The Karamana River in Kerala – once revered but now shunned

People warned to stay away from river

Karamana river in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, once the pride of the city, has a signboard asking people to keep away from her. The pollution of the river has reached a state where medical officials have been forced to post posters on her banks, announcing to people that the river’s waters are polluted.

Can we satiate our world's growing thirst?

It is estimated that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, with almost half of the world living in conditions of water stress. The situation is only expected to worsen as population growth, climate change, investment and management shortfalls, and inefficient use of existing resources restrict the amount of water available to people.

Government pushes unviable hydro projects in North East

Committee of Secretaries push for large hydro power projects in Arunachal Pradesh even as as the agitation against the under construction 2000 MW Subansiri Lower hydro-electric project on Arunachal Pradesh border has shown any such move, without credible, independent and comprehensive options assessment, social and environmental impact assessment at project and basin level in a transparent and democratic way would prove to be disastrous not just from social and environment point of view, but also from economic aspects.

Metro issued notice on failure to ensure rain water harvesting

Metro stations can save at least 1.96 crore litres of water per year if rainwater harvesting is carried out. The national green tribunal issues notice to metro on its failure to do so.

River Arkavathy- Lost in time

Once the lifeline of the region, today the Arkavathy river in Bangalore is one big sewerage line. The river basin that used to boast of 1,775 lakes along its pathway, now has only a few hundreds surviving. The industries along the river stretch and sand mining activity have practically destroyed the river bed.

Maharashtra irrigation projects marked by irregularities

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reiterates in the high court that irrigation projects in Maharashtra were marked by irregularities. It told the court its 2011 report was based on information given by the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) and the water resources department while it was performing an audit of irrigation projects between March and June 2010.

Eco-feminism in Rajasthan

A village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district is quietly practicing its own, homegrown brand of eco-feminism and achieving spectacular results. Piplantri village panchayat saves girl children and increases the green cover in and around it at the same time. Villagers plant 111 trees every time a girl is born and the community ensures these trees survive, attaining fruition as the girls grow up.

This is a roundup of important news from April 15 - 21, 2013.