Gadmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr photos)

Harnessing runoff to cope with droughts in South India

With north east monsoon playing truant, understanding the reasons for droughts in South India is crucial. Can harnessing runoff help to cope with the increasing dry spells that south indian cities are facing? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 3 weeks ago

The scramble to collect water: Can it be prevented? (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Crop diversification to address the water crisis in Punjab

While borewells and aggressive irrigation practices continue to suck Punjab dry, can crop diversification rescue the state from turning into a desert? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 1 month 4 weeks ago

Unsustainable agricultural practices in Punjab (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)

Water, at a price!

The water woes of Darjeeling continue to grow with unreliable public water supply and highly elastic private water markets. Is there a way out? Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 2 months ago

Darjeeling, in the grip of a water crisis (Image Source: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons)

Fifty million people in Indian cities lack access to safe drinking water

News this week Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 2 months 1 week ago

Bathing spaces for women - crucial for WASH!

Bathing spaces and not toilets alone, aid women in maintaining health and hygiene. It is time the Swachh Bharat Mission pays attention to bathing spaces as well! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 2 months 1 week ago

A temperory bathing space with no water and privacy in a fishing village in Tamil Nadu (Image Source: India Water Portal)

A river's story

This is the story of the river Kanari and her struggle for survival against all odds! Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months ago

The river Kanari and her story (Image Source: Ayushi Trivedi)

Reducing air pollution due to stubble burning in Northwest India

Philanthropy can play a role in mitigating air pollution and environmental degradation caused by agricultural practices in Punjab and Haryana. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 1 week ago

A large amount of crop residues are available in western UP and most of these are burnt in the field (Image: Ed Dunens, Flickr Commons)

The first mile goes a long way

Rural youth are a valuable asset. Bringing them on as frontline cadres in the water and agriculture sectors can strengthen rural development. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 1 week ago

Agriculture and rural farms in India (Image Source: Rajarshi Mitra Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/61732052@N02/94217 via Wikimedia Commons)42217

Will Andhra Pradesh’s free bore well scheme deplete groundwater?

Under the YSR Jalakala scheme, the Andhra Pradesh government will dig free bore wells to provide small and marginal farmers access to water. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 3 months 2 weeks ago

Groundwater depletion, a growing problem in India (Image Source: India Water Portal)

Roadmap for nature-based and climate resilient livelihoods in Maharashtra

State-level consultation on a roadmap for nature-based and climate resilient livelihoods in Maharashtra ends with a consensus. Aarti Kelkar Khambete posted 4 months ago

Nature based climate resilient livelihoods (Image Source: India Water Portal)