September 2007

Volume 1 Issue 5

Request For Comments and Feedback

Two requests for input/feedback have come in recently from the Government of India. Readers who are familiar with the relevant topics are requested to send in their responses to make these processes as fruitful and meaningful as possible.

The Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission has set up a Technical Expert Group to look into various aspects of the Mission's functioning. The Expert Group is soliciting input from the public as part of coming up with its report and recommendations. India Water Portal is collecting responses for forwarding to the group. The details can be read here.

The Union Government is planning on a "Nirmal Vidyalaya Puraskar" award on the lines of the "Nirmal Gram Puraskar" , to encourage schools in sanitation and hygiene education. WES-Net is collecting the feedback. For details of the proposal, click here

New Content on the Portal:

Watershed Development -

Research Papers from FORWARD (Forum for Watershed Research and Policy Dialogue) on Watershed, Drinking Water and Sanitation status and policy implications in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Click here for Watershed papers (Look under Research)
Click here for Drinking Water and Sanitation papers (Look under Research)

The Sustainet project of the German Council for Sustainable Development produced a book: "Sustainable Agriculture: A pathway out of poverty for India's rural poor" with examples of sustainable agricultural approaches. These include several case studies of good water (and land) management initiatives
Read More (Look under Case Studies)

Waterbody Restoration -
A slideshow from the World Bank on the Karnataka Tank Project for restoration of tanks.
Watch Movie

Urban Water -
Vigyan Vijay Foundation in New Delhi worked with the residents of the Vasant Vihar locality to treat the wastewater from the locality using DEWATS, producing irrigation water for the local parks
Read More

Policies -
Draft Water Policy of the state of Assam

Maps & Statistics -

We have added two important studies of water quality conducted in Karnataka. These were done by the Department of Mines and Geology. "Status of Groundwater Quality in Bangalore and its Environs" a 2003 report, shows extensive nitrate and bacteriological contamination in groundwater in Bangalore. "Excess Chemical Parameters in Groundwater - Karnataka State" reports on the presence of fluoride, nitrate, total hardness and iron in 4090 samples from across the state.
Read More

Daily rainfall data for all the Maharashtra districts from 1998 to current

Conference Outputs

Proceedings of the first stakeholders meeting of the Tungabhadra River Basin STRIVER project
Read Report

Read the report of the "Water and Democracy"  Partner Consultation organised by EED and CWS, October 4-7, 2006 at ICRISAT Hyderabad
Read Report

Kids' Section  
A Pune student carried out a very nice experiment where she consistently measured the rainfall in her area for 2 years. It is an excellent example of a meaningful school project. This presentation describes that project.
View Presentation

We have added a document that will help teachers and others working with children to find the content on the Water Portal that could be useful in teaching children about water. View document

New Water Quality Testing Kit:

We have added a new product to our compilation of water quality field testing kits â€" PlastiSurge.
Read more

Recent Questions in Parliament on Water

MP: SHRI GURUDAS DAS GUPTA, SURAVARAM SUDHAKAR REDDY
Topic: PURIFIED DRINKING WATER
Question: Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state:-
(a) whether thousands of habitations in different States are identified as having water sources contaminated by chemicals like iron, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, sulphates and other salts;
(b) if so, the details of such habitations State-wise; and
(c) the measures being taken to provide safe drinking water to these habitations?
Read Minister's Response

MP: SHRI K. JAYASURYA PRAKASH REDDY
Topic: WATER HARVESTING
Question: Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Government is giving 100% subsidy for small farmers and 50% for others for water harvesting;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(c) the present status thereof?
Read Minister's Response

MP: SHRI O.T. LEPCHA
Topic: DEPLETION OF GROUND WATER LEVEL
Question: Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that the ground water level in various districts of the country has gone down thereby making the situation alarming;
(b) if so, the city-wise/State-wise details thereof; and
(c) the remedial measures Government propose to take in this respect?
Read Minister's Response

MP: SHRI RAJ MOHINDER SINGH MAJITHA, SHRI RAM JETHMALANI
Topic: DIVERSION OF RIVER WATER BY CHINA
Question: Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that India had offered to constitute a joint team to China after appearing of news-item with regard to Chinese efforts for diverting water of Brahamputra river, which is flowing towards India into its territory;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) time when this proposal had been prepared at first;
(d) whether the proposal has been implemented so far; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
Read Minister's Response

Read More Water Related Questions Asked by MPs in 2007

Upcoming Events:

• Madurai  Symposium - "Advancing Development". DHAN Foundation
• "Water and People" - 3rd Development Film Festival, Madurai, DHAN Foundation
• Biosand Filter Implementor Training Program
• National SRI (System of Rice Intensification) Symposium, Agartala, Tripura
• Workshop on City Water and Waste Management

Go to Calendar page for details

'Ask A Question'

Recent Questions That Were Answered:

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES after M.E. in Environmental Management
Response

What aeration technologies are common and available in India ?
Response

Eutrophication - reviving dead lakes
Response

We welcome your questions which will be answered through the WES-Net network of Water and Sanitation practitioners.

Discussion Forum:

What kind of groundwater data do you need for your work?
Click here or send a mail to portal@arghyam.org to add your input